weekend no. 091110

What a weekend, friends, what a weekend! You c'ville friends and shoppers made my day on Saturday at the Farmers Market - couldn't believe the sweet responses and energy and shopping that went down at booth 99. It was such a beautiful day, I had a great day hanging with Amanda and selling you fine folks some jewelry. And then? Then it was cookie time. And, let me tell you, these cookies were divine. They would have been in the trash can if not for the fine ladies of my community group (because I don't even own a mixer, much less bake cookies on a regular basis). I am so thankful for the help and presence of people who know their way around a kitchen or two. My insulin levels = not so thankful, but my heart and belly and taste buds were very thankful. To add icing on the cake (cookies?), the JMU Dukes pulled a huge win out on Saturday. Huge, friends. No, seriously, huge. Cute Husband might have run around screaming in public...with hands held high. It was that big. And then the Redskins pulled another huge win last night! I was long past asleep by the time a final whistle blew, but I heard all about it this morning and shared in Cute Husband's joy since, well, I'm pretty sure that made it into our unofficial wedding vows.

what to wear no. 091010

Wow...seriously? It's Friday already? How can that be? I feel strongly that it was really just Monday morning. I'll be at the Cville Farmer's Market tomorrow morning, selling laurel denise for the first time in ages. Come see me and my dear friend Amanda who is just about the best ever for wanting to come and hang with me at 6am - we'll be in the ones in the booth in front of Bang! drinking Shenandoah Joe's. After that, I'm having some friends from my church group over to hang out while some of the guys check out the Top of the Hops Beer Festival on the mall. I'm attempting this recipe and this one, too. Yum. Sunday will find my bum at the production table all day long with Rachel, my new production assistant gal. We bonded over Twilight on her first day yesterday...this is a great sign! Hope you friends have a great weekend planned!

blouse | jeans | cream flats | cuff | laurel denise create necklace

edit: also! I forgot to mention that some of my brand new necklaces (those cool leather pendant ones) and my silhouette sterling pieces will be at the Le Papier Studio booth at the Renegade Craft Show in Chicago this weekend! Booth 215. Look for the adorable silhouette goodness. When you've found it, you will know you're there. Give Vana a hug for me. I still can't believe she and I have never met in person!

studio tour no. 090910

Welp, there aren't many pictures for this week's studio tour because, um, I couldn't exactly document the fight that went down with my electroplating system. Y'all, it was major. You know how when you've been ordering something (the same thing) for years and you kind of expect it to just, you know, work? Just like it always has? I love counting on that. Find comfort in it, even. So when a supplier gets switched on you at the last second and you order 1,000 of something anyway (because you're up against big time deadlines) and then it doesn't work the same way at all, well...it's not something that needs to be photographed. Thank the good Lord that I was able to find a replacement, have it sent overnight and find that everything works just peachy peachy and normal normal. But, goodness almighty, it wasn't pretty. There were some tears and some racing around this town trying to find something to make. it. work. This studio tour Thursday finds me happy to have that behind me. I've also been watching a ton of the show Huge on hulu while I work at the production table and I'm kind of obsessed. Anyone else into this show? I'm enjoying it and especially thankful to have something other than my mind to keep me company during these long production hours.

letterbox co.

So, y'all, I don't know why I need all of this amazing stuff from Letterbox Co., but I just do. I mean...don't I? And, don't you?

weekend no. 090410

I decided it was Fall this weekend and the weather cooperated, which was certainly nice of it. A beautiful weekend spent with two beautiful gals trying on beautiful bridesmaid dresses in beautiful Old Town Alexandria with a bag full of beautiful old-fashioned sugar taffy and delicious meals prepared with love by a sweet brother-in-law (with a little extra help from a sweet niece). Perfection, friends, just perfection. And, well, since 7am hit me hard this morning, that's all I really have to say about that right now. Time to go inject some coffee into my brain to make it work.

what to wear no. 090310

Ah, routine fills me up with happiness. Here I am, back at another what to wear Friday post for the first time in oh so very long. Who knew I could find so much comfort and peace with a routine? Aside from my mom who assures me I've been like this since a very young girl. The other day she explained to me how she'd have to bring me picnic dinners during intense play rehearsal times when I was a youngin'...she'd have to do something just to make life seem normal and peaceful or I'd sort of melt. Seriously, she's the best, right? So, yeah, I guess I've always been a little bit of a petal. Part of my charm, I say.

So, okay, this weekend! Yay! I've been looking forward to this one for a long time. It's going to be all about the soon-to-be newest member of the Smith Clan. My sister-in-law...can I just scrap that "-in-law" thing?...okay, so, my sister and I are going to pamper our soon-to-be with goodness this weekend. Cooking, pedicures, shopping, cupcakes, treats from coffee joints, snacks, gal chat time...pretty much anything her amazing and full heart desires.

white khakis | gray tank (duh) | arlyn cardigan (so much cuter on - check out the model online) | ballerina shoes | laurel denise fairytale bracelet | laurel denise sister bracelet

studio tour no. 090210

So, wow, remember when I used to have studio tour Thursday? Back when I was actually in my studio and not setting up booths and selling merchandise to fabulous store buyers? Yeah...I kind of remember that, too. In a far off in the distance sort of way. So, really, this week brings me lots and lots of production prep and order prep. Spreadsheets like woah, y'all. I think sometimes I'm cheating on art with spreadsheets and excel. The organization makes me so happy, I just can't help it. I feel like I have a small army of jewelry pieces just waiting for the main honcho to show up (the elements pendants) and then they are all going to fight a big "get shipped by september 15th" battle. It's going to be fierce, friends. In happy news, I will have a fellow officer here in the studio to help me sand and drill and string and prep and ship starting next week! I'm not the world's best interviewer, but I'm excited (and totally humbled) that so many amazing people were interested in helping me and I do believe I found a great gal.

Also - friends and lovely calendar fans of mine - I will have word by the end of this week on an official yay or nay on a 2011 calendar production. Doing everything I can to help make that happen for you all!