::Weekend Lovelies::

Stuff around the web that has struck my fancy....

Cute kitchens.

Summer's quintessence. (photo by Aran Goyoaga)

A shimmering work space.

And something that would totally happen to me on my bicycle. (if I were to brave carrying a watermelon in my basket)

Hope you have sunshine wherever you are.

Summer Trunk Show

So it's been maybe two years since I've had my last trunk show.  Been too busy with online orders to even wrap my mind around the concept again.  But some friends had been asking for another showing and I figured... "Hey!  This could be a good change of scenery"... and I started planning.  And then the excitement of designing designing designing and then making making making kicked in for a full month before the event- and then a flood of, "Holy shit, what did I get myself into again?!" followed... But then after last minute running around and caffeine binges, on the day of the show what unfolded made it all worth it.  I made myself some tea while setting up (a shout out to pal, Steph, for all of her huge huge help way before, all during and way after the show... and the shame is she wasn't captured in a single photo from this show- too bad, too, because she looked adorable.) and the guests started to arrive (happy, funny, sweet, and with a wide range of pitch perfect personalities).  And, lucky for all of us, Shaybu chocolates were introduced and also on hand for sampling and sale ( the dark chocolate and caramel ditties are to freaking die for). 

Photos for your enjoyment...

some guests at kick back interludes...

checking out the goodies...

here's me and Kerstin of Blue Magnolia (THE. Most. Amazing. Floral. Design. Ever.) who gifted the show with such a stunning centerpiece- that which I can't even begin to describe and that, for some reason, no photo I took of it did it justice.  Just check out her website (or her adorable boutique in Summerland, California) for happiness inducers in the form of natural beauty.

And last, and of course not least, a shot of the raffle nook.  All raffle ticket sales and a portion of Ciara Obscura sales from this event will go to Just Communities... a lovely and truly mind blowing socially progressive non profit.

Yay!

In the process...

I've been beyond super busy planning for my upcoming Trunk show and think I need a swift breather from the building chaos.  Luckily, the chaos is of the happy burst of creative energy variety, so it's not entirely maddening.
Anyhow... here are some things, borrowed from the world out there in a new little shop I am now a fan of: Ashley G, that will help me breathe a little slower and a little deeper.  Hope they do the same for you, too.

How very sweet.

I like this...

I like this...

 *Clouds of Cotton Candy* dress by Ouma Clothing

and this...

*Before the Party* tea cups print by Alice B Garden

and this...

*Iris* bathing suit by La Drama Queen

and then, of course, I like a day filled with staring off at plants and blooming flowers, playing with fabric, going for an impromptu walk with the dog in the bright sunshine, tea, then coffee, then chocolate, and then going to the mailbox to check for special deliveries.

I'm hoping for all of these today.

:: Feathers ::

Soft, sweet, and darn sexy.  Feathers are a treat... especially those naturally shed and hand dyed or vintage with a storied past.  I'm currently in the throws of sketching out designs for my next collection and feathers keep popping up.  I've used them before (and there are a few pieces that are in my latest collection with lovely feathers in the design), but now ...now I want to go nuts with feathers.  Here are some great uses of this fabulous material...

"It Must Have Been the Roses" dress with a soft splay of feathers by Claire Lafaye.  Gorgeous.

Designer Stephanie Kheder Bodine of Bocage created this amazing feather hair clip (above).  Complete with perfect wisping feathers (even better... you choose colors to match your hair tone), deer skin lacing and a crystal charm.  Stephanie will take custom orders (contact her here), but you can also make your own with the materials below all available at Bocage.

And the Plume de Luxe hair flower exclusively from Ciara Obscura.  A decadent (but totally affordable) way to adorn yourself with radiant beauty...

Float...

The neat stuff.

A couple of things about being a New England girl who became, against many odds, somewhat of a California girl after living here for eleven years.  One: I knew nothing about avocados growing up, but will now eat them with anything... ANYTHING.  Oh god, I love avocados.  Two: I am perfectly willing to accept sunshine every single day of the year without tiring of it.  No lie.  I can say I miss the change of seasons, but what I'm really saying is that I'll take the sun being out 365 days a year and still be okay with that.  Three: I thought "succulent" meant sexy tramp, because any reference to a desert plant had me visualizing your standard cactus... but seeing a succulent in front of me for the very first time opened my eyes to the world.  I swear it did.  They're colorful, bloom crazy beautiful and diverse flowers and are fighters.  Man, those plants can last through anything and grow practically anywhere.  I love succulents.  I do.
My homage below...

(Above: Such beautiful photography by Feather Love AND otherworldly succulents from an obviously well styled wedding.  Wow.)

And some amazing vertical garden ideas from Flora Grubb Gardens.  One day I'm going to hop in the car and road trip up to San Francisco just to see this shop...

from April Hiler Designs... oh my.

Yay for low water/ high awesomeness.