JustLove.ly

treasure finds: monticello

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

If you are anything like me then as much as you like purchasing old stuff, you like looking at it even more! I could spend all day walking around looking at things. Old, vintage, retro, antique, junk.. whatever you want to call it- put it in front of my face and I will be a happy girl! Recently I visited Monticello Antiques which is an antique mall set up in booth style. This means that each booth is owned my someone else and they decorate and sell what they please. This is my favorite kind of set up because each booth is different and its treasure finds galore!

Don't forget to follow along on instagram as I explore our new city, try to remember places I want to visit and somehow find my way back home each day! Oh, if you know of some must see spots in Portland that I haven't checked out yet, please share. xo

explore: crafty wonderland

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:22:00 +0000

I officially hit up my first handmade market in Portland- Crafty Wonderland. I was actually supposed to be a vendor, but had some personal scheduling conflicts. I'm glad I was still able to check it out because some vendors I really wanted to see were there! To check out their full vendor list visit here.

I almost went alone since I only know a few people here & some of them had booths there, but since the powers of social media can create new friendships- I took the leap and met up with a cool new friend Andrea (that I had never met before!) and we had so much fun. You know as an adult not only can it be hard to make new friends, but it can be scary too! Thankfully it worked out because I found someone that loves thrifting, target, good food & coffee as much as I do =)

weekend links: keep sharing the good

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:20:00 +0000

Whenever we enter a new season my mind fills up with ideas. Its a time to create new goals, start to-do lists (and hopefully cross things off), evaluate my body & closet - because lets face it summer is almost here and this chick is no where near swimsuit ready. Its not only a time for me to reflect on my life and what I'm doing or want to do, but I love seeing how everyone else is living too!

Lately I've seen this backlash of people hating on the pretty pictures, the perfect blog posts, the gorgeous instagrams of what can be perceived as a 'perfect life'. I just cant help, but to want to tell them all to shut up (sorry!). Why would I share an ugly picture of a laundry pile (that I'm sure you are aware of what it looks like), when I can share something like pretty flowers I saw on a walk or the yumminess of a smoothie? My friend Casey shared a great response to this topic here and Tara Swinger shared a great reminder too! I hope that when I share something that I find to be funny, pretty, tasty or just lighthearted- that it can somehow make your day better. We are all living a different life, but I want to keep seeing the good stuff- I have enough laundry piles of my own to have to see anyone else's =)

In keeping it real- if you have any interest at all- this week:

We had take out 2 nights in a row, as I had no desire to cook.

I only made our bed once

We watched every episode of American Horror Story in 2 days

I only posted on the blog once this week & it was a guest post

and we went out of town to visit my parents for the weekend

it was a good week!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, here are the things I'm loving lately..

swoon worthy interiors via dwell studio

graphic b/w clutch via rouge + whimsy

the do's and don'ts of getting a haircut via rue magazine

MAKE:
blooming word art- seriously I love this!
banana egg pancakes and share em with me =)
any photo into a polaroid- easy easy easy
these faux metal letters, this is on my project to-do list.. the list is getting long!

SEE:
this beautiful textile shop on etsy
a cool necklace i swooped up a few weeks ago & seem to be rocking quite often!
great branding at work with this amazing shop.. i want like one of everything, please.
5 easy tips for making basic photos more interesting

DO:
check out this personal post on because of jackie (yep shes a sponsor & yep i heart her)
find a place to let your passion for photography bloom!
read this post- might change your perspective if you are against people on their phones.
take advantage of my friend chelseas spring special for blog design (use code spring5)

5 favorite blogs of the week:
blood & champagne
your friend ashlee
floral & frayed
jenny highsmith
bellovia

Check out previous weekend links here! xo

dwell: casey leigh

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:56:00 +0000

Although I tend to focus on indie business & the handmade community here, I still have many interests. Most include home decor, music, thrifting, coffee, good books & lip gloss. I have been wanting to start this project for a while in sharing my love for home decor and am excited to introduce Dwell to the blog today.

Dwell: to live as a resident, reside. to exist in a given place or state.

Our homes are our hearts. They are a reflection of our style. The place we build and keep memories, dreams, love, struggles.. you name it. They are the spaces and places that make up a home and I've invited some friends to share this part of their lives with us. This weekly feature kicks off today with my beautiful friend Casey, enjoy!

Hi! My name is Casey Wiegand and I blog over at CaseyLeigh

My favorite spots in our home are the spots created for my little ones. Their rooms hold so much heart. So many beautiful memories are made in these spaces and so much of my soul is in these corners of our home. Today I am sharing bits and pieces of their spaces.

I have three little ones and these spots are created for them. These are beautiful spaces where they can play, imagine, dream and dwell.

To find out more about Casey check her out here: blog: instagram: facebook

Do you have a beautiful & unique home, room or even spot in your house that you would like to share?
Email: blog@justlove.ly (subject: dwell) to be considered. xo

weekend links: stay humble

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:59:00 +0000

Hi friends, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! For me, it was all about business planning. A lot happened this week (beginnings and endings that I will share here soon!), but it has given me a new focus that I can't ignore and the print below is perfect for it. I've also been on a studio kick as I get my work space to be everything I want it to be, or everything it can be in this little condo of ours!

Lastly I have been driven with a huge desire to create and can't wait to share that here more often. Earlier this week a friend mentioned how I was number twenty-three on blog lovin diy blogs and it was so funny to me because last year I was number nine! Obviously the creativity fell off my plate, but I want to find it again (3 second rule??). I want to gobble up as many projects as I can, it really is a huge passion of mine that goes hand in hand with my lifestyle and interests.

motivational monday by eliza cerdeiros

a round up of inspirational work spaces by modern buttercup

a tutorial for garden and plant markers

MAKE:
a smoothie! check out 52wks of smoothies by miss indie (yummm!)
this adorable book clutch!
a new drink- try this chipotle whiskey sour
a star light garland.. this is super cute!
something, anything... check out all these projects by fox & hazel.

SEE:
a cute & quick home tour via deer circus
5 crushes then & now- i'm still digging joseph gordan-levitt!
these insanely cute sunglasses- i wonder if they would bug me though..?
some creative job openings in the l.a area (dream jobs!)
if you won't be overwhelmed with all the resources oh my handmade shares

DO:
Listen to some of these playlists, i love the mixes that kelly ann creates!
make a messy fishtail like this, its so perfect for spring
giggle at the white house and their new tumblr account =)
check out these sweet and simple blog designs
find new blogs to read or advertise with here!

VISIT (favorite blogs of the week):
treasures and travels seriously i love love love these girls
blythe ponytail parades been following a while, but adoring more this week
yesterdays sweetheart new to me read that i'm totally swooning over

Check out previous weekend links here. xo

make: printed fabric

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:48:00 +0000

Projects for the home are one of my most favorite to do. Don't get me wrong I love shopping for decor, but at the end of the day seeing something I made feels just a little more special. Since we recently moved to a new city, I've been trying to come up with more projects I can do that have a high impact with low cost (because lets face it, moving isn't cheap!). I've seen this plus sign print all over lately, but in my quest for pillows one case having a price tag ranging from $38-52 wasn't doing it for me- this is where the diy saves the day! (i originally shared this diy on gussy sews)

You can use this tutorial for any sort of fabric project you have, but today I'm showing you how I made new pillow cases for our future home. The supplies I used were fabric paint, brush applicator, stencil and pillow cases. I used a thin piece of cardboard for my stencil, which was hand drawn & cut out with an xacto-blade. Tip: Pre-wash and dry your fabric so the chemical base the manufacturer uses on the fabric comes off and it accepts your paint better.

If you are going to be making a lot of prints with your stencil make an extra copy as the paint can weaken your stencil as it gets wet. Place a piece of cardboard or some sort of protector under the layer of fabric you are working with so it doesn't bleed through. Tap your brush in paint and dab-dab-dab like this to fill up your design with paint. Tip: if you aren't a stencil type, opt for stamps!

When you finish lay flat or hang to dry for a minimum of 24 hours and wash & dry your fabric again (or follow the manufacturers instructions from the paint you are using). This project is great because it really can be used for so many things like tote bags, scarves, baby stuff... enjoy!

If you have ever painted on fabric how did it go? If you have any tips or tricks, share with me!

meet & win: artifact uprising

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:41:00 +0000

Artifact Uprising equals love at first sight. From the beautiful photos they share, the products they create, the story behind their company- its all something that drew me in from the get go. We have been talking since last October and I'm so excited to finally have them here today!

Thanks so much for joining us today. I've been following you on instagram for a while now and love every project & every picture you share- first I would love to know how did you get started with Artifact Uprising?

Serendipity has been kind to us. There are three of us who started this company - and continue to run most everything happening behind the scenes. What began as an idea born from our photography careers spiraled into experiments baking photo books in our oven (yes you can bake books in your oven - though we can't say we were successful!). We spent over two years ideating and inquiring and losing faith and beginning again. All of that adds up to what you see here.

We hope our company reflects the spirit to empower the creative in everyone, a company that never forgets where it came from or where it hopes to go - a company that values beautiful design and thinks green. We invite you to join us...to hold us accountable and inspire us with your art.

Ah thats such an amazing story and I won't lie, I'm really intrigued by the book 'baking' part!! So what exactly does Artifact Uprising mean?

It's a multi-layered concept - this idea that we need to think about what we're leaving behind and the tangible stories we tell at this time when our digital platforms and cloud-based solutions expand. The name also accounts for our environmental values. We use reclaimed fallen waste-wood in several of our products with the intent to give new purpose to artifacts of our forest.

You can imagine our doubt when we landed on a 6-syllable name - worried it was too long and perhaps too strong in it's message. But it's the one to which we kept circling back. So we went for it - and it's taught us that if you believe in something, if you have something to say - go for it. The world needs it.

I love the name, its intriguing and beautiful- So tell me, in the world of social media where photos are available online in an instant for all to see, how do you encourage others to put these photos in paper format and really enjoy them more than just fingering through their phone?

A day came when we realized our documented lives were sitting on our phones and computers - with no true place to live on. And so the story goes, "inspired by the disappearing beauty of the tangible." We are a printing company - yes - but at the end of the day we are just a few people who think about that - the stories we're leaving behind.

Its all about stories- thats why I love a good coffee table book which is always a conversation starter, you seem to be providing that- but its still about preserving memories so do you have any advice on how to capture moments better?

Shoot a lot. See yourself as the artist you are. Live a life whose stories need to be told. And just continue to create.

What I love about your company is that you can create a book with any photos (camera or cellphone format) how do you actually feel about all these cellphone photographers and do you see it ever overshadowing the use of using real cameras?

We live in an incredible time for the sharing of photography as art - a great democratization essentially underway. The technology is catching up with the creativity that's always been there - always waiting to be discovered. I've always thought the camera to be a technical piece of equipment with a finite amount of operating knowledge. Beyond that, it's really about how you see the world, how you find light, how you see emotion. So this new world? It's just that - it's a world that credits the eye of the underdog just as much as the professional.

There will always be a place for the professional - for their craft, for the way they see the world and for the equipment they use. If anything, this growth in cell phone technology has just as much elevated and encouraged a renaissance in those circles. It's all fascinating for the future - and the documented landscape of what we're leaving behind.

So very true! You know another thing I noticed is how being environmentally friendly in the production of your books is essential, why was that important to you in creating this company?

Simply put, the Colorado outdoors have shaped so much of who we are and that matters. It's personal. We've long admired companies who hold tight to their values, who find a way to make those values accessible to the market, shift demand and ultimately affect change. Right now, our interior book pages are printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled papers. It's a start. We have a lot to learn and continue striving to find more ways to use waste materials. It's not an easy or convenient task but it's the most important thing we can do.

Thanks so much for joining us!

(courtesy credit for photo 1, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5- all others via artifact uprising)

Check them out : SHOP // INSTAGRAM // PINTEREST // FACEBOOK

This giveaway is closed (comments disabled) winner:

Anne

weekend links: crave

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 07:29:00 +0000

As spring shows its face around these parts, I crave: accessories, fresh flowers and fun projects. I think I found them all & then some! My weekend was pretty mellow- I saw The Revival Tour on friday night with my dearest friend Cameron. Saturday was spent taking the rest of the inventory photos to relaunch Fawn & Flora and today was decidedly the best couch day ever. How was your weekend?

rings. rings. rings via cole haan

the prettiest florals & photos via manzanita

easy candle making via for the makers

SEE:

the beautiful work space of samantha wills (swoon!(

how easy it is to build a workable wardrobe

a vintage inspired lovely & a fun quirky must have!

how to take care of business..

MAKE:

some yummy recipes like this or this- mouth.watering.now.

these unique push pins- so fun!

post it notes even cooler, also if you think of this then i like you even more!

DO:

find ways to be more productive!

learn all about the small change project

appreciate & learn during a big house move

check out this beautiful look book of creations!

VISIT: (favorite blogs of the week)

the nectar collective

bubby and bean

tastes like love

Check out previous weekend links here. Hope you had a good one! xo

make something: instagram coasters

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I shared this insanely easy tutorial on Gussy Sews last fall and I thought it would be fun to share here in case you missed it. Have you tried making your own coasters yet? If you did and you had any questions about this tutorial or you have any new tips & tricks, make sure to share!

Since instagram is all the rage and the photos are already a square I decided to save a few photos from my feed* and print them on the paper. Cut your photos to fit the frame of your tile and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge directly to the tile and place your photo on top. Project tip: allow your printed photos to dry completely or use Mod Podge for paper for the first layer to prevent ink bleeds.

Smooth out the print to remove bubbles and allow for an even coverage then apply another layer of Mod Podge over your photograph. Allow some drying time and repeat to build up a few layers. Once completely dry use clear sealer (spray or liquid- your choice) to prevent drink condensation or spills from ruining your work. Project tip: I used clear spray sealer, simply place tiles on paper and in a ventilated area just spray each piece following manufacturers instructions.

To prepare the bottom for table top use you can purchase pre-made felt sticky pads, some cork board or just make your own like I did. Cut small circles of felt for each corner of the tile or a square large enough to cover bottom then adhere to tile (I used hot glue). Project tip: to get the best use out of your new coasters, lightly wipe clean or gently hand wash when needed.

This project is not only easy to make, but totally customizable, which makes it a fun project to do with friends or to use as a gift. You could snag a couple photos from one of your friends IG feeds and surprise them with a new set of personalized coasters. Have fun!

*to print photos from your instagram feed just visit your own
feed via instagram.com or email the photos to yourself from your phone!

going after a little change

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:22:00 +0000

I'm a creature of change, its no big secret. I love moving things around in my house, or moving houses! I change the color of my hair constantly, the music I'm diggin' for the week, what I'm reading, etc. One thing I felt I wasn't changing though was who I was representing online.

And that was me. Where was I, in my design?

I started reflecting upon the blogs I love so very much, the ones I visit daily, and while content was obvious- their design was what always stood out. I couldn't put my finger on it, I even thought I was having a brand identity crisis, but it finally hit me: my design was based upon my business and not my own lifestyle. Although that direction was great for a while and works incredible for others, my shop and my customers are not a direct reflection of me. And I needed to change that. I think as a business owner we get so wrapped up in what we present to our customers that it can seem like they are the only ones we make happy, when really they probably don't even notice!

Per my previous design I discovered: I am not gold or glitter, chalkboard menus, floral patterns or cute fonts. I am not my shop, I am not my creations. I have so many interests and one of them is the extreme passion I have to share independent and small business, handmade & local communities. I also love to share what is going on in my life, new explorations from our big move and so much more... I love good design and free of clutter layouts that can show off the content I so desire to share. But I was scared of how to make this all work- especially since my designer would murder me. Like as in we have never met in real life, but I firmly believe she would fly from Canada to Oregon and choke me out.

I found the design below by BlogMilk and instantly fell in love. It was pre-made, but I could customize it however needed. I messaged Dana and told her my ideas and I was so sad, because for the first time in 2+yrs she wouldn't be designing my blog. But change is good and although I'm not done with the design, I'm so happy how its looking so far. Thankfully I have a rad boss with some computer skills that he puts to use at 2am his time upon request, otherwise this makeover could have been a disaster!

:: structure blog layout by blog milk ::

If something is bothering you, locate the source and make a change. Don't be afraid to be yourself, or even have a 'self' away from your business. This community is (in my opinion) so over saturated with the same stuff that it can be overwhelming to find your own place, but there are no rules, there are no rights or wrongs. And as little as a blog makeover may seem, to me it meant everything. I think I'm finding me.

finding your community

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:06:00 +0000

Community usually refers to a social unit larger than a small village that shares common values. Finding the community you belong to can become quite the challenge, especially if you dwell in a small town or you simply can't find your people. Moving to Portland, I knew this wouldn't be a problem because the resources for the handmade community overfloweth! With just a little browsing, I found so many great places here that I can't wait to check out.

I'm participating in my first Portland market on May 11th with Crafty Wonderland and while browsing their site and clicking on through about five other vendors I came across ADX / Portland, a membership based 10,000 sqaure foot space that caters to the thinkers & makers. Helping creatives by providing resources such as a work space, machine use, classes and support by other artisans.

Through them I found Destination DIY, an independently produced public radio show and podcast bringing you stories about all kinds of creativity. They hold Makin' It: listening party & project nights, basically, beer-pizza-live dj & projects. Obviously I'm going next time.

Also through ADX I discovered Portland Made, a collective of Portland based designers, local goods retailers, and manufacturers. I'm attending their launch party tomorrow night and wanted to share a little more about them with the video below. I plan on doing a recap of the event, so don't miss it!

Portland Made from Portland Made on Vimeo.

If you have been wanting to find a community of your own and don't know where to start- try connecting with a etsy street team, browsing the community section of craigslist for local events & classes and even a quick google search. You never know what is out there until you look for it!

the things that made my week

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:07:00 +0000

If you follow me on instagram, then please forgive the re-post of these images. I like to share them for some of my friends & family that don't have the good-ol-gram. If you aren't following, my name there is @thingslovely come say hi! But for now these are some of the things that made my week!

spring planting & a dirty mani // decorating our very empty home

some new kicks // a smoothie fix- have any favorite recipes??

visiting a legit barbershop for the husband // uh- amazing lunch.... and yes i did pig out.

a ryan gosling coloring book, because obviously // and a girls night out

And in between these fun photos I had days of laying in my pjs, zit cream on my face, a messy house and dog walks where I forgot to take a baggie for Arthurs accomplishments on the community lawn (yeah i'm that person occasionally i guess?). It was normal week and I like those.

inspiration: coachella

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:02:00 +0000

Hold on to your inner flower child, the Coachella music festival is in full swing. My favorite part is checking out the fashion trends as they seem to influence styles for a carefree summer. If you aren't familiar with Coachella, you are missing out. Dating back to the mid to late 90's its a yearly event full of music from a variety of genres staged in a southern California desert. Each year they come out with their roster of artists so I try to make playlists that make me feel like I'm there too, with attendance at over 80,000 last year I think I'm okay with my little at home music festival. You can watch a live stream of event on their website here.

photo source

Coachella style is effortless, young, nostalgic of out door shows from the 70s and just plain pretty. Bangles on bangles on bangles. Frayed jean shorts on tanned legs, florals, crowns, sunnies. Its all there. And its all perfect.

Even if you aren't the festival type, you can't deny the inspiration that is created by the music and fashion coming from it. So make a play list, put a flower in your hair and have a great weekend!

shop local: austin

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:24:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I started a new series here called Shop Local. Its where I browse etsy based on a specific city and share some of my favorite finds. Since I had just moved to Portland it seemed fitting to share my new city with you, but now its time to take this show on the road and explore all the amazing artisans out there. Here are some goodies from Austin, Texas.

Pendant: Tea & Tentacles

Card: Little Minnow

Leggings: Grace & Lace

Print: Artsy Pastel

Bag: Eleventy-Five

Print: Quiet Rabbit Studio

Necklace: Son of a Sailor

Soap: Feather Red

Join me next time as I explore Boulder, Colorado! Don't forget, I love finding new shops to support and creatives to love- leave a link to your own or share a shop you think I should check out. xo

currently

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:40:00 +0000

watching// the following & carrie diaries. something serious (and so so very crazy!) & something fun, its a good balance. have you watched the following and want to talk about the level of nuts this show is?

reading// weekly i've been reading gathered on my ipad, in print I just finished up mindy kalings book and need to find something light hearted like that again. any suggestions?

browsing// anything and everything that betty means business posts, plus enjoying all the art that the beautiful kelli murray creates, i can't even decide which one to purchase- help!

visiting// everywhere! having only moved here last month means i keep myself very busy finding my way around the new city I get to call home. also the adventures my gps takes me on are pretty surprising!

enjoying// being able to start calling our house a home. as we settle (or try to) each day it starts to feel more like ours and where we are supposed to be.

dreaming// about the adventures we want to take this summer- visiting new to us neighborhoods and shops, local eateries, going on hikes and even road trips. since brandon is only home 2wks each month its a lot of fun jammed into 14days!

and because life can't always be (& isn't) perfect...
hating// my lack of discipline when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle and feeling good about how I look- as i've struggled with infertility for 7yrs, its becoming very clear to me that i am my own worse enemy, especially when it comes to losing weight for fertility treatments.

What are you up to lately? If you post something similar make sure to share it in the comments so I can come catch up. xo

In the Studio: Acute Designs

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:01:00 +0000

One of my goals this year is to focus on the passion I have for independent, small and made by hand businesses more often. Through this I have been able to meet some amazing artisans to not only share with you, but ones I am lucky enough to build relationships with. The friendship I've made with Gina makes me so happy because although we are in the same business (making accessories) we are truly supportive of each other. No shady business over here!

Today she is sharing snap shots of her studio and her experience as a business owner. Hang out for a bit, get to know her and don't forget to check out her shop full of beautiful creations! Oh and use code justlove15 for a little discount.

Regina Morrison is the owner of the handmade accessories business {Acute Designs}. Through {Acute} she designs hair, jewelry, and bridal pieces. In addition to designing and creating, she also blogs about her life, her business, diy projects, and {a little too much} about food on her blog.

- Gina thanks for joining us today, first I would love to know what led you on the adventure to become an accessories designer and independent business owner?

I spent eight years in cubicle jobs, babysitting, etc trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. For two years I worked in a government job for the military and was literally bored into action. I started my business while at my day job and was constantly scheming and dreaming while I was supposed to be working. There’s your tax money hard at work my friends :).

My business and blog started slow and I grew them as much as I could in a year and then quit my day job. I quit a week before my 30th birthday because I knew I could not be 30 years old and in a soul sucking job without having a mental breakdown. That was two and a half years ago and it has been a crazy and rewarding ride.

- I love that story! Now that you are 2+ years in, what would you say have been your biggest accomplishments and struggles with Acute Designs?

My biggest accomplishment is how far I have come as a designer. I had no formal training before getting into this game, and admittedly, my earlier designs showed that. In the same regard, one of my biggest struggles with {Acute} is that I don’t have formal training and sometimes my lack of knowledge means it will take me a little longer and a lot of trial and error to get things right. - Well your creations show its a natural talent! So where do you see yourself taking Acute Designs and do you have any details of new things to come this year?

I just want to keep growing the business as much as possible – mostly through wholesale accounts. The wholesale side of my business grew a lot in the past year and I hope to continue that growth into the rest of 2013. Hopefully soon I can bring on an employee to help with that growth…working 12+ hour days can get exhausting.

This year I am releasing a spring/summer wedding collection {set to release in May} and my summer is packed with shows.

- That sounds exciting and I'm always so anxious to see your new releases. Now I know you have used a couple types of online store fronts to support your business, do you prefer one over the other?

I think I prefer Etsy. I love the idea of having my own website that isn’t affiliated with a “sellers” site but Etsy just brings me so much traffic. I use both my own online site and Etsy and work hard to drive traffic to both, but no matter what I do, the Etsy site just gets more traffic and sales.

- So besides the shops, how do you support your business offline to get it out to people? I sell in several stores throughout the country {a list of stockists can be viewed here} and I also do shows. I used to do just about any show I could find, but truthfully, art/craft shows are exhausting and not my #1 favorite thing to do, so now I only focus on the big ones.

In February I participated in my first trade show in an effort to drum up wholesale business. It was a great experience and I plan to try it again this summer.

- I followed along on instagram when you did that show, thats great to know. I have to ask- what type of advice would you give to someone that wants to start their own online business?Don’t half-ass it. Don’t do it for “fun” and then copy what you see other people doing to make their living. If you’re going to do it, then go at it 110%. If you just like to craft here and there, then do that for fun but don’t try to make a quick buck by low-balling your prices to compete with those of who actually use our handmade business as an income source.

Also, be true to yourself and your vision. Money will come and go, it’s ok to say no to a customer or client if you don’t feel comfortable.

Thank you so very much for hanging out Gina xo

Acute Designs

blog // shop // facebook // twitter // instagram

Don't forget to use code: justlove15 if you go shopping!

I love finding new artists and am always on the look out for unique products, amazing stories and of course cool people to chat with. If you think this sounds like you and you would like information on how to be featured on In the Studio please email blog@justlove.ly with a link to your shop.

treasure finds: thrift score

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:15:00 +0000

I have been on a mission to find a table for one of the walls of our living room, something I can put a record player (& records), books, a plant and large print on. I have been checking big name stores, local shops & craigslist for something that just feels like 'the one, but no luck.

Last week while out running a few errands I drove pass the mother ship of thrift shops. Seriously this place is huge, so huge it has a cafe in it. What? I was surprised at how empty the store was and one of the employees told me that the entire store was 50% off the next day -well well- I like saving, but I like being in an empty store more. I took my precious time browsing and hit the jackpot with all these goodies for $39!

Since we had previously collected so many things over the years, I promised my husband that I will be more thoughtful on my thrifting adventures and I know we can use everything. Okay maybe everything. I won't lie, I have no idea what I need a light up telephone sign for- but really? How could I not.

Treasure Breakdown:

side table 15

lamp 5

blanket 5 (which i turned in to a rug)

light up sign 5

hanging fruit basket 3

black wire basket 2

drawer 3 (perfect for supplies in my studio)

jar 1

Oh and if you're wondering, I still haven't found the table I'm looking for!

march was new

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:33:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but March flew by insanely fast over here. It was the first full month being in Portland and now that April has made its appearance, I'm realizing that I am no where near settled. When you go and sell all of your belongings (except my studio stuff!) and start completely over, it can become the biggest weight on and off your shoulders.

(photo via my instagram)

To feel free of belongings and now make only intentional purchases is amazing, everything I choose to bring in to our new home has more purpose. I think everything through now before I commit to it. In part I do this because I know how secure we felt when being able to save money this winter that I dont want to blow it and I also am aware of how much crap we accumulated over the years.

The new stress now is more of little inconveniences like not having a couch for 4wks and basically living out of our bedroom. Not feeling settled enough to make meals in our own home, no vacuum or mop. You know, little things. But as we fill our home with the things we need, it becomes just that- a home again.

March was a time when:

- we tried new restaurants

- read books in bed

- listened to sam cooke while unpacking

- enjoyed the beginning of spring

I think April is looking pretty good around here and I can't wait to share the progress we have made! xo

a portrait of strangers

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:57:00 +0000

A few years ago I was with my family at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and had recently purchased my Canon 5d, so I was eager to take as many photos of anything and everything that caught my attention. I remember we were in the Passages of the Deep and my husband was standing across from this couple looking through the glass. The exhibit was full and busy, my parents and grandparents quickly moved on through and my husband wandered off before the herd of screaming children ran though.

In all the chaos this couple just sat and observed and although I couldn't stand still long enough to witness whatever they were, this picture of the strangers always reminds me of that day. I have no idea who they are and most likely never will, but they were beautiful and made a memory for me that I will never forget.

make: felted ball garland

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 01:02:00 +0000

Today I asked Dani from Be Good Natured, to share a felting project with us. I've seen the felt ball garlands around and since she is an amazing felter I thought it would be fun to start from beginning to end so you can learn how to felt as opposed to just purchasing the pre-made pieces.

Dani is the sweetest so make sure you check out her blog where she writes about her felting adventures, DIY projects and about how she works at a zoo! How fun right?

SUPPLIES USED:
Wool roving or batts / Felting Needle / Foam
Large sewing needle / Embroidery Floss / Scissors
For some of these supplies check your local craft store, etsy or even livingfelt.com

I'm a sucker for rainbows, and I'm longing for some Springy colors, so I chose lots of bright wool for my garland. You can easily customize the color based on your own design needs!

Decide how big you want to make the balls. Keep in mind that you they can't be any wider than your sewing needle, otherwise you'll lose your needle in the ball as you thread them up. :) Compact the wool in your hand to determine how much of the roving you'll need for the size balls you want.

You can go ahead and divide all of your wool into this amount if you want. It certainly does not have to be exact.

Time to felt! Grab your felting needle and foam. Livingfelt.com has most of the supplies you will need and tutorials that are easy to follow if you feel lost at all make sure to check them out or do a quick google/youtube search for more resources!

Keep your ball compacted, and carefully begin to shape it with your felting needle. (If you've never needle felted before, here are some tips: Always felt on top of some kind of foam. The needle will go through your wool, poking into the foam as you felt. Never look away and always be mindful of where your fingers are. These needles are sharp and barbed, folks. It hurts when you miss...)

As you poke, the barbs are compacting the wool fibers. So, turn the ball as you poke, making sure to cover the entire surface. The more you felt, the smoother and less lumpy your balls will be.

Voilà! Just a *few* more to go.

After you've felted to your heart's content, now decide what order you want to string up your balls. To go with my rainbow wool, I thought it only fitting to use some rainbow embroidery floss.

The wool provides enough friction on the embroidery floss, so you shouldn't have to secure each ball in place.

To finish off your garland, you can tie small loops at each end or leave the floss a little longer to wrap it around a nail, depending on where you will it.

Hang it up and enjoy your wooly decor!

shop local: portland

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:20:00 +0000

Now that I'm in a new city, it makes for a perfect excuse to find some new local artisans. With shops on every corner, I will have my work cut out for me, but why not find them easily online? I'm starting a new weekly series here called Shop Local and will pick a town every week to curate etsy shops to share with you. Since I'm now a Portland resident (finally!!!), its only right for me to start here.

I love to discover creative talent, but finding the unique in that bunch is even more fulfilling. As a small business owner myself, I'm naturally drawn to incredible design & branding and feel that no matter the size of the shop or how many sales, it always feels so amazing to find others making and selling beautiful goods. Here are nine shops doing just that.

Dress : Aniela Parys Designs

Print: Ashley Goldberg

Stamp: Paper Sushi

Clutch: Anna Joyce

Bath & Body: Harlow Creative

Print: The Black Apple

Necklace: Then Now Always

Print: Lettered & Lined

Kit: Urban Cheese Craft

Because I love finding new businesses to love & support (plus I'm sure you do too!) I would love to invite you to leave a link to your shop in the comments section. If you don't have one, but maybe a friend does- or you just have a place you are totally swooning over- leave a link below. xo

weekend links: getting settled

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 07:40:00 +0000

I'm slowly, but surely getting settled and trying to play catch up on everything all at once. Sometimes it is so great to take a break from the pressures (that maybe I make up myself?) to post regularly or share new things, but after those breaks I miss my blog terribly and I'm glad to get back to a more normal routine of things.

I've been knees deep in design & decor ideas for our new place, but I'm craving some DIY time and can't wait to start making things again in my new studio... things like these-

wish bracelet via oh hello friend

no sew pocket tshirt via oh the lovely things

number wall art via nalles house

SEE:

if you can avoid the temptation of making these!

this pretty pretty pretty shop.

the coolest nail polisher chic I know

MAKE:

anything and everything with washi tape!

time to discover this!!! (its free to sign up)

more fun projects with the help from chic tags.

DO:

check out august wrinkles jewelry sale!

read this post on being authentic.

FAVORITE BLOGS OF THE WEEK:

A Daily Something

Lovely Indeed

Hello Lidy

You can check out my previous weekend links here, hope yours was great!

Three /// Things: managing busy changes

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:44:00 +0000

Oh friends I have missed you so. It has been a little more hectic than planned around here with the move, but isn't that the way it goes? Its funny how much change can happen in a short amount of time, four hours from our previous home and its a completely different world here. Add busy on top of this change and its another story!

image via designlovefest

I once heard that 'busy is a matter of choice' and that still rings true whenever I hear it mentioned. Lately I've been learning how to manage my own busy while adjusting to change at the same time. Here a few things that I've implemented-

Plan and be okay with the unplanned.

Its easy to make a plan, but sometimes things can happen where your plan may stray off course and being okay with that will make things so much easier. We were supposed to have internet the day we moved here, that meant I planned on getting right to work the day after the move. Four days later and still no connection put a dent in my plan, but I used that time to rest from the move, explore the city a little more and enjoy the down time. I try to come up with ideas or plans and get a little input from others, that way maybe if I'm missing something they can open my eyes and we can find a better way to do things. When things don't work exactly like planned, the way you handle it can make a world of difference. Although I am a set goals type of girl, I'm also very much a go with the flow type too. Things happen, its not the end of the world. Breathe, smile and make the most of it. If you need to then make plans B, C & D if plan A fails.

Give what you can, but don't give your all.

I know that I love giving 110% in everything I do, but lately I've found that giving that much to something means I'm not giving much at all to anything else. When I want to focus my attention on something I have found that neglecting other things can make the situation more stressful. Big jobs, deadlines, orders.. etc. they all need to be done, but so does taking a shower, walking the dog, housework and so much more. I would never give myself to only 10% of each thing, that would make me scatter brained and things would come out half ass. But giving myself to just one thing means I have a huge pile of other things right behind it. The best thing I have done for myself is to take breaks to refocus and allow me time that means I will do things the right way, instead of doing things with a fogged up mind. I didn't schedule blog posts when we moved (as you obviously know) and I feel horrible because I have advertisers counting on me to work for them. I lowered my prices knowing the move was coming and I hooked them up with extra time on their ads to show them that I'm still here. However, if I gave all of myself to worry about this situation- I wouldn't have been able to focus on our move and things in my own life. I found time to write them quick notes and was able to give what I could to my business and personal life without neglecting either.

Be open to the new.

Everything around me feels so new and exciting right now and I know that will pass, but the spark of inspiration is something I hope won't burn out anytime soon. For myself I need visuals to be stimulated enough to do something. Browsing a vintage store, going for a walk, flipping through a magazine or even popping over to Pinterest are all ways that visually take care of me. If we do the same things every day we are putting ourselves in the direct path of finding a rut to fall in. Don't find the rut (if you do its okay), but try to avoid it! Try something new, anything. Go to tea with a friend instead of happy hour, leisurely browse a shop with ample time to soak it all in instead of popping in just for a quick purchase, visit the library or a near by coffee shop to get online instead of sitting in your house. Whatever it is try something new and be ready to be inspired. If you can't control change, then make changes where you can.

Managing or making changes while taking breaks from busy have been a huge part in keeping myself calm and allowing me to enjoy every moment of it.

I'd love to know- How do you manage change or being busy?

make: painted fabric prints

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:35:00 +0000

Yay!! We are all moved & finally have internet, I will catch you up on everything soon. But today you can catch me hanging out with Maggie of Gussy Sews, sharing a fabric printing project that is so insanely simple you might get in trouble for painting on anything & everything you can find!

Head over to check it out & let me know if you have any fun tips or tricks for fabric painting!

blog & business tax time

noreply@blogger.com ({just.lovely.things}) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:38:00 +0000

Its that time of year when you might question how much you love what you do. Is your small business or blog worth the time, expense and hard work you put in to it? For me the answer is an obvious Hell Yeah- but all sugar coating aside it takes a lot of work. For the next month I have some amazing friends stopping by sharing advice on how to get your business in gear & in tip top shape for rest of the year! Today Helena from Sweeter CPA has some tax bits for you..

Preparing for Tax Season: Tips for Bloggers and Small Business Owners
Tax time is coming! While that may strike fear into your heart, there’s no need to put off your preparation. Here are some steps to make this tax season easier.

Step 1: Gather
In order to calculate how much you owe the IRS, you first have to get your paperwork in order. Did you work for someone else? If you were an employee, your income should be reported to you on a Form W-2. Contractor earnings are reported on a Form 1099-MISC. These forms were either sent to you in the mail or you should have received instructions via email explaining how to access them online. They were due January 31, so if you still don’t have them, you are well within your rights to call and ask!

You may have also received 1099s from your bank or financial institution. Interest earned in the past year will be reported to you on a Form 1099-INT. Forms 1099-DIV show any dividends you’ve received over the past year. If you’ve made any changes to retirement plans, you may receive a Form 1099-R.

image source

Step 2: Prep
If you are a small business owner, your journey to a completed tax return has another step. You need to prepare your books from 2012 to make sure all your income and expense items are included. If you are using accounting software to keep track of the money you earn from or spend for your business, this step will be much easier!

1. Make sure you’ve tracked all the income you’ve received from your business. This could have been reported on invoices you’ve sent to clients, Forms 1099-MISC you’ve received as a contractor, or receipts from sales.

2. Be sure to keep track of all business expenses! Check out Heathers post from last year for a detailed list. You or your accountant will report these expenses in categories on your tax return, so be sure you can explain each expense.

If your accounting software allows you to run a Profit and Loss statement, that is all you will need for this step! Easy-peasy.

image source

Step 3: Dive in!
Now that you’ve gathered the documents you need and prepped your small business info, it’s time to dive into the returns. While online tax preparation services will guide you through the process, here’s some vocabulary so you can be confident of what you are filing:

• Form 1040 - this is your annual tax return.

• Standard Deduction - the government allows every taxpayer a standard amount to deduct from their yearly income. This amount grows with inflation, so it changes every year. You will enter this where prompted on Line 40 of your Form 1040.

• Schedule A - Instead of taking the Standard Deduction, you also have the option to itemize - or list out - your deduction items. These items include home mortgage interest and medical expenses (so people usually stick to the standard deduction until they own a home or have a major health crisis). You have the option of taking the standard deduction or filing a Schedule A to list your itemized deduction amounts, so take the deduction that is greater!

• Schedule C - this schedule, also filed with your Form 1040, is where you report earnings or loss associated with your small business. The schedule goes through all your possible sources of income and expense to calculate your net earnings for the year. If you have inventory, you will detail related costs on the second page of this schedule. The net earnings (or loss) will then show up on page 1 of your Form 1040.

• Schedule SE - Self Employed people who earned more than $400 in the past year will need to fill out a Schedule SE to report self employment tax.

Step 4: Get Help
If you aren’t confident you can prepare your taxes on your own - or if you think your time and expertise are better spent elsewhere! - reach out to an accountant. They are here to make sure you complete everything correctly and get all the possible deductions. Besides, money paid to a CPA or tax preparer is deductible on next year’s return!