Alexandra (Allie) Sundet and I met at least six years ago at small group. Our paths have criss-crossed as acquaintances for over six years now, and I've always admired her journey from afar through church and social media. I finally got a chance to interview Allie about her faith journey, her work, and where they intersect.
She's a natural beauty with fantastic style and sense of humor. But more than those things, her heart for equality, ethical business, and tuning into her gifts to serve others is why she radiates.
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I met Elissa and Ian at their abode on a perfectly warm summer Saturday afternoon. And I had a blast capturing a bit of their love as we wandered the neighborhood with their quirky cute French Bulldog Waffles Benedict.
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This styled shoot was in collaboration with Nimble Well, Altissima Cake, Field and Florist, BBJ Linen, and Devin Sutter at Blue Plate Chicago's gorgeous new space. You'll find a masterful take on a monochromatic color palette with velvety mauve linens, burgundy ranunculus galore, and edible roses. You, too, may swoon over the brassy gold details, the creamy lace, and the very best light.
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Today I'm sharing my interview with 27-year-old floral designer Brie Pflederer of Splendor of Eden. I discovered Brie's textural and garden-inspired florals through the Rising Tide Society. With my own adoration of flowers, I was drawn to her organic and varied arrangements. From peonies to poppies, jasmine to scabiosa, and our favorite: ranunculus, I've been so inspired (hello heart eyes emoji!) by Brie's work.
On a gorgeous April afternoon, she invited me down to her Pilsen abode to document her design and prepare for a wedding.
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This post is a long-time coming. A year in the making, technically. Much longer if you know who my Nana is to me. To say she is special is a grand understatement. I found I so badly wanted to do this justice – to provide you a proper glimpse. It held me back. So I finally gathered some thoughts and am releasing them here:
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Kathleen and I met in 2011 at a K-8 school in Chicago. She was moving to Colorado, and I was hired for the web editor and communications position she was leaving. In the days she spent training me, I knew she was a bright and passionate person. And I knew she would find adventure in Colorado. We've kept in touch (through social media, of course!), and I've followed along as her Tiny House, Tiny Footprint storytelling has become both a lifestyle and a career. It's a beautiful thing to witness people find their callings and come alive in them. I love that Kathleen and Greg's mission isn't just about reducing their carbon footprints, but it's also about encouraging others to connect with nature. Here's a look into their life of tiny living.
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Like many of you, my dear friends—Kat Finley and Devin Sutter—and I are often discussing our appreciation for food, style, aesthetics, and most importantly, community. Each of us has felt the call to do more passion projects and use our gifts to give back. We've worked on encouraging one another to not wait on making, playing, exploring, or bringing our visions to life, and we realized we had a special opportunity to collaborate in a different way. With inspiration from a five-senses art exhibit, we set out to find a place of natural beauty and peace, and we discovered the Ultimate Creator curating a sensory experience of our own at the Montrose Beach Dunes.
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Anna Zajac was the first person I met through instagram. We're both from Ohio, and she moved to Chicago in 2014. She's become a dear friend and is one of the best photographers I know. I visited Anna in her Lincoln Square home studio in early June where she shared about running her own business, what it's like photographing love, and what's been inspiring her lately.
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Geraldine "Gerri" Ezeocha is from Nigeria, but she has lived in Chicago for almost 12 years. Yes, her fierce beauty is a force to be reckoned with, but it is the way she lives out the Word that speaks volumes about her heart. We met in her neighborhood of Edgewater one early summer morning where she shared with me about growing up early, building a home away from home, and learning to see and receive our Heavenly Father's goodness.
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Lauren & Adam were married on a perfect day in August in Chicago. Their intimate reception was held at lovely A New Leaf in Old Town.
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Darbi Masters is 27 year-old from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After spending a few years in Chicago, then moving to the UK to lead a creative media team, she's back in Chicago and resides in Lincoln Square. This was not "the plan," and that's why I want to share some of her story with you. I met with Darbi at a treasured place of peace in Chicago—The Garfield Park Conservatory. As we explored her favorite room (The Desert House), she shared with me how she's cultivating her skills during this transition time, while learning to rest on faith amidst the unknown.
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Bethany Squires and I met a little over two years ago through a mutual friend when she moved from Minneapolis to Chicago to begin working as a Music Therapist. For the past couple of years, we've witnessed Bethany fall in love with Chicago. My husband Andrew and I visited her in her apartment in Pilsen on a blustery and cool June evening to capture a bit of her songwriting process and to hear about her faith journey. We were blessed (for real) to film her on her beloved rooftop singing one of the songs she recently penned.
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Aiyana Taylor is a woman of deep faith and has affirmed and reminded me how we are uniquely designed, how God has a divine plan for each us, and how we are called to be creative. It's evident her children are learning this, too. I wanted to capture a little bit of that. I've always wondered at the challenge of being an amazing teacher—to be an excellent and caring steward of souls and a home. When you meet Aiyana, you know she has that gift. I spent the afternoon with her and her kiddos as they planted seeds for their own vegetable garden, discussed and documented process, and as they each shared with me some of their own passions and favorite spots in their home. From Star Wars, to water coloring, to sewing—witnessing their creativity is something certainly special.
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Chelli Look is the founder and creative director of the Chelli Harms Collection CHC. Her craftsmanship in her leather work is certainly evident in each piece she creates. My husband Andrew and I visited her studio in Ravenswood to hear about the story behind CHC and to capture a bit of how she works and worships through her hands. Click through to see how she stewards her business and uses her gifts to give back.
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Devin Sutter is one of the most joyful and compassionate people I know. She works as a colorist and stylist at Red 7 Salon, but I know her through our church and small group, where I met her two years ago. I wanted to see where she spends most of her time. I wanted to capture her in her zone doing what she's skilled in and so passionate about. I followed along as she applied the Balayage Technique to our friend Lauren.
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Kat is a Pediatric Physical Therapist, and Andrew's a Radiographer, but my impetus behind beginning to share these blog posts, is to provide insight into people I've known who know their identity is not in their jobs. They are a daughter and a son of a King. The Finleys have led my and A's Gospel Community (small group) for the past two years. There's been many a meal, story, and bike ride shared with them, and they've become two of our dearest friends along the way. They were brave enough to share about not only living here in Chicago, but seeing it through the lens of faith.
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