Happy Birthday, My Dear Blog!

Well, it's been one year since I started Emerging Em!

I can't believe it's been that long. My main inspiration for blogging came from my dear friend Mandy of Mandipidy fame, who was my first follower. Her blog, then called Mandy's Yellow Corner, was so cute that I wanted to create my own blog for sharing the things I love to make. She helped me through the (somewhat overwhelming) beginning stages of creating a blog, and I am forever thankful for that.

Here's my first post about my first forays into blogging and my first project.

About a week later, I opened my Etsy shop, and my rosette hairpins have become my most popular item!

I am so thankful for the sweet blog friends that I have made over this past year. You all have been so supportive and encouraging! My little blog has grown from one follower to over 80 followers, and I hope it continues to grow. My blog has now become a place to share not only my crafts but my adventures in life as well!

Thanks for reading along as I found my incredible boyfriend (or rather he found me)...

... and ran a half marathon...

...and graduated with my Master of Music degree.

To celebrate you, my wonderful readers, I would like to giveaway a $30 shop credit to Emerging Em!

To enter:

Please visit my shop and leave a comment telling me your favorite item.

Extra entries:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Become a fan of Emerging Em on Facebook.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you!

This giveaway will run through Friday, July 22nd, and I'll announce the winner the following day!

20 Questions: Take 1

I've gained quite a few followers in the past week or so, and I thought it would be fun to share some things about me. Now that you know I'm a violinist.

I found these questions in a magazine about Greenville, and I thought they were fun.

***

What one thing really makes your day?

I always smile when I get a sweet text from Daniel.

Is your desk messy or neat?

It's messy at the moment, but usually I'm very neat.

What was your first job?

I'm looking for it.

What is your pet peeve?

Besides people invading my personal space, it annoys me when people don't know how to drive. That's pretty much the entire population of Greenville.

What is your favorite thing about Greenville?

I love that it's close to the mountains and only a short drive to the beach. I also love that it has the cultural appeal of a big city yet still retains a lovely small-town charm.

What was your first car?

A mauve 1995 Toyota Camry.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Macaroni and cheese. And chocolate, of course.

What is your idea of a dream vacation?

Well, if we're talking about a location I've never been to, I would love to relax by the blue waters of Santorini, Greece. But London will always hold a special place in my heart.

What store would you choose to max out your credit card?

J. Crew. Or Banana Republic.

What is your favorite thing to cook?

Chicken and snow pea pasta.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Music, of course. And English.

What advice would you give a student just starting out?

Do what you love!

Do you prefer the mountains or the beach?

Mountains!

Have you ever met a famous person? Who?

I've met lots of famous classical musicians including Arnold Steinhardt and Lynn Harrell.

If you could invite five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would you invite?

Jane Austen, Itzhak Perlman, Elizabeth I, Johannes Brahms, and Abraham Lincoln

What is the best gift you have ever received?

An education!

What makes you laugh?

My friends.

What chore do you really hate to do?

Wash the dishes.

What do you like to do on your day off?

Curl up in a comfy chair and read. Watch movies. Craft.

I can't live without my...what?
Computer. Sad, I know.

If you want to find out my favorite things about summer time head on over to Maegan's blog, Chesterrific, where I'm being featured today!



I'm Back!

I'll just go ahead and apologize now for my extremely prolonged absence.

I've missed you guys!

The last month and a half has consisted of pull-out-your-hair-and-cry-all-the-time craziness, including written comprehensive exams in music history and music theory, lessons, homework, teaching, my graduate recital, an oral exam in violin history, a jury, projects, and finals.

And graduation. Thank goodness.

Whew. And then it was all over.

Our masters' robes had this weird extra material hanging from the arms, which we decided to turn into puppets. We even considered shaking the president's hand like this. The thought sent the three of us into inappropriate, unstoppable giggles during the extremely long ceremony.

I'm showing off my hood in this picture. Pink is the academic regalia color for music. How awesome is that?

Dexter Edgar Converse, who founded Converse College (and whose parents obviously had great fun in naming their child), loved strawberries and cream. Therefore, generations of Converse students have reaped the benefits of his favorite food. Thanks Dexter Edgar.

Hangin' out in the hood.

(Haha, get it? ...Don't ever ask me to tell a joke.)

{Dress: Target} {Shoes: Target} {Watch: Fossil} {Pearls: From my Mama - the real deal, ya'll}

{Nail polish: OPI Lucky Lavender}

Here I'm modeling my manicure from my day at the spa! And I'm still sportin' my hood. I definitely wore it all day. To Chilis. And Verizon. And all the way home.

You may call me Master Emily.

;)

What did I miss while I was gone?

Giveaway {Coming Soon To You}

I've reached 50 blog followers!

YAY!

I think I'll celebrate by treating myself to a cupcake. With sprinkles.

(City of Blackbirds) 

I think I'll help you celebrate with a giveaway from Emerging Em!

(Unless you want cupcakes, too...)

Be on the lookout soon!

And thank you for being such wonderful, lovely readers! I truly appreciate your comments, advice, and support!

:)



The Onyx Trio

Remember the Brahms post I did awhile ago?

Well - my piano trio, The Onyx Trio, gave our graduate chamber recital on Friday night! While I was nervous, I also had a lot of fun!

Of course there was some pre-recital backstage silliness...

...and some post-recital trio goofiness...

...and a bit of seriousness.

Well, only a little bit...

Before the recital, Julie Anna and I decided to make our own dresses - the one-shouldered ones! Now, despite receiving a sewing machine for Christmas, I was reluctant to do any of the actual sewing. I'll admit it - I was scared. So Julie did the sewing, and I think she did a fabulous job!

I did, however, make a pretty group of satin rosettes to sew on to the waistband of my dress...

...and a cute bunting sign thanking our professors for working with us.

:)

Chocolate Milk. Oh, and Milwaukee.

I'm back from my trip to Milwaukee!

(And a trip this weekend to Augusta to play with the symphony.)

Daniel and I had a great weekend together exploring Milwaukee!

He picked me up from the airport, and during the car ride to his house he told me that there was a present waiting for me in the refrigerator. (Wait, what?)

Yes! Chocolate milk! He apparently read this post, and there was chocolate milk waiting for me.

He's a keeper, right?

That night we went downtown to dinner and the symphony, where we saw one of my favorite violinists, Itzhak Perlman, play! It was a beautiful concert!

Here we are all dressed up - and freezing - waiting for the bus.

On Friday, we drove down to Chicago! Lots of pictures to come!

The next day, we went on a tour of Lakefront Brewery. It was a fun time...

...and we met up with a friend of mine from Florida State who is now living in Milwaukee.

By the end of the tour, I was pretty giggly, and Daniel and I tried to take some photos. He and his family often make "The Face" in pictures, and I tried...and failed. It's hilarious!

On Sunday, we made some yummy breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and some real bacon...

...and drove around Milwaukee for a bit looking at some huge houses, including one by Frank Lloyd Wright. (At one point, I wanted to be an architect, and I love Wright's architecture!)

We stopped for some coffee at Alterra, the coffee shop where Daniel works, and I ended up buying a cute mug and a t-shirt. (I have a thing for coffee mugs. And teacups. And t-shirts.) I also had my first taste of chai - so yummy!

There happened to be a yarn shop across the street...more on that later. Let's just say that if there had been more time to shop and more room in my suitcase, my bank account may have been depleted...

So, on Monday, it was time to say goodbye, but we got to hang out again this weekend in Augusta!

:)

You'll Lose the Blues in Chicago

Daniel and I are heading to Chicago this morning!!!

(Chicago Skyline)

This is my first trip to Chicago, and I am super excited!

We, of course, have plans to visit the Bean, among other things...

(The Bean)



...including pizza at Giordano's.

Yum.

(Giordano's)

We're meeting up with my aunt and a friend from Greenville, who are going to show us around the town.

I'll be sure to have pictures when I get back home!

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends...

I just sang that.

Don't judge.

But, seriously, I do need your help. I have tried in vain (and feel stupid for asking) to figure out how to answer other bloggers' comments with an email. I just don't get it. And I want to respond to all your lovely comments!

Someone please help me...before I cry. That would be sad.



Mountain Driving

I've been a bit lapse in posting for the past few days because I traveled to see some friends in Brevard, North Carolina. The drive up over the mountain was beautiful, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with dear friends.

Here is the lake at the Brevard Music Center:

I took a leisurely drive back, stopping wherever I liked to take a few pictures. The main point of interest between Brevard and Greenville is Caesar's Head State Park and the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. This is where the Blue Ridge Escarpment ends and South Carolina's Piedmont region begins.

This is the view from Caesar's Head...

...Table Rock and its reservoir are in the distance.

I found this sign amusing:

I'm just curious as to WHY you would want to cross the fence when the next thing you encounter is a 2000 foot drop off...

Raven Cliff Mountain:

The Dismal Forest (what an odd name!) streches out below Caesar's Head:

A little further down the road, I stopped at Bald Rock. Here is the view from the top...

...and on the way home.