shop update // driftwood lamps

We have two driftwood lamps in the shop (something we don't usually have stocked). The driftwood is from our most recent trip to The Sierras. I really love both of them, but am especially fond of the first one. You can take a peek at the listings here and here.

shop update / quality over quantity

I've listed this birdcage veil in the shop, along with the flower girl headband. This is the veil that I recently made for a friend. I was so happy with how it turned out and so was she (which of course is my ultimate goal). I'm hoping to keep my inventory pretty limited so that I can really focus on each piece and how they turn out. I'm extremely happy with what I have in there so far. That's much better than a bunch of things that I'm not in love with (which is what it was like for me before). Quality over quantity is definitely my goal.

Also, for the first time (maybe ever) I'm realizing that people are hiring me because they trust my taste / design style..whatever you would call it. That may seem like a no brainer, but I didn't fully understand that until recently. See, I have this problem with worrying about disappointing people. It's something that I dwell on the entire time that I am creating something. It really gets in the way of being confident in what I'm doing. Lately, I've been able to let that go and just create. It is so freeing! It hasn't just changed the outcome of what I'm making, but made the whole process so enjoyable for me. That's when I do my best work- when I enjoy and feel confident in what I'm doing. So thank you everyone who trusted me to make / design something them. It has been a huge encouragement for me and I appreciate it more than you know.

xo
Chelsea

the shop's open

I've re-opened my shop! It's going to be a very long and slow process of restocking as I create new pieces.   A lot of people have asked about my shop and why I had it closed. Well, I needed a break from making wedding pieces for a while. I wasn't very happy with the style that my shop had taken on. Therefor, it was becoming more of a burden than something I was enjoying. When we moved, I couldn't even look at all of my supplies (I have a lot of them) without feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

Recently, I made a hairpiece with a birdcage veil for a friend that's getting married later this month. I loved how it turend out and it inspired me to start sketching out new ideas for the shop. Today I made this flower girl headband and decided to re-open the shop. I'm going to start with just headbands and hairpieces at first. I still don't have a lot of free time to dedicate to my Etsy shop. I am in a wedding this summer, I'm helping design and create all the decor for another wedding, and I'm trying to keep busy with Typewriter Boneyard.

In other news, I started watching Downton Abbey today. OH. MY. I am SO addicted! I honestly thought I wouldn't like it, but I'm all in. Sheesh! Because that's what I need- another tv show to be obsessed with.

here to stay, is the new bird.

This was one of the first things I've made since re-opening the shop. I even photographed and listed it in the same day (That means I'm really excited)! I have a few more wreaths (I think about 5) that are already made. I hope to have time for taking pictures and adding more listings this weekend... For now, it's time to catch up on sleep.

shop update: chalkboards and lamps.

Philip and I both have some new listings in the shops. We have been working like crazy fulfilling orders and when we do get the chance, we try to update the shops. I had a custom order for these chalkboards + the woodland chalkboard. It was really fun making something new- especially because it was something that we made together. (Philip cut and sanded the wood for me.)

Philip has had a lot of e-mails asking when he's going to have more book lamps in the shop. He's been so busy fulfilling pendant lamp orders, that there hasn't been time to make any. Well, there was time to make one and it's in the shop now.

I have the day off from the cafe so I'm sending out some orders and working on new ones. Yay! AND it's my brother's birthday today, so maybe I'll even get to see my family for dinner tonight. What are your plans today?

custom order// shop updatae

I made this custom order this week for a bride. It is the same hairpiece that I made a while back. Do you remember Kristen's Bridal Hairpiece? This was the same, but this bride wanted 3 mini ones. I really loved how they turned out so I decided to list some in the shop.

coming soon.

Today is my day off from the cafe. I am working on orders like a crazy person! Just wanted to say hello + to show you something that I've been thinking up for a while now. This one isn't even finished, I was really excited to share it. I'll post more (and better) pictures when it's in the shop.

A couple of random things from last week/ this week:

Jake and I performed at Corner Cafe this past Friday. We had lots of fun and had so many great people there to listen and support us. It was amazing! (Our little Mary Jane was in the audience and watching her smile at Jake and I took away a lot of my stage fright. ♥ her)

I was introduced to this fantastic company and their products this week. I signed up and can't wait to place my first order!

I called my grandma and asked her to teach me how to make some of her famous recipes (that's good for you guys, because you know I'll be posting them) :)

I hadn't seen my little nephew in a while and when I saw him on Friday, I immediately spotted four little teeth! Too cute.

I am getting super anxious and want to start our dining room make over asap! We are planing on making our own table and this will be very helpful.

Hope you are enjoying your week so far!

shop update

There are two new items in the shop this morning: Twiggy Dessert Picks and Lynette's Paper Feather Hair Comb.

These dessert picks come as a set of six: 2 flag picks with button charms, 3 small flag picks, and 1 custom banner. This set would be great for engagement shoots or the dessert table at the wedding. You could use them in pies, cupcakes, or use a few on top of the cake.

This hair piece is very delicate. The paper feathers are made from the page cutouts for Philip's lamps. Dried baby's breath lays across the feathers with two small flowers on one end. There are small pearl beads inside each flower.

All of my paper pieces in the shop are now coated in a matte protective finish so that they are durable against any kind of moisture or liquid. Because if you're as clumsy as I am, you'd rather be safe than sorry.

shop update // new necklace

There's a new necklace in the shop: Jade's Key Necklace. It's made with a vintage key, white + mustard colored beads, and an antiqued brass chain. Philip has an old jar of keys above his desk. I forgot about it until today. I decided to steal some for more jewelry :)

shop update.

I have 2 new pieces in the shop: Meghan's Fringe Necklace + Martha's Garter Set.

I love this necklace. In fact, I think that I've worn it for the past 3 days ♥

I recently made this pretty garter set for a bride. I wish I had made myself one for my wedding. The Martha Garter is my favorite in the shop.

shop update: new bridal necklaces.

I have two lovely new bridal necklaces in the shop for you: Olivia and Chloe. These ladies are pretty fancy.

I've recently discovered my love for jewelry making. I'm excited to gather more supplies for this new love of mine. It will share more when I do ♥

Shop Update

Cami's Flower Broach/ Hairpiece in Saucy Red. I made this for one of my closest friends and hair stylist, Cami. Of course, I had to name it after her...and yes, she's saucy :)

Emily's Bow Tie Necklace. I had this necklace listed in the shop before. I felt that it needed a new name and some decent pictures. I'm not sure why, but it reminded me of my friend, Emily and something that she might wear. Maybe it was just because I was thinking about how much I miss her :)

Golden Velvet Hair Bow. It's attached to a barrette so that you can snap it in your hair easily. I think that I wear bows in my hair more than anything (and the bigger, the better). I wear them styled like in the photo here, below the backside of a messy bun, or just above my fancy pony tail.

shop update.

Kristen's Bridal Hairpiece + Broach. I made this custom hairpiece for a bride and loved how it turned out. It's listed as a made to order piece, so you could request color or material changes if you so desire. Like many of the others, this one can be worn as a hair accessory or a broach.

(From left to right) Sampson's Boutonniere + Riley's Boutonniere. I've been loving peach and mint colors together lately. Each one could be made into a set, or mixed and matched to create a set together.

Shop Update

I added some spring inspired headbands into the shop.

more uses for paper.

Thinking up new ways to use these page cut outs has become a fun game for me.

They work great as a base for headbands ♥

New Chalkboard.

So apparently I have an obsession with chalkboards. I made a big chalkboard out of an old window last year, listed 2 chalkboards in the shop last month, and listed a new one this morning. I made myself one of these for myself about a month ago. I love it! I use it for my daily to do list. It's easy to have on hand for remembering orders that need to be mailed that day or projects that need to be finished.

I found this vintage clipboard at at my favorite "junk yard" here in San Diego. The shop is like a junk yard and a thrift store- it's awesome. I love old industrial office supplies. They just make my heart melt ♥

Update

I made this headband last night. It's super super comfortable and I love it! If you do too, you can buy it here.

Make Good.

Philip and I sell some of our products at Make Good in South Park. This weekend was the South Park Spring Walkabout. I made a few pieces to take down there before Saturday.

paper flower broaches.

packaging.

paper flower headband.

rosette headbands.

tags.

...........................

My new favorite things are these paper flowers. Philip has to hollow out the books he uses for his hard back book lamps, so we have lots of page cutouts in our house. I hate to throw them away, so I started making these flowers. I sent Make Good these headbands and broaches.

[I'm in the process of making some other goodies with these flowers too.]