Somerset Life delivers fresh and imaginative ideas for inspired living. Contemporary and romantic photographs accompany stories to offer simple and accessible ideas that help transform ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. Somerset Life is interested in learning about your stories of inspired living. Optimally, your submission should accompany visual elements to help tell the story. The elements could include: Original artwork Photographs Collections Objects from life (e.g., a special letter that you received with an authentic wax seal, a box of ribbons that you received from a special friend, etc.)

• Discovering: Creative blogs, findings from flea markets, family vacations or romantic get-aways, and more.
• Creating:Artistic touches and ideas for enhanced letter writing, special celebration banners and other decorations for family traditions, and more.
• Giving: Fresh and ways to present gifts to celebrate friendships, birthdays, other everyday celebrations, and more.
• Getting Together: Ideas for setting the perfect table, packing the perfect picnic, elevating the ordinary brown bag lunch, creating projects to celebrate the joys of childhood, and more.
• Decorating: Pretty touches to beautify the bath, embellishing old and new bottles, adorning a ho-hum office organizer with simple trims, and more.

• The Art of Correspondence: Unique ideas that elevate the letter-writing process. Wax seals, sprigs of lavender and potpourri are some unique elements that we are interested in sharing to our readers to help teach how just a touch of unique elements can transform an ordinary letter into a very special one. Also, there are elements that make the process of letter-writing special – like a vintage calligraphy pen, a glass inkwell, a writing desk, and more. If you use unique elements in your letter-writing, we are interested in seeing both the elements that you use, as well as examples of how you use those elements by actually seeing your final results.
• Sanctuary: Stories about creative spaces. Where do you go to create, to unwind, to clear your mind? Do you have an artist's studio that is artfully arranged with details such as buttons in vintage glass bottles and altered boxes for storing pens and papers? Have you carved out a tiny niche where you go to create – perhaps just a desk or table – and you've discovered unique and beautiful ways to keep it organized? Or is your breathing space just a quiet corner that you have made your own; full of imaginative touches that bring you joy.
• The Journals of Life: Stories about how we record life experiences. How do you journal? Do you paint your stories with watercolors, record events with pictures and found items, or is your journal a memoir beautifully written in longhand and accompanied by quotes, poems, or lists? Why do you journal? Do you muse about daily life, hopes, dreams, troubles, and inspirations? Perhaps you document travels or ponder life's mysteries.
• From the Garden: Stories about bringing the bounty of the garden indoors. We are interested in stories that show flowers presented in unique ways – from beautiful floral arrangements in uncommon vessels, to violets in altered vintage teacups, to fresh arrangements in handmade paper cones. Or flowers for the seasons or special celebrations. The stories that accompany the presentations can tell of how flowers in all of their redolent splendor bring ambiance to a room; or change our perceptions on life or daily circumstances; or they can tell of the personal meaning behind the presentation, or how flowers enhance your life.
• Presentations: Stories about taking the extra step...creating a beautiful handmade tag to attach to a gift, adding little artful touches to your guest room to make guests feel especially welcome – because life "is all in the details." We are also looking for stories about celebrating life's special moments – from birthdays, anniversaries, and baby showers, to graduations and even congratulations. Do you make beautiful banners and guest favors? Does gift wrapping provide you the perfect opportunity to express your artful side?
• Filling the Well: Stories about how we re-fuel and re-energize from our busy world so that we can find ways to live less on "auto pilot," and more "in the moment." Have you had "a-ha" moments where you were reminded to stop and smell the flowers around you? Perhaps you have found ways to break away from the daily grind and to beautify moments of your day to help you fill your well for inspired living – maybe by taking a walk in the park, joining a book club, or taking a solo vacation. To submit story ideas, please include the following:

The team at Somerset Life will thoughtfully consider each and every submission. Please refer to our Artwork Submission Guidelines, Art Return Policy, Writers' Submission Guidelines, and Photography Submission Guidelines prior to submitting your ideas.

Photography Submission Guidelines
Photographs must be professional-quality, clear, well-lit images. Transparencies must be 4" x 5". Digital images must be at least 8" x 10", 300 dpi, tiff files.

Writers' Submission Guidelines
Please send in your submission in the form of a query letter outlining your article idea. If you have them, please also include visual elements with your query letter. All artwork and/or visual elements must be identified with the artist's name, address, e-mail and phone number clearly printed on a label attached to each element. As artwork often gets separated from instructions during our selection process, we ask that you also inscribe your name and address somewhere on each piece of art. If you desire acknowledgment of artwork receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Please send your submissions to The Editor-in-Chief, Somerset Life, 22992 Mill Creek, Suite B, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. The editor welcomes brief e-mail queries: someditor@somersetstudio.com. No telephone calls, please.

Art Management Policy
Sometimes, a piece of artwork submitted for one issue may be better suited for an upcoming issue. Other times, submissions are forwarded for consideration to the editors our sister publications. For these reasons we may hold your sample for an extended period of time – nine-12 months is common. Rest assured that we will take excellent care of your artwork. In the meantime, if you move, please send a postcard or e-mail to the editor with your new address.

Due to the large volume of artwork we receive, Somerset Life will return only those submissions accompanied by sufficient postage in the form of cash, check or money order made out to Stampington & Company. If you wish to have your submission insured for the return journey, please include sufficient funds and indicate your preference in a postcard or letter enclosed with your submission.

Funds for art returns will be cashed and put in a mail funds account within 30 days of submission deadlines. When the artwork is ready to be returned, funds from the account will be drawn and used.

Do not send self-addressed envelopes or packing materials and do not attach postage to packaging, and do not send loose postage stamps. Contributors from outside the US, please send postal coupons obtained from your post office or a check or money order in US funds to Stampington & Company.