wattlebird

Books, Crafts, and Wine

2012-02-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

My friends and I recently started a monthly book club, where we meet and talk about a book and also eat food and make crafts. We don't have a name for it, so we mostly just call it books, crafts, and wine. It works. We had our first craft night/book club meeting last week and it was so much fun!

My friend Jordan was the host (we decided to rotate who hosts each month), and she bought all of us plain frames and gave us a whole bunch of supplies to use as decorations. It was fun to see what different people came up with when given all of the same options.

I made mine just using magazine pages. I found some cute floral backgrounds on the fashion pages and just mixed them up. I used plain glue to stick them to the frame, but I'd recommend a layer of Mod Podge over the top as well, if you ever attempt a collage frame. Then I stuck this feather on the corner with some hot glue. I'm really happy with it.

As for the book, this month we discussed The Hunger Games series. I know a lot of you have read/are reading them, so can I just tell you how obsessed I am for a minute. I finished all three books in four days and I couldn't stop thinking about them for a long time afterward (I'm still thinking about them, actually). There were some things I didn't like, but overall I think it was a really great series. I'm excited to see the movie next month, and we're also planning a Hunger Games themed party (no, we're not going to fight to the death, and yes, we are that nerdy). Also, I just need to say how much I love Finnick. That is all.

And no gathering would be complete without food. We ended up with a sort-of-unintentionally-French theme, so we're thinking about having a different worldly theme each month. We had macarons, brie, croissants, dips, wine (duh), our favorite punch (hawaiian punch, sprite, and rainbow sorbet), and my favorite: pita bread (get it? Peeta bread, nyuk nyuk nyuk).

Do any of you have a book club or regular girls' nights?

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

JanPhotoADay

2012-02-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you who follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, or instagram (anniehp), you may have noticed me taking part in a photo-a-day challenge (#janphotoaday). And if you didn't, then you've still probably seen other people doing the same around the internet. It was really popular with a lot of bloggers, and while I'm not exactly sure it has a concrete purpose, it was fun (who needs purposes for things, anyway?) So here's my obligatory wrap-up post.

And it's not too late to take part in the challenge for February (#febphotoaday)! Thanks to Fat Mum Slim for making these up - so fun!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Nerdy Heart Necklace

2012-01-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

Happy February, everyone! I thought I'd kick off the month with a quick little valentine's day-inspired DIY. It's quick, easy, and best of all - just a little bit nerdy. Here's how to make your very own "<3" necklace.

What you'll need:

STURDY scrapbooking letters and numbers. Particularly just the "V" and the "3." You don't need the whole set. But don't get plain paper ones - something with clear plastic backing is best.
Necklace chain and hoops
Scissors
Glossy Mod Podge and a paintbrush
Safety pin

Start out by cutting the V and 3 out of the plastic, but leave the backing on and leave the plastic on the "inside parts" of the V and 3 as shown.

Use a safety pin or anything with a small point to poke small holes in the plastic towards the top where you'll hang the letters from the necklace. Keep in mind that the top of the V will really be the side since it will be acting as a < in this case. Insert the jewelry hoops the use a small paintbrush to mod podge around the letter just to make it a little sturdier. Make sure to get the sides where the sticker part would normally peel off. Let it dry.

Attach the hoops to the necklace chain just a few pieces apart and voila! You have a fun new necklace that's pretty festive this time of year!

Outfit Details:

Cardigan, shirt, and boots: thrifted

Skirt and belt: H&M

Necklace: handmade!

P.S. I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for WIWW!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Buh Bye, January

2012-01-30T21:08:00.000-08:00

January is probably my least favorite month of the year, so I'm not toooooo sad that it's over. It did have some good moments though, like a trip to Disney World, some fun crafty projects, nights out with friends, good food, delicious hot beverages, obsessing over The Hunger Games, reuniting with my sketchbook, and more not-so-terrible things. Take a look.

Some of my favorite posts from the month included:

And here are a couple of goals I hope to accomplish in February:

Bake at least one new think every week. I used to bake all the time and then I stopped. I'm not sure why, because it was really fun.
Start looking for (and hopefully find) a new apartment. I can't wait to decorate and have fancy parties!
Complete all the craft projects I have on my list. I scheduled a lot of DIY posts for February on this blog and I really want to actually follow through on all of them.
Read more

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Disney World Trip

2012-01-30T12:33:00.000-08:00

Last week, I took a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. (that's why there were those amazing guest posts, remember?) We had an amazing time! I hadn't been down there for several years, and my boyfriend has never been. We ate so much food and it was delicious. We saw all of my favorite shows and attractions. And we even watched a fireworks show from inside Cinderella's castle and met a bunch of the princesses (the 3-year-old me that first went to Disney World 20 years ago was screaming with excitement). I didn't take too many photos - just a few with my phone. But here they are:

Have any of you ever been to Disney World? What's your favorite thing to do there?

P.S. A huge thank you to the awesome guest posters last week: Sara, Polly, Bethany, Ashley, and Melissa!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

The Hunger Games Finds with The Prairie Hen

2012-01-26T20:52:00.000-08:00

While I'm away on vacation, I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to step in with some amazing posts. Today's post is from Sara of Prairie Hen, who is sharing some fun etsy finds inspired by one of my favorite book series. We've been obsessing over it lately (and I'm sure many of you have too). Enjoy!

***

If we were in the hunger games this is the last thing you'd see before I karate chopped you to death.

Hi wattlebird friends! I'm Sara and I blog over at Prairie Hen. I don't know about you, but I have been geeking out hard (I mean like really hard) over the Hunger Games books. I read the whole series in less then a week and still can not stop thinking about it. So when Annie asked for guest posters I knew what I had to do. (yep- had to). I complied a list of my favorite Pamen inspired goodies. Enjoy!

Finnick was my favorite.

Peeta's pearl.

The Mockingjay!

Your own stash of nightlock. Should the need ever arise.

Oh, yeah. Definitely buying some of these.

Have you read the series yet? Have you seen the movie trailer? What do you think?

(I love it all!!)

♥, Sara

***

You can also find Sara here: BLOG//SHOP//TWITTER

(From Annie, again) I also have another proposition for my fellow Hunger Games fans: My friends and I have recently started a book club, and we're having a meeting this Saturday evening (January 28 at about 8:30pm EST) to discuss The Hunger Games series. I was wondering if anyone might be interested in participating in the discussion via Twitter? We could have a tag (#THGchat??) where we can ask each other questions and share our thoughts on the books. Let me know if you'd be interested either in the comments or via twitter (@AnnieHP). If you won't be around during that particular time you could even ask questions or leave your comments beforehand, either via twitter, blog comment, or email (wattlebirddesigns at gmail dot com). I'd really love to get as many people together as possible since I think it's a really great series to discuss!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Vegan Mushroom and Peanut Noodles with This Enchanted Pixie

2012-01-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

While I'm away on vacation, I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to step in and share some amazing posts. Today's post is a recipe from Polly of This Enchanted Pixie. She's sharing a recipe for Vegan Mushroom and Peanut Noodles, which sounds pretty glorious if you ask me. Enjoy!

***

Hey Guys! I'm Polly from This Enchanted Pixie and I'm happy to be writing a post for Annie while she's at Disney World! Can I just say how jealous I am???

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you my current favourite lunch recipe {I like it so much, I've been eating it almost every day!!} It's quick and it's easy and it tastes delicious - cant' get better than that.

Vegan Mushroom & Peanut Noodles

Ingredients

Noodles {I used Udon thick noodles - but any will work}
Crunchy Peanut Butter
Handful of Mushrooms, diced
1/2 Soya Milk {or milk of your choice}

Heat a little oil or butter in a large frying pan or wok, add the diced mushrooms and cook over a low heat for 2-3 minutes. Add a tablespoon or two of peanut butter and a splash of the milk. Stir constantly as the peanut butter melts, adding the rest of the milk little by little until you have a slightly runny sauce.

Add the noodles, and heat through for around 5 minutes. Then enjoy!!! You could mix it up and add in some extra veggies, or some meat if you're not vegan/vegetarian.

I hope you like it!! Thanks for having me Annie!

***

You can also find Polly here: BLOG//SHOP//TWITTER

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

DIY Butcher's Twine Bracelet with RewareVintage

2012-01-24T19:36:00.000-08:00

While I'm away on vacation, I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to step in and share some amazing posts. Today's post is a fun tutorial from Bethany of Reware Vintage (who's also one of the gals behind Handmade Detroit). She's sharing how to make a cute bracelet out of some repurposed materials. I definitely need to try this one when I get home! Enjoy!

***

Hello! My name is Bethany, and I'm very happy today to be guest blogging for Annie today while she is on vacation. I own an online shop at RewareVintage.com, selling both vintage clothing and crafts, and also write a blog there about vintage clothing, crafting and my family. As a fellow Michigander, I also gotta say that I am a tad jealous of Annie soaking up the sun in Florida... it's cold up here!

Like most crafters and vintage collectors, I am a practical girl who needs to find a use for everything in my house, letting nothing go to waste. So when my husband, a man who loves being creative in the kitchen, came home with a giant roll of butcher's twine (3600 feet, to be exact), I knew it needed to serve more of a purpose than just tying up an occasional roast. Of course, it would work great to tie up orders from my shop, or birthday and Christmas gifts, but that was not enough. Looking at the giant roll, it reminded me of a braided rope bracelet that I bought at Boblo Island when I was a kid, and the perfect idea hit - a recreation with a vintage twist! (Editor's note: Boblo Island was the best!)

It was very simple and easy to make. All I needed was some of that twine, a pair of scissors, a large safety pin, and a wooden bead. My mother-in-law was quite a crafty lady herself when she was my age, and gave me a big bag of wooden beads she had saved for more than 20 years. I was happy to put it to use as well!

First, cut your twine. I cut mine into six strands, 30 inches in length.You could cut more or less as you'd like, but keep in mind how large the hole in your bead is when you decide. Fold your strands in half, and tie a knot, making a loop at the end.

Use your safety pin to secure your twine to something - a pillow, your couch, or as I did - my jeans. Reminisce at this moment about making friendship bracelets when you were younger in this same way... Ok, now get ready to start braiding. Separate your twine into three equal sections and braid it as loose or tight as you wish.

When you have enough length to wrap around your wrist, slide your bead on, tie another knot at the bottom, and trim your end. My bracelet was 8 inches top to bottom, yours may need to be longer or shorter to fit you (and you will want it a little loose - butcher's twine is cotton, so it may shrink over time if you get it wet).

Wrap your new bracelet around your wrist and slide your knot through the loop. Ta-da, your bracelet is finished! You may love it so much that you will impulsively make a few more to stack on top. Feel free, you've got about 3580 more feet of twine to use up!

***

You can also find Bethany Here: BLOG//SHOP//TWITTER//HANDMADE DETROIT

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Staying Inspired with After Nine to Five

2012-01-23T20:01:00.000-08:00

While I'm away on vacation, I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to step in and write some amazing posts. This one is from the always wonderful Ashley of the blog After Nine to Five. She's sharing some tips on a subject that I know a lot of bloggers (myself included) struggle with from time to time - staying inspired. Enjoy!

***

Hello Wattlebird readers! I'm Ashley from After Nine To Five. Today I thought I would share some quick fixes to one of what used to be my biggest problems when it came to blogging: coming up with fresh, fun, and exciting content. This is something that's really important for those looking to grow their blog and have regular, repeat viewers. So here are five tips on staying inspired and ensuring your content is worth reading!

1. Focus on quality over quantity.

There are no rules to how often or how little you should post. Sure, there are some guidelines like 20 times a day may be excessive and if you don't post for a month or two, you may be forgotten. But there's no set amount for success. It's up to YOU to decide what's best for you. Some people can post wonderful content two times a day. And for others, it's two times a week. Just make sure your posts are always focused and that you're not hitting publish just to get a post out there. Every time you hit publish, it should be because it was a post worth posting.

2. Come up with a series of posts that you're passionate about

Series of posts can be really helpful and prevent you from getting stuck if you need something to write about! But make sure it's something you either set a time limit on (something like 5 posts) or that you can talk about a lot as they can become draining for your blog. If you lose interest in the topic, your audience is likely to lose interest with you. The best way to start a series is to find something you're passionate about and dissect it to see if you can talk about it for multiple posts or if it's better suited for a single post.

3. Keep a notebook, or a sketchbook, on hand at all times

For some reason, I tend to be able to brainstorm new post ideas at some of the most inconvenient times. Most notably in the shower and in the middle of the night when I wake up from a dream. So I've learned to always have something to write it down in so I can revisit it when I have more time and am better prepared to expand on the brief thought I had. Jot all of your ideas down - good and bad! - so you can view them at later date, possibly when you're more experienced on a topic or more passionate about it.

4. Be okay with throwing out your ideas at times

Not every idea you have is golden. Be willing to accept when it's time to move on from an idea and start fresh with a new one if the idea isn't panning out in a way that seems right for your blog. Along with that, some ideas may be great posts for guest posts if they're not related to your typical blog topics so you can pitch them to other bloggers or hold on to them for the future. Trying to hold onto an idea that just isn't working for you is only going to stunt the rest of your creative process.

5. Get off the computer and try new things

Your computer can be a good source of inspiration (IE: Pinterest), but the best kind of inspiration comes from getting out and living life! Spend time outdoors, try new things, break boundaries and get out of your comfort zone. Do things that you can later share with your readers. More often than not, you'll create an awesome unforgettable experience. And if the experience totally sucks, just know it may make a good story if you're willing to share it some day.

***

You can also find Ashley here: BLOG//SHOP//TWITTER//FACEBOOK

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Easy Avocado Grilled Cheese with Pineapple Lily

2012-01-22T19:37:00.000-08:00

While I'm away on vacation, I've asked some of my favorite bloggers to step in and write some amazing posts. This first one is from Melissa of the blog Pineapple Lily, and she's sharing a SUPER easy recipe that looks realllllly delicious. I can't believe I haven't tried it before! Enjoy!

***

Hello all you fabulous Wattlebird readers. I'm Melissa and I blog over at Pineapple Lily. Like Annie I try to be funny but I'm not even going to try to be Martha. That's why today you get a recipe...sorta. I'm not one to try difficult or challenging things in the kitchen. Give me a piece of bread and some butter and I'm good. No seriously, that's actually 2 of the ingredients you'll need. Basically I'm going to just give you an idea and you can run with it, I like to call it Glorified Grilled Cheese.

What you'll need:

Frying pan
Butter
Bread
Cheese
{I like Colby and provolone but we ran out of provolone}
Avocado

You make a grilled cheese sandwich. Do I need to give directions? Here it is in picture form.

See, easy! Now go get all up in that oooey gooey goodness. Enjoy!!

Thanks Annie for letting me guest today.

***

You can also find Melissa here: BLOG//TWITTER//FACEBOOK

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

January Sponsors

2012-01-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

January is almost over, so it's almost your last chance to stop by and visit these lovely links on the sidebar. I'm so happy to have all of them, as always.

And if you're interested in being featured on the sidebar/this post in February, please email me at wattlebirddesigns at gmail dot com to reserve your space. I'm simplifying everything this year, so it's just one flat rate of $5 per month. At over 30,000 views per month, that's a pretty great deal. You also get first dibs on giveaway space and you can offer a coupon code if you'd like. I'm hoping to see some new faces next month. Can't wait!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Flowers and A Dreamcatcher

2012-01-17T19:04:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I made this dreamcatcher necklace, and wanted to show it off in an outfit. I've been having so much fun with my goal of more DIY projects for this year. I know it's still only January but I literally have ideas scheduled for almost every week of the whole year. I'm so excited!

It's been an unusually warm winter in Michigan, so I'm pretty glad I can still pull off dresses and tights on the daily. But one thing I really love about winter is big sweaters. I bought this one and another similar one last week and I've basically worn them every day since.

Outfit Details:
Dress: Modcloth
Sweater and Belt: Von Maur
Necklace: DIY
Tights: Target
Shoes: Payless

P.S. I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for WIWW

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

DIY Minnie Mouse Headband

2012-01-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to leave on vacation next week, because I'm going to the happiest place on earth! Yep, I'm going to Disney World! I don't care how old I get - I'll never outgrow the magic of Disney World.

When I was little, I went every few years, and of course my very favorite accessory was my Minnie Mouse headband. I've since outgrown the one I had, and while I definitely plan to buy another one while I'm down there, I just couldn't wait. So I made this little temporary replacement with some scraps and an old headband. The official one is clearly the way to go, but I thought I'd share this project in case anyone isn't able to get to Disney World for awhile and wants a fun, easy project.

All you need is some black and red felt, black and red embroidery thread, cotton stuffing, and a headband.

I started out by folding the black felt and cutting a circle about 3in in diameter. Don't make a complete circle, but leave about an inch of the folded part in tact so that you have two almost-circles (It should look kind of like an 8). Cut another piece of felt in the exact same shape and size.

Then take the red felt and fold it in half, cutting a bow shape but leaving the folded edge in tact as shown. Once you have all your shapes cut out, fold the black pieces of felt around the headband and start stitching the edges together. Stitch the red felt edges together in the same way, but not attached to the headband.

Insert the stuffing once there's just about an inch left to stitch. Then finish the stitching around the headband. I attached the ears first, then the bow over the top of them. If you need to add just a spot of glue to hold the bow and ears in place, go for it.

Use a 1in x 3in rectangle of red felt to wrap around the middle of the bow and the headband, and stitch it in place in the back. Then I used some acrylic white paint to make some dots all over the bow. Let it dry, finish all your edges and cut away any loose thread and voila! A quick and easy pair of Minnie ears to tide you over until your next Disney trip! I'm so excited for mine now!

P.S. I have some great guest posters lined up for while I'm gone, but if anyone else is interested, just send topic ideas to wattlebirddesigns at gmail dot com. Please keep in mind that I'd need your post by this Friday at the latest. Thanks!

**Linking this post to Along for the Ride and Tater Tots and Jello

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Beauty and the Beast Costumes

2012-01-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Beauty and the Beast was re-released in theaters in 3D. Now, you probably already know how dorky I am so I don't really have a problem admitting that my friends and I went to see it at midnight and some of us even donned costumes for the occasion. We basically just really love making/thrifting costumes and will take any excuse to do so. But Beauty and the Beast is a major occasion for us, anyway.

Here's how we created our ensembles, in case any of you see a Beauty and the Beast costume in your future.

Belle Costume - Alyssa thrifted this blue dress which is completely perfect. She borrowed this white half-apron and wore a plain white blouse underneath and a blue bow in her hair. She then carried around a book as her prop.

Lumiere Costume - Jordan managed to find yellow EVERYTHING for her costume. She then found these perfect white gloves and stitched some gold felt triangles as flames. She put some kind of cone on her head and tied her hair over the top of it so it stood up (we had to sit in the back row of the theater, obv.)

Babette Costume - Charlotte went as the feather duster, so she had a plain beige top but then attached some feathers to her skirt, ankles, and even her arms.

Mrs. Potts Costume - I knit my purple hat to look like the top of the teapot. The skirt is also semi-handmade. I cut out pink and blue felt pieces and tied them around my waist using yellow yarn. The white sweater and purple skirt were lucky thrift finds.

< / dorky post>

(All clip art via this site)

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

How to Get Me (And Probably Some Other People) to Follow You on Twitter

2012-01-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today I'm doing a variation of my post from last week (How to Get Me (And Probably Some Other People) to Follow Your Blog), by diving into the world of Twitter. Again, I'm no social media expert or anything, but I do loooooove Twitter. And since I spend a fair amount of time there and have talked to a lot of people on the subject, I hope I can share a few helpful tips with you.

Consume and Create
Twitter is most definitely a two-way street, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. You can't expect a lot of followers if you only go on twitter and read everyone's tweets, but don't say anything yourself. But by the same token, you can't really expect a lot of followers if you just update everyone on the mundane aspects of your day without ever interacting with or following other users (unless you're a celebrity or something, in which case I sincerely doubt you care about gaining more followers, especially me). When I first joined Twitter, I only followed people and didn't tweet at all. I hardly had any followers, but I think I learned a lot about how to actually use it, so it was actually helpful to me. But of course everyone is different, so just remember that twitter has two purposes, and you should probably be making the most of both if you want to get the most out of it.

Discover Your Purpose
Twitter is definitely fun, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with using it for just personal reasons (obviously). But if you're using it attached to a business or blog, and you really care about building a following, you should think about the purpose of your Twitter. Are you doing it to bring traffic to your shop? If you only post a bunch of links, then no one will really care to click the links or even follow you. So I'd take a less direct route - sometimes post links and sometimes think about what other things your target audience would care about. Share links to other etsy shops, cool blogs, art collaborations, or whatever you think fits well with the overall brand image you're trying to project. The businesses I follow on Twitter are those that don't only post links to new items and collections. But if I follow them based on their overall content, I'm much more likely to click those links when they do come up.

Inject some Personality
Remember earlier when I said no one cares about the mundane details of your life? Well, that's mostly true - if that's all you post. However, if you're a blogger or a shop owner and I am gaining interest in your brand, I'm probably going to be more interested if I know I can relate to the person behind the brand. You don't need to let everyone know when you're brushing your teeth, but if you recently saw a cool movie or want to share your opinion about current events, I'm much more likely to interact with you and thus become more connected with your Twitter account and your brand.

Talk to People
This is a big one for me. When I look at accounts who follow me to decide whether I want to follow back, there's nothing that gets me to turn away faster than if I can clearly see they never talk to anyone on Twitter. You can post interesting content and have a cool brand, but I think that one of the greatest aspects of Twitter is that users are so accessible to one another. If you don't talk to people then I might assume that you don't read anyone else's tweets, and probably don't even respond to people who try to contact you. Even people who have millions of followers take the time to respond to people, so if you don't then you are either really stuck up or you just don't really get Twitter. Either way, I probably don't want to follow you.

Don't do it for Follows
One of the main points I tried to make last week is that it can be really obvious to potential followers if you're trying too hard. The same goes for Twitter, though it's kind of hard to explain. I can usually tell when a user has some kind of tweeting strategy, and while it doesn't necessarily mean I won't follow them, it certainly doesn't help. I think if you just be yourself and post about things you care about, while just keeping your audience in mind, it will seem more natural and less forced. Another thing that's a tell-all is if you follow 94890859 people and you have 7 followers. That's an exaggeration, but I think you get the picture. If I see a really imbalanced number, I pretty much know that you're following people just in the hopes they'll follow you back. Obviously it's okay to follow more people than you have followers, but a super high number can throw people off. It also might tell me that you're one of those people who follows people just so they'll follow you back, then you unfollow them. I couldn't believe people actually did this until I saw it myself. Rude. Please don't do that - it's awful and there are so many ways we can find out this information. Even if I would have followed you in the first place, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth and you'll forever be associated with that.

Present Yourself
Lastly, I think it's important to represent yourself well in the stuff that people will always see when visiting your twitter. Tweets come and go (I'll never scroll through more than a few tweets before deciding whether or not to follow), but your photo, bio and website can say a lot about you. There's no specific formula for this, but I think your bio should tell about you personally and also what you tweet about. Your photo should ideally include your face and not just a logo (I like to know who I'm tweeting with), and I'm fairly likely to visit your website if you have one listed. Since I blog, I'm especially interested in following other bloggers, and I think the same goes for many Etsy shop owners. We all want to find people we can relate to, so the website and your info is just another opportunity to make yourself relatable to potential followers.

So that's my spiel for this week. I hope it was helpful to some people! Let me know what you think or if you have any other tips and tricks to share either here or on twitter (@AnnieHP). Also, I'm still hoping for someone to do a guest post in the next couple weeks about Facebook pages. If you're interested, let me know at wattlebirddesigns at gmail dot com.

P.S. the little birdie in the graphic above is a preview of my new blog design that I'll hopefully be uploading early next week. I drew a lot of it by hand and I'm really excited to unveil it!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Wearing Handmade

2012-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in my goals post for this year that I'm trying to steer this blog a little back into the DIY/crafty direction. I still want to include personal posts and outfits, but just to a different degree. So one way I plan to do this is by always including a handmade or DIY item in my outfit posts. This one includes my DIY painted canvas oxfords that I posted about the other day.

I chose to pair them with colorful tights and a few layers. I think it helps to include both of the colors from the shoes (in my case white and gray) somewhere else in the outfit, but also mix in some other colors as well so it's not so matchy-matchy. I also like including preppy details like the ruffles and cardigan, because I think that both oxfords and canvas shoes represent that kind of style.

Outfit Details:

Shirt: Old Navy

Cardigan: F21

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Target

Belt: Modcloth

Shoes: DIY

Necklace: Gifted

P.S. I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for WIWW

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

On Healthy Eating

2012-01-10T06:23:00.000-08:00

Like so many people at the beginning of a new year, I'm trying to improve my eating habits. This isn't because I want to lose weight or gain weight or anything like that. I just want to eat REAL food that's made with REAL ingredients. I want to learn how to cook things from scratch and even create my own recipes. This is going to be a difficult task for a girl who normally microwaves lunch and gets takeout chicken wings for dinner (I also eat pizza every day). But I have a plan.

Buy New Equipment
I've tried this whole cooking thing before and the main reason it didn't work is that it's really hard to make quality food when you don't have a lot of the necessary tools and the ones you do have barely work. This time around, there'll be new utensils, a crock pot, blender, new pots/pans, and even a new stove.

Do a Pantry Overhaul
I hate throwing things out, but I think it really helps to just start with a mostly empty canvas when working toward a new goal. If you have non-perishable foods, I'd recommend finding a soup kitchen or charity organization where you can donate them, and maybe give the rest of the food away to a close friend or family member, or you could just let it run out naturally and don't replace it. The pantry I'm working with used to be 90% snacks and junk. We cleaned it off and just designated one of the five shelves for snack foods. The rest is mainly baking supplies, spices, rice, pasta, and essential ingredients like olive oil.

Start Simple
The hard part, I think, is actually getting started. I'm currently in the process of looking through recipes and finding ones that are challenging but don't make my head spin. It's really easy to look through pinterest and find a million recipes I want to try "one day," but if I can't make a simple chicken pasta dish then those are really just a distant dream. Another thing I'm trying really hard to do is not cut corners. I'm not at totally inept at this as I'm making myself sound in this post - I have cooked before. It's just that I usually take the easiest way out. I'm always trying to convince myself that the main course just needs to be cooked but it doesn't matter HOW that happens. I think it's time now to learn to cook things the right way.

Plan Meals
This is another one I've struggled with in the past. I'm a natural planner, but for some reason I just can't stick with a meal plan. I think my problem is that I sometimes wait too long to start making dinner, so by that time whatever I had planned either takes too long or isn't what I'm really craving at the moment (pizza). So I think I have to start the whole process earlier, and also leave myself a little flexibility. I plan to pick out my meals for the week, but not be super strict on which meals go for which days. That way I can have a little freedom to eat what I want.

Everything in Moderation
Just because I'm taking on this project does not mean I'm totally giving up pizza and chicken wings. If that was the plan, I know I'd fail. You can't just totally give up things that make you happy, and sometimes pizza is just the only thing that falls into your schedule and budget. So just make a rule (once a week, once a month, whatever you think you can handle). And stick to it.

Try It
Basically everything in this process is intimidating, but I just have to convince myself to try it. The worst that can happen is that it's gross and then I have to go get pizza. Oh no.

Anyone else have tips I (or other readers) should follow?? I'd love to get a discussion going in the comments.

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

DIY Painted Canvas Oxfords

2012-01-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Like many girls, I'm obsessed with oxford shoes right now. I have a few different pairs in my collection, but I can't be going out and buying new shoes every time a cute pair pops up (wah wah wah why oh why must life be so hard?!) Luckily, plain old canvas tennis shoes are super cheap and you can transform them in almost an infinite number of ways. Here's a quick and easy project to make those plain white shoes into some snazzy oxford flats.

All you need is a pair of plain white canvas tennis shoes, some fabric paint (acrylic works too, but I'm not sure how well it holds up over time so I prefer fabric paint), and a sharpie.

Start by removing the laces and lightly outline the areas you want to paint with your sharpie (or you can use a pencil). The areas I painted are the back heel (in a half circle - if you're using Keds this should already be outlined in stitching for you), the front where the holes for the laces are - it should be about 1 inch thick on each side, and then the very front from the toe out about three inches to the sides of the shoes. You can use my photos as a guide. Fill in the outlined areas with paint and let dry. I used a light gray but you can really use whatever color you want. You can even paint the remaining areas with a different color or just leave it white like I did.

Once the paint is dry, take your sharpie and just make little dots around the painted areas in the front and even where in the area where the canvas is stitched. You can be creative with which areas to dot or you can try the same pattern shown on my photos. That's all there is to it! You might have to do some cleanup with white paint or a magic eraser if you got excess paint on any part of the shoe. You can also put the laces back in or leave them be - your choice! I'm going to do an outfit post later this week to show you how to style your new DIY oxfords! Check back soon!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

How to Get Me (And Probably Some Other People) to Follow Your Blog

2012-01-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

I don't claim to be an expert on growing a successful blog, but I do read a lot of them, so I think I can bring something to the discussion. The tips below will tell you how to get people like me to visit your blog and to keep on visiting. Clearly, this is not the end-all-be-all of anything, but I hope it might be helpful to at least a few people. So here goes nothing.

Reel Them In

The first step in building a following is obviously by getting people to visit your blog for the first time. This is not (in my opinion) THE most important part, because if you have a bunch of people who just visit your blog once, that's not much of a following. However, people have to find your blog first before they can become a regular guest, so it is pretty important. So how to take that first step? Participate. Twitter, Facebook, follow other blogs, comment on other blogs, join in on link parties. All of these are ways to get people to click that first link. I've found so many great blogs through all of the avenues I've mentioned. I've also found some really forgettable ones though, which I promptly clicked away from, and that's why the other steps are so important.

Everything in Moderation

So now you've got a few people (myself included) to visit your blog. Now you need to not force them to immediately click that 'x' in the corner. There are a few turn-offs to avoid. Again, these are my own opinions so if you run a blog that you love and you have music playing when you click on the page, more power to you - you just probably won't have me as a follower because that happens to be one of my pet peeves, and it is for a lot of other people too. I usually listen to my own music on my computer so yours meshing with it 1. startles me and 2. annoys me. That's all I'll say about that. Another thing I've noticed quite a bit of is people who focus way too much on the above step. I can usually spot a blog that is trying too hard. If every single thing you post is a linky party and they're all basically the same post (etsy faves, pinterest pictures, etc.), you won't hold my attention for very long. That said, I do love a good pinterest post, I just like a little variety. I usually try to stick to one, maybe two, linky posts per week, and I keep the link at the bottom of the post preferably in text form. A bunch of buttons everywhere is kind of distracting, though it is important to link back to your "host." Everyone is different, of course, and depending on the blog I might not care if every single post is a link party, but a basic rule of thumb is to just blog about stuff you like and have fun with it. Don't do it for the followers. We can usually tell which blogs are which. (though I think many of us at one point or another have gotten a little too tied up in the numbers and tried too hard. I include myself in this group)

Find Your Style

An instant way to gain my attention upon entering your blog is to have a defined style. This isn't just about the design of your blog, though that is part of it. Sometimes I can't even define what this means, but you probably know of these types of blogs. You could see a picture somewhere else on the internet and just know that it probably originated from said blog, or that said blog would post said image at some point. I'm working on this with my own blog at the moment. My best advice would be to try to think of three words to define your style, then come up with a blog design that fits with those descriptions and keep them in mind when you post. Each time you're brainstorming a new post or choosing a photo, ask yourself if it fits with those three words. If it doesn't, maybe it isn't something that really fits. This does not mean, however, that I think everyone has to have a specific type of blog. You can totally post about crafts and fashion and your summer vacation all in the same blog. It depends on what you want your blog to be, but style and cross over to different topics, so it's just something to keep in mind. I think it is also something that just grows organically over time, so if you (like me) just don't feel like you're there yet, just keep at it. You should be doing it because you love it, right? (remember, we can tell...)

Make It Easy

There are very few blogs that I just remember to go to every day. I'm really scatterbrained and I know I'm not alone in that. When I find a blog I really like, or one that I kind of like but don't have a lot of time to explore at the moment, the first thing I do is look for a way to follow. I'm a little out-of-the-ordinary in that I use a lot of different platforms for keeping up with blogs. I have a google reader, bloglovin, email subscriptions, and I keep up with my favorites via twitter. Many people stick to one of those, so it's usually a good idea to give people a lot of options so they can find the one that suits them. If you don't have any of these available, then you can't really expect people to keep coming back to your blog. You need to make it as easy as possible for people to remember you once they've found you.

Those are my tips, as simply as I can put them. Of course there are other things to consider, like content (duh), but the type of content you write really goes along with writing about what you love. If you care about your blog and what you write about, it will show. And there truly is an audience for any type of blog out there, so the bottom line is just to be true to yourself and your voice. Visitors will come and go, but people stay when they can tell you care and know a lot about your subject. I speak from experience!

Next week I'll share my opinions about twitter, and then I'll be looking for someone to write a similar guest post about Facebook (where I'm totally clueless). If you have a fan page or "like" a lot of them and would like to contribute, please send me an email at wattlebirddesigns at gmail dot com. Thanks!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Collected: Vintage Polaroid Cameras

2012-01-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to collect something. Like really collect something. I want to be one of those people you see on TV with the really weird and huge collection that overtakes an entire room of their house and you can't help but think "what possesses them to do such a thing?" Yes, that's my life's ambition.

Unfortunately, I have thus far failed in this area due to lack of focus. I have managed to create the beginnings of a few pretty neat collection, but nothing large or weird enough to be worthy of a big WTF. However, I'm still proud of these mini collections, so I'm going to start sharing them with you periodically. The first one, which is currently my favorite, is my vintage Polaroid collection. Right now it's only 4 deep, but they're really neat to look at.

The first is this old accordion model, which belonged to my grandpa. It is actually in fairly decent condition, aside from not actually taking photos. It even comes with a cute little case. This is my favorite one for display purposes!

This video camera (also from Polaroid) is also from my grandpa. It is definitely not in great condition, but has most of its parts and is just really cool to examine since we rarely use film video cameras anymore!

Then of course there's this classic 80's model which I got from my grandma. It still works and even came to me with a case of film! I've been rationing it carefully since Polaroid film is so rare and overpriced these days. The camera itself is almost perfect. And would wouldn't love that colorful design??

Then there's this 90's version which is super boring compared to the others, but it also still works and has film. Plus, it is the camera my parents used while I was growing up so there's some sentimental value there as well.

I love all of these and can definitely see this collection growing. Maybe it will be my main, room-consuming collection, who knows! I can't wait to share another collection with you guys soon!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Outfits of 2011

2012-01-03T18:50:00.000-08:00

This year I started doing some outfit posts. It was sufficiently awkward but also sufficiently fun. I always love putting together outfits, and documenting them has been a really interesting hobby. Here are some of my favorites captured over the past year:

Row 1: Splurge // Last Hurrah // Librarian Chic // Feathers and Lace // Matchy Matchy
Row 2: Gloomy Day and My Life as a Hermit // Happy Things // My Shopping Habits // An Apple A Day // Someplace Tropical and Living a Colorful Life // Life in Lee
Row 3: Crazy Hair // Vintage Shopping and Facing Fears // Miss America // Bubblegum Pop // Stay Gold // Into the Wild

Please feel free to click the links to go back and see where the items are from. It's pretty fun to look back on some of them now. Here's to another year of fun (maybe less awkward?) fashion blogging!

P.S. I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy for WIWW, as always!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

DIY Dreamcatcher Necklace

2012-01-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

When I was little, I had a dreamcatcher that always hung right over my bed. I think I bought it at a street fair or something, and I didn't know much about the significance of it, but it was always comforting knowing it was there. I thought it might be fun to make a little mini version that you could carry around with you whenever you wanted. A necklace seemed like the perfect solution. Here's how I made it:

What you need:
a plastic hoop (found at most craft or thrift stores)
yarn
embroidery thread and needle
feathers (preferably attached onto a hairpiece or something similar, with a little fabric connector)

Start by wrapping yarn around the hoop until it's completely covered. Tie it into place or use a small dot of glue to keep it secured at the ends. Then take your needle and embroidery thread and begin stitching into the yarn, going across the hoop to different points randomly. Finish with a stitch at the bottom of the hoop so you can also use the embroidery thread to attach the feathers.

Cut off a few of the feathers from the rest, leaving the fabric at the top so that you can use the embroidery thread to stitch the feathers onto the hoop. I just made a few small stitches and tied a knot to secure the two pieces. Then I used the remaining embroidery thread as the necklace itself. You could tie it onto fasteners or just make the necklace long enough so you can just tie it then slip it over your head whenever you want to wear it.

That's all there is to it!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

2012 Goals

2012-01-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Okay guys, it's time for the obligatory new year goals post. I really really love making goals - probably a little too much. Every year I make a list of goals, and then throughout the year my priorities change just enough so that I don't accomplish some of my minor goals, and that's a little sad. So this year I've decided just to make some general goals to work on throughout 2012. I think I've made them specific enough so that I'll hold myself accountable, but not so specific that they don't leave me any room to just be a little spontaneous this year.

Photography

I bought myself a snazzy new camera at the end of this year, so a big part of 2012 will be spent teaching myself how to use it and improving the photos on this blog, my shops, and other areas as well. I've always known that photography was one of my weakest areas, and I don't plan to become a ~photographer~ or anything, I just want the quality to improve enough so that it doesn't hold me back.

Organization

Just like goals, I'm a little obsessed with organizing. I think I'm so obsessed that I make too many lists and such. I'm pretty sure I went through four planners last year. This year, I bought myself an Erin Condren life planner and I can already tell it will be my saving grace this year. I'm keeping all my lists separate and keeping my to-do lists on the actual calendar date designated in the planner, instead of letting one day's list extend through the whole week. (yeah, I really did that). Also, I want to try to keep my crafting and work space neat. Clearly, I need some work in that area right now, as I currently cannot walk more than two steps into my craft room.

Blog/Shop

In 2012, I really want to get back to more crafty posts here. I love the fact that I can just post whatever I want, and that won't really change. But when I started this blog I mostly talked about craft/etsy stuff and I'd like to shift back a bit in that direction. I also am finally going to re-open my shop and it's getting a complete overhaul. I'm rebranding both the shop and the blog so they're consistent, and I'm going to be carrying A LOT more items than I used to.

Living Space

Ever since college, I feel like I've been in this kind of weird in-between stage with my living space. I didn't want to do too much to it because it isn't permanent and I just got lazy. This year, I need to find a place where I'll be happy and comfortable. And then I need to make it my own, even if it isn't permanent. There's nothing worse than going home and just feeling like it isn't really your home.

Health

I'm not trying to lose weight or run a marathon or anything, but I could stand to cut out a few chicken wings from my diet. I'd really like to start cooking more real food using ingredients that don't come in a box with the word "instant" on it. My goal is to just buy a lot of basic ingredients and try new recipes every week. These dishes will include things like vegetables, which I don't see much of these days.

Fun

I did have a lot of fun in 2011, don't get me wrong. But sometimes I just felt like such a hermit. In 2012 I'm going to force myself to go out more often, even when I don't feel like it (read: always). I'm going to host and attend more get-togethers with my girlfriends, I'm going to go out to new restaurants, and I'm going to be a tourist in my own town sometimes. Netflix is great, but there's more to life than finishing as many shows as possible. Maybe.

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Buh Bye, 2011

2011-12-31T22:31:00.000-08:00

I'm having a lot of fun reading everyone's "year in review" posts, so I obviously had to make one of my own. 2011 wasn't super exciting for me. It wasn't bad at all, but not the best. Nothing really huge happened, but it was definitely a growing year. I worked on growing my business, got a few new jobs, watched a lot of Netflix, knit for miles, taught myself some new skills, conquered my fear of fashion blogging, did some treasure hunting, read some new books, and did a bunch of other stuff too. I picked out twelve posts (one from each month) to look back on when remembering 2011. Enjoy!

January - I've Been Stitchin', in which I try out my new favorite hobby of embroidery.

February - An Outfit: Feathers and Lace, in which I overcome my fear of fashion blogging and show off an outfit with some blurry pictures.

March - Eye of Sauron Hat, in which I let my geek flag fly by knitting a hat to look like the big eye from Lord of the Rings.

April - Molly Weasley Knit Skirt, in which I knit my first skirt in preparation for my all-knit costume for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

May - Crafty Workouts, in which I try to be funny/kind of a little bit serious about how crafters can get some exercise while multitasking.

June - Mr. Potato Head Hat, in which I make a hat with detachable felt facial features, a la Mr. Potato Head.

July - Harry Potter Party Decorations, in which my friends and I throw the most magical party in all the land.

August - Hamburger Hat, in which I make a hat that looks like a hamburger.

September - DIY Chevron Headband, in which I share a tutorial for a super easy headband (especially if you've ever made friendship bracelets).

October - Costume Party: Stewie Griffin, in which I create a costume to look like everyone's favorite cartoon baby.

November - Apple Pie for Dummies, in which I attempt to make my very first apple pie. It was delicious.

December - Muppet Hats, in which I create ten different hats that look like different Muppets. Yes.

I have so much planned for 2012 already and I can't wait to share it with all of you! I hope your year is filled with lots of fun and pizza and ice cream and other happy things.

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter

Buh Bye, December

2011-12-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

December is my favorite month of the year, and I'm really sad it's over. Fresh starts are cool and all, but January doesn't hold a candle to December. My month consisted of: baking up a storm, some new craft projects, decorating for Christmas, buying and receiving amazing gifts, reading some new books, warm sweaters, hot tea, and some other pretty great stuff. Take a look:

Some of my favorite blog posts from the month included:

And here are just a few goals I have for January:

Get. Organized. I'm a firm believer that you don't need a new year to get a fresh start, but the craziness of the holidays always brings about some messes, so it's time to clean those up and get back on track.
Save money. Again, December was a time of spending and now there's nothing more I could possibly want. Time to reel in the online shopping a bit.
Cook more. I went out to eat so much in December, and it was fun, but now it's time to actually make real food every night. Pizza every day is great for the soul but not so great for the arteries.
Redesign this blog and start on some branding for my new shop.

I hope you all had a great December and I hope you're looking forward to an even better January (if that's possible)!

Keep up with new posts: RSS // Bloglovin // Twitter