From November 29th to December 9th 2018, I will be participating in a well-known Christmas market at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal for the second year in a row: the Marché Casse-Noisette / Nutcracker market. It is my biggest show of the year, in the sense that I will have a large booth to present my world to you - all those colors, feelings and inspiring scenes that make you connect with Veni Etiam!

This year, I thought I'd offer a sneak peek at some of the large pieces that will be showcased in my booth, to give you a special chance at reserving them in advance at a special VIP rate (10% off).

Why? These large specialty pieces take over 2 weeks to produce, so by reserving them early, you make sure you have them before the holidays. It's also a way of thanking you (and rewarding you!) for being bold with your decor decisions, and for being part of my community. 

Here are the large pieces you could reserve right now (until November 26th):

Li Prisuddi (Italy)
Satin print 16x24 inches
White wood frame included
Framed: $125 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

New Life in Hiroshima(Canada)
Satin print 12x18 inches
Black wood frame included
Framed $100 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

Mirror Waters of Levico (Italy)
Brushed aluminum (metal) art 12x18 inches
Floater frame and wire attached to the back (ready to hang)
$189 CAD
Reserve before November 26th and receive 10% discount

If any of these large ready-to-hang or framed pieces have your name on it, contact me right away to reserve it at 10% off. (Please note that the item must be paid in full in advance). 

To get an early start on your shopping, visit my shop or my Etsy shop and use the coupon code INMTL to pick up your purchase to save on shipping fees and delays.

I can't wait to help you find inspiring decor items this holiday season. See you soon!

From my heart to yours.

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If you've followed me for a while, you know I always have something up my sleeve. Nothing mischievous, just always something NEW! 

Last time, it was the Havana collection and updates to the Canadian collection.

The time before, an exciting design collaboration with Ann and Lena from Lamou Design. 

The time before that, new product lines such as high quality birch wood coasters, notebooks and pouches. 

All of this within a year's span!

Well, why not? Art should be versatile and functional, suited to your own daily life, moods and decor. 

Here's a sneak peek at what I have up my sleeve this spring. I'll give you a hint: it's a new collaboration with Lamou design!

But here's the thing: My VIPs always get the news first as to what is new, and they get first pick on limited quantities. 

So... if you want to be in the know, here's where you sign up. Why bother? Because, in addition to getting special treatment (like exclusive picks and coupons), you also get a monthly newsletter for that bit of extra connection and inspiration. Not to play favorites but...

Are you in? Sign up here.

From my heart to yours.

Three years ago, I had the crazy idea to put my favorite photographs from my travels onto a website, to see whether they might inspire someone.

Someone other than me.

I had a vision that was not perfectly formed, and no sense of entrepreneurship whatsoever. My goal was simply to share the snapshots that I had collected with the world, to hopefully evoke feeling through my photographic perspective, and to connect with people who loved what I loved -  places, color, details and the simple beauty of daily life.
​
I launched my online shop and my blog simultaneously, taking a deep breath and a great big leap, putting myself and my photography out there for the world to see. 

In blog posts, I started to share the moments and feelings behind my images, conveying what stopped me in my tracks, what I felt was a beautiful moment and a beautiful place.
​
I have always said that when I first launched my website and shop, I did not have a clue that what I was launching was (also) a business. I was a full-time PhD candidate in neurolinguistics; my head was immersed in science – theories, hypotheses, brain waves, syntax, statistics… But I’d always had a creative counterpart to this scientific soul – I had always been a writer, filling notebooks without the constraints of margins or lines, blogging for my university, dreaming up jobs that were unconventional for a tenure-track scientist. I had also always been a traveler, and even more so thanks to my scientific career. 

So, it seemed only natural that Veni Etiam existed on the side, coaxing me now and then to pay more attention to it, to help it grow beyond that initial circle of friends, colleagues and acquaintances who excitedly supported this inspiring endeavor.

I remember the first connections I made with strangers who discovered Veni Etiam. I carefully watched their reactions, carefully listened to the words they used to describe what they saw and what it made them feel. To me, it was my perspective, my experiences, my story. I knew my images by heart. I had given them each a title that meant something to me. To them, it was fresh, different, beautiful, colorful, inspiring. I remember feeling disbelief and belief all at once, that I could reach people in this way, that they saw value in what I created. They found themselves in the images, the perspective, the titles and the captions. They chose what represented them. They shared their own travel stories and bucket-list aspirations with me.

​Unexpectedly, the Etsy Montreal community took me under their wing. I don’t even remember how I first discovered the team, but the artisan community blew me away. There was so much to learn, and so much know-how to pass onto others. I volunteered my time for a year and eventually was recruited as one of the team leaders.

After graduating with my PhD, I devoted more time to Veni Etiam. The more time I spent on it, the more I fell in love with the journey.
​
I fell in love with creating something that comes from me but resonates with you, and am so touched when you say I helped you find something that inspires you daily or solves a hurdle in your decor. 

I fell in love with the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and all the different hats we wear – design, production, shop manager, marketing manager, sales rep, customer service rep, events rep, accountant, photographer… tasks with which to easily fill a 60-hour week!

I fell in love with the feeling that running my business gives me – the daily ingenuity, flexibility, connection, learning, decision-making, experimenting, risk-taking and re-assessing that comes with the territory, often pushing me outside of my comfort zone and sometimes causing me a heck of a ton of stress, but also allowing me to carve a life that is centered on creativity, connection and balance.  

This year, I have lofty goals for Veni Etiam and I know that there will also be many unexpected twists and turns along the way to make the story all the more interesting!

To all of you who have been on this journey since day one, I’m so grateful to have had you by my side! To those of you I met along the way – thank you so much for making a little room for me in your lives.

​To those of you who have just stumbled upon Veni Etiam, there’s so much to discover, so please stick around. You can follow this blog, and my daily posts on Instagram and Facebook. Heck, you can even become a VIP and be privy to newsletters and coupons!

To my fellow artists and entrepreneurs: I’m so honored to be among you, to learn along with you – often through you.

To anyone with big dreams and multiple passions that can seem (to others or to yourself) as irreconcilable: don’t doubt, just do.
​Only then can you really find yourself. ​

The "Vague de Concours" is a community initiative with a twofold mission: to help shoppers discover entrepreneurs from the province of Quebec, and to instill a feeling of solidarity and mutual support among local entrepreneurs. 

Launched last year by Karine Foisy, owner of Veille sur Toi, the Vague de Concours is essentially a series of giveaways happening in tandem among hundreds of entrepreneurs and artists in Quebec, following a common theme. Each participating business offers a free product that fits the designated theme, and shoppers can enter as many contests as they wish, on each individual business Facebook page. The official page of the Vague de Concours - Créateurs québécois showcases the hundreds of giveaways in one common photo album - a beautiful testament to all the talent in our province and a fantastic opportunity to shop local.

There are 4 giveaway waves per year, and the summer wave is HAPPENING NOW, between June 26th (8pm ET) and June 30th (8pm ET). 

The theme of this first giveaway wave is "Black & Blanc". About 700 local creators are participating in this joint giveaway, and there is so much talent to discover! The contest is taking place over on Facebook, where the process is extremely simple for a chance to win.

Veni Etiam Photography is one of the participating businesses of the Vague de Concours. The prize to be won is "Lincoln Park" - a photographic print on satin paper of my melancholic friend in Chicago. Easy to frame and versatile for any style of decor - even a nursery! 

To participate in the giveaway:
- Head over to the Facebook page
- Like the post
- Leave a comment: Tell me where you would hang it!
- If you feel up to it, share the post to help others discover Veni Etiam Photography!

Don't forget to like the main page for the initiative Vague de concours - Créateurs québécois in order to be notified of future contest waves and to discover all the talented Quebec artists who are part of this giveaway.

GOOD LUCK!
​
From my heart to yours.

With Mothers' Day around the corner, I thought I would share with you which photographs are my own Mom's favorites. 

Having spent a lot of time helping me out at shows and markets this spring, and being the number one fan of my blog, my Mom has had ample opportunity to enthusiastically communicate which photos make her feel most nostalgic and inspired. Truthfully, it makes me love these photos even more!

In case these might also inspire your Mom or other beautiful women in your life, on Mothers' Day or any other occasion, feel free to click on them to see them in my print shop. Note that the titles and heartfelt captions (in English and French) accompany the print when you receive it!

Painted Blue
The idyllic pastel palette of Burano, Venice​

Flowing Time
​The months rushed on, without the possibility of return, like the Adige river
​(Rovereto, Italy)

Rode Fiets (Red Bicycle)
In a town of millions of bicycles, paint yours red
​(Amsterdam, Nethelands)

Biosphere
The steel dome is a unique and iconic sight for locals and visitors
​​(Montreal, Canada)

Forget Me Not
Wherever you go and whatever you do, forget not what I feel for you
​​(Montreal, Canada)

Deity
Guarding the hilltops and bringing you peace 
​​(A mountain near Miyajima, Japan)

Light on the Lake
A perfect light filtered through the Italian Alps on a glorious spring day 
​​(Riva del Garda, Italy)

Primavera
The vibrant colors of a promising spring
​​(Rovereto, Italy)

Sunday in Burano
Local life in a quiet 'Campiello' 
​​​(Venice, Italy)

Buongiorno Rovereto
Mornings in the old town and its rustic light 
​​​(Rovereto, Italy)

Elegance
​The delicate softness of magnolia petals
​​​(Montreal, Canada)

After the Rain
Sometimes life becomes even more beautiful when it has been graced with raindrops
​​​(Bangor, Wales)

August Rain
Amsterdam bicycles know raindrops all too well, even in summer 
​​​(Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Summer Skies
A day like any other - of blue skies, gorgeous blooms and peaceful local life
​​​(Polignano al Mare, Puglia, Italy)

Laundry Day
Picturesque everyday scenes, in all their simplicity
​​​(Burano, Venice, Italy)

Cobblestone
Simplicity, optimism and endurance 
​​​(Old Montreal, Canada)

Fede
Have faith: She is watching over you
​​​(Rovereto, Italy)

There is beauty in simplicity
Sometimes the simplest sights are worth pausing to record 
​​​(Polignano al Mare, Puglia, Italy)

Up
It will be a season of peace and balance
​​​(Montreal, Canada)

Lincoln Park
My melancholic friend in Lincoln Park
(Chicago, USA)

Bicicletta
Parked for lunch 
(Riva del Garda, Italy)

Happy Mothers' Day weekend to all those incredibly nurturing, inspiring and empowering Mommies in our lives. Thank you for all you are and all you do. 

The "Vague de Concours" is a community initiative with a twofold mission: to help shoppers discover entrepreneurs from the province of Quebec, and to instill a feeling of solidarity and mutual support among local entrepreneurs. 

Launched last year by Karine Foisy, owner of Veille sur Toi, the Vague de Concours is essentially a series of giveaways happening in tandem among hundreds of entrepreneurs and artists in Quebec, following a common theme. Each participating business offers a free product that fits the designated theme, and shoppers can enter as many contests as they wish, on each individual business Facebook page. The official page of the Vague de Concours - Créateurs québécois showcases the hundreds of giveaways in one common photo album - a beautiful testament to all the talent in our province and a fantastic opportunity to shop local.

There are 4 giveaway waves per year, and the first of these waves is HAPPENING NOW, between March 29th (8pm ET) and April 2nd (8pm ET). The theme of this first giveaway wave is "Doux Printemps" (Sweet Spring). About 600 local creators are participating in this joint giveaway, and there is so much talent to discover!

Veni Etiam Photography is one of the participating businesses of the Vague de Concours this spring. The prize to be won is "Laundry Day" - a fine-art photographic print of everyday life in Burano (Venice) printed on satin-matte paper in 8x12 inches. Easy to frame and the perfect colors for your spring decor!

To participate in the giveaway:
- Head over to the Facebook page
- Like the post
- Leave a comment: Tell me where you would hang it!
- If you feel up to it, share the post to help others discover Veni Etiam Photography!

Don't forget to like the main page for the initiative Vague de concours - Créateurs québécois in order to be notified of future contest waves and to discover all the talented Quebec artists who are part of this giveaway.

GOOD LUCK!

From my heart to yours.

​Pour la version française, cliquez sur OUI!

So, you have a collection of prints and special photographs that you have been meaning to frame for a while now. But you keep putting it off as a project for a rainy day, or perhaps a spring cleaning project…and before you know it, it’s a new year, and finally framing your personal collection makes it to the top of your resolution list.

I don’t blame you for your procrastination. I get you. It can totally be daunting to navigate the world of framing – there seem to be so many options of sizes and styles. You’re not exactly sure about what you want. You’re not sure what to frame first, how to match things, what size frames to choose or where to start when it comes to custom framing your art.
​
There are two pieces of good news. For one, nothing is permanent. This reason alone should remove any paralyzing uncertainty and make you feel excited about your personal project. Secondly, there are experts on this topic who can guide your choices and help you get to a finished product you love. 

I interviewed local Montreal experts Caroline & Mathieu – owners of the community’s beloved custom framing and home decor shop “Affiche en Tête”.

Here are their 5 tips for custom-framing your art:

1. There are no rules
​In home decoration, having a strong grasp of your decor is more important than matboard width, matching frames or trendy colours. Something can appear to be extremely gaudy as a standalone, and yet knocks it out of the park once in your home. Any stylistic choice can be a valid one –  you just need to be assertive. As a quick side note, it is important to know that bright colours (either as frames or matboards) tend to ''tire'' the eye over time, so are recommended more as an accent than a main feature. They will also tend to fade a lot more if regularly exposed to sunlight.

2. Protecting your art: Archival vs. Conservation
​It is tempting to splurge on artwork printed with archival inks, on archival paper or to use archival adhesives. After all, we have this idea of archives having been around for a really long time. However, these materials require more care in order to survive. What people have in mind is more often of conservation material. No ink can resist the degredations of harsh UV light for long, so UV glazing (see #4) might have to be considered for delicate colours like reds and blues. Acid-free matting and backing might be a tad more expensive, but they will ensure the paper of your print or lithograph doesn't yellow and degrade.

3. To mat or not to mat?
Aside from personal taste, matting actually serves a conservation function. Some prints, due to the nature of the paper or the inks used, will keep the artwork ''on the surface''. This can create problems down the line if you live in a hot and humid area, or an area with great variations in temperature and humidity. In essence, your artwork can stick to the glass (or other glazing) and be damaged by removing it at a later date or when the paper minutely contracts and expands due to atmospheric changes. A matboard creates a little bit of space between the glazing and the print.

If you do use a matboard and want to assemble your print into it yourself, it is recommended that you use single-sided acid-free tape, generally only on top and let gravity do its thing. This will ensure that there isn't too much tension on your paper when in contracts as the seasons change, as this will often result in ''wavy'' prints. It is the nature of paper; water, such as inks or watercolors, warp it.

Mat size depends on a lot of factors, but if you want it matted, my one rule of thumb is “err on the side of too big”. A larger matting makes the artwork pop independently of the frame, it allows the eye to focus on it rather than the ensemble only. It can turn a truly small piece into a statement, inviting discussion and refocusing its importance in your collection.

4. Glass, plexiglass, anti-reflective, hmmm?
All paper artwork will require glazing of some sort. Framer's glass is usually very thin in order to manage weight, so your local mirror and window shop might sell you something that is entirely too heavy for your found/handmade frame. You'll most likely end up with a mess in the middle of the night. The thickness usually limits how big a frame can be made with it, or the size of moulding required to hold the weight. Plexiglass will generally be recommended. For the same thickness, it is much lighter and ''unbreakable'', unless you really go to town on it.
​
Once you’ve found the right type of ‘glass’ for your needs, specialty coatings come in the form of UV protection, deglazing (less popular nowadays) and anti-reflective (AR) coatings. Most can be combined, all the way up to museum-quality glass. Because of the cost involved, it is highly recommended that you let the pros handle those for you. Breaking or damaging such products will turn your foray into decoration into an expensive endeavour.

5. Frame choice
We refer back to tip # 1 for this last bit of advice. Literally any moulding can do the trick for a range of different decor styles. Sometimes all you need to do is dare. Find your voice. The only two important suggestions that we can give you concern the width of the moulding and its depth. For safety reasons, be sure to have a moulding strong enough to support the weight of the glazing you will be using. If you want a thinner moulding when viewed from the front, you will have to cheat by selecting a deeper moulding, gallery box style. 

​Caroline & Mathieu have been doing this for years, and they represent a wealth of knowledge and services. They always have stories and sneak peeks to share on their Instagram and Facebook pages. 

Head on over to ask them about your project in person.

For the month of January, they have a 20% sale on all custom frames.



​
Keep an eye out for an upcoming post on How to build your gallery wall in a snap. Better yet, subscribe to the VIP list to be in the know, and to receive a 20% coupon for your first purchase in my shop.

​Happy framing!

Vous avez une collection d’affiches et de photographies que vous avez l’intention d’encadrer depuis longtemps. C’est un projet que vous reportez encore et encore…pour une journée pluvieuse, ou peut-être jusqu’au printemps…et avant que vous vous en aperceviez, vous voici au début d’une nouvelle année et finalement votre project d’encadrement fait partie de vos résolutions.

Je ne vous blâme pas pour cette procrastination. Pas du tout. Je vous comprends. Cela peut être intimidant de naviguer dans le monde de l’encadrement – il semble y avoir tant d’options, de tailles et de styles. Vous ne savez pas à 100% ce que vous aimeriez avoir. Vous n’êtes pas sûr de ce que vous aimeriez encadrer en premier, comment faire correspondre le tout, quelle dimension de cadres choisir et où les trouver.
​
J’ai deux bonnes nouvelles pour vous. En premier, rien n’est permanent. Cette raison devrait éliminer toute incertitude paralysante et faire avancer votre projet avec facilité. Deuxièmement, il y a des experts qui sont là pour guider vos choix et pour vous aider à obtenir un produit que vous adorez. 

1. Au diable les règles!
En décoration, il est plus important d'avoir une idée ferme du résultat qu'on veut obtenir. Un cadre d'apparence criard peut s'agencer à merveille dans une pièce décorée en conséquence, pourvu qu'on s'affirme dans ses choix stylistiques. On doit toutefois se rappeller que les couleurs vives ont tendance à fatiguer l'oeil à la longue, en plus de se décolorer si exposées à la lumière naturelle pour de longues périodes.

2. Conversation ou Archive? Protéger votre oeuvre d'art.
Le terme ''Qualité Archive'' peut s'appliquer aux encres, aux papiers ou aux adhésifs. On pourrait croire que ces matériaux sont plus durables, parce que le terme archives évoque un objet à l'épreuve du temps... sans prendre en compte les conditions qui sévissent dans une archive. On parlera plus de matériaux de conservation lorsque vient le temps de faire un encadrement. Aucune encre ne peut résister à elle seule à la lumière UV, c'est pourquoi le verre UV fut créé. Pour toute matière qui sera en contact avec votre oeuvre, on recommande de s'assurer qu'ils seront sans acide, afin de ne pas faire jaunir votre papier ou décolorer vos encres.

3. Avec ou sans passe-partout?
Sans compter l'aspect esthétique, un passe-partout sert principalement à conserver votre oeuvre en la séparant de la vitre. En effet, certains procédés d'impression laissent les encres plus en surface, et votre oeuvre pourrait se retrouver collée contre la vitre au gré des changements de température et d'humidité.
​
Si vous voulez faire votre assemblage vous-même, il est recommandé d'utiliser un ruban simple-face sans-acide (encore ces mots), et seulement dans le haut de l'oeuvre. Ceci assurera qu'il n'y aura pas trop de tension sur le papier lors des changements de forme occasionnés par les changements climatiques. Coller tout le tour n'empêchera pas le papier de faire des vagues, de toute façon.

La taille du passe-partout dépend de plusieurs facteurs, mais il est toujours plus prudent d'y aller plus large que plus fin. Votre oeuvre respirera dans son cadre, et l'oeil pourra faire abstraction des autres éléments du cadre au gré de l'observateur. De sorte, même une toute petite oeuvre pourra avoir un gros impact dans votre collection.

4. Vitre, plexi, anti-reflet, hmmm?
Toute oeuvre en papier requiert une vitre (ou un plexi, pour les grands formats). Le verre d'encadrement est généralement plus fin que ce qui est disponible chez le vitrier, ce qui réduit les chances de bris pour un cadre antique ou trouvé. L'acrylique peut être suggéré dans le cas de cadres de grande taille, puisque qu'il est plus léger et incassable, à la même épaisseur que le verre.
​
Une fois le bon produit identifié, plusieurs enduits s'offrent à vous, allant de la protection UV pour la conservation (encore?) des couleurs fragiles, le dépolissage (moins populaire de nos jours) et les traitements anti-reflets. La plupart se combinent, ce que l'on appelle généralement des “vitres musée.” Étant donné le coût de ces traitements, il est recommandé de laisser les pros faire le montage pour vous, afin de vous éviter un bris à la manipulation.

5. Choix de moulure
Il faut se référer au truc #1 pour ce dernier conseil. Littéralement n'importe quelle moulure peut faire l'affaire dans une multitude de décor, il suffit parfois de les choisir avec assez de panache. Osez, trouvez votre voix. Les deux seules indications importantes que cet article peut vous donner sont au niveau de la largeur de la moulure et sa profondeur. Pour des raisons de sécurité, assurez-vous d'avoir une moulure assez solide pour soutenir le poids de la vitre que vous utiliserez. Si vous voulez une moulure fine «de face», il faudra alors tricher en prenant une moulure plus profonde, de style boîtier.

Gardez un oeil sur mon blog pour mon futur article Comment concevoir votre mur de galerie en un clin d'oeil. Mieux encore, abonnez-vous à la liste VIP pour rester à l’affût et pour recevoir un coupon de 20% envers votre premier achat dans ma boutique.

À plus!

1. Follow your heart

It sounds incredibly cheesy as business advice, but sometimes I am just incredibly cheesy. Pay attention to what you gravitate towards, what you love to do, what you’d love to share with others. You may not want to start a full-time business out of a hobby – and that’s totally reasonable – but if there’s something you’re passionate about and want to do more with, the first step is searching within yourself to pinpoint exactly what you can do. Sometimes life has a way of showing you what you’re good at, again and again and again, until you decide to make something more out of it. 

2. Believe that you can

​It can be daunting to chase a dream – even more daunting to dabble in things you have no idea about, like websites, licenses and accounting. But there is nothing more important than constantly reminding yourself that you can do anything with a little motivation and time. Finding the right balance between pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone yet being kind to yourself is really key. Often, we dwell on what we think are limitations to our success, but as someone wise consistently points out - these are only excuses! Think about all the crazy things you let your mind believe in a day. Why wouldn't you believe in your own potential? It takes time to retrain your brain to be on your side. You’ll have to be patient until you get the hang of it. 

3. Be clear on your mission and be yourself

​Doesn’t it feel like most people are entrepreneurs nowadays? Aren’t there tons of people on Etsy or in your community who do something similar to what you do? That’s why it’s so important to be clear on your mission and to find your own spin or niche. Most often, the fresh spin is related to your own personality, your own story and your own strengths. Those are the characteristics that set you apart from others and that make your mission appealing to others, so channel your uniqueness in your business. 

4. Don’t be afraid to jump

​It sounds like permission to be reckless. But what it is, is permission to take risks. There are always risks involved with starting something new, shaking up your status quo. There are also risks to business. There is always a lot to learn, and with the rate at which things change in our modern world, you can never learn it all. You should thoughtfully reflect, brainstorm, research, read up on resources and plan. But ultimately, you’ll have to take a leap of faith and learn as you go. 

5. Invest in resources and find a mentor

​It still astonishes me daily just how there is a wealth of information online FOR FREE, and how even incredible courses from world-renowned individuals can be FREE of charge. Make sure that "professional development" is on your routine to-do list for your business. This is something I only started doing at the end of last year, in the 2nd year of my business. I can honestly say that investing time in reading, watching videos, finding mentors and subscribing to their resources has accelerated my personal and professional growth in ways that could not be underestimated. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and to fall behind, so carve out time to find, digest and implement information from resources.

I hope you enjoyed these 5 tips and this collection of Etsy shops whose owners are chasing their dreams! Are you thinking of starting your own business?

Let me know in a comment which one of these tips resonated with you.
​
This was Part 3 of the Birthday Blog Series. Veni Etiam Photography is celebrating its two-year birthday this month. Stay tuned for more of the 7-part blog series and take advantage of the special PAIRDEAL birthday promotion until January 31st.  

Follow my daily adventures on Instagram.

1. I was born and raised in Montreal but have had an address for a prolonged period of time in 5 other cities. Out of these, Florence is the only city that is not part of my shop collection, as digital photography had not found me yet and somehow I think scanning faded film photographs would not result in pretty wall-art for your home! I’ll have to return – as is my way (and the translation of the Latin name of my shop). 

3. In large part, I owe the development of Veni Etiam to my scientific career. Living in three European countries and attending scientific conferences two or three times a year have allowed me to see places I would not have otherwise travelled to in such a short period of time. Even when travelling on scientific business, I try to plan two days in my schedule for exploring, writing and photographing the place at my leisure. Bonus fact: I wrote for my University blog for almost five years before finally launching my own blog.

4. I love color in all things. You’ll notice from my shop, my Instagram account and glimpses I give you of my personal space that there are no neutral tones and there isn’t much white. I’m known for my pink and purple post-its. My apartment is called the "Pink Palazzo" due to its antique rose walls. Almost none of my Christmas ornaments or dinner plates belong to a uniform set. I live in a very colorful world and I translate that into Veni Etiam. This is possibly related to a neurological trait I have called “synesthesia”. Without color, I just wouldn’t be me.

5. My biggest dream is to be an author – not only a blog writer or scientific author, though I enjoy both tremendously, but to sit my butt down and finish a book, cover to cover, and to have it printed would be my greatest joy. 

​This was Part 2 of the Birthday Blog Series. Veni Etiam Photography is celebrating its two-year birthday this month. Stay tuned for more of the 7-part blog series and take advantage of the special PAIRDEAL birthday promotion until January 31st.  

From my heart to yours.

It feels like so much has happened since I wrote my first blog post the day that I launched my little passion project, that it’s incredibly hard to believe it’s only been two years.

So hard to believe, in fact, that I have found myself mentally double-checking my arithmetic (2015 to 2017, yes, two years. Duh, silly girl).

In two years, Veni Etiam went from being a web portfolio with a blog, to a dynamic shop, as well as a seller on Etsy and in the local Montreal community, with its growing inclusion in stores and art fairs.

It may be bad business to admit this, but when I opened my shop two years ago, I didn’t have a clear business plan or a clear goal – not even at a vague conceptual level, let alone in a measurable set of milestones and metrics. All I knew was that it was time, that it was risky and that it made a little pocket of space inside of me fill up with excited butterflies. Everything else, would have to come along the way.

​I was pursuing my PhD in neurolinguistics by day (and night… sigh #consumedbymyPhD) and working on Veni Etiam in those intervals where my eyes took breaks from my Excel sheets and experimental designs to work on more Excel sheets and on web-design. I remember being late to start on my academic to-do list on some mornings due to urgent product photos that I had to take to explain to clients what aluminum prints and floater frames looked like. Suddenly, I was standing on a chair in the dining room of my tiny but beloved apartment that I had affectionately named “The Pink Palazzo”, taking pictures of pictures (a sometimes frustrating task) from all sorts of angles, while my thesis beckoned. But there was room for both in my heart and in my life.

​Building a business at the same time as building a research career was as bizarre as it was, simply put, “me”. The only downside about having two lives was that I didn’t have as much time and energy to make Veni Etiam grow to its full potential right away. But life isn't a race, and sometimes we benefit more when we don't try to force the pace of everything. 

As time went on, my passion grew. Ideas crept up faster and could not be ignored. Structure and strategy developed. I learned so much from fellow artists and clients. I experimented and fine-tuned. I took leap after leap; sometimes it paid off, sometimes it didn’t, but I was happy I took each leap, because now I don’t have to wonder, and now I don’t have to try that again.
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A lot has changed in two years, and I feel momentum, excitement and gratitude. I am pumped for this year and so grateful for followers who “get” what I do and why I do it, who feel inspired by my photographs and stories, and whose feedback always keeps me motivated and aligned with how to best serve you. 

​As a firm believer that all moments in life should be celebrated, I’m including you in my birthday celebration!

♥ On the blog this month, you can follow my Birthday Blog Series featuring 7 posts about travel, photography and home décor, including glimpses into Veni Etiam’s personality and mine. Keep an eye on the blog or on Instagram and Facebook!
♥ For this special occasion only, you'll receive a FREE 8x8 print on textured fine-art paper with any art purchase.

​I'll ship worldwide, but free pick-up in Montreal is always an option.

UNTIL MONDAY ONLY (16.01), members on my VIP list get:
♥ to choose which 8x8 fine-art print they wish to receive for free
♥a bonus chapter with the story behind the photograph or travel tips for the place featured in the photo

Not on my VIP list? Let’s remedy this! ​Sign up and you'll receive my monthly newsletter AND 20% off your first purchase.
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Don’t procrastinate – it’s not good for you ;) 

Thank you for an amazing two years!

From my heart to yours.

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.

Thank you, dear travelling souls, for all your support this year! Veni Etiam Photography turns TWO this January, and I am super excited about all the ways in which she will grow and cater to your home decor and travel dreams! Thanks for all our beautiful interactions this year. I've learned so much and am so happy to be on this journey with you. Subscribe to the VIP list and stay tuned on the blog to find out about our upcoming birthday celebration! 

Merci, chères âmes voyageuses, pour tout votre soutien cette année! Veni Etiam Photography aura DEUX ans ce janvier. J'ai hâte de voir comment elle va grandir et inspirer votre déco maison et vos rêves de voyage! Merci pour nos belles échanges cette année!Je l'ai tellement appris et je suis tellement heureux d'être sur ce voyage avec vous. Abonnez-vous pour les mises à jour et restez à l'écoute sur le blog pour en savoir plus sur notre célébration d'anniversaire à venir! Abonnez-vous à la liste VIP et suivez le blog pour rester à l'affût des promotions à venir à l'occasion de notre deuxième anniversaire! 

Are we friends on Instagram?

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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It all started at a market I did this summer. A lovely client came by with her husband to purchase a custom set of prints for their home. They patiently and enthusiastically browsed through the hundreds of fine-art prints I had with me that day, commenting on them, comparing them, trying to decide which one spoke to them the most. They debated the decor of the room, the size of the walls, the harmony of various prints. Finally, they settled on a set of three, and when I saw them side-by-side, I felt inexplicably giddy! I had never noticed how harmoniously those prints went together, and the reasons the happy clients gave me for their choice truly made my day. So, thanks to that couple, I thought of this contest for anyone who would like to buy a set of prints (because I love feeling inspired by you!). 

Participation is simple. If you've purchased a set of prints from me, just fill out the form below. Please make sure to refer to the prints by their title, so I know which ones you're talking about ("the one of the sea" or "the one of Venice" would unfortunately not narrow it down for me!). If you inspire me, you'll win a FREE 8x8 print of your choice. 

Unlike most things in life, this contest does not expire! Thanks for taking the time to inspire me!

P.S. This post, and the form below, are bilingual (English and French). Answer in the language of your choice - we love all languages here. 

Tout a commencé lors d'un marché artisanal cet été. Une cliente super sympa est venue avec son mari acheter une série d'affiches pour leur maison. Ils ont regardé avec patience et enthousiasme les centaines d'impressions sur papier texturé que j'avais sur place ce jour-là, en les comparant, en commentant, en essayant de décider comment ils les encadreraient. Ils ont parlé de la décoration de leur chambre, la grandeur de leurs murs, l'harmonie des images qu'ils regroupaient ensemble. Enfin, ils ont choisi une série de trois et quand j'ai vu les images ensemble, je me suis sentie inexplicablement heureuse! Je n'avais jamais remarqué que ces images allaient si bien ensemble et le raisonnement des clients m'a fait plaisir. Ainsi, grâce à ce beau couple, j'ai pensé à ce concours pour tous ceux qui achètent une série d'affiches (j'aime ça me sentir inspirée par vous!).

La participation est simple. Si vous avez acheté une série de photographies, vous n'avez qu'à remplir le formulaire ci-dessous. SVP assurez-vous de noter les titres des photos, pour que je sache exactement desquelles vous parlez («celle de la mer» ou «celle de Venise» ne serait malheureusement pas informatif pour moi!). Si vous me inspirez, vous gagnerez une affiche 8x8 de votre choix GRATUITE.

Contrairement à la plupart des choses dans la vie, ce concours n'a pas de date d'expiration! Merci d'avoir pris le temps de me inspirer!