jewelry : sara lagacé

As a designer you would have to be just a little mad to even think you can get away with "shed dog hair" as a material. More amazingly, is that the jewelry comes across as elegant in an off-kilter sort of way.

Of course, not all of Sara Lagacé's work is made from dog hair; she also uses beads and the occasional feather. And her work is just so charming you're willing to forgive the occassional eccentricity, plus recycling dog hair should get an "eco-friendly" nod.

My favorite piece is the yellow beaded number featured above. To see more from Sara Lagacé, check out her website: saralagace.etsy.com

sponsor spotlight : hooked design

handmade. bold. unique. hookeddesign.etsy.com

puzzled

A couple of weeks ago I came across this darling blossom puzzle piece by button envy (top right) ....then all of a sudden I saw another puzzle necklace - not sure whether it was a new magnificent obsession, or just happenstance - I decided to go looking around etsy for more. See more of my favorite puzzle pieces in the WHAT designer hive tag "puzzle".

FEATURED [clockwise]:
+ 14K gold puzzle necklace, $230, macha jewelry
+ pink puzzle blossom necklace, $14, button envy
+ tiny puzzle piece, $45, metalsugar

giveaway : mau studio

Mau Studio is that combination of cute, irreverent and pop - that I adore. This giveaway is for a cute bracelet and earring set (the earrings are shown top left).

For more delights, check out the Mau Studio website.

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you if you are worried about spam).
2. Join the mailing list

spotlight on: wear no evil

If you want glamor with a bit of an edge, you can't go wrong with the hand carved pvc bracelets of Kath Inglis. PVC isn't really a material I associate with jewelry, but these pieces are just awe inspiring. The collection is a combination of avant garde and modern, mixed with the vintage patterns of cut glass.

These hand carved bracelets start at $155 and can be purchased through the designers online store. Also check out her collaborative website with fellow Aussie jewelry designer, Naomi Schwartz at: sodaandrhyme.com

word up (Stylehive guest post)

Here's my latest guest post for Stylehive and I was thrilled to have the post featured on the front page of their e-magazine. That's very AWESOME!

FEATURING [clockwise from top left]:
+ Filthy Necklace, $50, Trashy Deluxe
+ Words Bracelet, $18, Paloma’s Nest
+ Yes No Maybe t-shirt, £36, YesNoMaybe
+ Nosce Teipsum Ring, $65, Melanie Favreau
+ C’est La Vie poster, $45, studio mela
+ Now Later Never magnets, $10, Cicada Studio

...AND HERE'S SOME MORE
+ snob bracelet, £50, Tallulah Tu
+ Love t-shirt, $21, Neneee
+ Rockstar bracelet, $14, insane jellyfish
+ OK light, $30, Perch!
+ Make Out t-shirt, $32, Every Little Counts
+ big words bracelet, $6, boqinana
+ Optimism buttons, $9, Reed Seifer
+ Typewriter key necklace, $20, Keys + Memories

READ: the post on StyleHive

featured designer: franz schnaas

Modern. Clean. Beautiful. And a little like something that you could find at the local hardware store. That is in no way an insult, I love hardware stores and the bits you can find there.

These pieces are part of the designers Adjektives and Moddifiers line which has a minimal aesthetic without being, well, minimal in construction. The womens line is not girly, but it is fabulous. The mens line includes necklaces and "wristworks" too - I'd like to see some cufflinks, but that's only because I am going through a cufflinks phase right now. Don't forget to check out the mens and womens collections as they're pretty unisex and there are more pieces over on the mens side.

Necklaces start from $55. See this and more at the designers website at: adjektives.com

designed to thrill

Dramatic and definitely not for the faint hearted - NRDC, a Barcelona based design studio has just launched their line of conceptual and sculptural jewelry. Their goal, and a good one it is too, is to open a NY showroom to showcase the work of Spanish designers under the NRDC brand umbrella.

Although they look lethal, these pieces are made from elastic cording and plasic fasteners. Pair with a simple sheath dress though, and you'll look dressed to kill!

Check out more of their designs online at: nrdesigncollection.com

butterfly collector

There's nothing quite like the flutter of a butterfly to make your think of warmer days. It just makes me want to grab an ice tea and sit on the veranda - only it's 6am, chilly outside, and I would really rather have a steaming cup of joe. But warmer weather is getting closer and butterflies are just so beautiful - so here's a tip of the wide-brimmed hat to those days ahead.

These designers have infused a modern twist to the sometimes saccharine butterfly motif. I was surprised to find some new favorites - the cards by design hut and the real butterfly wing pendant by popko - are just must have!

FEATURING:
+ butterfly notecards, $9/4, design hut
+ butterfly pillow, $62, Janessa Bautista (available through Shevon Ceramics)
+ butterfly wall graphics, $34.95, luka
+ real butterfly wing necklace, $38, popko
+ butterfly jubilee wallpaper, modgreenpod
+ butterfly pillow boxes, $5/ 4, field and sea
+ butterfly pendant, $88, simone walsh

+ SEE MORE + "HIVE" YOUR FAVORITES

giveaway : sprout studio [finished]

Sprout Studio has just the most delicious array of vintage thingies. Vintage buttons made into rings; fantastic plastic necklaces.

This weeks giveaway is for a pair of white bird earrings (left) - and they are truly lovely. They're this side of cutesy and just make me want to put on a girly dress - or at least when it gets a bit warmer.

Check out these and other delights at the SproutStudio.net

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you if you are worried about spam).
2. Join the mailing list

enamel amore

I took an enameling class at college and I loved it - I even wanted to get my own kiln at some stage. With enamel you don't see the finished color as you work on it - you have to fire it, and wait to take it out of the kiln - a beautiful suprise or horrible mistake!

There are no horrible mistakes with these designers - all beautiful, modern and vibrant.

FEATURING:
+ target necklaces, £83, kokkino jewelry
+ samurai orange necklace, $36, verre encore
+ mid-century modern necklace, $42, orange peel enamel
+ oiseau bleu necklace, $46 AUD, dreams and jewelry
+ truss buckle, $125, swear jar design
+ raspberry drop necklace, $28, jewelry by natsuko

Want to see more enamel work? Check out my enamel wishlist on Stylehive and "hive" your favorites.

giveaway : 2 sisters

When I received the earrings for this weeks giveway - they nearly didn't make it to the blog! They are these delicious little faceted drop beads on loosely coiled wire - both delicate and dramatic. The photo just doesn't do it justice.

The giveaway is for the earrings, but just had to show the Norah lariat necklace ($95) - what a set they make!

Check out all their work at: www.twosistersjewelryboutique.com

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you).
2. Join the mailing list

giveaway : coquito designs [finished]

Congratulations to Beatriz - these earrings will be on their way to you soon!

I'm very excited about this weeks giveaway! It's for a pair of earrings from Coquito Designs' "alloy and earth" collection. The silver and gold are so delicious together - kind of makes me think there is some warm weather just around the corner!

To enter the giveaway:
1. Leave a comment here with your email (or other way of contacting you).
2. Join the mailing list

good design : jesse danger

Yes, it's "good design" Thursday - the day that I get to feature in all their glory a designer who's work is environmentally friendly, sustainable or socially conscious - hopefully all 3. Now is does seem to me - and I have mentioned this before - that a great number of independent designers seem to follow some "good design" maxim. Which is even more reason to stock up on independent design.

Anyway, this week I came across designer Jesse Danger. His work is bold and modern - just the way I like it. But this is what makes him a "good designer" (1) he works with fair trade, recycled Argentium silver which is refined using environmentally friendly procedures, (2) his packaging is recycled and sustainable, (3) 5% of his profits go to Earthworks.

So, pop on over to his shop, buy some fabulous jewelry - and feel good about doing it!

hoop dreams

The 80's buzz these days has inspired me to find some super-fabulous hoop earrings. So backcomb your hair and put on a pair of these modern beauties!

FEATURING:
+ circular mahogany earrings, $38, orno
+ double disc earrings, $30 AUD, kitty fisher
+ half looped earrings, $105, lisa levine
+ silver + steel earrings, $100, megan auman
+ multi layer hoops, $28, mary + jane

Want to see a few more hoops? Check out my "hoop dreams" list in StyleHive.

rain, rain

I’m pretty lucky, weather wise - I live in California. No snow, except where you want it; no twisters or tornados. Yes, there’s the occasional earthquake and devastating forest fires, but apart from that…..

The point is that it’s a little stormy here at the moment and, if you paid close attention to the news, you would think the world was about to end. So this is my ‘homage’ to the inclement weather.

FEATURING (clockwise):
+ white vinyl rain coat, $39.99, modcloth
+ umbrellas, from $55, tray6
+ Coltrane cloud tee, $10, wooden shoes press
+ umbrella skateboard deck, $85, sprout studio
+ little rain cloud pendant, $8.50, imogen

what + coquito designs

I have just added coquito designs to the WHAT designers website.

I love the way jewelry designer Kristen Berge combines gold and silver in a way that is both bold and beautiful.

See more at the WHATdesigners.com and coquitodesigns.com

I'll have a chandelier

Okay the title sounds good to me, but I've had a cold and feel strangely serene after popping a couple of those "behind-the-counter" sudafeds.

I've noticed that chandeliers used for lighting have a fabulous modern feel while chandelier imagery as embellishment is very much vintage.

CLOCKWISE:
+ chandelier, grey design
+ coral chandelier, moth design
+ chandelier necklace, $21, junk posse
+ chandelier wall graphic, $29, one up
+ chandelier and damask cards, $12.99 for 6, papernosh

spotlight on: beth pohlman

I see a lot of absolutely fabulous jewelry. I would wear every piece I feature with joy. Then there are those unusual pieces that when I wake in the middle of the night I think.....I really should buy that black necklace (top left).

All of Beth Pohlman's jewelry is beautiful and just a little unusual - and all available through her online etsy store.

monochrome set

If you haven't noticed, damask and wallpaper motifs are oh so popular right now. I must admit that it has grown on me - obviously taking a while to adjust to the trend. Although, I couldn't truly appreciate the more colorful origins, I just love these pared down graphic retakes.

Once again, the boys got missed out on this post, but I have found a little damask action for them...stay tuned!

CLOCKWISE (from top left):
+ old news wallpaper, $85 / roll, ferm living available through design public
+ embellish bangle clutch, $49, posh by tori
+ damask card, $4, earmark
+ mismatch earrings, £90, hannah louis lamb
+ damask tee, $22, latak

bubblicious

Blowing bubbles and watching them float and pop against a background of blue sky is a simple pleasure. Trying to show your kids how to blow bubbles is not quite so relaxing, but hella fun!

I love all these pieces, but the piece that started me thinking about bubbles was Nina Dinoff's bubble ring (top left). Colorful, fun and modern. Nina Dinoff is part of WHAT designers and you can find some of her work in the store, the ring is available directly from the designer.

CLOCKWISE (from top left):
+ bubbles necklace, $22, junedesigns
+ multi colored buble ring, $40, nina dinoff jewelry
+ bubble necklace, $30, brevity
+ bubbly bubbles earrings, $8.50, jewelera
+ zen bubble ring, $42, the muses jewels

octopus me

Oooh, these saucy cephalopods are popping up everywhere I look....even in my email!

They are pretty clever creatures too; disguising themselves, opening jars, navigating mazes - plus expert baccarat players

Whether mythical monster or delicious dish - here are few items for everyone's taste.

TOP (l to r):
+ big head octopus pendant, $15, squid glass
+ hot pink octopus necklace, $20, relish dress
+ octopus sillouette necklace, $12.25, happy hour housewives

MIDDLE (l to r):
+ silk octopus tie, $20, jes switaj
+ "live" greeting card, $4, apak
+ octopus tee, $24, looking for fiddleheads

BOTTOM (l to r):
+ giant octopus buckle, $18, under the big top
+ kids octopus tee, $18, turtle papers

ring me

I am such a lucky girl! My husband recently returned from a conference in Vegas with a superb Teno ring. Now if I wasn't such a darn romantic, I might be asking myself "did something happen in Vegas that stayed in Vegas". Besides it was shiny and I didn't go beyond "it's shiny and it's mine!"

But sometimes the best gift can be loving yourself....and what better way to say "I love me" than buying yourself a shiny ring. Here are a few gorgeous rings to get you started.

CLOCKWISE (from top left):
: sprout ring, christine j brandt
: wrapped crystal ring, $121, anne maa designs
: zoe, $78, kiwi studios
: grass, $48, bella lulu
: square wood, $40, studio AMF
: owl, $28, kris nations
: gear ring, $65, imooi
: moon glow, $17.95, waterfall