Tuesday 30 April 2013

Giveaway Time! {closed!}

Remember that giveaway I mentioned a little while ago? Here it is! I've teamed up with the lovely Tatjana Buisson from Postcard Happiness to share the stationery and postage happiness with you lovely people! 
Postcard Happiness giveaway!
It's such a great project and really resonates with me, so if you haven't heard of Postick or Postcard Happiness before, here's the dealio from Tatjana herself:

"I created www.PostcardHappiness.com in an effort to inspire people to get back into sending each other postcards. The digital age is wonderful and incredibly efficient but there's something so special about receiving a physical postcard that was written by hand and posted by someone special. It makes us so happy and it lasts as long as the postcard does. There are two main branches to the website: The Postcard Happiness Project and Postick.

The Postcard Happiness Project is an ongoing initiative which makes it easy for anyone around the globe to send friendly postcards to strangers who could do with a little extra happiness. I add profiles of people who are experiencing challenging times and a link to their personal postal address. You can check in on the site every week or so and pick a person you'd like to send some friendly words to. You write them a postcard and send it and voila! You've made a complete stranger very happy with minimal effort.

Postick (which is part of this awesome giveaway) is a product I've recently developed out of pure necessity. Postick is my brand of sticky labels that look like the back of a postcard. You can stick one on the back of a printed photo, write your message and post it. Stick one on fabric off-cuts, illustrations, magazine cut-outs, bits of beautiful packaging... anything! So when you see something that reminds you of someone, keep it and send it with a Postick on the back and your written message. "


Here's what you get:
1 x Postick pack containing 10 Postick labels
3 x A6 Happiness is... inspirational notecards
4 x Happiness is... patterned gift tags

How to get it:
1. Share your favourite happiness quote or inspirational words in the comments on this post  
For extra entires you can "like" the Happiness is... page on Facebook and follow me on twitter, and mention each extra entry in the comments section (all in one comment is fine) so I can count it in. 

Last day for entries is Monday next week (6th May). Only open to South Africa.

Go forth and join the postcard revolution!

Sunday 28 April 2013

Retro Let's Go! - A huge success!

Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
So this past weekend was the awesome Retro Let's Go vintage and retro market that I mentioned a while ago and it was such a raging success! It was super super busy with a very cool and well-dressed crowd. I tried to snap away in the midst of it all, but many of my pics were taken very fast and many turned out blurry, but I managed to get a few good ones that I think will give you the vibe of it if you weren't there...
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
Retro Let's Go! - a Durban vintage market
The dance was later in the evening and I unfortunately didn't attend that, but from what I hear it was sold out and was a really great event as well. I'm sure it'll be happening again sometime, so be sure to catch the next one! I have a feeling it's going to just get bigger and better. Well done to the organiser, Micaela, for doing such a fantastic job!

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Flower Beard

Flower Beard, a shoot by Sarah Winward & Carissa Gallo
I just love this creative botanical shoot! Beards and plants - what a great combo, right? I just came across the site of Sarah Winward who creates beautiful fresh flower arrangements for weddings and events. The guy in the photos is her husband and this shoot was his idea!
Flower Beard, a shoot by Sarah Winward & Carissa Gallo
Flower Beard, a shoot by Sarah Winward & Carissa Gallo
Flower Beard, a shoot by Sarah Winward & Carissa Gallo

New Stationery - Cat Notecards & Mother's Day Cards

Happiness is... freelance illustration, graphic design & stationery! - "Stay Pawsitive" cat pattern notecard

I've got some new notecards available on my Hello Pretty store! Would love to know what you think of them and what you'd like to see in future, let me know in the comments :)

Happiness is... freelance illustration, graphic design & stationery! - Mother's Day cards

Sunday 21 April 2013

Rooted in Succulents

Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
Jessica St. Hilaire is the owner, maker and designer behind the Etsy shop, Rooted in Succulents. Her designs include woodworking with reclaimed materials, vintage treasures and centerpieces from topiaries to reused books and any other means of using succulents in colourful ad unusual ways. I especially the reused book pieces and the initials, would love a big one like that on my wall!
Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
"Rooted in Succulents is a business born of my absolute love and obsession with succulent plants!"

Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
Rooted in Succulents - creative succulent plant arrangements
View more here.

Friday 19 April 2013

Free stuff!

Sneak Peek - I'm giving you free stuff! Blog giveaway happening soon...
So excited about my first ever giveaway on the blog happening very soon in collaboration with a very cool product! Here's a sneak peek at what's in store, keep an eye out for it! :)

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Sneak Peek - Watercolour Patterns

Watercolour Patterns by Happiness is... Happiness is... freelance illustration, graphic design & stationery
I've recently developed a thing for patterns and have been really enjoying experimenting with creating some! Here are a few that'll be used for some products soon. What do you think? Would love to know how you'd like to see them used and which ones you like best, let me know in the comments!

Lettercats - An Illustrated Cat Alphabet

I don't think this needs much explanation - a cat alphabet. Yes. Nevermind that it's a Russian alphabet - that's not the point. Cats.
Created by Russian painter and graphic designer, Irina Batkova.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Beautiful wearables from So Little Time Co.

Cute wooden animal brooches from So Little Time Co.
How awesome are these accessories from So Little Time Co.? From the cute little creatures above, to the awesome detailed Penny Farthing brooch below and the wooden photo locket pendents, each item displays its own individuality and uniqueness. I'd love to own one of these pieces!
Wooden pendents from So Little Time Co.
"So Little Time Co. was started by Kirsty and her husband Josh, through a desire for more creativity and a means in which to channel it."
Wooden locket pendents from So Little Time Co.
Check out more on their Etsy shop

Monday 15 April 2013

Happiness is... on Instagram!

Hey peeps! Hope you've had a fantastic weekend. Just wanted to let you know I've finally joined Instagram. I hadn't joined before this coz I just wasn't feeling it for some reason, partly because of feeling a bit overwhelmed with other social media that I felt I was wasting too much time on already so I didn't want to add to that. Also because I know that if I'm not properly into something I probably won't do it justice, and I think it's sometimes better to not do something at all rather than do it for the sake of it and do it badly, you know?
So anyway, I'm into it now. And trying to keep the cat pics to a minority, so I promise it's not just cats! Would love to see you guys there! > happinessis_blog

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Beautiful Art Prints & Photography by Kari Herer

Photography by Kari Herer
I am so totally crazy about this fantastic work by photographer, Kari Herer. She has a background in fine art and graphic design and a strong love for nature, all of which are clear in these pieces. I adore the fresh beautiful florals combined with the simple line work. 
Photography by Kari Herer
Photography by Kari Herer
Photography by Kari Herer
Photography by Kari Herer
Photography by Kari Herer
Photography by Kari Herer
These are all prints available from her Etsy site, but she specialises in professional portrait photography which you can see on her website.

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Have your cookbook and eat it too!

Have your cookbook and eat it too! The Real Cookbook by Korefe
I came across this quite a while ago and loved it, but recently came across it again and thought it's worth sharing with you guys in case you hadn't seen it. An edible real cookbook! The best kind :) It was created by Korefe, a German design studio. I love it when people do such awesome creative stuff with design!
Have your cookbook and eat it too! The Real Cookbook by Korefe
Have your cookbook and eat it too! The Real Cookbook by Korefe
"The first and only Cookbook you can actually read, cook and eat. Made out of 100% fresh pasta it can be opened, filled with ingredients and finally be cooked. Packaged as classic lasagna. The Cookbook was designed as a special project for a large publishing house."
Have your cookbook and eat it too! The Real Cookbook by Korefe
Have your cookbook and eat it too! The Real Cookbook by Korefe

Retro Let's Go!

Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban
If you're in Durban and you haven't heard about this yet, you'd better listen up! Retro Let's Go is a super cool new event happening for the first time on the 27th April at the DLI Hall. It's going to be an awesome market selling vintage and retro goods and more, followed by a fifties dance in the evening! How flipping awesome!
Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban
Retro, Let’s Go is Durban’s first full day Vintage Festival being held on the 27th April 2013 at the historic DLI Hall.

Word from the bird is that the DLI will be transformed into a hip, happening joint, with sounds from the jukebox, girls in full skirts, beehives, boys in their Don Draper best, shoppin’ and boppin’ like its 1956!

There will be a market from 9am-1pm featuring carefully selected and curated vintage and modern retro-inspired clothing, antiques, jewellery, books, treats and anything else delightfully old-school! With a tailor and hairdresser on stand by, a Bean Green pop-up coffee shop and much much more - market-goers won’t be able to resist spending the morning and be rip, roaring and ready for the Retro, Let’s Go 1950s Dance that night where Dr Fly & The Nurses and Veranda Panda will be a-swinging! 
Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban
One of the first things that came to mind when I was thinking about this was Archie comics. I was a total Archie comic geek and loved the whole vibe they had going... Ah the good ol' days. Here's some outfit inspiration from Betty and Veronica!
Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban - Archie Comics outfit inspiration

The second thing that came to mind was Grease. More just retro than fifties, but still great for some inspiration... And just to stare into young John Travolta's eyes for a bit...
Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban - Grease outfit inspiration
Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban - Grease outfit inspiration
If you've got a product, service or idea that'd suit the event, get in touch via the details below or on the event facebook page and be a part of it! Get amped, get involved, and get there!
Retro Let's Go! Vintage Festival, Durban
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