Pay It Forward Friday - Itsy Bitsy Prop Shop

Welcome to the inaugural edition of "Pay It Forward Friday" featuring Itsy Bitsy Prop Shop!  I know that my shop would not be what it is today without the help of some amazing people, so I want to take this opportunity to share with you some of my favorite new shops.

Vanessa is the designer behind this wonderful shop which features whimsical beanies, vintage inspired pillbox hats, and beautiful headpieces.  Here are some of my favorites from her collection.

Isn't this little alien hat amazing?!?  A must have for your newborn boy prop collection!  Let's get to know Vanessa a little better with five fast questions.

1.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspires you?

I now live in Ottawa, Canada although I grew up in Southern Alberta.  I actually lived in Ottawa for a little while when I was a baby, so moving back here after finishing school feels like coming back full circle - although I miss my parents, my brothers, the Rocky Mountains, big skies, and wide open spaces.

I have a 10 month old baby girl who is the loved of my life and who inspires me on a daily basis.  I'm also inspired by nature, 1920's flappers, Victorian England, science fiction and fantasy (Doctor Who anyone?), my wonderful husband, superheroes, graphic novels, and the work of the amazing photo prop makers that I've discovered on the Internet since starting to make props of my own.

Fun facts about myself:  although I have a spider as part of my logo, I'm actually deathly afraid of them and have been known to shriek for help whenever I spot one in the house.  And something that most of my friends and work colleagues don't know about me -- I can, while on horseback, rope a fence post -- which is perhaps not the most useful of skills.  :)

2.  How long have you been crafting, and when did you open your shop?

I have been crafting, painting, drawing, and knitting ever since I was a little girl.  my mother and father taught me some of the fundamentals of drawing and origami -- I remember my father drawing endless ducks and making paper cranes to entertain me.  my mother also taught me how to knit and recently showed me some of my first efforts that she's kept...some VERY lopsided dishcloths filled with holes!  I have also benefited from the instruction given to me by the many lovely women I've met in the yarn shops I've frequented over the years.

I was inspired to start making photography props after seeing the variety of cute hats and headbands that the fabulous Fulton Photography used for my daughter's newborn session in August of last year.  I opened by shop in March 2012.

3.  What is your favorite item in your shop...or should I say "favourite."  (Love my Canadian friends!)

My favourite item in my shop is the very first photo prop hat that I made - a little frog hat.  I came up with the idea for this hat after visiting my local yarn store and coming across this lime green, super chunky yarn.  Frogs immediately popped into my head, and I spent the next few weeks experimenting with different stitches and a variety of ways to make eyeballs.

4.  What are your favorite materials to work with?

I love natural fibers like wool, cotton, silk, and feathers.  I also use recycled yarn, lace, organza, tulle, silk flowers, and netting.

5.  Tell us a little about your workspace.

I don't have a dedicated workspace...yet!  I bring my work to whatever space I happen to be in (family room, kitchen, living room, etc.), and I also tend to leave my current project in whatever space I've just left so my crafting is starting to take over our house.  :)

Vanessa, thank you so much for sharing your shop with us today!  Feel the need for some retail therapy?  Head on over to Itsy Bitsy Prop Shop from now until Friday, July 20 and enter code "BBK20" for 20% off your entire order.  Also, make sure you enter the giveaway below for your chance to win your choice of one of her beautiful pillbox hats.  Submit your entries today from 9 AM to 11:59 PM.

See you next Friday for another edition of Pay It Forward Friday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway