The $100 Startup

I love this website. It's basically a website to advertise his book, but it is so much more than that.

The language is compelling, and the resources are so great, beautifully designed, inspirational,  and helpful. When you click on "Resources" you'll get a whole list of downloadable pdfs that outline, in one page, how to execute some major principles of starting a business. They are great resources, and I recommend everyone thinking about starting a business (and not quite sure what you don't know but need to) to take a look at them.

A simple idea, executed well. I love when that happens!

My Favorite Colors for Logos and Banners

I use colourlovers a lot to help clients choose palettes for websites, logos, banners, and events. It's also one of those websites that makes time disappear because it's so fun to browse. Some of the color combinations are very yummy indeed, and make me want to paint my house, or start a line of sweaters. These are my favorites right now:

Faded Wallpaper would be a beautiful color scheme for an Etsy shop selling vintage textiles, upcycled grandma stuff. It feels very Anthropologie and reminds me of some sparse and modern houses on Apartment Therapy.

I love Mala Palaxturnun for a startup website with a strong call to action, such as a fitness website, or the iwillteachyoutoberich type, and a brand identity based around movement.

Sex on the Floor is such a magical reddish orangy red. It is a great color for an independent consultant with a strong and fun-loving outlook. OH, wait. It's my title color for my blog.

Toys

Why can't I just have interesting and beautiful art all around me instead of furniture?
Orange granny, silver figurine, and lilac wall sconces are from the coolest Etsy shop.
The knitted sea urchin and owl are from Ravelry. You can make them yourself!
The green book is from another Etsy shop, the Nib and Quil.
The wolf and dino plaques are from Snew.

I think I can probably make all of these things at home if I set my mind to it, but I guess lately I have been focusing on work and not so much on crafts. I had 11 events this month. Five in Austin and six in Chicago. I don't even have curtains in the house yet, and I think that should be step one. I'm tired, and all I can do is look at toys and art on the internet. 

Iceland

(Iceland Pics from Flickr)

A plane ticket to Iceland is $800. There are some beautiful Airbnb places there for $300 per week, in nice-looking towns, one on a tiny island with a single tiny town on it. It looks awesome. If I had 3 weeks in iceland, I would paint and hike. Maybe I'd try to paint while hiking.

Sometimes when I'm stressed I want to get away and not be responsible for anything or to anyone. I don't even want to get to know new people, only to experience life as an observer. 

Cranberry

1. Better Homes and Gardens
2. Panettone boxes from Carluchos
3. Red barn from Per Ivar Somby's flickr
4. Inspiration from Alisa Burke's blog
5&6. Pinterest

A great event can come from a simple theme. I love the idea of putting a bowl of halved cranberries in the middle of a big table, and some different colored inks and handmade papers, and letting guests create their own art to take home.

If I had Panettone in the house I would probably make bread pudding with it.

The red barn picture was taken in Norway, and if you click on Per Ivar Somby's flickr link you'll see his photos of the Northern Lights, too. It makes me want to visit Norway!

Crafty Time: Printed Recipe Tags on Vintage Christmas Mugs

My assistant printed these little baby tags with a logo on one side and a recipe for the drink on the other side. The drink was a hot toddy, yum! I bought these vintage mugs for between 40 cents and 90 cents at the thrift store and washed them. People could pick out their favorite mug, get it filled up, take it home with them, and make the recipe on the tag at home! It makes events really fun when there's something for someone to experience there, take home, and then make or do again later with friends. 

A piled-up triangle banner with the logo on it, and a second one made from pretty origami papers. They are for a super-cute photo booth idea (photos later). It's super easy with origami paper, and you can use them over the top of another backdrop, like a vintage map, or in front of a fire place or across a whole room:

1. Mark the center of one side of the paper, and draw a line from the center point to one corner, then the center point to the other corner, making a triangle.
2. Grab some twine, i-cord, or string, and some clear tape.
3. Tapey-tapey the triangle to the twine, making the tape go from the top of the triangle all the way around the string to the back of the triangle.
4. Use pushpins to secure on the walls or ceiling

I bought my mason jars at the thrift for $2 each. They are neat and perfect for Hot Toddies, a whiskey-based drink. I filled them with cinnamon sticks, honey, lemon juice, and whiskey and let it meld together for a few hours. When the party folks started to arrive, we boiled water in a kettle and started pouring hot teas, then adding the whiskey mixture. Yum and super easy. In these pictures you can see my coworking space, The COOP. I'm opening my own coworking space.

Next I want to try making Hot Buttered Rum for a crowd.