All About Heidi Giveaway

The lovely and generous folks at All About Heidi have offered to give one lucky winner a FREE pair of All About Heidi shoes! HOW LUCKY IS THAT? Perfect for your little one OR a really lovely present for a mum-to-be.

All About Heidi makes gorgeous soft leather shoes for babies and toddlers. Each pair is handcrafted in Australia and made with love. These shoes are loved by me AND Audrey. She's completely obsessed. I actually had to hide them from her because she was getting a little aggressive with wearing them ALL THE TIME. But who can blame her?!

To enter to win a pair simply follow the prompts below. Remember: The two MANDATORY entries are to like All About Heidi on FB and to comment below telling me which size and color you'd prefer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Horse

I've been gawking and drooling over these shoes for way. too. long.

So when this pretty package showed up at my door this afternoon I kinda lost my mind.







Go visit The Horse. They won't dissapoint.

A BIG thanks to The Horse! I bought these shoes with a $100 gift voucher that I won from their Facebook page. Seriously folks, they run a pretty cool outfit over there. So go check it out.

I'm off to wear my shoes around the house and do random fist pumps while the baby naps.

xoxo
Talia Christine

P.S. - No one asked me to write anything about The Horse. I just really love them. The end.

P.P.S. - Did I mention I love them?

Baby Moccasins

Remember earlier this year when Phil and I worked on some prototypes for making baby moccasins? We finally came up with a shoe we were happy with but needed to try them out on a baby. After Audrey came along we realized that our design didn't stay on baby feet very well, so it was back to the drawing board to find something that actually stayed on.

We're really happy with the moccasins! Audrey is a little enamored with them too. She likes to stare at her feet and tries to grab the shoes. Cute!







We have two designs, with fringe and without.
The sizes range from 6 weeks-12 months.

Each moccasin is hand cut from recycled leather and hand-stitched. The soles are machine stitched for reinforcement.

We've decided to sell a limited number of these moccasins initially at a special price of 30 dollars (plus shipping). Please email me at taliavanderwel(at)gmail(dot)com if you are interested!

xoxo
Talia Christine

Shoe Love

I am in love with so many shoes this season! I've been dreaming wistfully about oxfords, high heeled boots, and some beautifully precarious wedges. Here are a few of my favorite picks from my wish list! Enjoy! ♥



1. Kimchi Blue Woven Heeled Oxford - UO
2. Kimchi Blue Wooden Heel Oxford - UO
3. Elise Lace-up Ankle Booties - Ruche
4. Verna Bylar Oxford Heels - Ruche



5. Summertime Brunch Espadrille Wedges - Ruche
6. Jeffrey Campbell Mariel Wedge - UO
7. Everything Goes Wedge - Modcloth
8. Espadrille Sergeant Wedge - Modcloth

Aren't they dreamy? I'm in deep love with those oxford heels.

xoxo
Talia Christine

Artist Spotlight: Artsy Ashley Sole Reflections

I'm going to start a series of artist spotlights. Every now and then I will share an artist that inspires me, an interview with the artist and share some of their work that I love. I'm so excited for this series!

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I'm so so pleased to have Ashley Rogers of Artsy Ashley Sole Reflections on the blog today.



Ashley creates these incredible, one-of-a-kind, custom painted shoes. It's beautiful art for your feet! She partners with TOMS shoes and works with her customers to create something special for them. It's really an amazing process!




Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a stay at home mommy with a heart for youth, art and seeing change. My husband, Taylor, and I have two marvelous kiddos- Abigael who is 2 and a spunky half, and Nathanael who just turned a snuggly one. I taught middle school art for a couple of years and poured into youth ministry with my hubby. I spend most of my time taking care of my little ones at home and in my (not-so) spare time, work on my Sole Reflections company. My favorite thing is working in the sunshine.



Apart from creating things, what do you do?
Apart from creating things I... well maybe I should say, apart from being a fully time mommy and wife I create things! I think that my whole being revolves somewhat around creativity. Even though I can't create all the time, I think I get creative outlets in the little daily things- like cutting hair, or cooking, or sewing a patch on my husbands jeans! God made me to create, so I almost feel like I don't have an, "apart from creating".



What first made you want to become an artist?
I have wanted to be an artist my entire life. From kindergarten on, I did not miss a year of art in school until two years ago when I stopped teaching. My high school art teacher was incredible and fostered a passion, not only for God's creative process, but also to teach. I wasn't even that I wanted to become an artist, but rather I couldn't imagine doing anything else.



Please describe your creative process.
As far as painting custom shoes, one day I went to a "TOMS: Style Your Sole" party where I was asked to be a featured artist to help paint shoes. After a day of painting on miniature wearable canvases, I feel in love with the process. because I am a mommy and constantly having to keep paint and glue away from my kids- painting and creating is difficult, but in creating these custom shoes, I not only was able to work on them at the table while my kids play, they are also the perfect size to finish quicker than a large canvas. My favorite is when I get a customer that says, "I want _____ theme- go for it!" I love as much creative freedom as possible. My prayer is that in creating this company, I can also one day use it to benefit one of my deepest passions.



How did you get into your craft?
I have long had a heart to help stop sex trafficking- a sickening amount of women and children are daily used for this multibillion dollar industry. Once Sole Reflections grows to a healthy point, I want to donate 50% to help build safe homes for the victims taken out of this horrible life. I am inspired by the lives of others, by the beauty in the trees, by the unique qualities we each possess. I want to create wearable works of art that can tell the world who we are. I want to create shoes that become reflections of the soul.





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This girl is as sweet as pie. I want to dunk her in my tea, put her in my pocket, and keep her forever (I realize that last bit about the tea makes no sense). She is my sister's husband's sister (whoa) and even though she isn't technically my sister in law, I like to tell people she is. If you knew her, you would fight for her to be in your family too. She is such an incredible woman and an inspiration to me. Before me and Phil were married and off to New Zealand, she would have me over for girl nights and good talking. I love her.

Also, she gives great hugs and makes you feel really special.

Check out more of her incredible work here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/solereflections
http://www.artsyashley.net

xoxo
Talia Christine

Dream Boots

I love shoes. I can't help it. I daydream about new shoes. It's silly. I know.

Even though I have no plans to buy new shoes any time soon, a girl can dream. Here are my current loves in the shoe department. Boots and oxfords.


1. Time Bomb Vintage
2. Little Veggie Vintage 3. Old Baltimore Vintage
4. Urban Outfitters


1. Bohemiam Bisoux
2. Lexi Monster's Vintage 3. Learn To Read
4. Old Baltimore Vintage

Aaahhhh, aren't they so gorgeous?? What are your favorite shoes?

xoxo
Talia Christine

Note: Oh! And our stuff in shipping has arrived in Auckland! It still has to go through customs but we should be able to pick it up next week. I can't WAIT!! I'm so excited to have all my craft stuff again.