What is time but an illusion?

We expend such energy measuring it, chasing it, fighting it...yet it rolls on.
 
Time demarcates our days, structures our memories, defines our experiences, enhances our worth and influences our decisions. It pushes and propels us, wearing us thin, both haunting us and delighting us with its passing.
 
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if a day were timeless. If clocks shattered and hours and minutes had no meaning. If the sun stayed high in the sky and churchbells fell silent. A silly thought, it just wouldn't work, would it?

"Fragmented Time" was snapped in Chicago, USA exactly one year ago, almost to the day. If I look back, as time prompts us to do, I can immediately tell what has changed in my life, what has grown, what has gone and what has remained.

If "Fragmented Time" speaks to you, you can give it a space on your wall, no matter your style of decor. Fine-art print, metal print, acrylic, wood or canvas - we've got you covered. Maybe you can hang it where your clock hangs ;)

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When summer fades, when the sunlight changes, when the morning air feels subtly different and the month names become longer, I get a little bit anxious. 

I feel like I've always fought Time, in my life. I've always been the type to cram in more than what days can hold without spilling over. I've tried to cheat Time in gentle ways but, inevitably, midnight comes, birthdays swing 'round and seasons change. 

I have always appreciated autumn more than spring, impressed by its efforts to keep us feeling hopeful and alive, with its saturation of our senses. If summer has to end, I feel grateful it is followed by such an explosive, fiery, awe-inspiring season, giving us happiness of a different kind. 

Last weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada. Saturday was rainy, and was spent working leisurely, meeting new clients, developing new exciting projects for the holiday season and next year. It was cool enough to inspire thoughts of pumpkins and to warrant a hearty soup for supper. Sunday was spent with family and all the joy they (and my childhood home) bring. And Monday was so gloriously sunny, it was too promising a day to stay indoors or even in the city. So, I fled to the mountains, in search of colors and crisp air!  

It has always amazed me how Nature is the perfect reboot. The Sea still has my heart, of course, but mountains are a solid second. It's like we need to lift our head up sometimes, out of our work and daily routines, and tilted up towards the sky and the warmth of the sun. We need to feel like a small insignificant speck sometimes, to experience a moment of awe, or quietude, or vertigo. We need to be free of distractions and focus only on what lands on our senses. We need to see the horizon, to see all that stretches towards it, and we are refreshed, at least momentarily. It's our task to hold onto that fresh air and clear head for as long as we can. 

Last weekend, I felt profoundly grateful for autumn, for nature, for all the blessings and opportunities I have, and for all the people I love. 

I may be stubbornly denying that summer has glided by (I am still not comfortable admitting it), but I am glad that autumn is so loud and so joyous that no one can sulk for long. That being said, I may not survive when the snow hits...

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Is October too early to start thinking of your Christmas shopping?
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It’s too early for me to start thinking of my Christmas shopping, but I am more last-minute than the average person (in this respect, anyway). That being said, being a business owner has really forced me to think of the holidays as soon as leaves start to fall off trees…

On the weekend of October 22-23, the Marché Artistique is hosting a craft show called “Extraordin-Artistes d'Automne" in Montreal. It’s officially a Halloween-themed show, but it’s the perfect opportunity to get an early jump on those holiday gift ideas.

If you missed me at Etsy Fait au Québec in September, or if you were there but want more (I would love it if you let me know!), you can find me at 5945 Rue Cartier in Montreal on both weekend days (10 am to 6 pm) with my fine-art prints, metal prints and magnets from Montreal and worldwide, as well as my last remaining greeting cards for my first-edition Cards for a Cause project. I will have some autumn prints for the occasion! You’ll also be able to make special orders of anything you fancy from my online shop, so come with your wishes, questions or doubts, and I will work hard to address them! 

To find out more about the event and catch a glimpse of the talented vendors who will be there with their unique creations, check out the Facebook event page.
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I'm excited to see you in less than two weeks!  

P.S. Did you know that until October 31st, you will automatically get a special coupon for 20% your online order just for subscribing to my VIP list? Signing up gives you free access to a monthly newsletter where you'll be the first to find out about new collections, upcoming events and special offers just for YOU! Click below to sign up! 

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​Six thousand visitors in a single weekend! The historic Technopole was bustling, its rustic metal pillars decked out with festive banners, and the space between them filled by local artisans, their unique creations and a constant stream of shoppers who came to celebrate all things Made in Québec. The community definitely showed up on that September weekend, and participating vendors were buzzing with excitement and pride. 

This was the third annual Etsy Fait au Québec Montréal show. It was the second time that I participated as a vendor, but the first time I was part of the organization committee with the Etsy Montréal team. I thoroughly loved both of those roles and the energy of the team. In a previous blog post, I explained why I have an Etsy shop and why I love this online marketplace so much. Events like these are incredible fun for me, mostly because of the immediate feedback you have on your product. The reactions and interactions are impossible to experience to the same extent online or when someone else is selling your creations. The ability to share stories and anecdotes behind your products, explain why they are special, or answer questions that are spontaneously asked makes participating in these shows an invaluable experience. 

And I am so so SO grateful for the Montreal community who is always so passionate about shopping local and sustaining local entrepreneurs. You rock! 

 When I do these shows, I am always torn about what photographs to print and take with me. If you know me and my shop well, you know that I have hundreds of photographs that really vary a lot in theme and style. It’s hard to get into the heads of thousands of shoppers and try to tug on their heart! It’s also tricky to demand that kind of patience from shoppers – the very committed ones make it through the basket(s) of prints without feeling overwhelmed! Those are the shoppers I get to spend the most time with at my booth, as they hold up individual prints and react to them.

One of those lovely individuals wanted me to tell her a little bit more about my business, certain photographs, their locations, etc. When I told her about how I had taken the photographs mostly over the course of the last 4 years, while pursuing a scientific research career at the same time, she looked up from the prints (her finger safely keeping her spot open) and said, in French:

“Vous faites ce que vous aimez dans la vie”.

This roughly translates as, “You do what you love in your life”. I smiled and paused for a moment before answering, because her comment caught me off-guard but also made my day, because it made me realize just that. Yes, I have been so blessed to do exactly what I have wanted to do in my life so far, to chase my dreams without overthinking them or putting them on hold, to combine my diverse interests and create an unconventional but exciting life. I felt so encouraged by her comment, and if it hadn’t been for the Etsy show and our interaction, that supportive, empowering feedback may not have gotten back to me. 

Our ears were buzzing that weekend. Our backs were sore, our voices were strained, but our hearts were full.

Thank you to ALL those who came out to the Etsy show in their nearest city (across Canada!) and who believe that the Etsy community offers something of value. Independent entrepreneurs really thrive off your support and the community feeling that you help create and maintain.

Thank you from our hearts!

P.S. How to know whether there is an Etsy event close to you? Check out the “Etsy Local” section.

P.P.S. If you’re a small business owner or *thinking* of starting a business, what are you waiting for? There are a ton of resources on Etsy and you can join a team for extra support!

P.P.P.S. If you haven’t seen Veni Etiam Photography’s Etsy shop (where you could mostly find small-sized items), check it out here:

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