Those Girls: If a Tree Falls In the Woods...

If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to Instagram it, does it make a sound?

We started our Those Girls series as a portal for reality, and it's been a while since we wrote a post--for good reason, of course. The reason being life! We've been working on a book project together; and separately, I've been working on my branding business and am in my nineteenth week of pregnancy, and Emily is busy renovating her house while chasing after two rambunctious toddlers. There are days that go by when we don't even touch social media, and I have to admit that this makes me particularly anxious. Will our friends and customers forget about us if we don't Twitter/Instagram/Blog/Facebook/Pinterest (TIBFP) every portion of our day? The truth: I don't really think so. Our readership numbers remain steady, even on quiet days. In that case, what exactly is the social media race for?

Lately (perhaps I can blame this on pregnancy hormones) I've been noticing that after I spend some time browsing TIBFP, I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted by the mirage of perfection. Before these platforms were made available, we were able to get our lifestyle inspiration in small doses: in a magazine, a craft book, on a TV show, in Martha Stewart's trashcan. The images and articles were pitched, styled, photographed and marketed directly to a customer that could consume at their leisure and discard at will. Today, however, these images of lifestyle glory are constant, and in our faces 24/7, mostly by our own allowance. I can't even turn on my phone without mindlessly pressing the "Instagram" app and browsing through photos almost first thing in the morning. A bright and early reminder that many talented people are doing life perfectly: a perfect meal, perfect floral arrangement, perfectly-styled pickling party that I wasn't invited to (but knew just who was, according to the tags), or perfect vacation. What kind of message is this to send oneself several times a day? Even the most secure, hard-working and cheerful person has days when "you're doing it wrong" is the main message being sent by these images. Why don't we feel this way when we look at magazines? Here's why--> because we accept that these magazines are put together by professionals, doing their jobs and being paid for them. Today, it's easy to dismiss an Instagram photo as part of a blogger or creative's perfect everyday life with no preparation or styling whatsoever. That's their life. PERIOD. Definitely not so...we forget what she's trying to sell us. This is her job.

Let's acknowledge the fact that social media isn't going anywhere, and that a person can choose to either acclimate to the current culture or completely reject it. Neither is the right or wrong answer, but I find the former easiest because let's face it:

1. I truly enjoy remaining connected with old friends.
2. Deleting accounts leads to social ostracization merely by default, not by unkindness.
3. It's kind of my job.

So where do we go from there? I find that the culture of popularity, and the inherent need for acceptance is at the root of this problem. We all want to be told that we're doing it right. That's what that trusty "like" button is for. It's almost ironic that these words are being posted via blogger. This is how we communicate, and how we understand each other. Our posts say a lot about how we view ourselves and how we want to view ourselves. Here are two completely possible scenarios:

1. "I made the most perfectly deliciously gorgeous birthday cake with perfect frosting and sprinkle 'scatterage' and I'm going to share it with everyone because it's awesome. I am a great chef and a fabulous hostess. SHARE. like. like. like."
2. "My house looks like The Purge happened there and I am way too lazy to lift a finger, other than to put that Trader Joe's O into my mouth and then back to the box for more. I am a failing at making myself and my family perfect, organic, grassfed meals. This may ruin my personal brand. DO NOT SHARE."

My mother and I have always agreed that women would rule the world if we would just stop trying to one-up one another! I know what you're thinking. "Andie, that's just a picture of an adorable toddler's ice cream social catered by Target with a professional photographer, stylist, and product endorsements--it has nothing to do with shaming other women. Get a grip!" Don't get me wrong, I love a good ice cream social (just kidding, I can't eat ice cream), but the fact that lifestyle bloggers have cornered the market in lifestyle products and books makes me very wary, especially because we still insist on viewing them as "regular people." In reality, most of these very successful career bloggers have a lot of money and sponsors with which to style events, decorate rooms in their home and buy outfit-of-the-days. They are the modern-day celebrity, in a very sweet and "normal" disguise. There are so many campaigns out right now defending young girls and women from comparing themselves to models in magazines. Where are the same standards about comparing ourselves to lifestyle bloggers that are packed with sponsorships? These are lovely women who are making their careers work for them, but emulating their public personas is not the answer to originality or happiness. Not even for themselves! I feel fake when each photo we upload is carefully arranged, slapped onto Instagram, and tagged. There's a time and place for this, but I fear an oversimplification is becoming reality, and cheapening what life really offers.

A lot of the most interesting women in my life are not avid users of social media. They don't know how to use Twitter, or ignore Facebook, calling it "boring." These women support orphanages in the slums of India, or play in orchestras in Scandinavia, or create beautiful works of quilted art, or have wonderfully messy, happy lives right here in Seattle. When we get together we talk about everything: classic literature, science, politics, religion, sappy beach reads, crafts, our families, exercise, food, etc. Our tables are never pretty or photogenic when we're finished, with torn open sugar packets, dirty coffee spoons, and bags of sliced fruit in Ziploc bags that I bring to every meeting so I won't be tempted to eat bagels with cream cheese. We forget to take photos until everything is eaten and drunk, and at that point, our conversation seems too sacred to be shared with the world.

There's nothing wrong with styled photos and beautiful blog posts--in fact, we love them, it's part of what we love the most about our jobs. These pictures of perfection inspire us to make our world more beautiful, and see light in simple joys. These only become wrong when our identity or the identity of others is hinged on public likeability. Let's try to remember to be liked by the people we like, be loved by the people we love, including the whole unphotographable mess that goes along with us.

Those Girls Guest Post: Fresh, New Face, Jennifer Munson

I met Jennifer Munson last month and got to chat with her about her aspirations in the creative world. Like Emily and I, Jennifer is interested in good design, branding, crafting and connection. I was interested in her perspective from a younger standpoint, as someone just starting out in this creative business world. What do Those Girls look like to someone who is ten years younger and beginning her creative career? Is this world daunting or inspiring? We asked Jennifer to write from her perspective as in “in-betweener” (post-college, pre-desired career) about navigating the creative world as a newcomer, and how she feels about breaking into a “Those Girls” club, and how she feels about the people behind the styled blogs and shiny businesses. Her answer remarkably spans all ages of creatives.

I think everyone likes to think the perfect answer is out there. This ‘answer’ is as varied as the questions, and the people asking them. The Internet and the vast social media networks at our disposal, along with a multitude of other informational websites have brought unprecedented amount of information to our fingertips. Not just technical, factual information, but the kind of subtle, detailed information that comes from the precious, small moments in everyday life. I think this is the appeal of blogs, largely. It’s not just the information or the ability to find something new, but the ability to peer into someone else’s universe at a strangely intimate angle.

However, there is a tiny, paradoxical caveat in this perspective, and that is that it isn’t real. It’s constructed, a virtual reality, real enough in its own context, but not in the context of a life as it’s being lived. Blogs can be incredibly inspirational, and yet they are untouchable. You cannot curl up and live inside of them. But, I think it might be this imperfect pursuit that makes the ability to connect in this way beautiful.

I’ve dabbled and tiptoed around the edges of creative work for my entire life. I battled with myself over this particularly in college, flip-flopping through five wildly different majors before graduating with a business degree. While I sometimes lament not committing to a more creative option, I think there is a lot of value in what I learned in this field of study. My most valuable lessons were learned while doing my honors thesis on branding. This topic, studied for many labor-intensive hours, is what’s stuck with me the most. Not just because of the time spent doing it, but because branding bleeds into everything: people, businesses, artists, and their work. The successes and failures of branding are everywhere. I cannot help but analyze how great a role it plays in each of our lives today, on a personal level as much as a corporate one.

As much as creativity has always been a part of my life, I’ve never quite given any one thing enough time to become masterfully engaged by it. I feel like I’m a Jane of all trades, master of none. This can be frustrating, but I’ve nonetheless continued in this fashion. In the nearly three years I’ve lived in Seattle I’ve written a variety of blog posts with varying intent. I’ve contributed to music projects (my own, and others’), acted as a studio engineer, songwriter, and vocalist, played bass at a neighborhood block party, filmed short pieces and live performances. I’ve taken classes to learn about live sound, and classes about herbs and wellness. I’ve felted hedgehogs, and knit 2.6 inches of a scarf. I’ve designed logos, banners for bands, and album covers. I’ve consulted with friends and family on their various small businesses, and given them advice and information on the importance of establishing their own brands. When I look back on this chaotic time, I have to acknowledge that I’ve managed to cover a lot of ground. But now I want to pull it all together.

Though my experiences have been scattered, they have brought me a diverse perspective and an appreciation of all creative processes, even those I may not excel in myself. Looking out into a sea of beautiful creators, it can be difficult to feel like there’s a way to break in. However, regardless of what stage they are at now, each successful creative’s path seems invariably the same on a few key points: consistent, diligent output, and there is no quitting. Like the sentiment of ‘failing up,’ there is no such thing as true failure. There is ‘that one thing you did,’ and ‘the thing you do next.’ I’ve learned that I need to prepare myself to persevere, not if, but when I embarrass myself in a creative ‘failure.’ I struggle to tame this fear, but I’ve realized that there is no success without these moments. I take comfort in the fact that pursuing a creative living is in many ways very simple, and fully within my control. No one beside myself can stop me from trying.

All the knowledge in the world is well and good, but nothing without making connections. Meeting people, and learning about them, what they do, and conveying ones own goals and passions is perhaps the greatest tool anyone has. As much as my life post-college has not gone the way I imagined it might have, all of the experiences I am most grateful for have been as a result of the people I’ve met. This is another super exciting aspect of blogs, there are so many more people to meet, and most of these creative individuals are in charge of their careers independently. People are able to connect almost instantly over topics they mutually love or are interested in. Bloggers tend to form strong communities. So, you’re not just viewing a webpage, you’re actively engaging with another human. Blogs are the ultimate form of people watching. If you look to any number of highly successful bloggers, people who seem to just draw people in, odds are you’ll notice they have branded themselves well. A good brand is a concise, accurate, an open representation of the person. When things start to feel too fabricated and glossed over, this connection becomes more feeble. Design and brand should help to connect people, and I think those who have had success in creating an online presence proves this.

There are lots of ways to create a professional and confident image, but it is less easy to inject the right amount of warmth into this manicured persona. This is where consistency and content really come into play. It’s not just that you’ve put something together to showcase; it’s being present, showing that you care, being accessible. I’d like to cultivate this kind of attitude and style with my own work, display myself in a way that is clean and professional, yet, much like the “Those Girls” series, I want it to be real and approachable too.

I think there will always be room for those who aspire to live and work creatively, but it requires a relentless work ethic, business sense, and a strong awareness of image. If any of these ingredients are lacking, the task becomes considerably more challenging. As someone just starting out, someone with a compass that seems to point in every direction, I’m starting to find comfort in the chaos. So far my observations of others’ success have emphasized less the creative processes itself, and more about the people doing them, they way they work as a whole, the fact that they produce an ever-growing body of work. I’m starting to appreciate how valuable it can be to embrace my own chaos, and take advantage of the fact that I’ve done so many varied things. Doing is the real important part. So I’m going to do- as much as I can with the tools at my disposal.

Thank you, Jennifer! You can follow Jennifer at her website, or on Twitter or Instagram.

Photos courtesy Jennifer Munson.

Those Girls: What I Learned at Alt // Part 1 by Andie

Altitude Summit in San Francisco was a whirlwind for lack of a better word. Being thrown headfirst into a pile of extremely creative, smart and driven women (and a few men) can be daunting to anyone, but as a wholehearted introvert, I have to say that it was a tough one, until I had a bit of an epiphany.


We heard from some amazing speakers, including Mariam Naficy, the founder and CEO of Minted, who delivered the Opening Keynote on sustaining yourself while managing a creative business. Above everything else that she shared with us, I held to one specific quote. On conviction, for better or worse: "An entrepreneur does not care what other people think." This was the first seed that was planted in my mind during our San Francisco stay. Here was this brilliant woman, explaining to a room full of "networkers" about how to not care about networking. Seed successfully planted.

My next experience with the same thoughts were in the Closing Keynote. Mike McCue, founder of Flipboard (and an amazing speaker, by the way) spoke to the group in a variety of startup stories and lessons that he learned in the past. They were all brilliant, and rather than relay them badly to you, I will give you the final point that I took away from his hour-long speech: "Lead with your first principles." When it comes to the principles that Emily and I share, we put a number of things first, before business success and money:
• Our families
• Our business relationships
• Our friendship
Although we could probably have made more money, more connections and gotten more press by being hard and fast with our business rules and focusing more on product and consumption, I think that in the long run--we would lose so much. We are a very small company, and the more we work with larger companies, the more I value other small companies and sole proprietors. I do wonder what is lost in the shift toward bigger and better.

Finally, we ended up at the Pinterest afterparty: Alice in Pinterland. To be quite honest, this could not have been a better analogy for how I felt at the party. It was delightfully decorated, creative and savvy, with unexpected details like tiny tea cookies and inspirational neon signage. I have trouble chatting with people about myself when I first meet them, so I did a lot of listening at this party.


Emily & I with Ben Silbermann
We were able to meet Ben Silbermann, the founder of Pinterest who is notoriously shy. We were both standing in the corner, nursing our liquid courage and I managed to ask him if he had ever taken the Myers Briggs test (if you haven't taken this, you need to get on it). I am an INFJ (Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging) while he is an INTP (Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Perceiver). Here was this guy--a painfully shy introvert--who created one of the most brilliant and successful social media and design sites in the world.

And then, it hit me. All seeds at once:
• Entrepreneurs do not care what other people think.
• Lead with your first principles.
• Being who you are leads to greatness.


This party was fabulous, but I have to admit that I absolutely felt like Alice. I was in a flashy, dream-like world where everyone seemed to know what was going on except for me. I am an introvert, and although it is important to leave that comfort zone at times to further experiences and learning, molding myself into a sociable networker is just not my bag. Abandoning how you work the best kills inspiration.

Don't get me wrong, it was a fabulous learning experience--but what I learned most is what we've been talking about this entire time in the Those Girls posts. I guess I just wasn't listening hard enough to myself! You follow your own creative path by following your own creative path. I am most creative in my little condo, overlooking Queen Anne with Bach on the record player. I write, create and work the best when I focus less on the fantastic things that others are doing around me. So thank you, Alt Summit. You were absolutely grand, but I might not be back for a while.

Wish You Were Here! School House Craft's Summer Blogging Camp

Despite the absence of Emily (vacation to meet a new baby!) I had a great time at the School House Craft Summer Blogging Camp. Emily is the calm and articulate public speaker of our partnership, so it was time for me to face my fears of public speaking and join some pals to spread great tips and tricks of the trade to fellow bloggers.


On the roster was a “Balancing Life and Blogging Panel” with old friend Blair Stocker of Wisecraft, and new friends Megan Reardon of Not Martha and Arianne Foulks of Aeolidia. It is so interesting to listen to other bloggers/business ladies chat about their processes, challenges and ideas. I learned so much from the three of them.

Then, onto my roundtable discussion with a delightful group of new friends on “Styling your Blog Photographs” and a delicious gluten-free lunch of strawberries, snap peas, tomatoes, carrots and Fritos (yes!). I’ll put up some of the tips that we talked about next week, along with some helpful HTML hints.


After our lunch roundtables, it was on to the next panel. This was the one that I took notes for: “Monetizing Your Blog.” Phew! Marie LeBaron from Make and Takes, Melanie Biehle from Inward Facing Girl and Moorea Seal were all experts in something that I consider daunting and sometimes a big, old drag. Interesting that a whole new world to your blogging method can open up to you in just one hour.


All in all, it was a lovely, educational and eye-opening experience for all, and we forget how important it is to surround ourselves with like-minded, creative people more, instead of sitting behind our computer screen and shouting out into cyber-space.

A special thank you to Marlo Miyashiro and Andrea Porter for their amazing work getting the entire event up and running (and oh so adorable). I had a blast! We’ll see you in September!

Check out more School House Craft Blogger's Summer Camp blog posts here.

All images via our Instagram

A Slow-Blogging Miracle

Inspired by Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind: if you aren't a regular reader of Design for Mankind, I highly recommend you jot that one down on your to-do list. Recently, Erin wrote an excellent post about the rebirth of slow blogging that caught our eye. Insightful and genuine, Erin detailed her decision to get back to writing more infrequent posts that are packed with heart and thoughtfulness. We love this.


On Assemble: A Well-Crafted Life, we never post anything that isn't something from the heart. Each of our posts is conceived and written for ourselves and our readers with thought and time--however, what if you don't have the time?? Our little online company is picking up speed, and we are so elated about this that we can't even see straight, but what does that mean for our blog? Rather then let our blog slide into something that we don't feel is relevant or heartfelt, we've decided to scale it back *just a bit. Assemble is a blog, but first and foremost we are a place of making and doing (well--assembling, really!). *Don't worry, by "scale it back," we mean just a few posts a week, and not one every day. Not so bad, right?

In the meantime, we're working on some brand new wholesale awesomeness, new kits, and special projects with some amazing companies (some local, and some global). Thanks for coming along with us!

Four of Our Favorite Blogs You Should Be Reading

I have to admit--I'm not the most avid blog reader. It's not that I don't LOVE them, but running this little business takes a lot of time and energy, plus add in the necessary quality time with certain chihuahuas, husbands and books, and my day is spent! However, there are a few that I make it a point to read every single day. See below for our recommendations:


1. A Blog Named Scout: This lifestyle blog by stylist and creative extraordinaire, Jenn Blake, is a treat for the eyes. If you're in the mood for gorgeous photos, intelligent design and thoughtful posts, definitely check this one out. As an avid traveler, Jenn takes you on adventures from Greece to Australia, and back again to Seattle, where she shows her readers how to find beauty in the simplest objects.

2. Inward Facing Girl: Another Seattelite, this blog is a delight to your entrepreneurial senses. Full of brilliant small-business and blogger tips (she just published a great e-book called Blog With Purpose: It Takes More Than Just Top Knots in conjunction with her consulting company, Genuine Mix), art she "hearts," and other intriguing delights, plus fun quips by her toddler son, in the great series, "Nathaniel Said."

3. Elephantine: Elephantine, curated and written by Rachel Ball, is like a breath of crisp, fresh air. A lovely hodgepodge of fashion, recipes, jewelry and fiction, this blog reads like a delicate magazine published for creatives. See the feature Rachel wrote about us here.

4. I Art U: Last, but certainly not least, I Art U is a Los Angeles-based blog by lifestyle photographer, Jennifer Young. The photos arranged on this blog most assuredly take the visual cake, and we're in love with the tiny worlds she creates in the most beautiful of places. She even took a few shots of our Greenwood space, a post that we will always treasure. Look, there's Julianna Swaney's work on the walls!

Images via Jenn Blake by Michael Newstead, Melanie Biehle by Sandra Harris, Rachel Ball, and Jennifer Young by Ben Blood.

Special Guest Post: What I Learned at Alt Summit by Brianne of The Ravenna Girls

We are very excited to have Brianne of the Ravenna Girls here to do a special guest blog post about Alt Summit. We were so sad that we couldn't make it this year, but definitely next, and Brianne's wrap-up is as good as a seat in the front row. Enjoy, and thanks Brianne!

[photo via Alt Summit Flickr. Text added by the ravenna girls]

Hey Assemble blog readers! My name is Brianne, one of the co-editors of a local Seattle design blog The Ravenna Girls. Andie and Emily invited me over today to share my experience attending Altitude Design Summit (Alt for short) in Salt Lake City last week.

This was my second year at Alt and the experience felt totally different from the first. You can read my 2012 recaps here to get an idea of what the true newbie experience was like. This year was less about learning blogging knowledge and much more about making real connections and doing some deep thinking about creativity and our brand. So without further ado, here were my most important takeaways from the conference:

[Photo by the ravenna girls. amazing gold fascinator on Kelly of Studio DIY]

At Alt summit, everything is over the top. Fashion (polka dots everywhere!), makeup (Rockin the red lips), and business cards are all bright bold and beautiful. But the thing is, you don't have to look bold to be bold. This year I actually spent very little time planning outfits and accessories, and chose to be bold in the confidence of knowing that in this big sea of talent, each fish has their own important niche. As long as you find the confidence that you belong and that you do fit in, your own individual boldness will shine through in all that you do.

[Photo by the ravenna girls]

One of the most inspirational and helpful sessions I attended during the week was called "Finding your Voice" by Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks. She spoke fiercely about fine tuning what your "brand" represents by finding your true personality and point of view. I feel like the word BRAND gets thrown around with reckless abandon lately but as bloggers we need to remember that even if you don't feel like you have a brand in the traditional marketing sense, you do have a unique voice that is responsible for creating your community. For Danielle and I at the Ravenna Girls, establishing a community is the most important part of blogging for us, so I loved hearing Karen talk about turning occasional readers into FIERCE SUPPORTERS by creating a unique and safe environment for people to open a dialogue about life and design.

[photo via Alt Summit Flickr. Text added by the ravenna girls]

On Friday morning of the conference, you have the choice to attend small round tables instead of large learning sessions. This year there were several amazing roundtables, including those led by friends of Assemble, Melanie and Sandra. Going into Alt, I had been having a couple month struggle with motiviation and the end result of blogging, so once I spotted that Tiffany's roundtable was called "Growing and Maintaining a Small Blog with Pride", I knew that conversation was timed perfectly for me. There were about 12 women at the table, and we had a really lovely conversation about taking a long hard look at the realities of each individual blog, establishing what would make you happy, and working toward that place in a really authentic fashion. The realities of blogging these days are that not everyone is going to have an uber-blog. And actually, thats great. For Danielle and I, we have passion in our careers (that are not blogging), and we don't have the desire to give those up. The goal is not to grow to a place where our blog is going to be full time. This roundtable gave me the opportunity to talk through some of my ideas of where we actually feel comfortable being, and then finding pride in the creative project we're a part of, no matter how big or small. This year, this round table on the pride of your own creation was really the transformational moment for me. Gave me a chance to look beyond traditional blog growth strategies and focus more on creating an authentic solid content.

[Photo by the ravenna girls]

Last fall our etsy shop was connected with the lovely folks at Bing for a small blogger partnership at an event here in Seattle. A couple weeks before the conference, they contacted us again about providing a large batch of our colorful woven bracelets to be a part of gifts that were given out at one of the keynotes during Alt. This was by far the largest order ever for our humble little shop, and it was so moving to see people appreciate our products on such a large scale. This opened my eyes to the importance of nurturing successful connections. I think it is in all our natures to always look for the new and exciting connections, but for me Alt this year was about seeking out a lot of friends I made in 2012 and really spending quality time with those people. Strengthening those existing connections into truly meaningful relationships was really the keystone of Alt 2013, and I think this is a reflection of where the larger blog community is heading.

[Photo by the ravenna girls]

Authenticity was a theme that kept coming up over and over through the conference. Establishing trust with your blog readers, and being true to your own design were hit home by almost every speaker. Stefan Sagmeister talked about going with your gut, Karen talked about what you like and WHY you do it, and Katie showed us all how her brand of happy has helped her be successful. Not everyone is going to love what makes you real, but you'll find true creative power in staying true to what makes you YOU.

[Photo by the ravenna girls. Styling by Nicole Gerulat]

This year, I didn't attend every single informational session. I sat out of several because I was in the midst of a deeper conversation or I had just made a new friend. The one thing I did make sure to get to , though, were the Saturday Design Camps. These are smaller group sessions focused on a new creative skill, and are the most hands-on part of the conference (super important for makers like me). I took a tabletop photography and styling workshop led by Nicole Gerulat of Nicole's classes and I feel like I learned an amazing amount in such a short period of time. It also gave me a chance to play with the new camera lens I got for Christmas, instead of procrastinating any longer. I cannot wait to apply this to our DIYs and to our product photography. I think coming out of Alt with a new tangible skill is a really cool thing since a lot of the other concepts can be pretty high level.

[photo via Alt Summit Flickr. Text added by the ravenna girls. This installation was part of the #bingittolife project
where Bing took blogger projects submitted over last summer/fall and made them a reality.]

The most important thing I learn every year at Alt is that you can't do everything. The days at Alt are long and jam packed full of inspiration, but you really need to set aside time to reflect on what you've learned and how you've grown. If you find yourself worn out from learning and socializing, take advantage of the amazing setting at Grand America by taking a bubble bath, visiting the spa, or squeezing in a workout to get those relaxation juices flowing.

Alt is an amazing experience for those interest in the online design community. I met a ton of interesting folks who aren't bloggers, per se, but have online shops or other creative presence. So, you don't have to feel like you need to be an experienced blogger to attend. Its just a great source of creative inspiration and a chance to push yourself out of your comfort zone in the best possible way!

Be sure to check out our blog this week for more recaps of the week including my favorite business cards, Details on Stefan Sagmeister's speech, and more on my tabletop photography class.

[Also - you can find tons of other blogger's recaps of the conference on the Alt Summit blog]

 

Favorite Friend Friday: Jenn Blake of SCOUT

Jenn Blake fits the term Favorite Friend perfectly: a dear, sweet friend that we love to laugh and drink champagne cocktails with, plus one of the most talented people we know. The owner of Scout Vintage Rentals, as well as the author of the heavenly-designed, A Blog Called Scout, she's a hardworking stylist and entrepreneur who just happens to be down-to-earth and lovely. We have been lucky enough to work with her on a few projects, including a buttery, white monochromatic, quilted tablecloth for her styling shoot with Jasmine Star, an Apartment Therapy Design Night, and she helped a bit with Andie's wedding! Meet our sweet & beautiful friend, Jenn:


Photo by Sarah Rhoads
Tell us a little bit about what you do.
I'm an event stylist/designer here in Seattle, own a boutique vintage rental company and also write a lifestyle blog called SCOUT. I spend most of my days engaging with clients, sending invoices for new rental orders, making deliveries around the city and coming up with ideas and visions for new styling projects and posts for my blog. I invest a lot of my creative energy in engaging in collaborations with other individuals in the wedding and creative industries. Collaborations are definitely where I get the most fulfillment from what I do...I think that's why I love wedding days & styled shoots so much. There are so many individuals that have to come together to make the day or event great. One of the most important things to me in life is creating beautiful imagery and I love doing this by assisting in capturing interactions between my clients and through prop and wardrobe styling.


Photo by Jasmine Star
Little known fact, you used to be a nurse! What was it like to make the decision to move into a creative field, and what do you miss/not miss about it?
Deciding to leave my nursing career was definitely not an easy one, but a bit of a decision that I was forced into. I was a public health nurse and was laid off from a job I really loved. BUT as much as I loved my work as a nurse, I always had this aching feeling like there was this whole other side to who I was that wasn't being lived out. Since as far back as I can remember I wanted to have a creative career and never felt like I could pursue it. I spent 8 years before nursing as a visual merchandiser for a retail brand and had been actively "moonlighting" on the side - coordinating friends wedding days, making paper goods for friends showers, parties etc., and spending way too much money on decor for my own events and celebrations. So when I left that nursing job I had this overwhelming desire to take a leap of faith into the creative world. I took a two month trip away on my own to do some soul searching, and came to the realization that if I was going to follow my dream of becoming a stylist it was now or never. Making the transition has created some of the most challenging years of my life, but I've never felt more like myself, which is worth its weight in gold. I do very much miss my days as a nurse - I loved knowing that I was making a difference in people's lives on a daily basis and making them feel better. I also miss the stability and routine of a medical career (the stable paycheck wasn't half bad either!) and my previous friends and colleagues at work. But I've learned that what I do now is also helping to make people feel good about themselves and am hopeful the work I do inspires others to find and follow their own dreams and passions.

You travel a LOT for your work, what are your favorite destinations and why?
I do travel a lot for styling opportunities, and as I mentioned above, a lot of these travel opportunities are because I want to invest the time in working with others across the country and around the world. I have learned so much about myself as a person and creative business owner through these travels, and the relationships I've built along the way mean so so much to me. I love being pushed and challenged by other people, places and cultures and hope to do much more traveling in 2013. My favorite destination would most certainly have to be Europe, in particular France and Italy. I really love how much the European culture values art and creativity, and how their society prioritizes things like family and self care time. They don't feel guilt in experiencing the simple pleasures in life in ways I think we sometimes do as Americans.

Do you have any projects coming up in the future that you're excited about?
I have a few travel opportunities that I am extremely pumped about, a few which are about exploring friendships and how those are built and maintained. I also have some amazing styling opportunities with a handful of photographers that I greatly admire that will be really exciting to share with my blog readers once they are complete. I'm hopeful the next year will be filled with endless collaborations and partnerships with others who also value this sort of creative engagement and environment.

What do you like to do in your off-time?
I feel like I work ALL.THE.TIME. but when I do take time to relax and reboot, I like to travel, travel, and travel more! I also love spending time with my husband and puppy dog and exploring our favorite areas of Seattle together. I also try to visit my family back home in Colorado as often as I can during downtime. Oh and sleep.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Paris. It's where I feel most alive and most like myself. Ummmm....the crepes are also pretty amazing too!

If you could eat at only one local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
There is this little family owned Thai place right up the street from us called Phad Thai. I love supporting small businesses and the family that owns the place is so kind and nice every time we go in or order out. I love that they know our order and our names. It reminds me of our favorite place back home in Colorado - they really make you feel like you are important and that your business means a lot to them. I'm also obsessed with spicy food (the hotter the better!) and Thai cuisine has quickly become my favorite of all.

What's your dream job, besides what you are doing now?
I would love to be a full-time travel blogger. I'd love to write & take pictures all day long of the cultures, people and new experiences that inspire me and are available when you immerse yourself in new places. I would travel non-stop if I could. Of course with my hubby and pup in tow!


Jenn in Paris. Photo by Mae Stier
You get to organize a dinner party, who is there?
I think I would have to say my Grammie. She passed away before I left my nursing career (she was a nurse herself) but I think she would be incredibly proud of how far I've come in the past two years. I feel like I got every ounce of my creativity from her and I would love for her to be a guest of honor at one of my dinner parties to see where her own creative spirit has led and inspired me. I'd also like my closest friends and family to be at the table. Those people who have been most supportive, understanding and loving during my transition to this new creative pursuit.

What one famous person would you love to collaborate with in some way?
I would love to collaborate with Annie Leibovitz or even just watch her creative process. I think she is so bloody talented at evoking emotions and translating people's stories through her images. I'd love to learn how to do more of that in my own styling and design work. It'd be a dream collaboration for sure.

Thanks, Jenn!

Apartment Therapy: Are you Overstyled?

A few of you may know, but I write freelance for Apartment Therapy twice a week. Usually my posts are a mix of styling or great products but today I decided to do something a bit different. If you are an Apartment Therapy reader, you know that the commenters tend to be a bit brutal. I wanted to discuss that along with the idea of "overstyling" or "propping" your home. I feel like my home is anything but propped, but I tend to get overzealous comments to the contrary. Below is the text to the post, and click over to the Apartment Therapy post to read the comments. I'd love to know what you think here, too!