A Westervin Wedding: Let You In

[Editor's Note. Please go ahead and queue up the song at the bottom of the post. Think of it as the post's soundtrack.] Sarah and I want to keep everybody interested in our wedding even though it is more than a year away. So, we thought we’d tease you a little bit. Well, perhaps tease is the wrong choice of words. Sarah and I would like to give you a sneak peak at what we’ve been up to.

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Westervin Wear: A bloganista at work!

Well, day two of work left me a little frazzled without the previous administrative assistant to guide me.  And it certainly didn’t help that I’m partially deaf in my left ear (thank you ear infections).  But everyone else in the office has been so helpful and patient with me.  And I was dressed to impress!  Are you seeing this necklace from Tree & Kimball?!  It’s my new best friend.  It’s made of vintage lace, vintage glass beads and the pure sweetness of budding friendship (Lisa, who makes them, is my new pen pal!)  You can be jealous… or you can try to win one of these necklaces (a slightly different design, but with all the charm) for yourself in our current giveaway.  OR you could just buy one, because $18–$30 is how you spell affordable!  And adorable!  And that rhymes.  Have I convinced you yet?

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Giveaway! Amethyst Chunk Necklace

EDIT: This giveaway has ended.  Enter our current giveaway here!

It’s that time again, folks.  For this week’s Freebie February giveaway, the endlessly sweet Tawni Wold is giving away this ga-ga-gorgeous necklace to one lucky Westervin reader!  We’re hoping that you will spread the love and visit her shop — she has a beautiful collection of jewelry made from rare and unexpected gemstones, crystals and reclaimed vintage pieces, the sale of which go to pay her doggie’s medical bills.  Read my mini interview with Tawni below, and then leave a lovely little comment to enter the giveaway.  The winner will be notified via email in one week.

To enter:

1. Leave your first name and last initial (full names are encouraged).
2. Leave a working email address (this will not be published).
3. You have one week to enter.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 28th at 11:59pm CST.
4. Increase your chances of winning by telling someone else to enter!  You’ll get an additional entry (up to 20) for every person you refer — just ask them to leave your name in their comment.  It really works — last week’s winner had an extra entry!

On this necklace, a faceted piece of amethyst hangs from a unique silver chain, measuring 27 inches.  Retail price: $38

What types of materials do you use?

A lot of my jewelry is made from reclaimed pieces. Lots of vintage! I also use lots and lots of gemstones and crystals! I love anything with a bit of druzy and with a sort of rough/raw shape. Hehehehe, rough! raw! Sounds sort of dirty…!

What inspires your beautiful designs?

My mood has a lot to do with how the pieces turn out. My newer pieces are more romantic and feminine, at least I think so. I am almost positive that has to do with my boyfriend finally returning home from Russia. I suddenly want to wear lots of lace and highlight my cheeks with blush. The new jewelry is a result of that, feeling pretty and in love! Really lame sounding, I know, but the same goes for my darker pieces; I was probably depressed when I made them. Or, at the very least, hating all the dark and dreary winter days here in Sacramento.

What’s this little guy’s name?

My doggie’s name is Ren Oir. His last name is Oir as I used to bring him to my classes and one of my professors thought it very wrong that Ren did not have a last name. She said that I MUST give him a proper last name! All I could think of was ‘Oir’. My little brother gave him his first name, after ‘The Ren and Stimpy Show.’

How did Ren get sick?

I’m not exactly positive why/how Ren got sick, as my vet lost his stool sample. How a vet loses a ziplock container entitled ‘REN OIR’S STOOL SAMPLE’ is beyond me, but because of this I never got a definite answer. I suspect Ren may have drank some contaminated water at the river park I’d brought him to the day before… but I honestly cannot say for sure. The poor boy had to be pumped full of fluids and medication for the next few days. I actually had to hook him up to an IV three times a day for a week after he came home from the vet, the poor thing. But he is recovering well, and I am so so so broke because of it! I’ve got ‘pet insurance’ Google results on another tab as I type this, lol. …Don’t want to get into this kind of expensive crisis again.  It was completely worth it though, as I love my little boy

And a big thanks to free!grechen for featuring this giveaway!

The Shopping Sherpa: An Etsy Wedding

I’ve got weddings on the brain!  Between the Crate & Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest we entered, my sweet baby Gracie’s upcoming nuptials and all the wedding season commercials/shows on tv, I can’t seem to escape it.  Like many a daydreaming schoolgirl, I’ve already started planning ours, even though we haven’t even set a date yet.  Below are some of the lovely, handmade things I’ve picked out from Etsy — a mix of sweet and quirky.  For those of you just joining us, Brian and I have entered the contest (mentioned above) to win $100,000 and the aid of a talented wedding planner to create our dream wedding.  We need a lot of votes to win, so if you haven’t already voted, please take a few seconds to do so!  Vote for us here.

EDIT: If you’ve voted for us, you can now enter our giveaway to win a stunning embroidered necklace from Marañón, a featured seller on Etsy.  Enter here.

1. Squirrel Groom Cake Topper from Melabo

2. Necklaces from The Vamoose — These would make lovely gifts for ladies in the wedding party, no?

3. Gray and Royal Blue Hat from Behida Dolic

4. Gold Paper Bowl from Up In The Air Somewhere – On the reception tables, filled with small pebbles and a tea light.  Might need to see how flammable they are though…

5. Pink Petals Dress from Sarah Seven — I must have a Sarah Seven dress in my life!

6. Silvery Sash/Headband from Little White Dresser

7. Light Shades from Nice — I’m in love with these.  In LOVE!

8. Custom Couples Portrait from Tuesday Mourning — To go on the Save the Date cards.

9. Teacup and Silverware Windchime from Reclaimed Designs — For the wind to make sweet music as we celebrate our sweet love.  Eew!  Sappy.

10. Tiny Twig Pencils from alliebeans — To sign the guestbook.

11. Silk Tie from Tie One On — For the groom.  Obv.

12. Custom Tiny Text Bowl from Paloma’s Nest — Instead of those froofy little ring pillows.

1. Silk Pleated Collar Dress from Amanda Archer — A possible bridesmaid dress.

2. We Make Sense Poster from Things by bubbo-tubbo — I want to have this printed on rectangles of cotton (preferably recycled or eco-friendly material) for reusable napkins that our guests can take home.

3. White Gold Band from One Stone New York — Made from recycled gold by the same artisan who made my engagement ring.

4. Multi-color Flag Necklace from Scout Holiday — Not sure who would wear this yet… I just had to include it.

5. Vintage Ledger Seals from Kis for Calligraphy —  For sealing all the “Thanks for the gift” letters.

6. Big Dots and Bunting Teapot from Ninainvorm — Because you gotta offer your guests a little after-dinner cup of tea, right?  Really, I want all the plates to be from Nina, too.

7. Small to Tall Containers from Jfish Designs — Picture these filled with mismatched wildflowers

8. Triangular Laced Necklace from Marañón — I gotta temper that dainty, sweet wedding dress with a little bit of spice!

9. Porcelain Tiles from Ashley G

10. Cupcake Stand with Bird Bell Jar from Whitney Smith Pottery

11. Porcelain Pie “Tins” from Lorena Barrezueta — We’re thinking the food will be “picnic fair”, so I think these would make cute serving dishes for the potato salads and such.

12. Victoria Cake Stand from My Cake Stand