the unsolicited musings of elSage

elSage has a new home!

2010-10-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

elSage has a new home. Come check out the new, blog, home page and shop link here.

::Eco Encounters, of the back to school kind::

2010-09-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

I'm currently immersed in everything school. Being a teacher myself, married to a teacher, the daughter and sister of teachers, this time of year tends to be a busy one. One of my favorite things is gearing up for school, the anticipation, school supplies (don't get me started on pens, post its and paper clips). I love school clothes shopping and looking forward to the first day. 

I was browsing around etsy and stumbled on some pretty killer back to school goods that also happen to be kind to the environment. 

Eco Encounters, Back to School 

Sweet polka dot lunch bag 

Unbelievably cool birch bark necklace

Recycled binder

Ninja Apple Cozy

(I might like the name of this the most of all)

Super rad upcycled skirt

Reusable coffee cozy

Better yet, a reusable travel mug

Whether you're a teacher, mom, dad, student or TA you're probably schlepping some serious stuff, help yourself out with these     sweet bags. 

 Stay warm and stylie with this organic cowl

What's your favorite part of the back to school season?  

::Sustainable Saturday:: Half Pint Salvage Interview

2010-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the second installment of Sustainable Saturday. I had the opportunity to chat with Karl, the creative force behind Half Pint Salvage. Karl scours high and low to find some pretty sweet materials to re purpose and turn into amazing pieces for your home, office or studio. I like Karl for several reasons: he's out of Seattle (local), digs sustainable design, is super talented and has a beard.

Half Pint Salvage

elSage: Is Half Pint Salvage your only job or do you wear other hats in your daily life?

Karl: Half Pint Salvage is my part-time gig—although, I’d say some weeks definitely feel like full-time. I’m not able to live solely off the business…yet. But I’m definitely growing more and more each month. Currently, I’m also an accountant/wholesale manager/operations director, for my girlfriend’s screen-printing business, Blackbird Tees.

eS: How do you feel about sustainable design?

K: I think it’s absolutely essential. In my line of work, recycling and reusing salvaged materials means less waste. And by forgoing “newer” materials, my energy footprint decreases. Plus, my natural instinct has always been to see what’s available first (before I buy something brand new or mass-produced). Often times, the recycled and/or handmade option is just as affordable—and in some cases more accessible and aesthetically pleasing.

eS: What are some of your favorite sustainable companies?

K: I’m definitely a bit of a foodie, so eating healthy is a priority. Natural markets such as Whole Foods or PCC (local to Seattle) get my nod. When it comes to eating, I think Americans need to vote with their dollars. And buying organic, locally-farmed groceries is a great way to show companies that you’re voting for healthy food.

eS: Share something interesting about yourself.

K: I love traveling. In fact, back in 2004, a friend and I drove over 35,000 miles in one summer. We hit 39 out of 50 states and camped out almost every night--for 3 months straight. My only regret is that we didn’t bring a bigger tent.

eS: Did you grow up in the Seattle area? If not what brought you here? If so, what has kept you here?

K: I actually grew up in Virginia and lived there until 2004. I’m not quite sure what brought me to Seattle. I moved out here with some friends, and I think we were all simply ready to move as far away from Virginia as we possibly could.

Farmers markets, cute neighborhoods, and the glory that is our picture-perfect summer (albeit for 3 or 4 weeks) are what keep me happy here.

eS: Where do you find your materials?

K: Building salvage stores are my go-to supplier. You can find everything there—wood molding, bathroom fixtures, cabinet doors, windows, etc. Almost every material I run across inspires me. Sometimes I can spend the whole day just browsing and imagining zany building ideas in my head.

eS: Do you have any employees?

K: Me, myself and I.

eS: Where can people find you?

K: My Etsy shop. You’ll also find me out on the craft show circuit (most recently at the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin, TX) and local farmers markets in the Seattle area.

eS note: You can also find Karl on his blog, twitter, and facebook

eS: Please shamelessly plug your favorite product from your shop.

K: Gladly! I am absolutely in love with one of my newest chalkboards, entitled The Executive, Mad Men Edition—created from a salvaged cabinet door. It has a painted black accent strip and sports modish, chrome hardware (found at my local salvage store). For some reason, I was against using black paint. But a recent custom order totally changed my mind.

eS: Do you have any business advice for sustainable companies?

K: Take the egg carton approach and use minimal, yet effective packaging—keeping waste to a minimum. And when possible, use recycled materials.

eS: If you could have a super power what would it be and why?

K: I absolutely loathe sanding and paint stripping—but unfortunately, for a majority of my products, it’s absolutely necessary. So my super power would be the ability to blink my eyes and have those steps magically completed. My hands and wrists would be soooo happy!

::And the winner is...

2010-09-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

The winner of the fabulous All Deck'd Out earring and bangle set is... Rachel Demsick! Congrats Rachel!

Rachel was the 3rd comment and random.org choose number 3! Rachel happens to have a sweet little etsy shop with her own sustainable goods, check it out.

::Travel Tuesday:: 180 Degrees South

2010-08-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Travel Tuesday is here to share a super rad film all about adventure, travel, and eco awareness. The story of Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia Clothing, and environmentalist extraordinaire. We follow Chouinard and his friend Doug Tompkins' 5,000 trip of 1968 from Ventura, CA to Patagonia, South America is paralleled by Jeff Johnson in 2007. The story shares Chouinard and Tompkins adventures through photos and stories while following Johnson's adventure with beautiful footage and amazing scenery.

180 SOUTH TRAILER BY WOODSHED FILMS from mesurfTV on Vimeo.

I totally identify with the passion, energy, tenacity and adventure of these men (and woman) and this film. If you haven't seen 180 Degrees South I highly recommend it. It you are a netflix user you can watch it instantly on your computer or iPad.

“The word adventure has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong, that's when adventure starts” -Yvon Chouinard 

::Sustainable Saturday:: All Deck'd Out, Skate Fashion & Giveaway!

2010-08-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Fashion is changing, our culture is changing. You can feel the handmade and eco conscious revival if you look around at what people are buying and valuing. We are all becoming more aware of where things are made, how they are made and who our purchases benefit.  I believe that sustainability is the future, something we all need to strive for. 

Welcome to the first installment of Sustainable Saturday. This will be a regular feature highlighting all that is rad within sustainable business.

I have been in love with All Deck'd Out for months now, I received one of their necklaces as a Valentines Day gift from Hubs. I have picked up a pair of skinny studs for myself since and also gifted one of their belt buckles. I am so thrilled that they are my very first interview and the very first feature on Sustainable Sunday. I recently "chatted" with Nina from All Deck'd Out, she tells me how they found their sustainable business and a little about their favorite sustainable companies. Pssst... Don't quite reading because there's a giveaway at the end!

All Deck'd Out: Skate It, Break It, Wear It

elSage: How did All Deck'd Out come to be or what's the story behind your business.

Nina: We had some home renovation projects that required the use of a hole saw, so we bought a set. Dan being an artist thought it would be a great idea to try to make rings out of some old skateboards he had lying around. So we started off with making rings and next thing you know almost a year later we have a large assortment of jewelry and accessories, that we are proud to call our own. We are always coming up with new ideas and have some great plans for the future.

eS: How do you feel about sustainable fashion?

N: We love sustainable fashion. To us it just makes sense to give something a new lease on life. It allows a lot of room for creativity, and if it can avoid going into the garbage, all the better. Times are a changin'.

eS: What's your favorite thing about being a small business owner?

N: We would have to say that our favorite thing about being a small business owner is having control over our own survival. Because we are the owners we will always do what we need to do to ensure our level of quality. We set the bar high for ourselves and then we try to surpass it. We are artists and perfectionists. This could sometimes be a good or a bad thing.

eS: Do you have some favorite Eco friendly companies?

N: Two Eco friendly companies we can think of offhand are both recycled skateboard related. First would be Art of Board. This company make tiles out of, you guessed it recycled skateboards. They have done some amazing work, definitely worth checking out online. Second would be Boardgames on Etsy. Boardgames makes children's toys and furniture from old skateboards. We love the pea shooters and yoyos. Genius!

eS: Please plug your most favorite product from All Deck'd Out...

N: If we were to plug one of our items, we would have to plug our Smooth it Out Bangles. When we went about designing our bangle, we wanted it to stand out amongst the rest. We spend a great deal of time ensuring that each bangle is perfectly round and smooth. This allows the color plies to pop. We want to make people to realize it's more than just a piece of skateboard; it is a functional piece of art. A lot of care is involved in making each one.

eS: If you could spend a month anywhere in the works where would it be?

N: If we could go anywhere in the world for a month? Um, we would say Greece. It just looks so amazing. The water always looks so blue and the houses always look so white. Not mention the vast amount of history.

So now you know a little more about All Deck'd Out, but wait there's more. More? Yes indeed, Nina and Dan are giving away a rad little set for one lucky winner. One Smooth It Out Bangle and a pair of Skinny Studs. All you have to do to enter if visit the All Deck'd Out etsy shop and leave a comment here saying what your favorite item is. I will randomly pick a winner next Thursday (9/2). Get an extra entry from "liking" All Deck'd Out's Facebook page, just remember to leave it as a separate comment.
*Giveaway is open to worldwide readers, you will receive set pictured above. Please remember to leave your contact information when you comment.

Wedding Wednesday

2010-08-25T10:09:00.001-07:00

This week I am feeling a little nostalgic and maybe even a bit sappy. Hubs and I are coming up on our fifth wedding anniversary and I love him more than ever. 

For me it's the season to enjoy the zen before the storm (my school year starts way too soon). We all need more flowers and peace in our life. 

I think weddings should be the start of something amazing rather than a production and an endgame in themselves. If you're married, or getting married remember to hold hands, appreciate each other and stay as zen as possible.

What do you think about peace, love and zen? What do you do to accomplish these things in your life and your relationships?

::Garden Update::

2010-08-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

Pretty excited about how our garden has turned out this summer. We returned from Puerto Rico to a jungle of garden goodness. We've been munching on salad, beets, arugula, strawberries, onions and most recently straight from the garden. Neither hubs nor I get many strawberries or tomatoes because the boy loves them so much! His love for tomatoes is well established but he surprised us this summer with an utter obsession with sugar snap peas. We're pretty sure it's because they look like balls. He is obsessed with anything round.

What's next for our little garden? We will be planting our late fall/winter crops soon. Kale and chard are both on the list.

There's something pretty amazing about eating from your own garden. I urge anyone who's interested in growing their own food to do so, it's really great. And so cool for the boy to see where food comes from and be introduced to healthy fruits and vegetables in the process.

::Wedding Wednesday:: Simple & Rad

2010-08-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

I get really excited about simple down-to-earth weddings, cool photos, and bearded men. This wedding has all of these things! I am also excited to find a few of the photographers for Labor of Love, David and Kendrick. Check out their site and I bet you'll find something to love too.

I love that this bride got her wedding dress off craigslist. I love the flowers, the quirky photos and the obvious love between the two of them. It all reminds me a bit of our wedding, which is fun to remember. Thanks to Labor of Love and Susan and Dan for getting married rad and simple.

Travel Tuesday

2010-08-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

We spent last weekend close to home in the global sense. Lake Wenatchee is a few hours from our home. Every year we make an effort to do two sibling trips with hubs' two sisters, one brother and their families. The adult count totals eight and the kids total six, the oldest of the cousins has four years under his belt. These stats should give you and idea of the chaos that can come with these trips but there's also great bonding, conversation and eating that happens from adults and kids alike.

All packed up

On Saturday my sis in law and I biked our way to the lake. It began as a quick morning activity as it was supposed to be four miles. At mile seven I realized I'd been had, did I mention that I was pulling two small humans in the bike trailer? And that there were hills? And that lately I haven't ridden farther than several miles in any direction from our house? Anyway, it ended up being really fun (and twelve miles). I re learned some kids songs from my precocious nephew (who was behind his mama on his tag along bike), got my sweat on a bit and ended at the lake.

The boy and his cousin ready to hit the road

Every year I demand that we get group photos of everyone together, the sibs are all really good sports about it. I know that someday I will be thanked because we will have the documentation of life being lived and trips being taken.


Cousins

The gangs all here (minus one bro in law but we gained a German friend who was visiting)

The point of this post is two fold... First family is rad whether they are blood related, or married-in, or honorary. And, you don't have to go far to have an adventure.

Abbey living life in motion in elSage

::Wedding Wednesday:: Boots

2010-08-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

Went shopping today and fell in love with some Frye boots. Sat down to create a Wedding Wednesday post, boots still on my mind, and found some lovely boot wearing brides. Hope you like.


A little bit country...


A little bit rock & roll


Beautiful

Polka dots & red boots

New logo for elSage

2010-08-11T00:13:00.000-07:00

I'm excited about revamping some things around elSage in the coming weeks before school starts up again. Be on the look out for some fun new stuff and (hopefully) a little bit of polish on the old. I have finished the new logo, carved and then doctored a bit in PS I am happy with how it turned out.

::Travel Tuesday, Puerto Rico::

2010-08-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

We recently spent almost 3 weeks in Puerto Rico. I thought I would share some photos and musings from the trip. It was amazing how different it was to travel with a toddler. Everything moved a little slower. There was a distinct lack of sitting in bars until the wee hours, but we did make some pretty killer sand castles.

We stayed in Rincon for the first 12 days. A little town on the north west side of the island. The town itself is nothing special but there is an area called Puntas that's a drive out of town on the coast. This little gem is beachfront bliss. Nestled in an ocean valley and filled with expat surfers, Puntas gets my vote for best place to chill in Puerto Rico.

Some of the said expat surfers leaving Rock Bottom Grill

We stayed beach front (not in Puntas). It was rad to walk out the door and go for a swim or play on the beach. Swimming & walking along the beach daily were wonderful perks.

Crashboat Beach, Aguadilla

After our stay in Rincon we headed back to San Juan to drop off our friends who were headed back to the mainland. We had actually made reservations for the remainder of our trip and were headed to Fajardo, a town described by Let's Go like this... 

"Most travelers simply zip through Fajardo on their way to Vieques and Culebra and never see the real city. But Fajardo and its surrounding area deserve a closer look."

Our reservations were at a place described as...  

"Puerto Real Guest House, C. Cometa 476 (☎ 863-0018 or 617-8755). Homey is an understatement for this small guesthouse—the lobby is actually someone’s living room. Amazing amenities for the price: A/C, cable TV, and small fridge."

I'm getting ahead of myself though. I already said that we made reservations, for our hotels. We quickly realized that we had forgotten to make a rental car reservation for the rest of our trip. We got to the counter and the woman said "no cars". We called several rental companies and they all said the same. Shit. We ended up in a taxi to the wonderful Fajardo, it was definitely the low of the trip.

We spent one night in our Fajardo accommodations and we were out. The boy did amazing with such depressing conditions but at one point he woke up, said "all done" and pointed at the door. I agreed and was about to get up with him and then realized it was 3 am... We had to wait a bit longer.

Next, it was on to one of the highlights of our trip. Nestled in the rain forest sits Casa Cubuy. This place is amazing. We spent our time reading in our beautiful room and hiking to the river. The restaurant has a similar view and good food. My birthday was spent eating pizza and drinking wine looking out at a mist covered rain forest valley.

Our last 3 nights were spent in the city staying at Da House. This bohemian hotel was once a convent and then housed artist studio space. It now serves a a great place to stay in Old San Juan whether you are looking for a party or clean, family friendly accommodations. Old San Juan is beautiful. The boy is currently fascinated with keys, we would walk through the city and he would point at every key hole and exclaim, "key". It was a good thing we weren't in a hurry.

 Old San Juan was unbelievable. I have hundreds of photos of doors and pretty streets, graffiti and plazas.

After that it was a very long travel day to get home (15 hours with all the lay overs I think). Next time we're flying first class direct. 
For more photos check out our Flickr

What color is your bicycle?

2010-08-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

My bicycle is blue, I love her. I've spent many miles on that bike. She has trained with me, pulled my kids trailer, delivered me to work. She even rode with me across the U.S. a handful of years ago. Bikes are rad, which is why my latest series highlights them. 

 White Bike in red ink

Vintage Bike

Baby Bike in pink

White Bike

Pink on kraft & black on green

Vintage Bike reduction print

Vintage Bike Line

One of a kind piece

There they are... my happy bike series. I hope you like them. Oh, and I seriously want to know, what color is your bicycle?

SALe yo!

2010-08-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Having a little sale at elSage. Use the code RADDNESS to get 50% off everything. This deal ends Sunday 8/8/2010 so act soon.

Bow Headbands ::The Grace Collection::

2010-06-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

I've been sharing so much miniSage lately I thought it was time to give the big girls some attention. Introducing The Grace Collection: elegant, classic, and as with all elSage goods, sustainable.

The large bow is made from vintage cotton and lace. It's super soft and beautiful! The center is reclaimed satin.

Grace Headband Large Bow

The small bow is created with white vintage lace and reclaimed black satin. What a fun and adorable little piece.

Grace Headband Small Bow

Bows are securely attached to each headband but are able to slide in either direction to ensure the perfect position.

::First Day of Summer:: Pleasant Ridge Farm

2010-06-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Picked up some apples and beans at a local farm yesterday. I thought I would share a peek of our beautiful valley.

Pleasant Ridge Farm uses the honor system. How rad is that? Their stand is open daily from 9 to 6.

See more photos from the first day of summer on the elSage flickr site.

::New Fabrics:: Sustainability in Materials

2010-06-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Things have been oh so busy lately as the school year is coming to a close. I have been finding studio time (and artistic energy) lacking. When this happens I like to reinvigorate by collecting materials I'm excited about.

elSage is all about sustainable design. Re-purposing, recycling, renewing & reusing is the name of the game, so I often get my materials from interesting and fun places. This latest set is no exception.

Last week I received my order of usable scrap fabric from Allisa at Quiltish. She makes beautiful handmade items and loves the environment too! She collects her scrap fabric and what she can't use she passes on to other artists through her destash shop.

I also went to the Goodwill yesterday. I love it there. Hubs and the boy came too and the boy was in heaven. He walked out with a new soccer ball and a book, and I got a ton of cool fabric. I love the variety, from cast off fabric to men's dress shirts and a few vintage pillow cases. I am so excited to jump into the studio!

I really believe in repurposing materials. I think it's not only earth friendly but I love what it does to my work, my materials drive my designs and I love that. When I get too calculated as an artist my work loses it's magic. I also enjoy that, due to the nature of my materials, all my creations are one of a kind or limited editions. It creates a unique and heirloom nature to everything that comes out of elSage.

How do your materials affect your work?

Schools Out SALE!

2010-06-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

With two teachers in our house the start of summer vacation has become the ultimate holiday. Hubs was done on Friday and my last day is tomorrow. In honor of that I have 2 things to share.

The first is 35% off everything in the elSage shop. Use code SCHOOLSOUT to get your immediate discount. Oh and don't forget that orders $50 & over always ship free (worldwide)!

The second is a trailer for one of my favorite movies ever. It is one I always think of on the last day of school.

To all the teachers out there, congrats on another successful year. If you're not a teacher, I hope you're excited about the beginning of summer anyway!

::New MiniSage::

2010-06-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Girls just want to have fun

(while wearing eco friendly miniSage headbands)!

The Lacey Collection.

Sweet as can be.

Vintage tulle & lace. Vintage wooden bead in yellow and a marbled blue accent bead. Black knit headband.

Vintage tulle & lace. Vintage wooden bead in chocolate brown, with a pinkish pearl accent bead. Purple no slip, elastic headband.

Vintage tulle & lace. Vintage, reclaimed pink speckled bead, with a pinkish pearl accent bead. Fuschia super no slip, elastic headband.

For the tomboy darling in your life.

Reclaimed cotton sourced from a vintage work shirt. Pearl beads accented with an orange seed bead.

Each elSage piece is thoughtfully created with an awareness of sustainable design. I collect my materials from repurposed sources when possible. I believe in sustainable design & hope you think they are as cute as they are eco friendly.

What's your favorite source for repurposed materials?

::Pear Study:: From Fruit Bowl to Wall

2010-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

The boy has been in a fruit phase for months now, fruit is the only thing he loves to eat and he is able to put away a ridiculous amount of it. Due to this we usually have a pretty stocked fruit bowl. A little bit ago I got him several different types of pears and was struck by their different shapes.

I had carved a simple pear (Bartlett) silhouette in the past, this was originally done for the boy's room because he had such a love of pears at the time. Before long it was listed in my store and then ended up in Country Living Magazine.

Months after the first, now semi-famous pear I sat down with the fruit bowl and started to sketch.

Three of the four of these sketches made it onto block and were carved & printed. Here are the results.

I like them in red too. Especially in a kitchen with other pops of color.

I think the fruit and the boy were my muse on this one. Who/what is your muse?

::Coming Soon::

2010-06-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

New elSage designs coming to the shop soon. Here's a sneak peek at just a few.

MiniSage for the girls:

I'm totally in love with this one. Made with quilting scraps from a local artist & recycled cotton (stripe). Attached to a new navy blue knit headband. Sustainable fashion at its best.

Vintage pillowcase & netting come together with a felt center. Attached to a grippy headband to stay in place on your active child's head. This one's perfect for summer!

Red recycled cotton & vintage tulle mingle with a yellow felt center to make this super cute headband that's ready for a picnic! Attached to a white knit headband.

And for the adults...

Regina & Deb bobby pins in red felt with blue & white stripe recycled cotton. This are so fun! More color combination soon! If you can't wait these are also carried at Kusler's in Snohomish.

Your thoughts and suggestions are always welcome in the comments section below.

::Goods From Our Garden:: Strawberries

2010-06-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, huh?

::Wedding Wednesday:: Groomsmen

2010-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I freakin' love everything about this wedding, not just the groomsmen.

Rad. See more wedding awesomeness & groomsmen here.
(Warning, after you read about their wedding yo will want to be friends with them & be a smidge jealous of how pretty the bride is).

Kyle Weller's cool shot of the guys.

Love this photo from Leila Starre.

Loving the vintage funkiness of the outfits. I guess this is a Martha thing.

Classy, classic, cool shot. See more of these groomsmen.

Super cool. Lovin' the suspenders. More stylie vintage groomsmen here.

::Rainy Bellingham Farmer's Market::

2010-05-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Our grand plan on Saturday was to hit up the Bellingham Farmer's Market. We woke up to rain though and almost talked ourselves out of it. Luckily, though we decided to brave the rain and we had a wonderful time.

 Little man was awfully excited.

Radishes! I love them. Apparently my kid does too.

 I know it's blurry, but look how excited he is!

Gotta love the northwest... rain or shine there's always people out. 

::A Pretty Rockin' Thursday Night::

2010-05-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we got a call from our good friends asking if we'd like to come watch their friends play music at Boundary Bay Brewery. How could we say no? (kid friendly, free music, killer happy hour, outside on a pleasant northwest night).

There was a cake walk and everything. Arie & Pace won an apple pie.

The boys played while we chatted & enjoyed the music.

After we left we let the dog run in the parking lot. You will see this same lot filled with vendors in the next post.

I love these amazing little unexpected evenings out!

::Wedding Wednesday:: The Exit

2010-05-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

I think I'm in love with every picture here. They speak for themselves.

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::Travel Tuesday:: You Don't Have To Go Far

2010-05-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I tend to think of travel as some big, international, exotic trip. Many times the most memorable and enjoyable trips are the ones you take in your own back yard. Last summer we didn't take a big trip, but instead we opted for lots of little trips. I'll be reminiscing a bit about these for the next few Travel Tuesdays. 

We called our family tent our vacation home... the boy was not quite eight months at the beginning of summer. It was really fun & great to be able to bring Stella, our dog.

Our first trip was Memorial Day weekend, we went to Winthrop, WA. If you haven't been to the Methow Valley you should put it on your list, it's beautiful.  It was a really nice, short trip to learn all about camping with a baby.

We went swimming in various lakes. I ended up covered in leeches for the first time in my life. (Yuck!) We found a swing set & the boy got to pet a horse. Pretty successful trip I'd say.

::Music Monday:: Cat Power

2010-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've been digging Cat Power lately, especially when winding my little man (or myself) down for bed.

Cat Power: The Greatest from Adam Hall on Vimeo.

::Peeks at My Studio::

2010-05-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

Working Space...

Making Progress.

Tagging game #8

2010-05-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged. Kristin at klt:works is the source. I went through my photos and my 8th folder had photos of me pregnant (like very pregnant) with little man. I think I am about 8 and a half months here (which isn't that big of a deal since he was 19 days late, but that's another story for another day).

I think hubs must be feeling a kick.

So, here are the rules of the tagging game:

The Tag game goes as follows:
Go to the 8th folder in which you store your photos
Select the 8th photo
Post it to your blog and tell the story behind it.
After following the above instructions, you are ‘supposed’ to tag 8 other bloggers.

And I am tagging...
My twitter friend The Next Martha
Mandy at Harper's Happenings

Erin at ErinSunday's blog 

Allisa from Quiltish 

Chelsea at frolic

Sara Jensen from lost bird found

My new friend Sue at Mommy's Pen

And these two, taza & husband, 'cause they're so cute!

::Wedding Wednesday:: Flowers

2010-05-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Pretty, simple, perfect color combination.

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Love the dress, love the flowers. 

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How amazing are these? Made from recycled novel pages. Brilliant.  

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Flowers not just for the table but also in floating arrangements. These were done by some really wonderful ladies* in the Seattle area. 

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Vintage bohemian.

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Rad earthy style in these eco friendly boutonnieres.

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Peonies rock.

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*Full disclosure notice: one of said wonderful ladies happens to be my cousin & am elSage designs model.

::Goals of the Week, In Photos::

2010-05-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

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Haircut: today

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Make stuff

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Play

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Ride bike

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Exercise: wish...

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Exercise: reality

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Chillin'

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:: Fun New Things::

2010-05-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

I love mail. I have a total bag fetish. Lately I'm lovin' bows. So yesterday was a pretty great day with time in the studio (thanks mom) to work on new designs, and a post office delivery from Red Bird Style!

The Donna bag was my Mother's Day present to myself. Robin did an awesome job customizing it with a yellow heart for me. It's day two with it and I'm in love... perfect size, perfect fit and the style rocks for spring & summer!

After my fabulous afternoon I got to go to a Bar-be-que with some of my favorite people. Yay for spring and awesome Fridays.

::A Sunny Day::

2010-05-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

My family and I live north of Seattle, it rains a lot here in the winter. Less of a tear-your-face-off rain, or thunder and lightening displays (like much of the rest of the country) and more of a constant drizzle. We ski during the winter months mostly to keep ourselves sane. Given that, it is dreary and gray here for months on end, spring is a very welcomed season. This past week we've had some incredibly beautiful days. On Thursday, one such day happened to coincide with one of my days out of the classroom. 

  
It was so sunny and bright the boy, Stella-pup and I decided to go for a run. Our halfway point was the park where both boy and dog played in the sun excitedly.

 Some of you with a keen eye may have noticed 

the boy's pants are different... 

we are working on being done with diapers,

it's an adventure.

We returned to a play date invite with our friends Sayer and Kristin.

I can't tell you how good for the soul this sun has been. Many of you locals are feeling the same way. Keep it coming sun gods, keep it coming.

::wedding wednesday:: A Pretty Picture Post...

2010-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

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::travel tuesday:: How It Once Was...

2010-05-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Waiting for bus to leave

Montezuma, Costa Rica

Before we got married, hubs and I spent a month traveling Costa Rica & Nicaragua. We had an amazing trip (and actually got engaged over ridiculously large beers in a small town in Nicaragua). We once traveled like this...

transportation

bus station

Masaya, Nicaragua

ferry to Islas de Ometepe, Nicaragua

hitching on Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua

(check out the road, each stone laid by hand)

walking in Granada, Nicaragua

accommodations

camping at the beach, Costa Rica

View from the Ecotel

Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

We think this was once a horse stall

Nicoya, Costa Rica

A hostel where the walls were covered with art from previous guests.

I added my own piece.

Granada, Nicaragua

Our fancy digs

Islas de Ometepe, Nicaragua

In a few months we are taking a trip to Puerto Rico. It has been over five years since our Costa Rica & Nicaragua trip. So much has happened in that five years, including other trips of a similar nature and bringing our little man into the mix. Our Puerto Rico trip will be much much different than our previous travels... we will rent a car, a house (to share with friends). Our flight does not have four layovers, booked just because it was the cheapest. We are learning how to travel like grown ups.

I'm not sure how I feel about this yet.

Someday, I plan to teach our kid(s) how to travel like vagabonds.

::And the winner is...

2010-05-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Carlee Simmons! I used random.org instead of a coffee mug and paper scraps this time. Congrats Carlee.

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::Deke, How Does Your Garden Grow?::

2010-04-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

This morning I asked my son, "Decatur, how do you grow a garden?" He walked me through the process step by step (his dad taught him how last weekend when they planted the first half).

Here's what he said...

Mama, first you have to go to the coop and get some seeds.

While you're there, pick out a treat like a tomato...

Then you come home and let the dog out and open the garden gate...

Then grab your shovel & seeds...

Then I watch you put seeds in the ground and I walk all over them when you finish. That's how you do it!*

*Please note that these are not actual quotes but a condensed version of the day.

Gardens rock, I can't wait to pick out veggies and flower and enjoy the. Welcome spring, thank you so much for showing up!

::New Alice bows...

2010-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

I really dig the Alice Bow because you can see a hint of he fabric's original life in the design. Each of these are made from a shirt sleeve, and many of them have an original button still intact. Which one is your favorite?

::Mother's Day gift guide::

2010-04-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

This one's mostly for the men out there who have wonderful mamas in their lives and are at a loss for what to buy. Before you go out and choose the same old flowers or kitchen appliances, cleaning supplies or gift certificates here's a guide to all things mom...

Jewelry is an awesome gift but only if it's an awesome piece that reflects the receivers personality. I'm not into diamonds and cliche pieces from chain jewelry stores; jewelry's best when it's handmade with love. It doesn't have to cost a fortune to be special.

cigar band by lovinganvil

Last mother's day I gifted myself one of these cigar bands, only a custom order with my son's first name on one side and middle name on the other. I love it and wear it daily. I pretty much love anything in Coco's shop, browse around I bet you will too.

I am currently in love with these handmade necklaces by katemiss.

Brass Drops Necklace and Handwoven Cotton and Brass Necklace

The For Me, For You necklaces are currently all sold out but she has a shop update coming up next weekend (just in time for mama's day).

Music is the next piece of awesomeness on the gift giving list. I like real CD's over digital downloads, I can play them in the car and there's no limit to how many computers I can put the music on. Plus, I like looking through the CD art. Oh and maybe we can keep record shops around so at least our kids know what they are, huh?

Paris in the Morning

I recently discovered Joe Purdy, he's got so many albums I'm not sure which one I'd choose but as far as I can tell you can't go wrong.

Bags, bags, bags... do all women love bags? Am I a cliche in this? True to my style I'm not a big expensive purse girl but I do love me a nice bag. My current love is this striped beauty by redbirdstyle.

The Dona Bag in Seersucker Gray Striped Cotton

Perfect for spring & summer and toting all the mama goods that come with mamahood.

Who doesn't like new kicks? And they certainly won't make her look fat, think about it. My current favs are TOMS shoes, for every pair you buy they donate a pair to a child who needs shoes. Plus they're insanely cute, comfortable & versatile. They are the perfect shoe for mamas chasing young kids.

Yellow Bridgeport Linen Classics

What about moms like my mine who's amazing (and amazingly hard to shop for)? Here's my short list...

 Owl  Silkscreened Pillow

Kristin, the owner of kltworks is truly amazing. Her images come from original thread drawings, amazing! Not only a great gift but a great conversation piece. 

I love this feather print by Golly Bard. It comes in several colors  so you can pick your mama's favorite.

  Feathery Plumes No. 8 

Garden markers by monkeys always look are so cool, I love the soup spoon.

Lavender Vintage Silverware Garden Marker

**Warning, shameless self-promotion to follow

How about this flower pin from elSage designs? Looks great on a light jacket or shirt.

Grace flower pin

That's all I have for you, I hope you find my ideas helpful. Above all, what's important on mother's day is to do something special for all the mamas in your life.

Do you have additional mother's day suggestions? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear them.

Shop Update (part two)

2010-04-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

Layla headband by elSage designs

Part two of my shop update shows off some eco friendly goodies for the girls in our lives. Designs made from reclaimed & vintage materials and attached to high quality headbands.

LaLa bow headbands by elSage designs

My new model, miss Luna, is just a doll. She had me running all over snapping her picture in various headbands. She was so fun to work with and she looks so great in all the miniSage designs.

Soleil headband by elSage designs

Milla headband by elSage designs

Check out the rest of the miniSage designs in my shop!

Check out Shop Update (part 1)

::Poppytalk giveaway! $150

2010-04-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

It is a month full of giveaways around here... the great thing about this one is that it's a lot of money and it's not from my pocket!

I've been a part of the poppytalk handmade eco green pop show this month. It is nearing the end of the show and the founders of poppytalk are giving away $150 in goods from the market. Which goods, you ask? That's the coolest part, you get to choose. So go to their blog and enter your comment (your favorite item from the eco green pop market & your environmentally friendly tip) and cross your fingers. If you should win you could spend all or part of it at elSage ;)

Shop Update (part one)

2010-04-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

elSage wedding is something I've been toying with for awhile now. I got my hands on some vintage veiling from England that's to die for, together with vintage tulle, reclaimed fabrics (including soft-as-butter vintage linen), and vintage jewels some of the most original and gorgeous headpieces & veils are created.

 Haley veil by elSage designs

These are truly labors of love for me. I love details and am admittedly a bit of a perfectionist.

'something blue' tag detail

I have treated these as though they are going to be mine for my own wedding day. Each piece is original and part of a limited edition due to the nature of the materials.

 Audrey veil by  elSage designs

Indira headpiece by  elSage designs

The pictures shown here are 'outtakes' from yesterday's photoshoot. Visit the elSage shop to see more. 

::and the winner is...

2010-04-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I did an impromptu Earth Day giveaway. This morning, before hubs left for work I had him capture the drawing on camera.

Drum roll please...

Congrats to Mandy!

Remember there's another giveaway here that ends when April does.

::Earth Day Giveaway!

2010-04-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

In honor of Earth Day I am giving away a sweet little package including the Brooklyn Bow hair clip & a Pear print on green paper. Brooklyn is made form vintage lace & attached to a new hair clip. Pear is printed on recycled paper.

All you have to do is visit my shop & tell me (in a comment below) what item is your favorite & why. Everything in there is eco friendly so browse away, guilt free. I will pick a winner tomorrow morning.

P.S. I have another giveaway going on here. 8 more days until it ends...

wedding wednesday ::the dress::

2010-04-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

'The Dress' is a big deal when you're  getting married. here are some of my favorites in several different  styles & categories.  

off the rack (er, um website)... 

I love the simplicity & unique straps on this one, so pretty. These would be the perfect match for the bride who didn't want to wear a veil but wanted something pretty in their hair..

j.crew chiffon and organza dune gown

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It makes me smile to imagine a summer bride in this flirty betsy johnson dress. i think this hairpiece would fit perfectly & add a little style.

betsy johnson mille feuille dress

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eco friendly...

How amazing is this dress by threadhead creations? made with eco friendly fabrics. Looking for the perfect hair accessory? this would be perfect!

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Or this bamboo jersey piece from GinaMicheleVintage. I love that you could wear this for years to come & it looks so comfortable! These would be a nice addition to the look, hair up down or in a low ponytail.

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vintage... my wedding dress was a vintage prom dress that a wonderful friend altered, i love the history & style of a vintage wedding dress.

Feeling a little anti-establishment 80s? Check out this dress from dusty rose vintage. Pair it with this for a fun & funky look.

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Dreaming of a country wedding? This dress from NodtoModvintage

would be perfect I think these would be a perfect match to go with it. With a lighter colored sash you could wear this in your hair
.

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travel tuesday ::puerto rico::

2010-04-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about travel is the idea I have of a place before i go; and then the reality of the place once I've been there. Sometimes, it's like two completely different trips. One in my imagination and the other in real life.

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I didn't do a travel post last week, because I was totally caught up in our real life plans. We bought tickets to Puerto Rico after lots of deliberation, budget talk and airfare tracking, we were led to this wonderful island.

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I'm so excited and have been experiencing our travels in my head all week. We are looking at a house rental in Rincon & then maybe a few days in old San Juan. After that we are open and free for another week. The boy will be with us for his first outside-the-country trip.(this counts, right?) I'm hoping he loves the old cities, sand, surf and empanadas as much as i do in my head.

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Did I mention our trip isn't until July? I guess I have the next two and a half months to experience Puerto Rico via my imagination.

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I would love to hear advice if you've been to Puerto Rico, or have traveled with little ones. I would also love to know about your summer plans... what are you looking forward to? What trips are happening? (even if they're only in your head).

music monday

2010-04-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

I'm currently obsessed with deer tick. Their music is rad, have a listen...

Deer Tick: The Ghost from Adam Hall on Vimeo.

I have a real respect for their old school ways. For example this is their website they just don't give a shit & I think that's cool. Their videos and styling follows this general theme: basic, unfiltered & a little raw.

oh, and their music rocks!

Deer Tick: Little White Lies from Adam Hall on Vimeo.

Deer Tick: To The City of Sin! TRAILER from indie outlaw on Vimeo.

They play the tractor tavern this thursday night, in another life I am totally there but in this one I'm home on a school night with my boys. I'm sure it will be an amazing show.

p.s. Deer Tick, if you read this you should totally play a Bellingham, WA show in the future... you won't regret it.

the search for a summer dress...

2010-04-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Today is beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest. The hubs & I are researching and planning our summer Puerto Rico trip (more on that later). I am busy dreaming about a new summer dress. I love dresses for summer because they're light, cool and tend to dry easily. You can always seem pulled together even if you haven't showered in days. Here are a few of my current favs...

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What's on your summer wish list? My next hurdle is finding a swimsuit i love...

interview & tutorial...

2010-04-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

I never would have guessed that just months into my journey with elSage designs I'd be getting interviewed by someone but here it is... a tutorial by me on how to make this woven card:

Plus an interview about where I get my materials and how they drive my designs. Top secret & interesting stuff.

Check it out if you're so inclined!

wedding wednesday {videos}

2010-04-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

i love video, i tinker a little with my own videos and love the way that video can capture a story unlike anything else. for this week's wedding wednesday post i thought i'd share a few wedding related videos. i know enough about video editing to know that there's a lot of time & talent in each of these, i hope you enjoy.

'celebrate' is the video of maren & seth's wedding... i am lucky enough to actually know these two. i love this video for the sweetness & fun that is obvious throughout. these two are as nice as they are beautiful!

(if you get a chance to check out more of renan's work you won't be sorry, it's amazing!)

Celebrate from renan ozturk on Vimeo.

how incredibly fun is this wedding invite? i love this idea. talk about not taking yourself too seriously.

Rogers Wedding Invitation from Modern Memory Films on Vimeo.

this rainy day wedding video mixes the simplicity of a courthouse wedding with the glamor of tuxedos & limousines. my favorite part is the way the rain seems to add to the sultry vibe of it all rather than ruin it.

A_A {My My Rainy Wedding} from emotion{bride} on Vimeo.

april giveaway... free money is a good thing

2010-04-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

woohoo my first giveaway! you could win a $30 credit to my shop... yes, this means you can choose what item(s) you would like to spend your $30 on. 

$30 is enough for 2 prints:

or a headband:

or maybe a girls band & a clip?

what do you have to do to win? tweet about this post, or post a link to it in your blog or facebook, then leave a comment below letting me know. i will pick a winner at the end of the month. each time you tweet or post link your name goes in the hat (as long as you let me know), feel free to enter more than once.

travel tuesday... france

2010-04-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

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we've been itching to take a trip, outside of the U.S... something that feeds our travel soul & introduces our boy to a slice of the world. this is the last summer that our son flies free (that is, if in our lap is considered free). as teachers we have the time, now we just need to find the money. it has been decided to go somewhere,  we have several very different locations in mind as options. the most seductive of which is france.

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i have been dreaming of the eiffel tower, french flea markets, amazing coffee, bread & cheese.

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i fall asleep pondering the flea market finds i would encounter & what new forms they would take on through elSage.

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i'm going to keep on dreaming away & saving my pennies. i hope some airfare deals show up soon...

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what's your current travel dream?

wedding wednesday ::my wedding::

2010-03-30T17:20:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with weddings. I love seeing a couple's style shine through their day, I hate being in them & dealing with the idea of perfection that so many brides have.
I love the pretty decor, dancing, drinking, laughing but I hate the over-the-top & at-any-cost emphasis on one day. I love the ceremony when you can see the love and commitment between two people, when it's personal.

Our wedding was planned very quickly, we wanted to get married, so we did. On a farm, with lanterns & live music, dancing & drinking.

Looking back there are so many things that we 'should' have done but we didn't. My dress was a vintage ebay find, $50. I bought the shoes before I bought the dress. my brother was my 'brother of honor'. We dined while sitting in plastic lawn chairs, people stood during our 10 minute ceremony It was perfectly, unpretentiously, imperfect.

Now i'm helping brides with their day, helping by creating eco-friendly and beautiful hair pieces & veils. I'm really excited about this new phase of elSage and can't wait to do more of it. I love the idea of making something for a bride out of recycled/vintage materials.

There is so much excess within the wedding industry I feel good about not participating in that. I think that each piece takes on this nice history too, a story to tell. I find my materials everywhere, from thrift stores to vintage shops to shirts that my husband has worn out. each piece has so much time and love that goes into it. I am a big fan of details and all elSage designs come with special details.

I surprise myself sometimes when i think about the day & want to do it again. It was great, a reflection of our funky simplicity, emphasis on friends, music & drink. It wasn't the best day of my life though, it was the start of the best days, and i believe that's exactly how it should be.

All wedding photos shot by Heather Colwill

Check out other Wedding Wednesday posts at Scoutie Girl

Easter Sale

2010-03-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

♥♥ Easter Sale!!! All elSage & miniSage accessories
are buy one get one
half off plus free shipping!
Fill up the Easter baskets
of your favorite girls,
big & small ♥♥

new elSage prints...

2010-03-26T17:08:00.001-07:00

Hot pink and black are lovely, don't you think? Which one is your favorite?

the power of putting yourself out there

2010-03-23T19:37:00.001-07:00

How pumped was I to figure out that not only was I today's featured seller at papernstitch but also featured in Brittni's blog? Pretty pumped to put it mildly.

Since launching elSage designs this January I have really seen the power of 'putting yourself out there'. I am amazed at the personal and professional fulfillment that has happened in less than 3 months. I hope that each of you reading this consider taking a chance and put yourself out there a little more. You never know what might happen.

Getting Married?

2010-03-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

Tis the season for planning weddings... what will you wear in your hair? I wish I would have come up with these before my wedding, so beautiful, funky & eco-friendly too! I wasn't into the whole veil thing so these would have been perfect, instead I went with the real thing and they were wilted by the end of the night. check these out at my etsy shop.

miniSage by elSage designs

2010-03-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

I am launching a new line of accessories for girls, pretty excited about it. The headbands are smaller, the designs very similar. Many colors, some girly, some funky, some sweet. I'm so excited about this that I'm giving away a tutu with the first two miniSage orders from people who are blog followers or facebook fans. Mention this at checkout and you will get a tutu free if you are one of my first 2 miniSage customers!

elSage in Country Living!

2010-03-14T20:07:00.001-07:00

2010-03-10T20:33:00.000-08:00