My Haven Conference 2013 Recap

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Roeshel

This year’s Haven Conference was the second blog conference I’ve ever attended (Haven 2012 was my first). Since I’m an introvert, I felt that I missed out on so many opportunities to meet everyone last year. This year, I realized that others felt just as shy as I do so I made the effort to step out of my comfort zone and introduce myself first (although if I didn’t walk up and hug you…I still had a few moments of lack of self esteem and fear) and even now realize that there were a ton of blog friends I wanted to meet but never did. I didn’t even catch a glimpse of a lot of bloggers I wanted to meet the entire time I was there. I guess it’s bound to happen in a crowd that HUGE. Bummer. But like I’ve said before: “Meeting face to face in real life is awesome when there’s an opportunity but I’m just as blessed by my online all-day, all-year-long, anytime friendships too!”

What is Haven? Haven Conference is the place to celebrate that DIY spirit. It is where DIY lovers from all over will gather together to encourage and learn from one another.

First and foremost, I have to give a BIG thanks to Angelina from JoJo & Eloise and Sew Crafty Kids.

I was so excited that my daughter Bri decided to join me on the trip to Atlanta, content to just relax by the pool and have some stress free time away. She’s been wanting to start a blog for quite a while now and so when I tossed out a request for a last minute Haven Conference ticket as a surprise to Bri, Angelina couldn’t attend and generously donated her ticket. Got that? Donated. She wouldn’t take $. Angelina, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. Bri came back feeling so inspired, so empowered and super motivated. She learned so much. I love seeing her excitement and her passion fired up.

Angelina’s kindness made all the difference in our amazing experience. I had her ship us some JoJo & Eloise and Sew Crafty Kids business cards for Bri to hand out to at least give Angelina a small presence there. So, if you’d visit her sites, it’d go a long way to contributing to a HUGE group hug for Angelina since she couldn’t be there in person.

The conference kicked off with the gorgeous Ana White telling her story. Let me take a moment to say…she is radiant! Getting to know her better through her keynote speech was a great way to start 3 days of awesomeness, encouragement to believe in ourselves.

You guys, I have NEVER talked so much in my entire life as I did these three days. I know I wasn’t the only hoarse voice but my days are spend talking to a dog and a cat and a few hours in the evening to my husband (when I can get a word in). I’m just not a “talker”. I sure wish I was…I’d have that low sexy voice all the time!

My shyness affects my ability to whip out my camera and ask for photos too. I didn’t take my Canon for that reason…I knew I wouldn’t pull it out of the bag. And you’ll notice it was mostly on the last day: one outfit…not the two cute dresses I wore. Bummed about that. It’s rare that I’m sporting anything other than paint splattered fashion after all! Poor lighting makes for blurry photos. Ugh. But I worked up the courage to get a few, however left without getting so many more than I wanted.

I managed to squeeze in a few classes between hugging and chatting with friends and sponsors: I couldn’t resist the opportunity to support my favorite brands and to understand sponsorship and advertising with blogs from a brand’s point of view. I admire the speakers for their bravery, the ability to be a natural at public speaking and for generously sharing their knowledge. Each class I was able to attend was SO fun! And definitely inspired me to remember to do what I love, not what others love. So many inspiring tips for decorating. If I wasn’t so tired, I’d be rearranging my book shelves right this minute or digging out my Kreg Jig to finally put it to good use.

I still missed out on so many amazing classes. I seriously wanted to attend them all! Why oh why can’t we all have clones?

Of note:

Spending some time with the brands I work with face-to-face again was another highlight of the event.

FrogTape

Rust-Oleum

Shaw Floors

The sponsors and vendors spoiled us big time! I had to check a bag on the way home as well as ship a package to my home. Thank you so much to all of the sponsors and vendors!
The accommodations, food and service at the Grand Hyatt were AWESOME!

The dance parties were so much fun! Especially when you’ve learned the DIY/Haven shuffle (created and choreographed by Traci at Beneath My Heart).

The closing by Bob Johnson from Habitat for Humanity was not only funny, it was truly up-lifting and inspiring. The message: Do Good on a Grand Scale. Love that and definitely something at the top of my lift of things to do now.

Thank YOU for each visit, each comment, your support, your encouragement, your compliments, for sharing your projects as well as sharing mine through social media. Whether I’ve met you at Haven or online, I’m so glad we’re friends!

And last but not least, another group hug and HUGE thank you to the amazing Haven team for organizing an inspiring, fun and successful event. It’s everything I’d ever want in a dream conference and you pulled it off. THANK YOU, Rhoda, Kristin, Beth, Traci, Sarah & Chris!

Curious to see who else was there? Visit the Haven Link Up page.

DaisyMaeBelle Home Tour

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Roeshel

Today I’ve invited a friend over to share her home tour. Meet: Melissa from DaisyMaeBelle. I always find her home inspiring, warm and welcoming and I know you will too. Here she is:

Incredible?!

I’m not even believing that I am here at the DIY Showoff!

Roeshel is so talented, and beautiful and creative,

and I LOVE her blog and her projects!

And, I LOVE visiting her blog!

I’m so grateful to her for letting me share with you today!

My name is Melissa,

and I share my home and projects over at DaisyMaeBelle.

WELCOME to my home!

I so wish that you could be here for real. . .

I’d tell you about my rusty gate. . .

and, my favorite mirror that hangs in my dining room.

It’s my favorite, because it belonged to my grandmother.

I remember it hanging in her formal living room when I was a little girl.

I’d tell you about my hutch that I found at a yard sale 15 years ago for $75,

and how I’ve painted it twice now.

I’d show you my hydrangea wreath that I made last year.

You see, I have this hydrangea bush that blooms thousands of huge blooms every year.

And, I have the blooms all over my house. . .

and I give them to my mom. . .

and my friends. . .

and my neighbors. . .

And, it has been blooming these thousands of blooms every year for at least 10 years.

Even though I do NOTHING to it!

I’d show you my new rug,

that took me 2 years to find.

Not because I couldn’t find anything,

but because I couldn’t find anything that was cheap enough for me.

Until my husband finally said,

I would REALLY like a rug.

So, I went ahead and bought one that week 🙂

I’d show you one of my many gallery walls.

I have gallery walls all over my house.

Not because they are all the rage,

but because I just like to hang a lot of pictures. . .

How could I pick just one?!

I’d show you the table that I just painted.

And, I’d tell you how I found it in my in-laws basement 17 years ago. . .

back when my husband and I first got married,

and we couldn’t afford furniture,

so, we would go to my in-laws basement to see what we could find there 🙂

Maybe we could take a break and sit in these chairs.

You’d be able to see how comfy they actually were,

and I would want your opinion on what fabric I should recover them in. . .

and if I should paint the wood or leave it alone?

I’d tell you about this table that’s so special to me.

It was the first piece of furniture that my husband and I bought 17 years ago.

We were just out of college,

and were totally broke,

but one night we went over to the Pottery Barn outlet,

and they had this table for $75,

and I fell in love with it,

and my sweet fiancé bought it for us.

And, we stored it in my parent’s garage until we got married.

I’d show you my kitchen,

and tell you about how my dad painted my cabinets. . .

. . . twice.

And, about how he told me that he was glad to paint them,

but he wasn’t planning on doing it again 🙂

I’d show you how I had framed some ironstone platters that I found down at Goodwill.

And, the chalkboard that I painted right on the wall and then hung a frame on top of.

I’d show you my silver platter wall that is in my downstairs bathroom.

And, tell you that it was there

because I saw this picture on Pinterest of a silver platter wall,

and I fell in love with it,

and I didn’t have a wall available in my kitchen or dining room,

but I did have a ton of silver platters from wedding gifts that I had never used.

So, I painted the bathroom

and hung them in there.

It sort of makes sense since this bathroom is in a little hallway between my kitchen and dining room?

I’d show you Daisy’s room.

We just finished it.

Every other room upstairs is still a work in progress.

Anna Belle’s room is next on the list.

I can’t wait to show you all of those. . .

And, since I would have worn you out

and talked your ear off.

We could go sit by my fire and just relax. . .

With a big glass of sweet tea. . .

And, you could tell me everything there was to know about you 🙂

I’d love for you to come visit me over at DaisyMaeBelle!

Life to the full!

Melissa

Lovely! Each room is so beautiful and welcoming. I love her warm collected style…like every vignette has a story to share. Please be sure to visit some Melissa to see her creative DIY too! Thank you so much, Melissa, for inviting us into your home today!