Earlier today, we announced the launch of Etude Love, the new bridal accessories line. Wait ’til you see the wedding veil alternatives that they created! They are so adorable that it deserved its own blog post. We can’t decide on which is our favorite. You tell us, if you were to pick one of these veils, which one would you pick?
We’re so excited to announce the new bridal accessories collection called Etude Love that’s just launched! It’s is a wonderful collaboration by our two favorite accessories designers Eugenia of Petit Plume and Sara of Handmade by Sara Kim. Let’s have the two ladies tell us a little bit more about their new collection.
After starting our own accessory companies, we, Eugenia and Sara, have come together to create a collection that showcases our most intricate designs. Just like an Etude, we see each piece as a beautiful composition that showcases our skills and passion. Each piece is completely handmade from sewing on each pearl to cutting each fabric flower.
Music is our inspiration and our background. Before becoming an art major, Eugenia was a flute major. Sara has been playing piano and violin for most of her life and still teaches music privately. Music speaks to all people and holds a special place in our hearts. We wanted our product to be an expression of who we are and for our client to make the piece their own.
“Music is love in search of a word.” Sidney Lanier
When we first encountered Wendy Bird of Pearls With Purpose at a Women’s Conference, we were very intrigued by her story and how she began her pearl business. You can read her interview in our latest issue no. 25 starting on p. 48.
In the magazine, all you see may only be the beautiful pearl jewelry, but there are so much more behind each jewelry piece, handcrafted by women in impoverished areas of the world, who needed despearately to find a means to support their family. Wendy makes trips throughout the year to visit these individuals to teach and guide them. “My heart was full of joy and appreciation for all these women continue to accomplish in their work and personal lives. I marvel at who they are becoming as each quarter passes. Small hurdles every day have turned into mountainous accomplishments each month!” said Wendy.
During one of her visits to India, she was looking for a new person to fill a pearlologist position at the co-op, and encountered a woman named Shanti (pictured above), who came for an interview. Shanti had a considerable limp because of her leg, which she learned later that it was from a bus accident that tore her leg muscles when she was 13 and forced her to drop out from school. She had two boys, ages 8 and 4, and her husband biked far to Pondecherry, a tourist town, every day to sell bangles. But later found out that her husband is also an alcoholic, who comes home drunk every day and spends all their earnings on himself. Her mother-in-law who lives with them always defends and takes her son’s side. She is an orphan with no family. Her children starve and she has to beg from neighbors for food. She says with this job, she will be able to feed her husband and children. Touched by her story, they decided to train her and hired her on the spot. Wendy was grateful that Shanti was brave and strong enough to assert herself and request a job, despite her handicap, for the sake of her family.
Shanti’s story was only one of many behind the pearls created through Pearls with Purpose. We are so grateful to be able to partner with them to help spread their story. If you’re still looking for jewelry for your wedding day, we hope you’d consider shopping with Pearls with Purpose.
We’re just entering the beginning of long summer nights and we’re loving it. Definitely one our favorite parts of summer! Brianne & Kyle from this real wedding knows exactly how we feel. From the bride, Brianna ” We wanted our wedding to be filled with a lot of little unique touches that were carefully thought out and put together. From the beginning, we wanted the wedding to have the feel of a Gatsby Summer Soiree - lots of dancing, guests dressed up for the summer heat, memorable cocktails, and music filling the evening air.” Yes! So perfect for summer!
We are just loving the sea green color for Brianna’s bridesmaids! Check back tomorrow to see a round of dresses that are similar to this beautiful color.
How adorable are these girls with their Plum Pretty Sugar robes and matching sandals?!
Sleeved wedding dresses are becoming more popular and we love seeing more of them in our last issue no. 25: Humble Beginnings. They offer more coverage for church weddings and colder weather, but with all the gorgeous options out there, we don’t see why modern brides wouldn’t consider these sleeved alternatives when shopping for their wedding day.
