Pretty by Pistachio has moved!

Pretty by Pistachio blog has moved to a new home and has a brand new name.

Please visit:

lovebylouise.blogspot.com

The look and content will still be the same, i just fancied a name change. All part of a larger plan which will be revealed in due course.

I will also be using a new twitter name:

twitter.com/lovebylouise

07:16 | Filed Under | 0 Comments

101 things in 1001 days

The mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days

The criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part)

Key:
Not yet done
In progress
Completed

Start date: Tuesday 13 October 2009
Finish date: Tuesday 10 July 2012

1. GET MARRIED (Spring 2012)
2. Go to Ibiza with Dean
3. Go on a girls holiday
4. Take a weekend break with my mum
5. Go camping
6. Go to a festival – got tickets for Glastonbury
7. Visit Oxford
8. Visit Bath
9. Visit another UK City
10. Go to Cornwall and have cream tea
11. Sell my jewellery wholesale / sale or return to at least 3 shops (0/3)
12. Reach 100 sales in my etsy shop
13. Reach 250 sales in my etsy shop
14. Open a new online shop
15. Get my jewellery featured in a magazine
16. Send out a press pack to relevant magazines
17. Run at least 3 times a week
18. Run a 10k
19. Run a half marathon
20. Don't drink alcohol for a month, twice a year (0/5)
21. Lose 1 stone
22. Go a month without chocolate/sweets (0/30)
23. Go a month without fizzy drinks (0/30)
24. Learn Yoga
25. Learn Pilates
26. Get a workout DVD
27. Go on a bike ride
28. Do 100 sit-ups a day for a month
29. Play tennis
30. Learn to sew
31. Make an item of clothing
32. Learn how to oxidise silver
33. Learn a new craft
34. Design a website
35. Participate in the 365 project
36. Pay off my Credit Cards
37. Save £1000
38. Buy a new bike
39. Buy a sewing machine
40. Food shop online for a month
41. Buy a new camera
42. Bake a cake / muffins / cookies once a month (0/32)
43. Make breakfast for dinner
44. Make homemade ice-cream
45. Make a casserole
46. Learn how to cook a poached egg
47. Have a date night with Dean at least twice a month (0/64)
48. Treat Dean to dinner at a Goucho restaurant in London
49. Take a photo of Dean and I once a month (0/32)
50. Kiss in the rain
51. Cook a 3 course meal for Dean
52. Go to a football match with Dean
53. Write a love letter
54. Visit a mortgage advisor
55. Play 5 video games with Dean (0/5)
56. Spend the day in bed with Dean
57. Diary the wedding planning process
58. Go to the cinema by myself
59. Have a picnic
60. Give blood
61. Go to a Spa
62. Have a professional massage
63. Have a professional facial
64. Have a pedicure
65. Don’t buy any clothes for 3 months
66. Read 35 new books (0/35)
67. No TV for one week
68. Teach my brother to ride a bike
69. Go to a show in London
70. Have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz
71. Blog every day for a week (0/7)
72. Blog every day for a month (0/30)
73. Meet up with an old school friend
74. Go to the Ice Bar in London
75. Go to a poledancing class
76. Go to a dance class
77. Upgrade to a Flickr Pro account
78. Have a slumber party
79. Offer a monthly giveaway on my blog
80. Go for a walk in the rain
81. Spend a whole Sunday in my pyjamas watching movies
82. Go to a concert at the o2
83. Get another tattoo
84. Get another piercing
85. No takeaway for a month
86. Start a cleaning rota and stick to it for a month
87. Go on a night out with friends and drive
88. Have one bubble bath a week
89. Have a dinner party
90. Go to Ascot
91. Go strawberry picking
92. Become a redhead
93. Perfect the smokey eye look
94. Go Ice Skating at Somerset House
95. Go to 5 gigs (0/5)
96. Build a snowman
97. Play golf with Dean
98. Watch a sunrise
99. Go zorbing
100. Take Dean to Go Ape
101. Inspire 5 people to do the 101 in 1,001 days list (let me know if i've inspired you!) (2/5)

05:25 | Filed Under | 2 Comments

Im back!

I know, I have been MIA for the last few weeks. The boy and i moved house last weekend.

We have been in our new home for a little over a week now and i was itching to get the shops opened and start blogging again.

So... you can now shop online as normal at www.prettybypistachio.co.uk or http://prettybypistachio.etsy.com. Unfortunatly we do not yet have internet at home so I will be unable to reply to any messages over the weekend until further notice (hopefully within the next 10 days).

05:21 | Filed Under | 0 Comments

Inspiration Board :: Spring Wedding



Wedding Dress :: Mori Lee
Wedding Cake :: The Knot
Bouquet :: The Knot
Bridesmaid Dress :: Lou Lou

Unfortunately, I cannot credit the other images as I can’t remember where I found them.

07:05 | Filed Under | 0 Comments

Inspiration Board :: Winter Wedding

02:28 | Filed Under | 1 Comments

Featured Seller: Paper Cut Industries

Tell us a little bit about yourself…
My name is Monica Majors and I am the creative force behind Paper Cut Industries, which is a top-notch stationery & design studio in Long Beach, California. I am a native Californian, which is rare, and I graduated from California State University, Long Beach and studied Art & Graphic Design. I have always been involved in art and always thought I would be a businesswoman. I found my calling by mixing them together. I have worked in the fashion trim industry and most recently with stationery and office product design company Knock Knock where my work was featured in magazines such as Real Simple and HOW magazine.


How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I have been selling on Etsy since 2008, basically when I first heard about it.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
I started selling on Etsy when I had a full-time gig, but now I sell full-time. Working with clients locally in person and via email takes up most of my time. I also get clients from my website papercutindustries.com or my blog papercutindustries.wordpress.com for custom projects.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?
I started out wanting to sell gift and stationery designs. Working in the industry I was exposed to so many products and companies that I knew it was possible. I had so many ideas and I wanted to design everything! Things like journals, everyday cards, wrapping paper and personal stationery. I had a co-worker introduce me to Etsy and on her shop she was selling sachets. I fell in love! Etsy provided an excellent opportunity to get exposure and set up shop and begin taking orders. Etsy is such a great tool to get exposure and really attract the customers you know are looking for what you have to offer.

"My Eyelash Pattern cards came from make-up application sketches of eyeshadow that I would see in magazines!"

What inspires you?
I am inspired daily by so many things. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. I can look at architecture and fabric and be inspired. I have so many sketchbooks of clippings and samples of things I would love to reinterpret them into an awesome design or pattern for stationery. Seeing color in life inspires me too. When I look at fashion, especially I get so many ideas for new patterns and palettes. A simple zipper can turn into an amazing pattern! My Eyelash Pattern cards came from make-up application sketches of eyeshadow that I would see in magazines!


How would you describe your style?
My style is definitely for a new generation. It is very eclectic pulling things from various cultures and time periods. It is masculine & feminine, vintage & modern, and can often be interpreted as a great balance between uptown and downtown in look and feel. My designs are definitely not cutesy, but more stylish and chic. It is a true representation of my personality and who I am; eclectic and unique. My designs are a combination of my culture and environment and how I see things. It’s what sets me apart. They are very offbeat and growing everyday.

What do you like least about your craft?
Paper cuts. I love paper and sometimes it can hurt! My name pays homage to that.

"Do what you love! It is fun and will bring so much joy to your life."

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
Do what you love! It is fun and will bring so much joy to your life. Everyone needs a creative release and mine turned into a business, and so could yours! I love what I do and I love knowing every client truly appreciates my designs. Nothing beats the feeling.

Top Five Etsy shops?
Sketchbook - handcrafted soft goods http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=102421
Replicca - clothing company http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5316036
Lo Boheme - hair pieces http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6465412
You! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7065584
Me! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5688972

Top Five Blogs?
http://www.thinksplendid.com/
http://www.modishblog.com/biztips/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/
http://funnel-eric-kass.blogspot.com/
http://papiervalise.typepad.com/scissor_variations/

Five Random facts about yourself?
  1. I am addicted to TV series on Netflix. I will watch the full 3-hour disc straight.
  2. I bought a 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia a few years ago before I knew how to drive stick shift because I wanted it so bad. I learned real fast.
  3. I can’t sit still for too long. Netflix is helping with that.
  4. I love to go dancing.
  5. I want a puppy really, really bad.


What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Riding bikes with my boyfriend Jason. It’s so relaxing.

What craft would you love to learn?
Sewing. I mean really, really master sewing.

What does the future hold for Paper Cut Industries?
Paper Cut Industries is growing so fast! I would love to eventually have a set studio location where clients can come and we can discuss invitations and custom stationery ideas. I hope to start letterpressed designs and begin distributing to local boutiques soon.

Shop: http://www.papercutindustries.com
Etsy: http://papercutindustries.etsy.com
Blog: http://papercutindustries.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/paper_cut

10:21 | Filed Under , | 0 Comments

DEAL OF THE WEEK ::Chrysanthemum Rings


Get these Chrysanthemum Rings in my online shop for only £5.00, usually £7.50.

Filigree base colours available in Antiqued Copper, Antiqued Brass, Silver Plated and Gunmetal.
Flower colours available in Black, White, Ivory, Fuschia, Maroon and Grey.

Subject to availability. This offer will end on Monday 21 September at 12pm GMT.

01:19 | Filed Under | 0 Comments

welcome...

... to pretty by pistachio, a blog about all things pretty. You can expect a variety of daily features including window shopping, beautiful boutiques, featured seller, weekend deals and monthly giveaways. pretty by pistachio is also a place for me to talk about my handmade jewellery and my upcoming wedding.

pretty by pistachio's fan box

followers:

101 things in 1001 days

1. GET MARRIED (Spring 2012)
2. Go to Ibiza with Dean
3. Go on a girls holiday
4. Take a weekend break with my mum
5. Go camping
6. Go to a festival
7. Visit Oxford
8. Visit Bath
9. Visit another UK City
10. Go to Cornwall and have cream tea
11. Sell my jewellery wholesale / sale or return to at least 3 shops (0/3)
12. Reach 100 sales in my etsy shop
13. Reach 250 sales in my etsy shop
14. Open a new online shop
15. Get my jewellery featured in a magazine
16. Send out a press pack to relevant magazines
17. Run at least 3 times a week
18. Run a 10k
19. Run a half marathon
20. Don't drink alcohol for a month, twice a year (0/5)
21. Lose 1 stone
22. Go a month without chocolate/sweets (0/30)
23. Go a month without fizzy drinks (0/30)
24. Learn Yoga
25. Learn Pilates
26. Get a workout DVD
27. Go on a bike ride
28. Do 100 sit-ups a day for a month
29. Play tennis
30. Learn to sew
31. Make an item of clothing
32. Learn how to oxidise silver
33. Learn a new craft
34. Design a website
35. Participate in the 365 project
36. Pay off my Credit Cards
37. Save £1000
38. Buy a new bike
39. Buy a sewing machine
40. Food shop online for a month
41. Buy a new camera
42. Bake a cake / muffins / cookies once a month (0/32)
43. Make breakfast for dinner
44. Make homemade ice-cream
45. Make a casserole
46. Learn how to cook a poached egg
47. Have a date night with Dean at least twice a month (0/64)
48. Treat Dean to dinner at a Goucho restaurant in London
49. Take a photo of Dean and I once a month (0/32)
50. Kiss in the rain
51. Cook a 3 course meal for Dean
52. Go to a football match with Dean
53. Write a love letter
54. Visit a mortgage advisor
55. Play 5 video games with Dean (0/5)
56. Spend the day in bed with Dean
57. Diary the wedding planning process
58. Go to the cinema by myself
59. Have a picnic
60. Give blood
61. Go to a Spa
62. Have a professional massage
63. Have a professional facial
64. Have a pedicure
65. Don’t buy any clothes for 3 months
66. Read 35 new books (0/35)
67. No TV for one week
68. Teach my brother to ride a bike
69. Go to a show in London
70. Have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz
71. Blog every day for a week (0/7)
72. Blog every day for a month (0/30)
73. Meet up with an old school friend
74. Go to the Ice Bar in London
75. Go to a poledancing class
76. Go to a dance class
77. Upgrade to a Flickr Pro account
78. Have a slumber party
79. Offer a monthly giveaway on my blog
80. Go for a walk in the rain
81. Spend a whole Sunday in my pyjamas watching movies
82. Go to a concert at the o2
83. Get another tattoo
84. Get another piercing
85. No takeaway for a month
86. Start a cleaning rota and stick to it for a month
87. Go on a night out with friends and drive
88. Have one bubble bath a week
89. Have a dinner party
90. Go to Ascot
91. Go strawberry picking
92. Become a redhead
93. Perfect the smokey eye look
94. Go Ice Skating at Somerset House
95. Go to 5 gigs (0/5)
96. Build a snowman
97. Play golf with Dean
98. Watch a sunrise
99. Go zorbing
100. Take Dean to Go Ape
101. Inspire 5 people to do the 101 in 1,001 days list (let me know if i've inspired you!) (0/5)