spooky, scary

Don't mind the 30Rock reference in the title. You'll only get it if you're a silly pants. 

((werewolf bar mitzvah anyone?)) ;)

Chase & I don't usually celebrate halloween, but we couldn't pass up these costumes last night.

If you're confused, I'm "Where's Walda" and Chase is a dirty Boulder hippie, complete with a wolf t-shirt, rolled up linen pants, and socks/sandals combo. Winning.

love.

sponsor highlight + giveaway: after nine to five

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! I thought I'd do a fun sponsor highlight in lieu of this week's favorite things Friday! Are you ready? 

After Nine to Five is one of my fabulous sponsors that I absolutely love perusing on (at least) a weekly basis. After Nine to Five is a shop run by Ashley that carries funky jewelry, unique wall art/prints, and packages for blog design. She is such a sweet girl and it's been a privilege to have her as an Oh, Sweet Joy! sponsor!

Here's a little bit about Ashley's inspiration behind her shop:

My blog and shop were both started as hobbies while I tried to figure out what exactly self-employment was going to mean to me when I quit my job with nothing lined up in November 2010. I had no clue that either one would become anywhere close to what it is today and would become a means to support myself and my journey through life. My blog is still linked to my other hobbies - such as photography, cooking, and crafts - but it has become a way for me to spread the word about what I love doing: creating.

The winner of today's giveaway will win ANY 2 PRINTS found here!

If you see some baller jewelry in her shop you want to snag, Ashley is offering a HEFTY discount! Use the code HEREFORTHEPARTY for 25% off!!!

Check out Ashley at the following places!

 twitter: @AFTERNINETOFIVE

Facebook: AFTERNINETOFIVEBLOG

 blog: HTTP://WWW.AFTERNINETOFIVE.NET

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Here's how you enter the giveaway:

Mandatory Entry:

Head on over to the After Nine to Five  and tell me your favorite item 

(if you can pick one!!).

Extra Entries:

1. Follow both Ashley (@AfterNinetoFive) and myself (@ohsweetjoy) on twitter. (one entry)

2. Be a follower of Yellow Songbird via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

3. Tweet, Facebook, OR blog about this giveaway. (ONE entry)

 Feel free to use this:

I just entered to win TWO prints from @AfterNinetoFive on @ohsweetjoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

love.

ps winners of all outstanding giveaways will be announced next week! 

gourmet gifts

I'd venture to say that the majority of the people that follow along on this blog are "creative types." Ladies who like to make things with their hands, give gifts that are handmade, and who love thinking up new things to create. Christmas is only a mere two months away and so it's time for you to start thinking about those gifts you'll be making for your loved ones this year!

I always struggle with making things for family & friends. What fabric do I use? Will they even use this? How big of  handbag will they carry? Will this potholder match their kitchen? 

However, one thing is for sure. Everyone likes food and it isn't difficult to find out "tastes" regarding food & tasty treats. That's where this book, Gourmet Gifts, comes along. Dinah Corley, the author of this beautiful book, has written an amazing go-to gift guide for gifts that are both edible and thoughtful.

 From the recipes to the packaging, this book is a really great resource to have on-hand when trying to come up with unique and delicious Hostess, Teacher, and Christmas gifts, along with Get Well Soon packages and "Thinking of You" surprises. 

I'm really looking forward to trying an abundance of these ideas, especially the Cardamom Coffee Can Cake and the Chalkboard Cheese Board. The book in itself would be an excellent gift, don't you think?

SURPRISE GIVEAWAY! 

One winner will win a copy of this amazing book, Gourmet Gifts, courtesy of The Harvard Common Press. Simply leave a comment below to enter. 

Check out Dinah's blog while you're cruising around your daily blog reads today! 

love.

I received this book courtesy of The Harvard Common Press & Dinah Corley. Opinions are my own. 

adventures of the wandering whippy cake!

It's that time again, friends. This has been such a fun adventure! I think we have one more  "switcharoo." There's something about picking out an outfit based on an accessory that is challenging, yet thrilling to "work backwards." 

Here's my take on Moriah's original whippy cake appliqué. 

I loved the look of this pretty little whippy cake just simply clipped in my hair. Aren't the colors fab? Perfect for all seasons.

Outfit breakdown:

Clip: Whippy Cake

Scarf: Nordstrom 

Tank: Whitley Kross for Anthropologie

Mug: Chelsea ((Gift from Erika!))

Sweater: Anthropologie

Denim: Joe's Jeans

Oxford Heels: Steve Madden ((obsessed with these))

Make sure you check out the other gals' posts to see how they styled their Whippy Cakes!

Lindsay * Ilene * Moriah * Sandy

love. 

handmade monday: small talk studio

Small Talk is a shop that I've stumbled upon recently that I literally kept saying, "Chase, look at this print!" and "Oh my gosh, Chase look at these cute cards!" over & over. I recently received a few items from this shop and was amazed at the quality of her work. I was giddy when it all arrived! Especially these fun fox cards.  

Alyssa is the mastermind behind the gorgeous artwork and handmade craftsmanship over at Small Talk Studio. She just recently opened her shop back up, so go stock up on prints for your home, apartment, office, or for Christmas gifts!

 Let's read what she has to say about her sweet handmade shop, shall we?

((we shall))

What inspires you most?

First and foremost I'm inspired by the people that surround me. I've been lucky enough to have some incredibly talented, creative, and ambitious friends. Their energy alone motivates me to constantly create work and search for new ventures. Visually I'd say I'm drawn to vintage objects and that aesthetic, as well as Scandinavian and mid-century patterns and illustrations. Recently I've been drooling over the work of Danielle Kroll, Ping Zhu, and Meg Hunt (always drooling over Meg's work). I really love the texture, looseness, and painterly feel of work created by these artists and these are things I'd like to experiment with in my own work. Traveling always inspires me, and I'm hoping my recent move to Minnesota will bring some excitement to my work as well.

What's your favorite color/color scheme?

Not that you would guess this by looking at my work, but my favorite color is grey. I love all tones of grey. As far as color scheme goes, I've been really drawn to warm colors like orange, pink-red, and mustard recently. Maybe the change of seasons has something to do with that!

What is your favorite part about running your handmade biz?

My favorite part about running a homemade business is being able to be really in touch with the people that like and buy my work. Nothing makes me happier than positive feedback, and I'm always striving to offer new items that will be appreciated by my customers. I'm always up for suggestions, or recommendations when it comes to new ideas for prints, and I hope to be able to grow my business to offer more fun and exciting products.

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Alyssa has generously offered Oh, Sweet Joy! readers the following code for free shipping off your orders. (holla!)

Make sure you check out more from Alyssa at the following places, you will no doubt be inspired by her creativity, her passion, and her work!

main site :: www.alyssanassner.com

shop :: www.etsy.com/shop/smalltalkstudio

twitter :: www.twitter.com/small_talk

blog :: www.ten-paces.blogspot.com

love.

Oh, Sweet Joy's HANDMADE HOLIDAYS!

This year instead of a blogiversary giveaway party, I wanted to invest my time into something that will directly help handmade shop owners & do a Holiday Gift Guide. SO, with that said, I am so pumped to announce:

Mark your calendars, peeps! 

I L-O-V-E featuring handmade shops that work so hard to create fabulous goods AND helping people not necessarily in this "handmade bubble" to find some wonderful gifts for their loved ones. This is the perfect solution. 

Here's how it works:

The gift guide will be an entire week of posts ((one category a day)) starting on Monday and ending on Saturday. It will be such a fun handmade party! I'm more than excited to highlight and feature so many talented shops...and help you get your Christmas shopping done early!

The categories include, but are not limited to:

baby + children

adorned (jewelry)

sewn (fabric fun - quilts, handbags, bunting, etc)

accessories (headbands, scarves etc)

fashion & vintage (clothing, shoes, housewares, etc)
sweets (edibles - cake pops, cookies etc)

The fee for each participating shop will be $20 and will come with more than just a spot in the gift guide (details upon acceptance). Shops will also be asked to supply a discount code for the "Handmade Holiday" Gift Guide readers. 


This is SUCH a great way to drive extra traffic to your shop during peak shopping months. You will be exposing your shop to not only my faithful readers, but also to every other participating shops' "fans" as they tell their customers about "Handmade Holidays!"


There are a (very) limited amount of spots in each category, so act fast!

Want to be included in the fun? Email me  (KimDavis09ATgmailDOTcom) to "enter" your shop. 

You will be emailed upon acceptance into the "Handmade Holidays" Gift Guide.
(I wish I could accept everyone, there's just not time for that. womp womp) 

love.

ps thanks to Yellow Heart Art for the baller graphic!

NOTE: this is not a giveaway, but simply a gift guide in the form of a highlight and feature. 

sponsor highlight + giveaway: restless hearts

((LOTS of winners announced in the post right before this one!))

Restless Hearts is a great shop on etsy that specializes in gorgeous vintage finds and unique handmade crafts. Fun housewares, unique clothing, and eclectic accessories adorn this shop and are each awaiting to adorn YOU and your home!

Here's a blurb about the shop from the shop owner:

This shop is a collaboration of my two loves: treasure hunting and sewing. 

My grandmother taught me about thrifting. We used to go thrifting all the time when I was little. She also taught me to use what I had, not to be wasteful. I love finding things that other can love and giving them a second chance. 

My grandmother also taught me to sew. I went to school for 8 years for fine art, but in the end, crafting was my one true love. I really love embroidery and applique. I also like to use mainly recycled or repurposed fabrics in my work. Giving life to something new and making into a precious piece of art is such a liberating experience. 

SO. COOL. Love that passion!

Here are some fun items you'll find over at Restless Hearts:

Today, one winner will get a chance to win both, this clutch and this SUPER cute heart garland! I'll bribe the winner for that clutch. Need.

Here's how you enter the giveaway:

Mandatory Entry:

Head on over to the Restless Hearts Shop  and tell me your favorite item 

(if you can pick one!!).

Extra Entries:

1. Follow both Restless Hearts (@Restlesscrafts) and myself (@ohsweetjoy) on twitter. (one entry)

2. Be a follower of Yellow Songbird via Google Friend Connect. (one entry)

3. Tweet, Facebook, OR blog about this giveaway. (ONE entry)

 Feel free to use this:

I just entered to win some vintage goodies from @RestlessCrafts on @ohsweetjoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

love.

WIWW - one dress, five ways

I was so giddy when I received this dress from Shop Kempt. It is called the "Sonia Abstract Dress" and honestly, y'all, it's amazing. 

It comes with a removable belt, that I've worn with several other dresses. It's burgundy (ahem, maroon) with gold studs on it. Fab.

I love the pattern, the asymmetrical hem, the colors, the silhouette, and the kajillion possibilities for wearing this beauty! Today, I thought I'd show you several ways to outfit this dress from dressy & glam to casual & layered. Enjoy :)

In the first look, I wanted to let the dress do the talking and so I just dressed it up with some gold heels. To make it more casual, all I did was replace the heels with some oxford pumps, replaced the belt with a thicker "bow" belt, and added a scarf (made by my precious Memaw). 

For the next two looks, I wanted to show off the dress' versatility. I layered it up with tights, a long sleeved tee, and a long vest. I topped it off with a belt, boots, and a necklace (funky vintage lovely) for a casual and comfortable look. 

I used Lindsay's trick for turning a dress into a skirt by folding the top inside itself, turning it around to the long side, and pairing it with a lace tunic. I covered the "bulk" with a belt and voila! 

 This, of course, is my favorite look. Cozy it up with a long jacket, boots, and a scarf. Perfecto!

Check out Shop Kempt and spruce up your fall & winter wardrobe with a fun dress or skirt/top combo! 

love.

Today, I'm linking up with Lindsey for What I Wore Wednesday!

LOTS of winners & discount codes!

WINNERS: EMAIL ME (kimdavis09ATgmailDOTcom) to claim your prize!

The winner of the $30 Amy Cornwell shop credit:

The winner of the NS Pottery shop credit:

The winner of the Soleil Selene shop credit:

The winner of the maddynbella & dondalees group giveaway:

Use the following codes for a limited time! :)

NS Pottery:

Soleil Selene:

Maddynbella:

Dondalees:

fallin'

Still can't get enough of this season!

I made these fun & festive pumpkins on Saturday evening. I'm itching to make a wreath next! 

What's your favorite autumn-inspired decorative item in your home?

love.

morning

Oh Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. ((isaiah 33:2))

((doesn't this look lovely?))

love.

surprise!

i just added 7 "boutique style" headbands to the shop! they are inspired by the beauty of autumn. i'm smitten with this season!

they are all ONE.OF.A.KIND. & never last longer than a few hours, so act quickly if you find one ((or two!)) you "fancy!" ;)

love. 

GROUP sponsor highlight + giveaway: melodyjoy1983, whitney rae paper, AND rouge & whimsy!

Don't forget to enter the other giveaways found here, here & here! Winners to ALL outstanding giveaways will be announced next Thursday! I apologize for the delay in this post. I forgot to "schedule" it and we went out of town and didn't have internet access. Oopsies!

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WhitneyRae paper is a stationery shop that is stocked full of gorgeous paper goods. I am such a sucker for stationery and *all* of her items would be perfect to send a little note to a friend! Who doesn't like a little snail mail now & again?

Here are a few of my favorites from her shop:

Today, Whitney is giving away a set of three notebooks! SCORE! I would *LOVE* to sketch some ideas and write down my to-do lists in these pretties :)

You can also use the code OHSWEETJOY for 20% off your purchase. 

Find more from WhitneyRae Paper at the following places:

twitter :: @whitneyraedavis

blog :: www.mandw.typepad.com

facebook :: facebook.com/whitneyraepaper

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Once upon a time, a girl in Colorado received a lovely cowl from melodyjoy1983 and fell in love. Now, it is her turn to share the love.

MelodyJoy1983 is a shop that sells handknit lovelies that are *perfect* for fall & winter! They are SO cozy and pretty and honestly, incredibly well-made! She also sells super unique & fun leg warmers for the gal who is all about keeping it colorful. 

Who WOULDN'T want to cuddle up in one of these gorgeous cowls?! The winner of today's giveaway will win the gorgeous cowl in the top left photo in the color of their choice! It's the one I have and you.will.love.it. Promise.

You can also use the following code:

Be sure to check out more from Melody here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodyjoy1983

blog: www.ramblingsofaLovesickmommy.com

twitter: @melodyjoy1983

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Finally, I get to brag on my girl, Erika. She is such a sweetheart and I've loved her handmade shop since I first laid eyes on it. Her shop, Rouge & Whimsy,  sells amazing headbands that are incredibly unique and gorgeous. I'd rock every single one of them in a heartbeat. 

Here are a few beauties you can find in her shop

((take a look at the sneak peek of her new pillows coming soon!))

Today's winner will win this boho & chic coral flower tribal headband. 

I am really jealous of you guys today! Look at all the great loot you have the chance to win! You can also use the following code:

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One winner will win ALL THREE prizes, but EVERYONE can use the discount codes. Have fun!

To enter this GROUP giveaway, all you have to do is tell me something GOOD that's happened this week :) 

To earn extra entries:

1. visit each shop/blog and tell me what your favorite items are in EACH shop (one entry). 

melodyjoy1983 ** whitneyRae paper ** rouge & whimsy

2. follow yellow songbird via Google Friend Connect (one entry).

3.  tweet/facebook/blog about this giveaway (one entry).  

Feel free to use this:

GROUP GIVEAWAY on @ohsweetjoy's blog! (Featuring @whitneyraedavis, @rougeandwhimsy, & @melodyjoy1983!)  http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985

love.