Seed Beads...

One of my oldest and dearest friends, Auntie Regina (as the monster lovingly calls her), gave me one of my most coveted and favorite necklaces of all time! One would think I was talking about diamonds but actually they are just simple seed beads in my favorite color...the ever fabulous turquoise!

So when I saw these new belts from Free People and Anthropologie, my heart fluttered and my finger wavered over each of their "buy now" buttons.

I absolutely love the wood belt buckle but the best part.....get this..they have stretch...This way you can wear them either at your waist or on your hips...

Yeehaw!

Free People Patterned Seed Bead Stretch Waist Belt

Free People Solid Seed Bead Waist Belt

They even have yellow for Miss True!

Anthropologie Mosaic Beaded Belt

Well as if today couldn't get any better, one my youngest friends and fellow artist, Miss Olivia T (age 7 1/2) has offered to make me a beaded eyeglass chain for my new (old lady) reading glasses. We are heading to the bead store today....

I bet you can't guess what color it will be...

Don't worry..I'll be posting her beautiful creation one she has finished.

LSW

Let your imagination grow..Pantone #116 & Rubber Ducks..

When someone double dog dares you, you know you have to take the challenge with head held high. So when good friend, the Fabulous Miss Amy Graver, marathon runner, mother of two and owner of the graphic design firm Elements, challenged me to an inspiration board duel....I was game...Bring it on I said...

So when that sneaky Miss Graver picked Pantone 1-1-6 c and told me it was for a rubber ducky party, my knees began to wobble a bit...I mean..I do like yellow but it really is Miss True's love. Yet I was determined, and with my head held high, I delved into the world of Pantone 1-1-6 c will a little help of my favorite friend turquoise..

Miss Graver's beautiful and inspiring board!

I just love the pinwheels!!

Check out her blog!!

one: sunshine pinwheel :: fresh lemonade chalkboard sign
two: Gelato spoons :: rubber duck floating in glass bowl :: popsicle-themed invites
three: yellow frosted cuppies :: polka dot ribbon :: confetti :: washi tape banner
four: baby duck soap :: mimosa's :: daisy-topped gift boxes
five: twinkle little star wall banner :: yellow and white invites
six: yellow whirly pops :: yellow ribbon :: make your own gelato cups
seven: tubby bucket :: homemade pinwheels
eight: polka dot invites :: bath goodies

my color inspiration :: Pantone 116 (rubber duck yellow), mint green, turquoise

Tada!! Here's mine!

shower curtain:anthropologie, yellow box: cannelleetvanille, cannelleetvanille, chair, anthropologie

vintage tin ducks; etsy, pom pom drinks: martha stewart, feather boa,

pom pom pillow, The Story about Ping; etsy, art: ffffound, tart, foodbeam

good day soaps; weheartit, squash flowers: cannelleetvanille, cup: cannelleetvanille

glass balls with feather: chocolatecreativedesign, polka dot cake: countryliving , shorts, anthropologie, duck invite, etsy

So stay tuned for more from the dueling designers...

Thank you Miss Graver for opening my mind and allowing my imagination to grow!!

LSW

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards...Firecracker Summer Wedding...

I was reminded the other day by the fabulous Abby Larson of Style me Pretty of their incredible design tool they recently launched on the blog, The Style Circle, which allows brides, vendors, friends, etc. to browse through the hundreds of pictures they have accumulated in their library as well as your own personal collection to create a mood/inspiration board just by dropping your images on one of 4 different templates they have created. I have been lucky to have Miss Wesson as the mastermind behind uploading all of my pictures into a board, but this tool is just fabulous for those of you interested in designing your own inspiration boards. It is so easy and doesn't require a fancy design program or software.

So this week my mood board was designed using the Style Circle. With turquoise being the color of the year, I just love this combination of tones of red, and pink against the bright bold turquoise glass, and the simplicity of the baby's breath, on a fabulous patterned runner. I love to layer patterns of stripes, flowers, and polka dots. You can see in this board that even in using just two colors you can still create incredible interest with pattern, texture, and shades.

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards.....Pisces..

Ok so I married a fish. He might not have Michael Phelps speed, but he certainly has the most beautiful stroke that I have ever seen and glides through the water like a dolphin. He also happens to be a Pisces and most recently has become obsessed, along with our monster, with saltwater fishing. Needless to say, with the help of his Mom, our house is filled with subtle reminders of our big fish.

For today's mood board, I have shaken things up a bit. I have been scouring the internet for some rather unique objects to add to our collection. I was inspired by the fish tiles that flank the walls in our monster's bathroom (probably my favorite room in the house and also the only one that's really finished). Our house primarily consists of these "water" colors, so as to constantly remind us of the ocean that we love so much.

So Happy Birthday fish man. Spring will be here soon enough.

Barnacle Pinched Pots: $28.00 for 3 at Etsy, Ceramic fish plates: $19.50 each at Whimsy Home Decor, Little Fish Drinking Glasses: $11.50 each at Beach Dwelling, Fish Chandelier: Scabetti

Coral Sea Foil Fish Pillow: $31.99 at Organize, Tall Barnacle Vase: $722.95 at Bellacor, Vintage Fish Vase: $55.00 at Etsy, Gocco Fish Prints: $30.00 at Etsy

Fish Tile: $32.00 at Trillium, Fish Vases: $823 for 3 at Organize, Shells embroidered pillows: $38.99 each at Organize,

Barnacle Centerpiece: $325 at Cerulean, Derwent Wallpaper in blue/silver: At Osborne & Little, Vintage Sascha Brastoff Fish Bowl: $44.00 at Etsy, Fish Hurricane: $44.99 at Organize, Fish fabric: Lulu DK

LSW

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards...

Mood Board Inspiration, Dress via Etsy

Peacock Inspired Wedding- Turquoise and Purple

I just adore the colors in the eye of a peacock feather, there are so many layers of colors that all work so perfectly with each other!

I recently saw an article that peacock feathers are going to be one of the biggest wedding trends in 2010. However, while I love the color combination, I think it is nice to be able to use the colors without having feathers everywhere.

This year Turquoise was named the pantone color of the year, which always sets the tone for what will be happening in fashion, on the runways and in stores, and in our homes. I am so excited to think of new ways to use turquoise!

While my true love for yellow will never die, this may be my favorite color this season.




Row 1: Scandinavian Photography, Yves SaintLaurent, Turquoise Shoe, Uplighting
Row 2: Room, via apartment therapy 2. Purple Martini, via Lucky n Love 3. Peacock Dress
Row 3 1. Peacock Feather, 2. Bouquets, via Style Me Pretty 3. Bridesmaids, via Style Me Pretty
Row 4: 1. OPI nail polish 2.via Southern Weddings Daily Blog, 3. Turquoise Candle 4. Cotton Candy, via Lucky n Love
5. OPI nail polish
Row 5: 1. Uplighting, 2. Feathers, Jessamyn Harris Photography, via Style Me Pretty 3. Saltwater Farm Vineyard, via Justin & Mary Marantz Photography

Waterfront Wedding... Erin and Steve

Inspiration Board we created

Inspired by this Board I discovered on Snippet and Ink, we added in purple tones.

Details from Erin and Steve's Wedding

This past season has been truly incredible and with one weekend left of weddings it is hard to believe it is coming to a close. Each and every couple I have worked with this past year has touched my life in a different way and I am forever grateful for the job I have and for them inviting me to be a part of such a special day in their lives.

Erin and Steve were married at the Branford House Mansion in Connecticut this summer. The mansion sits perched on a huge lawn with 180 degree views of the water. It is one of a few venues in the state, that is not a private residence, that has such an incredible location.

The design/color palette of this wedding is truly one of my favorites of the season. The combination of purple, turquoise, white and navy surrounded by the deep chocolate walls of the interior of the mansion was breath taking. We had such great fun in taking a beach themed wedding combined with the romance and elegance of the majestic mansion and making it unique to them.

Congratulations Erin and Steve!

Collaboration:
Florist: Hana Floral Design
Photographer: Scandinavian Photography
Music: Power Posse Productions
Hair/Makeup: Rob Rivers Salon
Photobooth: Photobooth Planet
Venue: Branford House Mansion
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited and Party Rental Ltd. (purple charger and aqua flute glass)

Connecticut Mansion Wedding... Congratulations Adam and Lauren

Floral Design by Hana Floral Design

Lighting and Music by the fabulous Doug of Power Posse

Denise Cregier did such an amazing job at capturing the day from behind the lens.
You rock Denise!

This past weekend Adam and Lauren got married on what turned out to be a truly gorgeous day. Despite hurricane forecasts in the days leading up to the wedding, tents were able to go up Saturday morning in the rain and the day cleared up just in time for guest arrival. On the back patio of the Branford House Mansion, overlooking the water, guests gathered around as Adam and Lauren were married in an intimate ceremony, led by JP Chaz Zezulka. Director of Catering, Eric Perrin, and his staff were a pleasure to work with and helped to create a truly incredible affair! Congratulations Adam and Lauren!

Color Story:
Vintage Modern-Turquoise, Coral and White

Collaboration:
Photography: Denise Cregier (Photokinetic)
Venue: Branford House Mansion
Flowers: Hana Floral Design
Music: Power Posse
Rentals: Rentals Unlimited and Arrow Party Rental (Tent)

Little Mermaid Inspiration Board... Turquoise and Fuschia

We have gotten so much better over the last couple of months of really paying attention to giving credit for the images used in our boards. Unfortunately with this board there are a number of images that we had in our library of images collected over the years, that we don't know where they came from. So if any of the images are yours or you know the source please let us know so we can provide the credit. We just thought it was way too pretty not to share with you all. And perfect for our fairy tale theme and first day of spring, inspired by the Little Mermaid.

1. Cake-The Cakegirls
2. Bottles-Style Me Pretty
3. Candelabra
4. Seaglass votives
5. Dress
6. Flowers image- Absolutely Beautiful Things
7. Silver shell-Geoffrey Sokol
8. Blue tinted glass, Party Rental Ltd.
9. Mermaid napkin ring- Bijoux de la Mer
10. Hors doeuvres
11. Blue tinted plate, Party Rental Ltd.
12. Candy bar, Brides.com
13. Wedding dress- Carolina Herrera
14. Watermelon drink, image from Domino Magazine, via snippet & ink
15. Present-Julie Flynn
16. Blue bottles
17. Orchid-Modern Day Design
18. Pink arrangement
19. Chairs- Michelle Rago
20. Invitation- Ceci New York
21. Pink Roses-Stylecourt
22. Place setting- Brides.com