Last weekend I visited the Harvest Market a local farmers style market in Montrose. Just minutes from my new home, I was excited to find out about this weekly event. Which along with fresh locally grown produce, also sells baked goods, crafts, antiques and an interesting array of street food.

Taking up about two blocks of Honolulu street, it is easy to find parking, grab a coffee and stroll the many stalls. 

I was impressed with the baked goods from The Village Bakery, I bought a loaf of sour dough bread, that was so soft I did not mind forking over $5 for a loaf.

While I happily waited for my pork tamale to be ready, young Winston was kind enough to let me photograph his chicken version with green sauce. You get a huge serving  for just $3.50 and they are very tasty with just enough kick. You can also buy them in quantity to take with you.

And as mentioned above there are even a few antique dealers in the mix. I scored this beautiful vintage magazine from 1933, Delineator which was published by Butterick starting in the late 1800's.

and now...

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

The hardest part of any job is the post work. Editing and processing the images is labor intensive, though I like having more control over the final image than I ever had with film. It is easier when you enjoy what you're working on and I am really loving the results of my latest shoot with Lesley Evers. We shot quite a bit over the 2 days and I am still working my way through them.

I have no ideal how other photographers manages their workflow but I try and keep it simple. I keep one master file for each job and separate the shots into their own folders. I always shoot a jpeg in addition to raw, I edit these down in bridge to the best images for my client to go through and pick their favorites. I then pull the selected raw files into a file and open these in Lightroom. It is here that I adjust exposure, color and do minor cropping before opening in photoshop to retouch and fine tune.

You can find a few more images from this latest shoot on my newly launched website! You can also win a sweet little skirt from Lesley's spring collection by visiting the lovely blog About Last Weekend! 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Hair & Make Up by Joshua Conover for Look Artisit, Model: Alexis with Look Models and Alicia from City

This is a very easy project that started with a cute little metal table I got at iKea for $20, a can of spray paint and a super kawaii place matt I found at TJ Maxx. I knew I wanted to paint the table when I bought it, but it was after watching a segment on The Nate Show that gave me the stencil ideal. 

I bought the place matt just cause it was cute, sadly they only had one left in stock and I was not thinking stencil at all. However when I got ready to paint the table it popped into my head and I knew it would be perfect. I taped it down to spray the design and only removed the tape at the end to complete the circle border.

I just love the result, I also did the little bottom piece while leaving the rest white. I just love the result, so sweet!

Oh and my new site is LIVE!

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

A fresh start, really does mean just that and another big change in the works is my website. I have done a few posts on my current Livebooks set-up and it was exactly what I needed at the time. A site I could set up and update myself. However it has it's limitations and in this time of change and renewal it became more apparent that a whole new site was called for. 

Here is a sneak peek at the new site, I have signed up with APhotoFolio which still allows you to set up and update yourself, but also offers more customization and a much larger image field to display your work all at a very good price. I am very happy with the new look, for the first time I really think my photography is being seen as it should. Above is just half the actual page... I also created a new logo which I am pretty happy with. Simple and clean are my goals... so the photos are the star. I hope to finish it by next week and will post full details then.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

I met my good friend, make up artist Wendy Osmundson for lunch recently at Gingergrass, in Silver Lake. It is just a few blocks from her house... lucky lucky Wendy.

What I liked; light and airy atmosphere, a unique menu, great service and pretty much some of the best Vietnamese food I have ever had. We started with the crab & shrimp spring rolls which come with fresh herbs, veggies and lettuce. Wendy showed me how you wrap the rolls in the lettuce, adding the herbs and veggies you like before you dip and bite. A-may-zing!

I ordered the pork chops with broken jasmine rice and slaw. The slaw had a nice sweet & tangy taste that really surprised me and the rice was also very unique in texture. It was all so good, it will be hard to order something different next time I go.

Wendy had Pho with chicken, the perfect choice for a cold day. For desert we shared the tasty lavender creme brulee shown in the first picture. Ah ...what I do for you readers.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

This week I am working with my client Lesley Evers on images of her spring and fall lines. Doing slight double duty as I also shoot some behind the scenes reportage for the fab Uppercase Magazine. A whirlwind of a week, no doubt. 

Congratulations to our two Borsa Bella giveaway winners; Leslee and Yara!

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Hair & Make Up by Joshua Conover for Look, Model: Jenny Giles with City

I will admit that I was first attracted to my new favorite coffee solely because of the kawaii packaging designed by the talented Karen Greenberg. I was delightfully surprised by a wonderful, rich blend that lived up to the exteriors promise. Gevalia is a Swedish company whose products were once only available through mail-order. They have just released this new line to be sold exclusively in grocery stores.

And in case you missed the recent blurb I did on my new De Longhi coffee maker, it is both functional and super kawaii. I got the small profile, 5 cup maker, there is also a bigger 10 cup version. And they come in a wide range of colors from stainless to magenta! I love that it brews tasty coffee very fast and the top also functions as a cup warmer. This sweet, insulated mug is from iKea.

Speaking of mugs, I have to post this adorable gift I was lucky to receive from a very good friend. She found it a store I know I have to check out, Marz in South Pasadena.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Many of you were probably lucky enough to receive a new gadget or two over the holidays and are now in search of a groovy way to carry it around. Borsa Bella makes beautiful crafted gadget bags, and great little purses in an array of interesting fabrics. They are giving away two $35 gift certificates to Piewacket readers and also offering a special 15% discount with the promo code Pie15 just till the end of January. Want another chance to win? Just "like" Borsa Bella on Facebook where she has weekly giveaways.

How to Enter

Just comment on this post and let me know what new gadget you are crushing on most and why? Whether you own it or it's on your wish list. Be sure to answer the question and include your email in the appropriate box (it will not be public) or you will not be entered. One comment entry per person, the winner will be chosen via random.org. Deadline for entry is midnight pacific time, January 15th. Good luck!

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Shelves are a great way to add both function and style to a space and can often be made by repurposing another item. At the top is a funky metal tray I found at an antiques fair and by simply mounting the back to the wall it is transformed. Below it is a great little industrial piece I bought at a yard sale and painted green. 

This cute little vintage example I've had for so long, I've forgotten where I got it. Originally black, I gave it a little make over with a can of orange spray paint. 

I found this charmer at Agora in Athens, Ga. It was actually being used by the seller for display and was not for sale. I got the owner to call her with my offer of $20 and it was mine. I love how it goes with the tile in my new bathroom. 

I have spent a lot time perusing Etsy looking for other possible storage solutions. Searching with key words such as mid century and industrial have yielded the best results. I created this treasury with some of my favorite finds. 

top three photos & content © Lara Rossignol

This year is all about fresh! A fresh new start in a fresh new home, in a fresh town loaded with fresh opportunities. As I get settled and focus my attention on my work, I may not get a chance to post as often but I will do my best to keep Pie fresh. If I have learned anything from blogging, it is the importance of having a constant creative outlet to fuel you and that is what Pie is for me. What fuels you?

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol