Beautiful Autumn Bride

Brides come in all shapes and sizes, and creating custom bridal accessories is a new adventure every time.  L. was such a pleasure to work with when planning the hair accessories for her September wedding; she knew what she wanted and trusted me to execute her vision...my favorite kind of client!


We started with color stories she loved and had collected online, and then I sent her a storyboard of potential materials, feathers and trims to see if I was moving in the right direction.  We worked out most of these details via email, since we live in different states (this is how I work with most of my clients, and it's easier than you may think!)

Once we agreed on feathers, precise colors and netting choices, I went to work! 
She needed one hair accessory for herself with a touch of coffee-colored netting, plus 6 more for her bridal party.

These fabulous photos from L.'s wedding were created by Benjamin D. Bloom Photography...check him out!  I love how he captured the natural beauty of the wedding setting, and I especially love seeing the happy wedding couple!

 

 

A Day at the Derby

I love theme parties.  Love, love, love them.  It sparks creativity, conversation and it's an opportunity to dress up and to play with my friends in a fresh and creative frame of mind.

Last month I was commissioned to create a "Kentucky Derby" fascinator for a client who was about  to attend a Derby-themed wedding.  She said she was "all about making a statement", so I was very excited to get working on her headpiece.  I love fearless, expressive clients!

Since this client lives in the South and I live in Massachusetts, we worked out all the details via email.  She sent me a picture of her dress along with some inspiration shots from the web to convey her color scheme, size proportions and general mood of her fascinator.  Matching the color of a two-toned dress in an online world is not easy, but we made it happen!

I emailed some PMS color swatches and some raw material images, and once we made final decisions, I went to work, using dozens of striped coque feathers, ostrich feathers, flower petals and dotted veiling.

My client manages a farmer's market, so I added a vintage brass bee ornament to the center of the headpiece as a special surprise.

The proof is in the pudding...here she is wearing her new Popko accessory at the wedding.

I love working with clients to make their dreams become a reality.  She looked stunning, and the best part is that she said she felt "awesome" wearing it...this is my favorite part about making custom orders!

It's Carnival Time!

When Mardi Gras rolls around, I get really excited.  I feel like a kid in a candy shop, eyes wide with potential and anticipation.  Mardi Gras is playtime for adults, when we can explore our creativity, play dress-up, accept nutty ideas as perfectly reasonable, and open our hearts and minds to parties, parades and whimsies that might escape us at other times of the year.

Carnival in New Orleans is also one of my biggest seasons because I get to design the most fantastic accessories and headpieces.  This is when I get to go whole-hog with sparkle and color, and of course this makes me very happy!  What would life be like without color and sparkle?

Thanks for a great season!

I know Thanksgiving is long past, but I am feeling so thankful for all my great clients, I just have to say it out loud.  THANK YOU! 

This holiday season has been full of custom dog portrait orders and it feels so good to be a part of all the special gift-giving that's about to happen on Christmas morning...I'm already imagining the packages being opened and the hugs that follow!

I love hearing stories from my clients about the dogs and cats they love, or love and miss because they have passed on from this life...these mini portraits keep the love train rolling forward, and it makes me so happy to help share that love.

NEW CUSTOM WORK

My family has always been very photo-centric.  My Dad seemed to be constantly pointing a camera in our faces as kids, much to our annoyance.   Now I'm so glad he captured all those fleeting moments on film.  I can appreciate the memories that photographs contain.  When he gave me my first Minolta camera in high school, I was hooked.  I never leave home without my camera.

I just shipped out a custom encaustic order and can't wait for my next commission. It's fun helping my clients with special photo gifts, knowing that they will have pleasure sharing these new encaustic pieces with their family and friends. 

This is the original the client sent me.
Nice shot of the guys, but that parking lot was really distracting.

 

What is the essence of your business?

I have been drenching my brain lately with marketing and branding information, drilling further into what I do, why I do it, and how I can communicate my message to the world.   Specifically, I've been exploring this:  What is the essence of your business?  What are you REALLY selling?

I want to ask everyone I know because it can really clarify what is at the core of your business, and I think it's an interesting challenge.  For example, 

CHARGED UP!

Last week I was one of 5,000 lucky ladies to witness the power of Oprah Winfrey and motivational guru Tony Robbins, together on stage at Radio City Music Hall.  Wow, they are powerhouses!  The show was being taped live for Oprah's new network and the theme was "Living Fearlessly."  Tony and Oprah talked about your "story" that you tell yourself, and how this could be untrue and based on fear...and could inhibit achieving your goals. He suggested we examine our story to see if it is empowering or disempowering us...and if it is disempowering, that we need to divorce ourselves from that story...if it doesn't serve you, get rid of it, people!   Live fearlessly and go after your dreams!