Suddenly Found

new name!

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 23:14:00 +0000

After much consideration and much debate on Etsy with a few of my team members and also my friends, I decided to rename my blog!

I think "Suddenly Found" is a great name for the new direction I want to go with my blog. I really want to start displaying photography and fashion but still have crafts and diy projects so I think this name is good!

What do you think?

a change

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:27:00 +0000

I have been blogging for a year and I have 94 followers! I think it's awesome even though it may not be much, but now it is time for a change and I hope my followers stick with me.

I have been debating for a while to change my blog and shop's name. I have been debating it for a while because I like my name and it is unique but I do think that I have out grown it. Do anyone else get that feeling, or am I just weird?

I have been considering the name "down to earth" but I don't know if that is the name I want to stick with or better yet if the name is even taken.

I am horrible when it comes to commitment, so it would be great if you guys could give me some advice! I would greatly appreciate it

short hair is the best hair

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:03:00 +0000

For me at least! I love my short hair, it is easy to maintain and perfect for this 101 degree weather.

So here is my medium/thick hair:

And with the help of my Magical Stylist, I this lovely short hair!

Best decision I made so far in this year. I love it.

yum it's monday!

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0000

I am more excited about having a kitchen then actually having a apartment. I love cooking and to be able to cook in my own place has been a pretty eye opening experience.

I have been addicted to looking up cooking recipes online, here are my favorites.

Paula Deen seriously knows my heart and soul. This cake is so beautiful and I want to make it so bad but I know Handsome Fellow will be freaked out if he sees this cake and there is no special occasion.

I am actually making this lovely treat, this weekend. I am excited to try it because I am going to use pepper jack cheese. I discovered this summer that I went from lover of dairy products to lactose intolerant. So there are certain dairy products I just can not eat, luckily pepper jack cheese is not one of them!

I love chili. I think that's one thing me and Handsome Fellow can agree on when it comes to food, we both love chili. We especially love Potbelly's homestyle chili, but there isn't one in the small college town so we just have to wait until a trip to Dallas or whenever we go out of state. I am committed to making my own special chili recipe, I don't know why, but I really want to do it.

Last but not least salad! I love a good salad, like not just one with lettuce and a couple of tomatoes. I am talking about the salads with the works! Eggs, cheese (I hate being lactose), nuts, berries, sweet tomatoes, cheese, my mouth is drooling at the thought.

diy tutorial: garland headboard

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:06:00 +0000

So if you have been reading, I have been in quite a pickle with what I wanted to do for my headboard.

While becoming searching on pinterest for ideas (I love that website) I found this image.

Looking at this image as my inspiration I set out to make my one of a kind headboard!

What you will need to make this beautiful headboard: Old book pages, fishing line, and a stick ( My roommate found me this awesome stick while bike riding)

Sorry for there not being pictures of how I made this, but I'll try to make up for it better.

Step 1: Cut circles out of your book pages. For this you can use a punch out circle tool or you can do what I did, which is just trace random household items and then cut them out.

Step 2: Using a thumbtack I begin to poke a hole on one side on the circle then I poked a hole on the opposite side.

Step 3: I strung the circles onto the fishing line tying knots at the end of each circle so that way they wouldn't fall.

Step 4: I take the ends of the fishing line and wrap them around the stick a couple of times then tying a knot holding the line of circles in place.

I hope this is at least a guide into you making your own garland for your headboard. I wondered how it would look with a assortment of vintage dollies, I think that would be a amazing garland too.

new place a new day

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:40:00 +0000

I feel so bad because I have not really blogged! But I moved into my first place and it feels amazing. Though it is a campus apartment, it feels way different then living in the dorms and it is very different then living in my parents' house. I love it, cause it is my own, and now I can drill holes into my walls (I don't know why this makes me happy).

The only thing that I have really seemed to conquer is a small piece of wall next to my desk. I finally hung up family pictures and a few items. I love it! I can't wait to add on to it with cute art prints and photography. It is a work in progress and will for sure keep my busy.

Other then that, I am still organizing and planning out the details of my small living space. I still can't decide on a headboard (I didn't think it would be this complicated) and I have so much white wall, I feel kind of isolated, it's weird!

But other then my now "home dilemmas" I am excited to be working on a new design for my blog (squee like a little girl) and I am finding a new place to do my art prints! I have been debating for a while if I wanted to pay the extra money to get prints done from a out of state place or to get them done locally. I am still testing out some of my prints with different shops to see who gives me the best quality, but I have pretty much narrow down my decision.

In September I will update my blog and my etsy with all new items and design. I like to think right now I am taking a sabbatical from updating my etsy and just work out these creative juices without feeling as though I have to meet a deadline.

I hope it works out the way I want, and if not, it still will work out for the best, right?

hair ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:21:00 +0000

So I have hacked all my hair off, but I haven't had the chance to take a picture. I wanted to show you guys a few pictures me and my mom (because she still couldn't believe I was cutting my hair) thought would be a suitable hairstyle for me.

Oh how I love Emma Watson, not just for her playing Hermonie but for cutting off all her hair and still looking more gorgeous then ever. I love the pixie cut, because it has a feminine feel about it even though it is a boy's haircut.

I loved Rihanna more when she had short hair. This was my main inspiration for getting a haircut. I love her hair and how even though in the back it is completely cut she still style her bangs and looks amazing. Now she has red hair and I am not a big fan.

When I told Handsome Fellow I was getting a haircut he quickly thought of Halle Berry (he has a crush on her tehee). I love her hair, but she is too bold for me, I love my bangs and it looked like she cut hers off, great hairstyle but not for me.

Hopefully in a few days you guys will get to see my new hair do. FYI I love it, at first I kept touching the part of my head where there use to be this huge amount of thick brown hair to only feel a soft patch of hair. Not going to lie, I kind of cried. But it is day two and I love my hair, I think I love it the most because it is summer and like 110 degrees in Texas so having thick hair would have only made it even worse.

things i love

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:38:00 +0000

So I haven't done "things i love" in a very long time and I haven't really been blogging (sorry for that). I have been really busy with moving into my new apartment ( I will officially be settled in Sunday), finishing last minute projects for my mom's classroom (I am the alternative instead of buying items out of the teacher's book) and also debating whether to cut my hair off.

I have seriously sat up all night wondering if it is a good idea to cut off all my hair because I have had it since I was little. In my family, my parents barley let me get my hair cut, I only get it trimmed and my mom always do it, but now that I am 20 and this is my last year being in my parents house, I have been debating whether or not to get rid of my very thick locks. If I do, they will surly be missed, but I would love to have a new hair style.

But back to the things I love!

Handsome Fellow bought me this book for my kindle a couple of weeks ago. I am almost done with it and I am so in love with it. Handsome Fellow is always looking for books about interracial couples because of us, he is so cute!

GOD! I need winter to come already! I am making this, even if it makes me cry..

My dream is to have a collection of crochet blankets for my future home. I have already started on one, some odd hundred more to go.

Instead of "You Are My Favorite" I would put "You Are My Dream Come True" that will surly make my Handsome Fellow Blush!

Last but not least, the inspiration for my apartment bathroom! I have already begin working on my shower curtain (by the way it is pretty awesome!). I love yellow, it has become my new favorite color and I can't wait to deck my bathroom in yellow!

diy tutorial: geometric jewelry with shrinky dink paper

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Geometric jewelry is in and I am in love with it, but I really don't have the money to spend on buying jewelry let alone buying jewelry from etsy (like I really want to) so I guess I have to make my own!

Supplies: Shrinky dink paper, permanent markers (you can also use acrylic paint and depending on your shrinky dink paper color pencils), scissors, hole puncher, optional: exacto knife jump ring and chain of your choice.

1. Look up inspiration! I usually go to pinterest and see what people have pinned under geometric jewelry. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, sketch it out before you draw your design on your shrinky dink paper.

2. After you finished your sketch and you like your design, you can start drawing your design on your shrinky dink paper. Remember that whatever size your design is, it will shrink to 1/3 of that size.

3. Now it is time to cut. If you are like me and you have empty spaces in your design and you want to cut them out, use an exacto knife before you cut your image from the plastic. Once you cut your blank spaces out, you can cut your design out using your scissors.

4. Punch holes where you want your jump rings to go through. I used a 1/8 inch hole puncher.

5. Following the directions of your shrinky dink paper, put your design in the oven. I usually put foil at the bottom of my pan to keep the design from sticking.

6. Take it out the oven and using a smooth napkin or your hand (it will be really hot!) take the plastic out of the pan and press it down on a flat surface.

7. Add your jump ring and your chain and WALLA! You have your own geometric necklace using shrinky dink paper.

You can also take this same method and use it to make you a cute pair of matching earrings!

Here is another necklace I made along with matching earrings.

sponsor spotlight!

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:26:00 +0000

blog//shop//twitter//facebook

blog//shop//facebook

getting organized

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:08:00 +0000

My mom and me have a constant disagreement about how I organize my crafts and my art supplies. Living in the dorms I had plenty of drawers to stuff my what nots into but now that I have an apartment and I am living with three other girls, I have to be "more organized" my mother says..

Every time I go through my organization phase, I clean out my closet, my drawers, the dark abyss under my bed and throw everything away. Sometimes the stuff I throw away doesn't mean anything to me, well that's until I start a new craft and I end up spending money on something I threw away. Sometimes I just want to kick myself in the butt.

Well now I have been looking at ways to keep myself organized and keep my room clean, I don't want my roommates to come in my room and be like "Oh My God! What is this place?!" My mom has done that to me before and it really hurt my feelings. I don't know exactly what I am going to do, but I have been looking at images for ideas.

Hopefully whenever I move in my apartment 2 weeks from. Organizing my endless junk, won't be so hard. Hopefully.

inspiring words...

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:07:00 +0000

This week has been hard, it was hard all the way up to today then I saw Handsome Fellow and family during their visit to Dallas.

Sometimes life can be shitty, and people can give you shit, but you have to move on with your life because if you stay in the past, your present will be crappy and your future will pass you by. I know it's hard to live by these words but if you at least put forth a effort then maybe your days will get better.

I am hoping that will be my case.

preview: custom carnival inspired print

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:53:00 +0000

The beginning of next week I will be adding two prints that can be customized for customers to my etsy shop. They are both inspired by carnival style font and the bright colors that come to mind when you think of a carnival.

Until then, check out the rest of my listings on etsy!

inspired by color: bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:24:00 +0000

I move into my apartment next month and I have not really had a set idea of what I want my bedroom to look like. The beauty of having three roommates is that the kitchen and bathroom are places we all use, so I don’t have to decorate them so that means all of my energy and creativity can be dedicated to my bedroom.

I have at least decided on the colors I will be using. I really love turquoise and gold, they are slowly starting to become a leading color in my closet, so I guess it was only natural for that color to come into my room. I don’t know exactly how my room will be set up or what I will even put in it but I am hoping that I can reuse a lot of my old items from my dorm room and maybe get a couple of items from a salvage shop.

Though I don’t know exactly what I am doing, I do have ideas and a lot of inspiration. Here are some things I would love to make for my room or buy. Enjoy!

1. Chunky Wood Floor Mirror 2. Lola Side Table 3. Long Black Distressed Hook Board 4. Live Love Pillow 5. Kantha Quilted Throw 6. Everday Is The Start 8 x 10 Print 7. Entangled by the scent of tea print

my childhood is coming to an end

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:54:00 +0000

As you all may know Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is out Friday. I am not too excited about it, not because I don't like Harry Potter but because when I think of my childhood/teenage years Harry Potter played a huge role in it. So I am not excited to see my childhood end and I am not happy to see that there will be no more Harry Potter.

I remember when I got the first book, it was a good year after it had been released and the only reason why my mom bought it was because she didn't want me to be bored on our trip to see our family (they lived about three hours outside of Dallas). I read the book and instantly became bored with it. I never finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone.

I didn't pick up another Harry Potter book until after I watched the first movie. I remember seeing the first movie with my mom and how I begged her to let me see it the Friday it was released. I was in love with the magic, the characters, and I was in love with Daniel Radcliff. After that movie I pleaded with my mom to buy me the second book, I finished it a week after she bought it.

Fast forward to now, I am still in love with the magic, the characters but I have my hearts set on Rupert Grint and Emma Watson's wardrobe. I still remember to all the midnight book releases I dragged my mom to and all the movie premiers me and my friends talked about for days. I still remember it all and I am sad to see it come to an end.

I know that there are still people out there that believe Harry Potter is encouraging witchcraft, but it doesn't at least not to me. I think that J.K. Rowling was trying to encourage readers, no matter their age, to believe in themselves. That no matter the obstacle that life throws in your way, give it your all and never give up.

I learned so much from these books that they are a part of me (sounds corny right?). I just hope that whenever I do have kids, they will have a book series that will touch their heart just like the Harry Potter book series has touched mine.

diy tutorial : braided scarf

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:49:00 +0000

My motto is that there is never a wrong time to make a scarf.

You'll come to realize that I love scarves and I have a portion of my closet dedicated to them. I have loop scarves, knitted scarves, lace scarves, silk scarves etc. But the one thing I didn't have before is this scarf. When I saw it on pinterest, I knew I had to make it.

This is easy to make and you can personalize it to make it your own so just my tutorial as a guide.

Warning: These images were not taken in the best light, so please forgive me!

Supplies that I used: 1.5 yard (54 inches) of turquoise jersey knit fabric, sewing machine, sewing needle, thread & iron

1. You are first going to do the "non braided" part of the scarf. I just used the length of my fabric as the length of my scarf, so for my non braided scarf I had two pieces that were 54 inches long and 14 inches wide. I then sewed three sides leaving a opening at the top.

2. Turn the tube inside out and then press with your iron. You can leave your opening raw edge or closed, but you will cover this part up later.

3. For the first briad, you are going to cut a piece of fabric 12 inches wide, still leaving the 54 inches length and then cut it into three even pieces. Cut all the way until you are 1 to 2 inches (personal preference) away from the top of the fabric (this way your braid is still attached). Now get something to hold down the fabric while you braid it.

4. After you are done braiding the fabric sew up the end using your sewing machine.

5. For the second braid you are going to cut a piece 9 inches wide and 54 long and then cut it into three even pieces. Again cut all the way until you are 1 or 2 inches from the end of the fabric. Braid the three pieces.

5. Again sew up the end using your sewing machine.

6. Using your scraps cut a piece of fabric around 8 inches long and 8 inches wide. Then fold it hand fold it in half, sew two ends and leave a opening. Turn it inside out and press.

Side Note: I did not sew all my pieces into individual tubes, instead I gathered them together and tried to sew them to the cover up. my mistake! If you want to make it easier on yourself, take each piece and sew the end to the opening, forming a tube. In the end you will have three individual tubes.

7. Take your three pieces and arrange them to your liking then line your "messy" edges together. You are going to take the piece of fabric you just pressed and use it to cover the "messy" edges and to also hold it together making the three tubes into one scarf.

9. Take the raw edge of the cover up and begin to hand sew it to the pieces using a whip stitch. Once you are done, knot it.

10. Take your finished edge and hold it tight as you begin to do a whip stitch to close the cover up.

And walla! You are finished!

I can't wait to wear this in the fall/winter with my other scarf I just knitted.

etsy treasury: uptown guy

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 23:21:00 +0000

Grey asymmetric zipper jacke... LeMuse $129.00	Unique Well-Made Two Tone Sp... OruAka $12.45	Two-toned handmade bow tie marrakechia $8.50
billfold wallet with card sl... inblue $17.00	Retro Bike Diagram Bicycle S... happyfamily $18.00	15" Large Brown journey... theipadtravele... $134.95
Orange taste Men's Socks... RGsocks $36.00	Black Tuxedo Jacket with hoo... Wendelart $175.00	Personalized Moleskine Journ... harlex $77.00
Gray Men's Beanie KnitsDuNord $24.00	SAFARI STYLE solid color sho... CairoVintage $26.00	PEDAL Small Lightweight Back... mediumcontrol $37.00
Transformers Optimus Prime D... abcuff $18.00	Stainless Horse Shoe Twice W... BeadSiam $12.50	Mad Men - Aqua yumalum $32.00
Jellyfish Jacket Chikabird $69.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

tales from austin

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:18:00 +0000

Back in March me and Handsome Fellow decided to embark on a trip together. Our destination was Austin and all that she had to offer. Slowly but surly we have been trying to document our trip with pictures, stickers and creative drawings.

That is my hungry face.

This is my first time journaling a trip. I have learned a few things: I need to write down what happens that day, I forget things very easily. I don't need the fancy scrapbooking gear to make a pretty awesome journal, just my imagination and my pictures.

I love doing this, I can not wait to go on another trip. Maybe next spring break I'll go to Boston or New York.

Time to save up money.

inspired by scandinavian designs

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:06:00 +0000

Recently I have been wanting to do a Fall collection for my shop. I wanted to do more prints that were design instead of illustrations for the Fall and one of the reasons why I decided to go with that is because of this Scandinavian mug I found online.

I am excited to get started, I have a lot of ideas in mind. The only thing I am debating is if I want to do them in prints ranging from sizes 4 x6 to 8 x 10 or do I want to start making posters?

sketchbook so far

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:51:00 +0000

I know it isn't much, but I was so excited to share this, since it was my first doodle in my new sketchbook. Sorry for being weird.

botanical print jacket

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:22:00 +0000

A couple of weeks I found this green jacket at the thrift store. I wasn't exactly looking for a jacket, just pants, but I remember seeing a tutorial on Honestly WTF, where they used botanical drawings/pictures and put them on a regular jacket. Was it just coincidence, that I found a green jacket, that fit me, for $3? Maybe, but for now I am just taking it as a sign that someone wanted me to make something amazing.

Sunday I finally got around to buying iron on ink jet print sheets. They are so freaking expensive for like only 5 sheets! After much complaining, I finally bought them and started to make my own botanical print jacket.

If you want to learn how to make your own botanical print jacket, click on this link.

debating

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:23:00 +0000

I am debating whether I should change my blog's design again. I blame the fact that I am a graphic design student for this sudden urge to change my design.

I love being a graphic design student but I have a issue with it too. I always make these awesome designs and I love them but then two weeks or maybe a month later, I want to change it because I learned something new.

I have so many ideas of what I want my blog to represent... But I can't keep changing it. Maybe I will just wait until the Fall and do a huge uplift of my blog.

What do you think?

inspiring words...

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:59:00 +0000

Hope this helps you to be inspire this summer.

d.i.y planner part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Have you ever been to the store in search of that perfect planner? There are so many things that you want out of your planner that a department store planner can not offer you. Some of the planners that have attributes you want are expensive and the others that are affordable don't have enough. So you come to this crossroad of whether you should pay for an expensive planner and still not have all you need or pay for a cheap planner and sacrifice what you wanted.

When you are looking for something to organize your life, I feel as though you shouldn't have to sacrifice, it really isn't fair. So yesterday I had been searching for ideas or tutorials on how to make your own planner. A couple of sites I found were helpful, but the templates were all wrong and it was just becoming frustrated to search for something that I knew I would have to make myself.

So that is exactly what I am going to do, I am going to release segments of my process of making my own planner. I hope this is helpful to you and inspires you to make your own planner.

The first thing you want is to ask yourself what do you want your planner to have?

I wanted my planner to have:

1. Monthly Calenders/ Weekly

2. A list section

3. Blog Organization

4. Inspiration

5. A section for Notes and Goals

I want my planner to not only be a source of organization for my daily life but inspiration and motivation to do daily obstacles. I want it to be another journal that I will have with me during classes and work. I need my planner so that way I can keep up with my school work, my work schedule, my blog and social activities all in one place.

The next thing I ask myself is what does each section is what do you want out of each section? Now this part, not everyone does, but I wanted to write out my ideas of what each section would look like or what I want it to have when I do a sketch.

1. Monthly Calenders- I want my monthly calenders to have art on the top and the dates at the bottom. I want each calender to be before the weekly sheets.

2. Weekly Sheets- I want my weekly sheets to have lines in each section so that way my words won't run together . I also want there to be a section for Notes/Doodles.

3. Blog- I want a section for blog brainstorming. I want the template to include a post date, title, notes and other. I need there to be a big enough space at the top to doodle and write random things that may pertain to my blog but do not deal with a post.

4 Lists- For grocery/school supplies/ craft supplies and etc. I want this section to also keep track of coupons & items that I will need. One of the items I want in this section is a envelope (fabric or paper) to keep up with coupons and/or receipts. Also I could probably use this section to keep up with how much money I spend. (I need this section so I can keep up with how much money I spend)

5. Life- The section for me personally. Here I want to write my goals and my inspiration. I want to draw and add pictures. I basically want this to be a smaller form of my journal.

I know this is a lot, and maybe you won't have to take the same steps I did to see what you may want out of your planner. But for people who are like me, who have this awesome idea and then forget, writting down everything you want out your planner isn't such a bad idea.

Next time I will be posting my preliminary layout ideas. Warning ahead of time: These images are pretty rough haha, I was sketching on little sleep and I really wasn't aiming for perfect, I was just aiming for my idea to look right to me on paper.

new sketchbook

noreply@blogger.com (Desiree' Vaniecia) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:02:00 +0000

I have been putting off buying a new sketchbook for a while for two reasons: 1. I am completely broke. 2. I had a couple of sketchbooks at my parents' house that were half used. So I decided to use the sketchbooks at my parents' house until all the pages were covered with doodles. Well on Sunday, the day had come, where I had not that many pages to doodle on. Sad day.

Well luckily for me, my mom had just sold back all her textbooks to Amazon and received a gift card voucher with a lot of money on it (I never get that lucky with my textbooks), and so she offered to buy me a new sketchbook! Isn't my mommy awesome.

I am suppose to get it today, and I can not wait, I have been looking at other people's sketchbook to get inspired.

I also want to start journaling, because as my hunny likes to point out I forget things very easily. So I am really excited for my new sketchbook, hopefully I stick with it to the last page. I hope this inspired you to go out and draw, because I can wait to cut up paper, draw and write in my new book.