i’m pretty darn excited that san francisco artist lisa congdon has opened a fine art shop on big cartel, selling her original works. not just because she is a dear friend of mine, because she is. but she’s also one of the true originals — someone who speaks and acts from her heart. a kind and genuine person who started her art career later in life, and a former teacher, who continues to teach and share her experiences with those looking to learn — in fact you can check out her online painting courses here.

lisa is as unique and special as her paintings and i’d be proud to own any one of these. but i really want the triangles! go check out her original works. and for a peek at the studio where lisa makes her beautiful art, visit this tour i did with her a while back.

Do you have a loyal following at Etsy, BigCartel or craft shows but want to see your work on the shelves of your favorite boutique? It takes more than having products ready to sell to earn a retailer’s interest, trust, and money. rena tom will help you get ready to approach stores and tell you how to make it easy for a store to buy from you.

For 6 years, rena owned and operated Rare Device in both New York and San Francisco. Rare Device was well-known for supporting the careers of small, innovative designers, and rena approaches her retail readiness workshops from the perspective of an independent retailer who was constantly reviewing product lines — and also a former jewelry and stationery designer who has been on the other side of the fence, selling her work in stores across the country.

we’d love to help you jumpstart your business and to do that we’re giving away one of rena’s retail readiness sessions in one of the following cities:

• San Francisco: march 27 / march 28

• Los Angeles: April 22

• New York City: May 20

• Seattle: July 9

• Portland dates TBD.

to enter, simply:

• simply ‘like’ the retail readiness facebook page. that way, you can keep up to date on rena’s workshops as they take place around the country (and eventually, online).

• Choose from the dates/locations above and leave a comment below briefly share with us what your goals are. as always, please leave a way to contact you on twitter, facebook or email.

• Enter by march 16th to win a spot in one of these classes, and we’ll announce a winner on the retail readinessfacebook page on march 21st.

thanks and have fun! we look forward to reading about your goals!

if you’ve been hanging anywhere around flickr at all for the last few years, you’ve probably seen some of leah reich’s beautiful photography, and especially her magical polaroids. well, after much coaxing from her fellow flickerettes, leah has finally opened her online shop where we can purchase her polaroid prints.

to see more of leah’s dreamy photographs, visit her very beautiful website oh hey great!, flickr, her blog and her lovely new shop (designed by her best pal and another talented photographer, one blue wren).

one of my favorite flickr photographers a day that is dessert, aka lecia, has a brand new shop where you can now find her lovely prints! lecia’s photos are gorgeous, and affordable, so would i’d love them in a grouping. i’d pick these that i’m sharing today, but you should drop into a day that is dessert and curate your own set. or contact lecia about custom sizes. i can see them large and lovely on one big wall, too! oh, and be sure and visit lecia’s blog too, A Day That is Dessert.