Friend Love {introducing un.tied}

Over the past few months, I have had the honor and the privilege of watching something come to life in the hands of a dear friend - something that at first was nothing more than a dream and a what if? - something that today is a very cool, very creative, very beautiful reality.

I am thrilled to be able to introduce to you un.tied.

Introducing Em- /em/ industrious, striving; eager

The word "friend" doesn't do justice to what Theresa means to me. You know those people you meet in life who you instantly connect with...the ones who make you wonder what you ever did without them? 

Why yes, we are rocking skinny jeans & tennis shoes. In a hammock. In the woods. At night. 

Theresa is my running buddy, my partner-in-crime, my soul sister. We are different in my many ways {she plays the Golden to my Beaver} and similar in other ways {among other things, we share a love for silent, ridiculous laughter, #hashtags, Coach Taylor, and a good martini}. 

Over the course of the past year or so, Theresa has been on a journey - a self-proclaimed path towards finding her true self. She has sat in the brokenness, wrestled with the tension, and slowly but surely untied her story.

Theresa's party of four - soon to be five!

In her words:

As I have untied myself and my story, bit by bit, piece by piece, I am finding the beauty that lies within myself. I am finding that with each wound there is a glorious chance of redemption and with each lie the possibility of truth. Slowly, I am putting my true self back together and relishing in the work of art God has designed me to be.

Her vision then, has been to take something broken, like old neckties, and name and reclaim them for a greater good. Bit by bit, piece by piece, she has created something beautiful.

Introducing Merideth- \m(e)-ride-th, mer(i)-deth\ noted ruler. 

Each of her pieces is handcrafted with great care and love {if there is one thing you should know about Theresa, it's that she's all heart} and then named because each piece carries a story, just as each of us does.

Furthermore, in naming them, Theresa wanted to represent the orphans and in the world who appear nameless and are desperate for a person to tell their story. Those who have been named all along by a God who is merciful and created them to be his one-of-a-kind child.

Introducing Sophie- \s(o)-phie\ wisdom. 

You see, adoption is very dear to Theresa's heart because her and her family are currently waiting to bring their beautiful Finley Grace home from South Korea. All profits from un.tied sales will go towards bringing their daughter home.

Introducing Finley Grace!

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. I would love more than anything for Theresa to feel supported and encouraged as she sets out on this new endeavor. Whether you know her personally or not, I think we can all find something in her story that resonates with us.

Please feel free to send her a virtual (or non-virtual...she accepts hugs too) high five - follow her blog, like her Facebook page, favorite her Etsy shop, or make a purchase. 

{un.tied blog}
{un.tied Facebook page}
{un.tied Etsy shop}

Introducing Gabrielle \gab-rielle, gabri(el)-le\  heroine of God.

Today I celebrate a friend who has put in the hard work, followed her heart, and focused her talents, gifts, and true self towards making the world a better, more beautiful, more authentic place. Friend love indeed.