tamara catz sample sale

fans of tamara catz's romantic bohemian style will want to drop into the maui designer's paia showroom tomorrow for a one day summer sample sale. if you can't make it, click over to the new online shop which is stocked with selections from the spring and resort 08 collections as well as new styles from the popular bridal line.

• when: fri, may 30th - 9a to 6p
• where: 83 hana hwy, paia

embroidered mini * knit jacket

cherry blossoms & butterflies

also, kristel from the shop (better known to readers as the designer behind rockabella jewels and co-creator of tc's in-house bridal jewelry line) recently sent along word that the in store 10% kama'aina discount is now accepted online so long as the order is being shipped to a valid hawaii address.

• secret code: hawaii
• expires: n/a
• fyi: not applicable on sale items

paper palace

poppy

today's etsy find is ohmymia's little design shop stocked with the prettiest paper goods. ohmymia made its debut last year when merriam, the honolulu freelance graphic designer behind the line, decided to leave the frenzy of the ad world behind to spend more time with her growing family. lucky for us, she decided to stick with her craft and start her own design house close to home (the company is named after one of her children).

custom wedding invites are the specialty of the house and merriam expertly styles a contemporary look while still retaining the feel of a good old fashioned romance.

love birds

fish note card

haute mama

for those of us not in the wedding market, a small selection of everyday note cards assembled into sweet shapes from a mosaic of papers and embellished with a single swarovski crystal are also available. oh, and if you are smitted with the hand screened haute mama tees, just know that they are limited in number since merriam plans to focus on the stationery side of her business.

click over to ohmymia's etsy shop for a peek at the entire collection!

ali'i kula lavender says i do

if your heart swoons for the lavender fields of provence but your other half insists on a beachside ceremony, it's time to click over to ali'i kula lavender which has opened up its maui farm to woo island brides and grooms with a dreamy alternative straight out of a jane austen novel.

the upcountry locale is suited for intimate weddings (50 to 120 guests) and the ten acre site offers both privacy and panoramic views all the way down to the pacific. it's a romantic compromise which all your guests are sure to remember and one that will make for a lovely backdrop for the official photographic record of your big day. 

the royal gazebo or estate lookout can be booked à la carte or via one of akl's wedding packages which includes a helping hand to coordinate all the details.

p.s. save 10% on wedding packages booked before june! contact akl for details.

sweet blossoms hawaii

even with the abundance of flowers grown in hawaii and this invention called the internet (which magically connects your business to the world whether potential customers live down the block or across the ocean and is underutilized, if at all, by so many hawaii businesses), it seems that finding a florist with a knack for modern arrangements outside the booming island wedding marketplace can be as difficult as locating a needle in a haystack.

enter sweet blossoms hawaii, a small floral shop on kapahulu that opened its doors last september with a focus on composing lush arrangements be it a simple prom boutonniere or a cascade of petals for everyday celebrations. a lifelong love of flowers prompted irene, sweet blossoms shopkeeper & head floral designer, to create wedding arrangements for family & friends during college before spending a few years learning the tricks of the trade while working in the flower trade.

what most impressed me about sweet blossoms is that an environmental policy is posted on their blog (which stands in for the official website): green waste is composted, when water is changed it gets sprinkled in the garden, cardboard boxes are reused and recycled, and tradewinds (aka the original a/c), keep the shop cool while also reducing sb's carbon footprint.

sweet blossoms also opts for local blooms when available to support local flower farmers while customers are encouraged to return vases in exchange for store credit.

the online gallery showcases an array of floral goodness and the staff welcomes customer input to create just the right mix of flowers for whatever the occasion may be. a consultation nook (love the saarinen table!) is also at the ready for planning out flower details for weddings, private parties, and company bashes.

• where: 1014 kapahulu avenue, suite 210
• shop hours: mon - sat, 8a to 7p & sun, 8a to 5p
• delivery area: koko head to aloha stadium ($10 fee)

fighting eel summer 2008

puka

a quick peek of fighting eel's summer 08 collection is sure to perk up those monday blues. fe continues to reinterpret island style with updates on the flirty designs that have become a staple in closets from hawaii to hollywood. i am loving fe's more modern approach to tropical which takes aloha friday to a whole new level of sophisticatio, and a sweet nod to the lushness of the designers' hometown paradise can be found in the rainbow of colors saturating the collection.

corsica

anouck

sienna

and, a simple twist in foolproof jersey is perfect for the beach bound island bride who prefers to say i do in a pretty silhouette versatile enough to be worn after the wedding day.

p.s. the fe atelier is now open to the public on thursdays so when in chinatown stop in and browse past collections which have been marked down 30 to 80% off.

• when: every thu & fri - 10a to 5p
• where: 47 north hotel street
• fyi: cash & credit cards only