10 Things To Know About Me, the BlogHer Edition

That is, 10 more thing to know about me before getting to BlogHer'13 in Chicago! Make sure you link up with Steph from A Grande Life with our own 10 Things before we all meet up in Chicago!

Look for this friendly face at BlogHer'13! @sweetstellas

1) From age 6 to 14, I wanted to be a marine biologist {more specifically a biological oceanographer}. Then I took trigonometry and said...word I shouldn't type here.

2) I used to think that turtle necks and button up vests were so cool

3) My first ever concert was 98 Degrees. Their opener? Jessica Simpson.

4)  I have not seen the following movies in their entirety: The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Pretty in Pink, Risky Business.

5) I have, however, watched Cars, Shrek, The Ant Bully, Ratatouille, Polar Express on repeat and loved every moment of it

6) I started writing short stories when I was in grade 5 (so about age 8) and started writing poetry in grade 9. I was published in the news paper a few times, and even have one of my poems from late in high school published in a book.

7) I grew up with a dalmatian named Tony {short for Anthony Aloicious} that would sleep on my twin bed when I was sick or sad. Dalmatian....as in huge hyper dog.

8) I hyphenated my last name so as to always hold onto a piece of my Dad, who passed away 3 years before my wedding.

9) Tomatoes are squishy and I do not like them

10) I HAVE to sleep facing the door, but not on the side closest to the door. And when my husband travels for work...who-eee! Every baby gate gets locked!


So...what should we know about YOU!?!

A Year in Review

Another year has come and gone...another year of blogging, creating and sharing amazing memories with some incredible people.

January

In January, I was Freshly Launched by LaunchHER, which was a pretty huge accomplishment. It's crazy to look back a full 12 months later and see just how far my work and focus has come!

I also upcycled some jars, and shared fun crafts with you!

February

I started sculpting accessories and pendants in February, and rekindled my love with clay.

I also wrote for fashion houses Matthew Williamson and Stella McCartney!

March

The colder weather of Canadian March brought DIY Cake Stands, sponsorships with the Road to 30, and a vlog Guest Room Makeover.

April

BlogHer'12 took centre stage in April, as did my first of many celebrity designs with my journal and cocktail ring designed for Tenley Molzahn.

May

I was busy in May prepping for my son's 2nd birthday party,  designing for Ashley Greene, and creating pendants for the grand opening of the Carolinian Winery.

 

June

In June, I answered some questions about me...what makes me amazing {do people really think that? Gees!} and what was my first piece of art.

And I got a little sentimental about my Bear turning 2.

July

In July, BlogHer12 prep was in full swing and the butterflies were floating around my tummy.

August

Only the time of my life...BlogHer12 in New York City. Three days with the most amazing people I've ever met....loads of laughs, late night dancing, a little learning, and tonnes of perspective.

I also designed for celebs Tina Fey, Leah Remini and Keira Knightley!

September

I turned the big 3-0 in September, and had an awesome time at the party that my husband spent nearly 9 months planning!

It was also a month for blog redesign, visiting the home decor store Linen Chest, designing for Emily Blunt, and Mama's Night Out at the Western Fair.

October

Topping off at a record 34 blog posts, October brought some creative writing {that I hope to develop!}, posts about fashion inspiration, and the continuation of a blog series on the principles and elements of art.

November

Another 34 posts in November, and I was busily prepping for Christmas with friday decor posts, DecoArt projects  and a free winter printable that has gone off the charts on Pinterest!

December

It has been anything but quiet around here. Last minute gift ideas with DecoArt, clothing reviews, and more talk about the elements of art.

What will 2013 bring? Weekly fashion features, a new series about the Voice behind the Blog {aka: me getting really honest about what I am doing to set a healthy and positive example for my son}, elements and principles of design features, more projects with DecoArt, and monthly home decor projects in the New Year New Home series!

Cheers!

Achieving Balance through Art and Design

A couple of months ago, I was asked to create a leaflet for the Argyle Art in the Park with something informative.

I got thinking about the elements and principals of art. Way back in highschool, these were things that our studio teacher Mr. Flink would drill into our brains, and little did I know how much I would use them later in life in my professional career.

Every day in my studio, I think about contrast, line, movement, space and form.

I strive to use these principals to create a balanced design, albeit a less traditional form of balance. You'll see that many of my paintings are weighted to one side, be it the top, left, right or bottom. I use contrasting colours to offset the weight, dry brushing with drips and am conscious of the space within the painting itself {ie: background, middle ground, foreground...creating layers for depth}.

Feel free to use the leaflet to become educated in the elements and principals of art...hopefully it will help you understand what an abstract artist does and that it not just all haphazard design.

Guest Bloggers Wanted!

I am so happy to announce that starting October 2012, I will be featuring two guest bloggers a month over here at Sweet Stella's!

Have something artsy, crafty, DIY, fashion or inspiring to share? Here's the place to do it!

Everyone is welcome to apply, and after reviewing your entry, I'll let you know if you were selected, and when I will need your post by!

Applying couldn't be easier!

Leaving on a jetplane!

That's right!! As you read this, Hubs and the Bear are taking me to the airport in Toronto to board my plane to BlogHer'12!

What's waiting for me when I get there? A picnic in Central Park with my gal Shizz from Baby Shmizz, then an afternoon of sightseeing with Shaun from Living with Peanut and Mel from Never a Dull Moment...otherwise known as my awesomesauce roommates on this crazy adventure!

Thursday night will be full of fun as we get our cocktail dresses on and head out for dinner and drinks, meeting bloggers along the way.

I am truly so very thankful for this opportunity, and am excited to share with you when I get back!

Anticipation is high!!

Gees, the title of this post might be the biggest undersatement of the year!

In just two days, after a little car ride from London to Toronto and saying farewell to my boys, I will be boarding a plane and headed to NYC to BlogHer.

In just two day, I will be able to put my freshest face forward for the sponsors who have supported my journey to the largest blogging conference in North America.

In just two days, I will converge with over 3000 like minded individuals to engage, connect and learn.

Gosh!!

I have probably packed enough dresses, wedge heels, ballet flats, skinny jeans, and accessories to clothe myself for a few weeks...but I figure one outfit for day, and one outfit for night...with different shoe options. Flats, obviously for walking through out the city and Central Park.

Ack!!

TWO DAYS!!

How are you handling the anticipation?

Who...Me? You want to know...me?

Oh hey!!

A lot of bloggers heading off to the Big Apple for BlogHer'12 in a few days (4 sleeps!! yay!) are doing little intros of themselves on their blogs so people know what to expect and blah blah blah.

So...here goes.

I'm Shannon, but will most definitely answer to Shan, Shan North, Stella (so many people think that's actually my name, totally not! It was my great grandmothers name, though!), Mama, Girl-who-drinks-tequila{by choice!}.

I'm an almost 30 year old mama to a 2 year old little fireball named Owen, and the wife of a loving and very understanding dude named Colin who puts up with my antics and artsy-fartsy nature.


I'm a painter...a sculptor...a dreamer...a writer! I'm a total goofball, but I take things way too seriously sometimes. I have mortality issues, Post-Partum Depression {even though my kiddo is 2...it doesn't magically go away}, anxiety, and have really really bigtime fears about not being here one day.

I keep it real.

I'm stoked to meet my roommates {Shizz, Shaun and Mel} on Thursday. There will be wine...and there will be cupcakes! These are women that I've known for about 3 years since we were all pregnant with our kiddos at the same time. I am...just giddy with excitement to meet Jenni, MrsG, Steph and Kelly for coffee, and cross paths with so many other amazing women like Mandy from Harper's Happenings, Katie from Ruffles&Truffles, and Dee the Cocktail Deeva herself.

I was just telling my husband the other day that I feel like I know most of these women already, especially Jenni and Shizz. Those two ladies...honesty, expect water works when I meet them. From monster babies to PPD...we've been through it together and I've been so grateful to them both, that to be able to thank them in person...opportunity of  life time.

I'm a social media butterfly, I love to dance {so excited for Sparklecorn} and it doesn't take me long to get comfy and come out of my shell. I'm very open about my art, life and PPD so if you have a question, ask!!

Come find me at BlogHer'12...I'll be the one in the raspberry pink cropped pants!

Why BlogHer?

A few weeks ago, I engaged in a #mombizmondays chat where we got talking about conferences...

Who's going to what conference?
Will you blog while you're there?
What social media tools are you going to use?
Are you bringing a laptop?

Then the big question...

Why did you choose the conference that you're going to?

This led me to think about why I'm going to BlogHer'12 and what I hope to get out of it. Of course I want to promote myself as a freelance writer, artist and excellent, quality blogger, but at the heart of it I want to...

Connect
Engage
Network

I want to meet the people who inspire me to blog like Mrs. Gloves, Jenni From The Blog, and Goober Monkey. I want to have a blast with my roommates Baby Shmizz, Living With Peanut and Never a Dull Moment and tour the sites of NYC.

I want to picnic in Central Park with Shizz on the Thursday, kick up our feet on a rock, and be silly.

I want to go to Tiffany's and treat myself to something for my 30th birthday.

I want to live...and experience every piece of BlogHer that I can. I want to soak it all in, write it all down, and blog about it when I get home and am able to digest the most influential weekend of my professional career.

So...why did you choose BlogHer'12?