Lilac Saloon

Peek Into Our Christmas 2010

• Pretty Decorations
• Family
• Crafty Projects
• Chocolate
• Gal Stern Tights
• Handmade Gifts
• Laughing
• Coloring
• Scattergories
• Staying up late
• Sleeping in even later
• lots and lots of chocolate chip cookies!

We had a great Christmas this year in Iowa!  We are staying at my Mom's place in Des Moines and will be here through the New Year too!

I'm so excited for 2011!

Good Dinner

There's nothing better than a good dinner with new friends.

Thanks, CJ and Julie!  Dinner was wonderful and conversation was even better.

Here's to many more nights like this in 2011!

Misty's Wallflowers

I just finished a set of custom Wallflowers for a little girl's nursery!  It's going to have grey walls and the fabrics are grey and mustard and white.  These big white Wallflowers with yellow centers are going to go above the crib!  

We even went a little above and beyond with this set and made some leaves and vines so the flowers could "grow" up the wall.  I think it will look magical!  What little girl wouldn't adore having big beautiful flowers growing up the side of her bedroom wall?!  I do hope we get to see photos of what the room looks like with the flowers!

New & Exciting!

New Layout!!

What do you think?  I've only viewed it on my own computer... so anything that seems weird to you - PLEASE let me know!!  Also, if you view my blog quite often, try refreshing your browser so it will re-load the pages images (otherwise, it might not look different to you yet!).

Also...I'm adding on another blog to the Lilac Saloon family.  She's called Pretty Patterns!

It's going to be completely pattern focused.  I'll sometimes share patterns that I come across whilst wandering the web.  I'll share photos/scans of cool vintage fabrics that I have in my collection or that I discover in thrift shops.  I'm also going to be creating digital patterns that will be available for download!  These can be used on your blog, digital collages or digital scrapbooks, for printing out... whatever you wish!  They will all be seamless so they can be repeated without that ugly tiling effect.

It's my first time offering something for download and using Paypal in this way... so I would really love to have a "test subject" of sorts.  If you volunteer yourself, I'll refund you the $1 and you can keep the pattern for free!  One or two volunteers... any takers??

I hope you guys like the changes that are happening around here.  I'll be pushing for even more in the new year!

xo

Charlotte Stringer & Wallflowers

I received a photo from a happy customer today and it totally made my week!  Charlotte ordered some pink Wallflowers from me and told me that they were for her photography studio to use as backdrop props for photos.  I was really excited to hear that because you know I'm a photography geek!!

The results took my breath away.  Look at this setup!!

That little knitted diaper is the cutest thing I've ever seen!  And don't even get me started on that PILLOW...thing.  Gorgeous!

Thanks, Charlotte, for sharing this with me!!!  Your work is inspiring and I am so honored to be a part of it!

Hand Embroidered Vows

I've been super busy lately!  I needed to fall behind on a few things in order to get ahead on others.  But, that's okay.  You forgive me, right? :)  I'll be posting this week's Picture Project post tomorrow instead of tonight.  I wanted to share a little peek into a custom order that I've been working on.

I'm working on hand embroidering wedding vows for a newly married couple.  They wanted to have their wedding vows embroidered and framed to give to their parents and also one to hang in their own home.  It takes me about 35 hours to make one.  I have finished two and have one more to do!!

I used their wedding invitation as inspiration for the branches and birds that border the vows.  That part is the most fun to stitch and I always save it for last :)

And check out their wedding date!!  What a memorable one.  I love that!

It is a challenging project but also so rewarding!  They will have those to hang in their home and remind them of their love for each other for all their lives.  I'm so honored to be a part of that!

..........

p.s. I'll be slowly making some design changes to the blog!  Notice anything different today?  Hint: LOOK HOW BIG MY PHOTOS ARE!

 

Love, Chelsea Lauren Feature

Hi guys!  Just stopping in really quick to let you know that I am being featured right now on Love, Chelsea Lauren.  Chelsea did a great interview with me - stop over there and check it out!

I'm heading out to go decorate cupcakes with the residents of our local nursing home.  I was already there earlier today - baking all of them and making different colors of frosting!!

Four Years Ago

It has been four years since this day - college graduation day!  It was December in Michigan - freezing outside - and my family drove 14 hours to come see me graduate.  My little sister Lauren (in the cool hat in the front) was horribly sick with pneumonia but pretended to feel better so that they would still make the trip!  Can you believe that?!  After they left, I had to quickly pack up everything I owned and fit it into my car and drive to Iowa to stay with my Mom and start the job hunt.  It was so old school back then, I used printed out mapquest directions to get there!

Horribly embarassing photo of our apartment as we packed it up in a day:

Ugh!!  Over 50% of that stuff ended up in a dumpster since it clearly wouldn't be fitting into my car.  That apartment complex was awful because even though it was a college town and they knew that we were graduating on December 15th, they still set our move out date for the 16th.  Rude!!

Within those 4 years, life changed and changed:

• I moved to Iowa and lived in my Mom's basement (furnished! not creepy.) while job hunting
• Interviewed at A&F for a Textile Design position
• Worked on a design project for JCPenney, but cancelled my interview because...
• I accepted the job at A&F and moved there 2 weeks later
• Packed all of my stuff back into the car and moved to Ohio
• Evan moved there from Michigan and we were living together at last
• Got a cat
• Got an iPhone
• Got engaged
• Started blogging (Running Stitch!  Remember!)
• Tried sushi
• Got promotions
• Got married
• Went on business trips
• Lost a grandma
• Stood up in weddings
• Started learning photography
• Dealt with divorce in the family
• Evan applied and was accepted to school in Iowa
• Quit our jobs
• Moved to Iowa
• Started my business

I can't even imagine what is ahead of us in the next 4 years!

Woodland Creatures

This time of the year always reminds me of watching deer wandering through my grandparent's backyard as we were cozy and warm inside.  They had a big backyard full of willow trees and surrounded by woods, quiet and still.  Deer were always exploring the snow filled yard and would sometimes come so close to the house that I thought they could see us!  I'd press my face right up to the cold window, just sitting and watching as the deer carefully explored the area and looked for food.

via sewingseed on etsy

Fahrenheit Goods

I just recieved a delicious package in the mail...

I ordered a mixed box of handmade gumdrops from fahrenheit goods on Etsy and have been so excited for them to arrive so I could try them!  

The packaging is so cute and very professional.

Inside this box there are raspberry, cranberry, lemon and green apple.  The consensus?  They are sooo good!

It reminds me why I love Etsy so much.  Since when is a simple thing like buying gumdrops such a great experience?  When I wrote to Becky at fahrenheit to ask her about ordering a mixed box (even though there were none in the shop) she said she'd have one ready in a couple of days and would let me know.  Sure enough, I got a message from her saying that my mixed box of gumdrops was ready and would arrive at my house in a couple of days.

Of course, opening it was like Christmas.  All for me, though.  Yesss.

I've been sneaking one here and there all day as I work.  It's nice to make a big deal out of little things sometimes!

Ruffles & Window Sills: Grandma's Attic

 

 

1. Vintage Botanical Art

2. Vintage Thread Spools Wreath by kelleystreetvintage

3. No. 6 Store Digital Print Scarf

4. Vintage Ruffle Pillows: High Street Cardigans

5. Shoulder Satchel by Billykirk

6. Battenburg Dress seen on Fashion Gone Rogue

7. 1950's Rose Dress at TimelessVixenVintage

7. 1950's Dark Floral Dress at TimelessVixenVintage

Bowling

 

Picture Project: Text

This week, the Picture Project was

When you look for it - it's everywhere!  Here is what I saw...

 Want to join in on the Picture Project?  Add your photos to the flickr group or post them on your blog and share a link with us!  You can join in anytime - no pressure.  It's fun!!

The theme for next week is...

 

Looking Up

2010 Through The iPhone Lens

2010 is coming to an end and I wanted to wrap it up with my annual tradition - a year in iPhone photos!  It's fun to watch the seasons change and life progress though these little photos.  You can actually watch a whole story unfold as we live our last few months in Columbus, say goodbye to friends, pack our things and move to Iowa to start a new phase of life.  Profound stuff!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Make Something! Thread Wrapped Headband

Happy Haul-idays Book Giveaway

I'm proud enough to admit my nerdiness when it comes to books.  I had a problem with spending hours in the bookstore at the mall back when we lived near one (hah...aww.).  As much as it sounds odd to hear that I'd be in the bookstore and not at DSW (which I also was, after the books)...I am always in the Design section!!  I can not get enough of the gorgeous inspiration that comes pouring from the pages of giant glossy photography hardcover books...adorably illustrated craft books...vibrantly colored fashion design history books...

I was alerted (thanks brandi girl!) to an amazing giveaway event going on at Chronicle Books and just couldn't pass up the opportunity to TRY to win some gorgeous design books.  How can I not try?  To enter the giveaway you can:

A.) Blog about the giveaway with your $500 wish list of books from their site (easy)

B.) Comment on blogs who blog about their wish lists from their site (even easier)

That's it.  So, here is my list!

Anna Sui

Pattern Magic

Exploring Materials

Made & Sold

My Wonderful World of Fashion

The Pattern Sourcebook

Art by Tattooists

Designing Sustainable Packaging

Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge

100 New Fashion Designers

Modern Menswear

Transmaterial 2

Reprodepot Pattern Book: Flora

Reprodepot Pattern Book: Folk

The Graphic Eye

Total: $494.70

  And let me say this... as I started putting books into my "cart" and kept checking the total, I realized that it was going to be only too easy to rack up $500.  I didn't even get halfway through the Art/Design category and had a $600 total.  Um.  I kept adding books in until I got up to about $900 and decided to start removing (sadly) books until it went down to my budget limit.  I'd need to win a bookshelf, or an entire new house with a room that has nothing but shelves to act as a personal library, along with the books.  Can we do it that way??

 

You Can

Lights In Glass Containers

I just filled some glass vases with white twinkle lights and it looks so soft and beautiful sitting on my desk!  I highly recommend you grab a few glass containers that you have around and give it a try!  It's gorgeous.

Lost & Fawned Treats!

My current "Featured Blogger", Lindsey of Lost & Fawned has two great things going on at her blog that I wanted to share with you!

She's holding a giveaway of an Elsita papercut print of your choice!  Nice, right??  Head over there and leave a comment to enter to win one!

(this one is my favorite!!)

Also, Farenheit Goods is offering a 15% discount to Lost & Fawned readers.  I just purchased a box of her pretty gumdrops and can not wait to try them!  Pop in to Lost & Fawned and grab the coupon code to use during checkout.

Ruffles & Window Sills: Turquoise & Gold

That's right...another new feature!  I am really in love with this one.  One topic close to my heart is fashion.  I studied fashion design in college and then worked in the industry for a few years before moving deep into rural Iowa for Evan to attend school.  I'm deeply inspired by fashion and take that inspiration and translate it into my other passions, including Lilac Saloon itself!  I also have a great love for Interior Design and even took one class in college, thinking that I wanted a degree in it (but fashion won)!  

Ruffles & Window Sills is all about blending my love of fashion and interior design in a natural way.  I'm going to share inspirations together in a fun mix of fashion and home.  A treat of beauty for the week!  Enjoy!!

 

1. Gold Rose Pillow by Pretty Ditty

2. Pretty Colored Pearls by Anthropologie

3. Bookshelf by erigutt on Flickr

4. Vogue UK 2005 seen on Happiness Is...

5. Mustard Elephants Bag by Svenskt Tenn

6. Kitchen Island on Apartment Therapy