Leigh Ashley

End of Year Sale!

2011-12-27T09:41:00.001-07:00

My shop is closing out this CRAZY year with one last sale…

Visit Barberry & Lace to start shopping! Enter code “ENDOFYEAR” under the payment method at checkout for your immediate discount!

Happy New Year, friends!

Cyber Monday Sale!

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you missed the Black Friday Sale, don’t you worry! Barberry & Lace is offering 30% off the ENTIRE STORE for one more day! Simply enter code “CYBER302011” at checkout (under the payment methods) to receive your discount immediately!

See you at the shop!

Make Your own: scratch tickets.

2011-11-01T13:14:00.001-06:00

I found a tutorial on how to make your own scratch tickets on this blog and I decided that I would give it a shot! I’m always looking for some way to stand out to my customers and I think this is a GREAT way to drive in some repeat business!

What you’ll need:
-Dish soap
-Silver acrylic paint
-Contact paper
-Glue
-Lottery ticket printed on cardstock

Oh, and a friend and a bottle of wine.

First, I cut all of the tickets apart and cut decorative paper to fit on the back. Next I cut the contact paper into small squares to cover the prizes.

After everything is cut, glue the tickets onto the decorative backing. This obviously is optional, but I think it makes them look pretty. After gluing the backing on, place the small squares of contact paper over the prizes. This will be the area you’ll paint.

To mix the paint, use 2 parts paint and 1 part dishwashing liquid. Mix well.

Paint only over the contact paper…

Let dry… it takes a few hours, but I just let them dry overnight. If you can still see the prize through the paint, you may need another layer. When all is dry, scratch with a coin to see your prize!

No winner for me, but you can give your luck a try at my Etsy shop! All orders after today will receive a chance at a $25 shop credit, among other prizes!

Viola! Have fun making your own scratch tickets!

an 11” donation.

2011-10-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

About a month ago I decided that I was done having long hair. Just done. So I chopped it off… all of it. (Like that goofy face?)

Before:

After:

Look at that ponytail! She cut off 11” for me to donate and another 1” came off during the styling! A full foot of hair… gone. I mailed the ponytail to Locks of Love… I love to be able to donate my hair!

Now, since I can’t stand to keep it the same very long, I’ll grow it out again and see what happens! It took 3 years to get it there before, so I’m prepared for a long haul.

Have you ever donated your hair?

Getting organized.

2011-10-26T10:52:00.001-06:00

I’m an organization FREAK. Not a clean freak, mind you… but I definitely like things to be in their place. I also like to organize my time and find that I really need a time management program in force or I end up wasting A LOT of time… especially since I work from home.

In an effort to make more of my time, I spent all of yesterday creating these planner pages:

The first one is a whole month calendar. I like to be able to look at things from an overview sometimes so I know what I need to prepare for as the month goes on.

The second page is an hourly calendar, somewhere to track my weight (necessary), a to do list, and an area for me to jot down blog ideas as they come to me. I think of blog posts ALL THE TIME and ALWAYS forget what they were when I’m ready to write them.

The third page is split between a place to journal about my day and my food diary. When I’m at my best, I count calories and write down EVERYTHING I eat. This is a good place to have that information so I can go back to it.

So, the plan is to start using this daily starting on November 1st. I need to make a time management and discipline change and I’m hoping this will help motivate me to stay on track.

And just in case you need something to keep you accountable and motivated, I’ve uploaded the templates for you to download too! Here are the download links… just click to open, right click on the image and click “Save As” to save to your own computer!

Download the Calendar Page here!
Download the Planner Page 1 here!
Download the Planner Page 2 here!

I hope you get as much use out of your new planner as I hope to!

$100 giveaway.

2011-10-12T18:02:00.001-06:00

“I know it’s crazy, but it’s true…”

That’s right, we’re giving away $100 shop credit over at Barberry & Lace’s blog! Hop on over to check it out…

And while I have you… I’ve been debating on whether or not to continue to run (well, kind of run) two blogs and I’m thinking it’s not going to work. Whether you decide to get in on the giveaway or not, I’d love for you to come follow the Barberry & Lace blog.

I’ve made so many wonderful friends here that I would hate to lose touch with, so I hope you’ll join along over there.

Now, get to shopping!

barberry & lace birthday sale!

2011-09-07T16:17:00.001-06:00

Can you believe it’s already been a YEAR?
Where does the time go?

We’re celebrating our 1st birthday between September 9th- September 11th
and we’d love for you to join us!

How it works: there are no restrictions on how many items you can get for free... for every two items you purchase at regular price, you'll receive the third for free! You don't have to worry about using a coupon code! Everyone who purchases two items will automatically receive the third for free.
Item(s) of lesser value will be refunded to your Paypal account after payment has been made.

Visit the shop here (Barberry & Lace) and start adding your favorites to your wish list now… and keep an eye out for BRAND NEW products between now and Friday.
We’ll see you back at the shop this weekend!

a sooper winner.

2011-08-29T14:33:00.001-06:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway + supported my friend Suzie’s shop, Sooper Tramp! If you haven’t made it over yet, make sure to check out her FANTASTIC line of doggie accessories! Here’s a sneak peek:

And now, here’s our winner…

Congrats, Jessica! I hope you love your new Heiney Hook… or whatever it is that you decide to get from Sooper Tramp! I’m sure it won’t be an easy decision!

wee bit wednesday v53.

2011-08-23T19:22:00.005-06:00

Can you believe it?

I actually have a Wee Bit post done BEFORE Wednesday morning.
And since I've had TONS of requests to post the questions BEFORE Wednesday...
your wish is my command.

I know... your mouth is hanging open right now, yes?

(smile)

{one} what's your guilty pleasure tv show?

Oh gosh... I have a bunch. Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor Pad, Pretty Little Liars... the list goes on.

{two} ear piercings on men: yes or no?

No. No. No.

{three} do you have dish or comcast?

Comcast.

{four} what's your favorite current fashion trend?

Long shirts...

{five} if you could learn to do anything, money not being an issue, what would it be?

How to fly an airplane. I would LOVE that.

{six} red or white wine?

Red. Cupcake's Red Velvet to be exact.

{seven} what type of food is your favorite (ex. italian, mexican, etc.)

Mexican. I crave it ALL the time.

{eight} hp or mac?

Undecided. I haven't had good luck with my HPs, so I've been thinking about investing in a Mac. Any advice for me?

{nine} what color is your bedroom?

Light green. It's SO relaxing and comforting.

{ten} what's your favorite form of exercise?

Either the treadmill or yoga.

Boo ya.
ps. don't forget to enter this week's GIVEAWAY here.

a giveaway for your pooch.

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hi friends.
I know I've been TERRIBLE about blogging this summer... I go through spurts where I'll write a bunch of posts (or start them, anyway) + then totally fall off the face of the earth.

Oops.

I hope you all can forgive me... we all go through it at some point.
Right?
(please say yes.)

Anyway, I'm back + I've brought a friend with me...

My gal pal Suzie makes, no wait... ACTUALLY SEWS, absolutely adorable accessories for pups. Check these out (click to view product page)...

Sooper cute, eh??
She also makes these fantastic "Heinie Hooks" to hang your awesome Sooper Tramp swag on (you can even swap out the scrabble tiles + have it customized for your pooch)...

So...
My friend Suzie has offered one of my lucky readers' furry friends a chance to score a store credit at her shop,
Sooper Tramp

in the amount of
$30!

That's enough for any custom collar or ANY SIZE heinie hook!

Not only is she offering this awesome store credit, but she's also offering ALL of my readers a 15% store credit while the giveaway is open!
Simply use the code "BARBERRY15" at checkout to receive your discount!

To enter:
+ leave a comment below including your favorite doggie accessory from Sooper Tramp
(include your e-mail address, please!)

Additional entries:
{separate comments, please!}

+ "like" Sooper Tramp on Facebook
+ favorite her etsy shop
+follow Sooper Tramp on Twitter
+ blog/tweet (include @missleighashley)/FB the giveaway and leave URL

The giveaway will run until Sunday, August 28th at midnight MST.

Good luck!!

friends on etsy.

2011-08-04T09:06:00.001-06:00

I wanted to take some time today to show you what my friends’ creative little minds + hands have been doing. I love being part of a community that supports + promotes it’s members, so I thought I’d share with you their creativity (click on any image to visit):

Hop on over to their shops + take a gander at their BEAUTIFUL items! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

wee bit wednesday v52.

2011-08-03T09:17:00.001-06:00

WOAH. This is the 1 year mark (minus a few missed weeks) of Wee Bits. That is just crazy to me! This past year has just FLOWN by! Thanks to everyone who’s stuck by me all these weeks + participated in Wee Bits! I hope you still love doing them…

This week’s questions come from miss Cassie over at Pike’s Peak or Bust Candle Co.!

{one} what was one thing that you valued when you were a kid?Probably time with my parents. We did a lot of things together as a family + I always remember really loving those times.
{two} what was your favorite (+ lease favorite) subject in school?I always loved English + Math. HATED the one about public speaking. I just barely made it past that stupid class.
{three} do you remember your first love?Yes. I never even dated him, but I was convinced that I love this guy from the time I was about 13 until I left for college.
{four} what one pet would you love to have?A monkey… duh.
{five} would you rather live in the country or in the city?I am still undecided on this. I HATE traffic, so I would say the country, but I really love being close to civilization. I don’t know.
{six} what do you love about blogging?YOU! All my dear friends that I’ve met over the past year or so.
{seven} what is the first website you visit everyday?Etsy.
{eight} will you or have you joined google+?I don’t know. I don’t even know what it is.
{nine} what is your favorite scent of candle/air freshener?In the summer I like Clean Linen smells. In the fall/winter, I love anything with pumpkin.
{ten} how would you describe your style?I’d like to think I have a little vintage bohemian style, but that’s not how I dress, so I don’t know.
Thanks Cassie! Great questions this week!

And here’s a little something to commemorate this yearly milestone:

use coupon code “WEEBITOLOVE” today only

to receive 20% off your entire order at

Thanks again friends!

what’s on my current playlist, you ask?

2011-07-27T11:28:00.001-06:00

I am a serious music addict. I have been all of my life… music reaches me in ways that most communication can’t. Here’s what’s currently moving me:

Do you have something you think I should hear? I love new music recommendations, so shoot them my way! I will be forever grateful!!

What’s moving you today?

ps. Sorry about the lack of Wee Bits today… tomorrow starts the 1st annual Denver County Fair, so I’m a busy little bee getting ready! Wee Bits will be back next week!

color palette: stitched color.

2011-07-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

I just bought a brand spankin’ new sewing machine + I’m SO excited to learn how to use it. I’ve always wanted to learn how to sew, but never had enough drive to do it. Now that I’m mostly working from home, I have some time to invest in learning. I’m already finding SUPER cute fabric that is inspiring me even more!

Do you sew? What do you like to sew? How did you learn?

Any tips or advice you have for me would be much appreciated! Wish me luck!

(color palette created by leigh ashley/photo via)

etsy success: tips for a successful shop (part 1).

2011-07-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

I’ve had several people write to ask me how to create + run a successful Etsy shop… if I have any secrets, tips or advice that I could give, so I’ve decided to write this post for anyone who might be interested in my thoughts.

I started Barberry & Lace in mid-September of 2010. You can read the entire story of how I started out + how Barberry & Lace was born here, but today I want to share with you a few tips + pointers on how I keep the shop successful + productive.

Tip #1: Create a look. There are a TON of designers out there just waiting to put together a one-of-a-kind design for your shop and most of them do it for a reasonable rate or offer package deals to tie in blog headers + such. I’ve found that the more cohesive your look, the more professional you appear to your customers, thusly creating a sense of purchasing security. I don’t like to buy from shops who don’t look like they’re “put together”… it makes me think that if they can’t look put together, they’re probably not. I have matching header, stationery, note cards, blog ads, etc. to make sure that my shop looks professional.

Tip #2: Photos speak volumes. It’s UBER-important that your photos are well taken for more than one reason. First, your product photos are the very first things that people see when they look at your products, whether they’re on your Etsy site, in a search result, on a blog or elsewhere. Second, having well taken photos helps your items make it into others’ treasuries, which allows for more shop exposure. On days that I have items on the front page of Etsy, I have between 600-800 unique visitors to the shop + over 2500 product views. For tips on how to take an attention-grabbing product photo, click here.

(products currently listed at Barberry & Lace on Etsy; click photos to visit product pages)

Tip #3: Keep your price point appropriate for your audience. My audience is typically girls + women between the ages of 16-40, so I want to make sure to keep my price point appropriate for that age group. A 16 year old girl typically doesn’t have $60 to spend on a ring (or at least I didn’t when I was 16). Make sure to identify your target audience + set the cost of your items accordingly. You may have to find a new supplier if your costs are too high to make a decent profit. Remember: whoever you’re buying your product from most likely buys it from someone else. Find that guy.

Tip #4: Renew, renew, renew. This is one of the biggest keys in getting traffic to your shop. Here’s how it works (if you don’t already know): when you list an item, your item is added to Etsy’s search engines. Etsy’s search engines ALWAYS list the last listed item first… so if someone lists something similar to your item after you do, their item will appear before yours in the search results. This is why it’s so incredibly important to re-list your items on a regular basis. I did this manually for a while… I would re-list 5-10 of my most viewed items daily. After doing a bit of research, I found the application, Uncle Gravy’s Renewing Agent, that links in with Etsy to renew your items for you based on parameters you set. I found this necessary since I was working at the restaurant + didn’t always have access to my computer to re-list my items. As long as your computer doesn’t fall asleep, your items keep renewing. It has significantly increased traffic + sales in my shop.

Tip #5: Be interactive. I have TONS of repeat customers + they are the primary reason Barberry & Lace is successful. People want to know that you’re human + not just an Etsy shop… they want to get to know you, to talk to you, + sometimes even meet you. I’m sure that almost, if not everyone, reading this has at least one of the following: Facebook, Twitter, Blogger (or other blog format), Etsy, or Google+ account(s). USE THEM. Communicate with your clients. I send hand-written notes with every order I send + I see more feedback about that than almost anything else. Since I’ve been doing craft fairs, I have had the opportunity to also meet some of my local clients + I have to say that it’s been the most fun experience getting to put a face with the orders. I also have a mailing list that I send out sales, newsletters, etc. to through Mail Chimp. I definitely recommend using that or a similar format to reach out to your current clients.

If you start with these simple tips, you’ll most likely see an increase in traffic. Obviously, I can’t guarantee results, but I can tell you with certainty that these tips have driven more traffic to my own shop. These are just a few of the tips I have, so stay tuned for more.

As always, if you have any questions that you’d like me to address either to you personally or in a future post, email me here.

Happy selling, friends!

wee bit wednesday v51.

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-06:00

Oh yeah, baby… half way through the work week… lucky you! Not me, no… that means that my weekend is almost over. That’s okay though. It does mean that today’s the day for some Wee Bit Wednesday though! This week’s questions come courtesy of Jamie over at Jamie Harris Blog! Here we go…
{one} what is your dream job?Definitely being self-employed. I kinda like making jewelry… maybe I’ll keep doing it!
{two} how many best friends do you have?Well, I have one “best friend” + then my mom, of course.
{three} what’s the longest road trip you’ve ever taken?When I was young, we drove to Ohio from Colorado. That was a doozie… probably more of a doozie for my parents than for us kids.
{four} if you had to do one single thing every day for the next year, what would it be?Spend at least 30 minutes in complete silence, not doing anything. I think some people would call it meditation.
{five} what’s one story your family always tells about you?One year when we were at the beach, my grandpa + uncle were fishing ALL day. At the end of day, they hadn’t caught one single fish. I came out of the ocean from swimming + was talking with my mom when a fish fell out of my hair. It was the most disturbing thing that has ever happened to me… but SO hilarious.
{six} how did your parents pick your name?I think my mom just liked it. There’s really not a story behind it that I know of.
{seven} what’s the one thing that scares you more than anything?Spending my life in discontent. I only get one life… I just hope I’m strong enough to make the right decisions.
{eight} are you a good cook?Well, I like what I cook, but Mike doesn’t, so maybe YOU should be the judge.
(scrambled egg whites w/spinach, tomatoes, asparagus + feta)
{nine} where do you see yourself in 20 years?Hopefully with a successful business + some grown babies.
{ten} what’s your best childhood memory?Playing with my brothers. We always had SO much fun making up stupid games that would drown the days away.
Thanks for the awesome questions, Jamie!
ps. If you have questions that you’d like to see featured on Wee Bit Wednesdays, please email me here!

the birth of barberry & lace.

2011-07-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

A little background on myself: when I was a young girl, I used to play games with my brothers like “school” or “grocery store” or “library”. Of course I was always the teacher or store clerk or librarian. When I was a bit older + we were able to buy a computer, I played games like “Zoo Tycoon” + “Sim City”. I was also the QUEEN of lemonade stands (as I’ve mentioned before). We didn’t just sell lemonade, we were a full service snack + lemonade stand. I used to do my brothers’ school fundraisers for them…

All of this to say that since the beginning of me, I’ve had a passion for creating + selling. I love to access the creative side of my brain. I get antsy if I can’t create something… anything. At the same time, I love selling things… I’m not a “salesperson” per se ( I could NEVER be a car sales(wo)man), but I get excited when I can offer a product that people want to have.

I believe that anyone that wants to have a successful business needs to have both of these attributes, or have a partner (or something similar) that compliments one or the other.

(I’m the cookie queen at Christmastime. I make a mean cookie!)

How Barberry & Lace came to be: with all the background information in place, you have to know that I have been creating + trying to sell those creations for years. Before jewelry, it was greeting cards. I made a small success with those, selling wholesale to a boutique in the downtown area where I live. It was a great supplement to my other job, but definitely didn’t offer any longevity or significant income. I went to a couple of craft fairs with my cards, but they didn’t go well either, so I went back to the drawing board.

I started finding all kinds of adorable charms + fun, vintage findings, so I decided to give jewelry a go. My tastes were starting to change at this time too, so I explored more of the vintage feel. I was a little nervous about dumping a bunch of money into supplies at first as I had just been laid off of work + gotten another job. I didn’t have a lot of cash flow, so I just bought a couple hundred of dollars worth. As soon as I got my supplies in, I started making jewelry + fell in love. I had so much fun putting the pieces together to make something that I thought was fun + charming. I took my first batch of jewelry into work with me a few days later + my co-workers bought over half of it. I was stunned. After that, it was a repeat process… buying supplies, making fun pieces + selling them… and let me say, they were selling faster than I could make them while maintaining a full time job.

(products currently listed at Barberry & Lace on Etsy; click photos to visit product pages)

I started my Etsy shop in September of 2010 and by Christmastime I had to cut back my hours at work. I was having a hard time filling the orders that were coming in + making new jewelry, let alone working 35-40 hours per week at the restaurant. With the success of the holiday sales, I decided to branch out. I started looking into craft fairs again. I was SUPER apprehensive about them since the events I participated in while selling greeting cards were so terrible. I applied for just one to start out with and, honestly, it was hard to find a venue that I thought would be good for my product. I found the Horseshoe event online + decided to give it a go. It was much more expensive than I anticipated, but I decided to bite the bullet. It was FANTASTIC! I did so much better than I ever thought I would, so I started applying for all the craft fairs I could find. I’ve been invited to some + have gone out to find others. Networking within these markets has been priceless. I’ve met SO many amazing women who have been so incredibly helpful in linking me in with other markets… it really has been a wonderful + rewarding opportunity.

(photos of the mock booth set up in my garage before my first event in May, 2011)

And that’s where we are today… I participate in a craft fair almost every weekend, boutiques in other cities are starting to pick up my product, + online sales are going strong. I’m still working 3 days a week at the restaurant, but I hope to someday be able to make a full-time living through Barberry & Lace.

That’s the story. I’ve had a lot of requests for advice + tips on creating + running a successful Etsy shop, so I’m working on putting together a post if you’re interested! Thanks for reading my start-up story… I hope it offers some inspiration to create something for yourself!

wee bit wednesday v50.

2011-07-13T09:53:00.001-06:00

Thank you SO much to everyone for being so understanding about my little break. This summer has been a bit overwhelming + it’s been so nice to step back for a few weeks. Also, a HUGE thank you to all the wonderful people who sent questions for Wee Bits… I had no idea how much everyone enjoyed it! That makes me feel super special!

Okay, okay, enough mush… here’re this week’s questions, courtesy of Alyssa who writes the blog Moda Chic Boutique! (ps. she also has an ADORABLE etsy shop of her own… check it out here!)

{one} what’s the #1 most played song on your iPod (or whatever you use)?”Wonderful” by Gary Go. I freaking love this song.
{two} what’s your favorite type of exercise?Probably the treadmill. I like to run.
{three} what’s your least favorite mode of transportation?I don’t like to drive, so I would say the car… but I don’t mind it if someone else is driving.
{four} if you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what would it be?Now. I like being 28.
{five} when you have 30 minutes of free time, what do you use it to do?Free time… what’s that? I usually use any free time I have to work on the biz.
{six} what do you miss the most about being a kid? The lack of responsibility. That’s the only thing that semi-sucks about being an adult. I wish I could go back to not having to worry about things.
{seven} when was the last time you were nervous?Oh man… I haven’t been nervous in a LONG time. I used to get nervous to go onstage to sing, but other than that, I don’t know!
{eight} what was the first thing you bough with your own money when you were young?Candy. I’ve written about my brothers’ + my kick-a lemonade stands before… we used to spend our money from that on candy.
{nine} what is your favorite month of the year?October. I look forward to it all year. I love that it’s not too hot/cold + I love fall. Good smelling candles + pumpkin spice creamer. Plus, fall leaves are SO gorgeous in Colorado.
{ten} what are 3 songs from the soundtrack of your life?Ooh, that’s hard… probably the Gary Go song (which, btw, I’ve listened to 3 times while writing this), “Cemeteries of London” by Coldplay, + “Clair de Lune” by Debussy.
GREAT questions, Alyssa! Thank you so much!

giveaway winner.

2011-07-11T12:38:00.001-06:00

So sorry that this is a couple of days late! It’s been quite the weekend… without further ado, here’s your winner:

Lindsey at Content in Christ
you’ve won a $25 credit (pre-shipping) to my shop,
Barberry & Lace!

E-mail me to let me know what items you’d like to have!

For everyone who didn’t win,
I’m having a small sale today only:

Enter coupon code “MONDAYFUNDAY” to receive 10% off your entire order.

Have a great Monday, friends!

just a little reminder...

2011-07-05T09:31:00.000-06:00

Hey friends! I'm blogging live from New Mexico via the infamous iPad... and that's why this post will have absolutely no fun photos of our little vacay, miss Sadie, or anything else for that matter.

I DID want to remind anyone that got an early start to their holiday weekend that there's a Barberry & Lace giveaway happening as we speak... just click my header there above and scroll down past this plain looking post. There you'll find it!

I hope everyone had a FANTASTIC weekend and I'll see you all in full glory when I return!

wee need to talk (+ maybe a giveaway)(closed).

2011-06-29T13:51:00.002-06:00

Hey friends! I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I totally slacked + haven’t done a Wee Bit Wednesday post in 2 weeks.

Here’s the deelio:
I think I’m going to take a wee break from Wee Bits. I’m having a really hard time coming up with questions every week + this summer is kicking my butt. I’m trying to book craft fairs every weekend, which means stocking up + making mass amounts of jewelry. It’s super fun, but SUPER time consuming!

So, here’s the plan:
When life slows down a wee bit, I’ll bring Wee Bits back! (Unless you want to provide me with the questions… some people have done that + I will graciously link back to your blog if you’d like the exposure!) Also, as a thank you for participating + being such AWESOME gals, I wanted to give a lucky someone a small token:

$25 store credit toward my shop
Barberry & Lace

Here’s how to enter…

(mandatory): leave me a comment telling me what item you would choose from Barberry & Lace if you won!
(+1 entry): tweet about this giveaway! (remember to use @missleighashley or it won’t count.)
(+1 entry):blog about this giveaway + leave me the link.
(+1 entry for each): follow this blog, like Barberry & Lace on Facebook, follow @missleighashley on Twitter. (Leave a separate comment for each or it will count as one.)

I’ve got LOADS of new stuff just waiting for someone to love!
And just to make everyone happy (because I like it when everyone’s happy),
not only does one person get $25 swag bucks,

EVERYONE gets 20% off the entire store!

Yep, you read it right… from now through next Wednesday, simply enter the code “WEEBITOLOVE”* to receive your discount!

Oh, but here’s the other thing…
I’m going out of town from Sunday through Thursday,
so all orders placed between those dates (whilst still getting the AWESOME discount)
will be shipped the following Friday.

Just thought you should know so you don’t think I’m a jerk.

So, I hope the sweet incentives make up for the lack of Wee Bits.
Nothing like a little treat to sweeten you back up, eh?
The giveaway will also end next Wednesday… winner to be announced next Friday.

Have a HAPPY WEDNESDAY, my friends!

*I’ve noticed some folks don’t know where exactly to plug that code in… here’s the low down: while in your shopping cart, right under the “how you’ll pay” methods, there’s a link that says “apply shop coupon code”. Click that bad boy + you’re on your way!

marshmallows.

2011-06-24T13:54:00.001-06:00

I couldn’t not share this video…

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

xo.

wee bit wednesday v49.

2011-06-15T10:30:00.001-06:00

I almost forgot about Wee Bits this week! OH NO! I did remember, but sorry it’s so late! This week’s questions come courtesy of miss Kathleen over at So I Say Living Life to the Fullest! Grab a button and linky on up! (And stay tuned at the end for a Barberry & Lace SALE!)

{one} what color best describes you + why?Hmm… I would say green. Natural, but a little bright.
{two} how have you changed in the past year?The only thing that has changed significantly is the fact that I started Barberry & Lace (which has been a pretty large change) and Mike started working from home. I would say that I’m more myself now than I ever have been. I’m discovering my passions and personality as it’s changed.
{three} have you ever had any surgeries? Nope, notta one.
{four} why did you start your blog?Because I needed something to distract me from my job… insurance. I was absolutely miserable and needed something to lighten my life. And it HAS! I love the community and new friends that I’ve met!
{five} what are you looking forward to this summer?Going to the lake with Mikey! We’re going in only 2 weeks! Woot!
{six} do you have any family traditions for the 4th of July?My family used to do pig roasts every year. Mike’s family goes to New Mexico, to this HUGE lake! It’s fun!

{seven} what’s something new that you’ve tried in the past few months?Craft fairs! I LOVE doing them… they’re getting so addicting!
{eight} what is the perfect a/c temperature?I keep the house at 70 degrees all year.
{nine} what was the last movie you saw in the theater?It was Thor. I liked it!
{ten} what song do you think everyone should hear at least once?Debussy’s “Clair de Lune”. So peaceful.

Okay, are you ready for the Barberry & Lace sale?

Until Friday, June 17th, enter code “LOVELY614” to receive

25% OFF EVERYTHING!

That’s right… EVERYTHING!

xo.

vintage etsy.

2011-06-09T13:28:00.001-06:00

A little shopping (+ dreaming) on a cloudy day:

1948 Weber Costello Globe via vintagecals 1970’s Polaroid Camera via TheFancyLamb

Deadstock Woolworth Price Signs via TheFancyLamb

Vintage Binoculars + Leather Case via BDVintage

Vintage Kitchen Scale via timetravellers 1960’s Waring Retro Blender via mirandas31

Metal Coca-Cola Carrier + Bottles via JustaCurl

xo.

wee bit wednesday v48.

2011-06-08T08:25:00.001-06:00

Good morning friends! This week’s Wee Bit questions come courtesy of Rebecca over at Learning to Limit! Hop over to her adorable blog and say hello!

{one} how many times have you been a bridesmaid/maid of honor?Just once so far, but my bestie’s wedding is in 3 weeks and I’ll be in that one too!
{two} what’s the last thing your do before you fall asleep at night?I watch a little bit of TV… Seinfeld.
{three} you just won your dream vacation, all expenses paid. where are you going?Back to Europe… Switzerland, Paris, Germany, Italy. I would take a trip all around Europe.
{four} what is your favorite outdoor activity?Hiking. I live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, so I LOVE going up in the mountains and hiking. It’s SO gorgeous!
{five} as a child, what did you want to “be when you grew up”? did you end up there?I never really had anything specific, but I always liked making stuff and selling it. My mom and I were just talking about this the other day… I would make hair barrettes, lemonade, cat’s eyes, etc. and sell them to my neighbors. So, I guess I did end up doing what I love… I own my own jewelry company!
{six} what are 3 things your dream home would have that you don’t currently have?A sprinkler system, an actual office/library, and an attached garage.
{seven} what’s for dinner tonight?I haven’t thought that far ahead. I have to have some fillings done today, so my face will most likely be pretty numb.
{eight} if someone stopped by your house unannounced on a typical Saturday night, what would they find you doing?I work doubles on Saturdays (unless I’m at a craft fair), so I’m always pretty exhausted on Saturday nights. We would probably be watching a movie.
{nine} what’s your average monthly water bill?My water and electricity are billed together, so it’s usually right around $60. Most of that’s for the electricity… we both work from home, so we use a lot of it!
{ten} what do you do to relax?Go for a run, read, watch a movie…
Thanks for the questions, Rebecca!If you have questions you’d like to see featured on Wee Bit Wednesday, email me here!
xo.

wee bit wednesday: recap.

2011-06-01T10:12:00.001-06:00

Alright ladies (I don’t think there are any gents here…), here’s the deal: today I’m looking back over all of the Wee Bit posts I’ve posted in almost a year! Can you believe that… it’s been almost a whole year! I chose my favorite set of questions and am re-posting them today. You can either 1.) answer the questions on your own blog if you haven’t already and link back or 2.) take the opportunity to look back through all of your own Wee Bit entries and link back to your favorite one!

So, here’s my favorite, all the way back to Wee Bit version 5:

{one} do you believe in ghosts?
Hmm. I've actually been thinking about this recently due to a show I saw on TV the other night. I believe in spirits, so I guess that would be the same thing. I don't know what I believe about them beyond that though.

{two} are you more of a talker or more of a listener?
Listener definitely. I tend to be pretty quiet.

{three} would you rather get up early or sleep late?
Get up early for sure! Unfortunately my job keeps me up pretty late these days, so I'm sleeping in more than I'm used to!

{four} if you could instantly become an expert at one type of dance, what type would you choose?
Hip Hop. I love beats and synchronized movements... that dance show with all the different countries was AWESOME! I wish they would do that again!

{five} what's your favorite drink?
Alcoholic: beer. Nonalcoholic: Sam's Choice flavored water. Yum!

{six} if your house caught fire and you could only grab three things, what would they be?
I'm assuming here that my three pets would be able to get out safely... so, I would grab my computer CPU, the afghan I was given from my grandpa's funeral, and my phone I guess. I don't have anything that can't be replaced really... as long as Mike and my animals are safe, I'd be okay. I would like to have my computer though, cause I don't have that backed up. :/

{seven} if you could only visit one restaurant for the next five years, which would it be?
The Sushi Den. Woot woot!!

{eight} who inspires you the most?
My Grandma Benner. She's the most amazing woman I know (besides my mom). Watching her live her life makes me want to be a better person.

{nine} if you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be?
I love this question!! Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler and Liam Neeson. That was EASY!

{ten} sneakers or sandals?
Sneakers. I have short, stubby toes that shouldn't be shown off!

Okay, show me your favorite…

xo.

wee bit wednesday v47.

2011-05-25T10:40:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone’s having a fabulous week! It’s been rainy here most of the week, which means sleeping in and extra coffee… love. Here’re your wee bit questions! Grab a button and linky up!

{one} what’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?Ugh, it was a blind date and he was NOTHING like his friend said he was. It was awful and awkward. Never again.
{two} if you could be any other person for one day, who would it be?Princess Catherine. I have always wanted to know what it would be like to be treated like royalty.
{three} what is your favorite kind of cheese?I think either fresh mozzarella or brie. I seriously love cheese.
{four} do you remember your 1st grade teacher?Yes! Her name was Mrs. Porter. I remember her reading us the “Boxcar Children” books.
{five} who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?My mom. I love her.
{six} were you ever in a school talent show?Yeah, I was in a few when I was young. I always played the piano and sang.
{seven} who is your favorite fictional character?Elizabeth Bennett.
{eight} can you open your eyes underwater?NO! It hurts and freaks me out… I have never been able to!
{nine} do you look at the keyboard when you type?Only when I put my fingers on the keyboard… not after that.
{ten} when was the last time you took a nap?Monday. It was FANTASTIC! I don’t remember the last time I took a nap before that… I almost NEVER nap.
xo.ps. if you have questions you’d like to see featured on Wee Bit Wednesday, email me here!
pps. questions 1 + 2 courtesy of @jamierharris.

shop update.

2011-05-24T13:10:00.001-06:00

I’ve been getting ready for a few more craft fairs this summer, which means I get to do what I love most: SHOP! I’ve been getting some new, really cool stuff to put in the shop! It’s not all done yet, but I wanted to share some of the newest ones:

If you’d like, you can visit my shop here or click any of the photos above! Have a wonderful Tuesday… I’ll see you tomorrow for Wee Bit Wednesday!

xo.

flower planting day.

2011-05-19T08:46:00.001-06:00

Yay! Yesterday was flower planting day! Every year my mom and I go and pick out all of our flowers for our pots and then plant them… it’s pretty much one of the best days of the year. This year I went with bright and cheery reds, oranges, whites, and yellows (sorry some of the photos are blurry, it started to rain while I was taking them)…

(Of course I had to sneak one in of little Sadie… she likes to help!) I’m so happy that spring/summer is here! I love it… it makes my days so much more cheery! Although, today we’re getting a pretty heavy dose of rain… I’m not complaining though… those beautiful flowers need some water!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v46.

2011-05-18T10:28:00.001-06:00

I am SO excited! Today is flower planting day! I just hope it doesn’t rain. It wouldn’t matter because today is one of my favorite days of the year! This day and fantasy football draft day. I hope you all are having as good a day as I’m going to… and here are your wee bit questions for this week!

{one} do you watch the history channel? if so, what’s your favorite program?Yes, Mike loves the history channel, so we watch a lot! I like American Pickers and Pawn Stars.
{two} what is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?Read a book, clean the house… open the windows so I can smell it!
{three} what does your dream house look like?I go back and forth on this… sometimes I want a farm house and sometimes I want an old Victorian house.
{four} what state were you born in?Ohio.
{five} do you have a change jar? if so, what do you use it for when it gets full?Nope, no change jar. I’ve thought about it a lot though. I would save for vacations!
{six} what’s the first website you look at when you get on the computer?My Etsy site. Gotta see what came in!
{seven} what is your favorite breakfast?Hmm… I like omelets, breakfast burritos, scrambled eggs with toast and hummus… I like breakfast food.
{eight} what’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken?My trip to Europe when I was 16. We went to 7 countries in 16 days. It was fabulous!
{nine} do you prefer your coffee black or with cream/milk/sugar?I like it really strong with a little bit of milk. But during the fall/winter, I always splurge on the Pumpkin Spice creamer. It’s heaven in a cup.
{ten} have you ever done a professional photo shoot?No. When I was younger I always wanted to do the Glamour Shots, but never did.
xo.

color palette: potted color.

2011-05-16T16:19:00.001-06:00

I’m getting ready to do my spring flower planting for the year and I’m SO excited! It’s probably one of my favorite days of the year… that and fantasy football draft day. I know… don’t judge me.

Lately I’ve been loving putting together different color palettes… finding complimenting colors and mixing and matching to my little heart’s desire. Here’s my first one… I thought that it would be fitting since, as I said, this week is flower potting week!

Here’s to a brand new week! I hope it’s a bright, cheery and beautiful one!

xo.
(color palette created by leigh ashley/photo via)

wee bit wednesday v45.

2011-05-11T10:09:00.001-06:00

Hello! I can’t believe it’s been a whole week since I’ve blogged… thanks for sticking around, I promise to do better now that my first (+ probably most stressful) craft fair is over. It was a HUGE success and I was very happy with the turnout, but I’ll post on that later.

It’s been HOT here… well, hot like 80’s… and now it’s raining and my grass and I love it! We even had a little lightning show last night!

Anyway, here are today’s Wee Bit questions! Grab a button and linky on up, friends! Happy mid-week to you!

{one} what profession have you always admired?Nurses and teachers. My dad was in the hospital for 10 days once and I stayed with him for 7 of them. I really gained a new respect for people in the healthcare industry. I’ve never been treated so kindly.
{two} what would the title of your memoir/biography be if it was written today?Something like “You Want Me to Say What?” It’d be about how I’ve learned to not let people take me for granted.
{three} how far do you commute to work?3 miles, 3 days a week. The other days, I work from home! I’m spoiled, I know!
{four} are your earlobes attached or detached?Detached.
{five} do you eat the unpopped kernels of popcorn at the bottom of the bag?Only if they’re half unpopped…
{six} what is the strangest gift you’ve ever received?Haha… for my 21st birthday, my little brother wrapped a beer in ice and gave it to me. Unfortunately, it was already melting and soaking wet when I got it!
{seven} what is one tv show that you wish hadn’t been cancelled?Heroes. I LOVE that show!!
{eight} what is something that you are saving money for right now?New couches. We are in serious need of some nice couches.
{nine} what hobby would you like to take up?Photography. I like to think I have a pretty good eye…
{ten} how many times a year do you get really dressed up?None. I think prom was the last time I got really dressed up… and that was 10 years ago! Boo.
xo.(photo via)

wee bit wednesday v44.

2011-05-04T09:59:00.001-06:00

I might be pretty MIA this week… my craft fair is this coming Saturday and I’m a busy lady getting ready! If you’re going to be in the Denver area this weekend, please make sure to stop by and say hi! You can find the info here.

Okay, here’re your Wee Bit questions! Grab a button and linky up!

{one} when was the last time you used a pay phone (if ever)?Hmm… I don’t think I ever have. Not since before I had a cell phone anyway, which was when I turned 16.
{two} did you ever fail a subject in school?No, I never failed one, but I didn’t do so hot in speech. I had a D or something just good enough to not have to take it again. I’m a HORRIBLE public speaker!
{three} where do you go to get your favorite hamburger/cheeseburger?I really like the burgers where I work… they’re nice and big and juicy. If I’m going for something cheap though, I like Wendy’s burgers!
{four} have you ever served jury duty?Nope, thank God. I hope I don’t have to.
{five} how old were you when you moved out of your parents’ house?Well, I moved in and out a few times, but I officially moved out when I was 23.
{six} what is your favorite color to wear?I love to wear white, but it never fails that I spill on it when I do!
{seven} do you have a pair of shoes that you wear all the time?Ooh, my Born mustard yellow flats. See here.
{eight} do you enjoy talk radio?Ugh. There are some talk radio shows that I don’t mind, but Mike listens to sports talk radio in the morning (Collin Cowherd, or however you spell it) and I can’t stand that guy.
{nine} if you could turn one unhealthy food into a healthy one, what food would it be?Anything Mexican. I LOVE Mexican food…
{ten} who is the best speaker you’ve ever heard in person?Brennan Manning. Love his books and was enthralled when I heard him speak.
xo.

the craft fair booth.

2011-04-29T15:52:00.001-06:00

Whelp, I think I’m officially ready for my upcoming Craft Fair + Open House. There are, of course, a few little touches that will have to wait until late next week to be done (ex. washing the table cloths, cleaning + Windex-ing the glass, etc.), but for the most part, I’M DONE! I am done freaking out (for this week anyway) and I can just enjoy the time leading up to the big event!

Would you like a sneak peek? (I knew you did…)

There ya have it! My favorite part is probably the necklace board… I was pretty proud of my creativity on that!

Have a great weekend everyone!

xo.

a giveaway winner.

2011-04-28T10:39:00.001-06:00

A big thank you to ALL who participated in the giveaway! There were an amazing 177 entries! Here’s your winner:

Congratulations, Thomasina! Please email me here and let me know what one item (up to a $25 value) you’d like from my shop, Barberry & Lace!

To all who didn’t win… keep an eye out! I love putting on giveaways and I’m sure that there will be another one soon!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v43.

2011-04-27T09:12:00.001-06:00

What a week… has it flown by for anyone else, or just me? Here we are, back at Wednesday again! Grab a button and linky up!

{one} have you ever been stuck in an elevator?Oh my gosh, no. I would FREAK out.
{two} have you ever ridden on an elephant?Also no… sadly. That’s on my bucket list for sure!!
{three} have you ever met a well known celebrity?Again, no. Hm. Maybe I should get out more… then I’d have better stories to tell!
{four} do you have any food allergies?Uh, nope.
{five} do you know how to sew?Wow, no. I should have chosen better questions for myself. I’m hoping you all have more interesting answers than I do!
{six} did you get an allowance when you were young?YES! We had to put 10% in savings, 10% in tithe and then the rest was ours to spend on candy and such!
{seven} how often do you fill up your gas tank?Maybe every 4-6 weeks, unless I go somewhere out of the norm.
{eight} have you ever been stung by a jelly fish?Back to no.
{nine} have you ever been robbed?My bicycle was stolen once. I was SO upset. I think now that it was my ex-boyfriend.
{ten} what is the worst haircut you’ve ever had?Oh geez… when I was in 8th grade I was obsessed with Jennifer Aniston’s hair (who wasn’t), so I asked my hair dresser to cut it that way. It was way too short for the style, so I ended up looking like a boy. I was MORTIFIED. Not to mention that it was right before moving to a new school!

*REMINDER: today is the last day to get in on my giveaway. Click here to enter!

a giveaway.

2011-04-21T08:24:00.001-06:00

I saw yesterday that I’ve officially hit over 800 followers! How exciting! I think I’ve done a giveaway for every 100 followers I’ve hit, so it seems appropriate to do one now. I can’t thank you all enough for sharing in my journey… it’s simply because of you that this blog is still alive and kicking! So here’s the deal:

One person will win any one (1) item in my shop, Barberry & Lace, up to a $25 value. That’s right… you choose!

Here’s how to enter:

(mandatory entry): follow this blog, my leigh ashley, and leave a comment! Easy peasy.

(+1 entry): either add Barberry & Lace to your circle on Etsy, or favorite my shop.

(+1 entry): follow me on twitter.

(+1 entry): follow on facebook.

Make sure to leave a separate comment for each, otherwise your entries will count as one. The giveaway will run from today, April 21st through next Wednesday, April 27th. The winner will be announced on April 28th. Good luck everyone… and thanks again for making this blog what it is!

xo.

wee bit wedensday v42.

2011-04-20T09:22:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this past week… I was talking to a friend last week about my craft fair and it totally freaked me out. I don’t want to not take enough jewelry, so I’ve basically been making everything I have to take. Needless to say, I’ve been a VERY busy gal! I am starting to feel more ready though… it’s in only 2 weeks!

Okay, I won’t bore you with any more, so here’re this weeks questions…

{one} how often do you do laundry?Once a week… I only have two work shirts, so they have to be washed.
{two} what is your favorite type of cookie?Hmmmm… I really like chocolate chip.
{three} what would you do with an extra $2000 per month?Hire a personal trainer and someone to clean my house.
{four} what was/is your favorite subject in school?I always really liked math… I just got it. Also loved English.
{five} have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?No, but I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do that… it’s definitely on my bucket list!
{six} what was your high school mascot?We were the Indians. There was a bunch of controversy over that and the district almost changed our mascot to the Cherry Pickers my senior year. Thank God that never happened!
{seven} if you had the chance to go into space, would you?Probably not. I am SO claustrophobic… I can’t imagine I’d do well in a small space for a long time.
{eight} how often do you go dancing?Never. I think the last time I went was about 8 years ago.
{nine} would you rather drive or fly?Drive. I love road trips!!
{ten} have you ever been caught re-gifting?No… I don’t think I’ve actually ever re-gifted.

I also just noticed that I’ve hit 800 followers! I think it’s time for another giveaway… tomorrow, maybe? Keep an eye out!!

xo.

mother’s day sale.

2011-04-14T09:18:00.001-06:00

In honor of Mother’s Day, my shop, Barberry & Lace, is having a SALE! That’s right folks… buy any 2 items at regular price and get a 3rd item for FREE! No sales code… anyone that buys 3 items will get the 3rd for free. Hop on over and shop for all those wonderful women in your life at the same time!

Sale runs from today, April 14th through next Thursday, April 21st.

*disclaimer: the free item will be the item of lesser value and will be refunded to your paypal account after payment is made. all sales are final. sale will end Thursday, April 21st at midnight MST.

wee bit wednesday v41.

2011-04-13T09:15:00.001-06:00

I don’t know where my weeks go… they just fly by! It’s gloomy here today… I’m hoping we get some rain! It was, however, difficult to get out of bed this morning! Then I remembered all of you and jumped right up, made myself a cup of coffee and here we are! Grab a button and linky on up!

{one} have you ever fainted?nope. never.
{two} what is your favorite casino game?oh, probably either texas hold ‘em or omaha hi low. card games.
{three} do you have a good sense of direction?I used to think I did… then I met Mike. He ALWAYS knows where to go!
{four} laptop or desktop?desktop. I LOVE my desktop!
{five} what is your go-to hair style when having a bad hair day?I throw it up in a bun. I don’t have much patience for bad hair days.
{six} do you read the newspaper on a daily basis?no. I used to watch the news every morning, but I don’t do that either anymore. I guess you could say I’m just in my own little world.
{seven} do you have a favorite celebrity chef?oh, Curtis Stone, hands down! What a dream boat.
{eight} what tv show would you like to make a guest appearance on?I would have liked to guest starred on “Friends”, but since that’s over, I think I would choose “The Office” now.
{nine} do you have satellite radio in your car?Nope. I don’t drive enough to make it worth it.
{ten} what was the last movie that made you cry?”The Breakup”. Sobbed.
xo.

song love + happy things.

2011-04-08T09:59:00.001-06:00

I’m so addicted to this song right now… I love you, Imogen Heap.

Other things that made me happy this week:

Helping my bestie shop for her wedding dress. She found one and I’m SO excited to see her walk down the aisle in it… GORGEOUS!

I finally got my necklace display done (huge relief) and my craft fair booth is finally starting to come together. (I’m still freaking that I won’t have enough product though.)

Watching Heroes. I LOVE that show. I’m so disappointed that it only lasted 4 seasons. I’m on season 4… what am I going to do when I’m done?! (pout)

My brother moved back to Colorado and my other one’s on his way back from Seattle. My family will be together again. I love when we’re all together (in the same area).

What made you happy this week?

Have a great weekend! See you next week!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v40.

2011-04-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Wow, I can’t believe I’ve been posting Wee Bits for 40 weeks. Almost an entire year! Thanks for continuing to play along… I have so much fun thinking up questions and reading answers every week! Oh, with this design, there’s a brand new button… grab it and linky on up!

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch?asparagus… I LOVE it now!
{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major?I did go to college. I changed majors probably a dozen times… music, music-business, business, fitness, nutrition… needless to say, I stopped taking classes because I couldn’t decide what to do.
{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)?a bear… or a moose, those are FREAKY.
{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller?no. but I’ve always wanted to call into one so they could ask me what my name was and I could say “shouldn’t you know that?”
{five} can you juggle?Not that I know of. I’ve never tried.
{six} hardwood floors or carpet?Harwood. Carpet gets SO dirty!
{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”?I say both.
{eight} what was your first car?A 1992 Saturn SL1. It was pretty awesome.
{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?My dad got this cake for my birthday this year from Whole Foods… seriously, it was like the inside of a truffle covered in hot fudge. It was WICKED!
{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture?Not often anymore… there’s really only one practical way for it to be now. When I had two couches I used to move them a lot to cover up stains on the carpet.

Also, for all my Wee Bit participants (+ your friends, family + whoever else you choose to invite), I’m holding a ONE DAY SALE at my shop, Barberry & Lace… you’ll receive 20% off your entire purchase TODAY ONLY by entering the discount code: WEEBIT4611.

Have a great Wednesday, friends!

xo.

shop update.

2011-04-05T17:23:00.001-06:00

I have been one busy little woman making tons of new items both for the shop and for my upcoming craft fair in May. I thought I’d share some with you… to view all my new (+ older) items, click here to enter the shop!

Have a great rest of your Tuesday! See you tomorrow for Wee Bits!

xo.

a new look.

2011-04-05T09:00:00.001-06:00

I’m so excited to share this new look with you! It encompasses all of my favorite pastel colors right now… grey, yellow, teal… plus I wanted a clean feel. My tendencies these days are running toward the pastels as well as things that have a vintage feel:

What colors are inspiring you lately? Oh, and make sure to check out the accordion style menu bar that miss Olivia made for me… it’s AWESOME!

See you tomorrow for Wee Bit Wednesday (with a NEW button)!

xo.
(photos via)

my work space.

2011-04-04T09:45:00.001-06:00

I can’t really call it a “studio” because that sounds really fancy and legit, which mine is not, and I can’t really call it an “office” because that sounds too official. I just call it my work space. I love it. You asked for photos and here they are!

This is where I keep my completed items… that way I don’t have to make them all to order. It saves me A LOT of time!

And this is my view… it’s so much better when the trees are green and the roses and lilacs are blooming and my potted plants aren’t super dead. I’m not complaining though! I do love to look out my window a lot!

So, there you have it! I also have my craft fair booth mock-up set up in my garage, but it’s still in the making, so I’ll save that for another post! Have you done a post on your workspace? If you have, leave me a comment with the link… I’d LOVE to see yours!

Keep an eye out… tomorrow (hopefully) an ALL NEW Leigh Ashley design will roll out! I’m SUPER excited!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v39.

2011-03-30T09:59:00.001-06:00

Here we are again! Another week down… and something to brighten up your Wednesday: wee bits! Grab a button and linky up!

{one} if you won a trip to Disneyland/world, who would you take with you?Mike. We love doing silly things and going to fun places… mini golf, the zoo, six flags, etc. He’s a great fun date.
{two} when was the last time you listened to a CD?Probably over a year ago… I always listen to my iPod/iPad.
{three} what spice/seasoning is your favorite?Cilantro. I LOVE cilantro… especially on salads.
{four} if you were in a band, what kind of music would you play?Hmm… probably Indie. Something like Regina Spektor or She + Him.
{five} if you could have personally witnessed one historical event, which one would it be?Oh goodness… probably something like the invention of the light bulb. Can you imagine Thomas Edison’s face? Priceless.
{six} if you could go back to school, what would you study?I would probably double major in Business and Web Development.
{seven} if you could go to one sporting event, all expenses paid, which one would you see?The Super Bowl… hands down.
{eight} do you drive an automatic or a manual?I drive a manual… I LOVE it!
{nine} are you comfortable speaking in front of people?No, not even a little bit. That was my LEAST favorite class in school… I’m getting anxious just thinking about it.
{ten} have you ever experienced an earthquake?Nope… thank God!
ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see on Wee Bit Wednesday, email me here!
xo.

project: bag stamp.

2011-03-29T10:25:00.001-06:00

I got a lot of great responses to my post last week (and would still love to have your suggestions here), so thank you for your input and know that I’m working on a few posts for you! Until then, here’s what I’ve been up to…

Craft Fair Bags:

I think I ordered about 500 of them, so it’s definitely time consuming, but I think they’re turning out just the way I wanted them to! Still on the list: tag stamping, spray painting, decal placing, jewelry making, and list goes on! I’ll keep you updated…

Have a great day friends… I’ll see you tomorrow for Wee Bits!

xo.

ps. there’re new Barberry & Lace giveaways here & here!
pps. I started a new Facebook Fan Page for Barberry & Lace…

suggestions?

2011-03-26T08:24:00.001-06:00

It’s been quiet in my corner for the last few days, I know. Sorry. I have been gearing up for my craft fair in May. I freaked out last week because I thought I would be cramped for time… and I might be, but I feel much better having gotten my ideas rolling and some serious antiquing done (more on that + photos later).

I’ve also been spending some time reading through some inspirational blogs. I like blogs that make me think and give me ideas. I like blogs where I can discover things about the writer that make me think we could be friends. Know what I mean? A couple of my faves include:

your wishcake: Kerri is amazing. She’s real and down to earth and I like that a lot. I share a lot of her thoughts and it’s really nice to know that there’s someone thinking the same things that I am.
e tells tales: another down to earth blogger, Elizabeth. I love how vintage and unique her blog is. It’s just relaxing to be there.

If you don’t already follow these ladies, I suggest you give them a visit. Hopefully they can inspire you like they’ve inspired me.

On that note, I’ve been wracking my brain for months trying to come up with some interesting blog posts that you would like to read… I have a few, but I’d like to hear what you’re interested in reading about and I’m open to suggestions.

Is there something about me that you’d like to know more about?
Do you want to talk about Etsy?
Are there photos of my life that you’d like to see?

You name it. I’m excited to see what you’d like to talk about…

xo.

(photo via)

wee bit wednesday v38.

2011-03-23T09:38:00.001-06:00

well, ladies, with coffee in hand, i bring you this week’s edition of wee bits! grab a button and linky on up!

{one} what was your first job?i worked at a little hole-in-the-wall fast food mexican restaurant… it was pretty awesome at 15.
{two} have you ever seen a stand up comedian?no, but i would LOVE to see gabriel iglesias… he’s HILARIOUS!
{three} when was the last time you played mini golf?aw, mike and i love mini golf. we just did 36 holes last summer! so fun.
{four} what was the last picture you took?umm… one of my jewelry pieces i'm sure!
{five} burnt food: yes or no?no… yuck.
{six} if you have a pocket full of change, what do you do with it?put it in my purse. i know, i don’t have a great answer here.
{seven} can you touch your tongue to your nose?actually yes. and my brother can stick his UP his nose.
{eight} do you scrapbook?i used to, but i haven’t for quite a while.
{nine} do you buy lottery tickets?i have never bought a lottery ticket, however, my friends from work do a pool every week and they’ve gotten money from me to do it.
{ten} do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it?behind it… no doubt.
ps. if you have questions you’d like to see on wee bit wednesdays, please email me here!
xo.

a little bit random.

2011-03-22T11:01:00.001-06:00

woah. my mind is going CRAZY! random thoughts for the day…

1. i can’t wait to see what the new design for myleighashley will look like! SO excited…

2. the craft fair in may is FREAKING me out! there’s so much to do and so little time.

3. why are there so many pictures of skinny girls and FOOD on weheartit? it’s making my head want to explode.

4. started my diet AGAIN today. or re-started i should say because last night was an epic fail.

5. best sentence i've ever read: “be intentional.”

i think that’s all i've got. do you have any random thoughts today? or am i just going crazy? (smile)

see you tomorrow for wee bit wednesday!

xo.
(photo via)

birthday + last day of the sale.

2011-03-17T09:12:00.000-06:00

I'm posting for the first time from my iPad... I was going to put a fun photo in, but I'm kinda stupid and can't figure out how to do it. Oh well.

Today I am officially 28. I've been saying I'm 28 for a few months, but today it's real... and it freaked me out a little bit more than I thought it would. I'm another year closer to 30. Okay, moving on... today is the LAST DAY to get in on the sale at my shop! (I also don't know how to create a link on this thing either, so just click the link for my shop to the right!)

Well, this is a pretty boring and not very pretty post! Oh well... hope you all have a wonderful Saint Patty's Day! I'll be at the zoo and then at a sushi + wine party! Yayer!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v37.

2011-03-16T09:38:00.001-06:00

yay! it’s time again for the mid-week pick-me-up! grab a button and linky up!

{one} scruffy or clean shaven?scruffy for sure.
{two} what’s your favorite sundae topping?probably hot fudge… mmmm.
{three} do you own slippers?actually, no. i prefer to just wear socks.
{four} did you ever have a tree house?sadly, no. i always wanted one… a really sweet one, but never did.
{five} how you do relieve stress?going for a walk.
{six} what’s your favorite dr. seuss book?i always liked the sneetches and how the grinch stole christmas.
{seven} have you ever taken dance classes?no… i'd like to take salsa lessons though!
{eight} which do you use more: the thesaurus or the dictionary?the thesaurus.
{nine} what’s your favorite form of exercise?running. or lifting.
{ten} what’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line?oh, i'm not sure. i don’t like waiting in lines, so it’s probably one at an amusement park or something.
ps. if you have questions you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, email me here!
xo.

change is in the air.

2011-03-15T14:17:00.001-06:00

i used to think i was afraid of change. that i just wanted things to be stable and safe. it wasn’t until just recently that i started noticing this trend in myself… i rarely did anything for longer than a year. i would get antsy and aggravated. i would get bored. my mind would wander and i would think of all the other things in life that i wanted to do. all the things that i thought would make me happy.

i've come to terms with the fact that i like change. i'm embracing the part of my personality that constantly wants to search for the bigger and the better. i enjoy the journey of striving to find that something bigger and better… and striving to be better. if i hadn’t been searching for those things, i wouldn’t be where i am now… and i can truly say that i'm happy.

xo.
(photo via)

birthday sale.

2011-03-10T11:46:00.001-07:00

in honor of my upcoming birthday on march 17th, barberry & lace is having a SALE!

here’s the deal: buy any two (2) items at regular price and get a third (3rd) item for FREE! the sale will run from today, march 10th through next thursday, march 17th at midnight MST.

happy shopping!

xo.

*disclaimer: the free item will be the lesser valued item. all sales are final. the third item’s dollar value will be refunded to your paypal account after payment is received.

wee bit wednesday v36.

2011-03-09T09:21:00.001-07:00

sorry for the late post today… i woke up to a kitty with a swollen, goopy eye. i'll probably have to take her to the vet later, poor baby. anyway, sorry for the delay… here’re my wee bits! grab a button and linky up!

{one} what color is your kitchen?sadly, it’s still white. i have debated on colors to paint it, but haven’t decided yet… after 4 years.
{two} do you have a good luck charm?nope.
{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?pen most of the time. unless i'm doing a crossword puzzle or sudoku… then i like to use pencil.
{four} can you use chopsticks?yeah, i can hold my own with chopsticks…
{five} do you prefer baths or showers?showers, definitely.
{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?it varies. i like this greek dressing we have at work. i also like honey mustard, thousand island, italian and ranch. i guess it just depends on my mood.
{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?i don’t know… i don’t think i've ever tried!
{eight} do you have any allergies?not really. just pollen and nickel… not serious.
{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?creamy.
{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?nope… and after all those horror movies mike’s made me watch, i don’t think i ever will.
ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesdays, email me here!
xo.

giveaway winner.

2011-03-08T08:49:00.001-07:00

another successful giveaway! thanks to all who entered… here’s your winner:

congratulations mary catherine! please email me (here) and let me know what you’d like to have (one item up to a $25 value) from my shop, barberry & lace!

there MAY be another giveaway coming soon… keep your eyes peeled!

xo.

my new mustard shoes.

2011-03-04T08:54:00.001-07:00

“give a girl the right shoes
and she can conquer the world.”

-marilyn monroe

xo.

wee bit wednesday v35.

2011-03-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

it’s time again for wee bits! also, i posted a giveaway yesterday (here) so make sure to get in on the goodies!

{one} do you wear holey jeans? if so, do you buy them that way?my jeans always end up with holes at the bottom due to the fact that i'm so short… but, no, i don’t buy them that way.
{two} do you get a full 8 hours of sleep per night?i try to… lately i've been getting up earlier than normal, so i guess my body’s just done sleeping!
{three} what’s your favorite way to eat an oreo?a little bit of every way… open, eat some of the icing, dunk in milk.
{four} do you wear shoes in your house?yeah. my carpet is ruined because of my pets, so i don’t care anymore.
{five} who would you call first if you won the lottery?mike. then my parents.
{six} have you ever been in a food fight?nope… i think it would be fun though.
{seven} do you snore?i don’t think so. mike’s never told me i do…
{eight} do you know how fast you type?last time i took a typing test it was something like 68wpm which i guess is okay, but i was pretty proud of the fact that it was 100% accurate.
{nine} can you do a headstand (without using a wall)?no. i'm not quite that talented.
{ten} how do you like your popcorn?with a little butter and salt. just the regular way. i much prefer it home-popped though!
ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, please email me here!
xo.

giveaway + some news.

2011-03-01T12:18:00.001-07:00

the giveaway:

yep, i know i tempted you all with a giveaway… and here it is! i know i said i would do it when i was at 700 readers… and i was, but then i lost one. oh well… i'm going to do it anyway! so here’re the deets:

(mandatory): visit my shop, barberry & lace, and let me know what you’re favorite item is… and believe me, there are LOADS of new ones!

(additional entries): follow my blog, follow me on twitter (@missleighashley), tweet, blog, and/or facebook about the giveaway.

*make sure to leave separate comments for each entry or they will count as one.

the winner will get their choice of one item (up to $25 value) from barberry & lace.

the news:

i have been selected to participate in horseshoe market’s craft fairs in both may and august. i'm SO excited! i don’t know how many followers i have from colorado, but i would like to invite anyone who will be in the area! here’s the info:

(click ad to visit the site)

i will also be at the summer event in august, but i'll post about that when the time is closer.

i guess that’s all i have for you today! don’t forget about wee bit wednesday tomorrow!

xo.

say i am.

2011-02-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

just a little music love for your monday morning. this song is moving me lately.

wonderful.

ps. i just noticed that i hit 700 followers. woot! i'm thinking another giveaway might be in order. just sayin’.

xo.

wee bit wednesday v34.

2011-02-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

i don’t know about you, but i'm tired. like, exhausted tired. like, not all the sleep in the world would make me not tired… tired. oofta. it has me wondering why my body won’t sleep past 7am… it’s not like i have to go anywhere today. maybe it’s because of all the anticipation for this week’s version of wee bit wednesday! (yay) grab a button and linky up, folks!

{one} do you always wear your seatbelt in the car?most of the time… i'm bad about it if it’s not a long ride.
{two} do you crack your knuckles?yeah, but only if they hurt. i used to do it more, but not much now.
{three} what is your favorite flavor of gum?cinnamon.
{four} what is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?a pair of diamond stud earrings that my dad gave me a few years back.
{five} who is your best friend?my keebs. we’ve been best friends since we were three.
(yes, i had a mullet. i know.)
{six} what is your favorite smell?freshly cut grass. mmm.
{seven} what is your favorite lunch meat?chicken breast.
{eight} do you still have your tonsils?yes. i almost had them removed once because i kept getting strep throat, but it never happened.
{nine} do you untie your shoes before you take them off?nope. i guess i'm just THAT lazy!
{ten} what color is your car?white.
ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesdays, email me here!
xo.

i believe.

2011-02-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

“i believe in manicures. i believe in overdressing. i believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. i believe in pink. i believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. i believe that tomorrow is another day, and... i believe in miracles.”

-audrey hepburn

xo.
(photos via)

giveaway winner.

2011-02-19T08:18:00.001-07:00

i'm so sorry to have kept you all in the dark an extra day! this week has been absolutely insane. i had wednesday and thursday off of work, so i thought i would get some things done around the house and hang with mike a little bit… nope. barberry & lace blew up this week. every day since tuesday i've had over 6000 pageviews and well over 50 packages went out… and i have plenty more to send. also, a customer wrote me a little note with this link:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/02/heartsy_offers_discounted_craf.html

i know it’s not necessarily about my shop they’re talking about, but hey… the photos are there and the name is there… it can’t hurt, right??

so, that’s my excuse for being a day late to announce the big winner of the giveaway… i hope you all can forgive me! alright… drumroll…

congrats, murdock’s mama! you’ve won your choice of one item up to a $25 value from barberry & lace! email me here to let me know what you’d like to have and your mailing addy.

thanks to everyone who participated! and, as always, keep your eyes peeled for another giveaway!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v33.

2011-02-16T09:03:00.001-07:00

well, it’s that time again, friends! grab a button and linky right on up!

{one} what is your favorite breakfast food?i really love breakfast burritos. or pancakes.
{two} how many pairs of shoes do you currently own?probably like 10. three pairs of tennis shoes and a few pairs of heels… oh, and my uggs.
{three} city or country?country. especially today.
{four} what is your favorite part of your job?the people. my co-workers.
{five} what is your favorite junk food to snack on?hmm… probably chips and salsa.
{six} have you ever been mentioned in the newspaper?um, not me specifically, but my photo was in it for work.
{seven} do you use post-it notes?YES! i love post-its!
{eight} do you have freckles?just on my shoulders.
{nine} is it okay for men to wear pink?sure… i guess if they’re brave enough to wear it, kudos to them!
{ten} when was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?i don’t even remember. honestly. that’s sad.

ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, email me here!

today: love day.

2011-02-14T09:50:00.001-07:00

i hope everyone is having a wonderful love day. i am currently working on the shop… trying to get some kinks worked out before my head explodes. bah. i do have to work tonight… which is fine by me! i hope we’re super busy. mike and i have dinner plans for tomorrow… after the crowds are gone. a couple weeks ago mike won a gift card to a really swanky downtown restaurant, so this is where we’ll be celebrating:

i see blue cheese encrusted filet and maybe a crab leg or two in my future. mmm. what’re your plans?

xo.
(photos via)

giveaway.

2011-02-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

i love doing giveaways… both hosting and sponsoring, so it’s double fun when i get to do both on my own blog! what am i celebrating, you might ask? i just recently acquired 600 followers. ohmygosh. it’s crazy to me that in less than one year i've made 600 bloggy friends. i am the luckiest girl in the world. so, here’s the deal:

the winner will get their choice of {one} item up to a $25 value (not including a gift certificate). here’s how to enter (make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry or they will count as one):

mandatory: visit my shop, barberry & lace, and let me know what item you would choose if you won!

+1 entry: be a follower of myleighashley.

+1 entry: follow @missleighashley on twitter.

+1 entry: blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway (again, make sure to leave a separate comment with the link for each that you do).

six ways to win, ladies (and gents)! entries will be accepted from now through thursday, february 17th. the winner will be announced next friday, february 18th.

thanks for being such wonderful bloggy friends and for giving me something to look forward to reading, writing and doing everyday! i wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for you!

good luck!

xo.

celebrity crush.

2011-02-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

i have to admit it. i think this girl is downright adorable. my number one has and will always be ms. jennifer aniston, but as of late, this sweet doe-eyed beauty has me wishing she was my new bff…

zooey deschanel

some of my favorite zooey roles include: summer in “500 days of summer”, dorothy in “tin man”, kit in “failure to launch”, and happy in “gigantic”. also, her band “she & him” rocks my socks.

zooey, if you chance upon my wee blog, just know you’re adored. and i totally follow you on twitter.

who’s your celebrity crush?

xo.
(photos via)

wee bit wednesday v32.

2011-02-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

middle of the week yet again! and time to brighten our days with another version of wee bit wednesday! grab a button and linky on up, folks…

{one} ice: crushed or cubed?cubed. or sonic ice… they have the BEST ice.
{two} what is your worst traffic pet peeve?ugh, i have SO many. probably people that stop on exit and entrance ramps. seriously dangerous.
{three} what room in your house best represents your personality?my dining room. i just re-decorated… see here.
{four} do you save old birthday cards?no… i think i only have one that my aunt gave me. i looked at it forever. it was of a hamster singing and dancing. i've never laughed so hard.
{five} when was the last time you went on a picnic?oh geez. mike and i had a car picnic last summer… that was fun.
{six} do you regularly check your horoscope?nope, never.
{seven} when you’re home, what do you wear on your feet?socks usually. otherwise my feet get cold.
{eight} what’s your favorite gambling game? texas hold ‘em. it’s really the only game i know how to play.
{nine} have you ever written (or started writing) a book?no, but i've always wanted to!
{ten} what is your favorite musical?les miserables. so good.
ps. if you have questions you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, please email me here!

at the shop.

2011-02-08T15:02:00.001-07:00

NOW AVAILABLE at barberry & lace: personalized gift certificates!

if you can’t decide what to get that special someone, but want to make it special, give the gift of jewelry! make it personal with your loved one’s and your own names! available in $25, $50, and $100 increments. PDF delivery available via email within 24 hours of payment.

buy now:
$25 dollars
$50 dollars
$100 dollars

hope you like! don’t forget about wee bit wednesday tomorrow!

xo.

smile.

2011-02-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

“Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.”

-Author Unknown
(photos via)

new & noteworthy.

2011-02-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

the last few days have actually been incredibly productive… and i'm so proud of myself. friday after work i went to sign up for my gym membership, went grocery shopping, and re-designed my etsy banner and barberry & lace blog header. i also built a new contact website for the shop… check it out:

www.barberryandlace.com

saturday i worked from 10am-7pm. not much happened after that… for good reason. sunday i woke up and couldn’t get out of my house. our deadbolt broke and locked us in, so i had to take the whole deadbolt out of the door to go buy a new one. after that debacle, i made new matching sidebar ads for the shop and got those all sent off. also filled all my orders from the weekend. i finished my day off at work from 5pm-1am.

and that brings us to today. my gym offers free drop in classes for members (which is mostly why i chose that gym), so i'm off to yoga this morning. i love yoga and actually really missed it, so i'm glad to be back to it.

tell me, anything new with you?

happy monday.
xo.
(photo via)

a little bit of nothing.

2011-02-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

i know these pictures don’t have much (or anything) in common, except that they make me happy. it’s pretty low key today… nothing too exciting happening. nowhere to go, no errands to run, no work. it’s cold too… currently 18 degrees. at least it’s not –8 like it was yesterday. yuck. i love days like this.

possible things to do today?
1. re-design barberry & lace’s logo, etsy banner, etc. (maybe.)
2. make loads of new jewelry. (maybe.)
3. drink way too much coffee. (most definitely.)
4. play games on my ipad. (probably.)
5. do a few loads of laundry. (most likely.)

we’ll see what actually gets done. it may just be one of those lazy days. what do you like to do on your down days?

xo.
(photos via.)

wee bit wednesday v31.

2011-02-02T09:51:00.001-07:00

ohmygosh. it is STILL –8 degrees outside this morning. brrrrr. i'm nice and toasty, however, by my space heater. thank god for space heaters… seriously. anyhow, on to wee bits! grab a button and linky up!

{one} what was your favorite sitcom growing up?either growing pains or full house.
{two} what song always makes you happy when you hear it?supermassive black hole by muse.
{three} do you still have your wisdom teeth?yes. the dentist told me when i was young that i would be able to keep them for the rest of my life. now they want me to have all four of them pulled. of course, now that i don’t have dental insurance. awesome.
{four} what is your go to way to relax?a glass of wine, pajamas, and a good tv show… or chick flick. usually by myself.
{five} do you play any instruments?yes, i play the piano.
{six} nude beaches: yes or no?no. no. no.
{seven} do you chew your pens/pencils?yep. my eighth grade science teacher actually told me that when i was older i would probably be a smoker because i chewed my pens. turns out, i did smoke for a while. not anymore though.
{eight} can you change the oil in your car?no. i can ADD oil to my car, but mike’s in charge of changing it.
{nine} can you curl your tongue?yep!
{ten} can you knit or crochet?i can crochet. i've made a couple of blankets… they’re so warm!

ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, please email me here! (my little brain can only do so much!)

etsy love.

2011-02-01T14:38:00.001-07:00

there are SO many things that i'm loving right now. i wish i had enough money to buy all of it! maybe someday… until then, i'll just share these lovelies with you.

the porcelain lovebirds heart planter
here

let’s spoon card
here

cottage coat rack
here

classy coffee chiffon dress
here

gold & grey rosette wreath
here

i love etsy.

xo.

i need space.

2011-01-28T10:57:00.001-07:00

…room to think, to breathe.
somewhere to call my own.
somewhere where it’s quiet and peaceful.
somewhere where i can be alone.

…to collect my thoughts
and unclutter my head.

i don’t know where to go.

xo.
(photo via)

dining room décor & makeshift wine hutch.

2011-01-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

i am seriously getting into decorating my house. it’s not that big (which makes it easier), but i've lived here for going on 4 years and never really decorated much. i've painted almost all the rooms that need it (except the office), but that’s about it.

last night i got this urge to do a little dining room makeover. i've been eyeing wine hutches for a while now (as you know), but all the ones i found either didn’t fit right or were WAY too expensive (or both). so, i decided to make my own. here’s last night’s adventure!

as you can see… i've obviously done nothing with this area. it actually took me about a year and a half to even buy a kitchen table. i did buy the new dark blinds a couple of years ago too. i LOVE them.

so, basically this is how it went down: i found a 3-shelf bookshelf that matched my dining room table over at target for $120. after i put that together (actually not too bad) i screwed in these stemware racks (2) that i found at bed, bath & beyond for $10 each to the top of the bookshelf. i also found a little accordion wine bottle holder at pier 1 for $20 (you’ll see it in the finished photos). so, all together i spent a grand total of $160 for the entire “wine hutch” and it’s the exact right size!

tada! oh, and here’re my new drapes… instead of the old white blinds that were so ugly…

i also ordered some canvas wine prints that will go on the wall by the window… how cute are these?

and that’s that. i am super stoked that i was able to create just what i was looking for in the hutch. i keep walking into the dining area and just standing there, proud of my new room. it makes my heart warm.

i'm going to love decorating… i can feel it.

xo.

wee bit wednesday v30.

2011-01-26T10:21:00.001-07:00

{one} how tall are you?i'm 5’2”. just a wee one.
{two} besides bills, what do you spend most of your money on?oh geez. other random stuff like getting my dog groomed or groceries. i'm seriously going to go buy a wine hutch and a new vaccuum though.
{three} what are your three favorite websites?hmm… etsy, hulu and a new one i just found last night, keep it skinny.
{four} what brand of tennis shoes do you prefer?sketchers. specifically, shape-ups.
{five} what food can you absolutely not stand to eat?zucchini. nope. never.
{six} How many pairs of jeans do you own?i think it’s about 4 or 5. I have a couple that i'm trying to get back into, one that are WAY too big now and one pair that still semi-fit, but are almost too big.
{seven} if you could have any job, what would it be?a sideline reporter for the NFL. that would ROCK!
{eight} have you ever ridden in an ambulance?no, never. thank god.
{nine} how many pillows do you sleep with?two, but if i had more, i would sleep with three or four. i love to be cozy!
{ten} on a scale of 1-5, how organized are you?4. i like things to be in their place.
okay, your turn!
ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, email me here!
pps. don’t forget to get your name in my friend libby’s barberry & lace GIVEAWAY!

a few updates.

2011-01-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

whelp, i officially failed. i wanted to blog every week day this year, but yesterday just didn’t happen. oh well. so, here’s the latest:

1.) i took all of your advice and jumped headfirst into twitter. that’s right… leigh ashley is officially a tweeter (yes?). if you have a twitter account, my username is @missleighashley! YAY!

2.) i've been working my little bottom off trying to get new items in the store. here’re some of the newest additions:

check out the store for all the newest listings!

3.) there’s a new barberry & lace giveaway over at my bloggy pal libby’s blog! check it out here!

i think that’s all for today. i hope everyone’s having a lovely week so far! wee bit wendesdays will be back tomorrow!

xo.

on my bookshelf.

2011-01-21T11:08:00.001-07:00

i am on a serious book kick right now. i'm FINALLY finishing stephanie meyer’s “the host” (it’s taken me over a year to get through that book) and next on the list is stephen king’s “under the dome”.

since i got my ipad, i've been downloading sample books to ibooks (awesome app by the way) and i'm stoked to read a few of those too:

do you have any recommendations?

xo.
(photos via here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here)

things i'm loving & giveaway.

2011-01-20T11:32:00.001-07:00

1. my new ipad. seriously one of the best things i've purchased in a LONG time. if you’re thinking about getting one, do it.

2. parmesan flavored grissini. these have become a staple in my diet. each stick only has 20 calories and tastes fantastic! i got mine at whole foods, but i'm sure they’re available tons of places!

3. sketcher’s shape-ups rock my world! as a waitress, i can tell a difference already in my posture and muscle form. plus they’re SUPER comfortable. simply amazing.

4. sleepytime vanilla tea by celestial seasonings. since i started my diet a few weeks ago i'd been having trouble sleeping. this is a lifesaver. it’s calming and refreshing and the vanilla is delish! it totally winds me down in the evening.

5. wine hutches (in general). this particular one is from linens and things, but i've been eyeing a wine hutch for a while now. this one might just be perfect!

what are you loving today?

xo.
(photos via here, here, here, here and here.)

ps. my dear bloggy friend allison over at

is hosting a barberry & lace giveaway!
make sure to drop by and get your name in here.
also, you should probably follow her blog because she is FANTASTIC!

wee bit wednesday v29.

2011-01-19T09:22:00.001-07:00

it’s that time again… grab yourself a button and linky on up, friends!

{one} name one thing you worry about running out of.coffee. i always buy another bag way before i need to.
{two} what is your favorite pizza topping?hmm… sausage.
{three} what is your favorite harrison ford movie?the fugitive, definitely. love that movie.
{four} apple juice or orange juice?orange juice.
{five} what’s your favorite thing to do on a sunday afternoon?well, during football season, i like to kick back with a cold beer and watch football. now i work all sunday, every sunday, so…
{six} what is the wallpaper on your cellphone of?a big coffee cup. surprised?
{seven} do you have a favorite tv commercial?i think the mayhem commercials by allstate insurance are pretty funny. there used to be one about a little chubby kid selling bird seed. i used to roll when i watched that commercial.
{eight} what is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?cow tongue. my mom made us eat it for dinner when we were young once. thank god it was only once.
{nine} what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?cammis. love, love, love them.
{ten} if you were a character from “lost”, who would you be?i would be claire. she was by far my favorite woman on the show! aw, i miss lost.
ps. if you have questions that you’d like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, email me here!
xo.

giveaway winner.

2011-01-18T15:14:00.001-07:00

thank you all for such a GREAT turnout! there were a whopping 172 entries in my giveaway… WOAH! without further ado, here’s your winner:

congratulations, allie! please email me (here) with the piece you would like from my etsy store, barberry & lace (up to $25 value), and your shipping information!

if you didn’t win, keep your eyes open for more giveaways soon! thanks again to all who participated!

xo.

pretties and reminders.

2011-01-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

i was in the mood this morning to look at something pretty. pastels, sweets, paris, tea cups full of flowers and books… beautiful. looking at pretty pictures like these make me calm and happy. what makes you happy today?

on another note, my giveaway ends today, so make sure to get your name in!

(enter here)

xo.
(photos via)

happy birthday dad.

2011-01-14T10:19:00.001-07:00

"a father is always making his baby into a little woman.
and when she is a woman he turns her back again."
- enid bagnold

i love you, papa.

xo.

free ad space.

2011-01-13T11:55:00.001-07:00

this year, i'd like to try something different. as a way to thank everyone who has helped me grow my business in the last six months, i want to offer other etsy shop owners a way to promote their shops by offering free ad space on my sidebar.

how will it work? if you’re interested in advertising on my blog, i will need a sidebar ad that measures 200 x 75px. depending on how many people are interested in advertising, ads will run for approximately one month and then will be rotated to new shops. only 8 shops will be in rotation at one time.

want permanent ad space? if you’d like to have a permanent spot on my sidebar, all i ask is that you feature my ad in your sidebar!

want to sponsor a giveaway? i love giving away items from my shop on other blogs and i'm sure that some of you may want to do that also. if a giveaway is something you’re interested in, i would be happy to host one for you as long as your ad is in rotation.

when will the first ads be placed? i will start the first rotation of ads on february 1st and the ads will then rotate on the 1st of each following month.

if you’re interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please email me here with your ad and link to your etsy shop. you don’t have to let me know right away, but remember that the offer to host a giveaway will be open as long as your ad is in rotation. you’re free to email me at any point during that time regarding your giveaway.

i hope this helps to grow other shops and offer a hand up to my fellow etsy-ers. a big thank you to everyone who has helped me!

xo.

wee bit wednesday v28.

2011-01-12T10:36:00.001-07:00

YAY! wee bit wednesday is back! i think i'm just as excited as you may be (or as i hope you are)! grab a button and linky up for this year’s first edition!

{one} have you ever been on tv?actually yes. mike and i went to our first bronco’s game last year and there was some guy behind us shining a red laser light onto the field. they stopped the entire game and sent security guards to find him. we were on tv because they were filming the security guards.(i'm in the green hoodie and mike’s in the orange hoodie)

{two} what was the best movie you saw last year?oh geez. i watched a lot of great movies last year. i think one of my faves was “lost in austen”. it’s not a big movie, but i LOVED it!
{three} do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?i don’t even sleep with a top sheet. i hate sheets.
{four} do you cut coupons?nope. i probably should, but i don’t.
{five} do you ever count your steps when you walk?sometimes. i know, i'm weird.
{six} what sauce do you dip your chicken nuggets in?i LOVE honey mustard. wendy’s honey mustard is the best!
{seven} do you have any magazine subscriptions?no. i always think i should get people magazine, but i haven’t yet.
{eight} when was the last time you wrote a letter on paper?haha! i don’t even know!
{nine} what’s your favorite fruit pie?if i have to choose a fruit pie, it would probably be peach. i prefer pecan… it’s my FAVE!
{ten} black olives or green olives?BOTH! i love olives!!
your turn! ps. if you have questions that you would like to see featured on wee bit wednesday, email me here!
pps. don’t forget to get your name in my giveaway!
xo.

the little birdy.

2011-01-11T14:51:00.001-07:00

i've been debating on whether or not to sign up for a twitter account.
tell me, do you have a twitter account (i'm assuming that most of you do)?
and if you do, what do you think about it?

maybe your input will help me decide if it’s for me!

xo.
(photo via)