Author: renrev70@gmail.com

  • Using Earth Tones To Create Some Hygge In Your Home

     

    Handblown Retro Glass Partridge Bird, Kauni Dansk Design

    When it is raining and cold outside in the wintertime here in Denmark, it is the perfect time to spend doing some cozy room decor.  Why not bring a little of the outdoors in?  The perfect way to do so is by using earth tones to cozy up your space.  

     

    What are earth tones?  Well, think earth, soil, leaves, cloudy skies or a deep terracotta sunset.  Rich browns, rusts, marigolds, deep indigo blues or rustic turmeric along side honeycomb yellow, forest greens and sage.  These colors are warm and inviting.  Doesn’t that make you want to curl up on the sofa with a warm cup of coffee right now?!  Now that is a good way to hygge up your environment.  Long winters can make you long for the outdoors, a walk in the forest or sitting by the sea to watch a sunset.  So our living space needs to bring us joy, comfort and a feeling of coziness…and earth tones are a way to go!

    Scandinavian Teak Pig Salt & Pepper Shakers
    How about some animals?  Glass birds or wooden pigs like the ones above are a sure way to bring a smile to your face.  I know my home is full of little ceramic and wood birds and my favorite porcelain seals!  I love to not commit to one particular style in my home.  I love to have an eclectic variety around me of things we have collected as the years have gone by, then when friends come over these pieces become conversation pieces.  I just love that!  And I love decor that makes me smile and warms my heart.  I think that’s why I love the Danish word Hygge, because the feeling of warmth and joy and heartwarming come up into my mind when I think on that sweet word.
    Vintage Holmegaard Per Lutken Designs

    Also glass items placed around the home offer a sense of light and airy which also helps create a bit of a calming effect. Reflecting natural light where ever we can around the home in winter is a must!  I l love blue glass.  It is all around my home.  I come from California where I lived on the cliffs in Shell Beach overlooking the deep blue sea, so it calms me to see blue glass everywhere!  Vintage Holmegaard is one of my favorites blue and aqua.  Etsy is a great source to find a wide range of it.

    Retro fused glass plate
    Oh and I almost forgot!  One of the most important and the easiet way to add a deep variety of green to your home is PLANTS!  Yesterday we had guests over and my friend scanned the downstairs then looked at me and said “I don’t think there is a corner in this house that does not have a plant in it!”  Haha! Yes…..I am a plant lover….or maybe it’s more of an obsession!  At least my husband may think so! 😊 So don’t forget the plants! And why not find some wooden mushrooms to put along side them in the planter? It’s all the rage right now!!! It’s good for cleaning the air too, well, the plants are not the wooden mushrooms! 
    Retro fused glass plate
    Pinterest also has great home inspiration ideas.  So why not get some motivation scrolling through Pinterest and Etsy and try adding some beautiful rich earth tones.  Add some terracotta, pottery, wood and glass and see if it doesn’t make you feel warm and cozy inside. Etsy forecasts that blue & yellow are hot for 2023! We all need smiles and joy from our day to day life….so get started NOW!  Well first…grab your favorite mug and have a cup of tea….look out the window and get inspired with EARTH TONES!
    Vintage Yixing Chinese Clay Teapot
    Keep smiling!  πŸ’—


  • Starting Life In Denmark….Beginning To Learn The Word Hygge

    Gammel Estrup Castle

    Ok, I’ll let you in on a little secret….I moved to Denmark and got married!!  I can’t believe that I actually left beautiful sunny California.  Even though I will always be a Cali girl at heart, when something great comes along you just can’t walk away from it. Dan & I met way back in 1988.  Long story short, here we are 34 years later. 

    We reconnected 6 years ago and when we finally decided to meet again in person, Covid times began and we had to spend nearly 2 years on Zoom!! We made it through and after a visit to Denmark I decided that this was it! A few months later I moved to Denmark and we had our winter wedding. 

    (I made my wedding dress from a collection of fabric & lace from dresses I have made over the years, then I tea dyed them and put them all into one dress that is very sentimental to me )

    Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.  As a Cali girl when you think of Denmark you think snow and castles! We had planned to have our wedding with all of our friends and family at Gammel Estrup Castle in Auning, Denmark.  A couple weeks before the wedding everything shut down.  So instead we had 13 friends with us in person and nearly 400 on Zoom from all over the world.  When I look back, even though we could not have everyone with us physically, what a treat to have everyone we loved join us via Zoom on this very special day.  After the ceremony our friend drove us around in a beautiful Rolls Royce with gorgeous red leather seats as we shared laughs with all of our Zoom guests….even though we all were time zones apart, we got to Hygge with all our loved ones!

    Now here we are, coming up on our one year anniversary on December 31.  What a whirlwind year it has been.  It took nearly 9 months to get through all the immigration process to get my residency.  But it has all been worth it.  Even though I do miss my California life, my family & my bridal sewing business….sometimes we need to make big changes in our life in order to make the kind of life we desire.  Denmark has been a complete change of life for me.  Everything is different than what I am used to.  The climate, the culture and of course the language!!  Here I am in my 50’s learning a completely new life!  But completely worth every minute.  I love it here.  Now I call it my home. 


    Denmark is lovely.  If you can visit here one day then you definitely should!!  So what is this “Hygge” that everyone is talking about?  You can search the internet and find this word on cups, posters, shirts, door mats and just about anything!  I must admit that it is a very peculiar sounding word.  However the meaning is wonderful.  The feeling is wonderful.  So stay tuned as I try to explain it as I learn it.  But for now just imagine sitting by a fire wearing your most comfy sweater and socks. Perhaps your curled up in your favorite chair, or cuddled up with your loved ones on the couch.  There are candles all around sparkling in room.  And you have your favorite mug filled with hot cocoa or warm tea….now….that’s Hygge!

    You’ll hear from me again soon….in the meantime you can visit my little shop online Hygge by Hathaway for Scandinavian vintage finds that could add a little Hygge to your home. ~~Renee 😊

  • Virtual Bridal Gown Consultations


      Here we are!  It’s 2021 wedding season.  Have you said YES to your dress??  Are you undecided about what you’d like to wear on your special day?  Trust me, I know that choosing a wedding dress is not an easy task. You may have magazine cutouts from when you were a kid planning your perfect wedding day or perhaps your Pinterest board is filled with all styles and shapes of dresses.  

    I have been a bridal seamstress since well, since I made my first wedding dress in 1990! A lot has changed over the years as far as styles are concerned.  But one thing that hasn’t changed is the choosing process.  And boy! I have seen it all.  From a bride choosing her perfect dream dress to finding another just weeks before the big day…to searching high and low for the perfect fabric to make her the dress she designed in her head since she was a little girl.

    One thing I have enjoyed the most is working with a bride in helping her decide on what style will look best.  Or answering questions about what can be done to an existing dress to make it perfect for her.  “Can sleeves be added?” or “When should I buy the dress if I’m on a weight loss program?” “What style would fit my body type?” “How much should I budget for alterations?” “Should I buy online?” “How do I take my own measurements?” And so many more questions.

    One good thing that has come out of the 2020 wedding season is Virtual Fittings and Consultations.  Who would have thought that so much could be done online?  So here I am….at your service.  If you, like many beautiful brides, want someone to run your ideas by and assistance in the choosing process…then I’m your girl!!  Let’s schedule a consultation.  How the process works is, we schedule a zoom meeting.  You bring all the pictures, links, ideas and questions and I will help you through your process.  If you are looking to buy a dress online, I can help you virtually take your own measurements. Or you can even take me along to your fitting at your bridal salon so I can be there on FaceTime to answer any questions you may have about alterations etc. The sessions will be offered in 30 minute increments.  You choose how long you would like.  

      Feel free to check out my IG page to see gowns that I have made or altered and learn a little bit about me. Instagram @renee_hathaway_seamstress  You can direct message me there, or you can also find me on Facebook and can message me or schedule and appointment. You can also email me at somethingseablue@gmail.com for questions regarding the virtual meeting package prices. Virtual packages can be found at my Etsy shop.

      I look forward to meeting you and helping you make your day as perfect as you imagine! 

    ~Renee



  • California Central Coast Bridal Seamstress

     It’s that  time of year again! Wedding season is rapidly approaching here on our beautiful California Central Coast. Time to get your alterations started!

    If you were looking for reneehathaway.com and were redirected here then you’re at the right place.   Website is under construction and will be up and running shortly.  If  you are a bride and would like to schedule an appointment for a bridal gown fitting or if you are a groom and would like to schedule an appointment for a tux or suit fitting feel free to email me here. I also do all other clothing alterations and tailoring so feel free to contact me for inquiries. Looking forward to working with you on your special day. ~~RenΓ©e Hathaway

    Here is a little look at some of my brides from the past seasons 😊 enjoy!

  • Being Inspired In Kauai

    Well finally back again to this gorgeous island of Kauai ☺️
    Here’s a sample of my work environment! See the tiny Kahelelani shell?? It’s the size of a ball pinhead and pink!!! These are prized gems from the island of Ni’ihau.

    I can sit for hours sifting through the sand looking for these and pukas. Very relaxing. Like a treasure hunt. Then I wash them and organize them and get inspired. Here’s a few things I’ve made since I’ve been here.  Check out my Etsy shop SomethingSeaBlue for more creations. They make perfect gifts for beach lovers. 
    These drop earrings are made with Grape Drupe shells found here on the north shore. Wire wrapped with a little bling and some pearls .

    A
    Sea foam green sea glass found here tumbled by the sea wire crocheted with lots of beads and shells make this fun chunky bracelet..

    Fossil coral make this necklace with a little island flavor ☺️
    Beautiful sunset at the St Regis overlooking Hanalei Bay. 
    Stay tuned for more vacation stories!
    Aloha 🌺
    Renee of SomethingSeaBlue 

  • The Story of Your Life. Moments of Inspiration.

    Martin’s Beach, Half Moon Bay, California
    ( place of inspiration as a kid,  mom would take us here often, one of the places that my story began )
    If you have followed my blog in the last few years, you well know some of the life changing events that have taken place and I know through your comments, many have been able to relate to those experiences. It seems that major changes keep happening! Amazing how that happens, but when it does we just keep on going, keep putting one foot in front of the other with a smile.  I’ve learned that its best not to complain because in every change, new doors have been opened and new friendships have been forged that make it all so worthwhile πŸ™‚

    Kayaker in Morro Bay, CA
    (what stories can this man tell….is this his daily routine? what a great way to get inspired)
    Lately a couple people said something to me that really made me stop and think.  When relating the circumstances in my life that were changing yet again, the comment was made….”oh that’s just the story of your life.”  At first, I felt a little twinge in me….like I wasn’t sure if that was an insult or just a statement of fact. Then I said to myself…”this hasn’t always been my story, I had a different story at one time”.  

    Couple enjoying each other on the cliffs of Shell Beach, CA
    ( the grey hair tells me they have a story, yet still going strong ,enjoying the simple things in life together)
    Sometimes we don’t plan for it.  We don’t know that the place we end up is different than we anticipated or that we will care for a sick parent and go through loss that is completely unimaginable.  We don’t plan for these situations.  How can we?  Life has the unexpected. It has twists and turns that take us to places we never thought we would go. But we go and we make the best of it all.

    Walking among the windsurfers in Oceano Dunes, CA
    ( I want to hear the guys story that is in the air!)
    But what we can plan is to be positive through every life changing event experienced.  We have a choice to continue writing our story.  It may not always have a happy ending but it can be a source of learning and growing.  Our story is always changing, there’s beauty in that. Some of the greatest artwork has been produced during times of deep despair and darkness.  It’s so true, I always seem to have my greatest moments of creativity during life changes, both happy and sad.  I wonder why that is?  Perhaps the minds mechanism for survival?  Whatever it is, I’ve learned to appreciate those moments for what they are and what they produce.

    Early morning, in deep thought on the Pismo Pier, CA
    ( every morning I would see this guy, I always wondered what he was thinking, he would stand in same place everyday and look the exact same way.  for some reason he intrigued me.  I wonder what his story is?)
    Our attitude changes everything. It’s almost exciting at times the “not knowing” how things will work out , or what twists and turns will come along the way. These are moments to embrace the inspiration that results.

    Early morning surfer at Pismo Beach, CA
    Looking back over the years, thinking of all the places I’ve lived, all the people I’ve met and become close to. I realize some of those friendships never would have existed if it were not due to circumstances and change.  And I’m happy for all of them.  It has made me who I am today.  And I’m content with that. They have all become part of my story. The story of my life.

    Random groups of people doing their thing at Pismo Beach
    ( I love this picture! Different situations going on, each group just doing their own thing, not knowing they are being observed.  This was taken at like 8 in the morning )
    So, “that’s just the story of your life?” Yes! and I’m proud of it.  I read a quote recently.  “Don’t be ashamed of your story, it will inspire others.”   We just never know how our story may affect or influence or even inspire an onlooker or friend.  So always write your story with a smile πŸ™‚
    Lonely woman at Shell Beach Park, CA
    ( I watched this woman walk with her walker all the way to this bench, it was so inspiring to me.  She struggled every bit of the way, then when she got to the bench she completely relaxed.  I can tell she has been here many times before.  I wonder what she was thinking at this very moment.  Is she content with the story of her life? )
    I think back to when I was young and my mom would take me to Martin’s Beach often.  We didn’t have a lot of money, so this was something she could do for us to get us outside to enjoy.  I’m forever grateful that she took us here.  It has always been a spot of inspiration for me.  Little did she know that she was creating part of my story.

    Photographer catching the moment at Grover Beach, CA
    ( I happened upon this photographer’s Kodak moment one summer evening….the couple is beginning to write the story of their life together)
    And then when my kids were young I used to take them to this same beach.  Helping them to write their own stories and memories.

    Young boy without a care in the world, Shell Beach, CA
    (this little guy has a world of stories ahead of him)
    I know life seems to be getting more challenging for many of you reading this right now.  What are you going through at this moment?  All I can say is…just go with it….and try to stay positive…make your story one worth remembering.  One that you will look back on and think….”Wow, I can’t believe I made it through….look how far I’ve come”

    Early morning fishing on the Pismo Pier, CA
    (that kids going to have some great memories)
    Be proud of your story! Own it!  You deserve to create it the best way you can. Let it inspire you to create the best work of art you ever have!
    Bubbles at sunset, Shell Beach, CA
    Write it down.  Keeping a journal is an awesome way to write your story and look back to see how far you have come and how you have changed and grown.  Growth is essential.  Don’t fight it.   So write about it.  Start today.

    Male bonding on the cliffs of Shell Beach, CA
    Well there you have it…that’s my story.  I’ve learned to embrace change and be proud of it.  Perhaps my story is not what I intended it to be, but new chapters are always being written.  And a new chapter is always just around the corner.

    Paddle boarder at sunset with sea otters watching…
    My inspiration of the day.  Hope you enjoyed the pictures.  Taking random pictures of random people doing random everyday activities is one of my favorite past times.  I love to imagine what they are thinking and imagine what their story might be πŸ™‚

    Lone fisherman on Martin’s Rock in Half Moon Bay in the 1980’s
    So here the last picture is at that beach mom used to take me too.   I took this when I was a teenager in photography class.  I called it the Lone fisherman of Martin’s Rock. 
    Have a great day….and continue to write your story!!! Leave me a comment and tell me a little of your story…I would love to hear and be inspired! πŸ™‚
    Renee of SomethingSeaBlue
  • SomethingSeaBlue’s Travel Organizers Now On Boheman.com!

    They’re back!  It seems like everytime I post one they sell out quickly.  I know! That’s a good thing as long as I make more πŸ™‚  Now you’re used to seeing SomethingSeaBlue’s items listed on Etsy…but I’ve decided to switch it up for now.  I’ve opened up SomethingSeaBlue on Boheman.com.  

    If you have not yet popped on over there, give it a look.  It’s a new forum for creative people and small brands to sell their products.  You can also follow Boheman.com  on Facebook & Instagram 
    Its quirky and fun so its right up my alley!
    Right now I’m in the process of uploading my items that I had on Etsy to Boheman.  A process indeed! I had over 130 items on SomethingSeaBlue….so bear with me!  It’ll get there πŸ™‚  If there was something you had seen that you liked and its not yet listed, just ask.  You can email me at somethingseablue@gmail.com.
    So for now, here’s a glimpse of my travel organizers listed on Boheman.com so far.  More to come.  So check back often.  These little travel jewelry organizers are great gift ideas.  I also do custom orders for weddings/bridal parties.  Choose a color scheme and I can make all the same or several in a color scheme of your choice.  Just send me a message πŸ™‚

    Well I better get back to posting new items!  So just in case you were worried about where I went…don’t worry I’m still around πŸ™‚  Stay tuned!  And thank you for being my faithful followers …..much appreciated!!!!
    Have a wonderful beautiful week wherever you are in this world! 

    Renee of SomethingSeaBlue

  • SALE!!! Sea Glass & Leather Jewelry and More! Stop by! Year End Clearance!

    Looking for that perfect unique gift? Well come take a look around…here’s a glimpse of what you will find.  
    So stop by!  Soon!!!  Many items have been marked down.  Sale prices are as marked.  Most items ship for free πŸ™‚  If you have any questions or would like a custom item made, drop me a comment!  thanks have a wonderful day!!