Blogging for Confidence #3 - Being a Blogger in Public

Well this Blogging for Confidence post certainly popped up unexpectedly! Yesterday, I planned on going to The Shabby Sheep to do a little yarn shopping for the fall. I brought my camera along because I thought I would do a blog post about it. No sweat, right? Ha. Wrong. I walked inside the  little old house and found myself to be one of three people inside. *Gulp* I imagined my camera sounding like a bolt of lightening with each picture I took in that quiet space. Feeling a little defeated, I shuffled around just looking at the beautiful yarn. Finally I started thinking - if I ever want to be a real-deal-big-time blogger I need to get over my shyness and whip out the camera! So I did just that! 

Look at all of the pretty yarn! Doesn't it make you want to drool a little? No? Just me? 

Isn't this painting creepy? I snapped a picture of it just for you. ;-)

After browsing around for awhile, I went outside and discovered that the ladies of the Shabby Sheep had yarn bombed one of their trees. I love the vibrant colors. It inspired me more than ever to give yarn bombing a try! Should that be our next blogging for confidence post?

Yesterday was such a victory on the confidence front for so many reasons! Along with taking regular pictures, I even pulled out my Instax camera to take a picture for the 52 Weeks of Instax challenge. Sheesh...and I thought my digital camera was loud....haha. 

The only pictures I've taken in public for this blog have been at events, and in that case, I'm usually not the only person toting a camera. Today I was the "lone blogger" without anyone else to hide behind. I even had to awkwardly refer myself as a "blogger" to the woman working at the yarn shop when she asked me why I was taking pictures. For some reason, that felt really weird to say out loud. But I guess it's official now! Look out world. Meredith's a blogger.

*Thanks for all of your feedback on yesterday's post! It looks like it is spilt down the middle in regards to doing this as a group or individually. I think I have an idea! If you also struggle with taking pictures in public, why don't you give this a try for your next post? Use this weekend and next week to tackle your fears and then blog about it! E-mail me your posts and I will compile them into one big group post next Friday! How does that sound?

If you come up with your own ideas, do it, blog about it, and send me your links! I really can't wait to see your challenges!

A Few Questions - Blogging for Confidence & Advertising

I have a few quick questions for you guys! If you have time to help me out I would really appreciate it. 

Blogging for Confidence:

I'm really excited that so many of you have shown an interest in this series! (It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.) ;-) 

How do you want to do this? I initially thought it would be a personal thing and we each come up with our own challenges. Once you complete and blog about a challenge, you would email me so I could compile a group post! However, I received a few emails and comments about everyone trying to do the same challenge together. I think that could get a little complicated, but let me know what you think! 

Sponsorship/Advertising:

I've been thinking about opening my blog up to sponsors. Is that something you would be interested in? I'm not sure when I will start having advertisers, but I thought I would see what your response is. 

Leave your answers in the comments if you can! I've also set up two polls down at the bottom of my blog if you just want to click give me your answers.

Thanks again! I hope everyone has a great day. I'm about to head out the door and do some serious yarn shopping. I'll try to control myself...but I'm not making any promises. I will take lots of pictures of the pretty yarn for a post on Friday! :)

*We also have a winner for the Kate's Paper Goods giveaway! Congratulations Amy Marie! 

Knitting Inspiration - Summer Knits

sweety gigi bra - wool and the gang

mini dresses - ALL Knitwear

mary sweater - wool and the gang

1x1 pocket mini - ALL Knitwear

sexy back sweater - wool and the gang

Oh my...it is so hot in Texas! No matter how high the temperature gets, I can't stop knitting because I need to prepare my shop for the fall. So I decided to look up some inspiring knits to remind me that knitwear can be beautiful and stylish, even in this miserable weather. 

(Now get this wool away from me!! Where is my cotton yarn?)

Weekend Fun - Productive & Tech-Free

How is everyone doing? I had a wonderful "unplugged" weekend! I'll be honest though, there were moments when I had to be restrained from posting pictures to Instagram. I'm so weak!! But somehow I made it through with nary a tweet. Minus technology, I managed to get a lot done, like make these new crochet tea cups for the shop! I will be listing the different colors on Etsy throughout the week! 

Some other things from the weekend...

I bought a pack of new notebooks to jot down my inspirations. If only you could turn the page through the computer screen...you would see the greatest. idea. in the history. of. ever. Get ready. 

I wore my new summer skirt. It's good for twirling. 

I watched Charade for probably the 1,000th time. Audrey Hepburn. Cary Grant. This scene. Enough said.

"Women make the best spies." 

"How do you shave in there?"

And we had the best brunch at a restaurant  in a cute old house! 

And I did some late night nail painting. Don't they kind of remind you of stars at night? That's what I was thinking anyway. 

I love checking things off my list and having fun at the same time. I guess unplugging for a few days was worth it after all. 

My "Unplugged" Weekend

Power Off - Laura George

Unplug Note Card - Dr. Kennedy Jones

Virtues and Vices - Sam Wedelich

Like I said in my post on Wednesday, I've gotten a little too caught up in technology for the past few weeks. I need to take a break from constantly clicking, tweeting, and typing. So, I've decided to completely "unplug" this weekend, enjoy my time with my family, and work on new products for the shop. 

That means no tweeting, pinning, tumbling, or...*gasp*...Instagram-ing. My hands are already feeling a little shaky just thinking about it! 

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend! If you have been feeling weighed down by technology, why don't you join me and take a break! I know it will do us good! 

Blogging for Confidence #2 - Intimidating Red Lipstick

I can't be the only one who finds red lipstick terrifying. So, as part two of my Blogging for Confidence series I decided to bite the bullet and wear red lipstick for an entire day at work. When I put it on in the morning I was fine, vogued a bit in the mirror, and headed out the door. 

Then I got to work and it felt like a giant red spotlight was shining on my face. In a way, I felt exposed and on display, and that is something I try to avoid at all costs. I was so close to rubbing it off, but I was determined to see this through. What's the worst that could happen? It's just lipstick for goodness sake! After lunch, I went to the restroom for a little touch up. My eyes look extra big in this picture because I was terrified someone was going to walk in and see how truly silly I am. 

I ever-so-sneakily snapped a pic on my laptop when I was packing up for the day for further evidence to myself that I made it through. 

"No one can see me...right?"

I know this may seem silly to some of you, but rocking red lips really made me think about how I view myself. I rarely do things to stand out because I don't feel worthy of being noticed. Since I didn't self-destruct or evoke relentless giggles and finger-pointing, I'm thinking a little red lipstick every now and then isn't such a bad thing. Look at that, I'm already growing. ;-)

Has anyone else taken on the Blogging for Confidence challenge? Please let me know if you do!! :-)
Feel free to grab a button! You can find more sizes here.



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Making Time to Create // Baby Blanket Progress

Is anyone else completely freaking out that it is almost July? I didn't get as much knitting done this month as I would've liked, so I really need to buckle down for the rest of the summer. Starting Monday, I gave myself a mini-goal to accomplish - knit or crochet something for AT LEAST an hour a day. I can already see the results! I'm almost finished with the baby blanket I've been working on! All I need to do is connect the rest of the squares, sew the rows together, and add the edging. *gulp* Ok...maybe I'm not almost finished. 

I've been caught up in the technology tornado the past few weeks. I seriously have an unhealthy addiction to the Instagram app. So, it's time to get back on track and focus on what's more important - creating fun new things for the shop! 

As the oh-so-wise Michael Scott would say, "Knit like the wind, Meredith!" 

Knitting Inspiration - Old Hollywood Knitters

If you know me at all, you know that this picture of Frank Sinatra knitting is almost too much for my little heart to take. My two loves united in possibly the cutest picture of all time?? Am I dreaming?? Quick, someone pinch me. I love old movies as much as I love knitting and the combination makes me one happy lady.

I wish I had a handsome fella like Fred Astaire would stare at me while I knit. Ginger Rogers, you are one lucky lady...

I pretend I look as sexy as Sophia Loren when I knit. Is that normal?  

It looks like Cary Grant is having trouble with his stitches. Oh, but isn't he the cutest? I hope these pictures make you smile today. I found most of them on this lovely board called "Knitting in Black and White" on Pinterest. 

(P.S. - The Frank Sinatra picture? Yeah...it's my iPhone wallpaper.) ;-)

Don't forget the chalkboard gift tag giveaway from Kate's Paper Goods! 

Artist Interview & Giveaway - Kate's Paper Goods

Who's ready to meet another awesome blogger and Etsy artist? I found Kate's blog not too long ago and became mesmerized by her beautiful pictures. After clicking around a bit, I discovered her even more beautiful shop filled with hand-painted paper goods. I'm so excited to have her here!! She is even giving away a set of her chalkboard gift tags just for you! (For U.S. and Canada residents only.)

Introducing Kate...

Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I grew up in Southern California and then ventured up to Seattle for college. I'm back in LA now (Pasadena to be specific), but I absolutely love Seattle and imagine I'll live there again someday. I've always been a huge lover of art and design. I earned my degree in interior design, but have since realized how much I love graphic design/illustration. So right now I'm interning at MaeMae Paperie and learning about what it's like to be a stationer!

How did you get into creating paper goods? They are so beautiful!

Thanks!! I always made cards for all of my friends growing up, so I guess it's been a long time coming. Interestingly, when I was finishing up my interior design degree, I realized that one of the things I loved the most was putting together my portfolio-- which kind of turned me on to graphic design. When I graduated, the economy was in the dumps, so I didn't look too hard for an interior design position. I started working as a receptionist and in my free time I'd make cards. Within six months or so I created kate's paper goods, my etsy shop.

Your photography on your blog is also stunning! When did you decide to start blogging? Has photography always been a passion for you?

I didn't start blogging until last summer. I had recently gotten really into reading blogs (it was like I discovered this world that I didn't know existed. and it was AMAZING.) and thought it would be fun to have my own. I've always enjoyed taking photos, but I felt like there was more of a purpose once I started blogging. I was just using a point and shoot at first, which really inspired me to save up for my DSLR. Now I really enjoy taking photos... I think I'm getting a little better, but I'm still pretty dang inexperienced!

I've noticed a lot of pictures of food on your blog and it always makes me hungry! Do you enjoy cooking? Would you call yourself a "foodie"? haha! I'd love to know some of your favorite foods and places to eat in your area!

Oh gosh. Good question. I absolutely love food... and have fun trying to make new things. I also enjoy going out, but I don't eat at real fancy places or anything. I love unique ice cream (let's be honest- any ice cream), so Carmela's in Pasadena is a favorite. The Eveleigh also has an amazing brunch. Their banana bread is to die for. To DIE FOR. I'm also a huge fan of going to the farmer's market and buying a bunch of fresh fruit/veggies. I'm basically a vegetarian (eat fish very rarely), so it's all about finding new delicious ways to eat veggies. I love finding new recipes via blogs and Sprouted Kitchen is a favorite.

What is your favorite part about the handmade community?

Well I love that it really is a community. People are interested in what other people are doing and support one another. And I love that so much heart goes into creating handmade goods. I'd much rather support someone doing what they love than sweatshop labor. A million times over.

Random Question: If you could invite anyone and eat anything at your dream dinner party, who would it be and what would you eat?

Decisions, decisions. If I were going to choose just one person, it'd have to be Ira Glass. I'm obsessed with This American Life and I think he'd just be so fun to hang out with. He'd have lots of stories to tell, interesting perspective on things, and of course he's funny. And awkward, in the most awesome way. And what would we eat? We'd probably make pizza with lots of delicious toppings. Maybe asparagus, arugula, some goat cheese. Yeah. That sounds lovely.

Giveaway!!

I'd love to give away a set of my wooden chalkboard tags to one of your readers. My favorite thing about them is that they're reusable, so when you give someone a gift, they're receiving a gift tag as well!

To enter the giveaway you can do one or all of the following:
(For U.S. and Canada residents only.)

1.) Visit Kate's shop and leave a comment about your favorite item here.
2.) Follow Kate's blog, A Day with Kate and leave a comment here.
3.) Follow my blog, One Sheepish Girl and leave a comment here.
4.) Follow Kate on twitter and leave a comment here.
5.) Follow me on twitter and leave a comment here.
6.) Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment here. Use this phrase:

"Enter to win a set of chalkboard gift tags from @adaywithkate on @sheepishknit blog http://bit.ly/mSJtR6 "

7.) Don't tweet? You can still spread the word! Share this giveaway on Facebook, Tumblr, or on your own blog! Leave a comment here.

*However, make sure you leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry. Otherwise, your entry will not count. Also, leave some way for me to contact you if you win.*

*This giveaway is only open to U.S. and Canada.*

Giveaway ends June 26.

Thank you so much Kate!

I hope everyone loves her blog and shop as much as I do! :)