BLOGGER MEET UP!! a coffee date with the coolest vanessa i've ever met.

Yesterday, I had the chance to meet Vanessa of the Velvet Bird.. the very same girl that sponsored a giveaway from her woodworking Etsy shop last month!

I was insanely happy to hear that she was coming through Nashville with her husband Patrick's band, so we looked up the nearest coffee shop to their venue and set a time.

It was all great.. it's not every day that I get to talk conspiracy theories, computer games, AND fashion with the same person. Vanessa was so easy going and fun to talk to! And adorable (she was wearing perfect stuff - tights with shorts and awesome oxfords). Her mannerisms were unique and cute and quirky, which really reminded me of my sister Rhi. She was just completely herself. How do you meet a person and instantly feel so comfortable and at home?

 

The saddest part of blogger meet ups is obvious - when you've got to take off. You're never positive when you'll see each other again. Fortunately for me, Vanessa lives around the Savannah, Georgia area, which is not very far at all.

I've been so blessed to have two amazing meetings with two amazing bloggers (and you too, Mike!), and the timing could not have been better. With Neil and I still acclimating to the Nashville area, even after a few months, meeting people that I find an instant bond with helps me deal with Nashville newness immensely. And it drives home the idea of having a wide blogger meet up.. let's all get it together, for real! How great would it be to pick a weekend and get as many cool fashion/vintage bloggers together as possible?

And, by the way. If you notice any differences between the photos, it's because Vanessa's camera rocks and mine.. well.. doesn't.

YES weekends! Hope you all are enjoying yours! We're hitting up the Southern Fried Festival tomorrow.. where Neil is a contestant in the Fried Dessert Challenge! Can anything beat his homemade ricotta fritters and brandy caramel sauce? We'll find out!!

And I'm working on a hand sewn plaid bow hair comb!!

(I can't wait to stuff myself with fried oreos and funnel cakes.)

the velvet bird giveaway winner(!!) and my lace bow, lace dress

Photos by NEIL!

Cream Lace Dress - Forever21

60s Ivory Shoes - thrifted gift from Rhi

Floral Straw Bag - Local Honey

Seafoam Green Lace Bow - handmade

Well, my crafting progress has been better than usual. I've started six projects.. and finished one. But at least I'm in the process of a few!

The project I finished was a small one - the seafoam green lace bow above. I sewed it to a hair clip with the full intention of wearing it in my hair today, but lately I've seen so many beautiful girls with bowties and the like that I was inspired to attach the bow to my dress, instead. I think it works really well!

Today, Neil and I made a stop at Bongo Java, which is right next to Venus and Mars (of Karen Elson fame). Bongo Java was Nashville's first local coffeeshop, started by a man who didn't really like coffee, a man disgruntled by his current career path - journalism and political organizing. He started his cafe path in 1993 and has since expanded its operations to four different locations as well as a wholesale roasting company. 

Have I told you I'm inspired by unconventional living (that's a yes)? I'm inspired by unconventional living. And to me, one of the biggest signs of living your life unexpectedly, impulsively, and to its fullest, is switching career paths, despite familial or financial pressure, in order to begin a business that you love. I need to meet this man.

The Bongo Java we visited faces Belmont University's campus, so the whole block has an eclectic, dilettante air. Just like most coffeehouses, it's filled to the brim with college students talking about Nietzsche and Britney Spears. While college students (and we post grads as well, I can't discriminate) are known for pretentiousness, it's always fun to sit around places like that and people watch, wondering which ones who talk big will act big in the future, and which ones will just continue to talk big.

Alright, what you all have been waiting for.. the winner of the Velvet Bird giveaway! The winner is Genevieve.. aka.. the Bandit! Congrats, Genevieve - you picked the bow necklace, and now it's yours! Everyone else, better luck next giveaway.. but definitely check out Genevieve's fantastic and artsy blog here!

Thanks to all of you who participated, but a monumental thanks goes to Vanessa for her fantastic interview and for the giveaway. After getting to know her beautiful self and her crazy lifestyle, I can't wait to see her future store plans.

Only a few hours left for my shop's Back to School Sale!

vanessa of etsy's the velvet bird woodworking giveaway!

Lately, I've found myself so inspired by unconventional living, and woodworking Vanessa of The Velvet Bird struck me as the same sort of person - AND someone to be inspired by. In her quickly growing blog, beautiful Vanessa talks about her sewing, photography, and woodworking exploits, as well as living a transient lifestyle with her musician husband in Georgia. Her ongoing story is further testament to the lesson of pursuing what you love to do, not safety, comfort, or financial security. Her creativity, headed in several different directions, is addictive.

What are some of your hobbies/interests/goals in life?

I sometimes feel like all three of those things are all over the place! I am really interested in photography and have been ever since I can remember. I was moving along quite nicely with my photography (and even did a few weddings!) but then we were robbed and all of my camera stuff was taken, so that hobby is sadly taking somewhat of a backseat at the moment. That is for sure one of my biggest goals in life, though. I am really into sewing and one of my goals is definitely to sell handmade clothing on Etsy. My husband and I are really into sustainable living and whatnot, so I would love to incorporate that into the things I make eventually. The list of hobbies and things I have in my head to make is never ending, I have a short attention span, I think. I also want to start blogging more! 

How has being young and creative affected who you are as a person? 

It's very freeing! I now know without a doubt that I never want to have a "normal" job. It's just too bad I realized this after almost completely finishing a Bachelor's degree to be a teacher, ha. The more creative I get and the more I follow what I feel I am supposed to do, the less I worry about things like jobs/finances/not succeeding. My husband is in a touring band which involves ever changing plans/schedules, so I have no idea what we'll be doing in a few months or if we'll be home. That lifestyle has made me more of a carefree person, as well as much more appreciative of everything I've been given.  I also probably appreciate sleeping in my own bed more than most people!

Tell us about woodworking, how you got involved, and what it means to you!

I wish I had some big exciting story, but it was almost more of a coincidence. My list of ideas/attempted projects is quite long. Somewhere in there I thought some sort of wooden pendants would be a really fun idea for Etsy, and it just sort of grew from there. I am really fortunate to have a father-in-law in the neighborhood with a garage full of tools (and a lot of patience!) who was willing to show me the woodworking ropes. I am definitely still learning. My head is now full of a lot of ideas involving woodworking, so keep an eye out! It is miserably hot in Georgia, so I don't last very long in the hot and sweaty garage right now. 

How has the Etsy shop process been for you? What projects do you have in the works for the shop? 

It has been a blast so far. I run around the house squealing for awhile every time I have sold something (my husband can attest to this).  I'm just starting out, but I really hope it only keeps growing. I love Etsy and enjoy all of the Etsy process so much. I believe my next endeavor will be clocks involving woodworking and refashioned/altered clothing, but that won't be until October because I will be on tour with my husband (you can't use a saw or a sewing machine in a van). I plan to be a part of Etsy for a long, long time to come.

Thanks so much, Vanessa! (The picture above is deer embroidery that Vanessa has been working on for an embroidered pendant, as well as more jewelry projects currently in the works!)

So, for the giveaway... you guys get to choose this time! Vanessa is giving away either a mustache pendant necklace.. 

Or, Vanessa's newest completed project - the bow pendant necklace (my new favorite)!

All of you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment letting me know which necklace you would choose, the mustache or the bow! I will choose the winner by using a random number generator. And don't forget to check out Vanessa's shop and blog!

(Also, to let you guys know - this giveaway is only open to those in the US and Canada.. sorry, overseas friends!)