It’s another great day at Pick Your Plum.  Check out the cuteness of this ruffled ribbon and these beautiful thread colors!  Can you imagine the wonderful things you can create with this?

I see hair bows, flowers, trim for some aprons and Christmas stockings (hey…don’t fault a girl for thinking ahead!) and lots, lots more!

Don’t miss out – get your shopping on right now!

http://tracking.pickyourplum.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1508

Or in my case Bags (plural…you know, as in many bags).  Another wonderful Facebook friend I met along the way through my networking and such is quite a wonderful artist when it comes to sewing purses, bags, totes and more!

A month or so ago LivingSocial had a deal for a PanAm overnight bag and I fell in love with it – I loved everything about it except the price tag!  This is a picture of a similar one (just in case you have no idea what a PanAm bag is, but really, how could you not know what it is).  The one on LivingSocial (from Fab) was all blue, but both are very cute!

When I showed my friends in the networking group this bag one of them shared a bag she had made using a tutorial from Riley Blake (who designs some of my favorite fabrics).  I mean, seriously, check out this cute bag!  The tutorial (linked in the previous sentence) provides all you need to make this bag (except the “ingredients” of course).

I know have seen the items in my shop so you know I can sew, but I can’t SEW!  But, my good friend Trish over at Lemon Drop Creations can!!  She has made some really stunning wallets, zipper pouches, handbags, and totes!  I’m in awe of how great the craftsmanship is and how quick she is able to make them.  As soon as I saw the picture of the Riley Blake bag I tapped Trish on the shoulder (virtually, of course) and commissioned (begged) her to make me one.

I’d like to say it stopped there…but it didn’t.  I then saw a tutorial for a cute messenger bag that would be perfect for my laptop and so I asked for that too.  And then! Well, then there was this cute Zip and Go bag she posted a picture of and I don’t think I have to tell you where this is headed.

Three bags it is! Or so I thought.  Trish surprised me with 2 more bags and a fabric notepad cover!  Five bags!  What could really make a girl happier?  (Well, maybe 5 pair of shoes as well as 5 bags.)

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If you are looking for something more along the line of a one of a kind – using a favorite fabric – check out Trish at Lemon Drop Creations.  I’m sure she can whip something up for you.

Let me show you the wondrous things she did for me!

Several years ago when I had my salon I had the pleasure of meeting Leah who came to work as our make-up artist.  To know Leah is to love her!  When I closed my salon Leah and I lost touch a little, although I would visit her from time to time at the Clinique counter to stock up on my make-up.  I will admit that the losing touch part is really my fault.  I was happy when we connected on Facebook and I was able to follow some of the happy things in her life – marriage, a sweet little angel, and now her 2nd baby on the way.

Sadly, though, I also saw the loving posts of encouragement when her little angel went to Heaven last year.  So I was absolutely thrilled when I found out she was expecting another bundle of joy!  And I felt super honored and privileged when Leah asked if I would help with some new decorations for Baby C’s room.

One night us crazy girls were shopping and laying out frames all over the floors at Michael’s Craft store in the middle of a tornado warning – listen, a girl has to have priorities!  All kidding aside, I texted her as soon as I got home to make sure she was safe!

We wanted to come up with a design that would celebrate her little angel in Heaven as well as little Baby C who is on the way (any day now)!

I found a great frame at Michael’s to be in the center of 4 other frames and we decided on yellow for that one.  I stapled batting and grey with white polka dot fabric to the back of the frame to be the background behind 4 inspirational words cut out of wood and painted white.  The 4 small frames surrounding the yellow frame were all painted white.  Two are small heart frames that will have Baby C’s pictures in them when he makes his entrance into the world.  And the other 2 were decorated with an elephant and giraffe.  Giraffe were already in the room and we are now incorporating elephants.  The other thing we opted to include was a large vinyl image of 2 elephants – one bigger than the other and handing balloons to his “baby brother.”

Check out the cuteness!

Frame Collage

Window wall of frames

Brothers Playing with Balloons

I’m wishing Leah, her husband Brian, and Baby C a wonderful life!

Welcome to the “Super Grad” giveaway event sponsored by Tip Hero, featuring some awesome bloggers. Now that we’re in the middle of graduation season, we thought a giveaway would be a great way to celebrate.

One lucky winner will be the recipient of a $100 Amazon that can be used to get a great present for your favorite grad!

This giveaway begins on May 7th and will run until May 21st at 11:59pm US Eastern time. It will be open to residents of the US only, 18+. Use the PromoSimple form below to enter, and be sure to take advantage of the many entries you can gain. And be sure to come back daily for more chances to win. Good luck!

$100 Amazon Gift Card

When you drive by Blue Mark Studios you will see an over 120 year old church building that has been resurrected as an artist loft, art studio, gallery and venue rolled into one.  Years ago if you were in this area of West Midtown (Atlanta) you would likely want to speed up and get to the “other side of the tracks” (literally there are tracks right there) as soon as possible.  There was a time that this area was not so nice, but it has been getting a facelift and places like Blue Mark Studios is giving this little part of town a whole new look and feel.  It truly is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to an old building, as well as a person who truly sees it as something more than sticks and bricks.

I first discovered this little gem because of a Groupon to their Booty Shakin’ Bingo (yes, you read that right).  They have a 1^st Wednesday of the month Bingo event that is in no way similar to your grandmother’s Bingo other than someone is calling out numbers and you are using a dauber to mark your cards.  Everything else is uncharted territory – from the disco ball, to the DJ, to the dimmed lights, and the dancing!

Once I was aware of Blue Mark Studios I found through their website that they were hosting a monthly Blue Market – a vendor show where little businesses like mine could sell my wares.  I missed a few months due to being sick the end of 2011, but Jen who manages the venue was so super nice she even offered to make me Matza ball soup!  I didn’t take her up on the offer, but I’ve since had her cooking on several occasions and I sorely missed out on that opportunity!  (Sadly, due to a full schedule of events the Blue Market is no longer part of their calendar of events.)

Bryan Seay is the owner of Blue Mark Studios.  When he found this diamond in the rough several years ago he had a vision of a place for artists to get together and work on their various art forms – painting, drawing, sculpting and whatever else struck a chord with the artists.  Through his vision and the tenacity of his girlfriend who manages the venue, Jen, Blue Mark Studios does all that and more these days!

As previously mentioned, the first Wednesday of every month you can find close to 100 people shaking their stuff at the Booty Shakin’ Bingo, there is a new art opening in the gallery every other month where you can find a wide array of artistic styles, 2-3 days per week Blue Mark Studios is host to The Murder Mystery Company as their actors put on a live murder mystery dinner theatre, on alternating evenings several nights a month they offer a great date night of Couple and a Canvas which includes 2 people, 1 canvas, food and wine, and if you don’t think that’s enough throw in some parties, charity events and a few weddings and you have yourself a busy venue!  Quite frankly, what better place to host a party or a wedding?  Take a look around and every other option available will provide the same 4 white walls and little to no character compared to a 110+ year old church.

If you are from the Atlanta area, and thought the area was not quite right for you, I suggest you give it another look.  What Bryan and Jen have done with the place is remarkable, with its mix of cutting edge art and its small town, city charm – it’s a place you will not soon forget and you will find yourself looking to see what event is next!

Check out pictures from some of their events!

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Bryan Seay’s (owner of Blue Mark Studios) professional bio:

Atlanta artist and graduate of the Atlanta College of Art, Bryan Seay has a passion for creativity.  Over the past 25 years he has worked in various mediums including clay, photography, painting, graphic design and animation.

After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Atlanta College of Art in 1993 he went onto University of Georgia where he studied computer animation.  Using those skills, he then continued his studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he did an internship at the Interactive Media Technology Lab, working with the Atlanta Ballet on their dance and technology project, a multimedia performance.  He has also worked as a part of the Fox Theater restoration crew and later as a freelance graphic designer for them.  Subsequently he returned to the Atlanta College of Art to study photography and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center to study and work with clay.   His work has been shown at a number of galleries and museums throughout the Southeast.

In 2008, Bryan ventured into a new area when he purchased a 110 yr old church and refurbished and renovated it into what is today Blue Mark Studios, an innovative artist cooperative, special events venue and art gallery located in West Midtown, Atlanta.

Pick Your Plum fans – you’ve been asking for it!  And today is the day!!  TWINE!!  Pick Your Plum really has the best twine around and the price is good too!

If you are always looking for something fun to wrap gifts with, use for crafty, or to wrap up your cakes and cupcakes – this bakers twine is what you are looking for.  Do.Not.Miss.This!

This is the women’s answer to Duct Tape (no, seriously, it is).

This will do it all. Get the job done while looking amazing. It’s a work horse in heels.

Need a quick way to make your outdoor plastic forks, knifes, spoons, and napkins into adorable grab and go packets? Bam! Twine.

In charge of a fishing pond game this summer? Twine is your best friend.

Want a cute way to tie your beans to the pole? Twine is a functional design choice!

Use this link to get your shopping on!

When Pick Your Plum has a birthday they really go all out!  They invited ALL of us to their party, they are offering SIX fun deals instead of ONE, and they are offering you 20% in addition to the already great prices.

You will want to show up for this party…RIGHT.ON.TIME!  It will be standing room only, people will be rushing to get in and snag the cute fun deals and being “fashionably late” may mean you make it to the party at all.

Use coupon code BIRTHDAYPLUMS to save 20%

Here is a sneak peek at 3 of the 6 deals…you won’t want to miss out.  Click here to go shopping!

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Do you know where you were and what you were doing five (5) long years ago today?  I do!  This is the 5th anniversary of what I thought at the time was the worst day of my life!  That is the day I walked in my salon and day spa and told my team that “Tomorrow we will not be open.  As of right now (5:00ish pm) we are officially closed for business.”  I had tried everything I knew to do.  Just prior to making that announcement I had placed one final call to my bank and asked for additional money to downsize and move to another location…the answer was no and that sealed my fate.  Or so I thought!

Here’s the great thing about life…YOU get to chose how you live it!  Only YOU can determine if it will be the worst day of your life.  Only YOU can determine if you will let that one day in time – that one day out of the many thousands of days you will be on this earth – ruin the rest of your days.  I admit it, for several months I was in a (sort of) funk and state of depression.  But most people didn’t even know it.  I went to work everyday and thanks to some great people at work and my wonderful family – I survived!

And now, 5 long years later I live my life like it was the best lesson of my life instead of the worst day of my life.  Unless you know me or have heard my story you would not know that I lost a business and still pay for it to this day.  By pay for it I mean – I still pay a monthly loan payment for my SBA loan.  A payment that in many cases is more than the mortgage payments my friends and family make.  But I refuse to let that ruin my life.

When you wake up tomorrow decide how YOU are going to live your life!  Make this decision with both eyes wide open, an open mind and an open heart.  Do not let one speck on a large canvas of your life ruin your life.  Who wins when you let it consume you?  Definitely not YOU.

Below is a slideshow of some of my favorite quotes…

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The Sunday Spotlight is so fun!  I love learning about businesses that I admire, and who I purchase from.  I’m going to change it up a little bit and host it every other Sunday.  First, I will be making the change because there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done that I’d like to. Second, I need to gather info on more companies to ensure I have everything prepared and ready for all my wonderful readers. Third, if we host a giveaway it may be nice to allow it to go on for more than 1 week (it will be at the vendor’s discretion).

Here are a couple companies I will be spotlighting in the future:

Droopy Daisy

Personally Yours by Casey

Yarning by Ewe

Michelle Bleu Jewelry Designs

You won’t want to miss these upcoming features.  These great small businesses are up to some wonderful things!!

And just in case you’ve missed previous features – be sure to check out the great companies who have already been in the spotlight!

April 14, 2013 – LEAP Boutique

April 7, 2013 – Stampin’ Up (with Brain)

March 17, 2013 – Circle of Love Wreaths and Crafts

March 10, 2013 – Photobooth Planet

March 3, 2013 - Jennifer’s Jewels

February 17, 2013 - Print My

February 10, 2013 – GeminiRed Creations

February 3, 2013 – The Southern Charm Co. **you don’t want to miss what The Southern Charm Co. has been up to.  Lacy has added photography to her offerings and the work she does is terrific!

If you want your business to be in the Spotlight, please check here.

Want even more changes to win??  Here’s your chance!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don’t forget to thank all the sponsors and give them a nice big shout out on their Facebook pages, via Twitter, or comment on their blogs!  The more interactive everyone is the more opportunities there will be for these BIG prizes in the future!!

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