Regrettably, this beautiful round of ‘Objets de Valeur’ slipped through the cracks somehow, and I am just now posting it. This submission is from Megan Tsang. I am really enjoying her photos and commentary on them…I’m sure you will too. Check out her blog for more gorgeous photos. Thanks so much for participating, Megan!

A bit about her…

I am an architect turned photographer.  I travel the world following my heart and meeting people wherever I can.  While I call Northern California home, I spend a third of the year in New York and traveling abroad.  I love mornings but am not a morning person.  And I’m always in a coffee shop, but never drink coffee.  I am silly, candid and honest.  And I absolutely love the life God’s given me.  I’m blessed beyond words.  

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I recently went to Paris and a friend took me to this little whole in the wall restaurant.  The standing eating area was literally two people wide.  It was a tight spot with the most delicious food.  The menu is full of small plates.  We had about 10. :)  My absolute favorite was this foie gras macaron with sweet/spicy jam.  I just about melted when I bit into this goodness.  I felt so happy with so much good food in my tummy and so grateful to my friend who shared this little restaurant with me.  

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I was walking around the 11th Arrondissement.  The air was crisp and fresh as the rain poured from above.  It seemed so surreal to be walking around in this beautiful city.  Everything about Paris is dreamy and romantic.  I could have stayed there forever.

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The clouds glistened in the glowing sun as the plane took off.  I stared off wondering where 2013 would lead me and what new surprises I’d encounter.  There’s something about looking out through a window that seems so encouraging.  Like the world’s at my fingertips and the possibilities are endless.  The unknown is out there ready and waiting for me to explore and savor every last bit of it.  

Up today is another great gal, who I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know last February when we both helped out at BlogShop Seattle.  Kat is an amazing artist, photographer and graphic designer – when she posted the photos she took during the workshop, I was blown away!  She really has an eye for a great shot.  Her paintings are gorgeous too; love her style and the way she adeptly captures light in her work. Make sure to head over to her blog…lots of visual feasting to do there.

Kat’s articles of value…

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There is an area in Ottawa called Byward Market. It’s a fantastic place to buy fresh local food during the day and Beaver Tail pastries at night. I like grabbing a snack there and eating it at Champlain, a point in central Ottawa overlooking Parliament, the river, and Gatineau.

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I recently went on a hike in Gatineau National Park on a sunny saturday afternoon. The trees were so colourful with unbelievably saturated autumn hues that it looked like the woods were on fire. It was really quite the sight to behold.

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I’m currently far from home, off on my own adventures in Canada’s capital city. Ottawa is beautiful and exciting, but I miss Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. I stumbled upon this shot I had forgotten about of a bouquet from my mom’s garden and it was an instant reminder of the things I left behind: lush greenery, misty mountains, cheap sushi, paints and canvas, MCC thrift stores, campus friends… In my eyes, nothing will ever compare with the Pacific West Coast. 

Thanks, Kat!

*This is the final post in the ‘Objets de Valeur’ series — I feel like this column has had a great run! Thank you so much to all the folks who participated; it was wonderful getting a chance to see through your eyes.

This week’s guest and I have quite a bit in common. Minna So is a graphic designer who is from the Northwest (Seattle + Portland) and now lives in Washington, DC (my hometown!) She also makes beautifully simple jewelry and carves stamps…talk about multi-talented!  She has a beautiful design aesthetic that shows through in her blog – go check it out!

Minna’s articles of value…

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I recently discovered Angie’s brand kettle corn, and I have been addicted to this stuff ever since! My family and I probably go through two huge bags of these a week.

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I am now experiencing my first fall season on the east coast since moving from Portland, and so far it has been breathtaking! The trees are so vibrant and beautiful, I don’t want winter to come!

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I’ve been doing some more stamp carving lately, and it has inspired me to find more creative ways to incorporate stamping into my designs. It’s lots of fun too!

I feel so lucky to have such great readers (thanks, guys!) When I opened up ‘Objets de Valeur’ for submissions, the response was awesome, and I look forward to sharing everyone’s articles of value over the next few weeks.  Today is the lovely, free-spirited Bhakti…

My name is Bhakti and I tend to find myself living in the mystical desert dimension hidden under Las Vegas instead of in the crazy city itself. I do freelance web design for living and recently opened an Etsy shop with my two sisters. I love hoopdance, meditation, eastern philosophy and adventures. I’m a grown up but I think I’m a fairy. I like to live my life the magical way. Everything is a miracle and nothing happens without a reason. I’ve been to India three times and my name is actually Sanskrit, Bhakti means ‘love’ and ‘devotion’. My newest obsession is rock climbing which I discovered today at the Red Rocks. Rock climbing feels like tumbling around in dirt and earth and nature in general and there’s something really energizing and grounding about it. I blog at omwoods.blogspot.com.

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I’m vegan and fruits are my love. Bananas and grapes are the best, but you can’t really draw on grapes. So I draw on bananas and left a little message for my boyfriend and the world on this one.

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I’m from Finland originally and have lived in the States for the past 5 years. I visit Finland every year and it nourishes my soul to see the forests and lakes, and to breathe the fresh arctic air. This photo is from my last trip a few months ago, my first day back in Finland.

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I got a package from France this week – lace cuffs and a gorgeous brass/silver arm band with a labradorite. My friend Oona Elena and her partner Mo make these free spirit accessories for their shop Moonalia. I feel like a tribal princess of Cosmic Bohemia when I wear these beauties! I’m so inspired by anything that helps root my mind in a place of creative play, excitement and discovery 24/7 and special jewelry helps do that for me.

Thanks, Bhakti!

Introducing Brook Surgeon, from Brook-Made for this week’s round of ‘Objets de Valeur’. Brook is such a sweet lady; she is a gifted writer, and a talented photographer + graphic designer too! I love her descriptive, introspective take on blogging; it feels really personal, especially when accompanied by her beautiful photography.  Make sure to visit her blog and check out her articles of value below…

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My best friend’s parents are most genuinely in love with food, which has largely inspired the way I think about it (I want to be JUST like them when I grow up).  They are they type that have always like the possibility of opening a little restaurant with an ever-changing menu. Until that happens, they happily serve their friends (and children’s friend) food prepared with care. Once, I was at there house looking for a snack and I was offered a freshly baked baguette, which I was advised to slather with goat cheese and drizzle with honey. The sweetness of the honey paired against the tang of the cheese was surprisingly delightful. Since that fateful day, I have faithfully informed others about this delightful and simple way to enjoy a loaf of bread by sharing this snack whenever possible.

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I recently went on a trip to Iceland. I cannot explain how beautiful and otherworldly this place was.  At times, I was so struck by the creativity of the terrain that I just wanted to crawl inside and exist within it forever.  My trip to Iceland sparked a passion for travel, and I’m looking forward to many trips in the future (a big one to France in January!).

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People who thirst for life and, on a whim, take their cake on the courthouse lawn. I am inspired by the type who read poetry and fairytales, and who know about the true, the deep, and the sacred. I want to be more like them.

Thanks, Brook!

I’m happy to have another great guest here today: Liz Franco of Srsly Liz!  Liz is a talented graphic + web designer living in Sacramento, CA.  And, she is a fantastic blogger to boot; in fact, her blog is one of the first I started reading back in the day!  I just love her honest, funny and down-to-earth voice.  Not a lot of bloggers are as candid about their offline lives, and I definitely appreciate that Liz is so open, real and NICE!  I always enjoy seeing her food pictures on Instagram; it reminds me of my own adventures in the kitchen — and on the food note, she has combined recipes with another of our mutual interests (design!) for a fun new column called “Food for Font” over on her blog.  Check that out for sure (quinoa cakes are up first…yum!)

Liz’s articles of value…

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I cooked spaghetti squash for dinner the other night & made carbonara with it. It was SO GOOD. And easy! Anything with bacon is the way to my heart.

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A few weeks ago my beau & I hiked down to Bear River one Sunday. It was so tranquil and beautiful out there; I can’t wait to go back.

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How incredible is this skyline? I shot this on my way to my mother’s house over the weekend. The pink clouds presented the sunset in a lovely sherbet fashion. Call me nerdy but it inspired me with a color palette for a client of mine.

Thanks, Liz!

I’m so excited to have my first international guest for this feature – the ultra talented + super kind Asia Pietrzyk from Stockholm, Sweden!  Asia is an amazing artist and designer – I love her colorful illustrations and original hand lettering.  She has an exceptionally great eye for all things design, and regularly shares her findings via her blog (which I have to say is one of my absolute favorites to peruse – so get over there and check it out!) I just loved her Summerish and Stamp Obsession projects she shared – SO GOOD! Thanks so much for participating, Asia…hopefully we can meet one day, as I’ve always wanted to visit Stockholm! :)

Her articles of value…

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When I took this chocolate cake out from the oven, I thought disaster had struck, as I could see it was not fully baked. I was ready to throw it — however after trying it, I discovered that it was one of the best cakes I’ve ever made. It vanished in a few hours.

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One of my fave places in Stockholm is a charming cafe called Pärlans located in the heart of the very unique Södermalm district. I love to sit, drink coffee and most importantly taste their delicious handmade candies. The boutique has been designed to resemble the 40′s, so cozy!

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I am a big fan of zines. This one arrived last week and was created by Johanna Tagada, a very talented artist based in Berlin.

Thanks, Asia!

I’m happy to bring this feature back after a little break there, especially because I have another wonderful lady to introduce today: Eva Black! She is a graphic designer (who also happens to have a killer blog) based in Southern California. A while back, Eva was kind enough to feature me and my (now former) studio on her ‘Spaces’ column, which showcases the workspaces of creatives…if you haven’t been following this feature, there is a whole backlog of goodness waiting for you to delve into (lucky you!) I really dig Eva’s rad aesthetic – she is the queen of creating perfectly distressed textures! Her skills are on display weekly in one of my favorite columns to follow over at Emmadime, ‘Top-Notch Type‘.  Every Thursday, Eva picks out a FREE font and implements it into a design, which gives a little preview of what the characters look like in use. Pretty genius! Here are Eva’s articles of value…

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There’s an amazing local, small chain in Pasadena called Dog Haus that has the tastiest gourmet hotdogs. Their restaurant in Old Town has the best atmosphere, it’s a favorite place to go to on the weekends. 

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North County of the San Diego coast has quickly become a favorite spot over the past few years. It’s full of beautiful beaches, cliffs and views. 

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I try to find inspiration in my daily routine. Whether that’s pattern or color on an article of clothing, new shoes or everyday objects. It’s great to surround yourself with those things. 

Thanks, Eva!

***UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your submissions! I’m going to start working my way through the ones I’ve received, and this open call is now CLOSED. I may do another in the future, so keep checking back! :)

Hey, hey!  Would you like to share a little insight into your life through photos? Well, I’d love to have you participate in ‘Objets de Valeur’. If you’d like to join in, just drop me a line at: amymoorestudio@gmail.com – can’t wait to hear from you! I’ll be back next week with another awesome lady.

ps – guys, DON’T be shy. I’d love to have your perspective here as well!

This week’s guest on ‘Objets de Valeur’ was a no-brainer.  Of course I had to ask the lovely Megan Gilger of The Fresh Exchange and Hitch Design Studio to participate!  Megan is a powerhouse in the blogging realm, consistently delivering original content to her readers in the form of delicious recipes (I’ve made her roasted artichoke recipe more than I’d care to admit – it’s THAT good), beautiful imagery, mood boards, and more!  She is also one of the founders of Blog Brunch - which is an amazing resource and supportive community for bloggers…if you haven’t participated yet, be sure to check out the newly revamped website and get the details to join in!  Clearly, she is a very busy gal (and does everything beautifully!) – but what I love about her is that she always seems to make the time for LIFE to happen; dinners with friends, enjoying the beautiful town she lives in…which is so important, and just what this feature is about.  Check out Megan’s articles of value below…

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Growing up I learned everything I know about about cooking from my father. I look so forward to their visits, as it means I get to step away from the kitchen and watch my dad take command. He never fails to impress. This time it was curried lentil salad with homemade mango chutney. Sounds terrible right? Yeah, you never want to come visit. ;)

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The moments I look most forward to are the times by the water. The years I spent away from Lake Michigan were hard, so now I still have deep gratitude for that body of water. It means so much, and getting to enjoy it with my husband is even better. 

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Accidental photos are the best. Especially when they include cute shoes and great outfits with your bestie. This is one of my favorite mistake photos ever. The colors are just too good. 

Thanks, Megan!