Chloe + Isabel SUMMER LAUNCH!

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A few weeks ago Chloe + Isabel launched their summer collection, Journey to Jaipur.  Yesterday, they launched the additional capsule collection!  Y’all….my little boho hippie heart is happy.  I have been carrying this brand in my home store, Halford House Boutique, for about 3 months now, and I can definitely say that these new summer 2017 pieces are my absolute FAVORITE.  I already ordered two necklaces from the original Journey to Jaipur collection, and last night I snagged another from the capsule collection.  

If you’re looking for jewelry that appears high end, but is affordable and super on trend and fun for summer, look no further.  

This collection is so fun, and I absolutely love that c + i tells a story with their jewelry, and draws inspiration from different places around the world.  “Designed to celebrate India’s rich cultural influence worldwide, you’ll experience the trip of a lifetime in a collection of vibrant hues, intricate design + sparkling crystal.”

Check out the newest pieces in my online boutique here.

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Love this jewelry? Let’s work together!  If you host a pop-up with me, you can earn hundreds of dollars in FREE jewelry–just by having your girlfriends over for a night of girl talk, wine + shopping.

 

Looking for a new adventure?  “We invite you to represent our beloved brand through our fun + flexible Merchandiser opportunity, in which you get to own + operate your very own fashion jewelry business, in your terms.  Whether you’re looking to learn resume-boosting skills, find financial freedom, or simply want to spice up your daily routine, we’re dedicated to helping you every step of the way as a member of our inspiring community of female entrepreneurs.”

 

If you’re interested in taking the leap and becoming your own business owner, I would love to help you and share everything I have learned managing my (3!) businesses for the past four years.   Shoot me an email!  thefaintofheartco@gmail.com

 

Cheers!

Nicki 

THE WANDERERS // The Faint of Heart Summer 2017 Collection

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  There’s just something about summer.  That nostalgic, magical time that you look to with excitement and expectation.  It’s the perfect time for adventures.  I wanted to try to capture some of those feelings with the Summer 2017 Collection, which is why it is fondly named “The Wanderers.”  I’m so excited about this new collection and can’t wait to introduce even more items.   To see more, visit my shop.

“These pieces are meant to capture the spirit and individuality of wanderers and explorers, and are perfect to take along with you on your adventures.”

 

“She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water.  She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs.  “Time” for her isn’t something to fight against.  Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.”

 

xo

Nicki

c + i: an introduction to my newest brand!

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So…I just have entrepreneur glitter running through my veins.  I just want to open a storefront.  Or a mobile boutique.  Or keep my home boutique forever.  And also have my handmade items carried in national chains, and local small businesses.   Basically, I have a million dreams and notebooks full of ideas that I scribble down at all hours of the day and night (ask my husband how many notebooks are in our house…).  Opening this home boutique has been so wonderful for me because I feel like I really am getting my feet wet in one of my big dreams–running my own company that has a strong online presence as well as a physical location.  All that being said…I have an exciting ANNOUNCEMENT!

   After careful consideration, I have decided to carry the jewelry brand Chloe + Isabel in my home boutique!!  We now carry my own handmade boho jewelry brand, The Faint of Heart, LuLaRoe clothing, and Chloe + Isabel jewelry.  Check out my online c+i boutique here.

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I decided to carry c+i because it is GORGEOUS, because every single piece has a story that goes with it, and because it is very different than The Faint of Heart, but they complement each other well!  Another thing that I really love about this jewelry is that it has a LIFETIME guarantee!  I love that I can rest assured that if I choose to invest my hard earned dollas into c+i jewelry, I will always have that piece in perfect condition.  

Here’s the best part…..I just joined last week….and this week the semi-annual Friends and Family sale began!!  You can get 25% off of your purchase in my shop using promo code FFSPRING17 !

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Some other cool facts about Chloe + Isabel:

-Everything is designed in c+i’s New York City studio

-Every piece is hand-crafted, nickel-free, hypo-allergenic and lead-safe.

-Not just jewelry…..there are HAIR ACCESSORIES TOO.  I am officially in love with the bun cuff I just got.  In. Love.  I wear it as a bracelet, and then if I get tired of my hair being down…BOOM IT’S A BUN CUFF. 

-The name Chloe + Isabel is based off of the concept of two best friends with different styles.  Chloe is the fearless trend-setter, while Isabel values timeless and classic pieces.

-c+i is has been featured in tons of fashion magazine and is worn by celebrities such as Oprah, Mila Kunis, Cara Delevigne, Ariana Grande, Jessica Alba and more.  I won’t lie…..it’s fun to creep on all of the famous people who wear c+i and see which pieces they are sporting.  (Is it weird that I deeply appreciate the fact that Mila Kunis and I have the same earrings?)

Here’s a shot of my cute little c+i set up in my home boutique:

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To say the least, I’m really excited!!  Check out my online c+i boutique here! If you want to earn FREE JEWELRY, book a pop-up party with me!  These can be at my house or at your house (or pretty much anywhere.)

 

xo–

nicki

 

 

Promo Video for The Faint of Heart Jewelry!

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My friend Lance (who is a pretty awesome videographer and musician) filmed this promo video for The Faint of Heart!  I am notorious for not being a good “direction giver” and saying  “yeah, cool, that’s fine!” to pretty much every question, so the fact that he could decipher exactly what my vision was (from very little direction) and come up with this PERFECT specimen of a promo video is beyond me.  

A few new Spring styles have been added to my Etsy shop, check ’em out here.

Enjoy!  Check out more of Lance’s work here.

Style profiles: Nicole, Azure + Lola

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Life has been a bit crazy, but good!  LuLaRoe is keeping me on my toes, that’s for sure….but it’s so much fun.  I just started carrying a couple new styles, and I thought I would introduce them here.

Nicole Dress-I like the name, obvs.  This full circle skirt dress has a more defined waistline, as opposed to the flow Carly.  The sleeves are a bit longer, which I like, and the neckline is more of a scoop-neck.Untitled design-3

Azure skirt- I really like this one.  It is similar to the Cassie skirt, but is an A line silhouette.  I can see myself wearing one of these in the fall, like, probably every day.  With tights and boots. Untitled design-4

Lola Skirt- This is a fun midi skirt, with an elastic waistband, and a lining and outer layer that is either lace or chiffon.  My favorite part of this skirt is that the out layer is a few inches longer than the lining layer, white shows off the lace and chiffon really well. Untitled design-5

 

Happy Weekend!

 Nicki

The Faint of Heart Jewelry–Spring Lookbook!

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These past few weeks have been pretty crazy for me, but I honestly LOVE it.  It’s so nice to wake up and have a ton to do, but be genuinely so excited about doing it.  That’s what having these two home businesses is like for me, and I’m really thankful for that!  Today I packed up 6 or 7 LuLaRoe orders (in darling light purple shipping envelopes), took some styled clothing pictures, took a million jewelry pictures, and listed a BUNCH of brand new jewelry designs in my Etsy shop.  Now if I can just convince my husband to go to the $3 movie theater and see “Moana” with me tonight, I would call today a HUGE SUCCESS.  High Fives.  XX Nickienlight1-1enlight1-2enlight1-3enlight1-5img_0905img_0966img_1065img_1085img_1260img_1262img_1273img_1281img_1282img_1289img_1297img_1304img_1311img_1319

LuLaRoe Lookbook

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So, I have started this LuLaRoe thing.  I am really enjoying it so far!  At first I was very skeptical, but what I love about LuLaRoe is that it is very straight forward…what you see is what you get! Last week I did a photo tour of my home boutique, so I thought that it was about time for me to introduce the clothing styles I offer!  More to come on my spring collection for my handmade jewelry brand The Faint of Heart.  Here is a fun little lookbook featuring some of my favorite LLR styles.   Shown below are these styles:

Irma tunic–  My current obsession–these tunics are awesome to wear with leggings, jeans, or a skirt.  I love these because I can wear a size Small for a more fitted look, or a Large and tie a  knot in it.

Julia dress– This is the fitted dress, with a straight skirt and above the elbow sleeves.  It pairs well with an Irma or Sarah over top!

Sarah cardigan– This is a fun “duster” cardigan what hits about mid calf.  As someone who is obsessed with layering, this is a must.

Monroe kimono and Lindsay kimono-I can’t stop wearing these.  They are light and flattering kimonos.  The Monroe has some fun fringe at the bottom.  I am obsessed with my lace one.

Leggings– Okay, this is the thing everyone thinks of when they think LuLaRoe…and for good reason.  These are nick-named “butter leggings” because they are so soft.  My husband can vouch for me on this…when I wear them, I will just absentmindedly rub my legs.  It’s weird.  And great.  These things are soft. 

Carly dress– these is the fun T shirt dress.  Most come with a pocket on the upper left ride.  These are very flattering and the skirts are not as fitted as the julia, which makes them great for knot tying.  I have seen people wear leggings underneath them, and/or Classic T’s, Irma’s, or Randy’s over them.

Classic T– A pretty straightforward, classic T shirt, super comfy.

Randy-the baseball T!  None are pictured, but they are fun and come in really great patterns.

All jewelry pictured (except Squash blossom necklace) is The Faint of Heart, of course!

If you’re interested in LuLaRoe, check out my VIP group here.  If you’re a local Memphis person and would like to drop by my home boutique, give me a shout at lularoenickihalford@gmail.com

Photo Tour of Home Boutique!

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Y’all…I’m so excited for this home boutique.  If you know me, you probably know that I have always wanted to own my own store front.  I’ve had an online shop, The Faint of Heart, since 2011, but this is my way of getting my feet wet in the realm of brick and mortar retail.  Besides my handmade jewelry, I am carrying the clothing brand LuLaRoe.  So much excitement!  My initial inventory was delivered last week, and I have been prepping prepping prepping for my launch party (and the house show that Rob and I are hosting that same night!)  Here is a fun little photo tour of the set-up!  If you’re a Memphis person, our launch is Monday February 13 at 5:30 PM!  RSVP here.  -Nicki

 

Spring 2017 Style Forecast

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Near the end of every winter I do this nerdy thing where I try to predict what the fashion trends will be for the coming spring and summer.  While every fashion magazine ever does this sort of thing, I always think it’s fun to pick my favorite “predictions.”  I’m not going to say I’m a fashion sorcerer or anything, but I usually do a pretty decent job!  Here are my top ten favorite picks for 2017!

1. Pale Pink.  Everyone who knows me knows that I am currently obsessed with blush colored things.  My blog planning notebook, my felt hat (a la Lady Gaga’s new album cover), my wool coat, and a delightfully soft blush velvet pillow that is perched on my couch.  The Pantone Rose Quartz trend is not over yet,  people.  Thankfully.

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2. MARBLE.  This one is weird. It’s not exactly a clothing trend, but marble is going to be huge this year.  I can feel it in my bones.  I can already see it popping up everywhere.  Marble jewelry and home accents are going to be showing up at every turn.  Check out these handmade marble rings from my jewelry brand, The Faint of Heart, if you dig this idea. 

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3. Fun prints, especially what I like to call “garden” print.  Okay, this isn’t the most revolutionary prediction…but hear me out!

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There are the typical formal prints, and then there are the ones that look like you are straight up wearing a garden on a dress.  Those are what I’m talking about.  Charming, hand drawn, wonderful color combination florals.  I’ve seen a few at good ole’ Target.  

I’m also feeling bright and fun prints in general, but that might just be my newfound obsession with LuLaRoe….(such an obsession that I went ahead and became a fashion consultant…whoops.  Check out and join my VIP group here.  Inventory should be arriving within a couple days!!  EEK!) 

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4. Edgy bohemian.  I’ve been obsessed for the past couple years with the whole edgy bohemian vibe. The lovely Vanessa from Little Boho Blog absolutely ROCKS this look, and I look to her for fashion inspiration weekly.  Those ethnic PRINTS!  I have also gone pretty head over heels for this edgy boho vibe with my handmade jewelry shop, and am in the process of introducing a large new collection of necklaces for this spring!  Keep an eye on my shop for updates, as I will be listing a bunch of new designs in the coming weeks! 

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5. COLOR POPS:  Whether it’s your scarf, purse or your lipstick, I think that fun color pops are going to be huge.  I mean, let’s just check out Pantone’s new colors of the year, shall we?  It’s like a rainbow of fun.  I will be the first to admit that I am all about that muted color life, (the colors that jump out at me originally are Pale Dogwood, Hazelnut and Kale…) but I am really feeling like I will be incorporating some the brighter hues into my palate this spring.pantone-color-swatches-fashion-color-report-fall-2017

6.  Maxi skirts with buttons and/or ruffled seams.

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7. As I like to call it, “Fine China” print.   So dreamy.

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8. Embellished, embroidered, studded, appliquéd.  Details make the piece.  I’m seeing a lot of cool embellished jackets lurking about.

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9.  One of my favorites, laser-cut boots, or as I fondly call them, SANDAL BOOTS.  For someone obsessed with boots, like moi, this is great for the warmer months.  It’s basically cheating and making boots an acceptable option for the burn-your-face-off-hot summer months in Memphis.  Yes, please.

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10. Fringe.  Call it an obvious choice….but I wouldn’t be lying to you if I said fringe was done.  And I’m super glad it’s here to stay because I LOVE FRINGE… I’m the girl who wore fringe boho boots under my wedding dress a couple months ago….and also asked my bridesmaids to wear them.  And flower girls.  I just have to remind myself that I probably shouldn’t wear more than one piece of fringe per outfit….  I could live in ’70’s clothes, and my spirit animal is probably Stevie Nicks  (Those shawls.  All of those fabulous fringey shawls…)

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There you have it, my predictions for this coming season!!  As always, you look best as YOU.  I think it’s so much fun to experiment with new styles and trends, but at the end of the day, I’m always going to dress like “me,”  no matter what the fashion magazines tell me.  I hope you will do the same 🙂

High Fives!

Nicki

DIY Scarf Camera Strap

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I know I know…two DIY posts in two days?  Guys… I can’t.  Stop.  Making things.  I’m just going to embrace it.  

 I have been swooning after scarf camera straps for a while now!   I saw a few on Etsy and just thought they were the coolest thing…functional AND stylish.   I had this beautiful scarf just lying around, so I decided that it would be a perfect DIY project!  Here’s now I turned a $5 scarf into a DSLR camera strap!

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Materials:

Scarf:  make sure it is a strong material, and isn’t a fabric that will fray.

Leather scraps:  I picked these up at Hobby Lobby.  You can easily use a thick denim or corduroy for a vegan alternative!

Leather cord: also found at Hobby Lobby.

Leather Punch tool:  Mine is Bead Landing brand and I picked it up at Michael’s.

Needle and button thread

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First, put the scarf on and decide how long you would like your camera strap to be.  Keep in mind that the final length will be a bit longer than the fabric once the leather cord is attached.  Trim your scarf accordingly!  

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Fold your leather pieces and cut triapezoid shapes out of them, leaving the smaller of the parallel sides on the fold, so when the leather is unfolded it will resemble a bowtie.

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Use your leather punch tool to make holes all the way around the folded leather, about a centimeter apart. On the side of the trapezoid that is folded,  make your hole punches about a half inch away from the edge, because that is where you will attach the leather cord.

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Sew the scarf to the leather, going through the pre-punched holes with your needle.  I took extra time to make sure I did the very thoroughly, because I have a deep loving connection with my camera and if the strap came apart and I dropped it…..it would not be a good day.  Ha!  

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When you have finished that, cut two pieces of the leather cord, about 8 inches in length.  Run those through the open space between where you punched the holes, at the folded part of the leather. Tie off the leather cord and then securely tie to your camera!  Voila!

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XO-

Nicki