Milo + Molly | In studio session | Avon, Connecticut

Meet Kristen

Fabric connoisseur, sewist and owner of Milo + Molly.

Her shop is filled with modern accessories featuring fun and bold patterns for colorful families. From infinity scarves to lip balm holders clips (GENIUS!) her items add a pop of happy to day to day items.

“All of my products are fabric- and felt-based, using a variety of sewing techniques and bright, bold colors. I love color matching and playing with patterns.” - Kristen

On a chilly Monday morning we ventured up to her sweet studio. The soft buttery light shining on her neatly organized workbench and sewing desk. At the far end of the studio is the rainbow wall of color coded fabrics which makes my a-type heart flutter. The pièce de résistance!

Kristen’s space is well decorated with the bits and baubles she has collected on her artisan journey supporting fellow makers and other meaningful mementos. Kristen has a been a longtime champion of the maker movement here in Connecticut. Her studio is truly a testament to this.

“Inspiration comes from my life and the people around me - things we could use in our day-to-day that are useful and beautiful at the same time. My Tooth Fairy pillows came about because we needed one - my son was on the verge of losing his first tooth and we had nothing to put it in, so I designed one for him. It's based on the tooth pillow that I had when I was a kid, but with a more modern style. Other products come about in a similar way - either by necessity or by wanting to try an idea out - and then once a product is designed, I choose fabric that I think will suit that product well.” - Kristen

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And I would be remiss I did not introduce you to the official poodle of Milo + Molly. Never far from Kristen was her Casey patiently awaiting some love and kisses.

Shop the entire Milo + Molly collection. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Sarah K. | Portrait Session | Milford, Connecticut

The wild winds called to her soul and through the ground she felt the thundering hooves of freedom. - Shikoba

Meet Sarah. Runner, animal rescuer, artist and all around sweet spirit.

Nature, to me, is one of the best places ever to be in. If i can get swallowed by a forest, I feel.. at peace. My mind clears and my spirit lifts, and I’m just surrounded by serenity. I feel welcome, and maybe a little honored too, that I get to gaze at its beauty, and walk among the trees and creatures. My soul repairs and I come out restored. - Sarah

Scroll for more from this Wildflower session.

Sarah and I grew up together, and though we are cousins. we have always been more like sisters. Countless nights spent giggling on summer sleepovers and deep conversations sharing all of our secrets. She has this grounding sense about her. Braving storms with grace and determination. The first to run into the rain shower and remind you to dance.

Love with everything you have, right now, and love blindly.

Let’s schedule your wildflower session - message me.

Bethany Florist Shop | Creative Portraits | Bethany, Connecticut

Today on the blog I want to introduce you to Rachael owner of Bethany Florist Shop. We first met while working on a styled shoot and it was love at first long, hot, dirty day on set. Over the time I have known her we have worked on quite a few sets and each one has been a blast and the florals always look AMAZING. Aesthetically we vibe on almost everything…except carnations…but she is bringing me around. More on that later.

For this shoot I wanted to focus on the powerhouse bad ass business owning petal boss that she is. I also think that should be on her official title but whatever. In her twenties she went ahead and bought a flower shop business. Like just…dove right in. She also kept on the loyal employees that had worked there for decades ensuring them a smooth transition as she began evolving the business. BOSS. So why a flower shop?

To be honest, this wasn’t the path that I expected for myself. It kind of just fell into my lap and when I look at myself and the way I am, it just seems to make sense. I’ve always been a bit of a hippy dippy, all natural, holistic type of person and I love love learning a new skill. So when flowers were on the table, I figured this really was the best combination of all these things. I get to work with my hands, play with a beautiful product and learn a skill that just makes people happy.. which isn’t that really why anyone does anything? To make people happy? - Rachel

The very first shoot Rach and I worked on she told me she was going to bring carnations. I in all of my subtle politeness, said…uhhhh NO. Carnations don’t belong in deep and moody styled shoots. Totally un-phased she assured me that they would work. So when asked for her favorite flower?

Carnations! Ha! They are the underdog of flowers. Anyone can say they love peony or garden roses or all those other flowers you see all over Pinterest, and they should because those flowers are gorgeous. However, Carnations got a bad rep for being a cheap funeral flower, but I don’t view them that way. They are so dynamic, color choice is absolutely endless and they last FOREVER!! 

For the record, the carnations totally worked and became the base of most of the decor perfection. Dammit. You can see the shoot in our recent feature on Offbeat Bride.

The thing about Rachel is she lives in the moments that make magic happen. Those seconds before the doors open to an event and the air is vibrating with silent excitement is where she is most alive. “It’s the colliding of these two worlds…that final breath before you take the stage, fixing a zipper before the model walks the runway or placing the final flower before the wedding guests arrive…I love it.”

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For more from our on set adventures head over to the styled editorial gallery.

To visit her shop head to Bethany Florist & Gift Shoppe or say hi on Instagram.

And to schedule your own wildflower session drop me a line.