brown linen & co.

mickey lynn : shoot video

2012-01-30T12:39:00.001-05:00

Back in June, I styled a shoot for one of my favorite people in the world.
Remember her?

Well, the team over at Mickey Lynn just launched their BRAND NEW website, and it's incredible.
You can now purchase her amazing pieces online, and there's tons of great photos to see her work up close and personal. Her stuff has been on the cover of Anthropologie and she sell to some of the most prestigious Hollywood glamourites.

It's been such an honor to get to know her and to work with her amazing pieces of jewelry. Each one is truly a work of art.

Check out the promo video below that was made from this amazing day.

Videography: Thomas of Southern Light Productions

Photography: Andy of OneNine Images

Styling & Art Direction: Abany of Brown Linen & Co.

Makeup: Sumar, representing Bobby Brown

Models: Kelly Smith & Stacy Tucci
Jewelry: Mickey of Mickey Lynn

should old acquaintance be forgot...

2011-12-23T12:24:00.000-05:00

I've been searching the world wide web for the past few days to find a 2012 poster calendar as some swag for me and the mister's newlywed refrigerator.
And I have to be honest and say that so many of them are absolutely breathtaking and immensely creative! I'm just about tempting to buy all of them and create an entire wall in our apartment of poster calendars. But rather, I think I'll feature them here for you lovelies instead.

Which one will you be showcasing this coming year??

Perhaps you have a special someone in need of one of these below?

for the prosperous blossomer...

for the uncomplicated...

for the proprietress of clean & bright...

for the easy breezy...

for the geometric genius...

for the one with the string around her finger...

for the star-crossed astrologist...

for the creative mountaineer...

for the foodie...

and the gardener...

for the victorian...

and the modernist...

for the bohemian...

for the aficionado of texture...

and the traditionalist...

Cheers to another year ended & a beautiful and bright one to come.

christmas eve eve eve

2011-12-22T12:12:00.001-05:00

we opened a window last night and were this close to turning on the a/c!!! so wishing that the Georgia winds would blow in a brisk chill.

longing for the western Canadian air within just a few days, and preparing lots of projects for the new year.
2012 promises to bring a fresh new look for Brown Linen. more to come!

via Seducing Serendipity, from always ourselves we find by the sea

mickey lynn shoot - june 2011

2011-08-24T13:11:00.000-04:00

Some of you might remember this shoot, back in November, when I developed and styled a shoot for a local Atlanta jeweler, Mickey Lynn.
Well, we did it again!!
In preparation for their new fall line, the team at Mickey Lynn, the ever-talented Andy Brophy and myself were at it again.

I was so appreciative of Mickey & Seth (owners of Mickey Lynn Jewelry) to have such trust in me to direct and style this line of jewelry for them.
And Andy Brophy KILLED it behind his lens. He was so great to work with - ebbing and flowing through my crazy thoughts and ideas...and him throwing in some of his ingenious ideas as well. I'm really thankful to such an awesome photographer like him, who's willing to jump in and get dirty without hesitation. I mean he almost killed himself trying to capture a few of the best shots of the day!! (more on that later)
For now - ENJOY!

(remember that shot that I mentioned that Andy almost died??! Well, he was in a tree just above Kelly about 20 feet in the air!!)

i do : how-to (getmarried)

2011-08-11T11:52:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone!!

It's been a while since I've posted, and I'm really excited for the next few weeks to share some of the really fun projects that I've been working on lately.

But first, I wanted to share with you the brand new blog that's been just launched by the popular "GetMarried" magazine.

Candice Moore, one of my besties, and I took an afternoon a few months back and came up with this cute "how-to" for GetMarried's new blog called "I Do! How-To"!

See the post HERE to find the rest of the "recipe" for creating this bud-vase centerpiece! And don't forget to give them some lovin'!!

shout out: charlotte lucey - part duex

2011-06-09T13:06:00.000-04:00

Part two, on calligraphy has been posted over at Charlotte Lucey!! Such sweet words - thanks Renee!!

Be sure to take a trip over to her site and follow her beautiful blog.

And in case you missed them, here are the links for the other two shout outs at Charlotte Lucey! Thanks girl!
Intro
Styling

shout out: charlotte lucey

2011-06-08T09:51:00.003-04:00

About a month ago, I got connected with this sweet blogger based in the great capital city, Washington D.C. who has a budding new wedding blog.
Renee's site is fantastic. Very clean, fresh and simple - which is exactly what the wedding industry needs right now. It was so nice to visit her site and get some great advice along with flipping through some beautiful photos - yet not get inundated with ads from left to right! She's also great at promoting small businesses - and she holds to a high standard what she places on the site. Be sure to start following her blog & add her to your news feed!!!

PLUS - I'm even more excited about is that I get to team up with this creative blogger! I was so honored that she came to me wanting to do a four week promo on Brown Linen & Co. and what BLC has to offer to the modern bride. Here you can find the intro, and then the first post here - about Brown Linen Styling.
I'm excited to see what she conjures up this week - and I'm really eager to continue working with her!

This is just the beginning, ladies: So grab your veils and run over to Charlotte Lucy today and give her some lovin'!

Thanks again, Renee!!

shout out: chic weddings in italy

2011-05-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

The fantastic duo, behind Chic Weddings in Italy have been so kind to write up a sweet post about Brown Linen & Co. on their side project blog, Wedding Design Anarchy.
During a very brief time when I thought that my main man & I might be actually get married in Italy, I contacted them to find out some basic information about their services. They were so kind to return the response with many answers and some interest in Brown Linen as well!! Unfortunately, the Italian wedding will not happen - but I'm hoping that a continued relationship with these fabulous planners will!

So are you having a passing thought about planning your big day along the gorgeous, rustic Tuscan countryside??
Then they are your ladies!!
Contact them and they will put together a fierce event topped with everything from pre-planning, Italian interpretation, and even attending your special day to insure the smoothest and most memorable event of your life!

Thanks Clara & Eva for the beautiful post!

he put a ring on it!!!!

2011-05-25T10:13:00.000-04:00

WEEKEND HEADLINE NEWS for Brown Linen & Co:

I won the competition at the Wedding Day Hooray &....
got ENGAGED!!!!

Winning was of course stupendous, so exciting and very much an honor...seeing my sweet #1 ribbon made of felt on my table made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

...but it wasn't until Monday afternoon, while on a day hike with my sweet man, that I said "YES!" to the best proposal of my life!!
He is truly the man that I've prayed for for so many years and I can't wait to begin the rest of our lives together!
I know that through the highest mountains and the deepest waters that we will pass through, we are truly better together than we could ever be a part.

And as Dr. Suess says so beautifully:
"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams..."

i love you, babe - for always.

wedding day hooray!

2011-05-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

Every year Indie Craft Experience puts together an uber fun event called The Wedding Day Hooray. And this year, lovely ladies at ICE have once again brought us this grand event, but with a bit of a twist! This weekend they will be hosting the very first WDH Table Decorating Contest! I've decided to compete and am crossing my little fingers for the best. If you happen to be around town, stop by and see my table, along with tons of other amazing artists and vendors from around the city! Be sure to visit their website for ticket and event info.

inspiration board: modern victorian summer

2011-05-18T18:50:00.003-04:00

This is the board I've created for a table decorating competition that I'm in on Saturday for an event called The Wedding Day Hooray.

photo credit from right to left: marthastewart.com, via pintrest via this is glamorous, via pintrest by hey abigail

I'm pretty excited about getting to share some of my styling skills with such a large group of people. But mostly I think it'll be an amazing time to meet and talk with lots of new designers + artists in the city. If you're nearby, you should come and check it out!! I'd love to meet you and there will be SO much good stuff to see!

a good day for branding...

2011-05-18T18:22:00.001-04:00

...the weather's nice, the sun is shining.
So I figured it was a great day to get my business cards in the mail!! Yeah!

Thanks INKd for your incredible help + fabulous product!!
I can't wait to share it with future clients!!

Anyone need some calligraphy, styling or handmade goods made??

I'll give you a new card with purchase/order! (wink)

email: abany@brownlinengoods.com

mickey lynn short film

2011-05-11T12:32:00.003-04:00

You all remember this shoot?
Well, the genius Thomas Buchanan, a fantastically talented friend of mine created a short film with some of the footage that was shot as B-roll on location. Enjoy!

song: Generator First Floor by Freelance Whales

happy wednesday.

mickey lynn photo shoot

2011-05-07T14:41:00.001-04:00

Back in November, I styled a shoot for an incredible jeweler here in the Atlanta area, Mickey Lynn.
Collaborating with Andy Brophy, we created an "outdoor environment" on the inside, purposely trying to create the feeling of a dreamy charm confronting the setting of old, abandoned ruins where moss + leaves only seemed to be taking residence.

Mickey's jewelry combines the beauty of organic influences with the glamour of high quality golds and silvers, so we wanted to try and capture that same feel in this first shoot.

Her newest line is set to be shown in the June Anthropologie catalog, which is really exciting! Be sure to flip through it and look for her pieces - or visit your local Anthro store and pick yourself up a Mickey Lynn beauty of your own.
If you remember this post, you'll see the inspiration board that I created for the new shoot - planned to be shot here with Andy - in the next month or so. Can't wait to share those with you!

Happy weekend!

new kids on the block: the guestbox

2011-04-16T12:34:00.005-04:00

Meet the modern-day guestbook: The GuestBox!!

Created by the folks behind The NotWedding, branded by Brown Linen & Company (that's me!), and crafted by Buzzy Craftery, The GuestBox knows what it takes to be trendy, fun, and stylish.

It was such a PLEASURE to collaborate with these incredibly talented and creative peeps, and I can't wait to show you the outcome of the first few events.

Check out the very first event for Hayley & Reuban's wedding HERE.

Wouldn't this be amazing to have at a graduation party?? Or maybe at Uncle Bob's 50th birthday party? Or maybe a fun going-away party to celebrate loved ones who are moving.

The idea of the GuestBox birthed out of a way to show love and happiness to couples at weddings, but the ideas on where this big ole box can be placed are truly ENDLESS!!

Contact them today and get the GuestBox at your next big event!

inspiration board: staycation

2011-04-09T16:51:00.004-04:00

Inspiration board for the upcoming June photo shoot for Mickey Lynn Summer 2011 Collection. I'm excited about pulling together another exciting shoot with Andy!
I cannot wait to show you all the amazing photos that will come out of this day. Don't you just wish you could live in these photos??

- photo credits -
top row: - via blissfulb.blogspot.com, via weheartit.com, via cannelle-vinelle
bottom row: via ozzy garcia photography, by nirrimi via weliveyoung.blogspot.com

sneak preview...

2011-04-06T23:16:00.001-04:00

a project that has been brewin' in the studio for the past few weeks...so excited to share all the details with you! but until then, here's a bit of a sneak peak. :)

happy thursday!

love + truth

2011-04-04T23:17:00.002-04:00

a little project for a dear friend.

happy monday.

: daily thankful : 6

2011-03-08T14:21:00.001-05:00

Today I'm laid up in bed, wishing that I could fly with the birdies that are whistling through the trees outside my window today. Spring is coming, and the onset of the crazy weather (not mention my crazy life) have brought a bit of a bug to my body.
So I'm fighting it - hoping it will run a short course and I'll be back up and running once again.

But this doesn't stop me from being grateful. If anything, gratitude is a funny thing. I feel like tough times and difficult situations actually seem to lend me a more open mind to being "thankful it's not worse" or "at least I'm not in the hospital"-type mindset.

I found this lovely quote/photo via Pintrest, and I think that it will soon become a part of my life alma mater.
I'm an incessant worrier and constantly anxious about what is to come...so I'm grateful for this lovely reminder to gently pick me up off my wandering track, like a lone Monopoly piece, walking the edges of life's real estate.
It's knowing that I'm almost around the board at GO...and I'll get to collect $200 there. Just keep moving...keep on moving.

Photo by Swiss Miss, found at Erskine Design
Quote by Fernando Sambino

: daily thankful : 5

2011-03-02T13:34:00.002-05:00

Messenger - by Mary Oliver

My work is loving the world.

Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird -

equal seekers of sweetness.

Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.

Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?

Am I no longer young, and still not half perfect? Let me

keep my mind on what matters,

which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be

astonished.

The phoebe, the delphinium.

The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,

which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy

to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,

telling them all, over and over, how it is

that we live forever.

Beautiful day to appreciate all that the Lord has created & the fullness of our lives...have a lovely Wednesday.

: daily thankful : 4

2011-02-25T13:37:00.000-05:00

Thankful that it's FRIDAY, and thankful for this sweet calendar to remind me.
My sweet friend and fellow artist of the blogger world, Chelsea, made this calendar for her etsy shop a few months ago + I just had to grab one of my own! I know it's already February, but it's never too late to add a little organizational love to your kitchen, bedroom or office cubicle.
Hop on over to Oh My Deer! + give her some lovin'.

Have a fantastic weekend full of sprouting herbs, beautiful sun-filled winds + relaxing cool nights. xo

: daily thankful : 3

2011-02-24T12:32:00.001-05:00

Thankful for this and this and this for getting me through this loony day.
I feel like my head is going to fly away like a bright red balloon freed by a child's hand at the fair.

Thanks to modern day meds, maybe I can stay out of bed and be a bit productive.

Have you fought off the flu this season?
What are you thankful for today??

: daily thankful : 2

2011-02-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

(photo taken with ShakeIt Photo)

Thankful for the breathtaking sunrise this am.
The sun rose + peaked it's sweet head just through the perfect crevice of my window, tickling my face awake. I could almost hear it whisper, "good morning, it's gonna be a great day..."

what are YOU thankful for today??

life is better together

2011-02-22T23:22:00.004-05:00

My most very best friends just got engaged recently + I don't think I've ever been more happy for two people in my life.
After 3 LOOOOOOOONG years of dating, he finally decided that he liked her enough to put a ring on it...got down on one knee + did the deed.

I'm so thankful for the two of these incredible people in my life. They have brought me so much hope + joy, and I truly believe that they are simply "better together" than they could ever apart.

I made this little watercolor for them as an engagement gift.

Who do you know that's just "better together"??

xo

: daily thankful : 1

2011-02-22T21:48:00.001-05:00

Starting a new project.
The DAILY THANKFUL will be a way that myself, along with all you wonderful ladies + lads can bring to words the one (or more) thing that you are most thankful in that 24 hour period. So much of life is consumed by worry and anxiety, that we forget the little blessings that fall into our laps.
So instead of getting distracted by the difficult, frustrating + the mostly mundane happenings of each day, we'll FLIP it and make them "daily thanks".

: DAILY THANKFUL :

Sitting at the airport waiting for M's flight to get in.
First it was on time.
Then it was delayed.
Then -- cancelled.
(sigh)
But then he got on a new flight!! (yippee!)

So what am I thankful for today??

My brand new baby to help get twice the work done while waiting...
$6 internet at the airport, and...
this luscious newly released disc of tunes to help the murmur of travelers disappear + allow me to drift into my dream land.

what are YOU thankful for today?

{happy holiday}

2011-02-21T14:34:00.001-05:00

may this song bring you peace and comfort today - remembering our nation's history and the men that have lead us here.
but ultimately remembering who our true Ruler is, + what life was before we died in order that we might LIVE.

happy president's day.

{the beginning of a new perspective}

2011-02-20T21:27:00.001-05:00

The past 6 months have found my life in a whirl of learning, working, creating and of falling deep in love for the first time.

Through this beautiful time, I've begun to recognize many issues in my life that have prevented me from moving forward towards the goals and dreams that I believe I was created to accomplish.

As a musician and artist, I find that my heart plays tricks and tug-o-wars on my soul to know which direction to walk in life.

Some days it's so clearly laid out that I should pursue music…and others, I desperately am convinced that the direction that I should head towards is design + crafting, possibly starting my own business. But the clarity turns to cloudy and when the tug starts up again, I'm lost in a tizzy of missing one or the other; falling into the pit of belief that I think that if I really work hard enough and focus enough, I can just have it all.

The dust of confusion settles upon my heart, I'm left exhausted with a vertigo mentality that leaves me realizing that I've ended up right where I started…and even more discouraged.

I know that I was created to glorify the Lord. And I realize that the Lord has created and gifted me to love and appreciate and enjoy so many different things - most of which include the idea or notion of "creating". I am one of those that associates with the Creator God more than most, and is mystified by the world of those who think in black + white. I'm controlled my a mentality of various hues and tints of gray, which help me in my journey of dreaming, but leave much to clean up when the day is done.

I have found that many of my days are full of envy and lust after other's lives and the incredible things that they have accomplished. I get caught for hours in the spiral of blog reading and the excuse is "looking for inspiration". When really, I'm becoming more and more captive to my own hatred and self-loathing. With each click of the mouse I begin to feel "less than" and "incapable". Decapitating my own dreams and visions that have so freely been given from the Lord. I drown out the voice of hope and life through the pouring in of what everyone else is doing that I'm not.

Now don't get me wrong - there is much joy and gratitude to the world of artists, musicians, bloggers + photographers. I find such beauty in so much of what is created by some of you out there. I feel so connected to the work that you have created that it brings me to tears, hoping for more.

So what's the problem, you ask?

The problem is me and my mentality. What I do with your "hope on a URL" is ring it dry into envy + jealousy, instead of uplifting and empowering. This is the key lie that I believe that I refuse to continue to wallow upon.

So 2011 comes with a new turn in the road. There's some ouch more life to be traveled and these roads that I keep winding and wandering about are done with. I'm turning a bend in a new life and hope and pray that it brings victory for some of you as well.

I read this incredible article a few nights ago and found that my struggle is not something found under the umbrella of my own home. Bloggers (as I'm sure musicians, artists, designers) globally struggle with this issue. And as I begin to dig deeper into the beautiful life of some of these people, I realize that the ugly little green-eyed man is waiting around the bend of most of there roads too. The difference is that most of these amazing people face it with authority and kill it openly . They recognize that the world does not revolve around them, they give a big ole two-thumbs up to the beauty of what they see, and they move forward in inspiration. Others sink back into a haze of anti-depressant lives and believe the lies.

I believe that I am suppose to pursue worship - to pursue worship and to LEAD worship. To lead people, through music, into deeper healing - healing from the pain that their world has brought upon them, and the pain from the lies that they believe.

But I also believe that I need an outlet, a place to release the beauty of what I see in my mind and the desire to create those things with my hands. A place that I can find refuge from the confusion that I'm sure the world of worship will instill. But mostly I believe that I have been given gifts that I might not necessarily always make money with, but I still have a desire and passion to pursue.

So this blog, is now that.

My blog that has stood idle for so long - looming over my head like the dust under the couch that hasn't been moved for 20 years.

This blog deserves life. And I pray that this small little place brings a glimmer of hope, maybe a smile to you.

Comment and pin and share! I'll share lots of things - from design, to new projects, to information…even things that I'm learning from the Lord. This is a place of freedom and a place of creation - and mostly, a place that is safe. Safe from the green-eyed man that we are running far, far away from.

Until next time.

{welcome} saint rooster

2009-09-17T19:01:00.006-04:00

calling all anagram and furniture lovers!

liz martin, of saint rooster is a new kid on my small block, here at brown linen.

as a former hip-hop dancer AND fabulous roommate, you better bet that I am SO pleased to introduce her lovely creations to you today.

from her creative and beautiful additions to old furniture, to her quirky and exciting blogs - a visit to her sight will be quite the highlight to your week with out a doubt!

be sure to give her some lovin' on her blog and her etsy store! and if you are in the Atlanta area, her stuff can be found on sale, (in person!!) at the infamous Paris on Ponce! Happy shopping!

{la vie thursdays} intro & spanish countryside

2009-07-23T19:55:00.011-04:00

I LOVE THURSDAYS.

let me explain.

Thursday is the day before Friday, and I don't know about you, but I personally see Friday as the tiny budding glory into the weekend. It's the day you sit at your office desk with a certain tap in your foot, and a special stroll in your walk; and you seem to sing a different tune that is only special to Friday. (I like to refer to it as the "Friday Singy-Song") You know that as soon as the clock hits 5 o clock, your time has begun - and there is nothing holding you back until 8am on the following Monday. And even if you don't work the regular 8-5, there is a magic found in weekends that just doesn't come about on the other days. The grocery store is busier, more people are out walking their dogs at the park, festivals in the town square are found in hoards, and the beer just tastes better!

What is more exciting, is weekends give you longer than the standard 6 hour time frame to go seek out a new adventure. Depending upon where you live, you might be able to hit the beach all weekend, or run a race that spans across 3 states, or maybe stay in a nice hotel in your own neighborhood that you've always dreamed of splurging on just -- for the heck of it!

You see, anything can happen -- and that's the magic.

I'm a firm believer that we not only need rest to help with our mood, and to help keep away the bags from forming under our eyes...but we need rest in order to dream bigger, and think outside of ourselves more than ever before.

So I've decided, that in honor of weekends and in honor of the mantra that "anything can happen" I will be showcasing a crazy dream and wish that I have in store for that weekend. Most of what I share will be outrageously luxurious, perhaps even a bit silly, and mostly just very simple and sweet.

So this weekend begins:

Longing to be in the Spanish countryside...

With a dark & broodingly handsome tour guide that I met in the patisserie early Friday morning while sipping on the most delicious, creamy cup of espresso, and reading InStyle Espanol. We'll spend the weekend meeting the locals and struggling to understand my god-awful Spanish and his terrible English. He'll buy us cheese and wine from the local markets, and I'll make him a crown from gathered wildflowers.

What about you?

What are you dreaming about this weekend??

{photo via: this is glamourous}

...violets are blue

2009-07-04T10:11:00.010-04:00

With the onset of summer, I've found recently that the late afternoon evenings are better with my hands playing in the dirt then anything else that I think could seem worthy of my time. My mom and brother and I have spent more time and more money at the local nursery picking out flowers, and going back to buy more flowers, and pining over which flowers will look best in what area of the yard. With the combination of planting and watering, my lazy evenings seem to be soaked up with the outdoor air all the way into the night.

But being spoiled by the natural beauty surrounding our home, I've had a terrible time going to the boring and plain office space that I call my "other" home for 40 hours of my week. So I decided to plant a piece of the heaven there too!

Choosing to start off with the beautious African Violet, after doing much research and talking to many of my "expert" indoor gardening friends, I found the most precious online store that specializes in the [usually] purple lovelies.

You can just feel the excitement that this team of growers has for their little babies, and it was so fun to look through all the colors and pick and choose which pretties I wanted to find on my doorstep.

{meet Cotton Ball, Delicious, Hot Tamale, & Cloudy Sky!}

From ordering, to packaging, to shipping - I was so excited to see that a few of the plants had already started to bloom!! I have never had so much fun! I HIGHLY recommend a trip over to Rob's Violet Barn, and pick out some of your very own friends to make your home or office smile-worthy. They are super super easy to care for, and the blooms are just so endearing.

Happy gardening!!!

{wendy umanoff}

2009-05-20T21:58:00.005-04:00

Last fall I had the privilege to meet and work with an incredible designer from the Richmond, Virginia area named Wendy Umanoff. Through doing some seasonal merchandising and setups for a local showroom in Atlanta, I was able to run into Wendy, who happened to be the head designer of the showroom and merchandising development for the company's Spring 2009 line, and even had a chance to work alongside of her for a few days. Well, as you know, working beside someone for 8 hours a day, people start to connect and share life - which is what I LOVE!!
So naturally we began discussing design, and the work that we were doing outside of the showroom. Wendy is a phenomenal designer, and I'm convinced that creativity, rather than blood, is what truly flows through her veins. With a background in sculpture, she brings a texture and depth to her work that I've yet to see anywhere else. Her take on life and her perspective on teaching and training is rare and profound as well. It was fascinating to listen to all the places that she's been, and things that she's seen...and I'm sure that there are more to come.
After many hours of hard work in the showroom, and getting to know each other better, the favored topic of "the world wide web" came into the discussion.
I won't go into all the details - but I'll say that 530 miles a part & 5 months later, Wendy and I continued to stay in touch, and she commissioned me to design her website.
So here we are!

I am so proud of her and all her work - and even more proud to to present the finished and LIVE product here!
Be sure to check her work out and send her some email lovin!

2009-05-17T23:24:00.004-04:00

check back tomorrow for more from this incredible designer!

{courtney & austin}

2009-05-17T22:46:00.005-04:00

After a weekend drenched in rain - I thought that starting the week off with a little calligraphy love would be suitable.

Back in November - I had the awesome privilege of being a part of a super hip event here in the city, along with some other pretty incredible vendors. With talents such as Joy Thigpen, Oh My Deer!, & Chocolate Pink - one can imagine that my finger nails were bitten to the quick from the nerves of being able to showcase my work at such a festive event. The NotWedding 2008 marked a super fun time in the history of Atlanta Weddings - as well as gave us great face time with the leading consumer's of our industry - the BRIDES!

If you had the opportunity to attend the NotWedding - one can remember that raffle tickets were sold at the event - and every ticket purchased could be placed in a chosen give-a-way.
One particular bride-to-be, Courtney, was smart enough to not only attend the event to check out all the new goods in the wedding market for herself - but her brains really came in handy when she thought enough to rally up her whole entourage of a bridal party for an evening of info and mayhem. So when one of her trusty "ladies in waiting" was the lucky winner of the Brown Linen & Co. giveaway - there was no hesitation to pass on her winnings to Ms. Courtney herself.

Working with Courtney was a pleasure and having the opportunity to work with beautiful materials for her special announcements was so fun!
It got pretty down to the wire when Courtney found out that her fiance, who is a Naval Officer was going to be deployed earlier than expected, and they had to move their wedding date up a month!

So here they are!! Beautiful rich navy paper envelopes with white ink - didn't they end up so sweet with the French threading around them??

A warm congrats to the happy couple, Courtney & Austin! SAILOR'S AWAY!

And keep your eye on that RSS feed! - I have some other goodies up my sleeve that I just can't WAIT to share!!

presenting...

2009-04-21T23:14:00.006-04:00

...the new editions to the brown linen family!

hopefully you'll be seeing these more often.

happy wednesday!

{insert clever anecdote relating to veils}

2009-04-13T23:19:00.002-04:00

thought that after such a yucky monday we could all use some handmade sunshine.

made a little lovely for a lovely bride-to-be...

with little handmade flowers and various options on how to wear it.

you know that you darling head is beggin' for you very own.

maybe one without the veil?...whatever makes you feel saucy.

happy tuesday.

piper dreams

2009-04-12T00:14:00.004-04:00

did a little project for a friend this weekend.

this beautiful poem by john piper combined with the joy of Easter brought some solid thoughts to my drafting table this morning.

all that combined with my new polaroid toy was more than i could stand to keep from you.

so enjoy and be blessed.

for He is Risen.

happy Easter.

a dream...

2009-03-03T22:53:00.004-05:00

...is a wish your heart makes.

enjoy this breathtaking reverie by pricilla ahn.

The 2009 NotWedding!!!

2009-02-28T15:07:00.008-05:00

Grab your partner and your notepad and get ready for THE event of the wedding industry this year! Callie Murray, Creator & Director of The NotWedding has amped up the main event about TEN notches since our first installment back in November! So if you have no idea what this amazing party is all about...you have a little bit of homework to do!

1 - Check out the website and read up on this awesome "show-you-how-to-throw-an-incredible-wedding" event!

2 - Slap The NotWedding Blog on your RSS feeder, and get in on all the exciting information that will be released DAILY - including all giveaways and detailed vendor info that your heart could dream about.

3 - BUY A TICKET! Limited tickets available...and with hot Atlanta-based radio station, Star94 on board...these tix will be slipping out the door before you can say "i do!"

4 - The most exciting part of this year is not only are we showing off all the hot and spiced up ways to throw your own wedding -- but we are announcing one lucky winning couple that will win A FREE WEDDING!!!! If you know of a hip couple that would be into a free wedding (i mean, who wouldn't be all about that??) -- get them to sign up!!! We'll be announcing the finalists SOON! So get on it!

The NotWedding Atlanta - April 5, 2009

The W Hotel Buckhead

3377 Peachtree Road NE · Atlanta, Georgia 30326

{valet parking offered for $12}

Doors open at 4. Ceremony at 5. Reception at 6.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online only.

Admission includes a gift bag {the first 100 receive a super-deluxe bag}... food, drinks and dancing... a raffle ticket... and quite possibly the most fun you'll ever have.

This event is limited to the first 350 guests who register online here: RSVP

Mr. Jonathan Capin and I will be representing our very own endeavor, Jacob's Reverie (website coming soon!!) In addition, the event will take place on location at the Palm-Beach-esque W Hotel Buckhead (venue and catering), Our Labor of Love (photography), Ashley Baber Weddings (coordinator), Verde Paperie (invitations), Joy Thigpen (creative styling), Amy Osaba (flowers), Oh My Deer! (hair pieces), Swoozie's (all the beautiful paper needs you'll ever have) and Feeling is Mutual (wedding favors). I don't think that this list could get any more packed with incredible "wedding beautifiers"!!

Don't think twice -- join us for a night out on the town! It'll be a night you'll never forget...(except for your own wedding, of course.)

all covered up

2009-02-21T20:31:00.005-05:00

remember that cute veil that you saw on the NotWedding site a while back??

it was truly a serendipitous occurrence if i have ever been a part of one...that's for sure.
when callie was doing the shoot with andy and jenica that afternoon, i whipped the thing up from just one piece of tulle and a bobbypin! haha
it was one of those creative pressure moments, i guess -- when you know you'd never be able to possibly recreate the same thing again, in the same amount of time. but it worked ever so well for that perfect moment!!

but alas - my creative genes started lurking again, and a lovely bride trailed through a few people in order to contact me to create her own little treasured hairpiece for her special day.

below are some sketches that i worked up for the lovely wife-to-be.

if you want a pretty little eye-curtain for yourself...shoot an email to atschupp@mac.com!

treasures of my heart.

2009-02-20T12:29:00.008-05:00

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Today will close out my very first week on the new job.
Yes - I've broken down...and have taken a job at a local office near my mom's place in conyers. (did i mention that i moved home to snellville this month too??).

Anyhow - the past year of living The Dream, and freelancing whilst living in the beautiful Georgian city of Atlanta has come to a gentle close. I've had to come back into reality the hard way and realize that this is the season in life where I need to take responsibility for some things that I've thrown under the carpet for a while. So I'll be weeding through the bills that life brings while ringing in an 8-5 on a PC. (gross. i know.) But it's not as bad as it sounds, actually. (sans the PC, of course...I could just throw up.) *
I like the benefits and the consistency that this kind of a life brings. I'm becoming more in touch with my "inner-Pam", as Candice likes to call it - and I'm thoroughly enjoying the fact that I get to finally have time set aside to sift through my favored blogs during my official lunch hour.

But mostly, it's made me realize that the essence of my life that I clung to the most, was something that was false. A false identity that I felt that I had to be molded into. Do I still yearn to be creative? Absolutely. But does my job, and what I do for money solidify that creativity? Perhaps I thought that it did. But I'm reminded of this verse: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be..." Matthew 6:21

So I will sign this day off with a lovely and touching anecdote that I came across this week. Thanks AV, for the words of Truth that helped to bring me through the day.
_______________________________

It’s funny.
That it takes losing things you love.
To realize that you loved them.
And to realize that you shouldn’t.
Because there is something better, more beautiful, more constant to put your hope in.

Nothing in this world is constant.

But I believe there is more than this world. . .

*Brown Linen & Co. will still be around for sure - and I'll still be taking orders for those of you who are interested.

photo credit: AV Photography

she's making a list...checking it twice.

2009-01-17T12:08:00.006-05:00

remember that time back in the 3rd grade when you thought that the only check-lists in life belonged to Santa?
do you feel like everyday is a fight against the clock and against the ever growing list of "to-dos" and the not so many checks next to them?
unfortunately, i have yet to find the magical equation that brings an equality to that never balanced part of life -- but i HAVE found a very useful tool that helps to organize those thoughts.

for those of you similar to myself, who were born with more left-brained tendencies, but are thrown into a world of "righties", do i have a sweet new pocket solution for you!

pierre belvedere of the simplistic stationary world has done it again. these cute booklets made of simple blank, lined pages - with handy check boxes next to them - come perforated for the convenience of the neat freaks in each one of us.
They rip out beautifully, leaving no messy jagged edges, AND it serves the gracious purpose of a built-in pat on the back each time you place a check in the box.
i won't lie. the first time i completed a check list, it was a flashback circa fourth grade...mrs guest's classroom...bright gold star slapped across the top of my pop quiz.
eat that Santa.

The best part is they come in about eight fresh shades that remind me of the the produce section in Trader Joe's.
Sweet Callie surprised me with a bright red one for Christmas this year, and I've been "checkin" ever since!

Let Santa know that you got the list for this year. No problemo.

{purchase one HERE!}

new year, new thoughts

2009-01-13T23:25:00.004-05:00

my brother bought me a calendar for christmas. it was quite hilarious in a few ways actually...first off, the calendar itself is this modern pop art, hysterically morbid as well as cynical take on cartoon bunny suicides...horrible.
i know.
as i said, my brother gave it to me. the design of the book is this glorious bright canary yellow and crisp white, with thin black lined drawings. check it out for yourself here. i'm planning on putting it in my new studio this year. i think it will lift the all-too-planned vibe of the room.
don't worry, i'll post pictures.

the other thought when receiving this gift, which was not nearly as heartless was..."but where did 2008 go???"
did any of you this past new year's find yourself toasting to yet another year, hoping and wishing that maybe, just maybe this one might not fling by so fast? that there might be a possibility to sit and enjoy the inside of one singular moment in time?

i understand that this is the way that the calendar works, and that the constant fight against or for time is the very battle of humanity. (trust me...i eagerly await eternity) but seriously people. my life needs a change towards the more meditative and dreamy, and not so much of the zoom and scurry. part of me

i found such solace in this beautiful photo and i think that it is a perfect visual of this coming year for myself.
it's interesting to contemplate...are we the balloon drifting off into the beautiful unknown sky? or are we the keeper of the balloon, finally letting go? (hmm...maybe obama was onto something..."progress")

one would wish to know the answer...and maybe it's different everyday.
but i can't help but desire to know and understand.

i just know my hat's off to 2009.
may there be many more balloons remembered.

{photo originally found here}

"colour" me pretty

2008-11-30T16:43:00.003-05:00

looking for that right combination of colors...maybe for your blog, your website...or maybe it's for that guest bedroom that you've been meaning to redecorate for ages.
COLOURlovers is the coolest website, and perfect for you color fiends that just can't seem to get enough juicy tones and hues of the color wheel in your life.

find beautiful and creative palettes and backgrounds that you can download and comment on.
great for those of you who love inspirational and story boards. great for working with clients too.

this is one of my personal favorites that i happened to come across...you might be seeing this around my studio soon. :)

"colors just make me feel soooo beautiful, mommy."
- River Thigpen, age 2, daughter of wedding stylist joy thigpen

a thanksgiving table "trend"ition

2008-11-29T14:47:00.008-05:00

i love the holidays with every ounce of my creative and nostalgic being! it's such a warm and cozy time of tradition...mixed with the fun and creative time to explore new and creative options for making your house and tables beautiful!

one of my favorite parts of the holiday is being able to get creative with our dinner table decor.
usually i spend time with my mom and brother in snellville, along with other family friends. and there's always the standard problems that we have to creatively solve...one being the table size and the other being funding.

we have a small dining room, with an even smaller table that should normally only seat a whopping SIX...but most of the time we end up squeezing up to TEN smiling friendly faces at some meals!! (martha stewart would NOT be happy with the lack of everyone's personal space...but we enjoy it!)

the other is our very small and meager budget. things get chaotic around the holidays at our house and we just have a hard time spending outrageous amounts of money on a setting that will only last a few hours.

BUT i just can't simply sit back and watch a beautiful opportunity for a beautiful display pass me by!
below you can see this year's solution in a very lovely and surprisingly inexpensive form.

i started with our regular china that we always use. it was my great-great grandmother's set passed down to my mom...so it's great to use the set at special celebrations. i also knew i'd be using some cute mini mandarine oranges for pinning the place cards onto. with the oranges as my main splash of color...i chose to use an ivory tablecloth with slight variations of gold and silver threading. since there were so many people at such a small table, i had to be sure to use the space for all the necessities, such as wine glasses and water glasses...and the silverware and napkins, before filling the table with all the pretty extra stuff. in the end there wasn't much room and i didn't want to crowd the space. so i got some branches from a gorgeous tree outside, and a few pinecones from the yard...spray painted the cones and a lone branch...threw in some random sized ivory candles that we had around the house, and VOILA!...a pretty table ready for a host of friends and family.

let me know what YOUR thanksgiving table "trend"itions are! what are some of the problems that you run into, and how do you go about solving them to make for a beautiful space that is practical for your holiday circumstances!

local friends!!! - part three

2008-10-30T09:55:00.003-04:00

I'm really happy to share part three with you all!

Miss Emily over at OnceWed has generously supported Callie and I in this crazy and exciting adventure of the NotWedding coming up in just TWO WEEKS!!!!
Not only has she shown some love this week for us to her readers, but we heard through the grapevine that she lived locally here in Atlanta -- so after a spell of cold feet, Callie and I asked her to join us not just for coffee, but for a delicious breakfast over at the Highland Bakery, to share idea and spread the Notwedding news!
It proved not only to be a blessing for Callie and I (and Joy stopped by too!!!) to pick her brain chalked full of blissfully wed ideas, but we walked away with a new friend!

Emily has begun a fantastic business of helping brides re-sell their "once" used wedding dresses. You can find dresses from David's Bridal all the way to some incredibly difficult to find Monique Lhuillier, for only a fraction of the original prices!
Emily's sweet spirit was a blessing to us as well, as she was so calm and quiet and gracious to talk us through some of our ideas and thoughts.

Emily will be joining in on the festivities on November the 16th, so be sure to stop by her shop, give her some luv, and come and meet her at the NotWedding!!!

more friends! - part 2

2008-10-30T01:32:00.005-04:00

Janie from over at the Bride's Cafe, has also become one of our favorite hot spots, amongst the wedding overload found in the world wide web these days.

Miss Janie has a great way of pulling you into her shop with little pressure, sits ya down at a comfy booth or a seat at the bar, and slaps down a fresh mug of hot joe before you even have time to know you needed a pick-me-up .
The Cafe brings a new excitement to the bridal hoopla that goes on constantly and ceaselessly...she serves the basic eggs and toast as she shares the do and do-nots of the wedding world...but then throws in fresh fruit from the garden and special omelets into the menu that are sure to act as a surprise to even the most avid and consistent readers.

Janie held an afternoon special on her menu for the NotWedding on Monday as well...she has a very fun contest brewing currently with free VIP tickets involved!
Go gitcha some at the Bride's Cafe, and sip on some yummy "committed" goodness and let her know your feedback!

She's also a fabulous florist in the VA/DC area...check her work out here.

wanting MORE?...and stay tuned for part THREE!

our friends - part 1

2008-10-30T00:49:00.003-04:00

hello everyone!

today I have some REALLY exciting news!!
We've had the honor of sharing some major cyber-space with some of our most beloved bloggers, who also happen to be some of the most highly respected and consistently read wedding blogs in the world!

I have a THREE parter for you today, to introduce you to each of these lovely ladies...starting with Miss Kathryn over at Snippet & Ink!

Kathryn was so good to become a supporter of our exciting endevour, had a giveaway for the NotWedding this past Monday with tickets that we offered to her for her readers! (jump on into the contest, if you still can!) This Mistress of Wedded-Bliss has been an inspiration to all of us over at the NotWedding, and has fueled a huge part of our excitement to become a part of the wedding industry. She is constantly posting beautiful, creative and original photos, as well as written excerpts expressing brides and their weddings from around the globe!

Three cheers for Kathryn and her willingness to be our friend and supporter!
Thanks Kathryn!

Be sure to hop on over to her sight and give'r some lovin'!

And stay posted for part two and three!!!

the rocks from my pockets aren't THIS big...

2008-10-26T02:10:00.004-04:00

it's true.

The NotWedding is turning into a fantastic success, all the the thanks of some of the most amazingly talented artists/entrepenuers that I've met in this industry.
I have the honor of not only working with Callie at Achor & Eden, and Chelsea from Oh My Deer!, but also Joy Thigpen of Rocks from My Pockets!

I'll tell you one thing...I want to know where she's been exploring to have been pulling these big ole rocks from out of HER pockets! She is so innovative and talented...and one thing that is really attractive about her special rocks is that they tend to have such a flair for budget friendly minds in addition to stylish hearts!

Below you'll find the GORGEOUS inspirational boards that Joy has created for the NotWedding, and will be the stories behind each bride as they prepare for the big Notday! I won't give too much away, in hopes that these little boards will create even more wedding whispers from around the cyber-world.

ENJOY!

who wants to get NOT wed???!!!!!

2008-10-18T23:57:00.000-04:00

attention brides and beauties alike!!!

if you happen to be in the Atlanta area on November the 16th, 2008, stop by Opera, Atlanta's hottest dance club and event hotspot, for an afternoon full of fun, fresh and exciting twists on the most celebrated ritual of our lives -- "the wedding"

my friend Callie and I, along with a bunch of our other amazingly talented friends are banding together, accompanied by our businesses, for the hippest, trendiest and most outrageous wedding event of the year!!
We wanted to show off our talents and provide and avenue for up-coming brides to come and peruse what we have to offer...so we decided to throw a wedding!! but this time, YOU ARE THE GUEST!!!

check THIS out for more information!!!
don't hesitate for a "single" moment longer!!! Let's go and get "notwed"!!!!
Don't forget to RSVP!!!!

www.thenotwedding.com

etsy & andy

2008-10-15T16:33:00.000-04:00

i've got the shop up and running!!!
yippee!! the products are slowly churning through (please be patient with me!!) -- but i have one item up and rolling as of TODAY!!

for those of you who came by the market a few weeks ago, you probably caught a glimpse of this gorgeous piece of art hanging in the shop. if anyone is interested, or thinks they might have a friend interested, please stop by and visit!

and remember that the brown linen studio is always up and running...ready to supply you with your most dire commissionable needs! feel free to shoot me an email or contact me is you have any questions.

more photos - and so much more to come!!

2008-10-11T15:15:00.001-04:00

Here's some more of Mrs. Murray's beautiful shots from the Market.
I just was handed a disc FULL of pics the other day as well...so be on the lookout!
Happy Weekending!

to market!! to market!!

2008-09-28T18:46:00.000-04:00

The Market was a fantastic success!!! Be on the look out in the days to come! I'll be divulging all the glorious and fun facts of the entire experience!

Until then, enjoy this bit of a sneak peek!!
A little design board with a taste of the experience.
My amazing team for the day that were my "rocks"...this day would not have been possible without them!! {kisses galore}

All photography by Callie Murray of Achor & Eden.

oh gosh. 2 more days!!

2008-09-25T18:36:00.000-04:00

so everything's been loaded in - it's mass chaos - and i love every second of it!!
i've got a great team and lot to do to get it ready for the Market...here's the "before" view.

don't forget to invite some friends!!!

blessings.

five five five five five

2008-09-22T13:08:00.000-04:00

mmm.....busy day.
cleaning the boys' (market place) house.
loading clothing from my house and unloading at the Market spot.
and trying not to step on toes while doing that.

stay posted for the progressive photos!
in the meantime, here's some of the signs that i've begun to make for various things around the market.

don't you just LOVE the bright yellow ribbing??? so cheerful!

love love

6 days and counting...

2008-09-21T15:08:00.000-04:00

some tags that i made for each one of my WONDERFUL volunteers to wear during market.
you know you wish you were one of them! (wink)

hope to see you at the Market!!

353 pieces and counting...

2008-09-18T11:11:00.000-04:00

that's right ladies & gents.

353 pieces of lightly used and pre-loved clothing going on sale in less than two weeks!!!!
yahooo!!!
and that's NOT including the endless amounts of gorgeous jewelry and handbags that i have stashed away!!

remember - only $25, and it buys you a great night out on the town, some delicious wine choices, along with yummy food, LIVE music, and THREE PIECES OF CLOTHING automatically included!!!

don't miss out. invite your friends and come and celebrate with us at the Brown Linen Market!!!

Brown Linen Market - come one, come all!!!

2008-09-10T15:51:00.000-04:00

new friends

2008-09-06T14:52:00.001-04:00

as many of you might know by now - in addition to making beautiful handmade goods and writing on people's invitation envelopes, i also am a singer and performer.
one of the many places that i get the awesome opportunity to sing is at people's weddings. i LOVE LOVE LOVE singing at weddings for the same reason that i love doing contract work for people's weddings.
it's that one special day in many of their lives where their personality gets to spill out onto others and be expressed through their love for each other. its a beautiful thing when you have the honor of helping the brides (and sometimes the groom) achieve that atmosphere and feeling, and encompass it into one "big" day!

but the other aspect of doing weddings is the incredible opportunity that you have to NETWORK!!! i have met so many amazing musicians, photographers, sound technicians, cake decorators, caterers, etc. at these beautiful events that i have the priviledge of attending. i get to congratulate on a job well done, and stand inspired by the works of fellow artisans.

one of these artisans in particular, i'd love to share with you fine people TODAY.
her name is Jenny Spires and she has just recently launched her own photography company. Her work is precise and very technically sound...but her creative voice is really drawn out with the slight capture of the subtle nuances of a bride's dimples, or a groom's tear. Please check her work out and copy that mess into your feed! I'll be sure to keep an eye on this girl to see what she comes up with in the years to come!!

She also captured the lovely buckets that i wrote on from this previous post. ENJOY!

Brown Linen Market!!!

2008-08-27T15:41:00.001-04:00

So i'm planning an event coming up on the 27th of September, called Brown Linen Market.
It's an open market event hosting women of all ages to come and mingle and do what women love to do -- SHOP!!!!!

I am gathering lightly used and pre-loved clothing from all over the place (if you are interested, let me know!!) -- and will have it beautifully merchandised and for sale at the market...
In addition, there will also be divine wine and splendid yummies to munch on during this event...tickets are $20 and will provide all the delicious delights and drinks that your heart can imagine - along with THREE pieces of clothing!!

Below are some pieces of jewelry I've recently received, and have been processing.

Be sure to come back for more in the next few weeks as we progressively gather more and more things and get ready for the EVENT OF THE YEAR!! So spread the word!!

midnight research

2008-08-23T01:12:00.000-04:00

this was what the table looked like at midnight after lots of research and work. pretty pathetic, huh?
i just had to share.

....aaaaand then i went to bed.

sam + cristin...MORE!

2008-08-22T15:58:00.000-04:00

good afternoon!!

the lovely "baketress" Candice Moore (and one of my dearest and closest friends) is making some goodies this evening for the rehearsal dinner. so she called and asked if Brown Linen would make an appearance for the evening.
of course you can imagine my response was, "YES YES YES!!"

enjoy!

sam + cristin

2008-08-22T00:04:00.000-04:00

i few days ago i posted a few pictures from a wedding that i have done some work for recently.
the wedding is this saturday, and i'm SO excited!
it's the first wedding that i have had the amazing opportunity to sing in, as well as represent Brown Linen & Co!
you can imagine my thrill when the bride, Cristin, sister to one of my best friend's, wanted BL present.

the flower girls' flower buckets...such a cute idea, cristin!! the cans will be filled with little treats and goodies for the girls during the rehearsal. then they'll bring the sweet pails back to the church on the day of the wedding to be filled with the petals that will grace the bridal walkway!

for the reception, cristin wants to be sure that the bridal party knows where their seats are - and of course, she needs special arrangements to be made to clarify where she and sam will be sitting as well. with these cute signs, there will be no questions asked!

cristin also asked me to make a bunch of petite signs for a huge cookie table that she will have at the wedding. now who doesn't just love cookies??!!

hopefully i'll get some shots of the actual event on saturday...so stay posted.

domestic bliss

2008-08-20T19:14:00.000-04:00

domestic bliss...

i've had the recent adventure of "playing mom" for two boys in dunwoody, while mom and dad are in europe, for the past two weeks & i've become quite accustomed to the lovely and grandeous ways of domestic living.

wake up at 7...stumble out of bed with just enough energy to pour a cup of coffee...get the boys off to school in the hour...and then i have the WHOLE day to myself!!!!
{sighs dreamily}
it's beautiful really...and when the boys get home, its really fun and full of surprises that don't usually grace my everyday life.

helping them with homework at the kitchen table...letting them play outside while i prepare dinner. it's been nice quite frankly. and i look forward to this continuing in the future...(only i'll choose to check off the "husband included" box and defer this life until about 2020!!)

but with that said, i've been in the mood recently to sweat it out in the kitchen more than usual, and have found myself sifting through cookbooks & baking blogs rather than the latest domino mag. i've also been shopping for different kid-friendly dinner ideas...all the while trying to be healthy and "veggie-conscious", of course. it's quite a task and a fun challenge, i must say!

so with these domestic duties, comes the inevitable domestic bliss of BAKING!!
i'm no June Cleaver, and i most certainly don't have the perfect pin curls -- and have boldly chosen to have the high heals sit this one out.
but being elbow deep in flour and sugar, and smelling the rich flavors brewing from the oven has been a sweet walk down memory lane, remembering times with mom, as she taught me all that i know about chopping, sifting and mixing up some delicious goodies in the kitchen.

but i smile inside - knowing that my lack of wanting to fully follow directions as a child and always wanting to throw in my own twist to recipes has crept up on me once again. (sorry, mom...) so in the making of this "True Grits" recipe (below) I made some changes that i can assure you are full of this domestic bliss and not kitchen misery.

CARROT CAKE (from True Grits cookbook)

for the cake:
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups grated carrots
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg (the original recipe calls for 2 tsp cinnamon...i just cut that in half and added the nutmeg...so yummy)
salt to taste
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

for the frosting: (regretfully, i opted out of this portion, and went for the pre-made frosting since i didn't have the cream cheese on hand...but good luck, if you dare!)
12/ cup butter or margarine, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (1-pound) package of confectioners' sugar

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

to prepare the cake:
-- Combine the sugar and oil in a mixer bowl; beat until smooth. Add the carrots, mix well. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time.
-- Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon & salt together. Add to the carrot mixture; mix well.
-- Stir in the walnuts. Spoon into 2 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.
-- Bake @ 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the layers test done. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks and cool completely.

to prepare the frosting:
-- Cream the butter, cream cheese and vanilla in a mixer bowl until light. Add the confectioners' sugar gradually, beating until fluffy. Spread between the layers and over the top and side of the cake. Serves 16.

happy wednesday and i'll have more details on this project i've been working on tomorrow!!

wedding cheer

2008-08-19T18:32:00.001-04:00

just as promised, here's a little looksie at the project i was recently commissioned for.

happy tuesday!

{i don't usually do this}

2008-08-18T19:36:00.000-04:00

i don't usually make it a point to throw down my hard core feminist side via my creative design blog...but i was just totally hell-bent on showing this video to you all after i found it on my ever-favoured blog this afternoon.

I am broken hearted and just totally disgusted by this video...WARNING: it's a little disturbing.

but disturbing as it may be, i was all the more thrilled to see what Dove is doing in direct defiance of what our world is telling the young women of the next generation.
Ladies...we have the power of persuasion beyond what television and media says to these girls that are our future leaders.
And for as cliche as it may sound, find a girl...ANY girl. Love her and tell her she is beautiful.
Get her away from the magazines and mtv...and let her know a little bit about real life.
Teach her to bake your favourite cookies...or show her how to replace the old buttons of her coat with some way cool funky ones. Or maybe you have a killer awesome job, and you can share with her about what you do to make a difference. Teach them to dream bigger than the sunglasses on Mylie freakin' Cyrus.
Just share with them that they are worthy of attention and love...and furthermore - beautiful in your eyes and the eyes of her Beholder.

be on the lookout tomorrow! i've got some new goodies coming.

blessings.

columbus sailed the ocean blue and found that the world was round

2008-08-05T00:26:00.000-04:00

Brittany is a dear friend of mine that happens to be getting married in just a few weeks!!
She and her fiance, Michael met while working with Operation Mobilization a few years ago.
They both were living on a cruise ship that has been retired from the land o cruise glory, and turned into a world-traveling bookstore to help communicate with and bring the Gospel to port cities around the globe.

A few months ago, Brittany asked me to help her design her invitations for their special day, and we had such a blast!! Having to work with a pretty tight budget, along with trying to encompass Brittany's brilliant ideas into the project made for some great memories.
You can see the final project below.

She and Michael have such a passion and love for the world, especially for the countries and cultures that they encountered while on their two-year mission. Because of this, they both purposed to create a multi-cultural atmosphere at their wedding this September. So when it came to designing their invitations, Brittany and I had a great time talking up different ideas and concepts. We designed the invite, but then had the HARDEST time finding just the right color paper...and then the stamp. whew! after many trial and errors, she finally grabbed hold of this beautiful stamp of the globe! you can bet your sweet bottom that we swiped that up and knew it was just PERFECT!

Brittany & Michael are getting married in September and starting off their new life journey together in Canada!
Congratulations to you both!

hugs kisses & georgia peaches

2008-08-03T17:55:00.000-04:00

this summer has been quite the whirlwind, to say the least.
nannying two boys (9 & 11) and running them all over the city...to the library, to the tutors, to this camp and that, then to the pool, then to the beach, and back again...AHHH!!
it can make a girl crazy.

but the freedom of having the simple times in between making lunches and playing guitar hero has given me more time and opportunity to pull together the vision that the Lord has given me...and then some, for Brown Linen. (yippee!)
it's still in the works, and there will of course always be trials and errors to learn from. but for the most part, the vague dreams are pulling closer and closer into a more condensed reality - and i'll soon be able to bottle it up and present it to the world.

so thank you, my dear friends, who continue to encourage me in these endeavors.
thanks to those of you who have relentlessly listened and brainstormed through ideas...the good and the bad.
your endless support and your bright faces that light up, have been the key factor in helping me get through the days when i simply thought i had nothing to offer.

we live in a world of insanely talented and gifted people.
i am blessed to even be remotely considered be a part of this world and i continue to learn more and soak in the knowledge that i gain from these surroundings.
i praise the Lord for giving us a world filled with creative beauty.
it only comes from Him.

so thanks God, for letting us in on it all.

with that said, be on the lookout for my new website...which will not go live for a few more weeks.
but i am so excited and thrilled to the core about sharing it with you!

in the meantime, you must check out this incredibly talented & happily wedded photography duo.
gorgeous stuff to say the least. they were just named as Photographer of the Year @ BluDomain.com.
I've spent the better part of my day drooling over these gorgeous pictures. Thank you AmeliaLyon for sharing your gifts.

in addition, Brown Linen will soon be hosting the 1st annual Brown Linen Market!
It'll be a really rad party mixed with lots of beautiful used and lightly worn clothing!
I'll need all of you to help donate clothing!!

hugs, kisses & lots more georgia peaches.

river of life

2008-07-11T16:39:00.000-04:00

recently, some good friends of mine from college gave birth to their first beautiful baby girl, Canaan.
i just sent them this little treasure from Brown Linen to help them with the practical side of things, along with a little love thrown in there.

nothing's sweeter than finding your own name, hand-sewn onto the side of a bag.
trust me, i know. (wink)

hope you are enjoying the past few days of this rainy summer.

more to come!

hello dolly

2008-05-30T22:47:00.001-04:00

hello dolly, i think i've fallen in love!

enjoy this precious vignette from a flunk film, but with swaggering style.
i have new hopes and high sights set for songbird.

nautical news

2008-05-25T20:50:00.001-04:00

i am absolutely in love with the new wave, and sudden surge of sea-inspired fashion trends this season!
i've always been attracted to the deep hues of navy and the rich tones of crimson, all mixed & matched with whites, creams, and splashes of vintage gold.
and this year is no exception.
with the endless options of full flowing skirts and high-waisted denim shorts - not to mention the precious vintage finds that can be thrown in the mix - one can find a whole slew of threads to garnish themselves with; and just a pinch of bronzer and Chanel red lips will pair perfectly.

and this year being an election year, and the jump start of the season that Memorial Day brings...summer is most definitely in the air and i felt it most assuredly appropriate to share my ocean-fairing finds.
here's my salute to the things that you will more than likely find in my beach and travel bags this summer.

ahoy maties!

you can find these brave and beautiful togs at the links below:
floppy beach hat
braided belt
navy deep-v tee
vintage wheel necklace
sailor-inspired frock
striped navy peeptoe
navy trench

setback inspirations

2008-05-23T10:54:00.000-04:00

so its been a while.

that's right.
(sigh)

my life has been so full of exciting new adventures and new projects that i can't wait to share with you all!
but with the recent setback due to a broken usb drive, and the business craziness, i've been a bit distracted from continuing to update here.
so please forgive me.
but the computer will be soon cured of this sad illness (i didn't realize how much i depended upon that little guy).
and i'll post all my new goodies and exciting news in the coming weeks.
so get ready!

until then, be inspired and awed by a dear friend who just recently launched her new photography site.
this woman is so talented and has such an eye for creating beauty out of the mundane; which i believe is the key in being a great photographer. the idea of capturing life at its essence and core, while still developing a new and fresh perspective is difficult. this is the factor that i believe separates a good photographer from a great photographer.
she is definitely the later.

and with spring quickly raining down and bringin the hot southern summer, be inspired by the beauty of the new urban outfitters brand, Terrain at Styer's.
this precious haven on earth brings together the freshness of a nursery, while bringing in the Anthropologie-style vintage inspiration that is a concept that has been needed in the floral and greenery industry for years.
someone has finally cultivated it and it leaves me simply wanting to cover ever nook and cranny of my house with rich succulents and bright green potted plants.

keep dreaming and creating.
more to come.

i now pronounce you man and wife

2008-04-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

mr. and mrs. carl lubbe that is!

finally finished and delivered the finished product to my dear friend this morning!
below is the finished product.

enjoy and happy wednesday!!

twitter me yellow...

2008-04-07T18:06:00.000-04:00

i looked out the window this morning as i drank my much needed gloriously worshipped cup of coffee - and i saw this thin veiling of mustard yellow along the top edges of my car....(yuck)
its pollen season and my head is pounding.

but this means spring is just around the corner and i cannot WAIT until i can wake up and just step into this and this and maybe even one of these, all spring and summer long!!

i've been briskly working to try and finish up kathryn and carl's wedding invitations today...all the while been interupted by all the things that just interrupt you when you are trying to get important things done.
i feel the pressure of the deadline encrouching upon me heavier and heavier...ugh.
go figure.

but in the meantime, i'm listening to a little of her, and dreaming of one day being a little like her...

in other news, i'm a twitter bug now.
so life is beautifully twitteriffic...and you should join the life by tweeting to me and your others friends.

have a beautiful day!

...

2008-03-30T11:09:00.000-04:00

for those of you annoyed by the lack of correct kerning in the world o design...
(i can't take credit for this find...but she can)

happy sunday!

march madness brings april gladness

2008-03-28T14:28:00.000-04:00

sorry for the silly idiom - but this past month has seriously been as chaotic as the two tornados that hit atlanta a week or so ago...if you didn't hear much about it, check this out.
thank God that our sweet house was not damaged or really effected in any way. major streets in downtown were shut down for a few days, making the commute towards the city a hellish event for many. but alas, we are safe and bringing in a fresh spring with it all!

the past week or so, i've been painstakingly trying to pull together our front yard...we are surrounded by trees, and so raking throughout the season is such a joke. therefore, after waiting through the cold, i've finally packed up bags and bags of the many leaves that surrounded our dainty home, and to my wonderful surprise, i found green grass and some gorgeous azalea bushes - and they brought forth their first bright pink blooms just yesterday! oh the things that can be found under the muck and mire of life. but that's for another blog. {grin}

emily (the other 1/3 of our hotlanta dwelling) has moved to Australia for six months to play basketball for a semi-pro team down there. we are SO proud of her, but miss her terribly. so we've gathered some lovely little items to send off to the land down under...below is a snapshot of the little gift i made with our favourite verse. the entire passage is even better.
thought you'd enjoy seeing that.

and here are some other envelopes with a fun and whimsical charm that i've created recently.
keep me in mind when you start to plan those wedding showers and spring engagement parties!

bonjour springtime puddle-jumping lovers.

2008-03-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

the past few days has kept me far far away from the computer and enjoying the beautiful sunshine that we've had here in the "big peach". but this morning brings a hint of gloom and i find that even now, at 9.45, the house is still dark from the lack of sun that just refuses to peek its little head out.
but as they say, the sun'll come out tomorrow...and in the meantime, i'm working working working on bringing out some new-fangled items for you all. some vintage dresses that are getting re-shaped and restored to their hopeful brightest potential and some cute stationary that i've been working on that i cannot wait to show you all.
this recent springfresh weather has driven me to an early spring cleaning frenzy, and my studio is more organized than ever! i can actually see what i have to work with now! so beware of the possible explosion of items - i might just be more inspired thatn usual.
started working on carl and kathryn's wedding invitations last week and they are coming along beautifully. i'll post some pictures in the next few days.

lots of fun stuff to get excited about!
now off to finish my cup o joe and get a-workin.

be blessed.

a bit of heaven

2008-03-08T14:59:00.001-05:00

i am one but of a few that have found the place in which could only be found in my dreams.

a place of beauty and rest
a place of nurturing and comfort
a place of space and yet extreme closeness
a place of love and acceptance
and ultimately a place that has awakened a part of my soul that has never been, and perhaps never allowed to be, divulged.

so i come home - back to the "matrix" of life.
now away from this world of false reality that has changed my life so powerfully.
and i only hope that i can do myself, my friends & family & the Lord justice to bring this piece of heaven that i have found upon this earth and declare the charm of it through me.

the beauty of this place will dwell in my soul forever.

geek type fest two-thousand eight

2008-03-02T10:56:00.000-05:00

Geek Type Fest 2008 is in town, and the hot thing to do these days is drive around taking pictures of cool fonts on the side of buildings. (Kyle, i love you for this. did i tell you that i am committed to carrying my silver digital snapper with me ALWAYS, now?)

Kyle (a great friend of mine, fellow typography geek and favored Brown Linen fan) sent me a lovely little photo the other morning with an image that simply took my breath away.
You'll see below that our neighboring town, in which Kyle actually dwells, (we're praying him to atlanta ASAP) is the haven to the greatest post office sign EVER. granted, i'm not in the habit of viewing any other post office signs, but i still hold to the fact that this one is uber cool and wins hands down.
for as much as we hate alpharetta, (or alpha-Laguna Beach, as Kyle so lovingly has dubbed it) it has done georgia some good in portraying quality typographical design.
I am particularly fond of the E's and the F's, with the R's and H's also being pretty stellar. a charming nod to one of my favourite fonts, NeutraFace.
i salute you, Mayor Arthur Letchas.
ALL credit goes straight to Professor Jackson. you got mad photography skills and a keen eye.
thanks for the goods, buddy.

yesterday was probably the most perfect day we've had this year!! the sun was shining so brightly that i couldn't stop smiling even if i wanted too! had a gig for some good friends of mine who were holding a fundraising dinner for their ministry. kyle and i played some of our favourites - a little geetar...a little singin'. super duper fun.
then we met up with chelsea, (one of my best girls and a 1/3 of my lovely little atlanta family) jean and jessica for an R. Thomas delight {YUMMY} and finished off the night with an enriching climb up the tree that sits in our front yard.

perfection in its purest form.

spring break starts today, and after a grueling decision-making process as to where to journey too, we have finally decided!
chelsea and and jean and i are going to a tree house hostel in the woods on tuesday!!
yes. a TREEHOUSE.
no electricity - no technology - public showers - organic homegrown food...
i'll be sure to update you with all the juicy details when i get back.

be sure to breathe in this gorgeous day.
get your face in the sun, and your hands in the dirt!
happy sunday.

home sweet home

2008-02-26T14:17:00.001-05:00

so with the recent on-set of a new job and the chaos that my life tends to throw my way, i've seemingly had enough time to do everything else except sit and blog...
this is only sad, because there's something warming and comforting that occurs when i get to sit and reminisce about all that has happened in the recent time line of my life. it's the privilege of getting to sort of "re-read" what life has handed me, and be it good or bad - boring or exciting - exhausting or exhilarating...its still life that is so deeply worth living (and writing about). {smile}

as i said before, i started a new job - at the beautiful BRAND NEW stand alone Urban Outfitters in the Poncey Highland this past week. we don't open until Thursday*, but this week has been packed full with opening over four hundred boxes full of product, folding about fifty sets of tshirts (then hanging them, then folding them, then hanging them....), gazing with my mouth dropped open at the insanely creative (& quite attractive, might i add) store designers as they build every piece of furniture found in the store, and of course being bossed around by the national women's apparel merchandiser (who is quite the bad ass and super cool).
knowing that some of this may be gibberish to you, let me explain. as a previous employee of anthropologie, a student of merchandising and business marketing, and a freako design geek...i have been in my heavenly haven this past week and its been an honor watching and observing this phenomenon

in addition to all this excitement, we've added some additions to our quaint little home.
i found this cute bright red, spanish-esque table cloth for the kitchen from the thrift store down the street, and after a fond little walk down memory lane in anthropologie today, i walked out with a joyful spirit and a new sugar bowl, retro yellow timer, and some precious trinkets for the living room.
what a delightful day.

if i could only begin to explain how much more delighted you will be with tomorrow's blog.
a dear friend and fellow "font geek" found a treasure in the most surprising of places the other day.
stay tuned for more.

*disclaimer:
DO NOT ask me for a discount.

{writer's bloc}

2008-02-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

i have a confession to make.
and its a bit of an obsession really.
i mean, some people find that they are obsessed with exercise, some people have to watch their thirty television shows each week, and others find themselves being particularly peculiar about the expiration date on the milk container before they'll even consider scanning in at the grocery.

my confession and obsession type.
yeah...you know it. WRITTEN WORDS.
graphic, handmade, stamped, printed, foreign, english...whatever it may be.
the simple flow of letters and how they join together to make beautiful words and represent sounds that allow for us to communicate...oh my land! i get goose-bumps just thinking about it.
i've been like this since i was little. comparing my penmanship to others around me - finding a person's handwriting that i liked, and secretly trying to copy it.
its so bad that even in the simple things, such as a grocery list, i will find myself RE-WRITING the list just to make it look typographically attractive.
it's sick, i know.

well, anyway - enough about how i'm just plain weird.
i've taken this love and obsession and am trying to put it to good use.

i do calligraphy for wedding invitations, bridal showers, table place cards, special events, and anything else you might be interested in having lovely little handwritten items for.
i don't simply just do the classic calligraphy - though it is nice.
mine is a bit of a morphed type, designed for the specific event, style and size of the item and project.

these are some of the most recent invitations that i have been working on for some friends of mine, Carl & Kathryn.
they are getting married this summer, and they've asked me to do their save-the-dates, wedding invitations, and place cards for their BIG DAY!
oh i LOVE weddings!

more to come!!
happy weekending.

breathe ?

2008-02-14T08:15:00.000-05:00

man, what a hectic few weeks!

this season of my life i find that each week never looks the same, never feels the same, hell, the mirror doesn't portray my face the same!
almost as if the sun rises and sets in a different pattern each day, things just seem so bazaar lately.
the highs and lows will always come, of course...but shoot. these past few weeks have been more like a merry-go-round that i'm desperately just begging the carnie in charge "please just STOP!!!"
yesterday i was on the phone for a total of about 4 hours.
(disclaimer: I HATE THE PHONE. i'm on the phone for business a lot...sure. but i HATE talking on the phone just for the sake of talking. it puts me in a really bad mood and always feel so guilty afterwards - like i wasted so much time or something.
of course, there is absolute balance in this, and i'm learning that.)
but yeah - 4 HOURS! unbelievable.
in retrospect - as i was daydreaming of how i could figure out a good excuse to just throw the dang piece of plastic away - i was broken over the mountainous topics of conversation i had had:
the engagement of your longest and bestest friend since the sixth grade...the death of a precious child still only a few weeks in the womb...thousands of dollars in student loans making me scrape to the bottom of my barrel...(i think i'm getting splinters)...and the list goes on, but i won't bore you.
AHH!!! so much information on so many different highs and lows.
i find that i want to seclude myself at every possible moment so that i can just focus and exercise a breathing mantra or something...maybe run away to the mountains of iceland and churn butter in a wooden tub for the rest of my lonely days.

but suffice it to say, life moves on...even if we run or if we have to sit and stare at the wall all day long just to keep breathing, its ok.
you wake up, get up, walk it out...and do it all over again.
it gets easier.
seems mundane...but there is a comfort in knowing that even if the sun feels different as it rises and falls...it still rises and falls consistently.

all this to say that i'm trying to get an update either today or tomorrow!
hang in there...

also, i'm reading the book, "the diving bell and the butterfly"...you should get it.
i've seen the film and it was one of the most beautiful films to portray life on earth...its hard, it sucks, it takes incredible endurance - but its so worth it in the end to experience the richness and the beauty that it has to offer.

.: songbird :.

2008-01-30T22:04:00.000-05:00

introducing "songbird" - a conglomerate of brown linen, inc.

soooo.....i sing for a living.
and i want to KEEP singing.
so i need gigs.

so here's my business card - tell your friends, family, brothers, cats, dogs.
if you need a vocalist for ANYTHING:

weddings
your sister's bridal shower
your uncle's retirement gathering
or a person to sit beside to make you feel like you can actually sing...(ps - we know that you can't, and we still love you)

...i'm your gal.

i also lead worship. which is my most favourite.
i DO NOT do karaoke.

the big A.T.L.

2008-01-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

so i moved into the city a few months ago, and i L-O-V-E-LOVE it!
i know it sounds strange, but even down to the small details like paying bills...i am still not the greatest at keeping up with the finances...but there sure is something liberating about being on your own and doing it all.
the Lord is so good to provide me with such an abundant life!

it has been such a blast making the house look pretty and get it all cozy. i love just sitting in the living room sipping my coffee and dreaming about the paintings that i need to make, to get on the wall - and all the lovely possibilities for storage and shelving! ooo-eeeEEE!!!! i get excited just writing about!
it was such a beautiful day today and the lighting in the house was perfect. so i took the opportunity to snap some pics. just some fun things - our potting window plants that made it through the chilled january thus far, and the gerber daisy in the bath.

welcome to brown linen!

2008-01-27T19:50:00.000-05:00

hi!
i'm abany and this is my blog.
so i've made some new years resolutions.
and this blog is one of them.
yes, i know. tis sad and pathetic for sure to have one of your goals be to "blog" more.
but alas, i'm back and ready to rock n roll!
i have crazy creative ideas running through my mind and i've been so inspired by so many things around me i can't wait to spit them right back out!
there will be a store soon!!
this is slow in coming, so be patient. i have lots of pretty little things to purchase and put in your pretty little houses and apartments.

just recently i've been introduced to the world of the RSS feed via a dear friend, and i can't believe how many amazing and talented people that i have been missing out on!
if you don't have an RSS feed, you must download your very own copy of NetNewsWire!
especially those of you in the design world...to keep in the know in 20 minutes or less per day...THIS IS YOUR ANSWER!!!
its free and gets the job done...and it will change your life. i'm still overwhelmed by the thought of trying to keep up with all that is out there, but this most certainly helps!
(i didn't change my major to marketing for nothin....sue me. i have advertising in my blood.)

in the meantime, you must check out frecklewonder.com (and let it be your first RSS feed!)
the most precious site on the internet to be sure.
she has been my inspiration as a strong independent woman and still a rich and strong wife and mother.
(sigh) what a life.

so i leave you with a bit of hope for this new year.
more to come very soon.