10.23.09
Ouverture and new moos
I made a necklace today in what I could perhaps even call my signature style. The pendant came from a single vintage earring that I grabbed at an antiques fair last summer…
Ouverture necklace
And my new moo cards arrived today. I can’t praise their products, prices and speedy delivery enough! One of the best services I’ve ever encountered out there!
Have a great weekend!
10.21.09
Powder and blush
As I’ve said, I’ve been really preoccupied with my own personal little things lately and haven’t been able to come up with as much new jewellery as I’d have hoped by now, considering the coming season… A couple of sneak peeks into what I’ve been playing with, however, are here. Nothing to jump over the roof for but I really like the pale simplicity of them and especially the vintageish, powdery colour combo of the earrings.
Lady of the Lake bracelet
Powder and blush earrings
Night time studio
Since I’ve been lacking inspiration, or mainly just concentration skills lately, I’ve escaped into creating new versions of old favourites. Once the colours are chosen not much light is needed, so these are styles easily crafted even in candlelight.
Night time studio
My favourite swarovski shapes of all time are these royally gorgeous “baroque” drops. I’ve now made a few new pairs in two different lengths and these are the first I’ve managed to photograph.
Nouveau Baroque earrings in ruby/green
Nouveau Baroque long earrings in ruby/green
10.03.09
Jewel
October. The time of year when my every thought seems to turn to faraway lands. This time last year I was in Crete, the year before that In NYC. It’s time to reminisce…
There’s a little shop in New York’s East Village that’s like a jewel. It’s Barbara Feinman Millinery on East 7th Street. As you can tell by the name, it’s a hat shop but there are also other handmade accessories such as knitted gloves and scarves, and what’s more, some rather fantastic jewellery. Some of the necklaces and earrings are made out of tiny little beads, rescued from vintage, beaded purses and handbads that have been broken beyond repair. I can’t help but adore this idea!
On my first visit to New York in 2005 I bought these earrings from Barbara Feinman’s. They still remain my forever favourite earrings of all time! I had a moment of terror once on the street when a group of French tourists, or rather this one kid holding a balloon, came out of nowhere and bumped into me. As unlikely as it is, the balloon got caught in my earring! I immediately started swearing in French (quite spontaneously!), trying to get the thing off my earring, it was so embarrassing! Thankfully the earring didn’t break, I would have cried my eyes out otherwise!
But there’s also a little shop in Helsinki that’s equally like a jewel. It’s Kolme toivomusta on Kalevankatu. In Kolme toivomusta there’s an absolutely charming collection of mainly small vintage goods from jewellery, trinket boxes, tablewear, beaded purses, hat boxes, everything I love, all selected and displayed with excellent taste. When I first stepped into this shop I felt as if I had entered inside my own head! Last week I made a purchase that I should have made months ago but luckily it was still waiting for me.
Looking at these two pieces of jewellery together I’ve come to realise once again, that sometimes it takes years to find the perfect match. This heavenly blue rhinestone bracelet is by Weiss and according to the stamp under the clasp it was made in the 1940’s. The adorable shopkeeper of Kolme toivomusta has brought it back from New York which is only fitting as that’s where the bracelet was made as well. Oh, my precious! Am I hopeless or what?
If you’re interested in finding out more about vintage costume jewellery, here are a couple of wild links:
A crazy tour of vintage costume jewellery designers on Youtube
