Plush Palate - a must follow!

It only took me a little bit before I fell in love with Plush Palate. I found the blog posts interesting and inspiring which made me want to follow up to constantly see what was new! She offers a wide range of topics, including interviews, fashion, and interior design ideas. Though there is a lot going on, she really manages to keep her blog incredibly simple and chic. I just love looking around to see all of the things I have been missing! Crystal, the creator of Plush Palate, has amazing style and ideas we can all relate to! I wanted to recommend her blog to you all as it has truly inspired me and feel it could do the same for so many other readers!


What is your blog about?
Plush Palate is my place to share and archive all the lovely things that inspire my aesthetic sensibilities. My passion is interior design, so you’ll see a lot of that and some fashion, too, which of course is so related. I love how they meet at the intersection of texture, symmetry, scale, color, harmony, and contrast!

How did you get started, and where does your inspiration come from?

I got started when I realized I needed an organized place to store my inspiration in one, easily accessible place (rather than the growing mounds of tabbed magazines and bookmarked internet pages that cluttered my life). A blog seemed like the perfect solution! My inspiration comes from everywhere – observing the colors of nature in a garden, spotting an amazing outfit while people watching, watching an old movie, etc. But my #1 inspiration comes from other design bloggers! You can find a list of my favorites on my blogroll.

What was it like for you as a blogger in the beginning?

Exciting but slow! I loved the feeling of creating a post and putting it out there into the blogosphere. But the reality is that it takes time to find your voice and your audience, so patience and passion is key. But if your content is good and you become a generous giver of the blog world, your readership will begin to grow organically!

What are the goals and aspirations for Plush Palate?

My only real goals for Plush Palate are that it continues to be a platform from which I learn and a place for me to make new friends. Thankfully, I feel both of these aims are achieved on a daily basis. The wonderful bloggers I follow keep me up to date on new trends, new products and new inspirations. I’m also grateful to say I now call many of them my friends.

What are you doing when you are not blogging?

I love doing simple things like spending hours in a bookstore thumbing through magazines and books or having my girlfriends over to share lots of laughter, conversation, and a good bottle of wine. And of course the two things I couldn’t do without are my morning runs and traveling to new places!

What is something most people wouldn't know about you?

That I'm fluent in Italian :) I took my first Italian class when I was twenty and immediately became smitten with the language. This led to a long love affair with Italy and a subsequent three years living there. This post explains it a little more: A Love Story.

What tip or piece of advice would you give to a new blogger?

Be proactive about finding your audience. Your content may be fabulous but if nobody is aware of it, no one can enjoy your wonderful work. I try and spend some time each night visiting other blogs and making connections through comments or emails with the ones that I find inspiring. Little by little you build a network you can count on! But most importantly have fun with it, love what you blog, and be yourself!

Be sure to check out the Plush Palate blog and follow her on Twitter!

What do you think about the blog?

Wedding Wednesday-my inspiration

I found this amazing wedding bouquet somewhere and just loved it! I like the idea of the polka dot wrap over the stems. I think it is incredibly creative, and really adds to the look of the actual bouquet. I was looking online at different places, and couldn't really find any other ones like this, or anyone that made these type of wraps. I am sure it wouldn't be that hard to make as a DIY wedding idea, but at the same time, some people don't have the creativity or time to actually follow through.

So, for Wedding Wednesday I thought I would show off this idea! I also would love to see someone take this idea and start creating these little wraps to sell! I hope this comes as an inspiration to some, and hopefully someone will e-mail me after this with their newfound bouquet wrap company! :)

If I spend so much time looking at wedding blogs and looking for awesome ideas and I am not even engaged, imagine the insanity that will strike when I do become engaged! You better hope that day comes soon if you want to get some amazing Wedding Wednesday posts!

How about you, do you look at wedding blogs and wedding ideas when you are not actually having a wedding?

New designer on Aspiring Couture!

We are proud to introduce the newest addition to the Aspiring Couture boutique!

Selah D'or

"Selah D'or is a play on the phrase "cellar door," a combination of words in the English language once characterized by J.R.R. Tolkien to have an especially beautiful sound."

These pieces are made with such detail paid to the woman figure to create a simple but perfect silhouette. I loved these pieces and saw something in them that made me want to offer them to you all! I think for me it is the fact that they look timeless which is something I love in my personal style. On top of all that the quality is top notch.

There is definitely something to be said for designers like the creator of Selah D'or, David Chum. He has this incredible drive and his designs and products really show that he is a true professional. Read more about him on the Aspiring Couture website!

His amazing pieces are now available at aspiringcouture.com

Mommy Monday

I have been posting a lot of baby clothes for Mommy Monday. So, if you have an older kid, here is a designer who makes some adorable pieces for your big kids!

Lauren Tollefson Baby debuted it's first line in Spring 2009. "It began when Lauren Radford, mother, and devoted Navy wife, turned her talent for fashion toward creating infant apparel in her home studio. It stemmed from her interest in art and from her desire to create, and was inspired by daily experience of common moms."

I love these stylish pieces so much!

*please take my poll to the right of this page and let me know what you think of "Mommy Monday"

Taking a break

Well, I just decided to take my break and go to my favorite place and treat myself. I am seriously disciplined with everything I do, but every now and again I feel like I just need to change it up, so I went to my favorite coffee place, Peet's, and splurged. :) I sat outside and just starting looking around. It is quite nice to just sit there and look around and listen instead of constantly worry about everything you have to do. Sometimes, there is more to life than a computer screen!

I get a pretty overwhelmed with everything-and the one thing I continue to learn is to stay organized! Tonight-I took 10 minutes out of my night, even though I had a million other things to do, and I just started putting things away, organizing, and completing small tasks I had attention. I felt really good and I feel a lot better already! I am slowly but surely getting and staying more organized so I can think in my own head! So, consider that my tip of the day!

And-here is a cute picture to lighten the mood! He's a little cutie rocking the Gucci glasses!


OH and don't forget about the giveaway we have going on right now! There are only a few more days, so make sure you hurry up and do it! Read the post and see the beautiful dress you could win!

Follow Friday - Design*Sponge

Each week on Twitter there is "Follow Friday" where you recommend your favorite Twitter people! I thought I would use this day to go a step further and recommend an incredible blog to follow! Before you just go ahead and follow a blog, you want to know about the person behind it, right? Well, perfect - because I have a bit of inside information about my favorite blog of the week!

 

For those who don't know about your blog, what does it focus on and what types of things do you post?

Design*Sponge is a daily design blog that focuses on a range of design themes: interior design, home products, DIY projects, furniture and home makeovers and interviews with new designers. We also run a weekly gardening and recipe column

What inspires you to write?
I was in a job I didn't love in 2004 and decided to start blogging as a way to build up my voice, hoping that I might be able to work for a magazine one day. I didn't really expect it to happen, but D*S sort of became the (online) magazine that I always wished I could write for- I'm just constantly inspired to write about the amazing up-and-coming designers that make me smile when I see their work.

What are your goals and dreams for Design*Sponge?
Oh man, they change every day. I want to expand the Biz Ladies series of meetups we host to be international, I'd like to produce a HD web series for the site, I'd like to eventually expand the blog to include more tools and interactive content. But we'll see- one day at a time. Right now I'm working on the web series

What is something you could live without?
without? dishes. the bain of my existence is doing the stacks of dishes that inevitably pile up from my constant grazing in the kitchen all day. oh to have a dishwasher.

things i couldn't live without: a laptop, GIMP (the free photo editing program) and my editors at d*s.

What blogs do you religiously follow?
I heart Oh Joy!, Dooce, and Brokelyn (a new site about affordable activities in Brooklyn, NY)

What tip would you give to new bloggers who are just starting out?
Find a niche that hasn't been filled yet. For me, the best blogs (or the ones most likely to build a quick and sizable audience) or those that represent a niche, a style, or a voice that hasn't already been covered online. There's obviously room for a million blogs that talk about the same one, but I think the ones that have a unique angle on a topic stand out.

Check out her blog and follow her on twitter @design_sponge

Red Ruby Rose Clutches

Designer, Red Ruby Rose, did an amazing job finding amazing fabrics for her line of clutches! Any of these designs would go great with that perfect outfit you have been waiting to wear! If it were me I would do something like a simple black and white outfit with either the blue or yellow clutch to add a pinch of color. If you haven't figured it out by now, I am pretty much obsessed with the whole "pop of color" in an outfit, or in home decor, or anywhere actually. But, whether you are like me, or have a different style completely, these clutches are versatile to fit any array of outfit!

I was heavily inspired by her story and the person she is. No matter what, she knows she is an artist and really stands by that. She has her photography going, as well as an indie band, not to mention Red Ruby Rose! All of which are fantastic endeavors. Check out her blog for the latest and greatest from her!

So what do you think -Do you like the clutches?

The Uniform Project

I heard about the Uniform Project over a month ago, but never had time to check it out until today! I was completely impressed with the concept, the cause and the execution of the idea.
Basically how it works is she has 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. She will wear this dress each day but with a different look using accessories (some donated), layers, and a lot of creativity. You can check out more about the project and how it works on her website.

This project was created to raise money for the Akanksha Foundation to fund schooling in India. It takes $360 to put a child through school in India, yet there are about 7.5 million children who don't attend school at all. Definitely check out information on this grassroots cause, and see what you can do to support it!

Honestly, until I saw Slumdog Millionaire I really had no REAL idea of the conditions of the rest of the world. I have grown up semi-wealthy, always attending private schools, and not really having any concept of the rest of the world. I know it sounds kind of lame that a movie like that created the impact that it did, or that it took me watching a movie to open my eyes a bit more. Well, it may not be the most ideal way but at least I walked away with a better concept of human beings.

I love supporting concepts like this because after 365 days of one style of dress and lots of creativity on her part-hopefully that 7.5 million number will decrease tremendiously! I can't wait to find out the total amount raised next May!

So, keep tuned in with the Uniform Project and follow her on Twitter as well!

Aspiring Couture Boutique update

The designers of Aspiring Couture

Nikera Clothing

Jesica Milton

Blushless

Enve Designs

Feathered - By Blair Nadeau

Laine Jewelry

Sofie Olgaard

Since the launch of Aspiring Couture, we have had some great success and I felt like sharing it with you all!

The "Grand Opening" of Aspiring Couture was a very big success. I was appalled at how many people had actually been following Aspiring Couture, and were waiting to see all the goodies I had found! It was so great to see such a level of back up from so many people, including promoting the site, blogging about it, contacting me to work on projects, or just to give their feedback. All of which is very much appreciated!

Here are some of the blogs that have featured Aspiring Couture:

birdcage bohemia
chicklitt
daisy loves....
down the green aisle
enve designs
little designer book
little designer book
plusologie
the work at home woman
style vanguard
couture carrie
daydream lily

Other than these posts about Aspiring Couture, the individual designers have been receiving so press of their own! This is so very exciting to me because that is the point of what I am doing-getting these designers known!

I have also been working with some new designers put put them up on Aspiring Couture. I have a few more designers in the works, as well as some more beautiful jewelry. I will be posting more about that soon, so make sure you look out for it!

A few of the new things I have in the works are menswear and plus size collections! Both have been in high demand, so I would like to do my best to help those buyers who are really looking for the perfect item! I am also adding a shoe line as well as an "Aspiring Couture" line to the mix. Look out for this a bit more in the future though!

So, that is what the future of Aspiring Couture holds! I am very happy with the progress so far, and absolutely love this group I am a part of. I can't wait to start showing you guys all the cool things I have been working on.

The Swelle Life

The Swelle Life is a beautiful blog composed of all things amazing! I love the photography, the content, and the great referrals she offers. I look to this blog to find things of quality and class! I happen to be a major fan of blog designs, and I am just in love with the design of this one! So this week I am recommending you take a look at The Swelle Life and follow her latest adventures!

So, why not find what she has to say about her blog, the future, and some tips for you new bloggers out there!

The Swelle Life

To start, what is the purpose of your blog? What is it about?

In a nutshell, my blog is a celebration of all things beautiful, as seen in fashion past and present, cities such as Paris, art, photography and design. I also use my blog to support young talent, emerging designers and people who are doing special things that I feel others should know about. My blog is very visual (and can also tend to be wordy) and features a lot

of my own photographs.

What inspired you enough to start blogging?
It was my first trip to Paris, actually! Oddly, I'd begun setting up a blog in 2007 to help promote my shop of accessories that I made, but it wasn't until March of 2008 when I returned from my trip that I felt inspired to actually begin writing. I was so moved by my experience there that I had to share it. And then it became not about promoting my shop but rather developed its own unique momentum.

Your blog is very successful now, but what was it like in the beginning? Did you ever change the content or just stick to what you knew you loved no matter what?

Well, in the beginning it's tough because not many people beyond friends and family (and sometimes not even them!) are reading what you're putting so much effort and heart into creating; no one knows you're there. I would post every three or four days and eventually it became a daily thing as I found so much that I wanted to write about. And still my audience was

quite small, but I began to receive emails from readers who told me they really enjoyed my blog so that encouraged me to keep going. I felt my blog had a unique perspective and if there was just a few people who appreciated it that was enough to continue. As for the content, if you look back to my earlier posts you'll find that my writing style, my 'voice' is pretty much the same - which is a combination of goofy personal stories, analysis, heavy drooling over beautiful details in fashion and photography, humour, and the odd tasteless comment.

What inspires you to write and to continue to write?
As long as I have something to say, and there are beautiful things in the world, I'll be writing about them!

What are your dreams and aspirations of The Swelle Life? And do you have anything exciting in the works that will be coming up soon?
Well, some amazing things have happened so far that I hadn't even dared to dream about when I started! Like being invited to shows at Paris and New York fashion weeks. I'd like to continue with what I'm doing now with The Swelle Life and be able to build up my fashion writing portfolio which ranges from reviews of collections and interviews to publicity for talented designers and see where that takes me. I'd love to write for a good fashion/style/lifestyle magazine. As for what's coming soon I'm just getting back into doing what got me into this in the first place, which is making accessories. I hand felt bags and other things from fine merino wool and cashmere fibres and I'm just finishing a neck piece that I handfelted and embellished with Nottingham lace, silk ribbon and beautiful vintage glass buttons. I hope to find a way to keep up my blog and also re-launch my shop. There has to be a way!

What tip would you give to newer bloggers that maybe you have seen newer bloggers make as a mistake?
I'd say figure out what it is that you really love and why you love it,and present a unique perspective, make your blog something that is different from everything else because it reflects you as an individual. Don't just rehash what's already out there. Have confidence that you have something worth saying!

Also, you have to do it for yourself and have no specific expectations, just write from the heart about what you love and see where it takes you. I think that's the key to success, being pure about it and others will follow. It may take some time to build an audience so be patient, and I'd highly recommend becoming a member of Independent Fashion Bloggers (http://independentfashionbloggers.org/) if you aren't already. The site offers a wealth of valuable information and tools that bloggers at any stage will benefit from.

What are some of your favorite blogs?
There are far too many to mention all of them but as well as reading blogs about fashion - specifically emerging designers (Aspiring Couture and Dreamsequins) and handmade and vintage (Shrimpton Couture blog) - I read many art and design blogs, like Reanna Time
http://reannatime.blogspot.com/ as well as those that delve into curiosities from history and literature, which you can find in my 'Something Different, Something Wonderful category in my left sidebar. And anything about French culture gets me at Bonjour! Visit Paris Parfait
http://parisparfait.typepad.com for the most gorgeous photographs of Paris and wherever else this talented photographer travels!

What couldn't you live without?
Sunlight, love, my husband and daughter.

What do you do when you are not blogging?

I love food, travelling with my family, taking photos, watching something on TV to make me laugh, berating myself for not being more productive, and sleeping!

All photos by Denise Grayson, The Swelle Life

Follow The Swelle Life on Twitter and check out her website!

Jesica Milton - (and a sale!)

Jesica Milton, featured designer on aspiringcouture.com, offers class and elegance through her clothing. These pieces mark no time period, so will likely never go out of style!

SALE

From now until the end of the weekend, all Jesica Milton pieces on aspiringcouture.com will be 10% off!

These photos were taken for Jesica of the items she is selling exclusively on aspiringcouture.com. You can also check out her website for more of her amazing work at jesicamilton.com



How did she get started? "After I finished design school I missed the hectic schedule. I have a hard time sitting still so at first my line just started as a way to stay busy. I was selling on etsy and doing custom design for friends, but I quickly got a lot more serious about it and started really focusing on building my brand and selling through boutiques."


What does Jesica do when she is not sewing? "Working on my line takes a lot of time and energy, so when I'm not hard at work I mainly just like to relax. I love to take my dog for walks around Seattle, get dinner & drinks with friends, and going to comedy shows. My guilty pleasure is reality TV! I get a total kick out of shows like the Real Housewives of NJ."


Where does her inspiration come from? "Inspiration for my garments comes from architecture, art, a certain mood that I'm feeling, or just a lot of experimentation with fabric. I don't really plan a conceptual theme in advance, it's more important for me to follow my intuition to bring a collection together. Wearability is also extremely important to me, though I am planning on including a few experimental pieces in the collection I'm currently working on"

The colors are so vibrant and beautiful! They are bold and rich colors that look good with any complexion or hair color!

Follow Jesica Milton on Twitter and friend her on Facebook. Also, make sure you take a look at her work on aspiringcouture.com

Photo Credit: Cooper Falk
If you would like to set up a photo shoot with Aspiring Couture, e-mail me at aspiringcouture@gmail.com