{shop :: Facebook}

 Occasionally a store comes along that seems to represent all of things you respond to the most in the world. One of the most exciting parts about my job here is that I am able to find these places and then present them to you with open palms. This is such an honor and such a source of joy for me and today is no different. Today I am introducing you to a company that creates and curates home goods and curiosities that speak to the very heart of what makes a house a home: style.

Fifi du Vie is a home and paper goods company helmed by artist and designer Izabella Dennis. Starting with screen printed posters, Fifi du Vie soon added greeting cards, tote bags, clocks and other home goods to satisfy the minimalist with a modern aesthetic. From the Simple Candle Holder to the Gold + Black earrings and back around to the Little Thank You Notes (seriously, how amazing are these?), there is something for everyone in this shop. Plus, keep your eyes posted for new additions in the future. Fifi du Vie is your one stop shop for years to come. Trust.

Fifi du Vie is giving away one “Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers” Print in Black, 20×16, to one lucky winner! To enter to win, please answer the following question no later than Thursday, May 30th.

Please visit Fifi du Vie and tell us: What is the greatest adventure you have ever been on?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, June 3rd, to see if you’ve won!

Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

Hello! My name is Izabella and I am the artist and designer behind Fifi du Vie. I have been making art my whole life and I love that my business can reach people from all over the globe!

We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?

I think this applies to both my professional and personal life. I love what I do in my work time and my free time. I think it’s so important to know what makes you happy and fill your life with those people and activities.

Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly believe that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?

I find beauty inspiration in nature, in changing weather and, in particular, the kindness that people show towards one another.

On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a little bit of sunshine?

A cup of tea with a good friend.

What are you most grateful for?

Family and friends!

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from Fifi du Vie!

{shop :: Facebook :: Etsy}

Every now and then a company or brand or product comes along that speaks to you. Surely I am not the only one who has experienced this. You see something in a store or online or in a catalog and you inhale sharply and feel a warm sense of recognition because something aesthetically calls your name and claims you as home. For me, there is something about concrete. Sounds weird, right? I assure you it is absolutely real and beautiful. I am obsessed with polished concrete floors and one day dream of owning our own home so I can pour concrete countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. This is not a new obsession but rather one that has stuck with me since I was a small girl laying face down on the concrete surrounding the swimming pool in the summer, staring at the texture and running my fingers along the stamped designs. This love runs deep.

Culinarium is a mecca for the marriage of concrete and home furnishings. Annastasia and Jordan Castro worked for 15 years in the concrete industry with a focus on architectural concrete elements (hello, my dream designers!) and combined their experience with their love for cooking and entertaining. The result is Culinarium, a shop filled with stunning pieces designed for the kitchen that are eco-friendly (sourcing local recycled materials) and practical and 100% American made. If I were to link to my favorite pieces, you would see a list of their entire catalog so do yourself a favor and hop on over to the shop and let them speak to you.

Culinarium is giving away one Classic Salt Cellar in Gray to one lucky winner! To enter to win, please answer the following question no later than Wednesday, May 29th.

Please visit Culinarium and tell us: How would you describe your decorating style? Are you classic, modern, eclectic? What are your favorite design elements in your home?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, June 4th, to see if you’ve won!

Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

We are a family owned & operated company that prides itself on providing unique & indispensable products that improve every day living in a modern way. Culinarium is the manifestation of our love for cooking and entertaining as well as the unique experiences we have working with new & exciting materials. We believe the heart & soul of any house is in the kitchen, and we enjoy bringing practical solutions to your home. These one of a kind pieces are produced utilizing eco friendly materials such as concrete, recycled marble dust, rubber, cork & stainless steel. Most of our products are fabricated with locally sourced recycled content that would otherwise be tossed away. We are proud to say that all of our products are Handcrafted in the USA. Our dream is that you will see the beauty in these American Made pieces, that evoke a feeling from within, which will inspire you to bring out YOUR best in the kitchen. Thank you for discovering Culinarium!

We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?

Jordan has long been a creative person who thrives in an outlet where his ideas can come to fruition. Being able to design products for himself as well as others, and then to fabricate them with materials that he discovers & believes to be unique, makes the whole process that much more fun & personal. He takes his ideas & designs very seriously and will spend up to a year to create what he believes to be the perfect product & hopes that others will feel that way too.

Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly believe that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?

Living on Plum Island with our 3 small children (1, 3, 5 yrs. old) has provided us with an infinite amount of joy & inspiration from which we draw upon daily.

On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a little bit of sunshine?

Exercise – either mentally or physically to keep the creative juices flowing!

What are you most grateful for?

We are grateful that we have been able to build a business that we enjoy while providing a living for our family & create a balance between work life & family life.

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from Culinarium!

{store :: Facebook}

Texture is something I always keep in mind when thinking about accessories. Perhaps it is peak of spring that brings my attention to the details, but there is something about the tangible qualities of depth and movement that always sing to me in the spring. I find myself gravitating toward jewelry that has a unique perspective, something that gives me the same feeling textile art does. After all, we feel with our sight, don’t you think?

Witt and Lore is a jewelry company run by two fantastic sisters who collaborate to create gorgeous, evocative pieces. Whittney and Lauren Kebschull are the dream team behind the store and the textural influences we are all so fond of are alive and well in their line. Whittney (aka Witt) and Lauren are based out of Minnesota and have branched out to California, spreading their beauty across the land. Utilizing repurposed materials, Witt and Lore is a mecca of one of a kind designs that enhance rather than detract. Much like spring itself.

Witt and Lore is giving away one pair of earring with brass metal frame, adorned with sapphire and bright yellow seed beads to one lucky winner! Winner can choose gold (14kt gold filled ear hooks) or silver finish (sterling silver ear hooks). To enter to win, please answer the following question no later than Tuesday, May 28th.

Please visit Witt and Lore and tell us: What is your favorite song to sing when you are all by yourself?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, June 3rd, to see if you’ve won!

Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

I go by Witt. I am the other half of Witt and Lore which is a jewelry business started by my sister Lauren and myself. Since, I try to split up my time in my hometown of Minneapolis and where I currently reside, California, Witt and Lore jewelry has been mainly selling in boutiques throughout, but we have been recently been tackling online such as Ship and Shape and Fab.com. These days I’m pretty much flying solo- Lauren only taking up W+L projects here-and-there, but her influence is greatly abundant in the work I do. The jewelry has always naturally been directed towards a style that is modern, but incorporates a lot of tribal aspects. As a fond admirer of textiles, the concept I try to drive most is making my beadwork look like a textile in itself. The more I can make it look like a traditional Zapotec rug or a bold geometric print you may see on a Missoni textile, the more I feel like I am taking beading to another level. Texture also plays a important role in the jewelry I make, and I use a lot of various vintage African trade beads and metal beads to bring that out in our pieces. For some reason, repurposing beads sets a unique tone, and gives the wearer a one-of-a kind piece. Every bead is shaped differently than the next, so the likely hood one pair of earrings with rare vintage beads looking like the next, is highly unlikely. I love that feeling.

We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?

If I am creating something on a daily basis and I feel productive, I am happy. Doesn’t matter what it is. I just need a sense that I am producing something that I enjoy looking at, and that I am contributing to the greater good.

Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly believe that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?

Textiles play a important role in what inspires me, but also the color and texture combinations I encounter on a daily basis. Living in California and having a stint in Mexico, has brought a whole new awareness to both. Whether it is botanical or architectural, I am looking at these these objects in awe wondering how I can assimilate them in my work to be as beautiful.

On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a little bit of sunshine?

I will wear the loudest, most bold clothing and accessories I have.

What are you most grateful for?

Of course, all the supportive people I have in my life. They have been encouraging in so many ways, and with out them, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do. I also have to give a shout out to my hands. It sounds weird, but they are the key players in everything I do, and they go through a lot of wear and tear. I will never take these babies for granted.

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from Witt and Lore.

Hi friends. Today is not your ordinary lemonade stand. Today I’m getting married to the man I have called my partner for the last seven years, the man who has been the bread to my butter, so to speak. In lieu of getting too sentimental on you, I will merely wish you a “Happy Monday” and may you feel as amazing as I do this morning. Honestly.

xoxo,

Miss Krista

To download, click on the image to open it full size and select file “save as” for your own personal use.

Today, I want to introduce you to another favorite blog. Cotton + Curls is the site of Liz Bryson, a woman who is quite possibly the most adorable thing on the planet. She is a fantastically fashionable beauty with adorable kids and a sweet husband and her tutorials are everything I look for when I’m searching for inspiration. Her main draw (for me, at least) is the refashioning she does to clothes that are too big, out of date, or just plain ill-fitting. I am a major vintage/thrift shopper so these kinds of sewing projects are exactly what I need. Besides, have I mentioned how adorable she is?

See what I mean?

This top, below, was once a button up shirt. I know. Genius.

And this jewelry hangar made from a mesh strainer from the dollar store? Absolute perfection.

Please visit Cotton + Curls. You won’t be sorry.

{shop: Facebook}

Comfort and luxury are two words that have the ability to make me exhale. Try it. Say the words to yourself and feel your body relax. Truth be told, it isn’t just those words alone. The marriage of those two? Perfection. This isn’t an easy marriage to find. For some reason, comfort and luxury are often mutually exclusive. Lucky for you, we here at the BSP pride ourselves on finding the best of the best and we think you are going to love today’s contributor.

Subtle Luxury & SPUN is a California clothing company from Cindy and Darrin Freeman. Subtle Luxury designs “fashion items with a washed, lived-in look and a vintage feel…(because) comfort is always in fashion.” From stunning silk tank tops like this gorgeous number to stunning printed scarves from SPUN,you are sure to find your comfort level conspicuously hiding right there in the shop. Luxurious comfort is simply yours.

Subtle Luxury & SPUN are giving away one Free Spirit Vest in Parisan Floral-Red to one lucky winner AND one Dip Dye Scarf in Blue to another lucky winner! (That’s two winners, ya’ll!) To enter to win, please answer the following question no later than Thursday, May 23rd. Also, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with new designs and promotions!

Please visit Subtle Luxury & SPUN and tell us: When you want to be comfortable, what does your outfit look like?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 27th, to see if you’ve won!