Shabby Apple review & more Etsy finds!

I love following Leigh Ashley's blog, and now I'm completely head over heels in love with her new Etsy shop, The Shabby Apple! She makes gorgeous, super sweet jewelry and other accessories, and adds a little bit of shabby-vintage flair. 

Last week, I purchased the "discover necklace" from the Shabby Apple.  As soon as I laid eyes on it, I immediately fell in love - this piece of jewelry spoke to me!  This year is about discovering new everything for my husband and I - discovering our futures, discovering new places, discovering where we'll settle down and add to our little family of three (me, him, and the kitty.)  I had to have the necklace. So... I purchased it and three days later, it's in my home! It's even more beautiful in person than it is in the photo, it was packed safe and secure, and I am definitely stalking the Shabby Apple for future purchases.  Thanks, Leigh!


I've been browsing Etsy a lot as of late. I have way too many items added to my favorites!

Chocolate Pillow.  I need!

{via}

Look! It's my husband and I! :)

{via}

This is super long and I super love it.

{via}

Chocolate Rose ring - It looks so edible!

{via}

I'm a green lover, and a fan of just about any 

liquid that can be slurped out of a mug! Cozy!

{via}

Of course, I can't leave my sweet kitty out.

Primitive style pet bed - genius!

{via}

Pink & Green Thursday

I love checking out some of my favorite bloggers' "Pink & Green Thursday" posts - they're always so fun, uplifting, and pretty!  I decided to give it a try this Thursday, and used the excuse to shop around on Etsy for awhile.  

Here are some of my favorite pink and green items listed on Etsy:

{elwoodworks}
So clean, fresh, and cute!  Love birds and leaves - a simple wall hanging to lift things up a little.

{JereB}
So classy! This would be so beautiful with a solid color summer dress.

{CreativeCoasterChick}
I'm a sucker for anything winter related, regardless of time of year - how adorable are these coasters?!

{Sweetnature Designs}
Spread some positivity around your kitchen/dining area with these cute napkins/towelettes!

{thimblythings}
So bright and fun - I could see this in a Sorority House, or brightening up a young woman's first apartment.

{Annechovie}
I love absolutely everything about Annechovie's airy, fun art prints.

{Cuteability}
Such a sweet, cute necklace - so much personality!  Everyone would be grabbing this from around your neck and taking a closer look.

Have a beautiful (Pink and Green) Thursday! 

Showcase Monday @ Kelly's Avenue!

I'm so excited!

Today, Kelly's Avenue is featuring my Etsy shop, "Artsy Appalachian" in Showcase Monday!

I would like to thank Kelly for her support - I am super grateful!  Head on over to Kelly's Avenue for Showcase Monday, and check out my Etsy shop. Be sure to browse her Showcase Monday page for featured Etsy Shops from past posts - they're all awesome!  She has super cute taste and knows her Etsy items, that's for sure!


I hope you all had a great holiday weekend - have a wonderful week, and as always, thanks for swinging by!

The Weekend Review

This past weekend:

My mom and step-dad came to Athens for a little visit!

We did a little eating out, browsed the farmer's market, enjoyed some downtime just hanging around and chatting, and of course, mom and I hit up and tore up the B&B Works Sale! We had a great time, and this will probably be one of the last times they come to visit Athens, since we will be moving sometime next Spring.

I listed a couple of new items on Etsy!

 I feel like I'm getting better and better at this sign painting thing.  Taylor Swift inspired one, while the other just came straight from my creative little mind (and green is my favorite color.)

P.S. - I sold my first item! Hot Dog!!! It's so nice to know that others enjoy my creations - that's what makes it all worthwhile. (Thanks to the buyer - you're a wonderful little woman!)

I'm currently brainstorming for some ideas that aren't wooden signs, but would be a fun, nice addition to my shop.  I'm headed toward paper products, specifically stationary/greeting cards and chick friendly art prints.  Any suggestions?

Other Tidbits:

• I watched Dear John for the first time since seeing it in theaters - and this time, I teared up way more, almost as much as when I read the book. AND, I was ironing while watching! (maybe the ironing is why i cried so much...)  Am I the only one that is more saddened by Mr. Tyree's character (John's father) than the actual love story between John and Savannah?  Richard Jenkins did an amazing job as Mr. Tyree.
• My iPhone is doing exceptionally well.  Just thought I would update you on that.  I think i'm going to give it a name - after all, it's kinda like my new best friend!  I will happily take name suggestions.
• I'm enjoying every second of the cheerful, cute, and stylish "Shoe Addicts Anonymous" - and, considering I found it on the bargain shelf at Borders, I'm extremely satisfied :)  I think I want to try out some Sophie Kinsella... I know that when I do, I will never look back!  Which Sophie book should I read first?

I hope you had a great weekend, too!  Happy MONDAY (seriously!)

New Bloggy Design! :)

Ahhh... nothing like a blog makeover! Throughout the past couple of months of being a newbie blogger, I've been inspired in tons of ways by the many blogs I regularly follow or stumble upon.  I've found that my favorites are lighthearted and "breezy" with light color themes and subtle graphics, so I decided to go that route with my own blog design - hope you enjoy!  I certainly enjoyed creating it - I love playing with Photoshop!  I definitely think this is more "Stephanie" - and if you look closely, you will discover that my header is composed entirely of Crate & Barrel patterns (go ahead - visit their website and take a look at the bedding and rugs!)

I will post a short recap and photos from the Adam Lambert/Glam Nation Tour later this week - I didn't get very many terrific photos (I was laser beamed for 3 hours straight - seriously, Adam LOVES his light shows and sparkly special effects), but my friend & I had a terrific time.  He is extremely talented and an exciting entertainer.  I know his style isn't exactly up everyone's alley, but for those who are fans, I would highly suggest trying to catch the Glam Nation tour this summer :)

Final preparations are in order for my Etsy shop!  I took photos of my items tonight, and will weed through them to pick the absolute best tomorrow evening.  I hope to have things up and running within the next week - I can't wait to share my little projects with you! 

My sense of humor is non-existent tonight - I'm still dead from the concert/getting home late, and a day full of work.  Hopefully I'll get back to normal tomorrow!

Get ready to Crack 'em Up!

The new Hallmark Card Contest began today. "Crack 'em up" calls for FUNNY. When it comes to greeting cards, I am so NOT funny. Anyway, I dug up a photo that makes me laugh out loud every single time i see it - and figured it would do the same for someone else (maybe?) So you can imagine how prepared I felt, being a Hallmark contest second-timer and all, as I submitted my entry early this a.m. I feel that my photo and the text fit together perfectly (and I'll definitely share later this week, after Hmark's first round of "flurries" on Facebook - don't want to give away my little idea too soon!)

So anyway, as I'm checking over the Hallmark FB Wall, I read that there's a computer glitch of sorts, and all participants can enter up to six times in this single contest instead of just picking one sub-category and entering once! One entry per sub-category... which means, you have six different opportunities to win. SIX. That is a lot - it will sex-tuple the entries (that is six, right? triple, quadruple, quintuple... sextuple... lol) but still... six ideas? Which at first seemed really EXCITING. But then.. i realized, that is a hella lotta work! Most of my Hmark pals are as equally freaked out as I am, but I think every single one of us are game. Sub-categories are: Congratulations, Get Well, Friendship, Love, Miss You, and Thank You. I can't wait to brainstorm and get to work this evening. This, on top of all that sign painting I'm doing! My head is spinning...

my dearest blog fans, you have got to give this contest a shot! Anyone should be able to come up with an idea for at least one of the sub-categories - please please PLEASE go to the Hallmark Contests website, read the details, look at past winners to get some ideas, and go for it - it's so stinking FUN!!! It takes some time to put your thoughts together and develop a great idea, but the entry process is quick & simple. I know my Hallmark buds are thinking, "Noooo stephanie, no more new recruits! We'll have six times as many entries anyway (sextuple haha)!" Or maybe not - maybe they're like me, and want some new card-crazy friends to be Hallmark Contest Obsessed with. Anyway... DO IT. You have to. New Rule: If you read my blog, you must enter the Crack 'em up contest. You have until June 28th!

So, the sign painting is coming along. I contacted the Addison Visitor's Center in Webster Springs - some of my West Virginia State themed signs will be on sale there, beginning in late June/July! I'm also hard at work, analyzing and planning for my Etsy store. I'm still working to find the best shipping price for customers. As always, I'll keep you posted!

I read the Eclipse novella on Sunday afternoon - it was super short, but just enough to get me really excited for my midnight showing in a few weeks! I'm going to re-read Eclipse before the movie hits theaters - I need to refresh my memory a little bit.

That's about all for Monday - work, gym, post office, home, shower, cook, paint, Bachelorette, think about Hallmark card designs while watching Bachelorette... I have a headache! But it is... a good one. There is a such thing.

Have a super day, everyone!