I have been following Miracle Eye for years because of their amazing clothes and impeccable 60s/70s aesthetic. All this time I had no idea there was an amazing story and Dazey Lady behind the brand! When I was shooting a collab with Nico & Bullitt boutique I spotted some of her pieces and mentioned that I followed her! Glen, who works at the boutique, said she was a friend and began to tell me her amazing story. I knew I had to feature her and carry her pieces in the Dazey Lady Shop! Badass female owned brand with a 70s vibe?! Doesn't get more Dazey than that :) 

I met up with boss babe Larissa at their showroom and studio space in Chinatown for the shoot. I felt like I had entered a time machine! The room was filled old school memorabilia, quirky furniture, her amazing clothes, and a ton of the most incredible hand picked vintage. I wandered into their production room and found her adorable mother cutting out pattern pieces and her aunt sewing away! Later her dad even came in too! That's when it dawned on me that this label Larissa stared when she was 15 was now supporting her whole family six years later. I almost got choked up talking to her about it haha. Larissa is so humble I don't think she realizes how incredible it is :) you can tell that they all love each other so much and love what they do.

Read more about her story below and shop her looks HERE

Follow Miracle Eye on Instagram: @MiracleEye

So you were only 15 years old when you started Miracle Eye, so amazing! How did it all begin? 

Miracle Eye kind of came about as a result of feeling very anti-social topped with a passion for vintage and handmade clothing and entrepreneurship. I’d actually had 5+ years of experience in running a business by the time I created Miracle Eye. This was made possible because I was never much of a social butterfly (had tons of free time!) and experienced an extreme case of bullying. Those two things are what led me to take the business route. At 10 years old a family friend introduced me to the concept of selling on the internet which completely blew my mind. What do you mean you don’t have to talk to a customer in person? I can work from my laptop and not have to face anyone or let them hear my voice and still make a sale? I can ship the items and use a tracking method to trust that it will arrive on their doorstep on the other side of the country??? This almost seemed too good to be true because it was hard to get anyone to take me seriously in real life, whereas the on internet I was just an anonymous entity. On the internet, I was a 30 year-old confident business owner, but in real life, I was an awkward and shy 10 year-old girl. eBay for me was love at first sight and a dream come true!  

A little run-down on the businesses I ran before Miracle Eye: When I was a tiny lil gal, I was selling gum to my neighbors on our block and painting my parent's friends’ nails from age 5-10… And from 10-15 years old, I re-sold clothing from thrift stores on the internet. I purchased these items with the money I had saved up from those two previous businesses. At 15 years old, I decided I wanted to design clothing, and it was just my luck… I happened to be born the daughter of the best seamstress in the world aka my darling mother! I grew up in the fabric stores, always accompanying my mom when she was commissioned for a custom job through her freelance work, so all the fabric store owners knew me from a wee gal. By the time I was 15, I knew the fabric stores like the back of my hand. And I later realized it was just a matter of time until I had put the pieces together, since it happened subconsciously for me. Nothing was ever consciously leading up to it, nor did I ever think this is what I’d do full-time for the rest of my life. I just woke up one morning and asked my mom if she would be open to creating some samples of some sketches I had and she was 100% fully on-board! All those little business endeavors I had experienced were real-life training, filled with plenty of trial-and-error, for creating a company (Miracle Eye!). 

How did you promote your brand as a young designer without a huge budget? What were some of the mediums you used?

I kinda hit the jackpot timing-wise because a few months after I created Miracle Eye, Instagram came out… So I’ve been using Instagram since its conception, and haven’t looked back! It’s free and the best marketing tool out there if you know how to post engaging and captivating content. It’s also how I discover all my favorite brands and vintage shops, so I’m both a content-creator and a consumer/fan, which is nice, because I’m living on both sides of the coin. I’ve given it so much thought, and really, because of Instagram, I am able to support myself and my family. I can afford to lease out a brick-and-mortar studio space because of Instagram. So wild how an app can really rule your life! And before Instagram came out, I was promoting Miracle Eye primarily through my blog (when I used to blog six years ago and was just a wee lil teenage gal!). I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for that app (wowee!).

So you were doing all of this while in high school, was it hard to balance both? At what point did you go full time working for Miracle Eye?

Yes, I was! It was very difficult to balance both, and I found myself prioritizing Miracle Eye above schoolwork, which in the end totally worked out! I often felt guilty for not putting in as much time as I wanted into schoolwork, but Miracle Eye just required all my attention, everyday. I went full time schedule-wise the day after I graduated high school since I no longer had an eight hour long commitment Monday-Friday, but my brain/thoughts went full-time Miracle Eye at 16, in the beginning of my last year of school.

Did you go to college or take any classes in fashion design or was it more of a  learn as you go thing?

By the time I graduated high school, I already had the business for two years and was ready to lease out a studio/work space as nothing quite fit in our tiny apartment at that point! I had an interest in attending a fashion design/business school here in Los Angeles, but after going to see a panel of their most successful graduates who were all in their late 20’s/early 30’s, I felt unenthused about attending. They were either an “assistant designer” or “head in marketing” for giant brands and companies, but I realized that’s not what I wanted at all. I wanted to work for myself and never accept payment from someone else for my ideas and give them permission to sell them as their “vision”. They were nearly 10 years my senior, and just now reaching a point in their career where I was at, at 16. This was about a week before applications were due in. I ended up skipping on college applications, and two months after graduating high school, leased out our brick-and-mortar shop/studio space in Chinatown, Los Angeles. So crazy how everything truly happens for a reason. I was 99% ready to submit my application and hand over a giant chunk of my savings to attend, but decided to opt out… It was the greatest decision I ever made! 

This has always been a family oriented operation, which we love. Your business now supports your mom, dad, and aunt! How long have they been working with Miracle Eye full time? What roles do they play? What did they do before?

My mom and dad have been a part of Miracle Eye since the day I mentioned the idea of creating my own clothing line! My mother immigrated to America and worked in a sweatshop factory in Los Angeles from the second she landed here up until the day I was able to get Miracle Eye big enough to have her quit, and work full-time for me. She speaks no English, which stopped her from finding a better job. But by working at these factories for over 15 years, she learned so much, and by the time Miracle Eye came into fruition, she was a magic seamstress. Pattern-making and grading patterns, the works basically, were no big deal for her. So essentially, all those years trained her to become the master seamstress she is now. The day she quit working at the factory was the happiest day of my life! My aunt is now the other part of the business, sewing for me, as well. My dad has helped me make wise decisions throughout the years and keeping our shop clean and tidy, as well as helping with shipping orders! The business is basically 90% them and 10% me just keeping things going. I would be nothing without them and I owe them everything!

As a fashion designer what is your biggest inspiration? You as a person have such a distinct 70s vibe and have captured that era like no one else! Have you always been a fan of this decade?

Aw shucks! Thank you! My biggest inspiration comes from vintage photographs, films, but more specifically, from my favorite musicians ranging from the early 1960’s to early 1970’s. I haven’t always been a fan of this decade, but only because I was never exposed to it. I wasn’t sure what I considered my style to be beforehand, and I did know that I never felt too comfortable in it. But all that changed one day when I was visiting a friend, and her brother, who I had a giant crush on, wasn’t home. So I snuck into his room to learn what kinda stuff he was into, so I could study it and like all of that too, and become his dream girl. Logical, right? Well, to my surprise, I found a bunch of records, posters of the Beatles, Janis Joplin, The Kinks, and all the greats hanging in his room. I remember being speechless. It just wasn’t what I was expecting, but also, I had never seen anyone look like the people in these photos. So I wrote down a bunch of the artists’ names, went home, looked up photos, listened to their music, and completely forgot about the boy… And fell in love with Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney! My new dream guys! From that moment on, I started thrifting clothing similar to their styles and it kinda just never ended, haha! Funny how that worked out!

At Dazey we believe women are capable of amazing things and deserve respect! As a 21-year-old designer running a successful clothing line have you faced prejudice and/or jealousy regarding your age?

I’ve experienced both of those things so often that I’ve lost count. There have been so many times that I’ve been ignored or disregarded due to my age versus my gender, especially in the first couple of years when I was 15-17. It was constant, and I remember convincing myself that how vendors, sellers, or leasing agents treated me didn’t matter, and I had what it took to do “blank” thing. I felt like my “growing up” stage was forced to be put on hyper-speed just so I could keep up and not let anyone shut my vision down. My parents constant flow of support and kindness allowed me to never crash and burn, because I knew I always had them if things went awry. 

It’s been six years since you started! What are your plans for the future?

I hope to continue to grow, and at some point be able to hire several more employees. When ever I take days off to relax at the park or shop at the farmer’s market, it feels like heaven! Having some more help around would allow me to have another day or two like that a week. My goal has always been to keep spreading colorful, stylish, and comfortable clothing in the most ethical way possible. I hope to be able to do it forever, and anything else that comes along is just a bonus!

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

Being a Dazey Lady means wanting to spread love and positivity everywhere you go, and supporting all folks of all genders, sizes, and ethnicities. I’m honored to be a Dazey Lady!

Dazey Lady Swimwear collaboration! 

Just in time for summer our swimsuit collab is HERE! Stoked to partner with fellow Lady Boss Sarah of Swim Like a Mermaid on these suits. We used a few of her best selling swim bodies combined with a custom pattern hand drawn by Dani Dazey. Each suit is handmade right here in Los Angeles with incredible fabrics fused with our original Dazey Design. Below you can see a video Dani made showing the process of designing the pattern in super fun fast motion! We love to give you guys a peak into the design process to show all the love and hard work we put into each product! 

I met Sarah in the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey and we have worked together on quite a few photoshoots and pop-up shops. I was beyond excited when she asked to design a suit with Dazey! Having spent most of my career in graphic tees, doing textile design is always a treat.

I was inspired by my childhood growing up in California. Each year my parents let me pick one swimsuit out and I always went for the quirkiest, most colorful 90s prints! I wanted to design a suit that gave me that sweet feeling of spending summers by the beach as a kid. It's playful, colorful, and quirky. I like to call them the "Sweet Suits"! Say hello to happy, tropical, tutti-frutti fun that'll give you all the summer feels :)

Message from Dani Dazey:
I met Erin at the Gurl Museum Day event a few weeks back and loved her take on the exhibit, so we invited her back to give our Dazey Ladies some art tips! I'm currently in the middle of a big apartment redo (as many of you have seen on our Instagram Stories) so when Erin pitched the idea of how to start an art collection on a realistic budget we were so in! I'm excited to take my new found artsy knowledge and put it into apartment action, hope you all do too!

Find Erin:
@afinereye
afinereye.com

Thrift Shop Finds

Find your style

Fine Art v Décor

Size is Important

Invest in Artists

Very excited to have a guest post by Shiloh from A Distant Mentality! She is a forensic psychologist and travel blogger, how cool is that? Shiloh went all around town researching the very best coffee shops in LA to work from. She reached out about doing an article and we came up with this idea! Its perfect because she's a huge coffee lover and Dazey was born from coffee shop hopping :) Check it out below:

http://adistantmentality.blogspot.com/

IG: @adistantmentality

I am a Gemini. Although I think the emerald is beautiful, I consider the coffee bean my birthstone.

My caffeine obsession likely started in undergrad when I took a part-time job as a barista. Coffee fueled me through college and it helped, that as an employee, I was able to take home a free pound of coffee every single week! Shortly after college, I started my career as a first responder and coffee became an essential part of each shift. I mean, how else do you stay alert all night? Now as a busy psychologist, coffee is a beautiful part of my morning ritual, putting me in my happy place of feeling relaxed yet stimulated.

All of these personal moments with coffee usually took place in my home, car, or office but last year when I started my travel blog, A Distant Mentality, I needed that "other" space in which to work.

Lots of us find ourselves here. On those days where hanging out in yoga pants with your cat crawling all over your laptop just won't do. You need to get some serious work done on that almost-due-assignment or put some finishing touches on those creative projects that will hopefully launch you into the Big Time. You need a place that is relaxed, yet laptop friendly and with stimulants at an arms reach. The coffee shop workspace is a first step for many entrepreneurs when they barely have the funds for that second Americano, much less, office space rent.

Here are LA's best speciality coffee shops that promise to fill your motivation needs right alongside your mug.

Verve Coffee Roasters

833 S. Spring St. 

This magic spot has super high ceilings and cleverly designed seating to maximize the floor plan. The impressive entrance is made up of floor to ceiling windows so you get good light and great views of the amazing living green walls that cover the front patio. There are a few common tables areas, one in the middle of the coffeeshop (complete with outlets) and one that wraps around the coffee bar, but then there are cute little nooks that make small meetings feel intimate. The staff is great and I had the best dirty chai of my life here.  

Wifi: Yes

Outlets: Many

What to get: Dirty Chai 

Alchemist Coffee Project

698 S. Vermont Ave.

This ideal workspace is tucked into an unassuming strip mall at Vermont and 7th. It is lively with people working and chatting, but with soft music and moody tones. If you want to hunker down and get a little lost in your work, this is a good space to find a cozy corner while sipping coffee and eating a colorful macaron.   

Wifi: Yes

Outlets: Lots!

What to get: Spanish Latte

Bru Coffee Bar

1866 N. Vermont Ave. 

Bru Coffee Bar looks tiny from the street in the bustling heart of Los Feliz, but opens up into a great place to work. All kinds of folks can be found pounding on their keyboards at the large community table and there are several two-person tables, plus a spacious loft that would be more ideal for a quick business meeting. If sunshine is what you crave, there is a small front patio which is perfect for people-watching. The baristas are super friendly and the musical playlist is easy on the ears for working.  

Wifi: Yes

Outlets: Many

What to get: Meyer Lemon danish, matcha latte

Dinosaur Coffee

3443 W. Sunset Blvd. 

I love Dinosaur Coffee for its overhead natural light. It makes the shop feel huge and they certainly know how to make the best use of the space. The coffee bar is situated in the middle of the room with bar seating all around, as well as at the front windows. You can get fresh made sandwiches or a variety of majorly delicious pastries. Dinosaur is defiantly the trendiest of all the shops on this list, but it does make for a good workspace. Lots of parking in the back is a plus. 

Wifi: No, but I got on the McDonald's wifi with no problem

Outlets: Some

What to get: Drip coffee in a signature "Fuck It" mug 

Civil Coffee

5629 N. Figueroa St. 

Civil Coffee is another nice airy space with great natural light (and equally marvelous light fixtures for asthetics). It is simple and sleek, with just enough charm to make it a comfy place to work diligently. They have used the space nicely, by dedicating the area along the large front windows to bar-height desk space that faces Figueroa Street. The music is soft and the rest of the space is filled with large tables and a couch in the back.  On weekends, you may find young families noshing on some comfort food such as cinnamon toast or PB+J. Plenty of creative and savory toasts are also constructed here and they offer a special menu of caffeinated drinks named after local landmarks and streets.    

Wifi: No

Outlets: Some

What to get: The Figueroa

Copa Vida

70 S. Raymond Ave. 

Copa Vida is a lively little spot in the heart of Old Town Pasadena that makes for a good workspace or meeting place.  The large main room can be a bit bustling, but it has nice lighting and offers some communal spaces and individual tables. A back room is more quiet and dark and you will often find laptop warriors hard at work. In my opinion, the baristas here are top notch; I usually go with a cappuccino and whatever the daily kombucha offering is. They also have an avocado toast that is made with the freshest crusty bread and weighs as much as your arm. 

Wifi:

Outlets: Some

What to get: Cappuccino, daily kombucha, baked eggs

THE NAME GAME 

Oh the daunting task of naming your business. People can get hung up on this for months, and it often causes delays in launching. I don't know if it's going to make or break your business, but it is so scary thinking this name can potentially always be attached to you.

Everyone approaches naming their business or brand differently. I find it helpful to hear how other people came up with theirs. Below we have stories on how 8 Dazey Ladies came up with their brand names, including ours!

If you have a fun story on how you named your business please leave it in the comments below, we would LOVE to hear!

Xx- Dani Dazey

Dani of Dazey LA art apaprel

I wanted a simple name that evoked a feeling more than specifically mean something. After a week of back and forth with my sister, she just said the name ‘Dazey’ and it stuck. It had that California ’70s vibe that the clothing line is inspired by. As a made-up word, it didn’t carry any preconceived meaning—it could define itself. Important things to consider as well: if the trademark is open, and if domain names and social media handles are available. If you’re having a hard time coming up with a name, just use a placeholder you like. Don’t let that stop you from getting your company going. People will forgive you if you change it early on.

Kelly of Electric West fashion label

For me, picking a name, went from being an easy task, to a daunting chore of intense over thinking. I got so hung up on the permanency and importance of a brand name, that i ended up grasping for something that i thought would appeal to the masses, instead of what really reflected me. I finally had to step back and think… what was the story I was trying to tell and how did i want it to make people feel? Most importantly, how did it encompass me? I’m an avid traveler and love being on the road. Dusty desert towns and dive bars are kinda "my thing". Whenever i can i’m heading out to Joshua Tree or driving up to the mountains to go camping. I really just wanted to create a line of t-shirts that would encapsulate my travels throughout the West Coast and Southwest. The name Electric West, just kinda clicked. At this point, the name has become more than just a brand to people. It’s a story of travel and wanderlust (with a touch of vintage Americana). It’s cool to see how the name Electric West translates to each person and resonates with them in their own travels. 

Heather of The Westside Collective boutique and consulting

I came up with the name The Westside Collective after I had already started my company Westside Consulting.  I lived on the Westside of LA and thought this was fitting for the consulting company. When I started the boutique I wanted the companies to be related, hence using Westside again.  Also my plan was to do pop up event on the Westside which we have been doing for the last year.  Collective came because I wanted to bring in a range of different designers and artisans and for us to collectively do events for the community.The name has been confused by marijuana lovers as a dispensary which I had never thought of! Regarding the logo, I wanted it to be clean but have some meaning.  The W is formed from 2 upside down tipis (since I have my dog tipi company Growler Goods).  I have the logo on my Tahoe and people tell me all the time they've heard of me or seen my logo so I'm happy that it's working!  

Dominique of Stone and Spirit jewelry 

I just recently rebranded my company and had to go through the daunting task of choosing a new name for it. I think the best way to think of a name is to have a good old fashioned brainstorming session, and enlist someone to help you bounce ideas around. I had another jewelry maker friend help me, and we started off by listing off random words that were related to my business. (My company is jewelry that is mostly crystal and gemstone focused) I tried out names of crystals that I like and use often, and went from there. Opal, angel aura, spirit quartz, druzy, etc. Then tried to tie those in. I even tried out puns, my wonderful boyfriend suggested I name my company "Opal Winfrey", which had me dying of laughter. Don't let it be a stressful process and don't take yourself too seriously when you're just brainstorming! Finding who you are selling to and narrowing it down can really help you focus on a good name. I eventually thought of Sun & Stone, as a play on sunstone. But a quick google search dashed my dreams, since it was already taken! Sad day. But after that I decided I really liked the & in the name, as well as the word stone. My final business name landed on "Stone & Spirit". Both because, one of my favorite crystals to work with are called spirit quartz, and I felt it would really relate to the market I had cornered (the hippie/gypsy/free spirit type who feel energy and healing properties from their crystals). To sum up my business naming advice: 1. Know your market and think of what they would respond positively to 2. Think not only about the product you are selling, but also the emotions it may invoke 3. And finally to just have fun with it! 

Blogger Nikia of Mad Maven Style

I always get so excited when people ask me how I named my blog. It all started with a passion for style and a book called "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, he kept defining a Maven as being someone who is an expert or connoisseur, a fashion maven if you will. These mavens were always first to know about the coolest trends and the first to set these trends wild for everyone to know about. I loved the word maven so much, that it stuck, I began referring to myself as a maven. The mad part came from the madness behind my styling, like it was an art or a special technique, which it is. And style was what sealed the deal with what I wanted people to know my blog was about. Not fashion, but style. Now days I go by The Mad Maven usually when people address me or write about me, but my blog will always remain Mad Maven Style.

Kailee of I'm With The Band headbands

The name of my company was really important to me. I wanted it to be playful and lighthearted and fully embody what I do and what I love. It also needed to make perfect sense, evoke emotion and a sense of belonging. Last, but certainly not least, I wanted it to tie in my rock and roll roots and undying love for music. When I tell people the name of my company is I'm With The Band and I make headbands they invariably giggle, as it clicks for them. It's awesome to get such a positive response and put a smile on someone's face just by telling them the name of my brand.

Debbie of brows. eyebrow salon

The name "brows." came about out of simplicity. We wanted a name that took the mystique out of the process. We wanted it to appear easy, almost so easy that it left little to the imagination as to what we do. However in saying that, there was a lot of thought in how we would convey the name. We chose a small "b" and a (.) dot at the end to make it a full statement. The small "b" was important because it signified a demure response to our approach. Our designer, Sam Eaton came up with our amazing logo and last year made a case for adding a few detail changes, and he was right. It's perfect for us and our product line. We researched many names for our (flagship) spot, all the while keeping in mind that we wanted a name that was easy to franchise. We noticed that most brow artists were interested in incorporating their names into the mix. There were plenty of places with the word "brow" in the name, mostly with the name of the brow artist. Again we wanted the diminutive "b" to step back - almost like a whisper. "brows." is a collaborative effort, and one where we focus on the client. That is very important to us. It's not about the ego of the artist, but rather focusing on the client. brows is a half-hour individual experience where clients can get a simple clean-up, a re-shaped eyebrow, an eyebrow growth program, or an editorial eyebrow. brows. speaks eyebrows, 6 days a week. It's what we've studied and what we are passionate about.

 Wardrobe stylist Maureen of The LA Look

The•LA•Look was created out of divine intervention. The end of 2009 found me out of my very prominent, high-profile buying position in a well-known Los Angeles store ; into starting a freelance buying office at the beginning of the crash of retail. I needed a strong concept. I had confidence going into my business that I would and could provide for a multitude of stores the knowledge and dare I say talent that I’d acquired in my previous position. I would offer them a different and dedicated eye in the marketplace. I would offer them collections and ideas they might not otherwise be privy to.  I would offer a dialed in perspective they might not otherwise have access to. I would know and obtain the celebrity styles and latest trends coming out of the west coast. I would offer to their store, to any store, anywhere, an LA touch. So, by defining my business I created my name. I was offering these clients quite literally, The LA Look.  And, the domain was available :) Now, as my business has developed and evolved, the name continues to define almost instantaneously who my business is.  And as I grow in to consulting and take on more marketing, and adamantly persue my biggest passion, styling; and as Los Angeles continues to grow into a fashion-centric definer of style - I am happy to help define what is The•LA•Look

Quick design with Dani

Hey all, Dani Dazey here! I'm always sharing how I create Dazey's designs on the insta story and now I'm brining them to the Zine in fun & new ways. I decided to create a time lapse of me illustrating a design for Dazey. A lot of time and love goes into each design and I am so excited to share how they are made. My goal is for everyone to feel so involved in the design process it's almost like they are apart of it too!

I have added an audio tutorial along with the video to give you an idea of my thoughts and design process so be sure your sound is on too. For those who are curious I work in adobe Illustrator and photoshop. I also draw using a Waccom Intous medium sized drawing tablet to give me designs that true hand drawn feel.

The "Local Female Powerhouse" tee should be released in the next few months along with the rest of the "March On" collection inspired by the incredible Women's March that took place January 21st. I used to always get in trouble posting designs before release when I worked at corporate companies, even to the extreme of getting fired for it. But when you run your own business you can do whatever you want! I love being overly transparent with Dazey. It's all about sharing and helping fellow female here :)

Xx- Dani Dazey

THE FAMOUS DAZEY FLAY LAY

I've always loved flat lays, but they are often overused and look the same. They are a great way to show product details, so I knew From the beginning I needed to make Dazey's lays special. I began to arrange flowers around the tees for photos and people loved the posts! Now it's something I try to do every few weeks to keep things fresh and cohesive in my Instagram feed. It may seem like a simple thing to do, but there is a method to the arrangement and taking of the photos! Follow along below to see how I do it :)

SHOP THE TOPS HERE

SETP 1) FIND THE FLOWERS

Doing flat lays like this can be costly, so I go to the wholesale flower district in Downtown Los Angeles. This is where the florists get all their flowers and crazy low prices!

WHAT TO CHOOSE?

I like to find a green of some sort to add volume and color to the background. There are some examples above of some awesome green leaves perfect for accenting your florals. I went with a green with small white flowers throughout.

Then your going to need your main flower, I chose to use this bright yellow because it matches my logo and will really stand out! Sometimes I add a second color that matches like a red or pink, but this time I decided succulents would add a nice touch! 

STEP 2) PLACE BACKGROUND GREENS

Find an area with lots of natural light to take the photo. Pick a simple or natural background like wood or plain white paper. First off lay down whatever it is your shooting nice and straight. You'll be surprised at how many wrinkles the camera can pick up. If you can't get it totally perfect that is ok, I'll show you a quick photoshop trick to edit out lines at the end.

Then start to place the greens. I like to do a half or full circle to really frame the tee. Otherwise it looks a little awkward just on the sides. Layer the pieces on top of each other and make it as lush as possible, no naked areas! Make sure it is as even as possible on both sides.

STEP 3) ADD MAIN FLOWER

Now you add the main flower. I usually start with a 2 bunches on each side. I place them in the middle and top of the crest. I made them nice and even again.

Keep them grouped if they are and cut off the bottom of the stems where it's sparse. Then you tuck the bottom stems inside the background green so they don't show! The bottom photo shows what it should look like after this step is done.

STEP 4) FILL IT IN

At this point there are still parts missing the main flower. I go in and cut the entire stem off of the flower and place them face up throughout. This way you can see the flower really nicely and put it wherever it's missing color. I also cover up some of the ugly stems still showing with the little flowers.

I also added my accent succulents. I staggered them for a more asymmetric natural look. You don't have to place the flowers as even as the last two steps either. This is where you go in making it fun and different! Add as many as you have, the more epic the arrangement the better!

STEP 5) TAKING THE PHOTO

Now here comes the fun part! Time to take the photo. I always stand on a chair or directly above the flat lay to get an areal angle. You can very easily take this on your phone, in fact I prefer to over my SLR camera since it's easier to see the screen. I like to center the image as much as possible using the grid feature.

Take a ton, you never know which ones are going to be blurry or off center. Check them in-between and see how the arrangement is looking, I often shift things around while I shoot. I also try and get a few angles after I get the main shot so I have a few options to post.

STEP 6) EDIT OUT WRINKLES

I use the pattern stamp tool on Adobe photoshop to edit out the wrinkles. You can see a screen shot below and arrow pointing to the tool. What this tool does is select and area when you click alt over it and then will move that area over to where ever you click next. I go back and forth from picking up area with "alt" and then putting them over the wrinkles. 

Another trick is to use paint brush and paint dropper a color and on a low opacity and just brush over the wrinkles. Make sure to be subtle with this trick because it can look fake really fast. Adding a grain at the end will also help it look more natural. 

FIN! 

And there you have it, how to make a Dazey flatlay! I know it might seem a little self explaintory, but hope this was helpful in some way. If you do any flay lays inspired by this tutorial please use the hashtag #dazeyflatlay. We would love to check it out :)

Also you can see some more flat lay fun by checking #dazeyflatlay 

Dani (@danidazey) and Rachel of Process/Progress (@processprogress) continue to talk about the journey of starting an running their small businesses. This episode we talk about building your dream job. We go over establishing your company, logistics, and costs. Physical actions you need to take to get started! Details include deciding your name, designing a logo, website, and how you will finance it. Girl boss life is within your reach :) Subscribe to see more and follow @dazey_la on instagram!

 We're back at it! Again bear with us as we figure out what on earth we are doing haha, still filming on an iphone and realize theres a weird background noise lol :)

Episode 2 is all about how to design your dream job. We go over things like how you can combine ALL your passions to create a SUPER JOB! We go over what skills and expertise you might have to lend your business. And finally how you can delegate and trade the not so favorite parts! Theres are all things to consider when creating your dream job checklist. Positive or gentle constructive feedback welcome. Hope you enjoy!