Where did the year go? I mean, wasn't it summer two weeks ago?!

The holiday preparations have hit and I have been SO busy creating amazing things for you! Don't miss my Holiday Gift Guide which gives you great ideas of how to treat others (and yourself) this season. You'll also see my list of upcoming holiday events if you want to shop in person or pick up your orders. 

So, what's new for you? Two products that you've been asking me about FOR YEARS. 

Postcards and a Montreal calendar.

The postcards measure 4x4 inches, because there's something special about square prints! Typically, the smallest size prints I offer you is 8x8 inches, but now you can get several of your favorite images on a smaller size, still on great quality textured paper. 

You can write a message on the back and send them, or you can keep them as art prints by creatively displaying them or framing them. I'll have a few framing options available on hand if you like that idea.

I'll be unveiling this postcard collection at the Nutcracker Market (Marché Casse Noisette) in Montreal at the Palais des Congrès between November 29th and December 9th, so stop by to see them and choose your favorites. If you want VIP access, sign up to my newsletter and I'll tell you how to get VIP tickets and a special discount before the event opens to the public!

The Montreal calendar is another very simple gift idea. The calendar consists of 12 sheets of eggshell cardstock measuring 5x7 inches, with 5x5 high-quality photographic prints that you could easily cut out and keep for yourself or gift to others as high-quality prints or cards once the month is done. 

The images are my color + black and white photographs of Montreal - many of which have become your favorite bestselling images from my collection!

As I'll only be printing a small batch of these calendars, you could reserve yours by placing an order through my Etsy shop. You can pick it up in person at one of my next events by using the coupon code INMTL.

Aside from these two main lines of products, I've also added tons of new prints fresh off the printer. Check out the Holiday Gift Guide to see more!

Are you planning on coming to any of my holiday markets this year?
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From my heart to yours.

It was high time I added a Quebec City collection to my Montreal & Toronto series. You had asked me time and again, but I was waiting for some down time in my schedule to go take my camera on a road trip. It was a wonderful weekend, and I ended up with many more photographs than I expected! (Although, let's be honest: isn't that always the case with me?!)

It is with excitement that I introduce the QCity collection to you! You'll find that the "usual suspects" have inspired me: architecture, urban details, textures, colors, geometric patterns and moody hues. 

The collection is currently available in exclusivity to my VIP members who can order their favorite(s) via e-mail with a special pre-launch coupon they got. (Not a VIP? Remedy that here and now). Prints and coasters will be launched at the ​Etsy Ville de Québec spring show on May 26-27 in Québec City. 

Tell me: Which one's your favorite?

Whether you have been following me for some time or you have just stumbled upon my world, you may have noticed that Italy plays a huge part in my collection, my writings and my days. 

Why?

What's the deal with Italy? What gave rise to this "obsession"? How is Italy part of my life story? What's my favorite spot in Italy? All these questions and MORE are answered in an interview I did for the lovely Heather Carlson from "Smitten Italy" as part of our new collaboration.

Heather Carlson is a fellow italophile. We "met" in a magical place called Instagram, connected by our shared passion for Italian travel, food and culture. I stumbled upon Heather's shop of whimsical Italy-inspired goods, and later discovered that she is also behind "Merry Feast Travels", organizing culinary tours and offering travel planning services to any beginner or seasoned Italy-bound traveler. 

To find out more about why Italy is infused into my creative work, and to learn some Italy-related quirks about me that you probably did not know before, head to the Merry Feast Travels blog to read the full interview!

My mission with Veni Etiam has always been to inspire you, and help you find a piece of art that represents your own journey. 

If Italy resonates with you as it does with me, I think you'll be excited to discover the collection that is now live in the Smitten Italy shop!

Which one is your favorite? Heather and I would love to know!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series where I will interview Heather about her story and her tips for travellers to Italy. Don't miss out on goodies: follow us!

From Day One, my shop's motto has been "from my heart to yours", because of all the places, colors and moods I share with you in my words and photographs. But it especially comes from my heart when clients ask me whether I could take a particular photo of a place that means a lot to them. ​

When I first created my business, I knew that customization was an important feature of my art shop - I wanted you to find yourself, your travels, your dreams and decor tastes in my images and in all the options you could select to create a piece for your space. But I somehow didn't imagine that through connections and dialogues with you online and in person, I could also be asked to create photographs of places I had not captured yet before. A place you ask about obviously means something to you - and if it means something to you, it means something to me.

This summer, a client asked me whether I had photographs of two Montreal spots that were special to her family - the Farine Five Roses factory building and the clock tower at the Old Port.

These were two spots her late father adored, and she wanted prints of them in her home, to remind her of him daily. 

These were two landmarks I had not yet photographed in a way that made me feel like adding them to my shop. It could partly be because I did not feel attached to them in a profound way, or also because I knew many other talented artists in our Montreal community had done such an amazing job at capturing them. But this client asked me to photograph these landmarks in my own style, because she loved the feeling of my work, and she wanted it to be meaningful in memory of her father. So, I set out to find my voice with these landmarks and to prepare a whole bunch of prints that she could then choose from. 

When I showed her the scenes I had collected for her, she was touched. She loved the mood of one of the Farine Five Roses shots, and the composition of the photograph of the Clock Tower. "It's like it's pointing up at the sky, to my Dad," she wrote. That touched me so much, that I dedicated the print's caption (on the insert that accompanies each print) to her and her dad. 

That is the beauty of creating something one-of-a-kind, something that touches someone's heart and represents a piece of their story. Moments like these make me feel really blessed to have this artistic outlet to inspire you. In turn, I am always astonished and grateful of how you inspire me in return, with your own vision, your own story and your words. Thank you for this gift. 

Together, we put together a gallery wall of seven prints for this lovely client, the two commissions being unique to her wall, as they have not been added to my online shop.

Some of the other variations have been added to my art shop and my Etsy shop, and I will have them with me for the first time this weekend at the Etsy Fait au Quebec Montreal show. 

You may also opt for larger wall art on paper, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood. 

If you'd like to connect, just leave a comment on this post! I'd love to hear from you.

From my heart to yours.

In case you missed it: I got to cross off a destination from my bucket-list!

I just returned from Havana, and shared my impressions in words and photographs of the city in my previous blog post. 

And now, I'm extremely excited to launch my new Havana collection, which aims to convey the mood and raw beauty that La Habana radiates. 

Here are the images that are new in shop, and which could be ordered on paper, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood. 

This collection really excites me, not only because I've always wanted to discover Havana, but also because of all the senses and feelings I aimed to capture forever.

The collection is not yet in my art shop or on Etsy. I’m offering FIRST PICK and 20% off to my VIPs until August 25th.

Not on my VIP list? You’re missing out. Join here.

From my heart to yours.

Certain places end up on our ‘bucket list’ without much warning. They’ve somehow always been there, like a thought whose source you can’t trace. They pull us – gently or hurriedly – until our plans materialize, until we speak the words out loud.

“We’re going to Havana.”

It was a somewhat spontaneous trip, but that doesn’t matter. It’s not really spontaneous if you’ve always wanted to go.
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It was also a somewhat short trip, but that doesn’t matter either. If your eyes and heart are wide open, even a short trip can inspire you plenty, and give you that precious feeling of longing to return. 

From my first moments in town, Havana asserted itself. It became clear to me that Havana is a mood.
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Although some squares like the Plaza de la Catedral and the Plaza Vieja have a slight European feel, and some narrow lanes and charming balconies cause your mind to wander to thoughts of other cities you’ve been to, much of Havana is in a league of its own, with an undeniably distinct character.

I spent the morning hours strolling the streets of Habana Vieja. Having refrained from looking at too many photographs of Havana before it was my turn to stand there, I genuinely had no well-formed expectations. What was striking from the start, aside from the stifling summer heat, was how much there was to take in.
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I can’t think of that many other cities where I have felt the urge to comb the streets – each street – unwilling to miss anything. Venice, of course. Amsterdam, for sure. And now, Havana pulled me up and down its grid of streets, defiantly pushing my limits of time, temperature and tiredness. I followed, in awe of the architecture, the vintage cars, the colors and the contrasts between efforts of restoration and piles of decay.

“Hola!” a female voice broke my awe-stricken gaze.  I looked into an open doorway. In response to my eyes landing on hers, she pointed up. “Take a photo of that building,” she told me in Spanish. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Everyone likes to take a photo of that.”
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Many locals seemed to have grown accustomed to seeing their city through tourists’ eyes. Right from early morning, the stage was set and they were in position, keen to earn something from your mere presence. They yearned to engage in conversation, offered cab rides and tips, eager to know where you were from, where you were headed, if you liked salsa music, if you cared anything about Hemingway and where he hung out. How the conversation proceeded depended on your answers to their prompts. But they were always kind, never invaded our space, and let us go our way when we were ready to move on.

​In Old Havana, I noticed how the line between private and public was blurred. Open doorways revealed staircases that were as eerie as they were inviting. Other open doors offered glimpses into living spaces, dark and cool shelters from the beating sun. Some families happily called out to us from their windows, while other locals sat on their doorstep and offered a silent nod as we passed by.

​We walked and walked as the hours silently slipped by, and I took notes of my feelings and observations with my lens. My senses were overloaded. The color palette was enough to make skeptics dream – with its turquoises and pastels and ochres and crimsons and blues. The mixed textures of faded paint attracted my eye even more than any intentional street art. As the sun rose higher, sounds of music livened the air, intoxicating us with a rhythm impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, the nose was busy assigning meaning to various wafts of appetizing street food, enticing scents from fresh produce markets, the sweet perfume of churros, the heavy exhaust from vintage cars, and the stench of sewage and garbage – all of which fiercely competed with the other at every street corner. I watched life unfold amidst this flurry of senses, as locals went about their daily business, while dogs explored the streets, and cats hid from the sun in whatever shade they could find. 

​I finally found myself on the Malecón – the sea-wall promenade that is so beloved to locals and foreigners alike that everyone seems to love saying its name. The buildings facing the sea were surprisingly run-down, but authentic in their raw account of time. The sea was still when we were there – it had no interest in challenging the boundary that had been delineated to constrain it. Suddenly, we found ourselves standing in the middle of an informal baseball game, in the precarious position behind the batter. As the youths played below, an elderly man watched from above, standing in the only open doorway of a series of charmingly decaying houses. 

​Havana is aging gracefully, I thought, as I pondered its complex relationship with time. Parts of it are encapsulated in their own microuniverse, while others are unimmune to deterioration. The past is tightly interwoven with the present and future, through countless traces of Che and Fidel – two pillars of Cuban society that continue to watch over their people from both fading murals and kitschy souvenirs.

​I grew fascinated by the contrasts and ironies that stood at every turn. A beautiful façade flanked another in shambles, its near-perfection antagonizing the skeleton that guarded a lifeless pile of fallen stones. The governmental buildings and hotels stood polished, intruders in the fabric of the city. The double currency of the place legalized a sort of double-standard that is hard to fully grasp the ins and outs of – on the one hand, poverty, and on the other, a currency that is at par with the American dollar. Cars that are the unthinkable dreams for aficionados back home and a delight for tourists are merely a consequence of the regime that Cubans had no choice but to abide by, even if it meant having to improvise innovative solutions to maintain them.

​Locals shared snippets of their lives in conversation, explaining how there were some towns where they were allowed to work and others where they were not, describing their work hours and what they did in their time off. As I listened and watched, I wondered what it really means to live in Cuba, and how a change in leadership might affect Havana’s fate in years to come. 

​These impressions are what I hope to have captured in my Havana collection. The colors and textures, contrasts and ironies, rawness and authenticity, candor and simplicity, past and present, and that feeling of overwhelmed senses.

​All that makes up the special mood that is Habana.

To see which of these photographs made it into the all new Havana collection, check out this post.

You may have noticed that the collection is not yet in my art shop or on Etsy. I’m offering FIRST PICK, full customization of size and medium (paper, acrylic, canvas, wood or metal) and 20% off to my VIPs until August 25th.

Not on my VIP list? You’re missing out. Join here.

From my heart to yours.

The toughest part about artistic collaborations is that you have to keep them a secret until the launch! As this new international project unfolded behind the scenes, it was difficult for me to contain my excitement, as this is the first home furniture design project that Veni Etiam has been part of in its short history. 

The concept was born out of the vision of an American duo of architects and designers, passionate about creating original home furniture that innovatively flips perspectives yet allows customers to enrich their space with furniture that reflects their own style. Together, Ann Clark and Lena Georas founded LAMOU design, creating designer tables that are as artistic as they are functional. 

"Tables are at the center of our living and working spaces. We gather around the table, bring things to the table, turn the tables: shouldn't tables reflect our spirit and personality? I think so." -- Ann F. Clark, LAMOU co-founder.

​Since the start of Veni Etiam Photography in 2015, my mission has been to combine art with innovation, offering my photographs in a range of mediums (paper, canvas, metal, acrylic and wood), so that you are able to customize the art to suit your own decor, dreams and moods. Your home is your sanctuary, after all, and it should reflect you. 

Having connected on Instagram and "met" face-to-face on Skype (long live technology in our modern world!), the LAMOU team and I instantly knew that we were a great fit and that together we could create an exclusive collection that would excite and inspire our followers.

Our tables come in 2 square sizes (15 or 20 inches) and one large rectangular size (23.4 x 47.5 inches). The height of all table models is 23 inches. The tabletop is made of solid (1-inch thick) Baltic wood. My digital photograph is directly printed (and UV-cured) onto the primed birch surface with a satin finish. The elegant hairpin legs are made of solid steel with a factory finish. 

The wood is primed before the photographs are printed onto it, so the finished product is almost perfectly loyal to the colors of the original image. Edge colors options include black, natural oak and folkstone grey. Hairpin legs are black by default but you may request custom order if you would like to change the leg color to suit your decor. ​There are 8 images in the permanent collection, but in the spirit of customization, you may request another Veni Etiam photograph on your table as a custom order for no extra charge!

​The tabletop is coated with a protective covering that basically makes it a giant coaster, already protected against spills. To clean, wipe with a soft damp cloth only. Although robust, your table should be treated with care and is intended for indoor use. Recommended maximum weight is 50 lbs. Your table will ship in two parts (tabletop + legs) delivered together. Easy assembly with handheld Philips head screwdriver (screws included).

As this is the fruit of a collaboration with LAMOU, these tables ship from the USA. Production time is approximately 2 weeks, and shipping times are estimated at 3-7 business days.

​Head here for more information and to shop the collection!

Ici vous trouverez toutes les informations en français. 

As a maritime soul, it's no wonder that one of my favorite aspects of living in Montreal is my proximity to its Old Port. I love to go there to wander around, seamlessly blending in with the tourists as I point my camera in all directions.

I have recently noticed that I am especially drawn to the port when seasons change - I seem to go there most when autumn fades into winter, and winter fades into spring. 

Last weekend, after making a fresh delivery of fine-art prints to ImpresArts near the Basilica, I decided to clear my agenda for the hours that followed, and simply walk, look, capture and enjoy. 

It was raining when I first arrived, and the silhouette of the Notre-Dame Basilica masked with raindrops made me smile. The bells struck noon, and soon thereafter the skies cleared. A street musician started his soulful rendition of "Wicked Game", forcing me to sit down on a wet bench in the square to listen, as did dozens of others who were similarly entranced by his voice. It was fortuitous timing in every sense.

The air was thick and damp, almost visible. My curls flattened, as they do when I'm on my lagoon. Puddles and budding trees were welcome reminders that spring was in gear. There was a pleasant breeze, finally mild after a long winter, and although the skies were overcast, colors were saturated enough to contrast with one another. 

If you are familiar with some of my Old Port photographs from my Montreal collection, you know that my eye is usually drawn to moody urban scenes, architectural treasures, decay, textures, lines and symmetry. It's always a feast for the eyes when I stroll through Old Montreal, and last weekend was no exception.

After a couple of hours of walking, I stopped into the beautiful Tommy Café to enjoy a tea. I sat at a table on a step, halfway between the main floor and the second floor, facing the big open doors that let in fresh air. 

I came back from the port relaxed and happy. I hadn't had such a relaxing Saturday in a while, as my last weekends had been devoted to shows and launch preparations. Once in a while, you do need to be a tourist in your own city to feel as though you are on vacation and to take in sights with a fresh perspective. 

From my heart to yours.

Shop this post:

One of my favorite aspects about Veni Etiam Photography is that there is SO much to choose from in the collection. My mission is to offer something for everyone - every style, mood, memory or dream. Whether you've been to a place and miss it, or whether it's a dream you're holding onto, I love it when these snapshots of places speak to you in a certain way.

Recently, a customer asked me whether I had more Portugal images than the ones already in my collection. I promised to send her some more options upon my return. This led to a fun exercise of sifting through photographs of Portugal that I had initially overlooked.

I love rediscoveries as much as I love custom requests! They always surprise me and make me nostalgic of places and moments I have loved.
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These Portugal scenes have now been added to my international fine-art collection, and are available both in my shop and on Etsy. 

From my heart to yours!

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I can finally say that I have expanded my Canadian collection to include the vibrant city of Toronto! 

After my weekend trip to prep for my upcoming show, I had a lot of fun sifting through my photos, picking my favorites, naming them and adding them to my shop. I just received the fine-art prints yesterday and loved seeing my desk full of fresh images. ​You can shop prints individually or in sets.

I will soon be adding all these images as metal, acrylic, canvas and wood wall-art. ​The "Full Circle" round aluminum disks are already available to order!

Another exciting new addition are birch wood coasters, not only in the square format like the Montreal and International coaster sets, but also in circle form (I do love circles, after all). These will make their debut at the One of a Kind Show and Sale next week. There are limited quantities of each set (otherwise they wouldn't be so one-of-a-kind!). 

There are also a couple of new Toronto pencil cases / pouches that will accompany me to the show and have been added to my Etsy shop: "Memories of Toronto" and "Love and Snowflakes". 

I hope you love these new additions as much as I do. For custom orders, I'm an e-mail away! 

From my heart to yours.

Stay in touch on Instagram!

Every now and then, I end up going through my unpublished photo collections, in search of a memory or feeling that may be more buried than other more salient ones. I absolutely love rediscovering photographs that somehow didn't "make the cut" the first time around. It feels good to go back in time, to give a little bit of extra attention to what caught my eye long ago but was since forgotten.

As I had written in a post last year, this exercise is a direct testament to how our perception changes, and how returning to a place (even if virtually) leads you to see something new.

I always feel grateful for this surge of inspiration that comes even without my travelling or experiencing something new. When a cycle of rediscoveries emerges, I round up the photographs and add my favorite newcomers to my collection.

Here are this season's rediscoveries, which have been freshly added to the shop and to Etsy. 

Lines and textures filled the scene as far as the eye could see (Chicago, USA)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

The Gothic palace where East meets West, where Land meets Lagoon and open Sea (Venice, Italy)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

As long as we are side by side and anchored to the same port, we can weather any storm (Bari)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

Have faith: She is watching over you (Rovereto, Italy)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

A gorgeous spring morning on the island of Burano (Venice, Italy)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood.

A red bicycle and red flowers in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

A day of slow thoughts, fresh air and crisp colors.
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

Wherever you go, may your soul and life be bursting with color (Venice, Italy)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

A Sunday stroll through Burano’s streets, without worry of rain (Venice, Italy)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

The soft texture and classic pattern of a cow (Llandudno, Wales)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

Venetian window arches, decaying yet everlasting
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

I often miss those mellow days of walking for hours in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

Under your bougainvilleas, I can happily lose track of time (Ostuni, Italy)
Fine-art print

Peace on the interior (Corfu, Greece)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

The narrow streets in Martina Franca are inviting and intriguing
Fine-art print

Her rustic charm is part of her rare beauty (Venice, Italy)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

The birds dominate the skies over Corfu town (Greece)
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

Stopped at the church in the afternoon sun (Riva del Garda, Italy)
Fine-art print

Mornings in the old town and its rustic light (Rovereto, Italy)
Fine-art print

A fairytale fantasy and a ferris wheel (Cardiff, Wales)
Fine-art print

Burano’s deeply rich colors and one happy little bird (Venice, Italy)​
Fine-art print, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood

From my heart to yours!

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Celebrating all things handmade in Canada, Makeology is a community of Canadian artisans who come together online and offline to sell their beautiful local creations. Makeology was founded in 2013 by Melissa Lowry and has since developed a great reputation and a growing following. 

Every month, a Makeology online market features the work of several artists according to a theme. To kick off 2017 in style, this month's theme is "white" and I am thrilled that Veni Etiam Photography is one of the artists being showcased!

"Elegance" my black and white photograph of blossoming magnolias is featured in the January market as a round metal print. The metal disk measures 10x10 inches ( cm) and is made of brushed aluminum. The photograph is printed directly on the aluminum sheet with special UV-protected inks. All the white in the image remains raw aluminum, so it takes on a silver hue. The texture of the brushed metal adds a stunning dimension to the image; it shimmers when the light catches it and tricks the eye into thinking that is might be a hologram!

Like all the metal prints in my new "Full Circle" collection, "Elegance" on a round disk comes mounted on a wooden floater frame backing with a wire. This means it could be hung with a single nail with no fuss. The result is that the disk pops off the wall in a sleek, modern way. ​

To celebrate the launch of the "Full Circle" collection, Elegance and all other round cut metal art in my shop starts at $99. If you join the VIP list, you immediately receive a 20% coupon that could be combined with this limited-time offer. Don't procrastinate! Shop here or find a limited number of prints on Etsy. ​​

To see all the beautiful creations that are being featured this month, check out the Makeology online market or follow them on Instagram. I love to discover all the talent and all the beautiful things being produced by loving hands in Canada! Thank you Makeology for the feature and for encouraging art that's made in Canada.

Staying true to Veni Etiam's core themes of travel, nostalgia and of the home as a sanctuary representing a person's inspirations and dreams, exciting new product lines are sneaking into the collection just in time for the new year.

These new, lovingly designed creations will be unveiled in Montreal this weekend (December 10-11th) at the Etsy Holiday Market.

Now wood prints are not only available for your wall, but also for your table! You may choose between two black and white collections: the Montreal series (Biosphere, MTL, One Way or Another, Winter on the Plateau) and the International series (Cobblestone, In Galleria, Lincoln Park, London Rain). Each square coaster measures 4.25 x 4.25 inches and is made of water-resistant birch plywood with slip-proof cork corners on the bottom. The natural hues and grain of the wood come through, making the images darker and moodier, enhancing their artistic feel. Coasters will be added to my Etsy shop next week ($40 CAD), so consider favoriting my shop to keep an eye out! 

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Aluminum prints will soon be available in a round cut! Stay tuned for the launch of the "Full Circle" collection. Just like square and rectangular formats, these brushed aluminum prints come with a floater backing (wooden frame with a wire) so that they pop off the wall in a sleek, modern way. They are ready to hang with a single nail. No fuss, just daily inspiration! If there is a print from the aluminum collection that you have been eyeing and would like to custom order it in a round cut, just drop me a line. Featured here is "Winter on the Plateau" in 12x12 inches ($99 CAD). It will accompany me to the Etsy Holiday Market this weekend if you'd like to see it in person.

The travel writer in me just had to venture into this project! Pencil cases (which are actually large enough to hold other items, if you have no use for pens and pencils) with some of your favorite travel scenes, from Montreal, to Venice, to the sea, to urban life and nature. These soft, sturdy cases (9x4 inches) are made to resist fading with use. They are zippered and lined with canvas. Keep an eye on my Etsy shop after this weekend to order your favorite ($25 CAD). 

I can't wait to share these new product lines with you and find out how you feel about them! They are all 100% made in Canada and 100% from my heart to yours.

For more news and special offers, join the VIP list! And are we friends on Instagram?

I have always been a collector. I think this is partly because I am introspective and welcoming of the twists and turns of life, observant of how the crisscrossing of paths and the comings and goings of key people leave their stamp on us, molding us a little each time. Collectors collect for the good of the soul, because there is something strangely poetic and satisfying about surrounding yourself with tiny tokens that embody your experiences, travels, loves, dreams, inspirations, values and contemplations. In a way that is more biographic than materialistic, I have discovered great joy in expressing myself through a curated collection of items old and new. No matter where I have lived, for how short a while or in how small a space, what I loved most was creating a home that represented, inspired and uplifted me.

I haven't always been a photographer. Rather, I dreamt of being a writer and studied to be a scientific researcher. I wrote often and a lot - it was like thinking and breathing, but on paper. My writings have also been collections - non-linear and spontaneous, my pen itself unknowing of the words that flowed until the sentence received its period. I told my notebooks all my stories; neither lines nor margins mattered, nor the fact that I was actually starting to fill the back pages of my science notebooks, spilling closer and closer to the front, until the creative thoughts met the scientific thoughts somewhere in the middle. 

​I pursued part of my graduate studies in Europe, moving from country to country as part of an unconventional international program. It allowed me to travel, to discover new lifestyles and cultures and to continuously expand my personal collection - postcards and magnets, inspirational quotes and funky beer coasters, faded train tickets and other memorabilia - these arguably unsophisticated items happily mixed with more valuable ones: local art and ceramics, home design items and prints... What I loved, who I loved, where I loved and what I dreamed of encapsulated in a number of items that traveled with me like a growing circus, requiring the acquisition of a new suitcase with every leg of the journey. Those pivotal years also enabled me to write my heart out and to fall in love with a new form of storytelling and collecting -- photography. ​

Photographs are stories. They are collections of micromoments, places and people that touched us. Whether they are our own or another's, some photographs strike a chord in us, make us stare a little while longer. That is because they represent how we see the world, how we live, how we love and how we dream.

Through my love for collecting and storytelling, I developed my photography to the point where I became known for not even going to the grocery store without my camera. I shared them with friends and family, gradually expanding my audience. Like-minded people felt something when viewing them, and urged me time and time again to "do something with them". I launched my business with this passion at heart - the passion for stories, for travel, for that special way a place can play on your heartstrings, for the feeling that home is a sanctuary that should reflect and inspire you. 

I have created pre-made collections or sets of fine-art prints, based on places, color palettes and feelings that flow together. These collections are currently only available in my Etsy shop and can be shipped to you or picked up in person if you're in Montreal. In the spirit of collecting what represents YOU, you could also put together your own personal collection by ordering a custom set of prints. 

If you follow me along on this blog and Instagram, you'll get to know some of the stories behind these photographs. 

Which prints make you dream and reminisce? Is there a collection that fits with you and your home? Let me know what inspires you - I always like to know! 

In preparation for the Etsy Fait au Québec show - coming up this weekend in multiple Canadian cities including Montreal –  I thought it would be a nice occasion to finally create some greeting cards out of my photography, since clients frequently ask me about cards. As a writer, I would love to actually write messages inside these cards, but in order to first test out the images and the product itself, I decided it might be wise if these first limited edition greeting cards were blank, creating the opportunity for your words to take center stage.
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That being said, I still wanted to do something special and meaningful with these cards, to celebrate the act of giving and receiving, of making time to say what we feel, of communicating the old-fashioned way, and the simple act of treasuring our loved-ones.

In light of this, I have decided to launch an initiative called “Cards for a cause” and to donate proceeds from my card sales to a cause I hold dear.

My wholehearted goal is for this to become a tradition (with a different cause every year), so I will need your support in making this happen!

Partly because September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and partly because it is a cause that is meaningful to me, I have chosen to donate to Ovarian Cancer Canada. 

Ovarian Cancer is considered the deadliest women’s cancer, largely because it is not easily detected in its early stages. The symptoms are easily confounded with other diseases and often detection is only confirmed once the disease has begun to spread. Additional research is needed to improve screening methods in order for ovarian cancer to be detected reliably and early on. There are different kinds of ovarian cancer and several risk factors, including family history of female cancers. Ovarian Cancer Canada has been working hard in recent campaigns to increase awareness of the disease and to educate women to become familiar with signs and symptoms, with the hope of increasing the likelihood for early detection.

I will launch my new greeting cards this weekend at the Etsy Fait au Québec Montreal market, held at the Technopole Angus on Saturday (10am to 6pm) and Sunday (10am-5pm). If any cards are still in stock after the event, I will add them to my Etsy shop and you will be able to purchase them online.

They are impressively vibrant, square, 6x6 inches in size (including a white border) and blank inside for your heart’s message. They feature many of the popular images from the Veni Etiam Photography collection, as well as some images that are not part of the collection, such as colorful Montreal or international scenes, foodscapes and daily details. If you really fall in love with these cards and don’t want to give them away, you could also keep them and frame them. Each card with its envelope costs $6 or 3 cards (of your choice) for $15. 

I hope that you will stop by the market this weekend or, if you’re not in Montreal, that you’ll keep your eye out on my Etsy shop next week.

Together we can make a difference. It truly starts with a big heart and a small step.

Thank you for supporting Cards for a cause. Please share this post (or those on my Facebook and Instagram channels) to raise awareness for this initiative and for ovarian cancer.

With much love and appreciation,
​Kristina