Thursday Blog Share: Style, Scarves and Swaps

Hello friends! First of all, I am basking in glow of the Boston Bruins win for the Stanley Cup! They have been J's favourite team since he was a little boy and he always promised me - if they win the cup - we are going! Well the boys finally did it and so our honeymoon will be in Boston, woo hoo! Send me all your Boston picks and can't miss shops, eateries and sights!

On another note, I have something very cool to share today. Do you read The Concrete Catwalk? If you don't and you love fashion, I highly recommend you do. Jessie blogs about fashion, style, remixing, thrifting and everything in between! I love her use of vintage in her outfit posts - she's a true original.

 

She's also hosting a scarf swap with three other style bloggers (My Edit, Kendi Everyday and Kansas Couture - all fab blogs worth checking out). You enter your name and address and you'll be assigned something to swap scarves with via the post. Isn't that such a great idea? You can sign up here until Sunday.

I've already started hunting the local vintage shops for some great finds to send. Once you recieve your scarf, you style it in your own speical way and post about it on your blog. I can't wait!

How about you friends - is this something you might be interested in?

Thursday Blog Share: Love Maegan

Happy Thursday friends! Are you looking forward to the weekend as much as I am? So I stumbled across another blog that has super fantastic hair tutorials! It's called Love Maegan and she's a California style blogger (self-described Valley Girl!) with a wardrobe to die for (think designer names!). She regularly posts on style, hair, home and anything chic and lovely...

 (image via love maegan}

I especially love this tutorial on the side braided updo (she tucks everything under for a romantic look) I left it mine more of a downdo with the braid out for a slightly more relaxed look. Here's my first shot at it, I think it turned out good...a little tricky braid sideways but such a pretty stye for my 'dirty hair day'!

{my images taken with Picture Show app}

Have you found any good hair tutorials lately friends? Please share! I'm always looking for new ones...

Thursday Blog Share: A Beautiful Mess

Have you read A Beautiful Mess? It's one of my favourite new blogs lately so thanks Brooke for introducing me to it! Blogger Elsie has created the most amazing mix of girly style, vintage craftiness and helpful advice, DIY and tutorials. It's just such a fun read and I look forward to it every day!

She has lots of fun columns on topics like her daily outfits, 10 things she loves, Project ReStyle (where she transforms something old into something fresh), photography tips, and hair and makeup tutorials (ps...I'm totally trying those maiden braids sometime very soon!).

She even teaches e-courses on topics like blogging (I took it and loved it!), making photojournals and retro beauty school. How adorable is that?

She recently opened a physical shop for her business Red Velvet, started her own dress line (that's one below!) and is planning her upcoming wedding! Is there anthing this girl can't do?

 {all images via A Beautiful Mess}

I find her endless creativity endlessly inspiring. Hope you stop by A Beautiful Mess and think so too!

Happy Thursday!

Thursday Blog Share: Pugly Pixel

Happy Thursday friends (a wee bit early of course)! Lately I've been sharing how I'm learning Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator, thanks to lunchtime tutorials from my lovely Fusion designer friends and Adobe Creative Suite for Dummies. I started down this road in order to do my own wedding invitations, but it's been a happy, creative injection to my blog to be able to do some of my own graphics!

So today I'm sharing some of those graphics with you and steering you towards a blog that's helped me tremendously. It's called Pugly Pixel and blogger Katrina shares her love of photography, culturama and all kinds of ultra-cool digital downloads like clip art, Photoshop brushes and textures. She offers many of these free, and you can also sign up for a premium membership to take advantage of even more great digital downloads.

Here are the banners I've designed to highlight my regular blog features, thanks to a little help from Miss Pugly Pixel!

My 'Before and After' banner shows off my furniture redo's. You can find downloads of the scallop and starburst medallions here.

'From the Kitchen' is my random collection of recipes and you can find the paper buffet clip art here.

For 'PIY Pointers', I post tips and tricks about painting your own furniture. Download the collection of tape strips here.

'Etsy Love' is my virtual shopping cart of pretty things I'm coveting. You can get the tres cool colored shipping tags clip art here.

Isn't it amazing to have this vast online world full of fab people sharing awesome stuff? Once again I'm reminded how much I adore blogland!! Hope these resources can help you my friends and big hugs to Pugly Pixel!

Keep smiling and may your day be filled with good things...

Thursday Blog Share: A Collection a Day

I've been thinking a lot about collections. When I was a wee little girl, I had a postcard collection that I kept in a shoebox. Every time a family member would travel somewhere - from Vancouver to London, they would send me one. My grandmother passed on hers that she had held onto, beautiful creased black and white cards with personal messages in scripted penmanship. I bought them wherever we went as a family (hello Seaworld!). And I picked them up at yard sales, gathering the special greetings of strangers. There's something very alluring and comforting about always having your eye out for something special. 

Recently, with all the furniture thrifting I do, I've picked up a few vintage milk glass vases to use as props for my photo styling. Next thing I know, I'm picking them up here and there whenever I spot them. One day I looked at our table and saw a small gathering of them. Yes, they've turned into a small collection! I love that I am always on the lookout for milk glass...it's my special thing.

Which brings me to today's blog share. I came by this via Katie over at The Neotraditionalist. She always finds such amazing things! The A Collection A Day blog is no exception. Artist Lisa Congdon has spent the last year documenting (through photography, drawing and painting) a grouping of items each day, most from her own personal collections (she must have a very understanding husband or a very big house to keep them all in!). She also has a book version of her project coming out in Spring 2011.  Here are some of her unique collected items...

{all images via A Collection a Day}

My friends, are you a collector?  What do you like to gather in your collection?

Thursday Blog/Website Share: Art.com

Friends - do you know about art.com?  You probably do and I'm just late to the party!

But I thought I would share on the wee chance you haven't discovered this awesome site yet. I love, love to give gifts that mean something and I think one of the easiest ways is to get an inexpensive print and frame it yourself. They have the widest selection of prints in everything from classic art reproductions to maps to vintage advertisements to concert posters.  Plus they offer a price and size range in most of them - from simple, low cost prints to more detailed gyclee prints to photo prints to high-end actual canvas art! 

Imagine picking up the Thelonious Monk print for the jazz lover in your family....or a print of your favourite classic children's book for a new wee one's nursery...oh the possibilities! Plus I would love to receive a gift like this...hint hint!

{all images via art.com}

I've been lost in this site for hours!  Hope you enjoy and happy Thursday friends!

PS: Michael's has a huge selection of poster sized frames and I picked up mine for a steal with the 40% off coupon!!



Thursday Blog Share: Whippycake

I'm bored of my hair.  I spent the last few years growing it long, for the first time since high school and I really do love it long.  But it sure it high maintenance, what with the washing and blowdrying and figuring out what the heck to do with it.  Plus it's thin so if I don't wash every day I get the greasies.  Ugh, what's a girl to do?

Well like most things, i start doing research - ha ha! I've been following the Whippy Cake blog and I love love her video hair tutorials. Her main business is glamour bands - super cute hair bands with rosette-style flower arrangements on them (here's a link to the online shop).  I'm working up the nerve to actually buy and wear something like this.  Someday...

For now, I'm settling for trying braids and buns and twists and other fun  things.  I'm breaking out of my hair mold people.  I mean, who cares right?  it's just hair!  I'm going to have fun with it!

So if you're looking for great, step-by-step hair tutorials - Becki over at Whippy Cake has you covered!  Here's a direct link to all hair tutorial page.  But if you love cute girly hair stuff you'll be poring over this addictive blog for hours!

Are you adventurous with your hair?  Or do you look like an exact replica of your Grade 11 class photo?  Any tips on being 'hair brave'?

Have a fab Thursday friends!

Thursday Blog Share: Handmade in Manitoba

Like it or not, it's time to think about Christmas shopping.  I get serious joy from doing my shopping early then relaxing as the city froths itself into a tizzy with busy malls and bumper to bumper traffic.  So it's definitely on my mind right now.

I'm also trying to make a serious effort to buy as much locally as I can.  So this post is for all your locals (or anyone else interested in what Manitoba has to offer - many of these artisans have Etsy shops and online stores).  Whenever I'm looking to find out when the next craft fair is or discover a new talent, I check out Jennifer's blog Handmade in Manitoba.

Jennifer is the true champion for shopping local.  Out of pure interest alone, she keeps an up to date calendar of craft shows and fairs, profiles new artists, products and events plus puts all Manitoba artist's blog and shop buttons on her sidebar.  I personally was so excited to have Jennifer feature Lather Creations and add my button to her site.  It's great exposure for us small businesses and craftspeople in a very targeted market.  Big thanks to Jennifer for doing this!

So if you're thinking Christmas list, pop over to Handmade in Manitoba for some great gift ideas!


Happy Thursday friends!

Thursday Blog Share: Ana White

Hey you!  It's Thursday which means we're very close to Friday...

For our blog share today, I'm excited to introduce Ana White.  This Alaska-based stay at home mom taught herself woodworking in an attempt to furnish her home on a limited dime.  She keeps a collection of design plans on her blog, so you can follow along her easy DIY steps for building everything from simple shelves to intricate bedframes. She even includes plans on how to build collections inspired by pricey shops like Pottery Barn. Love her!

I know, I know!  Woodworking??  I was a little skeptical too - but Ana holds your hand with the lowdown on power tools, what to look for in a piece of wood and what to say to the guy in the lumber aisle at Home Depot!  I know she can convince you that you have a little Power Tool Gal in ya!

If you have a hankering for your own homemade wood furnishings, check out her blog!

Have a lovely day my friends...

Thursday Blog Share: Makeunder My Life

I really like to try to live my life doing the things I love.  That's why I adore Makeunder My Life by Jess Constable.  A jewellery designer by trade, her company Jess LC features lovely designs that I would totally wear.  But it's her blog that really draws me in.

It's all about living your life with intention and I whole heartedly believe in doing that for myself as much as I can.  From life to business to home, Jess is real and honest in her ups and downs, her goals and dreams.  Plus she always finds a way for you take away a lesson for yourself.  I especially like her dream reporter series, where business newbies go through the steps with us readers along for the ride.  This frank letter to small business owners felt like it was written for me...

But I don't think you have to have a busines to relate to Jess's blog.  You just have to want to clear away the clutter and works towards your own personal fulfillement, no matter what that looks like.

{All images via Makeunder My Life}

Hope you enjoy Makeunder My Life and happy Thursday!

Thursday Blog Share: Poppytalk

I love finding Canadian blogs, what can I say?  I'm a Canuck through and through.  Plus I often find some of the resources are a little more accessible to me, which is cool.

Today I'm sharing my new find Poppytalk.  It's a design inspiration blog filled with scrumptious recipes, handmade ideas and exciting new developments in homes, style and design, with a focus on putting the spotlight on emerging talent.

They also have sister-site of sorts  Poppytalk Handmade, which  acts as an online curated artist market with rentable space for crafters and artisans to share and promote their goods.  It's a wonderful hodge podge of inspired talent and amazing creativity!

I loved browsing through all the unique offerings, it's great to check out a site that's put together by many artists - so many great points of view!

Have a lovely Thursday my friends.