Charles & Poppy

Small Scale

2011-11-01T16:05:00.001-05:00

My best friend is due with her first child in December, and I JUST. CAN'T. WAIT to meet that little baby! When she told me back in May, I (appropriately) sobbed with joy and started searching right away for the perfect fabric for a baby quilt. She and her husband chose not to find out the sex of the baby, so I sort of had to hunt to find some fabric that was appropriate for both boys and girls. Also, I wanted to avoid anything that screamed "BABY!" because I want this quilt to be used for a long time.

It can be difficult to find an etsy seller who is willing to create a custom fat quarter bundle, so I have to say thank you to Lela of Cedar House Fabrics for working with me to create this quilt. All of the fabric is designed by Cloud 9 and is a combination of five different collections.

Also, I'd like to add that making small quilts is exactly one grillion times easier and more satisfying than making larger quilts. A 55 x 55 inch square?! Sure! No problem. I'll make 20 more. I think I sewed the top together in one day and hand sewed the binding over the course of three days.

This was the first time I handmade my binding and it was surprisingly pretty painless. Plus, it looks so cute! When it came time to attach it, I used this trusty tutorial, and conveniently, Melissa Esplin posted a helpful video about adding thread seamlessly, which is a technique I didn't know existed. So much less swearing.

Sweet baby M, you are so loved! We can't wait to meet you in a few weeks!

Round on the End and High in the Middle

2011-10-05T16:37:00.000-05:00

O-HI-O.

Note: If you watch Glee, I was also tempted to start this post with, "Brittany, what's the capital of Ohio?"

That's where I am now. We made the drive from San Antonio nearly eight weeks ago, and despite everyone's opinions about living in Dayton (picture a scrunched up nose followed by "eeewwww"), we're really happy here. It's so nice to be surrounded by so much greenery after struggling through a drought in Texas...even if there are way more bugs and creatures around here. By that, I mean we have a groundhog/woodchuck/marmot that lives under our deck and torments our dogs on a daily basis. Also, we have an albino squirrel that frolics around these parts. Speaking of parts, we can't tell if it's a boy or a girl, so we decided to name it "Pat the White Squirrel" and later shortened its name to "Albie." In a moment of unchecked chattiness, I told my neighbor we named said squirrel, and now I'm worried he thinks I'm a little strange. Mind you, this pretty much all he knows about me. Otherwise he would definitely think I'm normal. Which I totally am. Luckily, I have 17 months to change his opinion.

Anyway, enough about my white squirrel. The photos below are just a random assortment of adventures in Cincinnati (I can finally spell it!), Columbus, and Dayton.

These iPhone photos were taken at the Senate Pub in Cincinnati. I think that pretty pink drink was a special because I don't see it on the menu. That glorious thing with the avocados on it?! A hot dog. The "Pat Sayjak" hot dog. We also got duck fat fries and truffle oil fries. My palate must not be very refined because I didn't like the truffle oil. Plus, I eat hot dogs named after game show hosts. Have I ever mentioned that my life goal at 17 was to be the next Vanna White?

These photos are from a day trip we took to Columbus. Jeni's is famous for its outlandish, albeit amazingly delicious ice cream flavors. Plus, isn't their tagline the cutest?!

That's my bundt. I've never made a bundt cake in my life and I'm trying to relish my time sans employment. Plus, Baked Bree posted this recipe just yesterday, and it must have struck my fancy, because I got all excited and bought myself a bundt pan. I really just wanted to type "bundt" again. Oh yeah, and that red background? Our 1960's countertops. Jealous?

Of course, I had to make moving announcements. I apologize to all my friends who are sick of receiving things in the mail from me. You wont hurt my feelings (too much) if you tell me to stop sending you stuff. The kraft paper came from my beloved Paper Source, and I used their A2 kraft envelopes. These were just tiny little notes...the perfect size for this type of project. The fonts I used were Honey Script, Bebas Neue, League Gothic and DingMaps (for that Ohio silhouette). If you're a friend and you don't have our new address, let me know and I'll be happy to pass it along.

Thanks so much for reading! Any tips for new places to explore between Cincinnati and Columbus? I have a list that's growing longer and longer... it's so fun to explore new parts of the country. Thanks for that, Uncle Sam!

Coastal Chic California Wedding

2011-07-20T20:10:00.000-05:00

Hi friends! I've been gone too long. What my poor little fingers may have lacked in typing, they made up for in trimming, folding and gluing. I've been busy for the past several weeks! Wanna see?

You may remember this post, from back in April, where I mentioned that I'd be helping my gorgeous friend Megan with some of the other paper-related details to her September wedding. If you're good at math and have planned a wedding before, you'll notice that September is a mere two months away. That means...time to send out invitations!

I started the first version of her invitation probably thirty minutes after she called and asked me to help. I was just so excited! This overall project has been my biggest so far, but I feel like I learned a lot and I'm thrilled with the outcome! (minus that annoying fabric wrinkle in upper right corner of the first photo...blerg!)

It was hard to capture in a photo, but the invitation is printed on a really pretty opal shimmer paper, purchased from the new(ish) Paper Source up in Austin. It looks like the underside of a sea shell...very chic, and perfect for a Southern California coastal wedding.

Mr. Max Meeker, I don't know you, but you were at the top of the stack, so you've made it to the blog!

All of the paper goods were purchased from Paper Source using the Strawberry and Papaya color schemes, and the fonts I used were La Portenia and Coquette.

This last photo was taken on my wedding day in 2008. I asked Megan to do my bridal makeup and she did an amazing job. She made me feel the way every bride deserves to feel. Now, three years later, I'm making her invitations and sharing in her day. Don't you love when things come full circle like that?

Love you, Meg! Thanks for trusting me!

Update on Quilt #2 and Gratuitous Cuteness

2011-05-17T22:27:00.002-05:00

I finished my quilt top on Sunday afternoon. Once I realized it had been over a year since I purchased the fabric, I decided I really just needed to get over myself and finish it. There were several mishaps along the way, like cutting most of my pieces too short, but I'm hoping that the billion extra stitches will make it look extra homemade. I've never said "extra" so many times in my life...I feel the need to type, "read all about it!!" Do keep reading, please.

Anyways, I have two new sewing projects waiting in the wings, and I (try to) make it a point to not start new projects until the first ones are done, lest I end up on an episode of Fabric Hoarders--don't worry, that's not really a show. I'm hoping to buy the batting and backing fabrics next week, and I think I might actually to make my own bias tape this time around. I'm fully aware that I will probably be screaming into a pillow shortly after taking on this task, but I can't help it....patterned bias tape is just so cute!

(photo via www.dana-made-it.com)

And, moving on to the gratuitous cuteness: here a a few peeks at quilt #2. I don't want to share the whole thing until it's done, and I feel like dragging this thing out for a year just. isn't. long. enough.

I really love the fabric, which was a calculated departure from my first rrreeeaaallllly pink quilt. I know, it doesn't look so pink and girly from the photo, but the back is a big, giant rectangle of bubblegum-colored fabric, so this quilt needed to be be a wee more neutral. I hope you'll stick around for the finale! HOW IS IT GOING TO END??

Pretty in Pink

2011-04-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

Ahhh...spring time! It must be the crisp, 90 degree weather here in San Antonio that makes me so giddy. I'm trying my best to soak up this (disgusting) warm weather before we move to Ohio, but I feel like I won't really appreciate spring's promise until I've gone through a true winter. I'll be sure to bring you an update on this next year.

I just finished some save the date cards for my dear friend, Megan, and I'm just loving their bright, springy hue. I'm a sucker for warm colors, so I had a great time incorporating her wedding colors, shades of orange, coral, and pink, into the design. I won't have a chance to show off the invitations for a few months, but take a peek at these:

Aren't they such an adorable couple? So much brown sugary goodness. The beautiful photograph was taken by equally beautiful Marcie, of Marcie Jane Photography, and I added the text on the left. I know, it's not as cool when you realize I did barely anything, but...yeah.

I made some fun address label wraps, and I really love the way they turned out. I had never made any before, but I know they are all the rage right now. Normally, I print addresses directly on the envelope, but my P.O.S. 4-year-old printer wasn't allowing it this week. So, these wraps were made in a moment of panic, and I think they are one of the best features of the whole shabang. Here's a close-up:

Meg, I can't wait to celebrate your marriage in September! Thank you thank you thank you for allowing me to participate in your special day.

Oh yeah, and that background fabric is from Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley collection. It's called "Architectural Persimmon."

Cause you were dying to know.

weekday doodles

2011-03-08T08:08:00.000-06:00

I hope you're having a wonderful week! We're working on Illustrator in my design class, so I've been trying to get the hang of the pen tool, which uses a combination of linked Bezier curves to create a path (had to google that one). Anyway, the process is very foreign; when it comes to drawing, I usually end up scanning a sketched image and manipulating it in Illustrator, but I'm trying to become more comfortable with all the tools in the program, whether or not I actually use them. Thank you, Charlie and Poppy, for serving as wonderful models.

the beginning of things

2011-02-17T08:40:00.000-06:00

I just can't believe it, but today marks our third wedding anniversary! I love you, my David!

It's funny how weddings seem to bring out the creativity in people, whether by chance or necessity. When I was planning my own wedding, I felt frustrated by the lack of affordable options, so I made my own invitations and programs out of necessity. Little did I know how one visit to Paper Source would send me into such a tizzy and eventually bring about a love--or dare I say, obsession--for all things paper and design related.

Here is the finished product! I created these invitations Microsoft Word (which I do not recommend), because back then, I didn't know what Adobe Illustrator was. Oh, and that gold flower? Hand-stamped by yours truly...all 100 of them. For the actual invitation, I used Paper Source's A7 note cards in luxe cream, and for the enclosure, I used their half-moon enclosures in chocolate, wrapped in chartreuse satin ribbon.

This is the cover of our program. Again, more stamping. My hand hurts just thinking about it. To keep the pages of the program together, I used the A-7 backings connected at the top with chocolate-colored brads. The fonts I used were Copperplate and Jane Austen (nerd alert!).

I will never forget the joy I felt on my wedding day. Just before our celebrant declared us husband and wife, I thought I'd nearly leap out of my skin with excitement!

Finally, because my husband is a true romantic, I have to share the gift he gave me on our first wedding anniversary. I made sure to ask his permission first, since I would hate to ruin his street cred as a manly man:

He hand-painted our marriage vows on a canvas that now hangs on a wall in our bedroom. Isn't it wonderful!?

Here's to many many more years together!

Feeling the Love

2011-02-05T09:13:00.001-06:00

Love is in the air and Valentine's Day is just nine days away. I'm not big on Valentine's gifts, but my husband has learned that I really value a thoughtful, hand-written note. On most occasions, when he goes out of town for work, he'll often strategically hide a colorful post-it note with a sweet message for me to find later in the day.

In that same vein, I absolutely adore these love notes below, created by Sarah Kim-Puangsuvan of Truly Smitten (Hi, Sarah!). While we may not all be as articulate as Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth Bennet, these messages make it easy to express love on a daily basis.

Similarly, this dry erase print created by Row Boat Press gets right to the heart of things (see what I did there?). I would love to keep this by our front door so I could jot a quick note of gratitude every day. There are several other dry erase fill-in-the-blank prints on the site, so be sure to take a look.

This year, I encourage you to get creative with your Valentine's Day gifts, and if all else fails, a sincere note works wonders! Better yet, there's always the custom love story! I've been told they're quite a hit with the ladies (sorry, shameless self-promotion).

Glutton for Punishment

2011-01-26T15:48:00.000-06:00

One might think that after seven years and two degrees, I probably wouldn't want to set foot in a classroom ever again. Well my friend, you are just plain wrong. On January 2, in what must have been a fit of resolution-ness, I enrolled in a digital design course at The Southwest School of Art here in San Antonio, and my first class is tomorrow night! The course covers the entire Adobe Creative Suite, and I'm just so thrilled to be able to flex my creative muscles and finish the course in April with some pretty cool projects under my arm. I'll be sure to share what I create!

image: Emily Broadwater for Charles & Poppy (shout out to Southern California, woop woop!)

More sewing (mis)adventures

2011-01-13T21:12:00.000-06:00

During the holiday season, I (finally) had the chance to work on quilt #2, which I first blogged about here and here. When making a quilt, the actual cutting of the pieces is the scariest part, because when things go wrong, they tend to go REALLY wrong.

Case in point:

In the words of Liz Lemon, "blerg!" Per the pattern directions, I cut 11 rectangles 4 x 55.5. Wouldn't you know it, every single piece is too short by half an inch. Awesome. So, for now, I'm too angry at my quilt to pick it up again for at least a few days.

Still, unemployment tends to leave a person with lots (and lots) of time to kill, so this afternoon, I worked on a little sewing project that was intended to provide some quick, crafty satisfaction:

A zippered pouch! Cute and easy, right? I found a great tutorial here, and this is actually the second pouch I've made. The first one didn't make it to the blog because it's awful. Sadly this one also has it's downfalls. I think I need to practice my zipper-sewing skills. Maybe #3 will be the one.

Here's a close-up of the wonky corner of the pouch. It's supposed to look square, not frumply. Alas, when I started this blog, I wanted to document both the hits and misses of my endeavors. This is a miss. Lot's of misses in the sewing department around here.

A Friendly Reminder

2011-01-06T20:58:00.001-06:00

This is the perfect print for all those days following January 1, when the novelty of our resolutions has worn off, or when we are (still) searching for a job after eight months. First, we take a deep breath, and then we follow this other piece of advice. Note: it has nothing to do with keeping calm and carrying on. That was so 2010. Or was it 2009? Or 2008?!

Image via evajuliet on Etsy. Visit her shop for more beautiful prints!

So this is the new year...

2011-01-02T18:14:00.000-06:00

I don't think I've ever been so excited to begin a new year. I finished graduate school and became unemployed within a two-week time span, so 2011 is literally W I D E O P E N. So much potential and possibility! I have no idea where this year will take me, and while there is certainly a degree of fear in the unknown, I'm mostly overjoyed. So, check in often, because all this free time is bound to result in a project or two! Also, thank you for reading these words! Your encouragement is heart warming. 2011, I love you already!

P.S. We played a board game called Telestrations on New Year's Eve, and it was so fun! I had never heard of it before. It's especially hilarious if your husband lacks artistic talent (sorry Dave, I love you!).

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

2010-12-23T09:00:00.002-06:00

This Christmas post has been two years in the making. Don't get all excited now, it's just that I sewed our Christmas stockings back in December of 2008 and had yet to take any photos of them until several days ago.

Anyway, back in 2008, I found a free pattern for an elf boot stocking from Disney's Family Fun website. Random, I know. There was also a pattern for a cute little dog stocking that would have been perfect for the weenies in our life. Below are some photos of the finished products. Such a great excuse to use that cute pom pom trim!

Eeek. These photos next to one another show how little I know about white balance. Moving on.

I also made our Christmas card this year. That's my husband and me! The pine tree sprigs were hand-drawn by yours truly (don't look too close), and the fonts used were League Script Thin and Rosewood Fill. And, since it's our last Christmas here in Texas, it's only fitting to conclude this post with some southern twang:

Have a wonderful holiday!

SIGHHHHHHH.

2010-12-21T15:31:00.000-06:00

Things have been quiet around here, but I have a good excuse: I graduated. Yes, the announcement says it all!

I am so thrilled to be putting this chapter of life behind me...thrilled and, I'll say it, damn proud. I was so ready to be done that I actually made this graduation announcement way back in May of 2010. It was fun to return to it every few weeks and change things around, and I'm really happy with the finished product.

Early on, each line of text was a different font, but that got pretty overwhelming, so I ultimately decided on my beloved Strangelove Text that I blogged about several weeks ago. I figured the hand-drawn style of the font would complement my illustration. The finished product is certainly not perfect, but I'm okay with that; each project I undertake is a new opportunity to be challenged and to learn.

Hello, new friend!

2010-11-18T22:16:00.000-06:00

....or friends! If you've found my blog via Kelly's post on Just a Girl in a City, hi! So glad you're here! If you don't know what I'm talking about, click on over to Kelly's blog, and you'll see what I mean.

Several days ago, Kelly sent me a message asking if she could feature me and my fledgling Etsy shop on her "just for fun" blog (which just happens to have 305 followers...what the what?!). Sign me up! She sent me the link today, and I'm so pleased (and immensely flattered). Kelly, thank you for your support!

Bought a Font

2010-11-13T18:29:00.000-06:00

So, I bought a font for the very first time. I was writing a satirical, Dr. Strangelove-inspired poem for my poetry workshop, and I found this. I just HAD to have it...mostly because would make my lame poem seem cool. Then, just a few days later, the font seemed to be popping up everywhere I looked! I'm glad to see that it's so versatile. No buyer's remorse for me!

This is my version. This assignment was due four days before the biggest test of my life, and I had little else on my mind. Can you tell?

I was greeted by this post on Design Sponge exactly five days after I submitted my poem. Weird, huh?

This image is from the Fossil website. I go there daily to obsess over clothes, bags and shoes I cannot buy. It's the best form of torture.

This last one is the icing on the cake...I absolutely love this shimmering, silver invitation, which was featured on Head vs. Heart, a wedding design blog. The font choice is super unexpected, and the foil stamping makes it just sing in all its simplicity. Wish I'd thought of that!

Literary Sighting #4

2010-11-10T21:21:00.001-06:00

On a recent airline flight, somewhere between Florida and Texas, I was browsing the ole' roll and found a post on the ModCloth blog cataloging the "Top 10 Best Dressed Literary Characters." WHAT?! Why didn't I think of this!?! Turns out, they got the idea from Flavorwire, a cultural news site that compiled their own list of ten pulchritudinous protagonists [Note: I feel pressure to sound smart when I write these "literary sighting" posts...I have never used that word before! :) Thank you, thesaurus]. I'm glad Flavorwire picked Lily Bart, of Edith Wharton's House of Mirth. Still, I'm shocked that neither list included Carrie Meeber, from Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie. I guess that means it's time for me to start compiling a list of my own!

image via Modcloth's Blog

Fifteen Minutes of Procrastination.

2010-10-13T20:56:00.000-05:00

After my husband and I bought our first house back in July of 2008, we inadvertently established an annual tradition of throwing costume parties. I think we just missed our college dress-up parties...and I also have this need to force people to be creative. Whoops!

In 2008, our costume party was "'H' is for Halloween," and everyone had to come dressed as something or someone that started with the letter "H." In 2009, It was a "Decades" party in honor of our birthdays, and this year, it's....

I made this invitation in a fit of academic procrastination. This year is particularly hectic with the whole finish graduate school/prepare for the five-hour M.A. Comprehensive Exam (on October 25!), so I initially shied away from the Halloween party idea. However, at the encouragement of friends, we picked a letter from the alphabet and set to planning. I decided on my costume last week, but I'm keeping it a secret until the S-Fest! Happy Halloween!

Fonts Used:
Shlop-Regular (free for personal use right here)
Turnpike (free for personal use right here)
Bell MT Italic

Literary Sighting #3

2010-10-08T07:49:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if this literary sighting really counts, since these are actually books, but I just couldn't resist. I found this image on my blogroll this morning via Design Work Life and I am eager to share.

These book covers, designed by Lucy Stephens, highlight some of the most prominent writers of the Beat Generation, and they just look really cool. I'm ashamed to admit that I've picked up and put down Kerouac's On The Road several times, but maybe I'll actually finish it once grad school is over.

On another note, have you heard about the upcoming film Howl? It opens in Texas theaters on October 22, and it chronicles the controversial reception of Allen Ginsberg's groundbreaking poem, "Howl." Not only have I never read this poem, but I had never even heard of it until Tuesday night...I happened to catch an interview with James Franco (who plays Ginsberg pre-beard) on NPR. Have you read it before? The full poem is available on the film's website.

I have proof!

2010-10-03T20:53:00.000-05:00

...Proof that somebody actually looks at this blog besides me! And it's more like somebodies; my two very best friends who currently live one thousand miles away. They must have made a mental note when they saw this post about Cosas Minimas on Etsy, because In honor of my birthday, they sent me one of Blanca Gomez's prints in the mail! It came all the way from Spain! What a special gift!

I put this charming fellow in a frame over the weekend, and he lives right at our entryway. Now, every time I arrive home, I see him and just have to smile--In my head, he sounds like Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast.

T & J, if you're reading this, I LOVE YOU! THANK YOU!

Here's to Twenty Five! (snip, snip, snip)

2010-09-25T16:32:00.000-05:00

Thursday was my twenty-fifth Birthday, and to celebrate, I CHOPPED all my hair off. I didn't exactly have long hair to begin with, but I really wanted something new and different to commemorate this milestone. Also, I figured that if it looked that bad I could always blame my decision on a "quarter life crisis." Fortunately, I love the new 'do (phew), and as an added bonus, it gives me an excuse to buy fun earrings.

The photos below are painfully grainy (and hearken to the days of MySpace....eek), but since so many friends and family live far away from me, I thought this would be a good platform to show off the new (much shorter) locks.

Literary Sightings 2

2010-09-22T08:31:00.000-05:00

Back in July, I wrote this post on sighting #1, and now I'm back with #2! Oddly, both posts come from the same site; Modcloth is certainly a shop after my own literary heart. The shirts pictured below are made by Out of Print, and they have even more great text-inspired T's on their site. Do yourself a favor and go read their inspirational mission statement!

Etsy: Cosas Minimas

2010-09-11T17:52:00.001-05:00

I really do love every single piece in Blanca Gomez's Etsy shop, Cosas Minimas. Her prints are simple, vibrant, and versatile enough to grace the walls of a kitchen, a bedroom, or a child's room. That one on the left makes me wish I had dark hair so I could buy it and put it in my own bedroom.

Found via A Cup of Jo

Sources & Samplings

2010-09-07T09:22:00.000-05:00

For our first assignment in my graduate poetry workshop, we were asked to create collage of quotations and images that reflect what inspires us to write. I'm so glad to finally have an artistic use for all those lovely words I underline in my books.

Back To School

2010-08-30T20:41:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is my LAST first day of school. With just one course left to finish up my master's degree in English, I'm itching to get started so I can hurry up and finish! Commencement takes place on December 17th...Does anyone care to guess how many graduation announcements I'll make and subsequently hate and revise before then? So far, the count is at two. It's a sickness, really.

I just discovered Present & Correct, another academically inclined design site like the one I commented on here. I just love the School ABC Boards they have for sale; I can totally remember the weird, woody smell of those boards we used (briefly) in elementary school. Also, does anyone else remember D'Nealian?

Vintage Cowgirl Party

2010-08-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine is throwing a "Vintage Cowgirl" birthday party for her soon-to-be two-year-old daughter (Phew! Too many hyphens). She asked me to make some invitations that resembled those Old West, Wanted style posters. Here's a digital image of the finished product...Look at that face!

Fonts used: Playbill and Euphorigenic (download for free right here).

Dogs & Fonts

2010-08-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

...Two of my favorite things! I found this "If Dogs Were Fonts" image yesterday via Miss B's Blahg and I just had to repost. So glad they included a dachshund!

Live Schlep Free

2010-08-11T18:46:00.000-05:00

At a book store in Massachusetts, my husband and I happened upon a hilarious book, Yiddish with Dick and Jane. We giggled throughout the whole thing, but our favorite line was, "See Jane schlep. Schlep, Jane. Schlep. Schlep, schlep, schlep." Not only is the word schlep just so fun to say out loud, but it perfectly embodies those moments in life when we wish we could throw our hands up and just stop going.

While doing just that, going home from work this afternoon (amid traffic and sweltering Texas heat, no less), I chatted on the phone with Dave, and he offhandedly mentioned how he was striving to live his life "schlep free." To honor the sentiment and distract myself from the things I should have been doing, I created a personal reminder to simplify when possible, and live schlep free. It's currently gracing the front of our refrigerator, surrounded by to-do's, to-buy's, to-go's, and all those details in life that involve that s-word. Oy.

I blame AMC

2010-07-30T15:56:00.001-05:00

During a recent trip to California, my husband (lovingly) took me on the obligatory trip to Paper Source, and after wandering the store for an hour and nearly hyperventilating with giddiness, I bought some A7 note cards in their new color, paper bag. I wasn't quite sure what I'd do with them, but I just loved the natural texture in the paper.

What does that have to do with AMC? Like the rest of the world, I love ~~Jon Hamm~~ their original series, Mad Men. I was feeling particularly feisty the other night, and with my recent purchase, I made some retro-inspired personal stationery that I just love:

In the first photo, I used Paper Source's A7 envelope in Pool, and in the second, I used some old khaki envelopes that we had left over from our wedding. For the fonts, I used Futura and Marketing Script (so very Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce), which you can download for free right here.

On a related note, did you know that even Sesame Street has jumped on the Mad Men bandwagon?! It's true! See a video here.

New Business Cards

2010-07-28T10:00:00.002-05:00

My reading of this post on Melissa Esplin's blog, I Still Love You, coincided with the redesign of my own blog. I knew I needed some business cards, and although I didn't win Melissa's hosted giveaway (bummer), I did design and purchase some business cards with www.uprinting.com and received them just yesterday. I am thrilled with the way they turned out, and I'm so thankful to have found an online printing company with such great customer service. I also took advantage of their FREE paper sample kit offer, and that arrived a few days ago. I can't wait to drop these cards into some hands!

A Brief Message About Dog Beds...

2010-07-27T21:08:00.000-05:00

So, I love my dogs, big deal. Don't most dog owners spend their Saturday afternoons making plush beds for their pets? No?!

Ever since we added our beloved Charlie to the family in 2009, our dog beds have taken a beating. We finally stopped buying those $25 fluff-filled beds from PetSmart because they would inevitably be ripped open within 24 hours. I really love these handmade and eco-friendly doggy nests by AnniesSweatShop on Etsy, but the thought of paying $120 for two beds is just not realistic at this point in my life. So, I knew I could make something that was slightly similar, and I made bed #3 this weekend. Charlie has been slowly demolishing Poppy's bed...his is still perfect, wouldn't you know it.

I bought some super plush fabric with a sweet 40% off coupon from JoAnn, and went to sewin'! The smile in the photo below is totally fake. This fabric was really hard to work with, and I felt like I was making a Muppet...my very own Snuffleupagus. To make the bed, I just sewed a pillowcase for an old pillow and attached a rectangle to the top of the pillow case on two sides, forming a kind of cave. Dachshunds are big on burrowing and nesting, dontcha know.

Alas, the project was eventually completed, and it was given the seal of approval from both dogs.

Question Marks

2010-07-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

This season of my life is filled with questions marks. With the completion of graduate school just four months away, I'm deep in the throes of job-hunting. At the same time, my husband and I are anxiously awaiting the news about his acceptance to graduate school, which subsequently decides where we live for the next eighteen months. So often, I bring myself to near insanity by dwelling on these uncertainties, but just the other day, I was reminded--and relieved to know--that I'm not in control:

So, with the understanding that God has a plan for me, I'm choosing to embrace these question marks that make life very exciting.

Literary Sightings

2010-07-23T16:47:00.001-05:00

My seven years of undergraduate and graduate education have turned me into a bit of a book nerd. I always get really excited to find quotations sprinkled throughout the internet and everyday life, and I stumbled across this one while doing a bit of internet browsing the other day:

The quote, "Exuberance is beauty," is taken from William Blake's book, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. I've never read it, but if you're so inclined, you can learn more about it here.

If you have a literary sighting you want to share, let me know! I'd love to start a little collection.

Happy Friday!

Pretty, Pretty

2010-07-14T18:35:00.000-05:00

As you can tell, this little blog of mine has gotten some freshening up! Fresh, simple, and lovely. I'm so thankful to Lindsay, of Lindsay Nicole Design, for working with me to create this new design for my blog. She is prompt, professional, and I am just so glad to know her.

Months ago, I was directed to Lindsay's blog after reading about her redesign of Truly Smitten, one of my favorite daily reads. We seemed to have so much in common; like me, Lindsay is a California native, a military spouse, a design lover, and a blonde! So, I sent her a message and found out that our husbands worked together in the same AFROTC detachment at Loyola Marymount University. It has been so much fun to see Lindsay's design career unfold and thrive...go explore her work! Thank you, Lindsay!

Two By Two

2010-07-01T19:09:00.007-05:00

For the past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of working with a dear friend (Hi, Erika) to make some invitations for a baby shower she is hosting at the end of the month. To honor the arrival of baby Noah, I was asked to create Noah's Ark theme, and my initial "gather two by two" idea became even more perfect when I found out it was a couples shower. JOY! I snapped a few photos (on my point and shoot, don't judge) this morning before I delivered them...take a look!

Reasons to Celebrate [Spoiler Alert: Dad, don't look!]

2010-06-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

On Monday, my dad will celebrate his 60th Birthday! Wow! He was already lamenting the big SIX-OH last year when he turned 59, so I thought I should send him a card to assuage his fears about becoming an old man. I made a fun little quiz to test his true age. Here are some photos:

Also, My best friend (and the subject of my second-ever blog post) celebrated her first anniversary with her husband! Dave and I loved receiving cards on our anniversary, and I really wanted to do the same for them. Here's a peek:

Happy Birthday, dad! Happy 1st Anniversary, Mr & Mrs. M!

One is the Lonliest Number

2010-06-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Well, I did it! I posted one (lonely) item for sale in my Etsy shop. And, to capitalize on this loneliness even more, I added a "My Etsy" tab to my Facebook profile for all you Facebook friends.

Take a look!

Sneaking Glances

2010-06-11T18:45:00.006-05:00

I bought this book this afternoon. I've been wanting it for quite some time, but I finally sacked up and bought it because: (1) I had a 40% off coupon from Borders, (2) it was published by Chronicle Books and I'll pretty much buy anything that company creates, and (3) because from June 11-June 14, Borders is donating a portion of their sales to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

Unfortunately, due to summer school, I'm currently devoting all my reading attention to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, but I've taken a few peeks so far and I can't wait to dive in.

I found the author's biographical blurb particularly intriguing: "[Meg Mateo Ilasco] was in grad school when she started designing wedding invitations for extra money. Eventually her company became a full-time job, expanded into stationery and accessories, and was featured on NBC's Today show..." Whew! What an inspiration!
[Image courtesy of Chronicle Books]

If only...

2010-06-03T09:33:00.004-05:00

...I had an extra $375 lying around. (Dad, don't worry, if I did, I promise I still wouldn't buy these shoes). I realize that this blog is quickly turning into a veritable wish list, but c'mon, these shoes deserve some special attention, and I'm just channeling my inner Imelda Marcos.

Those Brits really know what they're doing.

[image from the Kitty Cooper website]
[Via HeySusy*]

A Dose of Feminism in the Kitchen...

2010-05-27T08:43:00.004-05:00

I love finding literature-inspired goods. No, this isn't a book cover... It's a tea towel! There are so many other beautiful, graphic towels from To Dry For. Take a gander!

Computer Screen Browsing....

2010-05-26T20:00:00.003-05:00

This lamp makes me very happy. And, there are six other colors available online. I think the pink one would go perfectly in Nicole Balch's house. Not that she and I are on a first name basis, or anything. OR ARE WE???

No, no we aren't.

88 Rectangles

2010-05-21T15:12:00.004-05:00

Scenes From a Craft Fair

2010-05-16T21:53:00.007-05:00

This morning, I took a trip up to Austin to check out the 1st Annual Renegade Craft Fair. Upon arrival, I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. For over three hours, I wandered up and down the aisles of booths and was continually taken aback by the wonderful items for sale...I may have gone a bit overboard! It was so refreshing to chat with some Etsy sellers and artists, many of whom traveled all the way from Southern California!

Plus, I amassed a pretty cool collection of business cards. The men from Campfire had some really interesting t-shirts that I just know my husband would love, particularly this one. Adam, of The Poster List, was wonderful to talk with, and Carla, of Crown Bindery, epitomized southern charm, and she has a dachshund named Peanut!

This little book is a preview of the work of Jay B Sauceda and Will Bryant of Public School, a design studio in Austin. While it's depressing that some of these creative guys are younger than me, it was so great to meet Will and Cody today, and the more I think about it, I probably should have gotten their autographs because I have a feeling they're going to be very famous.

I can't wait until next year, maybe I'll sack up and buy a booth space! (Thank you, Carla, for providing some motivation!)

96 Hours Later

2010-05-15T09:27:00.006-05:00

Whew. The Quackenbush Workshop is over, and I'm exhausted. It was such a wonderful, humbling experience, and Dr. Robert Quackenbush is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met. He gave each of the participants an autographed copy of one of his children's books, and I will cherish it forever. I can't wait to read it to my future children and tell them all about the story's author.

The three photos above are some illustrations done by other participants in the workshop: Benjamin, Nicole and Taylor.

World's Fastest...

2010-05-12T20:12:00.005-05:00

...Bachelorette invitations. Yep, These babies started as a passing mention at dinner on Monday night, and I designed, cut, printed, stamped, and delivered them in 48 hours. Normally, I spend days hemming and hawing over fonts, size, and spacing, but it was kind of exhilarating to make something so quickly...nevermind the fact that my husband is out of town and I had nothing better to do. Pathetic? Whaaaat?

I was also really excited to [finally] use my kissy stamp, bought here.

Wishing many saucy garments and girly fun for the future Mrs. Baird!

What are YOU doing this weekend?

2010-05-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

...I'm going to the 1st Annual Renegade Craft Fair in Austin, Texas! You should go, too! There are so many talented, inspiring people in that city!

QUACK, QUACK, QUACK

2010-05-10T09:00:00.002-05:00

Are you familiar with the work of Dr. Robert Quackenbush? He's a prolific author and illustrator of children's books, and I'll be meeting him this week!

I was accepted as a participant in the Robert Quackenbush Writing & Illustration Workshop held at the University of Texas at San Antonio. For four days, fourteen students will work on creating their own children's stories, developing manuscripts or book dummies ready to show publishers and agents. The process of story development, design of a book dummy, and creation of a submission packet is covered within those four days. I'm thrilled to be a part of this wonderful creative opportunity, and I'll be sure to post photos of the final product.

Quilt #2!

2010-05-09T13:49:00.007-05:00

I just dropped my husband off at the airport; He'll be in Europe for the next fifteen days for work. Needless to say, I had to find something to keep me busy, so I bought the fabric for my second quilt! I'm using the "Flower Show" pattern found here, and I ordered the fabric here. The best part is, www.fatquartershop.com is based out of Manchaca, Texas, only fifty miles from our home, so I got my fabric bundle in less than 24 hours! And, look at how beautifully it's packaged! I can't wait to start...

BIRTHDAY LOVE

2010-01-31T07:57:00.005-06:00

My husband's Birthday is in October, and I had a lot of trouble finding masculine wrapping paper that I could use to wrap his gift. So, when I can't find what I want, I make it myself! Using Adobe Illustrator, I typed up a few words and copied and pasted them down the page, varying the font and size with each line. I printed out four pages, taped them together, and voila!

But the story gets better.

He loved the wrapping paper and the gift inside.

That's not all. My Birthday is in September, and Dave was a little, well, late in giving me my gift. Perhaps in an effort to redeem himself, he secretly went to my computer, opened the document I used to make his wrapping paper, and changed the the wording for me. I have never been so in love with a piece of wrapping paper...I saved it. I loved the gift, but I think I love the ingenuity even more. That man definitely knows the way to my heart: handmade. I love you, Dave!

Because all brides should feel special...

2010-01-08T10:00:00.003-06:00

One of my good friends saw a photo of my first sash and asked me to make one for her friend! Thus, I made my very first (and hopefully not only) sale on Etsy! Thank you, Jessica, for forcing me to get something done! I appreciate you for being a test subject while I learn what the heck I'm doing. I'm thrilled to be taking part in another wedding this spring, and I sent the future Mrs. Tozer her sash as a bridal shower gift.

Thoughts on Quilting

2010-01-07T10:00:00.004-06:00

I love/hate/love quilting. I had never had the slightest urge to make a quilt until May of 2009. Suddenly, I found myself buying fabric and supplies, knowing that it was too late to give up after shelling out so much money. Once I had finished my spring semester of graduate school, I cut and sewed my little heart out for several months, and I sent the (almost) finished quilt-top to be quilted by Carol of The Quilt Studio. Carol did a beautiful job, and I beamed when she e-mailed me and commented on my work!

Alas, fall semester rolled around, as it always does, and the quilt was relegated to a corner for several months. The day I completed my last paper, after some stress and fretting (and muttered curses), I finally hand bound the edge of the quilt over several days. I found this tutorial to be very helpful. My biggest fear was pulling the quilt out of the washer in a million pieces, but it held up and continues to get a little bit softer and a little bit more special every day.

Choice words for Alton Brown

2010-01-06T20:24:00.007-06:00

Let me first declare that I love Alton Brown and Food Network in general. However, my husband and I tried his highly praised pretzel recipe and were sorely disappointed with the result. Still, they looked pretty amazing, so we at least had to take a photo for the sake of posterity.

Maybe you could do a better job? I'm sure of it.

The Original

2010-01-06T20:12:00.005-06:00

This blog's namesake: Poppy and Charlie the miniature dachshunds. Though, to be honest, we rarely call our dogs by their real names. Typically, we prefer "Popper Baby" and "Buggie." I'm mortified.

ROCK, SCISSORS...

2009-09-15T20:15:00.008-05:00

Paper makes me happy. Yes, paper. I'm a simple girl. I always get excited for parties, occasions, and events because that means I have an excuse to a make a card for someone! Lately, I've had the opportunity to make some things for friends with children (or currently growing children).

Some friends recently celebrated their daughter's very first Birthday! It was all I could do not to buy that baby girl some clothes, but I knew that some "Date Coupons" would definitely come in handy!

Another friend just found out that she is expecting, and I made this card in her honor. I'm a sucker for the yellow and mint color combo.

Ode to Anna...

2009-07-22T11:11:00.006-05:00

My husband bought me a sewing maching for my 23rd Birthday last September. I had been wanting one for quite some time, and I was thrilled to hit the ground running with some projects the day that it was delivered to our house. All the women in my family have had great talent for sewing...my grandmother made my aunt's wedding dress, and my cousin makes (nearly) all of her family's clothing...including her husband's dress shirts! I have grown up sewing, and I took a glorified Home Ec class in highschool (it was called "Fashion"), so I was able to work with a serger for the first time.

Unless you're really good, which I'm not, I get the feeling that most sewers have a love-hate relationship with the craft. Though I'm an admitted perfectionist, I also have little patience, so if I mess up, I usually try to ingore the (glaring) mistake and then I just end up hating the entire piece once it's finished. It's fun.

Still, my renewed creative desire has been strengthend by all the stunning fabric that is out there (mostly on the internet). When I was younger, I would stifle groans when perusing the bolts of fabric....I always wanted something that didn't scream "I made this myself", and yet the only options I had involved calico, or kittens, or some other awful cottage-themed pattern.

This woman, Anna Maria Horner, is probably my favorite fabric designer, but Joel Dewberry and Amy Butler are close on her heels. I didnt' even know fabric designing was an actual profession. Their work is breathtaking, and my home is already decorated with their fabric, mainly in the form of curtains. Soon, it will be in every room in the house!

LOVE AND MARRIAGE

2009-06-25T11:51:00.010-05:00

My best friend is stunning, isn't she? This photo was taken on her wedding day just a few weeks ago, and I experienced the first pangs of "motherly" heartache as I watched my dear friend, whom I've known since preschool, walk down the aisle and marry the love of her life.

As co-Maid of Honor, I felt it my duty to obsess over the admittedly irrelevant elements of her Bachelorette Party, but I had an accomplice in all of this. Below are some photos:

Since my friend's two younger sisters attended the party, we received specific orders disallowing the typical, ehh hemm, phallic decor. There, I said it. Thus, we looked to leopard print, which is a personal favorite of mine. In lieu of straws resembling male body parts, I made cute little straw flags to gussy up the cocktails. The Bachelorette fascinator was a personal favorite...oh the things we can do with hot glue, felt, and silk flowers. The evening was perfect, and I'm sure J's husband appreciates the sultry swag she scored that night.

HERE WE GO...

2009-06-25T08:30:00.015-05:00

I'm really doing it, and yet, I have no idea what I'm doing! Welcome to Charles & Poppy!

This blog (hopefully) will serve as a starting point for my future Etsy Shop of the same name.

Recently, I have been overwhelmingly inspired by the creative hands and hearts that are all over the Internet. I am thrilled that people have not forgotten the art of paper, glue, scissors, fabric, etc. Thus, as I explore my own creativity, I'll be posting the hits and misses of my creative work, along with a few unrelated meanderings.