Smile And Wave

I Scrapbooked!

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail from the darling Lexi Bridges-a creative mama with a shared love for vintage, playing with paper, and Target runs-inviting me to contribute to a class she is teaching for Studio Calico. For those of you who aren't familiar with SC, it's a scrapbooking kit club that combines product from major companies, exclusive SC designs, as well as non-traditional objects in an effort to keep scrapbooking fresh and innovative. They were one of my favorite kit clubs back in the day when I was scrapbooking regularly and known for their well-styled, on trend kits.

I was thrilled to join in and honored that Lexi had thought to ask me. She's quite talented with the paper! I was asked to contribute a mini book that reflected the class title 'This Is Me'. It's full of Instax, lists, journaling, beautiful paper, wood veneer triangles, arrows, stitching, and even a little woven page. 

The Studio Calico This Is Me class is on sale from now until March 31st and then runs through the month of April. This is Me is self-paced so all class content will be posted in the classroom on April 1st but there will be a class message board and challenges all the way through April. Students will receive a class kit and will all get access to the digital files.

Click here to read more about this class and join in the fun!

I really enjoyed putting this mini book together and using some new supplies. I know I'll always document my life one way or another-be it through scrapbooking, art journaling, instagramming, or blogging. It's like leaving little time capsules for yourself to rediscover and see how much you've changed. Or maybe stayed the same.

-Rachel

E-COURSE SALE

There's a special summertime sale running on all Red Velvet e-courses right now! Use the code SUMMERSALE at check out to get 25% off any Red Velvet E-Course. If you've been wanting to purchase Style Your Space, Modern Patchwork, Baby on the Way, or Art Journal All Year now is the best time to buy! Offer available until August 1, 2012.

-Rachel

*image c/o A Beautiful Mess

Art Journal All Year E-Course is Here!

 

 We're so, so excited to release our newest e-course, Art Journal All Year! It's the most personal course we've written. It's filled with beautiful textures, photographs, colors and words. It's perfect for anyone wanting to get into the practice of making art journals! 

The course is broken up into 52 Challenges! It's a 'work at your own pace' course, so you choose whether you'd like to take on one challenge each week or they can be done one each day and completed in about two months! It's the perfect course to take with a friend! 

Each session has an Art Challenge and a Journal Challenge. You'll get inspired to dig deeper in your writing as well as the collage art aspect of art journaling. Some of the themes that we focused on throughout the course were vulnerability, self exploration, goals and reflection. 

I've loved collaborating with Elsie Larson on this course. We taught our first art journaling class together nearly ten years ago and we make a good team. I'm always excited about the kind of pages she creates and her use of color and texture in her work. She regularly finds new ways to use product and ephemera to create something fresh and her journaling prompts and shared stories always remind me to dream and give me a fresh perspective.

We hope you enjoy the course. You can begin at any time, but this first week of the new year would be especially perfect, don't you think? Welcome to your new favorite e-course!

Get more info here + sign up here!

xo,

Rachel + Elsie

Baby On The Way Reviews and A Giveaway

Baby on the Way is my most recent E-Course offering 12 handmade projects that will help prepare your baby's space for his, her or their arrival! This course was designed for moms and dads who enjoy customizing their surroundings to fit their unique aesthetic and want to create a special space for their child to grow.
Here's what Grace had to say upon completion of her own Herringbone Quilt.

"If you have a baby on the way (or a friend does) and are a crafty lady, I definitely recommend this E-Course. There are 12 stunning and useful tutorials included – I plan to make a few bibs and changing pads pretty soon and I might even tackle some of the more complicated stuff too!

The Herringbone Quilt tutorial is definitely the stunner though. I have been planning to make a quilt since the day I discovered I was pregnant and it was awesome to have this handy guide to follow."

Jessica Lewis of Hello Rosie wrote this in a recent post:

"The e-course is a lot of fun, and has a bunch of super useful patterns for making baby things. I’ve found that baby things tend to be either highly mass-produced (and kind of eh) or way more high-end than I can afford (or could justify if I could). So, I’ve taken to making or upgrading my own things."

Now here's your chance to WIN ONE OF THREE of my Baby on the Way E-Courses being given away this week!

There are two ways you can enter to win:

* Leave a comment below with your favorite baby name(s). Don't leave the one you're using, though, in case someone else decides they LOVE it! Ha!

* Tweet about this giveaway and report back with a comment that you did (honor system, folks).

You don't have to be a mom to enter to win! Enter for your best friend that just found out she's pregnant or your SIL who just had a baby but who would rather be napping that sewing. You can always find Baby on the Way, as well as past E-Courses at Red Velvet.

THREE winners will be picked on Wednesday, Nov. 30th, and announced on the blog so stay tuned!

xo,
Rachel

 

Baby on the Way E-Course: Now Available

Baby on the Way is my newest E-Course offering 12 handmade projects that will help prepare your baby's space for his, her or their arrival! This course was designed for moms and dads who enjoy customizing their surroundings to fit their unique aesthetic and want to create a special space for their child to grow. Projects build on each other so that even beginning sewers can gain confidence as you follow step-by-step photos and instructions.

 

Project List

* Colorful Burp Cloths            * Fabric Fringe Garlands       * Quilted Changing Mat

* Oilcloth Diaper Case                * Reversible Bibs              * Customized Crib Sheet

* Plus Sign Plush Mobile          * Pillows Three Ways           * Hanging Hamper

* Shoe and Toy Organizer    * Baby's First Photo Album     * Herringbone Crib Quilt

On top of twelve sewing projects I've also included chapters on designing your child's space, shared rooms, and transitioning through the years. I share tips on how to include vintage furniture and flea market finds as well as ways to expand on projects as your child grows.

  Baby on the Way will satisfy that urge to feather your nest and give you all the instructions to complete projects that will not only save you money but streamline your baby's space and allow you to personalize things you'll use everyday.

Of course these projects are not only for brand new or expecting moms. Moms with toddlers who love a new DIY or grandmas that love to sew for their grandkids will enjoy tackling an original Herringbone Quilt pattern, creating helpful storage pieces such as the Shoe Organizer or hamper, or adding to their own photos to a Soft Photo Book to gift to their little ones.

E-Courses include all of your projects and step-by-step instructions upon purchase so there's no waiting or hurrying to catch up on a class! It's a go-at-your-own-pace course that you'll have access to forever.  

Purchase your Baby on the Way E-Course now and get a head start on handmade Christmas gifts for your nieces and nephews or your best friend who just found out she's having a boy! 

Baby on the Way was designed with boys in mind. Each of the projects are customizable but have been created in a color story boys can get behind. Swap out the white and yellow herringbone pattern for two shades of grey and finish it off with burnt orange binding for a completely different look. Arrows and plus signs are another boy friendly icon that can easily be enjoyed as baby boys grow into big boys. Stitch up a plus sign pillow in a bold floral, however, and you've got yourself a stunning addition to your little girl's bed.

This course was designed with beginning sewers in mind but if you've never sewn in your life or just got a new sewing machine but aren't familiar with it yet, I might suggest trying out Home Ec. It's an e-course that is 100% focused on teaching brand new sewers and has a lot of troubleshooting built into it to help you figure out why your thread is stuck, etc. Once you've gotten comfortable with the basics such as threading your machine, back-stitching, and basic hemming you'll be ready to tackle Baby on the Way!

Baby on the Way is available through Red Velvet for $32.00. It's one of the most affordable E-Courses out there and offers simple, step-by-step photos and directions to walk you through each project so that you don't get left halfway through a project wondering where you went wrong. For $32 you get access to all of your tutorials in one place with a strong design and directions you can trust as well as instructions to original project designs that aren't available elsewhere.

I've put all of my thought and energy into creating this course as if I were making it for a baby of my own. It's full of the kinds of projects I have used with one or both of my kids or will set aside for the possibility of inviting another little one into our home some day! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

xo,
Rachel

p.s. I'd like to thank Janae Hardy again for lending her talent and her baby boy, Ezra, for the photos above!

Baby on the Way E-Course

Baby on the Way is my newest E-Course offering 12 handmade projects that will help prepare your baby's space for his, her or their arrival! This course was designed for moms and dads who enjoy customizing their surroundings to fit their unique aesthetic and want to create a special space for their child to grow. Projects build on each other so that even beginning sewers can gain confidence as you follow step-by-step photos and instructions.

Baby on the Way will satisfy that urge to feather your nest and give you all the instructions to complete projects that will not only save you money but streamline your baby's space and allow you to personalize things you'll use everyday.

This E-Course will be available for purchase through Red Velvet on Wednesday, October 19th at 10:00a.m. CST. Full details including a project list and price on Wednesday!

xo,

Rachel

 

Baby On The Way E-Course Coming Soon!

I've been working hard in the studio finishing up the last of my projects for my newest e-course, Baby on the Way! Included are twelve handmade projects to outfit your baby's space plus advice posts on how to decorate shared rooms and how to create a space that transitions well from baby to toddler. It's going to be sold along with Style Your Space and Modern Patchwork at Red Velvet. Great for expecting moms who need to nest or as a baby shower gift.

More details coming soon!

xo,
Rachel

 

House Tour #3, Part 3: Master Bedroom

I've shared the kids' room, the living room, the kitchen and middle room, and now the master bedroom. We've been in this rental for six months now and other than the studio feel like we're settled. Almost everything has found it's place, the walls are full, and most importantly it feels like home.

Knowing we'd likely only be living here for a year, it was important to get things unpacked and arranged as quickly as possible so that we could really enjoy our time here rather than seeing it as a temporary space. That said, I'm not the kind of girl that can have her house set up in a week. For some reason (and maybe that reason is named Ruby) I get things done in layers and spurts.

I like to get things where I think they should go and then see how it works for us. I need to feel out traffic patterns and whether or not a certain arrangement is useful.

Our bedroom wasn't a complicated space to set up but it took me up until the day before I took these photos in late March to decide what to put on the walls. We didn't have much on the walls in our old bedroom besides two mirrors and a giant gas station number (still included in this one) and we had a completely different furniture arrangement. We also purchased our first ever bed frame for Christmas! This means we're adults now, right?

I brought in a few things I had hanging in my studio in our last rental like this orange and cream gas station signage as well as some things that were in storage tubs such as the For Like Ever print and a matted photograph from a friend in college.

The bench finally got it's coat(s) of paint and was given a home at the end of our bed. In a perfect world I would have adorable pillows stacked in the corner but it currently acts as a clean laundry catch all.

Yes. We have piles.

We have two bedspreads and a duvet (gift from a special lady) that we regularly keep on our bed during the colder nights but keep the duvet stored in our closet when it's warmer. The hounds tooth bedspread is from Urban Outfitters and still one of my favorite patterns. The pink bedspread is from the Liberty of London line from Target a few years back. The duvet (not shown) is from Anthropologie.

I've always loved the look of random photo collections hanging near a bed. I had photos of me and my best friends taped to the wall through high school and college but stopped when I got married because it felt too 'young' and uncouth. Ha! I've made this one a little more grown up by using photos and art with common themes and colors.

The stair case is where Brett and I spent one of the last evenings chatting away before Christmas break our first semester. We weren't dating yet but it was obviously headed that direction. He was off to India and I was going home and it felt like we'd never see each other again. Ahhh, young love.

The old photo is a copy of one my Meemaw gave me. I'm not really sure about the story behind it but it's right after her and my PawPaw's wedding ceremony. Mom, remind me of those details next time we talk. They look so happy and smitten.

The Enid Collins purse was given to me by my Grandmother and has seen some use lately but is usually carefully placed on a little shelf in my closet to keep certain toddlers from coloring on it.

The band poster above my dresser was a purchase from Domestica earlier in the year. I fell in love with the colors and design right away and THEN realized it was from a favorite band of ours! The clipboard used to be in the kids' room but was a small one from Staples that I painted with chalkboard paint. I plan on rotating photos and the chalkboard paint makes it fun to add details. The matted photo is from a friend from college.

 

I made the curtains for this room the same way I did in the kids' room by stitching almost all the way around all four sides of cut fabric and a vintage sheet (the lining), turning it right side out, stitching all the way around it, ironing it, and hanging it from clips. It's fast, easy, and allows for the curtain panels to slide back and forth without much tugging.

I removed the DIY lighting from above the bed for photos as it was getting in the way of some clear shots but we keep it up all of the time. It's good mood lighting for...umm...reading...and stuff. Ha!

The only thing left to show is my studio but don't hold your breath. I may save that one until the very end of the year the way things are going right now. It's full of half-finished projects and those last few boxes we haven't unpacked. Maybe I shouldn't even look in them and donate them to Goodwill, huh!

Also, our home is rarely as clean and clutter free as it is in these images because we lead busy lives and have little ones like many of you. Ask my neighbors! However, all my messes are colorful and all my piles a sign of fun being had.

I totally subscribe to the idea that you can make a space you love on a budget with a little patience and a strong idea of what you want. If you're totally overwhelmed with where to start in your home or are wanting to plan for your next place I've shared everything I know about
pulling it together and making it work in my recent E-Course, Style Your Space. It includes guidance and resources on finding your specific style, how to work with what you have, getting the most out of your arrangements, and four fun DIY's to make your space more fun. Details here.

I'm so thankful for our current house. Even our leaky basement. We no longer have to worry about where to go when the tornado sirens go off!

What's your favorite thing about your space? Do you have a lot of half-finished corners? Do you like to rearrange every few months? How do you keep it feeling fresh?

xoxo,
Rachel

 
Furniture: End table and two dressers, Craigslist. Bench and chair, thrifted. Lamp, K-Mart. Bed frame, AllModern.

Lighting & Accessories: Large industrial light, thrifted. Large gas station #3 and smaller metal gas station sign, thrifted. Vintage fan, books, and birds, thrifted. Picture frame, thrifted and painted. Fake rotary phone, found but originally from Pottery Barn.

Art: For Like Ever print originally from ReForm School. Frame purchased from Michael's Craft Store. The New Pornographers poster, Domestica.

Linens: Hounds tooth bedspread, Urban Outfitters. Liberty of London bedspread, Target. Liberty of London pillow, thrifted but originally from Target. Cross pillow and curtains, handmade by me. Afghan, thrifted.

> Elsie & Emma ' s Dream Job E-Course

>

I didn't get a chance to post about this last week because we were up to our elbows in a stomach virus but I'm so happy to share Elsie and Emma's newest E-Course, Dream Job. It's everything they know about starting, growing, and sustaining a small business with plenty of personal anecdotes added in.

If anyone has figured out what it takes to make things happen and enjoy them at the same time, it's Elsie and Emma. I think this course would be an affordable option for anyone who wants to see if being their own boss is the way to go.

You can see the full list of course sessions and register for your spot here.

Thank you for all of the fantastic e-mails and tweets I've been receiving from those of you who have purchased Style Your Space! It's always affirming to know something you've worked so hard on was enjoyed and well-received.

> Style Your Space Now Available

>

My newest e-Course, Style Your Space, is finally available!

It's everything I've learned about styling a beautiful home on a budget. I share how to find your interior style, tips and tricks on arranging, interviews and room tours from eight other women whose own beautiful homes have influenced my style, and a few DIY's to make things more fun.

This course is for anyone frustrated with their interior style or overwhelmed with pulling it together. Whether you love vintage, modern, factory line, or a little bit of everything, this course offers the tools to help you get the look you're going for. Here's a little info on each session...

Session 1: Introduction - Well curated homes take time and patience but you probably have a lot of what you need already.

Session 2: My Vintage Romance - I share the story of my clueless decorating days, how I found my style, and why it's mostly pretty stuff that used to belong to someone else.

Session 3: Finding Your Style - How to gorge yourself on interior eye candy, digest it, and create a plan. Plenty of resources and links to get you started.

Room Tour: Lisa Congdon - Peek into her well curated living room.

Session 5: Resources - Deciding what you need and where to find the good stuff.

Session 6: Working With What You've Got - What to do whether you're phasing it out or starting from scratch.

Room Tour: Victoria Smith - This lady knows how to use pink!

Session 8: Rules to Follow - Techniques that can make all the difference in how your space looks.

Session 9: Rules To Break - Permission to disobey.

Room Tour: Jenny Mitchell - Her bold and beautiful living room/dining room.

Session11: Scale, Balance, & Composition - Examples from my own space on creating a beautiful vignette and making sure your arrangements are pleasing to the eye.

Session 12: Arranging A Space - What comes first, second, third, etc. when layering your space.

Room Tour: Rubyellen Bratcher - She didn't let her suburban track house stop her from creating a rich space full of character.

Session 14: Display Dealbreakers - How to get it wrong.

Room Tour: Andrea Jenkins - You'd never know it was a rental!

Session 16: Dealing With the Ugly - Ideas to help you get through the rest of your lease.

Session 17: Editing and Organizing - Taking out the clutter and replacing it with harmony.

Room Tour: Ashley Campbell - DIY at it's best in her daughter's bright and cheerful room.

Session 19: DIY Chevron Rug - Get in on this trend without spending a fortune.

Session 20: Mod Industrial Lighting - An easy option when overhead lighting is driving you crazy.

Session 21: Happy Hammock - Taking design outdoors. Step-by-step instructions to creating your new favorite spot in the yard (or your room!).

Session 22: Geometric Art - An easy way to reuse an old frame and get a little creative with your wall space.

Room Tour: Abbey Hendrickson - Not your traditional play room!

Room Tour: Tania Patritti - Her well-organized, colorful studio space.

Session 25: Afterthoughts - How long this could take and how not to panic.

Bonus: Tips on photographing your space to show it's good side.

I'm so proud to have eight special ladies joining me for this e-course. Lisa Congdon, Victoria Smith, Abbey Hendrickson, Andrea Jenkins, Jenny Mitchell, Tania Patritti, Rubyellen Bratcher, and Ashley Campbell.

Each of their unique tastes and trademark spaces have inspired me in some way as I've developed my style over the last few years and I'm sure you'll enjoy their insight into how they put their rooms together. They make it look so effortless!

Style Your Space is full of interior shots of our current and previous spaces with plenty of great ideas on how to introduce color when your home doesn't belong to you. Great for home owners and renters alike who are looking for ways to design a space that feels like home.

This is a 'work at your own pace' course. There are no due dates. Students are encouraged to follow along at their own pace.

You can purchase your course through Red Velvet here.

This project has been in my head for months!It's kind of thrilling to finally have it online and already being enjoyed by people wanting to make the most of their space. I appreciate all of the support from my little family as I've worked on this e-course these past few weeks and for all of your encouraging comments on our room tours!

All my love,
Rachel