About Us

Bittersweet Designs’ story begins with collage.  Laurie Lenfestey, owner and designer, has kept her connection with her children during the school year every day for eight years through collage; each day they find a card in their lunchbox with ribbon, photographs, and ephemera artfully pieced together – a love letter of sorts.  In 2005, Laurie was inspired to create Bittersweet Cards, a business which naturally extended from cards to journals and frames, becoming Bittersweet Designs.  Bittersweet has been featured in Coastal Living, Country Home, Country Living, and Home Companion. 

Bittersweet Designs is about life’s collage.  It’s about finding new ways every day to celebrate life’s special moments.  Bittersweet crafts journals for thoughts and words, frames for precious photographs, cards and tags for sharing.  Collage finds its way into each piece with vintage wallpapers, flocked prints from India, and silk ribbons alongside rediscovered trims and findings. 

Laurie has extended the influence of collage into a line of necklaces, earrings, and rings.  Here, the elements are sterling, vintage chains, sparkling semiprecious stones, Ethiopian crosses, and lengths of antique glass beads.  With these, Laurie creates a playfully elegant line that is easy to wear to any event, be it a child’s recital or an evening out.

Each of Bittersweet’s handcrafted pieces is unique as a result of the handmade process; they echo the essence of the moment- encompassing where you’ve been, where you are, and what you dream to be.