LA

Visitors Pass Directory

I wanna say thank you to my friends for sharing 18 amazing guest posts while I was on vacation in May! It was so fun to have you all on my blog!! The posts were so awesome, I wanted to make a Visitors Directory today so we can revisit the posts easily and I look forward to having more guests join the Visitors Pass club in the future (Kyla will be my next guest)! 

Visit the Visitor Pass full series here or post by post clicking the images below :) xo, LA

Jill // Lune loves Lamps

Michelle // Fall in Love with TV

Cara // My Oddly Normal Life

Katie // Product Packaging Tips

Sandi // Fab Fifteen from Etsy

Kaelah // Funny Pets

Dan // Winnipeg Thrifts

Emma // Cheddar Pinwheels Recipe

Zoe // Illustrations with a Typographic Twist

Maggie // A Day with Bauer

Corey Marie // Here comes Papercuts Handmade

Momma // #1 Recipe = Pineapple Cheesecake

Amanda // Double Blessing

Moorea // 3 Best Ways to be Productive when You're Self Employed

Kelly Ann // 4 Favorite Moments as a Photographer

Mandi // 5 Best Thrifts, ever

Danielle // 6 Mommy Must Haves

6 Mommy Must-Haves [Visitor Pass: Danielle Hampton]

Hi Freckled Nest readers!  Danielle here, from Sometimes Sweet! In the spirit of Leigh-Ann's recent visit to see her soon-to-be-mama friend Violet, I thought I'd share my top 6 "Mommy must-haves." To give you some background, I recently became a first-time Mom to the coolest little dude named Henry. He's 6 months now, and over these past months I feel like I've gotten a crash course in all things baby!  It's a learning process for sure, and throughout this process I've indeed learned a lot!  Here are some of the things my husband Hank and I couldn't have done without! 

 

1. Snuza

Oh my word was this wonderful little device a godsend!  I can't recommend it enough to any and every mama I meet. And what is it you ask? Well, it's a baby movement monitor that alerts you if your baby stops breathing. After 15 seconds of no breath or movement, the Snuza will gently vibrate to stimulate your baby.  If there is no change in another 5 seconds, an alarm sounds. We had one false alarm and let me tell you- it definitely woke us up. Basically, the Snuza helps to prevent SIDS and in our case, gave us peace of mind to be able to sleep without checking to see if Henry was breathing every five minutes. One great feature is the fact that because it's portable (you simply clip it onto the baby's diaper), you can use it anywhere. A lot of the other monitoring devices (AngelCare) are just a pad under the crib mattress. But what happens if baby is sleeping in your bed? Or napping in a different area of the house? The pager-esque portability of the Snuza was really convenient for us, and in my opinion, our number one must-have!

 

2. Co-Sleeper

When Henry was born, we had him sleeping in a pack n play next to our bed. As time went on though, we realized that he was becoming more and more uncomfortable and would actually sleep best when he was in the bed with my husband and I. A lot of our friends co-sleep with their babies and children, but I am just too paranoid to be okay with our infant sleeping right there next to us. My husband is a heavy sleeper, and for those few days Henry slept in the bed with us I hardly slept at all, worrying that Hank would roll over on the baby. That weekend we took a trip to Babies r Us and purchased the Summer Infant Rest Assured Sleeper.  This allowed Henry to sleep in the bed with us, but still gave him enough protection (mesh-sides, steel railings under the padding), that there was no chance that Hank could roll over on him. This was a great compromise for us, and allowed us all the benefits of co-sleeping without my constant paranoia. 

 

3. Brest Friend Nursing Pillow

I had an unplanned, emergency c-section (my birth story) and when I got home from the hospital I was so happy I had received the Brest Friend pillow as a gift. Unlike the "other" pillow (the Boppy), the BF attaches to your waist and was high and away from my c-section incision. It allowed me to feed Henry comfortably during those first couple of weeks, and for that I am so grateful. Luckily breastfeeding for Henry and I wasn't a struggle at all, and I really believed that this pillow had a bit to do with it.  Yay Brest Friend!

 

4. Pre-Fold Cloth Diapers

Now this seems like an odd thing to have on a must-haves list, but we use these wonderful little things many times, every day!  They're super useful as burp clothes, wiping up who knows what, and we even used them to line the changing table.  I don't think I've been anywhere in the past 6 months without one of them in my purse. Super useful and much more environmentally friendly than paper towels!

 

5. Nursing Bras or Tank Tops

I tried to plan ahead and buy a couple of these prior to Henry's birth, but once my milk came in I realized that I had WAY underestimated the size I would need! I was totally uncomfortable- I had to support those bad boys, but I had nothing that fit. Luckily my friend Autumn was there and ran out to Target to get me two nursing tank tops. They would have been awesome to have right from the get-go, and I wish I would have known to buy a few sizes bigger than normal. If you're breastfeeding you're basically doing so every 2-3 hours, so being comfortable is so important. Once I had the proper support I felt so much better!

 

6. Total Baby App on iPhone

I was totally skeptical about this at first- I mean why on earth would I need an app to help me keep track of everything? But I actually used this constantly in the first month or so.  It has a lot of features (naps, diaper changes, etc.) but the main thing I used it for was nursing. It has a built in timer, an option to start on the left or right, and it will collectively add up your nursing time per breast, per session and per day. In those crazy sleep-deprived newborn days this app really helped me stay organized and feel on top of things. 

So, those are my top 6 "Mama must-haves"!  I hope you enjoyed them, and LA, I hope you had a fantastic trip!  Thanks for having me.

xo, Danielle

*each photo is sourced from the link given with the exception of the Sunza (via), Brest Friend (via) and the Total Baby app pic (via my iPhone).

5 Favorite Thrifts, ever. [Visitor Pass: Mandi]

Hi Freckled Nest friends! It's Mandi, from Here's Looking at Me, Kid. I'm so delighted to be guest blogging for Leigh-Ann, a lady I consider to be such a great inspiration in my own life, and also a wonderful boss of sorts. (You see, I design with her at Freckled Nest.) If you'd like, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and check out my Etsy shop, Fine and Dandy Vintage.

I'm the kind of girl who loves compliments, who graciously says thank you in response to them, but then gleefully reveals the ridiculously low price I paid for whatever dress or hat I'm wearing. Come to my house, compliment my wall decor, and I will probably do the same thing. Sometimes if I'm hiking through the woods in a pretty dress, and a friend expresses concern for the well being of said dress, I might flippantly respond that it was only a dollar anyway. Which leads me to wonder... what defines the value we place on our belongings?

Having very little money forces me to be a bit creative in my procurement of belongings. Yep, I head to the thrift stores and fleamarkets for most of what I have, but through the years, I've developed a very discerning eye. I've figured out what I love, and buy or don't keep anything I don't really love. But all the things I have and love are usually found for a pretty low price. I don't place a lot of value on belongings, because people and experiences are far more important, but when Leigh-Ann asked me to share with you some of my greatest finds, I scoured my home to find a few of my favorites. These are the treasures that I really adore and would probably rescue in the event of a fire.

 
One of my New Year's resolutions for 2010 was to wear more hats. I had a few knit berets found at the thrift store, but after many more weekly trips to the thrift, my collection quickly multiplied. I'm not one for accessorizing much, but hats and scarves are pretty inexpensive and quirky ways to make any outfit that much cooler. Once my collection began to grow, I started to get more creative in storing the hats. I keep out of season hats in vintage boxes on shelves, but for hats I'm wanting to wear day-to-day, I have hooks on my walls for easy viewing. Makes getting dressed pretty fun.

In addition to hats, I'm quite the one for 1960's dresses. They're easy to find on Etsy and at Antique shops, but sometimes you might get lucky and find one for a relatively inexpensive price at the thrift store. This black one is my most recent find. I haven't worn it yet, because I'm searching for the perfect big bow to pin to the front.

The rest of my house is filled with a lot of vintage and quirky decor, but the little details are where it's at. I love starting my mornings with a french press full of locally roasted coffee in one of my pretty little mugs. When they're not being used, I keep them displayed on cuphooks over my kitchen sink. They're a lovely way to brighten up my tiny little kitchen.

Some of my other treasures I like to keep out in my home are the many vintage pillows I've found at thrift stores. I will never pass by one of these pretties. If I ever run out of room on my sofas, I will probably just pile them on the floor. Extra seating for game nights!

In addition to pretty vintage decor, I have quite the thing for boxes and storage items. Luggage is no exception. But luggage is usually in abundance at the thrift stores, so I limit my luggage purchases to these great round carry-on suitcases. I bring them with me on weekend road trips, but when I'm not gallivanting around the states visiting friends, I store things in them, like extra toiletries and out of season shoes. Storage solutions are a great way to justify new purchases. But you didn't hear that from me. ;)

Thanks, Leigh-Ann for having me here to do a little show and tell!

xo, Mandi

4 Favourite Moments as a Photographer [Visitor Pass: Kelly Ann Mount]

When LA asked me to share four of my favourite moments as a photographer - all sorts of memories came flooding back. I've been incredibly blessed and fortunate to have worked with some amazing people in the few years I've been a photographer. Not only have I had some super photogenic, fun clients - but most of my clients have been unbelievably encouraging and uplifting - pushing my skills as a photographer and giving me little reminders of why I fell in love with photographs in the first place... and having clients like that is really, really special. 

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If any of you absolutely love taking photos and want to pursue it as a career - I encourage you to do it! It's not easy, but it's worth it. Anyone can pick up a camera and learn how to take photos - but a true passion for capturing moments is what will set you apart from the rest. I am by no means an advanced photographer, but I'm learning more and more every single day - not only about the art of photographing, but about myself as well. Please don't give up - if you love it, pursue it! You are capable, and capturing moments in the lives of others, that will never happen again, is something so rewarding and fulfilling. Just remember to enjoy every second, and never, ever forget why you love it.

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When I think of my favourite moments on this photography journey-- I totally notice a theme: spontaneous and unplanned. During any sort of photo shoot, session, or opportunity - always be camera ready. Because a lot of the time - you'll see something that others won't. And that's really special. 

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Here are just a few of those moments that I will never forget:

I had just finished taking photos of Catherine & CJ standing in the middle of a giant field. I told them "ok, we're done!" and I shut off my camera as they walked towards me... and then it happened. The most genuine, happy-in-love moment. And I almost missed it! I don't think they even knew that I had turned my camera back on - they were in another world. I have never seen my dear friend so happy in her life - and I'm so glad I captured it. I can't look at this photo without smiling... the fact that I captured something so special fills me with joy. This why I do what I do :)

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These two were taking a break from wedding photos - I was talking to the groom's sister and happened to glance over... and saw this. The actual photo itself didn't turn out well at all (I was a newbie then ;)) - but the moment these two had? Priceless, and so full of love. I love the people looking at them, too! I promise you, a hush fell over everyone around them... it was magical, I tell you!

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I was shooting in this gorgeous, dreamy, sunwashed field (my absolute favourite field in the world) - and I looked up from my viewfinder to give Kristyn some direction, and my finger accidentally pressed the shutter button. This is when it really hit me: there are no mistakes in photography... even the "accidents" can turn out to be some of the best photos!

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This is one of my favourite photos I've ever taken... I was originally having Courtney look into the lens - but there was major light hitting her right in the eyes, and she kept closing them. So I told her to look away and give her eyes a break - and I snapped this photo while changing my settings. Best photo of the whole shoot, it reminds me of something out of a fairytale... like Snow White. :) Plus, the blue of the couch with her blue eyes? Dreamy. 

Do you have a favourite photography moment? Do share! I can't wait to see. :)

xo, Kelly Ann

3 Best Ways to Be Productive When You're Self Employed! [Visitor Pass: Moorea Seal]

Hi everyone!  I'm Moorea from Moorea-Seal.com, here to give you some tips on how to be productive when you are your own boss.  I'm excited to be guest posting while Leigh-Ann is on a U.S.A. adventure!  I first connected with Leigh-Ann through the Indie Biz 2.0 class last year.  My dear friend Kyla Roma was taking the class so I thought, "Hey, I opened up my Etsy Jewelry shop recently, I should join in too!"  It was through the class that I began to email back and forth with Leigh-Ann and realized she was a perfect friend and role model to have as a fellow blog designer and successful small business owner.  Leigh-Ann ended up inviting Kyla to join the Freckled Nest team in the summer of 2010, expanding the team from one to two, and then she hired me to become a part of the Freckled Nest team soon after!  I was so thrilled :)  And now, we are a big ol' team of Freckled Nest folks, collectively working to make the blog world a more beautiful place :)

Thanks to Leigh-Ann's helpful business advice and guidance, my Jewelry business has grown immensely since I took the Indie class over a year ago (you can check out my shop here). And my blog design work has gotten better and stronger as I've worked with more lovely clients through Freckled Nest and have gleaned the wisdom and encouragement I needed from my dear friend Leigh-Ann.  I love this girl! 

So, the first thing I recommend to get your confidence and productivity levels all reved up in the morning is "get ready every morning as if you were leaving the house!"  I am the sort of person who really really likes staying in bed in the morning :)  And I could easily just wear my pjs all day long as I work at home.  But I find that if I let myself slowly wake up, slowly saunter into the kitchen to get breakfast, slowly slink into my workspace while still in my jammies, put off taking a shower, I just feel like a mess and end up having an entirely disorganized day.  So, even if I know I don't have a reason to leave the house that day, I try to wake up at the same time everyday, eat breakfast, and hop in the shower as soon as I can.  I pick out an outfit I really like, even picking out the shoes and coat that look best and I put it all on.  Yep, I even put on the shoes though I am not leaving the house.  I usually end up taking off my shoes when I walk over to my desk to start working.  But the simple fact that I have visual proof that I took the time to take care of myself in the morning through what I am wearing, and the physical feeling of putting on a good pair of shoes help me feel prepared and confident to take on the work day.  And, if I need to run out of the house later in the day, I'm ready to go!

Making sure you are investing in yourself straight away in the morning is KEY to be productive.  If you feel crappy, chances are, your work day will feel much harder and more exhausting.  Take the time in the morning to make yourself feel confident and beautiful even if no one sees you.  This is all about YOU feeling ready to take on your world, even if the only world you are facing that day is the world of the web :)

I go crazy if I try to work on one project all day, all week long.  My mind feels so much more refreshed if I work on projects in 2-3 hour intervals.  For me that means in one day I can work on a blog design for 2-3 hours, get up and get a snack, package some jewelry for 2-3 hours, go rock climbing at the climbing gym for an hour, drive over and mail the packages, design some jewelry for an hour, go to a coffeeshop for 3 hours and bring my laptop to work on some blog posts, paying bills, freelance illustration, or answering emails.  Every so often I get the urge to just totally focus on one project all day long at home, but zoning in on one thing all day long on day to day basis would make me stir crazy.

If you are running your own business, doing freelance work, or any other work from home sort of job, you probably have a few different elements of your job that you can use as variety in your work day.  Say if you are an Etsy shop owner, you can craft your goods for 3 hours, answer some emails for an hour, do a photo shoot for an hour, pay some bills for an hour, hangout at a coffeeshop with your laptop and research ways to advertise for an hour, do your accounting for an hour, package your sold items for a few hours, list some new items for an hour.  There are lots of ways to create variety in your day if you simply brainstorm about the different elements of your work.  And the elements of your job that you don't like feel like less of a burden if you mix them in between the parts of your job you love :)

If you have any other friends who work from home, plan a work date with them!  My best friend does research work from home so she often comes over to my house and works on her laptop while I work away at design work or jewelry.  I also have a friend who hosts a weekly craft night.  I often bring jewelry projects over to work on or even my laptop to work on design work or illustrations while everyone hangs out, crafts and chats.  It adds fun and variety into my long days that are usually spent alone.  Try searching out other people in your community who are self employed and plan a work date at your house or a coffeeshop!

And don't forget, you need 3 healthy meals, moments of rest, and at least 30 mins of exercise everyday to get your energy and focus going.  Think of meals and exercise time as treats.  They are great breaks in a monotonous workday :)

To have a productive day, I have to have a list of everything I need to get done that day right beside me so that I can check off each task when they are finished.  I prefer to write it down in a big notebook, but many people prefer to create their lists online or on their desktop.  Here are some programs that I recommend checking out to create lists for your daily/weekly/monthly goals and tasks that are hosted on your computer or on the web: Wunderlist, Evernote, and Teuxdeux.  Sometimes when I feel like I have been getting especially distracted while I work, or I just need to track how many hours I have spent on a projects, I use a free online timesheet to track my hourly progress.  I use Clockbeat though I know there are lots of other online timesheet programs to choose from if you just search "online timesheets" (LA likes Toggl!!).

I think it is really important to set a few different types of goals for yourself as a self employed person to keep yourself constantly motivated and productive.  Ask yourself everyday, "What do I want to accomplish today?"  It can be as small as, I'll respond to a bunch of emails to finishing a huge project.  Take pride in your daily accomplishments no matter how big or small they are.  Pride in yourself and your efforts greatly aides in your productivity.  Ask yourself weekly and monthly, "What do I want to accomplish this week/month?"post a weekly/monthly calender somewhere where you see it ALL the time so you are constantly reminded of your goals.

Dream big and create a list of things you hope to accomplish this year or within the next few years.  Mix in those dreams that feel far fetched with the ones you know you can accomplish, and maybe some of those far fetch dreams will turn into realities too :)  Post this list next to your monthly/weekly calendar.

DO NOT forget to to have small and large goals in your personal life outside of your work life.  Self employed people can often work themselves toooo hard, feeling guilty when they let themselves relax and unwind.  Don't do that!  If you constantly work yourself to the bone and never have fun, you will always be drained and slow while you work.  If you give yourself goals of, "I'm going to have lunch with Katie on Wednesday" or "I'm going to take a road trip with my boyfriend in June" you will feel so much more excited to power through your work, achieving work goals while you aim for your personal goal.  You need fun, friendship, relaxation, family, and adventure outside of your life so you don't turn into a grumpy slow workaholic.  And those you love deserve your attention too.  So allow yourself to get excited about your personal fulfillment goals so that working hard on your work goals has even more meaning.  Create a monthly/weekly calendar of JUST personal goals and post it next to your 2 other calendars.


xo- Moorea

ps. You can keep up with my constant creative flow and silly antics by following my twitter! I look forward to connecting with you!

Double Blessing [Visitor Pass: Amanda]

Hello FN world,

It's Amanda, Leigh-Ann's younger (by 17 months) sister.  LA and I are alike in many ways (refer to Sister Comparisons) but have different home lives.  I am mother of twin 4 year old girls, Kennedy and Olivia.  Being a mom to twins has had its many challenges but much more in blessings.  I used to hear other mom's say they didn't remember life before babies and I would think they were dillusional and weird.  Now I understand.  Having 2 babies at the same time came with all the same challenges of 1 baby, just times 2. God gave me a lot of grace and strength the first year to get through it, I tried to hold onto the commitment that He would never put me through more than I could handle, and that tomorrow was a new day.  I tried not to focus on the 30 diapers a day, the upcoming costs or the sleepless nights, but on the joys I would share with them and my husband Matt (who contributed more to parenting than you could imagine). Now its 4 years and 16,000 diapers later (did the math!) K and O are in preschool, get dressed and washed up by themselves and seek independence a little more everyday (tear..). They are best friends and it is so much fun to watch them grow up together.  They have unwritten rules of play and console eachother when they are sad.  They've planned their lives together with pink and purple houses, kitties, puppies and matching rainbow beetle cars. It gives me comfort to know that they will look out for each other andbe  one anothers somebody who understands them better than anyone else. I am often asked if I want more children and used to say no (year 1 and 2) but now, I am sure I want twins again for all of these reasons.  It has brought meaning to my life that I did not know was possible.

LA asked my to write about having twins, and of course there are many details left out.  I intended to talk about parenting twins but instead I felt that if I could give you all a glimpse into my heart--  the love and joy I see in my girls, you could understand the way it feels :)  It doesn't matter whether you have 1 baby or 2 or 3, being a mom is the most challenging job in the world. You need to juggle so many titles at the same time with your emotions all mixed in too. I respect my Mom amd Dad more now than I ever have for the love they gave LA and Kody and I over the years.  I still haven't lost Amanda in Momland.  I take time for me when I need it and have work outside of the house, but I am happier at home with my family than anywhere else.

 

Thanks for letting me fill in for a day sis, and TY to all of you for reading my thoughts :)

Love a

#1 Recipe = Pineapple Cheesecake [Visitor Pass: Momma]

Hi Friends of Leigh-Ann,

I’m Leigh-Ann’s “Momma” as LA and her friends refer to me :) Leigh-Ann is also known as “LaLa” to us, it was easier for Olivia and Kennedy when they were babies and it has kind of stuck for all of us and is really sweet. She is also known as Sweetheart to her Mom and Dad, the ears that listen to her entrepreneur/business ideas and lovebird stories.

Leigh-Ann is a wonderful daughter, who works very hard, but always has time for her family and cottage time. We are very proud of all of LA’s accomplishments and are AMAZED at what she has done with Freckled Nest and the direction her and Kyla are taking it in.

Leigh-Ann has asked me to write a small blog post for her while she is on holidays, I was quite nervous about doing this, “AND WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO WRITE ABOUT”, I asked her.  I decided to talk about Leigh-Ann’s FAVOURITE dessert. I made it at the cottage this weekend and she asked if I could save her a piece of it, BUT I COULDN’T, sorry Lala!! I don’t think it would freeze well, so we’ll have to make another one when she comes home from her relaxing 2+ weeks of holidays. She deserves this holiday, she works very hard and her days are too long! Her favourite dessert is called Cheesecake with Fruit (LA's fave version is with pineapple) and the recipe came from her Aunt Sandy originally, but has been made at our house tons of times. This recipe is not a traditional heavy cheesecake, its a very light and airy dessert that whips up quickly and tastes better if made a day ahead. Hope you like it as much as we do.

Pineapple Cheesecake

Base:     

• 2 cups of graham wafer crumbs
• ½ cup melted margarine
• 6 tbsp. icing sugar

Combine base ingredients together, and press firmly into a 9”x13” pan, except ¼ cup to be used to sprinkle on top.

Filling:    

• 2 envelopes Dream Whip topping mix
• 1 cup cold milk
• ¾-1 cup white sugar
• 1 large (250 gr.) cream cheese, (I use light cream cheese, but filling will not be as stiff)
• 1 small can drained, crushed pineapple (our families very favorite!!)

Mix topping mix with cold milk, beat with electric mixer till stiff. Add sugar and mix in, then cream cheese that has been cut into chunks. Beat well with electric mixer till smooth. Once pineapple has been drained well, mix into cream cheese mixture stirring by hand. Spread over crust evenly and sprinkle the remaining crumbs over top. Best made the day before serving.

Note: I've also made this cheesecake without the pineapple, then put thawed, frozen strawberries with the juice over top just before serving.

Hope you all enjoy it!

Love Momma (Sharon)

Here comes Papercuts Handmade! [Visitor Pass: Corey Marie]

Hi! My name is Corey Marie.  I'm an illustrator/comic book artist & web designer (proud to be part of Team Freckled Nest!) and basically an all-around creative nerd type.  Leigh-Ann was sweet enough to ask me to share the story of my little shop, and how it came to be.

I have a fond little memory of an otherwise uneventful evening back in the Winter of 2005.  If you'll allow me to set the scene: My husband & I were newlyweds living in a 400 square-foot apartment in Lansing, Michigan.  As the snow piled up outside, we spent most of that winter inside, together, listening to music and working on various creative projects. Maybe it was the cabin fever, but I was trying very hard at the time to come up with a way to combine scrapbooking and comics.  It never worked out, but it was one of these evenings that a friend told me to check out a band called "The Boy Least Likely To." 

I found the song inspiring, and used a snippet of the lyrics in an art project.  Even though I didn't really know what it would become at the time, I knew it fit me, and the name "PAPERCUTS" stuck around in my head, waiting patiently for me to find the inspiration for a project to go with it.  We only stayed in that tiny apartment for a year before moving into a rented house in Richmond, Virginia on our first anniversary.  My husband had gotten a job offer that would allow us to start our family, and we took the opportunity.

October 17, 2007 was my birthday, and I bought a gocco screen print machine -- found on this cool web site I had stumbled onto called Etsy.  Since I'd already signed up for an account, I decided to try my hand at running my own shop, and November 29, I had my first Etsy sale (a screen print of four cassette tapes) and while I was certainly no overnight success, I was fortunate enough to have several sales by the end of the year.  Needless to say, I was stoked.

My son was born in the Spring, and the responsibilities of a newborn kept me busy for quite a while, but by the time his first birthday rolled around I was experimenting with different types of things in my little shop.  I was collecting vintage books and interesting found papers and putting them into themed kits.  A close friend encouraged me to try out book-binding and I made a few journals with the same sort of mixed and found papers.  PAPERCUTS was born.

As I said, I'm also a web developer, and through the blogging community had the awesome opportunity to help Elsie & Emma launch the Red Velvet Shop earlier this year.  I had a blast helping them build their dream store and was thrilled to work on a site called "Shopify." I left Missouri feeling super inspired and started making notes on what I'd do with my own shop. 

 

This week, I quietly opened my brand new store to friends and family and blog friends, and am continuing to add items as I get ready for my June 1st "Grand Opening."  It's been an incredible experience to build a professional storefront that is completely customized to my own tastes and aesthetic.  I love how easy it is to manage my products within the store, and by using their built-in "Collections" and tagging systems, I've been able to feature my products in ways that just aren't possible with Etsy.  I'm no longer limited to plain text, white backgrounds and five photos per item-- the sky is the limit!

I could write love letters to Etsy. I still love Etsy and think it's a great resource and opportunity for artists, makers and vintage enthusiasts to shop and sell.  (I'm definitely still going to shop there!)  I'm excited if a bit nervous to take these first steps with "my own store" and eager to see my dream continue to grow.

Thank you for letting me share my story!  I'd love it if you'd come by the shop and take a look around!

xoxo,

Corey Marie

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Added by LA: Corey Marie sent Kyla and I a surprise package last week and we were so excited to open it up, each gift was beautiful and clever :) I love Corey's shop, material choices and quality craftsmanship! Thanks Corey, you're so sweet and talented!!!

Visitor Pass: A Day with Bauer [Maggie Whitley]

Hi there! {waves} My name is Gussy {or Maggie} and my days are filled with sewing, talking and playing with my pup. My husband and I live in Minneapolis and so far we love it! We've been here almost 2 years, and it's definitely been a fun adventure.

My husband is a TV producer downtown and works on super fun projects & TV commercials all day. He has a rad job. I have my own business -- GussySews -- where I blog, sew ruffled bags and share my journey as an indie biz owner. I encourage others to live a creative, positive, handmade lifestyle. While I've only been sewing for 2.5 years, it's totally my passion!!!

Since I work from home I get to spend a lot of time with our puppy, Bauer. We adopted him in October and in just a few weeks he'll be 11 months old. MY BABY is growing up so fast, hah! Having Bauer around has really helped me to have a happier morning {just being honest!}. We usually walk with Zack to the bus stop, then we continue our walk around the block. I usually bring my camera -- some times I even leave my phone at home.  On purpose. It's nice to have some quiet time :] Spending time outside, walking regularly, meeting friends for coffee and attending local craft/DIY events ~ these things inspire me constantly.

Bauer loves to play outside in our backyard. Sometimes he and the neighbor dog, Chaos {a black lab}, play together. Well... really it's Bauer being a puppy/stealing Chaos's toys, since Chaos is older and she's not as fast as our little hairy man. Sorry Chaos...

Mr. Bauer definitely has a busy life. His mornings consist of a walk, then he takes a nap. Then he plays. Then he naps again. Soon it's time to greet the mailman ~ with a little bark, of course! After that bauer plays in the yard, naps for a third time, and then it's time for dinner.

Don't dogs have the best life?

Another quick play session in the backyard before it's time for Bauer to wind down and get ready for bed.

Having Bauer makes me nervous for when we have kiddies. I mean, if I can love a dog THIS MUCH -- how will I handle loving a baby?! Hah. Just thinking out loud here :]

Some times it's super challenging to run my sewing business {and blog!} from home with a puppy around. Thankfully I have an amazing trio of a team that comes over daily to help. Having a team is the reason I'm able to successfully finish my first year as solo Gussy Sews {I quit my day job May 17, 2010}.

Now -- if I could find a cook & housekeeper, I'd be set. Just kidding. I need to keep my role as Cook-- after all, the cook gets to taste test while preparing dinner, right? Right. 

Wishing you a happy day!

xoxo,

Gussy

Visitor Pass: Pretty Illustrations With A Typographic Twist [Zoe Weir]

Hello! It's Zoe from Pretty Zoo, a blog full of everyday moments, peeks at my design and illustration work, my travel stories + photos, and art and design inspiration. 

I feel extremely lucky to be part of the Freckled Nest design team, which LA and Kyla lead with amazing super-lady design and management skills! It's so much fun, and I'm so happy to be here on the Freckled Nest blog! I've been collecting up some of my fave pretty pictures to share with you, they are all illustrations with a touch of typography, a combination of two of my favourite things :)

To start off, I loooove botanic illustrations, so these works by Alexis Anne stopped me in my tracks..... just amazing. 

Dreaming Is Easy

Slow Dance

Never Be Sad

Another one of my loves is the concept of Explorers and Animals, this A to Z alphabet poster by Marc Martin is amazing! I love the book cover aesthetic and the bright colours.

Such a cute retro look for this 'Neighbourhood' design by Bruce Mackay.

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This is just one of Delphine Lebourgeois' beautiful designs featuring type immersed into the illustration.

Oh my, it was hard to choose which of Sophie Blackall's drawings to include!! They're all so sweet! I *think* these are my fave...

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And to finish off the prettiness, I think Lauren Carney is a genius with a pen.

I hope you enjoyed them! Which one was your fave?

Zoe xo