I met the amazingly talented and kind Lia through the tangled and magical web of etsy. I was just starting to work with hand dying my organic fabrics and she was kind, encouraging and gracious. We met, of-course, over my adoration of one of her enameled bangle sets – and I’m not ashamed to say their name, Turkish Delight, was 1/3 of what reeled me in. This was a gal that I could get behind. A person who understood the magical effect of words and wordsmiths.

Petite Fours

Fast forward a year or so and we started to collaborate with pieces for my collections. We have it down to a refined science now. I send her words, scraps of fabric, bits of ribbon and inspiration clippings and she returns the most amazingly inspired set of enameled art I’ve ever seen. I’ve yet to open a highly anticipated box with disappointment. I’ll never forget the first time. She wrapped each set in a gold or silver piece of tissue and tied them with red string – their names written on each little gift. I needed a fainting couch for my swoon.

Foxglove

And I’m at a bit of a loss really. I am a girl who likes the perfect 1 of something. I save my pennies for something special, wear it to the ground and hang it up like an old relic when I’ve gotten all I’ve needed from it. But I collect B&B like a refined magpie. I have my eye on three complete sets right this second AND I know what’s coming for next fall and I need a set or two of them as well. Lucky for me Bullfinch & Barbury is offering a re-release sale on these beautiful sets until the end of March.

Peony

Wild Honey Pie

I suppose they’re like flowers to me – I can’t get enough in my garden. I’m endlessly enchanted by the cultivation and colors.  I hope our collaborations inspire and delight you as much as they do me.  Visit Bullfinch & Barbury and become enchanted. Thank you for sharing your talents Lia! Until next time. All collection pictures by Jana Busbin.

My very own magpie branch of enameled delights.

Towards mid day, slightly baffled by the heat, you find yourself letting the current take you gently down the river, paddles up, canoe gliding.         At a small sandbar on the riverbank, you see a mirage of two ladies. Too beautiful to be real. Looking at you with laughing eyes, you know they’ll pull you over if they open their mouths to sing.                Dresses caught around them with sashes of river weeds and spun honey. You blink twice and they’ve vanished among the river reeds.

Draped and tucked organic cotton/soy/bamboo jersey. Slight wrap stylings with wide sash of crinkled green (pebble) or satin honey (blossom) ribbon.

Thank you for joining us along the banks of a muddy river. Hearing tales and spinning yarns. You can find the S/S11 Sapona River Collection Lookbook here. The online shop will debut the collection for sale on March 1st. We look forward to seeing you.                               Until then, we hope we’ve inspired you, or made winter’s last grip loosen just a little.

We hope to see you lounging, playing cards, having a tea party, walking through the tallest flower stalks, pitching a tent, reading a novel, laughing with your dearest friends, dancing down a grassy path,  having a hundred adventures – barefooted and sure-hearted on the banks of a river.

All Photography by Jana Busbin. Set Styling -Hallie Richards. Bracelets and Bangles -Bullfinch & Barbury.

Sisters playing cards. Lazy dogs and shade from a hot summer day. Bare feet on soft soil. Bracelets that make tinkling sounds on sunkissed skin. The kind of top meant to be lived in and washed in a creek bed. Soft and comfortable like summer in the forest.

The Jack of Spades Top: Soft organic cotton, soy and bamboo jersey in shades of blossom and pebble. Pleated at the shoulders has a loose silhoutte that is gathered to the body by removable vintage lingerie cream stretch ribbon (blossom) or a maple colored thick satin ribbon with snaps (pebble). Can also be gathered with a skinny belt or hang loose. Deep narrow V neck.

The Virginia Waltz Skirt was made for summer dances. For a walk on the beach to find shells at sunset. Or a romp through wildflower fields or late summer corn mazes. It’s a bit cheeky. The kind of piece a younger sister would steal to see what she looks like – grown up and envied. Wear it well into fall with a light wool cardigan and  wool stockings.

Made from bronze hemp and silk blend, this skirt is gathered to the side to give the perfect amount of swing and swish. With a small slit to one side to give plenty of room for wide strides. It closes with a metal zipper. Shown here with the Jack of Spades Pebble Top and skinny leather belt.

Click here to see the official collection lookbook and check back next monday to see our last debut before the online shop opens!