Oh Joy!

a "this & that" winter {giveaway}... 25 Jan 2011

Lighten up your winter woes by wearing this EmersonMade pleated blouse and decorating with that Hector pleated lamp from Gretel...

To enter, simply visit EmersonMade and Gretel, then leave a comment below stating how this pairing would brighten up your winter. Entries must be posted by this Friday, January 28th at 9am PST*, and one winner will be chosen at random.

As an extra bonus for all Oh Joy readers, both are offering a special 15% discount from today through next Tuesday, February 1st. For Gretel enter the code OHJOY at check out, and for EmersonMade enter code ohjoyem521111 at checkout. — Joy

UPDATE: Congrats to Jessica L. from Tabernacle, NJ for being our winner this time!

{*Sorry, limited to US residents only. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes. $343 total value. Winner will be contacted by email once comments close and announced on the bottom of this post soon after. Good luck!}

currently snacking on... 25 Jan 2011

Last week at Alt, sweet Jordan gave me one of these amazing Rocky Road chocolate bars from a San Francisco favorite, Bi-Rite Creamery. I haven't had a chance to visit Bi-Rite during my past visits to SF, so I loved that I could get a taste from afar with the chocolate bar version of one of their favorite flavors. Made by Charles Chocolates, the ice cream chocolate bar is an exclusive item to Bi-Rite...and boy is it GOOOOD! — Joy

{photo by Oh Joy}

{work in progress} our bedroom update... 25 Jan 2011

Since I finally conceptualized my bedroom sketch last week, we've been making some progress! So I thought it would be fun to share a little update with you guys! Even though I'm a designer, I'm hardly a DIY-er, and prefer to leave certain things to an expert if it's something I don't know how to do really well myself. So, yesterday, the wallpaper lady I hired came to install my wallpaper and did her thing. She was awesome and in and out in just a few hours. I think it looks amazing and cannot wait to finish up the rest! Here's a little peek for you. Stay tuned for the full room soon which will be shot for the 3rd issue of Anthology Magazine coming out in April or May! — Joy

{photos by Oh Joy}

{oh joy rx} workshops... 24 Jan 2011

I had such an amazing, inspiring, and fun time at Alt Summit last week! It certainly gave me some extra kick in the pants to revisit some new plans for my business this year. Ever since launching the Rx consulting branch of my business back last year, I've had the chance to work one-on-one with over 50 small business owners all over the country looking for extra guidance in growing their businesses and brands. I had such a great time at our Alt Summit roundtable last week, that I began brainstorming ways to be able to interact with more of you. So I'm excited about extending the Rx branch and developing a series of local LA workshops and lectures on various small business & design topics that can be covered in a small group setting.

So, I'd love to hear from you...what kind of workshops would you be more interested in? Possible topics could include: freelancing {getting clients, what to charge, building your portfolio}, having a product line {conceptualizing/editing your collection, wholesale/retail, prepping for trade shows}, time management & work/life balance, marketing & social media, as well as technical design workshops like how to create a pattern in repeat in Illustrator, etc. If you're located in LA, I'm especially interested to hear if you'd be interested in these in-person workshops and what topics specifically you'd attend. Please leave a comment below with any and all design/creative/business topics you'd love to learn more about in my future workshops {and if you're not local, would still love your feedback in case we bring the workshops to your city one day!}. Thanks guys! — Joy

{Postcard image from Card Cow}

it's a party over here, a party over there... 24 Jan 2011

...seriously instant happiness...with the newest collection from Ban.do... — Joy

{shoe photos by Jen Gotch, all other photos by Max Wanger}

currently snacking on... 21 Jan 2011

...Sir Francis Bacon Brittle...nutty, crunchy, chewy, with just the right touch of salty, smoky bacon goodness. A definite dude candy {Bob loves these!}... — Joy

{photo by Oh Joy}

{work in progress} our bedroom... 21 Jan 2011

Now that our living and dining rooms are decorated {thanks to a certain Secret Stylist}, I'm onto the bedroom next...and must get it together quick for an upcoming photoshoot! The sketch I created of my dining room really helped me to visualize what I wanted the room to look like, so I thought I'd put together one of my bedroom plans as well... — Joy

{Oh Joy for Hygge & West wallpaper, ConfettiSystem garland, DIY chevron curtains, Oeuf butterflies, Future Map, mid-century modern dresser like this from Danish Modern, vintage gold lamps like this from Pieces, Wary Meyers pillow, and DwellStudio sheets.}

{oh joy eats lunch with} emily henson... 20 Jan 2011

Who Emily Henson, prop stylist for Anthropologie, HGTV, and Target

Where Los Angeles, CA {but originally from London}

Time 12pm

What's a typical lunch for you? Lots of salads with whatever protein I've got on hand. Like this arugula picked from my veggie garden and cold lentils from the previous night's dinner. I added some chopped red onion and mozzarella, lemon juice, olive oil. Or sometimes a simple cheese sandwich with Branston pickle. We Brits grow up eating cheese and pickle sandwiches like Americans do with PB&J's!

What's your dream/ideal lunch? I'm a huge Korean food fan so I could eat Bi Bim Bop and kimchi every day for lunch for ever and ever. Having it delivered to my office door daily would be my dream!

Dessert with lunch? Usually just a cup of PG Tips with cream and sugar and maybe some homemade shortbread or whatever sweet thing the kids and I have made recently.

Thanks Emily!
— Joanna

{photo by Emily}

handmade weddings... 20 Jan 2011

Whether you're a bride or not, you can't help but be inspired to create an amazing party after flipping through the new book, Handmade Weddings by Sabrina & Eunice of Hello!Lucky and stylist Shana Faust. I love especially love the projects that can be applied to any kind of party...any day of the year! — Joy

{photos by Joseph De Leo}

sweet clutch... 20 Jan 2011

I like the idea of clutches, but sometimes find them too limiting in size and what they can hold. So I'm loving this sweetly tied leather clutch and bag-in-one by Les Composantes. The bow can even be interchanged with your own scarf...so pretty... — Joy