Hepburn and Houndstooth » etsy

Marketplace Monday at Finding Fabulous

Rhonda Gail — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:57:33 +0000

Finding Fabulous is a blog about creating a beautiful home while saving money, doing things yourself, and being original. It really is one of my favorite blogs to click around on, bookmarking projects to tackle or ooh-ing and ahh-ing over things I wish I had the time to create!

I just joined in on her Marketplace Monday, where business owners can link up their shops and projects. I have just gotten into the whole linky party phenomenon and I’m in love with it. I’ve only linked up to maybe 3, and already my traffic has increased! If you have an Etsy shop or online boutique, you’ll want to head over to Marketplace Monday and get ya some free advertising! It only takes a second, which is my life is super important!

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Letting go

Rhonda Gail — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:07:10 +0000

Three years ago, I started a wedding blog (Life. Love. Lipstick.) and it took off very quickly and became pretty popular. Once I started a personal blog and then had my second child, my blogging activity on Life. Love. Lipstick. took a nosedive. I still adore all things weddings, but my interests lean more toward crafting, working on my Etsy shop, and other things. My life is really hectic right now, but I still want to care for Baby Lipstick. I put a lot of work into her once upon a time and it’s really hard to let go. I have “retired” from wedding blogging before. In fact, I’m the Brett Favre of wedding bloggers. My wedding blogging life pretty much goes like this: Blog frequently. Blog not so much. See a totally inspiring wedding on a photography blog. Rebrand blog and begin posting frequently. Get a round of great blog comments. Repeat.

I. hate. this. about myself. I frequently overload myself with hobbies and projects, and while I’m a fantastic multi-tasker, at some point everything begins to suffer. Currently, I have all of this going on:

Life. Love. Lipstick. wedding blog

Hepburn and Houndstooth

Shop Houndstooth on Etsy

Shop Hepburn on OpenSky

Looking for a day job

Couponing/meal planning (which takes a lot of work for me)

Uh, my family

Something is going to have to go, and as hard as it is for me to do, I think it’s going to be Life. Love. Lipstick. I will leave it up for archives, because some of the posts still get tons of hits every single day. I have an anniversary giveaway planned for next week, five giveaways actually! I had originally planned that to be a chance to relaunch Life. Love. Lipstick. with a new look and new content. However, I think it’s going to be my farewell. I hope you will all go enter the giveaways and send it out with a bang!

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Dollar Tree Crafting: Unfinished Curio Into Jewelry Organizer

Rhonda Gail — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:00:03 +0000

There’s a whole site dedicated to crafts made only with supplies purchased at the dollar store (Dollar Store Crafts) and I’m always absolutely amazed at the things people come up with on such a tiny budget! On a recent trip to Dollar Tree, I found this wooden curio shelf and immediately knew what I would do with it.

I have the one on top with a couple of larger compartments. I really wish I had bought more of these, because now I can’t find any more.

I borrowed the perfect green from my mom (Plaid Apple Barrel 20587 Spring Green) and painted inside all the compartments and the sides. I left the back unpainted since it won’t be seen.

It was cute enough, but to protect jewelry, I decided to hot glue in some felt…. in my signature print, of course (houndstooth felt from Hobby Lobby).

Gorgeous and perfect for organizing my etsy shop rings, since it ties in with my branding. One thing I didn’t realize until I was done is that the houndstooth pattern is running in different directions! It doesn’t really matter, since this is just going in my bedroom, but in the future, I would turn it all the same way and probably cut it straighter too!

Total project cost: $1.25, with felt left over!

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Tuesday Ten [8.10.2010]

Rhonda Gail — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:36:08 +0000

I will now be presenting my Tuesday Ten with a few photos.

1. I don’t like matching coffee cup sets. I like each cup to be unique. I just got a new one from Dollar Tree.

2. I just shipped my first Etsy orders that weren’t purchased locally. I am so excited to sell to people I don’t know! Packaging is fun! Who knew?

3. I have finally buckled down to lose weight. You know what really pushed me over the edge? Sadly, it was new reality show Bachelor Pad. I wish I was kidding. But have you seen these girls’ bodies in swimsuits?!

4. I just picked up Eat, Pray, Love from the library and I really hope it’s good. I’m a bit of a snob about reading books that are made into movies. Have to read the book first. Read #6 here. Yeah, that’s me.

5. I truly have the best husband. He does anything he can to help with my business, including making my post office runs. He. is. the. best. hands. down.

6. My dad just killed a mama spider, with a bunch of babies under her that was hiding sort of in our ceiling fan. I know. *shudder*

7. I am a complete General Hospital addict and have been my entire life. There aren’t words for how happy I am that Brenda Barrett returns tomorrow. Also, I’m shamelessly enjoying the Brenda Barrett’s Men marathon today.

8. I can hardly wait for what’s to come in my life. Good things are just around the corner, I can feel it!

9. I have decided that I do way better with a paper planner than electronic. I have tried using various apps for my phone, as well as iCal and nothing works as well for me as an old-fashioned planner. I would like a momAgenda. I think it’s worth the splurge for me.

10. I am ready for college football. I can’t wait to take my family to their first Southern Miss game! SMTTT!

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Quality Business Cards = LOVE

Rhonda Gail — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:04:51 +0000

I’m in love, y’all. With my business cards. I recently rebranded my teeny handmade goods business and along with that came my first business cards. I assumed I would use Vistaprint since they are so cheap and I have used them in the past to order calling cards for my dad. At my photographer friend Nicole‘s suggestion, I checked out overnightprints.com, searched for coupon codes (retailmenot.com is the ultimate for all coupon codes!), and BAM! New cards! I loved all the options at ONP. I still was skeptical, wondering if the extra I paid would be worth it. Well, my cards came in today and I’m here to tell you… WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Admittedly, I was a little freaked when I saw how they were packaged. I’m used to business cards coming in a cardboard box, all neat in a row. I was relieved to pull them out and see that they were in flawless condition. Yay for quality! Not a bend on them. It probably helped that I ordered rounded corners, but I think it’s mostly because of the heavy duty paper.

I got my new logo (designed by yours truly!) printed on the front, with glossy finish.

The back is matte finish, with my shop address and email. I chose matte for the back so that I can write a little personal note when I put a card in with shop orders. Also, if someone asks about my rings (I wear them a lot), I can hand them a card and write the name of the particular ring in question on it.

Can’t say it enough… use overnightprints.com and retailmenot.com! Oh, and order something from Shop HOUNDSTOOTH so I can send you a business card with your order.

I was not paid or otherwise compensated for this post, I just really love the businesses mentioned!

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May I Direct Your Attention….

Rhonda Gail — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:20:13 +0000

To the left side of the screen? I have two new sponsors! These “sponsors” happen to be hand-picked by me and I couldn’t be prouder to tell you about them! I love them so much, I’ve provided ads to them at no cost.

Pretty Fun is an Etsy shop by cool-gal Sara. She creates jewelry and purses that are to die for and there truly is something for everyone! Check her out here and here.

The Gifting Spot features personalized gifts for everyone in the family and should certainly be your first stop for any monogramming. The prices are good and the prints available on the products are right on trend. Check it out here.

Be sure to stay tuned and add us to your Google Reader. Mid-August is bringing a week of fabulous giveaways, including The Gifting Spot and Pretty Fun!

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Obsessed: shoes, pillows, house, and baby

Rhonda Gail — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:47:05 +0000

Every once in awhile, I have a day where I spend an hour salivating over material things online. Well, this week, I’ve had several of those days. Some of the things I’m obsessed with…

My dream is to own the Christian Louboutin Simple in both nude and black. Who am I kidding? My dream would be to have them in all available colors! However, for an attainable substitute, loving Nine West Ambitious pump ($69 from Piperlime).

I love quirky things for the home and it’s important to me to remember where I came from and where I’ve been, no matter where I go. I would love to scatter these on a huge white sectional, in all the states where either Dustin or I have lived or were born in. These are from Etsy seller lovecalifornia. The part is that you choose the color of the state and the location of the heart! ($42)

We are not ready to buy a house just yet (I really need to start bringing in some money first), but this little hidden gem is just right for us. And at $45,000, the price is right too! I know it’s not much to look at (and you should see the inside!), but we want a bit of a fixer upper and it’s a good size in a perfect location!

Since we decided that we want one more baby, several friends and family members have announced pregnancies. Naturally, I start obsessing over pregnancy. We have never planned a pregnancy, so I’m really excited for the opportunity to actually try to conceive. As much as I hated being pregnant with both of my boys, I know it’s a blessing and an honor to create new lives. I look forward to facing the next pregnancy positively!

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Tuesday Ten [6.29.2010]

Rhonda Gail — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:55:53 +0000

1. I’m so excited that it’s finally time for Independence Day! It’s by far my favorite holiday. I like to don my patriotic colors and celebrate. We’re doing things a little differently this year, which normally would disappoint me. But I’m on a new positive kick… at least I’ll be able to enjoy an adult beverage!

2. Saturday, my mom and I are taking Nick to his first movie! Thomas and Friends Misty Island Rescue is hitting theatres! Nick has been obsessed with all things Thomas going on 3 years now. He is going to love this experience!

3. I have been battling ants in our house for nearly two weeks now. I am beyond frustrated and am at the point where I’d rather camp in the yard. At least the ants BELONG out there.

4. I am dreaming of a honeymoon with my husband. We still haven’t had one and we need it really badly right now! Sure, I’d love to go to Greece, Tahiti, Cabo, or NYC. However, I’m definitely ready to “settle” for Chicago, St. Louis, anywhere in Florida, or somewhere in Texas. I mean, seriously… I’d go on a honeymoon in the next town over at this point.

5. I’ve really been missing Orlando something awful this past week. I kinda feel like I never gave it enough chance, since I lived there only about a year and a half. We had a lot of tough times while living there and I think if we had gotten back to a good place, I would have been really happy there. We had just started forming good friendships and becoming active in a church we both loved… then POOF! We left. I want to go back, but my husband doesn’t.

6. Again with the Facebook drama?! This time, someone posted a somewhat political status that I strongly disagreed with. I politely and intelligently commented with my opinion, only to be deleted from her friend list. Wow. And this was a middle-aged woman. I don’t understand. Is nobody allowed to disagree with her?

7. For what is certainly not the first time this year, I have come up with a perfect craft idea. I won’t reveal it just yet, but I think I’m ready to get serious with my Etsy shop and starting making some extra cash!

8. Harper learned a couple of weeks ago how to blow kisses and now he has rounded it out by adding a perfect lip smack. It is the cutest thing in the world.

9. I am about to start a new blog series that I’m very excited about! I’m going to tell (true) stories of dating. I have some good ones and can’t wait to share! Update: Just as quickly as I decided to do this, I decided not to.

10. I am trying to live life a little differently…to always look at the positive side of things and just refuse to be depressed! It’s working out great. I feel really liberated!

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Do Not Trifle With Me

Rhonda Gail — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:39:25 +0000

I have a love affair for making and eating trifles. Actually, I think the love affair is with the trifle dish itself. I love serving pasta salad and 7-layer salad from my trifle. Naturally, when I saw this print by Anne Harwell (seller Annechovie) on Etsy, I fell in love! Would love to hang this in my kitchen.

Definitely check out the entire shop, because she has some beautiful things!

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Hepburn and Houndstooth » etsy

More Linky Love

Marketplace Monday at Finding Fabulous

Letting go

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Tuesday Ten [6.29.2010]

Do Not Trifle With Me