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Oct, 12A Special GIVEAWAY from Tia + Richard at Stoic Design
Oh boy am I honored and very excited to host this special giveaway from Tia + Richard at Stoic Design! They’re a husband and wife team who create Quote Art on Canvas. Each canvas features either Lyrics, Movie, or Literature Quotes on Vintage Maps, Antique Book Pages and Sheet Music. Their art would make a great conversation piece for your living room and I’m so jealous that one of you gets the chance to win this awesome canvas! (smile) This is my favorite quote from the movie – I mean, who doesn’t love Where The Wild Things Are?!
UPDATE: Giveaway now closed. Thank you all for participating!
All you have to do is “like” their new Facebook page and leave a comment below letting me know that you did so for 1 entry. And for 2 extra entries, you can follow their blog and Twitter, and be sure to leave a comment below for each to enhance your chances of winning! That’s 3 chances to win!
This giveaway will run from Monday Oct. 22 – Sunday Oct. 28th (until Midnight MST) and the winner will be selected at random and announced here on Monday Oct. 29th! Good luck!
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In addition, Tia is offering 15% off your next purchase in her Esty Shop! Use coupon code: CHICKIEDEE15 This offer is valid until the end of this year, and it’s just in time for the Holidays, so get a head start on your shopping with Stoic Design!
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Be sure to visit Tia at her Shop | Blog |Twitter | FB
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Oct, 12{inspired} teal, grey + mustard
Earlier this week went a bit out of control. I went to the store for some fabric to complete an order and stumbled upon this pretty teal, grey + mustard fabric. I couldn’t help myself, I just had to have it. As soon as I saw it, I was inspired to make a few specific things with it. So, be expecting a couple chevron totes coming to the shop! The mustard polka dot fabric is intended for a skirt and I can’t wait to dive into that project as soon as I wrap up a couple of orders first. I hope your Friday is treating you well. Any weekend plans?
02
Oct, 12Giraffes and Vintage Buttons
Giraffes and vintage buttons, these are the materials that I’m currently working with. I’m making some extra special totes for this Saturdays craft show and I’ll be sure to add them to the shop afterwards. When I first saw this fabric, I knew it was destined to become a tote. Then I found these amazing vintage buttons at a quilt show a couple of weekends ago and they are just perfect. Their so perfect that I almost don’t want to sell them… almost. Well, I had better get back to work, because I have a busy week of prepping and packing. Wish me luck! ♥R
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Sep, 12{inspired} vintage suitcases
This week I’ve been inspired by vintage suitcases. I found this one awhile ago in an antique shop and I’ve inherited a couple from both of my grandmothers. They’re all a bit dirty and need a good wipe down, but I want to use them for storage in my studio. I’m not quite sure how I will use them, but they’re much prettier than boxes and totes, don’t you think?!
I just love how these old suitcases were made – sturdy and elegant. Samsonite knew what they were doing and that’s no lie. I would love to air-travel with this precious case, but nowadays the airlines are so rough with everything. Each time I check a bag, its either so smashed that it’s unusable or it’s ripped. Am I the only one with this problem? They must have been much gentler back then, or maybe the didn’t pack in as many passengers at once. Either way, I don’t want to chance it.
How about you, do you have any vintage suitcases put to good use? ♥R
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Sep, 12{inspired} a new weekly series
{source}
What’s better than feeling inspired? Sharing that inspiration, of course! That’s why I’ve decided to start a new series called {inspired} which will post every Friday. I find myself roaming the internet, magazines, books, antique shops, boutiques, bakeries and more, where I find tons of inspiration. I usually write this inspiration in my ideabook, but thought that it would be nice to share what I find with you, too. Inspiration is everywhere and I think it’s important to share what inspires us to keep our creative community strong. So join me every Friday and we can be inspired together!
This week I’ve been super inspired by pumpkin! You read that right, I said pumpkin. I feel like everywhere I turn, there it is. Starbucks rings in the Fall Season with their Pumpkin Spice menu, which I LOVE! The Pumpkin Spiced Latte and Pumpkin Scone go great together, by the way. Then I just heard that Einstein’s has a Pumpkin Bagel with Pumpkin Cream Cheese, and Caribou Coffee has Pumpkin Chai! Sheesh, it is everywhere. So, this is making me want to grab a pumpkin treat and just craft all day long. It’s starting to cool down here in Colorado, and Fall is my favorite time to get creative. Baking isn’t my strong suit, but I love to do it! I’m thinking of trying to make a pumpkin swirl log, have you seen those cakes? It’s probably not on any healthy eating list, but it would be a great treat to nibble on at the upcoming October Craft Show with my mom. I think I found a recipe on Pinterest for it…
Anyhoo, what’s been inspiring you this week? ♥R
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Aug, 12Trendy
Trends. Trends are all around us and have been since the beginning. I feel that everyone follows a trend to a point; some just do it more in-depth than others. Even those who say they don’t follow trends, are in a way following one. They follow the one that the non-followers follow. Hahaha This is okay! It’s not a bad thing at all. We see something we like and we want to be a part of it, right? I think that’s great. What makes each of us unique, is how we take that trend that we like, and make it our own unique style by adding or subtracting whatever. I do believe there are trend-setters and trend-followers, and there are some who are both. To be a trend-setter, you have to stay ahead of the pack or at least in the front of it. If you have a unique idea that you’ve never seen before, do it-make it-create it. Who knows, it just might be the next up and coming trend! I like trends, they can be fun and I don’t see it as a negative thing when we become a part of one. It’s fun to look back on photos and laugh at past trends that we’ve taken part in. It shows who we are and how we grow as unique individuals. So, if anyone says that you’re just being “trendy,” say thank you and think to yourself, “and so are you!” haha! ♥R
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Aug, 12The Prototype
Prototypes have become a key part of my creative process. Although I don’t create one for every project, I do for the more detailed and elaborate ideas. Have you had a “great idea” only to find out after you cut enough pieces for a lifetime, that it wasn’t going to work, because you didn’t make a prototype first? Sheesh. I have and lesson learned. Owning and operating a small creative business, means that I need to think about each step carefully so that I don’t cost myself more money or waste too much time. Now I create prototypes before setting up the assembly line, which allows me to play and adjust before diving in too deep.
The first step that I take to building a prototype is to sketch my idea and write out the details. This makes it much easier for me to see the big picture and what I’m working with. Do I have all of the materials, or do I need to go buy some? How long do I think this will take? This step allows me to pick the size, colors, shapes, etc., and gives me the chance to make the first set of adjustments. The second step is where I gather everything that I need and start to measure and piece it together. Here is where I can start to tell if it’s going to work or not. Once put together I can lastly make any final tweaks and determine the cost and time that went into making that piece. Then I ask myself, can I afford to make a collection of them? Can I make several in a short time or is it going to take more time than I can spare? These are all things that I need to consider.
If everything works out as planned, I’ll usually make a small collection of them and test the market. Do they sell? Do people like them? If people like them, then I can set up a small assembly line to produce batches. If they aren’t successful, that’s okay, because I only created a small collection to start with and I’m not out a whole lot.
Like I mentioned before, I don’t feel the need to create a prototype for every idea that I have, but I do for the larger and more detailed ones. Some ideas have worked and some have not, and that’s okay. A perk of having the idea written in my ideabook, is that I can look back on it later with fresh eyes, and who knows, maybe recreate it into something successful!
The past couple of weeks I’ve been creating prototypes and can’t wait to let you in on what I’ve been working on! I’ll have a shop update on Saturday Sept. 1st to kick off Fall, so I’ll keep you posted! ♥R
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Aug, 12So Many Things + Not Enough Time
This past week I’ve been busy filling orders, writing down all of my creative ideas and attending lots of family and friend events. It’s been crazy! August has always been a busy month for us over here, so I knew this was coming, but sheesh. It’s extremely important to me that I keep a happy and healthy balance between Chickiedee and my personal life. I don’t ever want to be that girl who pushes all of her family and friends to the side so that I can focus on work and work alone. So to keep that balance, I have to work hard at managing my time, because there just isn’t enough of it in a day.
I’m a huge multitasker, and although I’m not always the best at it, it’s a very important part of my time management. I like to know that I can get two things done at once and not have to let anything fall through the cracks. For example, I love putting in a load of laundry while I sew or talking on the phone while I clean. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something B I G. With that said, I know when not to multitask, as well. Certain things need my undivided attention, like a birthday party for a loved one, or a rush order that needs to get out ASAP. Managing my time and doing it well is something that I’m always going to have to think about, and that’s okay, because I’m doing what I love and it’s worth it. Even if I have to pull a few all nighters to get it all done, I will.
On that note, I’ve been filling up my idea books like crazy!!! I have so many fun projects to share for the Fall. I’m motivated to work on a few of them this week as I prepare for the best season of the year. Ahhh… I just love Fall. ♥R
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Jul, 12I’m Here!
The day has finally come for the Summer Horseshoe Market! I’m so excited and the weather is said to be great. I’ll be in Booth #29 from 9am-4pm, so stop on by and say hello. There will be over 100 vendors selling handmade, vintage, and more! Oh, and don’t forget the awesome food trucks!!! It will be at 4345 W. 46th Ave. Denver, CO 80212, in the parking lot behind Olinger Moore Chapel. For more information go to http://www.horseshoemarket.com ♥r
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Jul, 12{a list of…} Things to Pack
The making process is complete and now I’m packing for tomorrows big Market. Last night I packed up everything that I could think of and decided to sleep on it to see if I had forgotten anything. So far so good. Here is my list of things to take…
- Roblin Tees, Toys, Paintings, Onesies and Hoop Art
- Hair Bows + Headbands
- Quilts
- Totes
- Glitter Pins
- Upcycled Envelopes
- 3 Tables (1 large, 2 small)
- 1 clothing rack
- Table cloths
- Mini Suitcases + Crate
- Tent + Weights
- 2 Chairs
- Snacks + Drinks
- Supply Bin: business cards, scissors, tape, string, pens, markers, clothes pins, bags, lint roller, dust rag, paper
- Mirror
- Wet Wipes
- Stool
- Change $$$
- iPad + Square
- 2-wheeler
I think that’s about everything that I can think of right now. Yikes! That’s a lot of stuff for one day but totally worth it! I hope your Friday is a wonderful one and I hope to see some of you tomorrow! ♥r
