Featured On The Well Studio

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She Shines:: Jen Liljegren with LilyPad Weddings

We welcome the lovely and talented Jen to She Inspires today for our next edition of She Shines. Jen is the owner and creative behind LilyPad Weddings a graphic design studio, that specializes in wedding stationery. Jen is a perfectionists who takes paper, art and love seriously. After meeting with this gal a few weeks ago and seeing her work, I knew we had to share! I completely love her style, as well as her passion and love for her work. She definitely shines out loud!  Be sure to go check Jen out and follow her HERE & HERE.

 

Tell us a little bit about LilyPad Weddings? How did you get started?
LilyPad Weddings is a boutique graphic design studio founded with a passion for paper, design, and all things wedding – especially invitations! We expanded the weddings side of our graphic design services in 2010 after working closely with my sister on her custom wedding suite.  

What inspires you and your work on a daily?
I am deeply inspired by nature but I can often find inspiration just about anywhere - A typeface on a label at the grocery store, a pattern or texture on the walls in a hotel, or a color palette on artwork my kids bring home from school. There are beautiful things to see everywhere!

What was your push and motivation when starting your business?

I was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 5 years. I was happy to be working in the design industry, but I often felt that corporate design left little room for full creative freedom. When I became pregnant with my oldest child I decided that starting my own business would allow me the flexibility to stay home with my baby while also providing the creative freedom that I craved. It seemed to be a win-win solution for me and my family!

What's your design style?
I like to think of my design style as a modern twist on classic design.  

What words of inspiration do you have for other aspiring business women?
It can be a long tough road, but there is nothing more rewarding than creating your own success.

 What's your favorite quote or words of inspiration?
I have two and love them both equally:

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses" - Abraham Lincoln

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein

 

What are you doing when you aren't busy with graphic design?

I am power yoga fanatic, Real Housewives of (whatever city, I LOVE them all)junky, and avid reader. But most of all, I love spending time with my husband, Alan, son, William(7) and daughter, Emily (5).

 

What three things do you have to have in your bag/purse on a daily?

Trident Layers Gum, Lip Gloss, and Sunglasses are always a must have.

 

Thanks for stopping by sweet Jen, we look forward to working with you!!

 

 

All images C Thompson Photography

She Shines::Lori Schneider with The Cupcake Bar

This next She Shines feature is from a beautiful girl that I consider a sweet friend, she is always smiling and Oh so vibrant,  and her love and passion for her business Shines through no matter what!  We welcome the lovely Lori Schneider, owner and creator of The Cupcake Bar. We had so much fun with this photo shoot and couldn't wait to share this feature with you all!

 

Be sure to visit The Cupcake Bar HERE and HERE and don't forget to book them for your next party, they can set up anywhere!

 

 

Tell us a little bit about The Cupcake Bar?

How did you come up with this idea? The Cupcake Bar was born from my love of cupcakes partnered with my catering background. After a trip to NYC, where I did a fun cupcake tour, I came back and tried out this concept. It was an instant hit and The Cupcake Bar was born!

What inspires you on a daily?
Honestly, it depends on the day! There are so many people and places you can draw inspiration from whether it be a meal, photo, quote, a happy news story, a friend or God. I have to stay I get inspiration from all of it, at different times. I think the key is being open to letting that inspiration in, at any point in your day.

 

What was your push and motivation when starting your business?

I really had so much fun working on this idea that I wanted to make it work! It was my dream job and to have my own dream job is motivating enough!

What's your design style?
I wish I could say that I have just one "style", but when we are designing a Cupcake Bar for an event we have to look at that event and see what makes the most design-sense and see what our clients' style is so that we may reflect that back into our set up! For my personal use, I really tend to like more of the modern, fresh look. I lived in Copenhagen for a while and, I really loved their clean, modern style.

 

What words of inspiration do you have for other aspiring business women?

Don't be afraid to seek out other business owners or, people in your profession and ask them questions about how they did it. It can be very overwhelming, but getting a fresh (and, honest) prospective can be so helpful. Also, get involved in industry-related organizations. They are great for meeting people and networking, but also so great for learning! Always, always keep learning!

What's your favorite quote or words of inspiration?
My favorite words, from my Dad, that I think back to when I am struggling are, "If it were easy, everyone would be doing it". It is a great reminder to me, that sometimes you have to fight through those hard times but it is always worth it in the end.

 

 What are you doing when you aren't busy with cupcakes?

I absolutely love spending time with my family. We have a 2 1/2 year old son and I just enjoy watching him learn the little things in life. He's so much fun! My husband and I love trying out new restaurants and traveling as much as possible!

What three things do you have to have in your bag/purse on a daily?
My iPhone, Playdoh and about 5 lip glosses. I am a self-admitted lip gloss hoarder.

 

Thanks Lori for joining us here on She Inspires and sharing your love & passion! Continue to SHINE OUT LOUD!!

 

 

 

All images by CThompson Photography

 

She Shines:: Amy Vanderford with Divine Patina

 

I am so excited to introduce to you the very first She Shines feature on She Inspires. Once or twice a month we will be highlighting one fabulous woman under our new She Shines series. The first gal is so sweet and genuine and completely passionate about what she does. Her antique shop in Georgetown TX, Divine Patina is definitely one to visit. Amy Vanderford shares details of her journey and all the joy that it brings..

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by what I feel more than what I see.  I listen to the furniture and feel which color matches it.  I am also inspired by everything that I love.  I think if it makes me happy there is a good chance it will make others happy as well. 

What was your push and motivation when starting your business?

My family has always had an appreciation for antiques.  My grandmother and great grandmother were antique doll dealers.  I always thought it would be fun to have a store.  When my sister and I were little setting up a store with all Mom's pretty decorations was our favorite game!  I opened my first store, with a partner, 11 years ago in Georgetown.  We also had a store in Austin and Florence.  Then we closed them and I tried to get a "real Job" for a while.  I always knew this is what I wanted to do.  I was laid off in October of 2011 and couldn't find another job.  So I knew it was now or never. And God wasn't giving me any options!  So on my faith and my tax return I opened Divine Patina!  And of course a ton of help and support from friends and family.  And did I mention FAITH!! 

What's your design style?

I like a lot of color!  The great mint color is a color I bought to paint polka dots in my daughters room, the coral was a color I used in my bedroom.  My shop is a reflection of me, I'm not sure what the style is. Funky and colorful with a little hippie chick mix.  Oh and some of Grandma's antiques as well! 

What's one piece of information about your shop that you would like to share?

People ask me how I keep from taking everything in the store home.  Almost everything in my house has sentimental value.  Things that I got as gifts, or heirlooms from my family.  The things in the store are things that I have picked out to make someone else love their "things" as much as I love mine.  I believe you should look around your home and it should make you happy!  This is my way of spreading joy!                                                                                                                                     
What words of inspiration do you have for other aspiring business women? 

The most important advice I can give is have faith!  Faith that God will provide, faith in yourself that you can do it!  Faith that when you are doing what your soul purpose is the entire universe conspires to help you get there!  But you have to remember that faith isn't getting what you want when you want it.  It is getting what you need WHEN you need it...not one little second before most of the time!  It's a good thing I love what I do so much or I would be a nervous wreck worrying all of the time! 

What's one of your favorite quotes or words of inspiration? 

I suppose my mantra......

Om mani padme hum. It's Buddhist.  It translates into:

generosity, ethics, patience, diligence, renunciation, wisdom.

Which is basically do the next right thing and don't forget to breathe! Breathing is pretty important. Take a few deep breaths, I say om mani padme hum while I breathe.  It grounds me.  Starting a business is really really hard!  But if it was easy everyone would do it!!  

Three things in your BAG?
1. pocket knife, always,  I'm from Texas and it comes in handy 2. lip gloss, of course! 3. random screws. I am forever finding random screws in my purse!  All shapes and sizes!  

Thanks so much Amy for stopping by to share your passion with us!!! You can visit Amy on Facebook HERE and visit her website HERE for details and shop location! It's a must visit!! 

 All photos: C Thompson Photography



Featured On Love & Lavender

Happy Monday! It was so nice to wake up to a Valentine's feature this morning over at Love & Lavender. Go take a look HERE... I will be sharing a few more details from this shoot on Thursday.