Times are a Changin'

As in time zones, cities, and STATES! 

I am currently in the process of packing up my apartment in Southern California and I am heading back home to Maryland. I will be jobless, except for my little businesses on the side(tides. and Chesapeake Tides), and will be saving all the money I can by living back with my madre. 

When life throws you curves and balls that you miss, it's sometimes best to start anew and head back to the place where you feel most comfortable. Home. Maryland is a special place to me and it always will be the place where I feel most like myself. I have yet to find a place where I'm the happiest. 

I guess the thing that makes me the happiest about the great state of Maryland is a number of things but mostly family. All my family either lives in Maryland or somewhere else on the East Coast. It was really hard being away from any kind of family for two years, even though I would go back a couple times a year or they would come to visit me. It definitely wasn't the same. I wouldn't always see them and I never saw them all at the same time. It was really really hard. 

Another thing that I missed the most was my friends. Sure I have the best of friends and life time friends in California but there is definitely something about that childhood friend that will always hold a special place in your heart and mind. I went back for a wedding in October and I knew exactly then that I needed to move back home to be around what I had been missing for so long. 

It's going to be a change but I'm ready for the adventure. 

"When adventure has lost it's meaning, I'll be homeward bound in time."

So long California, until we meet again....

Ps: I will be posting a lot more once I'm home;)

Chesapeake Tides needs your help!!!

I need your help to decide on which little crabby will be going on a baseball cap!!! I have ordered navy blue, black, light pink, and red caps which I will be putting one of these designs on! 

The navy & black caps will be having a red crab & the pink and red will have a blue crab on it!! 

Now I need your help! A or B?!

What's been happening!

So I have definitely not kept up with writing as much as I would have liked but as I always say, I'm going to keep on trying to do my best when something comes up! I've been trying to pick up as many hours as possible at work(as much as they will let me)sill California has caped us part timers at 24hours a week now...because living in Southern California wasn't expensive enough! oy! I'm getting by though and thank goodness I have Chesapeake Tides to help keep me sane and busy when I'm not working for the mouse.
I've introduced a few new products to the shop and I hope everyone checks them out!

Hello Sailor bags

 It is perfect for either a pencil case, travel make up bag, or to hold all your electronic cords!

Down by the Bay T shirts

I created this design myself with some of the iconic Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, and of course Chesapeake Tides symbols to put on the back of a tshirt. I was originally selling them only through Red Bubble but later decided that I wanted to make them more personal by adding a monogram to the front upper left hand corner. I love the idea of this shirt because it is sporting with Marylanders and East Coasters love about the state! 

This week was my birthday week!! It's definitely been a crazy 24 years and it's only getting started! I spent the day yesterday at my favorite lunch spot, Lemonade. Oh goodness, was it amazing! If you have never been and live in California, I suggest you go right away. After lunch I explored Laguna Beach and sat on some of the rocks by the tide pools. Super relaxing and just the ticket I needed! After Laguna, a couple of friends and I went to get sushi and sake. So delicious that I definitely plan on going back very very soon! I started the week working a special event at work, super super exciting! After the event we had some down time so why not play around with the props that were set up!?

I really hate all things scary and spooky about Halloween but I do love how Disneyland makes it not so spooky and scary for us that have to hide behind our blankets and fingers when friends force you to watch horror movies. Disney doesn't do that and I'm incredibly thankful! 

I'll be going to LA as well to celebrate with friends up in Burbank so I will be MIA in the town of Orange this weekend. I love getting away on little adventures like this, escape the real world and have a little fun! 

Any fun plans this weekend for you!? 

Life: Creativity

One of the main focuses of my life that I've been trying to do more of it being creative. Going to art school kind of wore me out from being creative. The time has come now, being out of school for a year now, to get my creative juices flowing again. First I started with painting with oils but I want to expand that with water colors. Second is thinking of new ideas of what to make for my little company.

Goals: Office/Studio

One of my top goals in life is to have an office/studio in my home or apartment. I dream of it having my camera equipment in one corner with my computer, possibly some studio lights, and of course my camera. On the other side of the room I want it to be my sewing corner. I can have a huge table top to spread my fabric on, multiple sewing machines(one for sewing & the other for embroidery). All my fabric(custom made of course) would be tucked neatly on shelves and of course color coded...hello OCD.

I've been keeping a board on Pinterest for a while now of possible office and studio spaces and I can't get over how amazing they are; each one of them is perfect in their own unique way. 

For a smaller space, without the studio of course. I could definitely see myself working out of here and when I'm done working for the day, I can shut the doors and keep all the goodies inside.

Organization is key for me and something that serves the purpose but also looks neat and tidy. I'm a huge fan of those white boxes with the label holders on them.

yes. yes. YES! The clean colors and the tidy shelves is absolutely what I would want for a studio area...and of course a window looking out into the ocean. I mean, I guess it doesn't have to be an ocean but a girl can dream right? 

organization at it's finest.

Ignore the horrible colored floor and center yourself to all the shelves displaying the fabric. If this shelving was in the clean and brightly lit room, I would never come out of there. 

Do you know of any amazing offices or studios that hope to be yours one day!? Please share them with me, I would love to hear and see them!

Life: Fundraising & Investing

My inspiration for this post actually comes from Tory Burch's Commencement speech that she gave to Babson College. Babson is an entrepreneur focused school in Babson Park, Massachusetts that believes "entrepreneurship is applicable and crucial." Tory talks about building a business and how it just doesn't grow over night.  She quotes Biz Stone, a founder of Twitter that states, “Timing, perseverance, and 10 years of really hard work will eventually make you look like an overnight success.”  There are many steps to create a business and one must be very patient and willing to work throughout the night or be awake for a business call at 3 or 4 am with Hong Kong. As hard as this may be, I do need to take her wording seriously because I can sometimes be the most impatient person ever, thank you Virgo, and be patient. Good things will come to those who wait, but work extremely hard to get to where they want to be in life. 

That brings me to this.

Besides working in Disneyland I also have, Chesapeake Tides. It's a little business that I started in March of 2012 that is inspired by the Chesapeake Bay; I create and sell bow ties, hair bows, nautical flag bags, and monogram upon request.  It's gone pretty far from weddings, to custom made fabric...my Maryland Flag Bow Tie is one of my best sellers, to last summer getting into my first shop. All those achievements are wonderful and I'm so proud of myself for getting there but I want it to grow more; there is so much that I believe the company go and grow that I'm not going to stop until I make my dreams come true and make them a reality. 

One of the ways Tory started out, besides having a few jobs already in the fashion industry, was fundraising and others investing in her company. To those who were investing, she told them right off that they may not be getting their money back and to "only invest if you're prepared to lose it." Reading that now, it's kind of scary to think about but look at her now. She is a brilliant designer with classic items that will never go out of style so of course I have to trust her opinion and experience. 

Which brings me to this,  I love getting feed back about my business because it means the world to me so....

What are some ways that would be a way to promote Chesapeake Tides? Any fundraising ideas? Product ideas? 

Extra! Extra!: Chesapeake Tides

Some of you know if you are personally friends with me on Facebook or have found me through the grape vine of Etsy that I create, sew, and sell items that are inspired by the Chesapeake Bay. It all started with bow ties and now it's grown to a few other items as well.

Maryland Flag Bow Tie

This is one of my most popular items and sellers. As a Marylander, I must say we are very very VERY much in love with our state flag. Anything we can get our hands on with the flag, we pretty much own in.

Maryland Flag Hair Bow

Another very popular item with a lot of the college age girls in Maryland....especially in College Park, Home of the Terps!

Maryland Flag Pocket T-Shirt

These shirts flew off the shelves. I made a few of them to see how they would do and WOW, everyone loves them and I can't wait to create some more. I believe there is only a medium and large left in stock!

Multi Color Seersucker Bow Tie

Seersucker is such a classic material that can me created into a number of different clothing and accessory items. This multi colored tie is perfect for spring and summer and did I mention it's reversible?! 

Hooray for the Red White and Blue Bow Tie

There isn't an American out there that doesn't like to sport the American Flag. We love that flag and we're so proud of it! 

Monogramed Coasters

If it isn't moving, monogram it. I received an embroidery machine for my graduation gift from college last year from my grandparents and I have used it to death! I love monograming any chance I can get with anything I can get my hands on so if you have anything that you want monogramed, hand it over to me! 

Monogram Add On

Speaking of monograms, I now have the option to add on a bow tie or hair bow. You can choose for it to be on the bow it's self or the strap that tucks under the shirt collar. 

Blue Polka Dots with Lilly Pulitzer, White Fallin in Love Cosmetic Bag

I fell in love with Lilly Pulitzer my Junior year of High School when I wore one of her dresses to my Junior Prom. Since then, I have become obsessed! There was a little shop on Etsy at the time I purchased this fabric that sold some of the Lilly Pulitzer patterns so I decided to snatch some up! This bag is currently on sale and it's the last one so get it before it's too late!

Nautical Flag Bags

These bags are my newest edition to Chesapeake Tides. They are 100% custom made by me which means that they may take a little bit longer to get to your door BUT they are totally worth it, trust me. The idea for them sparked a few months ago when I was back home in Maryland visiting some friends and family. I had gone down to the city dock of Annapolis where some people keep there boats tied up on the pier. Looking around at some of the sail boats, I noticed how they have these flags tied up on some of their sails. I have seen in before because the flags are such a nautical staple anywhere along any coastal town; that's when the idea sparked. Any preppy or nautical person loves sporting these flags on different types of accessories and clothing, so why not create a cross body bag that symbolizes a first or last letter of your name?! 

I have sold a few and might possibly take some in to a few stores in some towns in California to see if I can start selling them there as well. 

Chesapeake Tides is my pride and joy. It's not only a little business but also something that I truly love doing. Please check out my other blog that is focused just on Chesapeake Tides and see what new products are coming your way and what specials I am currently running! 

Chesapeake Tides on Etsy!