Friday, April 29, 2011

Decisions, Decisions


Here we have Beatrice and Eugenie. One minute I love their hats, the next I think they are so wrong. One minute I admire their sense of adventure and boldness but the next minute, I think they are loud and distracting. Wonder what the Queen Mum thought? More importantly, what do YOU think?

photo from here.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Mission: Your Wardrobe and Allendale, SC


Confused by the title? Let me explain.

I will be donating 50% of my earnings in May to The Espinosa Family who are a huge part in this ministry through my awesome church, Grace Church. Also, Allison of Allie B Originals will be donating 50% of her sales May 1-7. Don't miss out on this opportunity to update your wardrobe and get yourself some new baubles all while helping out the folks who are serving in Allendale, SC! Also, this would be the prime time to get a Kelley Smith Style or Allie B Originals gift certificate for your mom or wife for Mother's Day!

Here's a little more about the ministry and you can also keep up with the day-to-day happenings here:

Seeking to extend its influence regionally, Grace began examining Allendale County, a small rural county in South Carolina close to the Upstate where significant needs exist. We challenge members of Grace to engage in their communities, the city and the world with both words and actions. For 16 years in the Greenville area and since 2002 in Kenya, Nicaragua, Peru, and the Bahamas, Grace Members have been impacting lives connecting good deeds with the good news of Jesus Christ. Allendale County is in the midlands of South Carolina where:

  • 40% of the population lives below the poverty line;
  • 70% of households do not include a married couple;
  • 90% of children are eligible for free lunch;
  • Zero students qualified for LIFE Scholarships to four year institutions;
  • 32% of children are born to mothers with less than a high school education; and
  • 22% of workers are unemployed.

During 2009, we began talking with local pastors, business leaders, school representatives, and long time residents to get an understanding of the difficulties and challenges of living in Allendale County. Generational poverty is evident based on the educational system, job opportunities, housing conditions, and lack of hope heard in resident’s voices.

We slowly began to make connections in anticipation of creating long term serving opportunities in Allendale. Beginning in 2009, we provided school supplies to all first graders at Allendale Elementary School and Fairfax Elementary School. As an extension of our Adopt-A-Child program, we have sent more than 100 students and chaperones to Charleston and Columbia during the Christmas season visiting aquariums, museums, college campuses, have dinner at local restaurants, and attend Christmas plays. Few of these children had ever been to Charleston or Columbia. These day long cultural trips allowed these children an opportunity to see first hand life outside their community, create hope for a different future, and help break a cycle of generational poverty.

Friday, April 15, 2011

And The Winner Is....


Kristy Dempsey!!! Kristy has won a skirt courtesy of Sevier Skirts! Kristy, I will be in touch via FB about how to go about ordering your skirt. CONGRATS! And thanks to all who entered to win. And an extra special THANKS to Suzanne of Sevier Skirts for her generosity!

photo from here.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Don't Forget!!


Don't forget to get registered for the Sevier Skirts give away! Click here for details. I saw these skirts in person on Saturday and, trust me, if you are a skirt person you will NOT want to miss out on the chance to win a FREE custom skirt! Winner will be chose this Friday, April 15. Deadline to enter is 12:00PM on 4/15.

Monday, April 11, 2011

In Case You Missed It...

Check out this blog by Elizabeth from Yellow Elm.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A Great Giveaway From Sevier Skirts!




I am so excited (mixed with a little nervousness) that our Local Art Gathering is just a few days away! Just last week we added a new vendor to the line up...Sevier Skirts. Suzanne from Sevier Skirts has been kind enough to do a giveaway to my readers and Facebook fans! Here's the deal:

1. You must leave a comment on this blog post.
2. You must go and "like" my Facebook page. (if you already "like" it, you may skip this step)
3. You must go and "like" Sevier Skirts' Facebook page.

Once you have done that,(be sure to do all 3 steps) you are entered to win a FREE custom made Sevier Skirt of your choice! (Greenville-area people are eligible for a custom skirt. If you aren't local, don't fret! You will win your choice of a Ready-To-Wear Sevier Skirt) The deadline for the giveaway is Friday, April 15 at noon. Pssst...they even offer Maternity skirts and skirts for kids!

Suzanne Sevier Rowland was born and raised in Nashville and received a BA in Economics from the University of Tennessee. After a few years in Banana-Republic-button-downs-and-black-slacks, she knew that corporate America was not a good fit (no pun intended). She had always sewn clothes for fun throughout high school and college but the idea of making a living doing that didn't occur to her until her late 20's. She enrolled in fashion school while living in Atlanta, but within a year knew that she needed to move to NYC to be in a better fashion school and to have the resources available that are not available living in the south. She enrolled in the pattern making program at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and also scored a job in the city's top fabric store, Mood Fabrics.

It was in 2004 when the concept of a skirts-only line using fabulous fabrics took hold! Suzanne's friend Haley was visiting from out of town and went nuts when she saw the number of skirts that Suzanne had sewn in her free time. Haley wore them everywhere she went, inspiring Suzanne to create more. Sevier Skirts was born out of the effort to keep up with the steady stream of demand for one-of-a-kind custom skirts that she and her friends generated that Spring!



Friday, April 1, 2011

Check Me Out! I'm Famous! (again)


My bud, Jacob just posted about The Local Art Gathering. Whoo-hoo! Thanks Jacob!
Y'all need to check out his blog, here. Sadly, he only posts once- a -week (Fridays). He is a fellow fashion-fiend and blogs about everything from fashion to food to everyday life. Good stuff!