Warner has literally grown up before my eyes. From his newborn photos, Easter egg hunts, Christmas photos, his first sparkler experience, birthday's and even being the most adorable ring bearer at my wedding, this little man knows my camera so well, he now decides when it's ok to take a photo...with his eye behind the viewfinder! Captain Warner turned 4 in September and p-arggghh!-tied h-aarrggghh!-died in his huge pirate ship as him and his friends set off to find the treasure chest full of gold, jewels, and doubloons! They let the skull-n-bones sail fly high over the crow's nest and hung their pirate allegiance proudly over the stern, as their treasure chest piñata flew in the wind on the bow. This was by far one of the most charming pirate shindig I've ever witnessed. As this little pirated directed his shipmates around, they hunted for treasure, ate the tastiest cupcakes off all time, and worked hard in the rain to keep their ship afloat! This little pirate has the biggest personality around! Happy birthday, Warner!

I hope your birthday p-arrrrggghh-ty was pirate-tastic!

Have you ever just walked into a shop and stopped in awe because eclectic beauty was dripping from everywhere you looked? That was my reaction walking into the Rubanesque Pop-Up Shop in July in Lacoste. Lacoste, a small artsy village in the Luberon region of Southeastern France, is home to Ruth Ribeaucourt, creative mastermind behind her "artisan antique French silk Jacquard ribbon jewelry." Ruth started making jewelry when she moved to France from Ireland. Her family, the Faure family of St. Etienne, had an acclaimed silk factory, Les Freres Faure (now Julien Faure) in the 1800s and 1900s, which became the inspiration for her jewelry after she got a plethora of 120-year-old (and older!) antique silk ribbons from her husband's family as an engagement gift. Full of antique and vintage motifs, Ruth uses these ornate fabric echantillons, passementerie trims, and ribbons in her jewelry to create one-of-a-kind, glamorous standout pieces. Decorated in rich gold thread and stitching, Swarovski crystals and luxurious vintage and antique beads, her eye-catching jewelry has been featured in Design Sponge, Cosmopolitan, and her silk fabrics and ribbons sought after by Vogue editors and designers.

Ruth welcomed us wholeheartedly into her shop and elaborated on the history behind her miniature masterpieces. Her pop-up shop, while temporary, was an inviting space filled with color, sparkle, beautiful antique photo displays, and her hospitable nature. Please visit her Etsy shop to buy your lovely and unique piece of jewelry or look for her sparkles in Anthropologie later this year! Thank you so much for allowing me to photograph and feature your unbelievable creativity, Ruth! It was truly a pleasure meeting you!