Well the month is over, and you know what that means... we have an Anthropologie Give-a-way Winner!
First, I'd like to thank all of you for participating in my first give-a-way! There will be many more to come... in fact this week we'll start a new one from a wonderful guest who will be featured this Friday.
I really appreciate all the hard work some of you did to enter every day, tweet, blog etc... so I have chosen 2 additional winners who will get a tiny little thank you treat in the mail.
So drumroll please.......
Congratulations... IMA!!! You are the winner!
And for the two who get a special jewelry treat in the mail....
Bonte Rue
Shelley
If you will all email me your mailing addresses securely to annanaphtali@mac.com you will get your prizes!
I used to and still have a chair obsession. When I was in college, many Saturdays were filled with buying chairs at thrift stores, then painting and recovering them. And then cramming them in my shoebox apartment... sorry Faith. When I got married I began re-styling chairs again tripple time! I got a lot of free chairs- what else was I going to do with them?
Perhaps I'll do a photo collage to show you my collection of chairs. At one point we had around 26 different seats (a lot of them were on the back porch...) Anyway, my husband had to put a stop to my chair obsession, so we got rid of the least favorites. One day I'll have a shop and sell my special chairs...
But until then, I love these...
Can you guess which is from each store?
Can you guess which is from each store?
Hey there anthropologie contestants, a few reminders for you before the give-a-way is over.
If you blogged or tweeted or recruited a friend, don't forget to give yourself an extra entry in the comments. If you didn't do that originally it's ok you can do it now.
I will still look over all the entries to make sure everything is added in, but if you want to be sure go ahead and give yourself however many extra entries you need and I will double check it!
AND THERE's a SURPRISE...
for 2 runner-ups there is a special little prize you will get in the mail as well even if you didn't win the big one! I will announce this May 1st- so be sure to come back and check in to see if it's you!
Thanks for all your entries, I'm excited for the winner(s).
Ranunculus are my favorite flowers! I loved these little beauties sitting on my table all week. This shoot came from a DIY project coming up soon about "making" your own vases... or recycle-restyling, but the flowers were so pretty it turned into a flower shoot!
It's that time again!
My first year of having a garden I went WAY overboard and planted everything from lemon trees, blueberries, strawberries, corn, 50 kinds of specially ordered heirloom tomatoes etc.... but between the deer, little animals in the yard, the climate and my lack of understanding on soil components, we pretty much had a small bushel of blueberries, 6 tomatoes, 8 strawberries (eaten immediately from critters) and I think that's about it from ALL we planted.
Then last year I was sweltering and about to give birth during garden season- so I kind of let the garden go...
This year I am more realistic! I planted one tomato, herbs all over the place (in the right shade-sun ratio this time), a red pepper, onions, flowers, a cucumber, cantaloupe... and a few other items. I'm pretty excited about my herbs... who doesn't love fresh herbs in everything!
Do any of you know some good tips to keep the animals away? That's my main issue....
And btw, I hand-painted those pots and rimmed them with chalkboard paint so I could write the plant names! I love them. I am a wee bit obsessed with chalkboard paint...
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If you have a lot of peeps left over this Easter... just make a smore out of it! What a great idea! Happy Easter!
Here is an egg recipe from my favorite food photographer & stylist Aran Goyoaga. Isn't her work beautiful? Her blog Cannelle et Vanille is one of my favorites for beautiful food inspiration.
Happy Easter everyone! I'm down in Charleston for our traditional family Easter with the boys. (and girls now finally!)
I was so inspired by my own Easter Brunch outfit, I decided to make up a little brunch recipe for myself. It turned out perfect... It took 7 minutes tops to create!
Eggs
Gouda Cheese
Lemon
Asparagus
Spinach
Sour Cream
Salsa
Hot Sauce
(trim asparagus ends)
Sauté Asparagus in butter OR olive oil with a little salt & pepper
Set aside on plate, squeeze half a lemon on asparagus
crack 2 eggs on buttered or oiled hot pan surface
flip when side begins to sizzle appropriately
shave gouda cheese on cooked side - it will melt and slide a little creating a delicious crunch to the egg.
throw spinach on the SIDE of the egg on the pan
assemble eggs & spinach over asparagus
garnish with sour cream, salsa verde, hot sauce (optional).
The Sweetest little face... I love him. What a good boy and a pretty day for a shoot!Interested in a shoot? Let's book one soon: we do almost any kind!
I thought I'd try something new on this Monday. Normally I post my Interviews on a Friday so that you can have it all weekend... but I thought, what a better way to start the week then with an amazing designer talk. Besides, I know there are a lot of you a little drowsy on a Monday morning needing some inspiration- here's the girl for you!
Introducing designer, blogger & artist Ellie Snow. Her blog, Mint Design, has been featured in the London Times as top 50 design blogs in the WORLD! I met Ellie last year at a little Graphic Design conference and was really inspired by her... seriously, I probably wouldn't be the die-hard blogger I am without her encouraging talk. I liked her so much my photography company is a sponsor of her blog this month!
Here is our interview. Enjoy!
Tell us a little about how you started blogging.
After college I tried a bunch of random jobs — I worked briefly in a greenhouse, I filed papers for a pharmaceutical company, I worked as a photographer's assistant, I worked with autistic children, and I joined Americorps and worked with a nonprofit for a year. I was an art major in school, so after a while I realized that I missed doing creative, visual work on a daily basis. I had always wanted to be a graphic designer and I decided to pursue that. I was lucky to jump right into the field, and in the evenings I would spend a lot of time looking at design blogs, trying to learn from the wonderful designers whose work I followed. I decided to start a design blog myself, mostly to save all the beautiful things I was finding!
Can you tell us about the process from being a little blogger to your success now being listed as top 50 design blogs in the world? What was that progression like? How did you do it!
Being listed in the London Times was of course a huge honor, and surprise! I don't think there's one recipe for "blog success," and I think the most important thing is to have passion for what you're blogging about — it shows!
You have a lot of creative businesses, tell us about them. Do you have a favorite?
I really focus on my wedding invitation work (Hello Tenfold) these days. I design custom wedding stationery, from save the dates to invitations to place cards, and I couldn't be happier. I find it's very creative and brides are great to work with (despite the stereotype!). Couples are so excited to be planning their wedding and they see paper goods as a fun part of the process. I do a little bit of freelance design work as well (blog design, website design, logos, etc.). Last year I started selling some vintage finds on Etsy, but closed the shop once it started to get cold outside. Flea markets are significantly less fun in the cold! These days I see Mint less and less as a separate business, and more of a way to get feedback on my work and to stay connected with other designers and bloggers. I don't want it to feel like work, in other words. Mint has been invaluable in terms of meeting people and becoming self employed. There's a big network of similarly-minded people out there.
from Hello Tenfold
What are your dreams for your life?
I'd love to stay self employed, always! So, I hope I can continue to find ways to make money doing what I love, and to keep things fresh and exciting. I would like to do a lot of traveling and have a family, too.
Does your husband ever have to say, “ahem, can you put the computer down?”
Well, when I was working full time and running Mint and Hello Tenfold on the side, I was definitely on the computer 24/7! These days I work about 8-10 hours a day, and by the time my husband gets home from his job I'm only too happy to put away the laptop! Working from home and for myself, I really value my free time and weekends. At first I had to force myself to draw boundaries, but I think I've gotten better!
Have you faced any blogger challenges?
Ah, yes. Many, it feels like! When you put so many hours into a project, you want to feel it's appreciated, and it doesn't always feel that way! I have had to redefine what blogging "success" means to me, and be sure I'm blogging for the right reasons. It's also easy to get caught up in "everyone is better than me" mode, because you're working alongside some of the most talented and hard-working designers and editors out there! It can be somewhat discouraging, if you let it. Oh, and there are never enough hours in the day!
Do you have time to follow other blogs? If so, who are your personal favorites and why?
Yes, I'm subscribed to hundreds of other blogs! I don't read them all daily, of course. I especially love Design Work Life; I think Courtney does a fantastic job of showcasing beautiful and inspiring work. I also love SeeSaw to pieces, and I admire Joy of Oh Joy! and Grace of Design Sponge for their work ethics and business smarts!
What’s next for you?
In the short term, I'm focusing on the business side of Hello Tenfold, redefining the projects I want to take on, the way I present my work (I'm getting professional photos done, and a new website), and making sure that the clients I choose to work with are the right fit for me, both with Hello Tenfold and my freelance design work. In the long term, who knows! I love the idea of a brick and mortar store front or studio, but that's not any time soon.
What do you do in your “real life” for fun?
I read every day, I love a good novel! My husband and I just bought our first house so we're having a good time fixing things up and making it home. We like to check out local restaurants and walk to the farmer's market when the weather is good. I love antique shops, traveling, and being with family and friends.
What advice would you give our readers about living an inspired creative life? (and making a living out of it)
Balance is really important... balancing challenging, creative work with more fun/easy projects is a necessity for me. To make a living from it, you need to be really honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. It's not for everyone, and there are a lot of business-related things involved that require more organization and people skills, which can be just as important as the creative aspects! You need to have a good combination of the dreamer personality, with courage to "go for it," plus a very realistic side so that you can live comfortably and take calculated risks. Having a business partner is not for everyone (myself included, probably), but there are certainly days when I miss having someone to bounce ideas off of! I think it takes a lot of trial and error, willingness to make mistakes and learn from them, and lots of self motivation!
Find Ellie here:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
{blog} Mint Design Blog
{shop} Hello TenFold
{folio} Ellie Snow
I'd love to stay self employed, always! So, I hope I can continue to find ways to make money doing what I love, and to keep things fresh and exciting. I would like to do a lot of traveling and have a family, too.
Does your husband ever have to say, “ahem, can you put the computer down?”
Well, when I was working full time and running Mint and Hello Tenfold on the side, I was definitely on the computer 24/7! These days I work about 8-10 hours a day, and by the time my husband gets home from his job I'm only too happy to put away the laptop! Working from home and for myself, I really value my free time and weekends. At first I had to force myself to draw boundaries, but I think I've gotten better!
Have you faced any blogger challenges?
Ah, yes. Many, it feels like! When you put so many hours into a project, you want to feel it's appreciated, and it doesn't always feel that way! I have had to redefine what blogging "success" means to me, and be sure I'm blogging for the right reasons. It's also easy to get caught up in "everyone is better than me" mode, because you're working alongside some of the most talented and hard-working designers and editors out there! It can be somewhat discouraging, if you let it. Oh, and there are never enough hours in the day!
Do you have time to follow other blogs? If so, who are your personal favorites and why?
Yes, I'm subscribed to hundreds of other blogs! I don't read them all daily, of course. I especially love Design Work Life; I think Courtney does a fantastic job of showcasing beautiful and inspiring work. I also love SeeSaw to pieces, and I admire Joy of Oh Joy! and Grace of Design Sponge for their work ethics and business smarts!
What’s next for you?
In the short term, I'm focusing on the business side of Hello Tenfold, redefining the projects I want to take on, the way I present my work (I'm getting professional photos done, and a new website), and making sure that the clients I choose to work with are the right fit for me, both with Hello Tenfold and my freelance design work. In the long term, who knows! I love the idea of a brick and mortar store front or studio, but that's not any time soon.
What do you do in your “real life” for fun?
I read every day, I love a good novel! My husband and I just bought our first house so we're having a good time fixing things up and making it home. We like to check out local restaurants and walk to the farmer's market when the weather is good. I love antique shops, traveling, and being with family and friends.
What advice would you give our readers about living an inspired creative life? (and making a living out of it)
Balance is really important... balancing challenging, creative work with more fun/easy projects is a necessity for me. To make a living from it, you need to be really honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. It's not for everyone, and there are a lot of business-related things involved that require more organization and people skills, which can be just as important as the creative aspects! You need to have a good combination of the dreamer personality, with courage to "go for it," plus a very realistic side so that you can live comfortably and take calculated risks. Having a business partner is not for everyone (myself included, probably), but there are certainly days when I miss having someone to bounce ideas off of! I think it takes a lot of trial and error, willingness to make mistakes and learn from them, and lots of self motivation!
Find Ellie here:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
{blog} Mint Design Blog
{shop} Hello TenFold
{folio} Ellie Snow
This is my favorite music moment so far this year... I have such a music crush on Mumford & Sons. I grew up with brothers, both musicians, and for some reason this video brings little tears to my eyes? Maybe it's because of the joy and spirit you can feel and see on their faces as they play, or maybe it's just some wild boy musicians doing what they love... but whatever it is... I love this from the Grammies, so I thought I'd share it.
Mumford & Sons, Avett Brothers & Bob Dylan...
Meet Jane, Australian stylist & designer!
We are an online purveyor of beautiful eclectic things. Basically this means that we just stock lots of lovely bits and pieces for your home and kitchen. We also have a vintage prop hire section where stylists can borrow items for photo shoots and events
How did it start?
emerald + ella came about from my experience as a food stylist combined with my love of home and kitchen wares and all things vintage. I have always liked the idea of having my own shop, even from a very early age, when I used to try and sell hand-painted flower pots in our driveway to unsuspecting neighbours. More recently, working as a food stylist I saw a gap in the market here in Australia for lots of the lovely things that we used in our photo shoots that were either hand-made or sourced overseas. I spent a year researching and gathering samples and then in August 2010 emerald + ella went live.
Where do you find your cute paper products?
I spend a lot of time searching online, contacting artists who make their own goods and also anywhere I travel I am always on the lookout for new goodies.
Has it been successful in the USA?
We have had lots of interest from the states but at this stage with the company still being very young, finding reasonable postage rates has been difficult. I have had a few purchases of our enamelware as it seems it is hard to find over there. Basically as we grow I hope to be able to access cheaper postal rates to encourage buyers from the US.
What else do you do in your real life? ☺
For business or pleasure? For business, I continue to work as a food stylist on a freelance basis and I do the odd bit of recipe writing as well. Mostly at the moment I am focusing most of my energy into emerald + ella, improving the site and searching for new products. For pleasure I love to eat, read, take a stroll in the sun and shop for a bargain on Ebay.
We have had lots of interest from the states but at this stage with the company still being very young, finding reasonable postage rates has been difficult. I have had a few purchases of our enamelware as it seems it is hard to find over there. Basically as we grow I hope to be able to access cheaper postal rates to encourage buyers from the US.
What else do you do in your real life? ☺
For business or pleasure? For business, I continue to work as a food stylist on a freelance basis and I do the odd bit of recipe writing as well. Mostly at the moment I am focusing most of my energy into emerald + ella, improving the site and searching for new products. For pleasure I love to eat, read, take a stroll in the sun and shop for a bargain on Ebay.
What are some of your favorite things?
I think my favourite things would be our paper straws as they bring some very affordable prettiness into the day, the handmade paper flowers which are so lovely for decorating the house, gifts and centerpieces and probably all the sweet gift tags that my mum hand makes in New Zealand.
What’s next for you?
Gosh, my head is swirling with all my ideas at the moment, there are so many different directions I would like to go but firstly I would like to keep building up the shop and making it the very best that it can be. In the long run I love the idea of having a physical shop and prop hire rather than just online. I am already visualizing the window displays……
You can check out their shop here... and her Etsy here!
I think my favourite things would be our paper straws as they bring some very affordable prettiness into the day, the handmade paper flowers which are so lovely for decorating the house, gifts and centerpieces and probably all the sweet gift tags that my mum hand makes in New Zealand.
What’s next for you?
Gosh, my head is swirling with all my ideas at the moment, there are so many different directions I would like to go but firstly I would like to keep building up the shop and making it the very best that it can be. In the long run I love the idea of having a physical shop and prop hire rather than just online. I am already visualizing the window displays……
You can check out their shop here... and her Etsy here!
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