one of my favorite Fall looks at the store
cozy but still lightweight (perfect for nola)
classic but still current
with a unique little twist
get the look:
all available at hattie sparks
creativity takes courage
9.20.2012
alright, so i'm "back"
glad i got the re-introductory post out of the way,
but i have just a tiny bit of explaining to do
in regards to why i think it was important to resurrect my little corner of the internet
the store i own, hattie sparks, is brimming with unique designers & artists
whose stories i will tell to anyone who will listen.
now, there's only so much i can do on the ol' Facebook
but i have such a passion for these small, independent designers
why they do what they do, what influences them, how they got their start, why their product is special
that i want, and need to shine a bright spotlight on them.
each one of their distinct fingerprints make h.s. what it is.
the store would not be the same without them.
this is why i want my customers to know
that when they buy a dress from jolie & elizabeth,
they're putting money directly back into NOLA's economy;
that proceeds from see scout sleep dog collar benefits our beloved gulf coast;
that the MCMC perfume they can't stop sniffing
is named for and inspired by an event in its creator's life.
are these products well made?
yes.
are they little gems to be discovered?
yes.
are they crafted from distinct and creative points of view?
absolutely yes.
but, to me, what makes these lines different
are the people and the passions behind them.
i truly believe that a shopping experience becomes more complete
when there's a sense of discovery, or a story waiting to be told behind each product
so
that's one of my goals here.
to tell those stories,
to ignite a sense of discovery,
to depart from the generic,
to pull the shades back and let some light fall on these incredible people & their passions.
because creativity takes courage.
and i want to honor that as best i can.
hit refresh
9.19.2012
hey!
remember me?
remember that one time i posted regularly on this little blog?
yeah...i'm having a hard time, too.
some big things have happened since i last posted
namely this:
!!!
can you believe it? i alluded to this goal in this post last october (i'm so sneaky, right?)
and it happened.
it actually happened and it has been incredible.
i have literally been pinching myself for the past seven months
and have been blown away and humbled by the warm reception i've received
from locals and out-of-towners alike.
some highlights include:
(still don't know if this one really happened)
a spotlight on one of my favorite local sites, I Heart NOLA
being voted as one of the TOP 3 'best new retail stores'
...just to name a few
there have been several other articles, blog posts, & mentions
that i've had the honor to be a part of.
so you can see why i really am pinching myself.
the greatest part of everything though?
aside from establishing and building relationships with incredible designers, artists, and collaborators
aside from getting to meet sweet and interesting customers each day
aside from having the opportunity to curate a collection i'm proud of...
the greatest part is that i am really, really
living out a passion.
not a dream. a passion.
a dream is something, to me, that's a fantasy. a far-off. an "if only___"
a passion is something that burns in your spirit. it's who you are.
and you know that if you don't follow that passion, you'll regret it every. single. day.
living out your passion is living out who you are, but to the fullest and most authentic degree.
it can be challenging, scary, maddening, and a huge risk.
but if you leap, really jump, work your tail off, stay motivated, creative, honest, and kind
then the rewards will heavily outweigh the risks.
and i get to do that
every.single.day
i still can't believe it.
so, now that i'm "back" we'll get down to real business soon....
stay posted, because it's gonna be good.
