The Fete Blog

I’m in a bit of a jewelry craze right now– interesting and unusual rings and bangles are all that I’m craving these days! (I know, I’m totally late to the party on these trends.) Stumbling upon Hero King Embellishments‘ Etsy shop last week was a total dream come true…

If you’re a: Game of Thrones lover / quirky hip girl / interested in medieval or mystical adornments / obsessed with metals– Hero King is one shop you absolutely must swing by. Zachary Little, shop owner and maker, is based in Ohio; his pieces spring from his “fascination with objects, for their own quirky marvel, and as artifacts woven into human narrative.”

Every creation in his shop is one I would wear everyday; someone who doesn’t wear quirky or textured jewelry on a regular basis will definitely find a piece (or two or three) to throw in their jewelry cycle. Pieces range from $50-70 and are easily customizable (and Zachary definitely seems like the kind of artist that would fit in perfectly with the Charlottesville crowd). His crown ring and arrow bracelet are high on my must-buy list!

Believe it or not, summer is coming! With all this chilly, gray weather, it’s hard to imagine, but the end of the month is Memorial Day– traditionally the start of the summertime with pools opening, temperatures skyrocketing, and sundresses making a splash. What will be your fashion statement this summer season?

I’m personally adoring these floppy hats by Preston & Olivia for summer. I’m not usually a hat person, but something about these bright colors, interesting graphic designs, and wide rims are making me a convert. Preston & Olivia has a range of fun resort and summer hats, perfect for the beach, subtle enough for hanging poolside, and chic enough to wear around town on a sunny day. Ranging from $85 (for the smaller ones, like the last one in this bunch) to $250 for larger and more intricate designs, these straw hats are definitely going to be attention-grabbing this summer. Pair with a fabulous sundress, linen pants and tank, or sexy bikini– and repeat as often as you can!

See more from the Preston & Olivia line (including the gah-gorgeous bridal headpieces!!) on their site or Etsy! 

Alexandra Ferguson describes her pieces as “sassy little pillows”– and what better way to add a little spice to your home decor than with a bit of attitude?

No– these throws aren’t meant for mouthy college kids and their haphazard rooms. They’re elegantly and resourcefully designed (made from 100% recycled materials– every water bottle you recycle turns into this material!) and grown up enough for even the most adult home (give one to your mother, I guarantee she’ll smile).

Some of the more romantic ones can be destined for the bedroom, while the signature sassy throws are perfect for any living space. Pillows start at $99 for a 16″x16″ size and some are color-customizable. For sneak peeks and fun, crafty goodness, follow Alexandra on her blog as well!

Have you heard about Pennyweight, the Nashville-based blog and shop by Elise Joseph? Not only does Elise have the most stunning, sophisticated, and effortless style, she curates the loveliest products and highlights the sweetest, most genuine creatives on her blog, while also showcasing limited-edition goods in her online shop.

This month’s limited-edition piece is a elegant polished brass cuff, designed exclusively by Richmond-based jewelry studio Young Frankk. I am so in love! This piece is all clean lines, raw beauty, and feminine strength. Hurry– there are only 20 of these available! And while you’re at it, sign up for Pennyweight’s newsletter to stay in the loop– she posts a new product every fourth Monday of the month!

PS. Read more about Christine Young here! images via Pennyweight

I’m sure we’re all entering that same life phase– where all our friends, family, coworkers (maybe even ourselves!) are entering motherhood. Even if you’re not jumping on the baby bandwagon just yet (or if you’ve just passed it), there are still plenty of reasons to keep an eye out for fashionable children’s goodies– chances are, you’ll have some adorable tot to gift to in the near future! Because we have so many friends having children right now and because my baby fever is at an all-time high, I’ve been perusing every baby clothing-and-goods boutique and maker out there.

The Dani Collection

The Esme Collection

The Everly Collection (Everly– now one of my new favorite baby names!)

I’ve fallen head over heels for these organic jersey cotton baby headbands by the Etsy shop Little Hip Squeaks (based in Brooklyn). Available in sizes infant (newborn – one year) and toddler (1 yr – 2T), these are absolutely perfect for your sister’s/best friend’s/cousin’s hip little bebe. They’re sweet and feminine, but the modern, graphic designs make them fashion-forward and interesting. The color schemes are perfect for spring and summer– it’s not hard to imagine every little girl you pass rocking one of these!

A limited-edition blanket with FOXES– there are only a few more of these left and, yes, I am SO tempted to snatch one up for the Team Jefferson Boo that is not anywhere near existence… 

Little Hip Squeaks also offers the most adorable and modern collections of baby blankets, leggings, and baby hats, all in highly graphic and colorful designs– hurry to their Etsy shop, Facebook, and blog to check out more of these gorgeous goodies!

Monday night, I had the fun opportunity to attend a private party at Telegraph, a new gallery opening this Friday, March 1st (Perfect timing for a First Fridays visit!). It’s a great location, just off the downtown mall, next door to C’ville darling O’Suzannah.

Shop owners Kate DeNeveu and her fiancé, David Murray, plan to focus on high quality prints but will also carry a number of other unique, interesting design items. The title for this month’s show is “Monstrous.” Kate indicated the gallery will do a different theme each month. She hinted April will have something to do with the night sky– I’m excited to check that one out.

Overall, I was really impressed with the diversity of the artwork. There is a lot of edgy, contemporary stuff– which C’ville could use more of. And I have to give a shout out to the affordable pricing– another thing somewhat lacking in town. The friend I attended with scooped up a fun pair of earrings. I merrily made my way home with a fantastic owl print made by an artist in Spain for $10 – deal!

Wishing the best of luck to Kate & David this Friday at their Grand Opening!! –kim speer

If you couldn’t tell already, I’m the world’s biggest fan of hand-drawn, illustrated quotes. And I don’t discriminate between flourishy, romantic typography and minimalist, clean, stark typeface– I love it all. A gallery of illustrated book quotes is high on my interior design lust list, so when artist Ryan McArthur sent over his latest line of prints, I fell– hard.

“This series is based on quotations from past authors and philosophers,” says Ryan. “I’ve always found comfort in little witty one liners because most tap into one commonality that we all share– human nature.”

“ATTRACTION” | quote by Leigh Hunt

“HALF FULL” | quote by Oscar Wilde. Psst– these prints can come in color or black and white!

“NATURE WITHIN” | quote by William Hazlitt– prints are right around $20 US currency.

“I really wanted to find quotations and snippets from my favorite books that not only provided a great visual to play off of, but that speaks to life in general,” he says. “I illustrate them all by hand using pen and ink and then digitally render them.”

Think philosophy and literature isn’t really your thing? Don’t worry– Ryan often creates prints inspired by pop culture. His past series have included Bond villians, superheroes, and The Walking Dead. As a new fan of TWD, I’m going to be begging Ryan to reprint a few of these…

Okay, okay, I have a huge crush on Daryl, quoted above. If you watch The Walking Dead, you do too. 

Follow along with Ryan’s current and future print projects on his blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter!

I love decorating my home with a mix of personal photography, professional photography, and independent art. Scouring Etsy for the newest print artist or designer is one of my favorite ways to get inspired– so when two of my role model bloggers (re)opened their own print shops, it was a happy, happy day!

Prints, canvases, and iphone cases from the Note to Self shop! Sarah Tolzmann, a lifestyle and design blogger, creates that perfect blend of quippy and quirky. While her signature pieces are probably the inspirational quotes she brings to life, her drawings and typography style have more than won me over. Pieces begin at $15 for unframed prints!

Summer Allen, of the amazing blog Design is Mine, has reopened her Etsy shop! Specializing in prints and drawings (with a few tote bags thrown in!), Blake and Blythe showcases Summer’s darling and delightfully eccentric artwork. How do I not already own this Beard print? That’s a must-have item for our household. I love the feeling that comes across in each of Summer’s pieces– it feels like summer, ice cream, frolicking outdoors. Each piece is colorful, funky, and pretty enough to flesh out any room! Prints start at $10– a tremendous steal!

Going the Etsy route for your wedding? The beauty of this online marketplace is the plethora of vendors available– you could probably find the most amazing array of creatives anywhere in the world via their Etsy shops. The only downside? The plethora of vendors available. How do you know where to start when your search for Kraft Invitations U.S. yields thousands of hits?

One of our favorite paper vendors– who is available on Etsy– is Carryn Golden of Golden Silhouette (you can see some of her creative work in this inspiration shoot we featured!). Based in Philadelphia, Carryn’s Etsy shop carries dozens of her invitation designs and ceremony/reception paper decor. Of course, everything is customizable (colors, wording, paper type)– a major plus! As for her style, Carryn’s designs balance elegance, modern colors and typography, and a healthy dose of kraft paper!

These three designs are some of my favorite (and I chose non-invite images to showcase here in case any non-brides are interested in papers for a dinner party or event). Hanging escort tags, dual menu/table number wine labels, and personalized napkin rings– gorgeous! All fun ways to add unexpected and intimate detail to your tabletops and the perfect way to keep your invitation suite running throughout the event. See more of Carryn’s work here!

I’m so honored to include Jen Deibert and her premiere line of re-worked vintage jewelry in La Tienda! Jen’s pieces are distinct, exclusive, and in-your-face powerful. The designer finds unique vintage pieces and reworks their design, mixing and matching found and unique parts to create something unexpectedly divine. Her work can be found in person at Eloise (but the pieces in La Tienda are special– you won’t find them anywhere else!).

Jen Deibert, Jen Deibert Designs–>

Take us behind-the-scenes. What’s a typical day like for you?

Jen: I don’t have a “typical” day. We have four dogs and are still in the process of building and renovating our house, so things are pretty crazy, daily. My favorites are the days I go hunting for old jewelry, which means I spend most of my day walking around antique stores.

What inspires you?

Jen: Everything inspires me! I’m a visual person so I surround myself with pretty things that I love– my house totally inspires me. My friends inspire me, being outside inspires me, watching the birds out the window inspires me. And lately, PINTEREST inspires me. I’m obsessed.

What’s on your holiday wish-list this year?

Jen: My cool husband is building in our front porch, to add a workshop for me and my jewels. The days of making a mess at our dining room table will soon be over!!

Some of our favorite Jen Deibert designs in the shop–>

Okay. These Elephant Charm Earrings are AMAZING. It takes a special kind of girl to pull these off– I think you can rock them. $42

I am a sucker for lockets, so this re-worked antique locket is the perfect mix of contemporary, art house, and charm. $88

Okay. At first glance, this Aztec Pendant Necklace looks intimidating. But who doesn’t want to add that sought-after pop of color to their wardrobe? This piece will be that personalized piece that defines you– it is nothing but attention-grabbing. $88

Happy Saturday Shopping! xoxo