pretty pinterest

like most everyone lately, i think i've caught an addiction to pinterest. i love looking through my favorite blogs and pinning pretty pictures! i've been trying to get a few regular features going here at chantillysongs... so maybe this can be one of them? so here's a few of my favorites so far-


i discovered valerie's blog a few weeks ago- she has the most beautiful photographs (especially of food.)

Source: hallovalerie.blogspot.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

this tea lights diy is awesome!

Source: fellowfellow.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

i pinned this awhile ago, but i dream trip of going on a road trip like this someday...

Source: kirstyhelen.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

piano tracking on jeremy's blog.

Source: jeremylarson.typepad.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

lisa playing accordion.

Source: lalafauxbois.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

i'm obsessed with amps lately, because i want one for my fender strat. these all look really pretty.

Source: beautifully-pure.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

kate's nails.

Source: scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

i would enjoy having this coffee anywhere with anyone. (maybe with you?)

Source: flossyblossom.blogspot.com via Chantilly on Pinterest

xoxo,

guest post ~ beautifully pure

time for a guest post from the wonderful, beautiful, stylish katie of beautifully pure. her blog is so worth a visit. trust :)



Hi, my name is Katie. I write the blog Beautifully Pure, and today I'd like to share with you all five of my favorite things in the whole world:


The color fuchsia:

Fuchsia is one of my favorite colors. Fuchsia skirts, purses, shirts, and especially lipstick! I just feel so pretty and happy whenever I wear it!





Old cars:

This is one not many people know about, but I love vintage cars. I mean "jumping up and down and pointing when I see a really cool one drive down the street" liking them. Any will get me excited but I especially love ones from the mid 50's to mid 6o's.




Wearing headbands:

It's gotten to the point where I actually feel naked when I'm not wearing one. My favorite one is a metal gold one, and the sparkly fuchsia one I made.




Music:

I love music so much. Sometimes I wonder how I would get through life without it. Whether I'm happy, angry, or sad listening to music is my vent. Having said that, I really wish I could actually write music.




Heels:

I love wearing heels. They make me feel confident, beautiful and lady-like - which is why I wear them so much. I might tower over nearly every other person I know, but I don't care. I love them and I'm going to keep wearing them.

adults at play

when you're on a quest to survive without a traditional 9-5 job, you quickly find yourself becoming a jill-of-all-trades. so last week, i had a photography gig :)

i was shooting another singer-songwriter's recording session... which was awesome. it was at nola studios in midtown... this is the live room:




i also loved finding all the little nooks and crannies with things like cute pianos and vibraphones in the corner... musical instruments are so beautiful :)

dress swap!!

today, jenna posted the pictures of the dress that i sent her for our swap!! she even did a "chantilly" pose :P hop on over to sew savoir faire creations and check out her way cute pictures.




(this is what i did with it.)




it's been a slow, rainy monday for me. i did some yoga this morning... and i even ran into my friend alyson, and we ended up having a girl-chat afterwards!!

but rather than give me energy, the yoga just kinda pooped me out. at least i practiced guitar today for my show at pete's candy store in february! (if you're in ny, come.)


anywayyy, hope you all are having a lovely week so far :)



xoxo,

sunday songs

i've been meaning to make sunday songs a weekly thing, but i've fallen behind. it's meant to be a series of posts, dedicated to inspiring music/ what i've been listening to/ promoting indie artists. so i guess this is the second installment :) first one being with bloggy heroes hue and hum over a month ago...

oh well. start all over again, that's what i always say!


so anyway, i've been listening to this song this week-




a friend of mine started taking voice lessons with me recently. when she said she wanted to do this song, i was pumped. i *love* this album.

so i've been learning how to play the guitar part, which is not that hard. it's just i've been trying to play it on an acoustic guitar. i do have an electric, but only a tiny practice amp. i can't really get that distortion/ noise that makes the song so epic...


anyway, i hope you enjoy pj harvey :)


what are you listening to this week? recommendations are welcome!




xoxo,




********************************


BLOG CORRECTION.
yesterday, i posted a winner for the shabby apple dress giveaway, but it turns out that winner was ineligible. so i picked a new winner at random, and she is gina maddox. enjoy your dress, gina!

yarn bow hair tie!

i got into the habit of always having an elastic around my wrist when i was in middle school. i was... a cheerleader (yeah) and had to tie my hair back all the time. but over the years, i've often felt like plain elastics look ugly in my hair, and have wondered about ways to jazz them up.

so it was midnight. i was in my studio staring at some yarn, and it hit me... i could make little bows!! i came up with a tutorial so you can make them too :)


~ first, you need two pieces of yarn. one 56" long, and the other 20" long.
~ fold the longer piece in half four times over.








(a captive audience...)




~ string the smaller piece through a hair elastic with equal length on each side.




~ grab the "bow" by the middle, and start wrapping the smaller piece around it, tying it to the elastic. wrap it around maybe 5 or 6 times... or however much you feel like.





~ when you're finished wrapping, tie the loose ends into a knot.





~ straighten her out...




~ you can leave the loose ends, clip them, or incorporate more yarn for a fuller "tie" effect.




~ enjoy your fun new hair accessory!

sponsor chantillysongs in february

hello friends!!

i'm happy to be able to offer sponsorships and swap options for february :)

chantillysongs is the website and lifestyle blog of me! chantilly. your friendly neighborhood singer-songwriter/ crazy cat lady. my focus is music, style, photography, indie, diy, and food. i'd love to talk about featuring you here :)



as of right now the rates are *very* reasonable (including free), and i'm offering two options:






the free option is a popular one, and i'm happy to do it... however, i do want to start limiting the number swaps that i take on, so it's on a case-by-case basis, and preference goes to people who have a similar number of followers (or if i just really love your blog.) i hope this doesn't sound elitist- i just want a way to filter a little!



as of 12/19/11, i have:
~317 google friend connect followers
~355 twitter followers
~4,600 pageviews in december, and poised to reach a similar amount in january
~1,200 unique visitors so far this month


i LOVE connecting with new bloggers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and musicians, so don't hesitate to contact me :)



if you're interested, please email chantillysongs (at) gmail (dot) com.

xx