luli and me.

march

2013-03-19T17:41:00.003-05:00

It's cold today and doesn't feel like this picture much. Here is to channeling warmer weather!

Eugène GRASSET Calendrier "La Belle Jardinière" 1896

SOUGOOD

2013-03-19T17:22:00.000-05:00

Wanted to share with you this gem of a place! Every time I need a special trim or incredible buttons I head out to SOUTACHE . Just another amazing spot in Bucktown. This trip was for buttons for a pretty blue coat I got at a great deal at the end of season. I chose beautiful had polished teak buttons.

Mylie (the owner) is fantastic! So warm and helpful, she will help you for hours just to find the perfect embellishment .

They are moving across the street soon and Mylie told me they will carry more buttons! Yay!

Stop and see her, you will love it.

Terrarium Workshop

2013-03-02T07:12:00.000-06:00

Workshops Calendar

Adults:
Friday, March 22nd 6:00pm~8:00pm
Children:
Saturday, April 13th 1~2:30pm

Adult Class Cost:
The fee for the workshop is $65.00, which includes container, plants, moss, lichen, tiny treasures
and all the materials to create a personalized terrarium! and some red libations :)

Kids Terrarium Workshop !
Cost: $20
All material included, container, plant, moss, lichen, tiny treasures and all the materials to create
a basic, personalized terrarium! All ages welcome, adult attendance required for 6 yrs. and under.

Registration:
It fills up fast ! !
Please call 630 243 9430 to prepay and hold your space.

february

2013-02-23T15:43:00.002-06:00

better late then never!

for the birds

2013-02-20T16:51:00.000-06:00

I love to bird watch! I'm in awe at how these little guys could make it through the cold winters...I can't stand it out in the freezing temperatures and I have plenty of body fat, how do they manage! so I like to help them out by feeding them with seed feeders, but for a little extra fun, I save all the winter berries at the bottom of the Christmas boxes here at the shop. I fill small containers of different shapes with berries, water plus a loop of twine and let them freeze. I make lots of them and keep them in my freezer. I place a few out every week, the birdies love it, and I love watching them out my window :) You should try it!

happy valentines

2013-02-14T18:28:00.002-06:00

I love this dog so much it's crazy!!!

paper dahlias at indie wed

2013-02-06T14:05:00.003-06:00

Every year after the holidaze and the madness, we count on Indie Wed for a boost of creative energy! I love me a creative project and frankly I would participate in Indie Wed for the opportunity to create and socialize with my friends in the industry, what an uber talented bunch! And so it started with a bright & fun color palette plus some old books... 538 cones later this is what we came up with :)

We shared a booth with Reenie Rose, who preserves wedding bouquets via oil on canvas, pretty smart! So of course we used her talents to create our silhouettes!

We had a fantastic time meeting new couples and visiting with friends. The event ran so smooth as always! Thank you Kelly for all of your hard work :) Take a look at these gorgeous shots from our oh so talented friend Amanda Megan Miller Photography .

This is Amanda's fab booth!

We,Unity Candle rocked it out!

A beautiful new addition this year... I hope they continue to do it! The Belles and Gents Lounge; organized by SQN Events put together with the help of Goose Island Catering, Truffle Truffle, Femme du Coupe, ShutterBooth, A LA Crate Vintage Rentals, and Courtney Callahan Paper.

So many creative minds under one roof my head was spinning with joy! and these are just a few, Pemberley Events, Nible Well, Mika Vaughan Makeup Artist, Life Made Pretty, Neil Dixon Smith, Five Grain Events, Fumme Gypsy Project, Mignonette Bridal, Penelope's Press, Olivia Leigh Photograpie, Simply Wood Rings, Naturally Yours Events, so many really not enough time or room! Oh wait Ravenswood Event Center how amazing was their food?! I need one of those lentil burgers for lunch everyday!!! and Puffs of Doom? What?! Yes!!! I'LL take a dozen please!

All in all you can't go wrong with this event, a perfect way to spend an afternoon...but be careful you might just come home and redo your entire house! the inspiration is just that good!

Here at the shop we are jumping right into Valentine's madness, so I'll just have to settle with recycling our paper dahlias into our tree, but what I really like to do is make a bedspread out of Amanda's backdrop! Come on now! it would be amazing!

See you next year!

fun vintage trickets!

2013-01-30T07:32:00.000-06:00

Victorian Mosaic Ring

19th Century Chinese Kingfisher Feather & Coral Earrings

1900s Edwardian Carved Coral & Pearl Flower Necklace

beautiful gold ring with intricately braided brown hair

Cities of Great Britain Lockets

1980s Turquoise and Pearl Marquis "N" Ring

Mid 18th Century Table Cut Diamond Cluster/Flower Ring

19th Century Ivory Leg Pendant

1890s Coral Ring

1890-1900s Victorian Colored Paste Ring

This post is for the boys, in honor of certain upcoming hallmark holiday... think outside the box, girls don't always want the expected, something with a bit of history and character is always good, and always always get flowers ha!
Below are links to two of my favorite places to look for great pieces!
erin basin erica weiner

pOp up LOVE

2013-01-22T19:57:00.003-06:00

February 14th!!!! The day Cupid comes out to play! We are hosting a cup cake pOp up shOppe! Our friend and bride from the past Karin from The Pastry Palace will be here with these delights!!!! Pop in and get your special someone beautiful blooms and a sweet treat! Larger orders must be placed ahead of time. Please call 630 243 9430 to place your orders! Red Velvet, Double Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean cup cakes, Cake Pops are Double Chocolate.

happenings

2013-01-21T18:23:00.001-06:00

A fresh batch of beautiful SAIPUA soaps is back in, they are magnificent, you must come and sniff the shop.

With Indie Wed around the corner we have put our creative juices to work!

We can't wait to show you our final product! I

will be sharing a booth with our friend Reniee Rose. It has been so much fun seeing it all come together, our booth will be bold, bright, sassy, and beautiful. Come out and see! you can get your tickets here.

happy friday!

2013-01-18T10:53:00.000-06:00

Caitlyn and Ryan

2013-01-16T17:44:00.000-06:00

Last July Caitlyn became Mrs Cook, (a country girl at heart), the wedding of her dreams was to be at home in her parents backyard. She wanted everyone to be relaxed , enjoy good food, great country music and cold beer! And so it was!

Loving family, great friends, her beautiful horse Ladyhawk and a Cook waiting for her at the end of the isle :) what else could a country girl want!?

Take a look at these amazing pictures from our friends at T&S Hughes Photography , they are to die for!

sweets for the ladies!

2013-01-15T17:30:00.001-06:00

The ladies and I started a vegan/all natural/spiritual fast on January 2nd. The goal~ clarity ; of the mind and body. I'll tell you more about the experience when my 21 days are up. But for now I leave you with these babies, they are keeping me from hurting myself or others :)

no sugar, no dairy, no flour!!!!

VEGAN CHOCOLATE PUDDING

it's made with avocados!!!

Mix 2 ripe bananas in your food processor, when its nice and smooth add 2 tsp of vanilla extract, 4 tbsp of unsweetened (vanilla flavored) almond milk and 4 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder, mix in food processor again until all incorporated. Peel one large ripe avocado and mix with rest of the mixture in food processor until silky smooth. Chill for 2 hours and serve! This is truly amazing and good for you!

This makes 2 martini glass servings.

OATMEAL BANANA RAISIN COOKIES

Ingredient: 3 mashed bananas (real ripe), 1/3 cup natural apple sauce, 2 cups oats, 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. It's the perfect go to purse snack with a bit of crunch from nuts!

a mixed bag

2013-01-12T22:29:00.000-06:00

January came fast, we had enjoyed a lovely holiday season, and then the news that Denise's Mr had passed...the wake was the most thoughtful celebration I've been to, Denise is a real special soul.
Then an amazing act of love happened and I want to share it with you. On January 2nd I posted this, be sure to read the first comment on bottom of post. Don't you just want to hug someone!!!! Love Love Love :)

My parents were in town a few weeks for the holiday festivities. My dad believes grapefruit cures everything...kinda like the Greek Windex theory . We counted, and in two weeks he peeled forty grapefruits for us. Thank you daddy for three weeks of love and citrus!

I'm in LOVE with my new bag and IT loves me back! just wanted to share that bit :)

Three Kings day was huge when I was a kid in Argentina, not so much here :( I decided to mention it to Nat this year, but I did it in a way that would not entefeer with her Santa belives . I borowed a Mexican tradition! I got a Three Kings wreath (sweet baked bread) inside they bake 3 plastic babies. Whomever gets the babies has to make the tamales. Cute right!? I told her , she didn't even ask what tamales were, she just wanted those babies! We made sure she got all three... she is into winning right now :)

On our way to the airport, Louise's grandparents are going back home to Florida. She was sad, but cozy in her very pink coat, a Christmas gift from Nat.

Look what you did!

All of your kind words and reviews earned us this badge! Thank you, Thank you!

January brings the promise of an incredible year, I can't wait!

a jar of goodness

2013-01-09T08:35:00.002-06:00

The sweetest of friends passed this on to me and what do you know! she is the first to reside in my jar :)

I started on the 1st and you should start today! It's a fantastic way to remember all the goodness we receive in one year!

Starting January 1st write good things that happen to you in little pieces of paper.

*surprises

*gifts

*acconplished goals

*lol moments

*memories worth saving

*daily blessings

Then open the jar on December 31st!
Now tell me!!!
How smart is that!!!!

hollie and adam

2013-01-08T01:34:00.002-06:00

Lions and tigers and bears oh my! Take a look at this delightful early fall wedding at Brookfield Zoo. The wedding was a blast and we have beautiful pictures to prove it! Anna Guziak Photography is responsible for all this goodness, so many amazing pictures it was difficult to pick!

meow...

january

2013-01-02T11:20:00.000-06:00

Every month I will be posting these fun calendar pages by Swiss artist Eugene Grasset "La Belle Jardiniere" (1896) ; just because they are beautiful :) enjoy!

the brightest of days

2013-01-01T13:17:00.000-06:00

I sit here in my favorite chair on the brightest of winter mornings~ I am filled, my cup runneth over with good people, the kind of people that change lives; and as I sit here typing and reflecting on this year that has gone past, looking at what I set out to do and what actually happened; the gifts received, can't help but to be floored by the goodness this year brought.

This was a year to be approached with the feeling that everyday brought the possibility of a new beginning .

This was a year of discovery and acceptance. I never imagined I would learn so much about myself , life and the heartbreak of loss, loss of innocence, life as they planned it to be , the change in the fabric of the everyday... in the blink of an eye, the joy of new discovery; the clarity it brings.

This was the year I was to find knee high boots that fit my calfs :) , the same year that the small things would no longer matter.

My mind uncluttered my soul richer, excited to leap into 2013 believing that all is possible, that a plan is in place and nothing is left to do but to continue to live everyday with only one job... to live with Grace in our hearts.

Thank you for walking with me, for sharing moments , for your patience, your kind hearts and the laughter, for being what holds my fabric together " You were made for ME"

the 20 minute New Years Eve top hat

2012-12-31T18:58:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year! I made Louise a top hat for tonight! I found this video very helpful , after I gathered my bits it was only 20 minutes to put it together :) I'm so proud of it , I wanted to share it with you ; also wanted to say thank you for an amazing 2012, we had so much fun with all of you!

Thank you for the opportunity and for your trust, but most of all for allowing me to do what I love, it is almost not fair to call it work! Happy 2013!

xo
viv and louise~

humpback whales!

2012-12-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

The ladies and I started a new tradition! Every year for the holidays we are having a "Favorite things Party" and although we did not received extravagant gifts like Oprah's personalized humpback whales :), I was floored by the thought and care that went into some of the gifts.

My head is spinning with ideas for next year, very much like the SNL parody link above.

HOW TO: get a group of your favorite ladies, set a budget for gifts (ours was $15) and get together for dinner! We chose a restaurant, but we decided next year will be at someones home, we need more time and space and possibly even pajamas. If you have ten ladies, every lady brings nine gifts to share with the others.

and let the party begin!!!

Some of MY favorite things were not even the gift themselves , more like stocking stuffers the ladies included! Like a copy of a hand written special recipe passed down from someones grandmother, special seashells hand picked in someones east cost hometown ... and tomatoes that had been picked green and nurtured in someones basement since summer's end. I live for thought like that!!! I also loved the care that went into wrapping ; all around a fantastic way to kick off the season!

We went home with a crackling wood wick candle, movies, journals, smartwool socks, blueberry pies, Hana fuji apple sake, salted caramel chai, English biscuits, magazines, movies, chenille socks, eye lashes, chocolate, travel jars and art prints.

You should try it with us next year! it was a blast and you'll find out that some of your favorite things are really the ladies themselves!

our wish for you...

2012-12-23T22:42:00.001-06:00

Mollie & Bill

2012-12-22T14:31:00.000-06:00

Mollie and Bill said I do this fall on the perfect September day. Our first fall wedding of 2012! The wedding took place at St Patricks Church , their pup Forrest joined them for pictures at Midlothian Country Club where the reception took place.
Mollie a school teacher was the best at putting details together for her wedding! I love teacher brides, so very organized. :) We had a blast picking heirloom pumpkins to fill with blooms for her centerpieces. Take a look at these lovely images courtesy of ImageIcon.

"We have made a mess of this world."

2012-12-14T19:06:00.000-06:00

My friend posted the title of this blog post today after the Connecticut shooting and I wept ... now I must do my part. We must know our neighbor, we must be involved , things must change, this must turn into a positive, we must do better than this and we must do it together.

pretending to be normal...

2012-12-12T12:39:00.000-06:00

This is how we finished our wedding season! A gorgeous wedding at Loft on Lake and this was the centerpiece of the room, a ten foot tall tree made out of weeping burlap. Created by the oh so very talented Heather, you can read more about it here. Her blog is amazingly hilarious, you must follow!

We worked so hard this day, weddings on opposite sides of the state, time restrictions and loads of work, but if you are a florist you know that's every weekend. In the midst of it all, during the madness we try to maintain a sense of normalcy, by breaking bread together at the end of the day, and in this instance enjoy the holiday season.

This picture was taken by Mysi with her new Iphone and on instagram...she's addicted. Sorry for all the blurry/grainy pictures the day went by so fast.. it felt appropriate. More to come on this wedding soon!

Some delicious Lebanese food hit the spot after a looooooong day. Our waiter was a freak!

And a visit to the Kris Kindle Market !

The girls hoping to cash in/score with Santa :)

picture below was part of the live nativity scene !

ashley and ryan

2012-12-09T16:57:00.001-06:00

My friend Ashley got married this summer.

Ashley is many things, but one of my favorites things about her is her enthusiasm. She is fun, smart, vibrant, positive and her expressions theatrical. So how befitting it was that her wedding took place at the Rialto Square Theatre.

Facial expressions galore, four dress changes, choreographed dance mob and color bursting out of the seams, this wedding was full of surprises and joy!

This was one of my favorite weddings ever to work on, not only because my friend was to be celebrated but because Ashley said..."Do as you wish Viv, I want it to be fun"... that my friends is like drugs to an addict... and so we did, have fun; the time of our lives!

Picking up your place cards at the ticket booth set the stage for an evening of entertainment, but if you know Ashley, a regular Tuesday would be an entertaining night :)

Photograpy: Fender & Donisch Hair and Make up: Salon 312 Catering: Ali Tucker Artistic Entertaining Venue: Rialto Square Theatre Flowers: Petal Play Design