The British Have Arrived

While I did not stay up to watch the Royal Wedding (a girl needs her beauty sleep!) I did really appreciate the outpouring of love towards Britain and admired the grandeur with which they put on a very formal celebration. I've said here many times how much I love England, and it is my absolute dream to go back. When I watched the highlights on TV I really loved how proud the British people were and all the ladies dressed so formally with their hats. I really liked David Beckham's suit too, very My Fair Lady. I guess the appeal for me is the upholding of tradition. I know many look at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and believe them to be the "modern" couple, and in some respects they are, but I love how their wedding paid homage to tradition. Elegant, proper, and regal.

I thought it only fitting to share some of these finds from a new favorite shop of mine, http://www.karenhiltondesigns.etsy.com/. There are bright and modest color offerings for the modern and traditionalist alike.

Happy Friday : )

Stories to Save Lives

I talked about this shop a while back, www.emmakisstina.etsy.com. As I was on Etsy today looking for handbags and jewelry for upcoming deadlines (MAY 15th!!!!) I happened to see some of her new work pop up (thanks Etsy for the new cool features!).

I am so in love with her newest works. They depict many literary themes including Jane Austen, and my favorite, Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. I have argued for a long time that great literature influences great fashion (Gatsby - 'nuff said) and I love that Kristina acknowledges this in her gorgeous illustrations. The set above features her renderings of Holly Golightly's world. Holly may be fictitious, but she comes alive through these pieces. Kristina has imagined the fine details of her life just as Capote had when penning this masterpiece.

It's a testament to the power of writing when a character can influence other artists and their mediums so wholly. When I feel down or uninspired I watch Breakfast at Tiffany's and all of "the mean reds" and blues just melt away. I was watching an episode of Sex and the City recently, and even Mr. Big noted that his parents would dance to Moon River, bringing back happy memories of home and old New York. It's as my writing professor once told me, "writing saves lives, not bodies." Thank you Kristina for saving my life today, and thank you Mr. Capote for saving my life a little every day.

Cute Things, Small Packages

For the bride who's inspired by Asian elements, check out these cute shower gifts. My friend Alexis is getting married soon, and we attended the shower this past Saturday. She gifted us lucky ladies with little boxes full of teas and topped them off with honey sticks (instead of chopsticks). A ribbon and some flowers completed this crafty and cute project. Such a great idea for parties, hostess gifts, and personalizing your own events. Wedding season is officially here!

Garter Couture

Summer is nearing, and that means wedding season. With all the hype of a royal wedding, England, whites, and the idea of a fairy tale life seem to be spinning in the air.

I found this couturier on Etsy, www.florriemitton.etsy.com, and lo and behold, she's English! I love her style of mixing vintage, rhinestones, and sex appeal with the innocence of white and soft fabrics like tulle.

On days when you dont feel so great, sometimes it helps to look at pretty things and think about that fairy tale life. And although the temptation may be to daydream, sometimes the best way to feeling better is to consider how we can make our own lives more of a dream come true, whether its by finding your prince or buying something pretty.

Happy Friday

Launch Your Creativi-Tea

As you can gather from the name of this blog, I am more of a coffee drinker as opposed to tea. In fact, the only time I usually take tea is when I don't feel good or I'm in England. I thought no one could do tea like the English, but this weekend proved me completely wrong.

I was so honored to attend Launch Your Creativity (http://www.launchyourcreativity.com/) in Orange, CA at Paris in a Cup tea salon (http://www.parisinacup.com/). I was treated to a lovely tea (I drank Paris Garden) in a salon that was modeled after several Parisian set movies. Our meal consisted of scones with jam, sandwiches, fruit salad, and petit fours. The food was divine! But even more amazing was the company. I sat at a table with good friends Lisa Loria (www.lisaloria.blogspot.com), Rita Reade (www.mamabellarte.blogspot.com), and Kim Caldwell (www.artisticbliss.typepad.com). Events like this are also fun because they are great opportunities to make new friends. I was so happy to meet someone we have published so often, the lovely Kay Ellen Hammar (www.kayellen.typepad.com) and the sweet Missy Watson Duffy (www.chateauchicboutique.blogspot.com).

We listened to truly powerful speakers who talked about what it meant to be a woman who was creative and business minded. In attending this event, I realized there aren't many talks of this nature out there. Sure, in the corporate world there are all kinds of retreats and team building exercises, but in the creative field there are few (if any) gatherings like this. I truly felt moved, and part of a network that appreciated and encouraged the power of creativity (in the business market and in our personal lives). I have to thank Sharon Hughes (www.pansycottagegarden.com) for her inspiring speech and empathy for so many women, Cynthia Wadell (www.heavenlyhostess.com) for her lightheartedness and fashion savvy, Cheryl Turner for allowing us to have tea in her beautiful salon and talking with such detail about the restaurant business, and Jenelle van de Mortel (www.vandemorteldesigns.blogspot.com) for inviting and uplifiting me. Jenelle created the mixed-media journal pictured above. It was so nice

to have handmade goodies along with tea and sweets in the gift bag.

But really the best gift given by this event was the people I met and got to listen to. I know women are sharers by nature, but sometimes, sharing really is the best way to ignite, inspire, and feel comforted. The quote in the tea salon is true, no matter how you enter a room, it is always possible to leave as a friend ... especially when there's tea involved. My many and sincerest thanks to these amazing women. I hope this Monday finds you launching your creativity.

Surrounded by Beautiful Things

Got this card from Colette Copeland (www.a-bird-in-the-hand.blogspot.com) as part of her "more mail, less e-mail" pledge. Not only do I love getting things from Colette, but I love the idea of stationery and actual pen touching paper. As much as I benefit from technology, I would much rather live in a place/era where we didnt rely on it so heavily. In the days of Chanel personal relationships could actually be courted, and drawings were actually done, not manufactured. I so respect Colette's resolve to draw, write, and mail. Colette will have an article in the upcoming Somerset Studio about how anyone can draw. It's a fun read and you'll definitely be swayed to try your hand at it.

In the end of Colette's message to me, she writes that she hopes I am "surrounded by beautiful things." In digesting this sentiment I realized that one of the best parts about my job is that I am constantly surrounded by beautiful things. People's art is always everywhere, and I get to see it in person. I get to see magazines all together before they are even a magazine in their raw most form. Thank you Colette for reminding me to take the time to look around and take everything in; for reminding me how lucky I really am. And now that I have this card I have one more beautiful form to fit into my surroundings.

May My Heart Always Be Open ...

"May my heart always be open to little

birds who are the secrets of living

whatever they sing is betther than to know

and if men should not hear them then men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry

and fearless and thirsty and supple

and even if it's Sunday, may I be wrong

for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully

and love yourself so more than truly

there's never been quite such a fool who could fail

pulling all the sky over him with one smile"

- ee cummings: may my heart always be open to little

*little wire heart by Jennifer Swift (http://www.blog.birdfromawire.com/). Jennifer is an artist I heart. Thanks Jen for reminding me to be open to the little things.