Designer Wednesday

I AM SO EXCITED TO WRITE THIS POST!!

Ok, sorry for all the yelling, but I've been holding this in for a long time! Today I'm starting our Guest Designer series. Once a month I will ask someone to be a Guest Design Team member. January's Guest designer is the incredibly talented (not to mention sweet and ultra thrift-tastic) Christina Clouse!

I've been a blog stalker of Christina's for the past several years. When I was still working at Lasting Memories she walked in one Saturday and I had a small freak out. I wanted to be like "uh, hello!?! Don't you know who that is? Why isn't anyone else freaking out?" Thank goodness she didn't think I was a stage 5 creeper when she got to the counter and I said something awkward like "um, I totally know who you are. I read your blog..." I was much less crazy when I saw her after that, and no doubt she's one of the sweetest people I have ever met.

Christina's projects blew me away! Her style is full of layers, vintage elements, lots of distressing and tons of texture! I could go on, but I think her talent speaks for itself! Enjoy!

Created with the Merry Mustache buttons

Do you see the baker's twine? And the inking around the buttons? swoon!
Used the Merry set of buttons

Love the paint and folded fans! Used the Spooky buttons.

For this amazing mini album Christina used the Vintage Lace buttons. I love the stitching and crackle paint. So gorgeous!! Thank you soo much Christina for participating!

And of course I also have some beautiful projects from DT member Stacey as well!

I love the guinea feathers! Used the Hello Kitty buttons

The sea shells are epic! All the layers on this are so incredible!

I hope you guys know that seeing your creativity makes me insanely happy. Even if it isn't scrapbook related! If you have any projects you want featured using Such Sweet Tierney products be sure to add them to the flickr pool!

Guest Designer Teaser and other giggly things

Yesterday Michal asked if I would write her a letter of recommendation. Of course I obliged. But I couldn't resist in writing a funny one too...here is the "fake" letter:

to whom it may concern,

I strongly recommend Michal Sanford as a candidate for employment at your organization. Michal has been a doting and loyal assistant for the last two years. Michal works well for little to no pay and almost no positive reinforcement. Michal has been my unpaid personal assistant since 2008.

Michal Sandford has strong communication skills and can scrub a kitchen spotless. She presents a polished and professional appearance that can only be achieved by the "hour after shower" ritual. She constantly exceeds in visual beauty and is a strong advocate for scarves. Michal is a self starter and her daily responsibilities include but are not limited to, cooking her own meals, advocating literature, attending to the personal care of Chaucer bear and Ellie the elephant, exceeding 90 point words in "words with friends," gluing paper, sealing envelopes, making coffee, napping and wearing cute boots.

Michal would be an excellent candidate for the menial tasks you would rather not perform yourself. I strongly recommend her for a position with high responsibility and low pay. if you have any further questions about Michal's qualifications please don't hesitate to contact me.

sincerely,

London Tierney


ha ha. We giggled for quite a while :)

aaaaaaannnnndddd..............


Tomorrow you better grab a hot beverage and be ready for some amazing inspiration. We have our first guest designer tomorrow and I CAN'T WAIT!! Here are some teasers:


Have you figured out who it is yet? See you tomorrow for the full reveal, along with our regular designer Wednesday!

Thank You!!

I wanted to say a quick "hello" to all the Freckled Nest readers! Thanks a ton for your support and readership! I've had fun looking at the comments and slowly going to everyone's blog! I didn't realize that Project 52 would be such a hit, but I wanted to have a non crafty feature and it has been a personal goal to read more! If you join the project please share what you read! I'd love love love to hear it!!

As for the questions I've received...

1. there are still a few links that don't click through (DIY, Tutorials, featured designers...) I am in the process of tagging old posts so that I can create a place for these links to connect to! The featured designers is a new thing...and starts tomorrow!! Thank you in advance for your patience and I hope you will enjoy the content when it is all live. I did update the wedding link, and will continue when I have more photos edited!

2. In response to my post from yesterday, I was the Manager of the Waldenbooks store for three years until it closed. It was a challenging store, but by the last year I had an amazing staff (of only five people!!) and we had a total blast. If you work for Borders, hang in there. I know it's a company in crisis right now.

I plan on doing a 100 things about me segment soon, and we can all get to know eachother better ;)

Monday Mix

Today is the 2 year anniversary of when the bookstore M and I used to work at closed. We thought it might be perfectly appropriate to make a playlist including songs we listened to while working there or that remind us of it :) It was the coolest job I've ever had (aside from working for myself of course) and I've had some pretty awesome jobs!



Music Playlist at MixPod.com


Also, thank you for the support in destashing! I've already cleared out quite a bit! For all you international buyers Please note that I am happy to combine shipping and/or refund overages. If purchasing mutiple items convo me first as it seems for the most part that I can ship to most places for a rate of 11-15$ total. I am happy to quote you a price before you purchase! Thank you!

Clearing out the clutter

On monday I mentioned I was going through my supplies and trying to downsize a little. That project cleared out about 75% of my stash. In preparation of some amazing new products I'm bringing to the shop soon I need both the room and the extra change to make it all work. I also realized that some of this stuff I've had for quite a while and haven't even attempted to use it. To me that means I probably won't use it anytime soon...and I'd rather pass it on to someone who might!!I'm having a huge destash sale in my OLD ETSY SHOP so be sure to check it out and tell your friends. The shipping for the papers is high, but anything above 8X8 is hard to mail because I have to find an envelope or box big enough and pad it correctly as not to damage the goods. I am happy to A). Combine shipping to save on your costs and B). refund you the difference if shipping is less than listed!
Please please please help me get this stuff cleared out! I can't wait to share the new products with you in the upcoming months!

****edit: thanks for the heads up that the link was broken! It's fixed now! sorry!!

Project 52 update

Project 52 is so far successful! At first I worried I might lose interest or momentum, but honestly I've had a harder time not reading ahead. I've devoured everything I've read so far and had to start pacing myself so I still get my other things done :)

Book 2

Skeletons at the feast-Chris Bohjalian

I bought this book two years ago, it's been sitting on my bookshelf waiting for me to get around to it! I love WWII stories, and this novel is based loosely on real people's stories/diaries during that time. Bohjalian's writing is smooth and even though he writes from the perspective of several different characters (and different sides, german, jewish, scottish...) throughout the story you never feel lost or disjointed. My favorite thing about the book is the way these characters intertwine in the stories, it gives a sense of what it really might have been like. His portrayal of the war is abrupt and violent, heartbreaking and honest. I strongly recommend it!


Book 3

Three Dog Life-Abigail Thomas

I'm not even sure where to start. This book was a sucker punch to the heart. This memoir is about Thomas' husband who gets hit by a car in NYC and suffers a life changing brain injury. The injury alters his personality, his memory and his ability to complete simple tasks such as brushing his teeth. Thomas puts her husband in an assisted living home, but her love and loyalty never stray.

I was recommended this book by a writing professor in college, due to Thomas' writing style. Her prose is honest, insightful and heartbreaking without feeling forced. There's nothing I hate more than a book that reads like a lifetime movie, and generally this type of tragedy tends to lead to that type of storytelling. Not Thomas. Her writing is so incredible I had to keep myself from reading the book in one sitting. My favorite chapter is "How to break up a dog fight" which relates just as much to the human condition as it does to her three dogs.


GO. OUT. AND. READ. THESE.

Designer Wednesday

Pearl sent over some beautiful projects to share this week! A very spring and vintage inspired pallet to pull you out of this winter funk!


Pearl used the Hello Kitty buttons and the "oh, baby" buttons from the shop!

Monday, er, Tuesday Mix

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Last week

Last week I:

*Skyped with this lovely girl
*Read bk 2 for Project 52 (and started 3 already!)
*Designed Valentines goodies
*Designed some awesome wedding invites for a friend
*Survived a minor snow-pocolypse
*Survived the 2011 bridal expo in Seattle (for the second time! but this time not for me!!)
*Finally took some photos with my Holga
*Made some major goals for the website and future of SST in 2011
*Wished I had a lot more money
*Finally printed and started sending out Thank you cards
*Did not find new music
*Downloaded a lot of fonts
*Drank a LOT of coffee


This week I'm doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff in preparation of the previously mentioned major goals for this new year. I'm also going to be cleaning out my studio, aka dining room, so that I can destash, de-clutter and hopefully give you guys some amazing bargains!! I can't wait to tell you about book 2, show you the invites I made, and post some valentines goodies in the shop! It's going to be lovely! Monday Mix will happen a little later today. After the coffee kicks in. Happy Monday all!