My RVA: South of the James Farmers Market

Alright, so, confession: I went to the

South of the James Farmers Market

 primarily for those donuts...

Which were well worth the trip. 

I mean they were, I kid you not, the size of my face.

They know what they're doing over at

Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen

.

Besides eating my weight in sugar, I watched someone spin yarn (*insert nerding out here*), tried

Alchemy Coffee

and wandered around the park a bit, which I'd surprisingly never been to.

All in all a good Saturday that will definitely have to be replicated again soon.

Collaboration | Avonnie Studio

Avon of Avonnie Studio sent me some of her hand painted mugs recently, and I just have to say they are super adorable. I mean, look, that girl on that first mug is me, glasses and all!
So cute, right?
And of course I love the Virginia mug. I mean, hello, Virginia is for lovers after all.
Not only are the mugs super cute, they came beautifully packaged as well. Gotta love it when Etsy shop owners take the time to make opening their lovely handmade pieces feel like Christmas. 

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Be sure to check out Avon's...



This post is sponsored by Avon of Avonnie Studio. You can find her shop here. 
Thanks for collaborating Avon!

Adventures | Raleigh

I was in North Carolina for a photo gig a month or two ago and in between shooting I had a chance to wander around Raleigh a bit on some various miscellaneous escapades.
Exploring alone has always been one of my most favorite things.
Don't get me wrong, I love sharing experiences and new places with people, and some of the best experiences of my life have been shared that way. However, there's just something about wandering and adventuring at your own pace and discovering things on your own that I just really love. Additionally, being alone always seems to heighten my senses. I feel like I always enjoy, appreciate and take in my surroundings more when I'm by myself.

So, here are just a few photos from that weekend.
Donuts, a Saint Patricks Day parade, art, flowers, yarn bombing, city lights at night and new restaurants are obviously prevalent...
I'm sure the donuts especially don't surprise you.
(I mean honestly, I think I might need to have a blog label specifically for posts that include donuts at this point...)




Featured | Artful Blogging

in

So I have some super exciting news friends!
I was recently featured in the most recent issue of Artful Blogging!

I was asked to write an article for them at the end of last year, for their upcoming spring issue, and I've just been bursting trying to keep it a secret this whole time.
It also features some of my photos of RVA so if you're a Richmond-er it will be extra interesting for you to read! You can pick up a copy at Barnes and Noble or on Stampington's site, here.
It's so crazy seeing my words and photos in print like this, I'm still just a little bit in awe. I definitely feel so blessed and grateful for the opportunity.
(Although it was even crazier walking into the book store last night and seeing it on the magazine rack...)

Excuse the not-so-great iPhone photos, but I just couldn't wait to share with you guys. :)

P.s. You might recognize

this

girl and

this

guy

May Flowers


April showers bring May flowers.
We've definitely had our fair share of rain here in Richmond this week.
I'm not complaining though because it's calmed all this nasty pollen down. And it's been sort of refreshing and rejuvenating in a way. I often feel that way when it rains. Especially in the springtime. Spring rain seems to bring with it a calmness and peace that just does my soul good.

Been working hard on new designs for the shop.
Trying not to jump the gun and work on warm knits for fall/winter and focus on the spring/summer pieces I have going instead, but it's hard when I have all of these ideas running around in my head!
Lots of sketching and doodling and writing and list making.

I've also been working on my goals for May, but of course I probably won't get them up until after the weekend. 

Speaking of being refreshed, I've been reading more again. It's been really nice.
There's just nothing that slows you down and puts things into perspective a little like taking the time to be still a while and read a book.
Of course I have about six going at a time right now... but hopefully I can get that down to a more reasonable number after the weekend as well.

I can't really believe it's already May.
I mean really, 2014, where are you goin?

I came across this old post from last May.
I hope this year's May is just as good to me as that one was.

I have a feelin it will be. 

My RVA: French For A Day

I attended the

French Film Festival

for the first time this year. 

It's been around as long as I've been alive, but I've surprisingly never ever been.

I really enjoyed it and I definitely want to make sure I get around to seeing more films next year. 

Met up with my friend

Brian

while there and we decided to complete the French theme of the day with some 

croque-monsieur

(french grilled cheese) sandwiches from

Garnett's Cafe

.

Despite the fact that they were, heartbreakingly, out of their home made pickles (my favorite) it was a ridiculously delicious lunch.  

Basically, I may or may not have been craving one of those sandwiches everyday since...

It's fun pretending to be French for a day.

Maybe I'll finally get back to teaching myself French like I've been wanting to...