BFF: Nadia of Nadia*Artistry

I asked Nadia of Nadia*Artistry to be the model for our F/W 2012 collection and was so super-excited when she agreed. Nadia is an amazing Portland-based makeup artist and ... a secret top model (sshhh.. she doesn't know that yet!). The girls at The Weaver House agree as they have asked Nadia to be in some of their works. 

Nadia is on the furthest left and also did the makeup for photoshoot.
PHOTO: The Weaver House // Welcome To The Dollhouse       

Here are some of my favorite photos from Nadia's portfolio:

PHOTO: Rika M. Huang

PHOTO: Choiyee Wong/ICE Digital Studio

PHOTO: Choiyee Wong/ICE Digital Studio

PHOTO: Choiyee Wong/ICE Digital Studio

Although you may need to be Nadia's friend to get the modeling service she is highly-recommended and a highly-fantastic makeup artist. 

See more of Nadia's portfolio via her official website or follow her blog for makeup tips, advice and more. 

Love you Najabear and can't wait to have you featured on our website! 

Photoshoot | MMH Lookbook Fall/Winter 2012 | The "Real" Models of MMH

Spent a full day with Irene (model), Yoonyoung of YJ Creative, Alan of Shot to the Heart, and Brandon of Brambums (kidding) shooting an Autumn photo shoot at Queen Elizabeth Park. 

It was the perfect mixture of talent, creative thinking, and beautifullness of all kinds on that day. Check out some of the photos taken for the on-line shop, some spoof photos of the "real" models and a preview of the Fall/Winter 2012 lookbook. 

In all the chaos..

Jeff, Who Lives At Home

Everyone and everything is interconnected in this universe. 

Stay pure of heart and you will see the signs. 

Follow the signs, and you will uncover your destiny. 

-Jeff  

I'll take one of each please

Loving these knitted scarves/cowls/shawls from Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs for Fall 2012

images via: oscardelarenta.com

images via: style.com

They moved forward, my heart died.

"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today" - Will Rogers

magical.musical.mantra

I was struggling to look for some inspirational/thoughtful words to share with everyone but my mind has been so cloudy from work.


The minute I heard this song on the radio (on the Subway Check This Out Tune) I knew that it was the triple-M (see post title).


I might've been dancing and brushing my teeth to it earlier.


Go.Now.Listen.Watch. Then for those who know... doesn't the blonde kid look like an older version of Jordy?

Mantra Monday continues..

love this!

via Today I Love

"Do more of what makes you happy"

MM // do you know where you're going?

I don't either. 

Via: Wander Blog

"I don't know where i'm going, but I am on my way." Carl Sagan

monday madness

photo via: rucjurlove x yjcreative

I LOVE this picture of Carita of RUCJURLOVE in her Cheshire Cat costume she made for Phoenix Comicon. It is has so much emotion, so genuine, and its everything I love about her. 

“but i don’t want to go among mad people,” said alice.
“oh, you can’t help that,” said the cat. “we’re all mad here.”
- lewis carroll

Ira Glass on Storytelling // "Nobody tells people who are beginners,"

Ira Glass is the host and producer of This American Life, a weekly public radio show broadcast and is recognized as one of the greatest storytellers/broadcasters of our time.

I only discovered Ira Glass recently from a publicized fiasco about Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory (interesting read at your leisure) and have been fascinated with him since. A google search comes up with an amazing video made by David Shiyang Liu. 

David took Ira Glass' words (encouraging those who feel like they fall short in what they are passionate about to persevere)  + three days of Illustrator and After Effects work to create a motion-graphic, inspirational recharge for creative folks who feel like their grinding away day-after-day. 

Watch: Ira Glass on Storytelling

it's always darkest before the dawn.

monday mantra - it can't always be so uber-positive right?

via: mckensiesmith.blogspot.ca

the morning after a beautiful weekend.

monday // mantra

easy right? ask me tomorrow how I did... 

via Love Is All You Need tumblr

words to mom

Our regular monday mantra is going to be postponed; instead its a dual-purpose Mother's day post. 

1. Reminder that Mother's Day is this coming Sunday on May 13th, 2012
2. Our moms deserve some nice words. 

Growing up in a non-affectionate, functional-yet-dysfunctional chinese fam doesn't make saying "I love you", hugging, or even giving cheesy cards very easy (my mom can't read english & I <3 cheese!); instead I throw all my love-energy-for-mom into a tangible item so that it can throw my love to her for me! It works. There is also non-tangible-love-energy-for-mom like being her travel agent, form completer, translater and driver to doctors appts, etc. 

This year, I'm planning on giving her a terrarium (from Green with Envy) and a photo collage frame of everyone in the fam.

For the rest of you who have moms that you do hug, say affectionate things to and can give cards with sentimental words, skip the generic cards and pick her up this love-filled card with the perfect words from dani press. (who is currently based in Vancouver, BC!) 

"she is what's good about the world. in her i can see what we all hope still exists, here and in us."

image via dani press

I met Dani (of dani press) at the Make It! Vancouver show and fell in love with her products the minute I saw them (Dani + her sister Emily) set up their booth. They had that energy. The kind of energy that you just want to veer to. Dani's photos are travel-inspired and have these beautiful words/quotes that gave me the goosebumps. Looking at her beautiful photographs with the simple font is so magical that its like you can feel what she was feeling when she took that picture .. or that its like she was reading your mind. 

This card bundles ALL the love-energy you have for her and when she opens it she will love it. She will feel all that awesome love-energy. serious. 

Intrigued? of course you are. Now, where can you find her cards? online, if you are impatient then in select stores. 

ps: I'll be showing off her cards that I'm going to have framed and also talk about how 10% of the proceeds go to a non-profit organization called These Numbers Have Faces that is based in Portland, OR. yup.

Happy day all the past/present/future moms out there. 

music video | Caravan Palace - Rock It For Me

Everyone needs to watch the new Caravan Palace song Rock It For Me AND watch the super awesome music video. Who doesn't love music videos that are based in a sci-fi jazz era with dancing robots? I DO! 

wanderer

Monday Manta // "Not all who wander are lost" 

image/print available for purchase via Society6

music | flight facilities: crave you

Monday Mantra

Source:  Pinterest

Be nice today.

"Your beliefs don't make you a better person, your behaviour does."

Winners!! | BFF Bracelet

We apologize for the delay in posting the winners of our most recent giveaway but without further ado, the randomly chosen winners are Joyce from Alberta, Teresa C from Vancouver and Gladys T from Vancouver. Please contact me at hello(at)makemorehappy.com with your mailing address and color choice and it's all yours. Congrats!!


(I know I named it "BFF Bracelet" but you don't have to give it away, its for your wrist!)

Thank you to all the participants who liked, shared and retweeted -It is very much appreciative. 


Jennifer and I had a great show at Make It! with most of our stock depleted but we took home amazing products from many talented artists. We will post our purchases on our next blog.


For now, its been a fun but long three-days of networking, making new friends, and sharing our products + happiness at Make It! Vancouver. 


(p.s. don't fret- we will have more bracelets coming soon.. and more giveaways!)

Monday Mantra

Source: Pinterest

It's true. 

"Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you."

giveaway no. 2 :: BFF Bracelet

It has been quite the journey searching for the perfect yarn for the bracelet I had in mind months ago. I scoured the internet, all the yarn stores in Vancouver, BC and almost all the yarn shops in Portland, OR. I finally found what I was looking for at Happy Knits located on SE Hawthorne. 

I have definitely seen Madelinetosh around and have always loved the colour palettes and maybe it was the full-spectrum lighting at Happy Knits that made it so much easier for me to pick the perfect shades for the BFF bracelet.  Each color has so much depth and story to it which makes each bracelet one-of-a-kind even from the same skein. 

Fibres + Metals will be our theme this Spring and the full line will be at the Green with Envy Floral + Textiles booth at the Make It! Vancouver on April 20-22, 2012 (I'm so excited to be working with Jennifer under her textiles division!!)

I'm SO happy that I finally created the perfect bracelet and to kick off the start of whats going to be a fantastic crafty season I'd like to give away some BFF bracelets to a bunch lucky people. 

How to win win win:  [in each entry, state your favorite shade for the bracelet]

1. Become a fan & share on the MakeMoreHappy Facebook page = 1 entry  (if you are already a fan SHARE IT & write on the wall about your color choice)
2. Follow us on Twitter and RT this giveaway (ensure to include @makemorehappy  = 1 entry
3. Blog about this giveaway+ post the link on the comments = 1 entry

• Max of 3 entries 
• Prizes can be picked up at Make It! at the Green with Envy Floral + Textiles table; If you are unable to attend it can be mailed after the event. 
• Contest ends on Wednesday, April 18th 2012 4pm (PST).  Winners will be announced/emailed shortly thereafter. 

Good luck!

monday // mantra :: What To Focus On

one of my favorites from Marc Johns

via: Marc Johns website

monday // mantra

"you attract what you put out there"

via workisnotajob.

Monday // Mantra

Our first Monday Mantra is dedicated to Carita. She's  off to a brand new adventure today and we are wishing her safe journeys and all the best (and of course.. FUN FUN FUN!)

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; If you can dream it, you can become it." W.A. Ward

in love with | the weaver house

Two Beautiful Sisters + Amazing Talent + Ultimate Creativity = The Weaver House.

What do these girls NOT do? I'm not sure. 

They (Hannah & Kelty) have their hands in photography, design work, vintage + handmade items and more. much more. 

Truly inspirational.  

and guess what? 

They are officially going to shoot our F/W 2012 collection. 

I'm the luckiest girl alive!!

Check out this video of their new adventures!

If you need more of the weaver women check out their website, facebook page and especially the blog. 

Stay tuned. 

Guest Blogging at Portobello West :: Anna Vandas

I had the pleasure of meeting Anna Vandas at the holiday Portobello West show in December. 

I quickly glanced at her products during set-up and made a mental note to stop by during my break. Anna's superb sense of harmonizing colors, bringing simplicity to life left me with several products; 3 pairs of "button earrings" and a necklace adorned with a button. My only issue was narrowing buttons down to my favorites.  {buttons and pretty fabric make me happy!}

Two things were Christmas presents for cousin Camilla. I finally was able to catch up with this little jet-setter and snap a quick photo of her wearing the stunning pieces handmade by Anna.

I'm crossing my fingers that Anna will be at the next Portobello West Market on March 24 + 25.

Not only is Anna a talented jewellery designer, she is also a singer-songwriter, painter, dancer and (as I learned from Portobello) a mom!  Make sure to head over to her website to check out music, commission pieces and more.

bookshelf obsession

Stumbled across this awesome site: Bookshelf Porn to satisfy my love for books + bookshelves. One day... I'll have my very own unique + fun + most likely unorganized bookshelf full of books of my own. For now, I have one 5-shelf bookcase.  Bookshelf Porn is a photo-blog collection of the best bookshelf photos from around the world. 

Photo Source: Bookshelf Porn

inspiration + design | Gandhi's Top 10 Fundamentals

Francesca from Idea Obscura was inspired by this and designed her very own poster. 

Not only is it typographically awesome but she's offering it as a free download to have on your desktop or print to hang on your own wall.

Discover | Yarnia, Portland, Oregon

I love Portland for many many reasons; but this last visit made me fall into a deeper love affair with this beautiful city. 

Why? because something epic is happening in the craft world. 

Something magical. 

A DIY yarn store called Yarnia. 

Source: www.yarniapdx.com

The shelves are filled with the most amazing cones of color. Every color you can imagine in  many different types of fibers. From cotton, wool, rayon to silk, cashmere and merino; all in single filaments!

How does it work? You pick your own fibers, colours + weight and they wind up your custom cone in whatever amount you need (charged by the pound!). 

Source: www.yarniapdx.com

Once you have chosen your unique combination of yarn, Lindsay (owner), will thread them onto a industrial-ish machine, flip the switch and spin them all onto a cardboard cone. In a matter of minutes, my little combination was completed.

Source: www.yarniapdx.com

Lindsay's revolutionary store pays tribute to Montreal's La Bobineuse de Laine which she explains in the "About" section of the website.

Stumped with colour combinations? There are cones that are premade with swatches to show you how it will turn out. 

Not sure how your color combination will turn out? Try it out: Yarnia provides crochet hooks + knitting needles for you to work up a little swatch. 

Is Portland too far? Yarnia has an amazing online shop that sells all their pre-made cones.

Oh. But you are interested in making your own custom yarn online? YOU CAN DO THAT TOO! On the Yarnia Custom Yarn Creator! It even gives you a little snapshot of what your creation will look like.

If you are a fibre-feen you must go. If I haven't fully convinced you, visit their website.

In the words of Lindsay: Come, lets make yarn.