|| L o c a l . I s . T h e . N e w . B l a c k || October Meet + Make

 

October Meet + Make with Sarah Hearts

 

A wonderful experience of crafting with fabulous ladies, chatting with an amazing host, and leaving with a drool worthy door mat has left me excited for what is to come next for Sarah Hearts and her wonderful Meet + Make events at West Elm Orlando.

 

Sarah hosted one of her best Meet + Make events to date.   With over 50 attendees equally excited, there was chatter in all corners, paint was being applied in beautiful patterns on door mats, spiked cider and lovely desserts were being passed around, and the beautiful products of West Elm that surrounded us made it a fabulous evening.   

 

I love attending Sarah's events not just for the crafting aspect, but meeting amazing people in the Orlando area.  If you are new to Orlando this is a wonderful way to meet others, make connections, and have fun while crafting.  All you simply have to do is purchase your ticket, show up, all the supplies are there for you ready to go, and all you have to do is be a little creative and have a blast! 

As Meet + Make is coming to an end, you are then handed an amazing swag bag that you see pictured at the beginning of this blog post.  Inside this swag bag you have sponsors (some that are even local) that have sprinkled and donated some of their handmade products.  Talk about being exposed to supporting locals, small businesses, and items made in the US!  Sarah gave me the wonderful opportunity to be a sponsor myself at this Meet + Make.  Here is a detailed view into my swag bag:

1. Pen and Paper Flowers: PNP Flowers provided an adorable polka dotted key chain that stated "Her dreams give her goosebumps".  A constant reminder to dream big!  I had the opportunity to meet Jessica (the gal behind PNP Flowers) at a previous Meet + Make and she was a wonderful individual to get to know and craft with!

2. Modernly Mae:  These flowers made out of felt and placed on wire stems are adorable! I currently have them on my fireplace mantle for fall.  I plan to order more to add to my vase because they are simply too fun not to have more!

3. Bright Light Paper: I can't get over these adorable fall cards!  Not only are they perfect to spread fall cheer, but they are hand drawn and painted by watercolor.  Time to send someone some snail mail!  Added bonus? Elizabeth (another one) was in attendance.  I got to meet this local with a wonderful business that also sponsored the Meet + Make.  How can you go wrong with two Elizabeth's at one event?

4. Thatch and Thistle: I. Can't. Get. Over. This. Company!!  Thatch and Thistle provided these geo triangle kraft stickers.  Their online shop offers supplies for beautiful packaging, wrapping, gift giving, and for your unique party supply needs.  I have a slight addiction to their products.

5. The Bannerie:  Oh my, oh my, oh my! How I LOVE this gold, glittery 'Fall Y'all' banner!  It is the perfect addition for my fall décor.  I already have an ongoing list of additional gold and glittery banners I need in my life for upcoming events.  Check this shop out!

6.  Sarah Hearts: Sarah provided these adorable stickers in the swag bag, but more importantly allowed this amazing event to happen!  Her blog is full of inspiration for many facets of your life, many DIY projects, and even designs a monthly wallpaper for your computer and phone!

7. Lima Green Designs: I was thrilled to sponsor another Meet + Make event.  These are my fall themed mini clothespins that are perfect for attaching tags to gifts, hanging pictures on twine, or even keeping your napkins closed at your holiday feast. 

Sarah, thank you for another great event at West Elm.  I am looking forward to another great event in December!

 

 

Now is your opportunity to join in on the fun!  There is probably already a waiting list, but get on it!  Sarah opened the sale of her tickets for her next

Meet + Make in December today.   Jump on this opportunity!

 

|| L o c a l. I s. T h e. N e w. B l a c k || West Elm

I discovered West Elm a few years ago and quickly swooned over their eclectic mix of home décor and furniture that made them unique for households everywhere.  It has become a staple for my home and my number one go to place for my household needs. 

Being an artisan and an individual that loves to support locals, I was thrilled when I found out that West Elm supports artisans and even hosts events for local artisans to mix and mingle. 

I discovered this upon moving to Orlando, FL and wanting to get out and meet people.  A fabulous blogger, Sarah Hearts, posted on social media about hosting a Meet & Make at the local West Elm here in Orlando.  I dove in head first and a month later met 55 other fabulous women and creatives that crafted the night away. 

Image Via: Sarah Hearts Blog

You can check out my first event here that Sarah hosted: December 2013 Meet + Make

 

 

 

You might say that combining Sarah Hearts, West Elm, artisans gathering socially, and creating a treasure to take home, made me come back again and again.  And that is exactly what I did.  Just take a look thanks to Sarah Hearts!

 

 

Image Via: Sarah Hearts Blog
You can find me in the pink shirt!

 

February 2014 Meet + Make: Valentine's Edition

 

June 2014 Meet + Make: Summer Edition  -- This event was extra special!  Lima Green Designs was one of the sponsors in the swag bag by providing a sunglasses case for each attendee. What a wonderful experience!



This Thursday will be another fabulous Meet + Make hosted by Sarah Hearts.  Lima Green Designs will be sponsoring again while mixing and mingling with fellow crafters. 

West Elm is a wonderful company that offers many opportunities to local businesses!  Lima Green Designs will be a part of a Holiday Shop this coming December (more on that soon) and West Elm Orlando LOVES local makers if you couldn't already tell.

They will soon be announcing the winner of a $25,000 grant offered to a small local business.  West Elm wants to see local businesses grow from the ground up! 

If you have not attended an event at your nearby West Elm, it is time to check their calendar and start supporting, start getting involved!  They are all unique and wonderful experiences that West Elm offers to locals.  Time to start creating, meeting, and making!

|| L o c a l. I s. T h e. N e w. B l a c k || Blog Fete 2014

 

I love Mondays! Especially when I am starting the week on a high note after an amazing time at the wonderful Blog Fete 2014 that was held at the East End Market here in Central Florida.   Being new to blogging, this was a first (and not the last) experience for me.  I had the opportunity to meet 30 other inspiring bloggers and heard from a panel of successful women that have created businesses and blogs that they own with passion and dedication.

 

The wonderful, Melissa Creates, was the creator and host of the Blog Fete!  It was her third year creating this wonderful event and atmosphere of entrepreneurs coming together collectively.

Melissa knew exactly how to inspire us by welcoming these speakers to the Blog Fete 2014:

 

 

 

Sarah Hearts: Sarah is a person that I have gotten to know recently from attending her Meet and Makes at West Elm Orlando.  She is a graphic designer that uses her amazing talents to create her empire of a blog. The attention to detail in party planning, hosting events, decorating her home, and the endless amounts of fabulous DIY projects will have you coming back to her blog each and every day!  The added bonus?  Seeing Sarah around town and attending her events that makes you feel like you have always known her.

 

Ashley Brooke Designs : Ashley Brooke has created a blog and a shop that caught my eye the second I moved to Orlando, FL.  The sparkles, freshly painted manicured nails, the adorable and laughable quotes on mugs and shirts, and the all around lifestyle blog has had me swooning since day one.   To see Ashley present in person was one of my many highlights of the day.  If you don't follow her. . you should!

 

The Flair Exchange: I can't get enough of The Flair Exchange!  I had the opportunity to meet Carmen at the Blog Fete before she presented.  What a sweet soul she is!  Her business was built on the principal that she could not find sparkly, unique, fun, and modern decorations for the events she hosted.  . . so she started creating her own décor.  Now we have confetti filled balloons, confetti to match, tassel garlands, and balloons that make you want to "POP, FIZZ, CLINK" to adorn your celebrations and parties.

 

Waiting on Martha: The Blog Fete educated me on even more technology after learning and chatting with Mandy of Waiting on Martha through Google Chat.  A first for me!  What an inspirational, quirky, and wine loving entrepreneur!  Sounds like we would be best of friends if we ever met in person. Mandy's blog covers a diverse group of topics such as: entertaining, décor, food, fashion, beauty, and travel.  She also has an adorable shop: Waiting on Martha Shop.  And get this. . . she just quit her full time job to entertain the likes of us! 

 

Kori Clark Designs: Kori is a wonderful artist that focuses her talents on hand and digital illustrations.  She has prints begging to be hung in your home! She offered amazing consultations with many of the bloggers on design during the Blog Fete.  I will be in touch with Kori soon to custom order an image of our newly bought home!



 What a day of inspiration, growing professionally and personally, and making new connections while meeting amazing people! Now, that is why my Monday is starting off wonderfully and because of a slight obsession.   I love Mondays because I make it a point to find and support local and small businesses every Monday.  The 2014 Blog Fete allowed me to discover amazing, sparkling, and down right fabulous businesses that you will also swoon over!  I left with the swag bag pictured below full of glamorous goodies!

 

 

In the coming weeks (on Mondays) I will be using these amazing products and posting more information!  In the mean time you can head on over to my IG account: @ElizabethRishel  to explore and become obsessed with these businesses like I have. They will have you liking in no time.