Inspiration with Renee of Wild Roses

I’ve been trying to pair up with sweet Melissa to do some guest posting for ages, so when we finally were able to talk and schedule a time I was clap my hands happy. Then she said write a post about what inspires you and I thought, well crap. Why is that question always so hard? So I thought about what gives me that take-your-breath-away feeling. What makes me believe in all the things I dream of doing and makes my brain work a little quicker. A little wittier. The things that are once in a lifetime, these things can't be repeated you see. You can't bottle up the same inspiring moments to use again and again. They must be savored and remembered until you stumble across another. And another.

 

1. I suppose what has inspired me my entire life is words. A well timed sentiment from my fiancé, short lovely poems, sentences carefully crafted to bring out an image or emotion, song lyrics. They all make me dream of bigger things. I planned to be a writer when I was young, and it still may happen. But blogging is a decent outlet for now. F. Scott Fitzgerald and EE Cummings are my favorites. 

2. The second, and I just wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t add it, is my faith. The gracefulness of God and His love keep me going everyday. It gives me peace about my future and excitement over what I’ll be able to do in my life. “Because God is graceful, I am brave.” 

3. Beautiful typography is probably my most recent inspiration piece. Who knew the perfect combinations of fonts and placement could make such a difference? I think this all ties in with my mom being an interior designer. I’ve been raised to look for beauty and uniqueness my entire life. It’s just showing up in different ways in me. 

 4. Which brings me to fashion. Well style really. I am a fashion/life blogger afterall. For me style and fashion are life typography, the right accessories and mix of pattern and color create something distinctive and entirely you. And lets just be honest for a moment. Nothing is “new” anymore. Creativity is just how you reinvent and combine the things that have already been done. So don’t be scared! Wear whatever you want and push yourself every now any then! Gold leggings are back for goodness sake!

 

I’ll leave it at four for now, I am a woman of many inspirations apparently. Thanks again to Melissa for inviting me to guest post! There’s nothing better that real life blogger friends! One day I’ll meet you in New York Melissa, Brooklyn maybe?

Thank you Renee for stopping by The 25th Hour and sharing your inspirations! I would absolutely meet you in NYC, you fashionista! I hope everyone has enjoyed her, "What Inspires You?" guest post during my not-so-planned blog hiatus. I have unintentionally unplugged for the past few days, but will be back to a regular schedule tomorrow after I sort through some things.

Hope these inspirations cheered up some middle of the week blues! Happy Wednesday friends.
Be sure to check out her blog, Twitter and Instagram!

Getting Inspired By: Third Floor Design Studio

Hi friends! Kim here from Third Floor Design Studio - a blog about interior design + all things creative.

As an interior designer I get the question, "how can I give my room a facelift without breaking the bank?!" a lot! Well, you see, design is in the details. The smallest changes can transform a space. I recently started a new series on the blog that solves this very problem + it gives you a chance to show off the changes you've made!

introducing >>>

I would LOVE to see you hop on over, say hello, and join in on the challenge! 

And a big thanks to the incredibly talented Melissa for having me today! 

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Kimberly is such an inspiring and creative spirit! Her talents don't just stop at interior design, but fall into photography and graphic design. Be sure to check out her blog to join the challenge or stay inspired :) Thank you for stopping by!

My Yellow Hat

I have been meaning to blog about this staple item during the Winter season. I introduce to you, my yellow hat, knitted by the talented Leney of A Girl Named Leney. I recently featured on her my Featured Artist and Shop Owner so if you like what you see, get there know her there! (You can purchase your own here!)

This yellow hat is the perfect addition to your wardrobe to rid the Winter blues. It kept the mountain girl in me alive and not my mention kept me super warm! Sometimes I just wear it around my house, just because I can. My hat and I have already had so many adventures together and have travelled to Boone and Boston just to name a few.

In other news, I am diligently working to release my portfolio website and graphic design/photography services! I am learning the art of balance and working from home, so thank you for your kind patience and support. I hope you all have a happy and productive Monday!

See the rest of this photo shoot here.

Find me at The Goad Abode today!

I am so delighted to be guest posting for Beth of The Goad Abode today! Check out how I spruce up a boring ol' cubicle and office... and it won't even hurt your wallet :) I may have had to learn the hard way (aka trying to fix an oversized rug into a cubicle), but after some trial and error, I found much simpler ways to add your own touch. Read the post here.

Also, did you hear the rumor? I'm on Facebook!

10. Featured Artist + Shop Owner | A Girl Named Leney

 

Original photo by: Meagan Abell

Talk about someone you want to grab some coffee or tea with! For the 10th edition of Featured Artist + Shop Owner, I am thrilled to introduce Leney, the girl behind A Girl Named Leney. Her handmade shop features knitted wear and jewelry to keep you extra warm and fashionable. Her photography and blog constantly inspire me to practice what I love and find a way to keep it relevant. I'll stop rambling and let her do all the talking now :)

Shop | Blog | Twitter | Instagram

1. Introduce yourself and some background info :)
My name is Leney and I'm an artist who resides in Virginia where there's both a little country and a little city. I find inspiration in both! I work full time designing and creating things for my Etsy shop which holds a variety of knits and jewelry pieces. Additionally, I'm also a part time photographer. Taking photos is another one of my many passions! When I'm not knitting or taking pictures, you can find me making lists of everything, thrifting, watching Gilmore Girls, finding excuses to travel and taking care of a bunny named Lewis.

2. What initiated this love and passion for knitting? How did it develop into owning a shop?
My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was eight years old. I remember sitting on our taupe colored couch in the living room of my old house fumbling with these red plastic needles and multi colored purple and green yarn (which, at the time, I thought was beautiful). It took a year or two for knitting to become the obsession it is for me now, but I've pretty much loved it ever since. I grew up being a very artsy child though. I learned how to sew at a young age as well and I was always known for making things and being creative. I had the dream to open up an online shop to sell my creations early on (though as a kid it started as setting my stuff up on a table at the end of my driveway), and when I heard about Etsy a few years ago that dream became a reality!

3. Where do you find the biggest inspirations for your products?
This is such a hard question! I honestly find inspiration in so many things. I think vintage fashion is really fun and something I always love looking at, whether it's on blogs or in magazines. Often though I find inspiration in the materials I work with as well. Whether I'm at the fabric store and I find a bolt of fabric that I can instantly see it as a new clutch or when I'm at the yarn shop and I spy some pretty grey wool yarn for some new mittens! It really depends... my ideas come out of nowhere sometimes. Other times it's a collaborative effort. For instance, a friend of mine liked all the knit animals I'd started making and asked if I could make him a crocodile. Which was something I honestly had never thought about doing before.
So working with people and their ideas fuels a lot of my inspiration as well!

4. What made you take a huge step into becoming an independent business-owner? Have any tribulations you'd love to share?
All growing up my parents always told me I could do whatever I wanted to do. Nothing was impossible if it was a dream of mine and I worked hard enough for it. I definitely attribute a lot of my success thus far to their support! Otherwise though this is just something I've pretty much always wanted to do. Though I'm not where I need to be quite yet, I think I'm definitely well on the way there and I'm willing to do the work it takes to make it the rest of the way! It definitely has it's hard days, and sometimes I have a hard time motivating myself, but I try to remember why I love what I do and also that I'd way rather be trying to knit crocodiles and taking photos of newly engaged couples than sitting behind a desk all day making phone calls and doing paper work (though there are some days like that...)

5. What's your favorite part about owning your own shop?
Coming up with new designs! It's so much fun. I have a whole bunch of new ideas for the Spring that I'm getting really excited about. I really want to incorporate more sewing into what I do (my fabric stash is almost as big as my yarn stash). I have a dress design in particular that I want to expand upon and some bag ideas as well. So keep an eye out for those!

I also love writing little notes to my customers to include with their order. It let's me send a little love along with each package and that's always fun.

6. Are your products just on etsy? Anywhere else we can find them?
At the moment yes. During the holidays this past year they were featured in a local holiday shop or two, but currently they are just online. Though I am definitely working towards having some stuff in a local store or boutique in the near future!

7. Have any tips for those wanting to start a shop, but are hesitate?
Honestly I think if you want to do something badly enough, you can do it! It just takes a lot of hard work. A lot. And weird (often late) hours. You just have to be persistent and stay motivated and sometimes you even need to decide what you're willing to give up for what you want. Because most things worth having don't come without a little sacrifice. You will definitely have mishaps and challenges, but if it's your dream it will be worth it in the end!

I also try to keep in mind that nothing's really a failure if I've learned something from it.
I have to say though that my friends and family are a huge reason why I'm able to do what I do! Their support is nothing short of essential for me. They are my biggest fans, customers, and cheerleaders. A lot of them carry around my business cards to give to everyone they come in contact with, it's the sweetest thing. I definitely couldn't have gotten this far without them!

8. And because I love all things music, who is your favorite musical artist at the moment?
Oh goodness, another hard question! Admittedly I was jamming out to my Disney music playlist while working the other day… haha. But I think I have to say Beirut is one of my all time favorite bands. I never get tired of them. Especially the song Scenic World which reminds me of sailing and summertime.

Here is a glimpse of the items she sells on her shop. I just can't wait for my future purchases!

 

1 // 2 // 3

Featured Artist + Shop Owner | Studio 336

I don't remember the moment or the details of how one of us stumbled upon each other's blog, but I thank my lucky stars it happened. I have so much respect and admiration for Erin and her blog/shop, Studio 336. Her work is fresh, professional, creative and versatile. After this interview, I respect her even more for sounding so realistic and grounded about owning your own handmade shop, but somehow finding a way to always stay inspired. Read along to discover her story behind Studio 336 and how it all began.

Blog | Shop | Twitter
THE INTERVIEW //

1. Introduce yourself! What are some interesting hobbies or quirks you have?

Hey, I'm Erin. I'm a maker of things, dreamer of dreams, and thinker of thoughts. I love to work, but when I'm not working I'm hanging out with the boyfriend, friends or family or wrangling up our three dogs. I'm also an avid reader of books and blogs. If I don't read at night, I struggle to fall asleep, and when the book's good, I still struggle.

2. I am so curious - what's the story behind your shop name?

Do you remember filling out worksheets in school when you were a kid? You know, the "what's your favorite color?" or "what did you do with your summer vacation?" questions.. well whenever I think about what I'm doing now, what I'm making of myself, I think back to a worksheet that used to hang on my dad's fridge. The question at the top of the sheet asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I wrote, in the chicken scratch of a 1st grader, that I wanted to be an artist. So, when I think back about about where all of this began, it always reminds me of that worksheet, in that house, and that's where 336 was derived, the house number.

3. How did you discover you loved creating decals?

Out of college I struggled to find a job, I mean what on earth was I supposed to do with a degree in art. Well, one day I stumbled upon an old sign shop where the owner was looking to sell and retire. I walked in and asked the man if he'd let me work with him for a few days to see how everything worked. He said yes, and three months later I owned my business. As much as I liked working for myself, making commercial decals that required no design work of my own wasn't doing it for me. So I started making things for myself. And then for family and friends. And the next thing I knew I was selling them on Etsy, too.

4. You run such a successful Etsy shop. What are some tips or secrets to staying on top of inventory, networking and creating?

Honestly, I'm still working on this one, but a schedule can make all the difference. Etsy orders come in at all hours, every day of the week. Setting aside certain times of the day to do certain tasks makes things much less stressful. I'm still learning how to put myself out there since it's easy to hide behind your shop when it's based on the internet. Learning who and how and where for networking is a matter of trial and error. Creative energy comes when it does and I've learned not to take advantage of it because you don't know when the next idea will strike.

5. What is your most popular item in your shop? Do you have a favorite to make?
I'd say the State Love decals are probably the most popular right now, but my favorite are the new magnet sets I've been making!

6. Do you just do online orders? Or have you worked with other vendors?
I primarily do online orders, but you can also find them in a few local shops (Hampton Roads, VA) and an assortment of others around the US, I have plans for expanding though so if you know of a shop where you'd love to see Studio 336 goods, let me know!

7. Do you listen to anything in particular while in the studio? Any music that puts you in the creative mood?
This might sound a little funny, but I tend to have Netflix on more than music when I'm in the studio. I can tune out the boring television easier than I can the music, and it still helps me to focus. Working from home, by yourself all day, it's nice to hear a little chatter in the background. But when I do go for music, when I'm up and moving around I listen to a lot of the Avett Brothers, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra, Ingrid Michaelson. I really need to update my music collection.

8. What other crafts/diy are you interested in?
I've done a little bit of everything. I've dabbled in sewing, and felting, stamp making, block printing, screen printing, painting, wood working, jewelry making, book making, and darkroom printing. I've basically done it all, and I like doing it all. I have enough art/craft supplies to open up a store for that too.

9. What is in the future for you and Studio 336?
As far as my future, I just want to keep doing what I'm doing, and more. I like progress and change, so I like adding new things. I'd like to get back into jewelry making, so you might see a side of that soon. I really enjoy promoting other artists/makers and want to find a way to make that a bigger part of what I do. Ultimately, I'd love a brick and mortar shop of curated goods. But we'll just see what happens, a girl can always dream.

Here is a little glimpse of my favorite items!
(As soon as I move into my own home, I am definitely buying some of these!)

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Thank you Erin for letting us peek a little into your Studio!

COFFEE TALK 01

 

Natalie over at 23Seveteen hosts "Coffee Talk" every Thursday and it's about dang time I join in the fun! During Coffee Talk, Natalie asks us bloggers a handful of questions and we all link-up and get to know each other better. I absolutely love this idea and am excited to finally participate. Well, here goes nothing!

1. What's for dinner tonight?

Honestly, probably leftovers! I am such an avid leftover-eater though. I absolutely dislike wasting food and sometimes things just taste better the second time around, i.e. pizza. I have the wonderful advantage of going home to my mom's wonderful cooking so there's that, too! I am saving my "going out to eat fund" for this weekend (Hey, Boone!) and next weekend (Hey, Boston!).

2. Top three TV shows you never miss.

THIS IS SUCH A HARD ONE. Unfortunately I do not really watch television shows when they first air, but with things like Netflix, friends with DVR, re-runs on tv websites, I try to stay caught up. Right now some shows that are on air that I hate to miss include Once Upon A Time, How I Met Your Mother and Girls! (I am currently finishing up Brothers and Sisters on Netflix as well).

3. What type of body wash are currently using?

Satsuma from The Body Shop! I have been indulging in this scent since high school! I love it so much my mom used to buy me the gift sets every Valentine's Day. I wonder if she will this Valentine's Day! I can always depend on her to make me feel loved on this "commercially couple's holiday". Anyway, this scent is fantastic. I have always been a fan of the fruity/citrus/sweet scents without it being overbearing. Definitely a great body wash to use in the morning, afternoon or evening. The body butter is even better!



4. Take a photo of what's in front of you.

Part of my living room.

5. What's your favorite fruit?
Hmm....... I am going to have to go with mangoes. Oh wait! Oranges. Wait... PINEAPPLE, but only if I eat it in Costa Rica :) Those three are probably my favorites... they just can't compete with one another!

6. Spring is almost here (well, it's already here for us Floridians haha) show me your go-to outfit
Skinny jeans, Hanes Men White V neck, cardigan, wedges (or flats) and a fun light scarf. I'm a simple girl.

Well, you got to know a little bit more about me :)
Can't wait to read everybody's answers! If you would like, share with me your own answers in the comments below or link up with Natalie!

*top photo was taken a couple years ago at my old apartment in Boone while I was in college.

WORK WITH ME

 

Hi friends, bloggers and businesses!

I caved and made the switch to Passionfruit Ads, seriously the easiest way to organize and stay on top of sponsorships. If you visit my sponsorship page, you can register for a slot alongside my sidebar. I love meeting new people, discovering new businesses, supporting them and most of all sharing them. I would love to work with you. There are options for purchasing ad space or button swapping!

In order to button swap, I am requesting you to email me and I will give you the "special code" to make your button free. Thank you for my current sponsors for being awesome. I look forward to continue working with you. If you're new around here, check out the blog and if it's your fancy, let's work together.

Read more about me here and read more about my blog here.

*Photo above was taken using my Holga camera in the summer of 2011 (c) Melissa Vega.

GUEST POST WITH HAPPERLY EVER AFTER | VALENTINE DIY

Hello people of the world The 25th Hour! I am SOO excited to be sharing my Valentines DIY with you all today!
Some of you just got excited because, like me, you're not awesome at gift giving,
Some of you just rolled your eyes and continued scrolling because you simply don't do Valentines Day,
and the rest of you don't care because you don't have anyone to gift to.

WELL let me tell you all something -- this little creation can be made for anyone [including yourself].

All you need is a deck of cards, a permanent marker and some sort of hanging contraption. I created mine from twine and a piece of wood. [ps. I was inspired from pinterest -- duh]

 

Simply write one lovey-dovey/encouraging/thankful thing or saying on each card.
I laid each card out on the table, put a little hot glue on the top and ran some twine down the middle. Tie each strand to your 'hanger' and hang that baby up for people to see! [or somewhere private depending on who you're making it for, some people don't wanna read that stuff]





There you go! Quick and easy and cute [heck you can even leave this up year round].
--side note, that cute little sail boat thing was a gift from my mumma. she's the greatest.

Hope you enjoyed this DIY and I would love for you to drop by my blog -- www.happerlyeverafter.com
Can't wait to meet you! >>> ali  

 

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Um, is she not the most precious thing ever or what? I am also in love with her blog name. Check it out to read the story behind the name. So cute! I love this DIY so much because it takes the kitchiness of Valentine's day into something so personal and creative! (Don't get me wrong, I love the candy hearts, singing stuffed animals and flowers) Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this DIY! It has been awhile since I have posted one. Thank you Ali for being so cute and creative, but more importantly inspiring!

GUEST POST with Dot in the City | Work Attire Edition

I am thrilled to be joining you today! When Melissa suggested I guest blog, it took me a bit to decide what to share with you. I started thinking about everyday challenges we all have. It's not really a challenge, but some days getting dressed can be a challenge, mostly because I want to look ready for work, yet show some personal style.
I've been thinking a lot about my wardrobe lately. Partially, because I can't wear a good portion of it now that I'm 16 weeks pregnant. I've also been thinking about what I want my pregnancy wardrobe to consist of as I build it. It takes me back to about eight years ago when I transitioned from student to professional. Honestly, I didn't give a lot of thought to the kinds of clothes I was buying when I was in college and grad school. I also lived in a part of the country that was pretty casual. If I wore jeans to my part-time job every day in Colorado no seemed to notice.

Fast forward through graduation and I found myself on the east coast with a full-time job where I was not allowed to wear jeans. That's right for the first three years of my professional career I was forbidden to wear jeans. It was brutal, but I survived. Now, that I find myself in a somewhat similar situation, I am giving careful considering to each piece I buy, even if I only plan to wear it for the next six-ish months.

A woman's wardrobe can be complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Sure, I love the many options we have especially compared to men, but a great foundation should be laid before we get too crazy with the latest fashion trend. I don't think color blocked dresses are going to be quite as hip in 2015...but I could be wrong.

My wardrobe basics usually consist of brown pants, solid cardigans, solid dresses, a handful of blouses, a suit jacket and comfortable yet cute shoes. I try to buy pieces that can be mixed with others to create more versatile looks. I put together a few inspiration boards. The first is more classic look in black and white and the second includes navy and grey as the base.

bnw work-ready by bbgoad featuring h&m

J.Crew j crew / J.Crew j crew / Boden peter pan shirt / H&M , $40 / Sheer white blouse / Boden fitted blazer / LOFT elastic waist skirt / Mango highwaisted pants, $48 / Me Too ballet high heels / Børn flat

navy work-ready by bbgoad featuring flat shoes

Boden peter pan collar dress / Boden jersey dress / Boden / H&M chiffon blouse, $24 / Old Navy / Boden / Boden printed pants / Boden long pants / Børn flat shoes / Clarks ballet shoes

Finally, here are a few tips for building a basic work-ready wardrobe:

>> Choose a color pallet and try to stick with it. If you look better in brown than black, you may want to buy more brown/khaki items as your base. You should still own some black, but if you're more comfortable in a different hue, it's okay to veer from that (I own mostly browns and have only been wearing black more recently).

>> Spend more money on timeless/classic items because you'll want them to last longer. Spend less money on the seasonal trend since you won't be wearing it long.

>> Accessories are really the key to dressing up or down an outfit. Be aware of what it means to be overdressed in your workplace and try to avoid it. You don't want to stand out too much.

>> Trying to figure out where to start in your quest to build a work-ready wardrobe? Consider what you'd wear to an interview. How can that look be transformed to a day in the office (i.e. exchange the jacket for a cardigan)?

If you enjoyed these tips, I hope you'll stop by my blog, dot in the city, where I share life. To be honest, I'm not actually a fashion blogger, but I do love to write about everyday situations and solutions. You can catch me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram too!

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Thank you so much Beth for the great tips and for stopping by the blog today! Her guest post couldn't come more at a perfect time since I have fairly recently had to transition from college girl closet of comfy yoga pants and hoodies to the world of pencil skirts, flats and no jeans (well, except on Casual Friday!). I hope you all got inspired to work on your professional attire... I sure did. I need to find more comfy, classic pieces that won't wrinkle when I sit at my desk for 8+ hours! It is about time some fashion posts come back to the blog :)

FEATURED ARTIST + SHOP OWNER: DEAR MOONBEAMS

 

blog | shop | twitter | pinterest

I have been following Megan's blog for quite some time now and actually won two of her giveaways (lucky me!). Most recently, I won this wonderful embroidery hoop from this giveaway! It is currently hanging up in my cubicle :) Anyway, I think her shop is absolutely adorable with embroidery hoops to make any house or space feel like home! Read along to learn more about her precious shop and her inspirations. Be sure to check out the READER'S COUPON at the bottom of the post! My readers will receive their own discount code :D So... what you waiting for? Read along and snag one of your own Dear Moonbeams embroidery hoops!

THE INTERVIEW

1. Introduce yourself and a little background info!
Hello! My name is Ms. Megan, I am 22 years old and I love reading, taking bike rides, baking up sweet treats, watching doctor who + pushing daisies, taking photos, playing with my cats, going thrifting, browsing book shops, taking long walks and drinking tea.

2. What inspired you to create an embroidery shop?

My dear friend AMY started embroidering as a hobby and she created the sweetest little hoop for me. I commented how talented she is at everything she does (she writes beautifully and takes the most enchanting photos!! I highly recommend checking out her BLOG!!) She told me how simple of a hobby it is to start and pointed me towards MOLLIE'S BLOG for tips and tricks for beginners and I just started from there!! I found more techniques online and I love watching movies + reading books for inspiration for the quotes that I stitch.

3. What other crafts/diy are you interested in?

I love scrapbooking, sewing (mostly by hand as I can't work a sewing machine!) making jewelry, painting, creating banners to hang up around the house and anything else I find on Pinterest! ;)

4. What's the story behind the shop name?

I wanted something to go with my blog name (Moonbeam Wishes) and I thought that the name Dear Moonbeams would fit right in. I love wishing on stars and gazing up at the moon and I thought the affectionate title seemed just right! I also kinda love that it looks like the beginning of a letter. :)

5. When you're not owning your own shop and blogging, where can we find you?

Usually curled up with a book with a cup of tea by my side and a cat or two underfoot.

6. What's your favorite part about owning your own shop?

The hours are great, the all you can drink tea is heavenly and I really rather like my boss! ;) I also love the freedom to go wherever the wind takes me and I can get as creative as I wish.

7. What's in the future for you and Moonbeam Wishes?

Hopefully great and wonderful things. :)

Here are a few of my faves:

 

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

READER'S CODE
You can also let your readers use the coupon code THE25THHOUR for 15% off in my EMBROIDERY SHOP from now till February! :)

Thank you Megan for the wonderful interview here at The 25th Hour. It has been a pleasure getting to know you :)

Featured Artist + Shop Owner: Katia of Solé

Welcome to another installment of the Featured Artist + Shop Owner series, where I hand pick artists that have inspired me through their art and businesses. Today I am honored to showcase Katia of Solé and blogger behind Kitty Snooks.

shop | blog | twitter | instagram

1. Tell us about the artist behind the shop! A little background about your favorite things, inspirations or quirks!

My name is Katia and I'm a goofball of an art student working towards my B.Des. in Illustration! Illustration may be what I'm aiming to do in my career, but my fascination with the creative world doesn't end there. I basically love... well.... everything that can be considered art - and I love participating in it too, even if just for fun! I'm talking music, literature, writing, fashion, film, photography, design, painting, sculpting, textile work, etc. etc. etc. etcetera. I also have an inexplicable affinity towards pugs and Star Wars (ok, it's not inexplicable - it's because they're freakin' awesome) I also really like to play Tetris battle, but I'm a sore loser and quit the application every time I lose. If I am not doing any of the aforementioned things, I can be found trying to convince myself to do some yogalates, working at a local patisserie serving up lattes and French buttery goodness or spending time with my room mate and friends and family.

2. How did Solé first start? What is the story behind the name?

As I mentioned in my last answer I have a keen interest in a lot of everything. So I guess Solé was an attempt at combining at least a few of these things and making them wearable. From this initial thought and after many prototypes and scrapped concepts, I finally landed on the designs I am now selling through Solé! I've also, as long as I can remember, been interested in selling my creations. When I was about 9 or 10 I made and sold friendship bracelets to my classmates to fundraise for MS. I made a good couple hundred of dollars and took many custom orders for colours and designs daily. I still remember my little 'orders' page at the back of my agenda! The name Solé comes from the french 'Soleil' meaning sun. Those of you who know me or read my blog know I have a sun tattoo, and that the sun is powerfully symbolic to me. (Do I sound like a crazy hippie artist yet? Yes? GOOD.) It has so much to do with happiness and the power of positivity, and I wanted a name for my business to be something that would remain important to me forever.

3. What is your inspiration for using wood as your media?

I love nature, and living in a big, concrete city, it's often overwhelming to have so little nature around me (though we do have a lot of parks here, but they're not exactly in my day-to-day commute or routine with school downtown.) I love working with wood as a medium in general (painting on, carving, building, etc.) and so finding a way to make it wearable was such an obvious decision to me. All my necklaces/rings/products are made of natural, untreated wood. I literally find a branch of the appropriate diameter, slice it into little medallions, and work from that. Don't worry, I'm not tearing branches off trees, I always use already-trimmed branches or ones off the ground. One of my sets of medallions is made from a branch I snatched when my mom's neighbour's silver maple tree died and they needed to take it down. Another was from my parents' backyard when they had to trim half of an Acadia tree that was growing into our house. It's fun to know exactly which tree and what story my materials are from.

4. You had wonderful jewelry pieces! Have you thought about making other kinds of products?

Perhaps... yes! I'm super interested in the world of up-cycled, eco-friendly fashion that helps reduce the amount of material waste we create every year. Did you know each individual wastes about 68 pounds of fabric/material every year? I don't know where this statistic is from (I assume North America as I heard it in a video regarding Value Village) but it's a scary one. I'd love to branch into that part of the fashion world and work on new products. I have a few ideas up my sleeve, and I definitely intend on working on them soon!

5. Having a handmade shop is a huge responsibility in itself, how do you balance that with work and school?

Yeesh. I don't even know. I guess I've made most of my Solé work enjoyable. I can take 'a break' from school work and make a few pieces. Or I can put together my necklaces while I'm watching a tv show in my spare time. I'm still getting the hang of it all, but I've been maintaining good grades in school, am working a new job, and keeping up with Solé somehow! So I must be doing something right. I keep myself as organized as possible with to-do lists, a binder with all my receipts and expenses, a spreadsheet with my spending vs. income, etc. etc.

6. What is your favorite part about owning your own company? Other tips for those who want to start?

The satisfaction that comes from seeing someone wear my product. It's honestly amazing. And I get all dorky about it still, like a friend walks in and is wearing it and I can't help but say "Oh hey, nice necklace ya got there." I wonder if I'll ever grow out of this habit, haha! I was also interviewed by a local university's news team for an article about student entrepreneurs - it was SO cool to read, and they referred to me by my last name, which was totally rad and professional feeling.

Tips for starters would be to not be discouraged by business starting out slow. The amount of blogger comments you get exclaiming their love for their product (for example) do not equal to sales, as much as we wish they did. And that's ok! It means you've generated interest, that's what matters. Same goes for craft shows. My first craft show was SOO not the right audience for my products, but I still got a lot of great feedback, met some fascinating people, and felt great about myself after! I like to look at it, for the moment, as an experience as opposed to a money maker. Though of course, it'd be nice to do both ;)

7. This is just the beginning for Solé! What can we expect in the future?

Wonderful wonderful things. I really hope to expand it bit by bit, and to really explore my options in terms of designs. I've kept it simple so far, but I definitely want to add to it and branch away from just jewellery (As I mentioned before!). I'm excited!

So guess what! As readers of Melissa's blog, you guys can get 10% off any Solé purchase you make in December, January, or February using the code MELISSA10. The best part? My prices are already current reduced for the holiday season, so if you're looking for a one of a kind present and are interested in handmade - I hope you'll take a peek at Solé!

Thank you for featuring me on your lovely lovely blog, Melissa!

Isn't she the absolute precious?
Thank you Katia for the interview and I can't wait to see what's in store for you and your art! Readers, be sure to snag some unique pieces for you or your friends. I am picking out mine as we speak! :) Check out more artists I have featured here.

Featured Artist + Shop | Lo of Printed Peaks

Do you remember this blog post where I wore that awesome statement necklace? Well, I haven't stopped wearing it since. Actually, I think it would be considered my most worn necklace since my tree/sapphire combo back in high school. Here's a little reminder if you've forgotten/were too lazy to click the old blog post link.

the necklace

Well, I have greatest honor of welcoming Lo, the artist behind Printed Peaks, where I got this amazing necklace from! I'm thrilled to have her on this little blog of mine. Okay, enough with my chitter chatter. Get to know Lo, she's a lot cooler :)

Shop | Blog | Twitter

1. Tell us a little bit about the artist behind Printed Peaks!
I'm Lo and I blog over at Little Somethings by Little Lo Hood. I absolutely love crafting and being outdoors. I also love libraries and soaking up as much knowledge about anything I can.

2. What's your inspiration for your shop?
I had always wanted a shop and still want a physical shop but I thought Etsy was a perfect place to start. I just had really no idea what I wanted to sell. I finally decided that I should make something that represented my home state of Vermont, which I had just moved away from and missed dearly. I decided to collaborate with my father and use wooden pieces cut in ways to abstractly represent Vermont mountains. Many of my original necklaces are named after mountains in Vermont.

3. What's your favorite part about owning your own business?
I love that I can take my time in handcrafting something that I know I can be proud of. It gives you the freedom to create items that you really want to create. You can experiment and see what works and what doesn't.

4. Any other passions and hobbies you have?
I love sewing, crocheting, soccer, biking, hiking, and just enjoying the outdoors.

5. What's up and coming for Printed Peaks?
Printed Peaks has moved more towards leather handcrafted items and I may start making little wallets and such for the shop. The wooden handcrafted pieces will certainly still be there and I think I will be experimenting with some different colors and stains.

6. What advice would you give for someone thinking about opening up their own handmade shop?
I would say that you should keep a notebook with you always. It is so important to brand your store appropriately right down to the packaging. It is also important to sell something that is unique and that you won't grow tired of making or working on. Don't be discouraged if you don't sell out in a day either, there are a lot of sellers on Etsy and out in the world, just keep at it!

I feel like Lo and I would be great friends, in real life. I mean, she makes jewelry inspired by mountains and I love my mountains. Be sure to check out her shop! I've got my eyes on this baby and oooh this one! I'm excited for those leather made goods! Thank you Lo for droppin' by!

EDIT + GOOD NEWS! -- March 20, 2012

Because it's Lo's birthday today, she is offering everyone 44% OFF any item in her shop! Here's the info straight from her blog!

"For the rest of this month I will be offering 44% off in my store, Printed Peaks. I added the date and my years of age if you were wondering about the funny number. Enter "SPRINGBIRTHDAY44" during check out and one of my pretties will be on its way to your front door. The first 3 purchases will get an extra gift as well." 

Guest post with Kitty Snooks | "What inspires you?"

Here is another installment of "What inspires you?" where I asked my blogging friends to answer this question and share with my readers. You can see all the posts here. Today let's welcome Katia from Kitty Snooks! We met through the small world project last year and am so glad we have stayed such great blogging friends. She is an artist of all sorts and I just can't get enough of her posts. Be sure to check out her blog asap!

I'm so happy that Melissa asked me to write a guest post, and about inspiration of all things!! These past few weeks I have gone through a creative, inspired surge and it has been pretty gosh darned fun. I'm an arts student studying Illustration, so for me, staying inspired enough to do my projects (some of which are a bore, until I find a way to make it fun for myself!) is super important. I probably couldn't explain how this came to be, but somehow my eyes have recently been opened to even more beauty in every single thing around me.

Tea bag tags? Some have the most beautiful designs. Those two annoying words they make you type for word verifications? The potential for great imagery! The way shredded cheese looks when it's half melted on top of your soup? First of all, YUM. And second of all, super pretty! Here's a few photos from my past week that go hand in hand with how I get inspired.

Patterns are exciting, and beautiful, and I love incorporating them in my artwork. Patterns are also great for fashion, and photography, or anything else you might be interested in! Take a look around you, look at an every day object and see if you can make out a pattern! This stove-top (though in need of a bit of a scrub!) has the coolest geometric pattern that is really graphic and I think would make a great textile. Who woulda thunk it?

Texture is just as important as pattern to me, and often can be created in art by repeating patterns! Look at the three differing textures in this milkweed pod. How beautiful are they? Nature has the best textures around and I love trying to imitate them in my drawings. Tree bark, flower petals, a dried up leaf, animal fur, there's so much to be inspired from!

And of course, just having your eyes open for beautiful coincidences. Two or three wood-like textures put together? Things that are wonderfully shaped, the light that comes through your window at sunset and makes everything golden. Everything has the potential for beauty and to be inspiring, you just have to take a second to sit back and see it.

So take photographs of the things that are strangely, strikingly beautiful. Even if it is just a texture, or a pattern. These aren't meant to be photos for the sake of photography, sometimes it's great to just capture colours you love or something you can look back on later to inspire you. Don't want to lug around your camera? Take a mental picture, because some little beautiful things are worth remembering. :) 

xo Katia

Such a beautiful post Katia. Finding inspiration in the everyday, little things in life. You just can't beat it. Thank you for stopping by this little blog and urging us to find inspiration where you wouldn't expect it. That milkweed pod is beautiful! I've never seen one before :)

So I ask my readers, what inspires you?
If you'd love to do a guest post, email me! m.ashleyvega@gmail.com.
I'd love to work with you :)

Guest post with As Luck Would Have It | What inspires you?

Recently, I've asked several of my blogging friends, "What inspires you?" In a world of deadlines, papers, group assignments, textbooks, dates with the library, sleepless nights, lots of naps, caffeine, COLLEGE, I find a lack of inspiration at times. I never want to feel uninspired, ever and I hope my readers are constantly inspired by something everyday whether its from someone's outfit, a lecture, a blowing leaf or Pinterest. That is my goal of this blog - that you leave inspired. I'll leave it to my blogging friends to share with you what inspires them. Let me know if you'd like to do a "What inspires you?" blog post! Without further adieu...

Hey guys! I'm Kristin and I am the girl behind As Luck Would Have It. I was beyond honored when Melissa asked if I would be a part of this guest post series with some of her favorite bloggers and share what inspires me - not to mention excited because taking the time to think about my favorite things and being inspired is just plain fun. The only truly difficult part was where to start! I feel inspired by so many things, but the first thing that came to mind was NATURE. I love to be outdoors and hiking a mountain trail or hopping over waves as I walk along the shore are some of my very favorite things. So here's where the fun inspiration part comes in:

I want to be able to feel the sense of peace and quiet energy that I have when I'm outdoors on the days that I have to be indoors. We spend most of our lives in our homes, right? We might as well make them our happy places. I'm starting to get pretty excited about moving into a new apartment when I make my cross-country move to start grad school in the fall and one of the best parts about moving (if you ask me) is having a whole new, fresh space to make your own. In an effort to bring nature into my every day - even those days that I'm hunched over a desk for hours or what have you - I've been gathering pictures of some seriously beautiful landscapes and thinking about how I can bring a similar feeling into my new living space. To show you what I mean, I paired up a few of those landscape photos along with some great interiors that I think really capture their feeling without being too literal in their interpretation. Because let's face it...there are very few of us that would actually enjoy having a forest in our bedroom. Take a look!

What do you think? Would you be happy calling these nature-infused spaces home? I know I would. Especially that top bedroom photo...heaven.

Thanks so much, Melissa and all of you, for letting me share. When you have a second, drop by over here and say hello - I'd love to have you!

________________________

Thank you Kristin for stopping by and sharing with us your inspiration for your new home and incorporating nature :) There is nothing like a serene room with a touch of nature.

Guest post with Tongue Tied in Awe | What inspires you?

Recently, I've asked several of my blogging friends, "What inspires you?" In a world of deadlines, papers, group assignments, textbooks, dates with the library, sleepless nights, lots of naps, caffeine, COLLEGE, I find a lack of inspiration at times. I never want to feel uninspired, ever and I hope my readers are constantly inspired by something everyday whether its from someone's outfit, a lecture, a blowing leaf or Pinterest. That is my goal of this blog, that you leave inspired. I'll leave it to my blogging friends to share with you what inspires them. Let me know if you'd like to do a "What inspires you?" blog post!

Here is Danielle from Tongue Tied in Awe. I am constantly inspired by her posts and her wonderful design. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello!

Ciao bella! I'm Danielle from Tongue Tied in Awe, and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I get a huge amount of my inspiration from Pinterest. Now we don't want to start out our friendship like that, do we? ;) For me, Pinterest is a never ending source of beautiful photos, inspiring words, and design goodies. I probably spend way too much time on there, but it is so hard to resist. For you today, I have curated some of my current favourite pins. If you would like to see more, feel free to hop on over and take a glance at my boards here.

I am drawn to photos for a variety of reasons, but what usually catches my eye first is composition and subject matter. Merely changing those can alter a photo completely. I also tend to be drawn to photos that leave a little mystery. I love to try to guess what they were trying to portray - a lot of my ideas come from this process.

So, my friends, what keeps you inspired? I'd love to know. xo, Danielle

*All photos from Pinterest

Guest Post: Melissa from My Soul is the Sky

Hi, I'm Melissa from My Soul is the Sky. I was recently asked by Melissa, "What inspires you?" 

I find inspiration in all things cozy, comfortable, and with a hint of chic.

I love seeking out and finding new people, places, and things so I love to browse tumblr, pinterest, and blogs. I find a lot of my inspiration in beautiful pictures and always want want to share it with others.

I feel very lucky to live in a time where things are available from around the world with a simple click of a button. It's easy to explore and discover what beautiful things are out there besides what's just directly around me. It helps me know that there are other people out there with my similar interests. I guess the things that inspire me most are simply the beautiful people and places in this world.

Feeling inspired? Come check out my blog for more (:

Thank you Melissa for sharing :) Her blog is amazing filled with hair tutorials, fashion, everything beauty and overall cuteness! Not only does she have a fabulous name ;) but she is an absolute sweetheart. Be sure to check out her blog for more!

ALSO! If you haven't entered this AWESOME giveaway from Elgie Designs, you should check it out. Win a pair of crochet earrings and a crochet necklace? You lucky, lucky dog! Giveaway ends this Friday!

a little award: Liebster Blog

I've seen this award floating around the blogging world and I am happy that Kirsten from whiskey.tango.foxtrot decided to bless me with this award! The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming blogs who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

Not only am I supporter or up and coming blogs, but I love to share with others my favorite ones! It's good to support bloggers that are trying to find their little niche in this blogging world. At times its hard because you compare yourself to those with 343454564567 followers, but it's never about numbers :] Ever. So all of you remember that.

How does it work?
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too!

So thank you again to Kirsten for this lovely blog award! I want to pass it along to a handful of bloggers that I've loved and adored for quite a while now. I try to spread the love to bloggers I haven't awarded yet and instead of just naming yet, I want to share a little description of why.

1. Melissa from My Soul in the Sky

Not only does she have a rockin' name *wink*, she is stylish, has great hair tutorials, takes beautiful pictures, is ultra sweet and has great recipes. I think I ran across her blog via Gentri (man, she comes up a lot in my posts, hehe) and I'm so happy I did! I always look forward to what she's posting next because she's just ultra stylish and adorable. Oh, and her husband and her are the absolute cutest. Okay, I'll stop being like a complete stalker now. So glad I have met you girl! Seriously. Let's be blogging friends forever!

2. Lauren from Tastes Like Love

Lauren is SUPER sweet! We're sponsors for one another, so it feels kind of nice to showcase her a little on my blog :) She has a great post series on her blog called "Start your week off with..." that features posts from other bloggers she recommends. (She has showcased me a couple of times here and here . I told you she was sweet!) She has does she pretty sweet illustrations. I want one of me so bad! (hint, hint) Just kidding :) But you should check out her blog because it's just crazy if you don't.

3. LauraJane from Little Miss LJ

I am SUPER lucky to have met this wonderful lady through packpage pals. You can see what we gave each other here. She's was the perfect person to exchange packages with :) I got some sa-weet things from California! Her blog is filled with make-up tutorials, cute outfits, YUMMY food and just overall cuteness. I wish I could meet her in real life. I feel like we would be the bestestest friends! I'm going to hire her one day to do my make-up and bake me yummy stuff on the daily :) Can't wait to meet you in person! California, here I come!

4. Megan from ASULike It

Not only do I know Megan in real life so I know that she's just a fabulous person, the concept behind her blog ASULike It is brilliant! She captures the fashion of men and women on the campus of our school, Appalachian State University, through her lens. It's wonderful because you get to see a bit of real life college fashion on the streets of Boone. She even featured me once here and I feel so dang honored! Megan however is one of the most fashionable people I know! I'm going to feature her on here one day because she's also a great model ;) Check out her blog now!

5. Amber from The Owl's Den

She's crafty, cute, an entrepreneur and knows how to find some great vintage things! Seriously. I would totally want her to come with me thrifting because she finds the best stuff. She also has a cute etsy store named Craft'n Bettie that's affordable, cute and fun! I've had my eyes on a few things. I want her to bring back the glasses necklace! (Hint, hint amber!) Anyway, I'm glad the blogging world has brought us together! I hope your etsy shop has extreme success and we can go thrifting together!

There you have it kids! The Liebster award. I went into a little more detail than most, but I just wanted to feature some great bloggers :) Hope you check them out and pass along the award (if you want to). Love you all!

PS: Just entered this lovely giveaway by Miss Indie. If you love camera's you'll love this.
You should too. Maybe not, because I want to win. Kidding :)