Pretty Pillow Palette

A Serena & Lily Summer 2011 Catalog arrived at my door step...not sure how I got on this mailing list but just look at the cover!

I love these bright colors and fun patterns for summer!
This picture makes me want to go to Morocco (country in North Africa, had to look that one up, haha) or India and buy a bunch of brightly colored textiles, with bold patterns and
 make ANYTHING and EVERYTHING from them!!!

Colorful Summer Wreath

One year later... I found myself sitting on my grandma's porch making yet another wreath. Last year it was the Gumball Wreath. This year it's the Colorful Summer Wreath!!!

Using bringthly colored magazine pages, I hot glued them to a grapevine wreath.

A Purse

After about 2 years I finally found motivation to finish this purse. I started making it while I was a camp counselor at Camp Li-Lo-Li (Life, Love, Light). Naturally, during activity time, I was found helping out in the craft cabin!

This purse is made from two rectangular pieces of fabric with wrong sides facing eachother so it becomes reversible. Small slits along two edges allowed for a thin strip of fabric to be woven in and out creating the bunching effect, then woven into the handles that were sanded and stained.

A Summer Retreat

 So I've taken it upon myself to create a summer retreat in my backyard! All you need are some wildflowers, a hammock and some accessories to add bright colors!

Here's my little backyard niche before:

 Aaahhh... nothing's better then some fun summer patterns for hammock pillows!

After digging up a couple small bushes and turning the dirt, I sprinkled wildflower seeds onto fresh soil and lined the flower bed with old bricks that were laying around.

More color is added with brightly colored pots! 



Perinnial wildflower seeds aren't the best for instant gratification because they may not bloom the first season... as you can see i'm working with 3" high green twigs here...maybe I'll have something to show next year!

Added a hammock!

and sewed some pretty pillows.

Cupcake Toppers

How adorable are these? I found these little brides and grooms at Crate and Barrel. They were perfect for my friend Catherine's wedding shower.

Everyone took the brides first... I guess everyone wanted to be the bride!

Quirk's Not So Expo Wedding Expo

This past Saturday Quirk held a small Wedding Expo event and one of my most beautiful necklaces sold!!!

Here are some pictures from my table.

2011 Summer Nautical Collection: Sail Away

Alright everyone, get excited! My personal photographer, Sara Tyer Photography and I headed to the beach to take some photos of my new 2011 Summer Nautical Collection: Sail Away. These photos would not have been possible without the assistance of the lovely Hannah and wonderful Micaela.

I've very excited to share these photos with you. For starters, Sara did an amazing job capturing the beauty of these beachy jewels and I just love the beach. So I thought, why not create pretty jewelry that reflects my love for the beach?! As most of my previous jewelry might appeal to a bride and her bridesmaids, these pieces are great to wear after that special day on your beach honeymoon!

Thanks for enduring! Sara is just too darn good and I had too many favorites :)

Check back over the next few weeks for individual postings of each Sail Away piece.

Purchase Sail Away items from my etsy shop! 

Outtakes :)

Bubbles provided by Hannah.

Our rough lives as 'rich' girls!

Sara taugh us the 'conceded model look'

All in a days work! I'd say waking up at 5am was worth it!