I took a trip out to San Francisco this past August and LOOOOVED the city! Anyone who has been there, knows that I’m tailing about. It’s friendly, it’s full of life, the neighborhoods are adorable, the food is just AMAZING and it is SUPER dog friendly (I was secretly hoping to see Puglet wandering the streets so that I could tell the pugs that I met him, but that didn’t happen!) I can’t wait to take Aaron back with me! :)
Brownie + Holga…renewed inspiration! :)
Last weekend I was in sunny Palm Springs surrounded my 20 fabulous ladies at the Heather Ross Sewing workshop (if you missed the post about it, check it out here!) My favorite part about workshops and meeting new creative people is the energy and inspiration I always have when I leave…I feel refreshed, renewed and I tend to have an extended vision as a creative person! :) It is quite rewarding knowing that I put time and energy into something that will have such a positive impact on my designs and my balance in life! :)
I have to give props to Annabel and Alessandra….a conversation that we had on Saturday by the pool is what sparked these new designs! :) You see, I am the kind of person that get’s bored easily so the idea came about to start making these plush cameras more elaborate and more custom! That night, I started sketching and raced through about 500 ideas that were spinning in my head and out popped these two lovely plushies when I came home! :) I’ve used vintage napkins (from a local antique store), wool felt and they are 100%, totally handmade and custom! :) I also got inspired by Anna Maria Horner while at the workshop and all of her recent hand-sewing…her embroidery and stitching is just GORGEOUS so I just had to include some of my own techniques on these little guys! :) I hope you LOVE them!
I will be selling these on Etsy! FULLY custom order-able, so the sky is the limit as to what colors, style, and embellishments! Contact me if you’d like more information! :)But for now, here are the first 2 of the MANY ideas that have come to fruition! The old-school Kodak Brownie and the ever-so-popular Holga!
(SO take THAT Nikon, with your brand new D800 announcement today…..people will be forgoing their pre-orders and coming to buy a new custom camera that will be WAY cuter! :) Ok..just kidding…..I may have my very own pre-order in for a new D800 myself! :)
Relaxation meets inspiration :: Heather Ross Sewing workshop! :)
As I sat on the plane yesterday on my way home, I just took a deep breathe and felt full (and not because my belly is perpetually growing with a little one in it)! :) I felt full. Full of joy. Full of imagination. Full of warmth. Full of creativity. And SO full with vision! :) And it’s all due to this fabulous weekend behind a sewing machine and a few yards of fabric!
I spent the weekend with 20 other FABULOUS ladies at the ever-so-hipster Ace Hotel in Palm Springs at Heather Ross’s sewing workshop! The weekend was magical! Full of tasty food, bolts of fabric, the sound of sewing machines and amazingly creative women! :) I was nearly in Heaven! (No…..really…….hearing giggles and 20 sewing machines racing through projects as you look outside to warm, fresh air and the view of palm trees and mountains….HEAVEN! :)
I didn’t really know what was in store for the weekend. Call it pregnancy brain or call it “Emily being un-prepared again” but I just packed my suitcase full of fabric and ideas and off I went. (And I think we all admittedly traded some clothing choices in our suitcase for the chance to be able to pack a few more yards of fabric without going over the weight limit! :) GUILTY! :) Among the talent were, of course, Ms. Heather (and her adorable family) who gives the best hugs in the world and radiates joy every second of the day, Anna Maria who helped me translate a quilt idea into reality (and made me fall more in love with needlework and stitching….and I’m kinda secretly loving EVERY SINGLE design that her talented self puts out every season! :), Denyse who left me star-struck, and Gretchen who makes me want to be as cute as her while sporting those beautiful 1950′s dresses! :) Every one of these ladies OOZES creativity and it was such an honor to chat, share and dream together this weekend!
It was an amazing weekend overall! I was challenged, encouraged and so so so inspired this weekend by not only the instructors, but the other talented attendees. Annabel and Alessandra encouraged me to dream just a bit bigger with my plush cameras (and I’ve already made a few ideas come to fruition this afternoon….thanks ladies! :) Deborah shared her incredible business with me, Jane’s creativity is just freaking incredible, Clover gave me SO SO SO many Mommy tips which I loved, Tara challenged me with balance in my life (go girl!), and Kathy and Caroline opened their amazing Canadian hearts to me about their lives and their journeys (love you ladies)! :)
I’m telling ya, this weekend was just stinking amazing! :) I can’t wait to share the projects as they get completed…and as new ones begin as I keep dreaming about my handmade vision! :)
And my favorite photo EVER from the workshop….Anna Maria and I with the quilt that she inspired and helped me make! :) YAY!
