follow friday: @withlavandlace

I met kelsie a few years ago when she had her tiny version of her shop that she has now, tucked away on 21st street.

it was my first time in Ghent and i had no idea that i would be moving here and that she would become one of

my dearest friends. 

kelsie is one of my biggest inspirations in life. she is always working on a new project. thinking of the next

thing that she wants to pursue. she is a go getter.

when she is not busy making flower crowns or her beautiful iPhone cases, you can find her on long walks 

with her boy ryan, or eating Ritas custard ice cream.

it was funny writing a q & a to one of your closest friends, but i so enjoyed reading her answers!

1.  Kelsie Marie McNair // 25 // Norfolk, VA // Boutique Owner, Music Maker

2. what did you want to be when you were a little kid?

I wanted to be on Broadway, to be little orphan Annie herself! That, or a princess... this is still a goal of mine. :)

3. does it surprise you at all that you own your own shop?!

Kind of! I would never have guessed I would be doing this even a few years before the shop ever happened. It's never been easy for me to plan out years of my life.. I didn't even really play the guessing game.. I just like to live happily today and hope for the best tomorrow. I've always kind of embraced that, though, it always meant everything would always be a surprise and adventure.

4. what inspired you to open with lavender & lace?

I was inspired by women who were making lives for themselves in other ways that stepping into careers that would pay them handsomely but keep them from growing as a creative. 

5. is there a meaning behind the name??

With Lavender & Lace was the original name of my 35mm film and bookbinding blog. I wanted to have a name that incorporated materials what I was using in my art making. It has followed my creative projects ever since.

6. we know that you are an amazing singer / song writer… what gives you inspiration for your music?

Recently, I've been really into young adult and new adult novels. From fantasy to science or romance, I've been eating up so many stories lately. Whenever I sit down to write or play a tune, I am inspired by bits of the books that resonate with me. Before the books, most of my writing came during times of real hardship and heartbreak. I'm pretty sensitive which makes it easy to down in sadness if given the right circumstances. Writing music that reiterated the situation or emotions I was dealing with (not directly, but obscurely) helped me move past the ache. Later, the songs paint a beautiful story of what I went though and offer a really amazing 'space' of objective thought about what really happened VS. my perception. I really grow to love the songs because of the way they resonate with people who listen to them.

7. if you could be any flower, which one would you be?

This is a difficult question as I don't feel entirely connected to any one flower, though I will always have a deep love for gardenias, dogwood and lavender.  I have a song called "Gardenia" which has been known to mean 'secret love' or 'sacred home'. Dogwood trees run deep in my family and are the VA state flower, and lavender because it's amazing and soothing! Though, lavender has been used as a witches herb and can mean 'distrust'. womp. :)

8. spring, summer, fall, or winter?

I love the transitional months, Autumn being my absolute favorite!

9. what is your ideal sunday? 

Gosh. Sunday's are always spent at the shop.. BUT if i had them off.. I would eat brunch somewhere with a killer bloody mary bar. Take a nap in the sun, buy myself flowers.. go for a walk. Eat ice cream and spend time with close friends making amazing cocktails, and listen to a good audio book. That's a lot in one day but I'd DO IT ALL.

10. where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I have absolutely no idea! Hopefully I'll be happily working doing something that is fulfilling and financially rewarding (high hopes!). I'd love to see my brand keep growing and my blog get better and bigger, maybe I'll find a gal or two to collaborate with. Also, I hope I know more about things that fascinate me.. flower arranging, wet plate collodion, sloths, Iceland, and vocal processors. OH, and I hope I have an album or two out! 

11. you got me hooked on audible books.. what are you currently listening to? 

- The Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin (pretty into, the second book is a little creepy for my taste.. but i'm going to keep going)

- The Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver (liked the first book, LOVE is a disease!  It was a fun listen, starting second book soon!)

- Just finished brushing up on the Selection by Kiera Cass in preparation for the last book out in MAY (SO SOON CHELS)

12. if you could switch bodies with any person from any decade who would you choose & why? (fictional characters included)

Good golly, I am swooned daily over the existence of Hannah Kristina Metz. She literally is a Goddess to me. OR Evie Green from Poison Princess. SHE GETS SO MUCH ACTION.

13. describe yourself in 5 words.. GO!

Funny. Excitable. Inspired. Encouraging (at least, I hope). Girly (owing it).

14. tell us about these beautiful iPhone cases that you make.. what brought on the idea?

The phone cases were just a development that happened from working with flowers. When I was in college, I studied the Language of Fruit and Flowers. I wrote letters with flowers that directly translated to love or hate letters. I have flower presses and dried flowers all over my life. After I got a cell phone and never connected to any cases, I experimented with resin and cases as well as book marks and all sorts of home goods. This is where my cases came from. I feel super connected to each case.. Chelsea can tell you.. the first one I made I wanted to look at all day. It's really special being able to send a stranger something so special to me. 

head over and see her blog here.
buy one of her beautiful iPhone cases here.
listen to her music here.





thanks for being apart of ff, kelsie!!

x's & o's,

chelsea & kaitlin