Mardi Gras Mayhem

One day late but better than never right? How was your Mardi Gras darlings? Any great stories? Personally, I've never had a super exciting Mardi Gras, maybe I just live in the wrong area, maybe next year I should give New Orleans a try.

I just LOVED this photo on Flikr and had to share it with you. Don't you love the idea of a Masquerade? Its so mysterious! So be it Mardi Gras or a Masquerade Ball find a reason to don an enchanting mask and seek out your own prince for midnight!

Share your Mardi Gras love darlings!

And don't forget to enter the Awesome Tetrik Giveaway HERE for a chance to embrace being unique!

Birds of a Feather Giveaway

If you have ever spent any time on my Etsy shop it is not hard to conclude that I have a slight obsession with feathers. I love how they are a constant contradiction: natural but not plain, simple yet unique, and always elegant. So naturally, when I found Tetrik on Etsy I had to introduce you guys to this wonderful feather filled shop!

I caught up with Tianna for a little chat, and she has generously offered a $25 giveaway for all Embellishers to enter! So take a look and start of dreaming of what could soon be in your jewelry box!

*photos compliments of Tetrik*

1. How did you get to where you are now?

A lot of time and dedication! I’ve always been a creative person, so exploring different mediums of art has always appealed to me.

I started my business 5 years ago when I was just 15. In the beginning it was just plain “hobo” bags made out of recycled material from the thrift store that I sold to my friends. In high school I really got into screen printing so out of my basement/sauna-turned-darkroom I incorporated my own hand-drawn art onto the purses and began getting more recognized outside of my friends circle. After high-school I went on a hiatus and did some travelling throughout SE Asia and Mexico. Last fall I made my first feather headband and had such a positive response from the public that I couldn't ignore.

The pivotal point for me was getting my work seen in stores. I sold over 50 headbands in 4 different retail locations in just two months so all of a sudden I was running a business again! Since then I haven’t looked back!

2. What is your favorite thing having your shop?

I love the ability to connect with people from all over! I’ve met so many amazing people! It’s the best feeling in the world when someone chooses your product over the millions of others floating around on the internet, to me that’s one of the biggest compliments.

3. What can we look to see from you in the future?

For Spring/Summer 2010 there’s going to be more beautiful feather creations to come. Single earrings with long and flowing feathers with gold findings to go along with the pretty pastels and lingerie inspired looks on the runway this season. More beautiful iridescent parrot feather earrings and also perhaps a necklace line in the works but I’m not giving away all my secrets!

4. If you could have a super power what would it be?

To be able to fly!

5. Any special tidbits?

All my parrot feathers are naturally molted and when possible I use feathers I’ve collected from my parents beach home, or the local park where they have beautiful peacocks and ducks.

I most of all LOVE doing custom pieces, so if you have a special occasion coming up and you want something really unique and like my style feel free to contact me! Check out my facebook fan page for photos of previous custom orders!

The soft bohemian feel of Tetrik's line, along with the slight Native American inspiration is both serene and inviting. Be sure to check out her shop, and facebook page for the latest scoop on Tianna's Earthy line. I wish I could enter this lovely contest, but nonetheless I hope you win!

This giveaway is 4 days so be sure to get your entry in now!

Doors close Friday, February 19th at Midnight NYC time.

Of course you have several options to enter, and even get extra entries! *Be sure for the extra entries you leave a SEPARATE comment to get credit for it*

1. Visit Tetrik and comment below on your favorite piece.

2. Follow this blog

3. Tweet about this giveaway (include @Fashiondiva304)

4. Become a fan of Embellished on Facebook HERE

Good luck darlings!

Happy Monday & Giveaway Winner

And we're off to the start of another week darlings, and one week closer to Spring as I'm counting down; quite ready for flowers as opposed to snowflakes. I hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day and I would love to hear your stories if you have any!

What better way to start off your week than with a wonderful prize! The winner of the Vey Court Cottage giveaway is...

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:6Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Entry #6: Anna of Around the Way Girl Blog!! Anna is a sweetheart and you should definitely make her blog a regular read, I love it! And don't forget to keep shopping at Vey Court Cottage for lots of cute accessories to Embellish your life!

So lets hear em Embellishers, what are your best Valentine's Day stories?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Day of Love Embellishers! I hope that no matter what your dating status may be you can find a way to appreciate a day dedicated to such a wonderful sentiment. I myself am normally single on Valentine's and this year is no exception, but that has never stopped me from loving this holiday. Blame it on the eternal optimist inside me or maybe my persistence to be girly and love anything that celebrates with pink, red, hearts, and ruffles....and chocolate, champagne, flowers...you get the point.

I thought I would reserve today to introduce you to a very amazing photographer from my hometown, Charlotte, NC, whose work never ceases to amaze me. Cheyenne Schultz is a wedding photographer in Charlotte, and I only hope I am fortunate enough to one day have her and her husband Geoff work their talent at my own wedding. I learned of Cheyenne last year, as her husband works on staff at Elevation Church, my church, and have regularly visited her blog ever since. So, without further ado I introduce The Schultzes.

*All photos compliments of Cheyenne Schultz Photography*

Be sure to put your gawking into words below for a comment,

I know they'd love the love darlings!

ENGAGEMENT

BRIDAL

PREP

CEREMONY

BRIDE & GROOM

RINGS

PHOTOBOOTH

RECEPTION

AND NOW...

My All Time Favorites

Be sure to check out The Schultzes website HERE and blog HERE!

Maybe I'll see you're beautiful faces on there one day darlings.

Hopefully some day you will see mine!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Saturday & Giveaway Winner

Happy Saturday all you Embellishers! Well it has been quite a busy couple of weeks and hopefully you guys have all had time to enter the awesome Orglamix Mineral Eyeshadow Giveaway! It is now time to choose a winner!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:46Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congrats Imelda of Lisbon Sky and be sure to check out her own Etsy shops from Down Under, filled with cute jewelry at Lisbon Sky and Made It: Lisbon Sky. I hope you enjoy your makeup as much as I have enjoyed mine darling, I predict you will be hooked instantly.

Even if you didn't win please go check out the Orglamix shop and find something, I put my name on the line that her line is amazing! Great quality, wonderful products, I have already started expanding my own makeup box with other Orglamix products and am so pleased!

Goodbye to a Great

The sad news was pushed like a tidal wave through the world yesterday and I am still in shock. Alexander McQueen, whom I have spoken of multiple times as one of my favorite designers, was found dead in his London apartment Thursday morning. In only 40 young years he had pulled himself from high school drop out to leader of the Givenchy label to his own fashion empire. His runway shows were never just fashion, but also blended with performance, theatrics and futuristic dreams. The expanse of his creative realm never ceased to surprise the world as he unveiled collection after collection of stunningly beautiful pieces of art. Here is a mini homage to a man who left a definite mark on a world that didn't get enough of him.

*all photos compliments of style.com*

Ready to Wear Spring 2001

First solo line

Ready to Wear Fall 2002

My favorite line by far

So many aviation inspired pieces and as always impeccable tailoring.

Ready to Wear Spring 2003

The dress that launched a thousand ships

Ready to Wear Spring 2004

Complete with dance cast for fully choreographed runway show. Awesome.

Ready to Wear Fall 2004

Ready to Wear Spring 2005

Ready to Wear Fall 2005

Also one of my top picks

Ready to Wear Spring 2006

Pre Fall 2009

It makes you think how precious of a gift life truly is darlings. I try very often to empathize with how people can arrive at a certain place, but I am afraid suicide will never be a place I can truly understand. To literally feel that not one thing in life is worth holding on to, to feel that there is absolutely nowhere else to go, is an idea so foreign to me I can't even try to scrape its surface. What a scary place. This is often a confusing concept to me with artists. Many great artists in history have ended their own life, but isn't that contradictory to the very idea of being an "artist?" Art is all about the beauty in life in every facet and form, and to be filled with such beauty that it exudes from every pore in your body. To be so filled with this beauty of life that you must constantly find a way to transform it into a tangible form, of art, that the world can begin to attempt to understand what you are so wholly enveloped by.

So let me tell you darlings, no matter what downhills your life may take, I pray you know it will always get better. Remember that life is a gift, and the sun always rises, so just keep holding on. If you ever need a touch of perspective try helping someone worse off than you, not in a cliche, showy "I love charity" kind of way, but in a genuine and discreet "I want to love my fellow man" kind of way. Helping someone does so much more than aid them in whatever situation they are struggling, it also gives you perspective on your problems, not to mention fills your soul with an indescribable feeling of peace and joy.

Old Soul in a Modern World Giveaway

Vintage ambiance gives such a nice quality to modern pieces, and I personally love incorporating such things in my wardrobe. Naturally, when I found Vey Court Cottage I was smitten with all the eclectic jewelry that made me dream of traveling to a time's past and keeping a souvenir for my modern crazy world! I was even more excited to meet Paula and discuss her shop. She is blessing one lucky Embellished reader with the chance to adorn their own jewelry collection with something rare and handmade and I can't wait to find out who!

1. What made you start crafting as a business?

I have always done crafts and love making things. Its only been in the past year that I have had the time to start making jewelry and selling. I guess it would also be working from home that I love.

2. What are the struggles and rewards you have had so far?

I struggled with photography the most, I had to find the right way to photograph so I could still have a vintage feel. The reward is the feeling of accomplishment when I make a sale and getting emails saying how much a person loves the item.

3. What is your favorite thing about VeyCourtCottage?

Its my ship and I can steer it where ever I want to!

4. If you could have a super power what would it be?

I would want the power to heal.

5. Any extra tidbits?

In my head I've designed hundreds of things I will eventually make, I feel like I have been waiting to do this my whole life. I have boxes of treasures waiting to become a charm necklace or maybe just be dusted off and passed on to someone new to enjoy. Either way I am enjoying the process and learn something new every day!

So here is your chance to win these special earrings above picked out just for you! You have 4 opportunities to enter, but make sure you post a comment below for EACH entry or it won't count when the random number is drawn!

1. Visit the shop and comment below about your favorite item

(make sure I have a way to contact you)

2. Become a follower of The Embellished Life Blog

3. Tweet about this giveaway! (tag @fashiondiva304 so I can keep track)

4. Become a Facebook Fan of Embellished!

This is a 4 day contest so doors close at Midnight, Monday, February 14th, NYC time.

All readers are included. Good luck darlings!