This senior session was an early-morning exploration of our beautiful St. Simons Island!!! Rachel is a bright & beautiful senior & has so much to look forward to!! This world is your oyster sweet girl!!!
Locations: East Beach, St. Simons Island, GA :: Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, GA :: Avenue of the Oaks, St. Simons Island, GA
I met Kelsey & James the day of our shoot - not completely atypical, I guess! But Kelsey & I had corresponded for a couple of weeks prior & I was blown away by how well-spoken & nice she was! Forget they're, like, the cutest couple ever, I just wanted to work with them because of how awesome, laid-back, & professional they are!
P.S. I loved this neat, tucked away location in Jacksonville, FL, Castaway Island Preserve!
I met Barbara Kindle almost six months ago at Moxie Craft Fest. She stood quietly beside her Bartique Designs sign & allowed me to sift through her variety of handmade bags, pouches, & scarves while asking a series of questions. Though she was probably wondering who I even was asking all those questions, she humored me by answering them & if there was one thing I picked up on immediately, it's: don't let her shy nature fool you! Her products are vibrant, happy, & definitely stand out from the rest. Since then, I've met her at a handful of other markets & each time, I investigate her inventory to see what new, zesty prints she has incorporated into her product line!
As a yoga-goer, Barbara was inspired years ago to design her very first piece - the extremely durable Yoga Mat Bag. Reversible, she designed this bag to be both fashionable & practical, with a weighted flap to keep the bag closed & a pocket for keys, cellphones, & other smaller items, all while protecting any yoga mat. In 2013, Bartique Designs was born &, with a degree in Fashion Design, she used her vision & artistic ability to create various-size bags, scarves, & even apparel. (I absolutely love her Kindness is Classy t-shirt, a campaign aimed to remind people to be kind!)
Her entrepreneurial journey started in 1987 when she started a swimwear company called, "Suits Me Fine," in Miami, FL. Her bathing suits were adorned with pearls & lace & sold across the East Coast & Midwest. She closed the business after becoming pregnant with twin boys so she could focus on doing what any good stay-at-home mom would do: devote her time to her children.
Today, Barbara incorporates fabrics from local vendors & some online vendors. "I try to support
small vendors in our local community, if possible. I take frequent road trips to find the great little
shops that have hidden fabric treasures," she says. This was one thing that definitely stood out to me about Barbara - she supports other local/small businesses when & where she can. "The artisan community here has embraced me and I have formed some wonderful friendships. I am so lucky to be surrounded by the most amazing, talented local artists that inspire me everyday. We lift each other up on those challenging days & keep the focus on following our dreams. Collaborating together has been so much fun & enhances the true artistic talent that we have in our little community. The ceramic medallions I use on my pouches are made by Elizabeth Pottery. The turtle stamped medallion is the perfect fit to our turtle prints & adds that extra coastal flair," - her top-seller! It is truly inspiring to watch vendors reinforce one another in such a way!
Like any business-owner with a family, she says her greatest obstacle has been learning how to balance work & personal time. (SUPER hard - don't I know!!!!) "It is a journey, not a sprint so I try to remember to enjoy the ride," she says. Regarding her greatest lesson, she says she's learned to pace herself & not succumb to the pressure we have the tendency to place on ourselves. Barbara intends to expand her bag line in the near future & focus on internet sales.
Find her & her beautiful designs at all the following locations:
www.bartiquedesigns.com :: at Omcore Yoga & Body at 1624 Frederica Rd #3, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 :: the Market at Sea Island :: Golden Isles Olive Oil at 306 Redfern Village, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 :: Dot & Army, Downtown Brunswick :: the Rose & Vine, Downtown Brunswick :: the Goodyear Cottage on Jekyll Island :: Lucy Gunn in St. Marys :: & future locations in California & Florida!!
Yoga mat bags are available at the Club, SSI on Demere Road, St. Simons Island, GA!
Be sure to stop by the Farmer's Market Pop-Up at St. Marys Waterfront Park in Brunswick, GA this Saturday to see some Bartique Designs & follow her on Instagram for all her latest styles!
Keep scrolling for more photos!
In the last couple of weeks, some of you have sent your children off to school for another amazing year - or even for the very first time! Phoebe is welcoming another season of dance while experiencing school for the first time! Cate will be joining her first dance class! The two couldn't be more excited (or precious!)!
I absolutely adore it when couples can be genuinely comfortable & happy with one another in front of the camera. That's not an easy thing to accomplish but this vacationing couple has mastered it!
Hotel: King & Prince
Beach: East Beach, St. Simons Island, GA
Donna allowed me to help her update her professional headshots for her real estate! Check her out at Parker Kaufman!! She was such a joy to work with & she deserves all the successes!
Location: Jekyll Island Club Hotel
