thank you:

thank you to times online for including oh, hello friend in the 50 top design blogs. i know there are thousands of amazing blogs out there so to be a part of this list, i am truly honored and humbled. special thanks to lynne from tea for joy, who curated the list.

and thanks to all the readers. you are really what keeps me blogging.. and have made this blog what it is. your sweet comments and notes, they put a smile on my face every day.

as whitney from darling dexter said,
here's to another great blogging year in 2010!

shop love:

faire houre shop
blog + flickr

goodness, this is one of those shops where i seriously can't decide which item i'd choose because every single thing is so lovely. Jenilyn has been making clocks for a couple years now. when i asked her how she got started making such beautiful clocks, she had such a fabulous and special story:

"My Great Grandfather made mid-century furnishings and he handcrafted a beautiful clock that was kept above their fireplace. I recently visited my Great Grandmother and the house was exactly the same and I remember when I was growing up, and the clock is still in the same spot. When I was young my father made our family clock which chimed, and somehow it kind of became our family symbol. Whenever I visit my parents and I hear the clock chime all kinds of fun family memories come back. I just think that clocks have a beauty all their own and I genuinely love to make them. There is something about taking several unrelated objects and creating a clock that literally comes to life. I guess I took my love of clocks and combined it with my love for beautiful china and thought I could really have fun with it."

if you're in the need for some inspiration, even jenilyn's styling photos for the clocks are beautiful. i just imagine so many lovely little corners in her house that make for amazing photos: i want little corners and walls in my home that look like hers ;) just look at some of these photos!

or if you need a gift for someone, this would make such a fabulous gift. also see faire houre blog or her flickr for an archive of all the clocks and photos.

be sure to stop on by to Faire Houre
and treat yourself to one of these special clocks!

inspire: lovely.

some holiday cheer as we near christmas!
(only 10 days away!)


+


green + lace garland+


christmas colors by auxpetitsoiseaux +


by manda+


mantle by lifelovepaper +


dwelling ornaments by petitehouse +


from decor 8 by a creative mint


via you are my fav


i want to make this advent calendar +


:: sigh :: i swoon over everything from this shop! +


via design sponge +


lights and snowflakes via a field journal +

weekly giveaway - carrie girl:

carrie girl is such a treasure. it's one of those shops you come across and immediately favorite and want everything! her jewelry travel wallets are pure genius - i put one on my christmas list ;) (i always throw my necklaces in a bag and then they get all tangled, hehe) this week carrie has generously donated one of her fabulous clutches - the penelope clutch.

win: penelope clutch, $40 value!



Carrie has also kindly offered a 10% discount off
your entire purchase from her shop!
Excellent for gifts for friends or yourself :)

Code: OHHELLOFRIEND
Discount: 10% on ANY purchase

Hello! Please tell us a little about yourself! My name is Carrie, and I live smack-dab in the middle of the Midwest in lovely Iowa City. I am an elementary special education teacher who spends most of my free time sewing and making things or thinking about sewing and making things. I started Carrie Girl a little over 2 years ago, and since then I have fallen even more in love with the creative process of bag and accessory design.

How did you get started in sewing and making all your lovely clutches and travel wallets? I started sewing about 4 years ago when I was living in Brooklyn. On a whim, I got a sewing machine from Target, bought a book, and started teaching myself. I’ve learned a lot along the way by trying new things and making a lot of mistakes. Recently I saw a tote bag I made for my brother’s girlfriend when I first started out and totally cringed, but it was just a nice reminder that learning to do something new is a process and that at least I had made some progress!

My Travel Jewelry Wallets are one of the first real projects I saw through from start to finish. They are inspired by a silk jewelry case my mom had from the 60’s. My version is made from vintage fabric, organic cotton canvas and bamboo batting, so they’re a modern twist on a very functional item. I started the clutches last spring when I became completely obsessed with scallops and wanted to use them on everything! I love the design process--each of my patterns are worked and re-worked several times before I actually get to the final product.

Where do you find all your beautiful fabric? I try to use as much repurposed fabric as I can, so most of my stash has been collected from thrift stores and garage sales. Some of it I find by the yard or in big scraps, but others are cut up vintage shirts and dresses. I usually hit my thrift store route once or twice a week after work, and definitely on Saturdays. I try and keep my purchases just to fabric and notions, but once in awhile a ceramic deer or vintage lowball glass makes its way home with me, too.

Where do you gather inspiration from? I’m most definitely inspired by the materials I use—vibrant fabrics, different textures and unique patterns. I love flipping through vintage craft books and magazines for color combinations and new-to-me techniques. I also find inspiration daily from the crafting community--reading blogs, checking out Etsy stores and design websites always makes me want to go home and sew. There are so many talented people out there making beautiful things in their kitchens and bedrooms. I'm often floored by it all. I have to say that it wasn't until I discovered the crafting/sewing/DIY world online that I really was inspired to start doing it myself. And it still sustains me.

Favorite inspirational blogs/shops/links: I spend way too much time reading blogs and window shopping online, so here are just a few... the small object | smitten kitchen | clever girl | etsy: quit your day job

Visit carrie girl and leave a comment
with your favorite item from the shop.

( EXTRA CHANCE TO ENTER! )

wait! there is an opportunity to gain one extra entry:
simply twitter, facebook, or blog about this giveaway
and come back and comment with the link :)

please check back next week to see if you are the lucky winner!

giveaway ends on monday, december 21 at 8am, pst

---

ps: congrats to LORI the winner of the giveaway from lisa leonard! please contact me with your information! (winner has 1 week to claim prize. if prize is not claimed, a new winner will be chosen)

holiday shop trade guide:

the '09 shop trade guide is here :) i think there's still enough time to trade for gifts this year! click on the link below to view the guide and see all the shops that are trade-friendly...if you missed the guide, just leave a comment with your shop link if you are open to trades as well. if you don't have a shop, this kind of also makes a great holiday gift guide.. for the ladies ;) enjoy!

how trading on etsy works: see something you like. message the seller to see if they'd be interested to trade. send them your shop link. figure out a fair trade. and please do not be offended if someone says no... (if i left anything out, please message me!)



favorites:
(1) atlantic treefox: etsy.com/shop/treefox
(2) the velvet bird: etsy.com/shop/thevelvetbird
(3) by belinda: etsy.com/shop/bybelinda
(4) nan lawson: etsy.com/shop/nanlawson
(5) sew lola: etsy.com/shop/sewlola


edibles + kids:
(1) Fancy Lady Gourmet: etsy.com/shop/tabbycat13
(2) Poppy and Peony: etsy.com/shop/poppyandpeony


paper goods:
(1) Quotes & Notes: etsy.com/shop/quotesandnotes
(2) Bread of Many: etsy.com/shop/breadofmany


vintage:
(1) the vintageholic frog: etsy.com/shop/thevintageholicfrog
(2) paper bag vintage: etsy.com/shop/paperbagvintage
(3) recy: etsy.com/shop/recy
(4) elinor: etsy.com/shop/elizabethnormand
(5) the baby kitties: etsy.com/shop/thebabykitties


photograph:
(1) The Pink Balloon: etsy.com/shop/thepinkballoon
(2) Georgianna Lane: etsy.com/shop/georgiannalane
(3) Victoria Klein: etsy.com/shop/victoriae
(4) Things that are made: etsy.com/shop/thingsthataremade


accessories:
(1) Taylor House: etsy.com/shop/taylorhouse
(2) Paisley Lane: etsy.com/shop/paisleylane
(3) Honey and Pig: etsy.com/shop/honeyandpig
(4) blue heart boutique: etsy.com/shop/blueheartboutique
(5) Knots by Ashley: etsy.com/shop/knotsbyashley



fabric:
(1) Jenny Swanson: etsy.com/shop/jennyswanson
(2) The Pink Needle: etsy.com/shop/thepinkneedle
(3) Miss Millies House: etsy.com/shop/missmillieshouse
(4) Tiny House: etsy.com/shop/tinyhouse


other lovely:
(1) Black. White. Yellow: etsy.com/shop/blackwhiteyellow
(2) Colie's Crafts: etsy.com/shop/nslods
(3) french toast friday: etsy.com/shop/frenchtoastfriday
(4) Lizziebees: etsy.com/shop/lizziebeesthings
(5) Ooty: etsy.com/shop/ooty
(6) one crafty librarian: etsy.com/shop/briannasoloski


jewelry #1:
(1) Pink Street: etsy.com/shop/pinkstreet
(2) melissa loschy designs: etsy.com/shop/melissaloschy
(3) armelle jewelry: etsy.com/shop/armellejewelry
(4) urbanite jewelry: etsy.com/shop/urbanitejewelry
(5) adrift designs: etsy.com/shop/adriftdesigns
(6) that winsome girl: etsy.com/shop/thatwinsomegirl


jewelry #2:
(1) Happy Cloud Moments: etsy.com/shop/happycloudmoments
(2) rock paper silver: etsy.com/shop/rockpapersilver
(3) oh, hello friend: etsy.com/shop/ohhellofriend
(4) suzanne made: etsy.com/shop/suzannemade
(5) Auburn and Ivory: etsy.com/shop/AuburnandIvory
(6) Natalie Marie: etsy.com/shop/nataliexmarie

happy trading! xo.

wishes for christmas:

on my wishlist this year..

1) wood tape dispenser from UGUiSU
2) lace clock - china collection from FaireHoure
(sold now.. sad!)
3) alex drawer unit from ikea
4) ps sinka cabinet with drawers from ikea
5) bridal bargains, 9th edition +
6) a weebee house. hehe.
i want to buy one and live by a lake.
7) three stack green book box from wisteria.
8) best of makeup forever from sephora.
i hear this brand is lovely!

what's on yours?

holiday shop trade:

i recently found out about trading on etsy - i never even thought to before! what a fabulous idea! some people even said they were able to get all their gifts by trading last year. so i thought i'd put together a small guide of friends who have an etsy shop and are open to trading for this holiday season. if you're up for a trade for the holidays, please email me! i'll compile a small guide and send it to everyone who emails me.

unique los angeles:

sorry friends, i know i just posted about patchwork so apologies if this is repetitive. but it's what my life has consisted of lately with all the craft shows!

unique los angeles was such a success. 6,000 people attended. got some pics with a couple celebs (post below) and it was so fun. the mini cake stands were also a hit, 15+ mini cake stands all have new homes now! i just wish i had more time to shop for myself and see all the other amazing vendors there were.

anyway, there are some more pics for your inspiration. doing a craft show booth is so much fun.. there were some seriously legit booths at unique so i think i have to really step it up for next time!

unique los angeles friends:

this post had to go into another because there were just so many lovely friends who stopped by that i have to blog about! firstly, i guess i will talk about the celebs. it was so cool :)

jackie tohn. so cool. so here's my story about the ama thing. this super sweet person comes into my booth and she's like "hello friend...hey, did you have your stuff in the bags at the ama gift lounge?" and i was like..so random.. but yes! she was like, "oh yea, i remember your company!" or something like that and i asked if she got a bag and she was like, "yep, i was on american idol last season, top 24" i felt super lame cause i don't watch american idol but that's seriously legit if you're in top 24.

anyway, she told me these crazy stories about how the companies in the gift lounge just give out tons of free stuff to all the celebrities... and i told her about how my necklace got stolen and she suggested maybe a celebrity took it cause they thought it was free. so that made me feel better...

as she left, nick was like, "you should take a picture with her!" so i ran after her to ask if i could take a pic. she was SO sweet. she came back to my booth and was like "yea, i'll put on a necklace or something" so there she is - wearing a oh, hello friend necklace! so in a strange way, the ama gift lounge did work out cause i ended up getting a pic of my item on a celeb anyway! heh. and the fact that she remembered my company brand and mentioned it totally made my day. branding works! lol. so i called my bro cause he's a big idol fan and he totally remembered her!

Marguerite Moreau. you may remember her from the mighty ducks, i totally grew up on that movie! then i saw her in another show recently and so it was so random when i saw her at unique la in april - she was at the info table, lol. i think i was probably staring at her really awkwardly. i wanted to take a picture with her then but i was like, meh. so anyway, she was back here last weekend, this time passing out drinks. then she came into my booth and i turned to nick and whispered "dude nick, that actress is in my booth!" hahaaaa. she bought a magnet set from me! i asked to take a picture with her, she was so sweet. fun times.

anyway, lots more friend pics: click below to see more!

tina from hi tree! she is really cool, and i love everything from her shop. we were next to each other at a craft show in la that was the worst so i got to meet her back then.

mai from ruche. yep, that's right! i totally met the owner of the most lovely shop ruche! her and her husband were so lovely and sweet.

i was next to kait emerson designs at patchwork and was so glad to meet her. you don't always get next to super friendly people at some of these shows so it was lovely to be next to her. i know i say this a lot but she was so sweet. everyone is so sweet, lol. her daughter was soooo adorable too.

my dear friends beatrice her sister cynthia. they were such a big help at patchwork show and stopped by to support at unique. beatrice studied fashion and makes the most lovely things that she sells in her etsy shop here.

and last but not least, all the other lovely friends.


laura - a sweet friend who i just met through blogging.

elim - a sweet friend who i actually met just selling at uc irvine.

carissa - a shop supporter who has purchased from my shop a few times.. she wrote a really sweet thing about meeting each other on her blog.

michelle + carissa woo - super random story about michelle and her sister. i know michelle through blogging, and her sister carissa was roommates with one of my friends from elementary school. such a small world.


dear friends helen + frances + her adorable kids!


my aunt linda stopped by and always supports!


how cute is nicholas in his bike shirt.. which he got many compliments on. i got him this shirt ;)