Talk about a powerful quote. I think it ties in nicely to the message of this post. For over a year I've been quietly working on building my own online boutique. It began as an idea when I was expecting the arrival of my daughter. It was just a loosely formed thought, but I could not shake it from my mind. Instantly I knew the name of the shop, the vibe, the essential look it should have. I knew I would have to build this store and make it happen.

But until you put the hours in, an idea is really just that: a thought. How on earth was this going to happen? How could I fit this into my already packed schedule? And more importantly, what exactly was I going to have in the store? I've had many ideas on this and many attempts to see it come to fruition. In the end, I actually designed and built the boutique before my daughter was born.

The challenge: I hadn't quite nailed down what I would carry or how to handle the logistics of selling other people's creations. I spoke to many vendors, many talented people and danced with many (many, many) iterations of the original idea. And while I found many amazing products I could display in the shop, it seemed I was reinventing the wheel, as they were already for sale elsewhere. Why was I reinventing the wheel? It just wasn't adding up.

Many months later that initial seed of an idea has now bloomed into something much more meaningful and far more personal. In an odd way I'm happy it took so long to complete the project. It gave me time to distill the idea to a clear, elegant concept.
So...what's the skinny? It's simple, actually. Occasionally, in lieu of buying art for our home or office I end up creating pieces of my own. Sometimes it is the only way to get the desired result. Some of the designs offer bits of wisdom, some remind you to get out and explore the most fabulous destinations this planet boasts, and others are simply meant to be beautiful. (Hey, there's nothing wrong with just sitting there looking pretty.) Each design is colorful, happy and intended to inspire.After assembling a collection of work, it seemed only logical to share them with you. In short, I'm presenting to you a collection of modern prints I have personally designed. That's right, hipsters. I'm offering you some Venti Cup-style design for your own bad selves. After much delay, many long nights and much fussing over details, I proudly present to you...the Venti Cafe, my own little boutique! And here's the best part: 10% of the proceeds from the Venti Cafe are going to a charity very near and dear to my heart. This has become the driving motivator for this project and I hope you feel the same compassion I do for this cause. It truly made an impact on my life and I feel a deep need to give back.

So I hope you'll pop over to the cafe just to see what the fuss is all about. I'm sure you'll love what you see!

{P.S...In the near future I'll be adding new collections, including several designs for nurseries. Stay tuned!}