Done!

I've been working for weeks on a do-it-yourself design project for an upcoming fashion craft book. This project's an old favorite of mine--turning an outdated, overdone wedding dress into a cocktail frock with just enough fancy.
The original gown came courtesy of ebay, and dutifully submitted to the shears. I pared away a lot of the froth (neckline, sleeves), turned the sleeves into a waistband, shortened the skirt, and added a chiffon overlayer for some fun and float. I'm in love with this honey-caramel-ochre color right now, and the dress took a few dips in the dye bath to get it just right. Now the dress travels to Texas for its inclusion in the book. Safe travels, Honey.

I do, to Ban.do

The much blogged about and ridiculously adorable online shop ban.do now has whole new crop of headpieces. So, if even for a moment you are stumped for wedding inspiration, or you’re not sure what look you’re going for, just hop into this shop full of feathers and glitter and let your imagination run wild.

Not only are the headpieces and headbands full of fun unique vintages bits, they also come with a Haiku. Maybe you can work it into your vows? Just a thought... The combo of bright colors and different textures are also fantastic for stealing some color palate ideas from. And sporting one with your wedding dress assures that the focus stays where it should…on you.

Fabulous headpieces are an easy find right now, Etsy has a good selection too, so be sure to browse around. Personally I think they are the perfect way to vamp up a traditional veil, or to take the place of one instead! Some other headpiece shops worth peeking at: Twigs and Honey, House of Telsa, and Portobello.

And if you are craftily inclined, piecing together a headpiece out of fabric and jewelry with some sentimental value, such as your grandmother's earrings and your mother's veil, would be a great way to make statement, while keeping things in the family.

So think pretty and have some fun with your head.

Made in Portland.

Gorgeous bride Aerin in her Thread "Tori" dress from The English Dept. I customized the dress by replacing the skinny straps with wide bands of gathered pewter silk chiffon. Local designer Holly Stalder made a custom bolero.and our beloved Twigs & Honey made her veil. I was happy to be part of this hometown talent collaboration. Isn't she a knockout? Photos by Jessica Hill.

Antique Trillion Peridot and Diamond Ring

1.20 carats total weight Gemstones, with gorgeous deep color and clean clarity. Peridot: 1 piece, 1.00ct, Princess Cut, 6.00 mm. 4 pieces Sparkling Round Diamond total weight of 0.20 carats accent the ring. Approximate Retail price $399.99 Ring weighs 2.77 grams. Ring dimension is 1/4 x 5/8 and finger size 7 (resizable by a local jeweler). Ring is in 14 karat pure gold and has a beautiful design and finish. Detail

Created Blue Star Sapphire and Diamond Ring

This lovely ring features a created 6x6mm heart shaped blue star sapphire with diamond accents set in 10K white gold. Shank is 3mm at the top and tapers down to 1.5mm at the bottom. Detail

Real Wedding: Jessica & Matt

A Beautiful Light just sent these images over from Matt & Jessica's wedding last weekend. Wow! I knew from the moment that I saw the engagement shoot..that A Beautiful Light was going to be fun to work with and they exceeded all of my expectations! I caught myself smiling as I looked through their images. I love when photographers really capture it all...the emotion, the details, everything! This husband and wife duo are new to the area...but have already begun to make quite an impact. They are experts when it comes to light and it truly is BEAUTIFUL! Be sure to check out their website for more amazing images that will take your breath away.

Above is the nautilus shell that the flower girl carried rose petals in.
escort cards hung from manzanita branches with shells.
Abundant floral high centerpieces and more sculptured low table scapes with shells and beach stones brought in a water element that I loved!


This may have just been the longest walk down the aisle...but it gave everyone plenty of time to look at Jessica in her gorgeous gown! Jessica had both of her brother's walk her down the steep hill at Kate Sessions Park, where she met her Father to escort her the rest of the way. The view was incredible as it over looked the bay.


At the end of the ceremony, there was a butterfly release. It was beautiful! The butterflies stayed around to dance on the flowers.



...and on her bouquet.


The room was beautifully transformed in shades of papayas, coral and tangerines with touches of plum. It is always so fun to see your vision come together and this was no exception. Twigg Botanicals of course made all the flowers gorgeous and textural. Shells were carefully placed among tables and offered more of the tropical feel, as Chinese lanterns in various tangerine hues hung above. The warm amber up-lighting by Merrylin from Artistic Productions also added a great touch.
a butterfly even somehow traveled from the ceremony flowers and ended up on the cake! Can you see it? I thought that was so fun. They really kept showing up everywhere.
The bride and groom wanted to incorporate a little of their country heritage and so Jessica had Montana jam brought in from her home state and we personalized them with labels and fabric toppers tied with ribbon. I loved how it incorporated her colors and added a little something special to the table for each guest.
This was my little surprise to the bride and groom. I saw these darling pin cusion plants and just had to find a way to use them. I thought they would be perfect as place cards at their sweetheart table.
During dinner, guests were treated to a Polynesian dance show. It was so much fun! The bride and groom were even brought up on stage with some of the bridal party to show off some of their moves.

The fire knife had to be my very favorite part of the show though. It was incredible!
Everyone enjoyed themselves from the Polynesian show to learning the electric slide together. I loved how the DJ got out on the floor to teach it to them. It was one fabulous party!
One last kiss before the evening ended! Look at that sky! Vibrant and Gorgeous! ...and so will be your future together! Jessica and Matt Best wishes to you both!

sweet release

Just went to the San Diego Style Weddings Magazine release party on Tuesday, which was so much fun! Definitely was a big fan of the mini donut station. I have got to use that! They tasted even better the next day!

Anyway....While I was there, I picked myself up a copy of our very first officially published wedding! Yeah! It was so fun to see it all put together. I do have to say, I think they left out a few of my very favorite details....namely the flowers! Uggh. I think it made my mom a little sad too. They were just so beautiful and such a big part of this wedding...I couldn't believe there wasn't one picture of them, the bouquet, the centerpieces, nada. So it goes though. I guess there just isn't always room. Ce' la vie! Thank goodness for Modern Bride though, who I'm sure will find the space in a 4 page spread to cover it more in it's entirety and some of the flowers. :)

Our photo shoot was also in there and that was so fun to see too! I should have pictures of that soon. More to come!!

On the wings of love.

Beautiful Dove in her white silk crepe gown for her September wedding in Chicago. I can't get over those ruffles! Custom headpiece by Twigs & Honey.

White Gold 6.9mm Italian Curb Link Bracelet

The Cuban is a strong, serious, handsome chain with a bent toward heroism. The white gold is a subtle, savvy alternative to yellow gold. Identical links are cut to create light-loving angles. The cuts imply a smoldering passion in an otherwise steady bracelet--the infinite potential of Clark Kent as he enters a phone booth. The Cuban chain promises to rescue small kittens out of trees, and a few scratches latter, enjoy a glass of Rose in the shade of that same tree. Detail

Yellow Gold Diamond Leaf Pendant

A gilded leaf sparkles with a row of diamonds in this beautiful pendant, emblematic of fall. Fashioned from textured 10 karat yellow gold, it has a realistic leaf shape, with 12 genuine diamonds (1/10 cttw) set into the gracefully curved stem. An 18-inch rope chain threads through the top of the diamond stem and fastens in back with a spring ring clasp. This is a unique and stunning accent for any season. It makes a fine gift for a nature lover. Detail

White Diamond Dragonfly Pendant

This darling dragonfly pendant is a beautiful addition to your collection. Crafted in 10 karat white gold, it has a curvy body set with eleven black diamonds, and pretty wings that sparkle with 16 white diamonds. There are 27 round diamonds altogether, for a total combined weight of 1/5 carat. An 18-inch rope chain threads directly through the top of the pendant and fastens in back with a spring ring clasp. Detail

Jewel Encrustation and Damask Weave Texture in Clothes

This is a very important season for contrasting texture effects in clothing.  Look out for encrusted jewel trimmings and also beautiful gold Damask weave decoration.

In the past decade texture in fashion has grown apace, ever since the underlying trend for eclectic ethnic started.  It brought appliqué and traditional folkloric elements into the design of the fabric and construction of our clothes.  This fascination for embellishment has led to a revived interest in opulent luxury fabrics.

For autumn 2007/Winter 2008 texture is one of the main stories. Two types of texture are most prominent:

1. Brocade Fabrics - traditional damask weaves and Venetian brocade patterns that will move toward tapestry fabric effects by summer 2008.

2. Fabric Encrustation - huge cabochon*, square glass and crystal jewels; you will also see beads, or sequins which all add depth and surface texture.

*Cabochon is a gemstone that is polished rather than cut.

Above left - Emma Somerset Autumn/Winter 2007 - Occasion Wear - Brocade puff sleeve coat £325 and shift dress £99 by Oky Coky. Printed bangle £28 by Emma Somerset.  OkyCoky is collection from the Spanish design duo Geli Torres and Sandro Portela.

Jumpsuits - All-in-Ones - Catsuits

Jumpsuits, also called all-in-ones, were a great fashion trend of the 1960s and the 1970s.  Now have truly been revived and since they are so practical they are sure to be a winner.  Preen's lovely parachute silk jumpsuits are not to be confused with the all-in-one 1980s shell suits of yesteryear.  Avoid any jumpsuits you see made of nylon rip-stop style parachute fabric, or you may well get a lot of déjà vu strange stares as people think - shell suit season!  Choose this look and the fabric with great care.

Catsuits, or all-in-ones can be as classily glitzy as the Debenhams creamy oyster evening wear jumpsuit far left, or as cool and collected as the black safari style everyday wear near right.

Hot Tip - On the up - Jumpsuits

Above left - Debenhams Womenswear Spring/Summer 2008 - Star by Julien Macdonald shimmer catsuit £60/€93, Mood gold bangles from £8. Above right - Debenhams Womenswear Spring/Summer 2008 - Star by Julien Macdonald satin safari jumpsuit £60/€93 and Debut gold lame scarf £10/€15.50. 

Top Fashion Trend Tip 2008 - Full Skirts

In particular skirt shapes have been refreshed again, so the volume trend seems new and lively.  Easy gathered dirndl skirts that swish and swing, or full skirts consisting solely of tiered ruffles are a newer way to adopt volume.  The waist can be a focus of interest if you have a waist to show.

Hot Tip - 2008 Must-have - Fuller skirts

This short Dirndl skirt and jacket shown left is from New Look Spring Summer 2008 fashion collection.  Note the easy carefree movement in the floral printed skirt. No fuss, easy to wear, but pretty yet practical for the uplift you will get with summer days. 

Above right - Debenhams Womenswear Spring/Summer 2008 - Red Herring white vest £6/€9.50, Betty Jackson.  Black circle skirt £50/€78, Mantarary tribal look necklace £12/€18.50 and chunky ring £6/€9.50. 

Full skirts are always popular with women since they enable free leg movement.  With time, whatever your age, the Summer of 08, is one you will probably recall as the summer of lightness and freedom in fashion trends.

what's in my file: Spanish Romance

When Andrea and I were trying to conceptualize the feel for her wedding..she knew she wanted lots of silver and gold accents mixed with some traditional romance in an unconventional way. Andrea also knew that rather than two specific colors she wanted a color palette as the background for her wedding. Being that she spent some time in Spain and loved the passion and feeling that Spain offered...we thought this might be the perfect avenue for bringing in a little personality and detail as well as a color palette of sunset corals, Spanish red roses and teal. Things began to quickly evolve!!

Here is a little of what is in my file ...the bridesmaids are going to wear these darling chiffon teal flower headbands from J.Crew. and of course each will have a Spanish fan. The Spanish crown also became a fun motif that we would carry through out the event. Little crowns will sit on custom made velvet pillows and a pave bed of roses for the centerpieces and a gobo light crown will shine on the dance floor. We also have created custom vintage like Spanish postcards complete with vintage royalty stamps that will be placed at each guest's seat with a personalized hand written memory from the bride or groom. Bless Andrea's heart...this is a HUGE undertaking for 300 guests...but, it is also something that is unique about Andrea. She is known for writing little notes to her friends and she wanted to incorporate that into her wedding and let each guest know just how happy they are to have them there.

There are of course tons of other little details but you are just going to have to wait until after the wedding for pictures! :) If you want the feel of this wedding listen to the Coldplay song "Viva La Vida" . Every time I heard it on the radio...which was often...since you all know how much they are playing that right now..I could not help but think of this wedding. I keep picturing Andrea in her beautiful lace gown with Brian amid red roses, roman crowns and choirs singing. :) Crazy where inspiration can come from! It's going to be a gorgeous day though!

here comes October 11th: Andrea & Brian

Don't Andrea and Brian just look darling in their engagement pictures taken by Leo Patrone? I think he really captured them perfectly. When you know Andrea, as I now do...you immediately conjure up all types of warm fuzzy feelings when you think of her. She is one of the kindest and sincere people I know. Just being around her makes you feel special. How lucky Brian is going to be to feel that the rest of his life. :) I am so excited for October 11th! This is going to be such a fun event. Stay tuned for my post on what's in their file. We have lots of fun things planned!

sneak peek: Natalie & Aaron

I had the pleasure of coordinating Natalie & Aaron's wedding this last weekend at a breathtaking private estate in Fairbanks Ranch. It was somewhat like a secret garden with rolling hills, koi ponds, lily pads and lush landscape. Everywhere you looked, there was something to be discovered. Natalie, the bride, is the owner of the Floral Palette in Rancho Santa Fe and so of course...all the flowers were abundant and absolutely beautiful against the serene backdrop.


It was a gorgeous event and her bouquet was by far the biggest I have ever seen. I know Natalie got a work out just carrying that around!


I loved all of the hanging votives in the trees. At night, it looked as if fireflies were dancing above the tables.
votive chandeliers also hung in the trees and rustic lanterns were placed throughout to offer even more ambiance and lighting


Guest's enjoyed the pasta bar and all the various food stations that were delicious and set with beautiful presentation by Barry's Coast Catering.
I can't wait to share more images with you by Defalco Photography and even more of the details of this event that made it so unique and memorable. Phillip captured some exquisite shots and was more than a pleasure to work with! More to come!