the velvet bird

I wish Georgia wasn't still on my mind...

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +0000

- Mug shots of some of the many volunteer civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South in 1961 sourced from Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders.

"We decided that we were going to take up the freedom ride. There was no second thought really...We met with [The Nashville Christian Movement] and told them what what we wanted to do. Of course they felt it would be too dangerous, and told us not come. We were calling him not to get permission, but to tell them we were coming."—Catherine Burks-Brooks (photo top right).-

Photo and excerpt via Tomboy Style

Okay, all of that has nothing to do with this post, it will be a random mash-up of thoughts and tid bits.

We were supposed to leave for Portland on Sunday afternoon... and we are STILL here. It turns out we underestimated packing a little bit, as well as were just super busy. Portland isn't going anywhere, so we aren't stressed out or anything, spirits are still high! The good news is we are leaving tonight, finally! It is sort of surreal leaving here and our now empty house, this was our first/only house we've lived in since getting married.

So after our 46 hour drive, followed by getting settled into a new house (and first finding said house, ha!) here are some things you can expect around these parts:

I have been researching screen printing/ received supplies for Christmas, so expect fun new things involving that to be for sale
Lots of posts involving Portland places/ Portland friends
More photography! I feel like I have been letting that fall to the wayside even though it is one of my favorite things
The very VERY beginning stages of making wedding dresses (!!)
More diy posts (It may be too late, but you will want to find some after Christmas clearance clear ball ornaments!!)
More recipe posts! I am in DESPERATE need of eating healthier, I practically fall asleep dreaming of vegetables and miso soup ( I sing a song anytime I make/think about/eat miso soup, it involves the words "oh miso soupy"... I am a five year old)
Oh, and new dress designs! I've got crazy plans of linens and pin tucks and much more

Did this count as New Year's themed post? I'm never very good at those. But if I had to make a 'resolution' it would just be to enjoy everyday/every person a whole lot more. No matter how good you think you're doing, there is always room to love people more. I for SURE have room to work on that!

I hope you all are doing just great and I apologize for the long and rambling post!

If the Shoe Fits...

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:23:00 +0000

Well friends these will be my last Georgia photos, for tomorrow we move to Portland! We love Georgia and it has been just great, but it's time for new things. Hopefully just bigger and better things! We are going to live with some pals who are just crazy enough to follow us on this big move. I am sure the majority of married grownups don't sit around and dream of living with three other people, but the majority of most grownups are too worried about things and are too serious. I have lately been loving life more and more every single day (which is weird considering things have been stressful and busy!). And the way I see it is if the worst thing you have going on is possibly living in a tiny house with lots of good friends... well then I would say things could be a WHOLE lot worse.

If you can't tell by this outfit, I must have the Northwest on my brain. Plaid? Sweater? Brown? Fair isle? Check, check, and check! This just might be my favorite thing I have worn in a long, long time. So if I don't share what I'm wearing ever again, it's because I am still wearing this.

Win a Mr. Rabbit of your very own!!

Speaking of favorites, this rabbit necklace is one of my favorite things I own now, I love it. It's just the perfect size, length, everything. I have never gotten so many compliments/questions while wearing something. My lovely sponsor, Rachel of Poppy and Fern, wants to give one of these bad boys away to you guys. I can't say no to an animal in a suit, I am so excited the love will be shared with someone else! She is also offering a 25% discount, just use the code "velvetbird25".

To enter leave a comment showing Rachel some love by visiting her shop and telling us your favorite item. Giveaway is open until January 10th... good luck!

Dress: plaid version of this // Necklace: c/o Poppy&Fern // Sweater/hat/tights: gift

Fanciness Vintage and a giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:05:00 +0000

*** EDIT! Open until January 10th!***

My friends! Here is a little giveaway and mini interview with one of my wonderful sponsors, Cara from Fanciness Vintage. Her shop is just full of great pieces, I am thinking I need this coat for the winter weather. She also has a blog, isn't she the cutest girl ever? Cara answered a few questions for me and also has something extra special to give away!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Cara, I currently live in Florida with my four rescued kittens, Beatrix, Oliver, Henry, and Gus Gus, and I'm the shop proprietor of fanciness vintage. I like cold weather, fancy dresses, kittens (obvious), and Buster Keaton. When I'm not working on my shop, I spend most of my time digging around in antique shops and flea markets for pretty vintage treasures. I think the 1920s were magical. I like to play dress up in lace 1930s dresses in the early morning hours while listening to Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith on my record player.

What inspired you to start your own shop?

I've been shopping at thrift stores and antique shops since I was very young, I remember bringing home 1960s faux fur coats and 1940s heels when I was thirteen or fourteen. It really always felt like finding hidden treasures for me. I would continually bring home vintage clothing that was too big for me or not really my style, because I always knew that I eventually wanted to open up a little boutique of my own, so I was sort of 'squirreling away' all of these pieces until the time came when I would open my shop. As I got older, I realized you could have an online boutique of sorts, and it seemed like the perfect thing for me.

What is the best part of running a shop and/or being involved with the online community?

The best part of running a shop is working for myself. I love the freedom it allows. And also the fact that my job is to constantly shop and buy clothing doesn't hurt, either. I do also love the sense of community between vintage shop owners. I've met many wonderful people via Etsy and Twitter that I'd not have otherwise known.

What is one of your favorite holiday traditions?

I typically start getting excited for the holidays in August or September, maybe sometimes July even, because I live in Florida where it's hot ALL THE TIME and when it's at its hottest the only thing I want to think about is cooler weather and drinking hot cocoa and bundling up in cardigans and tights and listening to jazzy Christmas classics. I don't necessarily have any specific holiday traditions, but I do like to bake a lot during the holidays. I also try to go to St. Augustine at least once every December, because they have a Nights of Lights thing going on- they cover the whole town in little white lights and have brass bands playing Christmas music in the town square. It's very quaint and nostalgic.

Win this brown 1950's handbag... thanks Cara!

To enter:

Be a follower of mine and Cara's blog, and then leave a comment telling us your favorite item from her shop.
Follow Fanciness_ on Twitter and leave a separate comment
Become a friend of Fanciness Vintage on Facebook

Good luck and giveaway is open until January 10th!!

Grandma's Sugar Cookies!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Dear friends, I have decided to share with you the most delicious recipe for sugar cookies. Ever. This might just be my biased opinion though. I think possibly multiple times every Christmas I have eaten/decorated/baked these cookies. They have just become known as "Grandma's cookies" because, you guessed it, that's where the recipe came from. They are the perfect texture- soft but can hold up to being decorated and stay good for quite awhile.

I would like to point out that they contain shortening, which I pretty much avoid using completely. But I figure once a year isn't really that big of a deal... so enjoy!!

The Best Sugar Cookies
Makes 3-4 dozen

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4-6 tbsp milk

Directions:

Cream shortening, sugar, and eggs together
In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and salt
Add dry ingredients to wet, alternating with the milk. ( I think I usually end up using all 6 tbsp of milk, you just want the dough to be wet enough to come together in a big clump)
Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (the colder it is, the easier it is to roll out)
Preheat oven to 375
Roll out dough on a floured surface and get out the cookie cutters!
Bake for 8-10 minutes. I usually go for 8 minutes and take them out when there is barely a hint of tan on the edges ( I like them soft!)
Decorate!!!!

p.s. I used this frosting recipe, it is awesome. It's really easy to use and the tops dry to a nice smooth finish, so you can stack them up and not have a frosting mess.

A Little Update

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I just thought I would pop in for a quick post in between sewing up a storm. Here is a list of things that have happened lately, all very riveting of course.

We got our Christmas tree and then went out for an impromptu Japanese food dinner afterwards, I remembered to bring my camera- sans memory card.
It is December and still 72 degrees outside... I am not happy about this
Had a very fun anniversary of dinner, fancy hotels, and more eating, and took hardly any pictures
Saw the Muppets on Thanksgiving. It was wonderful
Started the Insanity workout (AGAIN) yesterday, I want to cry just thinking about having to do it again tonight
I check craigslist like 10 times a day for Portland houses
I am working on orders and wholesale orders this week, but afterwards I really need to take time to make myself a few things. My goals- velvet shorts and a Portland weather worthy coat (That second thing is kind of a necessity)
Oh, did I mention we are moving ACROSS THE COUNTRY in less than a month? Help me!

Photos above:
1. Anniversary date breakfast, with a handsome dude
2. & 3. Packaging up some orders
4. Made some homemade chai concentrate the other night, to drink after getting our Christmas tree of course (used this recipe, but with honey instead of sugar, delicious!)

Sundays Are for Friends pt 4

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:14:00 +0000

I bring to you... another friend! This time around I would like to introduce to you my friend Christen. She is the cutest, nicest, and craftiest lady, just take a look around her blog for some evidence of those facts. We met years and years ago (through band/touring stuff, but that is kind of the only way I know anyone, ha ha) and I was on a tour with her husband (before they were together). Obviously her hubby is not the point of this post, but let me just say that he is by far one of the most genuinely nice persons we have met, he goes out of his way to help you with anything. Back to Christen! She is so sweet and I really wish we got to see each other more often (I heard a Portland vacation is nice... hint hint). Her blog is filled with her wonderful creations, outfits, and pretty pictures. She also has an equally amazing identical twin, and what is cooler than that! I fear I am feeling short on words tonight, but I think the proof is in the pudding. Take a browse around her blog and shop!

Black Friday Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Announcing....

Free shipping this whole weekend for Black Friday on any and all orders!!!!!

The Many Lives of Lola pt 4

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Introducing the newest (just today!) addition to my shop... Lola Goes Exploring! I have been excited to add this skirt for quite some time. Its twirly, short, high waisted, and fun...what is there not to be excited about? This piece is completely made to order, based off of your own waist measurement. There are also some more fabric options so be sure to head on over and check it out. I have really been trying to figure out a way to have an item that is much more affordable and I think I did it!

I am also now offering gift certificates!! A few of you have mentioned hoping that one of my dresses ends up under your Christmas tree...so I thought this was the best way for that to possibly happen. I will be sending fun handmade cards as my "gift cards". Yay!

Sundays are for Friends pt 3

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:50:00 +0000

With all of the excitement of Patrick coming home last Monday I skipped a sunday friends post,whoops! I should mention Patrick came home as well as the two other guys that live here and three extra people, so it was crazy! The extras left and then the roommates packed up and moved out in preparation for our BIG move coming up. So our house was mostly just crazy for the week. (No roommates means I get a big huge sewing room)

(read about this picture here)

So...I bring you the third friend! Meet Sara Renee! Sara is one of the most amazing and talented photographers ever, and possibly (and more importantly) one of the funniest people ever. I was in a wedding she shot and that is how we met. Funny story, in said wedding (Abi's) Sara wore my boots and the next week my wedding photographer wore Abi's boots (p.s. Abi and I got married a week apart). So if you are a wedding photographer you must borrow a bridesmaid's boots to work in, it must be a rule.

Oh yeah, did I mention she is GORGEOUS?

I want to be like her when I grow up, although I believe I am older.

Getting Crazy!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:34:00 +0000

So last week I decided it was time for a little trim. I also decided it was about time to go to an actual salon. I have done that once in the past 5 or 6 years, and that once was 3 years ago. I thought I would keep my little salon visit a secret from Patrick, which is a very easy thing to do when he is (well, was) on the other side of the world. I haven't wanted to cut my hair at ALL in years, not even for a split second. But apparently Patrick being away makes me lose my mind, because I came out with this...

I came in with this picture.... I would say my stylist NAILED it. Also, please excuse the fact that I don't really know how to style it yet.

Meet my roommate for my month alone, Pete. Not the bravest companion, but definitely the best snuggler on the planet.

P.s. I am still not convinced that I didn't lose my mind. I worked so hard at growing my hair out and never really got to experience the full long hair experience... I was supposed to at least learn how to braid my hair! Oh well, it is just hair after all.

P. p. s. There are still some spots available to be a sponsor for the rest of November/ all of December. But they are going up soon so get in now if you'd like a spot!

For the First Time Ever...

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:00:00 +0000

I have decided to offer the opportunity to advertise on this here blog! I absolutely love the community aspect of blogging and would like to include that in as many ways as possible. This being a first time thing, I am offering something a little more special. This first month will actually be a month and a half... so you will get half of November and all of December for the price of one month!

I also must mention that if you are advertising for a shop it doesn't have to be handmade, but it does have to be sweatshop free. I very strongly believe in knowing where products come from and the conditions they are made in, so this will have to be carried over into who I partner up with. That being said, I am so so excited about working with you guys and I know making more good friends will come out of this!

Visit here for more information!!

The Many Lives of Lola part 3

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:27:00 +0000

So somehow I forgot to finish posting about each piece of my collection...how? I have no idea!!! Well anyway, meet....

The Lola Goes Outside Capelet!

It is a little hard to tell, but this little cape is made out of a tweed with gold thread woven throughout. What do you get when you add tweed, sparkles, ribbon, a peter pan collar, AND vintage floral fabric? Perfection in cape form! I decided to throw sensibility out the window and design something completely for the sake of fun and whimsy. This is cape is made for prancing in the woods... or anywhere and everywhere!

Sunday Are For Friends pt. 2

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:35:00 +0000

Hey...I am actually sticking to a plan over here...that never happens! We are back for our second friendly post. I sort of almost forgot it was Sunday today, whoops. The days all kind of blur together lately for some reason. Anyway...onward!!

Everyone, meet Lindsi! I first met Lindsi over four years ago, she started dating our friend Mike (aka Patrick's longtime friend/bandmate). She is very quiet, but so very nice! How I don't scare off quieter people within 5 minutes is a mystery to me...ha. Funny story, she caught the bouquet at our wedding and was really the next person to get married that following year! So maybe there is something to that whole bouquet thing.

Well anyway, Lindsi is so darn talented. She is absolutely the crochet master, just check out her shop (and p.s. I don't think shopping from her would break the bank for anyone, hint hint) and blog, People Webs. I am always amazed whenever I see new things she comes up with. For those who would like to take a stab at crocheting, she has some really great patterns on her blog. She lives in Minnesota at the present time, but I am really wishing I would've gotten some crochet lessons from here when I had the chance before she left Savannah. There was a granny square lesson...but I never practiced once and now know nothing. She also has the amazing knack to just make things look so pretty in general. She needs to decorate or plan pretty parties for people I have just now decided.

( perfect slippers? ummm yes please)

Oh this guy again!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:05:00 +0000

So by now Patrick has been gone for a little over 2 weeks, still on tour in Europe. What a lucky duck! Thanks to technology it hasn't been as terrible as I thought. We still get to talk on the phone probably every other day, sometimes only for a few minutes but I'll take what I can get. I think my strategy has been to just not think about it. I mostly just think about whatever is coming up immediately, even really non important things like how I should fix my hair. I sleep, eat, sew, a few days a week go to my "real" job, and go to the gym. I realize once we move I'll be staying home when he goes on tour, but that will be a little different. First... we already have lots of Portland friends (and will hopefully just make more!), won't live in the woods, and will have more things to do. And secondly, for US tours we can talk on the phone as often as we want. What was the point of this post?? Oh yeah! To show you pictures from a very very sleepy and early "date" we went on the morning the band left!

We went to a very delicious donut shop and had a very healthy breakfast. I had an amazing pumpkin donut AND a maple one. Maple donuts or maple bars are by far my favorite kind of donuts ever. Apparently they don't have that kind everywhere? I don't know where I heard that.

Have I ever mentioned we had donuts en lieu of a wedding cake? We eat donuts in this family.

p.s. Patrick is a coffee drinker now (!!!), what better time to start than at 30 years old? According to him, he doesn't love the taste yet, but he doesn't hate it anymore (if that's not a reason to drink coffee,what is). He is just trying to get cool for Portland.

Messes

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:20:00 +0000

I have a confession: I am not that good at cleaning and organizing. I never have been and I feel like I come from a line of non-cleaners. I am not gross by any means, but my brain just doesn't function that way. I have a tendency to make lots of piles, I work on a project and before I finish it I start another one. It seems like you hear that about creative people, so I am just going with that excuse. I have been trying to fix that and make an attempt to change! We use all 'green' cleaning supplies (well, except for toilet cleaner...for some reason ours refuses to be cleaned by anything but crazy bad for you cleaner), and mostly all homemade things. I had heard of a certain concoction that supposedly will clean almost anything and extremely randomly decided to try it the other day. I was walking into the kitchen to make tea when I got distracted and started cleaning the tea kettle (I was heating my water up in the microwave, mind you {maybe I have the worst attention span}). It was so exciting and amazing I had to share the results!

That nasty tea kettle above turned from that into this in a matter of about a minute.....

How you ask?? With baking soda and hydrogen peroxide!! I just put some baking soda on a sponge, poured on some hydrogen peroxide, and hardly scrubbed at all. This kettle has been so gross forever from sitting on the stove, nothing has ever worked. Apparently you can clean most anything with this concoction. Who wants to come over for tea with my now non-shameful kettle??

p.s. getting excited about cleaning is so horribly nerdy, I apologize.

Sundays are for friends!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0000

I have been wanting for the longest time to do a weekly feature on various friends I have. I feel like I know enough amazingly talented ladies to continue this feature for awhile!! I will mostly be starting out with "non-blog" friends (who may happen to have blogs!), touring allowed me to make so many wonderful friends throughout the years. It's like I got to sample the best of what the country has to offer, ha ha. These will be a Sunday post thing, that seems like a good friend day, right? So here is the first post of many!

This first one is kind of like a cheater post, because it involves 4 amazing gals working together, 3 of which I am friends with. A very, very long time ago I met Melisa. Possibly 7 or 8 years ago?? I met her husband about a year earlier than that I think! Anyway she is just amazing and so nice, we used to have a lot of phone dates, especially right before Patrick and I got married. She is so crafty, has the cutest shop, loves kitties, and Mr. Rogers. I later met her sister Danielle, and holy cow was I in friend heaven. These two ladies together are the funniest things on earth. You may have read my post about these two earlier this year, one other pal who was there but didn't make it into that post is Sarah. She too is, surprise surprise, awesome! She is an amazing photographer, and also had the prettiest wedding ever (really go look at her wedding pictures, they will choke you up).

To make a long story short, these ladies (along with their friend Andrea {who I have to meet one day!}) have started a blog together, Ain't That The Berries. It is full of DIY's, fashion, thrifting, celebrity gossip (who doesn't like that?), and pretty much a ton of other fun stuff! I am really excited to see what comes out of these ladies, I expect great things! So please go check it out and, of course, follow along because fun stuff is sure to come out of them. Did I mention they are really funny?

A wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:32:00 +0000

This past weekend, a certain lovely lady got married! It was the absolute best wedding I have ever been to...ever. Everything was just perfect. It was in an old Civil War fort (perfect, right?) so everything was enclosed in big brick walls. The ceremony took place at sunset followed by the reception, all in the same area. There was delicious food (hello, one of the appetizers was squash soup in little espresso cups!), even more delicious cupcakes, dancing, a dog in the ceremony, a CAMPFIRE with s'mores (!!), and most importantly...the most beautiful bride ever. I am SO excited to see their wedding photos, I just know they are going to be perfect. I feel so thankful for getting to be apart of something so special.

As excited as I have been about this wedding...I, of course, didn't plan out at all what to wear. So I was flinging clothing over my shoulders like a mad woman an hour before I had to leave. I won't even admit how many times I changed. Then I remembered this dress I had gotten from an estate sale. My size, nice, and fall colors? Bingo! This isn't really a style I wear ( I for some strange reason prefer dresses that look like they are for toddlers in the 60s), but I am thinking I like it! I am also WAY WAY out of the 'outfit photo' taking thing, shoot it's been a loooong time. I need some practice apparently.

p.s. you really can't tell at all, but I found the. best. necklace. ever. It is a teeny tiny squirrel and I am obsessed with it. Maybe I have pretended to talk to it once or twice before. And maybe I am thinking I need another one, maybe a bear. You just don't understand how tiny it is!

dress/shoes: vintage tights: in mocha c/o we love colors necklace: purchased here

The Funniest Ladies

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:32:00 +0000

I have no other reason for posting besides to show everyone some baby goat pictures. Weren't they SO CUTE??? I can't even stand it. Also, they were about 4 months old when we got them here, can you imagine what they looked like when they were baby babies? I sure can't, I really would die. Minty and Lola for life!

Hooray!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:48:00 +0000

First off, thank you all SO much for entering this giveaway and posting such amazingly nice things!! I absolutely loved reading each and every entry , and felt giddy with each new comment to read. I would really like to just give a dress to each and every one of you. But since that isn't possible I am giving you all a code to use for a discount until this Monday...hooray!

Patrick left the other day for a European tour and he will be gone for 3.5 weeks total. I really hate to be missing out on such an amazing trip, but it turns out moving isn't free so I am staying here to make moving money. Living in Portland is the only thing that could keep me away from a trip like this!! So order away and keep me busy for these next three lonely weeks! If you can't tell, Patrick and I do everything together so this is just no fun. But if you live in Europe check out the dates, maybe he will be playing a show near you! You can go and leave messages for him to give me.

Oh, and p.s. the winner of the giveaway is.....Lindsi of People Webs! I double and triple checked, because Lindsi is a pal of mine, but she is a friend of random.org's number generator apparently too! So...hooray for dresses!!! Also, please check out Lindsi's shop....she is the absolute queen of crochet, I am envious of her talent.

Have a dress of your very own!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:28:00 +0000

Here is the giveaway of all giveaways! As a thank you, and a way to share my excitement about this whole collection thing, I am giving away a dress to one lucky lady (or guy to give a lucky lady)! The winner will be able to choose any one item from my shop (just not this dress, for cost reasons). Anyone and everyone is eligible to enter, seeing as how I am the boss of this giveaway!

Here are the rules:

To enter you first must be a follower of this blog in some way or another (google friend, blog lovin, feed subscriber). Then you must:

Post about the collection (blog, tumblr) and leave a comment with a link.
For a second entry just tweet about the collection and include @velvetbird in whatever you write, and leave a comment letting me know.

You have until Wednesday October 19th!

The Many Lives of Lola part 2

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

Meet.... Lola Sings the Blues! What does she have to be so sad about? Why nothing at all, someone needs to tell her to buck up. This dress style might look a little familiar, but it has been reincarnated in blue with a little cream colored velvet bow added this time around (It is very, very much so still available in white, just write me!!). I really love wearing this dress/shape of dress, it feels very fun for some reason. I feel like all that needs to be said about this dress is: peter pan collar, velvet bow.

**edit- tights c/o welovecolors**

The Many Lives of Lola part 1

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:36:00 +0000

First of all I want to thank everyone for such a positive response... all of your nice comments have just made my day,week,year! This has been such a fun process and it is only just starting, so hooray for that! A big gigantic thank you to Jessie for helping me out with the photo shoot (and for the title of this post), you should definitely read her recap of the event, it makes me want to take the pictures all over again.

I thought I would go ahead and share each piece individually now! If you haven't figured it out by now, this should just be called the Lola Collection. This is Lola Braves the High Seas... This dress is my absolute favorite of the whole collection, its like my child, ha ha (my extremely difficult and complicated to make child). I just love it and it came out exactly perfectly as I had imagined it. Actually, it came out even better than I imagined. One of these will definitely make its way into my closet at some point in time. Also, the green color is called basil... how could I not choose that??

P.S. If anyone has any trouble ordering something or any question, email me!! Thevelvetbird@gmail.com

It's Time...

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:35:00 +0000

Well the time is finally here... the collection is out! So head on over to the store and check it out, if you so please.

20% of all profits are going to Love146 to fight human trafficking in the U.S.

p.s. this collection has been brought to you by lots of coffee

We're Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:54:00 +0000

Image via

I have been wanting to share this news for so long! In January we are moving to Portland, Oregon...yay!!! I grew up a few hours away from there in Washington so it will be nice being just a little bit closer to some of my family. We like Georgia but feel like Portland has a lot more to offer us. But that's not to say there aren't things we will definitely miss about living here.

I am not really going to be going on tour with Patrick anymore, and it would get pretty lonely out here in the woods for me. I love love love touring and it allowed me to see pretty much every state and meet so many amazing friends. But it is kind of hard not being able to work on anything of your own (like dresses!).

We already have some great great friends out there waiting for us in Portland and we are hoping more new friends to turn into great friends! (hint hint, ma'am)

(And the weather..... what I wouldn't give to be there now! It was almost 100 degrees out today!!!)

Lola Throws a Party Dress

noreply@blogger.com (vanessa porter) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:09:00 +0000

Well, here is the first dress reveal! I have been bursting at the seams to start sharing these with all of you guys, you have no idea how excited I've been/am! I could just wear all of the dresses at once and roll around in happiness. But lucky for you, I will refrain. There is a lot more to shoot but the weather for the whole week is off and on rain, and in the south this means crazy rain comes out of nowhere! I also now have a helper available for the photo shoot for the rest of the pieces so everything won't be coming to the store until next week. That is only a few days after my original plan for a release date, so that's not too bad! So here is a little tease to tide you over until then.

This is the Lola Throws a Party dress in pumpkin plaid (that's a mouthful!). I should also let you know that this is just the softest material I have ever felt, it is the coziest thing ever.

**edit- tights c/o welovecolors** coat & tights were not made by me!!