New Packaging

Hope you guys are having a good weekend!
Just wanted to share with you some of my new packaging materials for the shop!
I am so very excited about them!!
Cards via Vistaprint, tags custom made from Sewnique Boutique, stamp also custom made from Hello Donna and twine from Studio 8 Supplies.
And of course credit to Meagan Abell for helping me create my logo!
I also have new address labels and stickers which aren't pictured.
Looking forward to starting off this year with a new look!

What do you think?


Sponsor A Girl Named Leney!


Hello dear readers!
I decided that I wanted to make a few changes around the blog, and what better way to do that other than at the start of a new year?
Am I right?

So, I want to let you know that I am now open for sponsorships!
Whether you're a blogger, shop owner or business, purchase an ad space, email me your button and I will put it up on the side bar!
There are two sizes available and they start at only $5!

Due to getting this started a little late, I will be hosting the first ads purchased until the end of February, and then start a fresh from there.
Sound good?

If so, head over to the contact page to purchase your ad!

♥

Happy New Year

A few little goals for the year...

1. Learn how to play my ukulele
3. Be better about responding to your blog comments! You're so sweet to comment and I always read each and every single one so I'm going to try and be better about showing my appreciation!
4. Don't buy things I don't need
5. Finish editing the England photos!!!
6. Keep things clean and organized
7. Spend more quality time with family
8. Read more
9. Redesign the blog
10. Travel at any and every opportunity possible
12. Pray more diligently 
13. Finish knitting that one sweater


What are some of yours?

Year In Review

Photo Cred: Meagan Abell

Goodness I can't believe 2012 is coming to an end.
Is it just me or did it go by really fast?
It's been such a great year though.
So many amazing things happened!
While I was writing this post and looking back on 2012, I couldn't quite believe how many amazing things.
God's blessed me in more ways than I can imagine and I have so much to be thankful for.
Here are a few of my favorite highlights...



Attended the Passion conference. What an amazing experience!
I only wish I was able to go again this year.
If you ever have the chance to go, you must!

Had several awesome photoshoots and I have more booked for next year already!
Could not be more excited.
I can't decide which one is my favorite.
Thoughts?

Celebrated a one year anniversary with this guy.
Saying I could not be happier would be an understatement.
He's the best.

On that note, I celebrated Valentine's Day!

Attended the IFB Conference in New York City

Officially started my new job
(still working on my work routine but I'm getting better!)

Made my first ever Tutorial. Think I should make more?

Travelled to England and Scotland.
Definitely in the top five as far as highlights go and one of the best experiences of my life!
You can see a full list of the posts on my travels here.
Hopefully I'll get around to sharing the rest of the photos next year...

Attended a few local fashion shows, not to mention had a few of my pieces in one!
Also was a part of RVA Fashion Week.

Got a pretty drastic haircut

Had lots of various adventures in Richmond

Discovered what would soon become one of my most popular items in my Etsy shop

Helped out with an event or two with The Gray Haven Project as well as take photos for their new website and brochures! Looking forward to doing more with them in the upcoming year!

Figured out how to use iMovie and made my first ever video!
(I've made a few more since)

Went camping

Attempted to get back into Street Style Photography.
Didn't really keep up with it... so maybe I'll try again next year!

Attended The Vans Warped Tour

Tried lots of new Richmond restaurants

Helped a new friend with shooting a wedding or two!
Both were so much fun and great learning experiences.
Wouldn't trade them for anything!

Attended a Farmers Market

Was in a fun photoshoot or two

Finally invested in some Blue China!
Isn't it beautiful?
I've since been given more pieces by some sweet family members.
Looking forward to building my set more in the years to come!

Went sailing a few times

Made some changes with the shop and have more in store for next year!

Started contributing to a new blog called Darling Companion.
You should check it out!

Went to the Virginia State Fair.
Of course.

Went Pumpkin and apple picking

Had one of the sweetest features written about me!
See more here.

Had my very own logo made!!!
Still obsessed with it.

Attended lots of First Fridays

Celebrated my 21st Birthday

Learned to be still and satisfied, among some other things.


Had some of my items accepted into Chop Suey Books Holiday Bizarre Market!
Sold a lot of stuff, it was great!

Had quite a few successful craft and jewelry shows.
Including one in Baltimore!


Had a fantastic and merry Christmas

Made some new friends and became even better friends with some old ones
......................

2013, I know you are going to be the best year yet.
I can just feel it.
♥

 Last year's post can be read here

The Last of The Christmasgrams

Pretty much all that can be summed up about this week is that it was an awesome Christmas! 
Couldn't have asked for a better one. Got way too many gifts, ate way too much food, and had some wonderful and much needed time with family and friends... It was perfect.
Ok, I promise I'm done talking about Christmas now.
No more Christmas talk until next year!
Speaking of which, New Year's Eve is tomorrow.
Can you believe it?
I know I can't.
I'm off to work on some thank you notes...
I probably won't be finishing them until next year though.
;)



P.s. The winner of the giveaway is......
Jessi Francis!
Thanks to everyone who participated, no worries, there will be another one soon. :)

Janelle Houston

So this post comes with a little bit of a story.
I met Janelle at The National when she and her friend and me and my friends were all standing in line to see Joseph Gordon Levitt.
(Okay so it was technically a HitREcord show, but we all know what we were really there for...)
My friends and I asked her to take a photo of us (we had to instagram, obviously) and then she asked us to take a photo of her and her friend as well.
Long story short, we got to talking, discovered one another's talents and she invited me to come to her album release party and set up a booth to sell some of my jewelry and take some photos of the event!
So I did.
The show was awesome, between the music, decorations and lovely people, we had so much fun.
Not to mention I bought her CD and I've been listening to it non stop!
I suggest you do the same.
She's one talented lady.
Her brother John Houston also played with her as well as another talented musician Ryan Scarberry who I oddly enough had seen play in Richmond about two years ago!
Talk about a small world right?
Anyway, it's been wonderful getting to know Janelle better. In the small amount of time I've known her I can already see what a kind and sweet person she is and I already know we're going to be friends for a long time to come!

Photo Cred: Cristoph Elliott
Photo Cred: Cristoph Elliott
 Photo Cred: Ambah Parkah Photography
  Photo Cred: Ambah Parkah Photography
  Photo Cred: Ambah Parkah Photography
.....................

See more photos here

Follow Janelle on her

And of course you can buy her album here!

Thursday Thoughts


So we didn't get a white Christmas this year, it's been a little rainy here in fact. But that's okay. It's good staying in weather.
Which is good because I have a lot of staying in to do!
Despite the fact that Christmas, and all the craziness it entails, is over I am still as busy as ever! The idea that I thought things would slow down after the holidays was clearly a misguided one.
Oh well, it's all a good kind of busy. Things are going really great and I have orders to work on, photos to edit and new things for the new year to plan!
And of course some belated presents to make and wrap...
I just hope I can work on regulating my sleep routine again.
But I got all the Christmas Etsy orders done on time, so that's what counts! Right?

 Definitely blessed to have all this new work though. 
I literally cannot wait for all of the upcoming photoshoots, collaborations and projects the new year is going to bring! Not to mention a few exciting changes around here.

 God is so good. 

 ♥

Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year?

Oh Christmas.
You always come and go so quickly.
Even the radio stations shut off your holiday cheer promptly at the stroke of twelve.
It's so sad. 
Good thing I have a playlist on itunes!
Around here we sort of draw out Christmas until December is over. 
We even left our tree up until March one year when I was a kid.
(Though I think that was mostly out of laziness rather than a fondness for the season...)
I had such a wonderful Christmas though. Really couldn't have asked for a better one!
I've already eaten far too much candy and I'm sure it won't last me til the end of the year...
It was so good getting to spend time with family though. 
I think that's something you definitely learn to cherish more as you get older around this time of year.
Because really, what's more important than your family?
Definitely not china teapots and new leather boots.

Though those things are nice too... ;)

 
 ......................

What about you, did you have a good Christmas?


Merry Christmas Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas!
Can you believe it?
Gosh it always comes so quickly.
I hope you've gotten more done than I have with your Christmas preparations... I have so much to do before tomorrow!
Thankfully all of your Etsy Christmas orders are all complete though.
But I will be up late working on some things for family and friends!
Hopefully Santa still comes despite my sleeplessness....

What about you, are you ready for Christmas?