Thanksgiving Post: What Am I Thankful for this Year?

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Looking back over 2014, there have been so many blessings! 
I thought it would be good to take a moment to list a few of the things I'm thankful for! 

1. A thoughtful and adoring husband who loves God even more than he loves me!

(photo by Leah's Opus Photography)

Definitely the biggest thing in my life this year was getting married to Martin. I constantly become more thankful for how God put him in my life and the man that he is. He has so many characteristics that I appreciate  -- a GIANT heart, very steady, always serving others, quick to forgive, compassionate, and so loving. But I'm most thankful that he loves God so much. I know we let each other down at times, and we do not always see eye to eye (surprise!). But I always know that he is seeking the Lord, and so I can trust that God will lead both of us. I'm so thankful for that.

 2. An encouraging and supportive family

(photos by Leah's Opus Photography)

The older I get, the more thankful I am to have such a loving family (and new family). We don't get to see each other all the time, but they are such a joy to be around. I am thankful for the example they set for me and for Martin. We hope to follow their lead, and love on and encourage other people like our families have done for us.

6. Genuine friendships that survive long distances

The above picture was taken at my bridal luncheon. It makes me smile because the photograph is full of incredible, genuine, loyal, and thoughtful women. Another thing I'm learning is that great friendships are worth holding on to and working to keep/build. A lot of the ladies in the picture don't live near me, but it has been so cool to keep up with them as life takes us different places. It requires being intentional to call, email, text or send a note. Intentionality is definitely an area I'm trying to grow in, but I'm so thankful for the friendships God has placed in my life!

3. The opportunity to do what I love!

I love being creative, and I'm so thankful for the chance to be creative in my work!  It has been exciting to watch new opportunities open with Texture Design Co. this year! Who knows what directions God will lead the company next year, but I can't wait!

4. The opportunity for Martin to go back to school
Sorry, don't have a picture for this one. (Just picture someone sitting at a desk and reading). Martin was able to go back to school this year to get his masters. To be honest, it was a hard transition because it meant we wouldn't have as much time together in the evening. Weekends are now filled with tests, quizzes, or homework. However, I'm SO proud of how hard he has worked and how much he has learned. I know it is a blessing that he is able to go back to school right now, and I do think it has made our relationship stronger as we figure out how to set time aside for our relationship. So I'm thankful!

5. Our humble home

We currently live in a little one-bedroom apartment. Most people walk in and say it is very cozy...translation "it is tiny". Ha! But I've come to love it! Yes, some day I dream of having an office in our home or a guest bedroom or more than one bathroom! But right now, it is perfect. The best part, is there is little to clean. So we have more time to focus on other things. But we also learn to be content in all things. So as silly as it sounds, I'm very thankful for our little home.

6. God's grace
Well, I guess since getting married, I see more of my selfishness. And therefore, I see more of my need for God's grace. SO THANKFUL that He forgives and redeems!

"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24

There is a lot more on my thankful list, but that is my short list for now! Happy Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

-Emily

Brown Paper Packages Tied up with Bows

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Brown paper packages tied up with bows, these are a few of my favorite things....

We had a little gift wrap party with Texture friends! It was definitely a few of my favorite things: good friends, great conversations, yummy snacks and pretty packages.

O U R   G O A L

To brainstorm some fun Christmas gift wrapping ideas. We used the Texture Design Downloadable Christmas gift tags, various craft supplies, and some leaves from the yard. It was definitely more fun to wrap gifts with friends and get a little "out of the box" with our gift wrapping. Hopefully some of these ideas will inspire  you!

(Texture Design Downloadable Christmas Tags)

First, I scoured the yard for some fun leaves and berries. I also bought a few fake berries in case the real berries weren't looking too good. Then I picked up some different yarns, bakers twine, and ribbon.

Our supplies also included different markers, white gel pen, white stamp pad, cookie cutter for possible tracing and wasabi tape. Since we were using kraft paper, the options were endless!

We just sat down and started brainstorming, and I would say we were pretty excited with the results. (not to mention we had a great time chatting while wrapping).

For the gift below, our friend Emily paired two tags together for added pattern and color. She created a very elegant package with the use of the sheer ribbon and berries. The twine gives it a little added texture as well. Note, we did use hot glue to keep the leaves and berries on most of the gifts. That seemed to work the best for us.

For the package above, two tags were stuck together and hole punched on the sides for looping the twine through!

I love how this package turned out. It was like the kraft paper was a blank canvas. Our friend Kait used yarn to create a pattern on the left of the package. Then she added wasabi tape and a leaf with a hand written note. So many textures! Who wouldn't smile if they received this in the mail or under the tree?! (see close up of the multi color yarn below)

For this package, I used the eraser on a pencil as my stamp and created a little polka dot design on a package. It looks like it took me forever, but it really only took me a minute or two! Pretty cool look in just a few minutes. Add a little green yarn and tag...boom!

If you're thinking these look a little complicated or too time consuming, it isn't true! We did each gift in minutes! I'm excited to put them under the christmas tree!

If you're interested in using tags like ours, check out the Texture Design listing for Downloadable Christmas Tags. You can immediately download three pages of gift tags to use however you like! It is around 35 tags that you can print as many times as needed!

Feel free to leave comments or send pictures of how you've decorated your Christmas gifts in unique ways! Have a a great day!

(We do need to thank our friends, Kait and Emily for their gift wrap help and hand modeling!)

2015 Fashion Calendar Preview

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We debuted our new calendar last week. Here is a closer look at each month!

View last week's post to learn more about the process of designing the calendar!

http://www.addalittletexture.blogspot.com/2014/11/theyre-finally-ready-our-brand-new.html

Click HERE to view our calendar in the shop!

Have a great day!

-Emily

Our New Products: The Story Behind the Drawings

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You know when you can't wait to check the mailbox everyday to see if your package has arrived...even though you have a tracking number and know the package isn't set to arrive for two more days?

Yeah, that has been me the last few weeks. I have been patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for our calendars, notecard paper, new labels, and super chic envelope liners! Finally it is all here, and I can give you a look into our new product line!

{ HELLO UMBRELLA NOTECARDS }

{ PERSONALIZED FASHION STATIONERY }

  

{ NAVY STRIPED BAG WALL ART }

{ FASHION PRINTS }

You probably noticed that this new product line looks a bit different from the previous listings. Well, you're right! That is what is so exciting about it! My original degree is in interior design, and for our projects we would spend hours upon hours creating renderings of rooms. And secretly I loved using the markers and pencils to make the paper come to life. Soooo, a few weeks ago, I got out my supplies and started drawing again. I wasn't really sure where I was headed with it, but it was so refreshing to get away from the computer and be creative! So I did some more drawings...and before long I had a set. 

{ 8.5" x 8.5" FASHION CALENDAR  }

The set of drawings inspired the calendar. Each month has a different drawing and a Bible verse from the book of Psalms pointing back to the ultimate Creator.

My favorite thing about the fashion prints is that you can mix and match them! Do you want a casual look...go with the boots and plaid. Do you want a chic look? Go with the skirt and red shoes. There are so many options! They are just fun...like the notecard sets. Hopefully they add a little smile to your day! :)

I tried to take a few pictures during the process. I wish they were a little more in focus...but oh well! ha! I start by tracing the design, then adding the color and shading.

If you want to see the rest of the new items, please check out our shop!

www.etsy.com/shop/TextureDesignCo

Thanks for checking in! Have a wonderful day!

-Emily

Custom Blogger Design: Caroline Graham Photography

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Meet Caroline! She is one of the most thoughtful and joyful people you'll probably ever come across. What's more is that she is a blossoming photographer! Over the summer, she expressed her desire to have an online presence for her photography business. So we met over some coffee and discussed some of the options. If you need a website, there are an endless number of routes you can go, including numerous websites providing you the ability to make your own site. After thinking it through, we decided it would be good to start Caroline with a blogger website. It is a great way for her to showcase her recent photo shoots without getting overwhelmed with too much HTML or any monthly fees. The important thing being that she could still use a custom domain rather than the default domain.

So we began brainstorming what kind of look would reflect her personality and her photography business...

A woman of many talents, Caroline is also an elementary teacher. Her current logo reflects her passion for teaching, so we decided to build from there and create a bold and crisp "elementary"  look that is still very eye-catching. We chose dark blue and green as our colors because they reflect the scenery that Caroline calls home -- the South Carolina Lowcountry. Surrounded by marsh grass, bodies of water and big oak trees, the blues and greens compliment the peaceful landscape in Caroline's photos.

The homepage features the blog, and visitors can navigate to other pages to learn more. Above you can see her "About" page. Click HERE to learn how Caroline fell in love with photography!

For Caroline's galleries, we used the free service of Photosnack.  For what we needed, it was a great solution. You can upload all of your photos to the site, and choose your slideshow preferences. It gives Caroline the ability to go back and tweak the slideshow and photos however she would like.  It was definitely a pleasure to work with such a personable and talented young lady!  We wish Caroline all the best in her photography!  Follow the link to check out her other galleries:

www.carolinegrahamphotography.org

. . .

Feel free to contact Texture Design Co. if you are in need of a custom blog design.

Have a great rest of your day!

-Em

The Story Behind the Quilt: Bluebird Home Decor

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I'm so excited about today's interview!! 

I get to show you how talented my sister-in-law is! 

Below is my sister-in-law (Jill) and my brother! They are the sweetest people you'll ever meet.

...and Jill makes quilts. AWESOME QUILTS!

Jill and my brother married a little over two years ago. One of the first Christmas gifts she gave my brother before they were married was a quilt that she handmade specifically for him. It was so well made that we were shocked to hear it was her first quilt. She truly enjoys sharing her craft with people, and her quilts are top-knotch! She started an Etsy shop called Bluebird Home Decor where she lists some of her quilts. Find out more about how she got started and the process behind her custom quilts!

Store Name:  Bluebird Home Decor

Owner: Jill Holdorf 

Product: Handmade gifts, sign, pillows, monograms, quilts

Tell us a little about how you decided to open up your shop!

I opened my shop because I enjoy expressing myself through art. It allows me the opportunity to be creative while also making a little money at the same time.  he primary goal of my Etsy store is not profit but to provide an outlet for sharing my crafts.

Where did the name for your shop come from?

I see the glory of God revealed in the beauty of creation. For this reason, I have always loved the outdoors and find that my art gravitates towards nature themes. In looking for a name, I wanted something that reflected my love for nature but also had a warm, country feel. I used a couple of different names before finally settling on Bluebird Home Décor. 

When did you start sewing? How long have you been making quilts?

Sewing has always been a part of my family, so I started at a very young age. When I was growing up, my mom made all of our clothes. When she completed an outfit, she would give me the leftover fabric to play with. I would use the scraps to make stuffed animals, outfits for them, and even handbags. For a period of time, I stopped sewing, but I was inspired to pick it back up when I enrolled in a textile design class at the University of North Georgia. In that class, I learned how to dye my own fabrics and combined that with sewing. 

I made my first quilt Christmas of 2011 as a gift for my future husband.  One day, he casually mentioned to me that he liked quilts, so I decided to surprise him by making a quilt for him. A family friend that makes the most beautiful quilts helped me get started. She allowed me to go through her fabric stash and pick out all the fabric that I needed. Then, she walked me through the process step by step. It was an incredible feeling of accomplishment to complete it and even more exciting to give it to him. (Quilt pictured below.)

How long does it take to make a quilt? (baby or queen size) What are the steps involved.

The length of time it takes to complete a quilt depends on the size, intricacy of the pattern, and the number of other projects I have at that particular moment.  To give you an idea - on average, a baby quilt will take 1 to 2 months, and a queen size quilt could take 3 to 6 months.  I have one quilt that took about a year and a half to finish.  The quickest I have ever made a quilt is probably around 1 month.

When making a quilt, the first step is to decide on a pattern, size, and colors.  I lay out most my quilts on the computer using a special quilting software called Electric Quilt 7.  In EQ7, I can design a pattern and change the size, colors, and details of a quilt with just the click of a button. The program allows me to add borders or sashing (the fabric that separates blocks and frames them).  I generally play around with the quilt in EQ7 until I am happy with it. 

After I pick the pattern and colors, it’s time to select the perfect fabrics.  This is my favorite part of the process because this is where much of the creativity comes out.  It is important to choose fabrics that match the style and desired look of your quilt.  Most of the fabrics that I use are made by Moda.  They offer a wide variety of modern and traditional fabrics, and Moda fabrics are sold at virtually every quilt shop.

Once I purchase fabric, the first thing I do is wash it. Fabrics should be hand-washed with a gentle soap (like Eucalan) and hung up to dry.  After the fabric dries, I start cutting out the pieces that I will need.  I have a wide assortment of rulers to help keep my cuts straight.  I use a rotary cutter and a mat to get clean even cuts. 

After I get all my pieces cut out, I start sewing them together to make blocks.  I like to finish all of my blocks and lay them out to get a better feel for the overall appearance of the quilt. The blocks are then sewn together to form horizontal rows.  The rows are sewn together to make the quilt top.  The last part that I sew onto the quilt top is the outside border. 

For large quilts, the backing may need to be pieced together. With the quilt top pieced, I am now ready to sandwich it all together.  I like to use 100% cotton batting because it is easier to work with and provides a more traditional appearance.  The three layers of a sandwiched quilt are the backing, batting, and quilt top.  I use a basting spray and special safety pins to hold the layers together.  It is now ready to be quilted.

Once the quilting is complete, the quilt needs a binding.  The binding finishes off the edges of the quilt.  The backside of the binding is one spot that I always hand sew so that the stitch is not visible.  The last thing I do is wash the finished quilt and hang it up to dry.

Will you do custom quilts for people? What does that process look like?

Yes, I am always open to doing custom work, and I am actually working on two custom quilts right now.  The first step is to find out what the customer envisions for the quilt. So, I ask questions like: Where will the quilt be used - a couch or a bed? What room will the quilt go in, and what are the colors in that room?  Are you looking for something more traditional, like a star pattern, or something more modern, like a chevron or herringbone?  

Once I have a grasp of what they are looking for, I draw up a few examples, develop a color pallet, and present possible fabrics to be approved by the customer.  About half of what I charge for a quilt is for the cost of fabric and materials, so I require a deposit before I actually purchase any fabric for a custom quilt.   Obviously, the cost and time required varies based on size and pattern complexity.  I like to take pictures of the quilt at different stages and share them with the customer to keep them updated on my progress.

What is your favorite quilt you’ve done so far, and why was it so special? 

I love all my quilts, because they are an expression of who I am.  But, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be “Vintage Christmas.”  It features fabrics from the Winter’s Lane Collection by designers Kate and Birdie for Moda fabrics.  The first time I laid eyes on this collection, I absolutely fell in love with the fabrics.  Although they are not traditional Christmas colors, the light blue and vivid red complement each other beautifully.  My favorite fabric in the collection features scenes of red birds in the trees.  Every quilt block is shaped like a Christmas ornament, and each ornament has its own unique pattern.  This variation made piecing the quilt more exciting and really adds interest to the quilt. (Quilt pictured below.)

Do you have a favorite Etsy shop to visit?

Honestly, I don’t have a favorite shop that I visit regularly.  When I am shopping on Etsy, I am normally looking for new fabrics or fresh ideas (and cute, rustic décor items). 

You also have a lot of photography skills! What is your favorite spot in Georgia to take pictures?

My favorite spot in Georgia to take pictures is CallawayGardens because it offers some of the most beautiful scenes found in Georgia - from the picturesque chapel to the lush, lakeside gardens.  I have always been captivated by the beauty of butterflies, and Callaway maintains a large, indoor butterfly sanctuary that is open virtually year round.  My second choice would be Tallulah Gorge State Park because of its incredible views, numerous waterfalls, and mountain scenery.

Jill, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions!

All photos courtesy of Bluebird Home Decor.

Click HERE to check out Jill's Etsy Shop.  
If you are in need of a custom quilt, feel free to send her a message through Etsy.

Have a great day!
-Emily