InstaFriday {Post Vacation Slump}

While it was a super busy week here on the blog and in the shop, my Instagram feed was pretty light this week!  But, in the name of full disclosure, I'll share what I've got with ya!
 

A stack of oh so pretty pot holders ready for a BIG wholesale order that delivers next week. I cannot WAIT TO TELL YOU about the news!!!

New ruffled tea towels are now available in the shop! They come in a variety of colors just in time for spring, and what's better? They match the aprons in my shop for a great gift set!

Part of having a handmade business is marketing and branding. While browsing the shelves at Target (ok, so maybe while BUYING from the shelves at target) inspiration struck for a new tagging option for some of my products. Luckily, my fabulous friend (and model of all aprons!!!) Carter of Away We Go Studios, happens to also be Love Elaine's graphic designer. So, be on the look out for some pretties soon! (**Side note: if you do have a handmade business, contact Carter. She is amazing at what she does, and her logos are fabulous!)

And finally, please forgive the HORRIBLE photo of me, but I said I was keeping it real. Here I am with the BF on vacation last week. We were in the Mountains. It was quiet, and sunny, and warm, and it was just WONDERFUL. He gets huge amounts of bonus points for planning the whole thing! I think I'll keep him for a while ;)

So, I totally forgot to announce that I'll be a vendor at the upcoming Spring Badda Bing craft show here in Richmond on April 15th! Mark your calendars and come visit me - I'm going to have a new booth (there is a lime green rug involved) and lots of new bags that are not in the shop yet! I hope to see all of my local friends there!

Handmade Fort Worth, Texas Style {Insta Friday}

This post is wayyyyy overdue, and as you can see, its been a couple of weeks since I linked up to Insta Friday. But, as I always say, its better late than never, right?

Earlier this month I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Houston Fort Worth, Texas for ODI, a leadership conference for the Association of Junior Leagues International. The cross out is an inside joke, as the ENTIRE TIME leading up to the conference, I was convinced we were going to Houston. I asked friends I knew in Houston for restaurant recommendations, I looked up to see how far Dallas was from Houston as I wanted to make a trip to City Craft - you get the idea. So, I ignored ALL of the signs (that my hotel was in Forth Worth and that my flight was to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport) and not until we were in the cab to our hotel did I ask "so, how far to Houston?" did it dawn on me.

So, on Saturday night of the conference, in Fort Worth, we headed down to the Stock Yards and came across a wonderful boutique with amazing handmade wares, as well as a BAR smack in the middle of the shop. Talk about multi-tasking at its finest - happy hour and shopping, I was sold! Here's a bit of eye candy and inspiration I soaked up while I was there.

Don't you just want a pair of each in those gorgeous COLORS? Yes please!

Reclaimed wood frames and wall art with metal flowers. Swoon!

If my suitcase wasn't so small, the guy on the top would have come home with me!

Hand Embroidered Texas pillows - yes EMBROIDERED! Just LOVE!

Yes, that is me sitting at the bar on a saddle. I don't look out of place at all in my knee length red coat, do I?!

I had an amazing time with an amazing group of women! Hopefully, next time, I'll be coming home with a pair of boots :)

And, since we've had such a mild winter here in Virginia compared to last year, and I LOVE SNOW, I just had to share a couple photos I got on the one any only snow I saw this year from our new house. So pretty!!

Backyard view

Front Yard View in the Morning - LOVE!

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 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!