Bow ties, bow ties, everywhere (and some cufflinks as well)

Great news ladies (and also gents), after much ado, and way to much waiting I've finally added my bow ties to my Etsy shop.  One was sold the first day it was posted, to the lovely Ms.Audi for her fiance on their wedding day (can't wait to see pics).  However there's more available, and also cufflinks for that spiffy dresser in your life.  

The best thing about these bow ties?  They're adjustable, and can fit neck sizes up to 18 1/2, and also I can custom make them for you in any fabric your little heart desires.  So check them out, and look for more on the way soon!

This one, and the mustard colored one are my faves.  Which one's your favorite?

love, emmy-ray

P.S. They were also featured in the most recent issue of Spaces Magazine.  Hooray!

Events a la emmy-ray: Californos Bridal Open House

On June 6th I was lucky enough to be invited to participate in the open house/wedding fair at Californos.  I had just finished working Shannon and Nathan's lovely wedding a few days before, and had some leftover flowers from some arrangements and bouquets I rescued during clean-up.  I did a little fluffing and re-arranging and came up with some fun arrangements.  Crystals and feathers aren't my typical style, but it was fun to try out something a little bit different (plus you gotta love the candlelight).

The hyacinths in this bouquet smelled AMAZING!

I had to wait til just the right moment to snap this picture so the back lighting would be purple/magenta.

Not too shabby for a bunch of leftovers, eh?

love, emmy-ray

The Money Pit: In the Garden (Summer 2011)

So I always complain to my husband about people who don't update their blogs, saying things like "why even have a blog", and "how hard is it to just update once a week?".  However low and behold, look who I've turned into, the once a month poster.  My apologies friends.  The good news, it's all due to being incredibly busy with tons of projects, and it's just plain silly not share them here, right?

I'll ease into things with some shots from around the house and in the garden that I took last week.  I really, really love my camera (a Canon Rebel T1i), and often forget how much I like taking pictures just for fun until I get around to snapping some shots.  I'm by no means a photographer, but with the image quality this thing produces it's hard not to "get into it".   

Rose bush in our back yard, and no I didn't alter the colors, they really are just that bright and lovely.

The first zinnia buds of the year.  I grew them from seeds and there's going to be a million of them.  I'll share more pics once they start blooming.

The day lilies are O.O.C. this year, some are almost 5 feet tall.

Matt arriving home from work, and the also gigantic rudbeckia growing next to the garage.

Red asiatic lilies and coneflower buds.

And some gratuitous dog pictures, just because I can't help myself...

Thanks for touring my garden.  What are you growing at your house/apartment this year?

love, emmy-ray

 

Collaboration: Summer Photo Shoot

I was recently contacted by my dear friend Jessie Artigue of The Concrete Catwalk to do some floral crowns for a summer fashion shoot she was going to be doing.  I jumped at the chance to stretch my floral creativity a bit by doing something a little out of the ordinary.  Although I couldn't stick around for the shoot (I had to set up the fabulous wedding of Emmie and Ben), I got to see a teaser shot via the lovely Courtney of Eliza Jane Photography. 

So lovely, I can't wait to see and share the rest of the images!  Thanks for having me ladies.

Maps You Can Wear, A Collaboration

It's been awhile since I've blogged, but for my return to Handmaker of Things, I'm happy to announce an awesome collaboration between myself and printmaker, and friend Sage Dawson.  It's a line of jewelry that features her lovely art work, embedded in resin and made into few of a kind pieces of jewelry.  Sage is headed to Vermont this summer for a fellowship, and I approached her about collaborating originally to raise some money for her trip.  Please visit Sage's blog, Map Mint, to learn more about her work:

Visit the Map Mint Etsy Shop to see the full line, and buy a piece of your own!  These aren't just pieces of jewelry, they're limited edition, mini works of art.  We've got pendants, rings, stud, and dangle earrings.