Brooklyn's 8th Birthday

It feels good to be back!  Long time no post my friends!  We are getting warmer weather here (sometimes...), and wedding buzz has been back in full swing! But instead of a post today on weddings (oh don't worry those are coming) we had a different photo shoot a few weeks ago.  Brooklyn turned 8 and wanted to celebrate with some photographs... and what better way than to pick some fun antiques to set the scene with right?  She was so much fun to work with.  I don't have the opportunity too often to work with someone that has so much energy and lets us know just what she wants to do!  She ran that shoot, and look how great it turned out!  I am not sure if you would get the same response from Brooklyn but if you ask me, I am pretty sure her favorite item was the gumball machine.... we finally had to take it away when she couldn't smile in the pictures, instead she had cheeks full of candy.  There were trails of candy all over that farm!  So here's to Brooklyn!  Happy 8th Birthday cute girl!  It was a pleasure to work with you!

-J

 

 

Leibster Award

 

Happy Monday everyone!  Rise and shine!  I wanted to let you know about an award Odds and Ends was recently nominated for.  Courtney from Unpredictable and Chic nominated us for the Liebster Award.  Don't worry, I am new to the blogging world too and hadn't heard of this either.  Here are the rules of the game:  This award is given by other bloggers to blogs that they nominate.  There are a series of questions asked by the award giver which are to be answered by the nominees.  Then the nominees now turn around and nominate their favorite blogs for the award as well and ask a set of questions for them to answer, and so on, and so on!  I haven't nominated as many blogs as others, but I chose ones for specific reasons.  I think this is a great way to discover new blogs with inspiration that you may not have known about before!  So, to answer Courtney's questions... here we go!  

1. How did my blog come about?  I started a vintage rental company almost one year ago and wanted a blog to share my ideas, my work, and collaboration with photographers and other wedding professionals I worked with.  
2. What is my favorite thing about blogging?  I enjoy being able to share photos of the weddings I've decorated and the photo shoots with brides!  These are the reasons I started this business all together!  
3. What is one thing I've learned about myself since starting your blog?  I am more technology challenged than I had originally thought!  I am learning bit by bit how to do things I didn't think I needed to know how to do on a computer.... It's sad!
4. What or who inspires me?  My motivation to keep going is always my husband.  But when I am in the middle of a project or decorating and need inspiration, I look to my favorite vintage style.  I look at movies and television and the settings the actors are in.  I look at the decor and scenery in old movies or even recent shows such as Downton Abbey.  I will see something in an advertisement or on a television show where someones reaction would usually be, "that is such a pretty dress, oh look at that actress!"  And my usual reaction?... "Oh my gosh!  Look at that couch they are sitting on!  Look at that suitcase!  I have to find that!"
5. What's my favorite season?  Spring, it is the beginning of wedding season... the start of weddings outside and photo shoots outdoors, which are my favorite.  It's when I get anxious about the warm weather and get excited for everything in the summer!
6. What do I consider a fashion must have?  A good pair of riding boots.  No I don't ride horses, never have.  But I wear them all winter long, and to photo shoots all summer long in the tall grasses and sites next to the lakes.  Also every girl needs red nail polish or red lipstick... it's a vintage staple in my book!
7.  What beauty product I can't live without?  Vaseline... It is the cheapest most versatile product I use.  
8. What does my dream home look like?  It would be big, but no bigger than what I can clean.  Mansions are beautiful, but my first thought is always... ugh I don't want to have to clean that!  My dream home would be filled with custom pieces and vintage antiques in every single room.  I wouldn't have one new item if I could get away with it.  It would all be reclaimed and antiques, even down to the fridge!
9. If I could switch lives with anyone who would it be and why?  Audrey Hepburn, I love every movie she is in of course.  But she did amazing work later in life for UNICEF.  She was a lovely person not just on the outside, but through the way she lived her life as well.  
10. What is my tip for new bloggers?  Don't get frustrated.  Just keep blogging and you will figure out all of the obstacles to making your blog and your posts better as you go along.  It's a process... I am still trying to work on it. 
11.  Five words to describe myself.... Vintage, Spunky, Ambitious, Creative, Enthusiastic

Here are the blogs that I have nominated and why:

http://www.chelsyannphotography.com/blog/

http://www.loragradyphotography.com/blog/

These two ladies are amazing photographers that I had the pleasure of working with this past year.  Their photography has brought out the beauty in my inventory and their work is amazing.

http://swoonvintagerentalco.com/blog/

Natalie runs a great vintage rental co. down in St. George.  It is fun to see other companies vintage inspired ideas and what they are coming up with. 

http://www.houseandhone.com/ 

I recently discovered Emily's blog.  She has great ideas for decor around the home.  When I need a little break, I take a look at what ideas she has around the house.  

http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/ 

Brooke has been my go to blogger about reupholstering, and painting furniture.  When I have had an antique which needed a bit of love... I found my how to from her!

I would like to ask the same 11 questions I answered above to all of you!  I can't wait to see your answers!  

-J

3 Ways To Use Our Rustic Wall

I am sure you have all seen our rustic wall in our inventory recently!  But here at Odds and Ends, our first thought was you might be a bit curious as to what you might want to do with a wall that is 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall.  The possibilities are endless really!  This wall is a chalkboard with all different knobs and hooks on it, which we used in today's shoot, 3 different ways.  Who wants to be ordinary right?  First, our wall has been used with empty frames as a wall for guests to sign and write on instead of signing a guestbook.  Better yet have both!  Say your guests don't want to dance on the dance floor, or eat at that buffet.  Here is a fun option to have when they walk in the door!  Second, the wall was used to display pictures.  This would be really fun at a wedding to display all of your favorites of the bride and groom!  (Of course my favorite to display is my black and whites of my family.)  And last but not least, we have used the wall for a display behind our dessert table.  This would be great if you are having many different sweet treats, you can list them all so guests know exactly what they have to pick from and where!  This is only just the beginning if you think about it. If you start with these few simple ideas, you can come up with many different concepts for our rustic wall!  When we rent out our items, I see new ways that our inventory is used each time.  I love seeing new and creative ideas!  I can't wait to see what I will see next!    -J

Carrie Howlett Photography

Today's featured photo shoot is one I did earlier with the lovely Deliese and her Fiance.  She picked all the individual items out to rent from our inventory herself, and the styling and placement of the items came together so well!  The photographs were taken by Carrie Howlett.  I think her work and style completely come out in these pictures.  The more I got to know Deliese at the shoot, I found out she is a ballerina studying at Utah Valley University.  I loved how this was tied in with the use of her point shoes!  It definitely makes the engagement pictures unique to the couple. This cute couple is since married in the new year and I wish them all the best!  :) 

-J

Heather & Cody: Engagements

The holidays were a great time to relax and rest, and now I am ready to gear up for the wedding season ahead! Over the break one of my friends and her cute fiance rented our festive sled for their engagements with Connor Barry Photography.  These engagements make for a cute way to show off the season.  A little vintage sled was the perfect touch for their playful pics!  Best wishes to the happy couple! 

-J