My New Obsession

Beauty products and make-up have never played a big part in my life.  I am sure that the main reason for that is that my mum never wears make-up (I think she has only worn make-up twice in her life and one of those days was my wedding day).  However I have been following this really amazing blog called Insightful Athlete which I starting reading because of a shared interested in Lululemon clothing.  This woman posts about lots of other athletic brands and also posts about other athletic, fashion and beauty related topics including her shopping experiences at Sephora.  This is what started my new obesssion.

My interest started with Dry Shampoo because I have heard a lot about them being great if you don't want to wash your hair every day or after every work out.  Upon recommendation of Insightful Athlete I ordered Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo from Sephora in a small travel size that only cost $13 (keep in mind this is from the Canadian Sephora site).

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

 If you spend $75 the shipping is free so I of course had to spend more so I got Fresh Sugar Advance Therapy Lip Treatment also recommended by Insightful Athlete and because I love lip balm and I splurged and took a chance on Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment because I am getting older, my under eyes are getting darker and I just love the packaging! I can be a really sucker for packaging which is a marketers dream.

Fresh Sugar Advance Therapy Lip Treatment

Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment

Now that these items have all arrived and I have tried them all I am totally hooked because all three are such great products.  It is too hard for me to pick which one is my favorite.  The dry shampoo did just what I hoped it would as well as adding more body and texture to my hair on a day when I don't shampoo and it also smells SO good.  It is pretty easy to use, you just have to be careful not to squeeze out too much at once and you have to rub it in well or it leaves your hair looking a little white. I only just use it at the front hairline of my scalp because that is where the oiliness starts to show for me.  

The lip therapy is the best I have ever used and again smells SO good and goes on smoothly.  It is expensive but for me it was totally worth it because I use lip balm everyday and I don't wear lipstick or lip gloss.  The eye treatment packaging was just as alluring for me as it was on screen and I like the product but don't think it has done anything mind blowing for my eyes but I do like putting it on and will happily use the whole pot.  I am not 100% sure I could justify buying it again but we will see when I have finished all of this pot.

I have since this order been to Sephora stores twice and placed another online order which I will posted about soon.

Do you have any favorite, must try or must have products from Sephora?

 

 

It has been a very very long time since I last posted and I am going to do my best to start writing again at least once a week and topics will vary from new jewelry designs and other topics related to my business as well as anything else that is interesting me at the moment.  As I write this a whole bunch of topics are coming to my mind.  I know this is going to make for a very miss mash of a blog but hopefully it will still interest some of you out there or maybe it will just turn into a catalogue of my interests and what is going on in my life!

I had my first jewelry show of the season, Portobello West March Market,  a couple of weeks ago and it was good to get into the swing of things.  I had a wonderful spot by a window so it was still bright and cheerful even thought it pour with rain for most of the first day. I wish I had taken a photo of my outfit because I was feeling pretty good in a short jean jacket, new long flowy top from Urban Outfitters,  skinny cargo pants from Anthropologie, black hi-tops from Ecco Shoes and Vinyasa Scarf from Lululemon. 

Portobello West March Market

 When preparing for the show I realized that summer is not all that far away and I want to start making some more chunky pieces that will be great with all the colorful pieces everyone wears in summer. I am so tempted to keep the turquoise one for myself but I will have to resist.  I only have enough of the end cones to make these three so once they are gone this will be it.

Chunky Gemstone Necklaces

I am planning on making a lot more wood, gemstone and shell pieces as it gets closer to summer. Keep an eye on my shop for more new listings.

Wood Love Affair

My love for using wood in my designs comes and goes and at the moment I am having a real love affair with working with wood beads and pendants.  Summer weather is often the start of the love affair because for some reason wood and gemstones to me just seem to go so well with warm summer weather.  Maybe it is because we all seem to spend so much more time outside connected with nature when the weather is nice either going for a walk or going to the beach or just sitting outside surrounded by sun and warmth.

In my great collection of supplies I have had two sets of wood pendants in my stock for a while and didn't know what to do with them to really make true justice of the beauty of the wood and the shape of them.  Recently I started playing around with them and finally came up with an idea that I think turned out just perfectly.

Tiger Ebony Wood and Sterling Silver Necklace

Now my only problem is that I love the necklace so much that I really want to keep one of them for myself.  This is always such a dilemma when you make jewelry!

Summer Inspiration - Khatsahlano! Music + Art Festival

On Saturday July 13th West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano Vancouver will be closed from Burrard to MacDonald and the streets are expected to be filled with 80,000 people for the Khatsahlano! Music + Art Festival.  This exciting street festival will have 12 stages, food vendors and a street marketplace.  Luli Designs will be part of the Portobello West section of the street marketplace so I have been using this summer festival as inspiration to get designing and making.

Here is a sneak peak at some of the stretch bracelets with semi-precious stone, wood and sterling silver I have been working on:

Smoky Quartz and Moss Agate Stretch Bracelets

Why Bottle When There is Tap?

Four years ago I made a pact with myself to stop drinking bottled water.  This was brought on because of seeing such an increase in plastic water bottle waste around and it was further brought home by the documentary Blue Gold- World Water Wars.  The trailer for the movie is below.

Since making this pact I have easily made the transition to relying on my Sigg water bottles (I love all the different designs, options and sizes) and the tap other than a few rare occasions when tap water was just not available.  These situations were: an outdoor wedding ceremony on the hottest day of the year and traveling on a plane for long distances when I have run out of the water that I brought with me in my own bottle.  Other than that it is has been all tap for me.  

Our Family's Water Bottle Collection: My husband's sports bottle (check out the dents), my husband's other bottle, my babies bottle, my short trip bottle, my favorite and most used bottle and my long trip bottle.

It has been such a simple change in my life but I hope that it has some how made a difference and I hope my story can help others to stop and think about the amount of bottled water they consume.   If you are wondering how to travel on a plane with your own bottle but worried about security, they will let you bring an empty water bottle through security (we usually put ours in the tray out of our bags) and then fill it up either at a drinking tap or a restaurant after you have gone through security. Remember to open the bottle before take off and then before landing because of the pressure change.

Here is a very well put together graphic from a website called Beyond the Bottle that shows, in a simplified format, the many reasons to stop drinking bottled water.

 

All Looped Up In BoHo Style

Chain Loop Necklaces: Lapis Blue, Jade and Coral

Here is look at another necklace style that is part of my Spring/Summer 2013 collection.  Three loops of delicate sterling silver chain are attached to a bar of Swarovski Pearls in Lapis Blue, Jade and Coral.  This bohemian look goes well with the tribal patterns that are trending right now in clothing and accessories.

These necklaces can be found at Lut Boutique 4219 Main St, Vancouver

SeaWheeze 2013 Special Edition Shorts

SeaWheeze likes to do things differently so instead of getting a t-shirt for signing up for the half marathon (I never wear those shirts) you get a pair of special edition Lululemon shorts that are only given to people who are signed up for the Seawheeze.  Women got to chose between two styles, Speed Shorts or Track Attack Shorts (I chose the Speed Shorts) and Men got Pace Breaker Shorts.  I think it is a really neat idea and certainly something that I will happily wear.  My husband's pair arrived about a week ago and I have been patiently waiting for mine and they finally arrived today!

SeaWheeze 2013 Special Edition Men's Pace Breaker and Women's Speed Shorts

The shorts arrived in a special pouch and have a special edition hang tag which are different for women and men. The inner liner in both the women's and the men's shorts is a crazy pattern and the women's interior waistband is striped. Hopefully these will help to keep me motivated as the "Get Ready, Get Sweaty" training program starts on June 3rd.  You can find the SeaWheeze training app here.

Women's Speed Shorts with SeaWheeze Pouch

 

Men's Pace Breaker Shorts with SeaWheeze Pouch

 

Women's and Men's Special Edition SeaWheeze hang tag

Men's shorts with the liner pulled out to show the pattern which is also the same on the Women's liner.

Running...How it Has Been Part of My Life and My New Goal

In August 10th this year I will be tying up my running shoes and heading out with my husband to participate in the SeaWheeze 2013 half marathon here in Vancouver.

Running has been a part of my life off and on since I joined the track and field and cross country teams in elementary school and it is always something I gravitate towards when I want to get into shape or I need a goal to focus on.  For me, running is a wonderful way to deal with the ups and downs that happen in life. 

I am on the left in the white shirt (age 12)

My biggest running achievement to date was in 2009 when I completed a Nike Women's Running Study while training for the Scotiabank Half Marathon.  By the end of all the training and the half marathon, I had accomplished my goal and had a time I was really proud of but my knee was hurting and I was ready to be done with running.  I thought I probably would never run a race again.

I am steps away from the finish line of the Scotiabank Half Marathon 2009

After having my first baby in 2012 I wanted to find a way to work out that would work around being at home with a baby.  I wanted to do yoga because I had become really interested in it before becoming and while pregnant or to try barre fitness or crossfit or go swimming which is really my first fitness love.  All those activities require that someone come and babysit while I am gone for 2+ hours. This is not convenient and for me fitness success means it has to be convenient or I won't do it.  The classes that I found that you could bring your baby to required your baby to be pre-mobile...my baby started rolling at 2 1/2 months so there wasn't much time for me to fit those classes in!  Running seemed like the best option because I can go for a run in the morning before my husband goes to work or I can take my baby in the running stroller (we got a running stroller for $15 off Craigslist) in the afternoon and it is also something that we can do together as a family on week-ends.

Running was again giving me that mind clearing high that I had had before and I was really getting into it but I needed a goal to keep me focused.  I had started to buy some new running gear at Lululemon and luckily it was just around the time that Lululemon started to talk about the 2013 SeaWheeze.  I had never heard of it before but loved the idea that it was a community type event that wasn't just about running the half marathon and then going home but that it is a whole week-end party.  I signed up and roped my husband into signing up as well and made sure that the grandparents were available for the week-end to babysit so it is going to be like a mini staycation for us.

My goal for this half marathon is simple...cross the finish line with my husband.  I don't want to accomplish a personal best time, I just want to be there and do it and I am so excited about it.  Running is not always easy for me and I certainly have to work at it but I think it is something that will always some how be a part of my life.  I also like that as my baby gets older I can show her that fitness and health are important and can easily fit into your life no matter what.

Another Spring Sneak Peek

I have been working away at creating new designs using my spring color palette of coral, denim and jade and the creating continues!  Here is a sneak peak of new earrings design that will be at my booth at Make It Vancouver and then will be found on my etsy shop after the show.  I just love wearing bigger earrings especially in summer because they add that much needed pop of color and sparkle but still staying light and airy.

If you are planning on going to Make It Vancouver on April 19th, 20th and 21st and you want to save a couple of dollars on the entry fee then don't forget to purchase your tickets beforehand on their website.  The more tickets you purchase the more you save so get a group of friends together to purchase tickets and have a great afternoon shopping local.

Creativity, Business and Success...they can all go together

       Coming up on April 19th-21st it will be my fifth year participating in a craft show in Vancouver called Make It which is organized by sister/brother team Jenna and Chandler Herbut.  This show is by far the best one I have ever done and I always end up doing lots of shopping there too.  There is so much variety, so many talented artists and it is so much fun!

Jenna has branched out and started Make It University which provides business training and general help on how to get your handmade business up and running. This talented and busy woman does not stop here and is now creating Make It Happen An Independent Handmade Documentary with her boyfriend Neil Mangan which features interviews with successful handmade artists of all kinds to show that creativity, business and success can happen.  The trailer can be seen here and if you contribute to their campaign to raise funds there are perks to be had.

There are so many creative, talented people out there and it is exciting to see Jenna and Neil trying to spread the word and love for the handmade world.

Spring Inspired Color Palette

Spring certainly is here in Vancouver! I just came back from a beautiful walk in the sun around my neighborhood where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and there are lots of other flowers out as well.  With spring comes new jewelry and Make It Spring Show.  For the first time I have actually picked out a color palette of coral, denim and jade to inspire me as I design. 

Here is a sneak peak of some of the pieces that I have been working on in this spring color palette:

The pendants are a new design and the studs and tear drops are previous designs that I think are going to be gorgeous and simple for spring and summer with any outfit.  There will be more new pieces and more detailed photos to come as we get closer to the Make It April 19th-21st show dates.

Busy Life and Craft Show Starter

Life certainly has been busy since I last updated my blog...since then I have moved, renovated, moved again and had a baby!  Needless to say it is hard to keep up with business while there is so much else on the go.  At this moment baby is sleeping and I am trying to catch up on many months of missed work and over all just dropping the ball.

To get me super charged back into making new creations and to throw myself head first back into my business I will be selling my jewelry at Make It Vancouver November 8th to 11th at the Croatian Cultural Centre.  It is an amazing 4 day show with so many different types of artists and products.  This is my favorite show both for participating in and buying at.  It is organized by a sister and brother team who are Canadian and I really like that I am supporting Canadian business while they are supporting mine.

Here is the link to the Make It Vancouver website site:
http://makeitproductions.com/vancouver/welcome-to-make-it/

If you are planning on coming don't forget to print out this coupon or save the image on your phone and show it at the door for $1 off the $5 admission charge.
http://makeitproductions.com/vancouver/2010/02/20/2-off-admission/
 

New Year Jewelry Sale

It is the start of the new year and is a time to start fresh for many people. You may have made new years resolutions or are cleaning out your wardrobe for the new season ahead. Well, my jewelry shop is doing just that. I have just done markdowns for a large number of necklaces and earrings in my etsy shop so that I can make room for new designs for Spring.

A featured sale items it the Flower and Birthstone necklaces in Brass. They use to be $28 and are now $18! I will no longer be carrying these necklaces so once the months are gone that is it. They are a great birthday present for yourself or someone else and at this price they fit into most birthday present budgets.

80s Come Back

Everyone likes a little nostalgia so BlytheCouture now has a line of hats and dresses with a Space Invaders theme. Knitted hats and cotton dresses evoke memories of video games of the past. Here are two of the different color combinations that we have created so far.

Lovely Yellow Goodness

Yellow is one of those colors that prevokes a feeling of warmth and sunlight. Here is an etsy treasury that creates those feelings in a wonderful way and features one of my Blythe Doll Skirts in it as well.

The Old Becomes New - Rediscovering Beading Supplies

Many artists seem to have a studio full of supplies, many of which have been around for a long time and are no longer looked at or used. I am no exception and recently have been trying to go through beading and jewelry supplies that I have had for a while as I have a lot of supplies.

I was sitting on the floor of my studio surrounded by containers and containers of beads. There is nothing wrong with any of these supplies, I just seem to have forgotten about many of them and moved on to other designs and styles. As I sat there surrounded I became so revived and inspired by the supplies. I made 4 new necklaces that are not like designs that I have ever made before but they are using supplies that have moved across the country and from to so many different apartments that I have lost count.

Some times the old can help you to create the new. These are the result of that inspiration:

Glass bead and sterling silver necklaces.

Beautiful Place...Dubrovnik, Croatia

Looking for somewhere to go on your next holiday that is full of beautiful views, history, great food, great wine and warm weather all rolled into one place...I have the place for you...Dubrovnik, Croatia. It is also less expensive than many other places in Europe which also adds to it's appeal. I was lucky enough to go there for 7 nights recently and I just loved every second of it.

The view of the Old Town from near by Fort Lovrijenac

Roof Tops of the Old Town

Shrapnel damage of an old church called Church Sveti Spaso from the war in Croatia in 1991 - this city is full of both old and new history which was such an eye opener for me.

Amazing local Croatian wine that can't be bought outside Croatia

Fresh homemade bread sandwiches from a place called Cafe Skola

I can't say enough good things about the people and city of Dubrovnik. It far exceeded my expectations and I am so excited to one day go back and see other parts of Croatia in all it's diverse landscape.

Best Sellers - Top 5 Earrings

Here are the Top 5 Earrings:

#1
Bird on a Wire Earrings - Brass
#2
Bird on a Wire Earrings - Sterling Silver
#3
Wood Square on Hoop - Tiger Ebony
#4
Single Pearl Earring - White
#5
Simple Briolette Earrings - Ruby

Best Sellers - Top 5 Necklaces

Life has been busy and there was a big event recently that took over most of this year to plan. Now that is done, I can get back to the business of creating. While trying to get inspired I got curious about what jewelry caught people's eye the most in the last year. That lead to going through my sales and seeing what the top 5 best selling necklaces were.

Here are the Top 5 Necklaces:

#1
It Fell From a Tree Necklace - Copper
#2
It Fell From a Tree Necklace - White
#3
Sparkly Starfish Necklace - Golden
#4
Tree of Life Necklace
#5
It Fell From a Tree Necklace - Brown

New Buddy Knitted Dolls

Much of my creative skills and need to be crafty came from my mum's influence and all the craft projects that I did with her while growing up. As I have mentioned in previous posts she also has an etsy shop called grannyknits where she sells her knitted dolls and knitted baby clothes.

She recently created four dolls that I had to write about because I think they are so cute! They are all wearing hoodies and pants. Introducing Madison, Fern, Ruby and Ash.