Friday, April 1, 2011

meet the name series--harper

I'm starting a new series today. I know, series....who am I? A writer? :)



Each of my designs has a name. It's been that way since the beginning of lillypie, and I love that I started with it. It is of the smart things I did when starting this business on a whim last May. These names are little girls that I know. They are my neighbors, daughters of life long friends, relatives, college friend's little ones, co-workers darlings....they are named after little girls that I adore. So when someone orders a  Lydia on etsy, I think two things.
1.) awesome. another sale!
2.) awww....it's a lydia.....she's so cute. I wonder if she's walking yet?

These girls are MORE than a name, and I'd like you to meet them! A few times a month, I'll introduce you to the name behind the design! 

First up? The Harper.



So here's Harper--from the eyes of her momma,  Sarah.
{Yes, the Sarah from Sarah-Beth Photography. My favorite photographer.}



---------------------------------------------------------


What is your daughter’s name?  harper grace

How did you decide on her name?  When I was in nursing school in 2004, I saw a baby in the nursery named Harper. She was the most gorgeous new babe, with a full head of thick dark hair and beautiful hippified parents. (seriously. they were straight up hippies). I was then pregnant with my firstborn, Ethan, and didn't know the sex of my baby yet. I decided that "harper" was first on my girl name list. When I found out I was having a boy, I decided that I would save that name for any other kiddos. Lucky for me, my next was a girl! But I was worried that my husband wouldn't like the name, so I was tossing around a few others, "Grace" being one of them. I was out to lunch with a friend of mine debating baby names, and she said, "why don't you just name her Harper Grace?" I luuuurved it. And luckily, my hubby did, too!


One word that describes your daughter. GO!  freespirit (two words I cleverly made into one!)


Okay, now tell us a bit more....
Miss Harper Grace, Harper, Gracie (whatever we chose to call her), is a lover, first and foremost. She seriously covers me with kisses all day long, telling me how gorgeous I am and how much she loves me. swoon. I try to remember and put back into my brain files all the sweet things she says, because I know one of these days...yeah. she'll probably hate me. You know, the teenage years thing. She is feisty, spunky, lovely, hilarious and so full of love. She prays every night for the people in her life with such a compassionate heart, even at three years old. She even prays for our neighbors' dog, who died last year. Seriously. She is a teeny bit boy crazy (okay, a lot bit boy crazy), and it just cracks us up. She prays for her TWO boyfriends (TJ, a kid in her preschool class, and Jake, our nanny's fiancee) every.single.night. About 400 times, until I finally tell her, 'okay okay, that's enough!' My eyes well up at the thought of her as a woman. She'll be beautiful, full of grace, love and a servant's heart. She is a middle child, stuck between two boys. Which, I think, will be to her advantage. She's the princess of the family (the ONLY girl on all sides), is petite and uber girly...but at the same time thinks it's hilarious when she farts. Yeah....that's something this momma is working on. She's my lover, my angel, my mini-me, my heart.




Thanks for sharing your daughter with us, Sarah! She really is a doll and so are you.

And...if you haven't already--check out lillypie's new spring line {pocket} full of posies

Click here for the design explanation and inspiration or here to shop!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

{pocket} full of posies --spring collection DEBUT

 I believe that everyone woman, girl, and toddlerette is FABULOUS.  We are strong, beautiful, lovely, energetic, playful, soft, and fun. I believe that we love to feel put together. We like to create and add finishing touches to our work. We add garnish to a dish,  icing to a cupcake, hearts to our i's,  and shimmer to our eyes because we LOVE the end result. We enjoy taking a deep breath, soaking in  the event and giving ourselves the head nod of approval.  ::job well done, sister!::

{pocket}full of posies is my head nodding in approval. It has all my finishing touches.  It's the new collection of ruffles, flowers, colors, sparkles, layers, and pretties for spring and summer.   


{INSPIRATIONS} for this collection come from things I love...the combination of bright and muted colors, soft fabrics, coral and turquoise beading, feminine details, varying sizes--small for the soft and delicate days--LARGE for the BOLD & COURAGEOUS days.


Enjoy! {pocket} full of posies



playful and enchanting

new colors-- coral rose bouquet and violet

sweet.
The posies in this collection are a new creation. They still have playful ruffles and layers--yet they lay close to the head and frame the face. I enjoy making them. I love the oodles of possibilities for adorning the centers.

Each piece in this collection is meant to be shared or used in multiple ways. The flowers are whimsical -but not too childish. They are contemporary and feminine. You're smart to start *borrowing* accessories early. ;)


aren't my models darling?

Sarah at sarah-beth photography took  these gorgeous photos of the little ones.  She nailed my concept  **PERFECTLY** If you love these photos, think about stopping by  her blog and telling her so. We all love compliments on our hard work. :) Thanks, Sarah!

Thank you for looking!! 



photo credits {1, 2, 3, }

Thursday, March 24, 2011

double drats.

I'm taking a little blog break--I guess it kind of already started.

Like a teensy one. You know  when your to do list starts to get long.....

LONG.

and you start to feel like the things you really enjoy are a little bit of a chore?  like uhh...i HAVE to read US Weekly because brad and emily are on the cover. awww mannnn....i need to go see what's on clearance at Target this week. Double drats--i need to blog.

Feeling a bit like that right now. So...I'm stepping away for a few days. I'm  finishing up the last week of teacherdom before spring break. Getting my affairs in order --mountains of laundry, fabric explosions, and the flock of dust bunnies mating all over the house,

annnndddddd.....

putting the finishing touches on my new collection for spring/summer. Here is another sneak peek :)


love-love-love
See ya in a few!




Saturday, March 19, 2011

saturday surprise

I usually don't post on weekends, but I just had to today!


{via}
I spent a great portion of this week picking out new colors of fabric for my flowers  to be featured in my spring/summer collection. I'm a tiny bit excited. And by tiny I mean HUGE.

Honeysuckle, Mint,Buttercup, Pink Champagne ::my true blue favorite::, Chartreuse,Coral Floral, ahhh.

I. LOVE. COLOR.


So....TODAY ONLY

Any purchase over $30 will receive a free surprise of an item from my spring/summer collection.

SHOP NOW! Tomorrow the offer will be gone!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

oh, honeysuckle ::love of color and NEW items::

 Pantone--Creator and Lover of all things color--says the following about its color of the year:

“Meet Honeysuckle, the 2011 Color of the Year. Energizing Honeysuckle lifts spirits and imparts confidence to meet life’s ongoing challenges. Honeysuckle is a color for all seasons. Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it."

That gets me excited. and dreamy.  and extremely  INSPIRED.





Earlier, I showed you some pieces that I created using this springs regatta color.  {Go see} Here is a sneak peek of a few honeysuckle pieces that are BRAND.SPANKIN' new in my shop. As in today is their birthday and their only wish is to have a happy home.

two separate necklaces{the flower is removable}
 flower brooch
flower hair pin
honeysuckle.
:)

a brand.new. design.

named after the maxwell girls --who are always rocking lillypies. <3

five ruffle flowers varying in size.
antique bronze chain.
18"
honeysuckle.
ruffles.

and we can't forget some honeysuckle for the littles!!!!!!!



Thanks for looking!

Oh...and another schminsy announcement--all helland style necklaces have been reduced.
go check out my other color combinations!



Monday, March 14, 2011

you're amazing

I struggle.

I struggle with how transparent I am.  I struggle with how emotional I am. I struggle with my body image. I struggle with the fact that if I'm uncomfortable, vulnerable, sad, happy, excited, moved, or nervous...I cry. 

I struggle with self-doubt. with my self. my home.my capabilities. and lillypie.

It all came to a head Saturday night. I was upset. That resulted in my being upset that I was upset and it just sorta snow-balled from there. :)

God made me the way that he did. Why? Isn't that the big question we all ask ourselves?  Why are we the way that we are? Is it really the luck of the gene pool, the way we were raised, the friends that we keep, and a product of the environment?  I don't think so.

If I remember correctly, there is a sweet little Sunday school song that claims I am 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. :)  Oh..not just a song.  Psalm 139:14. Do you believe that?  I believe the fearfully part-- and I strive to believe the wonderfully part.  Chatting about this topic with a bunch of my favorite ladies last week really got me thinking. Who am I? Who are we as women? 

I asked you...

...and here YOU are.


We are SO much. Each and everyone of us is ALL of those things. We were designed that way--ON PURPOSE.

So while Saturday I was a puddle of 'woe is me'-- today I am strong. beautiful. inventive. and sensitive. And that's amazing.

You're amazing.

I'd like to remind you of that. :)


and....I'll probably need you to remind me of that come Wednesday. I'll  forget. hehe.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

...womanly adjectives...

 hi girls.  i need your input.  :)

adjectives that describe today's young women.
clarification...not young girl. WOMAN.


while doing product development and contemplating on the "lillypie customer" it's got me thinking about women. women who are strong. women who are vulnerable. women who love. create. and inspire.

i'm really several different women. i'm a real  mid-western beyonce/sascha fierce. :)

some days i'm calm.


some days i worry.


some days i cry. A LOT.

some days i'm strong and surprise myself.


and some days i wanna put a bag on my head.

this made me laugh. chuckling?

I  recently googled adjectives that describe a woman and was appalled at the top results. HOT. WHINY. NEEDY. SEXY. BUSTY. JEALOUS.  Really? 

Couldn't we come up with a more cohesive and REAL list?

....

What are some adjectives that describe a young woman?

i appreciate your help. ;)