Summer Goodness

{UPATE} They've all been claimed! Thanks everyone...look for more summer sales coming soon :) 

I've got a few super adorable clutches to clear out! These bags all feature a ruffle on each side and close with a zip. Each features a wristlet strap (except for Grass) and are slightly padded to keep your treasures safe. 


Comment below, email me directly or post on my Facebook page to order...then I'll send invoice your way. Easy!   It is a first come sort of thing.....


Happy day! xoxo

Yes.

I'm always amazed, looking around to my friends, creative-verse pals, super inspirational colleagues, and heroines....their ability to make things happen.  Isn't it wonderful? 
For awhile, this has been my phrase. What I repeat in my head (and sometimes out loud, shhh!) when facing a huge challenge. Let's do this, Allisa. Let's make it happen. 


What's your phrase? What words spur you on to achieve your dreams?

{image courtesy: the glitter guide}

New Color Pop Clutches

Soooo glad to finally be introducing my new clutches. Took me awhile (ok, a super long time) to get these completed but I'm so happy they are here...and in the shop! 


Love to hear what you think and what combos should be next! 

50 Shades of Gray - My New Product Labels

Hee, hee - no scandalous book references here, just my lovely new product labels! They're the same design I've used for quite awhile now, just in my oh-so-favorite gray. Much more consistent with my branding....but I'm really just excited to start using them! 

As I photographed the bunch to share on facebook, I took a few shots with different settings. I'm always trying to learn more about photography, such an art in progress, and the variations from one slight setting to the next never fails to amaze me. The following photographs were all taken in manual mode this afternoon, and with each shot I only changed the 'lighting' setting. Of all the tricks I know, this is one of my favorites - it can turn a gray portland day into a light-filled celebration for photographs!

I love how it varies from warm to cool, with hints of blue or yellow. 

Which camera setting is your favorite? I'd love to learn how to take better portraits...that's my next challenge :)

Crafty Summer - Mason Jar Project Round Up

Rounded up four super summery mason jar crafts from my pinterest crafty goodness board to share! After a busy morning out in the sun, we love coming inside to cool off, take a break, and get crafty. These are a few projects on my ever expanding to-make lists.... and since it doesn't look like much canning will get done this year, here's what I can do with all those jars! 

Sweet Fabric Votives from Fellow Fellow

Soap Dispenser by Country Living -> I need this in the kitchen!

Painted Mason Jar Vases - Tutorial by Joy's Hope 

         

Wall Vase from Cupcakes and Cashmere

Have I missed a great mason jar project? I'd love to hear about it!

Printable Poster (free!)- Wishes for Today

Found this super charming print from My Poppet and just had to share. Printing it out now to adorn my studio...a lovely little daily reminder. I may even print out a few extras for my sewing pals.  Funny how sewing has such a sense of therapy & peace (at least for me!)....anyone else feel this too?  Sometimes, people ask where I find all the time to sew...and I think, how could I not create? I have to sew.  It's like my meditation and renewal.  

Speaking of creating...I'm working really hard on my fabric design lately and am thinking the best way of sharing it all! I'm so excited though that I'm practically bursting...there's been a few fist pumping and "yessss!" moments.   Here's a color palette I worked up and have been building upon:

Can't wait to share the good stuff! 

Weekend in Photos - Mini Trip To Hood River

 Hood River is one of my most favorite places to go in Oregon - mix of nature & arts & farms & outdoors....plus it's got crazy amazing landscapes.  We jetted away for a quick trip this weekend, a sort of celebration of our 7 year wedding anniversary since Mark proposed nearby at Multnomah Falls. Little man Jack's been asking for awhile to see the spot where he said "marry me."  Here's a few pics I snapped of our weekend: 

Ok, that was my attempt at nature photography ;) I loved all the colors, contrasts, and texture though- I had to give it a shot! 

A few family pics: 

Couldn't resist the baby feet :)  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  Here's to a fabulous week ahead, xo

Hello Brides - Send Me Your Photos!

Looking forward to all the lovely wedding photos! 

Week in Photos

 Hello! I'm completely enjoying every drop of sunshine here but wanted to share a few favorite photos from our week: 

wild sweet peas, one of my favorite things of summer...

driving down a country, high prairie road. My heart sings!

in the studio: custom embroidery bags - love this set! 

a personal favorite :)  

 and sketching the afternoon away....some fabric designs coming soon! 

And our weekend exploring the back roads of Oregon....found this awesome covered bridge. 

Hope everyone is having a lovely start to the week! 

Making It Good & Easy

{super vulnerability alert!!}

This year, and more specifically, over the last couple months my business has seen a bounty of success. I truly feel so blessed.  It's been like seeing years of hard work and trial & error all come together, bang! into something amazing.  And I've so needed this. 

I've been reflecting a lot on what factors have contributed to all of this goodness, and one thing sticks out like a totally obvious, wish I would've done this sooner, neon sign;  I finally made it easy.  

Although I've happily created wedding orders over the last couple years, I never really set up shop to cater to brides. Why? I've searched long & hard for this answer and if I'm totally honest, I'm embarrassed to say I don't really know other than I didn't want to feel pegged in creatively. Looking back, it was such an obvious move, but I just didn't do it (*smacking forehead*). In short, it used to be a wee bit difficult to order from me....so many possibilities, so many choices, so many emails back & forth.


And then, in some sort of moment of clarity in January, I decided to make things easy. I set up print availability charts along with fabric color selection. I listed out price breakdowns. I showed numerous examples of combinations. I made my listing super clear and specific for each set (eg. 8 Custom Embroidery Bags,  5 Custom Cosmetic Bags with Flower Brooches).  I set up an actual wedding collection section.


I took the homework out of it all and actually made it fun + easy for brides...and others to order from me.  

And then, it all just skyrocketed. 


I've finally stopped kicking myself and decided to just enjoy the fruits of *finally* seeing the light. I'm now on the lookout for even more ways to make things good + easy in my shop. 


Has anyone else experienced this in business or in life? Like something so obvious becomes clear and everything just opens up for you? Do share! Let's smack our foreheads and then jump for joy together! 

4th of July Goodness

Happy 4th of July to my American friends! 

I'm looking forward to a day of parades, music, food, and fireworks. I found these fun US maps from Mr. Printables ( <- my new favorite site) and thought it would be a fun activity for today. The one above is even meant to be a map with cute little flags marking important places - such a cool activity and even something to put up on the wall.  They've also got loads of other fun things over there, mostly for children, but I seriously have found things to print for myself ;) 

Oh, and I've shared this before but it's just too good to not to share again; amazing flag quilt made by one of my best friends. In fact, she & I learned to sew together in 4th grade. Isn't it lovely? 

How will you be celebrating today? I love hearing about all the other traditions and festivities. I grew up going to the town rodeo every year...

On a totally separate note, I've ordered a few prints of my fabric designs and I am so looking forward to sharing!  

xo  

Finishing Business - A Plan!

When faced with a dilemma, I like to sketch out a plan.  Some sort of step-by-step, bulleted, mapped out approach. It makes me calm :) 

Last month, I shared about my issue with 'unfinished business' - all the projects I joyfully start...and  then drag my feet to complete.  Based on the comments, seems like I'm in good company with this! But, it's still a nagging issue for me nonetheless, one that brings on anxiety, guilt, pressure, and other yukky feelings. Throw the business angle into the mix and it's just a set up for creative failure! 

So.... I created this calendar for a typical week. Going from the notion that some tasks could really go on forever (like housecleaning, creating orders, developing new patterns...) I'll never actually be completed with one to start the next (like if I just went down a to-do list). Instead, I divided up how I look at my time: autopilot vs. design and plugged them into the hours I know I have.

Here's what it looks like: 

I also considered the best time for each kind of task. For example, I typically work in the afternoons when both boys are napping. But because this time is often limited or interrupted, that's best reserved for autopilot tasks.  On the other hand, I am officially in the studio for 5 glorious hours on Mondays - which would be the best time for creating new designs and sketching for fabric--tasks that require me getting into my groove; coffee, music, no interruptions....


After following this for a few days, I've noticed I'm a little less stressed and more freed up to be creative. Yesterday, I had two hours in the studio - typically I would prepare orders, but I knew I could hold off on that for an 'autopilot' time and do some fabric designing (and design I did! woo too! bubbling with excitement :) 


Anyhow, I wanted to share this super basic plan, because even though it's pretty obvious, I hadn't really looked at it like this before. 


Would something like this work for you? How else do you prioritize to complete all your unfinished business? 

July Desktop Calendars

Hello & happy July! We're still waiting for the whole 'summer' craze to catch on here in Portland...but I'm in the summer spirit nonetheless.
Wanted to share these July desktop calendars from Smashing Magazine - pretty adorable...and offer a bit of that summer for those of us still seeing gray rain out the window (seriously??!!).   

{find these & other designs at smashing magazine}

Last week, I shared a summer wish list project...we're still working on ours, but I loved all the ideas shared on my Facebook page;   reading a good book, wearing flip flops, drive in movies... 

And....a little hello from the zoo train!  Jack is thrilled...Luke is not sure about all this...


xoxo