Composing Laura

Yes that's right.

2012-01-19T14:26:00.001-05:00

I made a lolcat.

Please feel free to use it in the following circumstances:

- You have run out of coffee.

- It is a Monday.

- You are on your last box of Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's.

Or when someone makes you take a bath and then puts a very loud object that blows air on you and life just seems too hard not to face plant into your bed.

** Edited to add that this was a bath that happened a couple weeks ago, not today because of SCARY SPAY WOUND.

Exploratory Weekend

2012-01-18T16:22:00.001-05:00

We finally got ourselves to a few spots north of home- it was a quick day trip but I got to see some redwoods (a first for me). And of course, the Heath factory showroom. See how excited I am? You have no idea.

These turquoise studs were a little souvenir but they're reminding me of how effortless post earrings are- something to keep in mind while I'm planning future collections.

* * *

In kitty news, they are resting from their spay/neuter surgeries yesterday and have been wanting more cuddles than usual. Herbert cried while using the litter and my heart broke- I wish there were something like ice cream and TV for the furry babies while they heal up. What's the equivalent? Who knows. Extra pets for now.

You know how you know when food is good?

2012-01-11T16:20:00.001-05:00

When you still remember it months later. Hello, fried anchovies in amazing dipping sauce.

And enormous blood orange donut with candied fruit.

At least Blue Bottle coffee is local to SF. Whew!

PS: I would be remiss if I didn't mention Paulie Gee's. There is no photo because none would do it justice.

I'm still here.

2012-01-03T15:52:00.003-05:00

Settling into our new home in the San Francisco bay area has been a bigger ordeal than I had imagined but I've complained enough about it and am officially OVER IT. The weather is incredible, the local food options are amazing, and we have added two little monsters to the family. Getting to know them has been frustrating (does anyone else wish their animals spoke human?) but so gratifying.

There is little to whine about these days and much to be grateful for. We still have our tree up and it is fully decorated with a mix of hideous, handmade childhood ornaments and other miscellany, as a tree should be. I have a husband who whips up exciting new dinners on a whim, cuddly kittens racing around the houses, and a head full of new ideas for Prismera.

2012: I am so very ready for you.

RISD Sale - October 2011

2011-11-02T14:51:00.001-04:00

It is probably due to the fact that my work and life are in what seems like a perpetual state of flux that I crave routine. So I have my daily coffee (brown sugar, coffee, and then milk on top until it is the right shade of umber), happily eat the same lunch every day, wear the same clothes on rotation. Listen to one song, while I work, for ~~months~~ years. (Sara Bareilles' Love Song has the right tempo to encourage optimal productivity. It was released in 2007.)

As an aside, if you have a different song with the same tempo in mind, please do share. It's probably a good idea to switch songs after 4 years.

A couple of weeks ago, Gina and I went to RISD for the alumni sale. She has been my constant companion for these shows and in the beginning, everything was new (read: difficult). Weather, where to park, where to eat.

Our first trip back. May 2008.

This last trip was probably the most relaxing out of all the shows. By now, we are old pros. The Ramada in Seekonk, left the car in our reliable secret parking spot at RISD, and food was as follows: East Side Pockets, Creperie, Kabob and Curry. Easy breezy.

I don't know if we'll continue to have these trips, now that Prismera will be headquartered in San Francisco.

So I took extra care to remember this one.

This hasn't turned into a wedding blog, I promise.

2011-10-21T11:47:00.002-04:00

It's just been a very joyous time in so many people's lives lately. Early October, I attended an adorable wedding of a childhood friend.

After the beautiful ceremony, we walked over to the reception area and passed a few curious onlookers..

This one's name was Chum Chums. Check out that nose.

Congratulations, Stephanie and Norman!

Bridal Commission

2011-10-12T14:03:00.003-04:00

I just realized I hadn't posted the finished product..

There was also a matching belt.

Hand sewn czech crystals, raw edged grey chiffon, grosgrain ribbon tie in the back.

There is nothing like seeing a photo of the beautiful bride pop up in facebook, looking absolutely stunning.

Whoa.

2011-10-12T13:41:00.003-04:00

It's been almost a month since I've posted, hard for me to believe that I have been gone from this space for that long. The good news is that I am living life a little bit more. I think the blog world had swallowed me up to a point where it was all just too much (wedding blogging will do that to you) and I needed to step back and spend time with real life friends before I leave this coast.

Lunch with Em a few weeks ago.

I also attended a lovely bridal shower for one of my dear childhood friends.

Poor kid wasn't feeling well but didn't fuss much, just made this face all day. The cutest.

An oreo cookie as the crust for a mini oreo cheesecake? Okay, that is just genius.

Bridal Necklace Commission: Work in Progress II

2011-09-13T12:07:00.001-04:00

Realizing my love for grey in this piece.. it's 95% ready and once it's shipped off, I'll post the finish.

Bridal Necklace Commission: Work in Progress

2011-09-09T11:23:00.001-04:00

I try not to take on too many custom jobs when life is in such crazy transition because I want to do the best job I can for the person I'm creating for- I couldn't resist saying yes to this girl because she has impeccable taste.

This crystal leaf is coming along relatively quickly considering the fact that I am handsewing each little thing but I snapped a quick shot of the progress early on. She wanted a statement piece and the different shapes and sizes of crystals make a more organic looking end result.

FNO

2011-09-08T11:06:00.001-04:00

It's Fashion's Night Out again and I whipped up a couple of things for Velita. Wishing I could stop by but it's nonstop over here, especially with the move.

But that doesn't mean you can't. Please do. And then tell me all about it. I'll live vicariously.

I got these rocks years ago and was holding on to them because the color with that delicate sparkle was so damn good. I haven't seen much like it. The crystal granules are tiny, like glitter made from crushed glass. Can you blame me for hoarding them?

There's alot of druzy out there but none quite so fine, or in such unusual shapes. But it seemed like such a shame not to share, so they're now out in the world, fulfilling their destiny.

An Evening of Lateral Thinking

2011-09-05T17:29:00.001-04:00

Last night, I took a break from packing to celebrate a friend's birthday.

I learned about lateral thinking games and am officially addicted. We played for hours.

The sun going down couldn't even stop us.

Try some for yourself.

And that cheesecake was delicious. (Trick candles are fun for all ages.)

Happy birthday, Dave!

--------

See all the photos from that evening here.

Dancing on the Moon

2011-08-30T02:16:00.001-04:00

Remember Rachael?

A sweet post that tugged a little at me. I love this photo.

Wheels in Motion

2011-08-19T18:11:00.001-04:00

The move to San Francisco has begun.. Lars has gone ahead and made his way over to the other coast and found us a sweet little place in sunny Berkeley. Which, by the way, I CANNOT wait to tell you about. We can decorate it together, you and I! Oh right, and the husband too. We got so very lucky with it, the location and time of year.. Who knew how tough it would be to find an apartment in a college town, the month that school starts?

So he is currently trucking it over from Nashville to get settled in before his new job that we're all excited about. (And in these uncertain times, very grateful for.)

A couple of weeks ago, we made our rounds to visit with some friends to say hello and goodbye before he flew out there. Incredible steaks, roasted tomatoes, buttery fingerling potatoes. (And more, can you believe?) A feast for four.

And the next day, Sunday brunch somewhere I wish I could remember but those days were a blur. Packing, prepping for NYIGF and order fulfillment. Wherever it was, there were incredible hash browns and that is enough to make a Laura quite happy.

I'll be following in a couple of months so there are still a few NY adventures left for me yet. I've got weddings to attend and shows to exhibit in, not to mention packing up this place. Soaking up my home coast enough to carry me til the next opportunity to be back again.

Studiomate Shenanagins

2011-07-20T12:54:00.001-04:00

I was given a tiny water bottle the other day and put it on my desk. Left the studio for a moment and when I got back, noticed something was a little bit different.

What is happening.

If you're lucky..

2011-07-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

.. you have a friend named Gina who, on July 4th, will come over with all the necessary ingredients for mini pizzas.

She will make the tiniest doughy circles ever and place little slices of grape tomatoes on them. Sprinkle the feta cheese right on top.

I love the little basil leaves perched up top. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

Yum! There almost wasn't a photo of the finished product but the very last one was snatched out of a hungry hand so that I could get this shot. So easy and quick, you can make these in about ten minutes.

No leftovers whatsoever, sorry. Get your own Gina.

Happy birthday, little bro.

2011-07-18T13:26:00.001-04:00

Happy Weekend!

2011-07-15T09:56:00.005-04:00

As always, lovely flowers from my bestie for my birthday. Am curious about these fuzzy green puffs, I've never seen them before!

* * *

A few links to share:

Just discovered this blog: Big Apple Nosh. Cute and informative.

Love this DIY wrap bracelet tutorial, a great weekend project.

The most beautiful tattoo I've seen in a while.

Clothing for children? You mean clothing for me. I would wear these in a heartbeat.

* * *

Have a good one, guys.

The Day I Turned 29

2011-07-14T17:00:00.000-04:00

We boarded a ferry out to Governor's Island for the bi-annual Jazz Party. I made feathered headbands for the ladies, which my brother is modeling here as his girlfriend looks on gleefully. I suspect he may not be quite as thrilled but he's a good sport.

Getting my hoity toity face on for the camera. These bordered photos are courtesy of Gina's iPhone.

We rode around in a four person cart for a while and that was an Adventure. My mother in law had called to wish me a happy birthday before we hopped on and when I told her what we were about to do, she replied, "Well. It was nice knowing you." I laughed, but there were moments when the cart threatened to topple over while going downhill.. there were moments.

We ended the day with a visit to Shake Shack.

Delicioso. Right, Lars?

Birthdays & Bbqs

2011-07-13T15:37:00.000-04:00

Smoked meats and veggie kabobs. No photos of the lovely bruschetta because it was gone too fast.. but we were told it was made expressly for us. Key ingredient was the pink himalayan salt that were the favors at our wedding. Isn't that sweet? Um.. savory? Okay you know what I mean.

This particular Sunday morning was spent in Long Island, where my mama made a few dishes to continue the wedding celebration at her church. Mm, shrimp. And then we were off to the Highline to spend time with a birthday girl.

Having some delicious, much needed popsicle relief.

Another wedding

2011-07-12T12:50:00.004-04:00

This year is just going to be full of these types of happy celebrations- this one was a few weeks ago but I'm just now having a chance to take a look at the photos.

I had my very first raw oyster! Unfortunately, I'm not sure I could tell you what it tasted like.. afterwards there was salt and touch of tabasco on the tongue but I swallowed that baby like a shot. Was I supposed to? I'll try again another time and report back properly.

So sweet..

So good.

Congratulations, Tiffy and Luan. You guys were beautiful.

On the Early Stages of Marriage

2011-07-03T00:02:00.002-04:00

All of this grown up business of "budgeting" and SAVING because suddenly I am a grown up married lady is a real party pooper, so says my closet. In the meantime, nail polish is an easy way to satisfy the need to shop for new wearables.

Brucci: Outrageous Orange. Art Club: Gold Glitter.

In more news, I have been informed (more sarcastically than I would have liked) that I may have to start downsizing my clothing collection. Which is fine because I only wear about 20% of it anyway. Still, though. What do you mean you need closet space?? What do you mean??

Bon Iver

2011-06-29T17:51:00.004-04:00

Man, oh man he just plays those heartstrings. The husband sent me this song because we love the Bonnie Raitt too. And because I'm hopeless at being on the up and up with music.

Spex Club

2011-06-23T13:07:00.005-04:00

I am patiently waiting my Spex Club order. HA! In real life, I am a woman obsessed and have been checking tracking information nonstop (they are in Arizona right now, which is not NY and that is unacceptable to me!). Seriously though, it took them only a couple days to ship the order so that is pretty great. I needed a pair of glasses because one of the nosepads on my current pair snapped off and will have to be sent in to be fixed. Not SEE's fault- I had been adjusting them on my own and think I may have weakened the metal in the process.

A few months ago, Spex Club sent me a pair of Carsons to try. I love the wood grain texture with the retro styling AND they fit perfectly on my nose without the pads (unheard of!). The best part is that they were very affordable-- this pair cost $30. So when I needed that backup pair, it was an easy decision to go with the Carsons. My previous pair cost close to $300 because the lenses needed to be super duper thin, as my eyesight is just gee dee awful and purchasing them with the regular lenses would mean I'd be carrying around a pound of glass on my face. The Spex Club order cost half that, amazing. Who knows, maybe the quality is half as good but I will be back with reviews! Hopefully soon! Please! Arizona!

Hello again.

2011-06-15T18:26:00.006-04:00

New hairstyle: blog fodder. Hello, I am back! Hopefully will be much more vocal around these parts. This little space feels like home to me and after about 8 months of wedding planning, I have felt very homesick.

And a side view, for posterity. Although I'm not sure I can successfully reproduce this result by myself.

Now that the big day has come and gone, I can finally reveal where I've been writing about the process. You'll see the banner up there on the sidebar because blogging for the 'Bee was no small undertaking when juggling life, work, and planning. So that's my little badge of honor right there. I will be blogging there until wedding recaps are over so if you pop on by there will be new posts for quite a while.

It's gonna take awhile.

2011-05-07T20:09:00.001-04:00

Second post without a photo! Unheard of. But I had to repost this, it's too good not to share.

* * * * * *

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

— Ira Glass

(via mint, by way of nefffy, by way of Fresh Air, by way of Yarn Yumminess)

Conversations with Lars

2011-05-06T18:23:00.001-04:00

Lars: "Can you look up who won the PEN/Faulkner this year?"

Laura: "Pen? P like penguin..?

Lars: "Penguin, entrails, nun."

Laura: "Entrails? Really?"

Lars: "I told you I was bad at this."

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

The necklace is sold out but that doesn't mean it can't be a bit of eyecandy this Tuesday morning. This sort of juicy and creative color assembly is exactly what I need to go along with my neutral wardrobe. By Tom Binns.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-04-26T10:40:00.003-04:00

I know that I just featured a pair of hoops on the last Treasure Tuesday but I'm on the lookout for minimal earrings that will last past the wedding day so my eyes keep picking up these simple silhouettes. A statement headpiece means I need something super subtle and these 18k gold twisted rectangle hoops make the mark. By B Jewelry.

Velita

2011-04-22T08:31:00.000-04:00

A big shipment of one of a kind necklaces, off to Velita this week. Multi colored candy rutilated quartz, chunky organic grassy green phrenite paired with wood slices, sparkling citrine strands, raw iridescent laboradorite nuggets. Springtime colors. What a feeling, sending these babies out into the world.

Little Em

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

I spent some time last week, helping a friend out with packing orders.. but there's always time for a kitty shoot.

What a funny little face!

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

I spent my teenage years sporting giant hoop earrings to the point of ridicule (many people can attest to this fact). So when I come across a pair with a twist like these, it's quite exciting for me. Snake hoops in a rich golden hue, by Gabrielle Kiss.

A party for Laura?

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend, my besties threw me a party.

It took me most of my life to understand how to interact with girls- be there for them, be sweet, be gracious. Don't be petty. (There is more, but I'm pretty sure I don't know what they are.) Before I understood any of those things, the expectations of being a girlfriend overwhelmed me and I chose guy friends instead. Guys are easy- laugh at their jokes and you're pretty much in.

But then there are the girls who have been in your life for almost ever and times like this, you wonder what you did to deserve them.

For me, here's the answer: Nothing. (I mean, really nothing. Can you believe I didn't even get a group photo for this occasion?? I'm such a loser.)

I guess the point that I'm really trying to make here, in that awkward, rambly fashion now we can probably coin as classic Laura, is that I'm feeling so very blessed. Thank you for all the yummies, the conversation, the belly laughs, the perfectly selected flowers and the beautiful recipe book I'm going to love forever.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-04-12T08:00:00.003-04:00

Lotus blossoms are rampant as imagery goes so this modern version is refreshing. Any way to set a pearl in a unique way preeetty much guarantees that I'm on board. Adoring the golden glow that radiates from within each petal, just exquisite. Pendant by Thea Izzi.

One Rainy Day in March..

2011-04-09T07:10:00.000-04:00

We ducked into Pancake Pantry because the usual line that extends down the block wasn't there.

Lars ordered buckwheat and I had buttermilk. In a word, fluffy.

We shared an order of hash browns. Self control, love, call it whatever you want but I wasn't happy about it.

Keep that fork on your side, mister.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Am on a mixed metal kick lately, it seems. By lately, I actually mean the last three years. The flower one on the right was on Lars' list of potential engagement rings because I loved it so gosh darn much. Tiny works of art by Sarah Graham.

Spring, I'm ready for you.

2011-04-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

Would be even more ready with these beauties in my closet. 3d embellishments, sheer fabric, structured folds, sunny colors. Love, love, love.

Lena Corwin: Maps

2011-04-01T15:34:00.004-04:00

Image source: blog.lenacorwin.com

You guys, I am freaking OUT about Lena's new book. Her maps are colorful and oh so charming. And for this weekend only, there's a special price to celebrate the launch.

Lena, I know I already commented and emailed you (because I'm bonkers) but dude. YOUR BOOK IS AMAZINGSAUCE.

That is all.

Sho. Sho yalls does.

2011-03-31T17:23:00.003-04:00

After an extended hiatus, the kitty blog is up and running again.. I realize that this is pretty much just to amuse the two of us, but if you want to look at ridiculous kitties, drop on by and say hello.

Hello again.

2011-03-29T14:19:00.000-04:00

Buckley helps us with favor assembly.

Just got back last night from yet another trip to Nashville. It's just planning, compromising, tolerating, enduring until the big day is over and real life can actually continue.

Til then, sparsely posting. Posting sparsely? Sparingly? I'm out of words and brain space.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-03-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

I want to wear this to a gallery opening, on a shopping spree, to work while in my Spongebob pajamas (this is not a joke). I see quintessential New York style when I look at this cuff, what do you see? By Pat Flynn.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid, I hated that the pearl was my birthstone. Pearls were for grannies. They are little round balls of BORING. It took me a while to come around, but now I love them-- the millions of shapes, sizes, and textures they come in. And when I come across someone who reinvents pearl jewelry, I can't resist. These modern versions are so very ungrannylike, don't you agree? By Tortue.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-03-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

A little macabre, a little elegant. Might be watching too many crime shows lately so I'm loving the combo. By Gabrielle Kiss.

Not adventurous.

2011-03-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, a little korean spicy tofu soup is all you need. So a couple of girls and I went to BCD.

Pickled radishes, I can't stop.

There is practically nothing that is more comforting to me than dropping a raw egg into a pot of almost-boiling soup. This is why I make way more ramen than I should..

This little fish was crunchy and satisfying. Didn't eat the head though, too much eyeball for me. Had a conversation about eating fish eyeballs recently with my little cousin- I informed her that I had never eaten one. She tells me it's no big deal.

"Have you eaten scorpion?"
"NO. Have you??"
"No."

We're not that adventurous.

Listen, Jcrew.

2011-03-12T13:58:00.004-05:00

I love your sequins and tulle, the ruffled things that you do with cardigans. I love your classic dresses for bridesmaids. It's all very pretty. And you make great shoes. But I'm shopping your sale right now and I have some serious questions for the people who gave these designs the okay for production.

You completely forgot the general rule of "go big, or go home" with this shell. More black flowers or none at all. And that's a great dress shape but wood and studs??? In a sparsely placed horizontal pattern?? REALLY?? What is happening. Btdubs, someone spitballed on your hat, I think you need to find out who that disgruntled employee is.

I don't even have anything to say about these. They just leave me speechless. I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

-------
To my readers: If you do need some previously mentioned classic dresses and sweet cardigans, you can get them for 30% off final sale with coupon code SHOPNOW. Ends tomorrow.

Family time

2011-03-11T09:00:00.002-05:00

Last week was my grandmother's birthday party.

Red bean buns!

No gathering is complete without a little karaoke.

Packages arrive sometimes.

2011-03-09T07:24:00.000-05:00

Snagged a pair of Gola's from a Swirl sale. Did you know they run large? A full size. Just an FYI. I heart mine. Some people say "puffy pink heart." Let's try that:

I puffy pink heart my new Gola sneakers.

Meh. That's not really for me. It's cute when petite/peppy girls do it, I think.

I also got this cool cat card in the mail. I like how languid their poses are. And this one is saying hello with his foot.. DOOOOODS, I can't wait for spring. I really love this Prairie Underground sweatshirt coat that I've been wearing every single day but seriously, warm weather now plz.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-03-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

Probably have wedding on the brain so my eyes are seeking bands, but I'd just stack these on my right hand. Rich black against a secret layer of gold that peeks out from behind the band when worn, love. By Gurhan.

Treasure Tuesdays

2011-03-01T11:27:00.003-05:00

New installation: Treasure Tuesdays. Hopefully will last a whole lot long than Tutorial Thursdays! (Um, one week.)

To kick it off, something from everyone's favorite antique jewelry shop, Erie Basin.

Everything about this is on trend right now, which is a little piece of proof to me that there is little these days that is new or original. Gorgeous 1930's Art Deco necklace.

Hello Bird

2011-02-25T10:03:00.002-05:00

The other day, when I was taking photographs of stones, this bird flew right up next to me and scared me half to death. I almost overturned the tray of relatively valuable stones. Yikes.

Do you guys know what bird this is? Is it a pigeon? Maybe a female one, so I don't recognize it.

Remember Xanga?

2011-02-24T15:18:00.004-05:00

Remember being real and not caring what other people thought? Nobody prefaced any opinions with "IMHO" or apologizing for stepping on people's toes. It wasn't always right but it felt good. Blogging for the other blog is making me wish I inserted more personality in these posts but I'm so afraid of people being all judgy. Whatevars.

I'm fighting the end of the flu and antibiotics have finally moved in and kicking serious germ butt.

How many cavities can one person get in a six month period? Something is wrong with me. Help.

I leave you with the perfect depiction of my relationship.

Brought to you by Gemma Correll.

Poor Lars. At least he know what he's getting himself into.

Reconnect

2011-02-22T21:48:00.004-05:00

There was a RISD alumni event at Martha Stewart's photography studio a couple of weeks ago. It was really quite nice. Afterwards, dinner at Pio Pio with friends.

Peruvian chicken- the best. No photos of the chicken, it just disappeared.

Finished off with a fudgy dessert.

I've disappeared but haven't stopped blogging.. it's just a specific genre. I'll share when it's all over, in a few months. But for now, please forgive the sparseness!

Giveaway: Prismera

2011-02-08T11:29:00.003-05:00

I'm giving away a pair of earrings over at the Prismera blog.

Contest ends just in time for Valentine's.

Christmas Eve

2011-02-02T09:30:00.002-05:00

I get to see these beautiful people almost every year at Christmas eve. Some of us have shared memories that are 20+ years old. After church service, we are led by one creative powerhouse to make batch upon batch of cookies. Sometimes I liz. (We're all among friends here.) This year, someone looked around and remarked that we were starting to act like our parents- slippers on our feet, drinking tea. It was completely true.

Cookie decorating, not just for kids.

One Saturday in December

2011-02-01T09:30:00.002-05:00

If you're just tuning in, I'm going through last year's photos because I'm up to my forehead in wedding preps.

This all may explain my lack of weight loss, despite the fact that the day of a thousand photographs is fast approaching. But one Saturday in mid December, I woke up two hours later than I was supposed to (who DOES that), threw on my clothes and ran out the door to meet up with a couple of friends for brunch.

It was dark and the photos may not seem appetizing, but dudes, it was biscuits and gravy. Endless coffee. You just can't say no.

After the gluttony, we roamed the streets.

And popped into a show, where I bumped into a friend and said hello.

Finally, we ended the day at Harney & Sons. Their scones, ya'll. No words.

From the RISD holiday sale

2011-01-31T14:00:00.001-05:00

Gemmy earrings, all in a row.

Early morning set up.

Vintage letterpress tray display.

Holiday: WIP

2011-01-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

Bronze Embrace Hoop Earring with blue topaz.

Here's how behind I am-- a shot from holiday prep.

Snow day

2011-01-27T11:44:00.002-05:00

I've had my fill of snow days this winter. Yecchh. On the plus side, sunlight reflects off of all the white and makes the studio a bit brighter. I do like that.

On the plate today: necklace making, wedding projects, order filling, customer service emailing, business future planning.

On working creatively.

2011-01-24T20:38:00.004-05:00

Via Snippet & Ink

I was one of those kids who spent every Saturday at Chinese school, although it wasn't as bad as that sounds, not all the time. It only started to get to me when I got a bit older and started missing out on all the bar and bat mitzvahs. But before that, Chinese school was fun because we made jewelry sometimes, simple stuff. Our teacher taught us how to make knots and combine them with beads to make earrings and bracelets.

Via Style Me Pretty

Knotting involved using colorful satin cords and I usually kept to single colored knots, with the exception of pink and purple combos or pink and turquoise- I was naturally drawn to Lisa Frank's color palette, being a child of the 80's.

Via With Two Cats

But one day, after putting together combo after boring combo, I picked up pink and yellow to make a knot and had a moment. I mean face to the FLOOR. Then I strung gold beads in between the knots. (Staring at it, I might have screamed a little.) Been chasing that feeling ever since. That moment, when you work at a project and you struggle and then you make some uglies. But you keep pushing through and suddenly all the pieces in your hands just fit together like suddenly you get it. And it's beautiful.

Via Kiss the Groom.

But the thing is, I never feel like it's mine. This is why I act so embarrassed and awkward when people talk to me about my work- it feels random. Like if I could show them all the times that I've failed, my sketchbook filled with the most hideous, strange, terrible drawings ever, they would see the truth- at least, the truth that is in my mind- it's not that I have any real skills. It's that if you do anything enough times, you're bound to end up with something. And I'm just that girl who picked at the satin cords until the colors made her happy.

Morning coffee

2011-01-24T09:57:00.004-05:00

A new mug for my morning coffees. This was a Christmas present from a future uncle-in-law from the Swedish side of the family. It is part of a the set; Lars' mug has a blue Dala horse on it. Have always loved Scandinavian motifs on things but now they are that much more special.

Shopping the Sale: Madewell

2011-01-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Madewell sale: 30% off sale items and free shipping on orders over $100 with code LOVEIT.

Monochromatic: Beige

1. Symbol Scarf 2. Piccadilly Pleats Dress 3. Cotswold Cardigan 4. Faded Stripes 1937 Socks 5. Foxtrot Coat 6. Ski Lodge Mittens 7. Crinkle Cardigan 8. Crochet Chain Bib Necklace 9. Night Sky Tank

Vintage Millinery Flowers

2011-01-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

One of the wonderful things about New York is that it's so easy to get supplies for whatever I need and in this case, I needed to make boutonnieres for the boys.

More flower photos.

So after a great catch up lunch with a friend this week, I bought these beautiful vintage fabric flowers. And on the way to the register, I saw spools of ribbons in our colors. I can't wait to work with them! It's so completely unfair that they are supposed to be just for the boys so I hope I'll have enough to make a couple more small mementos for us girls.

Over the holidays..

2011-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

We went cupcake scouting.

This one had so much potential but the batter was too sweet. The flavor was strawberry cheesecake (it has cream cheese frosting). Doesn't that sound amazing? I have half a mind to try making my own version of that flavor. And make that a cream cheese frosting with whipped cream. What diet.

We also hung out with old Dilly. He only tolerates petting for a bit before he whips his head around to give you a LOOK.

Whoa. Sorry Dilly man.

On Vintage.

2011-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

Taken 10/09.

I love vintage. Here's how to read that sentence: I LOVE vintage. But I'm very particular about the vintage I own, which is probably a very good thing because otherwise my personal collection would be unmanageable, seeing as I go antiquing like it's my job. (Should probably make it my job, huh.) I prefer to buy things that are metal, glass, or wood, because those are usually washable. If they are utensils, they need to have evidence that they were unused, especially spoons or forks. The ick factor is just a bit too high for me with things that I'll be eating with.

Taken 2/09.

I typically won't buy clothing, unless it's more accessory than clothing. I own two sets of vintage gloves, which I can tell you for sure that I turned those babies inside out and scrubbed (gently). Belts, bags, jewelry, and decorative items are all fair game. I can't tell you how much I wish I could get over my hangups about vintage shoes because there are some seriously amazing ones out there in ebay/etsyland, but it's a no go unless it's deadstock.

Taken 9/10.

Hats are typically a no for obvious reasons, but I adore hats. I'm the kind of person who wishes she lived in England, or grew up in any decade before the 60's so she could wear hats all the time. Old hats just amaze me. Usually they're in terrible condition so I don't feel too badly about passing them up. But in October, during my last trip to Nashville, we went antiquing with Lars' parents and we came upon this pink hat. I put it on my head just for laughs, but it was actually pretty cute. So I took it off, looked at the price and it wasn't bad. I turned it over, looked at every corner of the thing, and it was spotless. The grosgrain around the hat was pristine, not a bead of sweat had touched it. The label was clean, no stains. But then my practical side kicked in and reminded me about the wedding I had to save for. So it went back on the mannequin.

But guess who got a vintage, mint condition, pink felt hat for Christmas from her future in laws? THIS MOI.

Something sweet.

2011-01-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

The second I saw these teeny birds, I knew they were special. They were hanging around a girl's neck when she stopped by my spot at NSS last year and I immediately followed her back to her booth. I bought them as something limited for the shop and painted them in two basic colors with the black spattering that is signature to my watercolor girls.

I like to think of them as an alternative to a locket. They're available in white and in gold, and both come with a piece of vintage metallic thread.

On Eyewear.

2011-01-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

When I was about seven, my parents took me to get a new pair of glasses. I sat down in front of the counter and looked down at all the pairs that the salesperson had selected for me. I had tried them on, out of courtesy, but I already knew what I wanted. I had seen some mini fashionista wearing a pair that were similar, in school. So I looked up at the salesperson and, not wanting to seem too eager, feigned a moment of reflection. What if they didn't carry that model? Be cool, I told myself. Be cool.

I took a deep breath and asked if they carried any in the style I was looking for. The salesperson smiled at me and disappeared. A few minutes later, she came back with a large, navy blue binder and said, "I'm sorry, we don't have that in stock. But we can order it for you!" She opened the binder in front of me and pointed to the plastic covered page. And there it was.

I took one look at it and nodded. We'll take it, I told her.

A few weeks later, we returned to pick up the glasses. My heart skipped the moment I laid eyes on them. They were even better than I imagined. The glasses were shiny and purple, my favorite color. On each side, there was a small, oval glass dome and behind the glass was the smiling face of Mickey Mouse.

I was in heaven.

It took me about 15 years before I would love another pair of glasses the way I loved that pair, but in 2007 I had a similar experience with these:

That is one really happy, dorky girl getting sillay.

And then in September, I dropped them in the shower while I was in Nashville and THEY BROKE. I was completely crushed. I tried using epoxy but it wouldn't take, so I just ended up wearing them without the part that broke off, which left them hanging crooked on my face. So when Lars and I went to get my engagement ring resized, we went into the SEE on the same block. They were so great and it's officially my favorite glasses store. I ordered a pair of glasses from their 50% off case, which meant my super specialized lenses were also 50% off, and they even added nosepads to plastic frames for $40. There was a branch here in NY where I could pick them up. Total score.

Chevrons! I am so excited about that little detail. Almost as much as I was about the Mickey Mouse cameos.

I know I don't look happy about them here but I think that has more to do with the crummy webcam pic. Love!

Tutorial Thursday: Photoshopping Jewelry on White

2011-01-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Usually when I decide to do a regular themed posting, it doesn't work out but maybe this time it'll stick. I have been working on photos lately for some new jewelry in time for Valentine's day and I thought I'd show you what I do to get my photographs of pieces on white. Photographs like this are important because they show the details of the product. This type of photo is straight up information. It's also important to have these on hand for bloggers/editors to use in their gift guides.

I start off by shooting the piece of jewelry laid out on a white piece of paper. The better your set up is, the less photoshopping you'll do. This time I was being lazy so I didn't have my lightcube set up so the before shot is particularly bad.

Here's a video of the step by step that I made. It's the first computer tutorial I've ever made so there are some problems with it but please excuse.

Warning: Only watch if you want to learn how to do this. Otherwise this is mad boring.

This was one of the toughest things to do when I first started shooting my work by myself and it's still not easy. I struggled for years with before finding a comfortable way to do this. If you have better tips, do share!

Post wedding chop

2011-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Been thinking about a big dramatic cut lately, maybe after the wedding. I love these:

Or maybe I should try something a little less drastic:

And here is a flashback of a couple of short haircuts I've had in my life:

2007

1984/85

Seriously though, what do you guys think? Major chop or just a bob?

Surprise.

2011-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things is still getting surprises in the mail. Elly made this sweet necklace but I am tempted to hang it up somewhere as decoration instead, so I can see it all the time and be reminded how wonderful the blog world is.

See her work here. It's crazy cute. So is her blog, by the way.

---

And this past weekend, I celebrated the birthday of a very important person. It was a Wii playing pizza party where I tasted legendary guac and it was a seriously good time. Dudes, Wii (Dance 2) is one of those rare games where watching people play is better than participating.

Start off your Monday right.

2011-01-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

Some eye candy this morning.

Can't tell you how fun it is to play shoe store in the house. These were two contenders but ultimately, I'm leaning towards exchanging for something less spendy because I had to buy a second dress. It's for the banquet and there's no getting around it.

A man loves to be fancy.

2011-01-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

After an extended vacation, my head is a little less clouded with the daily run around and it's the easiest time to think about why I do what I do. Is my career path the actual one I wanted to take, is it fulfilling. Is this still what I want to be doing, is it getting to a place of happiness and financial security. Part of pursuing the answers is that fact that change is coming and if there is something that isn't working, this is a great time to fix it.

I have been thinking about doing more custom work. Mid last year, I began creating custom engagement rings and the process has been both challenging but incredible. When I started this business, I never thought I would be able to work on pieces that were on this level of sentimental importance. And now I think I might be just a little bit addicted to the thrill.

Over the holiday break, Lars and I discussed wedding ring designs at length. He's so excited about it because after all these years, it'll be the first piece of jewelry I'll make that he'll be able to wear. "I like mixed metals," he said. "And stones." When I brought up a rose gold option, he said that it sounded cool. Homies, the man said yes to a pink ring.

His only stipulation is that the ring looks like I created it. How lucky am I?

Custom 3 part engagement ring. Asscher cut diamond in 14k gold with a rosecut maroon accent diamond. Additional photo here.

I love you more than cheesecake.

2011-01-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

I know I said no wedding talk in these parts but this cheesecake is so beautiful that it transcends the rules. Lars' brother is a student at Johnson and Wales and made this for everyone at Christmas and we are talking about including this in our dessert spread/cake table. I am trying to make this day special by including touches by people who love us and this would be such a great way to do that.

And there is this memory: one of Lars' first declarations to me was that he loved me more than cheesecake. "More than cheesecake!" I said. A little incredulously. But there it was and here we are.

Getting back into the swing of things..

2011-01-07T12:31:00.004-05:00

I've been out of town for a couple of weeks, the longest I've been in Nashville. Always takes a few days to get used to being away from the business but by the end of the trip, I had forgotten about email. Which I still have to get to.

The trip was filled to the brim with wedding planning and family time. There is still the decision on where to live after the nuptials but talks have begun. There was lobbying. Real estate magazines and Craigslist are on our reading to-dos. We discuss having our own spaces to work in but one morning, we are on our respective laptops and wacoms in the dining room and it is fine. I am reminded of earlier years when he would be animating at the table and I would be drawing on the bed, on the floor. So we'll see.

It was also a time of shopping, picking up vintage items for the reception and netted Christmas lights at half off. Measuring a room 60.5' x 84.5' and designing a mini gazebo, which was the least ambitious of our ideas, if you can believe it.

2011 is going to be so full of change.

Inspiration: Orangette

2010-12-20T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today, I am in love with Orangette. Because she writes in a meandering sort of way, her words wooing you a little. She writes the way I wish I could and inspires me to try. Life and work get in the way and sometimes it's just easier to take a photo, you know what I mean. A thousand words.

The blog is not just about food or the recipes. It's about the stories and experiences that surround it. Making a connection. It's what I wanted to do with my jewelry but never really took the time to share.

In the meantime, I'm still finishing up the year with the business that comes with the holiday season. So here is a photo (again). A terrible tasting macaron. You'd never know it though. It looks absolutely perfect, down to the little dusting on top.

These days..

2010-12-16T13:29:00.006-05:00

.. it's all work and wedding. Mostly work, at least until the new year. I've separated all wedding talk onto another blog because I don't want to subject people who don't want to have to read about all that stuff. Wedding, zzz.
So this is that blog.

In the meantime, here are some links around town.

Shop updates: new jewelry and things in Tinker Supply Co. I am loving the hand carved spoons so much, I don't want to let them go. But such is life when you do what I do.

I am obsessed with this show and can't stop watching it on Netflix and Hulu. I like shows that I can play while working.

My favorite photo of the week. (Warning, lethal.)

If you are a fan of fashion and cute, here is the image for you. Via Bliss.

As if I needed to covet more beautiful things I can't afford.

Laura out.

Sometimes..

2010-12-08T12:28:00.002-05:00

.. my favorite part of the day is taking behind the scenes photographs like these. One snapshot to capture the last 2 hours worth of work.

Jammy Cookies

2010-12-07T14:06:00.000-05:00

My very excellent intern, (S) brought these over last week. I realize that this is a terrible photo but they disappeared pretty quickly so I wasn't able to take another one in better lighting. They were perfect with tea. Buttery and delicious.

We put the cover back on, saving two for the next time she was back. One for me and one for her. But the next day, I wanted mine. Bad. My brother tells me I have low impulse control.

As I munched on my jammy cookie, I looked to be sure that there was one left for S. But when she opened it up on Thursday, the bowl was completely empty. Where did the last cookie go?

I'll tell you: in my belly, that's where.

I am a terrible boss.

Flashback: 9/28/10 (The Proposal) Part 3

2010-12-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

A bit from the book. Because even though it speaks of moments in those ten years that are exclusively ours, I wanted to share some of his thoughtfully crafted sentences.

It begins:

You. I want to write about you; my life with you.

... (removed)

... About the impact of your feet against first our apartment’s—and then our home’s—floor; your familiar gait and the resulting noise. I want to write about our fights and how we make up. About your expression—the swell of tears and tincture of red in your cheeks—when we discover that you are pregnant with our child, our daughter, our son. I want to write of our child whose face when she cries seems, like her mother’s, to fold in on itself, each of her features a petal for whom the sun has set, her eyes and mouth and brows pressing in and appearing smaller as though each muscle must compress to empty the well of tears just below the surface.

I want to list all the nicknames I will give you during our life but can only list the things I’ve said before: babe, baby, boo, bluegray boogray, blue mallow, favorite, cheez doodle, cheeks, ... grump roast, ... mon petit, haus maus, neglectobot, and always, always, buddy. I want to write about our tightly coiled future together, to write of our life, our love, but for now, I will write about the un-spooled past.

* * *

2003.

Flashback: 9/28/10 (The Proposal) Part 2

2010-12-06T12:38:00.000-05:00

Finally, the museum was about to close. We found a place to have a snack: Piave and Vosges. (If you haven't tried them together, you must!) He took out a book and told me that he had written something for me. And then I knew what was about to happen. When you know someone for almost ten years, changes in the air don't go unnoticed.

So I read. Seconds later (minutes? hours?), looked up, and he held out a an open box, stammered something about the ring, voice shaking. I forgot to say yes and then I did. We sat together on the tartan blanket.

He began telling me about the process that began months ago, emailing with my brother, planning a day trip to New York to speak with my parents, taking the time to write, preparing for my trip to Nashville. Which was supposed to happen in June but was pushed to August due to both of our work schedules, and then again to September, also because of work.

After calling our parents, we drove to the nearest Starbucks. Emailing and texting. Updating our relationship status on Facebook, you know how it goes. Modern love.

And that is what happened.

Next: Part 3 (Out of 3)

Flashback: 9/28/10 (The Proposal) Part 1

2010-12-03T12:01:00.006-05:00

How sad that this post warrants the title "flashback"? Late as ever.

I'm not a romantic so when I tell this story, it's pretty much about the facts. (He's the sentimental one, between the two of us.) I apologize to those of you who are looking forward to a sapfest, there won't be one.

That Monday was to be the Day Of The Proposal, and he had booked me an appointment with a masseuse. That morning I had the best. massage. of. my. life. Susanna put me in a stupor for the rest of the day.

I don't remember anything afterwards, (I think we went antiquing?) which is why it was probably best that due to rainy weather, he decided to change it up to the next day.

Tuesday morning, I woke up this:

Steak and eggs, my favorite breakfast. I didn't really see anything out of the usual at this point, because he is that kind of guy.

After breakfast, we got some coffee at DrinkHaus and went off to see the Chihuly installation at Cheekwood.

And I was just Laura the explorer, doing my thang. Not a clue of what was going to happen later that day.

Next: Part 2 (out of 3).

Being a bad blogger

2010-11-19T11:51:00.005-05:00

Probably until the end of December. Things that are/have been happening:

A coffee/lunch date with a mysterious someone in Brooklyn. I wish I could tell you about this meeting but it is top secret! All will be revealed, although probably not for a year.

New jewelry was sent to a shop in NYC. This crazy piece was my favorite out of the bunch. Those are giant vintage starfish clip earrings!

Dress shopping with a friend (for her, not me). We went to Lovely Bridal Shop in the west village and it was so cute inside. Botanical illustrations all over the wall, frothy dresses, modern details. Fun!

I was informed this week..

2010-11-10T12:03:00.003-05:00

.. that for my birthday next year, I am getting an ANIMAL FRIEND.

First thing that popped into my head:

Do you know about Boo?

Tennessee Trip, Part 3

2010-11-05T17:05:00.005-04:00

When I go to TN, there is one thing that we inevitably spend 80% of the time doing: antiquing.

[What were YOU thinking about? Shame.]

This is at our fav place to find old furniture; how perfect is this for my future studio? A million flat drawers for supplies and things. Deco styled glass= awesome.

This room was amazing.

There is nothing like old glass. Unstable, maybe. Beautiful, definitely.

Isn't this haunting and lovely? I always think of Lisa and her collections when I look through the photos.

Bonus pic: This is what happens when I spend too much time photographing and not enough paying attention to Lars.

Sheep & Wool Festival

2010-11-02T12:15:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, I went to the Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. Homies, this happens once a year and you want to GO. I had so much fun. The drive up was beautiful. Barns filled with food vendors, the cleanest and friendliest farm animals I've ever seen, yarns in a million colors. We missed Johnny Depp though, who got there that morning. Yes! Johnny Depp loves the lambys.

I bought a pair of earmuffs similar to the ones on Gina here and they are my favorite thing. Soft like nuthin.

Gifted Magazine

2010-11-01T13:58:00.002-04:00

Ez of Creature Comforts has come out with a beautiful magazine; every spread is styled in a lovely way and it's so fun to see contributions from familiar names. I've been following Ez's blog for years now and it's so cool to see her touches throughout the whole thing. Check it out:

RISD sale

2010-10-27T13:02:00.002-04:00

I'm so behind on the recaps! The risd sale was amazing, see official post here. It was the first time we ever did this with a pup, but this particularly pup was all chill. There was a moment of "WHY DOG WHY" when she kept barking at the peeps outside the hotel room after bedtime, but that was quickly resolved with the sleep machine app on the ipod touch I brought. Thank God for technology, am I right?

Trips like these are busy but there was even a little bit of playtime scheduled in.

Where I've been

2010-10-22T14:20:00.002-04:00

This is round 2 of the Jasmere shipments, waiting to be taped up and taken to the post office. Will emerge from the cave soon; this is a status check, I am alive!

Tennessee Trip, Part 2

2010-10-18T12:07:00.005-04:00

Visiting TN means:

Visiting family. Photos from L to R: Lars' cousin Brooke and her adorable baby girl Haley. Grandmommy. More Haley and Brooke. Lars' mom and I.

Eating with strangers, family style. At Monell's.

Taking walks after said meal.

And a MUST visit to Imogene + Willie.

Coming up, antiquing. Yes!

Plug.

2010-10-14T12:13:00.003-04:00

Hullos. Just wanted to let you all know that Prismera is featured on Jasmere today. If you don't know what that is, here's how it works:

Jasmere is probably best described as Daily Candy + Groupon. Daily Candy because it's subscription based-- if you sign up for Jasmere, you'll get a notification of a new feature every day.

Basically, you purchase vouchers (in my case, it costs $19 but you can buy something for $40 using that $19 voucher). So you get 53% off.
What if you want to buy something that's worth $120? You just buy 3 of those $19 vouchers and you can use that on the $120 item. But that means I only spent $57 for the $120 item.
Yes that's right.

The discount is crazy, but it's for 24 hours only. Just an opportunity to offer people who have been wanting to try some of my products but needed the extra incentive.

* Also, if you guys are on facebook, fan our page and you'll be entered into a drawing for a free necklace tomorrow. Whoo!

Friends: A Studio Visit

2010-10-13T11:22:00.002-04:00

Before I went off to the RISD sale (post coming soon!) Megan came by the studio for a quick visit. She brought me some of the most beautiful cupcakes I've ever seen in real life.

And then she blogged about the visit, and that special weekend for her (and her sister). I love that they gave me the chance to be a part of that big day and was happy to create a special piece for the bridal party.

See her very sweet post here: Commas and Clauses.

Tennessee Trip, Part 1

2010-10-11T13:32:00.002-04:00

Gorgeous clouds on the way there.

This cantaloupe was purchased expressly for my consumption, aw. Then we messed around with the kitties, who tolerated our shenanigans with much patience. His mom baked some cinnamon peanut butter oatmeal cookies.

The farmer's market was filled with all sorts of pumpkins and gourds.

Wonderful french pressed coffee, gorgeous packaging on their to go cups.

Just a few snapshots from the the trip for now. More overview to come.

I'm back.

2010-10-05T15:41:00.004-04:00

Now that vacation is over, I'm back to the usual prepping, making, shipping, emailing grind.

While I was gone, there were so many new gorgeous products that if I weren't needing to save for a wedding, I would snatch these up in a heartbeat.

I love Elly, her style, her company Garment House.

YES to this sweater and its attention to detail.

I love this dress for 365 days a year. Wahh.

(Like how I sneaked that bit of news in? I am low key like that, for shiz.)

Pie.

2010-09-24T13:44:00.004-04:00

I made this sour cream apple pie last week for a dinner and was disappointed that it didn't seem quite as sweet as pie should be. Got over it when I realized that it was pretty great with whipped cream. Made the whole place warm and cinnamonny toasty.

Playing Chef

2010-09-22T12:00:00.004-04:00

I am scrambling a little bit right now with work so it's just image heavy posts. I made pancakes the other day, a new recipe-- whipping egg whites until peaks formed, folding it into the batter.. but I'm afraid I whipped them for too long, because these were not the delicate, mouth-melting pancakes that were promised. They looked pretty enough though.

Last weekend

2010-09-21T13:16:00.003-04:00

A quick dinner at a friend's place. Despite it being a small meal, he seriously brought his game. Impressed to say the least. Check out the beauteousness.

Was introduced to St. Germain, which is now my favorite thing ever. Like imbibing perfume.

Cheating

2010-09-20T13:51:00.003-04:00

I launched a new collection today and blogged about it on Prismera but I'm just gonna do a little copy paste over here. I know that is cheating but time is short! This week is crunch time before I go on my vacation for the year.

-----------

fête (fāt, fet) noun

a festival; entertainment; esp., a gala entertainment held outdoors

I'm so thrilled to announce the Fête Collection! This collection has been in the works for quite some time now, almost a year in the making, so it's so satisfying to see it all come together. I worked with the beautiful and charming Rachael Thomas, who modeled the pieces (and made that adorable yellow and orange banner you see in the photos, crafty girl that she is). The shoot took place in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The pieces are made from stainless steel, which are sustainable, and the cords and chains used for almost every piece are vintage "new old stock". These are pieces that have never been used and are in new condition, but have never been sold off the shelf! I felt that it was important to use vintage components because the concept behind this collection was all about nostalgia and celebrating moments with a childlike sense of wonder. The ribbons and cords were a lovely way to add bits of color to these metallic pieces.

It's tough to choose my favorites among these pieces but the Flag Pendant is a unique take on the monogram necklace, the Merci necklace is a neutral, everyday piece that's easy to wear, and the Mon Petit necklace is just so much fun- how cute is that term of endearment? Mon petit chou!

In addition to these photos, here's a little video that'll take you right on location.

On kitties.

2010-09-17T17:19:00.004-04:00

Man oh man, I hope you are following Sho Yalls Does. Because I have some ridiculous photos coming soon. Did you ever wonder what happens when you put a string on a kitty's head? Well wonder no more. Speaking of kitties..

I can't decide if this is weird or awesome. Please weigh in.

Lately

2010-09-14T07:05:00.000-04:00

Things are being mass made by busy hands over in the studio. My summer interns have gone back to RISD (and studying abroad in Sweden, can we say JEALOUS??) but I was blessed to have a new person, who I am hoping will stay awhile! She is really great and things are moving along smoothly. So far, she is pretty tolerant of my grumping around in the mornings when I haven't had my coffee before she arrives, so that says something.

I just sent out a newsletter about new watercolor prints that were expressly created so I could donate 30% of proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The prints were featured in Marie Claire this month so that is pretty awesome!

There are so many more things in the mix that I can't share quite yet-- new jewelry and secret projects. Soon.

Labor Day

2010-09-09T13:39:00.003-04:00

A bbq, a brisket, a birthday. Then the day ended with shenanigans. The cake was layers upon layers of crepe and whipped cream, amazing. Clara! Where did it come from!

Still popsicle weather.

2010-09-08T16:59:00.005-04:00

Lena inspired me to make more and it was just in time for the warm weather we've been having these past few days.

Grape juice, yogurt, raspberry jam, bananas.

Edit: Only a small amount of jam though. It sweetens the yogurt. Did you know that jam doesn't freeze? And that it's heavier than juice and yogurt? I didn't and learned something that day. Ssssssssscience.