Ayana Features: Jennifer Squires Productions

This week's Ayana Feature proves that a picture is worth a thousand words with Jennifer Squires Productions. In this shop you will find stunning and fresh photographs of flowers, food, landscapes and more. What I love about this shop is that Jennifer can even make onions look amazing. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Jennifer with Jennifer Squires Productions!


1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
I have been photographing professionally since 1996, but I’ve been taking pictures my whole life. I opened my Etsy shop in February 2008 - it’s been great for me, I work from home but the Etsy community never lets me feel as though I’m by myself.My work covers a broad range of categories, from shopping carts to gerbera daisies, but I always find that I focus on the details of life.

2) How did you decide on your shop name?
I use my name for my shop name, so I guess it comes from good ole Mom and Dad.

3) What inspires you?
I am constantly inspired by the world around me and I use photography to search for simplicity and meaning in the beauty of the everyday.

4) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
Currently my favourite photograph is February Blues 3, one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been. It's where I became engaged to the love of my life.

5) What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
Spend at least as much time advertising off Etsy as you do on Etsy and don’t compare yourself to other stores, you have no idea how they’re marketing elsewhere.

Here's a fun question:
6) If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
Hmmm... What a great question! I think I'd have to be one of Charlie's Angels (uh-oh, did I just show my age?), because they are girls that kick butt and have some cool gadgets to help them along the way. And they know how to have a good time!

Shop for contemporary photographs at http://www.jennifersquires.etsy.com/ or http://www.jennifersquires.ca/

15 Facts About Me

1) I look like this . . .




2) I was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in Hampton, VA.

3) I have never been outside of the United States.

4) I love cornbread stuffing.

5) At one time in my life I wanted to be a pediatrician.

6) I had an internship as a probation officer for adults and loved it.

7) I can not stand it when people bite their nails/cuticles.

8) I watch anime . . . in Japanese . . . with English subtitles (My husband and I are addicted to Naruto and Bleach).

9) I used to watch Passions until they moved to Direct TV...sigh

10) I want to throw down in the kitchen like my mom someday.

11) I have a gap between my two front teeth and love when I meet other people who have one also.

12) My maiden name is Awkward . . . no this is not a joke . . . yes that is what it says on my birth certificate

13) When I was born I weighed less than 3 pounds.

14) I have natural hair and have been thinking about getting locs for a long time.

15) I was on the flag line in high school.

Sushi for you

I normally feature other artists on Fridays, but this just looked too good to wait. At first glance this looks like real sushi, almost good enough to eat. It's made of wool. Can you believe that? It was made by Wool By Willow. I first tried sushi when I was a freshman in college. My roommate convinced me to try something different. I even tried the wasabi, but my roommate did not warn me about it. For those of you who are going to try wasabi for the first time . . . a little dab will you do. I had to learn my lesson the hard way.

The results are in . . .

I've been running a poll on my blog to let you decide which beaded flower I should make next. Well . . . the results are in and we have a tie between a water lily and pansy. What does that mean? I'll be making both of them. That was fun so I will definitely have another poll soon so stay tuned. Thanks everyone for participating.

Sweetheart Crystal Rose

Shhhh . . . Don't tell anyone. I'm working on sweetheart roses with Swarovski Crystals in the center. Stay tuned . . .