The next shop update will be this Sunday, June 5th, at 4pm PST/7PM EST. I tried to make it a bit later for some international customers who have been asking for a while now. I know it can’t make a time that works for everyone, but I’ll try to switch the times up a bit each update.

This update includes the debut of bracelets! A preview of everything, along with a reminder email, will be up on Saturday. I’m really excited about new colors this time around – much more fun and colorful than I usually make, just in time for summer. Another new thing is that I have to start charging a small fee for shipping. I’ve been shipping everything for free, no matter where it goes, for three years now, and postage has gone up a kajillion times since then. So, it’s time I start charging a little bit for shipping and handling. But don’t worry, it’ll be under $5 and no biggie.

Thanks, guys!

click on the photos for more info on flickr!

A long weekend with finding lots of excuses to ride my bike, which just gets more amazing the more confident I get riding and I learn the streets of Venice and Santa Monica. Kate – amazing, amazing Kate, gave me to tickets to see her incredible production of RENT in a secret warehouse downtown, which was quite an experience. I also finished all the necklaces, had a quick shoot, and then rode my bike to meet up with a blog reader who I sold my beloved Digital Rebel to. Hopefully he has lots of new adventures with her. I also finished book two of The Hunger Games (possibly even better than the 1st??), ate bbq kebabs (required Memorial Day bbq’ing), and declared it a wonderful weekend.

photo by Anna Ristuccia on flickr

Hey guys, due to a busy week, a 3 1/2 day weekend and forgetfulness, I’m skipping Friday Bits today. Bits Of My Weekend will come Tuesday. Have a wonderful weekend! I’m planning so much bike riding awesomeness and jewelry sweatshop mania, it’s not even funny.

Hello friends. After some serious debate, I’ve decided to sell my two cameras so that I can upgrade to a better Digital Rebel with video and consolidate to one camera (the consensus of twitter friends seems to be the T2i is the way to go). These cameras are used for taking most of the photos you see on the blog – one of them is almost brand new! I thought I’d post these here to give you guys a chance to buy them before I put them on Ebay. Email me at katemiss at gmail.com if you’re interested. Prices are firm.

SOLD! 1. Used Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) Read more about the specifications here.

see more photos here

Only a little over two years old, this is the main camera I use for my photos you seen on this blog. I absolutely love this camera, the only reason I’m selling it is to upgrade to a Canon that shoots video as well. I’ve kept it in excellent shape and it’s in perfect working order. The battery lasts forever (I think I’ve charged it 5 times total), and it takes SD memory cards (not included) that are really cheap and easy to find. The lens it comes with is extremely versatile and has an impressive zoom. This is the perfect camera for someone who has never used a DSLR camera and wants to take their photos up a notch (etsy sellers & bloggers especially), but also isn’t too limited for someone already familiar with DSLRs. I bought it for $550, and am selling it for $350 + shipping. Comes with the USB cord, battery charger, and strap. The manuals and such can be easily downloaded online.

(SOLD!) 2. Like-New Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Kit w/14mm F2.5 Lens WHITE. Read more about the specifications here

see more photos here

(SOLD) This is a magical little micro four-thirds camera. You’d never guess by its size, but it takes nearly identical photos to the Digital Rebel. The lenses are interchangeable, you can shoot RAW, and it takes AMAZING HD video (what I use for my “moving photos” lately). I really love this camera, I just invested in it when I shouldn’t have, and want to consolidate to one camera. FYI- the kit lens it comes with is a pancake lens and has no zoom. It takes a little getting used to, but for some people, it’s not an issue, and you can buy a larger lens with a zoom if you want to. Touch screen + a million amazing settings I never even got to learn. But easy to use – great for beginnings, or pros who want a camera to easily carry around with them for quick shots. The white color is more expensive and difficult to find in stock at many places. I bought it for $700, I’m selling it for $625 + shipping as it’s barely been used, but has a few very minor surface dings (I didn’t even notice them til taking photos for this, they’re on the left in the photo). It will come with the original box with all the original contents.

The last film shots: two souvenirs from London in action.

Just wanted to thank you for all your sweet comments on my dealing with a mean comment. I didn’t put it out there because I needed reassurance, I know you guys have my back and some of you would hunt me down in the night if I ever stopped Weekend Bits and deprived you of photos of Wendy, but the reminder is always nice. You sufficiently made me realize what an idiot I was to even let someone make me feel like that for a minute. But I’m only human, so oh well. Case closed, you guys are amazing.

Are you having a good week so far? Last night we rode our bikes to the food truck lot in Santa Monica (they have free bike valet!) and I ate a lobster roll for the first time in my life. Ridiculously expensive, ridiculously delicious. Then we rode home by the beach while the sun set, and I thought about how at times, Venice ain’t so bad. And how out of shape I am.

And because this post has absolutely no theme going, I’d like to put it out there that I’m hoping for the next shop update to be Sunday, June 5th. Stay tuned for an official announcement with a specific time, but I have promised some international customers/readers that I’d do it later in the day this time. And then when that’s over, I’d also like to put it out there that I’m taking on more freelance design and photography projects! If I’ve turned you down in the past, perhaps I will not turn you down again. So get in touch. I’m itching to do some new creative things lately.

We finally took the plunge last week and ordered some cheap bikes from a site friends recommended. I didn’t want to spend too much in case it was another phase of mine that ended quickly (not sure if you’ve noticed this trait of mine…) but the bikes are actually pretty amazing for the price.

Will got his first because I hemmed and hawed over them not having the first choice colors I wanted in stock, and then finally settled on the last color they had, blue. Yesterday I watched the UPS tracking page obsessively, and then when it said delivered, panicked because it said it was delivered to another address! Will emailed me and said it never got here, but in actuality it was just a UPS website error and the bike really did arrive and he had it assembled in the bathroom when I got home. Fact about Will: he loves playing cute tricks on me and quickly realized in our relationship that I LOVE suprises. That boy…

We took them on a quick ride around the neighborhood last night (we don’t have locks or helmets yet) and it felt amazing, like we were kids again.

The girls and I thought we’d share some of our favorite submissions so far to the Vintage Redux Contest to get you inspired and motivated! You still have a week left to enter, so head here for the rules and process again.

Clockwise from top left: Jean Seberg’s iconic dress in Breathless, submitted by Alicia. Katherine Hepburn, submitted by Raquel, who suggests that it would be perfect cut at tea length (agreed!). Dawn submitted this amazing photo of her mother, Dort, in 1955 with their adopted squirrel Petty (yes, you read that correctly. The. Best.) And finally, a beautiful Ellsworth Kelly dress that Marie submitted – the model has an uncanny resemblance to her mother.

ps. for those of you who have asked if you can re-post this using the imagery I’ve designed for the contest – absolutely! No need to ask for permission if you’re linking back. Thanks, guys.

There’s a whole lot more explaining going on over on flickr if you click these photos. Rambling, if you will.

A busy weekend with a visit to Hermosa Beach, my first car accident (stupendously minor but still a pain in the ass), an pretty garden engagement party down the street for friends, enchiladas and more…but I didn’t take any photos until my day spent working at home on Sunday where I just shot a few quiet little things. I have to admit that I let a very mean comment someone left here about my weekend photos being trite lately completely invade my thoughts all week and weekend, and I almost didn’t take a single photo. But then I snapped out of it and pushed myself to take photos of what I want to take, not anyone else. Because this is my blog, bitch.

1. Leah Reena Goren’s block printed shirts are inspired by meat and they look delicious. via Alison.
2. I was recently saying on Twitter that it would be cool if there was a Google Street View fashion blog. And there is. Thank you Diana for digging this awesomeness up!
3. Beautiful bottled flowers by Makoto Azuma. via Land-Rich.
4. Not surprisingly, I love Anja’s post on her beauty ritual.
5. Kelly’s excellent San Francisco guide, combined with 800 other reasons, has me wishing I had properly saved up vacation days to drive up there this year! Someday.
6. Itty bitty kitty camera. Need I say more?

I’m short on words because my allergies (hay fever) are currently kicking my butt. I finally made an appointment with a nutritional therapist next week because I’ve run out of allergy meds to try! I’m up for trying a new approach. Has anyone done something like this for allergies? She said it will be a combination of diet change and herbal remedies.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Every tree in LA is in full bloom right now. Gushing colors and wonderful smells abound. While terrible for my allergies, it’s a feast for your eyes. I kept seeing these gorgeous lilac-like trees bursting with violet color in the past couple weeks, and then I read this little piece at GOOD about the Jacaranda tree, and it was good to put a name and history to these beauties. The Jacaranda tree is native to South America, but does well here because of the similar arid climate. I took my camera with me on my drive to work yesterday, and then took a little walk around the neighborhood to capture a few. It’s fun to spot them now, it’s like a little game for me. The plants and trees are my #2 favorite thing about LA after the sunshine, that’s for sure.