A Pinterest Valentines {Crafty Inspiration}

Since February is a mere 2 days away (where DID January GO?!), and I haven't done a thing to think about Valentines Day other than start my swap partner's gift - I thought I'd share a list of great Pinterest Valentines Day finds to provide inspiration to get your love day crafting and baking on!

via Pinterest. Brownie mix and strawberry cake - TOGETHER! From I (heart) to stamp by Jen Del Muro

via Pinterest. Tutorial from a great new blog I found, Simple as That. Love!

via Pinterest. Martha does it again, with these super cute candy filled hanging hearts! Find the tutorial here.

via Pinterest. Amy at The Idea Room always has great ideas! Find the tutorial here - I just might be trying this one for Valentines this year!

via Pinterest. For the sewing folks out there, this super cute heart throw-pillow will go together super quick and easy! Find the tutorial from Amy at Diary of a quilter.

What are you planning to bake, make or sew for Valentines Day? Are you on Pinterest? Share your favorite pins with me in the comments!

InstaFriday {Shop Sale Continues}

Happy Friday everyone! It has been a WONDERFUL week for me. The photos are few, but that's because I've been busy sewing and business planning for the rest of this year. Can you believe that February starts NEXT WEEK?! I can't! I have too much coming up that I need to get ready for!

Joined an online Valentines Day Swap on Generation Q Magazine site. 

This is a sneak-peak of the project I'm making for my swap partner!

Finished a custom order this week - first time this bag has had a zipper top! What do you think?

A customer sent me a photo of the letters I made for her nursery all hung and ready to go! I just LOVE getting photos of my work in-real-life! Jennifer did a great job with the nursery! Don't you just LOVE the polka dots in the letters?! 

Me and my friends Julie and Rusty at my birthday party in Northern Virginia! I had an absolute BLAST ringing in the last year of my twenties with my best friend Al (sorry no photo!)! 

I got around to listing new items in my Etsy Shop - including this baby quilt in one of my favorite color combinations - grey and yellow! Check it out in the shop, it has BIKES! Perfect for a baby girl or boy, or for a gender neutral baby gift!

 

I've been doing a TON of planning for the rest of 2012 for my shop. Check out the swatches above - as you'll soon be seeing them plus a few others gracing the shop soon! Mid-February I'll be launching my Spring line along with new fabrics - making it easier than ever to create your own custom Love Elaine item!

PSSST - I'm still running a sale in my Etsy shop! Everything is 20% off with coupon code "HAPPYBIRTHDAY" until next Tuesday. So, get to shopping this weekend!

Insta Friday {My Week In Photos}

Well, as most of you know since I posted about it earlier, but this week I celebrated my birthday! It was a wonderful weekend spent with friends and loved ones - looking forward to another year ahead for sure!

 Last Friday during my lunch break, I headed over to a local fabric shop, UFab (I LOVE it there) and did a bit of pre-birthday fabric shopping. I can't resist grey & yellow!

No birthday week is complete without a bit of shopping at Target :) I found these two throw pillows on clearance (ps - it is actually the same pillow, they are reversible!!!) to get me started with accessorizing my living room. Can you guess which color I'm adding in there?

Speaking of decorating, I took this to show my bf's parents that we finally got one of our Christmas presents out of the box! The Ronan Sideboard is from Pier 1 (LOVE it there) and matches our table. It also features another Christmas present, my vase from Anthropologie! 

 While out and about getting supplies for an upcoming order, I saw this GORGEOUS quilt hanging in the window at Quilting Adventures! Seriously, this quilt is my happy place right now! Officially on the to do list for 2012!

And, I leave you with this gorgeous dessert I had on Monday at my birthday lunch with my boss and coworker! Let me tell you, it tasted as good as it looks, if not better!

I hope you all had a great week! And, if you haven't been by the shop in a while, I've listed a few new items, including 2 baby quilts! I don't know about you, but I have quite a few babies on the way this spring - can't wait to start sewing for them!! 

My 2012 Word of The Year {Embrace}

This year, I've heard so much about choosing a single word as a theme for the year to replace the normal list of New Year's resolutions.  As someone who is always looking for ways to simplify, I quickly got on board with the concept. Then, I saw that Layla over at The Lettered Cottage was hosting a Word of the Year party, and I wanted to share too!

via Pinterest source lost in paradise

My word of the year is - Embrace

I've been thinking about this word for a couple of weeks and it seems to fit all of the things I hope to accomplish, both personally and business-wise for Love Elaine.  And, by putting it out there for the world (let's be honest as the whole world won't see) to see, I'm hoping to hold myself accountable and see where this word takes me. This year, here's what I hope to to:

Embrace Opportunity

Opportunity can come in many different shapes, sizes and ways into your life. This year, I want to keep my eyes, ears and heart open to whatever opportunities come my way.

Alexa's Angels

Embrace The Moment

Too often with everything going on in my life, I forget to live.in.the.moment. As a born goal setter, I often overlook today in favor of a goal set for the future and miss out on the enjoyment of today. Not anymore!

Source Funnelcloud on Etsy

Embrace Imperfections

Being a perfectionist to my core, having a handmade business has taught me so many things about that side of myself. I've spent hours tweaking something or completely remade an item that wasn't "perfect" to my uber-critial eye. And in the end, the only person who noticed the flaw was me. So, I'm slowly (hey, a girl's gotta start somewhere, right?!) learning that my best is good enough and that there is perfection in life's imperfections.

Source dazeychic on Etsy

Embrace Happiness

This is a follow-up to the previous one, and by far the most important for me this year. While I'm mostly a happy and pleasant person, I DWELL on unreached expectations on almost a daily basis. Things that most people chalk up to "just life" can sometimes put me in a tailspin. Not this year. This year, I will choose to embrace happiness - laugh more, celebrate more, and just do more, just for me, just because it makes me happy.

Ok, so now its your turn. Have you ever had a "word" for a year as a theme? What's your word for 2012?

Oh, and if you haven't already entered, click here to get details on the clutch giveaway to celebrate my birthday!

Today is my Birthday! {A Giveaway for you!}

via Pinterest, source The Sweetest Occasion

Yes friends, its my birthday. Today marks the beginning of the last year in my 20's, as I turned 29 this morning! My early 20's self sure wouldn't recognize me - as there is no way I would have guessed that I would have my own business, let alone that it would involve sewing! My 20's have sure been a wild ride filled with unforgettable moments, and I'm sure this last year won't disappoint. Thank you to everyone who has joined in this journey with me :)

The great part about my birthday is that YOU get the presents! Starting today through the end of January, everything in my Etsy shop is now 20% off with coupon code "HappyBirthday" at checkout.  Think of it as a spring cleaning of sorts - as I need to make room for all of the wonderful new spring line items that will be popping up in a few weeks. So, head on over and see what we have in store!

And now, the giveaway!
This weekend I'm going to be going to Northern Virginia to celebrate my birthday and my friend Alison's birthday at a happy hour with all of our friends. I'm going to make myself a clutch to match my new dress, so I thought it would be a great idea to give one away to one of you! That's right, one lucky person is going to win the clutch pictured below in my totally favorite color combination of the moment - grey and plum! Swoon!

Love Elaine Grey and Plum Clutch

Here's how to enter! You get one entry for each of the following:

1. Leave a comment on this post wishing me a happy birthday along with your favorite colors for spring. 
2. "Like" Love Elaine on Facebook and come back here to let me know you did! (If you already "like" us on Facebook, leave a comment that you do!)
3. Follow this blog via google friend connect or follow @loveelainellc on Twitter.

Isn't that just so easy?! I'll draw the winner next Monday! Good luck!

Now, I'm off to sit back and enjoy my food coma from my birthday lunch that included champagne (best boss EVER) and Chocolate Molten Cake!

My Last 3 Weeks In Photos {InstaFriday}

So, I had these photos ready to go last Friday, but I forgot. And then I was going to post earlier this week - but I got hit with the WORST stomach bug ever. Please forgive me for all of the photos, this week - as I promise to be up to date in weeks to come! 

Here is the last 3 weeks of photos (a girls gotta start somewhere, right!?)

Miss Sophia with her new Cupcake hat :) I had a blast opening presents with Sophia and her mom (and my best friend) Julie!

While home in NJ for Christmas, I was able to get quality bar time in with my brother Ronnie and sister Stephanie!

The crazy one on the left is my little brother Brandon - I call him bubs :) He hates it out loud, but secretly loves it. Don't ask me why the nickname, I can't really remember, I was 7!

My two 6 year old nieces Mia and Erica in their matching Love Elaine aprons!Aren't they just the sweetest!

My dear sweet Virginians, you have NOTHING on NJ pizza :) So glad I was able to get a slice while I was home. YUMMY!

NYE was spent with the BF in Northern Virginia - here's to hoping 2012 brings wonderful things our way!

Whipped up these amazing cheese fritters from a recipe on Pinterest. So yummy! Too bad my Hokies lost in the Sugar bowl :(

 Finished up a set of baby boy nursery letters! I'll be posting more on those later! Love the polka dots!

Sewing yoyos in bed. By the second day of sickness, I was too sick to move but bored enough to want to keep my hands moving! More on why I'm sewing yoyos next week!

Bloggers Choice Fat Quarter Bundle

Fat Quarter Shop, an online fabric store that I often frequent, has been hosting bloggers to choose their favorite fabrics into a Fat Quarter Bundle and making them available to everyone. Its a great way to see many fabrics from different lines used together, plus inspiration with different colors and patterns.

Usually this honor is bestowed only on those very important fabric bloggers, but luckily for me, Lara at Quokka Quilts is hosting a contest where anyone can make up their own Fat Quarter Bundle! I jumped at the chance to do a bit of fabric window shopping (full disclosure - I probably fabric window shop EVERY SINGLE DAY. Its an obsession. I might need help. But, I realize there could be worse things that I spend all of my free brain space day dreaming about.)

So, without further ado, here is my submission.

Anyone who knows me or has seen my bags, its clear to see that I am a HUGE fan of Amy Butler as well as large floral prints. Naturally, I started with a new print from Amy's Lark Collection and went from there. I was actually inspired by 2 things - 1) my niece Alexis stated her favorite colors were Orange, Blue and Lime green when asked before Christmas, as I was going to make her a bag out of this very fabric but she ended up picking out one I had already made, and 2) I've been searching for the perfect orange and teal fabrics to update the decor in my living room.

Links to the fabrics are below, in case you want to do some shopping :)

1. Amy Butler's Lark, 2. Amy Butler's Lark, 3. Art Gallery Modernology, 4. Art Gallery Nature Elements, 5. Joel Dewberry Heirloom, 6. Michael Miller Bella Butterfly, 7. Riley Blake Decadence, 8. Michael Miller Secret Garden, 9. Riley Blake Sunny Happy Skies, 10. Joel Dewberry Heirloom, 11. Ty Pennington Impressions II, 12. Dear Stella, 13. Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solid Mint, 14. Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solid Orange , 15. Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solid Starfruit

If you want to see other submissions, check out a few of my favorites from other bloggers:


Lee at Freshly Pieced
Kristen at KD Quilts
Charise at Sewingly Along

Head on over and submit your own! Happy Sewing!