a goal unmet

Last summer, lillypie was all dreams. One of my dreams was to do a big art show.  I'm talking tent in the park, two day extravaganza. I love going  to art fairs, and last year while strolling along with a friend I told her that I WOULD DO ONE NEXT SUMMER. I would create a booth design that was welcoming and fresh. It would be filled with necklaces, headbands, hair clips, and other beaded and flowered things. I would meet people from around our city and really enjoy checking the box next to  BE A VENDOR IN AN ART SHOW on my big list-o-dreams  list.


I'm not going to check that box off this summer.

What a bummer and disappointment right?  Maybe next summer. You see, just like every woman on this ever-loving planet--sometimes I feel stretched too thin.  I love lillypie---but not enough to put in the time, energy, and countless cups of coffee it would require to take on a large show.

I'm disappointed in myself for not taking the necessary steps to achieve this goal. I could've spread out the work. I could have taken small bites instead of waiting until the last minute. But it wouldn't be very Laura{esque} to do things well in advance. I'm a wait till the final hour freak out cry and pull my S together type of girl. 

So my goal is going unmet this year. It's a bummer---but it gives me something to look towards for next summer.

Because while this goal is going unmet--A goal that I never dreamed I would achieve has been happening--and that's going to remain a secret for now....











no mom, i'm not pregnant.

anniversary sale {kickoff}

Lillypie turns one on July 6th! 

{Can you believe that?}

To celebrate one full year of lillypie ruffles and flowers--we're having a big celebration.

In a way, I feel like lillypie has allowed me to become MORE of myself. I've taken risks. I've learned to love my own style. I've met some really fun and amazing women. I've honed my creativitity and learned how to share my passions. HECK, I've learned how to fill out business tax papers!

Starting TODAY--everything in the shop is BOGO 50% off.

{womp!}

use this sale to STOCK up!

.......no limit....

buy some goodies for you

and get some goodies for your little one for a great price.

and you know....you can share ALL my headbands.

They'll fit your 4 month old and stretch to fit you as well.

it's important to know that when shopping you'll have to purchase your items at full price

and after checkout

I'll reimburse your paypal account the discount.

Etsy requires me to do it this way.

If you have any questions feel free to ask!

Happy Shopping!!

:)



Tomorrow...

the party starts.

north carolina love {vacation pictures}

I found myself wondering WHY ON EARTH I live in INDIANA  countless times last week.

Because seriously, friends? North Carolina is amazeeeeeing extra ZING.

We went to Nags Head and had an absolute ball.

Two 8 bedroom houses

32 family members

1 glorious beach

enough laughter to get me through next winter

where did her fearlessness come from?

those things had me jittering around!

fresh dinner

nom. nom. nom.on those baby thighs!

 cousins. babysitters. same dif.

swoon.

nags head was also celebrating it's 50th anniversary. how else do you celebrate a birthday? carnival!

and...

the peach is my fave...which one is yours?

the gambrel's

memories I'll never forget.

with the people i love the most.

Beach Treasures {Shell Art}

Some call it collecting. Some call it hoarding. Regardless of the verb, I  have quite the collection of pretty shells going on here in NC. I can't help it. I see something pretty.  I pick it up. I begin scheming about what I could make with my new pretty thing. It's how I'm wired.  Love me. :)

My baggies full of hoarded shells will  become some of these pretty things.

shell wreath

Delicate Shell Necklace from freepeople

eclectic clusters on an end table

image from decor8blog

votive candles

idea from the wonderful martha

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Back Home Again to Indiana tomorrow!!



Keeping My Promise

In May of 2004, my parents picked up their two college kids after finals and headed for  the Outer Banks. I didn't realize it at the time, perhaps my parents did, but this was our last family vacation as a family unit of mom, dad, laura and john. To me it was a family trip to the beach full of laughs, Uno, hiking, and a looooooooooonng week away from my brand new baby relationship to my future husband. 

After a nightly phone conversation with  my  guy, I hung up feeling refreshed, liked, smitten and  like a big puddle of oooey gooey new love butterfly pudding. I remember feeling the need to be alone, so I walked out to the boardwalk and took stroll on the beach.

All I could think about was Scott. I missed his laugh. I missed his hand holding mine. I missed his smirk. Walking along the beach, alone with my thoughts, and feeling the ocean lap over my feet I realized that I was falling in love. I wanted nothing more than for him to be here with me. I wanted to share all my memories with him.

I walked to the pier and turned back  to meet the rest of my family for dinner. With happy and confident tears streaming down my face  I made a promise. I wanted to bring Scott to the beaches of North Carolina one day. I promised to walk along the shore, hold his hand, and tell him about the moment when I knew that he was the one God had given me.

Seven years later and I'm holding that hand of his. I'm walking slowly and soaking in his laugh, his smirk, and I'm also  gently holding onto the little fingers that belong to  another gift God has blessed me with. This week I'm keeping my promise.

YES, you can { guest post by Allisa Jacobs}

 no you can't. nahhh...never in a million years.....who are you kidding? impossible

YES YOU CAN.

Everyone has one. (stop snickering!) The moment where you realize that YES YOU CAN _________. What a great moment! The moment you believe in your heart and soul that it IS possible. You can start tomorrow. You can take that leap of faith. YES YOU CAN.

I love hearing about and witnessing moments of success. I want to hear yours. I'm beginning a new series of posts where you'll read about other women's moments of self-discovery and promise. I hope they inspire you like they have me.

Allisa Jacobs

-designer-seamstress-mother-educator-all around sweetheart-

::blog::shop::facebook::

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First, let me say that I am thrilled to be guest posting for Lillypie! I’ve been a long time fan of
Laura’s work and when she and I chatted about possible posts, I fell in love with the idea of
describing my “Yes You Can” moment. I really enjoy discussing our creative journeys and just
how how we all make it work.

As I sat down to write, however, I stumbled a bit. I reflected a lot on the idea of when, oh when,
I realized I could really make my shop a success. I had hoped to recall that one fabulously
wonderful moment when it all came together for me. I really thought I could remember
something inspiring and moving.

Instead, as unglamourous and glitzy as you can get, that moment came while doing my taxes
that first year.

Seeing the actual numbers...the actual profit in print made it all the more real. For awhile, I
might’ve been a little lost in Etsy-land; driven by short-term goals and fueled by mini-successes.
My bookkeeping was minimal at that time, I knew I was making money, but it was all sort of
blurry and gray. It wasn’t until tax season when it all felt very official.....and promising.

I’ve now come to embrace the numbers side of running a business. A piece of the small
business puzzle I had avoided and only looked at when absolutely necessary (like filling out tax
forms!), had now become a source of inspiration. It was like a formal acknowledgement that my
little venture was actually working. That pouring early mornings and little bits of my heart into
this creative journey could really be something more. More than just a side little fling, but the
start of something really successful.

I am so incredibly grateful that I took on the challenge of growing a creative business and
realizing that yes, I really can.

You're a Peach {tea recipe}

 If lillypie was a tea....

swoon.

Here's a happy, fresh, and delicious peach tea recipe to try this weekend! It's perfection. 

Try it ya'll. :)

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce tea leaves (Earl Grey or Darjeeling, about 1/3 cup loose tea or 7 bags)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 piece ginger (about 2 inches), peeled and smashed
• 1 quart boiling water
• 8 cups ice cubes
• 2 peaches, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 8 sprigs mint
• 1 peach, pitted and sliced

images {via}

Preparation:

Place tea, lemon and ginger in a heatproof container and add boiling water. Let tea steep 7 to 8 minutes. Place 4 cups of the ice in a pitcher, then pour in tea. Blend diced peaches and sugar in a blender until smooth; mix into tea. Serve in glasses over remaining ice and garnish with mint and peach slices.

recipe via southern living

family moment {uncle john}

I should've been helping. 

Instead I was snapping.

OH, Uncle John. 

Your niece loves you.

but you make your sister nervous. :)