I spent all day yesterday with the lovely Tams. Our goal was to fix up her husband Matt's office for a big blowout party they are having this weekend, and after 2 trips to the local hardware store, 3 cans of paint, a marathon run for accessories through Target, I would say that we were successful. Since I had to leave while the paint was still drying I didn't get to snap any shots of the finished product, but Tam never fails to photograph the goods, so stay tuned.
She also took a look at some of the jewelry I've been working on and convinced me to get out there and try to sell some of it. She has a had a lot of success with her Etsy shop, and I think that I might give it a go as well. I think my goal at this point is to have something up and running in about a month - I want to get a good inventory before I open the store, so it looks like I'm somewhat legit. Here's some of the goodies I've been working on...





The hardest part right now is coming up with a name. I would like to find something that could grow into a business name, if things go that direction. It would be great if it could work for jewelry, accessories like purses and things, and maybe work for interior design too - in case I decide to do freelance work in that department too. So here's the deal, I need some help. I came up with some words that I like, or that I think relate to me and might be able to be worked into a business name. Here they are:

• my nickames: ducey and ruby
• nest, domain, adorned, accoutrements, bella, loot, goods, purple house, creates or creations
• something to do with hecho or mano - handmade in spanish
• something like encanto - glamour in portuguese
• a better, more creative way of saying finishing touches, or the little things...

I don't know, writing those out now they all sound really lame... I need some creative collaboration!

One of my very favorite catalogs came in the mail recently. I love looking through the incredibly stylish and well-placed pages for fashion, jewelry, set design ideas that I can never afford, but provide great inspiration. I've seen this necklace before at Anthropologie, and it keeps catching my eye so often that I think I have to give it a try. (yes, I realize, this is shameless rip-off happening right now). I'll keep you posted on how it goes...

Mosaic of Me

I saw this fun mosaic game on another design blog, and I was intrigued...
So, here's the deal... you answer the following 12 questions about yourself (my answers are in parentheses after each question):

1. What is your first name? (amanda)

2. What is your favorite food? (sushi)

3. What high school did you attend? (fairview high school)

4. What is your favorite color? (lime green)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (jimmy fallon)

6. Favorite drink? (coffee)

7. Dream vacation? (safari)

8. Favorite dessert? (key lime pie)

9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (kate spade)

10. What do you love most in life? (creating)

11. One word to describe you? (free)

12. Your Flickr name? (ducey)

Wanna play?: Type your answer to each of the above questions into Flickr's search. Using only the images that appear on the first page, choose your favorite and copy and paste each of the URL’s into the Mosaic Maker (3 columns, 4 rows)... Enjoy!

Midwest Madness

I am sitting in the terminal at the Madison airport, ready to go home, but my plane is delayed another two and a half hours. So what do I do? Feverishly type out a blog post and check Facebook updates on my blackberry. Which begs the question how did we ever survive before wireless technology? I've been away since Wednesday this week, three days in Dubuque, Iowa, checking in at the lovely Hotel Julien, and then spending this weekend in Madison with my fabulous friend Sara. Sara drove over from Minneapolis and we had a really fun relaxing girls weekend. I am always thankful for old friends when I see her. It seems pretty easy to lose touch with people during this transition filled decade we call your 20's. Its comforting to know that I have people out there in my life who have seen me through so much already that nothing seems as big of a deal as it does on my own.
It was really fun to see the hotel this week. Things are coming along! The jobsite is a bustle of activity as everyone is working hard to get ready for the first wedding scheduled in November (we're hoping that the bride doesn't have to wear a hard hat down the aisle, at this point its anyones guess). I can't wait to walk though the hotel when the renovation is complete, it's been such a big project I think it will feel like a really great accomplishment.
Alright only 2 more hours to kill now...

I'm in recovery. Yesterday I went to my first hot yoga class - I'm totally hooked now, but man they're not joking around with the heat! I feel like I got a full body exfoliation. This afternoon I decided to go on a run, I thought maybe that would help with my sore muscles...well it didn't. In fact I might even be more sore now than I was before. Last year this time I had a goal of "becoming a runner". I wasn't really sure at the time what that was going to mean in my life, I just knew that I didn't want to be that girl who was sucking air every time she picked up the pace a little. I think I can successfully say that I am a "runner" now, some days more than others, but I just signed up for my first 5k race. (I know, 5k, big whoop to all of you marathoners, but you have to remember the little people every once in a while, and a 5k is a kind of a big deal). A couple of the girls at work and I are going to run the Race for the Cure. One of our big wallcovering manufacturers is sponsoring a team, so we decided to join up. (if anyone is interested in donating money, the company is raising money, just click the link below)

http://www.komendenver.org/site/TR

In the meantime, I just baked some delicious looking bread, I better get at it before Ophie finds it.