girl boss spotlight: buried diamond

i first found martha porters work at a cute little store in la called pygmy hippo. i love that her jewelry is wearable art, it's so full of color and fun. i always look forward to the charms she does every season... but you have to jump fast since they always go quick. check out her etsy shop here. 

-What lead u to your path to jewelry?

I've made jewelry since I was a kid, but mostly as a hobby. I still have some of my childhood creations! I've always liked to draw, paint, sew, and embellish. I am very interested in wearable art and adornment. I worked as a textile designer in the fashion industry for about 8 years (I just recently left my 9-5 job at Kate Spade Saturday), and for the past 4 or so years, I have been more serious about making jewelry on the side. I started to realize how important it is to me to make things with my hands. Jewelry is sculpture, fashion, and magic. When making jewelry, you transform raw materials into something beautiful.

-The most rewarding part of running your own business. 

Hearing positive feedback from customers! Knowing that someone else loves something that you have made erases every funny look or negative comment I've received. As you know, there is so much hard work behind running your own business, and not all of it is fun...ummm recordkeeping?....I love that I can design what I want to wear, and there are others who want to wear it, too. 

-Favorite music to listen to while working 

When I'm doing production runs of jewelry, I often watch TV/movies (I just finished Buffy the Vampire Slayer while working on Halloween styles & I'm sad it's over!), when I'm packing orders, I listen to podcasts. I listen to music when I'm painting or designing new styles....either Hot 97 or girly stuff like Lana del Rey & Grimes.

-Who's your female role model 

I really look up to Andrea Grossman of Mrs. Grossman's stickers and Lisa Frank. They are both women who designed their own product and created successful businesses. And Mrs. Grossman owns her own production facility - a sticker factory!!! They both proove that there is a market for fun, playful products. Think of how many people have a strong emotional connection to their designs. That's really powerful.

-any tips or advise you'd give to someone starting their own business?  

Plan in advance, but know that you can't plan for everything! Trust yourself and your ideas, you can make it happen. 

-any new projects in the works? 

Always! I'm working on some new charms and laser cut designs, and I have some Christmas ornaments in the works.

girl boss spotlight: the october union

i first found the october union several years ago on a blog i can't remember now. thanks to instagram we became friends and did a small event together. kimie is one of the most amazing humans i have met and happy to call her a friend now. we recently did a fun collaboration together, and i hope to do more in the future. i truly believe in her products, she puts so much love and thought into all that she makes.  

q. What lead u to your path?

a. My urge to rebel against the wrongdoings of corporate, commercial mainstream :) I discovered harmful chemicals are the standard ingredients in commercial skincare, haircare, bath and bodycare products, perfumes, dental hygiene, sunscreens, laundry products, cleaning products, etc. The fact that this is legal really upsets me, so I sought out to contribute to the healthy side of things. It is my moral and environmental duty as a human.

q. The most rewarding part of running your own business. 

a. It is most rewarding for me when my customers love using these things I create for them. When they can feel better or be better and healthier because they use my products. Helping someone discover that a natural ingredient can work better than a synthetic or harmful ingredient is so rewarding. Knowing that we are contributing to healing ourselves and the Earth is the biggest reward

q. Favorite band to listen to while working 

a. While working I like to listen to Little Dragon, Connie Francis, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Otis Redding. It's usually random and changes a lot depending on my mood but anything soulful and straightforward. I don't really listen to much new or radio music because most of it is crap.

q. Who's your female role model 

a. I admire a lot of different women, specifically positive women spreading love. Because of the internet, there is access to discovering tons of female artists, being creative and making beautiful things. I really admire women that are themselves and not easily influenced by the masses. I find inspiration in people who are happy and spread happiness to other people.

q. where'd your learn the trade?

a. Intuition. Books. Reading. Experiencing. I try to be always learning and grateful to be

q. -any tips or advise you'd give to someone starting their own business?  

a. Never do anything because somebody thinks you should or because it's what people in your position usually do. Do what you believe to be best and stay true to your values. 

Support people doing things similar to what you are doing. Unhealthy competition can be nasty and destroy creativity.

q. -favorite place to find inspiration 

a. Favorite place for inspiration is deep within, when I can clear out unnecessary mind clutter and feel my truth. And of course, the essential oils and herbs - They are my true inspiration!

theoctoberunion.com

concrete mermaid

this collection was inspired by an amazing shop in morro bay called the shell shop. its the cutest little store filled with... yea shells. once i stepped foot in there my brain exploded and i spent so much money one shells. 

yes summer is coming to a end here in the US, but the best part of having my own business is doing what i want!!! plus isn't summer coming for my aussie friends? 

hope you all love the new collection as much as i do! thank you to my amazing friends who helped out on this shoot. 

photography: joey martinez
hair & make up: michelle borbolla
model: katie dallas 

...along with this collection is a great collaboration with an amazing human!!! i love kimie of the october union.  limited collection of 3 hair pins by me and a refreshing sea salt spray that smells of beautiful roses. only 5 available! shop it here 

super model boobies never looked so good

masha diduk in my "super model boobies" crop top. photos by dustin genereux. see more here

madonna inn photo diary

just got back wednesday from shooting my new tee line at the madonna inn. i love it there, it's one of my favorite spots in california. here's a few photos i took while in our room "barrel of fun" and around the hotel.

one of the best lattes i've ever had... and the pink sugar didn't hurt

love their patio furniture, and the view is so pretty

some yummy pink champagne cake to go 

my favorite room. so may different elements in this room from the barrel furniture, to the glitter walls, and cave shower.  

i don't recommend their stake house =( but the valentines day decorations were so big and cute 

i loved how the sun was shinning on my sequin shorts

THE CAKE! =) (sorry bad photo)

sneaky peaky of all the tees 

patio set up for photos. this little troll restarted my newly found obsession with trolls from my childhood. i saw her at a swap meet (before trolls were trendy again).

did you know i have one eye bigger then the other ; )

they had me at glitter walls

the end xoxo

C E L F I E

my mom was giving away her old cowboy hats. nothing i ever wanted but when i saw this brown beauty i couldn't let it leave. she now lives in my room on display. 

tea party

sierra madre is one of my favorite cities in california, i lived there for a little bit when i was young. it's full of cute little shops and restaurants hidden up in the hills. one of my favorite spots is four season tea room. their food is so delicate and perfect for tea, it's not an everyday spot but fun for special occasions. all their teapots and cups are vintage and each table has a different setting. to top is all off they garnish the food with edible it's like walking into a different world. i shot a few photos the last time i went. 

lavender hair dreams

i forgot all about soko!!! but this hair, so good!