Happy Songs for a Happy Weekend!

So I got an itouch for free this week and i've been putting together a fun playlist, and I'm enjoying this one so much that I thought I'd share them with you guys for your weekend! It's a happy little playlist. I find myself either bouncing, swaying, or dancing with these songs! I hope they brighten up your weekend, because I know they'll be brightening up mine!

photo by Danielle (aka: queen's lace)

Happy Songs:

Pocket Philosopher-Mandy Moore
La Bamba -Leon Thomas
By and By - Lay Low
Grace Kelly- Mika
Mushaboom- Feist
Speeding Cars- Imogen Heap
Shine- Rosi Golan & Human
You Make My Dreams Come True- Hall & Oats
Upside Down- Jack Johnson
Pony (It's Ok) - Erin McCarley
Nothin from Nothin- Billy Preston

Vegetable Gardens and a Tree Swings

the vegetable garden:
I don't think I could eat for another month! Today I went to my grandparents house. We ate fresh vegetables picked straight from their garden (the decision to go down there was on the spur of the moment, so I didn't get a chance to grab my camera. If I had thought fast enough, I would have grabbed it and taken pictures of the garden to share with you guys..dang it.) We had black-eyed peas, corn, green beans, okra, tomatoes, and squash; the perfect southern meal. It was savory, delicious, heavenly. I enjoyed myself, because I knew it would be a while before getting to eat something so deliciously home-cooked once I got back to Savannah.

Oh yes. I can't forget., for desert, we had old-fashioned blackberry cobbler. The blackberries were picked as well right outside from the vine! I remembered to save room for it. My mouth waters thinking about how wonderful it was. Are your mouths watering yet? After we ate, my granddad wanted me to take some fresh veggies home (no hesitation there), so we went out back to the garden and picked corn, tomatoes, and peas. I can't wait to cook them! He also gave me some home-made blackberry jam he and my grandmother just made. I had a little taste-it was perfect. (Thank you both so much! I love you!)

With this, I've always wanted to have my own little garden. My goal is to eventually have one after I am settled in my own home in the future. I think gardens are wonderful and a perfectly sustainable way to live. No preservatives or pesticides, and its like your own little market in your backyard! I can't wait. Oh yes, and I found a website about organic vegetable gardening that is very informative if you want to start creating your own!

My Grandparents garden looks a little something like this one, plus corn.

Home-grown tomatoes are so sweet and juicy!

the tree swing:

Another thing that I've always wanted growning up is a tree swing. On the way back from my grandparent's house, I saw the perfect tree for a swing. I thought to myself, "If only we had had that tree in our back yard." Living in town, we don't really have wide open spaces like in the country where my grandparents live.

I got to swing on one at a family reunion we had down by a creek when I was around 7 or 8 years old. The location is vivid, but I definitely remember the swing. It was plain and simple. Some rope and part of a 2x4. You could walk the swing up a huge hill, settle yourself, and then drop. Oh, it was so fun, and I could swing so high. I loved how free I felt on the swing. The perfect technique is leaning back with your head tilted back as well. Then you close your eyes and imagine yourself flying as the breeze hits your face from the momentum. That was the best swing I'd ever been on. Oh, to find another.

{Click images for image source}

Keep your eyes peeled!

Okay, so I know I've had "Coming Soon" under my portfolio tab for a little while now, but really keep your eyes peeled, because its coming! I'm so close to finishing up all of the photography for it. You can look for my work within the next week of some of the projects I've executed throughout my student career at SCAD, and there be more to come in the future.

A Pleasant Rain

Today it has been raining all day long. I got up for work this morning...rain. Leave for lunch....rain. Come back to work, and leave work... rain. It's a pleasant rain though. More like a never ending light shower. Don't you think those kinds of days are nice sometimes? Now I'm home and I really want to pop in a movie to watch with my family.

Photo by 17 yr. old Oksana a.k.a {the twinkling of an eye}

Jenna's Picks

Just like Gap, and Banana Republic, I love J. Crew. If there's one around, I always make a pit stop. Here are a couple of Jenna's Picks. I adore each and every one. Check out their new arrivals as well. They are all lovely!

have a fun weekend!

Photo by John French

Oh my! I'm in love.

Oh my. Words can't describe how in love I am with these vintage neck pieces and earrings! I want them all. I found them via twitter through Etsy itself! These pieces are done by two sisters who love vintage and handmade things (a.k.a whiteowl).

Claire Cole

I love these pieces by Claire Cole. I was so amazed at her work! She uses free stitching in her work, which is very very effective. She stitches old vintage wall paper together to create beautifully composed collages. She even stitches through porcelain. Lovely.

These illustrative pieces are gorgeous. Everything works so well together. Again, the free stitching is wonderful and adds so much to the pieces.

(via Design Lovely)

Finally, a break

I can finally breathe! I've been so busy with work and class that I've slacked off on posting. Today I finally get a break from all the speech writing and the loads and loads of yellow files that have to be organized. It's a beautiful day, and I'm sitting on my front porch as I type. The sun is gleaming perfectly through the flowers nestled in the window boxes hanging from the wrap-around, and there is a perfect, slight breeze blowing the ferns that are hanging above. I could sit here and watch them rock back and forth all day. I can never get enough relaxation, so when I do, I love to sit back and take it all in, drink a cup of tea, watch a favorite program, or even better, read a fabulous book.

I found this photo via Jill Clarkson. I want this cozy nook so bad. It's the perfect reading corner. I would probably find myself in it every single day reading, or blogging. I want to take all physical aspects of this image and put it right in one of the corners of my room. It would be perfect.

Love

This is precious. Love the dress, love the shoes, love the hat. I wish I could pull off a cute pixie cut like that.

Ooh la la... wow


Simple and fabulous


The news boy hats get me every time..

Photography by the genius Sartorialist

Gorgeous Gowns

I'm not getting married any time soon, but every girl can dream right? I found these gowns on Once Wed, and guess what!? They are all for sale.

This one's my favorite by Amsale

Perfect for the beach. Designer Nicole Miller

How can you not love them? Vera Wang

Ink & Spindle

I am loving these adorable hand-printed patterns by Ink & Spindle. Ink & Spindle is a screen printing studio run by 3 textile designers, Lara Cameron, Bianca van Meeuwen, and Tegan Rose, brought together by their passion for screen printing. I love the simplicity of these prints.

Have A Lovely Weekend!

Missing my friends from Savannah :( I have the urge to send them all surprise letters!

Stationary from Night Owl Paper Company

Prints on Etsy

Hi everyone! Sorry for my lack of activity. I usually try to make at least one or two posts a day, but it's been a hectic week. Anyways, I was just surfing Etsy, and found these fun, illustrative prints. They are done by Leah Duncan, whose from Austin, Texas, and has her own stationary company called Lulu Paper. I love the use of color and layering she uses to create depth in her pieces. The uneven line quality gives these a playful, fun, and whimsical feel. I've always loved the illustrated touch. I would totally buy these!

Natalie Chanin

I felt inspired to share a well -known artist from my home town, who I discovered just at the end of last year during my Christmas break. Enjoy :)

Nestled in the small town of Florence, Alabama is a business called Alabama Chanin. The owner and designer of this business, Natalie Chanin, began producing hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind T-shirts. She produced 200 to be exact, and launched the original Project Alabama. In 2006, after Project Alabama ceased all production in the state, Alabama Chanin was born. Natalie launched Alabama Chanin to keep old American traditions and "community-based culture" in tact. I love the fact that her company is a life-style company that focuses on slow design and sustainability, and that every piece is hand-crafted and unique. I was able to meet Natalie before a lecture she made at SCAD about her experience. She is very down-to-earth and as sweet as can be. I'm a "home-town girl" so we were able to talk about what had been going on in Florence.

In her lecture, she told us a sweet little story about "loving your thread". It's a story that goes along with the trick of stroking your thread to get the oils from your hands on there so your thread will never knot up. She said, "Before we begin to make our garment, we take our thread and we run it through and through our fingers very gently, and we love the thread. We tell the thread, 'Now thread, your are going to put all the love in to this piece, and whoever wears this will show that love, and be happy with their garment'..." And she went on giving more sentiments that the thread would offer to the garment, almost like spreading luck and happiness to the person who would receive it. I love the story, and the idea. Just precious.

Another thing that I thought was really interesting was that they use every scrap they can to create a design. When she mentioned this it became apparent because the beautiful, intricate, designs that were on the garments were small, individually sewn pieces made into a design. Very creative. It reminded me of what I loved to do with paper. She designs everything from skirts, jackets, tees, bridal wear, and accessories, to quilts and other home decor accessories. One of my favorite techniques that she uses is the reverse applique. Gorgeous.

Her new line the Songbirds, is now available and you can view it by visiting the Alabama Chanin site.