let's go shopping for home decor.

yes, you can actually buy these things. although i can't imagine these things anywhere other than, possibly, neverland ranch, i guess someone actually buys this stuff.

1. perfect for a child's room.


2. great next to a child's swing set.
3. for the yard. it feels kind of wrong since this yeti is only 2 feet tall.


4. ouch. this guy isn't going down without a fight.

here comes the sun (well, not in seattle)

i love eyeglasses and sunglasses. when i was a kid always wished i had a need to wear glasses. i remember in the "ym" magazines, right next to the ads for camp la jolla* and camp shane, an offer for a pair of faux tortoise framed "fashion glasses" for only $12.95, plus shipping and handling. all it required was a cashier's check. i begged my parents to take me to the bank to get a cashier's check in exchange for my allowance. alas, they never would cave. bah!

so, as a vision impaired adult, with light blue eyes that are sensitive to the slightest bit of sun, i get to indulge in another accessory collecting obsession--sunglasses and eyeglasses. i have quite an impressive collection (or at least i impress myself with it). my favorite brand of frames is definitely oliver peoples. they are timeless in style and comfortable to wear. for the past 6 or so months, i have been wearing out my aero style aviators. it is time for something new. i am thinking something with a light frame. scouting for new glasses, i thought i would point out some recent likes.

chloe myrte. these were all the rage several months ago and were pretty impossible to get my hands on to even try on. they are more readily available now, so i guess the trend has died. regardless, i still like the style. i have never owned a pair of glasses by chloe. i am a little wary since i often wonder about the quality of glasses that are by a brand that isn't solely an eyeglass line. i have found that my prada and other lines known for their clothing and leather goods aren't the best eyeglasses in quality of design. i am hoping i can try on a pair when in san francisco, since they were nowhere to be found last time i was there.
on to my favorite line, oliver peoples. since the price for these limited released harlot glasses is not quoted on their site, it is safe to guess that they aren't priced for me! these 70s-inspired oversized sunglasses are accented by high karat gold and 1.5 carats of rount cut, natural white diamonds. beautifully gauche.




*on a side note, i only learned about 10 years ago that "jolla" isn't pronounced as it appears. ah, the joys of growing up in mississippi.

while browsing the internet and killing time, i somehow stumbled upon these pantone coffee mugs. i just think they are so clever. i am particularly fond of the 5757, since it is very similar to the logo color for my jewelry line, which is pantone 5767. unfortunately, these mugs are not shipped outside of the EU.

i did run across some sets that are similar in theme that are available at a place called Fishs Eddy. i am not sure if i like these as much, though. i prefer the use of one color, as seen in the mugs. also, the mugs more accurately reflect the look of a pantone color chip--down to the font.

of course, i wouldn't be me if i didn't want the one that i can't easily get. this time is no different. i, naturally, prefer the mugs that aren't easily attainable. bah!

what's that smell?

i like smelling nice. i love perfumed soaps, body washes, lotions, gels, perfumes, body sprays, etc. i also like variety; therefore, i can't really say i have a signature fragrance. for the past few years, my preference leans towards fragrances by fresh. it all started with a bottle of sugar perfume, which was gifted to me by the man of the house. a very clean scent, it smells a lot like a sugar cookie, with a little bit of lemon.

next addition to my collection was a limited release scent called "memoirs of a geisha." i guess they figured that movie would have been more successful than it was. it is a sweet smell. it is a mix of citrus and florals, but nothing too flowery. i am thinking they don't sell it anymore or just sell it under a different name.

then sake was added to the personal stash. it is another fruity, clean smelling scent with a hint of ginger. it is a little spicier and heavier than the first two scents, but still light enough to wear without feeling like i am killing the room with my perfume. it is very pleasant.

most recent addition (as of yesterday) is mangosteen. mangosteen, the exotic tree fruit, is getting really trendy, kind of like how pomegranate became all the rage. they even sell freeze dried mangosteen at trader joe's now. while i am still debating if i like the freeze dried stuff, i am loving the fragrance. since i have never smelled a fresh mangosteen, i can't say if this perfume scent resembles the real thing, but i can say it smells really nice.

i am assuming fresh uses a similar base for all the fragrances since they all smell like an adaptation of a base scent. if you like light smells that are clean, slightly fruity and faintly floral, check out this brand of fragrances. also, most of the products i have seen are made in the USA, which is always a good thing.

someone break out the confetti, party hats and noisemakers. i just got my tracking number for my smith oxy/propane little torch kit that i ordered. it will be here next wednesday.



for those who don't know, i am not a huge fan of store bought components and handcraft my jewelry. while this does make the work more time consuming and the pieces are more costly, i think it just really makes the jewelry more special and unique than if i slapped a stone on a commonly used component and called it a day. i think it is one of the things that can set apart a line from the overly saturated bridge jewelry market. here are a couple examples of my of my more time consuming works in which the jewelry components are handmade:


for my "maya earrings," as seen above, i hand form the frames that resemble a spade shape. i then tightly coil wire and gemstones around the frame; working in the dangling stones and chain accents accordingly.



for the above gold filled, ametrine earrings, which have no name, i use a similar technique as with the maya earrings.

some may wonder what a torch has to do with all of this. the reason is that i often solder the handmade frames using karat gold or silver solder (depending on the metal used for the frames). for the past few years, i have been using a small butane torch, much like those used for creme brulee, or an acetylene air torch kit for larger projects, such as rings and other things that require more soldering. i also have been using the acetylene air kit for casting, which isn't the greatest since it takes a long time for the metal to get to temperature.

finally, i broke down and ordered a smith oxy/propane as a holiday gift from yen jewelry to yen jewelry in celebration of the great holiday sales season for the line.

soup's on!



yes, as sad as it may seem, i am posting about soup. as a vegetarian, i am a big fan of soup. it is warm, filling and just seems to hit the spot on a cold day. the one thing i don't like about soup is that it can be kind of a hassle to make from scratch when you start to get more creative than a bunch of veggies and beans cooked in a vegetable broth. while canned soups are convenient, they are usually just salty and gross. yes, campbell's and progresso, that means you.

a short while back, while at my local costco, i saw a case of soup roasted pepper and tomato soup by pacific naturals, the company that makes my favorite almond milk. i have seen this soup before at whole foods, but never felt motivated to try it. feeling adventurous, and knowing costco's generous return policy, i decided to try it out and purchased a case. it may have been the smartest thing i have done in a while (maybe that isn't saying much). having many times been victim to costco's cruel joke where they get you hooked on something, but never stock it again, i now have 3 cases in reserves in my garage. ha, ha! take that, costco, take that! some people collect vintage wines in their cellars; i collect soup in my garage. cheers.

a rant regarding horrible commercial music.

granted this has nothing to do with design, jewelry, etc. i feel it needs to be said. is it just all in my mind or are commercials right now playing the most annoying music? i think advertising companies are taking a page from apple's guide to marketing and playing some of the most obnoxious, migraine inducing music that sticks in your head and tends to overstay its welcome. wait, it never was welcomed! while apple still takes the grand prize for obnoxious music for that awful feist song and that song where the woman is squeakily proclaiming that music is her boyfriend and something she wants you to touch, some other current cringe worthy commercial tunes that are playing in high rotation include:

• target--some whiny male voices singing about how holidays are times of magic and then something about counting down;
• old navy (i think)--"if you are chilly, here take my sweater... i love the way you call me baby;"
• old navy (again!)--another annoying song that is very feist-like (oooh, it is "feisty"--i am such the punster.). i can't even manage to figure out what the lyrics even are. something about "a little faith and a lot of heart" and lots of weird sounding yodeling; and,
  
• j.c. penney--another feisty song about ships in the harbor because it is Christmastime.

large corporations, please stop the insanity. stop trying to make annoying sounding songs cool. my bleeding ears will thank you.

new leaf design.

in previous posts i shared some of my leaf designs that have inspired a very small, limited release collection that is a bit of a departure from my elaborate, wire wrapped gemstone designs. this leaf was found in a box of baby spinach. i am not sure if it was a weed or what, but i loved it and created a smaller piece that i once posted in the past and now this one, which is a large sterling silver pendant that is hand sawed and brushed with a satin finish. the stones are large, round onyx. presently it is at hitchcock in seattle, but i think i am going to also carry one on my website under the limited edition section.

enjoy.

gemstone shopping can be brutal.

feeling the post-thanksgiving bloat, i decided to pass on the shopping rush today and come up with some new designs using some of my newly purchased gemstones as inspiration. the gem show was in town last weekend, and while i usually go with a list of basics i need for existing designs that sell well, and with sketches of new ideas and the stone types i think would work well, i also like to look for new cuts and colors that will inspire new designs. this is always riskier since i have been known to walk away with a great set of stones, but then have a hard time figuring out a design that will work well with the stone and work well with the general design direction of my line, since i really don't want a line with designs that are all over the place and not cohesive. needless to say, when going to replenish basics, purchase for new sketch ideas and purchase for new inspiration, i don't make it out cheaply, which can bring upon a whole new set of uneasiness--the question of "will i be able to sell this?!"

shopping for gemstones results in a whole sea of emotions in the course of a few hours. i will outline in order:

1. bewilderment. hundreds of vendors, tens of thousands of stones. where to start? this gets easier over time after you develop a list of favorite vendors. i have about 3 go-to vendors. good vendors are ones who offer fair prices (this doesn't mean cheap) for stones that are of good quality and every stone can be used (i can't stand when i buy a strand and only 3/4 of the strand is usable--the drill holes are too small; the hole is at a fracture point; there is a large gash in a stone, etc.). some vendors are notorious for offering what seems like great pricing, but you learn it isn't that great when you can only use 1/2 of the strand.
2. confusion when you see that the vendors' prices are all over the map for essentially the same products.
3. excitement and inspiration when thinking of all the great things you could do with some of the finds.
4. determination and cunning. never leave paying the marked price. be ready to negotiate. also, be ready to walk when you don't get the price you want; someone else will have the same item and will give you the price you want (as long as you are being reasonable).
5. feelings of exhilaration after getting pricing you want.
6. feelings of anxiety from wondering if anyone will want to buy the designs you make with the stones.
7. fatigue. both physical and mental. it is a long day.
8. regret. this happens the day after when you kick yourself for leaving behind something that you really wanted. regret for spending too much. regret for not getting enough of a certain stone. this usually happens when you enter all the things you did buy into your inventory database.
9. acceptance. accepting how much you spent. accepting the fact that there is a small chance that it won't sell. accepting that you left behind something that you really wanted.
10. creativity. it is time to turn those stones into art.

then you do it all over again in 3 months when the next show is in town. if you have established relationships with some of the vendors, you can order from them via email or phone if you need items sooner. while i do that when needed with some of the vendors i trust, it definitely isn't as fun as going to the shows and seeing everything in person.

here are four of my favorite purchases from last weekend's show.

smooth aquamarine in soft organic shapes.


smooth gold rutilated quartz briolettes.

pink amethyst (i don't even know the name of the cut, but it reminds me of a disco ball).

same cut, but in smokey quartz.
i can't wait to work with them.

more leaves.

as i mentioned a while back, just for my own amusement, i started creating a small collection of limited and one-of-a-kind pieces based on leaves that i have found recently. here are the latest. the first is of the same larkspur leaf shape as in the first necklace, but the leaf form is significantly smaller in size. the second leaf was found in a box of baby spinach, oddly enough. i am not sure if it really is a spinach leaf or some sort of weedy field green that made it in with the rest of the spinach. either way, i found it quite lovely. both of the pieces are in oxidized sterling silver and prehnite. the leaf forms are sawed by hand using an 8/0 blade. more leaf designs to come once i figure out how to tastefully arrange some of the huge forms i have cut.

call me a pollyanna if you would like, but i am of the camp that thinks email thank you notes are so gauche. join my campaign in embracing your inner emily post by writing a thank you letter that requires a stamp and a walk to the mailbox. if you want to do so fashionably, be sure to use a parker 51 vista blue pen to write your letter on laurel denise's lovely stationery.

adding to her beautiful and successful jewelry collection, laurel now offers stationery and paper goods that nicely complement her carefully handmade wearable creations. like her jewelry, her stationery offers botanical themes, subtle colors and classic lines. the collection includes note cards, journals and even a 2008 calendar for all the punctual types out there.

my favorites are the library note cards.

bridal jewelry? yes, bridal jewelry.

even though the jewelry i make is great for every day wear and for dressier occasions, now the jewelry is getting recognized by stylists in the bridal fashion crowd. i can see why, the handmade, heirloom quality jewelry and fine gemstones do make for nice complements to luxurious bridal gowns.

*butterfly in the sky. i can fly twice as high. take a look, it's in a book. a reading rainbow.* where is lavar burton when i want to give my book recommendation?



while searching for another title in barnes and noble recently, i was intrigued by a book with a simple white cover with a black and white illustration of a mcdonald's value meal adorned by prada's signature logo that is found on the dust bags that hold many of my favorite shoes and handbags by the line. knowing that the book must be an expose of sorts, i had to buy it. i am glad i did.

"deluxe: how luxury lost its luster" is a must read for anyone who is interested in fashion history, branding, marketing or the effects of globalization. the author, dana thomas, skillfully details the history of couture fashion houses and luxury goods lines that became synonymous with style and craftsmanship, but have more recently become victim to the greed of multi-billion dollar global conglomerates that mass-market and mass-produce collections in order to reach a brand and label obsessed middle market consumer and increase profit share. not to spoil it all, but stick with hermes and chanel. now if only i could find an extra $10K+ for my own birkin bag. i will not look at some of my clothes the same way again.

since i am not much of a book reviewer (as evidenced above), just take my word for it that it is a good read.

but don't forget that not everything out there is mass-produced. for instance, there is some great handmade jewelry (of course). also check out this site of independent artists and designers. my collection of handcrafted gemstone jewelry even has its own home there.

can i get an Amen? rejoice in the fact that water resistant shells are no longer automatically damned to ugliness.

here in seattle, where it is rainy and windy in the fall and winter, it is a rite of passage to own not only one jacket by the north face, but many. the have a way of keeping one warm and dry, but the problem: the rain jackets are just scary ugly. the choice of styles include bulky bland color blocked fabric or bulky toxic waste color blocked fabric. it is a no-win. since staying dry is a good thing, one eventually decides to come to terms with looking as if dressed in a coleman tent that was on clearance.

thankfully, we must settle no longer because a great looking rain jacket has emerged by a new company called nau. the durable and well-made jacket, which has a detachable hood and is resistant to wind and rain, is cut to define the waist and has a curved, asymmetrical button placket that nicely hides the zipper. not only is the jacket a great find in that it is actually fashionable, but it is also environmentally friendly (as are all nau designs) since it is made of 100% recycled materials and can be put back in the closed-loop system to create new fabrics when the jacket has seen the last of its days.

the company only has a few stores aside from the one in the seattle area, but has an online store. a tip for those with a local storefront: order the clothing you want to purchase for home delivery, since they will take 10% off the retail price and deliver it to your house for free. this is useful to know, since the prices can be a little on the high side. another fact that pleasantly surprised me is that 5% of every sale goes to an environmental charity--they have a list about 10 from which one can choose.

i look forward to getting some more items from this company.

farewell to summer, the sun and the 20 or so adorable little fingertip sized frogs that lived in my backyard and loved to perch atop my sedum plants.


fall wasted no time here in seattle. cold weather, rain and winds have been the norm over the past few weeks. luckily i have and will continue to have chances to get away from the weather. i just got back from puerto rico recently and will be heading to las vegas, san francisco, kaua'i and the great state of mississippi over the next few months. travel to sunnier areas in the fall and winter is definitely a requirement for me during the rainy season.

although the fall and winter weather can be on the gloomier side, i love getting to break out the boots, cashmere sweaters and coats.

inspired by fall leaves, i have recently started making one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that consist of fall colored gemstones and hand cut leaf pendants that are transfers from actual leaves i have found. here is a picture of the first piece of the collection. the pendant is based on a larkspur leaf. it is currently at hitchcock in seattle. i will post each piece as it is completed.

get thee to la ree.

a couple months back, i paid a visit to this relatively new shop off main street in bellevue. i was pleasantly surprised when i saw a beautifully staged shop with many lines that i can pretty much bet on that no other stores in the area carry. no cliche walls of denim found here! this is a store that caters to a crowd that loves a more refined look and higher end fashion. they do carry a few denim lines, but not the played out lines like seven or citizens of humanity. not only do they carry clothes that are to die for, but also have a great assortment of accessories, including oliver peoples (hands down, my favorite brand of glasses--i have about 5 pairs!), gustto handbags, dana kellin jewelry and a lot of other great finds. i found a great anna corinna bag there that i had to have, resulting in an unplanned purchase that never resulted in buyer's remorse. the gorgeous selection, inviting store staging and bottled water branded with the store's logo, down to the beautiful pale blue, logo emblazoned shopping bags with grosgrain handles, show the owner's meticulous attention to details, which results in a very nice shopping experience. i suggest everyone in the area rush to this boutique with credit card in hand and shopping in mind. you won't be disappointed.

also, yen jewelry may now be purchased there.

mark your calendars for the yen jewelry trunk show at hitchcock.
i plan to bring not only the new fall pieces and popular signature designs, but also some never before seen limited and one-of-a-kind designs.

date: saturday, september 29, 2007
time: 5:00 pm
location: hitchcock, 1123 34th ave. in seattle (madrona neighborhood)

it's neiman marcus beauty event time!

i am a sucker for gifts with purchases. it is is my vice; my sickness; my addiction. i have made some pretty stupid purchases just to get the impractical gifts with purchase. the sickness goes even deeper when it comes to gifts of sample sizes of makeup, body and skin products that i will save in my box o' samples, but never get around to using. i just hope that this isn't a foreshadowing for a sad future where i save everything from emtpy toilet paper rolls to dust bunnies and old t.v. guides.

since i love getting free cosmetics i will never use, i really look forward to the neiman marcus beauty events that they have a few times a year. not only do i get products that will probably go rancid before they are opened, i get a bag that is actually not too horrendous to use in a public setting. while i won't be seen carrying them like a handbag, i like to use them to carry lunch, transport small jewelry orders from point A to point B, etc. this time around the bag is a pewter colored tote. some of the great samples i won't use include some estee lauder mascara (i prefer shu uemura), prada perfume that i will never buy since my last prada perfume evaporated completely, laura mercier lipstick in a color that i am sure that looks good on 5% of the population and some other goodies. while this event is pretty darned glorious, the only downside is that now i live in a location that doesn't have a neiman marcus locally (moment of silence, please). usually the bags have additional coupons for free gifts that are redeemable when bringing the certificate to one of the counters in the store. it isn't shabby stuff either. once there was an offer for a free jay strongwater purse mirror, complete with the designer's signature enamel and crystal adornments. it is bittersweet, indeed.

so, if you are local to a neiman marcus, get there now with your amex or neiman marcus card, or a crisp $100 bill (bring some extra for sales tax), so you can not only get your bag but redeem any certificates in them before the goods run out (and they will run out fast, if not gone already). if you are like i, get any of your major credit cards ready and go to the neiman marcus website and get to shopping!

seattle just got a little prettier.

okay, maybe that is a stretch, but after many "where in seattle can i see your jewelry in person" calls, i finally have a place to direct people. i am glad about this since i know for many it is hard to purchase jewelry online; this gets even harder for some as the price points increase. also, the jewelry is so much more impressive in person, since the website pictures don't give the pieces' sparkle any justice.

now on to the details. hitchcock is a great little boutique in the madrona area. the boutique offers many one-of-a-kind pieces, jewelry reconstructed from vintage finds and a few lines from local designers. this shop offers pieces that can't be simply found at nordstrom or other area department stores. a few of the lines that may be found there are iosselliani, thea grant and subversive jewelry; and now yen jewelry.

be sure to check it out. here are just a few pieces that you should be able to find there right now.

yen jewelry is in Lucky Magazine this month.


enter promotional code LUCKYAUGDEAL at checkout for 20% all regularly priced merchandise. the code works until august 31. it is a great opportunity to save on some of the newly released designs like the ones pictured below.

i like shoes. a while back i started liking flats after years of avoidance. when hearing the work "flats," i used to automatically think of those horrid sam and libby, circa 1980s version with the obnoxious bow that really didn't look much like a bow. now that i have gotten over it, here are some of my favorites in my closet right now.

1. tory burch reva flat. after wearing them, i think they are a bit overpriced for the quality. the fact that the heels had size stickers on them makes me think they are mass produced somewhere. also, they aren't terribly comfortable or feel like $200 shoes. with that said, they do dress up or down pretty nicely.

2. gucci thong sandal. these shoes are my staple shoes for dressing down when it is warm out. each year they offer new colors, and i always have to get a pair. although the soles are flat as pancakes, they are strangely comfortable.

3. cole haan nike air rhea d'orsay shoes in silver. cute ballet style flats with metallic leather and satin. they are nowhere near as comfortable as some of the cool sporty styled g-series shoes they used to make, but they are certainly wearable.

4. cole haan nike air beau mary jane. these quilted gold metallic shoes are much cuter on the feet than in photos. actually, they are kind of ugly shoes when i think about it. i think that is kind of why i like them so much. they, like the silver shoes, have nike air, so they are pretty comfy. actually, they are more comfortable than the silver rhea d'orsay shoes.

catching up and random observations.

it has been a while since i updated this blog. the line continues to get good press. check out some of the latest from "seattle magazine," nwsource" and "gen art pulse" by looking at yen jewelry's press page. be sure to keep an eye open for more good print editorial coverage for the line this summer. i will be sure to mention the magazines once they are published and for sale.

i have been working on my next collection for what seems like an eternity. many of the designs are evolutions of sketches and design ideas that are a couple years old. as always, the pieces and designs will evolve to a point where i am satisfied with it, but i am not there yet. coming up with interesting, unique and wearable designs isn't something that happens overnight.

now on to something that is design-related, although it is more of an observation. maybe i am in the minority, but i am so tired of seeing clothing, jewelry or home decor with a scull, a sparrow, a fawn or a cupcake as part of the design element. it is becoming so cliche. i am hoping this trend will finally fade away. good, i got that off my chest. now i can move on.

yen jewelry made it on daily candy! i have been subscribing to daily candy for years and always thought it would be so cool to have my line featured on it. knowing now influential the site is and how slim the chances are to be discovered and selected for an editorial feature, i never really imagined i would ever see a feature on my line sitting in my inbox one day. i am still tripping out over it. it is amazing how much it brought my site in the way of traffic and sales. i am grateful to daily candy and its seattle editor for giving my line a chance. also, thanks to suzy from frock shop for presenting my line line to her, all those who took a few moments, and continue to take a few moments, to visit, email and place orders before and after the feature.

here is the link on Daily Candy

apple shmapple. give me PRADA! i would take this LG phone over an iphone any day of the week. this is just far better looking.

with that said, i doubt either this or the iphone will look good after a few weeks of use. i can't even handle fingerprints on my monitor or on my current pocket pc. there is no telling what type of panic attacks i would have owning something that has even more surface area to get mucked up.

still, though, it sure is pretty.

another january 1 post!

well, i just figured out what messed up the "m" key. something was lodged under it. as i mcguyvered a way to a solution ("m" down, spacebar and enter to go) i learned that Indie Fixx-- another site for cool independent designer finds--profiled my line and sale today. Be sure to check it out!

on to the spacebar, then cleaning up the workroom, then to wash the dogs. the new year is already starting off with a bang. i see a mojito in my near future. okay, i just learned from the last sentence that the mystery of the mucked up "m" key has not been resolved. where is richard dean anderson when you need him?

yen jewelry featured at indie obsession.

as i sit at my laptop trying to figure out why my "m," "enter" and spacebar keys are suddenly not working, i received a wonderfully unexpected email from the lovely brandy of indie obsession. she is kicking off the new year by profiling my jewelry line. be sure to check out her site, often, since it definitely is a good read if you are looking for cool finds.

also, don't forget to check out the sale at yen jewelry.