Monday! It's a Party!

Everyone's back to school! What better way to celebrate the upcoming academic year with an adorably decorated Back to School party. Here is some amazing DIY décor for your Back to School party. And if you are unaware, there is this beautiful new trend of schoolhouse themed weddings which is absolutely adorable and elegant when paired with a vintage vibe. I highly suggest Google imaging "schoolhouse wedding" for some great inspiration.

From top to bottom:

1. Create adorable vignettes like this with vintage textbooks, vintage toy globes, and an upcycled coffee can decorated with chalkboard paint and some cute chalk art love. Throw some flowers in that can and you have awesome centerpieces.

2. Buy vintage pencil sharpeners to decorate tables. This one can be found on Etsy.

3. Find sentence strips, like these simple ones at Lakeshore Learning, and use them for signs or favor tag as seen here. If you want a pretty image on them, try painting or drawing it on yourself. I also love the idea of making these into paper chain for a theme-appropriate garland.

4. This is probably my favorite idea. The link is broken from this Pinterest picture but just get an old drinking glass and glue fresh pencils around it to create this absolutely adorable vase. Tie it up with some ribbon. I think the exact one seen in this picture can be found here on Etsy.

5. Follow this link that includes another link on how to make this super cute ruler table runner. Such a cool conversation piece and surprisingly elegant.

Bohemian Fiesta Wedding

About a month ago I was honored to be able to put the three branches of my business together to design a wedding for this very special couple. Coincidentally, they wanted a Bohemian Fiesta themed wedding so they were able to buy the Bohemian Fiesta Collection for 15 tables. However, they wanted a few custom things as well, which I of course was more than thrilled to create for them. Leading up to the day I made over 30 little tissue paper flowers for the tables as well as a few different items from the Bohemian Fiesta accessories. And last, I brought up a dozen or so or our rental items (lanterns, instax photo booth and props, chalkboards) to complete the design. The result...TOTALMENTE GUAY!!! That's "totally awesome" in Spanish.

The event was held at the bride's parents house outside of Eugene, Oregon. It threatened rain all day but never actually showed it's ugly face. I had an awesome team of family and friends with the ultimate goal of making this event truly special and did everything they could to provide me what I needed. The maid-of-honor's father was truly my fairy godmother. And the bride was so chill that no one worried much, even when a wasp's nest was found in the ground right next to the head table only an hour or so beforehand. We or course got it taken care of but without much sweat.

The bride was the epitome of a beautiful Mexican señorita with her gorgeous Grace Loves Lace gown, ruby red lips, jet black hair adorned with beautiful flowers and all. A few highlights that I can take no credit for are the piñata filled with mini tequila bottles (such a fun part of the party) and the variety of agua fresca available. And the photo booth with Spanish cartoon bubbles were a hit as you can see.

These fantastic pictures are taken by the bride's sister, Cheyenne, and friend, Bianca. More photos from the wedding photographer should be on the way.

Monday! It's a Party!

So last week I was inspired to do a surrealist party theme based on Dalí's house. I was transported back to my time at his home in Cadaqués while staying in the beautiful and hipsterlicious adobe in Portland, Oregon. I had mentioned that the adobe was like Dalí meets the Southwest which immediate brought to mind Georgia O'Keeffe. So this week, I bring you décor ideas for a fabulous Southwest Surrealism Party.

From top to bottom:

1. This party has it all. Amazing rugs, that fantastic orange vintage couch, and awesome poufs. If you can't find all that, at least find yourself a nice cow/steer skull for that ultimate Southwest Surrealist look. Here is one on Etsy.

2. Terra cotta pots, turquoise pots, pots painted turquoise...all would look fantastic scattered all around with some succulents or cacti. These DIY ikat pots are so fun.

3. Do this fun DIY and paint an old horseshoe to decorate tables. I personally would paint the horseshoe pink with some cacti, some other fun southwestern pattern, or just some stripes in your fun southwest color palette (like in this watercolor painting).

4. I just adore Southwestern textile rugs. This one is from Etsy. I would hang it as a backdrop, as a runner on a table, or even use it as a rug (what a novel idea!). :)

5. Okay, this fabric is just so funky I had to include it. It is the most "surreal" décor piece on here. Southwestern animal carousel fabric? So awesome.!With the colors I might change the color palette of the party a bit. Go with turquoise and pink. And the fabric could be used as a backdrop as seen here, or put into frames to hang or for tables. Even stencil some table numbers onto it for functional use.

Monday! It's a Party!

The inspiration for today's party came from the little adobe we stayed at in Portland, OR in the Alberta Arts District. It was decorated in this amazing vintage, southwest style but how eclectic it was really reminded me of Dalí's house in Cadaqués, Spain, except more southwestern. And the way I best describe Dalí's house is by calling it the ultimate hipster house. So the décor for an ultimate Dalí/Surrealist party can be found below. Maybe some Monday I'll do "Dalí Goes To New Mexico" and put a Southwestern theme on it in honor of our Portland adobe but for now, this goes out to you Dalí and your fantastic Cadaqués home.

Pictures taken by me on my trip to Cadaqués Spain in July 2012

The Adobe we stayed at in Portland, OR - July 2015

I didn't necessarily want to go with the most bizarre of the Dalí décor. As always I wanted it to look elegant, and to be honest, Dalí's house has a very elegant quality to it. 

From top to bottom:

1. These tipsy candlesticks are the ultimate surrealist table décor you can find really.

2. Buy or make your own sea urchin shell succulent holders for the tables. This one here is found on Etsy. Dalí's house in Cadaqués is right on the Costa Brava and he brings many elements of the sea into his house and paintings.

3. How cool is this surrealist photograph by Joel Robison found here? String up some balloons or get some helium balloons and attach tea cups and tea pots to the bottom as weights.

4. I found this awesome brass swan vase on Etsy. Might be hard to find multiples but this just looks so art nouveau and reminded me of the 3 huge white swans the preside over Dalí's dining room.

5. Eggs can be found all over Dalí's house and in his paintings. The symbol of the egg to Dalí represents the past life, intrauterine and rebirth. These awesome crochet pouches for eggs would look beautiful strung up as a bunting and could certainly add to the bizarre yet wow factor a surrealist party deserves.

Soul & Oak Nature's Palette - #sonaturespalette

I just finished a Instagram Challenge and Giveaway while we were road tripping through the Pacific Northwest and I wanted to explain more of what it was, why I did it, and the results. I created the hashtag #sonaturespalette to stand for Soul & Oak Nature's Palette. The inspiration for finding event décor color palette inspiration in nature came from my own wedding. 

I am from San Luis Obispo, I think I have made that clear. :) And there is this place tucked way back in the Eastern part of that county called the California Valley which very few people know about. To be honest, a lot of people from San Luis Obispo don't even make it out that way very often. The first time I ever did was in my mid-20s. In the spring it flourishes with the most beautiful wildflowers spread out over rolls and rolls of hills. It's gorgeous. Fast forward to a few years later I was in a fabric store and noticed a fabric that was mustard yellow and grey and it brought to mind the colors of spring in the California Valley and I thought, if and when I get married, I want this to be the color palette. And a few years later, it was...

California Valley - yellow flowers, grey accents in the hills
Photo by Michael L. Baird {link to
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Valley,_California#
/media/File:California_Wildflowers_off_
Bitterwater_Rd_23Mar2010.jpg

A fabric like this reminded me of the color palette found in the California Valley
Fabric is by Color Theory by V & Co.
{link to https://www.etsy.com/listing/219196799/
mustard-yellow-and-gray-floral-fabric?ref=market}

The result in our tablescapes
Photo by Sarah Kathleen {link to sarahkathleen.com}

The result in the bridal party's dress
Photo by Sarah Kahleen {link to sarahkathleen.com}

So I thought it would be fun, while traveling through some of the most beautiful nature the USA has to offer in the Pacific Northwest, to find other fun event décor color palette inspiration. Although nature is the best source, I was open to finding it in architecture or life in general. I downloaded Sherwin-Williams Color Snap app found here to help me with the process of pulling colors from the pictures of nature that I captured. It's a really fun app to play with. This challenge was a way for me to stay connected to my new business and the artistic element of it while traveling and it was a way of trying to build a following on Instagram.

Pike's Place Public Market - Seattle, WA

Totem Pole on beach in Langley - Whidbey Island, WA

The end result: I loved the challenge and the new palettes I came up with daily that I may have not ever thought of before. As I would look at them, the decorations and style and theme of the party would develop and I would get super excited about opportunities to actually incorporate these palettes into an event. As far as building an Instagram following, well, I got numerous likes on the photos but maybe only a handful of people started following me from it and only one person actually signed up for the giveaway, and it was a friend (an amazing friend!). :) So, I guess my Instagram Giveaway was not the most successful. I don't know if I just don't have a big enough following yet, if the directions weren't clear enough, if the prize wasn't awesome enough. Needless to say I still need to tweak it a bit in the future when I do one again but I think I may wait awhile.

I wanted to post all the pictures here so you can see them in all their collective glory. The first four are my favorites.

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall - Portland, OR

Motel Hi-Lo - Weed, CA

Beach in Langley - Whidbey Island, WA

Fire sky - Ashland, OR

Oregon's weed - Ashland, OR

Lake day - Shaver Lake, CA

Duck at Mirror Pond - Bend, OR

Rose Garden - Portland, OR

Pristine blue waters - Crater Lake, OR

A friend's farm - Cottage Grove, OR

Beautiful sunset - Oakland, CA

At Belknap Hot Springs - McKenzie River, OR

Garden at Belknap Hot Springs - McKenzie River, OR

Monday! It's a Party!

We are back in the swing of things after vacation and I got so much party décor inspiration on my trip. By doing my #sonaturespalette Instagram challenge and giveaway (look for more info about this on the blog this week), it also helped me to really pay attention to all the inspiration around us in all things...nature, architecture, and totem poles. Yes...totem poles. This beautiful totem pole I found in Whidbey Island, WA inspired me with the most beautiful color palette as well as the idea to create the sweetest Native American inspired party. As I keep my ideas to 5 for this post, I only have 5 here but GOSH I really could go to town decorating a party like this. Someday I really hope to bring this party to life. I'm thinking a kid's birthday or a baby shower. What do you think?

From top to bottom:

1. The cake, the native american patterned paper, the everything! With a sweets table like this, you may not need much else. But what I love most in this picture is that super simple arrow banner that would be so easy to make in any color palette you would want. Some construction paper and some string and done!

2. Of course there would need to be a totem pole. This fun DIY totem pole with paint, cans, and paper would be a fun project for the whole family.

3. Just as quintessentially Native American as totem poles are dreamcatchers. This one can be found on Etsy but there are loads of DIY tutorials all over the internet.

4. As I mentioned above, this theme is just so fun because there are so many beautiful elements of Native American culture, it would be hard not to want to add them all. Like this fun DIY teepee. There are also many other DIY teepees you can find but I loved this one with scraps of fun fabric. I would love to incorporate some tribal prints such as this one.

5. This sweet headdress by Wovenplay (no longer available but this one is) would be perfect for the guest of honor. You can find many huge headdresses for sale but I liked this small, dainty one. Would be super easy to make with a headband, buttons or beads, and some feathers.

Elle et Lui - July Update

Crazy, fun month! Writing this a bit late since we've been traveling.

Jen & Alexis started out the month heading up to Jen's cabin for the weekend.

Much fun in the sun in the mountains and at the lake with Jen's family.

​

Jen made her first sale.

She made and sent this Mexican Serape Pillow to Sweden. 

​

Alexis turned 30! Woo hoo!

His perfect birthday weekend was spent at the American River, rafting, camping, and spending quality time with good friends. Oh and when camping with le French, s'mores must be made with macarons. Couldn't take pics because it was too dark and I tried to find some online pics to show you but they are all just s'more flavored macarons and not actually 2 macarons with a fresh from the fire toasted marshmallow and a piece of Hershey's chocolate between. But I do highly suggest that you all try this trés yummy variation. 

​

​Jen decorated a wedding in Eugene, Oregon and it looked absolutely beautiful.

Alexis helped with set-up. Hopefully better pictures will be available soon.

​

​They both had a blast road tripping through Oregon and Washington.

Some highlights were river rafting on the McKenzie River with Jen's parents, paddelboarding on the Deschutes River in Bend, OR, and hiking Mt. Hood. 

For more info and pictures on this trip, check out this blog post.

And last, but definitely not least, Alexis had his green card interview. It was actually in August but I couldn't wait to announce it. The lady said we are good to go.

The card should arrive in a few weeks. 

Hope everyone is enjoying these amazing summer days.

Jen in July

In July I could really sum it all up with the progressive verb TRAVELING! Traveling here, traveling there. It was kind of wonderful and exhausting all at once. Here's to traveling and all my other doings this month.

EATING: Gazpacho

LOVING: Rivers and river activities

READING: Amarse con los ojos abiertos

ATTEMPTING: More time for meditation and visualizations (app recommendation here)

LISTENING: Podcasts, podcasts, and more podcasts (favorite crafty/biz podcast here)

PLAYING: With color palettes using this app

WEARING: American Eagle Outfitter's Denim Rolled Boy Midi shorts

Friday Inspirations & Favorites - 8.7.15

I haven't worked much this week as we just arrived home on Tuesday and have been busy doing laundry and getting life back on track. But here are some things that have thrilled me over this week...

- Creative Live, an awesome website with free online classes for creatives...FOR FREE! At least Upcoming Classes are free with the option to buy Past Classes.

- You guys know how I love Dolly Parton, right? Look at this awesome DIY Dolly Parton bag. LOVE!!!!

Photo by Elsie Larson and Laura Gummerman on A Beautiful Mess
{Link to http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/08/diy-dolly-parton-bag.html}

- Speaking of songs and musicians I am a sucker for, look at this awesome shirt on Etsy with Blank Space by Taylor Swift lyrics. I don't typically wear shirts that say anything but I might wear this one just for the conversations this one would obviously create.

- The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin that I picked up Powell's Books in Portland (another favorite - OMG I have never seen a bookstore so well stocked). Anyway, I picked it up last week and have almost finished it. So much good advice! I love good advice!

- This awesome DIY Canvas Quote Art that looks so fun and simple. This could be a fun way to create signs for an event too. Signs are always necessary for directions and instructions. New ways to make them artistic, unique, and fun are always appreciated.

Photo by Elise Blaha Cripe on Enjoy It
{link to http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2015/07/simple-quote-canvas-art-a-free-downloadable-print.html}

Revelations on a Road Trip though the Pacific Northwest

We just arrived home a few days ago from a beautiful, fun, exhausting 12 day road trip from our home in Oakland, CA up through Oregon and Seattle. We hit a lot of stunning sites, had fun visiting with friends and family, and maybe didn't relax so much but just enjoyed nature as much as possible between the long drives from spot to spot. We camped most of the time, only staying in an Airbnb in the cities of Portland and Seattle. It was a nice little mix of nature and city to be honest. But to more appropriately give you a sense of our trip, with a little humor thrown in, here are some revelations I had during this trip:

Revelation #1: I may be the only person anyone will ever meet who has gotten heat stroke in Seattle & Portland. It seems as if North America flipped upside down with the 100 degree temps we got in the Pacific Northwest on this trip. It was downright hot down summer in the city! And the country too!

Trying to cool down in Portland with a blended ice tea

Revelation #2: The urge to take a million photos of spectacular snow-capped volcanic peaks popping up as the backdrop all along the Cascades never goes away. Especially when it is the background of a sweltering 97-degree city that you are visiting...definitely makes that snow all that much more awe-inspiring.

Mt Rainier over Seattle

Revelation #3: Yelling "Hay!" a million times at trucks carrying hay never gets old. Unfortunately not quite the same excitement yelling "Wood!" at all the logging trucks.

Revelation #4: When someone tells you how many food trucks are in Portland, times by 100 what is in your imagination and you will start to have an accurate scope of their plenitude.

Le husband ordering at this Italian food truck off Mississippi Ave.
Food was amaze-balls!

Revelation #5: Goat cheese marionberry habañero ice cream is not as repulsive as it sounds, but probably only because it was made by Salt & Straw in Portland. Okay, despite all my complaining I guess it was worth the half hour line for their amazing ice cream.

Revelation #6: Washingtonians are a little over-zealous about their mediocre beaches. On an island 50 miles long (one of the biggest in the continental US) we could only find about a 20 foot stretch of beach deemed public. Greedy much?

Okay, it is pretty but only to be enjoyed by Whidbey Island residents

Revelation #7: Oregon may just be the most amazingly beautiful state in this country.

Hiking up to Mt. Hood

Revelation #8: Americans are really nice. I know this already, of course, but when traveling in an unknown spot it becomes even more apparent when people are just so eager to help you out.

Revelation #9: Portland is so cool, they have a laundromat that features an arcade, restaurant, and cafe. It's a "Laundry Lounge". I just can't...

Revelation #10 Some of the most amazing moments on trips like this are the simplest and unplanned. Like stopping at a surprisingly beautiful rest area and playing frisbee with my man.

Revelation #12: There is something that strikes me on a very deep emotional level when I see a church walking in the local Gay Pride Parade in a tiny island city no bigger than 1000 people on Whidbey Island, WA. I was seriously verklempt.

Gay Pride Parade in Langley, WA

Revelation #12: Any McMenamin's property should be a #1 destination for any Northwest trip. We personally recommend the one in Bend, OR.

Pool at McMenamin's in Bend, OR
 (Catholic School House turned movie theater, microbrewery, restaurant, and hotel)

Revelation #13: Chipmunks will eat out of your hand but chipmunks do not like to be pet.

Cascade Lake, OR

Revelation #14: A very important one. Le husband and I have realized that we much more prefer hanging out camping in nature at some obscure campground than getting caught in tourist trap attractions in a city.

Our trusty little tent

Revelation #15: Oregon's weed, AKA the blackberry bush, is awesome! Love getting a free berry snack everywhere I go and ending up with black fingers. YUMMY!

Here is some other pictures of things we enjoyed:

Amazing gluten-free biscuits with honey and butter from Honest Biscuits at
Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA

Gnocchi and salad from the Italian food truck pictured above.
I can't even begin to describe how amazing this was.

I was so inspired by the décor in the Airbnb adobe where we stayed in Portland.
Serape curtains? Yes please!

I found my French Unicorn in Salem, OR

Nothing like visiting with old friends and their 8 day old baby Evalyn

A rare moment to put up our feet and relax

My new friend, the Fremont Troll...he's not as scary as he looks

Le husband cooling his jets in Seattle