Last weekend at the SNAP! Conference I was THRILLED to be a part of a panel discussing How to spot and incorporate trends into your DIY life. My AMAZING panelists?
- Mandi from Vintage Revivals
- Jen from Tatertots and Jello
- Jeanee from TrendBoost
PLEASE tell me you totally “get” my feelings of overwhelming “what the heck?”
A totally intimidating group of awesomeness. I may have had a nightmare that no one would show up to our panel. But gratefully, people did.
I have to admit that we had some “technology” difficulties. Including that my slides from my Mac didn’t like the PC. And therefore all my awesome fonts looked like hud. (if you know me at all….you know this was very difficult for me to swallow)
Then we lost power to our computer….and the amazing Jen had to go running all over the property looking for her cord. That poor woman. You would DIE at how well she bounced back. I would have been out of breath for a week.
I was kinda proud of how we just rolled with it. Mandi jumped up and did her AMAZEBALLS presentation, and no harm, no foul. We even let out our panel on time. (mostly because we mutually decided to “play each other out” at the end of our presentations….like they do on the Academy Awards. I found it quite lovely.)
I know not everyone was able to attend. And I would love to share my part of the panel. (and yes, part of it is because I want people to see the fonts. Which are lovely!) I also know the fabulous Jeanee recapped her part on her blog TrendBoost as well.
(first….you get major bonus points if you are singing the old school Disney song right now….”color, color. The world is a carousel of color…” )
- Aren’t we surrounded by amazing color? I am in LOVE with the site: Design Seeds Besides being amazingly beautiful, it has been a HUGE inspiration for me to stop and just look at the color in everyday items. My dinner. My home. The produce section. We don’t need to find trends so much…as just look for the color in our everyday world.
- Main point? Slow down. Use your eyes.
If we slow down, and start “cataloging” the things we are drawn to, either mentally, in an inspiration file, or on a site like Pinterest, we will start to see trends in our own likes. Find things that appeal to you. Repeatedly. And figure out what it is about those combinations that you can incorporate into your life. Is it color combos? Patterns? Feelings? You’ll see a trend for YOU. Promise.
Inspiration is everywhere. Not just on Pinterest. This box (yes….it’s a feminine product) won a TON of awards last year for packaging. Isn’t it obvious why? Who knew you could think “super cool” about your lady garden products? Well, if we just look around….we’ll be surprised. I am totally diggin’ the black. The swirls. And that neon is ON TREND seriously.
The main way to remain “on trend” is to embrace the trends you love. Trying to “force” yourself into a trend that isn’t really you…is always going to feel forced. Always.
- Remember to incorporate your “trend” into things that are timeless. The very nature of a trend is that it will change. If you’ve immersed your whole house into forrest green in 1996. By 2001…when you wish for a red wall…you might be sad. You might not have the money to change. You might end up keeping it and hoping that in 12-15 years it comes around again. (PS…not a good idea….just sayin’….I have gold faucets….eww….)
I love to find inspiration from tons of places. Like lots. (i.e. the previous female product box) When I see something that I LOVE I use it. Like this ad from Target. (or “God’s Country” as I like to refer to it) Something about it screams to me.
I used the ad to help me make this fun printable of my very favorite quote of all time.
“Wherever you go, there you are”
Why is that my favorite quote of all time?
Because it’s so simple.
But SOOOOOOOO deep.
I mean, right? I am here. Not there. So….might as well embrace it.
Which is EXACTLY why I wanted to end with this sentiment.
BE THE TREND
Don’t follow the trend. Don’t wish you were like “trendy so-and-so”. Their trend isn’t YOUR trend.
During the panel I shared (with tears….let’s be honest) one of the best pieces of advice I’ve EVER gotten. EVER. It came from my cute friend Shelley from the House of Smiths.
- She told me that the first time she met me….I acted very “small”.
- I didn’t walk tall. And that’s how she perceived me.
- And she was right. I was intimidated. And felt “less than.”
- Why? I shouldn’t have.
GUESS WHAT?
Whatever you have to offer? It’s enough.
It’s cool.
It’s trendy.
It’s original.
And as long as you’re proud of it. People will notice.
Be you’re own trend.
You are the original “YOU TREND”.
Walk tall. And people will treat you as such.
Click on the arrow with a line under it…in the above window. Just press it, and the image file should download right to your computer! Easy Peezy!
You can then print the file anywhere you’d like. This file is sized at 16×20. It will not print optimally at a bigger size. (But you can print it at a smaller size if you’d like.)
As usual PLEASE follow the following rules for Less Cake {more frosting} printables:
- LCMF prinatables are for PERSONAL USE only. You may not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
- Please do not remove the watermark.
- If posting on the internet, you MUST post a link back to this website.
- Personalization, color changes, and other customizations are not available on freebie printables. They are offered “as-is”.
I can’t tell you enough how much I loved this calss. Even sitting in the back on the floor! Be the trend! Love it Thanks for being so inspiring! xoxo
I LOVED your panel, and I loved the message. Trends will always come and go, but being yourself will always be “on trend”. LOVE this printable.
Wishing I lived in the States…would so have been at this event. I love the message you have to offer here and thanks for the printable…it will go in front of me on my desk.
This was my favorite panel at Snap! So inspiring!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this! Great food for thought.
I love this quote. and the leopard print balloon.
What a great post!! You are totally right, inspiration can come from some pretty unlikely sources……you just have to be willing to embrace it when it comes. Thank you so much for sharing ~ I really appreciate it!
I love this printable! This is a quote my dad has always loved to remind me of! Thanks so much for sharing!
BE the trend!
im lovin that one!
–oh, are leopard spotted balloons furry?
Now,
“BE the trend!”
im lovin that one!
–oh, are leopard spotted balloons furry?
Hi, I’m linking to this cute printable in a couple of weeks on my blog -Dec 4th to be more specific.
http://www.hillyut.blogspot.com — an dI do link back to your ADORABLE blog.