My first sale!

Hello Lovelies,


Random thought:  People outside the US read this blog!  There is a nifty tracker to show what countries my blog has been viewed from and Russia, and France were on that list.  
Crazy.  
Did someone read my blog while wearing a beret and eating escargot?
Exciting.  
Did they read my words in their awesome accents?
Is this what it feels like to be Katy Perry?
Just kidding, but ever since I saw the Katy Perry movie last week I have been absolutely obsessed with being Katy Perry.

Back to the topic of this blog:

I MADE MY FIRST ETSY SALE!!!

For those who don't know I started an Etsy shop, "Crafts by Nat", earlier this summer.  I'm not expecting to make the big bucks from this, but I am excited to get paid to do my favorite thing in the world.

CLICK HERE to get to my shop!

I sold a personalized cooler to an awesome young woman in Indiana.  It is all finished now and ready to be shipped off.

And naturally I am having some anxiety about shipping my baby to a far away state.

I am so excited about my first sale and I hope to have many many more!

I am off to America's High Five (Michigan) tomorrow.  Hopefully my next post will be about coming home to a sold out Etsy store (here's to hoping)!


Stay Classy,

Natalie Rose


P.S.  I tried uploading pictures of my finished product but alas I am a novice with computers so maybe I will figure it out next time!

Settling Down...

My FINAL summer is more than half way over.
Yes, my final summer break before I have to become a responsible adult is coming to a close and it is safe to say that I am freaking out just a little bit.

I can't believe college is coming to a close.  I only have two semesters left and so much that I want to accomplish and experience.  Looking at my already packed agenda for this next semester stresses me out.  I already have plans for the majority of the weekends.  How am I going to fit in football game tailgates, work, or actual school work into my already packed schedule?  How am I supposed to enjoy my last year with so many things going on?  And the most terrifying question: What am I going to do with my life after I walk across that stage next May and accept my diploma?

I have spent the past three years working extremely hard and sleeping very little to earn my BFA in Fashion Design, but recently I have questioned whether I really want to spend the rest of my life with a sewing machine or not.  These doubts have led me to purchase a LSAT prep book.  I have looked into a few law schools and have decided to take the LSAT and apply to a few schools so I at least have something to do with my life.

I know I want to be a Leadership Consultant for my sorority.  It is a very competitive application and selection process though so I absolutely need a backup plan.

Will I go to law school?  Will I pursue fashion design?  Where will I be a year from now?  I honestly don't know.  I have so many things that I would like to do and so many places that I want to see.



I have narrowed my potential careers down to an always expanding and random list:

-Leadership Consultant for my sorority
-Travel Channel show host
-Work for a fashion magazine
-News Anchor
-Senator's Wife
-Designer at Lilly Pulitzer
- Lawyer for Fashion Brand
-Chelsea Handler
-Celebrity Stylist
-Professional Adventurer
-Bakery Owner
-Katy Perry
-Great wardrobe owner

Okay, so some of my potential careers are ridiculously absurd and not rational, but a girl can dream.  One thing I do know is I don't want a boring life.  I want a big and exciting life with an exciting and important career.  Hence my new favorite quote:

I promise to never settle.  I will never settle for a life that is less than the one I know that I am capable of living.

I'll keep you all updated on my search for myself and my future career, but until then...

Stay Classy,

Natalie Rose

Summer Daze

Hello loves!

Sorry about my absence this last month!  I was crazy busy with finals, but alas finals are over and I survived!  I seriously thought I was going to fail my Solar Systems class, but I squeezed by with a well deserved "B" (Note to self: NEVER sign up for an astrnomy class ever again).  I am enjoying my summer and looking forward to these next few months, but I am starting to get overwhelmed by how little I have to do this summer.  This is seriously my first summer with no big trips or plans and I am starting to go stir crazy.  I have compiled a list of my summer to-dos, and please feel free to share with me some of your ideas to help me through my planless summer.

Summer To Do:

• Roadtrip with friends
• Sit on a roof and look at the stars
• Discover a new favorite band
• Successfully run three miles without stopping (This one scares me a little)
• Find a second job
• Sew at least five garments
• Acquire a full sized bed for my room (The twin bed is getting kind of old)
• Start studying for the LSAT (Decided I am going to law school now, more on this in a later post)
• Bake a lot of yummy treats
• Cook a lot of yummy dinners without burning down the sorority house
• Camp
• Float the river
• Make a new friend
• Volunteer somewhere and actually make a difference (I volunteered this weekend and I literally sat in the grass and was on FB the whole time... really rewarding)
• Go to a drive in movie
• Be spontanious
• Spend a lot of time with the people I love
• Be "Adventure Girls" and have adventures

I want to spend my "planless summer" making and collecting lots of memories.  I am going to be as spontanious as possible and I promise to share all the "adventures" I find myself in.  Please let me know if there is anything I should add to my list of summer "must do's"!

Stay classy!

Natalie Rose

Tuesday Motivations

The majority of people find Monday the hardest day of the week to get through.  Personally, I love Monday's.  It's the beginning of the week; no matter how awful the last week was Monday is your clean slate.  A whole new week.  If you ask me, Tuesdays are hard.  Tuesdays are the absolute worst.  To help you get through your Tuesday here are some motivations I recently "pinned" on Pinterest.  Enjoy!  And be happy that Tuesday is coming to a close and tomorrow is Hump Day!

I hope you leave this page feeling refreshed and ready to take on whatever this week throws at you.

Stay Classy,

Natalie Rose

The Stylish Traveler

I have spent the majority of this month traveling around.  In four short weeks I've been to New Orleans, Tulsa, Houston, and New York City.  It has been an exciting month, and I have had the opportunity to learn the art of being a stylish traveler.

My mom and me in New York!  So stylish!

Pack Light
Pack light; the key to being a stylish traveler.  It is hard to be stylish when you are loaded down like a pack mule.  This also helps you avoid costly checked baggage fees if traveling by plane, or your friends' evil glares if trying to pack all your stuff into a car for a road trip.

This is a great site for tips on traveling light!

For my trips I packed a carry on Vera Bradley rolling suitcase, and a Vera Bradley Get Carried Away tote.  I also brought snuck on an additional Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody that I tucked in my Vera tote.

Love my Vera suitcase!

Cosmetics and Hygiene
I like to look nice and fresh when stepping off the plane into a new city, first impressions are important after all.  It is hard to look refreshed after spending hours cramped on a plane though.  I always keep a small cosmetic case packed with travel size lotions, moisturizers, hair serum, and some makeup essentials. When the pilot announces the descent to the airport that's your cue to start freshening up.

Remember to bring travel sized products so they don't get taken up!

Comfort is Key
It is important to be comfortably stylish when traveling.  You are your most stylish when you are comfortable and confident in what you are wearing.  Leggings and skinny jeans are key items when it comes to being comfortable.  You can pair then with anything too!


Shoes. Shoes. Shoes.
Shoes.  They take up so much room when packing, so you need to bring some that can work with a variety of outfits.  Also, make sure they are comfortable.  There is nothing stylish about having to sit out for a day because your shoes killed your feet.  Some of my favorite shoes for traveling are TOMS.  They look so put together when paired with pants, skirts, shorts, leggings, ect.  And they are the most comfortable shoes ever.

 



Be Fearless
Don't be afraid to immerse yourself in the new culture you are visiting.  And don't be afraid to try new styles of clothes, types of food, and modes of transportation.

Want more tips?  Here is an awesome site about being a stylish and sassy traveler!

Stay Classy!

Natalie Rose

A glimpse into my "studio"...

Hello!

Sorry I have been completely MIA lately.  It has been a hectic month full of travel and fun activities, but more about that in a later post.

This week we were asked to post about what projects we are working on in our "studio".  Note that I use the word studio loosely, because as a poor college student my studio doubles as my bedroom, living room, closet, and kitchen.  I am fortunate to live in my sorority's house on campus, so I have much more room than I would if I lived in a dorm or apartment.  As president, I get to have my own room downstairs, instead of sharing a room upstairs.  This is nice because I have plenty of room to spread out all my fabric, paper, thread, sewing junk, ect.  Before I had my own room I would take over the dinning room for weeks at a time (sorry sisters!).

I have been quite busy in my studio these past few weeks.  Currently, I am working on a competition garment for Dallas Career Day.  In class we drew names of various art styles to act as our inspiration. "Vorticism" was written on the sheet I drew.  After enlisting the help of my good friend, Google, I learned that Vorticism is a offshoot of Cubism and is the beginnings of Futurism.  The different planes and abstract shapes were very inspiring and led to many interesting designs to choose from for my final project.  

After many hours minutes of deliberation I decided to go with a one-shouldered dress that has a cut out stomach and back with strips attaching the two (kind of hard to explain, but I will post pictures of my design when I get my Illustration Board back).

I have spent close to 12 hours pin tucking my sheer fabric for the skirt of the dress.  Unfortunately, this is all that I have to show, but I wil post more pictures of my process and the finished garment later this week when I turn it in.

My "Studio" Before

Front door to my "Studio"

Entrance

Desk Area

Couch and bed; they both miss me when I have a huge project due.

My "Studio" During and After a Project

Little sewing table set up so I can watch Lifetime while I sew.

"Ironing Station"

Sewing Pin-tucks

My room gets pretty messy when I am in "project mode"

Ironing fabric before sewing pin-tucks

My room gets so messy during each project.  I cannot wait to be done with this one so I can get my room and life back in order.  Just 48 hours until I have to turn it in, so I am signing out for now and I will be back later this week to share pictures of my completed project.

Stay Classy,

Natalie Rose

2012 Trendboards

This week I have been hard at work creating trend boards for two of my favorite styles for 2012.  The two styles I choose are completely different, and represent two different parts of my life.

Modern Day Gypsy

Think music festivals, warm spring days, and the laid back feeling of the 1970's.    

I love how laid back and easy this look is to create.  I am a hippie at heart and love going to music festivals, bonfires, and road trips.  I know this look will be popular with the rising popularity of music festivals and the warmer weather that spring will bring.

Find this look at: Urban Outfitters, Free People, Fossil, and Buffalo Exchange

Sorority Girl 

Think college life, monograms, Southern style, lots and lots of bows, Jackie O, and Blair from Gossip Girl.

This is easily my go-to look.  You don't have to be a sorority woman to appreciate and pull off this style.  I am a firm believer that fashion should be fun and you should dress like everyday is a party.  The bows, floral prints, pastels, and pearls will leave any woman feeling and looking like a princess.

Find this look at:  Lilly Pulitzer, Ralph Lauren, Longchamp, and Michael Kors. 

Now I have an assignment for y'all!  Leave me a comment telling me which of the two styles you like best!  Don't like either of these?  Then tell me what styles/trends you think will be popular in 2012!

Stay Classy,

Natalie Rose