Summer DIY project

I know everyone probably made about 100 of these in their pre-teen years. I have a distinct memory of sitting on the grass at recess making these with my little girlfriends ...

I love the idea of making something pretty out of weeds :) 

Anyways, here's how I do it ... (please share if you have a different method!)

 Start with three clovers ... preferably with loooong stems.

Braid the ends (just like you would with your hair.)

Insert the next clover in one of the braid "holes." 

Keep braiding with this new stem (making the chain longer).

Keep going with this process ... inserting a new clover and re-braiding it into the chain.

  

:) 

Purple perfection!

This was a fun one!

My sister's good friend Jen was getting married and got hooked up with some whichgoose goodies! :)

Are she and Bob totally cute together?

NEW YOUTUBE VIDEO!!

:)

Random crowns in real-life (sort of)

From time to time, you get in a design rut, and nothing can

cure it but some good 'ol fashioned Googling.

Here's some finds!

Angela Lansbury--- circa 1949

Milla Jovovich!! (Looks like she could of used me!!)

Random photo from google. I love the wild look!!!

Don't think most can pull this off. Definitely not me!

Autumn's a-coming! - ideas for the shop

I haven't done a truly "whichgoose-related" post in a while ... been so busy with the vacation and the move. And here we are, almost AUGUST. Sometimes it's good to write down your goals and ideas -- it's like saying them out loud to see if they make sense...

I had been planning, but this time of year, to have:

1.) My Christmas shopping done.

2.) My tires rotated and my oil changed.

3.) My files organized and real book-keeping implemented

4.) Quit my day job

Alas, none of these goals have come to pass. 

But I remain hopeful for the final months of 2009. 

Here are some business goals:

1.) Product branding  .... doing something with the logo ... magnets maybe?

2.) Line of bouquets

3.) Line of smaller flower-girl crowns and accessories.

4.) Make-your-own boutonniere listing (Like, a $20 flat fee with a bunch of options??)

And personal goals:

1.) Make time for friends.

2.) Make time for exercise/eat better.

3.) Stress out less.

I'll think of this as an early start for a 2010 resolution. Gotta stay ahead of the game! :)

I'm so trendy!

I've been collecting examples of crowns from various catalogs and such as they turn up. And look! Three! They are from Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie catalogs, respectively. (I think...)

Really, just the top one is a true crown, per say, but you know.  It's like collecting bits of proof

In other news!! The big vacation is coming up! Rich and I spent the past 6+ months (the entirety of our relationship) planning a big super gianourmous trip to London. 

BUT, my fear of flying there, paired with my fear of flying back, has edited this into a jaunt down to Virginia. 

We're thinking of doing the Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, and Virginia Beach circuit over about a week.

I feel myself getting stressed out already. I fear I am just not able to have a relaxing vacation. I will sincerely try though :)

Crowns in real life!

Ah! I just HAD to share this gorgeous photo I got from Etsian lizzik recently!

We made a pretty basic crown for her, with some pearly sticks coming out the top. And she just poked in a couple flowers for a truly magical look! 

Aren't you just so jealous!!!! :) 

I've been asked a few times (mostly by my sister and mom) if I'll wear a crown at MY wedding. So far, I've always so "No way." Not sure why, I guess because it's too close to home or something ?? 

But after seeing this wedding, I might reconsider. It's such a pretty and idyllic  scene!

Divine inspiration

I've got a pile of custom orders on my desk right now, and what am I doing? Procrastinating by writing a blog! hehe

I thought I would write a bit about inspiration for pieces. (Although sometimes, such as now, I just have to wait for them to come to me...)

These are some pages from one of my favorite books ever! "The mode in hats and headdress." 

It's from 1946 and details the fashion of head wear from the 1400's up to "present." 

Way cool. And lots of great ideas! This feather one on the left is seen in lots of my designs. 

So, once I get a general "feel" for what I'm going for, I usually sketch something out. This one is for a wedding...very natural--with some whispy vines and pearls. Should be nice!

crowns in real life!

My goodness!! This lovely girl Yuli sent me a link to pictures of her wedding where she was wearing one of my crowns!!! GASP!!

The photos are absolutely amazing--definitely worth a click.

CLICK HERE TO SEE.

And check this out!! My super cool friend Beth sent me a picture of her and her boy, Carl, hanging out at the Renaissance Festival with (what else) one of my crowns!! Aren't they so cute?

 If you have any pictures of you + your crown, send em up! I would love to see them and put em in my blog (if you want! :) )

emilyzych@yahoo.com

back in time

For some reason, I started looking through my sold items on Etsy....

And I was like, "woah!" I had so many cool things!! 

I decided I need to go back and start re-creating a lot of the ideas. 

I miss all of these crowns :(

plain jane

So I had some discussions on the etsy forums about making a "man crown" for guys. So--this is what I came up with---plain jane. I figure, the best chance to get a guy to ever wear one of these things is to make it as low-key as possible :)

I dunno, I think it's kind of cool....