Lula Boutique

The 2nd Annual Lowcountry Artist Market: handmade, vintage, local

2010-11-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

Lula Boutique will be at the 2ND Annual Lowcountry Artist Market!
Saturday, November 13Th
10:00 am - 3 pm

Etsy.com inspired Event featuring anything and everything Handmade, Vintage, and Local!

On Saturday, November 13Th, the bands, lights, and music generally filling the Music Farm will once again be replaced by handmade jewelry, vintage clothing, customized home goods, and a variety of talents from all over Charleston. The Music Farm will have the bar open, so patrons can enjoy beverages while they shop.

Check out these fabulous Etsy shops for a preview of the goods that will be available at the Artist Market tomorrow...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/seekvintage
http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkelsteins
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoMommySew
http://www.etsy.com/shop/candyshopvintage
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dodelinedesign
http://www.etsy.com/shop/perlaanne
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LulaBoutique
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mdtrott
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PiperBlue
http://www.etsy.com/shop/demidesigns
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LowellAndLouise

This is such a fun event where you can do all of your Holiday and Christmas shopping while purchasing handmade and local. How fabulous is that!!??! If you are in Charleston and can make it, I hope to see you there! Do stop by Lula Boutique and say hello. :)

Upper King Design Walk RECAP

2010-11-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Upper King Design walk 2010 was fabulous! Here is a look at my display for Lula Boutique:{check out that OLD Charleston window in the background. LOVE!!!}

{new handmade jewelry designs in shop now}

Charleston Mag put together some highlights from the night into a video. They stopped by and filmed Lula Boutique jewelry and my thoughts on the event! Yay!!

(Lula Boutique is filmed at 3 min 16 sec) :)

It was a great night! Everyone really seemed to have a fun time. Great shopping, music and cocktails! Thanks to Rachel Gordon for hosting local artists and fashion designers at the event. It was just fabulous!!

Upper King Design District Fall Design Walk

2010-10-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Lula Boutique jewelry will be at ONE boutique on King Street tonight (at Fashion Designer Rachel Gordon's fabulous shop!)

Charleston's Upper King Design District will celebrate the Fall Design Walk, Thursday, October 21 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. will officially open the event.

Oh, and did I mention cocktails will be served?! Hope to see you there!! :)

Dock Side Fashion Show II

2010-10-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

HELLO friends!! {apologies for my absence from the blog}

Lula Boutique has been in full swing around Charleston and is about to launch a brand new website this weekend!!

First things first. Lula Boutique will be at the Dock Side Fashion Show downtown Charleston tomorrow. You can come and shop my handmade jewelry in person and see some fabulous local fashion designers including Sarah Maxwell, One Love, Clewis Reid, Eden Boheme, and Cavortress as they grace the runway with this season's collections. It's sure to be an inspiring night!

{Video from 2009 Dockside Fashion Show.}

I hope to see you there. If you are unable to make it, I will post photos of the event here on Monday. :) Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

The Lowcountry Artist Market RECAP!

2010-06-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

It was a hot and balmy June day here in Charleston this past Saturday. The sun was out, the crowds were ready and the Piccolo Spoleto festivities were in full swing.

The Lowcountry Artist Market was a real hit! The patrons started pouring in at 10:00 even though the event didn't officially begin until 10:30. The Artist Market was hosted at The Music Farm, downtown Charleston, which is a small music venue where Charlestonians like myself can see their favorite bands preform, such as Modest Mouse and Ingrid Michaelson.

I was so pleased with the outcome of the day. I had a total of
30 jewelry sales and was even asked to do a trunk show for a bridal shower. I can't even count the number of business cards that were taken---I was constantly refilling them. I even managed to get a full page of email addresses for my newsletter sign-up. I had several customers ask me if I had a boutique downtown or if they could find my jewelry in local shops. It was a fabulous experience and I am really looking forward to the next show!

It was such a busy day, but I still managed to take a quick walk around the market and meet some local Etsy sellers. It was wonderful to meet the sellers of the shops I had seen time and time again on Etsy.

Some of my favorites included...

Merry Mint
Mu-Yin Jewelry
May Bee Clothing
Dodeline Design
Candy Shop Vintage
Perla Anne

All of these ladies had fabulous displays and their talent truly shined through their work. Mollie of Mu-Yin Jewelry has had over 4400 sales on Etsy alone and that's just one venue she sells through! Now THAT is inspiration!! :)

{A special thanks to Kristen, Manager of the Music Farm, for having the idea to host an Etsy inspired event here in Charleston!}

Featured in Charleston City Paper!

2010-06-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

........................................
A couple of weeks ago I was interviewed by Kinsey Gidick from the Charleston City Paper.

She wanted to know about my jewelry and involvement with the Lowcountry Artist Market here in Charleston. Can you imagine how excited I was when she contacted me? I was thrilled!

Then last week, the Charleston City Paper called again. This time it was Kaitlyn Iserman, the City Paper's photographer. She wanted to come by and do a photo shoot for the article. Wow! Seriously, such fun!!

Here's a little blurb from the article:

"Karen Young runs Lula Boutique, which sells vintage-inspired handmade jewelry. She got started on the site three and a half years ago. Gastaldo discovered Young's jewels while working on her nuptials and subsequently asked Young to be a part of the Artist Market. "I'm hoping I can meet other artists and find other boutiques to sell in locally," Young says. Currently, she ships worldwide and has pieces in boutiques as far away as Australia. "I'm at the post office a lot," she laughs."

{You can read the entire article here if you'd like.}

If you're in or around Charleston, do stop by tomorrow, June 5'Th: 10:30 - 5:00. I would love to meet you and I'm sure the other Etsy sellers would too. We're going to have a lot of fun!
Saturday, June 5th
Lowcountry Artist Market

Music Farm
32 Ann St
Charleston SC 29403

Etsy.com inspired Event featuring anything and everything Handmade, Vintage, and Local.

On Saturday, June 5th, the bands, lights, and music generally filling the Music Farm will be replaced by handmade jewelry, vintage clothing, customized home goods, and a variety of talents from all over Charleston.

The Market will be open from 10:30 am until 5:00 pm. Featuring upwards of 40 vendors, the Market will provide a variety of local jewelry artists, vintage clothing dealers, custom children’s clothing, home and fashion accessories, as well as artwork – all from the Charleston community.

The Music Farm will have the bar open, so patrons can enjoy beverages while they shop.

Hope to see you there!

Charleston Market!

2010-05-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday we head to the local market...

*we go to... support local and our community farms.
*we go to... see our friends and neighbors.
*we go because... brunch at "Market Fresh Brunch" is sooooo good!!!
*we go so ...we can sip freshly squeezed lemonade under the shade.
*we go to ...relax and enjoy the day.
*we go because... we love Charleston, South Carolina!

*Oh...and we go so I can sift through my cookbook and choose a birthday cake for my sweetie.

THIS one looks PERFECT!!!

I still need cherries for that cake though...

Cheers,
KK

Vanity Bench Makeover with Dolce!!

2010-05-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Fabulous fabric makes me want to create and Tanya Whelan's "Dolce" line is so incredibly fabulous.

Her designs are some of my favorites!!

{Me out with sister, shopping for fabric and "inspiration" for a vanity bench makeover!}

I went with this pink and orange geometric number. LOVE it!! Accompanied with a coat of fresh white paint---my little vanity bench will soon be fabulous!!

Fabulous "Dolce" fabric by: Tanya Whelan

Sister shopping and being inspired. I quickly reprimanded her to..."Put that jewelry down, we make our own jewelry!!! ;)

I'll post "before + after" photos of my little vanity bench makeover---fashioning the new "Dolce" next week.

I hope you ALL have a lovely weekend.
See you on Monday!

Fabulous weddings and such...

2010-05-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

After my "vacation" from blogging and a jewelry hiatus, I am finally back!!

It's been a whirlwind these past couple of months. My sister was married last week and I was her "right hand girl" the entire time. Through all of the preparations and planning, we grew even closer than I had ever imagined. It was a marvelous wedding (we are seriously considering becoming fabulous wedding planners because we have mad wedding planning skills!!)

My sister, Susie, is my best friend and being by her side as her Matron of Honor was, well....Truly an HONOR!

{Pleas NOTE: She only became a Suzilla once the entire time. She came up with that name herself. So clever. Bridezilla + Susie = Suzilla.} ;)

Here's another shot of the happy couple. She was GORGEOUS to say the least. A natural beauty. ...And her new hubby, let me just say that our family is thrilled to have him be a part of it now!!

Congratulations you

Charleston Love Birds!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! This is just the beginning of seeing some of my lovely sister, Susie, as we are "partnering up" and she will be working with me on jewelry and a bridal line for trade shows (We have a trade show coming up this JUNE!) and boutique orders to boot. You might even get to meet her, as she will be guest blogging from time to time and help me keep this lil' old blog going!! I have the intentions of some guaranteed weekly posts---NOT the usual "annual posts"--hahah!!)

We have a lot of plans coming up and I am so excited to share them you YOU via blog-land!

See you soon!
Cheers,
KK

Welcome March.

2010-03-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

I can't help but to get giddy this time of year. We're about to have a string of sunny days in the high 60's  and I am already dreaming up my new Spring wardrobe!

J.Crew, Anthropologie, and Boden are among my favorites and I've been drooling over their catalogs and plotting the endless possibilities for the new pretties I'll be wearing this season.
I am just loving the simplistic look and soft colors of this outfit from J.Crew. Oh I must have this!

Cheers to good weather and spring fashion! :)

Romantic February...

2010-02-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

Hello February.
( My how you snuck up on me.)

I will tell you, it's all about ROMANCE and grace this month. I want to fill February with pink & red & warmth---maybe fill my wardrobe and home with a little more sas!

Yes, that sounds good.

Maybe I'll put on some red shoes?

If these vintage red heels were my size (just a bit bigger please) I would most definitely snag them!
Ooh...maybe they'll fit you?! Found at MyCocoonVintage for only $36! Just fabulous!

*gorgeous photo by : skippy designs*
{if I didn't already have a lovely green bike,
I would certainly be cruising around on this PINK one.}

Hope you have a fabulous day!
(maybe with a little sas too!)

A New Year and Homemade Bread

2010-01-04T06:06:00.000-08:00

We had such a wonderful holiday spent right here in Charleston! Seriously, it was terrific & special. Our family was gracious to make the 10 hour plus drive from the North so we could all be together for our favorite time of year.

Goodbye to 2009. I really enjoyed you. Really. You were a memorable year in so many ways {happy & sad} and I will keep the memories close.

So, how did I start the New Year? Well, I made homemade bread of course... and then hubby and I flew a kite on the beach even though it was freezing cold, overcast and a bit rainy. It was still perfect if you ask me. (well actually, I guess perfect would be warm and sunny with light breezes.)

Can you see the kite? That little thing flying above the pier? Yes, that's it. haha! Not a good photo. It was taken right before the wind came and slammed my kite to the sand! It was pretty while it lasted.

About the bread...I made a loaf of bread on New Years morning (to accompany my annual New Years "Maryland Crab Soup"-which I've made for 4 years in a row now. Traditions traditions. I'm a sucker for them.) and now I plan on making homemade bread every Sunday. It was soooo good!!

Homemade bread... As you most likely already know, there is just nothing else like it. Seriously. Especially when you eat a slice hot out of the oven with organic creamy butter and local drizzled honey on top. YummO! I used the recipe from the Apples for Jam cookbook. It was so easy and quite rewarding. Loved it!

Welcome 2010! I am glad you are here and will happily grace you with my traditions, old and new.

January 1, 2010 5:13 PM.
{and lastly...A New Years Day Sunset taken on an evening walk with hubby after the rain let up.}

Let the baking continue...

2009-12-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I am still baking up a storm and really enjoying it too! So, what's on the dessert menu for tonight? Gingerbread men! Homemade gingerbread men decked out in their proper attire of icing and special design. YummO!

Here's a photo of my last batch (batches!!) of cookies I made for my friends. All packaged up and looking pretty next to the tree. Oh how I LOVE this time of year!

Check out that paper lace too. Isn't it fabulous!! Umm...I'm sorry, but I LOVE paper lace and I just adore the way the boxes turned out.

Lastly, here is my mess. My daily mess as I fill orders. Thank you, thank you to my customers for giving me the chance to have this good mess. ;)

I hope y'all are having a fabulous week!
{...and baking lots of cookies too!}

Baking for friends...

2009-12-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

My holiday tradition of baking cookies {a secret family recipe} for my friends is keeping me busy today!

144 cookies to be exact! I'm in the "flurry" of all of the baking & packaging & wrapping as I type. ...and I finally mailed my Christmas cards today! phew...just in time.

Next on the list...

Homemade Marshmallows! Thanks to my new candy thermometer, (shipped overnight by my Mama who wanted to make sure they turn out just right) I will be able to "perfect" the soft fluffy goodness that will melt into our coco this Christmas.

Learning to balance & good habits too

2009-12-10T07:01:00.000-08:00

I'm starting my resolutions early this year
and practicing yoga every day.

I didn't mean for it to be a "resolution" but that's kind of what it ended up becoming for me and I am ready to fulfill my personal challenge.

So far it's only been 3 days in a row and I must say that I thoroughly love it! I am looking forward to it. All the new stretches and poses I'm learning and breathing techniques...I'm beginning to realize what all the hype was about. Yoga is my new favorite good habit and I plan on doing it every day.

{Now I just need to master the pose shown above. Balance. It's all about balance this coming up year.}

Beloved December

2009-12-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

A favorite time of year has begun and you know what that means. Holiday and seasonal decorating!

{images courtesy of Martha.}

I'm really loving the "doily snowflakes" hanging in the window below...

I've been on a hunt to track down as many white vintage doilies I can find. They will be heavily starched and hung in the window by thread. If we can't have real snow in South Carolina then we might as well have vintage snow! Don't you agree? ;)

{Welcome December and I am HAPPY you're here.}

A free lip gloss just for you!!

2009-11-30T07:23:00.000-08:00

Plant Love Lip Gloss...A fabulous & exclusive offer from Puresha!!

Remember when I told you about Puresha, right here? Well, they are being extra generous and are offering my readers a FREE Plant Love Lip Gloss with every $50 purchase at their shop. Ummm....is this fabulous or what??!!

Plant Love Lip Gloss is packed full of all natural ingredients such as Grape seed oil and Apricot wax. The earth friendly packaging is eco-certified, entirely recyclable and produced in a mill that has no carbon footprint. Now, that's something to get excited about!

Here are the fabulous details...

*Spend over £30 ($50) and receive a FREE Plant Love Lip Gloss worth £12 ($20).(while stocks last.)

*The code for the free lip gloss is: lovegloss

*This offer is good for Lula Boutique readers until December 7, 2009.

*Choose your lip gloss color here (8 colors to choose from)and email Sara at sara@puresha.com to let her know.

Thanks for the fabulous offer Puresha! Now I'm off to do some "Cyber Monday" shopping...

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-29T15:10:00.001-08:00

We hosted our very first Thanksgiving dinner

this year and it was simply wonderful!

We gave thanks with our out of town guests and loved ones while enjoying delicious food and lots of pumpkin pie & hot apple cider.

Oh how I love pumpkin pie with cider!

{father-in-law playing guitar and my sister on the ukulele.}

My musically inclined family entertained us with a guitar & ukulele duo. Mainly playing The Beatles and Cat Stevens.

Lovely. Simply lovely.

Hoping your weekend was a lovely one too. :)

PURESHA {Eco-Chic Beauty}

2009-11-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce that my line of jewelry is now being sold at one of the most fabulous shops! Let me introduce to you,

PURESHA "Eco-Chic Beauty", located in the UK!!! I am in LOVE with this shop and I am convinced that you will too! You must check it out if you love trying new beauty items such as...

MAKE-UP

SKINCARE
BATH AND BODY
PERFUME
CANDLES

{just to name a few}

and now JEWELRY!! Yay for that!

Oh, and did I mention that it's all

organic and eco-friendly??? Yes!! Even better, I say!

So, if you have a second or two, please do check it out. This shop is like a breath of fresh air!

{PS...I adore this lipstick and believe I must have it.}

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Harvest & Apple Pie

2009-10-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

{I've returned from my 3 month break! It was an unintentional "break" actually. Maybe this time I will post a little more frequently...like a couple times a week instead of a couple times a year! My little ol' blog is in need of a good dose of attention, don't you agree? So, here it goes...}

A quick post to start and all I can say is APPLE PIE!! It's in the forecast for today and this weekend. So, I need to get peeling, coring, and baking ASAP!

Harvest: AliciaBock

dwell in possibility...

2009-07-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have to remind myself (even force myself) to take a break and truly relax. Even for just 20 minutes.

I have found that writing my thoughts in a journal can be like a mental detox, if you will. ;) It gives me a chance to write down all of my ideas, feelings, passions, fears, dreams...what I'm most grateful for in my life...I just write. Sometimes I write until my hand hurts from writing so much.

20-30 minutes. bike. pool. water. shade. journal. reflection.
I leave feeling rejuvenated and with a sense of direction and fresh ideas. Extremely grounded and energetic but with purpose and peace in my heart. "Dwell in possibility"...so my journal says...

...and that's what I shall do.

{~Hoping your weekend is a good one!}

A July tradition in Charleston.

2009-07-13T09:24:00.001-07:00

Calling all Portland Girls!

2009-07-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

Get in style this summer...

For those of you who live in or near Portland, Oregon...you are "oh so lucky" if you ask me! Portland is a beautiful city for so many reasons but one fabulous reason is that you get to shop at Frumoasa Boutique for the latest fashions and super girly attire!

Lucky you!!

Right now, I am in love with all of their handbags...love love love!

and lastly, here's a little glimpse of some of my new jewelry designs you can find at Frumoasa Boutique too...Have a fabulous weekend and a Happy Fourth of July!

June 30, 1981

2009-06-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

28 years today!

Who wouldn't want goggles for their 5'TH birthday?!

My 6'TH Birthday back in 1987...Mom decorated with streamers and 90 balloons to be exact. :)

Oh the memories...

Hoping your day was special too.

Cheers!

"Run like the wind Bear"

2009-06-27T08:18:00.001-07:00

He was a part of the family and he will be missed. "Run like the wind Bear" is what we called him. The first time Bear-Bear set paw on Folly Beach in Charleston, South Carolina, he took off and ran...he ran like the wind down the open beach to the waters edge. He was a free spirit and a wonderful friend.

Susie & Bear-Bear.

Christmas walk on Edisto Beach 2008.

My sister Susie adopted Bear-Bear at a Farmer's Market in Delaware (2 hours from home) when she was 15 years old. She immediately fell head over heels in love with the funny little guy and didn't think twice about spending all of her babysitting money right then and there (and without asking for my parents permission.) Bear had quite a few adventures with Susie during that first year of his life. My parents, who were hesitant at first, eventually grew to love him as well and Bear-Bear soon became a loving member of the family and a great companion dog.
Me & Bear-Bear just 6 days ago back home in Maryland.

Today is a sad day for my family as Bear-Bear left us early this morning.

Bear-Bear

February 14, 1999-June 27, 2009.

Goodbye my friend; you will always have a huge place in my heart and

I will always love you dearly.

xoxo

Hello!

2009-06-26T14:09:00.001-07:00

I'm back and I'm a brunette!!

We just returned from our wonderful vacation visiting our family and are now unpacking and getting settled in. I'm also getting use to my new brunette locks! I thought it would be fun to change my hair color up a bit. Hmmmn...I hope it's not true that blonde's have more fun...I will soon find out. ;)

I'll post photos of our trip on Monday. My sister and her boyfriend are coming over in an hour and I have to get dinner together and make this place fancy FAST!

Thank you ALL so much for your well wishes while we were away! Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend...the last beautiful June weekend of the year...

Taking a Holiday...

2009-06-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

There is a time: Yvette Inufio

I'm taking a holiday and will be back next week to share lots of photos and to re-open my shop!

Cheers and have a fabulous week! :)

Maryland Traditions & Thunderstorms

2009-06-16T07:57:00.001-07:00

This weekend was a lovely one if you ask me! 

We had a Maryland treat right here in Charleston, SC!  Steamed blue crabs and ice cold beer! It doesn't get much better than that! (If you are from Maryland or that region...You know exactly what I'm talking about!)

After our feast this happened...

...and it was awesome!

...and then we ran inside to take shelter from the downpour and lightning that filled our beautiful Charleston sky.

So we watched from the patio instead. :)

I must have this dress!!

2009-06-10T04:56:00.000-07:00

Grosgrain: SHABBY APPLE Marseilles Dress GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Isn't this dress fabulous!!!??? I do believe I HAVE to have it as one of my summer dresses! My fingers are crossed that I win this fab dress! Oh please please please...

Lula tags and Fabulous customers!

2009-06-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

I must say, I have the most fabulous customers!

Seriously, they're just ALL fabulous!

Alright, first things first... I wanted to share my new jewelry cards and tags. As some of you may already know,
I'm always coming up with new ways to package my jewelry so it arrives all pretty and such and so my customers are extra *extra* happy when they get a package from me. :)  

{you may remember these tags I made a while back--and still use.}

Here they are..*New shop tags*
for Lula Boutique:

So back to my fabulous customers! Well...Here's another quick photo of a pair of earrings all ready to be shipped to a fabulous customer.

OK, by now you're probably thinking "how do you know she's so fabulous?" Well, she's a fellow blogger, repeat customer and she has her own fabulous line of organic facial care products and cosmetics which you can find at her shop, KZM FACIAL CARE BOUTIQUE. I'm really digging the organic part too!

Her divine shop has been featured everywhere including Martha Stewart's Body+Soul Magazine. Now that's fabulous, no?!

{By the way:I just adore that magazine!}

Here's a peek at some products from
KZM FACIAL CARE BOUTIQUE:

Thanks to all of my FABULOUS customers!! You really are fabulous!! XO

Basko lazy days...

2009-06-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

I definitely didn't have a lazy day today but Basko sure did!

{Soon, I'll have photos to share of new designs I've been working on for the shop and more...}

Cheers!

Love what you do...

2009-06-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

As I worked in my studio yesterday this feeling came over me....and I felt these words ever so powerfully.

...and I became grateful.

...and then I made this...

and this...

and this too...

...and many more that will be added to the shop this week!

{I hope you're loving what you do today.}

Welcome June

2009-06-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

{Love is in the Air} Irene Suchocki

Welcome June. You are my most beloved month. xo

My bike matches this...

2009-05-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

First, here's another photo of my cruiser parked outside of Cru Cafe while a very dear friend and I grabbed  lunch and a glass of wine...you know you wanted to see another photo of my bike, right? ;)   Don't our cruisers just look so pretty next to each other? hee hee...

So, right now my cruiser is parked in my studio and I can't help but to glance at it {far too often I might add} while filling all of my jewelry orders.  Well, it has dawned on me that I may indeed have an obsession with this color or any color in the robins egg blue, mint green family for that matter. ...and so it happens to be that my fabulous cruiser matches all of my favorite household possessions...well, lots of them anyway.

For a quick example... I just looked up from my desk and noticed that it matches my lovely ribbon holder AND the color of my studio walls?! Is this a healthy obsession? Hmmn...
So now, I'm looking around my home and I am actually laughing out loud at how much this gorgeous color has become a part of my everyday surroundings. LOTS of framed art, pillows, blankets, dishes etc etc....who knew a color could make me this happy. Seriously?! ;)

Have a fabulous weekend! I'll be back to post more on Monday...trying to post 5 days a week. We'll see how that goes!! 

Baby lets cruise....

2009-05-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

On my very own MINT green (hint of robins egg blue) Hampton Cruiser!! Thanks to my wonderful husband and his most generous "early birthday present" to MOI! So, my birthday is at the end of June but I really, really wanted this bike and Jono knew I just couldn't wait any longer. Well, and the fact that I "needed" it in order to ride in the "Charleston Chic Cycle" ride last week! *I mean, my dress didn't match my mountain bike...what was a girl to do?! ;)

So this is my new bike and I am in complete LOVE with it!
I can cruise for hours and...
*relax*
*think*
*take in the sights*
&
*summer blooms*
*breathe*
*enjoy*

...and I prefer to wear flip-flops while doing this.

{I hope you have a fabulous day!}

Lula Bridal and lots of beautiful rain...

2009-05-27T08:12:00.001-07:00

It's raining outside today.  Actually, it's pouring down like Niagara Falls outside and it's just beautiful. I am happily filling orders and scrambling like a mad woman-- trying to get lots and lots of jewelry completed for Frumoasa Boutique and for a new boutique I have recently taken on as well. I am excited to have Bella Boutique in Anchorage, Alaska carry my line of jewelry soon...well, as soon as I can get it all shipped to them!!
Busy, busy, busy...but oh, so worth it and I'm loving every minute of it!

Here's some photos I took of a bridal order I've received from a fabulous, Fabulous Bride!

Her request was to have the Fleur necklace made for each one of her bridesmaids, and a custom pair of earrings for her Maid of Honor, all wrapped in pretty boxes with her "French theme" of damask prints and pale yellow. Actually, I offered to customized the gift boxes for her and she said she loved them and well,  that made me happy!
I handmade each flower by grouping petals together and fastening them with a crystal brad and adorned each to the box which I had wrapped in satin ribbon. Each jewelry card was handed stamped with one of my favorite damask designs as well. I think they turned out rather lovely if I do say so myself!
{Next, I have another request do make her flower girl necklaces. So cute...I' ll post about the custom designs soon.}

Hope you're all having a fabulous day! 

Happy Birthday my Love

2009-05-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Jono's birthday at the Charleston Symphony's Orchestra in the Park. Good friends joined us as we enjoyed delicious food and drinks while listening to the harmonic sounds from across the lake. It was perfect!

Don't you just love the lanterns we strung across the trees!!

I must say...sparklers are fun at ANY age!

Happy Birthday Jono!
xoxo

Sweet Savannah

2009-05-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Y'all...

2009-05-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

We spotted romance...Lots of it in Savannah!

To celebrate our ONE year wedding anniversary, we took a romantic getaway to lovely Savannah, Georgia. We ate our delicious chocolate wedding cake and sipped sweet champagne overlooking the gorgeous fountain at Forsyth Park.
For now...Here is a quick photo of us at Forsyth Park in front of the famous fountain. I'll be sure to post more pictures of our fabulous week over the next couple of days.

Cheers Y'all!!

(As you can tell...I've been "finding" opportunities to say "y'all" ever since we got back from good old Savannah. I just can't help myself) ;)

First day of Spring...

2009-03-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

...and it was the perfect first day of Spring!

Instant Gratification

2009-03-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about the color trends for this Spring and this is just a little glimpse at what J.Crew has to offer. Aren't those images just so inspiring? They make me want to go shopping
RIGHT NOW!!
J.Crew has an "instant gratification" section on their website so you can shop guilt free and stock up on lots of fabulous pretties for this season to come.

As our days are quickly warming and Spring nears, I'm happy to fantasize about all of the mint green, pale pink, and canary yellow that will soon fill my closet!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

Sunday Scones

2009-03-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

We had a gorgeous weekend here in Charleston, South Carolina! It was sunny with blue skies and 75 degree with lovely breezes. It was a "every window in our home was open" kind of weekend. Just perfect if you ask me!

So, how do you start off such a perfect Sunday? Bake homemade scones of course! Jono had never had a scone before! I know..I couldn't believe it! You think you know somebody! ;) Well, before baking them, he asked me what a scone was. Well, I figured out the best way to describe a scone. It's kind of like a biscuit and cake mixed together. Yes...I think that makes sense! ha!

We enjoyed these scones with the most delicious
Wild Maine Blueberry Jam!!
Yum!! I think we need to make this a habit for Sunday mornings from now on!

Pale Pink Treasury

2009-03-05T12:22:00.001-08:00

Do you see it? That's my Pink Provence necklace in the middle bottom row!! The most fabulous Jewels over at Red Otter was ever so nice as to include my necklace in her "Pale Pink" treasury.

I must say that I too adore pale pink just as much as jadite green and robins egg blue (just to name a few.)

*If you have a sec you should hop (or click) over to The Red Otter's blog and shop. It's one of may favorites and I am happy to say that I'm a loyal (and inspired) reader of hers. I've also experienced Jewels' FAB customer service and beautiful work as I made this purchase last year for my Mom's Birthday.*

{Thanks so much for including me in your beautiful treasury Jewels!}

Blended Goodness

2009-02-27T06:48:00.000-08:00

So, this is a bit sad to admit, but we
received this blender as a wedding
gift nearly 10 months ago
and I finally got around to using it this
past month.Well, I wish I had used it sooner
because it's a new favorite appliance around here!This is what we've been having for breakfast at our
home recently...freshly blended fruit smoothies!!
Yum! So delicious and best of all good for you!It's such an easy way to start your day
off "healthy" and I've noticed
I feel more energized too!

{Happy Friday!!!!}

Vintage Finds

2009-02-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest "vintage find"...found only on Etsy at a shop called
Hope and Joy Home ...
They're old dug bottles that are 100 years old. That's OLD!! ...and they're purple...and I'm in complete love with them. I kept them grouped together, filled them with little flowers and placed them in my bathroom on the windowsill. ...and voila...Perfect!

Tags & Jewelry for Frumoasa Boutique

2009-02-23T08:39:00.000-08:00

A while back I posted about a fabulous shop that started carrying my line of jewelry. Well, I am still just as happy and excited (as I was back then) to say that I am still a designer for this gorgeous shop! Here's a little glimpse at a few of my latest designs that are being sold at Frumoasa Boutique in Portland, Oregon. If your in the area...you will not regret stopping by this fabulous shop! It's super chic & girly and best of all... filled with the latest fashion trends! From over-sized handbags & sunglasses to sophisticated but flirty dresses! How can a girl resist? :)

...and lastly, here's some cute little shop tags I recently made for my jewelry boxes. I think they turned out nice and match my large shop tags that display my business info perfectly. :)

Hope you're all having a fabulous day! xo

Kisses on Valentines Day

2009-02-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

A kiss in the park at sunset...
and another one at the ice cream parlor...
I guess I love to kiss Jono everywhere we go!

Jono woke me up on Valentines Day and told me he loved me. Then, he handed me a big red heart that was decorated in lace and a flower and best of all filled with lots of chocolate! He said to me "I picked out the prettiest one, just for you!" After our coffee and samplings from the red heart, we got ready for a special Valentines Day. Jono took me to a French Cafe for lunch called "Rue de Jean"...and I must say it was tres bien! We went the aquarium, strolled the historic streets and gardens and ended with a kiss at "White Point Gardens" overlooking the Ashley River. Very romantic! Oh, and at the last minute on the way home, Jono literally swerved into "Ye Ole Fashion Cafe" for some ice cream and another kiss. :)

{Thank you my love...for a very thoughtful and romantic day spent with *only* you.}

Oh, something so funny...when I told my sister about our day she said "Whoaaa!!!...Sounds like you guys took a field trip for Valentines Day!" haha...

Yes...a romantic field trip! It was great!

Is it really January 28?? Really??

2009-01-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Where have the past 2 months gone?? Let me tell you, they have certainly flown by for me!! December was super busy for my shop with all of the Holiday orders. It was awesome! My studio desk pretty much looked like this the entire month of December...
So, with some of the "down time" that comes after the wonderful holiday frenzy at the shop, I've decided to give my studio a makeover. Well, it's not that it "needs" a makeover really...I just want to give it one! So, I just ordered this fabulous book called "Where Woman Create" and I can't wait to get inspired for my new studio makeover....
I am thinking of painting all of the furniture white and re-painting the walls too...maybe like a French inspired, shabby chic feel??!! I can't wait to get started. I will definitely update my poor little ole' blog with pictures as I go. I LOVE doing before & after pictures...so much fun!

It's good to be back blogging! :)

Today

2008-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

Today I am happily spending all of my time in my little studio space so I can have the shop stocked for the holiday orders to come. As I was busily making at least 10 different jewelry designs all at once...I can never make just one design at a time. Funny, isn't it? I will sit down with a specific design in mind for a piece of jewelry and before you know it I have 10 different pendants and stones etc...sitting in front of me waiting to be made into necklaces and earrings.

Anyway, about today...Well, Today is gorgeous!! I have my window wide open!! The sun is pouring into my studio as I work and this amazing breeze is kissing my skin. I can hear the leaves rustling over the grass and it's 60 degrees outside. Can I tell you how happy this makes me?
I grabbed my camera so I could capture the moment in a photo. You can't really tell but the breeze in blowing the curtains at least a foot away from the window. Love it!

Hope you all are having a fabulous day!!

Carte Blanche Invitations

2008-11-14T05:12:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to introduce to you a good friend of mine who I completely adore. (Well, technically this is the second time I've posted about her.) Kelli Hall of Carte Blanche Invitations is one of the most talented and gifted designers I have ever met and I'm sure you will agree when you see her work.

Kelli offers fabulous custom invitation designs that will leave you speechless! I know this first hand because Kelli designed our wedding invitations and they were FABULOUS! Seriously, fabulous!!

Here's a peek at our wedding invitation Kelli designed for us...

Recently, Kelli has entered three birth announcements for a design challenge at Minted. This is an amazing opportunity for Carte Blanche Invitations to get exposure and grow. The announcement that receives the most votes will be sold on Minted. How awesome would that be??!! So...if you'd like (and I hope you do!!) you can click on the following links to Kelli's birth announcements that are being judged for the challenge and vote on all three. I voted them all a 5 because they are gorgeous!!
1. pop of pink
2. modern splash
3. delivery stats{this one is my absolute favorite.}

Thanks to all who vote!! It is much appreciated...you can be certain of that.
I will be sure to let you know if Carte Blanche Invitations is the winner.
I hope you all have a fabulous day! Cheers!

Basko & Molly

2008-11-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I have surely neglected my poor little old blog. Sorry for the long absence. I wish I were more of a dedicated blogger like so many of you but sometimes I am just so busy it's hard to find time. Thanks to all of you who sent emails wondering where I was and just to say hi.
So so sweet!!

Well...here's a quick post just to get back into the swing of things. When I came home this morning I found my two little babes (yes, my babes are cats until I have real children to spoil and love!) lounging in the sun. They were just too too adorable not to take pictures of...
I swear...Basko is the smartest cat that has ever lived (is that unfair of me to say?). He can do lots of tricks including "roll over"... "sit"..."up-up"---that's when he stands on his hind legs...and many more. He could join the circus! So, I took this picture after I said "Basko, can you look up into the camera?" Well...Basko immediately looked right into the camera and crossed his legs as if to strike a pose. He is so hilarious!

...and then here is my little pudgy girl... sweet Molly...

Molly isn't a genius like Basko but she is most definitely the nicest kitty I have ever met. She loves to cuddle and is truly a lover. I have her on an organic diet and a daily exercise routine with the "laser pointer." :)

I'll be posting more this week. Cheers!

Ellie's Girls

2008-10-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy day as my Sister and I prepared to run in The Race For the Cure 5K this past Saturday.

Ellie's Girls is what our shirts say and that's who we are. We are Ellie's Girls! My Grandma Ellie. She is one of the most special people in my life and the most caring, considerate and warm & gentle souls...I could go on and on about how much I adore and love my Grandma.

It was terrible news to find out that she was also diagnosed with having breast cancer this past April. Since then she has had surgery and over 30 radiation treatments. Monday was her last treatment and she is doing very well.
It was an emotional race on many levels. Seeing the cancer survivors cross the finish line with a look of determination and strength in them brought tears to my eyes. A man in front of me was running for his loved one as his shirt read "in celebration of my wife." That made me cry. There were lots of shirts that said "In memory of..." Those made my heart ache.
Grandma Ellie was happy to know her girls ran the race for her. She giggled (she has the BEST giggle) when I told her about it and showed her the pictures. I know it boosted her spirit and made her happy and that's just what my sister and I had intended to do.

Etsy Favorites

2008-10-15T05:34:00.000-07:00

Autumn Kiss by Tina Tarnoff

Pretty in Pink Bench by Spruce Home

Blue and Pink Purse by Vicky Riley

I just adore all of these handmade items on Esty...don't you??? Cheers! :)

A bit of my weekend

2008-10-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

My sister and I went for a morning run through our
gorgeous downtown in preparation for the race for the cure
and with the serious intentions of getting back into shape!
Maybe this can be my "before" picture. ha!

Then we hit the Farmer's Market...

It started pouring rain!! We absolutely love the warm rains in Charleston so it made the market even more fun.

{This picture was taken by moi while looking
out into the crowds underneath my little green umbrella.}

Hope you had a beautiful weekend as well! :)

Is it too late...

2008-10-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

....To post pictures of our weekend? ;)

It was a beautiful weekend...Sunny & blue skies and temperatures in the high 70's. We started day with breakfast at the Boulevard Diner...

We read the local papers...

We went to a fabulous bead show and I stocked up on LOTS of new supplies for the shop. {New pieces coming soon!!!}

Jono fully enjoyed the bead show!! Haha...he was on his new iPod touch the ENTIRE time. It definitely kept him happily busy...He was such a sport for going with me to the bead show. They can be VERY boring if you're not a jewelry designer. ;)

Then we made a stop at the ice cream parlor for a much needed treat to enjoy on such a lovely afternoon....

Yum!!! Malted milkshakes are a necessity if you want to fully enjoy a Saturday afternoon...

Then we hit the driving range to hit some balls with our new clubs. We are both seriously considering going pro. ;)

So that's it! Our weekend. Sorry it is a bit late... but better late than never. Cheers!

{Thanks for all of your sweet comments in last weeks post. I loved reading all of them!}

Last wedding post...I promise. ;)

2008-10-02T05:55:00.001-07:00

It looks like he's about to drop me!! Ohhh!!!

I had to post these pictures because I LOVE them!! They were taken at some good friends of ours' wedding back in Spring. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL! They had a "photo shoot" spot set up for all the guests to take pictures of themselves. The best idea!! We kind of went to town taking photos---this is just a couple of them. haah!

Here is a picture of some of our favorite and dear friends....

I usually don't post pictures of our friends on here because I'm don't think they want to be all over the Internet-ha-...but I had to make an exception with these particular friends of ours. Don't they look like they just stepped out of a J.Crew catalog?? Well, actually...Kelli's entire outfit (shoes, necklace & all) were from J.Crew...Matt's probably was too..ha! ;)

Gorgeous...gorgeous!

I promise you...these are the last wedding pictures I'll be posting for a while.
The next wedding we know about is not until Spring.

Hope you're having a fabulous week!

Bits of our weekend

2008-09-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

It was another "wedding kind of weekend" and I was so happy to see our friends tie the knot! Since the wedding was about 2 hours away, Jono and I took advantage of the opportunity to make a little "getaway vacation" for ourselves and stay in a Bed & Breakfast.

Here we are outside of the beautiful B&B we stayed at... "The 1425 Inn." This was our second time staying at a Bed & Breakfast and we have found that we really enjoy it. The first time we stayed in one was our visit to Savannah, Georgia...That was fabulous! (I'll have to post pictures of that trip!) It's perfect for weekend getaways!

Here are some beautiful flowers outside the Inn. The gardens were gorgeous!

Lastly...Here is a blurry picture of me twirling the little flower girl.
She was sooooo adorable!!! She danced all night long. Such fun indeed!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend as well!

25 new designs!!!

2008-09-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Here's is a little glimpse of what will be added to the shop in the next couple of days. I can't believe it but I actually made 25 new designs yesterday! TWENTY-FIVE!!! That's a record for me for sure. I managed to photograph all of them too so now I'm off to list on Etsy.

I hope you have a fabulous day! ;)

A pretty treasury

2008-09-23T04:13:00.001-07:00

I must say that I adore this treasury and my Sedona Flight earrings just happen to be included! Of course, that's not why I love it so much. I just think the color scheme and the items show so well together...don't you agree? It's so *pretty*!

Bits of our weekend

2008-09-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

This weekend was filled with a trip downtown to the farmers market,
shopping on King Street, and a crab feast with good friends! Seriously, perfect!

Shop for Lula in Philadelphia!

2008-09-18T08:58:00.003-07:00

VIX Emporium is a "nifty new" store in the historic section of West Philadelphia. The fabulous owners, Emily & Sean say it's basically like an "Etsy" but in person because everything is unique and best of all it's filled with handmade goodness. So far, they represent the work of over 150 artisans in various mediums....and now I'm one of them!!! Yay!

Here's a peak of what's inside...

Oh, and how about the name VIX??? Well, "VIX" (with a bar over the V) is the number 5009 in Roman numerals - which is their street address on Baltimore Avenue. How clever is that!!! So if you're ever in the area, please stop by to visit and shop for Lula Boutique in person. :)

New shop tags...I adore!!!

2008-09-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here they are!!! My new shop tags for Lula Boutique. I owe it all to Terbearco on Etsy. She makes beautiful (well made) stamps of all kinds at a very affordable price too. She customized this stamp for me and it arrived within a couple of weeks. Very impressive! Aren't they just so girlie and chic!?! They match my store perfect and I must say, they remind me of pink cupcakes too....Just fabulous! ;)

Hope you have a fabulous day!

Front page of Etsy at last!!!

2008-09-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

When I logged into Etsy on Saturday, I glanced at the "front page" items as I always do but this time it was different. I saw my Pomegranate Earrings and immediately thought... "what the heck are my earrings doing here???"

Haha...It took me a second to realize that I was in a treasury on the front page!!! Very happy indeed and happy I was able to snag a picture of it as proof. I even called my Mom so she could log in and see for herself that I had finally made it (joking-actually, I'm serious!) By the time she logged in it was gone.

My pomegranate earrings are the ones in the middle of the top row! :)

Our weekend.

2008-09-15T11:46:00.001-07:00

It turns out that we live less than 15 minutes from this beautiful park that offers kayak rentals. So much fun! Thank God we didn't see any alligators...Only fish, birds, and turtles. Oh and huge spiders...Eek! When we were going through some of the narrow trails, we were literally dodging these crazy spiders in there webs. They were spun across from each side of the banks. Crazy!

I hope you had a beautiful weekend too! :)

I Got You Babe.

2008-09-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

"I got flowers in the spring
I got you to wear my ring
And when I'm sad, you're a clown
And if I get scared, you're always around

Don't let them say your hair's too long
'Cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong
Then put your little hand in mine
There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb
Babe
I got you babe "

{SONNY & CHER}

The Downtown Boutique!

2008-09-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Downtown Boutique is hosting a giveaway for Lula Boutique and it ends tonight!!!I know it's kind of short notice to start promoting for this fabulous
giveaway but better late than never, right?!

I hope you all take a second to visit The Downtown Boutique and enter to win your choice of one of these necklaces above! I would love it if one of you were to win!! :)

Blog Award...Me??? Yay!

2008-09-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

Shells over at Pixie Kisses Blog and owner of Bella Donna Beads
has given me this blog award. Isn't that so sweet!?! I am so honored to even
be considered by a fellow blogger and a fabulous one at that! If you
have a chance you should stop over at Shells blog. I can guarantee you'll
be inspired by her lovely quotes she includes in her posts.~Thanks Shells! :)

Now it's my turn to nominate SEVEN of my favorite blogs!!! All
of these blogs are maintained by very creative and talented people
of whom I absolutely adore and I hope you do too!
Red Otter
Elegant Snobbery
Katelyn Jane
Heart Handmade
The Chic & Green Blog
OLIVELOAF DESIGN
Artistically Speaking
Faded Plains

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who gave it to you
3) Nominate 7 other blogs
4) Add their links in your post
5) Send them a message letting them know

I hope y'all check out these fabulous blogs that I've nominated...
They really are fabulous you know! ;)

A wedding kind of weekend!

2008-09-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

One of my very dearest friend just got married! Jono and I traveled nine hours back up to our hometown in Maryland to watch as she tied the knot!

Here's a quick photo of us before we left. Jono looks snazzy!
Doesn't it remind you of a prom picture??? Haha...

Well, my camera was acting all kooky and most of my pictures are a blur so I'll have to order some from their fabulous photographer.

Even though it's blurry ---I have to show off some of the wedding because it was gorgeous. First, my very drear friend....isn't she beautiful??!!!
The ceremony took place at sunset overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. So romantic! Here's a picture Jono took from the outside looking into the reception hall.
It looks so dreamy in there..
We had a blast and we are so just happy for the newlyweds!!!

I hope y'all had a great weekend too! :)

My earrings have been featured!!!

2008-09-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on lately with the shop...New orders almost daily, giveaways (I have another one coming up next week!) another fabulous boutique order (that I'm so excited for and will post about later in the week) ...Lots and lots of good things happening for Lula Boutique...and I couldn't be any happier about it!

Something that made me especially happy this week...

My Delicate Drops have been featured on this fabulous site called Heart Handmade!!! If you love handmade goodness as much as I do then this is the site for you!

Heart Handmade has a weekly post called "Shop & Tell" where buyers are interviewed about their handmade purchases. Well, one of my customers (in the photo) ordered my Delicate Drops and then submitted a "Shop& Tell" to the Heart Handmade which you can read about here. Don't you just love the Heart handmade banner too? Love it!!!:)
I hope you all had a lovely holiday weekend! :)

Lula Boutique GIVEAWAY!!!

2008-08-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

I am having my first ever GIVEAWAY contest over at MommieDaze.
Anyone can enter to win and I would LOVE for it to be one of you! xo

All you have to do is go here and leave a comment
telling your favorite item in my shop for a

chance to win this "Lily & Swallow" necklace!

{Also, I wanted to thank MommieDaze for putting this giveaway
together for my shop and everyone who participates in the fun...Just fabulous!}

Apples for Jam

2008-08-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

One of our wedding gifts was a gift card to Williams-Sonoma which was fabulous because I just love that place! While I was checking out I saw this BEAUTIFUL book from the corner of my eye and so I quickly stepped out of line to grab it. It only took me 2 seconds to flip through the pages to realize that this was a cookbook I had to have!

Apples for Jam "A Colorful Cookbook" by Tessa Kiros. Something funny and ironic though---the cake I baked was purely inspirational (and based on ingredients I had on hand) from her beautiful photographs and her recipe for "Lemon Sandwiches with Raspberries & Cream." I baked this delicious lemon cake with raspberry preserves filling and then of course topped it off with sugar coated raspberries...So incredibly sweet and delicious!

A special request!

2008-08-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

I want to share a story (I have permission to do so) about one of my customers and her special request regarding one of my necklaces at Lula Boutique. The request was to add the letter "K" to the "Lily & Swallow" necklace. The reason for this is because her parents are adopting a little girl from China and through the entire process she has always called her "my little lily." She also has always been in love with swallows and both her and her new little sister's names start with a "K"...so the necklace would mean so much to her because it would represent her and her new little sister. So here's the final design with the "K" added...

Ahhhh...Seriously, I had tears in my eyes when I was asked to make this and still do when I think about it! Seriously, soooo special and I am so grateful and honored to have made this necklace that will mean so much to someone.

Studio "after" pictures

2008-08-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here is my new little workspace...AKA...Lula Boutique's Studio! ;)

As you can see...I've painted the desk and the chair black and recovered the seat with fabric from a jacket (which you can see the before pics here if you'd like). By the way, the desk is really not that "shiny" in person. The glare from the sun pouring through the window today made it quite the challenge for me to get a "true" shot of what they really look like. Much more of a "flat" paint.

The chandelier is also my recently thrifted find and I just adore it! I'm contemplating painting it black too!?! Hmmn...I have to admit though, I really liked this desk when it was white and I'm sure it will go back to white someday...But for now I am very happy with the way it turned out and with my new space. I feel more organized for sure!

Thanks for looking! Cheers!

Jadite & Robins Egg Blue = LOVE

2008-08-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well, my "studio" is almost complete but until then I have some "favorites" to share. I don't know what it is about these colors but I'm in LOVE...

and have you seen Martha's new "blue collection"...
Here's some matching Etsy goodness...
Block Print Nest Towel from Art Goodies.

Vintage swanky aqua glasses from Lagelle.

Thanks for looking! I hope you have a fabulous day!

A work in progress

2008-08-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Well...Here is my antique--- "vintage" desk and chair "before" I painted them black. I also recovered the seat cushion with this linen jacket I purchased from a thrift shop almost 2 years ago. I bought it soley with the intention of using it for the fabric...Such a funky design with bright colors...I knew I would use it for something eventually. I thought I would have ended up using it to make a bag or a couple of coin purses but I think a seat cushion is even better.

So, I only have these "before" pictures to share right now. I'm thinking everything will be complete in a couple of days or so. I have some last minute details like hanging pictures and a vintage chandelier I scored this weekend...Fabulous!!! I'll be posting photos of my new little "studio" soon!

Hope you're all having a beautiful weekend! :)

My new desk!

2008-08-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am in LOVE with Heather Bailey's studio! Who isn't, right??? Well, after drooling over these photos, I decided that I needed to have a studio of my own!

I've already come to the realization that my studio will not look anything like Heather Bailey's (Not at this point in time, anyway.) However, these pictures have given me so much inspiration. I am on a mission to turn a little corner of my home into my "studio" and make it as pretty and functional as I possibly can. So, this past week, I have purchased an antique desk and chair on craigslist... which I completely adore! I have just painted them and tomorrow I am reupholstering the seat cushion. I will be posting "before and after" pictures of the entire project this weekend. Hopefully, of my new little studio as well!

Hope you're all having a beautiful day!

I'm in a treasury!

2008-08-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yay! Well...I was in a treasury! It's not up anymore but this was what it looked like. My Oleander Splendor Necklace is featured in the top left corner. It was put together by CurlyFrySC on Etsy and features artists from the South Carolina Street Team...AKA "TeamSC."

Recently, I've been adding to the shop...

Thanks for looking! Happy Friday everyone! :)

I love cupcakes

2008-07-31T10:22:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it??? Not just an ordinary bakery...a bakery that only bakes cupcakes!!! What a fabulous idea! I had never heard of this place until just recently and I'm so happy to have one downtown!

Yum! I could barely make up my mind but finally went with the "Black Bottom"...it had cheesecake in the middle! OOhhh...

I think I'll try this one next time. I'm not sure of the flavor but it's pink and who doesn't enjoy eating pink cupcakes...seriously?! ;)

I won this from Roska!

2008-07-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this Etsy shop called Roska and I ended up winning this fabulous notebook from a giveaway she was having on her blog. She makes these notebooks out of upcycled papers and covers them with her original spirograph drawings. How unique is that?

She also has these Eucalyptus Leaves Notebooks in yellow, blue and pink...Fabulous!

A day at the beach

2008-07-23T07:28:00.001-07:00

My sister came to visit for Fourth of July weekend and so we headed to the beach! Even though it was raining (light showers) and windy...That didn't stop us but in fact, kind of made it even more fun! This amazing kite, the largest one I've ever seen, was being flown right over our heads. This kite was so incredibly graceful the way it would swoop down beside us and fly so fast up towards the sky. All of this while hearing the waves crash and feeling the cool salty breeze...Ahhhhh, it was one of my favorite kind of days...a beautiful one indeed!

Bits of my weekend

2008-07-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do on early Saturday mornings is to go to the Farmers Market downtown. This time my sister accompanied me and I must say, we had a lovely time indeed.
Just walking through all of the vendors booths and "window" shopping is enough to make me happy. Especially when it's a breezy day and there's live music...Just fabulous! It seems tradition now to enjoy a delicious fresh squeezed lemonade and purchase little organic cat-nip pouches for my kitties....Which they destroy in a day because they love them so much!

Don't those fresh flowers & herbs look amazing?!? :)

Shop for my jewelry at Frumoasa Boutique!

2008-07-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce that my line of jewelry, Lula, is being sold in Portland, Oregon at a fabulous little shop called Frumoasa Boutique (pronounced "fru-mwa-sa" which means "beauty" in Romanian.) This boutique is so girly and chic and well...Just my style!

Here is a glimpse of some of the fashion goodness you can find at Frumoasa Boutique...

I'm madly in love with those handbags and the

yellow dress too...Just fabulous!

Our fabulous honeymoon!

2008-07-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Romance...We spotted it...Lots of it on our honeymoon!

Seriously...The time of our lives! We spent our honeymoon relaxing in warm tropical breezes with our toes sunk deep in the white powdery sand of St. Thomas and St. John. Our beach front resort was absolutely beautiful with breathtaking views of the turquoise Caribbean. We spent our days "Young at Heart" exploring the town and culture of St. Thomas, eating delectable Caribbean cuisine, snorkeling in Trunk Bay (our absolute favorite spot!)... All while enjoying the refreshing and quite tasty "famous" rum runners which are always accompanied with fresh fruit...Just fabulous!

Almost there!!!
This was the view from the plane!

Pulling up to our resort in an open-air taxi !

Right outside of our beach bungalow!

We drank our morning coffee by the sea!

Breathtaking views everywhere!

We explored the island!

We climbed the rocky shore line of the beach!

Just us.

We found this special little restaurant
(Virgilios) tucked away in the town!

The inside of Virgilios was so eclectic with art
hung on every surface of the wall and magnificent
stained glass windows of these dream-like goddesses!
It was too beautiful and interesting not to share!

Newlyweds!

We went to art galleries!

We went snorkeling in Trunk Bay on St. John!
I can't wait to go back...It's now our most favorite place!

We drank the famous island rum runners
as we relaxed on the beach!

We caught every sunset!

I still can't get over the intense natural beauty
of this place and all of the vibrant colors too!

Waiting for the airport taxi to pick us up.
We were so sad to leave. :(

Goodbye sweet honeymoon!!!

Our vacation dreams did indeed come true! :)

Our Wedding!

2008-07-03T07:43:00.000-07:00

Our wedding was sweet & simple--classy & elegant! Our closest friends and family gathered for our intimate outdoor wedding overlooking the Wye River (part of the Chesapeake Bay-our hometown) on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Just married...I love how the rose petals are fluttering around us in this photo and the way I'm gleaming at Jono---happiness!

We danced to Frank Sinatra...
"Fairy tales do come true; it can happen to you...if your young at heart...."

Thanks to those dance lessons...Grandma came up to me and said "oh my...you two are just like dancing with the stars!" --Not even close...but thanks Grandma!

We ate the yummiest chocolate cake! The only way I can describe it...
Out of this world---melts in your mouth---I want more--- delicious!

Our friends & family sent us off into the night with sparklers! Perfect!

Thanks for looking! Next...I can't wait to share our photos of our fabulous honeymoon in St. Thomas!!!

The Engagement!

2008-07-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

Jono proposed to me on my Birthday last year...one year and 2 days to be exact! He surprised me with a horse drawn carriage ride through our beautiful downtown Charleston, SC. The carriage brought us to the Waterfront Park in Charleston and that's where it happened...looking over the harbor...it was AMAZING!

It was much more than I could have ever imagined...seriously perfect! When he asked me if I'd marry him (while down on his knee) I happily cried and said "thank you!"...and then I said "Yes!" How funny is that? I wondered about this looking back...why did I blurt out "thank you"...Instead of "yes" or "of course!" Well, I am so incredibly thankful for Jono. For the beautiful person that he is. For being so genuine and honest...best friend...soulemate...most loving person who I am so "thankful" and happy for. Thankful for him and everything that he is and thankful for him wanting me and loving me the way that he does...so pure and unconditional.

To my love...thank you!

Just Married!!!

2008-06-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

My fiance (now husband!) and I were married just over a month ago and we are so so HAPPY!!! So, here is the first picture I will be posting to kick off a "wedding series" of pictures I can't wait to share!

You are probably wondering what is this boat and who is KK? Well, my sister (who is my very best friend) and her amazing boyfriend, took it upon themselves to paint this special message on the famous "Folly Beach Boat" which you can read about here.

Her nickname for me is "KK" and Jono (pronounced John-O) is my now husband! This boat mysteriously washed up on shore during hurricane Hugo and no one claimed it. So, since 1989 Charleston locals have been painting special messages on it to wish their friends a happy birthday and even wedding proposals or just to say hi! The boat can be seen by anyone who is on their way to the beach and it's always so much fun to see the "new message" of the week.

I must say, Jono and I both agree that this was the most special wedding present we could have ever imagined receiving...just LOVE!!!

Next...I plan on posting pictures of the wedding (which we just got back this week) and of our most AMAZING honeymoon!

Something I adore...

2008-06-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

I have recently purchased several new prints from Etsy artist's that will be framed and beautifully hung throughout my home. Well, this one print in particular is my absolute favorite. It already has a perfect spot...hanging in my living room where I can glance at it whenever I feel the need. So, the print I'm talking about...Blue Poppy Seed Pods! What a great name too...don't you think?

The Etsy shop who is responsible for such brilliant work is Scarlet Beautiful and you can bet I will be checking back often for more gorgeous art.

Cheers to beautiful art on Etsy!

300'th item SOLD!!!

2008-04-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yayyayayayeah!!! That's how I felt when I checked my Etsy to find I had my 300'th sale! So, thank you, thank you, thank you to all of my customers out there!!! You guys rock and I'm having a blast making all of this jewelry for you! :)

So, what does a very HAPPY Etsy artist do when she reaches a milestone in sales??? She has a "10% off everything" SALE of course!!!

Just make your purchase and checkout but don't pay through paypal. I will send you an adjusted invoice with your 10% savings with 24 hours or sooner! This offer is good until April 20, 2008. :)

Thanks again everyone!!!!! I can't say it enough!

A Handmade Birthday

2008-04-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

If there is another person I know who adores handmade items as much as I do...it's my Mom! So for her Birthday last weekend she received these fabulous handmade gifts from 2 very talented Etsy artists! Don't you just love?

Orange birds purse-it's reversible too!
By: Jennifer Ladd

Petite Orange Persimmon Journal
By: Red Otter

Etsy has so many wonderful artists...just endless amounts of handmade goodness!

Trading on Etsy is FUN!

2007-11-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

I think I may have discovered a brilliant way to go Christmas shopping on Etsy without spending a dime...TRADING!!! Look at this cute "Pink Retro Oval Clutch" I received in the mail from Chick.Bags on Etsy. I traded a pair of my Vintage Willow Sway earrings for it. Isn’t that so fabulous? If you get a chance, I do recommend visiting her shop. Her bags are so cute and excellent quality (not to mention awesome prices!!!).

Cheers to trading on Etsy for handmade gifts for yourself or your friends!

Basko & Molly

2007-11-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos I took this afternoon. Basko and Molly are my little kitties whom I just adore!!! They were enjoying the nice autumn breezes out on the patio this afternoon. Basko is the one on the right. He always takes such good care of Molly...as you can see, Molly is hiding her head in Basko's lap...too cute! :)

Etsy=LOVE

2007-10-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a few items on Etsy that I am in love with.

StephanaDesigns: Black Bird Bag

fringe: Holly GoLightly Luxury Shrug

Alpenhimmel: Vintage Czech Glass Buttons

NatureMandalas: Broken Chair

First "Fall Like" Day

2007-10-13T15:24:00.001-07:00

Well, the hot humid days of summer may finally be slowly departing...my fingers are crossed. This past August and even September have been so incredibly humid. Some days I have had to remind myself why I live in the South. I mean, this heat can really get to you, especially after having a long summer and on top of that, originally being a transplant from the North. Well, finally it seems that Autumn is on it's way. It's all coming back to me now...I love the Carolina's!

Today was particularly special, filled with lots of tradition. The entire Saturday revolved around food, outdoor markets, antiques, pumpkins, long car ride adventures, trains, Autumn breezes, and more food. Here are some pictures of our day...

Here is Jono watching the train go by in Summerville. He loves trains and every time we visit this special little town we always seem to "catch" the train. I love how he becomes a child again, filled with excitement and fascination...at least for a moment anyway...

Jono watching the train go by...

I think I may have found my favorite antique shop...."Marigolds" ...of course!

Look at all the vintage tablecloths...<3

Not only is Teal one of my favorite colors...it's a new favorite shop! I couldn't believe all the "vintage inspired" fashion in this place...so awesome!!!
As always, we found our perfect pumpkins at Fox Market!

The perfect day was ended with our favorite Italian restaurant..Penachio's.
Cheers to the new season and many enjoyments to come this Autumn!

100'th item SOLD!!!

2007-10-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

I have so happy to announce that I've sold my 100'th item for Lula Boutique! I remember when I sold my very first item...and then second...I was just completely thrilled. I never imagined what 100 would feel like. I am just so grateful for the opportunity to sell my handmade items on Etsy. It's truly given me so much happiness and fulfilment...to be able to have a little online shop of my own and do something I love. Thank you to all of my customers who have purchased from me thus far. So, to celebrate...I'm having a 10% off everything sale!

To receive 10% off, just add your items to the cart and checkout but don't complete the sale and pay. Just write "10% off sale" in the "Notes to Seller" and I'll send you an adjusted invoice. This sale is good until I've sold my 111 item.

Vintage Apron = <3

2007-10-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

I purchased this Vintage Apron a while ago on Etsy at a shop called Laura Crow. I just fell in love with it the moment I saw it and immediately began to fantasize about all the yummy cakes and cookies I could make while wearing such a pretty apron. My fiancé laughed at me when I showed it to him and said, "Why on earth did you buy that?" Is it that weird that I like to pretend to be a domestic girl from the 50's? I'm sure anyone else would agree that chocolate cake tastes much better when prepared lovingly by a girl who happens to be wearing a vintage floral apron! ;)

Wickedly Chic Magazine

2007-06-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Wickedly Chic Magazine featured one of my Vintage Barbie Cards for their June 20 "Daily Ditties"!!! This is what they wrote...

"20 JUNE 2007 I found a new favorite haunt when I discovered Lu La Boutique. I love Barbie & especially vintage Barbie. Take a look at this handmade card. You don’t even have to send it to anyone…it would be perfect for framing. Far superior to anything that is mass produced & priced at $3.50."

Designer Scoop Magazine

2007-05-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm so thrilled to announce that Smitherman & Barnwell and Designer Scoop Magazine have featured my shop in their May issue. Scroll down and the little blurb about LuLa Boutique is titled: Please Note...

Adding to the shop...

2007-02-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

Yes...I have some newly listed shop items I want to share. I think I'm addicted to taking pictures of my jewelry and cards wrapped up in there new packaging...ha-ha!

Vintage Willow Sway Earrings

Flapper Girl Greeting

All ready to go...
I hope you have a fabulous day!
Cheers!

Progress

2007-02-20T14:55:00.000-08:00

My shop is starting to make progress! I've had a couple more sales this past week. I sold 40 custom tags and an Etsy Banner to the fabulous owner of The Bees Wax Effect. I had such a fun time designing everything...just fabulous!

Just when I was heading out the door to make a shipment I checked my shop and to my delightful surprise, the very talented owner of enca purchased both sets of hairpins I had listed. I was so HAPPY! It totally made my day!

I hope you have a fabulous day!
Cheers!

Happy Valentines to my Shop…

2007-02-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

All I can say is Yay! I had such a great day yesterday at my shop. I am so happy to have had three pieces of jewelry sell.

The fabulous owner of The Bees Wax Effect purchased two of my favorite pieces I had listed. Here are a couple pictures of my recently sold items.

Pink Bliss Pearls...

& Everyday Purple (it's actually more purple than this picture)...

Here they are all packaged and ready to be shipped to their new home...

Also…London Green Choker/Bracelet sold too! Yay!

all packaged and ready to go...

I hope you have a fabulous day!
Cheers!

Lula Boutique

The 2nd Annual Lowcountry Artist Market: handmade, vintage, local

Upper King Design Walk RECAP

Upper King Design District Fall Design Walk

Dock Side Fashion Show II

The Lowcountry Artist Market RECAP!

Featured in Charleston City Paper!

Charleston Market!

Vanity Bench Makeover with Dolce!!

Fabulous weddings and such...

Welcome March.

Romantic February...

A New Year and Homemade Bread

Let the baking continue...

Baking for friends...

Learning to balance & good habits too

Beloved December

A free lip gloss just for you!!

Thanksgiving 2009

PURESHA {Eco-Chic Beauty}

Harvest & Apple Pie

dwell in possibility...

A July tradition in Charleston.

Calling all Portland Girls!

June 30, 1981

"Run like the wind Bear"

Hello!

Taking a Holiday...

Maryland Traditions & Thunderstorms

I must have this dress!!

Lula tags and Fabulous customers!

Basko lazy days...

Love what you do...

Welcome June

My bike matches this...

Baby lets cruise....

Lula Bridal and lots of beautiful rain...

Happy Birthday my Love

Sweet Savannah

Hey Y'all...

First day of Spring...

Instant Gratification

Sunday Scones

Pale Pink Treasury

Blended Goodness

Vintage Finds

Tags & Jewelry for Frumoasa Boutique

Kisses on Valentines Day

Is it really January 28?? Really??

Today

Carte Blanche Invitations

Basko & Molly

Ellie's Girls

Etsy Favorites

A bit of my weekend

Is it too late...

Last wedding post...I promise. ;)

Bits of our weekend

25 new designs!!!

A *pretty* treasury

Bits of our weekend

Shop for Lula in Philadelphia!

New shop tags...I adore!!!

Front page of Etsy at last!!!

Our weekend.

I Got You Babe.

The Downtown Boutique!

Blog Award...Me??? Yay!

A wedding kind of weekend!

My earrings have been featured!!!

Lula Boutique GIVEAWAY!!!

Apples for Jam

A special request!

Studio "after" pictures

Jadite & Robins Egg Blue = LOVE

A work in progress

My new desk!

I'm in a treasury!

I love cupcakes

I won this from Roska!

A pretty treasury