Author Archive for: ‘Valerie’
{Product Review} Stylish and Sensible Sandals from Fibi & Clo
Product Review Disclosure
This week we’re featuring sandals from Fibi & Clo. These sandals would make the perfect footwear for a beachy bride and her bridesmaids. And, at less than $50 per pair, Fibi & Clo sandals might make the perfect gift for your shoe-obsessed b’maids.
Fibi & Clo started designing these stylish sandals in 2009, and up until recently, you could only purchase them through an in-home party or fashion agent. You can still have a Fibi & Clo shoe party if there is an agent in your area, but if not, you can shop the entire inventory online at fibiandclo.com. After having the chance to try a pair for myself, I can confirm the rumors about these sandals. They ARE cute, inexpensive, and comfortable. The styles are surprisingly versatile, too.
The styles that Fibi & Clo design – especially the popular black cascade style – are easily dressed up or dressed down. I can see a relaxed (and comfortable!) bride wearing these at the wedding ceremony, and I can also see her wearing them all night long on the dance floor. She’ll even wear the sandals on her honeymoon, too! The black cascade style features smokey gemstones that are definitely eye-catching yet still neutral enough to match whatever you wear. The gemstones are surrounded by a ring of tiny pearls and rhinestones to provide just the right amount of elegance and bling.
I’m certainly not a fashion expert, but when it comes to shoes, I am quite the connoisseur. My background in shoe sales gives me enough insight to know when a shoe is really and truly comfortable and well made. So, from a shoe-obsessed standpoint, I found that the sandals run slightly small. Don’t be afraid to go up a half size. I ordered a 10, and I have wide feet. The shoes might fit me slightly better if they came in a wide width, but they are still 100% comfortable in the regular width. The soles of the sandals are more substantial than most dress sandals, so there is a little extra shock absorption and cushion than you might expect. In terms of quality, the construction of the sandals is solid and durable; however, the beading on the straps is obviously done by hand and isn’t perfect. I would anticipate losing a bead or gemstone before the sandal itself would break.
Overall, Fibi & Clo sandals offer the perfect combination of style and comfort and durability for under $50. They are ideal for the bride who prefers the comfort of a flat shoe over heels but doesn’t want to sacrifice on style. These sandals would also make great bridesmaids gifts, and all the girls could wear matching styles at the wedding. What I like most about wearing Fibi & Clo as your bridal shoes is that you will get to wear these sandals again and again, and you’ll probably end up a fan for life.
Here are few of my favorite styles. Which ones could you see yourself wearing?
I hope you’ll head on over to fibiandclo.com today and pick out your first pair of these cute, comfortable, and affordable sandals…just in time for warmer weather!!!
When you place your order, be sure to tell them DIY Bride sent you!
{Sponsored Post} Handmade Accessories with Uncommon Charm from The Bread and Butterfuly
Sponsored Content Disclosure
We just love interviewing self-driven, independent artists with a passion for crafts, and this week’s featured vendor is no exception. The Bread and Butterfly is a real gem, and Carolyn’s handmade accessories are truly unlike anything else out there. Perfect for a rustic wedding style, woodland theme, or just nature-inspired beauty. She makes and sells hair accessories, boutioneers, flower pins, and other goodies, and she’s gearing up to offer DIY wedding consulting services in 2013! Please give a warm welcome to The Bread and Butterfly – the newest addition to the DIY Bride vendor showcase.
Read on for our up-close-and-personal encounter with Carolyn.
1. What attracts you to the DIY wedding and craft industries?
For me, hand made unique works of art are always more valuable than anything mass produced. When someone chooses a DIY wedding, it can truly become a wedding that is tailored to perfectly represent the couple. I love to see the recent growth in popularity of the DIY wedding and craft industries. It’s important for artists and crafters to be valued, supported, and noticed in a dominantly capitalist society.
2. What did you do before this?
Before this, I was a graduate student and received my Masters in Art Education from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I did, and still do, want to become a high school art teacher. Due to the unfortunate and current lack of high school art teaching positions, I have been unable to find a teaching job. Unemployed, I decided if I was not going to be teaching I wanted to be making. I have always been an artist but never taken the leap into making my passion my work. Not wanting to do anything else if I was not teaching, I began The Bread and Butterfly.
3. What is your philosophy on balancing work and life?
I am definitely a firm believer in a healthy balance of work and life. When one is following their passion in life and making it a job, this balance becomes rather easy. However, I still do need to motivate myself to get in my studio and work. I love my weekends to myself and I find if I put in the hours during the week, then I don’t feel guilty about weekends off. Artists and crafters deserve weekends just like everyone else!
4. Do you have a blog and social media pages (please share links)?
Currently I run my shop online only through Etsy. My shop can be found at www.thebreadandbutterfly.etsy.
Other than The Bread and Butterfly, I also am a fine artist working in both painting/drawing and photography. More of my portfolio of work, including information about The Bread and Butterfly, can be found on my personal website www.carolynmullanyart.com
5. How do you customize your products/services for brides?
I absolutely love working with brides to customize boutonnieres and/or headpieces. When a bride contacts me through Etsy they often have seen something in my shop they like but want different colors. I am always more than happy to work with them to find the perfect materials and colors to fit their style.
6. Describe your ideal customer.
An untraditional bride who truly appreciates handmade pieces is my ideal customer. I describe The Bread and Butterfly as handmade accessories with “uncommon charm”. If a bride is looking for something unique with a somewhat rustic yet romantic feel, I hope they may find it in my shop.
7. What’s new for 2013?
My business only started in the Fall of 2012 so I am so excited about what is to come in 2013 and to see my business grow. I intend to expand my business into consulting with brides. My services will include helping them with DIY ideas and decor, supplying them with the right tools, completely creating all the DIY decor, day-of coordination, and DIY workshops.
{Infographic} Find Your Wedding Guest Style
Lookie what popped in the DIY Bride inbox today from Phase Eight! I couldn’t resist sharing this awesome infographic. Use this quiz to help you figure out what to wear to every wedding you’ve been invited to in 2013!
And there’s a bonus at the end of this post for the brides – an adorable new wedding dress style for Spring 2013 brides.
And, for the brides:
A charming new wedding dress style for Spring 2013, “Carolina.” It has that old-world, vintage look that is so popular this year. You can find this style from Phase Eight starting March 1st.
Shop Phase Eight: http://www.phase-eight.co.uk/
Meet Jessica: Fine Arts Student Goes Pro as an Invitation Designer
Today we have a short and sweet interview with an invitation designer who loves working with DIY brides, just like all of you. Jessica’s story is an example of how you can still get a degree in Fine Arts and end up an entrepreneur in the wedding/craft industry. We love Jessica’s creativity, and we hope you will enjoy “meeting” her on the blog today. Her work is on display throughout this post!
What do you love most about your work?
I wake up with a smile on my face knowing that I get to spend every day doing what I love – designing for life’s special events. I’m so lucky to take part in my clients’ big day, and I am honored that they chose me to bring their ideas and personalities to life on paper!
What did you do before this?
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an emphasis in Graphic Design. I was hired on at Kohls Corporate one month after graduating to work as a production designer.
Do you have a blog and social media pages?
Yes!
- Blog: http://clarkcreativewi.com/blog (<– this is a great looking blog, btw!)
- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/clarkcreativewi
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClarkCreativeWI
- Facebook: facebook.com/clarkcreativewisconsin
Did you start your business from scratch? Tell us how you got started.
I did start my business from scratch. I was constantly designing on the side for friends and family. When it was time to design my very own wedding invitation suite, I fell in love with the process and knew that this was ultimately what I wanted my full time career to be. After two and a half years at my corporate job, I said a bittersweet goodbye and decided to take a leap of faith to pursue Clark Creative full time. My husband joined me to pursue his photography dream at this time as well, so it’s great to be partners in this together.
How do you customize your products/services for brides?
Some couples want to be as hands-on as possible (and are quite crafty), so I break down the cost of everything individually in case they wish to do some (or all) of the work on their own. If the couple needs me to design and print the invitations for them, but they want to do all of the assembly, they can do so. Or if a couple has already designed their entire wedding suite themselves and needs me to order paper for them and print everything, I can do that as well. I try to accommodate everyone’s needs because every couple is unique!
What’s new for 2013?
For the new year, my husband and I are working on a more personal project. We have decided to reach out to local creatives and interview them for our blog. We are interested in hearing about other areas people are being creative – other than photography and design. We are hoping to gain inspiration after learning more about their craft and hopefully inspire our readers as well as we share what we have learned.
It was a pleasure meeting Jessica and we’re so happy she could share her story with us, and showcase some of her work. Thanks, Jess!
Disclosure: DIY Bride does NOT have a financial relationship with Clark Creative, meaning this is NOT a sponsored post. If you would like to be considered for a “Meet the Makers” story, please submit your story here: http://www.diybride.com/submit-an-article/.
{Sponsored Post} Producing Real Wedding Videos with Borrowed & Blue
Sponsored Content Disclosure
Greetings, DIY brides! Today’s sponsored post comes to us from an Australian wedding videographer, Terence Hooi, of Borrowed & Blue Productions. We asked them to share a bit about videography in general, and talk about their unique style of capturing wedding memories on video. In the images below, you’ll see some “behind the scenes” photos that show the crew in action, as well as a few high quality photographs also taken by Borrowed & Blue (yes, they also do wedding photography). If you’re planning a wedding in Melbourne, Australia, we give Borrowed & Blue a big thumbs up!
Take it away, Terence!
The demand for wedding videos have spiked in recent years as couples are starting to see the value of having intimate moments of their big day recorded in motion. While it’s great to reflect on photographs, and share those with friends and family, there is an audio visual experience that is left wanting that only a video can produce. The reality is that in today’s world, the demand for visual stimulation through videography is higher than ever; and wedding videos are no different.
Filming wedding videos at a certain production standard exceeds what a HD camera and a tripod can produce. Filming this momentous occasion in a person’s life is all about the approach and envisaging what the final product will look like.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
At Borrowed and Blue, our main goal, as videographers, is to create a piece of wedding memorabilia that captures the emotions expressed on the day. Weddings are about beauty and drama. On no other day will a bride and groom take such meticulous effort to look their absolute best. There are also going to be tears and laughter throughout the day, as well as the tribulations of “getting there”.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
Our approach to capturing the essence of a wedding requires clever angles and dramatic lighting. We’re creating an effect, a magical retell of the day from our eyes as it unfolds in front of us. We try not to have a pre-conceived idea of how the day will play out, rather aim to be a fly on the wall that secretly steals slices of the day, preserving it for eternity. Unlike photography where the couple is often directed for poses and positioning, we film for natural emotion, as it occurs. This is critical in presenting the bride and groom naturally, which is the only way that their screen presence will be believable.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
How is this done? It fundamentally boils down to having a creative mind, and a good understanding of how the wedding will unfold, in order for us to get the best positions. We plan on paper and in our heads where these angles are based on the available lighting and be prepared to move at a moment’s notice. Keeping a variety of lenses for a number of different effects close-by is vital; while keeping bread and butter lenses glued to us as we move around the bride and groom is additionally important. It is also vital we be intently observant, so that we’ll know when the laugh is about to happen or the tears are about to drop. As a videographer, I find myself entwined in the couple’s story and I try to see everything through their eyes.
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
Borrowed & Blue Productions – Behind the Scenes
As much as our style and approach of filming is based on real emotions, capturing special moments, and instinct, this does not exclude us from having pre-planned actions and “set shot” sequences ready. For example having seen thousands of kisses, it’s our duty to know how to be able to elicit a variety of these very intimate moments: from the tender to the passionate.
Borrowed & Blue Productions
Although we use high production gear to film these cherished moments in a couples union, the REAL bits are more important; capturing those moments with a cinematographers eye is how we produce real wedding videos which record treasured memories for years to come.
Borrowed & Blue Productions
Check out Nick And Julie from BorrowedAndBlue on Vimeo
This is a guest post by Wedding Videographer Melbourne, Terence Hooi, who is the owner of Borrowed and Blue.
Meet Jules: A Real DIY Wedding Story
Hi There, I’m Jules Mounteney. Like you I was a DIY Bride, now I’m a DIY wife and mum and owner, artist, and blog author at Wine Bottle Crafts.
Now here’s something you’re probably all finding out for yourselves right about now… Weddings are expensive! I mean, mention the ‘w’ word and the price trebles right? When I got engaged and started costing things out I thought we’d never be able to afford to get married, but with some careful research and planning and lots of DIY I got the day of my dreams (I mean ‘we’ got the day of ‘our’ dreams) for less than a sixth of the £18,000 average spend.
Two thirds of our budget was spent on our venue, drinks and food. The rest went on rings, outfits, decorations and all the little bits and bobs I need to make everything else myself. I made the invites, the flowers, the jewellery, the tiara, the table plan, the order of service, my veil, the centrepieces, the favours, the only thing I didn’t make was the cake, my hubby made that! (I made the topper though) I’ve always had creativity close to my heart, I studied art at school, I’ve been a jewellery maker for years, and for the past 5 years I’ve made my own glass beads so getting everything off the shelf was never really going to be an option regardless of budget.
We also called on lots of friends and family for favours in the run up to the wedding and on the day itself, so we wanted to give the people that went above and beyond a really special thank you gift. We knew it had to be something original and unique to our special day, something not too expensive and ideally something that wasn’t going to ruin the planet. I decided to call on my bead making skills and got the hotel to save me the champagne bottles from the toast. When we returned from our mini moon I melted them down and made them into earrings, Charm Beads, Cuff links and bottle stoppers. They went down a storm, they ticked all our boxes and our guests loved them so much that some of them asked me to do the same thing with their celebratory bottles, Wine Bottle Crafts was born!
We’ve recently launched our brand new website “Wine Bottle Crafts” and are continually adding items to our range of products; the latest being our fairy light bottles. They make great night lights but also look stunning as wine bottle centrepieces, looking really funky and artistic during the day and emitting a lovely soft glow at night.
It’s not all been plain sailing, with a daughter barely a year old and a husband that works long hours finding the time to be creative and keep on top of the admin is hard work but slowly those blocks are stacking up, and my little family make the foundations nice and strong!
Disclosure: DIY Bride does NOT have a financial relationship with Wine Bottle Crafts, meaning this is NOT a sponsored post. If you would like to be considered for a “Meet the Makers” story, please submit your story here: http://www.diybride.com/submit-an-article/.
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