{New Jess LC Jewelry Line: Division}

I'm sure all of the bloggers out there will be posting this today, and while I always try to be original, I just had to blog about the new Jess LC jewelry line. As you know I'm quite the fan of both her jewelry and blog and wanted to spread the love to all of my lovely readers. Sooo....check it out:

Don't you love the new designs - so fresh and chic, right? I've already committed to purchasing a piece by the end of the week - now the hard part is...deciding which one!!! Be sure to visit the new site to see all the fabulousness. Bravo Jess - job SO well done!

{Emersonmade}

I hope you are ready for a special treat. I recently stumbled upon Emersonmade this weekend and instantly fell in love with their work. I think what i love the most is that they are a gorgeous husband and wife team that do everything themselves - from the designs, styling, photos and content. To find a man that not only fully supports your craft, but wants to be involved is amazing - I say he's a keeper!

So without further ado, meet Ryan and Emerson (cute huh?):

Check out some of their work - these handmade flowers are to die for - bananas!

Aren't they gorgeous? I'm def adding to my "must have" list. However, I don't know which one to buy - I think I want them all! To view more click here.

Enjoy your day!

{Blog of the Week: seesaw.}

Comprised of three ladies who met in college (Angela, Lindsay, and Raquel) and share a love of design and letterpress, meet one of my daily stops, seesaw.

This graphics + letterpress studio does more than produce design - they look for it, too. In addition to their letterpress shop, they also have a beautiful Etsy store full of collected vintage clothing, glassware, and home decor {see below}.

{Click HERE to see more}

{Click HERE to see more}

Be sure to check out their blog this week - there's not a chance that you could walk away not finding something to be inspired about. Eye-candy + design + fashion + loads of inspiration = seesaw. Enjoy!

{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps! It has been a super long week for me, filled with 13+ hour days all week. I won't complain because this only happens on occassion at my job, but boy am I glad today is friday. Per the usual - here are my weekend plans:

{I do all of the sketches in my Weekend Plans, however, as much as I would like to take the credit for the sketch above, I did not create it. But isn't it perfect? All credit goes to  Ian Dale}

I hope that you have been inspired by MakeunderMyLife this week, I know I have. Going through the pages of Jess's blog has really inspired me to do things differently - with a purpose and intention. On Wednesday she posted about a book she read titled Being Happy For No Reason. In Jess's words:

"The first fresh idea I came across is about how we as a society often try to accumulate happy experiences in order to create a happy life. If we can just get that next bag, apartment, house, puppy, job, smaller jean size, and boy then we will be happy. All of these happy events are like happy beads on our happy necklaces. If we have enough “happy beads” on our necklace than we have a happy life. Rather than worrying about each new bead or event that comes onto our necklaces, we should focus on making the thread that is holding those beads, stronger. If we have a happy thread, then the good or bad events that come onto our necklaces have less of an impact on our overall sense of well-being. Sure, things can happen that can devastate, or delight us for a moment. But the longevity of our happiness is dependent ultimately on our threads, not our beads."

So through this message, just like Jess, I realize that I better start strengthening my thread today.

I hope you have an amazing weekend and (like I always say...with a twist this time) whatever you do, make sure you do something special just for you - with purpose and intention!

{I.heart.clutches.}

I just love these pieces by Carol Gilbert, a Northern Californian artist. I love her simplistic, organic, handmade, and modern style - and the fact that all the materials she uses is repurposed! These are fab clutches for sure...need I say more? Please visit her Etsy shop at Yorktown. Road.

Have a great day - make it lovely!

{Vintage + Modern}

I really love mixing modern decor with vintage treasures - as you know this is this premise of my jewelry line MODAGE. It's really all about mixing and matching. And even more so it's about adding character to a room, making your home a little less cookie-cutter and a little more unique. So today I thought, after doing some research, I would share some of my favorite vintage etsy sellers {Sadie Olive, Hindsvik, Vintage Modern Mix, and West and Plum} with you. Take a peak and maybe it will give you a boost of inspiration to add some character to your home...

Now I simply need to decide what I'm going to add to my collection. I'm thinking the white and mustard milk glass from Vintage Modern Mix may be the next purchase. It would go perfect on my nighstand in my bedroom...filled with fresh flowers. Lovely!

 

{It's All About the Packaging}

There is nothing more that I love than a pretty package. It makes me feel that the gift I am holding is something special, a gift from the heart and that whatever is under the pretty embellishments and ribbons is as much an emotion of love from the giver as the gift itself.

A couple of weeks ago I entered one of my favoriate bloggers, Danni of Oh, Hello Friend, Lovely Package Exchange. As you can imagine I was over the moon with excitement when I found out about it because this is totally my thing. Basically, it's a pen pal program where you're exchanging a wrapped gift instead of letters. Based on some of the pictures I've seen from last year's exchange, these crafters go all out!! So as I'm waiting to find out who my partner will be (so excited!!!), I thought I would look around for some inspiration. Here's what I found:

{Emili}

{Freshly Found}

{Kittybabylove}

{Oh Hello Friend}

{Oh Hello Friend}

{Tessa Ann's Buttons}

{Jessica Ann.Love}

{I'm not sure who created this - do you? Anyway I love it - nothing like going to your mailbox and finding a lovely wrapped package...it's the little touches that go so far}

PS. Speaking of packages - I purchased a ring from Oh, Hello Friend's Etsy shop. When the packaging is so well done that you don't want to open it...you know you've done your job. That Danni, I tell ya - so amazing!

{Blog of the Week: Make Under My Life}

This week's Blog of the Week goes to Make Under My Life. Meet Jess Constable - a jewelry designer (Jess LC) by day and makeunder blogger by night. One of the reasons why I love this blog so much is because it focuses on how we need to 'exfoliate' our lives. In this day and age where we consume so many "things" - it's refreshing to focus on how we can de-clutter and make under our lives. Each week Jess has made an intention to exfoliate one thing she no longer needed/used/loved from her life. You know the boxes full of beauty products we have, the pants that if we just lose 10 more pounds we could fit in, or to take it one step further - the closet of clothes that you're probably not ever going to fit or wear again...whenever you could fit them again? Yep - that's the stuff she's talking about; she calls it "The Giveaway Giveaway". She said that her goal is to "only have really nice things, and since she can't afford lots of really nice things, she gets rid of one item each week. By the end of the year, she will have 50 less items - increasing the fraction of "nice" things by decreasing the "not nice things" - addition by subtraction." Love it!

Click here to watch a short TV clip of Jess explaining how she got started and the reason behind simplifying her life. So very inspiring. Additionally, be sure to check out her blog for so many other inspiring, fab, smart tips and ideas.

Click here to read more

PS. Don't forget to check out Jess's jewelry line. Here are some of my faves:

{Weekend Plans}

TGIF Peeps!!! My week has been filled with late nights, energy efficient light bulbs - white vs. green, spray paint, twigs, stolen branches, clear plastic boxes, crinkle paper...and cookies - oh my! I'm more than ready to take a break from a very full (yet fun) work week - and enjoy some rest and relaxation. Per the usual - here are my plans for the weekend, what are yours?

{Etsy Love - Graphic Pillows}

There's something about gorgeous and unique graphic pillows that I just love. All of the chain retail stores (the ones we all know and love so well) have great ones to choose from - but you simply can't beat purchasing something that has been handmade out of love and passion of the craft. 

{Stepping onto my soapbox - via the Handmade Pledge} - The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing. {Stepping off my soapbox} 

So as a true supporter of Etsy - I urge you to check out these fab, unique, handmade pillows. All artist are listed below with a link that will take you directly to their shop. Enjoy! 

1. Nenavon, $22

2. Joom, $28

3. Carlos Santiago, $35

4. 1Shawfield, $80

5. Thieverie, $75

6. Kalla, $30

Have a fantastic day!

PS. Don't forget to enter in your vote by tomorrow at NOON ET.

{MODAGE Update & GIVEAWAY}

MODAGE is getting a facelift this weekend and I wanted to give you (my faithful viewers) a chance to look at some of the new items that will be posted (inclusive of my flea market/vintage shopping finds) on the site. Additionally, I will be placing most of my current pieces on sale (up to 40% off). So be sure to check out the site this weekend; until then - here's a sneak peak:

Much more to come...
---------------------------------------------

MODAGE GIVEAWAY

I am giving away the following necklace (18 inch, sterling silver chain with a hammered domed sterling disc, and lovely chalcedony bead at the clasp) to one lucky random winner!

As MODAGE is getting a facelift, I need a new logo, and need your help!

Here's how you can win:

1) Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Bloglovin' and leave a comment (below) telling me which one you are following me with.

-AND-

2) Include in your comment the number of which logo you like the best (below), and why.

All entries are due by NOON EST on Friday, March 19, 2010. I will select the winner at random later in the day on Friday, March 19 and will post it here and email the winner. PLEASE LEAVE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU.

Can't wait to get your feedback - spread the word!!! Have a good day - make it lovely!

{DIY & Home Office Updates}

Mornin’! So over the weekend I did the DIY project that I posted about last week. However, instead of using wallpaper (as suggested in the directions) I used some fabric that I had around the house. So…for less than $20.00 (File cabinet - $15 on Craigslist, 2 drawer handles from Lowes - $9, Fabric – free) here is my new cabinet! Wha cha think? For directions on how to do this yourself, click here.

As you know I’m obsessed with the flea market and while I had the best intentions of going to look for a desk I could spruce up for my office – I instead found a few items to go on my desk (would be nice if I actually had a desk to put them on though…)

1. Vintage fan – for a little air circulation in the upcoming months

2. Vintage clock – another obsession of mine – small vintage clocks.

3. Copper/enamel dish – to hold “stuff” like paper clips, etc.

4. Old rusty frog (my prince) – for a little whimsy…and luck
5. Vintage drawer – to put mail (and junk) in
6. My Addison - not found at the flea market :-) (she loves to stick her head through the spindles and bark at the dogs that go past)

I also bought a few things for MODAGE (again, not in the plans but when it comes to jewelry I can’t help myself, lol!) so come back tomorrow to see some new necklaces – courtesy of my new finds.

Now back to the desk. Since I didn’t find one at the flea market, I’m still on the hunt. I would really like this chunky table/desk from West Elm, but I’m not lovin’ the $400 price tag:

Instead, I found a similar “look for less” desk at Walmart for $150 – what do you think? Should I get it? Have you seen anything even cheaper?

Finally, here are a few pics of my office in its ‘before’ stage. (Note: the space looks a lot smaller in these pics than it actually is). Just keep this in the back of your mind for when I do the big reveal…that is, after I find a desk. HELP!!