A little catch up

I'm so sorry I haven't been blogging in a couple days. I've been busy working hard on a few custom orders I have :). I did end up dying my hair black/brown AND trimmed my bangs. I used Loreal Excellence Cream in Natural Black... here it is!

It was super embarrassing when my mustache didn't match my hair. People always knew I was dying it. So glad that humiliation is over. :)


Here's a few things I've been working on, this Lovebot is for one of my grandma's. I really hope she likes it! Her bow is a lot more lime green than the picture, I think she's going to love it.

Also! I've put up a bit more in my craft corner :D Here is it so far!


I bought the shelves and white board at target and the spool rack at Joanne's :D I think, for now, it's absolutely beautiful. ♥ I am so happy to have designated myself a space to create and work, I think it makes work more fun. I'll probably add more, but I'm not really sure what yet. I'm open to suggestions.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

P.S. I bought the perfect 60's/70's china today. Only one plate is missing! I can't wait to show you. It's cream, with brown rings around the rim, and a pretty floral pattern. :) Ebay has the last plate, I am restraining myself from buying it since I won't be using them for a while.

Bangs.

Weheartit. This is the reason I want black hair.

After a few days of pondering dying my hair black/brown, I've decided to do it and pray it doesn't look terrible. I enjoy dying my own hair because it's cheaper and makes me a little proud of myself. Kinda like I'm in control of my own hair, ya know what I mean?

But one thing I've been wanting to try harder at is... cutting my own bangs. I've done it a few times, just little trims, but I'm pretty afraid to ruin my hair and have to go to my hair lady and admit I cut them.... She probably already thinks I'm cheating on her because the blond she put in my hair is "magically" brown. Anyway, I was wondering if there are any secret tips to cutting your own bangs? I doubt it but I'd like to hear from you guys about it!

Do I have any readers who cut their own hair? Or are they afraid like I am? hehe

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Lists, hair dye, and quilts

*weheartit*

I am a list person. I love writing long lists of things to do so that I can cross them off and feel accomplished. Also, it makes it okay when I don't get ALL the things done because I can see I did a LOT of things. It's a way I keep my brain happy.

So, I am currently at my Dad's house, spending quality time of course, and am thinking of things I need to do when I get home. Attempting to bring my sewing things here would be outrageous so I simply make lists in order to get what to get done, done.

When I get home I will:
1. Finish my Grandma May's Lovebot.
(Kathy's mom wants a Lovebot with neon accents, so I picked lime green and pink as my colors.)

2. Work on a custom Lovebot, yippee!

3. Organize and try to create a "crafty corner".
(I always sew in one corner of my room and I want to make it more like a craft "room" without the room.)

4. Make another bunting banner, I've been hanging them up and don't have enough yet.

5. Dye my hair.
(I've started dying my hair from the box and love the results. I used a deep chocolate brown last time and this time I think I'll either do that again oooor be outrageous and attempt brown/black. Black is the only color I've never tried and I kinda want to just to see!)

6. Plan out a quilt.
(That's RIGHT! I want to make a patch work quilt. Nothing fancy, just something big and colorful.)

Do you have any plans for this next week?

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Decorating

While reading Kayla's new post on decorating her soon to be apartment, I thought a lot about my soon to be apartment. Donny and I move in together in about a year, give or take, and we're so excited. We've been talking about moving in together for a long time and it's getting real. We want to get a studio together and are thinking about a modern 70's theme for our decorations.

Basically, a lot of deep orange, mustard, green, and redish brown! I love bright colors, but I know a pink apartment isn't good home for a boy haha! So I don't want any pink, or neon colors. I want us to have a lot of warm colors and funky patterns. I love how tacky the 70's look is, so I want to make it more modern!

I just feel like I am mostly attracted to this tacky era. I love the colors and the shapes so much. I hope Donny and I can achieve it when we move in. :) What era of decor do you love the most?

*all pictures from flickr*
Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Decorating Inspiration

*weheartit* Ugh major envy.

Lately I've been trying to decorate my bedroom more. I have a lot of wall space, more than my last room, so I'm a little lost on what to do. I want my space to be a little more crafty, even though that means it'll be a bit more crowded.

also *weheartit*. I love the detail.

My walls are a light lemon, which is really nice, but I'm trying to add more colors to tone it down a little. I'm making some bunting to go above my bed, in deep oranges and blues. Blue because it goes really well with yellow and orange because it goes well with the blue.

Today I bought a small (30 spool) thread rack, and hung it up in the corner I usually sew in. However, I need more crafty things to hang up with it. Any ideas? I don't have a craft room, which I want so badly, so I want to make a craft corner. I'd love your input!

Feel free to comment or even leave pictures! I really want some inspiration.

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Once again...

As usual, I adore Gala Darling's Curious Tuesday, and I will be taking part once again. I just think it's a great way to show who I am in an interesting way.

1. What is your very best beauty tip?
I think my best beauty tip is under-eyeshadow cream. Some people swear by Urban Decay's Eyeshadow insurance, which I've never used, but I use a MAC paint pot in Bare Study. Bare Study is a nude, but shiny, cream that really helps eyeshadow stay on. Although a little pricey, around 15 dollars I think, the little paint pot goes a long long way and really helps makeup stay put. If I don't wear the paint pot, along with a little (good) eyeshadow, my makeup ends up in the crease in a few hours.

2. Who is your arch-nemesis?
I would say my arch-nemesis is sweets. I really love sweet food. Ice cream, fudge, pie, ect... I would eat it daily if it wouldn't ruin my body.

3. What are the three things you need to do in order to feel sane?
1. Alone time. When I spend time with people, I try to space it out so I have days to be at home and do what I need to do. 2. Physical order. My room needs to be clean for me to be stress free. 3. Open options. Ultimatums make me feel really weird.

4. What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
Ummm... I don't think I've eaten anything strange... I'll get back to you on this one.

5. What is one thing in your wardrobe which makes you feel invincible?
A good dress. Off the top of my head, the strapless dress w/ the polka dots is great. I have one dress from target that's super comfortable but looks GREAT with a pair of sandal and a long necklace. :D

Feel free to answer the questions in the comments, on your blog, or even go to Gala Darling's site and answer in her comments!

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

A few vintage finds

While I was in Pennsylvania, I spent a lot of time at antique stores and flea markets. There weren't a lot of thrift stores, I'm not really sure why, but there were quite a few thrift stores. My favorite was in Waterford, and it was more thrifty than antique-y. Ya know, instead of expensive furniture there was cheap, cute little things that are more common in thrift stores.

These little cuties are salt and pepper shakers! As you can see, they say salt or pepper on their left side. :) They are my favorite find from PA.

I bought this at a flea market. It's from the 70's sooo it talks about velcro but it's called nylon stick tape or something like that! haha!

Old keys ♥ I wear the longest one on a long, brass chain/necklace.

This adorable little salt shaker currently has orange/pink/yellow glitter in it!

Wooden spools, I adore the mint green one.

Okay, these are antique or anything, but they're spin pins! I recommend them sooooo much. They hold a bun so well, but longer hair is better. Mine is almost too short.

1970's pattern. I wanna make the far right one.

Dress I got from Burlington Coat Factory, I was skeptical when I walked in but this is a beautiful dress.

I've been meaning to share these treasures for weeks. I hope you like them! Also, The Lovebot Factory has an official facebook!!! Please give us a look! Also, you can still enter the giveaway! (At least I think so! haha)

I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday!

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

I just wanted to say

Thank everyone so much. I never imagined my giveaway would get so so much positive attention. I've read every comment and it's unbelievable how many kind people have said so many nice things. I know most will probably never see this, but I still want to express how thankful I am.

Right now I'm just a tiny business, hoping to spread my love to more people via Lovebots. But these comments have really touched my heart and helped me believe I can make my shop a lot more popular and successful. It's the best feeling, honestly. When I first read some of the comments, I was absolutely giddy. I'm so happy people are loving my product as much as I truly do. So this post is truly a thank you. Thank you to everyone, you have all made such a positive influence on my tiny little business.

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

And the suprise is...

A giveaway with Kaylah of The Dainty Squid!!!!

I made Clyde just to giveaway to some lucky reader!! Click here to go to her blog and enter :] All you have to do is comment to be entered to win! And give her blog a reading, it's my favorite for sure. ♥ I hope everyone loves him as much as I do!

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

July 15th Update!

It's official, the BIG July Update is LIVE! This morning I posted 9 brand new Lovebots that are ready to have new families! Here is my favorite:

Winston is a fancy son of a gun. He enjoys nice dinners, bow ties, and monocles. Yet he knows none of that would be worth anything without his friends. Winston adores friendship more than anything else. Winston is an 18" stuffed robot made of fleece, felt, yarn, buttons, stuffing, and polyester/cotton fabric.

I'm so very proud of this update. I think I have a chance of making my business big enough to support me, much other a few other crafters do. My dream is to be able to make these little guys for ever.

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Hurray!

Senior picture by Lora Grady!

I just wanted to update everyone on my goings on lately :] Yesterday, I took my senior pictures with Lora Grady and had an amazing day! We used a bunch of neat alley ways and colored walls for the backgrounds. Lora was super sweet and her husband Dan was super nice as well, it was completely worth my time and money.

Today, Donny and I have been hard at work on tomorrow's update. :] It'll be posted sometime around 10 ish Pacific time. <3 I'm very excited to show everyone! Annddd my surprise is tomorrow too! Make sure to come by and see what it is!
Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

P.S. I just made a facebook page for The Lovebot Factory! Check it out!

Happy Monday!

Hello everyone! I have a wonderful day today with Meredith, she needed some new nose studs today so we went to the mall to shop and catch up. I went with the possibility of new gauges, and came home with 2 pairs of gauges, nerd glasses (as seen in the photo), a new purse that's UBER cute, and stud rose earrings for my second lobe piercing. I am really happy with my purchases, especially my new purse! :D

Tomorrow I take my senior pictures, which should come out amazingly. I have 5 or 6 outfits (dresses :D) ready and I really hope they portray who I am. I might even wear my nerd glasses with one of the outfits because it's so me. I hope I am able to show who I am, because I wanted a lot of all black outfits and a few colorful but I realized I don't have a lot of really colorful outfits I adore... We'll just have to see I guess!

I'd love to hear about your weekends or Mondays or anything! Feel free to comment :]
Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

100th post!

For my 100th post I just wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me in every way. I appreciate every reader I have, I read and love every comment, and I also appreciate everyone who I haven't heard from or know of. You all are a huge part of my life and I love you all. I appreciate all the support I get. Thank you my family, friends, readers, and everything in between. You'll all wonderful.

As for today, I had a lesson with my clarinet teacher, who is an absolute doll. The lesson was two hours, but we probably spent an entire hour just chatting. It was a wonderful time. When I got home, I went back to work on my Lovebots. :] Right now, I'm making a couple, who I will sell together so someone can have two lovelies. ♥

I love you all!

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Gnome Sweet Gnome

:D

Hello everyone, I am so happy to say I am home! :] I came home to a happy family as well as two very happy cats, who missed me tons. Donny and I spent time yesterday, which was super nice, and had some thrifting time together (uh my favorite!). I'm very very happy to be home. :]

Donny's lovely face

Cupcake. I tried to get a picture of her staring at water, I'll get one someday.



I edited this picture and told Donny my room looks like a rainbow threw up.

I am once again working, oh I love to call it work, on my July 15th update and am so excited for it. I have a lot of Lovebots going up and I can't wait to show them off to you all, it's really hard keeping them a secret when I love them so much. Here's just a tiny sneak peak:

You'll also get to learn about the surprise on July 15th as well! :D

And here is a few pictures from Pennsylvania :D

Backyard, taken from the upstairs window.

Down the lovely little street, it's so quaint there. Like a fairytale.

Later today I'll have a post on all the goodies I found in Pennsylvania! For now, time to go swimming :]

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

Curious Tuesday Via Gala Darling!

Once again I am partaking in Gala Darling's Curious Tuesday! I love these little ways to how who I am, I think they're really quite fun.

1. What was your first kiss experience?
Oh, well I really liked a guy who turned out not to be my type and we kissed a few times although it meant nothing to him. I'm pretty embarrassed about it because I met Donny a few weeks later, but it was a lesson learned I suppose.

2. If you could work for, or learn from anyone, who would it be and why?
To be honest, I'm really looking forward to working for myself. I want to try to make my business a good source of income, it's my dream.

3. Have you ever taken a Myers-Briggs test? Was it accurate?
Oh yes I love these! I previously took the Carl Jung test, which is the same thing and got similar results. Both told me I am an introvert, which is true I prefer alone time and space to myself. However one said I was sensing and one said I was intuitive so I'm not sure which one I am. But they both said I was thinking and judging, which is true. I'm like fact and reality, which is funny that Donny is a dreamer, haha.

4. What is your favorite thing about your best friend?
I love different things about my different best friends, which is why I have them. Donny is my nerd best friend, who lets me truly just be myself and do whatever I want when we hang out. Sometimes we spend time together and sometimes we just spend time in the same room, it's so nice.

I love Ashley because she's my creative best friend, we recently had a sewing day and it was the best time I think I've had with her in a long time. She's my "silly" best friend.

Garth is amazing because I never stop laughing when I'm with him. I don't care what we're doing, it's always hilarious.

I adore Willpants because he's always got something to talk about. I love talking with people and getting to know people and it's nice to have someone who ALWAYS has something to say. ;)

Meredith is my nostalgic friend. We were friends from 2nd grade to 7th grade then stopped for a while and now that we're friends again in 12th grade, it's just nice to know someone who has changed but we've become more similar.

5. What makes you happiest?
I am happiest when I think of the future I will have soon. My plans are something I know will make me the happiest I've ever been, and that's why I'm willing to fight for them (because I know it'll be hard and I know my family won't all love it.)

So that's my Curious Tuesday! Feel free to comment on my answers or even fill out yours in the comment. :]

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

P.S. I go home tomorrow!!!!!!

A Very Good Day

Good morning, everyone! I hope you all are in as great of a mood as I am! Today just feels like a very good day, most likely becuase it's one of the last days I have in Pennsylvania. I've had a wonderful wonderful trip, but I'm ready to get home and work on my shop. :]

As most of you know I have a BIG update on July 15th that I'm really looking forward to. I have at least 7 new Lovebots to put on the site, maybe a few more! There are Monsterbots and Gentlebots and even an Animalbot! I hope you all love them as much as I do.

Also, I have a BIG surprise for you on July 15th! I can't tell though, sorry. You'll just have to keep reading and see what happens ;)

Have a wonderful, wonderful day!

Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco

I feel pretty badly about it...

But I'm getting pretty homesick for California. I really love it here, but it's not my home.

(And I'm going on a diet when I get home, lol.)

Homesickness aside, Happy Fourth of July, everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating our nation's birthday. If not, then enjoy this wonderful summer day. :] My grandparents and I probably won't do anything, hahaha, maybe we'll go to lunch or something. That's what we usually do around here.

Love and Turtledoves,

Jaco

Beauty in clothes

*weheartit*

Hello my lovelies, I hope you all are wonderful. During my vacation away from California, I some how have been gaining more and more consistent comments (thank you so much, it really makes my day to hear from everyone.) and I wanted to do a post that is a little more personal.

I have written about body issues before and I wanted to touch on it again, because I don't feel like enough people talk about it and really talk about it. I believe that all people are beautiful: tall, thin, chubby, short, or any other shape & size. I truly believe this, it isn't something I'm trying to sell. I see beauty in personality, as well as appearance.

However, I have my own problems with my body. I like who I am and the older I get the more I like who I am, even if I am stubborn and OCD, but my body image still plagues me. I know I am not alone, and I have no intentions of being showered with "You're gorgeous" or "Don't think that way." It's just truth. Certain parts of my body don't make me feel great about myself. I dislike that clothing dictates that I'm a certain not-so-small size even though I am very much an average 5'5", 17 year old woman.

I am disappointed in the fact that depending where I shop is what size I am. I hate shopping in Forever 21 now because their smalls are SO SMALL and their larges aren't accurate. Their store tells me I am a small plus sized woman, which isn't true. I'm quite average.

To keep myself from a rant, my point is clothing shouldn't dictate our body image. I know that I let myself believe I am "fat" because clothes tell me I'm a size 11-13 (there, I said it!). But I know I shouldn't. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I don't have a want to be skinny. I just want to be understood by clothing stores that I am not a plus sized woman. I am simply not thin. I feel some apprehension on posting this post, mostly because I do not want to be misunderstood. I want to learn to love myself, not to work out till I need to faint and never eat ice cream again. Why can't our clothing sizes be more realistic?

I just wish other girls don't have to feel the way I do because they're normally sized.
Love and Turtledoves,
Jaco