Elizabeth Sutton: The Glittering #GIRLBOSS
Accessorized and Accomplished
I was first introduced to Elizabeth Sutton by a friend who described Elizabeth's work as emphatically compatible with my bold personal aesthetic. When I saw Elizabeth's vibrant, sparkling pieces, I knew we had a connection, but getting to know the powerhouse behind the paint has been inspiring on a level that goes beyond the canvas. It feels like a natural progression for me to go from discussing baubles and bling to talking about statement-making home accessories--much like in the way Elizabeth made the transition from a fashion background with a dream for designing her own high-end fashion jewelry collection to discovering her untapped talent for creating beautiful, customizable art for our walls.
Elizabeth and I have a lot in common besides our names. In addition to our affinity for vibrant color, we are both driven, working moms on an uncharted journey, trying to merge our creative passions with our business logic. She also is the only person I've ever met with a bigger costume jewelry collection than I have!
Elizabeth understands the importance of turning a house into a home with personal touches that appeal to an individual's given taste and spatial needs. Her work incorporates everything from abstract graphic shapes to glittering eye-candy to tongue-and-cheek words and phrases to customized collages featuring anything from superheroes to Vogue magazine covers. Elizabeth can design office decor that will remind you to "HUSTLE" and to "MAKE MONEY," or she can fill a baby girl's nursery with swarms of glistening, rainbow butterflies.
I had the great pleasure of spending the day with Elizabeth at her art studio. Fuss-free, but in Chanel sneakers, she didn't miss a beat as she glittered butterflies while simultaneously telling me her story, teaching me her process, and sharing her dreams for the future. Ultimately, she'd love to segue into a home decor and accessories product line stemming from her artwork.
As we painted and glittered the word "BO$$" to sit atop a collage of Monopoly money, the metaphor was too good to be denied.
Elizabeth is the ultimate #girlboss. She is a no-BS, transparent gal with a keen business sense. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to go after it. She's a family woman who is building a career and she's not making excuses. Elizabeth reflects, "I went from being a stay at home mom to very quickly having a growing art business and I'm just trying to roll with the punches and take it one day at a time. My real goal is to derive happiness, inspiration, and personal growth from my business. Being away from my son all day is emotionally challenging, but I hope one day he will admire my ambition and drive and learn that things in life don't come easy - you have to work hard to make your dreams come true."
And work hard she does. With energy that could rival a toddler on a sugar high, she's up before the sun for her boxing session, devotes her mornings and evenings to her son, and is a slave to her art in between (it took 3 hours to glitter 10 butterflies, FYI). I can't wait to see what's in-store for this badass babe, and look forward to working with her on a secret project we're cooking up. But first, I'm commissioning a glittered donut for my daughters' room. Stay tuned!
Elizabeth and I are joining forces to host a giveaway of one of her fabulous pieces to accessorize your wall! The winner will be able to choose between one of her stars and a 24" x 24" black, white, and red butterfly artwork. Follow these instructions to enter:
1. Follow @elizabethsuttoncollection and @excessoriesexpert on Instagram
2. Repost ANY picture of Elizabeth's artwork, tag @elizabethsuttoncollection @excessoriesexpert and 3 friends, and hashtag #elizabethsuttoncollection.
3. Repost more than one photo for additional entries to win!
The more creative your caption, the more likely we will be to choose you as the winner. Share your favorite quote, something about why you love Elizabeth's art, my blog, what inspires you, your #girlboss goals, etc.
Winner will be announced on 6/19/16 at 8pm. The winner will be chosen at my and Elizabeth's discretion. The contest limited to U.S. residents. Good luck and we can't wait to see submissions!!