Florida Fun in the Sun

 

My husband and I just got back from a little vacation to Southern Florida.  It was such a blast.  I can never get enough of beaches, palm trees, and sunsets.  My dream in college was to take off and open a smoothie stand next to the beach.  How cool would that be?  It felt great to escape the snow from up north and feel the warmth of the sun.  I got to do a little jogging, swimming, and lots of walking along the ocean.  We went to Miami, West Palm, and Fort Lauderdale.  I was really happy to come back home to my cat (I missed my little guy) and get working on new designs.

I wore some of my new designs on the trip.  Here is the new Pearl Halo Headband - perfect for bohemian brides. <3 br="">

The Devils in the Detail

Romantic Spring Wedding Details - if you're interested in any of the details below please contact us at info@ricerafferty.com

We make wedding invitations, name cards/escort cards, accessories, pins, veils, bridal belts, garters, bouquets and anything else you can dream of.  Also please check out our youtube video for more wedding day details.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUHrWAbGPvc

www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

Venue: Buffalo Historical Museum
Photographer: Dave Wahl and Amy Lee Resuch
Makeup and Hair: SalonSalon
Cake: Carriage Trade Pastries
Caterer: Oliver's
Florist: Maureen's
Officiant: Monsenieur Leising
DJ/Band: Music Krew
Wedding Dress: Mori Lee
Veil: Rice Rafferty Couture Accessories www.ricerafferty.com
Jewelry: Carolee
Shoes: Poetic License, Nina
Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal
Groom's Suit: Brook's Brothers
Groom's Shoes: Mercanti
Groomsmen's Suits: Brook's Brothers
Stationery: Rice Rafferty
Transportation: Buffalo Limousine Service

 

Rose Corsage Inspiration

Recently we received a really fun custom order request.  We were asked to design a corsage that matches a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes.

Above is the finished corsage (black and white tulle with a lipstick pink and red orange rose) and the inspirational Jimmy Choo shoe.  In the background of the top right photo is a rose painting I painted in college.

I've always felt strongly driven by beauty, nature, and fashion.  In fact they used to call me "the shoe girl" in my drawing and design classes because I was always drawing shoes.  It's interesting in life when things come full circle.  I once painted roses on canvases and now I'm making them as 3d corsages, necklaces, and hair adornments.

I'll probably paint roses again on canvases one day.

Dream a Little Dream

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman

There's so much going on with Rice Rafferty accessories right now.  Two years ago this was all a dream.  A dream is a great place to begin and spending all of your free time working diligently on that dream can only help you get there.  We're finishing up the custom tutu order for our customer in the UK, working on sample details for the custom bridal veil order, prepping items for the bridal fashion photo shoot this weekend (so excited to see everyone again!), teaching a paper making class next weekend, and working on our new line for the fashion show in April.  Busy busy, but I love it!

xoxo

Wear Your Black and Gold With Style

Are you a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers?  Do you love black and gold?  Do you want something that will add a little bling?  This is the hair accessory for you.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and I'm quite aware of the strong support for Pittsburgh teams.  I remember hearing the song "Here we go Steelers, Here we go, Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl."  In grade school we were asked to wear black and gold to show our Steelers support so I wore all black - black leggings and black top with a gold chain, of course.  I always liked a little bling.  The accessory above is made from up cycled jewelry, lace, mesh glitter gold netting, and hand dyed yellow tulle.  The accessory is great for weddings, proms, homecomings, birthdays, dance costumes, parties, or any other special occasion.
Check it out here www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

I remember singing a song in grade school "Pittsburgh...a smokey old town, Pittsburgh."  It's hard to believe Pittsburgh was once a steel town full of smoke and now it's grown to be a health care center, fashion haven, Super Bowl Champions and ideal site for major film productions.  It's a city that shows old industrial towns how to turn a depressed economy around.  The city is full of top companies now - like Google, Dick's Sporting Goods, American Eagle, and Modcloth.

I love success stories!  They inspire me to think outside the box and imagine the impossible.

Buffalo Botanical Gardens

A beautiful sleigh filled with Christmas gifts at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens

me - dancing around

During the cold and snowy Thanksgiving 4 day weekend I felt like hibernating and designing.  I managed to get out a few times though.  One of my favorite visits was to the Buffalo Botanical Gardens.  Being in the warm, earthy environment makes you feel alive again.  The gardens included desert, jungle, and Japanese style gardens.  Christmas decorations were all around - toy trains, poinsettias, sleds, Christmas lights, and Christmas trees.  Winter is such a great time to check out your local Botanical Gardens for some inspiration.

Rice Rafferty Accessories November 2010 Photo Shoot

Our Rice Rafferty photo shoot with the photographer Jessica Elizabeth was amazing.  It was a magical day.  Our fashion stylist Liz Szeluga found inspiration from the JCrew 2010 Lookbook, Marc Jacobs Spring 2011, Alexander McQueen 2010, Ecco Eco, and Confetti System.  Liz was my right hand person helping with hair ideas, makeup, inventory, organization, and style ideas. We decided to go with a blood orange matte lipstick - Revlon, and natural looking eyes with minimal makeup.  We wanted the look to have a vintage flare with a modern twist to work with our accessories.  Rice Rafferty accessories are inspired by dancer/ballet clothing, old hollywood glam, and current influences. 

The day started off with a flat tire and my makeup artist who sadly canceled (because her son was sick) and ended with magic.  The photo shoot was a complete success and that's what happens when you have a hard working, creative, and passionate team.  Liz Szeluga and I started the day by getting everyone's makeup ready.  Once everyone had the uniform blood orange lips we were ready for hair.  For the hair I wanted a soft, romantic look.  Carolyn Holmes Harbison, a hair stylist and makeup artist, came prepped with every hair styling and makeup tool one could imagine.  Carolyn's hairstyles included a soft braided up-do, a bun, long soft curls with braids pulled to one side, and soft curls with bangs framing the models face beautifully.  Carolyn nailed the look!

One by one we got models prepped and they were ready to accessorize.  Liz helped me dress and style the models.  It was a great time intuitively coming up with color combinations and deciding which scarf with which necklace or hair piece.  One of my favorite looks was the lace on lace.  I also love the combination of the bib necklace and a devore scarf.  Rice rafferty accessories are so interchangeable.  We brought hand dyed devore scarves, long and short tutu with fiber optic lights, hand stitched bib necklaces, and headbands with feathers and up cycled jewelry.  Most of our looks were wedding and dance inspired. 

Our photographer Jessica Elizabeth has an eye for accessories and fashion.  I knew she would be the perfect photographer for this shoot.  Jessica photographed from so many interesting angles which really helped make the accessories the focal point.  Our models all brought something unique to their photos - Bri - bright innocent modern yet vintage look, Tina - was regal and mysterious,  Laura - brought a sexy look and flexible ballet moves, and Christian - was confident and glamorous.

Rice Rafferty is a company for women by women.  As our company grows we are giving back to our community.  We print our business cards and marketing materials locally in Buffalo, NY.  We buy our materials locally and work with local photographers, models, and stylists.  Thank you to everyone who made it a magical day!  We can't wait for the next fashion photo shoot!

Visit us at www.ricerafferty.com
www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

Mood Fabrics from Project Runway

Mood Fabrics was so inspirational!  As many of you may know Mood Fabrics is the fabric shop on the hit television show Project Runway.  Mood is located in Manhattan, fashion district.  The store is two floors full of luxurious fabrics and trims.  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  My favorite part was meeting Denise, a worker there, who was also a textile design major at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).

We discussed our education, backgrounds, and interests.  Denise told me about her experience working as a temp at Express.  She felt it was a little too corporate for her.  I appreciated her honesty.  One of the most important things when beginning your career is to know about YOURSELF and what kind of environment you can really thrive in.

She told me about Amy Butler textiles which I love!  Amy Butler's designs are Midwest Chic.  She uses a beautiful color palette and exquisite designs full of rich hand painted textures.  If you live in Buffalo, NY you can purchase the fabrics on Elmwood Ave at Elmwood Village Fabrics (which was featured at the Mass Appeal Fashion Show 2010 in the wearable art segment).  Elmwood Village Fabrics is a great place to go for inspiration if you're feeling stuck on your next project. http://www.elmwoodvillagefabrics.com/home.html


Visiting Mood Fabrics reminded me of my old days at the University at Buffalo hanging out in the costume/theater closets drawing shoes, hats, and accessories.  I found such peace surrounded by these fashion items.  Do you ever have those aha! moments (as Oprah calls them)?  Those moments when everything in the world starts to make sense?  That's how I feel when my graphic design, marketing, and fashion background all come together.  Every little experience adds to where you will go and what you will be.

In our studio
Right now at Rice Rafferty we're preparing items for our holiday sale at Chatham University (Chatham College) in Pittsburgh, PA.  We're also getting ready for an upcoming fashion photo shoot - more details soon.  I'm also planning a trip to Toronto soon to investigate their fashion district and report back.  Does anyone have recommendations on where to go?  I also want to check out their shoe museum!

And Yes, the above textile is designed by me.  I hand painted flower motifs and created a repeat pattern.   You can also learn how to do this by taking a textile design class at Buffalo State College, which is one of the best in the United States for fashion.  The class is taught by the head of the fashion department Professor Elaine Polvinen.

Work or Play?

"You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play." --Warren Beatty

Friday night I was supposed to go out with my friend Kristen; however, plans fell through.  I sat down and decided I needed a chill session so I turned on the 2 hour Grey's Anatomy season finale from April that I missed.  Yes, it's now September, but this was great because now I don't have to wait months to see what happens next!  WOW.  I'm not so into tv these days, but it was riveting.  A shooter was in the hospital and a ton of our favorite characters were getting shot.  Grey's Anatomy always has an action packed season finale.  The story had me on the edge of my seat and it was heart felt.

After Grey's I put on a more calming Hallmark movie (my secret pleasure).  I looked around the studio and decided to make something (my hands must always keep busy).  My mother recently hand dyed a few yards of tulle bright oranges, pinks, and yellows.  I started making little rosettes and stitching beads and pearls for some new corsages.  It was just me...alone on a friday night and it felt damn good!  While playing with the tulle I got a flashback of my favorite movie when I was kid West Side Story.  I thought of the scene when Natalie Wood was dancing around in the seamstress clothing shop, her family owned, singing the song I Feel Pretty.  It feels like things are beginning to click and fall into place.  I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.  I'm on the right track!  Hours go by like minutes and I don't want to stop working.

The picture above is the tulle.  Aren't the colors delicious?  I had fun just playing around with it.  Have you ever noticed great ideas often occur when you're playing?  I suggest to make some time to play today.  What will you do?

An American Girl

Did you ever read the American Girl books when you were a kid?  I sure did!  The illustrations from the books produced in the late 80s-early 90s were by Renee Graef.  Her illustrations have such a warm, soft, whimsical quality about them.  Reading the books and looking at the illustrations always made me feel safe.  Sadly, American Girl has encountered some changes since working with Mattel - they replaced the illustrations on the covers and retired Samantha.  I'm glad I have my old books. :)
Photo from http://www.graefillustration.com
American Girl Treasures Game