So I Missed Easter 2016

I just realized I never got around to posting Easter photos.  I also missed Christmas, so I definitely wanted to make sure and get these Easter pics up.  Looking back at years gone by is one of the biggest reasons I share on this blog, so it kinda seems like I need to get my booty back on top of things!


Easter this year was a little different than normal.  It was so low key that it almost didn't even feel like a holiday.  We traveled back to the lake (our hometown) like usual, but decided to stay in a hotel the night before so we didn't have to wake up on Easter morning and rush around like we've had to do in years past.  It was mostly a good decision... except that Johnny and I stayed up until 4am stuffing baskets in a hotel bathroom.  Then as Easter morning came upon us, my excited girls woke up at 6am.  Yes.  It was a very sleepy holiday to say the least.


It was a pretty cold and dreary day but we made it work.  My mom lives most of her life with my stepfather in an 18-wheeler, so it was extra nice for the girls to get to spend time with both sets of grandparents.  I made out like a bandit with one of my favorite records + all kinds of delicious treats thanks to Mr. Easter Bunny (Johnny).  All in all, it was a good weekend.  xo.

Band Talk

I find myself mentioning our band here and there on the blog, but it's been a little while since I've given any real updates on my work-life outside of the internet world.  At the turn of the year we lost some members of the band, but gained some fantastic new people.  I definitely miss my old mates, but I'm certainly in the honeymoon phase with these new players.  It's bittersweet, I guess.  In total, I'm pretty sure Johnny told me that we've been through 10ish- a dozen rotating members.  That feels crazy, but having the time to commit to this without getting burned out or just generally tired is really important.  Johnny and I work well in this setting because our schedules are very flexible.

Other than holding the title of "front-person" (sorta... it's complicated), one of my big jobs in The Mixtapes is social media and design.  Since we have some new, adorable faces, I've been spending some hours on new images for the band.  The unicorn (above) is my personal favorite at the moment. I think all I've ever wanted in life is to ride a pink unicorn.  Or be one.  Again, it's complicated.


We've been traveling quite a bit since the turn of the new year, and it's been really good.  Sometimes we end up at a generally large venue and other times we'll be playing a pretty small, divey place, but both extremes can be a crazy amount of fun.  It all depends on the energy level, really.


(photos by Levi Andrew)
 

(photo by Pablo E Ortiz)

(photos by Levi Andrew)

We really lucked out to find such talented and fun multi-instrumentalists.  You should see Ivy play the drums-- the girl is KILLER.  I basically have a music crush on every one of these people.

Anyway, there's a small update on what our fun little band has been up to.  I'm looking forward to all the adventures this year will hold for us!  If you're interested in more information (or just peeping out of curiosity), you can follow our Instagram and/or Facebook!  My goal is to get lots more videos posted over the next several months while we're up to our ears in shows!  xo.

Snapshots

I finally feel like I'm getting back into the swing of carrying my DSLR with me when we go out.  It definitely comes in waves for me.  I do like capturing little moments on the "big camera", but it's also sometimes a hassle to lug around.  That probably just means I need a bigger purse, right?  ;)

These are some moments from life lately.  We colored Poesy's hair pink with Overtone conditioner, Johnny and I have been hard at work on the inside AND outside of the house, I've been starting an herb garden in my kitchen windowsill, and I've been having as many dates with the little ladies as possible.  So far, April has been really good to us.

Okay!  Well, last night I painted an accent wall on a whim and today my entryway wallpaper is going up, so I'm going to have some fun house updates to share with you guys soon!  Happy Wednesday!

**Shirt // Skirt (similar) // Tights // Bag 

Time For Spring Dress Sewing!

When I was co-writing my sewing ecourse with Rachel, I had the pleasure of e-meeting Tilly of Tilly and the Buttons along the way.  Not only is she the absolute sweetest, but she creates colorful, easy-to-follow patterns.  One of my sessions was about reading commercial patterns and I made her Coco dress.  As someone who doesn't do a ton of commercial pattern sewing (I love creating my own), I really enjoyed this one.  Here's how my version of Coco turned out:


Even though reading patterns can be intimidating at times, Tilly breaks it down and even gives tips and tricks for techniques you may not be completely familiar with... which is always appreciated in my world.

Tilly has just released a new pattern and I seriously can't wait to try it out!  It's called Martha and I've already been shopping for all the cute trims and embellishments for those BELL SLEEVES.  Aaaahhh!  I'm in love.


(The two photos above are from Tilly's blog.)


As you can see, I'm becoming a collector of Tilly's patterns.  I'm pretty sure I have around 7 of them, plus her book.  My goal is to get started on Martha sometime this week, but first I need to find the perfect fabric!  Oh, and clear my sewing space because maaaaaayyyyybbbeeeee I haven't quite unpacked that room yet.  Oof.

If you are interested in getting better acquainted with your machine, or are brand new to sewing, you should check out Sew With Us.  Rachel and I put a lot of hard work into it and we're still so proud.  Plus, there are fashion projects AND home projects!

Also, Tilly has a really great book called Love At First Stitch.  It's beautifully photographed and comes with patterns and tips!  I personally love it.

Happy sewing, friends!