Escaping to warm weather is on everyone's minds these days. But for those who can't jet off to sandy beaches, Liz Orgera brings the shore to them.

"Beach shabby chic" is how Orgera, 25, describes the beach-themed items she makes and sells under her brand Shorely Chic.

"Growing up around here in Stamford, I just always loved going to beaches, to unwind, relax, and forget abut everything," she said. "I love the beach house feel, the light, the bright colors, sea shells, turquoise... all of that."  

But Orgera didn't pursue her artistic interests immediately after graduation from Fairfield University in 2006. Despite her passion for the beach, an art history degree, and an internship experience at Christie's Auction House, she a took job in human resources.

All of her friends were moving to New York City after graduation, so she wanted to be with them. She accepted the first job offer she received.

After three years, however, she felt like something was missing.

"I guess I lost touch with my artistic passions because, other than reading and going to museums, I wasn't involved," Orgera said. "Now that I've found that, it makes a world of a difference."

When she moved to Darien last summer, she started thinking about what she could do on her own to use her creativity and craftiness.

Orgera said she knew she had to be practical and keep working at her regular job as she followed her dreams.

She started making shell-themed mirrors and frames, table-top décor and other embellished furniture from items that she picked up at local vintage shops in Connecticut and New York to sell on etsy.com.

She also started a blog to document the venture she was taking on it, and created a Facebook page and Twitter account.

"Through all that I've met so many great people, all over the country who are doing the same thing I am," she said. "My friends and the people close to me see that it's doable, and I hope that I'm motivating people."

As for now, her main source of income comes from her human resources position with an oil company in Stamford. But her day starts before her "actual job."  She wakes up around 6:30 or 7 a.m. to do research and comment on other blogs for an hour before getting ready for work.

She also takes advantage of her lunch break to mail items that people have ordered or goes home to work on projects. The work continues into the night, because as her boyfriend jokes, she is "glued to this."

"I'm always on the computer, with a hot glue gun in hand, or painting something," she said. "But it's what I love. It's my passion and it's so great for me to have this creative outlet."

She credits her inspiration to Rachel Ashwell, the founder of "shabby chic," style, and India Hicks, a style icon for island life, in addition to tons of interior design magazines, blogs and books.  

Her goal for the very-near future is to open an online boutique, where she can sell a line of Shorely Chic products in addition to other artisans' work. 

In five years, she hopes to open a boutique in Rowayton, or somewhere on the water, "so people who really appreciate the beach will be popping in." She also wants to offer an interior design service so that people can hire her for consultations.

To date, she has sold about 150-200 things, online, at parties at people's homes, and at holiday fairs, and is breaking even with how much she spends and how much she makes.

Nevertheless, she said the money is not what's most important to her right now. What she finds the most rewarding is people recognizing her talent. She loves that she can walk into a thrift or consignment store and select pieces to embellish that others will appreciate.

"It's the feedback that's the most gratifying – that I have a talent and that people recognize it," Orgera said