J.Crew Behind the Design

The new J.Crew catalog just arrived in the mail and of course I am in love with everything. Is it legal to have so many amazing things in one place? :) They have a great feature about the designers and what inspires them. You can read more about them online too. I love this quote from one of the women's designers.

"I keep a seasonal journal for concepting. Anything from a ticket stub that finds its way into a graphic tee to a feather that might not get used at all--we use the journal every day." -M.W.

p.s. Check out this cool crafty post on ScrappyTime!

My Weekend in New York

I had the best time in New York with my sister who lives right across the street from the beach. We made dinner together, made funfetti cake, watched TV, and did some crafty things for ScrappyTime. On Saturday morning we drove into the city to visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden which was amazing. We went at the perfect time for cherry blossom viewing season and I think I took over three hundred photographs there! The weather was perfect and the sky was so blue. Then we stopped to have lunch outside at San Loco before we went to Serendipity for dessert.

I love New York, my family lived there for awhile and I went to middle and high school in Bedford. My sister and I have a plan to someday live next door to each other and have a big, cool barn that we can share for holidays, parties, or just a Tuesday :) Here are some of my favorite moments and photographs from this weekend. You can see more of them on flickr too :)

{Long Beach}

{Brooklyn Botanic Garden}

{the best tacos at San Loco}

{frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity}

{tulips in the city}

Going to New York Today

For my birthday Eric gave me a ticket to New York to visit my sister. I'm so excited! Hopefully someday we will live down the street from each other. Yesterday my sister posted photographs of her crafty space over at ScrappyTime. This is where I get to stay this weekend :)

image from ScrappyTime

My Second Photography Assignment

My second photography assignment was due today. This week we covered the different automatic modes of my camera including portrait and sports. Here are the photographs I submitted :)

{our cat Jack taken in portrait mode}

{Eric playing the guitar taken in sports mode}

Happy Earth Day

Mason Jar Lamp

I am lucky enough to have a collection of aqua blue mason jars from our wedding that we used for the centerpieces. I love finding crafty projects that inspire me to find new uses for things I already have :)

{great book I borrowed from the library}

{their version}

{my version filled with seashells}

Here are the instructions from the book :

you'll need:
push-thru side out socket
25 watt or lower lightbulb
1"of threaded rod
check ring with 3/8"diameter
1"diameter rubber washer
mason jar
clip on lamp shade
drill and 3/8" diameter drill bit

1. Drill a hole into the center of the jar's lid.
2. Put your threaded rod through the hole. However high you want the bulb to be from the lamp's base is how much threaded rod you should leave above the lid.
3. From the top side of the lid, screw your push-thru side out socket onto the threaded rod.
4. Place your rubber washer on the threaded rod on the underside of the lid, then screw on your check ring. Make sure to tighten the ring to keep everything in place.
5. Fill the jar
6. Screw on the lid. You should be left with the socket pointing upward.
7. Place in your lightbulb and clip on your lampshade.

My Crafty Space

You can take a look at my own crafty space over at ScrappyTime :)

DonorsChoose.org

image from DonorsChoose.org

"At DonorsChoose.org, K-12 public school teachers submit ideas for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These proposals become classroom reality when concerned individuals like you choose to fund their projects, from "Magical Math Centers" to "Cooking Across the Curriculum."

Over the weekend I received an email from Crate and Barrel with a giving card to donate to DonorsChoose.org. I gave our donation to "Dropping In On Art", submitted by an Arts and Humanities teacher in Kentucky hoping to get twelve Dropping In series books and videos covering Grant Wood, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Romare Bearden, Henri Rousseau, and Andy Warhol for her students. When I was in elementary school I remember watching Bob Ross paint his happy little trees :) I think every child should have the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by art :)

Four Leaf Clover

While Eric was running this morning he found a four leaf clover. It was my job to preserve it so I carefully placed it between sheets of white paper and am pressing it between some heavy cookbooks. I have a small frame that I think it might look pretty in too. Has anyone else ever found a four leaf clover? :)

Antler Magazine Issue Two

image from Antler Magazine

The second issue of Antler Magazine is here! I can't wait to take a look at it :)

My First Photography Assignment

Yesterday was my birthday :) Eric made me pancakes for breakfast, I talked to my family and friends, and my mom sent me flowers that arrived in a teapot. I separated the flowers and I put the pink roses in a mason jar.

I also worked on the first assignment for my photography class that covered color and exposure that was due today. This was the first time I used one of the semi-automatic modes on my new camera. It took me a little while to understand, here are the two photographs I submitted :)

Inspiration Cork Board

On Saturday I went to A.C. Moore and got a cork board for a little over five dollars! It was originally 10.99 and and I saved $5.50 with a 50% off one item coupon that I had. When I was looking for the store address online I saw that you can print coupons from A.C.Moore.com too.

Here it is as the inspiration board in my crafty room :)

{click image to enlarge}

Happy Easter

{little bunnies my mom sent us for Easter}

I hope everyone is having a Happy Easter! :)

Easter Decorations

{bunny cards I made for our families}

{on top of our fireplace}

{and of course some bunny and easter egg garland}

I used this bunny template from Martha Stewart for the cards and the garland :)

Springtime Giveaway at ScrappyTime

ScrappyTime is having a great springtime giveaway! If you spend $30 or more at ScrappyTime.com you get a free album now through April 15th while supplies last. For $30 this is what I would get :)

{scallop dot edge punch, sepia fine-tip writing pen, scrap metal adhesive word, tea set embellishment, lower case chipboard letters, pearl brads}

all images from ScrappyTime.com

One of the Best Days Ever

I don't even have words to describe how happy and excited I am right now. This afternoon I received a package from my sister and my mom for my birthday which is not till next Tuesday. My sister wanted me to call her when I got the package so I could open one gift from her today. And guess what it was!

{my own copy of Martha Stewart's Encylopedia of Crafts}

{inscription from my sister on the first page}

{signed by Martha Stewart!!!}

I am still in shock. So last Thursday I saw that Martha Stewart was having a book signing at the Michaels in Westbury, NY on Friday. I emailed and texted my sister who lives in Long Beach, NY to let her know just in case she had a moment or two to stop by. She let me know she would love to go but wasn't able to be there on Friday. Needless to say she went and surprised me with one of the best gifts ever. It's going to take me a lifetime to say thank you and give her an equally amazing gift. My mission now is to run into Alexander McQueen, my sister's favorite designer, and get an autograph for her (that sounds pretty easy right? :)

I always say I have the best sister, but I really do! The best part is she got to meet Martha Stewart and have a copy signed for her too! :)

p.s. You can see photographs my sister took at the signing on her blog, ScrappyTime, too!

An Early Birthday Gift

Eric's parents gave me an online photography course from BetterPhoto.com for my birthday to help me learn more about my new camera. It's a four week course and today I received my first lesson. I love taking pictures but I don't really know anything about the technical aspects of photography. I'm really excited to see what I learn! I see a lot of photo shoots in my future :)

The Bee Paperie

I recently heard about The Bee Paperie, a custom design studio that specializes in invitations and stationery. I love that their name comes from the old saying, "to have a bee in your bonnet" which means to be preoccupied or obsessed with an idea.

By reading about their process I could tell they are all about the details. During their consultation they encourage you to provide them with photographs, magazine clippings, fabric swatches, and other items that inspire you, an idea I love! Here are some of my favorites from their portfolio :)

{Savannah}

{Seaside}

{Celebrate}

all images from The Bee Paperie

My Blog Turns One

My blog turns one today! I can't believe a year has already gone by since I started this while planning our wedding. Along the way I've met so many creative and sweet people. Thank you so much to everyone who has stopped by to say hi :)

Friends of the Library

Last month I helped create a logo for Eric's mom who is involved with the Friends of the Library project in her town. It was my first time using Adobe Illustrator and I am not a graphic designer by any means but I was happy with how it turned out. The logo was printed on tote bags and I was so excited to get one of them in the mail yesterday :)

Gratitute Award

Last week Tara from In This Instance, a blog I love, gave me an award. I'm a few days late on my post but just wanted to say thank you!

Like all awards, it comes with a set of rules:
1) put the logo on your blog or post
2) nominate at least 10 blogs who show great attitude or gratitude
3) be sure to link your nominees within your post
4) let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award

So I nominate, in no particular order :)
Classic Bride
The City Sage
Delight By Design
The Relentless Bride
Heart of Light
Elizabeth Anne Designs Living
Peonies and Polaroids
Peony Love
The Bright Side Project
I Do It Yourself