GroopDealz Sale!

We are excited to announce that our linen dahlia clutches will be featured on GroopDealz today, Tuesday, December 13, and tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, for the discounted price of $12 each (regularly $18)!

To visit our sale, visit www.GroopDealz.com.

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Cristen J. for winning our linen dahlia clutch giveaway contest on Facebook! Entrants had to be a fan of our Facebook page and post their favorite flower color and lining fabric. Cristen will receive a linen dahlia clutch in her chosen fabrics (brown flower, peach circles lining) in the coming weeks!

But wait, there’s more! (Ok, now I’m sounding a little like an infomercial!) Everyone who entered the contest will receive a special gift in thanks for their participation. Everyone’s a winner!

We’ll hold another contest in the coming weeks. In the meantime, be sure to become a fan of our Facebook page so you don’t miss out on the next giveaway!

Sunshine and Rain

A bride recently contacted me about designing handbags for her bridesmaids in her wedding colors: yellow and gray. I’ve seen this wedding palette before, but I found some fabrics (Joel Dewberry Aviary) while putting together her swatch book that made me fall in love with the color combination.

I love the cool, neutral gray combined with vibrant, happy yellow. It’s modern, but still elegant and pretty. Right now, after two days of rain, I need a pop of happy yellow to melt away the gray.

Flower Power

You may have noticed that there’s a new addition to the Little Details Big Day shop: the fabric flower. Our delicate, handmade flowers come in three styles — dahlia, daisy and pom pom trio — and as the days get increasingly shorter and colder, a friendly burst of color is just what the doctor ordered.

Flowers can be added to any of our bag styles, but we especially like them with our (also new) linen clutches. There’s something sweet and elegant about a simple linen clutch adorned with a floral pop of color and texture.

And don’t think we’re stopping here. Stay tuned for flower pins, shoe clips and barrettes to complete your bridesmaids’ looks.

Deep Blue

I recently came across some gorgeous navy blue fabrics which became the inspiration for a laid-back bohemian beach wedding collage.  Embellished sandals, cobalt blue hand-painted earthenware, exotic cattleya orchids, and deep blue batik prints for the table linens and bridal party accessories come together to create a hip, eclectic spin on the classic beach wedding.

Shades of Green Wedding

After a snowed-in weekend with another storm on the way, I can’t wait for everything to turn green again.

For now, with everything blanketed in white, I can only dream in color — the color green, that is.

So, since the first day of spring is officially 40 days away, here’s a healthy dose of green to hold us over ’til then.  This  inspiration board for a “Shades of Green” wedding features  some gorgeous green wedding ideas (courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings) and my own fabric suggestions for coordinating table linens, handbags, and favors.

Enjoy and stay warm!

A New Year’s Eve Wedding

Just yesterday I was talking about spring – today it’s back to reality.  It’s New Year’s Eve!  And while my plans for this evening include a fine meal, champagne, a roaring fire… and a movie marathon(!) on the couch with my husband and puppies, it’s one of the biggest nights for celebrating out on the town.  And for some, it’s a night for getting married. 

When planning my wedding, the thought of getting married on a holiday or, specifically New Year’s Eve, never crossed my mind.  But, our friends Ashley and Jesse celebrate their four-year anniversary today and our neighbors are getting married tonight.  And with these two celebrations in mind, I’ve been thinking a lot about what unforgettable fun a New Year’s Eve wedding must be. 

So, just for the heck of it, I decided to turn my daydreaming into a New Year’s Eve wedding collage.  Champagne and fireworks were the inspiration for the bubbly, eye-catching fabrics and yellow and black color palette.  And the combination of modern prints and antique accents (the gorgeous black lace on the cake and the Pierre Bonnard poster) symbolize the day being a bridge between old and new. (Imagine clutch purses in the polka dots and napkins in the black and yellow print… how fun!)

So, to all those who are getting married or celebrating an anniversary tonight, or on a New Year’s Eve down the road – congratulations, enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Signs of Spring

Ok, it’s not even the new year yet and I’m already dreaming about spring.  Warmer weather, longer days and, of course, wedding season!  And while we haven’t yet toasted the arrival of 2010, there are officially only 80 days until that sweet Vernal Equinox. 

It’s a gray, December day in Annapolis but I’m enjoying some early signs of spring.  I absolutely love Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane fabric line.  The fresh patterns and vibrant colors would be the perfect addition to any spring wedding. 

Humble Beginnings…

When you first create an account on Word Press, as I did today, you’re directed to your newly created site which comes pre-loaded with your very first blog post, ready for editing.  By default, the title assigned to every new blogger’s maiden post is “Hello World!” 

 

But, let’s rewind.  Before I got to that point, I struggled with the idea of starting a blog, believing that it’s often a vehicle for narcissist’s to toss their self-important opinions into a sea of equally self-important opinions.  And, really, who cares?  Definitely not me, I have my own self-important opinions.

 

But, after further research and a little introspection I’ve discovered that it’s more than a venue for self-involved ego-maniacs.  Really, it is!  And it’s often a great way to promote a business (your own or someone else’s) and to share what inspires you. 

 

So, as an Emerging Entrepreneur Specializing in Handmade Wedding Accessories (a.k.a. “a part-time crafter”), I am starting a blog to a) promote my own business, b) promote others’ businesses, and c) talk about what inspires me. 

 

The first reason, promoting my business, doesn’t need much explanation.  I want to be successful!  I mean, who doesn’t?  And, who knows, maybe this will help get me there.

 

Talking about what inspires me was also an obvious reason to start a blog.  I’m a crafter and we crafters have this inexplicable gene that causes some of us to be a little quirky and maybe even a little more emotional and philosophical than others (my husband can confirm this).  But, we also like to think that we see things in a different light and we enjoy talking about what inspires us and how it inspires us.  So much, in fact, that we are known to go into such detail that we’re practically explaining the actual chain-reaction of firing synapses in the creative process.   The instance of inspiration could be simple – a great new fabric inspiring a clutch purse – or completely bizarre – a piece of cheesecake inspiring some table linens.  Whatever happens, you’re going to read about it here.  I’ll try to keep it brief and unscientific.

 

The concept of promoting other businesses is a combination of the two other reasons.  As a crafter and someone looking to break into the wedding industry I’ve found that it’s crucial to form relationships with others around you.  And, boy, is breaking in hard!  So I respect the heck out of those who have made it and those in a similar boat as me (one that, at times, feels like it’s without paddles and dodging a hungry shark).  And while I don’t exactly have the blog following for their shout-outs to actually benefit my peers, for now, their vision and success are what inspire me.   

 

In my humble opinion, the default my-first-blog-entry title “Hello World!” is a bit ambitious for now.  Maybe “Hello Friends and Family!” or “Hello Husband and doggies!” would be more appropriate.  So, in honor of my first blog, I thought it would be fitting to feature my first bag, made for my wonderful sister, Carly, as a thank you for taking on a rather challenging role: being my Maid of Honor.  I hope that there are many more bags (among other items) in my future but the same incredible support from everyone who believed I could do this.

My First Bag!