The ring bracelet!

Brilliant! Rings and a bracelet all rolled into one. Saw a version of this in a magazine (can't remember which) and made my own!

Choosing my engagement ring

 To start things off, Corey and I found my wonderful vintage engagement ring in an antique shop in Seal Beach, California. Diamond mining is so bad for the environment, so buying a vintage ring is a great way to "go green." Not only that, but I know NO ONE has my ring, it's totally unique! You would be surprised at the beautiful rings you can find for such affordable prices. Besides, I was tired of seeing the same rings everywhere, I wanted something different. This ring belonged to an elderly woman who lived in the Hamptons. The gold band is thick and the yellow diamonds are raised, forming a flower shape.

Also, there are a TON of jewelry sales going on around Valentine's Day. Most businesses offer 50% off or more. We found Corey's wedding band for under $200. This is a great time to buy rings and get the one you want for half the price. 

Gettin' hitched on 9.10.11!

We have finally set the date for our wedding! September 10, 2011. I am so excited to have a fall wedding. Fall is my favorite time of year and we will still get the warm weather... perfect for an outdoor reception. I think this blog is going to morph into an inspirational DIY wedding and reception guide. Like most brides, I have a perfect vision of what I want my wedding and reception to look like, but minimal funds to do it with. Thank goodness for creativity! I want the gorgeous wedding AND money in my pocket. I simply refuse to spend tens of thousands on one day. I am already in so much debt from school, I can't afford to go in debt for a wedding too! So, I am here to share my journey, get the creative juices flowing, and prove to everyone that with a bit of resourcefulness and determination, I WILL have my million dollar wedding on a budget!

I want one...

I stumbled upon this amazing artist and her jeweled installations. Made my heart skip a beat and I think one (or two) would look glorious in my living room.

Her installations are incredible and she did several at Rice Gallery in Texas. Oh the inspiration!

Creative Christmas

Being on a budget and all, I had to get creative with Christmas decorations. I hit the jackpot at the thrift store! Some old lady must have given away all her ornaments because I found boxes of ancient glass bulbs... the kind with glitter and indentations and weird shapes! Before anyone else could snag them I hurried off to the register. They went perfect with my fake white tree and giant old fashioned string lights.

I love my loft apartment, but it leaves me wishing for a fireplace! Christmas feels incomplete without one. So I made my own FAUX FIREPLACE from an oversized vintage frame, small white shelves I found at Target and lots of candles! The whole thing cost me less than fifty dollars!



virgin blogger

Eeek! My first blog! My sister convinced me that I should start an artist/designer blog to chronical my creative endevours. After recently becoming a mama, I conceeded that this would be a productive outlet while I am on hiatus from school. I'm taking six months off before finishing my masters in architecture to be with my little man, Skai Lockwood Costomiris. He is already almost two months old! Sheesh! I know nothing about blogs, and I will probably be the only one that reads this, but why not? This will be a great way to finally DO something with all the ideas in my head!


First of all, meet the family! Corey and I, baby Skai, and Zoe Jayne!