Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Blogging hiatus but we'll see ya soon!

 
I've been just a bit tired lately.  My dad is in the hospital and every day paints a new picture of how we feel we should feel about all of this.  So here's to a little blog hiatus until then.  Maybe.  Unless I'm sitting in the hospital and get inspired and drink 2 pots of coffee!

 And I just kind of needed this reminder today.

See you soon!

xoxo

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fashion Friday: Pretty Large Headbands


Loving the headband creativity going on around Etsy and even to celebrities...

 

I can't wait to make some of the tutorials here and that are getting posted on Pinterest! I used to feel really awkward wearing headbands, but I am totally loving the hugeness of headbands lately... There's a good variety of ways to throw one into your outfit and style and I'm really hoping to try out some new ways of wearing...



I didn't really know if I could pull some of these off with bangs...but after seeing some of these pics I'm inspired to try!  I love how you can wear them on your forehead or above and your look can totally change with the placement you choose...



From elegant weddings using large headbands to just dressing up an outfit, they are so whimsical and fun!


Classy and elegant...

{photo credit + shop}

"DO Jazz up a special-occasion look Just as wearing a ginormous hat is kosher so long as you're swigging back mint juleps at the Kentucky Derby, so is wearing a more dramatic headband for a big party, New Year's Eve, wedding, or other special event."  Lemon Drop Blog

 
{photo credit + shop}


The Recessionista blog wrote, "Just like the scarves, headbands are a very inexpensive way to spice up your spring wardrobe.  For under $10, you can completely transform an entire outfit.  Just like every great trend, we have a Hollywood Elite to thank, and I’m sure we can give a generous one to the fictional Blair Waldorf and her Upper East Side posse for truly rockin’ the headband scene.

Now don’t be mistaken, headbands ARE indeed for everyone.  Think you can’t pull it off? Think again.  Even the semi-plain, boring, non-fashion conscious people like myself can sport the do, and sport it well.  In fact, I even go as far as sometimes sharing headbands with my 7 year old!  How’s that for fashionable?"  

{photo credit + tutorial}

A blog I've been following - Casey Wiegand - showcases some of her completely cute and awesome headbands from Etsy and other bloggers...and totally sweet mommy style...







And thicker headbands are fun...


And how completely adorable...

So how about some local love?

From Danae Moran of This Earthly Tent...lots of lace, vintage, and variety...

From Amber Parsons with Midwest Mud and Ambrosian Design (you can find some of her awesomeness at EcoChic off 45th St. Fargo...love that place!)...


And from Becky Uglem of Beckaboodle and the Third Street Gallery up in Grand Forks...really pretty vintage headbands and veils with pretty feathers...


These 3 creative artists/crafters were a part of Unglued this past year!  Can't wait to see what next year brings!

Make some awesome headband sometime or go check out these lovely shops and support some local shops online and in person!  Have a beautiful weekend:)

xoxo

PS...Have you check out the up and coming North By Midwest Craft Spectacular up in Grand Forks this November 19??  Applications are open now so go do it!  

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Inspiration Workshop Installment #11: Gardening!


I flippin' LOVE gardens!  Started last summer with some flowers and veggies and addicted since.  I most recently posted about current gardening happenings and mishaps here...:

Gardening may not be quite as fun (or eventful) if it wasn't for this guy - who turned 3 this week (click photo for a shout out post to the fantastic Hamilton Hot Pants):

I love the sustainability of gardening...from creating your own food to growing your own beautiful addition to the world...In our backyard we utilize a lasagna garden...of which you really should try sometime!  It's really effortless...I did a little diddy how-to on a Try it Tuesday:

You know...I also am realizing just how romantic gardens are, too.  They inspire you to stop and rest your eyes on something so magically beautiful and alive.  I'll be running out late someplace with Justin and I'll see a new flower that is blooming and I'll make him stop in his tracks and pay attention to the flower or smell it...and just for a moment you kind of relax and just enjoy...hhmmm...



{taken in Korea..someday I will have a pergola over our patio with these beauties...and everyone will fall in love underneath them...}



{photo credits: More than three billion tulips are grown each year in the Netherlands and two-thirds of the vibrant blooms are exported, mostly to the U.S. and Germany.}

Lastly, gardens, especially sculpture gardens, make me think of Justin. 
{i love the Mpls sculpture garden...we danced under this sculpture dome the first day we started dating...Justin is like knock-you-over romatic...}


Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!
xoxo


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

inspire me on hump day: don't insult yourself.

We are our own worst critic...

and, oh man, how often do we waste time, inspiration, and self-worth on comparing ourselves to others!


Comparing yourself to others will only lead to jealousy, discouragement, and self-contempt.  There is really no point to it.  But it's so natural!  


My friend, Kristin, used this photo in her blog and you should really go read it (click photo).  It totally hit home with me the day she wrote it.  And she talks about, which I so totally fist-pump agree with, how as you want to grow in creativity and find yourself being inspired by other creative minds, you eventually begin to compare your work and creativity with others...and sometimes hit the point of giving up and feeling down right sucky.


I thought it was pretty awesome in church this weekend how a solution was thrown out there for comparing yourself to others.  This young, twenty-something spoke about how much of life we waste on comparing our finances, relationships, looks, intelligence, creativity, etc. to other people we think are better than us - or we ourselves are better than.  "At least I'm not like..."  


How freeing would it be if we chose to LEARN from the people we feel are better at...or better than...if we got out a pen and paper and let them teach us directly or just by watching their actions how they do what they do.  Instead of feeling hopeless in those situations, we can turn it around to be TRULY inspiring.

And when we can't get our mindset there...then I would believe the best option is as Gussy vlogs below...and just choose to stop watching whoever it is and however it is that we see their life (online, in person, through others)...

3 tips on how to stay Creatively Energized from gussy sews on Vimeo.

Divas and Dreams blog also summed it up quite awesomely:  "If you are like me and most creative people in this world, you know of people you admire and see as better, more qualified than you or as a competition (same level as you). Comparing your self to them does not encourage you (and me) to stretch our imagination and find alternate sources of inspiration. Of course it´s great if they inspire you and make you glow with passion and ideas, but if you feel terrible and "not good enough" then don’t watch their work! Go out and play and have fun instead, testing your own ideas, feel alive and creative."


We need to be who WE ARE.  We need to discover quite simply who that is.  Don't let the joy get sucked out of you by  paying so much more attention to others that you aren't really even living!

xoxo

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Try it Tuesday!: Rather easy large thrifted dress to much more fun skirt/dress!

So I was inspired by this post from My Girl Thursday on a thrifted dress she bought that was ill-fitted and cut into a high-waisted skirt:

And I bought this for something like $3 at Savers:


She didn't post a tutorial so I tried to figure out this easiest way to make this happen by first cutting the dress straight above the seam from the skirt section.  I decided since I'm not awesome at cutting straight I'd keep the old seam there for guidance.


These are a bit dark (oof!...not doing it again...yet), but I pulled up the skirt to a dress height as I discovered I kind of liked that overall.  I pinned it tight to be able to keep it up while deciding what to do...

Tried it belted a few different ways...


 And then I found a piece of scrap elastic and pulled it around myself to dress height...

And marked it where I pulled it to (a little tight to allow it to eventually hold up the dress).  I cut it leaving about an inch extra for stitching it together...
 

I put the elastic on the wrong side of the skirt and pinned the top of the skirt down over the elastic for a somewhat unprofessional way of getting elastic sewn in later!

I pulled out the elastic then to be able to then sew it down...


And when sewing, left about an inch of non-sewn top to fit the elastic in...

After putting a larger safety pin on the end of the elastic...

Worked to threw it through the new seam...

Until it pulled out the other end...

Not really shown...but then took the elastic edges together and decided to pull them out pretty far to allow me to sew them together with my sewing machine to hopefully have a nice strong stitch holding it together...

The finished elastic sewn in on the back...

A few different ways to wear it!





Someday...I will be that person who can smile slyly at the camera and look all perfect for the sake of blogs...but not today!  Yay cat props!




This all in all took a little over an hour because I kept pricking myself with the stupid pins...hence this will be easier if you don't drink wine and try to watch The Good Guys...

xoxo

*Also...while I was in the hospital with my mom and dad last week, I made this month's craft challenge!  You should totally try these because they are rather simple and fun...click the photo to follow the tutorial...and let me know if you try them so we can share some sweet photos!

{a braided hex nut bracelet - the gold one picture}