Poppy & Pinecone

This past December I stumbled across a watercolor print that was featured alongside my Raindrops Bracelet in a lovely Etsy Treasury (Christmas at the Beach). It was love at first sight. I clicked on the print of the Hawaiian islands, and it led me to a wonderful little Etsy shop called Poppy & Pinecone. 

Poppy & Pinecone is filled with beautiful drippy prints of different states and countries that each have a tiny white heart placed in the middle. The concept is adorable and the colors are captivating. I had to have one. I decided to purchase a 5x7 print for my best friend who lives on the other side of the country. We met in middle school in Hawaii, and even though I only see her once a year now, if that, I love her to pieces. I'm sure she misses Hawaii as much as I do, and I wanted to send her a little bit of home for Christmas. 

Hawaii Love

SHOP

Elisabeth, the artist and creator of Poppy & Pinecone, kindly moved the heart from the Big Island (default) to Oahu. My print was promptly shipped to Hawaii for me, and it was just as delightful in person as I imagined it would be online. (How could I not love these colors??)

Before sending it off to my friend, I picked up a frame from my local craft supply store, sifted through the handfuls of sea glass and shells that my parents handpicked for me in October, and put together my very first beach glass picture frame. I love how the colors of the glass complement the print. Just the touch of home I was hoping for to make the present complete. 

(This package took over a month to ship via USPS Parcel Post, so I wasn't able to blog about it until now. Couldn't give the surprise away early!)

Thank you, Elisabeth, for helping me create this wonderful Christmas present! Your artwork is beautiful, and I am so very tempted to purchase one for myself as well.

Simplicity

Just when I think my life has calmed down (i.e. paddling's racing season ending) it revs right back up. I picked up another part time job so I've been working the last 11 consecutive days (64 hours in the last 7 days). For someone who has been delightfully spoiled by a 30-hour 5-day work week, this has been a little exhausting, especially when some of the training shifts go to 2:30am. Although I end up a little tired during the day, I'm really enjoying it all.

As much fun as it sounds like I'm having, I decided to take Friday off. Probably the best decision I made this month. Thursday afternoon felt amazing - the weekend come early! New hot yoga class, lounging around at night, sleeping in, much needed hair cut, sandwiches on a grassy lawn, long bike ride exploring the coast in to-die-for warm January weather, homemade calzones, pomegranate tart frozen yogurt, and jewelry time - These last 24 hours have been so refreshing and revitalizing.

Rewinding just a bit: Before the hustle and bustle of things somewhat unexpectedly swept me off my feet, I decided it was time to design something new again. In my mind, post earrings were beyond my current abilities, but I decided to give them a go and push my creative boundaries.

Voila, my first pair of hand made post earrings - freshwater keshi pearls with a 14k gold fill hammered swirl. Ever since I put my pair on, I haven't taken them off (they really shouldn't be worn in the shower, but I keep forgetting!). Maybe it's because my life suddenly became jam-packed, or maybe I just really adore post earrings. Regardless, I've been absolutely in love with how simple they are. They're perfect for work, they match everything, they're comfortable to wear (even to sleep, surprisingly, because of the silicone backings), and they're just so dainty and beachy.

Simplicity Earrings

SHOP

These tiny earrings somehow make me feel that much more put together even with my hectic schedule. J'adore.

P.S. I've been working on designing other new pieces in my head these last couple of days. Seems like I've caught the creative bug again. Yay (: Just in time for next weekend's Whole Foods event!

Giveaway with NaturesKnockout

Lately, I've been trying to live a healthier, more well-rounded life. I try to find more time to be active outdoors, eat more whole foods, make time for enough sleep, and last but not least, use more natural products. From household cleaners to shampoo to makeup, I've slowly been replacing my chemical-filled products with products that contain more natural ingredients.

I've been tuning in to Nature's Knockout on YouTube for natural makeup and skin care options and ideas. Laurie and Tiffany are an adorable mother-daughter celebrity makeup artist duo who make great videos that include natural products.

Their video below features two of my pieces: the Ocean Mist Necklace for Laurie and earrings yet-to-be-named for Tiffany.

And most excitingly.... Nature's Knockout is currently hosting a giveaway with three Moonlit Ocean Earrings on their blog! It's definitely worth checking out. I believe there is 6 days left for a chance to win a pair of your very own Moonlit Ocean Earrings, and they are also listing a coupon code for free shipping!

Moonlit Ocean Earrings

SHOP

Well, what are you waiting for? Go enter for a chance to win!

Winter in Hawaii

I spent 16 days in Hawaiian winter bliss this past holiday season with family and friends, but before I even had a chance to blink, it felt like I was whisked back to Santa Barbara. I didn't even get a chance to blog while I was there, and I almost didn't want to - I was trying to soak up every ounce of family (and warm, humid sunshine, I have to admit) as possible.

I was able to squeeze in a healthy handful of early morning body surfing sessions with my brother. This is probably one of my favorite things to do when I go back home. The crystal clear blue water is warm and inviting... the waves are clean, powerful, and beautiful... I would have come every day if I could consistently wake up in time. 

One of my most memorable experiences from this trip back was picking beach glass with my mom and dad at their "secret" spot. They accumulated an impressive quantity for me to sort thru before I even arrived, but they (well, primarily my dad) wanted to go at least one more time while I was there (I think he's addicted too!).

It was overcast and a little windy, but we had the entire beach to ourselves. As we searched along the shore, we even came across a portuguese man-of-war, sand turtle, and extremely large crab! We found a beautiful selection of little treasures before the ominous clouds finally burst with rain and the wind attempted to sweep us off our feet. It was quite the spectacle to see us running around, trying to get our things together and find shelter within the car.

I have to admit, as wet and cold as that adventure turned out to be, it was well worth it. 

Here is one of the pieces we picked that morning...

I am so excited to present to you my newest design, which actually happened by accident! I wanted to turn this little piece of sea glass into a pendant necklace, but I didn't intend for my swirl to evolve into a heart. This one is just in time for Valentine's Day and probably the only one I'll be able to make in 2012.

Beach Glass Heart Swirl Necklace

SHOP

It was so hard to leave Hawaii again, but here I am working on new designs inspired by my time at home. I think every time I go back it just gets better and better, and I can't wait to mosey on back again (:

Stacy Lynn

I absolutely adore Stacy Lynn; she is one of the sweetest Etsy sellers I've met while in Santa Barbara. If you haven't already stumbled across her Etsy shop, she designs cute clothes and accessories out of jersey fabric, leather (upcycled), and more.

Stacy was kind enough to custom-design a jersey knit maxi dress for me (an ongoing obsession of mine). I was thrilled with the way it turned out - it was soft and flowy, it draped beautifully, and the color she picked out for me was perfect!

December 23, 2011

Sandy Beach, Hawaii

PC RT

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Stacy Lynn usually participates at Whole Food's Local Artist Market the first Saturday of every month. (She"ll be there this Saturday, January 7th!). You should definitely stop by and check out her lovely booth.

Local Artist Market @ Whole Foods

Happy New Years, everyone!

The holiday season has sadly come and gone, but it's time for another fun-filled local artist event at Whole Foods! Stop by this Saturday, January 7 from 11am-4pm to see my newest table decorations I picked out while in Hawaii. Oh, and I guess I'll have my jewelry on display too (: