new hobby: calligraphy

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I don't know if you have noticed (sarcasm), but calligraphy is having a moment! We have a wonderful business here in Nashville called The Skillery that provides educational classes for adults - anything from photography, sewing, blogging, social media, & apparently calligraphy too! I've been attending Skillery classes since their very first one & am a huge fan. So far I have taken classes on book binding, using my DSLR on manual, sewing 101, & silk screen printing. They always have classes that reflect the current trends in hobbies, so it was no surprise that their first calligraphy workshop sold out ASAP. I got myself on the notification list for the next class, & signed up the instant more spots became available. 

I've always had this notion in my head that calligraphy was HARD & I showed up ready for the instructor to unlock the hidden secrets of this lost art. The class was led by Meredith Bullock & not only did she make it LOOK easy, it actually WAS easy!

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We learned the set up of the fancy looking pens, the tricks to selecting a good ink & got started tracing the gorgeous font that Meredith created. I was also blown away by the affordability of the starting materials. For $10 I was set up with a nib, pen, ink, & tracing paper. The secret to calligraphy? Finding a font that you love & practicing, practicing, PRACTICING!

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So, now I find myself pulling out my tracing paper & font during free time… might have even completed some minor calligraphy projects for the wedding too!

Maybe you don't have a resource like The Skillery in your town… no worries, the internet to your rescue! L H Calligraphy not only offers custom wedding invite calligraphy, she also has in person & online classes to get you started on your new favorite hobby! And that was just 5 seconds of Googling around.

I was just so excited about my new hobby that I had to share! Have you found a new skill lately? Any other newbie calligraphers out there??

P.S. Nashvillians: come hang out with me tonight at the Green Hills Mall Dillard's Handbag Trade-in Event. I will be in the accessory department from 5 - 9 pm talking about Spring trends & helping you pick out your next handbag! Find out all the details here.

look at this stuff, isn't it neat?

Junior Year of high school, I never knew that 7 years later this dress would make the perfect mermaid fin! 

(sorry these photos are blurry, they were pulled from my archive and scanned it!)

A little snip-snip, glue-glue, and few beers later I chopped my former prom dress in half and made it into my DIY Little Mermaid costume. Combined with a red wig from last year, a nude tank top and seashells, Ariel was born.

Ty and I celebrated our Halloween last weekend by attending an electronic music show on the Cumberland River in Downtown Nashville, and had a blast partying with our friends.

Alex from Clockwork Orange and The Little Mermaid in action

Happy Halloween everyone!
Are you still into dressing up? Does your costume have any element of DIY?

May you eat one less Reese's cup than your limit tonight!

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Blogiversary giveaway { here }

(ends Friday 11/2)

P.P.S. I am a big fan of donating old prom dresses so that all girls can have the opportunity to attend their prom and feel like a rockstar, but sadly this dress was about to fall apart on its own (beads falling off with every step, inside construction coming loose...), so its best option was to be reincarnated as The Little Mermaid

P.P.S.S. Today I am linking up with Dancing with Ashley for her Favorite Things series!
Join the love { here }

Pinterest Challenge: Summer 2012 edition

AKA how I am a DIY poser!

I love Young House Love, and Sherry's collaboration with other bloggers to make the Pinterest Challenge happen is one of my favorite things. I have participated before (making leather accessories in March, and organic dog treats in November), and had such good intentions to come up with an even better project this time, BUT (you had to have known a "but" was coming)... life got in the way, friends came into town, the fabric store closed on Sunday... and I didn't "get around to it"... whomp whomp.

However, in line with my philosophy that if I post something on the internets it increases the likelihood that I will actually DO IT... here is what I wanted to make:

A fox nightlight for my nieces!

{Tutorial here}

So as it turns out, my nieces might be 14 and this thing might turn out to be the Quasimoto of foxes by the time I am finished... but I. WILL. DO. IT.

Have you been working on any DIYs lately?

I am going to head on over to the big Pinterest Challenge reveal to glean some inspiration, and you should too!

xx

Jessica

sisterhood

Ok - I know everyone has noticed the explosion of piled up bracelets (#armparty), especially of the friendship variety, on the arms of bloggers everywhere... and now, I am ready to do something about it.

Sure I could splurge for a Dannijo Arm Party or support some of the amazing Etsy sellers, but my DIY Pinterest board is filled to the brim with images of friendship bracelet inspiration, and I have my knotting guides at the ready... so I am going to be getting my DIY on!

I can't wait to emulate some of these inspirational designs to share with my friends/family all of the country (sisterhood of the traveling pants bracelets)

Honestly...WTF has been killing me with amazing DIYs lately! (here, and here as starters)

these make me happy!
top: here, here
bottom: here, here, here

Got my supplies on hand.... now gearing up the motivation to start.... yea....

xx

Jessica

DIY fashionista

I am really getting on a DIY kick of late... and I think every DIY fashionista should have stylish tools to encourage creativity! (similar to my reason that somehow cute gym clothes will inspire a desire to run... not working yet...)

Regardless of your reason, these DIY necessities are cute, practical, and on sale... run don't walk 

(aka type fast!) 

xx

Jessica

P.S. I may or may not have made 5 of these leather bracelets since last week (spoiler alert: I DID!)

pinterest challenge: winter edition

Ok, it is time for the big reveal! What have you been working on? Did you check something off of your Pinterest-to-do-list? Check out all the rest of the amazing DIY projects here {and the other co-hosts of the challenge here, here, here}, and mine are below! 

So of course, I waited till the last minute (last night) to complete my Pinterest Challenge. In my defense, I went to Michael's earlier in the week, and picked up so many items for all the craft projects swirling in my head (house decorating, Bachelorette Party planning for friends, and wardrobe rehabs) that I didn't know where to start. 

I chose the leather bracelet DIY found on my "DIY Love" Pinterest Board

Inspiration Pic: Left panel {via} 

{Official Leather Bracelet tutorial}

I followed the linked tutorial to a T, so I will spare you the gory details. But I do want to tell you about my awesome leather score: all these leather scraps (in 4 different colors) from Michael's for $5.99. Run don't walk and pick your self up some!

 I also picked up "Instant Krazy" glue that clearly said on the packaging it could be used for leather, and grabbed a sheet of snaps.

FYI: if you use scissors you love, they are have a chance of being dull by this point...

I also ended up severely bending my needle when sewing the snaps on... not sure it was "leather" gauge... 

 But voila, somehow it came out even better than I expected!

I had so much leather left over, and was on a roll, so next I tackled the girlie bow I have had my eye on, with this official tutorial

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Again, easy peasy lemon squeezy, and it looks so legit! Can't wait to wear this under my top knots for Spring, à la Blair from Atlantic-Pacific {here, here}

I really still want to tackle this Matthew Williamson inspired DIY Chain Bracelet {pinned here} (but need to collect some supplies first)... I'll keep you posted.

In fact, I have caught the bug and really want to start ticking off all the projects I have on my DIY Love board. Especially with my shopping hiatus, it is so amazing to see how a little craftiness can transform your clothes!

  

Ok, show me yours now! 

Include some links in the comments to your recent Pinterest inspired craft projects!

xx

Jessica

my first DIY

Ok, I have two things to share with you this lovely Saturday morning. 

First off, the world's easiest DIY. One of my new year's resolutions was to sew more and learn to be a better photographer, and this new motivation has spilled over into a general idea that I am crafty. While this might not yet be the case, I am here to show you that no matter you level of craftiness, you too can create DIYs with amazing results with my 5 minute DIY chain jewelry. 

I picked up two types of chain (plastic tortoise links and silver metal chain) and some basic hook closures from my local Michael's over the holiday. This week I finally completed this project (I guess including procrastination, this project takes about 2 weeks, but that step is not recommended). Using my basic pliers, I attached a ring to one end of each chain, and a closure to the other end, and in less than 5 minutes created a bracelet and necklace!

Maybe the amount of amazement I have with the finished results shows you just how un-crafty I really am! ha

My lovely creations have now joined the rest of my colorful bits and baubles hanging from my tea-towel rack turned necklace holder...

Secondly, I have been actually doing a better job than I expected at keeping resolutions #1 (workout 3X/week) & #2 (drink more water), and have been feeling over all better - I sleep better, I actually CRAVE water, and my jeans fit just a bit less painted on (ha). I even got talked into running for fun by my persuasive roomie, and will for the first time today, be running a 5K. I know I am such a baby, 5K is NOTHING, but it is all about baby steps people! I am dipping my toe into new things, be it DIYs, or 5Ks, and so far so good!

Are you trying anything new today?

Whatever you get into, have fun, and enjoy the moment (even the little ones!)

xx

Jessica