NEWS!! GOODY BAGS!! LOVE!!

Hi everyone!

Long time no write.  I guess it might have something to do with the fact that I opened a storefront with my mom.....and that's taken a bit of time and concentration over the last few months.  And it's been really awesome.

Just wanted to let my loyal internet customers know that I haven't forgotten about you.  There are some fun changes coming to DARLYBIRD.com and I thought you should be the first to know:

~I will be tightening down my online collection....this may sound bad, but let me assure you: it will improve the quality and timeliness of what you see.  Darlybird will still carry tons of wonderful items, but they will move through quicker and have more frequent updates.  And you won't have to wade through as many items to find the gems you're looking for.  Sounds good, eh?

~My shipping policy will be changing to free shipping with $50 purchase!  Wahoo!  I wish I could offer free shipping with every order, but since I'm such a small operation, and I try to keep things as affordable as possible, that would be a crushing blow.  (Darlybird.com is not amazon.com....)

~I will be releasing a whole new collection of Darlybird jewelry....there will be some standby faves still available, but there will be an edited collection with lots of new (and vintage) goodies.

And perhaps the best news:

GOODY BAGS WILL BE ON SALE by the end of the week...they aren't available on the site right now, but my goal is to have them up by Friday!

I will be waiting to publish new products and implement new shipping policies until after the goody bag fever is over. 

Here's to more Darlybird, to you, to me, to all of us on this big beautiful planet.

--R

Harmony

Exciting news: my mom, sisters, and I are opening a storefront right here in Provo, UT.  My mom has long had a passion for home arts, and is an avid knitter and sewer.  She'll have fabrics and yarns.....we've picked out many and have a great selection going.  The store, as a collective, will be called HARMONY.  (My maiden name is Harmon, so it's got more than just the hippy vibe as its meaning....)

A whole room (plus more) will be devoted to Darlybird! I've had a dream to open a storefront for many many years now; in fact, Darlybird the website was intended to be a storefront at first. I love the idea of selling one-of-a-kind and vintage pieces that fit into the Darlybird aesthetic, but that wouldn't be feasible on a website.  It's kind of a hodgepodge since it'll be in with fabric and yarns (and treats!) and classes, but we know it's going to be remarkable....So here goes!

The story of how we found and ended up in this home for our store is amazing in and of itself....but, suffice it to say that we're so happy that we've landed here.  The home was built in 1878 by a woman named Hannah Maria Libby Smith.  She was a polygamous wife of George A. Smith.  After his death, she took her share of the money and built this home.  It has original wood flooring (from 1878!), many of the window panes are original---with the warbled hand-blown glass look, and it's on the Utah Historical Register. 

Estimated opening date will be end of Aug/beginning of September.  And holy cow, have we got a lot of work to do!  But do it, we will!

There will be lots of Grand Opening events, so check back for more info.

Can't wait!

xo,

Rachel

 Photo credit: Wikipedia article on "Hannah Maria Libby Smith House."  There are some inaccuracies in the article, but it's a good start.

*I have promised myself that I'd update my blog regularly for the past 2 years. Oops. Time flies when you're busy (and having fun).  Here goes a fresh resolution.

Another Fast and Easy Giveaway

I just uploaded LOADS of new products and thought it would be fun to play a little giveaway game.

Here goes:  First 20 people to pin (on Pinterest) 10 of their favorite Darlybird items will get a pair of earrings shipped to them for free.  They don't have to be from the New Items category, but I'm sure you'll find some cute ones there for starters.  If you've pinned Darlybird items in the past, those don't count toward your 10.  Come back here and comment, and tell me three of the items you pinned.  Then email me at rachel@darlybird.com with your shipping address.  You'll get a little package in the mail in a week or two.

Happy Pinning! (and happy weekend....I've been needing one for a week!)

xo--

Rachel

Plates 2011

I neglected to show you this year's plates of my wee little gals. I got the vintage Pyrex plates from a thrift store for $1 each. Yay!  I loved that they matched for some reason, even though I loved last year's mismatched plates. This year, I did a bit of a formula. Each plate has the initial of the daughter, a butterfly, an xo sticker, the age of the daughter, a quote pertaining to their personality, a heart, a bird, and some flowers. I added other embellishments, too.  I had to bust these out in one morning (right before Christmas!) and the formula helped me get it done quickly.  So now I have two sets hanging in my dining room.  Next year, three.  Then I'll have to start moving them around to other spots.....but then again, I can never get enough of these three faces (especially when they're smiling and happy and dreamy and cute).  Thanks be to Lindy Lou for the photographs!

Did I Ever Tell You?

Just about 2 years ago, I got a strange phone call from a woman at a hoity-toity event planning company in NYC....she was desperately trying to track down some Monarch Butterfly Garlands for a top-secret event, and had seen my butterfly garlands online.  She was so desperate, she was even considering hopping on a plane to China to get them straight from the manufacturer.  Never Fear, Darlybird to the rescue!

In the course of this transaction, it slipped from her mouth that these garlands were actually for an event at the White House.  And I mean THE WHITE HOUSE.  It was top secret, and she wouldn't tell me what they were going to be used for....

Fast forward 2 years, and I was talking to my monarch butterfly supplier, and she said, "did you ever see those pictures of the butterflies at the White House?"  And I said, "No! Where are they?"

You'd think I'd be a little more internet savvy, what with the fact that I own a web business.  A simple google images search yielded photographic evidence that my butterfly garlands were in the same room as the President. And not just the President, but Michelle.  And not just the First Couple, but Beyonce, who performed at the event.  And you may not know this, but I adore me some Beyonce. (I think she is WOMAN personified....)

After a few clicks, I found out the event was the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The monarch butterflies were there to symbolize the mass monarch migration in Mexico. Fitting.

I'm just thrilled that my MONARCH BUTTERFLY GARLANDS were in the same room as the Pres, Michelle, and Beyonce. Kind of a dream come true.

And in case you were wondering what they ate?

 Jicama with Oranges, Grapefruit, and Pineapple
Citrus Vinaigrette
Ulises Valdez Chardonnay 2007 "Russian River"

Herb Green Ceviche of Hawaiian Opah
Sesame-Cilantro Cracker

Oregon Wagyu Beef in Oaxacan Black Mole
Black Bean Tamalon and Grilled Green Beans
Herrera Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 "Selección Rebecca"

Chocolate-Cajeta Tart
Toasted Homemade Marshmallows
Graham Cracker Crumble and Goat Cheese Ice Cream
Mumm Napa "Carlos Santana Brut" N/V

I'm still kind of bummed they didn't invite me.

Thrifty Thursday....the chair.

before:

 

after:

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love a good thrift store.  Since we moved from Sacramento, I have been a wee bit disappointed with the selection/prices here in good ole thrifty Utah.  Too much competition, I suppose.  Anyway, I had 20 minutes to burn the other day before picking my Phoebe up from preschool, so I pulled into the Deseret Industries, and told myself it had to be a blitzkrieg of a visit. And lo and behold! I found three really great pieces of furniture all in a matter of 5 minutes.  I'm sure I was a sight to be seen with 2 chairs and a huge mirror, trying to maneuver my way to the register and then out to the car.  Luckily, this one had wheels.

I'll take you through each of my purchases (as soon as I refurbish them to my liking)....The first finished project is The TUFTED ROLLY CHAIR 

PROS: I love the tufting and nailheads on this chair. A-mazing. I also like the industrial base and the swivel/rolling action on bottom. It was $20. I asked for a markdown, and they gave it to me for $15. Not bad.

CONS: It's vinyl. And brown. I have so much wood energy going on in my house, and especially in the computer nook where I put this chair.  It looked crazy and monotone and redundant with the wood built-ins, the exposed wood beams, and the wood floor.  Too much wood! (Didn't think I'd ever really say that....) 

MAKIN' IT MY OWN:

I searched online for products that could paint on vinyl upholstery.  I first wanted to avoid spray paint, because I wanted to be able to paint around the nail heads, and taping off nail heads to make something spray-paint-able was going to be next to impossible. And then I realized that I was looney toons because anything that I was going to brush on would look incredibly brushed on. So, spray paint it was!  

I decided that I wanted to go with a metallic paint, mainly because I wanted those dang nail heads to still look like nail heads. If they were spray painted blue, it just wouldn't be as cool.  I went with Rustoleum's Universal Spray Paint in Satin Nickel because it would balance out all of the wood, and also bring a little brightness into the room.  I wanted a cool color to tone down all the brownish yellow. This particular line from Rustoleum is considered their "ANY SURFACE" spray paint, with a built-in primer.

PROCEDURE: 

1. Scrub the chair down with a rag and a little soapy water. Let dry. 

2. Take the chair outside in high 30-degree weather (I know, I know, not supposed paint under 50 degrees! I have no patience....)

3. Spray in steady strokes, for a light and even coat.

4. Recoat after it dries. And then again, if needed. (I went through 2 whole cans of paint, and might even give it another light coat in a few weeks.)

5. Spray with a clear coat/sealant. 

I'm actually quite thrilled with the result. Who knows how long I'll have it around, but it's already made the room look more balanced, and has also provided a comfy spot for computer use. YAY! 

What do you think? My husband told me (under his breath) that he liked it better in brown. Oh well! No going back now...

Current Lip Obsessions

I need to share my new find with you: Revlon's Lip Butter in Candy Apple.  It's a perfect shade of red--more coraly undertones than pink or blue. It's glides on, keeps your lips hydrated, and I'm pretty much pleased as punch with it.  I might have to go buy a few more shades, but actually I think I found the IT color on my first try.

I also have the famous NARS lipstick in Heatwave, but it's way more matte, and definitely more orange, and also a lot harder to apply with it looking decent. But I still love it. I hear that JCREW used this color exclusively on all their models in the Spring catalog. Apparently it looks good on everyone, and you can really control whether it's super strong, or just a tint. I haven't mastered that part of it yet.

  

And here's a cuckoo pic of me with the Candy Apple Lip Butter, and my current earring fave from the Darlybird lineup: The Gold-Plated Mykonos Earrings.  They're really that cute. 

Adios, friends! Have a happy day!