Q+A with Joelle Perry

Community and culture are two of my favorite things. Usually my love involves travel and new things, 

but I've grown to love some of my American culture and community recently: Instagram. 

I connected with Joelle Perry after receiving a few 'likes' from her on IG. I instantly felt a connection with her unique style and her down-to-earth nature. Her personality shines through her designs and I'm so excited to be featuring her this month! 

Aloha! My name is Joelle Perry and I am from Hawaii.

I am married to the only man I have ever loved and together we enjoy to experience new people, food and places.  In front of me right at this moment I can see my eel skin purse, black tulle and carton of coconut water.  

Oh! And I like to make pretty dresses…

Q: What started your love for design/what caused you to pursue it as a career:

My love for design has always just kind of been there. This desire to create, beautify and innovate.  I always hoped, or actually knew, that I would have a career as a designer of sorts. I started in jewelry and worked my way towards apparel. I created my wedding dress almost 5 years ago and would often show my friends my creation. I had a girlfriend in particular who would tell me I was going to create her dress on her big day, whenever that would be. Sure enough the time came when she got engaged and she asked me to make her dress. She had such faith in me and in my work that I agreed to make it for her. I guess I haven’t stopped making dresses since. 

The reason I made this into a career is because all I saw were the same old traditional wedding dresses and nothing out there that matched my style or aesthetic. When I searched for the perfect wedding dress for my wedding all I found was disappointment. I then decided to take matters into my own hands and make what I had always envisioned, the dress of my dreams. But what about all the other brides out there who were like me? That’s why I started to do something about it.  I wanted to be another option for brides. 

I love pushing boundaries with out compromising taste. My dress was baby pink and all my guests attended my wedding dressed in white.  I tend to lean towards unconventionality, if you couldn’t already tell. Why do things that way they’ve always been? Just for traditions sake? I believe in making up your own traditions that actually mean something to you. I’ve done gold dresses, pantsuits and lots of unconventional styles that usually aren’t acceptable as a “wedding” gown. This is my passion.  This is why I do what I do. 

Q: How has your family and friends influenced you? 

My family early on encouraged me to pursue design. They had to put up with glitter, glue and puffy paint my entire early life. They saw my love for it and were nothing but supportive. My mother specifically has influenced me the most. She is the most resourceful, brilliant businesswoman along with being the most genius interior decorator/stylist I’ve ever met. She has this unique ability to see something she likes, go home, and recreate it better, cheaper and with her unique style. She has taught me invaluable lessons about design, business and life. 

Other extremely important women who have encouraged me in design are: my aunty Janice and my teachers, Ms. Chung, Ms. Tsark and Mrs. Cristi

Q:You work with brides to create gowns that fit their personalities  What is your process to match their needs so beautifully?

Beyond my love for design, I have a deep love for people. I love sitting down with a bride and getting to know her, and her love story, as well as her likes and life experiences. She becomes my friend.  She then tells me her ideas for the dress. Once I get the feel for her and her desires, I design a dress that is perfect for her. I’d like to think that I have a God-given ability to design a gown for someone that is not only something they love but also something that pushes them to a place they maybe couldn’t have imagined for themselves. I feel like this is the key.  I hear out her dreams and then come up with a design that maybe she hadn’t yet thought of. 

Q:How does living on an island influence your work?

Inspiration! I am completely surrounded with creation and am so inspired by it. From the rich dark colors of the rain forests to the dry, desert feeling of the lava rock fields. Above all else it’s the ocean that draws by largest inspiration. Not just in design but in life as well. I have a deep love and appreciation for the water. It’s where I go to think, pray, play and spend most, no pretty much all, of my free time. 

Q: What is a favorite story or design of yours?

Other then my own dress, my Jenny dress is one of my favorite stories/design. I sourced the fabric for this dress from all over the world. It was composed of, at least, 6 different gold embroidered, ivory laces. I spent time matching all the lace so that though it was from all over, it would all match in color and all have the same beautiful gold embroidery. And all did match perfectly. Well, all but one. There was this final piece of lace that I just had to use but it was an ecru color rather then ivory. So, I had to hand stained it darker with coffee grounds in my bathtub. Lo and behold it came out slightly too dark. I then tried bleaching it back to normal to try again but instead of ecru; it came out the most perfect ivory color. Woohoo! The result of all my effort was astounding. The way all the pieces came together was beyond beautiful. It was art. 

Be sure to take a peek at www.joelleperry.com to see more of her stunning designs--

All photo credit goes to Joelle Perry. 

Nikki Caldwell of Fluid Bloom

I first heard of Fluid Bloom when I was at Bello Mundo Cafe. A kind lady came in and brought the cafe a beautiful arrangement consisting of tillandsia plants, succulents, and coffee beans. All to show appreciation for a fellow small business in San Luis Obispo. My heart immediately was won over by their kindness and I've been so interested in getting to know them ever since. 

Last week I met with Nikki Caldwell, the heart and head behind Fluid Bloom Designs. It's difficult to describe in just a few words how beautiful and wonderful this woman is, so you should meet with her yourself. We were kindred spirits from the very beginning of our conversation, laughing and encouraging one another with our stories and lifestyles. 

When I asked Nikki why she began Fluid Bloom, she described it as an "extension of herself." It's a space not only to have creative freedom, but to enhance the lives of others through floral design. 'People are most often getting flowers to celebrate,' she included, touching on the joys of wedding clients as well and those with a loved one who has recently passed--celebrating their life. 

Nikki spent many years working with over eight different flower shops and designers to develop her craft and process. The shop is also going through its own changes right now. Before meeting with Nikki, I stopped by their Chorro Street location to take a few photos, which are pictured here. When I met with Nikki, I learned of the new changes with Fluid Bloom. This week she sold the storefront to have the freedom of creating at a more individual basis, with much of her orders coming from their website.  

Fluid Bloom creates stunning and unique floral arrangements that reflect you, not just the skills of the shop. Nikki's passion for people was so evident in our time together. Among dreams of cross-country travel, she also loves the community she's been apart of here in San Luis Obispo. Her heart bubbled over telling me about the people she's had the privilege of working with--getting to listen to not only their needs, but their personality as well. Her discernment and insight create these one-of-a-kind arrangements. 

-Don't forget to check out Fluid Bloom at their online shop-

I highly recommend them to those planning their Day! 

Blog Love - Molly of Almost Makes Perfect

There is an overwhelming amount of DIY blogs and "Pinspiration" out there, ready to choke the creative right out of me. However, I recently stumbled upon Almost Makes Perfect and was wonderfully surprised. The very name of the blog insists grace upon us fellow Do-It-Themself-ers and is an instant favorite. 

Molly's cheeky posts cover a variety of projects, from luggage tags to customizable mounted shelving to fancying up breakfast burritos (one of my favorites). She also posts on a variety of fun personal subjects like LA city guides and delivers some really heavenly mixtapes. I'm head-bobbin' to the February one right now. Molly has even had the opportunity to collaborate with West Elm and is teaching a craft workshop next month!

Molly told me a bit about her blogging self and I love her all the more. 

LEFT: DIY PICNIC BLANKET   |   RIGHT: DIY GOLDEN TRIANGLE GARLAND

M:      I am a blogger and desinger in Echo Park in Los Angeles. I work part time editing a TV show and spend the rest of the time DIYing for the blog. I also run a shop call Blogzilla, where we sell premade Wordpress blog themes. The rest of the time I'm usually binge watching TV shows with my fiancee and cuddling my cats. They're huge on cuddling. Also--I'm currently planning my wedding right now, which without a planner, ends up being close to a full time job. So basically right now I'm swamped!

I've done art since I was a little kid. My hands are covered in marker in all of my school pictures. I went to Otis College of Art + Design where I majored in digital media. I was doing motion graphics and editing, but always had more of a passion for print.

 I worked in broadcast design for about five years doing on-air graphics. But in LA, you lose jobs. Shows get cancelled, shows are only one season. I decided to just stop with the broadcast design and try to start working for myself freelancing. When I started the blog, I did it as a hobby -- but I love it so much that my goal is to make it my career. I think I'm on my way, but it might take a while and a lot of patience and hard work. 

LEFT: DIY WOODEN COAT RACK  |  RIGHT: DIY IPAD STAND

I started my blog because nothing I do is perfect--but I love making things. I also am all about the really simple, really special DIY projects. This copper + wood paper towel holder might be one of my favorites to date.

 All my friends thought of me as the Martha Stewart in the group so I decided to give it a try. In the two years I've been doing the blog, I've improved so much-- which just  goes to show that the 10,000 hours really does work. While most blogs people look at have one lovely project after the next with perfect styling and perfect execution--I wouldn't say that's mine. I acknowledge when I make mistakes and complain about things I should have done instead - and use my humor to make the blog a little different. I'd say it's a fun place.