One. Eleven. Studio

Springtime

2012-03-08T00:02:00.000-05:00

Waiting for spring...

Pretty

2012-03-07T23:05:00.000-05:00

I know I just posted something about anthropologie last Friday, but how pretty is this picture? I'm adding this one to my favorite pages. They have some other pretty pictures like this one. Go Here

Aesthetics: Modred 12

2012-03-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

I think I'm starting to understand the type of photos I'm drawn to as it pertains to product styling. Either photos that have some type of artistic/colorful/creative approach to it, or photos that have products styled around the person's life. Don't get me wrong, I still love product shots on a clean white background, but I feel more of a connection to photos with a bit of busy in it. Modred 12 does a really good job of evoking such a feeling in me.

How about you? What type of photos are you drawn to when it comes to styling products? Inside/Outside shots? White/Textured/Colorful background? Do tell...

P.S. Did you download your March desktop calendar by Geninne?

Tagged!

2012-03-05T12:51:00.001-05:00

parada creations

I've been tagged by Keren from Sew La Vie so here are my answers to her questions:

Q1: What is your stand on vegetarianism / veganism? Do you eat meat? Do you wish you didn't?
My stand on vegetarianism/veganism is whatever floats your boat. If that's what makes you happy than that's all that matters. I do eat meat and I will probably always eat meat however, I don't eat as much of it as I used to.

Q2: What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My favorite piece of jewelry right now would have to be my gold feather earrings that I bought from anthropologie (of course).

Q3: What did you enjoy doing / playing as a child?
I enjoyed playing with my Le Clic camera (they came in the most awesome color combinations), my Gizmo doll (from the movie Gremlins), pound puppy (his name was lazy jack), my sister's radio (even though it was extremely small I still threw it over my shoulder), and my baby blue typewriter (I could go on but I'll stop there).

Q4: Name one thing you love about sewing.

One thing I love about sewing is when you get to turn the project right side out through the lining. It always gets me excited!

Q5: Name one thing you don't enjoy which is a part of sewing.
I NEVER enjoy cutting out the fabric from the pattern.

Q6: Do you have a pet (cat, dog, etc)? Do share a photo!

No pets, my daughter Nyah is allergic to dogs and cats : (

Q7: Would you rather live in a bustling city or the quiet suburb / countryside?

I would love the best of both worlds

Q8: If you could go back to a certain age and be as smart as you are now, what age would that be?

It would probably be around 18. I would have loved to start a business while in college. That way after graduation I would have already established a clientele and would have hopefully been able to make a smooth transition from student to a full time entrepreneur.

Q9: What is your favorite sport / physical activity (yoga, basketball, hiking, etc...)?

I really enjoy my spin class. Listening to loud good music while spinning puts me in a zone. My favorite sport is College Football. GO GATORS!!!

Q10: If you were extremely rich, what would you do with your time?

I can show you better than I can tell you ; )

Q11: What item have you sewn or made by hand that you are particularly proud of and happy with?

My throw that I made from Amy Butler's book In Stitches. Every time I use it I see all those busy yet pretty colors together and it makes me happy.

Pages from Anthropologie: March '12

2012-03-02T06:05:00.002-05:00

These are my favorite pages from the March '12 Anthropologie Catalog. Love the styling.

Vintage Photos: When They Were Young

2012-03-01T21:09:00.000-05:00

I love looking at old photos, and it's especially nice when you have some type of connection to them. One day I plan to scan all of my parents old photos- they are priceless.

Grandfather

This is a picture of my grandfather. I never met him because he passed away long before I was born. He was a shoemaker.

"sunday's best"

This was taken in front of our church in Gainesville, Fl. My parents still attend this church. My grandfather is also in this picture.

My dad (on the left) on my parents wedding day and my uncle helping him out.

Do you have a fondness for vintage photos?

Fresh Face Blogger: Kristin of Pritty Tings

2012-03-01T07:09:00.003-05:00

I met Kristin of Pritty Tings during the solids-only tote challenge and have
enjoyed keeping up with her blog ever since. Before we jump into the interview,
I would like to mention that Kristin is a self-taught sewer (a girl after my
own heart) and quite impressive at that! Thank you Kristin for taking the
time out to be a part of this series! : )

What topics do you blog about?

Mostly artsy craftsy projects that I am working on. I only started sewing around the time I started my blog so I have been doing both for around eight months. I like to use my blog to document what I have made or am making.

What vision do you have for your blog?

Initially I started bogging just for me as somewhere to log my projects. I never expected to even have anyone interested in reading my posts or following. I am happy how things are going with my blog and have no scope for change at this point in time. We are however about to start building a new house so I’m sure during that time there will be many posts regarding its design/decor. I might also do a pic a day on the progress of it.

What is your favorite post you've written so far?

I’m not sure I have a favourite post but I do have a favourite project that I posted about. That is my Fish Tote bag, I made this bag for a challenge and thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.

Who are 3 bloggers that inspire you?

Oooh that’s a hard one...just three....Definitely the super talented Vanessa Christenson of V and Co. Whose blog is the first that I ever read after finding her Baby Life quilt at Moda Bake Shop. Annabelle Ozanne of Three Red Apples who makes amazing pictures with fabric. Allison at Little Lovelies who is incredibly crafty.

Off the top of your head, list 5 things you love

my family, my dog Lenni, shopping, coffee and cooking.

Photo Styling: Whimsical

2012-02-28T12:36:00.003-05:00

image from featured seller article

I just adore John's Wild Life Prints shop. His photo styling is amazing! Hmmmmm,I wonder how I can incorporate such a thing into my own online shop...

Art Gallery 002: Hats

2012-02-26T19:14:00.000-05:00

banjo bird-becca kallem

happy in a hat- pop pop portraits

brooklit

esther bayer, jessica illustration

katy o'connor

Mood board: Square Shape {City} Clutch

2012-02-22T23:08:00.000-05:00

clutch, swatches: l-r; marc phillips, cestlaviv, tassels-sbbeadsandcrafts, city

Working on my next project for the shop which is the city clutch. I have lots of ideas in my head for this one so I put together a mini mood board to get my juices flowing : )

Bloggers on Blogging

2012-02-21T19:36:00.000-05:00

This is the second time I've purchased the Artful Blogging magazine. The first time I bought it was roughly 3 years ago when I was entertaining the idea of starting a blog. However, I didn't get nearly as much out of it back then as I did this time around, and it's simply because I wasn't blogging yet.

In this issue, 17 bloggers are featured along with their story of why they started blogging and what they've learned from it. I took away something from each story, but there were some things that were said that really resonated with me. Below are some things that I've highlighted.

"Inviting visitors into one's blogging world is much like welcoming them into one's own home -- a
home that hopefully reflects one's personality, is comfortable and enriching, and will leave the guest
   happy or relaxed or inspired, but, most of all, delighted that they came and excited at the prospect of
visiting again"
--Georginanna Lane

"Strong design and great photos will attract people to your corner of the internet. Content will get
them to stay. But a clear vision and unique voice is what will make readers settle in with a cup of
coffee and share your URL with friends. Blogging helped me to discover who I am and gave me a
professional purpose."
--Elise Blaha Cripe

"Find beauty in all avenues of art and life, and use your blog as a way to share and educate your
readers. When you do this, you will find that blog writing becomes a more enjoyable process for the
writer and the reader, keeping things fresh and fun."
--Vee Jennings

"Your humility will work like a magnet, attracting readers. Everyone has character flaws, but very
few are willing to openly admit theirs to the world."

--Heather Anderson

"more and more, I am trying to detach from the comments. I realize this cannot be my true
measuring stick for blog success and I'm trying to let go of the need for approval and a pat on the
back. It's not about flattery or ego. It's about sharing what is inside my heart. I believe only by
doing this can our words and our work truly connect with others. This must be my true barometer."

--Danielle Daniel

Is there anything insightful that you've learned about blogging?

image source: stampington & company

Travel: Savannah, Georgia

2012-02-20T07:07:00.000-05:00

Have you been to Savannah, Georgia?

where the views are charming...

where southern hospitality is consistently remarkable.....

and where the creole influenced food is {sinfully} delicious?

Kinfolk, Uppercase, & Anthology

2012-02-17T16:13:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited about my new purchases and can't wait for them to arrive in the mail! I'm in search of a bit of inspiration and I've heard a lot of wonderful things about these publications, so I hope they will do the trick. I've been following the Kinfolk and Anthology blog for about a month now and have been pleased so far. What about you? Have you read any issues of these magazines? Is it something you will buy again?

images: anthropology

365 Days of Boys

2012-02-16T06:27:00.004-05:00

I thought this was a pretty cool concept for an art project/etsy store, called 365 days of boys. I couldn't find out what the artists name was but on her etsy profile page, she goes into detail about this project and how she will do an illustration of a boy each day for 365 days, and will sell her original art work simultaneously. The back story to this concept is very intriguing, you can read more about it here, but here is a little snippet from her etsy profile.

" I recently moved to Arnhem, the Fashion city of The Netherlands. The boys seem to be much prettier and eccentric here then in the village I was born. It makes me want to paint their awesome features, their jawbone structures and angular chins."

Cool huh? If anything, it will be fun to follow along with her, and watch the growth of these captivating illustrations. I wonder what boy she will create on my birthday (Aug. 31)?

{Primary Colors} Brightening Your Day

2012-02-15T06:59:00.000-05:00

I made another crossbody bag yesterday! This time in blue. I'll be testing out a few more colors as I perfect the pattern.

When I finished making this bag, I immediately thought of other bright colors, so here's to the rainbow!

images: cafe capri ~ bag-self made ~ vintage cotton tank ~ sperry top-sider ~ bangle ~ chino short

My Life: Great Hearts Think Alike

2012-02-14T14:08:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of valentine's day I figured I would share one of my favorite stories of me and Chip's early courtship days. Like to hear it? Hear it goes (in my David Alan Grier voice from in living color, remember that show?)

Chip and I met at the end of our sophomore year in college which was spring of 1998

inside florida

When the semester ended, I stayed at school to take a few summer classes and Chip went back home to Birmingham, Alabama to start his internship.

circle prints

We wrote each other A LOT of letters.

One day, I decided to switch things up and send him a card. I took a trip to Hallmark to find the perfect card that matched how I felt. Came back home, signed it, and mailed it off.

Two days later, I got a card in the mail. I thought it was a return to sender, but when I flipped the card over, it was addressed to me from Chip! (yes my maiden name is Player and no I wasn't a player *wink*). I opened the envelope, and to my surprise it was the same exact card!

And if that's not crazy, they were both postmarked on the same day which means we had no clue that we were sending each other a card at all!

And there you have it! One of my favorite memories!

Happy Valentines Day!

Fresh Face Blogger: {Jadyn} of Dutch.British.Love

2012-02-13T06:41:00.001-05:00

It's time to kick of the Fresh Face blogger series and my first guest is Jadyn from
Dutch. British. Love....

What topics do you blog about?

I blog about interiors, DIY projects, crafty things, lovely things, and recipes with bits of my life thrown in. I am an interior decorating student and hope to start my own business. However, I see my blog as a 'lifestyle' blog, not so much a design blog because I have a variety of interests and like to write on a variety of things!

What vision do you have for your blog?

This is such a good question and I'm afraid I don't have a very good answer for it! I'd just like it to be an inspiring and uplifting place that encourages creativity and personal style. I also like to keep things real and I'm afraid I don't always do a good enough job of that. I'd like to share things that are on my heart a bit more at times. I guess I want to create something that I can look back on later in life and be proud of - I want it to be genuine.

What has been your favorite post you've written?

I think it is a post from last November called Our Welcoming Entry (http://dutchbritishlove.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/our-welcoming-entry/). I had worked on our entryway/mudroom for the entire month of October and blogged about it every day. It was such a fun, creative process and I was excited to be able to show the results.

Who are three bloggers that inspire you?

Three of my favorites are A Beautiful Mess by Elsie Larson, Decor8 by Holly Becker and The Inspired Room by Melissa Michaels. However, it's bloggers like you & others that I've connected with that keep me inspired to blog. I love the sense of community among bloggers.

Off the top of your head, list 5 things you love.

Tea, heart-to-heart conversations, Coco Mademoiselle perfume, flowers, pen and paper.

1.lucile prache 2.jqueenan 3.spun sugar paperie 4.ashly g and drew 5.simplyb

Thank you Jadyn for this lovely interview!! I've enjoyed having you here : )

Jadyn elsewhere: twitter | pinterest

Art Gallery 001: Eye Spy

2012-02-12T15:55:00.001-05:00

anthropologie

corella design

year book frieda- tabitha brown

adairya2, sophineglam

pretty little thieves

scholarly style-quietest eyes

pop pop portraits

Reader glasses: Sophisticated Style

***Welcome to a new series of mine called Art Gallery. I love art... always have, and since I don't have the funds to open up a brick and mortar art gallery, I suppose a virtual one will have to do. I will be showcasing a curated selection of artwork whenever the mood strikes. Enjoy...***

On My Mind: Random Thoughts

2012-02-06T06:54:00.000-05:00

image

Seriously TLC?!? A show called Preacher Wives?!?! Now that's where I draw the line. Some things just need to be left a lone.

image

I wonder why people in hollywood are even allowed to get married? How hard do they really try?

One day I'm going to have to record Champ (my 3 yr old) playing the Michael Jackson Experience on the Wii!! His favorite songs: Will you be there, Speed Demon, & Smooth Criminal in that order.

Am I the only one who collects Anthropologie catalogues? I love how each catalogue tells a story, and the photo styling is so innovative. Such a work of art!

Love Geninne's new february desktop calendar. I just uploaded it to my computer : )

Sewing: Crossbody Bag Finished!

2012-02-03T06:56:00.001-05:00

1.self-made 2.anthropologie 3.jcrew 4.shopbop 5.anthropologie

I finally finished making this crossbody bag for my trip to Savannah next weekend (I'll tell Paula Deen you said hi!). There are a couple of changes I need to make, but overall I'm really pleased with how it came out. I will definitely be making this bag again. I have a few colors in mind that I think would really look great with this style.

Since Picnik is going away (boo!), I downloaded the Photoshop Elements trial, and I've been teaching myself how to make collages using this video from elise blaha. I think I'll go ahead and buy the full version of PSE after the trial session is over. It's actually becoming quite addictive!

Anywho, what are you doing this weekend? It will be a quiet weekend for us, so I think I'll be doing some sewing and watching a little Netflix. The next movie in our queue is Just Go With It with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. Have you seen it yet?

Oh! How could I forget Super Bowl Sunday A.K.A National Commercial Day?!? Who are you going for Patriots or the Giants? I'll be rooting for the Giants!

Have a great weekend!

Bird Watching: PragyaK Shop

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

All images are from the lovely and colorful shop of PragyaK.

Link Love + Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-31T06:13:00.000-05:00

stephmodo

Today I'd like to share with you two very entertaining links about doing what you love, and staying inspired.

I found elsie blaha's blog back in October of last year and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite daily reads. Last week she wrote an article about how she stays inspired and where she draws inspiration from, check it out here.

The second link is by Life as an Artistpreneur. I just discovered this blog last week and instantly fell in love! Becka's blog is about business, creativity, inspiration, and encouragement, which makes it a great place for me to hang out! My favorite series from her blog is called The Coffee Cup Chats. Becka wrote an encouraging post titled: for everyone not yet doing what they love...it's a great thought pondering article and it's definitely worth reading.

And now for the giveaway winner!
Drum....Roll....Please..........Lauren! from Still + Life!!! Congratulations Lauren! I will be contacting you shortly!

Thank you to everyone else who participated in the giveaway! I'm excited to get started on the new series!

My Anthropologie Shopping Strategy

2012-01-30T19:10:00.000-05:00

ruffled ansley dress|watercolored gems shift|hourglass form dress
madison shorts|woven placita sandals

Here is how I shop Anthropologie. I pick the items that I want, write down the item number, and wait for it to go on sale. By the time I've noticed that the item I want has gone on sale, they've already sold out of it online and at my local store . So, I call customer service, they give me anywhere from 5 to 8 stores to call, and I start making my phone calls until I've found the item I'm looking for! ON SALE! This method has never failed me (knock on wood). The hardest part is trying to avoid an impulse buy!

Do you have any shopping tricks? Have you tried this strategy before?

Good Music

2012-01-29T15:34:00.001-05:00

Just when I thought Hip Hop and R & B were dying a slow death, artists like these continue to revive it!

available on itunes

Also:
D'Angelo just started a brand new tour overseas! Oh D'Angelo, how I've missed you!! You've been gone too long!

Fresh Face Blogger Series + Giveaway

2012-01-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

New bloggers need love too right? That's why I've decided to dedicate this series to the bloggers who have only been blogging for a few years or less. I think it would be a great way for us to meet and learn a little about new bloggers on the scene.

When a blogger is featured as the "Fresh Face Blogger " of the moment, I'd like to do a brief interview of about 5 questions. So far I have 3 solid questions, but I'm kind of stuck coming up with the other two. Here is what I have:

What topics do you blog about?
What has been one of your favorite posts that you have written? (insert link here)
Who are 3 bloggers that inspire you?

Here is where I need your help:
I need help coming up with the other two questions, so I've decided to do this giveaway as a thank you in advance for helping me out : )

Here is what you will win: A cosmetic bag and a zippered pouch made by me!!

To enter:
Please leave one comment below with a question that you think would be great for the Fresh Face Blogger series.

The contest will close Monday, January 30th, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday January 31st! This giveaway is opened to both U.S. and International readers.

If you would like to participate in this new series please feel free to drop me a line at toridw@gmail.com. I'd love to feature you on my blog!

Sewing: Crossbody Bag

2012-01-25T13:04:00.000-05:00

Does this look familiar? I'm using the idea that I had for this tote bag and I'm turning it into a crossbody bag. I'll be traveling to Savannah, Ga. in February for a little weekend getaway and I wanted to make a crossbody bag to take with me. Besides a tote bag, I think crossbody bags are the best bags to use when traveling--you gotta love being hands free right? Hopefully I'll be finished with it by the end of the day, I just have to figure out how to make an adjustable strap (you tube here I come!). I'll be back with some styled pics of the finished project!

Is there anything you're working on creatively at this moment?

Obama: Runway to Win

2012-01-23T21:10:00.000-05:00

I'm an Obama supporter, (you still there?) and I just love how some of my favorite designers are openly supportive of him as well.

Have you seen the Runway to Win line-up for 2012? These two are my favorite items from the line-up. The tote is by Derek Lam and the tank is by Rachel Roy.

I love these designs also but I can only choose two!!

See anything you like?!?!?

How to Build an Online Community: Tips and Links

2012-01-20T06:43:00.001-05:00

Karen Henry via Pinterest

I've been blogging since last April and what I've learned is that yeah, it's great getting new followers, or receiving comments on my blog, but it's not as fulfilling if there is no real meaning behind them. So I'd like to focus my efforts on building a solid online community here at One.Eleven. Studio. I want this to be a place where we can have girl talk, a place where we can bounce ideas off of each other, a place where we can share our knowledge with one another, our opinions, tips, and other interests. There are two bloggers that come to mind when I think about people who have built a solid blogging community and that is Elsie's blog A Beautiful Mess and Gussy's blog Gussy Sews. No, I don't want to be like them, and will never try to be like them, but I admire what their blogs have become as well as who they've become as entrepreneurs. So, I've been doing some research on How to Build a Blog Community-- not how to gain followers, or how to get people to comment-- but a true blogging community. Out of all the research that I've done, I felt like these articles were the best at explaining how to do just that. If you are trying to build a solid blogging community, I highly recommend you read these articles. Let me know what you think of the articles!

4 Crucial Tips for Creating an Online Community (this is my favorite one)

12 Keys to Building your Online Community

How do you really build a blog community? A love story

How to Build a Blog Community

8 Tips for Building Community on your Blog (2nd favorite)

On My Mind: Natural Hair (It's Kind of a Big Deal)

2012-01-19T15:30:00.002-05:00

This video below depicts how far we've come in the black community as it pertains to black women and natural hair but allow me to elaborate:

The Past
Back in 2004 I decided to stop relaxing my hair. Those first couple of years were very difficult for me because for one, my whole image changed so getting used to a "new me" really took some time, and two, my own people (mainly the older ones) weren't as accepting. I would always hear things like "Why would you do that?" "You had such pretty hair!" "I could never go natural my hair is too nappy!" So at that point it was no longer about me dealing with my own insecurities about my hair but now I felt like I had to prove to the older black women that our natural hair is just as pretty or prettier than our chemically processed hair.

Fast forward a few years:
I became obsessed in the online natural hair community trying to learn everything possible about my "new head of hair", and during that time, I started noticing that commercials and print ads were only using black women with natural hair. I rarely saw a black woman with relaxed hair in tv commercials. It was as if the white community accepted who we truly were more than our own community. Slowly but surely, more online natural hair communities started popping up, I started noticing more women on the street with natural hair, Target started carrying natural hair care products (which was huge), friends and family members started growing their relaxers out, and those negative comments that I had received in my earlier years turned into compliments -"Oooh how did you do that?" "Your hair is so pretty!" "Will my hair do that?" So I finally felt like I started to change the perception of what natural hair was to the women in my life. But then comes a whole other issue, the black men. I would often wonder what they saw when they looked at me or any other woman with natural hair for that matter. Lucky for me, my husband was very accepting of my decision to go natural (some husbands aren't). I would ask him from time to time his opinion about natural hair and his answer has always been this: "When a woman is natural, she looks like herself and it shows a sense of confidence. It allows you to see who you really are and not what the world wants you to be."

The Present

About a month ago I was watching MTV Jams (because I still watch music videos) and this new video came on by Tabi Bonney called Feeling More ft. Nicole Wray. Most of the women in the video were natural! That never happens! It was as if he was saying "I recognize you and your true beauty". Watching this video made me realize how far the black community has come in embracing our natural hair, and it made me proud. There is an ongoing debate on if natural hair is a fad or if it's here to stay. I personally feel like natural hair isn't going anywhere and relaxers will soon be a thing of the past. We understand how to care for our kinky hair more than we ever have before, which makes it easier for more women to go natural, plus, there is a strong support system out there that we can now rely on. It's an exciting time for black women as it pertains to our image in this society and I'm just glad to see it come full circle. I digress...

Online Photography Classes

2012-01-18T13:38:00.003-05:00

There are two online photography classes that I'm really thinking about taking. The first class is Tabletop Photography taught by Nicole Gerulat, and the second class is A Photo-a-Day for 30 days taught by Miss B. and her co-professor Michelle. Any thoughts on online photography classes?

Sewing: Oversized Envelope Clutch

2012-01-16T14:16:00.002-05:00

I'm a huge fan of three things; color blocking, stripes, and triangles. This is my attempt to incorporate all three things into an oversized envelope clutch. I wanted to make an oversized clutch to accommodate my iPad along with a few other essentials (phone, keys, wallet, lip gloss). You will also see this style clutch in my etsy shop once it's opened : )

I love this style clutch because it's extremely versatile and very fun to make I might add! Here are a few ideas that I have for the Envelope clutch:

Add interior pockets
Work with leather/Suede
Mix leather and cotton for a day to night look
Screen printing/block printing
Use feminine & flirty fabrics
Color Blocking

What are some key things you look for in a clutch?

Sewing: Fold Over Clutches for Nata Mari

2012-01-11T21:53:00.000-05:00

Remember that custom order of fold over clutches I was working on? Well, here they are! Actually, this is only a snippet of some of the clutches I made, you'll have to visit Natasha's brand new shop Nata Mari to see the rest of them ; )

Natasha is a self-taught textile designer (you know I have a thing for people who are self-taught), who has just launched her first line La Hermanas which was inspired by living seaside during her childhood.

To learn more about Natasha and her new shop just click here!

Good luck with everything Natasha! I'm glad I could help you out! : )

Fabric Ideas for Clutches and Totes

2012-01-10T22:26:00.001-05:00

{both fabrics from domesticate}

{hawthorne threads}

{superbuzzy}

I'm obsessed with the Hamptons! I don't know why(well, maybe I do) but I've never even been there! These striped fabrics remind me of the Hamptons/beach and would make some great summer bags.

{superbuzzy}

Disney's Animal Kingdom

2012-01-10T22:25:00.002-05:00

We went to Disney's Animal Kingdom over the Christmas Holidays and I wanted to share a few pictures with you. If you haven't been yet, but you're planning on going one day, make sure you do the SAFARI FIRST!!! It's AMAZING how close you are to these animals with no fence! And the landscape was beautiful!!

Safari Pics

{tree of life}

Petting zoo

Okay, I know us bloggers aren't suppose to post blurry pictures but I just had to share this one with you! It's probably my favorite picture and I hate that it came out blurry! I tried sooo hard to have a steady hand! So if you will allow me a pass just this once, I promise I won't post another blurry picture for the rest of the year : )

Inspiration: The Creative Process

2012-01-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest parts about reading blogs for me is when artists show "behind the scenes" photos of their process. So inspiring!

{gift shop brooklyn}

{j.crew blog}

{bookhou at home}

{scout & catalogue}

Are there any particular types of photos that inspire you when reading blogs? Very curious to know : )

Spreading the Love: Blog Post Round Up

2012-01-07T08:39:00.000-05:00

1. You have to check out Elise's before and after pictures of her diy living room makeover.
Ah-Mazing!
2. A tour of Ashley's bedroom. Beautiful.
3. Karyn makes the most beautiful quilts. I think fabric selection for quilts is an art all on it's
own and she's mastered that.
4. I love in-the-making posts/photos. Scout and Catalogue
5. A little bit of inspiration from Jadyn at Dutch.British.Love. Post title: Word for 2012
6. Stunning picture of this butterfly from Miss B.'s edit a photo a day project.
7. Guilty Pleasure: Gossip Girl. Thanks Theresa for speaking out! Glad I'm not the only
one who loves this show ; )
8. Photo Styling: also from Theresa at Inspiration Cooperative

Check out this 12 items|12 Outfit video from Flawless Mistake

Did you watch it? Clever huh?

I Kind of Want to Try This: Ikat Patterned Nail Wraps

2012-01-04T21:53:00.001-05:00

I am so not a nail person but when I saw this picture in Lucky Magazine I thought to myself... why not try something a little out of the box? I'll let you know how they turn out : )
Nail Wraps: shopncla.com

Paisley Print Fold Over Clutch

2012-01-02T08:40:00.000-05:00

I am doing a custom order of fold over clutches for my blogging friend Natasha. So while I was patiently waiting for all of her materials to arrive, I decided to do a little practicing and I made one for myself !
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I really love paisley designs but I'm drawn to more of the "grown up" side of the design than I am the playful(kiddie) side of the design(make sense?). So whenever I do find a paisley design that meets my requirement, I jump on it right away!

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This paisley fabric has been around for a minute, which makes me very happy that it finally found its place! I used some pink suede to add a little extra detail to it : )

What about you? How do you feel about Paisley fabric/design?

Bright Totes

2012-01-02T08:35:00.000-05:00

Looks like it's time for the bright summery totes to make their entrance! I think this first tote from Anthropologie is my favorite! I love the colors/design, the shape of the tote, and the two different handle options.

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anthropologie

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shopbop,anthropologie,modcloth,anthropologie

Food for Thought: Inspirational Quote

2011-12-26T09:49:00.001-05:00

I was reading an article in the latest O Magazine and thought this quote was very fitting as we wrap up 2011 and enter a brand new year. I'll see you on Jan.2! Have a Happy New Year! : )

Christmas at Disney World!

2011-12-22T10:52:00.002-05:00

Out of all the times I've been to Disney World, I've never gone during Christmas time! Here are some pictures I snapped of their magical Christmas parade!

Mickey and Minnie made out of roses

Hope you enjoyed them! Have a Merry Christmas!

Bohemian Patchwork Throw

2011-12-16T10:17:00.003-05:00

My ~~Quilted~~ Patchwork Throw is finished! I crossed out quilt because when I started quilting it, I didn't really like all the lines through it. So, I've decided to keep it as a patchwork throw. I love it though! I love how colorful it is, and every time I look at it it will give me a little dose of happiness : )

Have a great weekend!!

Versatile Blogger Award

2011-12-14T13:30:00.000-05:00

Thank you Leah at Sang the Bird for nominating me for the versatile blogger award!

I've enjoyed reading Leah's blog ever since I met her in my BYW class. She also has a beautiful online shop stocked with lovely goods that are handmade by different artisans. Be sure to stop by and check her out : )

The versatile blogger award is all about getting to know other bloggers and blogs they read.

Here are the rules:

nominate 10-15 fellow bloggers
inform the bloggers of their nomination
share 7 random things about yourself
thank the blogger who nominated you
add the versatile blogger award pic on your blog post.

Here are the blogs I'd like to nominate:

Confessions of a Purse-a-holic

Cherry Runway

Blueberry Ash

7 Random things about me:

I'm a very good cook but baking is a problem for me

I love the smell of "new" Rubber i.e. tires and sneakers

I've been taking a spinning class for the past 4 months and now I'm totally addicted!

I'm such a country/southern girl but I'm soooo curious as to what it would be like to live in the heart of New York City

When I'm watching T.V. or Movies I ALWAYS pay attention to the people in the background...ALWAYS

When I'm listening to music and the song has been sampled, I can usually tell what the sample is within a few seconds of hearing the song.

I've always wondered what happened to my Fashion Plate Fashion Designer Toy! I loved that thing!

I.Love.This.Song: Lotus Flower Bomb Wale ft. Miguel

2011-12-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

I think I just hit an all time record of listening to one song on repeat.

So glad hip-hop has guys like Wale, poetry over music is always nice.

Slinky Malinki Cat: Vintage Prints

2011-12-12T09:48:00.005-05:00

I've been stalking Slinky Malinki Cat for the past 2 years now. I'm a sucker for bird and botanical prints so I always love stopping by Kim's shop to see what she has in store. I also love how she gives a bit of a history lesson with each vintage print.

You should go and check it out!

Photo Styling: The Fancy Lamb

2011-12-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

The Fancy Lamb is an etsy shop that sells eclectic vintage items and handmade goodies.

What I like about this shop is the simplicity of product styling. Sometimes I tend to overthink product styling but this shop does a beautiful job of conveying the message of less is more.

Sewing: Retro Tote

2011-12-09T14:24:00.001-05:00

I plan on making two different looks using this same concept. One will be with the white trim and the other one will be with a Liberty of London trim. I can't wait to see how they'll turn out! I'll be working on them this weekend : )

Quilt Update: Halfway There!

2011-12-07T12:09:00.001-05:00

Just finished pinning the first layer of the quilt together. Next I have to stitch it to the muslin

and add the second layer on top. Hopefully I can finish the whole thing up over the

weekend and have something to show by Monday : ) I can't stress to you enough on

how much I love this fabric!

Mood Board #2: Cali Desert

2011-12-06T12:34:00.001-05:00

I'm updating my mood board...

and I just purchased this in iTunes

Inspirational Quote: John Keats

2011-12-04T20:13:00.001-05:00

I heard this quote about 4 years ago while I was watching Marry Poppins with my daughter. I vividly remember Marry Poppins saying- "a thing of beauty is a joy forever". I immediately googled the quote and learned that it originated from John Keats.

This has since become one of my all time favorite quotes and it plays a large part in why I'm opening an Etsy Store (spring 2012). I do believe that a thing of beauty is a joy forever and creating beautiful things truly makes me happy, but being able to share my work with others in hopes to brighten their day is icing on the cake!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things {Oprah Style}

2011-11-30T23:54:00.001-05:00

Instead of doing a "formal" gift guide, I've decided to share with you some of my favorite things that just so happen to make great gifts : )

I buy most of my scarves from Anthropologie,

J.Crew and Banana Republic and I absolutely love all

them! These stores never dissappoint me when I'm in
need of a great scarf.

Anthropologie | J. Crew

Jo Malone perfume is like heaven in a bottle!

And the best part about it is you can layer these fragrances to

create a whole new scent! So far I've collected 4 different scents
(Grapefruit, Lime Basil and Mandarin, Blue Agave and Cacao, &
Lotus Blossom and Water Lily)

Jo Malone

I. LOVE. THIS. STUFF!!!

It makes your skin feel sooooo good and adds such a nice glow to it,

and the hope in a jar makes your face feel like it's sipping on a tall glass

of water all day long ; )

Philosophy

Coin purses are so charming.

I have a gazillion of them because I sew my own, but

I never get tired of a new coin purse : )

Anthropologie

Need I say more? Endless music on iTunes and since

I'm a music lover I never ever get tired of these!

Apple

J. Crew, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor
are my go to places for Jewelry. I can always find a bit of
dazzle at one of these stores.

J. Crew

Every...girl... must... have... a... Jewelry Roll!!!!!

I made my own and I'll never travel without one again!

J.Crew

Ahhhh save the best for last, having an Anthro Gift Card is like a kid in the candy store.

If anybody knows me they know that I want an Anthropologie gift card for my Birthday,

Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day or a Just Because Day.

It never gets old, there are just soooo many options!

Anthropologie

That's all folks! Until next time : )

Solids-Only Tote Challenge-Retro Inspired Tote Bag

2011-11-29T22:28:00.001-05:00

I've just completed my tote bag for the Solids-Only tote Challenge hosted by Keren of Sew la Vie and Rikka from Ricochet and Away and I have to say, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

I had idea after idea, but nothing really stuck until I decided to make something that reflected my childhood.

I gathered a few pictures of me, my older sister, my younger brother, my cousins, and my parents to help me out a little.

Brown and cream were the two colors that came to mind when I started brainstorming ideas for this bag. I wanted to add a little something extra to it so that's where the bow came in. The bow is optional, which is nice because I can get two different looks out of it, and the wooden button just adds to the whole retro vibe.

I'm Verrrry happy with the way it turned out! I'm going to hold on to this pattern and add a few more details to it- like maybe a gusset for the bottom and the sides of the bag, and some inner pockets. I see endless possibilities with this tote bag! I'm already thinking about a red one?

Anywho, you should go check out the rest of the tote bags that were entered into the solids-only challenge, everyone did a ~~great~~ awesome job!

Oh yeah! and did you see that bag my mom is carrying? I'm thinking about recreating that bag some how. I haven't quite made up my mind with what I want to do with it, but all I know is I love it!

Thanks for stopping by : - )

The Party Clutch

2011-11-28T13:53:00.001-05:00

I love this time of year when the evening bags take center stage at the holiday parties.

Love the extra sparkle and detail.

Kate spade New York

Tasha Jewel Clutch

Inge Christopher Clutch

La Regale Mesh box Clutch

Kissy Face Mesh Clutch

Decade Minaudiere

Chivalrous Clutch

Quilt Time!

2011-11-23T13:23:00.001-05:00

At last, the Boho by Annette Tatum fabric that I wrote about here finally arrived at my doorstep! I've decided that I'm going to be selfish with this fabric and make a bohemian-esque quilt for myself. The cold weather is slowly(and I do mean slowly) approaching us so I figured that I still have time to make a nice warm quilt for the upcoming winter.

The only quilts I've ever made were 2 baby quilts which I talked about here.

The quilt that I'm going to be making is the Decorative Patchwork Throw from In Stitches by Amy Butler : )

I'll be documenting my progress and can't wait to share the finished project with you!

Anthropologie: DIY Charms Interactive Tool

2011-11-22T21:00:00.001-05:00

Have you guys played around with the DIY Charms interactive tool over at Anthropologie? If you haven't you should! It's quite addictive! The ones I created are on the left : )

So many options, endless possibilities!

Geometric Tote Bag

2011-11-21T14:01:00.001-05:00

I Looooove my new tote bag! Probably because I'm so in love with this fabric! I'm on a geometric kick right now so any fabric that I see with a great geometric design on it I'm all over it. I also love how quick it takes to whip up a tote bag, they make excellent gifts, and it's always a great way to update your wardrobe : )

Let's Talk Fabric

2011-11-20T21:24:00.001-05:00

Fabrics that caught my eye...

New Purchases: Books

2011-11-16T13:49:00.001-05:00

I wish I could say that my latest purchases were clothes but it wasn't. Instead, I decided to get some books that have been on my list, and they just arrived in the mail!

First up is The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman. Now I'll be honest, part of me purchased this book because of all of the beautiful illustrations inside, but I also purchased this book because it explains a real simple approach to turning your house into a home.

Up next is A Field Guide to Fabric Design by Kimberly Kight. I'm very interested in screen printing and hand printing on fabrics so I mainly wanted this book for those two reasons. However, if I ever get the desire to design my own fabric, let's say on Spoonflower, then this book will show me how. I'm also a faithful reader of Kimberly's blog True up so of course the fan in me had something to do with this purchase : )

I first heard about the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook in Cooking Light Magazine earlier this year. I'm a HUGE fan of breakfast! In fact, it might be my favorite meal of the day, so of course I had to buy this one!

Homemade pancakes and waffles are my specialty so I can't wait to try the Vanilla Buttermilk Waffles!

SHHHHH!!!! This is for my husband! His birthday is this Friday and he's been wanting Decoded by Jay-Z for a while now so I'll give this to him then. He turns 34!

These are the books I'd like to purchase next.

modern vintage style

anthology issue #5

nomad: a global approach to interior style

etcetera: creating beautiful interiors with the things you love

Learning a new skill: Embroidering

2011-11-14T05:42:00.001-05:00

I fell in love with these embroidered coin purses at Anthropologie a couple of years back and have wanted to learn how to embroider ever since. I think embroidery is such a cool way to add tons of personality and detail to any project. My plan is to have a line of embroidered pouches.

I went a little book crazy over the past year and bought any book that had the word embroidery on it : )

I just love how modern embroidery is nowadays.

I also love reading through this blog for ideas and inspiration.

feeling stitchy

Oh! and if you know of any more good books on embroidering let me know! A girl can never have too many books right?

Side Note: Michael A. Hill Illustration Update

2011-11-12T15:30:00.001-05:00

Remember the post I did about a week ago on Michael A. Hill's illustrated Maps? Well, I was shocked, surprised, and completely happy to find this lovely message from him in my inbox Thursday morning!!

"Hi Tori, Great to read your post about my work. I am always amazed that people take time out to look at my work. Hopefully you are inspired by them and that other people are too after reading your post. The series of maps for Lucky is continuing for the moment with NYC out now I believe and Aspen to follow soon.
My skill lie beyond maps and I am working on illustrating step by steps for a book of Quilting and patchwork, how appropriate i find myself here.
good luck with things
Michael A Hill"

How he found my blog I do not know but it made my entire day!! : )

Handmade: Cool Bags

2011-11-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

Screen printing, Birds, Triangles, Sparkly Clutches, and Handmade.

All the things I love about these bags!

Shops: seaoats, shelter protects you, hoakon + helga, eva estevez

Handmade Business Blogs

2011-11-08T18:36:00.001-05:00

These are four very informative blogs that I turn to for tips on how to run a successful handmade business : )

Craft Show Update

2011-11-07T06:53:00.002-05:00

Here are a few shots of the show!

I think you guys have pretty much seen everything except for the orange and blue pouches. We are HUGE Gator fans around these parts so I had to make something for the locals : ) Overall, it was a great first experience! Now I'm scoping out the next venue...

I also met 2 new crafty friends and they both have really cool shops on etsy this is Maria from
Vintage Ooak Designs,

and this is Amy from Pursewna, and she also has a blog!

The Art of Styling

2011-11-04T06:32:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been studying every magazine, catalogue, and website that I come across to try and learn more about photo styling. Is there a science behind it? Or do you kind of just go with flow?

The Cupcake Diary

Design Sponge

Armas Design

Moomin Foo ~Pinterest

Nelle Handbags

Anthropologie

Anouk B interior Concept 2012

Mermaid Hippie

Tant Johanna

Business Cards and Labels

2011-11-04T06:31:00.000-04:00

Labels from Inked Papers, Business Cards from Reani

Lovely Illustrated Maps by Michael A. Hill

2011-11-01T08:50:00.000-04:00

I've always been drawn to illustrated maps. They're like a grown up version of those beautifully illustrated children's books that I used to read. I probably spent waaay more time getting lost in the pictures than I did reading the books.

I would like to make you guys aware of a fabulous Illustrator named Michael A. Hill.
I just adore his work! The details, the colors, and his ability to make his drawings
come to life are amazing! I could just stare at them for hours!

He illustrates these beautiful maps (which I've started collecting), for

Lucky Magazine's monthly shopping guide. So it's always a treat for me to see what he's created. I've just recently discovered that he has an online portfolio and there you can see a lot more of his amazingness (if you will allow me to use that word). If you want to escape for a little bit, go check out his work! It's really fun!

Here's my little collection. Maybe one day I'll have enough for a little book,

or better yet, maybe he will come out with a book of maps! hint, hint : )

Is there anything you love now that takes you back to your childhood?

Liberty of London Pouches

2011-10-31T06:29:00.001-04:00

I've been holding on to this Liberty of London fabric for about three years now and I finally cut it! It's so hard for me to cut Liberty of London fabric when I first order it, but I love how it turned out. I really like this fabric with this pattern. Plus, I learned a new photo styling trick this week from a new blogging buddy Liz, whom I met in my BYW class...

Take a look at both of these backgrounds... does it look like I took them outiside?

Well, I didn't (it's paper! ) Head over to Liz's blog evphotochic to check out this neat little trick!

Happy Monday and Happy Halloween!

Coffee Break

2011-10-28T06:51:00.001-04:00

When you're at home sewing, blogging, or tending to the kids all day(amongst other things), sometimes it's just good to take a break and do something different. I've decided to take a virtual coffee break to see how other people spend part of their day outside of the house : )

Clockspot

Janinecorrez

HKmPUA

mike goldberg

sachman75

ahmed rabea

Umair Mohsin

Moodboard: Blog Style

2011-10-26T06:09:00.001-04:00

I'm currently enrolled in the BYW course and so far it's amazing!

I've just completed one of my "homework" assignments which was

honing in on your blog style and I think I've captured it : )

Inspiration in my everyday life

2011-10-25T00:19:00.000-04:00

The ideas that I have when it comes to sewing either involves a LOT of different colors or it's nature inspired, usually with birds, flowers, and/or butterflies. That being said, I was looking back at some of my older photos for inspiration and found that I take a lot of pictures of nature... and it seems like I'm always trying to get those postcard worthy pictures you know? I'm definitely not a professional photographer(at least not yet), but it's always fun trying to capture the best parts of those life encounters...

These pictures are from an overnight trip my husband and I took

to St. Augustine, FL for our anniversary. Such a fun city!

The Beach

Castillo De San Marcos

(It is the oldest masonry and only existing 17th century fort in North America)

When we go to Gainesville, FL which is my hometown, trips to the

Butterfly Rainforest are always fun!

Spotted some beautiful pink flamingoes at

Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL

This one I'm most proud of because I was able to capture this Hawk

in my own backyard! I shot these pictures through the screen of our patio, so although

it's a little hazy, at least he didn't fly away!(I put my ninja skills to the test!)

Some cool Facts about Hawks:

Their eyesight is the best in the entire animal world
Hawks are monogamous and may mate for life
They see in color
Their ability to see clearly is 8x that of ours

Well that's all for now! These are some of my nature inspired Pics! What's in your photo album? Do you notice any themes? Do tell...

One. Eleven. Studio

Springtime

Pretty

Aesthetics: Modred 12

Tagged!

Pages from Anthropologie: March '12

Vintage Photos: When They Were Young

Fresh Face Blogger: Kristin of Pritty Tings

Photo Styling: Whimsical

Art Gallery 002: Hats

Mood board: Square Shape {City} Clutch

Bloggers on Blogging

Travel: Savannah, Georgia

Kinfolk, Uppercase, & Anthology

365 Days of Boys

{Primary Colors} Brightening Your Day

My Life: Great Hearts Think Alike

Fresh Face Blogger: {Jadyn} of Dutch.British.Love

Art Gallery 001: Eye Spy

On My Mind: Random Thoughts

Sewing: Crossbody Bag Finished!

Bird Watching: PragyaK Shop

Link Love + Giveaway Winner!

My Anthropologie Shopping Strategy

Good Music

Fresh Face Blogger Series + Giveaway

Sewing: Crossbody Bag

Obama: Runway to Win

Trending Topic: Tropical Prints... Will You Wear It?

How to Build an Online Community: Tips and Links

On My Mind: Natural Hair (It's Kind of a Big Deal)

Online Photography Classes

Sewing: Oversized Envelope Clutch

Sewing: Fold Over Clutches for Nata Mari

Fabric Ideas for Clutches and Totes

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Inspiration: The Creative Process

Spreading the Love: Blog Post Round Up

I Kind of Want to Try This: Ikat Patterned Nail Wraps

Paisley Print Fold Over Clutch

Bright Totes

Food for Thought: Inspirational Quote

Christmas at Disney World!

Bohemian Patchwork Throw

Versatile Blogger Award

I.Love.This.Song: Lotus Flower Bomb Wale ft. Miguel

Slinky Malinki Cat: Vintage Prints

Photo Styling: The Fancy Lamb

Sewing: Retro Tote

Quilt Update: Halfway There!

Mood Board #2: Cali Desert

Inspirational Quote: John Keats

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things {Oprah Style}

Solids-Only Tote Challenge-Retro Inspired Tote Bag

The Party Clutch

Quilt Time!

Anthropologie: DIY Charms Interactive Tool

Geometric Tote Bag

Let's Talk Fabric

New Purchases: Books

Learning a new skill: Embroidering

Side Note: Michael A. Hill Illustration Update

Handmade: Cool Bags

Handmade Business Blogs

Craft Show Update

The Art of Styling

Business Cards and Labels

Lovely Illustrated Maps by Michael A. Hill

Liberty of London Pouches

Coffee Break

Moodboard: Blog Style

Inspiration in my everyday life