Happy Easter!

Hello & Happy Easter! Hope everyone had a lovely day, here's a few little peeks into our celebrations....

{psst. be sure to check back tomorrow for a really fun little contest...}

my little bunnies...

And this year, I wrapped up their baskets in a pillowcase I stitched up for each of them. Little cutie animals for Luke & pirates for Jack. 

xoxo! 

Pretty Paper Flower Tutorials

Spring is here & as much as I love fresh cut wildflowers around our home, with two little boys playing pirates and superheroes, it's just not the best idea. So, I've set out to create paper flowers instead. I've looked around and found these four tutorials that are not only gorgeous but look easy(ish) to make! I'm also thinking bouquets of these beauties would make pretty Mother's day gifts....

happy spring! 

Paper Anemone by Ellinee, Glittery Paper Flowers via Wedding Chicks, White Peony from DIY Wedding, Spring Flowers by Bliss

{photo credit the respective sites}

Color Theory - Guide To Creating Color Palettes

{Hello! Thrilled to have Erin from Sew at Home Mummy back with us today to share more color inspiration tips. Earlier this month she shared Inspiration Board, and showcased a gorgeous color-of-the-year inspired collection of emerald goodness. She's here again today sharing more color palette tools & ideas and why quilters/sewers/designers might want to take hold of these opportunities to explore colors. She inspired me to create this little graphic above with some of her chosen hues...}

Color Palettes

More and more now I’m relying on creating color palettes as a jumping-off point for my sewing projects, especially given the fact I’m starting to use more and more solids – which, for me, is more difficult to pair with one another given that you don’t have a patterned fabric as a starting point or reference.

My favorite online tool for creating a complete color palette is called www.colourlovers.com. 

The user can upload an image and create a color palette by selecting colors within the photo. You can then save the customized color palette, and download the image to your desktop for further use. This app is a lot of fun to play with – upload any photo and have an amazing inspirational palette in minutes.

Another favorite online color palette tool is from Design Seeds. Adjust an RGB scale and palettes are automatically brought up for you. You can also search by themes such as seasons, plant life, and vintage categories (to name a few).

I played with the RGB scale a bit to generate an emerald search and here’s the palette the site came up with for me:

I thought it would be fun to create and share a collection of fabrics with you based around the color ‘emerald’, and using one of these color palette building tools as inspiration. I chose to go with the ColourLovers palette I created as a starting point, and here’s what I came up with:

Palette: 

Curated Bundle: 

From top left: Notting Hill Tartan (Joel Dewberry); Simply Color Lime Ombre (V and Co.); Flea Market Fancy Medallion (Denyse Schmidt); Kona Daffodil; Mod Prints Maze in Lagoon (Michael Miller); Kona Willow; Oval Elements in Emerald Coast (Pat Bravo); Kona Everglade; Lavinia – Honore in Mint (Michael Miller)

Now – what about a bundle combining both inspirational palettes, in all solids? 

From top left: Kona Willow (Robert Kaufman), Riley Blake Jade (Riley Blake Designs), Kona Daffodil (RK), Kona Coffee (RK), Kona Mulberry (RK), Kona Petunia (RK), Riley Blake Barn Door (RBD), Bella Blush (moda), Kona Woodrose (RK)

As the modern quilting movement gains increasing popularity, and we start working with solids more exclusively, quilters may need to become more cognisant of new trends in color and in how to apply those trends to the composition of their quilts. The nature of working with more solids or solids as a primary fabric within our quilts means we don’t always have that ‘focal’ patterned fabric we used as a ‘jumping off’ point – the fabric we paired all other secondary pieces with. Because of this, as we work with simpler “basics” fabrics such as solids the color pairing and matching will fall more in our own hands rather than in the fabric designer’s of patterned fabrics, as we the quilter take the visionary role from color selection, fabric pairings through to quilt composition.

Using trends such as the Color of the Year in conjunction with color palette tools will no doubt make for some very modern quilting, with almost unlimited possibilities.

Erin Davis

Sew at Home Mummy

-------> Thank you for welcoming Erin! We'd love to hear your thoughts about these color tools and ideas.

Easter Projects and Tutorials

stitched egg card tutorial

Hello & happy Monday! Today, I'm dusting off the archives and sharing some Easter projects from year's past. With this week being spring break, we're planning on some crafty time this week for sure, I've got a few ideas lined up on my Pinterest craft board for kids, but I know these cupcakes are on the list for sure ------->

easter cupcakes (jelly bean) eggs in the (coconut) grass!

Easter Basket (<- a="" all="" basket="" can="" font="" long="" nbsp="" that="" tutorial="" use="" year="" you="">

What's on your crafty list this week? Thanks for all the tips & support from my post last week about my little guy refusing to nap & escaping from his crib, I'm still adjusting & trying not to freak out, but we'll see! 

xo

Business Bits: Cheerleaders & Truth Tellers

courtesy bellalulu

Late last year I had the opportunity to be part of a fantastic event here in Portland; the Mother of Reinvention conference for female entrepreneurs. As a panelist, the topic totally captivated me; the notion that as women, we constantly reinvent ourselves; as wives, mothers, friends, or as entrepreneurs. We may find ourselves ‘rebranding’ who we are as we enter different phases, drawing upon our resources to pursue our values and career paths.

Personally, I know I’ve experienced this; transitioning from a high school special education teacher to Etsy shop owner when my first son was born. I so wanted to be home with him, I knew I needed to reinvent myself to do something different. These transitions can be difficult and messy.  We really benefit from support of those around us. Sometimes we have that already in place, but often times not. There’s a lot of talk about ‘finding our tribe,’ that is, creating a sense of community as we journey through life. Here, I’d like to chat a bit about who we need in our tribes.

For so long, my creative community consisted of amazingly supportive and positive women (along with my husband for good measure). These folks, my cheerleaders, gave me confidence and celebrated my successes.

But, I’ve discovered that in addition to these ever-crucial cheerleaders, we need truth-tellers too.  Not to say our spirited friends aren’t honest with us, but we need people who don’t have a stake in the results of our success. Credible people who can share feedback, ask those deep, difficult questions, and offer honest to goodness critiques of our work. These truth tellers are rare gems-- we’re not looking for opinionated Debbie Downers, but an ally to treasure. These impartial people can push us farther than we thought possible and pose questions to steer us in new, better directions.  During my recent venture into textile design, I’ve needed both; the cheerleaders to celebrate my achievements along with the truth-tellers to call for improvements.  

I’m so incredibly grateful for my tribe (you!), the cheerleaders and truth tellers alike :) Together, you’ve accelerated my business growth and made the day-to-day so much more meaningful.

I’d really love to hear more about your creative community and who motivates you towards new, better horizons.

Hello, Spring!

via sandavasut

Hey there! Just coming out of the fog of the last week now. It's been days of coffee + chocolate + sneaking bits of sleep + a whole lot of patience. 

Our little Luke learned how to climb out of his crib- with incredible timing, on daylight savings day. He's launched himself out twice & never looked back... all this new found freedom! He's so much different than Jack, our first. Where Jack is focused and contemplative and heeds directions almost to a fault, Luke is a clever & wily free spirit. This means of course, he doesn't just climb out of his crib...but he sneaks into the playroom or scatters the baby wipes around the nursery. It means nap time, which up until now has meant two hours of mom's work time, has been his ultimate party.  

We've since transitioned him into a toddler bed, but I still can't sleep a wink and have been racking my brain trying to identify every possible item or scenario he might find the least bit interesting. Pretty much anything we'd not want him to do. 

All this coupled with daylight savings & our childcare unavailable three days in a row....that's where the coffee & chocolate come in :) 

Ok, enough of the complaining - but I am accepting any & all pieces of parenting advice!   Onto happier notes - spring is here & the flowers are blooming, we've got a boy heading into kindergarten, a very busy shop, & a lot to be thankful for! 

Happy spring everyone! 

Finding Inspiration

Loving this....and all it makes me think about & be glad for. 


Thanks to Whitney English for designing this graphic & writing such a tremendously beautiful and inspiring post. Just what I needed this week. 

xo, 
allisa

Feeling Stuck? Try This Rut-Busting Tool Kit

Hello! I'm Ashley Pahl - the writer behind She Makes A Home and Etsy shop owner at Ashley Pahl Paper Goods. Since I've been selling online since 2007, I am no stranger to ruts. They bring uncertainty; feelings of overwhelm; a lack of motivation or inspiration - in indie business, they happen to us all. The responsibility of being both shop owner and creative powerhouse can cause even the most accomplished entrepreneur to feel down sometimes.  So: what does one do when they feel stuck in a job that they've created for themselves? 

image credit small talk studio

Step one: identify the cause of the rut

• Are you feeling overwhelmed? Too many sales, too many inquiries, and not enough time in the day?
• Or are you feeling underwhelmed? Stagnant sales, stale ideas, or a lack of growth since last year?
• Perhaps your muse has disappeared. Plenty of sales, plenty of time, but no new ideas. Inspiration is fleeting.

Step two: Take action...  Feeling overwhelmed by incoming sales + everything else on your plate? Scale back: - Don't accept custom orders.  - Don't offer items for sale that aren't made yet.   - Or, raise your prices: it might cause you receive fewer sales, while still bringing in the same amount of money, or more! Raising prices is actually useful when you're feeling underwhelmed as well. Sometimes when deliberating between two items, a customer will actually choose the higher-priced of the two; after all, handmade is more about quality, and less about the "best deal". A higher price tag raises the perceived value, and could make your products more enticing. When inspiration is gone, try doing something creative... but nothing that is related to your business. Take a class in watercolor painting; buy some dance DVDs. Get out in nature and take some landscape photos. Try some new baking recipes. Do anything to get your creative juices flowing again.  Alternatively, don't take action at all   If you're feeling overwhelmed, give in to your rut - that has always been my philosophy. Between running a business for almost six years and trying to keep up with two toddlers, I can say that I've had my fair share of ruts. Sometimes, you just have to order a pizza and turn on Netflix; sit down with a moleskine and journal every thought you have; curl up with a new book for five nights in a row. Let your mind rest and be free.  My favorite indie business guru, Danielle LaPorte, believes that chaos and uncertainty often precedes newer and bigger ideas:

"The beauty of stopping is that things loosen — sometimes to the point of becoming unhinged. And unhinged is very, very disconcerting. And essential. Coming unhinged is the passage way to innovation. Keep the faith and let yourself go crazy. I’ve been stuck, and nuts, and saved enough times to know that clarity always succeeds confusion. Spring in certain. It’s not the uncertainty that’s frightening, it’s not knowing how long the uncertainty will last."

Step Three: question if it's time to quit If your heart is still in it, never stop; don't give up too easily. We all get into these funks, and that's just what they are: funks. It doesn't always mean you're on the wrong path. There will be times when you question your dreams, but if the passion is still there - keep working at it.  On the other hand, if your work brings more dread than happiness, or more anxiety than excitement, it may be time to question your endeavor. When the passion is gone - that's when it might be time to uncover a new dream. 



{Thank you Ashley for sharing your wisdom & strategies! I know that many of us can relate to feeling like we're in a creative rut & just need a few ways to bust out. Love having you here!}

Color Me Happy - Navy + Citron

courtesy: calico

Things I love:

chocolate + almonds
weekend trips away
early mornings
campfires
wide open spaces
yard sale discoveries


and sipping coffee while browsing fabric. 

Seriously. I love this. 

A little too much probably. But luckily, this past week was time to reorder a few supplies which meant I *had* to source some new fabrics...and dream up some new prints of my own :) 

Along the way, I found these gorgeous layouts at Calico. This navy + citron palettes is one of my favorites. Adore. 

What color combinations are making you happy?

Want more color goodness? Check out my Color Me Happy pinterest board!

Emerald At Home - Fresh Finds for the Weekend

Hello & happy weekend! We've got sunny skies here in Portland and it definitely feels like spring. I love this time of year ... the chance for a fresh start. Been working on a few projects around the house and am in the mood to spruce things up around here! Wanted to share a few finds I discovered, and in the spirit of the pantone, they're all in tones of emerald (check out the emerald color inspiration board guest post from this week too). 

Oh, and let me say, I really appreciate all the wonderful words & comments from my post earlier this week sharing why I make. And I love hearing what drives you all as well :) 

I am officially in love with all of the shops featured above - it's talent galore! 

Bowl by Studio Lorier, Color Block Pillow by Jillian Rene Decor, Watercolor Print by Louise Art Studio, Tea Towels by Lauren Alison

Why I Make

Making.

After leaving teaching to stay home with my boys and give this whole creative business thing a go, I've answered lots of questions. Mostly to other moms who think I'm crazy to wake before the crack of dawn (and it probably is crazy...) to create and build this thing. Like why, as in why in the world would you choose this?  Hobby? Misplaced dream? Desperation? 

And you know, there are two answers. The first is easy. It's the drive instilled in me from a family of farmers & constructions workers to get up early and make things happen. Build it, grow it, work it. 

But the second is a little more difficult. I only first uttered it to my best friend a few months ago. And once the words came out of my mouth I almost wanted to grab them and stuff them right back in. Embarrassing maybe, but soul baring definitely. 

I make because I want to. I need to. 

Making is my therapy. 

It's my way of letting go & holding on. It's my own daily mini achievement, in a life early on where there were few. When I first learned to sew, it seemed like magic. Beyond the bungled stitches and mismatched seams, there it was - something that came from me. Like a little mark. A statement. And then, I gave it away and that felt even more incredible. And I went on, throughout high school and the surprise of college, making with fabric, wood, words... all because I needed to. 

Taking these scraps and putting them together in a way where there was beauty & usefulness seemed to me like an awfully powerful metaphor for my life. 

Color Study: Emerald - Guest Post

{Hello! So excited to have Erin from Sew At Home Mummy here to share her a bit of background about Pantone's color of the year, Emerald, along with a super cool inspiration site.  Erin is so sweet & chock full of information and ideas, she'll be back in a few weeks to share even more color goodness. Thank you so much for welcoming her here today!} 

You’ve probably heard a lot of buzz about the color ‘emerald’ and how this year, it’s the color of the year. 

Who comes up with the color every year? Who makes that all important decision which will set the tone (mind the pun) for the interior design, beauty, and fashion industries? And how and why do ‘they’ choose what color will be the go-to for the year?

The answer? The company ‘Pantone’.

Pantone has been the world’s color authority for almost 50 years, providing products and services to design professionals such as custom colors, swatches, chips, trend forecasts, software, color measurement systems and more. The company’s color swatches have become the standard reference guide, allowing designers to "color match" specific colors when a design enters production stage, regardless of the equipment used to produce the color.

But - how do they decide which color will be the “it” color for any given year?

Pantone takes their influences on their decision for Color of the Year from many sources – entertainment, films in production, art collections, sports events, technology, travel destinations, socio-economic conditions, etc. Twice a year the company hosts a secret meeting of representatives from various nations' color standards groups; these representatives present and deliberate for two days...and at the end of it all come up with “The Color of the Year”.

Today I thought I would share an online app that help to get me inspired when I’m trying to decide what my color palette for the quilt I’m planning will take on. And, of course, these are “Emerald” themed inspirations in the spirit of the post topic. 

Inspiration
From www.theinspirationboard.com – a free app where you can create your own inspiration board in minutes. I highly recommend you try it – it’s pretty neat! My color of the year inspired board (above) took me about 10 minutes to create the board, and really got me in the ‘emeraldy’ mood. The app is easy to use – it requires that you register a username and password, and once you’re done creating your inspiration board you can share it through any social media you can think of with one click of a button. There are fun custom add-ons like push pins, backgrounds, frames and more. This app will be fun to play with in conjunction with your Pinterest pins! 


Loving all this information + inspiration, thank you Erin! 

You can catch up with her & see her gorgeous work on her blog, Sew At Home Mummy and when she returns in a few weeks to share even more color inspiration. 








image credits:
swatches from pantone.com

inspiration board: emerald doors, wedding cake, earrings, emerald stone, sailed ship, shoes ,  chair, nail polish, pillow, lamp  

Best Curtain Tutorials

Ok, so we've lived in our new home for almost a year. And some of the projects I thought I'd get done that first month are still on my to-do list. But we're making progress over here, trying to turn an 80's fab home into something modern with charm. This weekend, we took down all of the awesomely orangey wood blinds with plans for more more sleek and colorful curtains and shades. Since I'd love to add color and splash with the fabrics, I'm thinking of making a few of them (add it to the list!!) - after hours on pinterest, I think I found some of the very best tutorials for all types of shades, with no sew, advanced, and painted ones too! 


{from left to right}

Stamped Chevron Curtains from Crazy Wonderful
Simple Tab Top Curtains from Simple Simon & Co. 
Basic Shade from Young House Love
Grommet Curtain from Vanilla Joy
Fixed Roman Shade by Keeping Up With The Manns

Any home projects you're working on? Look forward to sharing any progress (hoping I'll have some to report anyway....)

A peek at the orange wood goodness- the trim & chandelier are on the list too....

March Desktop Calendar

Ok, I know I say this every month, but really, truly I can not believe it is March. I mean, I've got my wall calendar set on January.  Just yesterday, someone asked how old my baby is and I said, very confidently, 16 months (um, he'll be 2 in June).  In my head, I've been thinking, 'I need to get this done before wedding season' - which promptly arrived in my shop, oh I don't know, about a gazillion sales ago.  And, despite it all, I continue to say, "oh, we just moved in!"  This month marks a year in our new home.  (which I guess, isn't even really new anymore??) 

So, ok, I get it. I need to get with the program here! 

I think this beauty of a desktop calendar, along with a brisk walk admiring all the new blooms, and a hot cup of coffee this afternoon should do the trick. 

(And if it doesn't, someone please shake me!!) 

Want this pretty calendar too? You can find it over at Nicole's Classes (a fun, design instruction site) to download.

Cheers to March! 
xo