Project Live // January - Make a funny Video

So the prompt for this month's Project LIVE was "Make a Funny Video"... I wasn't sure where I was going to go with that, but my video turned out to be more of a spur of the moment video of my grandfather singing to me... it's not really funny, but it brings the biggest smile to my face and it made me document something that I normally wouldn't have.

February is "show some love"... I've got a little campus thing planned out. I hope it works out :) Leave me links if you guys played along this month!!

some new cards...

I got in a really crafty mood the other night and made some Valentine's Day cards with my paper scraps... this was the result.

I added them to the shop because I thought, hey what the heck.

Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend... I'm going to headed out of my college town again for a movie, then headed to shop for the first time in months on Saturday, and then Saturday night is a bar crawl for my friend's 21st.... I'm pretty sure I'll end up being D.D. which is fine... I love taking embarrassing photos and videos, haha. They will love me years from now :)

some photo fun...

Last night I had some free time and wanted to play around. I sat down in front of my mirror and took some photos. I kinda like how some of them look like Polaroids with the way the mirror framed the shots. enjoy my awkwardness.

 

 the last one is my favorite :) xoxo

22 at twenty-two : #16 take a photography class

So it only took me until my last semester of college to fit in a photography class. I've always wanted to take one and I fit Black and White photography into my schedule... I was so pumped.

When I was home for Christmas break my mom dusted off two of her old Pentax cameras... both work and I have two different lenses and filter. All they needed were new batteries a little bit of love. I learned how to load my film last Tuesday... I was so excited... and then I got to take my first manual photo. It was so magical, I was so in control of everything the camera was seeing. It's something I can't really describe, but I honestly don't enjoy using my digital anymore. I feel so limited. I'm asking for a new digital camera from graduation that has lenses I can change and manipulate more.

I'm rambling, but the point is the class is amazing. We learned how to develop our film today, there is something so satisfying about loading a reel in the pitch black dark, and then going through the different chemical processes. It's so much better than picking up prints at Walgreens (not being snobby) haha. I mean I understand I can't develop everything myself, and I'm not sure how it all works. Thursday we will learn how to enlarge our film onto 8x10 paper.... I would prefer 4x6 or 5x7, but I don't know if it's possible. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm loving every minute.

I'm currently trying to decide on a portfolio theme... I want it to be something that represents me, but I'm not sure I want to choose something that is impossible to get cohesive12-16 photos of. I feel like I may choose something I think is cool, and then half-way into it I realize it's the hardest theme to do, haha.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. One of my best friends turns 21 tomorrow. I'm really excited for her, we both hardly ever drink (our typical Fridays consist of sweatpants and Netflix) but I think we are going to be classy and have some martinis at midnight :)

**update: since you guys have a lot of questions I think this will be a weekly feature. I think it might be useful to you guys to see step-by-steps of how to develop film, enlarge photos, and the other assignments I get. 

life

what life is looking like around here. I've been trying to document more.

(new french press - now a morning ritual, new I&C stickers, my bed most days, a hoard of misc. magnets, new headbands finding new owners, a custom card from the etsy shop)

today.

source

 Today I am going on an adventure. There are multiple epic CDs, a b/w camera and warm clothes involved. I've never been so ready to get off campus in my life, and I'm hoping to see the Northern Lights tonight.

An adventure to clear my mind, reflect on the last month and spend time with someone who has really pushed me to look inward. I just re-read "Perks of Being a Wallflower" (which I highly recommend) and I've been digesting that book, it's the type of book that makes you think for hours. I would put it up there next to "The Bell Jar". I'm sure there will be lots of Angels and Airwaves, Sleeping at Last, Joe Purdy, Mumford and Sons and of course Fleetwood Mac... I forgot to mention the epicness of the music we have prepared.

 Today feels like the start of something new and refreshing. A time in my life where I have a grip, and I allow myself to let go and enjoy life.

and if you want to know what I danced to in my room this morning.... crank this baby up :) enjoy life today. xoxo

a dorm room update

The dorm room was missing something... that something was a GIANT bulletin board and a few clothes pin displays. I'm quite happy with the results, hot glue works wonders for hanging heavy things on dorm walls. And it's so easy to get down at the end of the year :)

I'll be sharing a very personal post this week, I just haven't put everything into words yet. Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday.

something to think about...

"this is YOUR life. do what you love, and do it often. if you don't like something, change it. LIFE IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET, AND THE THINGS YOU CREATE WITH THEM. live your dream and wear your passion. life is short"unknown

and the answers are here

this was SO much fun, you guys asked great questions :) thank you.

Who's your favorite writer? 2 books I can read over and over. I love writers that make you think and look inward.
Perks of Being a Wallflower : Stephen Chbosky
The Giver : Lois Lowry

What inspires you when you make your cute jewelry? :) Well I really love using bridal color palettes I've seen around on the blog land. Wedding photos in general get my creative juices flowing. I also get really inspired when I order supplies, usually when I order supplies I think of new ideas.

How do you manage to juggle your own handmade business and study at the same time? Honestly, it's hard. But I put school over the business. However, working on the shop is something that relieves stress and centers me. I go to it to get away from my thoughts, and so it doesn't seem like work. I also am not a huge TV watcher or party girl, so I have pretty nice chunks of down time.

And what sort of things do you to keep yourself from going crazy? What is your go-to thing when you are stressed? A certain song, maybe a certain food, etc? Recently I art journal. I was scared to try one (I suck at drawing) but I love it. It's the only place that feels like mine and it's safe. I recently did a page where I wrote out all my secrets put them in an envelope, sealed it and taped it to a page in the journal. It felt amazing, just to get it out. I also use music as an escape as well. Lyrics really help me work through things.

What do you want to do after you graduate, like focus more on your indie business or your career or are they the same?
I really want to find a job in the Biology or Business field, maybe doing environmental assessments and surveys for a company. I'm really hoping my internship this summer will help me secure a job with that company, I won't find out till March or April though. I'd love to get a job in Tennessee or out west.  I will still have Indie and Chic though, and I hope it grows bigger. I'm wanting to get into the wholesale market.

At this moment, what is the most important thing in you life? Family. Hands down. I wouldn't know what to do without them. My mom and I talk every day, even if its just a 2 minute phone call.  My family members are my best friends, they get me the most. 

What are your top five fav. songs right now?  The hardest question, so hard to pick just five. So right here, right now, in this moment they are.
1. Perfect Little Secret : Snow Patrol
2. Undertow : Warpaint
3. Sun Hands : Local Natives
4. A Girl a Boy and a Graveyard : Jeremy Messersmith
5. Starry-eyed : Ellie Goulding

Is there any singer/group would you'd be embarrassed to admit you were ever a fan of?
Taylor Swift.. not her new stuff. Just the cheesy love songs from her first couple of albums. I sing along every time ;)

Out of the three Kardashian sisters (Kloe, Kim, Kourtney) which one do you relate to the most? The only reason I even know who these people are, is because my best friend Amber is obsessed with them, haha. I would say I relate to Khloe most, she is so laid back and doesn't get caught up in being a celebrity. She is also hilarious :)

If someone paid you a million dollars annually to join the Jersey Shore cast and GTL for one season, would you do it? No, dead serious. Being on those shows changes people... and I hate being the center of attention, so TV would not be fun for me, haha.

KUDOS if you made it here :) So the epic prize I was telling you about? How about this :)

designed by Kara Haupt

I chose a random winner through random number generator.... is comment 3. Amy!!

Please contact me Amy, I couldn't click through to your blogger profile :)

Thanks again for all the questions!!!

Q & A: ask away

I've been wanting to do a Question and Answer post for awhile, but was scared I wouldn't get a response.... so here goes nothing.

Ask away, please don't feel shy :) I'm in a sharing mood right now, which is rare, haha. I'll draw a winner from the questions too as some extra incentive. The prize, super epic, so epic it will remain a secret until Monday, the 17th.

Have a wonderful weekend

Ice Fishing

Yesterday was the last day of break, school started today, yuck! So when one of my good friends asked me to join him ice fishing I was super excited. I had never stepped onto a frozen lake, or really ever wanted to, but I was up for the adventure.

It was the perfect day and despite getting lost looking for the boat ramp, the adventure went smoothly. So for those that know nothing about ice fishing (like me) I'll try to paint the picture for ya. We didn't do a typical ice shack, it wasn't that cold or windy. So we drove out onto the ice from a boat ramp; when you drive onto ice you have to unbuckle your seat belt and roll down the windows (just in case) ... picture me holding onto the car for dear life at every sound the ice was making.

But we made it out to the spot fine, and then it was time to drill holes. I wasn't really paying too much attention to the whole hole making process, but my friend used an auger, which drills about at 8" hole into the ice. We made 6 holes and then set up "tip-ups" which are really hard to explain, so in short they have a hook and sit over the hole.

Once everything was setup we had to just wait for a fish to take the bait, the cool thing about these "tip-ups" is that if a fish bites it snaps a flag up... so you don't have to stand at the hole the whole time. So we goofed around in the snow a lot, and took weird photos :)

 And then the fish started biting! It was so awesome, seriously the best feeling in the world pulling up the line and seeing a fish. We didn't keep any, just threw them back, but man was it fun. I really hope I get to go a few more times before the lake unfreezes.

 And that was how I spent the day before my last semester of college :) Pretty perfect.

498... 499... 500?

I'm one sale away from 500 sales on etsy!

Thanks so much to everyone that has supported me over the last year and a half. It means soooo much to me :) I have so many great new things to share in 2011, I cannot wait to see where Indie and Chic is headed.

to celebrate enjoy 10% off all purchases. just use the coupon code 500SALE   **will end 1.13.11

I also thought I'd share a little peek into the Indie and Chic Membership. I don't think I've ever posted what members get to chose from each month... here is January :) 

 Have a wonderful Monday! oh and WAR EAGLE!!!

on a jet plane. and leaving home for the last time.

In a whorl wind of events, I am on a plane right now, headed back to Wisconsin. I wasn't planning on flying out until Monday, but Alabama had a different plan to get me outta here :) Sunday evening, our area is expected to get 5" of snow... our city doesn't even know what to do with half an inch, and so flights were getting canceled left and right.

 My mom saved the day and used her frequent flier miles to book a quick ticket for me, and in just an hour I was booked to leave in under 18 hours. And so Friday afternoon was spent running around the house like a mad person, getting my Christmas presents boxed and shipped to school, and doing laundry. Nothing like a little curve ball to send my lazy day into high gear.

Then I had to go and say goodbye to my grandparents. For the first time since I can remember I hugged them goodbye not knowing when I would be home again. I assume I might be home after graduation for a few days, but I may not be if I have a job. And so I hugged my grandmother for like 5 minutes, ugly crying (the crying where you know your face looks awful and there is that burning in your throat). It was possibly the hardest thing I've had to do letting go of her. I have no idea if she will know who I am when I see her next... and I have to face the fact that she most likely will not attend my graduation (she doesn't travel well anymore). But today she knew me and told me how proud of me she was and that there isn't a day that goes by where she doens't think of me, and so I hold onto that and smile.

And so today has been quite the emotional roller-coaster (oh and throw in my cat peeing on my only suitcase... don't let his cute little face fool you), but I made it through and hopefully I'll get back to my dorm room before 8pm. fingers crossed.

and just like that, not so gracefully, I've left home for the last time as college student. how is this possible?

branding a business

2011 will be the year Indie and Chic gets it together as business. I'm no longer treating my shop as a hobby, but as a small business.

I've been ordering my packaging materials in bulk since the beginning from ULINE, but this year I want my packaging to all match and portray my brand. The old yellow bubble mailers are now long gone. I bit the bullet and ordered white mailers, I'm hoping they are a crisp white. I'll still hand write my addresses, but the package will be sealed with this little label :)

The items will still come in crisp white boxes, complete with hand stamped flowers. And now headbands will come in a white mailing box complete with the sticker above as well.

I think the branding is coming along so great! I've been really inspired by Elise, my small business hero, as well as London, who I've probably bugged to death bouncing off ideas, haha.

I thought it'd be fun to take a look back at my old branding and the progress I've made with it.

2009:  I bought this package in the summer of 2009 from iluvdesign. I had no direction for my shop image, just thought the design was cute and went with it. Oh, I for some reason bought earring cards that didn't match my other design... what can I say, I was young. Also, I made the mistake of getting my business cards printed by someone with a home computer... yuck.

2010: I ran out of the 80 thank you stickers and 200 business cards (let's be honest, I threw them out), and iluvdesign was on vacation for a month. So I went to the etsy alchemy and posted my needs.

It was possibly the best thing I've done for my business, I had over 30 something replies, but one designer just struck me, WinchesterLambourne. She first designed my etsy banner, then business card, and then eventually my website. I highly recommend her, you won't find a kinder person and her prices are very reasonable.

 I also upgraded to white jewelry boxes and made a shift from the kraft. I loved the look so much better :)

2011: Started the year out with a new jewelry box design. I didn't want to reorder the labels I was putting on the box, they were high cost and I was bored. So I used supplies I had to create a simple, but unique design.

and that leads us back to where we started this post. haha.

I didn't realize I had so many changes in just 2 years. I hope this was informative, as well as encouraging for new shops. You don't have to have it all perfect from the beginning. I had little to no money to brand at the beginning, let alone know where I wanted my shop to go in the next few years. The branding has just evolved on its own, and I'm hoping that 2011 will be a year I can stick with one design and get my costs down.

Have a great weekend :)

Fancy Headbands : now in the shop

My first creations of 2011 are here. Now available in the shop.

Tell me what you think? Be honest :) Also if there are color combinations you love, let me know, I'm always looking for new ones.

xoxo have a great day

I Did It Myself : Fabric Flowers via Elise B.

About a month ago one of my favorite bloggers posted a cute and simple DIY for fabric flowers. I had to wait until my holiday break to snag some fabric from my mom, she always has cute ones.

The project went well, I usually can never make anything look like the tutorial picture, but these turned out so cute. I'm taking them back to the dorm room with me :)

Any cute tutorials you've seen lately? I've been in a crafty mood lately.