Friday, May 25, 2012

life this week (via photos)


It's Friday you guys!  Yeah!  Instead of doing a Friday is for Favorites today, I thought I'd share some moments from life lately, via good ole' Instagram photos. 

Pics from top:  loving my new coral shoes from bait  // is there a 'hoarders'-type reality show for people with too many necklaces? // swirly sunset // tiny moon // 2 of my favorite things: coffee and my alma mater // first haircut in 7 months (p.s. my face looks especially gelphling-ish here) // the baby robins finally left the nest yesterday (i miss them!)  // got this killer shot of the eclipse sunday! // container garden looking slightly wilted in robbie's absense // my very favorite necklace from roots & feathers

What are your plans for this three day weekend?  My super bad ass Uncle Chris is going to be in town from NYC, so my sis is coming up from Indianapolis as well, and we're all going to hang with my rockstar 97 year-old grandmother tomorrow.  (She is seriously the coolest lady ever.)  Then on Sunday my friend Annie and I are driving a few hours south to a festival that Robbie and the band are playing.  I usually go to this festival for the entire four days, but this year, I decided one day is plenty.  Which means I am either (A) the old, boring person that I used to make fun of, (B) smart, or (C) all of the above.  Robbie comes back for a few days Sunday night, and we'll probably meet up with friends Monday for some Memorial Day snacks and beers.  Even though I work from a home studio and tend to work much longer hours than I probably should, I always feel much less stressed to get things accomplished over three day weekends.  So I'm pretty excited.

If you haven't yet, don't forget to enter our May Giveaway for a chance to win $250 worth of goodies from our May sponsors!  Have a glorious weekend, friends!
Are you on Instagram?  If so, leave your user name in the comments so I can check out your photos!  You can see more of mine here or under the user name bubbyandbean.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Dot Girl >> Meet Molly Gaines

Molly of Vivi Dot
Today's post is a special interview with this month's featured sponsor, Molly of Vivi Dot.  Molly is rad you guys.  Really rad.  She is one of the sweetest people ever, an amazing dancer, an awesome dog and cat mama, and an incredibly talented accessory designer.   I own three of her rings and a pair of her earrings, and they are among my absolute favorite jewelry pieces!  I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into Molly's world...

Hi Molly!  Tell us a little bit about yourself.  Where do you live, what you do for a living (if anything) besides making your jewelry, and what are your favorite hobbies?
I live in Ballard, which is a cute little neighborhood in Seattle. In addition to running Vivi Dot I also have a full time day job - I'm the Director of Partnership Marketing for an Internet company.  I also teach tap and hip hop classes two nights a week.  Juggling all of my jobs doesn't leave too much time for other hobbies, but my husband, Duncan, and I try to cook and work in our yard whenever we can.  We also have a dog, cat and three chickens so they're always a fun distraction too.

How did you become interested in making jewelry (specifically your fantastic dot jewelry and accessories)?
I started making and selling jewelry when I was in the fifth grade so it has always been something I've loved to do. As for the dots, I was casually collecting 1-inch buttons at all of the concerts I went to when I was living in San Francisco, and eventually decided I wanted to make my own.  I started out making earrings and magnets with comic book pages and origami and it all evolved from there.


What are your favorite materials to work with?
I have an intense love of fabric so I'd say that's my most favorite material. I design a lot of the prints myself and use fabrics I fall in love with from other sources as well.

What types of things inspire you in your work?  Are there any other artists or businesses who have influenced you?
It's all about color and pattern for me. The changing seasons here in Seattle constantly give me ideas for new color combinations and I am always looking for pattern inspiration in ordinary objects.  
The Bubby and Bean blog focuses on living a creative lifestyle.  Aside from making your art, are there other things you particularly enjoy creating?
Definitely!  As a dance instructor I'm not only choreographing dances, but also putting together costumes and building props.  I love cooking and making up my own recipes.  My husband and I also just bought our first house last summer so another creative outlet is decorating and working on remodel plans for our home.

If you had to pick one of your designs that was your favorite, what would it be?
This changes all of the time, but right now I'm seriously in love with the print I call Midnight Garden which is a fabric by a Washington State designer. I also wear my Shimmering Denim Cocktail Ring more than any other item these days. I usually wear dark denim so it goes with pretty much every outfit I wear.


Where do you see yourself and/or your business in 5 years?
I hope to grow both the retail and wholesale sides of my business in the next 5 years. I'd love to get to the point where I feel like I have to give up my day job because Vivi Dot has grown too much for me to handle them both.

One of our most popular series on Bubby and Bean is 'Friday is For Favorites.'  Tell us your favorite of each of the following:  color, movie, food, band
Color: Green. //  Movie: The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  //  Food: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies  //  Band: Hot Chip


Huge thanks to Molly for taking time out of her busy schedule to share a little about herself and her work with us!   Make sure you take a minute to check out more of her incredibly cute jewelry and accessories in the Vivi Dot shop.  Molly has also generously offered up this special coupon for you guys (it's a good one!)  >>  Take 20% off your entire order at Vivi Dot through May 31st with code BUBBYANDBEAN

You can also find Molly on Facebook, Twitter and her blog.  Keep your eyes out here on Bubby and Bean over the next week for a pretty incredible giveaway featuring Vivi Dot too!

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Want to Be on Bubby and Bean? Now Accepting June Sponsors!

This is the official call for June Sponsors here at Bubby & Bean: Living Creatively!  June is going to an exciting month around here.  We're planning on covering some awesome summer DIY projects, style features, summer recipes, personal and travel adventures, and we have a pretty amazing partnership in the works that we can't wait to share.  And you can be a part of it through a Bubby and Bean Sponsorship!

I'd love to help promote your blog, small business, Etsy shop, boutique, or online portfolio to thousands everyday this June.  For more information on our various advertising packages, current stats, press, and pricing visit our sponsor page.  You can also book your ad space there directly in one click.

We have just a few remaining ad spots in large, medium, and small for June.  The XL featured spot is booked through the end of July, but is available for August.  All ad spaces are first come, first serve.  Have questions?  Feel free to contact me.

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

DREAMING // Amazing Warehouse Fashion Shoot


When I received this submission from photographer Kelsey Goodwin, I was instantly smitten. Kelsey told us that this warehouse fashion shoot was one of the only personal projects that she's been able to photograph in the past year, and that it was such an inspiring experience that it reminded her why she loves being a photographer.  "These are the kind of artistic projects that make me feel giddy while I’m planning and shooting. Plus, it’s one of the only areas where I actively work with other creative professionals to create something exciting."


Kelsey said that she came across the old warehouse where she did the shoot (in her local Victoria, BC) when she met the owner of Gabriel Ross Furniture.  "They had recently purchased the building and were about to renovate the space into a modern, industrial showroom... There was a small window between clearing the space of circa 1930′s debris and the renovation, in which Ross was kind enough to let us into the space one December afternoon."


The way that the smoke diffuses the light and the expressions of the model are just so ethereal that you can't help but think that the girl in the images is dreaming - of possibilities, of unseen adventures, of something imaginary and wonderful.  And the gorgeous vintage dresses that Kelsey chose are just so stunning.  I have a feeling we'll be hearing Kelsey Goodwin's name a lot more frequently in the near future.

Photography: KGOODPHOTO // Hair: Jenna McInnes // Dresses: Vogue (Vintage)
Stylist: Franklin Porter  //  Model: Grace Walling

You can view more of Kelsey's amazing work via her website, blog, and Twitter.


P.S.  Do you have a photo session or project you'd like to submit to Bubby and Bean?  You can find more information on how to do so here.

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Monday, May 21, 2012

MAY GIVEAWAY /// Win a prize package of goodies worth over $250!

May Giveaway at Bubby and Bean
The end of May is one of my favorite times of year.  The flowers are blooming, the trees are green, and the subtle signs of summer are starting to appear.  I love being able to step outside without shoes, throw on t-shirts and shorts or dresses without tights, grill veggie burgers for dinner, work in the garden, see music outdoors, and sip on sangria with friends at my favorite outside wine bar - all without the weather being unbearably hot.  In honor of this amazing time of year, we've gathered some pretty fantastic prizes from seven of our May sponsors for a very special giveaway.  In fact, it's officially our biggest giveaway ever - valued at over $250!  And one lucky Bubby and Bean reader will win it all!

VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG


VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG


VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG


VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


 VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG  


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG  ///  VISIT THIS SHOP


This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers.  If you're a new reader, just make sure to subscribe first using GFC (click here, or click on the blue "Join This Site" button under "FOLLOW" in the right side bar), or with one of these readers.
Then just leave a comment telling us your favorite thing about this time of year.
  That's it!


Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following.  (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).

This giveaway is open through May 28th.  The winner's name will be chosen randomly and announced soon after.  Thanks again to our rockstar May sponsors for donating such great prizes!  BEST OF LUCK!
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Friday, May 18, 2012

friday is for favorites






ten canine commandments

Time for another edition of Friday is for Favorites!  For new readers, 'Friday is for Favorites' is my (almost) weekly series where I become a rebel, and break all of my own rules of design cohesiveness to which I normally adhere on the Bubby and Bean blog.  No themes, trend collections, or matching aesthetics here.  Just a gathering of a few random things that I happen to be loving this particular week.


1. I definitely do not have $168 to spend on a poncho, but if I did, it would be this one from Free People's May collection.  Is it so impeccably styled in their catalog with those mounds of stacked bracelets and that killer necklace.  If it were mine,  I'd throw it on right at the part of evening when the June air starts to feel cool, and run barefoot through the grass, and play a tambourine by a bonfire or sing Joni Mitchell or something.  And it would be glorious.

2. The incredibly awesome Beca and Doug over at Tumbleweeds have been garnering a lot of attention, and for good reason.  Their handmade (as in really handmade, just by the two of them) wood veneer glasses and sunglasses are super stylish, and they literally work around the clock to keep up with their orders.  I'm especially smitten with this set of his + her Sweetheart Sunglasses.

3. Every single person reading this who knows me in 'real life' is nodding his or her head right now.  Yes, you are.  It's okay.  I'm thinking I just need to buy this shirt and wear it everywhere I go, automatically negating the need for explanation upon my arrival.

4. Titled 'Swiss Autumn,' this photograph by Nathan Lawrenson is so gorgeous that a good ten minutes passed before I realized that I'd been staring at it (in a borderline creepy way), envisioning the decor of my imaginary apartment that lies just inside those perfectly rustic second floor windows.

5. I'm not sure what's more awesome about this little Rebecca Minkoff pouch - the way that the gold type glimmers against the soft pink, or the fact that it finds a way to so flawlessly combine a normally effortless, bohemian concept ('summer of love') with a very urban, chic design.  I like it.

6. I don't care that it's grainy and out of focus, this is the best bloody picture of Paul McCartney I've ever seen.  The way he's sipping his tea all casual-like, and ya know, just leisurely snapping some pictures, is freaking adorable. (image source)

7. I cried when I read this.  I don't think I've ever seen anything that has more accurately described the way a dog should be treated.  In a way, it also reassured me that I did a good job with my Bubby boy over the 16 wonderful years I had with him, because I feel like I followed these 'commandments' by nature.  And I credit Bubby for that - for making it so easy for me to treat him the right way.  He was such a truly sweet dog, and he conveyed his emotions like nothing I'd ever seen in an animal.  It was impossible to get angry with him or not be there for him.  I wish that it was mandatory for everyone who considered getting a dog to read this and agree to it beforehand.  Thank you, Stan Rawlinson, for being so right on.



I had one of those "nothing is going right," mentally draining kind of days yesterday where you helplessly collapse into bed like you've run a marathon or worked 20 hours straight, despite that fact that you somehow managed to get absolutely nothing accomplished.  I'm very glad that it's a new day, and even more so that it's a Friday.  I'm going to do my best to be extra productive today to make up for yesterday, and then reward myself tomorrow with the laziest day ever.  My plans are to be blissfully lackadaisical and pretend I haven't a care in the world, and maybe eat a lot of chocolate.  Robbie flies back in early tomorrow morning from working a festival in Alabama for the last two days, and since he will likely be equally as exhausted, I have a feeling he'll want to join me at the lazy party.  He gets really excited when I want to just hang and do nothing together, since the majority of the time I can't seem to sit down for more than 2 minutes without feeling the need to get back up and do something with myself.  So it should be a nice, chill, uneventful day.  Nothing sounds better right now.

Do you have anything fun planned this weekend?  Or will you be in attendance at the lazy party as well? 

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