sweetndainty

I have moved! Please join me at my new blog

2011-10-02T17:04:00.000-04:00

www.andreareneeblog.blogspot.com

Sneak Peek

2011-09-23T17:39:00.002-04:00

Hello! My new blog is just about done! I am moving to New York next Thursday, so I will begin posting again very soon :) I was able to transfer a lot of my older posts, and keep my favorites for you guys to view again any time you like. I hope you are as excited as I am about this new journey! Let me know what you think!

New Beginnings

2011-09-03T15:13:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone. It has been a while! I've been going crazy trying to get my life together and I think I'm finally on track! I recently received a job in New York and I will be moving in a few weeks. This summer has been such a roller coaster ride with a whirlwind of events.

I couldn't thank all of you enough for continuing to support me and being patient with me in my inconsistency of posting. Now that it's time for my new journey, I think it's time for me to do the same in the blogging world. I am making the announcement that I want to start fresh and create a new blog with a new name. It will be under construction for the next month or so, and I will definitely let you know when and where it is moving! I will be sharing my experiences, inspiration, and insights, and I cannot wait for you all to join me!

I am a small town girl moving to a big city, but I'm not letting it intimidate me. My parents have always encouraged me to see the world, not to keep myself confined in the same place, and not to limit myself and my ability. I already got a taste of the big city last summer during my internship, and now I can seize the opportunity and make the most of it. I saw a really great quote not too long ago under the "discussions" tab on Pinterest that read "The beginning is at the end of your comfort zone." This is very true, and very much what I am doing. I have had the privilege to travel, experience, and see new things. It is so inspiring and eye-opening to see the world outside of your comfort zone. It broadens your mind and keeps you open to new exciting things that the world has to offer. At the same time, I still know where my roots are, and will always be that "small town" girl. The only difference is that she'll be in a bigger place. I've learned through this that we shouldn't push the world away from us, but welcome it. After all, it is what our Creator has given to us. It is a gift. There is a plan for me that I can only see unfold in the present, and all I know to do is faithfully follow it and have the patience that great things will follow.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Next time I'll be posting from my not yet found apartment in New York City!

xo,
Andrea

Discover Pinterest

2011-06-27T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hi there! I'm sure all of you guys have already discovered Pinterest. I did a couple months ago and I'm obsessed! It's such a great tool for organizing inspiration. If you aren't a part of it I urge you to have a look! Here are a few images I've pulled from one of my boards :)

fabric covered pots

fabric covered hangers and cute aprons

patterned tape! A must have :)

Personal Website DONE!

2011-04-16T10:47:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm finally done with my website. Please have a look here.

Have a wonderful day!

xo,

Andrea

Stories through Photography: Susannah Conway

2011-04-04T21:23:00.003-04:00

I am in love with Susannah's work. It is so beautiful and serene. Here are a few tidbits of her stories. Please enjoy and have a look at more!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T20:00:00.004-05:00

These lovely little fine art prints are by Lori H. on Etsy. You can also find her work on Flickr.

Have A Sweet Weekend

2011-02-11T12:27:00.002-05:00

Nanaimo Bars

Found on a delicious blog by the name of Lemonpi

Wanna make it? RECIPE

In the Home of a Natural Crafter

2011-02-11T08:00:00.005-05:00

All images above are by a woman from Washington who goes by "Oakmoss" on flickr. From thrift scissors, beautiful yarns, letter press, a great sheeps coat rug find, to some carded wool lying around her home, these images reflect her daily joys and lifestyle. She knits, sews, gardens, cooks, thrifts, and crafts. What can I say? Oakmoss, you. are. awesome.

Read her blog to see what she is dabbling in at the moment as well as past projects and interesting finds.

*Click images to read the post to each.

Thoughtful Thursday: Wondering Where on Earth I'm Going...

2011-02-10T10:34:00.000-05:00

click image for source

Hello friends,

Of course this has been on my mind, but have no idea where I'm going to be or what I'm going to be doing in the next 6 months of my life. I'm currently still completing work for my portfolio and rallying everything up for graduation. I would love to have a job set before I graduate, and the anticipation of getting there is killing me.

I always find it so fascinating the way people end up where they are, and how opportunity presents itself. It's usually very spontaneous, or it just falls in one's lap. I love hearing these stories because they give me hope and trust that God will provide at the right time.

I'm going wherever the wind may blow me and I'm working as hard as I can for the entire journey.
All of you happy artists out there, please do tell your story to me. Lets continue inspiring one another by not only sharing pictures, favorite artists, and blogs, but through stories of life's little experiences.

To all of you out there reading this, share your story with me as I continue to share mine.

xoxo,

Andrea

Jessica Swift

2011-02-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

Some of you may formerly know Jessica Gonacha, who is now Jessica Swift. I wanted to share her fun colorful work. She does everything from patterns and illustration to animation and painting. Here are some cute pieces that caught my eye on her Etsy Shop that you can also find on her original website. Enjoy!

illustrations

cute pocket mirrors with some of her patterns and illustrations.

Yay for coasters!

screenprinted fabric and quotes

*click images for direct source*

Rifle Paper Co.

2011-02-07T13:38:00.000-05:00

A paper goods, illustration, and design company in Florida by Ms. Anna Bond. Please check out the shop and blog . Pure fun and joy.

Here are a couple adorable prints I found while browsing the shop.

Company found via frolic!

Textile Tuesday: Naomi's Manic Muffin Totes on Etsy

2011-01-11T12:22:00.000-05:00

These sweet little pillows are made from Noami who is a fellow Alabamian from Birmingham Alabama. She is a textile artist who shares her love of turn needle applique through these "lil hoots" She has a variety of "lil hoots" and "big hoots" each having their own names. Aren't they precious? I also love the fact that all of these are stitched by hand. Please visit her Etsy shop so see more.

Monday Blog Praise: Unruly Things

2011-01-10T13:34:00.000-05:00

Unruly Things is a wonderful lifestyle blog filled with beautiful inspiration about home decorating, design, photography, and fashion. I find my self sighing at the cuteness and beauty of every image I lay my eyes on. If you haven't already, please take the time to visit this week!

{click images to see post}

Thoughtful Thursday: Growing Up

2010-12-16T17:37:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about where I'm going to be in the next year or so. Right now as you all know, I'm on my very last fall/winter break from school. The last time I'll have a month and a half to kick back and enjoy spending quality time with my family. Soon everything is going to change, and I hope I didn't take too much for granted. After June the 4th, which is my graduation date, or close to it, life begins on my own.

I don't know if I've told you guys this but I"m somewhat of a Taylor Swift fan and I recently got her new album. She wrote a song about her moving out and having her own apartment for the first time and she is singing to all the younger listeners out there who are in middle school or high school who are ready to grow up fast and do things on their own. Little do they know when they actually get to that point, they are going to be wishing they were little again. I can't tell you how many times I've said this in the past two months when I see little children running around. I say to myself, " Oh, to be little again, without a care in the world." They are such bundles of innocence with no worries at all. On the other end of the spectrum, I can't say I have no worries or responsibility anymore because of course, our lives are full of them. I'm just taking it one step at a time to see how the journey will unfold.

Taylor's song is called Never Grow Up. I know we all have to at some point, but the message that she is sending is not to rush yourself into it. Also with a sister who just turned 13 years old, I"m dedicating this song to her. I love you Amy ;)

Click here for a listen

Never Grow Up

Your little hands wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight,
Your little eyelids flutter cause your dreaming

So, I tuck you in

Turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret

I'd give all I had, honey

If you could stay like that

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up

It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart

And no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up, and never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies

And, you're mortified

Your mom's dropping you off

At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But, don't make her drop you off around the block

Remember that she's getting older too

And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJ's getting ready

for school

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up

It can stay this simple

And no one's ever burned you

Nothing's ever left you scarred

And even though you want to

Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said

And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone

So, here I am in my new apartment

In a big city, they just dropped me off

It's so much colder than I thought it would be

So, I tucked myself in and turned my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up

I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up

Wish I'd never grown up

Could still be little

Oh, I don't wanna grow up

Wish I'd never grown up

It could still be simple

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up

It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

And even you want to

Please, try to never grow up

Oh, whoa

Don't you ever grow up

Oh, whoa

Never grow up

Just never grow up

Florence Broadhurst

2010-12-15T15:10:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day for "Wild Card Wednesday" and I wanted to share a book that I am currently reading called Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret and Extraordinary Lives. I got the book at Anthropologie a little while ago. I just started reading it a few days ago, and I'm already half way through and can't put it down. Florence Broadhurst is a very eccentric woman who grew up in the 20s. She never let the art world out of her sight no matter where she went. She is known for her brightly colored retro wall papers and her very extravagant personality.

There is a huge mystery behind the death of Florence, which was a murder in 1977, and it's one of the reasons why I can't put it down because I've got to know exactly what happened. She was still living a full life at 78 years old, and from the story thus far, I don't think she was finished creating. Also, Florence's stream of events are all so interesting. Her career path changes so many times, along with the name she gives herself each time with some other secret events. The best part is that everywhere she goes, and everything she does is based off of her purely, raw talent. I would tell you the whole story so far, but of course I wouldn't want to spoil it. This book is such a great read and I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn something new, or just to get to know another amazing artist.

Something to Look Forward To

2010-12-14T19:03:00.000-05:00

photo by libookpearson-( I am in love with her journaling skills)

Hello Friends!

So, You and I both know that once I've started with class back in Savannah in the past, my blogging has been put on the back burner, but I want to stop the back burning and create a day to day system. I originally post whatever inspiration comes to mind, or whatever I happen to see during the day that may spark an idea for a post, but with all the chaos that's going on around me it has been hard doing it while I'm in school. Soooo, I am going to prepare myself by creating a blog topic schedule for myself day to day to make things a lot easier and natural for me when I post. This will be something to look forward to, because not only will I know, but you guys will know what to look forward to each day I make a post. So here we go, and here's the schedule:

Mondays: Blog Praise (I will be praising a blog each week for you guys to check out!)

Tuesdays: Textile Tuesdays (any textile artist, pattern, or product I fall in love with that particular week will be shared- after all, it's what I do!)

Wednesdays: Wild Card Wednesdays (could be about anything!)

Thursdays: Thoughtful Thursdays (This will be a more personal post that will allow me to connect better with all of you guys. Thursdays are usually the last day of my school week, so i'ts a day to think about what all was accomplished and learned throughout that particular week. I find myself pondering the most on Thursdays, so you guys can give me your opinions and let me know what you are up to as well! I look forward to inspiring one another about life <3 )

Fridays: Photo Fridays (As you all know my passion for beautiful photography)

And that's it! I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am :)

Blog Praise: Dottie Angel

2010-12-14T01:12:00.000-05:00

I'm starting a blog praise at the beginning of each week, or a blog of the week rather. This week I want to praise Dottie Angel, by Tif, who I found through the Artful Blogging magazine (Winter 2010 issue). I absolutely love her eclectic style, and the imagination behind "Dottie Angel" herself. Tif also has an etsy shop with more of her work and beautiful images. Enjoy :)

[Click images for details]

All images taken by Tif.

First Snow of the Year

2010-12-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love snow. In the little southern town of Florence, Alabama snow is rarely seen, or rarely seen by me to say the least. We usually get our first snow when I have to leave from my holiday break to go back to Savannah for classes, but I'm so happy I get to see it today, and I wanted to share it with you. To all of you guys who never get to see snow, I dedicate this to you :) This is a view of the snow falling from the lake.

Have a Lovely Weekend

2010-12-09T21:37:00.000-05:00

I'm warm and cozy, ready for the Holidays. I hope you all have a fabulous and relaxing weekend! Here is my current favorite holiday song. Enjoy :)

{photo by Marie Louise Windsor}

"Christmas Tonight" -Dave Barnes and Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott

Ana Montiel

2010-12-08T22:27:00.000-05:00

Ana Montiel is a print designer, as well as a free lance art director and designer. She is based in London and all of her patterns are done by hand. Ana also does beautiful illustrative work. I love how abstract her work is. There are many geometric shapes in her patterns but she achieves them in a very organic way with color and placement creating so much movement in her prints. Great work Ana, and keep up the good work! Check out her website and her blog for more.

Illustrative Works

{click images for location}

Fossil Finds

2010-12-07T19:40:00.000-05:00

I am absolutely loving what I've spotted at Fossil. I recently visited an accessory store and a clothing store, and I seriously wanted to buy out everything in each one. Here are a few things I was eyeing while I browsed. Enjoy!

New Look!

2010-11-30T22:38:00.000-05:00

Hey Guys!

I know my blog is looking a little wonky right now, but I was checking out the new editing features and I've decided to give the blog a little face lift. I'm currently working on a new header and pattern for my background. I will be playing around with different looks throughout the week and when I settle for one, I would love love some feedback! Thanks for being patient :)

xo,
Andrea

New at Galison

2010-11-29T16:34:00.000-05:00

I've shared my love for Galison products in the past, and wanted to share some new products that are currently out! Who doesn't love little keepsake boxes? The Seasons in Bloom is a new collection, and they are beautiful. I own the Vincent one, and love it. I've displayed it every year in my dorm room.

[click images for more details]

Happy Happy Holidays!

2010-11-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

I everyone! I just got back from celebrating Thanksgiving at the beach, and I'm still stuffed from all of the food! It's been a while, but now I have some time to relax while I'm home away from a busy schedule, just to enjoy the holidays. Christmas is creeping around the corner, and I couldn't be happier because it's my favorite time of year. What's on your wish list this Christmas? Do you have any fun projects planned?

Here is a fun DIY gift from Anthropologie definitely worth giving a friend if they are looking for a fun project this season in the warmth of their own home.

Gathering Spriggs by Heather Thompson

2010-08-01T12:24:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone, I hope your weekends were relaxing and productive at the same time! Let's start out our week with some beauty shall we?

Heather Thompson, an artist and designer based out Nashville, TN (one of my favorite places in TN) is the writer of the blog Gathering Spriggs, and has worked as a decorative painter/ faux finisher in homes and businesses in TN.

If you haven't stumbled across her blog already, I am so happy I could introduce you to it. I have found myself reading and going to her blog numerous amounts of times for inspiration in the past few weeks, and I can not get over how gorgeous and beautiful everything is. Inspirational articles about decor, color trends, design, shops, and more are found that inspire Heather day to day, and I am so happy that she is sharing all of it with us.

I also urge you take the time to visit her Etsy shops, Gathering Spriggs, and Gathering Vintage to see her personal work!

Etsy Shops

Krista Keltanen

2010-07-12T11:48:00.000-04:00

Krista Keltanen is an advertising and commercial photographer and digital artist. She also does very beautiful, dreamy fine art photography that you can find in her Etsy shop. Also, please check out her gorgeous blog for more eye candy. I'm so excited to add Krista to my inspiration list, and you should too! Aren't these photographs absolutely breathtaking?

Have A Lovely Weekend!

2010-07-10T20:21:00.000-04:00

*source*

Kate's Paperie

2010-07-10T16:27:00.000-04:00

Today I met up with a dear friend I hadn't seen in four years! What a day, and what fun. We went in to a very cute paper store called Kate's Paperie. I loved looking at all of the stationery and printed papers! Some of the stationery was sold by companies such as Night Owl Paper Goods, which I'm sure you all know and heard of, and another company that's new to me called Bobbin Designs, which is oh, sooo adorable! Other brands included Cavallini, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, and Vera Wang.

Sweet Tooth

2010-07-08T22:39:00.000-04:00

I have a mad sweet tooth, and of course, I have found a few places that I couldn't resist to stop by any time I dare to walk near.

First, is Magnolia Bakery, which has cupcakes and other yummy sweet treats to die for! If you have a craving for something sweet, this is definitely a place to visit for a cupcake or two... or three.

Next is another bakery, Levain Bakery, known for their 6 oz. cookies. A few of my dear friends work there, and it's so great to get free treats at the end of the day. This bakery is also known for beating Bobby Flay's attempt to a "Throw Down".

And last but not least, one of my favorite places to go is the Chelsea Market. The market has tons of little shops to buy sweet treats and healthy treats as well. Of course, right now, I have the sweet treats on my mind, and the one that stands out the most is the gelato that you can get there. L'Arte del Gelato-- one word... YUM.

Kaffe 1668

2010-07-07T20:53:00.000-04:00

One of the cutest coffee shops ever! My friends and I spent two hours chilling out and chatting it up at this sweet little coffee shop. I got a latte that was amazing, and of course it's always fun to see the different froth art figures in each cup. They are so pretty it makes you not want to drink the coffee and mess it up, but the coffee is so good you just gotta. I love friendly little sheep that create a theme in the shop. The art work is fun and quirky, by artist Andrew Cherry, a former student of Savannah College of Art and Design. If your in the mood to chill out and have a wonderful cup of coffee, Kaffe 1668 is the place to go!

New Experiences, New Places, New York

2010-07-05T15:11:00.000-04:00

I hope you all had a fabulous 4th! As you know I am in New York interning for Martha Stewart Living for product design. My first experiences in New York have been amazing. New York is such a great city, and there is always something to do. I love exploring downtown to find fun shops and galleries.

This week I'll be posting some of my most memorable and favorite spots that I will definitely be making a second , third, and probably a fourth trip to.

So, for starters, I absolutely loved Purl Soho. It's the sweetest little shop with beautiful yarns, fabrics, books, and crafting accessories. If you make a trip to New York and you're a sucker for textiles, please go here! It's a haven for the crafters such as ourselves. And if you already live in New York and haven't been, you'll definitely be making trips here all the time! You can also visit their blog, The Purl Bee.

Goal #2: Blog Dedication

2010-06-09T16:28:00.000-04:00

2. More posting!

Last summer I was on top of everything with my blog, but as all of you may have noticed, my dedication to this blog slowly went downhill as the school year began last September. Things get crazy, and I'm sorry for any promises I may not have kept throughout the year as far as posting. I want to shout out a HUGE thanks to all of the followers that stayed with me. Thank you oh, soo much for your patience and understanding! So, to more inspiration!

Camilla David

I would like to share with you a textile company I stumbled upon that I am very very fond of. Camilla David Textiles is a small textile business that produces fabrics for home furnishings. I absolutely love the prints, they are so adorable and beautiful! Camilla David's patterns were inspired by her mother's floral arrangements, which were home grown. Who doesn't love fresh cut flowers? Now these arrangements will last forever through Camilla's inspiring work.

A Favorite Past Post: Surface Design

Goal #1: Projects Projects Projects!

2010-06-08T23:33:00.000-04:00

1. More projects outside of projects I'll be doing for assignments.

I'll be taking my advanced classes this year, which allows us to pretty much create whatever we want within our field, and my goal is to do as much as I possibly can!

Speaking of projects, here's a fun DIY project I found via Design Sponge

Felt Bag from Scandinavian Needlecraft

Oh yes, and as promised, one of my favorite past posts for today:
Etsy Picks from Jennifer Romlini (gotta love Etsy!)

Let's Celebrate: 1 Year down, with many more ahead!

2010-06-07T23:09:00.000-04:00

As I was browsing through my archives, it just hit me that I have had my blog for one year now! I made my first post on June 1, 2009. I know I exactly have enough posts to make up a full year, but it has survived and I'm going to continue to take you with me on more my life's journeys and share with you the many many inspirations that flow from it. This next year is going to be one of the most important years of my life; my senior year of college. My future career will branch from this year, and life as we all know it will begin. I will be in the real world, an independent, an individual. I will be making my way through many more experiences, journeys, and relationships to come. I know that I have to trust God, and as my mom says as well, my gut, to continue making my journey a success. More plans, more goals, more expectations.. bring it on world!

The rest of this week, I will be posting a goal that I plan to achieve throughout the year, along with links to some of my favorite posts that I've made throughout this past "blogging" year. I hope you enjoy!

Is there a turning point for you this year? What are you looking forward to?

images via malaca11

Another Day At Anthropologie

2010-06-07T21:09:00.000-04:00

I just got back from Memphis with my family and I went shopping for some dressy casual business attire. I went to Banana Republic, Gap, Macy's, Limited, and of course, my favorite place of all, Anthropologie. I'm sure you all have seen the June catalog? Gorgeous, as usual. Here is a dress I got there on sale that I will wear in New York this summer. I can't believe I leave at the end of this week!

I also fell in love with these little kitchen gadgets

Good Bye Europe, Hello NYC!

2010-05-31T16:01:00.000-04:00

I must say, I will miss Europe so so much. After my time in France, went to Rome with my family for a few days. I was so happy to see them and spend time with them as well. Towards the end of my quarter I applied for several internships and landed one with Martha Stewart Living in the textile department as a designer! I can't wait to get to New York for yet another amazing experience. I think this is the most traveling I've ever done in my life in such a short period of time! Phew.

Paris

2010-05-09T15:12:00.000-04:00

Wow, I am so excited that I was able to spend an entire week in Paris. It was exhausting, exciting, exhilarating, and crazy! Everyone there dresses beautifully. All of the women that walked by had amazing shoes, and were dressed like they were ready walk a runway. These people were easy to pick out from tourists such as myself. I wish I the Sartorialis t was there shooting, but as all you Sartorialist fans out there know, he has been shooting in Tokoyo. Bummer.

The food was great, and the shopping was amazing! I got a really cute shirt at a little boutique called Suncoo, I am especially proud of the little knick-knacks I purchased at a flea market that last day I was there.

I found really cute sac to keep sewing supplies in. I also bought some old postcards in a bundle of 50 for 10 euro. Many of them were used with salutations in French. I love finding things like this. These used to belong to someone! I wonder who they were and what the relationships were between the person sending and the person receiving? I also got some buttons, mending wool, a small bundle of floral fabric samples and a few buckles to use for future projects. The third photo is a booklet of motifs that was used as samples for wall paper. They are all hand painted!

These shoes are like the "TOMS" of France. I know they are espadrilles, but their shape are like TOMS and everyone has a pair. They are only 7 euro, very comfy, and very French.

Etsy Surf: Cori Dantini

2010-04-15T17:16:00.000-04:00

Today I was surfing Etsy and came across the treasures of Cori Dantini. Her work caught my eye and I had to see more. I love her collage technique of digitally layering texture and using loose thin lines to create her sweet and whimsical images. I love everything about these pieces. Enjoy!
'

Bonjour!

2010-04-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

I've only been in France for a week and I've already been to Bonnieux twice, Apt, and Gordes. Bonnieux is such a strenuous walk. It's about 4 miles, and lets just say it's nothing like being in Savannah where everything is nice and flat. There will be pictures to come of these places. Here are a few around the village. I still can't believe I'm going to be living here for another 7 weeks. The beauty hypnotizes you, making you never want to leave. Feel free to visit the blog I'm keeping for my photo class! I just made my first post. I still have a little more things to add on the side as well. You will be able find more here about my travels and what I'm learning as far as the history and culture of France.

This bridge is called the Pont St. Julien, which is 3000 years old. We got the privilege of having a picnic lunch here!

The View

2010-03-30T08:08:00.001-04:00

Here we are! I'm blogging from France! The view here is absolutely breathtaking. The first image is what I got to see when I got off of the bus in Lacoste. I had my classes yesterday and we are traveling around Provence starting tomorrow! I can't wait to see more. I will be starting another blog attributed to my photo class here. I'll will post a link as soon as it's up and running. Today I'm walking to Bonnieux to visit shops. It's about a hour walk if you take the road from Lacoste, but yesterday I found out that there is a path that cuts the time and half, and I'm definitely going in search for it today. I went a couple days ago and took the road, and it was alot farther than I had expected, but definitely worth it! The town is beautiful and I can't wait to explore it a bit more today.

This is the terrace right outside my door. It's a fabulous place to wake up early to and do some reading. A lot of my quiet time will be spent here.

This is the view from the terrace! Gorgeous right?

Off to A Little Village in the South of France..

2010-03-25T00:55:00.000-04:00

This is it! After a crazy winter quarter, it's time to start a spectacular Spring quarter! Spring quarter is usually the hardest for me, but how card can it be when your in France?! One of my dreams are about to come true. Tomorrow I will step foot on French soil. I'll be staying in a little village in southern France called Lacoste. This study abroad experience is going to be an unforgettable one, and I want to take you on my journey every step of the way! I'll have a lot of time to lay low and take in what's around me. I can't wait. Forgive me for being a slacker with blogging, but life throws you curves, I know that's very cliche to say, but it's true. My time has been managed badly with blogging, and I apologize to all of you who have been waiting for new posts. Don't worry, there are plenty more to come! Can't wait to blog from France! Au revoir!

Current Inspiration

2010-02-03T22:52:00.000-05:00

Hi all! I hope your new year is going well. I can't believe it's already February! I have been going crazy this quarter, but it's going well. I love love love screen printing, and I am also falling in love with my black and white film photography class. It's all consuming my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Here are some things that have been inspiring me lately.

LILO RAYMOND
My photo professor introduced me to her. I love the subtlety of her photography. The white on white feel is so refreshing and captures a very dreamy essence I think. I've been viewing her work for aesthetic inspiration.

KATRIN SCHWULST
Her illustrations are adorable! I love the whimsical feel of her work. I i really miss sketching, because I don't get to do it as much as I used to. I was browsing around online and came across her, and I couldn't help but fall in love with her work. I was doing a little research today on illustration for screen printing, given I love the hand drawn look ,and I'm hoping I can put some illustrative elements in my prints for future projects. I just got project one back today, which was a placement print that I did on an apron. Can't wait to take a pic and show you!

Have a lovely lovely day :)

Merry Christmas, and Cheers to a Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T00:40:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year's! I can't believe it's already 2010... how time flies. Was Santa good to you this year? I hope you all received your Christmas wishes :) I'm happy to say that I am finally an owner of Photoshop CS4. I can now get a lot more done at my own computer. I'm currently saving up for a Polaroid, any suggestions? I can't wait to find one and start using it!

As for my current whereabouts, I'm back in Savannah ready to begin another grueling quarter. When I say grueling, I mean the work load, it's not that I don't enjoy what I'm doing, there's just a lot of it. This quarter I'm taking screen printing, which I absolutely love! We got to do our first prints today. I'm also taking a film photography class, which I'm a little intimidated by because I've never developed film in a dark room before, but I'm up for it. I have a feeling I'm going to love this class as well. My third class is the history of fabric which entails a lot of reading, but it's very interesting, because we are learning when and where fabric originated and the many many techniques that were developed to create it. So, that wraps up what I'll be doing until March! As I've continued to say, bear with me on the posting, but don't go away! I'm trying harder to multi-task, one of my new year's resolutions I guess you could say.

I wish you all the best this year with everything! Love you all!

Happy New Year !

"From now on our troubles will be out of sight...."

{click photos for source}

Blythe Church

2009-12-11T00:14:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share this with you guys! A good friend of mine sent me this image on Facebook because she knows I'm crazy about anything fibers related, and she had just done some felting herself. After researching this image, I found that this felted typewriter was created by a Canadian artist by the name of Blythe Church. The typewriter was modeled after an old Underwood typewriter that was owned by her boyfriend's grandfather. The felt is hand-dyed and the details are embroidered. So beautiful! Blythe began sewing as a hobby on the side, and fell in love with it, which led to her soft sculpted creations. You can view more of her work at her website Sewn By Blythe. She creates an array of cameras, household items, and fun little monsters. You can also visit her blog to see her recent works. Please go visit!

Portfolio and Weaving Final

2009-12-09T18:36:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Good news. If you go to the portfolio tab, you can now see a slide show of my work! Go have a look and let me know what you think! Here are some pictures of my weaving project while it was still on the loom and after completed. You can see larger images of it in the slide show as well. I made a throw and I used misti-cotton for the warp and the weft. The structure I used was a combination of the Huck structure. I had to make a 6 yd warp and do two panels on top of each other, cut the first half off and then finish the second peice. After getting it off the loom I had to wash and then join the two piece together to achieve the width of the blanket. I've been using my cozy blanket a lot given how cold it has been! I spent many hours awake working on this project and I had to overcome a lot of obstacles in the beginning, but just let me say it was all totally worth it!

In the beginning...

the warp

The weft yarn

Weave!

The end!!

Lacoste, France Here I Come!

2009-12-05T00:20:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share some amazing news with you guys! Today I found out that I got into the study abroad program in Lacoste, France! I'm so excited. I will be going in the spring, and I can't wait to share my journey with you! I will be taking a History of Provence class and a Lights of Provence class for photography. I can't wait for the experience, and I'm still trying to wake myself up from the dream of going, because now it's real. I'm going to France!!

This picture was taken by a very good friend of mine, Melissa, who just got back from her journey there. She went for Fibers, and she has some amazing works of art that came out of it. I wish I could have been there with her, given that's my major as well, but the timing didn't work out for me. Besides the fact, I'm glad one of us could go to come back and share an unforgettable experience! I can't wait to see your face next quarter Melissa!! Melissa has a blog as well called Lissa Nancy, and I urge you to go visit and read out her amazing journey throughout France and Spain!

CAD Projects

2009-12-03T17:48:00.000-05:00

Ok so I FINALLY get to relax and post some of my work! Here are some patterns I created in my CAD surface design class. Let me know what you think!

This project was a texture mapping project for furniture. We were to make patterns inspired by a news article that we found. I found an article in National Geographic about a graphic research team at the University of Washington that is designing a program to build 3D cities out of images taken from flickr. A lot of the buildings they have replicated from the images are from Rome (click here to view the article). My patterns were inspired by the elaborate motifs in Roman architecture for this project. The title of my theme is "Imperial Escape". This was presented in pdf format. I couldn't get the pdf pages on here so you could see the professional presentation, so this is the best I could do as of now.

(You can see more views of these in my portfolio.)

This project is my final. We were free to make any pattern we wanted and texture map them on to any surface and then present them in a powerpoint. My patterns are inspired by French and vintage styles. I mainly looked at French furniture to get inspiration and sketched my life away. I've always wanted to create a damask, so that's why I created one for my main pattern and then I created a stripe for a coordinate. I was so excited to put these onto stationery because it is one of my loves! I used the damask pattern to go on the cards and then used the coordinate as a fun surprise on the inside of the envelopes.

Home for the Holidays!

2009-12-03T17:45:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I feel like I'm still stuffed I ate so much food. My family was in charge of the desserts this year. My mom made a Kahlua cake, my brother made a chocolate chip pie, and I made a pumpkin cheesecake. There were all so delicious! I can't believe it's already the beginning of December. What's your wish list this Christmas?

Finals, birthdays, and lattes

2009-11-13T01:18:00.001-05:00

So this last week is going to be crazy. I'm going through finals at the moment and can't wait to be finished and share my work. I'm weaving a blanket for my final in intro to weaving and I'm so excited to get it off the loom and show it to you guys! I've been crazy busy so haven't gotten a chance to post my work as often as I would like, but no worries, I have a month and a half break which is really nice. My birthday was today by the way! I'm legal now, the big 21, and my room mate turned 20 yesterday. Love birthdays! I hope you all are having a lovely fall so far. I love fall, it's one of my favorite seasons; the perfect time for lattes and pies, the best combo ever. Have a great weekend :)

Free Hugs!

2009-10-20T18:11:00.001-04:00

The man who wants to spread love, joy, and happiness around the world by simply giving free hugs.

LOVE this. Read more about this sweet story here.

You can also check out the campaign's website!

Project 1 Sampling Complete!

2009-10-13T19:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! I hope you all have been doing fabulously well. As for me, I have truly missed blogging. I'm trying my best to multi-task given my hectic schedule with classes and work. Anyways, I wanted to share with you my first weaving sample! I've already shared a portion of it, and the rest includes experimenting with materials, and samples of twills, rib weaving, lacing techniques, making holes, enlaying, exposed warp, and irregular weft packing. There's more, but the list is exhausting! So much experimenting in one little sample. I was working with 120 warps. The enire sample is about 3 yards long. Today we learned how to draft. I'm a little intimidated, but we'll see how it goes! If anyone has any tips let me know!

Also, I am currently working on a really fun CAD project that I'll post up soon! I'll be done with the project next week :) Again, apologies for my lack of activity. Please do know that I love you all and I'm doing my best to keep you updated! Thank you to those who have been reading. Your support means so much to me. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!

Repetition

2009-10-03T17:35:00.000-04:00

Here are some images I thought were very nice and inspirational to me, being I'm working on repeat patterns at the moment. A very important element in design, repetition is everywhere if you pay close attention. We use it to create unity and rhythm, which is very pleasing to the eye. Next time your out and about, look around; trees, bricks, light posts, plants, etc.. all naturally create pattern that we don't even take notice to every single day.

{click image for source}

Weekend Weaving Experience!

2009-09-29T12:56:00.000-04:00

So I must say, I am really enjoying the weaving process. Our assignment this past weekend was to experiment with different materials. I used thick twine, plastic rope and i dissected it to show different variations, I used natural multi-colored wool yarn, ribbon, and then I used white roving and alternated it with mercerized cotton twine. My favorite was putting the roving in because it bubbled up through the warp giving it a gorgeous texture! We were only to do 5 materials 2 inches for each, but I didn't want to stop!

Weekend Sprout!

2009-09-29T12:31:00.000-04:00

As you know, I recently got a small parsley plant, and its first little sprout came out this weekend! It's been around ten days since I got it and I've been watering, watching, and waiting. The funny thing is that It rained so much this weekend and our window was leaking. I wonder if the rain water gave him a little boost. I'm so excited to see it continue to grow!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-09-23T14:54:00.000-04:00

Hello! I apologize for being so sluggish on posting...I feel like I should be punished for it. My schedule is getting crazy! So this week for CAD we are taking a previous repeat pattern that we have designed and digitally altering it to a new one to fit as a wallpaper along with a coordinate. Today we had to present some wallpaper companies that inspired us. Out of the many companies I found, which were all beautiful in design by the way, TROVE (located in New York NY) stood out to me most. The wall paper is very abstract and illustrative. I think they are so beautiful and so different from what I'm used to seeing.

p.s. Today I threaded a loom for the first time! I'll take pictures of the loom so you can see :)

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

2009-09-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

Hello! I must say, the first week of classes wasn't so bad. 20th century art is very interesting, and I think I'm really going to enjoy my weaving and CAD surface design class. Yesterday I learned how to measure my thread on a warp board for weaving. The process is actually very soothing. The motion of winding the yarn around the dowels is a calming and also thoughtful process. On the calming side, the motion is "like slow dancing" as my professor said, and on the thoughtful side have to keep count of how many warps you have counted out. No worries though, because if you lose count, there are a couple tricks that can help you count them back again in like 5 seconds.

I was going to let you guys know that majority of my posts will probably be inspiration I am looking at for projects throughout this quarter. Also, if any of you guys have any suggestions, or would like to share some inspiration that might be helpful, please do! Just shoot me an email or send me a link! I also hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Is anyone doing anything special?

One plan I have in particular is bike shopping! I can't wait. I would love to get a cruiser. I really need to save some money on gas. A bike would be perfect because I live in the middle of downtown and I can pretty much bike anywhere I want. Is there anywhere great online I can go to look for one? I am open to suggestions! I'm also going to the farmer's market, and I'm super excited about that as well. Remember that post I made about gardens? Well, let's just say I have like 1/16 of a small garden in our apartment. We have fresh basil plants, and I got a small parsley plant yesterday! Nothing is better than fresh herbs. Yum.

photo by Jena Ardel (click for source)

Our lovely little basil plants!

Weaving

2009-09-15T22:32:00.000-04:00

Today I had weaving. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this class at first, but I actually think it's going to be a very relaxing class. I hear it's a great stress reliever, and believe me, I'll have plenty of stress that will need to be relieved this quarter. I'm a little intimidated about threading the loom, but everyone says once you do it a few times, it's not so bad. I was Etsy surfing today and came across weaver Cait Throop, a.k.a. Barefootweaver. Her work is absolutely gorgeous. She has been weaving since the 70s and owns 4 looms in her home. Cait weaves scarfs, blankets, wraps, bracelets, and even neck pieces. Because of her love for color, she even dyes her own threads! I love the texture she creates with all the different materials she uses to weave. Some of the materials she uses are rayon, cotton, chenille, silk, and tensil. I admire how passionate Cait is about what she does, and it definitely shows in her work.

pretty plaid

I'm love love loving this triangle scarf. I want it!

more gorgeous color and texture!

Surface Design

2009-09-15T01:14:00.000-04:00

Today classes started and I got to begin my day with my fibers CAD class. We are going to learn how to create surface design digitally, and I can't wait to see what I and everyone else can come up with. My focus is going to be pattern for interiors because it's what I'm most interested in at the moment. I'm so excited. One of my favorite pattern artists is Amy Butler. She has my dream job! Amy Butler started out in the corporate world, and quickly realized it wasn't for her. She started off by selling her first set of handbags at a Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City where she found her first booth. No other small pattern companies had been designing for accessories, so Amy began designing her own line of fabrics for accessories, which launched her career, and now serve in a wide range of accessories for the home and fashion. Isn't her work so lovely and refreshing?

Her rugs are amazing!

'Sweet Life' Bags

Happy Weekend!

2009-09-11T13:37:00.001-04:00

Today is such a lovely day! My roomies come in tonight. Not more loneliness! I hope you all are doing well, and I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead. As you know, the blog, A Cup of Joe is a daily read for me, and I just can't get over all the happiness and love being shared there at the moment. Joanna recently got married and her friends and fellow bloggers have been giving her their "Secrets to a Happy Marriage". Grace Bonney of design*sponge was one of the first to share her secret. I urge you all to go over and read! Lots of lovely images are provided as well. So read, smile, use these secrets, and have a fabulous weekend!

To see the story of these images, simply click!

Lucyina Moodie

2009-09-09T00:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! It's been so hectic around here, but tomorrow is my last day of leadership training, so I'll be able to get back on my regular schedule with posting soon! Anyways, I have been wanting to share with you the lovely stylist and interior designer, Lucyina Moodie. I found her via decor8 and absolutely fell in love with her work. I love how each element she uses creates such a beautiful display. I found myself gaping at how gorgeous everything was to me when I first visited her website. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Saturday Salutations

2009-09-05T10:04:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. I'm back for a couple days because I missed out on one of my retreats. I'm a little sick at the moment, but hoping to get better by the time this weekend is over with. It's so not fun being sick. I finally got everything moved in a couple days ago and I'm just resting for the time being. I've made some before shots of my room, and when I get everything up on my walls I'll take some after shots to share with you guys! It's so quiet in the apartment right now. My roommates won't be in until the 10th, and I prefer having people around to talk to, so I'm a little on the lonely side right now. But no worries, I've got blogging to keep me sane!

I am definitely happy and excited to say that this is my first post from Savannah, and I will be sharing loads of experiences and inspiration with you while I'm here for the next couple years! Too bad I wasn't in-the-know with blogging when I first arrived here two years ago, but timely things happen for a reason, and I think the knowledge of blogging appeared to me at the perfect time.

Anyways, I would like to share some photography with you by Axel & Moa. The photography was shared with me by a dear fellow friend and blogger, Megan Kiehna, who is also currently making her journey as a becoming fiber artist in Savannah, and has begun her new Emmie Kay blog. I would love for you all to check it out! It is full of various themes throughout the week, and treats you to her take on yummy recipes, adorable crafts, sweet little weddings, and fabulous vintage fashion.

Ulrica Wihiborg is the photographer of Axel & Moa. She gets her inspiration from her "Scandanavian sensibilities and love for clean organic lines." I love the feel of her work. It is so light and lovely, and portrays many emotions of love, innocence, growth, and relationships. She also has shots of different objects that she has made absolutely beautiful through her photography. She has recently been selected for Rangefinder magazine's 2009 August Portrait issue. Congratulations Ulrica! Click here to read the the article, Swedish Summer Days.

Savannah Bound

2009-09-02T16:55:00.000-04:00

So I'm finished up packing and I am leaving today for my second home in Savannah. I am making a two day trip out of it, so I will be arriving there tomorrow to move in with no rush. After I move everything in, it's going to be a little crazy with retreats and training, so my posting will be on hold for a about a week. For those of you who are new to this blog, don't hesitate to browse around and catch up! From here on will be my first time posting from Savannah! I look forward to sharing plenty of photos, projects, and experiences with you. I hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week , and I will surely miss you all while I'm away.

photo by polkadotandplaid

To My Readers

2009-08-31T22:29:00.001-04:00

Today I got a very kind email from GALISON and they have made a lovely offer for all of the wonderful readers of this blog. Thank you readers for your support, and thank you GALISON for the amazing treat!

I Heart Office Supplies!

2009-08-28T16:10:00.001-04:00

I am loving the adorable products by GALISON, who sells pretty much any office supply you can think of. The prints are so fun and cute, they can dress up any desk or small area where they're most needed. They also sell to many different companies such as Anthropologie, Liz Claiborne, Real Simple, and Target. I can't remember where I first saw their products, but I loved them so much I wrote down the name! I'm such a sucker for office any kind of office supply. Also, keep updated by visiting their blog, The Galiwag, as well!

{Click images for more details!}

See their Mudpuppy products for the kiddies!

Jane Cumberbatch

2009-08-27T19:22:00.000-04:00

Today I was out and about getting some last minute things before I leave for Savannah, and made a run in to T.J. Maxx (you never know what you'll find!) I was looking at different books they had setting out and came across a book called Decorating Easy, by Jane Cumberbatch. The images of the interiors inside the book were so beautiful and contained many lovely little DIY projects and ideas. I thought, "Wow, I really need to look her up!" Many of you might have already heard of her, but those who haven't like myself, I am happy to enlighten you!

Jane is an interior decorator, and has been a decorating editor, journalist, and style director of various leading publications, one being Elle Decoration. Jane's style consists of her own little "ingredients" and reflects a very simple and natural feel. You can check out the range of simple products she is currently developing at her Pure Style website. You can also visit her blog, PureBlog, which is so refreshing with gorgeous images. Recently, Elle Decoration has voted her blog one of the best style blogs on the web. Very impressive.

Be Domestic:

Be Lazy:

Be Clean:

Be Chill:

Be Green:

Be Inspired :

Attention: Blogger Plagiarism

2009-08-25T20:50:00.001-04:00

Please read over at The English Muse. This is very important folks, and should be taken in to respect immediately. Thank you, and thank you Tina for bringing this to our attention.

{Click image for further help}

Double Takes at Anthropologie

2009-08-25T18:33:00.000-04:00

I went to Huntsville today and of course had to go by Anthropologie as usual! Anthropologie in Huntsville is located in the Bridge Street town center. It's known for it's luscious grass wall installation (186 square meters), one of the largest in North America! I hope you enjoy viewing a few things that caught my eye today in the store. Believe me, there was much more I looked at, but it would make this post a heck of a long one if I posted it all!

I always LOVE going to look at the kitchen accessories.

I saw this little cardigan and wanted it so bad! It's so fun and cute!

These necklaces are absolutely gorgeous! The last time I went they had a nice selection, but these were not there yet. I picked both of them up and daydreamed about wearing them out. If only. I think these would both look wonderful as wedding accessories.

Weekend Photos

2009-08-24T23:10:00.000-04:00

Okay everyone! So here are a handful of the photos I took this past weekend of my little cousins. Aren't they precious? These are only a few of my favorites.They were taken at a lot in Killen, Alabama. Oh, the life of country living! You can check out more on my Flickr page.

What would YOUR Anthropologie Room look like?

2009-08-24T20:08:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! The photoshoot went really well this weekend and I'm adding photos to Flickr as I type! When they are done, I'll be sure to post some. I want to go ahead and give you guys a heads up about what my posting is going to be like for the next two weeks....scattered. I have less than 10 days before I go back to good ole Savannah, and I'm in the process of getting things together and figuring out what I need to pack, so It's going to start getting hectic around here. Anyways, I had to get a dose of Anthropologie today online, and I love this room!! I'm actually going to Anthropologie tomorrow in Huntsville, so I'll let you know what catches my eye, because something always does!

{click images for pricing}

I love the juxtaposition of this room. The elegent flow of the bow tie bed versus the rustic features in the accessories reflects the differences between the hard and soft elements in the room, and I love how these elements marry perfectly. I added the curtains because I think they would be a nice touch in the back. What do you guys think? What would YOUR Anthropologie room look like? If you have absolutely nothing to do, it's fun to put together different pieces/images together to create and imagine what your own dream room would look like!

Muddy's Bake Shop

2009-08-20T21:30:00.000-04:00

Today my family and I went to drop my little brother off for college. Oh how they grow so fast! While we were there, we stopped by a cupcake shop that a friend told us about to liven up our spirits. Muddy's Bake Shop (Memphis,TN) is the cutest shop ever, and their little treats are divine! Not only do they taste good, but they are also good for you in that the milk is hormone free, and the eggs are cage free. Can it get any better than that? Everyone there is so fun, and the owner, Kat, is such a joy to be around. You can definitely tell she loves what she does.

So sweet! There was a little party going on even when I walked in! I'm guessing they have them often. I want one!

They also sell these adorable little items!

To find out more about Muddy's you can visit their site. Click here to see more of their items.

Loss for words... and Inspiration

2009-08-18T21:11:00.001-04:00

I'm stuck today. Lost for inspiration. My mind is as blank as a piece of computer paper waiting to be printed, or typed on. I can't stand the days I have creative blocks, but I do have some good news. I've been working on a website to link to this one for my portfolio, and I'm almost done, thank goodness. I've said it over and over again, but I didn't think it would give me as much trouble as it has. Anyways, I'm almost there! Lack of sleep could be my problem. Let's hope tomorrow my creative juices will flow and I'll be inspired by everything in sight!

{Click image for source}

Gretchenmist

2009-08-17T16:41:00.000-04:00

{Click images to view on Etsy}

So I was again, surfing Etsy and came across some beautiful illustrative work by gretchenmist, from Melborne, Australia. Her work ranges from printing, collaging, mixed media painting, and drawing, to pendants and brooches. Her work is fun, playful, abstract, and perfect for framing in your home. You can also visit her blog . Here are a few of my favorite fun prints by her. Aren't these adorable?

Beach Trip Scenery

2009-08-16T15:33:00.001-04:00

Lovely scenery from the Gulf Shores, AL beach, where I took a small vacay this past week!

{Click to see larger on Flickr}

Photography by Andrea Yu

Start checking out my photography on Flickr! I just got an account. Woo Hoo!

Debut New York

2009-08-15T21:39:00.000-04:00

As I was reading the newest issue of Lucky Magazine on the beach, I came across a section towards the back of the magazine that listed 'The Top 100 Boutiques in New York.' As I read back over them, I looked up several on the web, and one that came to my attention was Debut New York. The boutique consists of several lovely designers, and here are a couple that caught my eye.

Lana Chun

I think these pieces are gorgeous. I absolutely love the texture, and the way each dress is draped. Inspired by Native American art, each piece is made with synthetic material, and is draped, ruched, and pleated by hand creating a beautiful piece of wearable art. A graduate from Parson's in 2007, Lana created this line as an extension of her senior thesis show. Amazing!

Mono- Heather Martin

This collection is called 'Interlacing Thoughts'. Being a fibers major, Heather Martin's work definitely caught my eye. She incorporates interlacing and macrome techniques in this collection. I love how the textured pieces she creates is used as sort of large accessories to complete her looks. Her work is definitely exploratory between art, craft, design, and fashion.

{click images for larger view}

Style Profile: Zooey Deschanel

2009-08-14T21:42:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love Zooey Deschanel's style. Her sense of fashion has a vintage, eclectic feel, and I 100% agree with her when she says "You can never have too many cardigans", quoted in Lucky Magazine. Check out her style book at the Cotton: Fabric of our Lives website. Find out what her favorite colors and fabrics are, how she forms her style, and what kind of details she uses to complete her look. You can even create your own stylebook. Fun fun!

Etsy Picks from Jennifer Romolini

2009-08-13T15:32:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Romolini is Lucky's resident eBay blogger, and has added the wonderful world of Etsy to her site. Here are some of her Etsy picks that I thought were great as well!

These dreamy dresses are found on Etsy by Sarah Seven. The fabric manipulation and soft lines create a very romantic feel for these dresses. So beautiful.

These little goodies are by Skinny Laminx, based on South Africa and is a great source for colorful screenprinted kitchen towels, pillows, and linen. The fun little guy on the bottom left is called a ScrapEep, made from the scraps of the printed fabric, and can be used as a baby toy or a pin cushion. Very creative!

This playful jewelry is by Make Pie Not War. I love the vintage feel and lightheartedness of each of these pieces. I love the personal touch of the text in some of her jewelry. The material makes the text represent itself more significantly and powerfully. It's a nice touch.

Beach Bum Reads..

2009-08-13T01:51:00.000-04:00

Hello again! It's great to be back, and now I'm trying to get back into my groove of blogging. My friends and I stopped at the grocery store, and I grabbed the latest Lucky magazine there to have something to look at on the beach. I'm so glad I did, because I found some great references to check out for fun and inspiration, and other information that's just plain good to know! Talk about getting "lucky" right? Anyways, I thought I'd share with you guys! Throughout the rest of the week, I'll be posting about the finds I found interesting in the issue while I was out soaking up the hot sun (almost too hot, my magazine fell apart..yikes! but no worries, it's still readable.) I'll post some photos of the lovely scenery too.

Beach Time! Have a wonderful weekend!

2009-08-07T16:13:00.000-04:00

Hello lovelies! I would like to thank you all for your support! If you haven't visited in a while, now's the time to catch up! My blogging will be on hold until Wednesday because I am taking a vacation to the beach! Also, I still don't have my work posted because I'm having some technical difficulties with the web and posting. Again, I will have it up as soon as I'm able :) I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. See you Wednesday!

Photography by Lenaah. She's only 16 yrs. old! Isnt her photography beautiful and dreamy? Here are just a few that caught my eye. There's plenty more of this loveliness on Flickr!

A Creative Mint

2009-08-06T12:34:00.000-04:00

I found yet another lovely lovely blog today called A Creative Mint via Creature Comforts, at which she is guest blogging as well as decor8. The author of A Creative Mint is Leslie, who is using this blog to pour out her creativity and passion for design. Her little projects are wonderful for color inspiration, and her photography and collages are absolutely beautiful. I couldn't stop looking at it! I just can't get enough of the gorgeous color schemes, and the soft, calm sensation of the photos. Sooo divine! You can also find her photos on flickr. Please go feast your eyes!

Work, Dreaming, and Strangers

2009-08-06T00:13:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been a little slow on posting today. I have finished photographing all of my work, and I have been working out some kinks on how I'm going to display it nicely on the site. I'm hoping I can get it up by the end of this week before I leave for the beach so I can share with you guys and you can let me know what you think! If for some reason it doesn't happen and I have some sort of technical difficulty, I apologize! I will post it as soon as I am able.

The Drifter and the Gypsy
Aside from that, Today two lovely little blogs crossed my path! (Have I ever mentioned how wonderful twitter can be?) Let me share them with you! The first one is The Drifter and the Gypsy by Micaela. This blog is dreamy with great content, and provides wonderful inspiration with the loveliest images. There's a high possibility that it will be added to my extensive list of daily reads. Did I also mention I'm a bit of a dreamer myself? If you want to see more of her posts, she is guest blogging at The English Muse, which is another lovely blog I have become a frequent visitor of.

(photography via The Drifter and the Gypsy)

I Heart Strangers
The other blog I would like to share with you was actually found via The Drifter and the Gypsy. Thanks so much for sharing Micaela :) It's called I Heart Strangers. I thought this was such a beautiful idea, and it is so interesting to read! I Heart Strangers is a project by Joshua Langlais who loves to meet new people, and is sharing his new friends through his blog by photographing them and leaving a little snippet about their meeting. So interesting! On top of it all, his photography is beautiful. Wow, again, another added daily read. Blogging is getting the best of me. What will I do??? Oh yes, and he is starting a new project soon called I Heart the People I Know, so keep your eyes open!

Krisin, 27 yrs. old/ Denver, CO

Marcella, 43 yrs. old/ Denver, CO

andrew, 22 yrs. old/ Denver, CO

Mary, 57 yrs. old/ Denver, CO

Artist and Designer: Marianna Barksdale

2009-08-04T14:13:00.000-04:00

I would like to introduce you to one of my dearest friends, Marianna Barksdale. A fashion graduate from Parson's, she is a very wonderful, talented artist and designer. Her work is innovative, riveting, and fresh. She is currently designing jewelry as an assistant designer for Alice + Olivia. She also has many lovely pieces on Etsy. Checking them out is a must! She was one of the 15 students picked to feature her senior portfolio on the Fusion Runway in a competition with 15 other students chosen from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her work already being a success, showed even more when her collection won the Designer's Designer Award from Parson's in the competition. Here are a few shots of her gorgeous pieces I was honored to shoot for her that feature her gown, jewelry, and hat used as part of her collection. For more of her work you can visit her personal website. Keep your eyes open for an upcoming blog as well! Congratulations dear, and keep up all of your hard work!

Weekend Treats!

2009-08-02T15:40:00.001-04:00

For some odd reason, I was craving some really good cupcakes, specifically Back in the Day Bakery cupcakes that I get to have in Savannah. I guess the lack of those scrumptious cupcakes was the reasoning for my craving, so I decided to make some. My family had a tin of old-fashioned vanilla cupcake mix that had never been used, so I used it to make the batter. Of course, the icing is what makes a cupcake, so I made my own. I eyeballed the amount of butter and confectioners sugar, and added a tad bit of water. Once I got the consistency I wanted, I added some red food dye to make them pink, and then topped it off with flat circular sugar sprinkles! The look of these cupcakes are inspired by Back in the Day Bakery's old-fashioned cupcakes (via Shabby Scraps). These of course weren't a comparison in taste, but they were still yummy and a perfect treat for me and my family's weekend.

Making Memories

2009-08-01T12:39:00.000-04:00

Everyone who knows me well knows that I love paper. I have so many design paper pamphlets it's ridiculous. I'm running out of space for them! My favorite paper prints are the vintage prints. Lately every time one catches my eye, I look who it's put out by and I see the little "m" from the Making Memories collections. Today I came a cross a 6x6 paper kit that I had by their "Chloe's Closet" Collection and I even have a couple of their canvas tags hanging from the rear-view mirror of my car. One that reads "Serendipity" and the other, "Creative Work is Play". I've gotten so many compliments on them, so when I saw the paper kit today, I thought to myself, "Oh, my gosh, why haven't I made a post about this? Duh." So here it is, some lovely little picks from Making Memories. Their products are perfect for scrapbooking, cardmaking, and collaging, and they have a wide variety of collections to choose from. My favorites are the "Passport" and "Vintage Findings" collections. You can also check out their blog as well!

Really cute "Vintage Findings" kits to put together the perfect collage!

These are from the "Flower Patch" collection. (1) Double-sided (2) Die-cut

Adorable little canvas decoratives from the "Passport" collection

I LOVE the canvas tags. They are perfect for placing anywhere. You can be as creative as you want with these little lovelies. (1) Circular simple tags from the "Vintage Findings" collection (2) Travel tags from the "Passport" collection.

{click images to view larger}

Happy Songs for a Happy Weekend!

2009-07-30T22:27:00.000-04:00

So I got an itouch for free this week and i've been putting together a fun playlist, and I'm enjoying this one so much that I thought I'd share them with you guys for your weekend! It's a happy little playlist. I find myself either bouncing, swaying, or dancing with these songs! I hope they brighten up your weekend, because I know they'll be brightening up mine!

photo by Danielle (aka: queen's lace)

Happy Songs:

Pocket Philosopher-Mandy Moore
La Bamba -Leon Thomas
By and By - Lay Low
Grace Kelly- Mika
Mushaboom- Feist
Speeding Cars- Imogen Heap
Shine- Rosi Golan & Human
You Make My Dreams Come True- Hall & Oats
Upside Down- Jack Johnson
Pony (It's Ok) - Erin McCarley
Nothin from Nothin- Billy Preston

Vegetable Gardens and a Tree Swings

2009-07-30T20:11:00.001-04:00

the vegetable garden:
I don't think I could eat for another month! Today I went to my grandparents house. We ate fresh vegetables picked straight from their garden (the decision to go down there was on the spur of the moment, so I didn't get a chance to grab my camera. If I had thought fast enough, I would have grabbed it and taken pictures of the garden to share with you guys..dang it.) We had black-eyed peas, corn, green beans, okra, tomatoes, and squash; the perfect southern meal. It was savory, delicious, heavenly. I enjoyed myself, because I knew it would be a while before getting to eat something so deliciously home-cooked once I got back to Savannah.

Oh yes. I can't forget., for desert, we had old-fashioned blackberry cobbler. The blackberries were picked as well right outside from the vine! I remembered to save room for it. My mouth waters thinking about how wonderful it was. Are your mouths watering yet? After we ate, my granddad wanted me to take some fresh veggies home (no hesitation there), so we went out back to the garden and picked corn, tomatoes, and peas. I can't wait to cook them! He also gave me some home-made blackberry jam he and my grandmother just made. I had a little taste-it was perfect. (Thank you both so much! I love you!)

With this, I've always wanted to have my own little garden. My goal is to eventually have one after I am settled in my own home in the future. I think gardens are wonderful and a perfectly sustainable way to live. No preservatives or pesticides, and its like your own little market in your backyard! I can't wait. Oh yes, and I found a website about organic vegetable gardening that is very informative if you want to start creating your own!

My Grandparents garden looks a little something like this one, plus corn.

Home-grown tomatoes are so sweet and juicy!

the tree swing:

Another thing that I've always wanted growning up is a tree swing. On the way back from my grandparent's house, I saw the perfect tree for a swing. I thought to myself, "If only we had had that tree in our back yard." Living in town, we don't really have wide open spaces like in the country where my grandparents live.

I got to swing on one at a family reunion we had down by a creek when I was around 7 or 8 years old. The location is vivid, but I definitely remember the swing. It was plain and simple. Some rope and part of a 2x4. You could walk the swing up a huge hill, settle yourself, and then drop. Oh, it was so fun, and I could swing so high. I loved how free I felt on the swing. The perfect technique is leaning back with your head tilted back as well. Then you close your eyes and imagine yourself flying as the breeze hits your face from the momentum. That was the best swing I'd ever been on. Oh, to find another.

{Click images for image source}

Keep your eyes peeled!

2009-07-29T20:10:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I know I've had "Coming Soon" under my portfolio tab for a little while now, but really keep your eyes peeled, because its coming! I'm so close to finishing up all of the photography for it. You can look for my work within the next week of some of the projects I've executed throughout my student career at SCAD, and there be more to come in the future.

I Adore You

2009-07-29T14:25:00.001-04:00

I have so much random music on my ipod, there are songs on there I haven't even heard yet! I recently discovered this song on my ipod, and I can't get it out of my head! The tune warms my heart :)
This song is by Melpo Mene. The music video is fun to watch. It is an animation with illustrations and paper cut outs. Very cute.

Lost in a daydream of blue
And I feel so free
And then It's like I fall from the sky
Everything that I see is you
And you should know that I'm
Thinking about what you said
When you held my hand

Oh I adore you

Now we are older and
Things disappeared somehow
And I was thinking that maybe
We'd stand a better chance If we met today
I find myself talking to sharks
On my way to an island and still

I adore you
I adore you
I adore you

I was young I was old
And we were in we were out
I wanna see I wanna see it all
I wanna die I wanna die

sweetheart sweetheart

I thought I saw I thought I saw a light
See it now see it now

A Pleasant Rain

2009-07-28T18:20:00.000-04:00

Today it has been raining all day long. I got up for work this morning...rain. Leave for lunch....rain. Come back to work, and leave work... rain. It's a pleasant rain though. More like a never ending light shower. Don't you think those kinds of days are nice sometimes? Now I'm home and I really want to pop in a movie to watch with my family.

Photo by 17 yr. old Oksana a.k.a {the twinkling of an eye}

Filmtastic!

2009-07-27T21:58:00.000-04:00

So I have a confession to make: I am a huge movie buff. If I have nothing to do, there is nothing better than popping in a movie (aside from blogging- I've actually blogged while watching a movie- multitasking) Anyways, I wanted to share with you a movie I have seen and a movie that I'm dying to see.

Julie&Julia is based off of a true story about a writer, Julie Powell, who begins blogging about reclaiming her life by cooking. She then begins a project, The Julie&Julia project: 365 days and 524 recipes. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds. I just bought the book today. I'm so exciting to read and then watch!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was fabulous! The movie is set in the late 1930s, so I was loving the wardrobe! Anyways, to get on with a snippet of the story, recently unemployed Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) is a very modest middle-aged woman who has lacked a love life for a very long time. Serendipity comes her way when she meets Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) by responding to an ad for work as a social secretary. Being a famous actress during the time, Lafosse introduces Miss Pettigrew to her world of glamour and fame. From there, Miss Pettigrew's story unfolds while having a very unique time of her life.

Jenna's Picks

2009-07-25T20:53:00.000-04:00

Just like Gap, and Banana Republic, I love J. Crew. If there's one around, I always make a pit stop. Here are a couple of Jenna's Picks. I adore each and every one. Check out their new arrivals as well. They are all lovely!

have a fun weekend!

2009-07-24T23:19:00.000-04:00

Photo by John French

John French

2009-07-24T15:32:00.000-04:00

So today I was browsing around at the only art store we have in my little town. I usually go to look at the posters for fun, and came a cross a gorgeous one that caught my eye of a lady in a cute little dress and a fabulous hat. I figured the era was around the 50s. The photographer of the poster I found was John French. John French was London's famous Fashion photographer in the 50s and 60s. I loved the style back then. I wish everyone dressed like that now, because everyone would look fabulous! (click images to see a larger view) For more images, click here.

Oh my! I'm in love.

2009-07-23T17:13:00.001-04:00

Oh my. Words can't describe how in love I am with these vintage neck pieces and earrings! I want them all. I found them via twitter through Etsy itself! These pieces are done by two sisters who love vintage and handmade things (a.k.a whiteowl).

Claire Cole

2009-07-23T15:44:00.000-04:00

I love these pieces by Claire Cole. I was so amazed at her work! She uses free stitching in her work, which is very very effective. She stitches old vintage wall paper together to create beautifully composed collages. She even stitches through porcelain. Lovely.

These illustrative pieces are gorgeous. Everything works so well together. Again, the free stitching is wonderful and adds so much to the pieces.

(via Design Lovely)

Finally, a break

2009-07-23T15:20:00.000-04:00

I can finally breathe! I've been so busy with work and class that I've slacked off on posting. Today I finally get a break from all the speech writing and the loads and loads of yellow files that have to be organized. It's a beautiful day, and I'm sitting on my front porch as I type. The sun is gleaming perfectly through the flowers nestled in the window boxes hanging from the wrap-around, and there is a perfect, slight breeze blowing the ferns that are hanging above. I could sit here and watch them rock back and forth all day. I can never get enough relaxation, so when I do, I love to sit back and take it all in, drink a cup of tea, watch a favorite program, or even better, read a fabulous book.

I found this photo via Jill Clarkson. I want this cozy nook so bad. It's the perfect reading corner. I would probably find myself in it every single day reading, or blogging. I want to take all physical aspects of this image and put it right in one of the corners of my room. It would be perfect.

Love

2009-07-21T22:31:00.000-04:00

This is precious. Love the dress, love the shoes, love the hat. I wish I could pull off a cute pixie cut like that.

Ooh la la... wow

Simple and fabulous

The news boy hats get me every time..

Photography by the genius Sartorialist

Gorgeous Gowns

2009-07-20T22:11:00.000-04:00

I'm not getting married any time soon, but every girl can dream right? I found these gowns on Once Wed, and guess what!? They are all for sale.

This one's my favorite by Amsale

Perfect for the beach. Designer Nicole Miller

How can you not love them? Vera Wang

Ink & Spindle

2009-07-20T21:49:00.000-04:00

I am loving these adorable hand-printed patterns by Ink & Spindle. Ink & Spindle is a screen printing studio run by 3 textile designers, Lara Cameron, Bianca van Meeuwen, and Tegan Rose, brought together by their passion for screen printing. I love the simplicity of these prints.

Have A Lovely Weekend!

2009-07-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

Missing my friends from Savannah :( I have the urge to send them all surprise letters!

Stationary from Night Owl Paper Company