What a Hoot Camera Strap

As an artist, I love colourful, unique things and especially love to support other artists. However, I find a lot of gear for my camera is boring black - not creative at all - and generally made by great big corporations. So I was happy when a quick search on Etsy revealed the shop What a Hoot that was selling beautifully made (and colourful!) camera straps!

I was a little hesitant because my camera and lens can be quite heavy so I wasn’t sure if something home made would be sturdy and comfortable enough for my gear. However these straps are made from real manufactured camera straps so they are very durable and a felt backing makes it very comfortable around your neck. I also really like the thickness of the strap (1.5″ wide) and the length (42″ long). The colour selection is beautiful as is the craftsmanship.

So if you have a camera, banish the black and get into some colour!

BUY AT: What a Hoot Etsy Shop

Kensington Digital FM Transmitter and Auto Charger for iPod

After re-discovering music thanks to my new speakers, I wanted to have sound with me everywhere. You know, a personal theme song that follows me - like Amelie.

With a 3 day road trip from Austin Texas to LA coming up, I had to get my theme songs ready as radio on the drive is futile (unless you love Polka). When I realised the amount of CD’s I’d have to burn I looked for another option. That’s when I found the Kensington Digital FM Transmitter.

FM Transmitters for ipods were rather shoddy in the past. I had read enough horrible reviews to vow never to buy one. Never say never. The reviews for this product were amazing and I just have to chime in and agree.

Not only can you play your ipod in your car using the transmitter, it also charges it at the same time. All I had to do was create playlists which is far easier and less time consuming than burning CD’s - plus I have all my music at my finger tips!

Whether you’re driving around town or across country, this keeps you grooving to your music without having to stop and change the CD.

BUY AT: Amazon

JBL Creature Creature II 3-Piece Powered Speaker System

I’ll admit that great sound was never really important to me for movies, music or the computer. I had my laptop with great headphones so why bother with speakers?

Bother!

I cannot believe how amazing these little speakers are - especially considering the price! The bass is amazing, clarity amazinger, style aminglyerness. Ok, getting a little crazy there but that’s what great sound can do to a person. All of a sudden watching movies becomes an experience (I should confess this helps to having a 24″ apple flat screen monitor) and I can jump up, jump up and get down now with iTunes.

This replaced a Sony stereo that I paid much more for years ago but never used because it didn’t hook up to the computer and I don’t have a TV. But I do have a laptop and nano that I’ve been running the speakers off and it’s a sound party!

BUY AT: Amazon

CD Packaging Kit by Chronicle Books

One of my favourite things to give is mixed tapes (I am from olden times so I still refer to them as “mixed tapes”). The only thing, however, is that they’ve never really been the prettiest gift to give. Those label printing products never really turned out right on my computer and the CD cases were always ugly and the paper never really fit. Despite putting together fun, fitting music, the packaging of it often left me frustrated and wanting something more.

Luckily, this pretty little CD Packaging Kit from Chronicle Books makes packaging your CD’s as quick & simple as making them! And pretty? With 25 CD decorated labels in 5 different charming patterns, 25 CD sleeves in two designs, 3 pages of stickers to help put it all together, let’s just say you and your friends will be playing and petting them.

Now I must make my next CD “Shake That Ass Volume 1″ and put it in the pretty white bird with heart sleeve. That seems to match, no?

BUY AT: Amazon

Graphic Lap Desk

I love my laptop but I don’t always love the heat it generates - especially when I watch movies on it in bed (I don’t have a TV). But this lap desk by the Container Store solves that problem. It also solves others such as trying to keep the computer even (instead of slightly lopsided as it tends to do when on my lap. What this says about me I’ve know idea) and where to keep my drink (the handy little place right at the top right, of course!).

Unlike a lot of laptop desks, these are stylish so you can keep them out when not in use. And if you don’t use a laptop, you can use them for a myriad of other reasons (crafts, reading, crosswords etc. And if someone is stuck in bed for awhile this is a comfy table alternative).

BUY AT: The Container Store

Novara Mia Women’s Bike 2007

BUY AT: REI

I have been on the hunt for a bike and let me tell you this has been no small task. I’d wanted a cruiser type bike that was just for getting around town, would allow me to wear dresses and have room for a basket. That’s all. I liked the handle bars that turned in and allowed for a more upright seating position - just like the ones you see all over Europe.

However. This is not Europe.

So finding a simple, sturdy bike in stores has been hard; most bikes are hybrids or mountain or street. If there are cruisers, they’re those townies for old people where you don’t feel like you’re working anything (think flat feet technology bikes). On top of that, almost every girl bike I looked at was bright pink or bright red or yellow or had paintings all over it or these totally girly baskets. I couldn’t find a simple, dark blue bike anywhere.

I tried Craigslist and went and saw a few of the old Schwinn cruisers which I loved. But the people selling them always wanted $150 - $200 for bikes that would need tune ups and for a second hand bike, that always seemed high. And the colours were never right. I went to bike dealers and second hand shoppes and scoured the internet. I tried Electra’s, Schwinns, Torque’s and so forth. Came close to Schwinn but they’re now going into Targets so the quality of the 2007’s are down and the colours of the 2006’s are terrible. Saw an Electra I could like but it was close to $600 and just too girly.

I realised after trying a few that, due to the fact my one ankle doesn’t bend, I can’t have brakes in the pedals. And because where I live has hills, I needed at least a 7 speed. I thought my quest was futile until an unexpected trip to REI where I discovered their own like of bikes, the Navara.

Several years ago I had a Navara Mountain bike which suited my needs just fine because I was doing more mountain and trail riding. But now I just wanted something for fetching groceries and getting to some stores. This bike is perfect; feels like a cruiser but rides like a really great road bike. The step through frame is perfect for wearing skirts. It’s pretty light (I can load it onto a bus rack), it has shocks for comfort, the handle bars turn in, it’s 24 gears turn nicely.

And the colour? Ok, so it’s a little girly but so less than more than others I’ve seen. And whether I’m cruising to the market or taking it for a little more trail, this bike will do it all. Now I just need a basket.

Apple Red Nano

BUY AT: Apple

I’m not a huge gadget girl and have resisted buy an Ipod for the longest time. It hasn’t been something I could justify buying because I don’t have musical needs. But, with some more travel coming up and my walking area not being so interesting anymore, I’ve thought more and more about buying one.

It was the Red Nano, however, that has made me go ahead. I love when you combine great products with great ideas and the idea behind “Buying Red” is that “$10 from every iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED sold goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Which means your iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED sounds good and does good at the same time.”

That’s music to my ears.

Electric Coast Scooters

BUY AT: Electric Coast Scooters

I confess, I do not own this - yet. But I discovered it a few months ago when, on a trip to Vancouver, I met the Swiss-born engineer who designed and built these battery-powered bikes. That’s right, battery powered.

What this means is you do not have to have a license to drive it. You do not need insurance to drive it. You do not need gas to drive it. And if your battery runs out, there are little pedals for you to push (although most people remove these).

There’s adequate storage, great lightening depending on the model, a comfy seat and power! These things really go! I took one for a spin around the block and it was love. Starting at around $1100 Canadian ($1000.00 US) these are great alternatives to cars, mopeds, bikes and scooters, giving you speed without having to pay for gas and insurance. Love that!

Canon i9900 Photo Printer

Buy at: Amazon.com

Last fall, exactly one day after my warranty expired, my half-performing Epson Printer died. I’d always had issues with it and was fed up, so I resisted buying a printer for months.

I kept hearing fantastic things about Canon Printers from digital artists and since a lot of my work requires me to print out great images and photographs, I kept looking into them. After seeing rave reviews all over for the Canon i9900 (especially for miffed ex-Epson users), I took the plunge and bought it.

It delivers borderless 8X10 prints which for me, is important. It also does it quickly and easily. 4X6 prints look better than those you get printed from a camera shop. Regular text is amazing sharp and clear but what I love most is how quiet and stable this printer is whilst printing - no shaking the table or desk.

Needless to say, I’m in love. It works well with the mac, it easily takes paper, the colours are amazing and the cost of ink is good. Here’s to happy printing.

Canon Powershot 550

BUY AT: Amazon

I will always remain faithful to my Canon Digital Rebel and use that primarily for all my work, however, sometimes a girl doesn’t want to lug a big camera around or look like a tourist. So I had to go small and luckily Canon came to the rescue again.

Why I love this camera (besdies the 7.1megapixle factor!) is that the LCD screen is amazingly large - probably the largest of any small camera. It has terrific manual and automatic controls, it’s size enough so that you can hold it without camera shake but small enough to fit into your pocket. The zoom works wonderful, the response is fast and all in all it’s a great little camera to always have around.