This & That - A Few Creations

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! Trying to cross off lots on the to-do list like stitching up some birthday gifts, finishing a chalk paint dresser makeover, and hanging up the Halloween decorations. But, I thought I'd stop in with a few pics of some custom beauties I created this month! 

{oh, and it's almost time to randomly select my monthly newsletter winner of $40 shop credit, so if you haven't signed up yet, this is the perfect time! Sign up here}

Printable Download - Turning Mistakes Into Glorious Moments to Shine

{woo hoo, printable wisdom!}

I've made lots of mistakes lately. Blame it on back to school craziness or just the usual chaos that comes with two little boys. Maybe it's the growing business or my body finally feeling older (what the what?!)....but I've missed an appointment here, late with a birthday there, and even mixed up an order (thankfully catching it just in time to spend half the night redoing it.)  

In these moments of messiness, I'm trying to remind myself of the bit of wisdom above - it's all about how we handle it. Owning up to it, fixing it, and making it better. I'm sharing my thoughts on all this over at Oh My Handmade Goodness, and I'd love to see you there - pop over & say hello. 

ANNNNND..... I thought (hoped!) maybe I'm not the only one out there flubbing things up now and then, so I made this into a (8 x11) printable to hang up anywhere you need a reminder that it's all in how we respond that really matters. 

{click here to download} 

Now, onward to a fabulous weekend everyone! 


{psst. on a download & print kick? check out my printable holiday rush to-do list for shops}

Crafty Project: Halloween Pals Tutorial

Introducing our charming Halloween crew! We've got owls, bats, goblins, and a few monsters. 

Made from cardboard rolls these were super easy & fun.  I have a feeling we're going to keep adding to our collection right through the season... They are just too cute to stop! 

How to make them? Cinchy. Take cardboard rolls from toilet paper or paper towels, trim to various sizes and fold in the top. Glue in place and then paint!  We added a few goggly eyes, lips, and stickers for Jack and Luke. 

last week, I shared this little preview:

More Halloween craft tutorials on my round up post & Pinterest boards! 

Chevron Goodness - New Fabric Prints Coming Soon

Been working on some prints I'm just over the moon in love with; modern florals mixed with some geometrics, but you know, I still love some good chevron. I whipped up these beauties with a bit of Pantone 2013 inspiration along with my gray obsession. Thinking these will make gorgeous wedding clutches & cosmetic bags but also a burst of happy for some throw pillows for our new couch. 

I'll have these stocked in my Spoonflower shop soon...along with a little giveaway too perhaps ;) Stay tuned!  

Holiday Rush Checklist - Printable List For Your Shop

You know I love my lists.

I've got lists about lists. I add things just to cross them off my list. But hey, whatever works right? And I know I'm not alone in this ;) 

Sooo...I've created a checklist we can use for our shops to help us prepare for the holiday rush.  A little bit of organization to keep us sane and hopefully boost our success a bit too.  So, print it out, pass it on, and let's get going!  

{click here to download and print}

Happy Monday everyone! 

(A few more thoughts on packaging for the holidays here.) 

Creative Spaces - Eamylove

Hello! So happy to share the creative space from Amy of Eamylove - she's so sweet and the maker behind really lovely bags and home goods.  I really appreciate how she embraces the space she has, her dining room (I think this is where many sewers are, or at least start out!),  and works to keep it organized and functional.

Look at these perfectly perfect stitches she creates! In addition to patterns offered in her shop, she's also got a wonderful machine binding tutorial that I am definitely going to try. 

Check out & admire more creative spaces on my Pinterest board.  Have a room to share? Submit photos to allisa {dot} jacobs {at} gmail.com 

This & That

Whew. It's somehow been a really long fast week. How is that possible? We're still adjusting to back to preschool mode and little Luke is frumpy grumpy. Maybe it's a phase? I don't know but for being one year-old he's sure hard to please ;) There's been ridiculous amounts of coffee & chocolate consumed this week!

A few snapshots of the week:

Early morning walk to the pond by our home, definitely a highlight and moment of relaxation. We were hoping to see the crane we spotted last week, but will have to keep checking! 

Trip to Crate & Barrel. Belatedly celebrating my birthday with one of my best friends. Oh look, there's me! 

Round of checkbook covers headed out to some of the winners from The Small Things Blog giveaway awhile back. I love seeing things stacked in piles, don't you? 

 Craft project in the works.  Jack & I are envisioning a troop of owls, bats, and otherwise charming monsters for Halloween decorations. (and yep, those would be cardboard rolls!) 

A little peek at an amazing handmade table I commissioned a local student to make. He creates fantastic wood pieces and uses the profit towards college tuition.  With that kind of story, I'm about ready to sign him up to furnish the entire house! 

Hope everyone had a lovely week! 

The Power of Saying No

Hello! Today I'm over at Noisette Academy sharing my businessy thoughts on saying no. I'm guessing you might be with me on this.  It's hard to say no. As creatives we tend to pursue lots of projects, agree to custom orders, or  take on all customers who come our way.  We might even feel guilty if we don't.  But you know,  there is a lot of strength and savvy in knowing when to say no. Maybe it's passing on an order or deciding you're not the best match for a particular client.  Saying no to all the right things can open up the opportunities that we want (need!) to say yes to!  It's what's best for our sanity, our brands, and our creativity. 

I'd really love to hear your thoughts & struggles with this topic - pop over to Noisette Academy (it's an amazingly light & beautiful & wisdom-filled space) and say hello - share what you think about saying no. 

Leaps and Bounds

I took a huge leap today, something way beyond any comfort zone I know. I was nervous and doubtful (of myself) and I probably fumbled my words a bit.  But, I'm happy to say, I also did not fall on my face. It felt amazing to put myself out there...to just see what happens. Maybe nothing, maybe everything.  En route to my jumping off place (aka a coffee shop), I remembered this little gem of wisdom.  Nothing like the inspiration of Christopher Robin just when you need it :)  

Hope everyone has a lovely, leap-filled day! xo

{image from the gloriously talented molly jacques}

Finders Keepers - Vintages Frames

Love me a good yard sale. This summer, we sort of made it a family adventure; a search for treasures to fill our new home. And we found some amazing pieces; a glorious distressed wood mirror, vintage books,  vases (of which I added my own color),  and a lovely entry table. Plus, I discovered a bounty of frames...some needed a makeover & some will be perfect for family portraits. But I've also begun collecting random, vintagey frames and am envisioning a large collection displayed together. 

I've taken pics of a few:

These beauties were all from one church rummage sale, the needlepoint is charming though I may find another purpose for the stitching and use the frames elsewhere. We'll see. 

One of my favorite frames, the details are so lovely!

 Stitching close ups.  I think this dame would be sweet in a brighter, more modern frame. 

Thinking of spray painting this one actually. A bright, bold color.

This piece is actually a super large frame without the backing, but I know it will be amazing with a little bit of touching up. 

Scooped up this from my friend's parent's home as they looked to downsize. I've picked up some Graphite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and am seeing something amazing (hopefully, crossing fingers here) soon- looking to give it new life!

{if you've got any chalk paint tips, I'd love to hear them. I can't wait to dig in & get painting!} 

Embroidery Goodness- Tutorial Round -Up and Adorable Gift

Inspired by this super sweet birthday gift one of my best friend's in the world stitched up for me, I decided to round up some embroidery goodness! I was a late learner to embroidery (she's the one who taught me in fact!), but I remember falling in love with just how simple it is. Truly needle + thread. And while practice makes perfect when you're stitching, it's certainly an easy thing to start. I've put together these simple projects along with a little tutorial & embroidery thread keeper. 

1. old time bird drawings - martha stewart (you must checkout the actual download!)

2. thread cards - wild olive

3. sewing cards for kids - handmade charlotte

4. connect the dots pillows - the purl bee

5. embroidery stitch collection & tutorial - martha stewart

6. pocket pillows - goody goody 

The embroidered bags I offer in my shop have become such a favorite and I think I know why...it's such a treasure to think that someone spent all that time stitching just for *you* - know what I mean? 

Speaking of birthdays, thank you everyone for all the happy wishes & kind comments on my blogging confessions last week. I really appreciated hearing your thoughts! 

{want more crafty goodness? check out my pinterest board!}

Creatives Spaces - Sweet Sapling

Our little place in the world. Where we dream, create, and make things happen. I'm excited to start off this series with Christina from the super adorable Sweet Sapling. Her space shines with bursts of color and organization to envy! 

What a charming space she's created. I especially love the Mason Jars with buttons.
Organization is my downfall...it's a constant battle, but I really appreciate the tips she's shared in her post Oh to be organized - 5 easy steps to organizing.  A bit of inspiration for the rest of us! 

Check out & admire more creative spaces on my Pinterest board.  Have a room to share? Submit photos to allisa {dot} jacobs {at} gmail.com 

For the Love of Blogging

source unknown

I'll be the first to admit, sometimes I struggle with this blog thing. I love it, but I also feel guilty/uncertain/pressured/etc....   Mostly, I think I jinx myself with the idea that every single post has to be amazingly creatively awesome. Like wow. You know, with incredible photography and deep insights. But, really, some of my most rewarding posts have been the ones I just sit down and write, like my confession that I have tons of projects just waiting to be completed  or when I shared a bit about our baby's health issues.   

I'm also nervous about sharing too much. Partly because I'm kind of a private person by nature, I love to chat & meet new people, but I also closely guard things I treasure. Plus- I think too much and worry folks will read & think, "why the hell is she telling us that?"

When I first started this blog I had no idea what to do with it. I though I'd share celebrations & such, but c'mon Better House & Gardens features don't happen every month. Besides, I like to celebrate the little things. So, that's what I'm doing here, I guess. Sharing my creative journey, the ups & downs, and all the things I find worthy, like what I've made and leaps of faith. 

On the practical side, I've also been focused on making this space more meaningful for others who might visit. I've spruced things up a bit, made it easier to receive posts in your inbox (see the little box over there on the right?) and am aiming to let go of the battle and just share more of my journey.  I think my leap into fabric design pushed me in other areas too, including this one.  And since I'm always looking for fancy checklists and actionable advice, I bookmarked the post, 8 Tips for Great Blogging from Alt Design. It's a treasure trove of awesome advice and ideas to make improvements...today. For blogging inspiration and business advice check out the new Alt blog.  They are blog mavens after all. 

Soooo.....onward we go, and I'm so happy you're here to enjoy the ride together! 

flourish cafe

Do you have blog struggles too? I'd really love hearing & chatting about them too. Let's talk below, and  of course, if you've got successes, by all means share those too! xo

Color Lovin' - Pantone Spring 2013 Color Report

Gotta love this time of year; back to school, crisp mornings, and Pantone's color report! 

Definitely building upon this year's Tangerine Tango - I adore the Nectarine. Also love the Monaco and Lemon Zest.  Looks like gray is sort of blending into colors a bit with the Jade, Violet, and Dusk Blue. Hmmm, not sure how I feel about that. 

What's your favorite? How do you see yourself wearing it? 

I also love how I inadvertently tapped into some of these colors with my Carlsbad fabrics...

Can you see the nectarine, dusk, linen, and tender shoots?!  Thank you again for all the kind words with my designs, already planning my next giveaway! 

xo