Out with Spring. In with Summer....or so it feels!

Growing up in Maryland, we had all four seasons; it would get cool in the Fall, freezing in the winter, nice in the spring, and super hot and humid in the summer. I looked forward to each season; especially when it was super hot in the summer, I just wanted winter and in the winter I just wanted summer to roll around.
Now living in Southern California, we didn't have much of a winter at all! It went straight to summer to summer basically. Truth, we did have a couple "cooler" days but they just didn't compare to he Maryland winters. In January, no lie, for a solid week it was in the 90s and 80s. As all my friends and family back home were super jealous of the sun I was getting, I was super jealous of the snow they were getting.
As we roll into April, can you believe we're half way through it already?!, and rock into May, I can't wait to see what the real Summer holds in store for me. I have yet to live in a Southern California summer so it shall be interesting! (I do predict lots and lots of trips to the beach!)

Huntington Beach, CA

With Spring rolling out and Summer rolling in, I can't wait to share something that I've been working on with everyone the past couple of months. They are still in the beginning stages, you know testing out what materials I want to use and not use, but they are looking pretty "nautical" if I do say so myself! 

Here's a little sneak peak!! 

I hope everyone is enjoying Springtime and starting to plan their Summer 2014! 

The Bright Side

While East Coast Spring weather has taken over in Southern California, my heart is happier than ever! Weather in the 60s and 70s is how I like to live my life all year around; as hot as it was in January through February, I'm definitely happy that it's cooled off a little...making it feel like home.

good weather = good mood

good mood = happier Laura

happier Laura = creative juices flowing

"Always look on the bright side of life!" will be my new little motto this Spring/Summer.  I felt like after I graduated from art school last May, my creative juices kind of took a turn for the worst. They stopped flowing. It was tragic. Since the change in weather, my creative have made a come back. 

I can't wait to show and share with everyone what's to come with Chesapeake Tides in the next few weeks. A new product that I've been working on for a few months now is about to come alive. 

Seersucker has Sprung!

Since spring is officially here,well it's been here in Southern California all year long(we didn't get a winter) and even though Maryland just received another blanketing of snow a few days ago, that doesn't mean you can't bring out some of your spring like clothing to be apart of your wardrobe a little at a time. I know on the east coast, in the Carolina's, the Carolina Cup is a pretty big deal for horse racing. Along with the horses, the girls dress up in their Lilly and big hats & the men sport their bow ties and pastel pants/shorts. I have never been but it always seemed like such a wonderful event to attend; I feel like this event is the start of the real spring time fashion coming out, especially the seersucker. 

Seersucker is easy to wear with anything and is light and breezy, making it comfortable for those hot hot hot summer days and nights. Did you know it was originally worn by a "lower" class of people until the 1920s when some undergraduate students decided to make it a "preppy" statement. Crazy right? I have worn seersucker ever since I could remember and still wear it to this day, thank you Lilly Pulitzer! 

Since creating and making bow ties, the seersucker bow tie has always been a winner for Chesapeake Tides. I actually stopped creating them for a while because I wanted to try some other patterns and styles. For the collection this spring/summer 2014, I decided to bring back the classic pieces in a variety of different colors. 

I'm really loving how all these colors look together. It would be so hard to choose which one(s) to pick from to add to a bow tie collection.

Can't choose between one or two colors? How about four?! I love the look of the multicolor bow tie, especially in seersucker. Super preppy & classic...yes? 

Along with the seersucker bow ties that I've been creating, I have also made hair bows(that I can most definitely monogram upon request) in the colored seersucker fabric.

Blue Seersucker

Pink Seersucker

Tan Seersucker

Seersucker has always been in style and it always will because it is such a classic piece of fashion, with history behind it. Even though it's not too popular of a fabric out West, I hope everyone back East will be sporting some kind of seersucker piece of clothing or accessory in their wardrobe this season! 

Started from the Bottom

As 2013 ends & 2014 begins, I cannot wait to start expanding my business to succeed and grow.

I can’t wait to share more with you as new things happen in my life!

Chesapeake Tides Weddings

In early 2013, came a real turning point with Chesapeake Tides; I received my first wedding order! I couldn't believe it! I think it was either in January or February that I had an anonymous guest(yes, I call everyone guests now that I've been working at Disney) message me on Etsy about creating black watch plaid bow ties for wedding that would be in March.
Well that escalated really fast and the wedding orders were coming in like crazy! I have never been so happy that someone would choose to come to me to ask for bow ties for the groomsmen in their wedding. Throughout the year, I have continued to make bow ties for numerous of other brides to be and I can't wait to continue to as 2013 ends and we start a new year of 2014(it's going to be a good one, I can tell!)

My very first wedding order!!

This was a very special order for me because I actually got to meet the bride!! We were running a little sorter on time and she lived pretty close to where I was living in Maryland so we decided that we would meet up and she would hand deliver the fabric herself. Really really loved how these turned out!

Aren't the colors just lovely? 

Really enjoyed receiving this photo of the bride and her father!

(navy blue gingham)

Photography by: Misty Anderson Photography

& of course the Maryland Flag bow ties stole my little Maryland heart. 

Photo credit: Taylor Lord Photography

Navy & White Polka Dot Bow Ties

These bow ties were for the groomsmen of one of my friends from when I went to SCAD. I've loved all the wedding orders that I have done but this one was definitely my favorite. The navy polka dots and being able to create them for a friend! 

I cannot wait to continue to create bow ties for a couples special day in the years to come!!