Friday, December 31, 2010

the simple things...


As new year's eve draws near, I have my 2011 list ready for what I want to do & how I want to be better... (& it's a long one!) But after I wrote it I realized that above all else, my hopes & dreams for this year are merely the simplest little things in life that bring the most happiness ~ spending time with those I love & doing the things that make me happy (the Makerie is such a HUGE part of this for me!). When life becomes more simple, time is freed up to do more of the above. So there you have it... I've answered my own question:

This is my year to SIMPLIFY!

Wishing all of you a year filled with everything that makes you happy!

XoXo

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

amazing alessandra!


We couldn't be more thrilled that Alessandra, creator of the Gypsy Girls Guide and beautiful photography site alessandracave.com, will be teaching at our inaugural event! All she thought she needed was a camera and a backpack, until her round the world travels revealed a fierce love for texture, light and design, as old as the stories she once called home. One and a half careers later, she's finally traded in her passport for photo studios and locations where her eye for sun-drenched color and vintage beauty takes commercial photography to a whole new world. Whether she's shooting starlets or musing on her beloved moon, Alessandra is serious about living life to the fullest and inspiring others to do the same. We love that she will be in Boulder to share her wealth of photography knowledge & inspire you in ways you never knew possible.

It was so much fun reading her answers to our questions so come get to know the amazing Alessandra below!

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If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?
Oh I love this question, because I have always been fascinated with the circus, and I have always secretly wished to take trapeze and aerial ribbon classes. It's on my life's list for sure!

If you could start your own restaurant, what would it be?
If I could start a restaurant, it would most definitely have a vegetarian inspired menu, adhering to a seasonal calendar and using ingredients from either the restaurant's garden or from local organic farmers. The place would also have a amazing wines, "green" bohemian design featuring recycled products throughout the spaces, an outdoor dining area, and Brazilian bossa nova as the ambient music choice! One can dream, no?

Favorite thing to eat for breakfast.
I subscribe to the typical french petit dejeuner which is also the most common way to have breakfast in my home country (Brazil): a croissant with butter and jam, some fruit and the perfect cappucino!

Your true indulgence.
I have several, but here are just a few of my favorite ways to treat myself:
*dark chocolate always handy ~ i have some every single day!
*polaroid film ~ i'm a new mom and it just so happens that my sx70 camera fits perfectly in the diaper bag ! So what can I do? :P Must indulge on some pola film even though the prices are ridiculous right now.
*massages ~ i try to have swedish massages as often as possible
*long dates with myself ~ window shopping, shooting pictures, a delicious healthy meal, ice cream or cupcake, laying out in the sunshine at the park, watching the sunset on the beach, etc.

Hidden talents.
I have a very very strong intuition ~ to the point I can predict the future sometimes!

Favorite actor or actress.
There are so many! But right now the one that comes to mind is Kate Winslet. I have a major girl crush on her! She is not only a fabulous actress, but also strikes me as an intelligent, kind and beautiful woman inside and out.

What color shoes are you wearing right now?
I am only wearing cozy socks at the moment.

If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?
I generally don't like the word advice because it sounds too pretentious and because ultimately, we each need to find our own way...  But if I could share with you something that works for me, it would be my life's {manifesto}. I keep all these intentions close by, so I can remind myself of what nurtures my soul and my well-being.

And if I could share something with the world it would be:
We are better together. When we are together, there is no war, no separation. There is mutual understanding. Together we can join forces towards ending poverty and hunger. Together we can create bigger, better and more beautiful things. If we are together it means there is kindness, compassion and love between us, and as a friend once told me: "love always always wins."

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?
Family, friends and kindred spirits. Gatherings like weddings, birthdays, holidays, art events and creative retreats, make me very happy. The energy that is created by the people I love or the people that love the same things I do, lingers with me for a long while after our moment together has passed, leaving me replenished and inspired. {I'm so looking forward to our time together at the Makerie!}

What do you value most in other people?
Pure heart, pure intention.

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
I attempt new things every single day and I believe there is no such thing as failure. Everything that we do or attempt to do leads to another chapter in our journey. We create our lives out of the little tiny steps we take towards our dreams. Sometimes our dreams change or morph into unimaginable new dreams, sometimes we are the ones who change, but we simply cannot fail! We just can't. Not even if we try...

What is the best advice you've ever given and received?
When it comes to advice, make sure you also listen to your own gut. Only you can say what is really best for you.

Do you like to sing in the shower?
Nope. But these days I sing to my baby daughter practically all day long!

A wish not fulfilled.
Oh I prefer to look at it as wishes yet to be fulfilled! I have many and the list just keeps on growing... Here are a few wishes: travel to Morocco, live in Brooklyn (NY), own a sailboat, shoot an Anthropologie catalogue, have my own photographer's studio, etc etc etc.

If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be?
Life is Beautiful ~

Thursday, December 23, 2010

stories...


Natalie Chanin - Fashion Designer from Alabama Chanin on Vimeo.
... are gifts meant to be shared. And since it's gift-giving season, I wanted to share this beautiful one from the ever-inspiring Alabama Chanin. I just love it.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

on traditions...


Well it's no secret I love to make things ~ many things, including food! I'm realizing more & more how smitten I am with anything from the bread group that is hot & fresh out of the oven, & a tradition we have come to love is having homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. Yes, the kind that are warm, doughy & eaten fresh out of the oven with oodles of frosting. I rarely make the same recipe twice, as I love to experiment, and just came across this fabulous one that I will try this year. I am so excited that I can make them ahead of time & just pop them in the oven Christmas morning. Not only do I adore Heidi, but I'm pretty in love with her healthy food blog too. I'll let you know how they turn out!

What are your special holiday traditions?

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

flora!


What an amazing life Flora has ~ traveling, teaching workshops and painting in colorful locations around the world! She considers her work to be a celebration of the present moment; chaotic, subtle, mystical and ever-changing, and we are so incredibly thrilled she is coming to Boulder to share her inspiration, and love her latest idea of a Chillaxathon! :)

Get to know this incredible artist and teacher a little bit more below!

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If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?
Acrobatics. (I used to be a gymnast and I still love to tumble, cartwheel, stand on my hands and swing from things :)

Do you have any phobias?
Rats.

Favorite thing to eat for breakfast.
Eggs, kale, smoothies, oatmeal.

Your true indulgence.
Baths, walks without destinations, travel and creamy chocolaty things.

Hidden talents.
I can spin fire.

What color shoes are you wearing right now?
Orange boots.

If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?
Live your passion.

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?
Friends, if humans count as "things." Otherwise, trampolines or puppies. Hard choice!

What do you value most in other people?
Presence and humor.

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
Putting an end to hunger, war, suffering...

What is the best advice you've ever given and received?
Do what you love and the money will follow.

Do you like to sing in the shower?
Yes. Definitely.

A wish not fulfilled.
Travel to India.

the fireflies!


The very first Firefly Handmade market was last weekend, and what a weekend it was! Boulder has been starving for an indie craft market, and it has finally arrived. With over 2,500 people coming through the doors in just three days, it was buzzing with fun and festive energy, not to mention incredible vendors making fabulous things. I'm so proud of the Firefly girls (Kristin FitzGerrell, Alli Bozeman, & Denise Chaudhari) for putting on such a fantastic market and finally, literally bringing to market the art of local and handmade! And to think this is only the beginning...

We are so excited to be partnering with this terrific trio to bring another Firefly Market to the Makerie this spring. Go Handmade!!!

Here are a few of the goodies I picked up at the market this weekend!

adorable dandy social club upcycled shirt

letterpress matted french frame from bird dog press

sweet crocheted basket by haute nature

Monday, December 6, 2010

hello lizzy!


Meet the darling Lizzy House! A printmaker, textile designer, and illustrator, she travels the world in search of inspiration. When she isn't printing or designing fabric, or sleeping on an airplane, she is probably planning a party or writing a list. If neither of those is underway, she is probably tying a bow on something and/or someone. Her aesthetic is one to be reckoned with and we are thrilled to have her as a teacher for our inaugural year! Not only will you love her pattern design & block printing classes, but you will love HER just as much. I can vouch for what a fabulous teacher she is because I have taken her incredible classes myself!

Lizzy answered all of our silly questions so come get to know her a little more!

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If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?
I'd be one of the lions.

If you could start your own restaurant, what would it be?
It would probably be a raw vegan restaurant, or the complete opposite, a French Patisserie.

Do you have any phobias?
I have a real problem with deep water and deep space... it seems so infinite in a terrifying way.

Favorite thing to eat for breakfast.
Fruit! and sometimes muesli

Your true indulgence.
Netflix

Hidden talents.
I can detect left handed geminis. I can also tell you about yourself just from talking to you for a couple of minutes.

Favorite actor or actress.
I'm really digging Paul Schneider, and Ben Whishaw.

What color shoes are you wearing right now?
Currently all of my shoes are metallic gold, and that's the way I like it. 

If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?
Know thyself! But beyond that, be generous. Generous with your time, your gifts, and your heart.

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?
Ribbon or dishes

What do you value most in other people?
Honesty, generosity, and good humor 

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
Becoming an Olympian. I don't play sports, of any kind, BUT IT KILLS ME! to know that I will never be in the Olympics!

What is the best advice you've ever given and received?
There was a point in my life, where I was at a real low, and a dear friend gave me the advice to "not waste my energy on things that were out of my control". It literally changed my life. I still sometimes find myself in a tizzy about ridiculous things, but I can shake myself out of it, look at the good, look at the possibilities, and truly decide what kind of time and energy I am going to give any given situation. When you give yourself the power to release yourself from things just happening to you, and step back and review your situation, you realize that very little is actually worth fretting over.

Do you like to sing in the shower?
If I am not singing, it is only because I am deep in thought working out the problems of the universe. 

A wish not fulfilled.
No, I have pretty much my whole life ahead of me to work out my wishes. Plus, 2 years ago when I went to Disney World, all of my fairytale childhood wishes and dreams came true, so I'm in a good place.

If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be?
Glitter. Just kidding.

beckoning of lovely 10/10/10 ~ LOVE!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

the gift of an experience

gift certificates with fabric pouches

The holiday season is in full swing & we've been thinking a lot about holiday gifts. More & more we are loving gifts of experiences. Won't you consider giving someone you love (or maybe even yourself?) the gift of time & creativity? The Makerie experience would make such a special gift for the holidays and we are happy to offer gift certificates (with handmade touches of course!) for any amount.