updates

yes, i am still alive. & no, i haven’t forgotten you. from now on i will post regularly again (: somewhere last week i found such an amazing way around being too busy for everything i want to do. & that is this: decide to stop being busy. it really is that simple.

& some other news: i am finally getting my little business registered this week! i was looking into it last week & was already going to do it then, but apparently you have to go by their office personally for one-(wo)man businesses. i have SO many ideas & money for supplies too, i can’t wait to rejuvenate my shop again! & keep updating. & i suppose i’ll have to get into that annoying promotion thing again.

for those of you who want to help spread the word about my clothing:

oh, & to everyone interested in buying my stuff: when i am registered the prices will go up, since i’ll have to pay taxes & everything. i also read this interesting article on pricing handmade goods & was horrified at how much i’ve been underpaying myself. you know i’d love to keep the prices low for you, but going bankrupt is not something i’m aiming for. so, if you want something already listed, i recommend that you buy it now.
EDIT: it is done (: i feel so awesome & professional.
& another new tidbit of news: i got accepted for the study fashion design at artemis styling academie! even though i signed up for allround styling! now i’m another step closer to world domination.

& while i’m way behind my writing goals, i have FINISHED a short story last night. i haven’t finished a story in so looooong. this one is also the longest i’ve ever finished. i must say, i’m pretty proud of myself (: i’m not done editing it yet, but i hope to post it this week. any volunteers for proof-reading & thorough criticizing? i would really like someone else’s opinion before i send it out into the world. if you’re interested, just e-mail me at maraleopard [at] gmail [dot] com & i’ll send it to you. oh, & it’s not something for the easily offended.

& i changed my hair again. i shaved it all off. i kid you not. i look like a boy! but its nowhere near as hideous as i had expected it to be. i keep amazing myself with all the things i can pull off. i’ll post pictures later this week!

friday features

let’s pretend it’s still friday for a few minutes.

this weeks theme is lolita. i LOVE anything lolita related.

all from etsy. one of these weeks i’ll try to find things to feature from other sites :p i hope you like the things i picked! i know i do. & make sure to check them all out!

things i love thursday

♥

♥ the amazing feedback i got on my first real article ♥ everyone who shared that same article with others ♥ the sudden increase of comments on my blog in general, EVERY post on the front page has comments, it’s amazing! ♥ another order! from a total stranger! ♥ snow, still (except when it’s dirty or icy) ♥ productivity, always ♥ reaching my daily word goals ♥ having a ticket for fightstar next month! i love them so much ♥ buying whole seasons of the l word on itunes ♥ freshly baked (or however you say it in english) cashews ♥ writing to-do lists & crossing things off of them ♥ unexpected texts from awesome people ♥ being a member of a library again & having access to so many awesome FREE books ♥ having completely filled up a journal for once in my life ♥ fresh, new moleskines ♥ shiny new fabric ♥ being back on mostly raw food ♥ actually having money on my bank account that i can use when i need it, instead of spending everything within a week of getting it & being broke ♥ buying small gifts for others when they’re not expecting it (& with my well-known selfishness, they never do) ♥ new junk aesthetic from every time i die, every time i listen to it i’m amazed by how amazing it is ♥ viewing school as optional & not totally stressing out about it ♥ seeing all the awesome people from school again, it’s really the only good thing ♥ all my positive feedback on etsy :p ♥ new beginnings ♥ doing yoga on an actual yoga mat instead of being too cheap to buy one & just doing it on the floor & hurting my back ♥ the feeling that my little clothing line will really be a success, eventually ♥

yes, despite being back in school & all the crap that comes with that, there have still been plenty of awesome things this week (:
what’s made YOU smile this week?

why buying handmade is better than buying mass-produced

handmade <3 by maraleopard

spent all your money yet? if you haven’t & are on the lookout for good sales at your favourite stores, with their impersonal mass-produced products, why not consider buying handmade instead?

♥ diy products are usually made in very limited amounts &, in their handmade nature, as unique as you!
♥ & to add to that uniqueness, indie designers design according to their own vision & don’t follow the herd
♥ yes, they’re generally more expensive than mass-produced crap, but that’s because a lot of individual attention was paid to each of the products & thus the quality of them is better, especially if the designer is more experienced
♥ wouldn’t you rather have something handmade with love than something made purely to cut a profit?
♥ diy designers really appreciate their customers & often shower you with love, freebies & special sales if you’ve bought something from them
♥ diy designers also go all the way to make sure you’re 100% satisfied with your purchase, with payment options, custom possibilities, return & money-back options etc.
♥ buying handmade is way better for the environment, as mass-production poisons our air, water & soil & is also a major contributor to global warming, while smaller businesses do not
♥ & there are also the obvious advantages of buying through the internet, as most indie designers sell through that medium

shameless self-promotion: especially for you lovely readers, get 25% off on everything in my shop & custom orders ALL THROUGH JANUARY. when ordering on etsy, contact me through there (you will have to join etsy first if you haven’t already, but that only takes about five seconds) before buying, mention that you read my blog & i’ll adjust the price & reserve it for you.

but by all means don’t stop at my store! there are a lot of other amazing designers out there. i put all my favourites on my links page & i of course feature products from lots of different designers on (most) fridays.
however, i know people like to have things as easy as possible, so i compiled a little summary of ALL of my favourites here, in no particular order:

clothing & accessories
devani weaver + alter-eco clothing + i’m your present + twinkie chan + steampunk couture + venomiss designs + black widow clothing + cutie dynamite + meow kiki clothing + vintage opulence (some vintage too) + joodito + freyagushi + crude things + label of hope + hey sailor + wearydrearies + toxic vision + louise black + purrfect pineapples + the vintage doctor + gobbolino + mtcoffinz underground + idea2lifestyle + supayana +osi’s vinyl dolls + mtcoffinz + vivifromage + shrinkle (some vintage too) + angrygirl gear + smarmyclothes + akasha couture + topsy turvy design + rock candy corsets + psyco hatress + vecona + gibbous

jewelry
cupcakes and mace + isette + untamed menagerie + bella lilli + ampersand designs + edmdesigns + devil and mouse + black kitten accessories + cicely margo + callowlily art (some accessories too) + headless tess diy + abysmal accessories + heart sized crush + the tiny tiara + michelle’s charm world + biting gnome baubles + sugar mafia + rock love

misc
fabulously fierce housewares + artisan graham journals + villainess (perfume oil, soaps etc.) + kjersten anna hayes paper artist + lime crime makeup

now, those links were A LOT of work to compile, so MAKE USE of them :]
& i know that list is mostly clothing, accessory & jewelry centered, but so am i. if you want to see more, diverse products, you can always browse through etsy, dawanda or shana logic. happy hunting!

if you enjoyed this article, please share it :]

a little inspiration.