They've been fans from the start--the Clodhoppers gals (Kelly and Kathy, the owners, and their extended "family" of lovely ladies who have at one time or another been part of the fantastic shop) took a liking to Elva Fields and haven't given up on us yet!  It all started about eight and a half years ago (yikes...that long, really?) when a dear friend, who worked there at the time, wore one of our earliest creations to the shop.  After the Clods gals asked where she got it, Elva Fields soon became a regular addition to the glass cases on display on Bardstown Road.  We were ecstatic to have landed in such lovely and stylish surroundings at Clodhoppers--they're the leading ladies of the local shopping scene, having been a boutique for women since 1993, starting first with shoes and expanding into clothing and other accessories soon after.   (And we have to give them full props for their mention in Southern Living this week!)

Fast forward to their beautiful spot in Saint Matthews in the space formerly occupied by the legendary Vogue Theatre, and we're still in the vitrines, loving our longstanding connection with such savvy, dedicated, and sincere women.  They've given us everything from our start in the Louisville fashion market to advice on raising daughters (one of the owners even handed down a crib and changing table when our first daughter was born...thank you again and again, Kathy!) and insights on owning a business.  

We think the world of the entire Clodhoppers team, which is why we asked them to take part in our Spring Collection photo shoot this past fall.  Meggie Graham McMahon, who is quite possibly the kindest and most adorable boutique manager on the planet, agreed to join in the fun, and we were thrilled to have her with us for the day.  She's beautiful inside and out...and rocked some Elva with an assortment of gorgeous ensembles from the Clodhoppers collections.   (See her below?  GORGEOUS, right?)

We had a chance to catch up with Meggie amidst the flurry of spring shopping (it is high Derby season around here) and asked her a few questions...below she dishes on Derby dressing, a love of fashion, and her favorite part about working with fabulous women.  (And, Meggie, thank you again for being such a wonderful model for us...and for getting Elva on the necks of some glamourous gals this time of year.  See you soon!)

Emily/Elva Fields:  When did you first begin your Clodhoppers adventure?  Were you a customer before you were an assistant?

Meggie/Clodhoppers:  I would walk into Clodhoppers on Bardstown Road when I was in high school and just admire all of the beautiful clothes... I could only admire.  My mom took me into the store right before high school graduation and bought me two dresses for the festivities, and I was absolutely ecstatic!  I still have the two--just can't let go of them.  I started working at Clodhoppers in the summer of '07, right after I graduated from the University of Kentucky.  I don't think they'll ever be able to get rid of me! 

EF:  What is your favorite thing about being part of the fun at Clodhoppers?

M:    I love love love helping people find their perfect little black dress or favorite pair of blue jeans. I also love all of the girls I work with. We are like one big happy family.

EF:  What are some of your favorite labels featured at the shop?

M:    Milly (of course), JBrand Jeans, Lauren Moffatt, Alice & Trixie...

EF:   How would you describe your style in five words or less?

M:    Eclectic, Timeless, Trendy, Comfy, funky- it completely is based on my mood that day!

EF:  Working in a boutique can be a dangerous proposition for the pocketbook (and paycheck!)...how do you prioritize your purchases from the store?  Are there particular items you are most excited to invest in than others each season?

M:    If I absolutely love something, I snag it (like the many Elva Fields necklaces and earrings I've collected over the years- you gotta get those quickly!)  If I'm not positive about something, I'll wait a week, and if it's still around and I'm still dreaming about it, I'll get it. This method actually works well for my pocketbook because we only order a select amount of a style in, so they usually go quickly. I get to live vicariously through our customers, too. Sometimes I'm more excited when I help them find the perfect outift than even myself.  Derby season is a great opportunity to do this.

EF:  As you mentioned, it's Derby week here in Kentucky--do you have any go-to style tips for ladies headed to the track or to a fun party for the occasion?  

M:   Anything goes for Derby! I always love a colorful Derby fit, but then also get really excited when someone chooses to go a different route and wear a more muted palette or an understated, simple and elegant outfit.

EF:  Lastly, just for those Derby dressers...hat, fascinator, or (gasp) neither?

M:   Fascinator! 

Clodhoppers at the Vogue

3727 Lexington Road

Louisville, Kentucky 40207

502.891.0079

www.clodhoppers.com

As many of our customers know, we love a fun surprise here at Elva Fields...especially one that brings a smile to the face.  And our love for art is no secret, either--it's an Elva "must" without fail.  Combine these two, and, voila--an artful surprise.  One afternoon last year, we decided to sneak in a little something extra in our boxes of necklaces--sure, it's fun to part the tissue and see your jewels waiting happily in their bow-bedecked box, but why not toss in a little something unexpected, too?  

We batted a few ideas about (we'll spare you the random and hilarious brainstorming session that ensued) and decided that a beautiful card--a limited-edition art print--would be a welcome and smile-inducing gift to include.  In seasons past, we've had a few artists create the design, and this spring we partnered with a fabulous printmaker and graphic designer to visually interpret a quote we imagined from our Spring Collection theme, Living History.  

A Vintage Poster was certainly up to the task and beautifully captured exactly what we had in mind (or dreamed...and never could have done ourselves!)  She is one talented gal, and we think you'll be thrilled to know that she has a store...chock-full of fabulous prints with the most fun phrases, doodles, and designs.  (And, yes...she'll even customize something wonderful just for you!)  And if you scroll on down, you'll even enjoy a bit of a bonus for the ol' pocketbook...absolutely worth the browsing.

Enjoy! (and stay tuned for more surprises to come!)

With all that free time they have, we thought we'd ask our April Leading Ladies, Kristen Chase and Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks, a few questions--between television appearances, book publications, a phenomenal website, blogs, six children between them, and a life somewhere in there, surely they had a minute to spare for chit-chat, right?

We loved getting to know both of them through our design collaboration and once the jewelry was complete, we had a chance to catch up on the rest of their stories.  Enjoy!

Emily/Elva Fields: How did the two of you initially meet?

Kristen: We actually met on the Internet through our personal blogs, Motherhood Uncensored and Mom 101. It's a true Internet love story of sorts.  I love that Liz has a way of making everything look cool. She's one of those people who could turn a Target t-shirt into a fashion statement. Also, she's a secret blackjack shark. 

Liz:  Kristen was one of the first people to comment on my blog in 2006.  I was starstruck.  We connected very quickly and soon after Kristen had this awesome idea to start a little blog to promote the small businesses and crafts we were seeing from other bloggers, and talk about the products we love. We never imagined Cool Mom Picks would grow into what it’s become.  As for Kristen, she’s the most amazing business partner you can imagine.  She is a total roll-up-her-sleeves, get-it-done kind of gal. All while raising four incredible kids, keeping a sense of humor, and looking good doing it. Because of this, I forgive her for making me look really short next to her on TV.

Emily:  What is the best parenting advice (solicited or otherwise!) you've ever received?

Kristen: Parent the kids you have. Also, peanut butter does wonders for gum in the hair. 

Liz: My mother told me to always remember that every decision as a parent you make is right, and every decision you make as a parent is wrong.  She’s brilliant.

Emily:  You unexpectedly have the afternoon off--what do you do?

Kristen: I head straight for the gym. Which is code for "shoe store." 

Liz: I’m not entirely sure what an afternoon off is, but in my dreams I’d spend it naked, face down on a massage table, followed by an obnoxiously long lunch at an outdoor café with my girlfriends.  I’d be dressed for that part though.

Emily:  How would each of you describe your Cool Mom style in five words or less?

Kristen: Funky with a classic edge. 

Liz: NYC chic with an indie touch

Emily:  Where in your neck of the woods would you wear your new Elva?

Kristen: I've been wearing it everywhere except for bed. 

Liz: It’s so gorgeous with every neckline, from tees to tank dresses. It’s already getting a looooot of use.

Emily:  Any other Elva Fields items catch your eye for other Cool Moms out there? 

Liz: I never leave the house without earrings. The beaded hoops would make even a tee and jeans look polished but I could wear them at night as well.  I also like the new turquoise earrings, like the vintage Czech glass flowers which would get a lot of play all summer.

Kristen: The Growing Balance necklace is just amazing--perfect for all the beautiful colorblocking this year. How cool would it be with a yellow dress and a hot pink bag?

See?  We knew we liked these ladies.  For more of their top picks and witty banter, get thee over to Cool Mom Picks...you'll be a lot cooler if you do.

Their motto is "We find it, you flaunt it."  We love a woman (two women in this case) who gets that motherhood is teamwork--we're all in this together and usually (at least personally speaking) need all the help we can get.  That's where Cool Mom Picks comes in, founded by two savvy, stylish, and sympathetic mothers who understand that this crazy juggling act of having children might benefit from a fun, helpful, and insightful online guide to good stuff along the way.  

Along with their contributors, Kristen Chase and Liz Gumbinner combine their talents, skills, and experiences to cull, curate, and collect tips, helpful hints, great products, noteworthy sales, and unique opportunities that make a mama's busy life that much, well, cooler.  ("Cool" as in hip and stylish AND calm and collected, we think.)  Whether suggesting the perfect baby shower gift in a pinch, a sale on a clothing brand I didn't even know existed but is now a go-to favorite, simplified tech-related suggestions (for the resolutely un-tech), or a book that will answer all the questions you've been asking about raising a toddler, Cool Mom Picks has saved us time, money, energy, and stress, and though they will not come to your house and change a diaper for you, they just might change the course of your day if you can sneak a few minutes to browse the site.  (Hint: sign up for their newsletter...all the info you need in one tiny package straight to your in-box!) 

Clearly, we're fans.  Which is why we were thrilled when Kristen and Liz agreed to be our April Leading Ladies--quite the Dynamic Duo, indeed!   We started out by getting a feel for each of their personal styles, and after browsing the Pinterest board that each of them created, we began pulling various materials from our in-house collections of vintage finds and bead stashes.    

Liz's Style Inspiration: we especially noted the black and white patterns, hints of blue, and the mixed metals necklace at lower right...

Kristen's Style Inspiration: we immediately noticed her love of bright colors, graphic patterns, and bold colorblocking.

What we pulled for Liz's initial materials proposal:

And the two proposed designs we assembled from which she could choose (a tiebreaker!):

The materials we selected for Kristen's necklace:

And first and second rounds of the design evolution:

Both Kristen and Liz were right-on when they made suggestions on how to proceed--true to their editorial eye, each of them knew exactly what would look best on them and what small changes would work well to suit their individual style.  Ultimately, Liz's necklace was created of an assemblage of strands, incorporating faceted silver crystal, silvery pearls, vintage gunmetal and silvertone chains, and even an antique crystal chandelier component.  (We love it against her New York City skyline!)

For Kristen's necklace, we chose vibrant vinyl disc beads (repurposed in Ghana from vintage records) mixed haphazardly with 1940s blue glass, yellow wood, black mesh, Kenyan bone, and a hint at glam with golden chalcedony nuggets.  A fun gathering of color and right at home in her southern setting!  (But we feel sure it'll see some sights outside of the sunny south, too!)

We had a wonderful time working with Liz and Kristen on this project--a giant thank-you to the hard-working, fabulous femmes behind Cool Mom Picks!  (Stay tuned for a fun interview with the CMP ladies in a bit...we just had to ask them a few questions about life, love, and jewels.)

Featured in the April issue of Good Housekeeping, our vintage Czech lattice drops were so overwhelmingly popular that they sold out in a matter of days. Like many of the rare beauties we come across, this particular style is no longer available, however we've found not one, but five options that we think will satisfy your craving for aqua and gold. Similarly sized and priced, yet each unique in their own right, there's a style for every Elva gal! Quantities are still limited, so don't miss out on these Spring must-haves! 

Vintage Czech Glass Leaves: $30

Vintage Czech Glass Drops: $32

 

Vintage Czech Glass Flowers: $28

Vintage Czech Glass Drops: $28

Vintage Czech Glass Nuggets: $28