Gypsy Garden, Now Shipping!

Woo whoo!  My second fabric line with Windham Fabrics, "Gypsy Garden," is now shipping!  Big thanks to Laura (you rock!) for sending me the behind-the-scenes pics of the bolts heading out the warehouse door.  If you are a store that will be carrying the collection and would like to be added to my "where to find Gypsy Garden" list, please send me an email at genevieve_gail@yahoo.com.

I also received my sample yardage this week so you know what that means- GIVE AWAY time!  I'm about to head out of town for my future Sister-In-Law's Bachelorette party weekend so stay tuned for next week when I get back home and post the details...

Be back soon,
Genevieve ♥

Lazy Sunday

Laying low today, a little tired from a jam packed work and wedding weekend (hoping to share pics this week)...


Went flower shopping then antiquing this afternoon...


Came home with these little pretties... ♥


Hope y'all are having a great weekend too...
XO,
Genevieve

5 Favorites, You Tube Edition

2 great blogs, Freckled Nest and Create Loves posted favorites today and asked others to play along... Here's my you tube version, just for fun!


Crafting!  Specifically, making Gem Sweaters...  I posted this video last year, but it's so great I wanted to share it again!  Cracks me up...




Too many to choose from, but I just started watching 9 by Design on Bravo and love it!  It features a couple that designs and builds incredible houses in NYC while raising 7 kids at the same time.  This isn't a clip from the show, but it's a tour of the new house they just built...




I probably have to go with pups since I have 3, but baby pandas might just be a close second (watch this video till the end!)...




Another tough one, but I have to go with Lovin' in my Baby's Eyes- Taj Mahal (wish I could find a better video to post...)




I think "Charlie Bit My Finger" is the best youtube video of all time.  This will never ever get old to me...  Having a bad day?  Just hit play ♥

LOVELY

Ok, I'm back sooner than expected- I came across these pictures last night via Oh Joy and just had to pass them along!  Aren't they gorgeous?  It's for a new line by Ban.do and features the ever-so-awesome Alison Sudol from A Fine Frenzy.  Photographs by Angela Kohler, who also worked on this video that I posted a couple of months ago.  Wow.  Freakin' Wow.

And here's a little something extra for you... One of my favorite songs off of Bomb in a Birdcage, "Electric Twist"...

...

What a great weekend...  Hope y'all had a good one too!  Lots to do this week, business and personal wise so I might be M.I.A. for a bit...  Until then, here's a great summer song for you...

Cheers,
Genevieve ♥

Lakeside...

That's where I'll be this weekend...

Happy Friday!
Genevieve ♥

Leather Jewelry: 30 Contemporary Projects

Check out Leather Jewelry: 30 Contemporary Projects by Nathalie Monru!  She was kind enough to feature my Antique Lace and Be Free leather cuffs on page 103- thank you so much, Nathalie!  I will be working on a new batch of these cuffs for my Etsy shop soon, so if you would like to put one on reserve feel free to shoot me an email ♥.

As a side note, I also thought I would share how this book feature came about.  It was about a year ago and I was contemplating whether or not to join Twitter.  I had heard good things about it as far as promoting business, social networking, etc. but didn't know if I wanted to add another "thing" to my list of daily activities- not to mention I was wondering if I would even have enough to write about (and now I'm up to almost 2,000 random tweets)!  Anyway, I told myself I would try it and if I didn't like it or feel it was worth my time then after a week I would just shut down the account (aka become a Twitter Quitter for all you Conan O'Brien fans).  So I opened my account and decided to post about a new batch of leather cuffs I had just listed in my shop.  When I woke up the next morning I had an email in my inbox along the lines of "my coworker saw your cuffs, I'm working on a leather jewelry book, would you be interested in submitting your work?"  Ummmm....YES PLEASE!  I've always loved craft and jewelry books and hope to one day even write my own, so this is like a dream come true to be featured!  So, I'm just putting it out there for anyone on the fence about getting involved in social networking sites- it never hurts to try something new and it might just result in a really cool opportunity that you might have otherwise not come across! (But for now I think I'm the last person on the planet that still refuses to join Facebook...)

Sending good vibes out there today to anyone pursuing their creative endeavors!!!

Before & After Pretty Porch Art

This weekend was beautiful here in Georgia.  Brian and I took advantage of the nice weather and started working on the gardens in the front yard.  While we were sprucing up the house I decided to tackle a project I have had in my head for years- making a piece of stained glass art for the front porch.  I took an old window frame, busted out the clear glass panels, and replaced them with colored stained glass scraps that I had leftover from a class I took years ago.  It turned out just the way I had envisioned it- pretty and colorful with a touch of hippy flair!  I was thinking about doing a tutorial on exactly how I made this piece, but glass is very dangerous to work with so I don't want to be responsible for someone cutting themselves or poking an eye out.  Glass is super sharp, and when you are cutting the pieces to fit the panels teeny tiny shards go everywhere.  So, if you attempt to do something similar please be careful and no matter what WEAR SAFTEY GOGGLES!  I'm sure there are plenty of stained glass tutorials on the web so just be sure to do your research and take all of the necessary precautions that they recommend...

Now off to grab a glass of lemonade, turn on the radio, and sit on my new favorite front porch spot...

Genevieve ♥

Spring Cottage Treasury

Thank you to HomespunHandmaiden for featuring my Treasure Bird Earrings in her Etsy treasury today!  Hope everyone is having a great weekend! ♥

Happy Fabric!

Check out my friend/fellow Athens, Ga artist, Jennifer Heynen's new fabric line, Happy!  The bright colors and fun patterns are inspired by her ceramic beads which she is famous for, and luckily she has created some ceramic buttons to match this new collection as well!  The line will be available at Quilt Market for all of you shop owners out there, so go by the In the Beginning Fabrics booth to check it out!  Yay for Jennifer!!!!

Easter Weekend Recap

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was jam packed full of adventure, just the way I like it!  Hubs and I got up early Saturday and decided to run our first 5k... I'm definitely not a runner but I'm trying to get in shape, not to mention the race was benefiting one of my favorite charities, Athens Habitat.  My running time was pretty horrendous, but I'm just glad I crossed finish line!


After our run, we decided to celebrate with some friends at our favorite breakfast place, Mama's Boy.  The Peach French Toast did me right, and I decided to splurge on one of their t-shirts with the cute tricycle logo...


After breakfast I talked Hubs into some Antiquing.  We had a good time and I got to visit some shops I have always wanted to check out down the road in Bishop, Ga...


Then I got a call from my Dad.  He said The Fam was going on a test run down the river so I decided to join in on the fun (even though by this time I was feeling pretty tired from the morning's 5k).  The weather was perfect and the river was pretty smooth except for one area of shoals/rapids.  Everyone got stuck on the shoals except for me- I was feeling pretty good about showing up my 22 year old little brother so when all caught up with eachother at the next part of the river I was all "Ha ha, I was the only one that didn't get stuck! I went the whole way through without flipping too..." Then all of a sudden, BAM!  My kayak hit a stupid rock that I didn't see because I was running my mouth and I totally flipped my kayak.  Oh, and did I mention my favorite Target turquoise sunglasses that I was wearing and the brand new Mama's Boy t-shirt I had in the back of the kayak flew off and sunk to the bottom of the river?!  So I was watching my stuff sink, trying to keep my balance and hold onto my paddle and kayak while the current was pulling them away from me, trying to flip my kayak over so I could get back into it, trying not to cut my feet up on the rocks below since I had forgotten my sandals and decided to go barefoot, and most importantly trying not to drown all at the same time.  Somehow I finally managed to get myself back into the kayak, get to dry land, and was home and sleeping like a baby by 8pm (I never go to bed that early!)...


After a great night's sleep the Hubs and I got up and met The Fam at church for Easter Sunday.  We then went back to my parents house where Mom had prepared an excellent Brunch in honor of the holiday and two of my brothers' birthdays that were a few days prior...


After chowing down on some great food, Hubs talked me into going to the local driving range to hit a few balls.  Golf is definitely not my thing, but he is totally obsessed with it so I was trying to be a good sport and play too.  It's A LOT harder than it looks, and I am going to need a ton more practice if I'm ever going to try and play on a course!  We only stayed at the range about 30 minutes because we had to scoot on over to the other side of town to meet his Mom and brother to catch the 5:00 showing of Clash of the Titans.  The movie was ok, not great, and as usual the original was better.  So that about wraps it up...  A pretty exhausting weekend, but one of the best ones I've had in a while!  What did you guys do?  Any adventures?!


♥ Genevieve

Happy Easter!

Fish Tale

So the reason I've been painting the 5 footer is to help my Dad decorate his new Kayak Cabana!  Somehow my brother talked him into starting up a kayak business on the river that runs behind his shop.  I mean, sure, why not?  You see, when people ask me what my Dad does for a living it usually takes me about 10 minutes to explain and I usually end up looking like a crazy person- "Well, umm, he sells cars, rents storage units, rents limos, does sports photography, and has a mini RV park for UGA football games..."  So now kayaks will be added to the list.  I think it's a safe bet to say he is where I get my entrepreneurial spirit from!  I am excited about this new venture though, especially since the weather is starting to get super nice here in Georgia.  I like outdoorsy stuff so I think this whole kayak thing will be a lot of fun.  Oh, and the best part?  He let me talk him into painting the doors and the ceiling of the building turquoise!  Once we get the fish installed on the back wall I will share a picture of how the final space turned out...  So, if you are ever in the Athens area and want to take a trip down the river, just hop in the old Bluebird and you will be shuttled upstream to float back down the Oconee...  Think we are going on a "test run" this afternoon, so more to come...

Happy Saturday!
Genevieve

My Little Owl Collection

Just popping in to say hello... Here are some cute little owls I've recently added to my decor.  The larger one on the right I got the other week at Hobby Lobby on sale for just $10!  You know I love me some 1/2 Hobby Lobby sales!  The little guy on the left I saw on Mucho Mucho Bueno Bueno and just had to have him so I snatched him up off their etsy site!  Oh, and recognize the fabric on the table?  That's right, it's Gypsy Garden and it will be shipping this month!  I cannot wait!!!  K, off to paint a 5' wooden fish- will tell you about that totally random project next post...

♥ Genevieve