Design Happens

It’s true. I have fashion, design and cooking obsessions. I’m sure many of you do, too. So, whenever I need to get my daily fix of beautiful clothes, eclectic designs and scrumptious recipes, I head over to A Beautiful Mess. Elsie Larson created her five-year-old blog to “promote an inspired lifestyle through fashion, handmade and pretty things.” On top of being a blog editor, she’s also a designer and the co-founder of Red Velvet, a shop that specializes in vintage and independent designer fashion and accessories. (She is a thrifting queen; see her closet for yourself!)

I love to be inspired by other people’s handiwork on a daily basis, but there’s just a certain satisfaction I get from embarking on a handmade project of my own. If you head over to the projects page, Elsie and her team have compiled an endless amount of original tutorials. I’ve already added at least 10 to my winter to-do list, including some garland ideas for spring, vibrant paint chip art and painted leather bracelets that will be perfect for my summer wardrobe.

Elsie has definitely set her blog apart by integrating creative how-tos and fun tutorials into her weekly posts, as well as tours of her home and her own decorating ventures. She treats her blog as a learning space, and each topic, whether it’s photography, beauty, decorating or baking, teaches me something new every time I stop by. In the photography section, you can learn how to take better self-portraits, or see how Elsie displays photos in her home and steal the look for yourself.

And I want to steal the look. I can’t get enough of her vintage style. Just look at her living room, bedroom and kitchen:

When you’re not making fabric necklaces or glitter shoes, be sure to check out “10 Things I Love” every Sunday, which features Elsie’s current design and fashion obsessions. Isn’t that just the perfect way to end the weekend?

I find Elsie’s most recent online venture incredibly cool. Not sure how to sew a simple bow? (That would be me.) Or looking for information on developing your new blog? Elsie and her team have created several e-courses that are now up and running. Based on their experiences with running a business and a blog, they have compiled lessons they feel will be helpful for those looking into starting a small business, creating a blog, learning how to sew or styling a home, to name a few. You can check out the course introductions and sign up if you’re interested.

A Beautiful Mess is one of my favorite blogs for DIY and handmade project ideas. What is your go-to blog for DIY inspiration? Tell us in the comments!