cursive design

packing my bags for berlin

2012-01-22T11:55:00.006-06:00

on sunday jon and i leave for berlin for 10 days. so excited! i've never been. jon is a participating artist in the transmediale festival. he'll be performing, showing a gallery piece, and speaking on a panel. the festival is flying him out + putting us up (!). i only mention this because i am so freaking proud of him that i can barely contain myself. so. i am bragging. a lot. it has crossed my mind that this behavior is *possibly* unbecoming. but, whatever. i'm his wife i get to go off the rails + get overly excited about his hard work + accomplishments.

it'll be so nice to take some time and wander around the city. i definitely plan to spend significant time with 2 of our close friends that live there (advice from locals. yes!), wander around the bauhaus museum, try a curry wurst, drink lots of beer, find the cool fashion shops, try some schnitzel, and maybe fit in a sauna session. below is my real/fantasy outfit packing situation. it's real cuz i do own about 8% of these things...

click on any of the sets that will link you to my polyvore to find the items listed.

ok. so this is a pretty accurate picture of what i'll actually be wearing day to day. did i mention i think i've hit my goth phase...? it's odd because this phase should have hit in the early 90's when i was a pre-teen and my emotions actually matched all this black. now i'm just kind of a cheery/gothy mis-match. i like to think it's ok cuz i've always got a pop of color going on in some way. also, black will be fine for berlin in january/early febuary. (insert kraftwerk pun..)
an outfit for jon's opening. i love this skirt. it's leather but it's so flirty and in such a friendly shade. i chose the heart pattern marni blouse for jon. awwww. the bomber era jacket is a nod to my grandpa who was a tail gunner in the war. yes, i brought up the war. tisk. tisk. moving on.............
this outfit is perfect for walking and exploring. a sophisticated backpack that will store all of my embarrassing touristy materials that i'll try to only have out for tiny moments at a time. it's also perfect to evenly distribute the 20 lbs of cheese on my back that i will undoubtedly be hauling home with me.
while we're in berlin we'll be shooting my new spring/summer jewelry look book. we'll have access to some pretty fantastic interiors. on photo shoot days i try to be super comfortable and wear basics that i can easily move around in. a sturdy backpack is a must that will be full of organized pouches for makeup, hair stuff and photo equipment. i can't stand having my hair in the way so it usually ends up piled up in a bun. this little gold bow + bobby pins would keep it looking cute. at the end of a long work day beers for everyone on the team are always on me. and score! we're in germany so beer steins a plenty.

if you have any berlin travel tips/suggestions i'd love to have them. xo.

fab.com valentines sale

2012-01-12T11:25:00.004-06:00

i'm super excited to be included in this valentines pop up sale on fab.com with so many designers that i have great respect for. loads of wonderful jewelry + gifts for unbeatable prices. pieces by cursive design, gabriella artigas, fay andrada, tord boontje, verameat, brevity, maranon, nervous system, yellow owl workshop, coatt jewelry + many more.

the sale is going on now + will be up for a month. check it out here.

studio sale pics

2011-12-14T07:01:00.000-06:00

i love seeing my jewelry with susan's work all laid out on pristine white tables with our glittering light cloud above. you guys. we're thinking of renting out our space for weddings. email for deets. (jokes) thanks so much to everyone who came out to the sale. i truly, truly, truly enjoy meeting you.

i'm now done with production work for the year. it's going to be nice to relax off of the intensity that this season always brings. i'm in the middle of a new schedule and pace as i work on designing spring + summer. it's so nice that the sun is at a lower angle and fills our studio with so much bright white light. it makes it easy to ponder about summer vibes.

i hope you have a lovely holiday break and are surrounded by love + laughter. i plan to laugh myself silly and hug my little nephew as much as he'll let me. xoxo

shield necklace in nylon

2011-12-12T09:44:00.000-06:00

look. it's the shield necklace but worn as a bracelet in the january issue of nylon. genius. you fellow shield owners should be all over this dual use styling wizardry.

studio holiday sale

2011-12-02T11:59:00.003-06:00

if you're in chicago come hang with me, susan and laura next saturday. it's going to be a good time!

3 day only fab sale

2011-11-28T08:08:00.003-06:00

hey guys! my fab sale is up! it will only be up today, tomorrow and wednesday. almost every piece in my entire collection is available so if you've been eyeing something/s now is the time. things are greatly discounted and moving fast. sign up if you haven't already (it's free + easy). check it out.

faded points necklace

2011-11-28T07:55:00.003-06:00

i really wanted to design something this holiday season that could work for every budget and i came up with the faded points necklace. it's $28 and perfect for holiday gifting. there are 3 different hand dyed colorways. a neon yellow fade, a blue fade, and a peach fade. it's great for layering with other necklaces or it makes a simple statement on it's own. treat yo' self or another. or both. get it here.

holiday shipping deadlines + gift wrap + cyber monday

2011-11-23T09:15:00.005-06:00

check it out. this holiday season all orders will be wrapped in a hand dyed ombre cotton ribbon. i love how it looks with the recycled kraft paper box. it's fancy. actually i think it's pretty fawn-cee. i know that you need your holiday gifts to pop in an unexpected way. dudes, i've got your back.

take note of the 2011 holiday shipping deadlines:

for shipping within the u.s. please place holiday orders by dec. 12.
for shipping to canada please place orders by dec. 2.
since international orders need to be placed 4-6 weeks ahead of desired delivery date they cannot be insured for holiday delivery at this point.

on monday stay tuned for a new necklace design i'll be putting into the shop that's perfect for holiday gifting. it's the perfect stocking stuffer and totally budget friendly. annnnnndd more exciting news. can you handle all this....?.....!... starting on monday the 28th (cyber monday) i'll be doing a fab.com sale. most of my entire collection will be super discounted just in time for holiday shopping. i really encourage you to sign up + become a member on fab (if you haven't already). it's free. it's easy. it's awesome. i've been enjoying my membership and have seen some pretty stellar designer sales so far. it's a 3 day sale, quantities are limited and i won't be doing another sale like this for awhile. so...em.. get on it!

if you are in the u.s. i hope you have a lovely thanksgiving holiday. i always feel so sentimental and well thankful this time of year. jon and i are hosting his parents and sister this year in our home. i'm so excited to get in the kitchen and try out some recipes and relax with loved ones. if you're not in the u.s. i hope you have a fantastic weekend as well. i appreciate you all so much and as always i'm incredibly thankful for your support over the years.

(p.s. if you ordered something from me in the past month and would like an ombre ribbon to adorn your cursive package just shoot me an email and i'd be happy to mail you one.)

(p.p.s. if you're interested here's an interview i did for nbc new york's thread blog. it's all about grandma's and sunsets you guys.)

(p.p.p.s. can you believe i did a p.p.s. ?! pssssssshhhhhhhhhh.)

cursive w/ hound

2011-11-17T23:37:00.007-06:00

it's time for polyvore dress up. this time i'm pairing my new collection with jen's new collection. (hound design) i am currently saving for that blazer of hers. it is amazing. i love that she thought about making the sleeves shorter for bracelets. hello, considerate. click on any images below to jump to my polyvore to check out the details. *also* bonus time. jen did a post pairing hound w/ cursive. so curious to see what she picked. click on over to her blog to check it out. funnnnnn.

a cozy new years perhaps. fancy of course but it's implied that couch snuggles are on the menu.

an outfit for gal palling. tacos, drinks and giggle fits ensue.

dinner date with the husband. nuff said.

meeting with banker. it's got the pattern pop, bad ass jewels and shoes that won't quit. in other words, "you're approved".

a bead buying trip. gotta wear flats so you can mad dash it over to the pyrite booth. a leather jacket is key. you need to look tough. it's like poker. do not mess.

ray li magazine

2011-11-15T08:32:00.004-06:00

excited about this. naturally cursive design + burberry are featured in the same spread. of course.

hugging piles of flowers

2011-11-12T16:39:00.004-06:00

my friend justin snapped this pic of me after susan + ben's wedding. susan told me i could take as many flowers as possible from their arrangements since they'd be headed to the trash. yeh, i went a little nuts. must save the babies! couldn't stop hugging them. cuz hugging piles of flowers is a pretty luxurious activivtiy that i don't get to do much. i love this image. so moody + elegant. it kind of rules being friends with photographers you guys. i recommend.

i'm a scrapper

2011-10-31T14:02:00.000-05:00

hello! happy halloween. exciting news. julia from rennes handmade is hosting a giveaway on her blog for the compass necklace. this necklace from my current line utilizes julias's leather scraps from her beautiful collection of bags. it feels so wonderful to use things from a designer whose work i admire. i don't need an entire leather hide for the small pieces that i require for jewelry making. i think it feels like a win win for both of us. she knows these scraps are being put to use and i get to experiment w/ a new material.

head on over to julia's blog for the giveaway! it'll be up for a week. good luck!

ilana kohn

2011-10-27T08:43:00.001-05:00

i love her new collection. (especially the scarves!) mostly, what i love so much about these images is the collaborative nature in the making process. the fact that these scarves need multiple hands + coordination + timing + comunication. images of people working together toward a final goal always pulls at my heart strings. i love the comunity vibes. the hard work. the raw-ness. the sense that maybe they had a beer afterwards. i think we can all relate to that feeling. and it's beautiful.

a/w 2011 collection

2011-10-20T09:13:00.005-05:00

hi there. new jewelry is now up in the shop! below are the lookbook images. really love how these turned out.

10.13.11

2011-10-13T00:58:00.005-05:00

you guys. a blog post. wow. i know. yes. there has been a lack of posts here BUT there has been a plethora of jewel experiment/making in the studio. all sorts of new exciting stuff. i've lost sleep over it because i kept thinking about jump ring connection points (not even joking..) i've been drawing + sketching ideas down in between the time away from the studio. it's insane. like an insane person who is compulsive. maybe after i release the collection i'll gather the pile to show you. jon is getting worried about it. he is making fun of me. because it is insane. "oh, what? i was supposed to make a grocery list?... oh...how about this rough sketch of necklaces?... necklaces are for dinner...."

lately i've been so into finding the through points between collections. as cursive gets older and i've been doing this 2 times a year for awhile now each design is a marriage of past designs and ideas. it's becoming so clear. this from that, that from this + and some new elements that are currently intriguing. only after the piece is done can i sit back and say oh "you're the older cousin of the color theory and the fade out. nice to meet you." honestly, these design connections make me excited to age.

stay tuned to meet the new cursive family members next week. i can't wait! photoshoot on friday!

hey if you're in the san francisco area stop by the shiny squirrel pop up at azalea. you can preview + buy some of the new cursive collection!

above images from my instagr.am. i'm addicted to instagr.am. yeh, it's a problem.

Chicago Renegade this weekend

2011-09-09T14:47:00.003-05:00

Hi guys. This weekend is the Renegade Craft Fair here in Chicago. I"m booth #29 (directly across from Renegade Handmade) Em.. it's pretty hard to miss me since I also did their window display that's up right now. Look for the EXTRA. HUGE. JEWELRY.

Doing a clearance table this weekend of some jewelry back stock I've been holding onto. I'll also have my full current collection and some new things(!). It's gonna be a good one. Hope to see you! Come say hi. Full blog post about the window install over here on the Renegade blog.

excited + scared + it's all good

2011-08-25T21:29:00.001-05:00

these are my two favorite prairie grasses. i always feel inspired staring at their unbelievable shapes and textures. (p.s. i'm sharing pics on instagr.am now. if you're using it too you can find my feed there. username: cursivedesign)

our month long (err. technically 33 days..) road trip around the country was so great. so mind blowing. so fantastic that it seems so difficult to even try to sum up. it's hard to even narrow down the pictures. i will post about it one day soon but for now my mind is still figuring it all out. we felt so lucky to be able to take that time to travel and explore so many beautiful spaces. lucky to have family and friends along the way and lucky to meet new ones. i will share that it is weird to be gone for a month. home doesn't always feel like the home you knew once you're back. maybe it's the expanse of time. maybe you've both changed and it doesn't feel like the same comfy pair of jeans anymore. or you don't recognize yourself in it anymore. obviously, it's amazing to see those you've missed and to catch up and share stories and to hear theirs. but. something. is a bit. off. it's taken awhile to feel and find all those rhythms and routines again. mostly, i've been focusing on finding new patterns + behaviors which seems to be working really well. we're also re-nesting a bit in the apartment and clearing out some clutter. that always helps to feel focused.

work wise i'm neck deep in new experiments. brand new materials i've never used before, new equipment, new vigor, new fears, new investments, bigger leaps, but with the same inspirations that i always seem to come back to. it's exciting and scary. but that's the combination of feelings i most often find myself in and drawn to. a couple days ago i was at a friends going away party as she left for grad school. i asked, "are you excited?" and she said, "yes, but also so scared and anxious." and i said "yeh, but what else is there?" and right after i heard those words leave my mouth i felt myself click back into something that felt right again.

i hope you've been finding yourself at some magical combination of excited and scared. i hope you've been feeling the comforts of home whatever and wherever they may be.

this weekend jon and i both have lots of work to do but i am absolutely commited to taking our new badminton set to the park and hitting some birdies around with him. i hope you have a great one!

wedding outfit planning

2011-08-10T08:20:00.001-05:00

at the end of september our friends susan + ben are getting married. i'm so thrilled for them. the other night susan and i got together over a glass of wine and discussed all the details. so much girly fun! i decided to take the brainstorming to polyvore like i usually do when i'm in an outfit quandry. i'm seeing some through lines in these sets with my choices. bold statement dresses + shoes. pops of jade green. simple jewelry + nail polish .......of course....

what are your faves? i think i may want some metallic flashy thing. i love that this one is more muted and not "hi. i'm a pile of bright sequins coming at ya!"

50% off sale!

2011-08-01T12:23:00.003-05:00

hello. happy august! thought i'd go nuts and have a 50% off sale. all jewelry in the shop is half off. enjoy! sale ends this friday (8/5/11) at 5pm cst.

summer jewelry update. neon yellow!

2011-07-15T12:57:00.004-05:00

hello. hello. introducing a new shade that is perfect for the height of summer. neon yellow! this color does not mess around. check out the new medal earrings, basic shape earrings, summit necklace and mini summit necklace. it's hot out, you're awesome and you need to show it. (insider fact. this mini summer collection is made more awesome since we shot it at the beach in LA yesterday. feeling it.)

random bits

2011-06-17T11:28:00.002-05:00

a bunch of randomness.

look at that cubed pyrite in calcite. isn't that just insane!? it. grows. like. that. in almost perfect cubes. mind blown. i bought this rock when i was in seattle. it's so beautiful. i've put it away + taken it out again just be re-surprised by it. or to be completely honest, i moved it out of my suitcase and then forgot about it and then re-opened the bag and put it somewhere else and found it again. one day i will find it's proper resting spot but for now i like this little surprise friend situation.

also, you guys. i don't want to toot my own horn or anything but i have become quite the awesome drink maker. i prefer fresh juices, fruits and herbs. which is perfect in the summer. this is a whiskey lemonade with cherries and mint. i'm not saying i would say yes to bar-tending your next event but i might not say no. also, i want to be a florist for a day. once. in my life. and maybe have a popsicle truck and be in a band and play drums. ok. there. i said it all.

are you enjoying june? we leave for a month in less than a week and things are getting wacky. wacky good. but still wacky. i lay in bed at night and worry about how i can really be satisfied with three pairs of shoes for a month. how..... seriously. is it acceptable to go hiking in the southwest in converse? i'm thinking it was ok in the 60's. back when polaroids weren't retro. i'll wear them and take an instagram! perfect.

the rest of this month has been making stock for sf renegade, la renegade, re-stocking shops, and working on another anthropologie order. so it's possibly time for a new pair of hands and tendons. i'm also working on a summer update for the shop. not sure of exactly when i'll release it, but i'm thinking early/mid july. i'll be on the road but i'll have everything with me and i can mail orders from around the country when we stop. it's much like a mobile pop up shop except i'll only be open for business on the side of the road at gas stations and taco trucks. fancy!

this is the list of states we will drive through: illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, north dakota, montana, nevada, california, arizona, utah, colorado, nebraska, iowa and finally illinios again. so awesome. i hope to be posting images from the road. (check the blog, my twitter, and facebook page) we will go through about 8 national parks (that i'm aware of) i'm sure that number will go up. the other night jon and i were talking about how we're so happy that we were raised to be so appreciative of state and national parks. a long time ago some very wise people had the forethought to set aside huge chunks of our country to be preserved and enjoyed. hopefully, they will always be there for us and i'm so excited to add some more park names to the list i've already seen in my lifetime.

insta-summer

2011-06-04T17:58:00.005-05:00

june hit. it's insta-summer. so refreshing. still feels odd to hear leaves rustling in the wind, making pops all the time, visiting trees at the arboretum with girlfriends, eating hot dogs with piles of veggies (to...em...counterbalance...), matching my belt to my toes, going to x-men with the bros, and thunderstorm excitement. this is the good stuff. mega agrees.

seattle visit

2011-05-25T23:00:00.003-05:00

we had the best time visiting my sister + family in seattle. lots of beautiful nature hiking (snoqualmie falls above), eating great food (pizza at delancey pictured) and laughs. we actually saw mt. rainier due to clear skies + sunshine (apparently this is pretty rare...) of course, i didn't get a picture of it cuz i didn't know how rare it was... our time went too quickly but we had a blast. look at my sister. she is such a beaut. (and em, by the way, she ran 10 miles that morning while the rest of us slept in..over achiever that one...look at her rocking it out in the shield necklace) interesting that both our tastes veared towards a muted outfit with a black leather jacket + a bright bag. i guess we just sync up when we're together..

cursive in time out chicago

2011-05-19T00:09:00.000-05:00

cursive is in this week's issue of time out chicago. there's a little blurb in the summer festival guide. i gush about my bestie/mentor lisa. dear and lovely lisa. look! the party necklace next to the words "how to get laid". i don't make guarantee's about these things.... but you know. (i kid)

jon and i are off to visit my sister and family in seattle. i'm so excited!! there are bound to be many giggle fits with my sister + funny face off competitions with my nephew. a nice long weekend with some of the people that i miss the most in my life. i'll be back next week. have a great rest of the week/weekend. xo.

blooms

2011-05-17T09:52:00.005-05:00

so beautiful. i don't want them to go away. in my fantasy world spring lasts for five months and winter is only two.

new things

2011-05-13T13:24:00.003-05:00

awhile back a i did a trade with these two lovely gals. i wear ellen's backpack while biking and walking and everywhere really. i love it.

teresa's jewelry is awesome and i get tons of compliments on these earrings. they are really great for me since i have wads of hair and they play around with the curls nicely.

that phantom quartz ring is such a stunner.

bleeding heart bush on the porch. reminds me of my dear departed grammie.

i tried making my first batch of baba ghanoush. pretty good! jon brought an eggplant home from the store and than i gave him the stank eye. (not a huge eggplant fan...so slippery...and grey..?..) found out it's pretty easy to make. yumm.

have a good weekend! i'm heading off to pack for a weekend away with some girls. i've decided to bring every nail polish bottle i own. full disclosure: somewhere around 30. why should i fight a harmless addiction?! own it.

heading west: outfit planning

2011-05-06T13:20:00.003-05:00

in a couple months jon and i will be in our car hitting the open road and headed for california. i'll be selling jewels at renegade san francisco + renegade los angeles. come out and say hi if you're in the area! i'm so excited to be in large expanses of nature. mountains, prairies, ocean, deserts and canyons. it is going to be so incredible. of course my mind is already on the outfit situation. (to find more info on all the items below just click on the picture to take you to the polyvore set.)

when driving i need to be completely comfortable. thus the leggings, billowy blouse and converse. i'll only need a wallet to hop in + out of the car with at gas stations and this clare vivier one is sooo cute.

while at shows i need to be comfortable and presentable at the same time. flats are key when moving heavy booth gear in the morning. i've done the whole "wearing heels at the show thing" and it's not for me.
we plan to do lots of hiking (especially in l.a. + the grand canyon) this outfit would be perfect. i already own the dusen + dusen backpack (looove it!) i would pack that thing with all necessary survival gear because i recently saw 127 hours and i'm not going down like that..
this last outfit would be great to meet friends for some dinner and drinks. i don't usually go for full on lacey things but the pattern on this issey mayake top is freakin awesome.

elephant in the room

2011-04-29T19:22:00.001-05:00

elephant in the room. here it is. i suck at blogging this year. rainbow in the room (sorry i don't know the proper phrase equivalent for the weird elephant analogy). rainbow in the room is: i rule at work this year. that sounds so boastful but i don't mean it that way. it's taken me some time to build this little cursive boat up to sailing speed and now things are clipping along in a way that feels awesome. there is still much to be improved but i can tell you that i'm very happy. and *i think* happiness is making more happiness. lately my mantra is to remember that attitude is everything. when the sun slips behind the clouds for too many days in a row, or if i listen to all things considered repeat itself over and over (honestly, once is enough to get caught up to speed on the world's sadness), or when i spend an afternoon failing at buying new jeans. (for reals. man. eff that noise! jeans shopping is the brutalest chore e.v.e.r. and apparently from talking to many a girlfriend it doesn't matter your shape, size or height. many a beautiful women walk away feeling confused and misshapen. here's how it went down for me a couple days ago. snooty shop girl decides she can't hear me from 1 foot away from her face and needs me to yell out my size for the entire store to hear. you guys that was really awesome!) i digress. here is my point. i can slip into stupid "fart funks" quite easily. it's dumb. i'm of course aware of how lucky and blessed i am. but you know human-ness is weird. brains and hearts are bizarre little beasts. so my new thing is to try and snap out of it as quickly as possible. my fail proof method is to go on a walk and repeat positive affirmations to myself. (yes, i know what you're thinking. that is both original AND cool. it's important to repeat them in your head by the way and not out loud...obvsies..) but, here's the thing. it. works. every. time. it takes me awhile to get into full on hippie mind space mode. so i spend some minutes psyching myself up to "get ready to be positive". honestly, i just repeat stuff like "be positive sarah, be positive sarah, be positive sarah". deep insightful stuff. than after awhile the switch is miraculously flipped and i start noticing beautiful things around me (which isn't difficult this time of year. for example, i literally want to eat magnolia blooms right now. gorgeous fat poofs of milky pink petals. yum!) so, there it is, the work life sanity balance i've come to find that keeps this little boat sailing. a mix of hard work, creativity, finding the time to share about it here, planning/plotting and organization. but the utmost important part is attitude. i'm trying to remind myself every day.

so you guys, my freak flag is fully flying now. i've outed myself as a positivity dream believer. i might as well end this post by writing: peace.

giveaway winner

2011-04-22T12:03:00.002-05:00

hello. hello. thanks to all who participated in the giveaway. was so great to read about all your faves. just selected the number via this site and the winner is: fabricatedends yay! amber send me an email with your mailing address. congratulations!

night & day, supermoon and shield GIVEAWAY

2011-04-15T10:15:00.008-05:00

what?!...yes. whoa?!!..yes. are you?!... yes. this is a BIG giveaway. i'm feeling generous and happy. i so appreciatte all of you. this year marks my 5th year in business (!) and i still have to pinch myself occasionally. i want to celebrate that (+ you) in a nice BIG way.

one lucky winner will get one supermoon necklace, one shield necklace and one night & day lariat/bracelet + free shipping (domestic or international). just leave a comment below about which is your favorite piece from the s/s collection. the giveaway will be open for one week and one lucky winner will be chosen at random + announced on friday april 22nd at 12pm CST.

summer in april

2011-04-11T07:35:00.003-05:00

lots of time on the porch yesterday. it was soooo amazing. i think all of chicago had a smile on.

summit necklace on oh joy

2011-04-05T09:48:00.003-05:00

this was exciting yesterday. summit necklace on oh joy yesterday.
that's my favorite pic of sarah from the look book. (shot by vanessa churchill)

s/s look book

2011-04-04T08:49:00.009-05:00

i really love the feeling of the look book this year. the beach, garfield park, the hazy white light and sheer curtains. this is my idea of the perfect summer day. a slow relaxing morning in bright light, a stroll on the beach and a trip to the conservatory in the afternoon.

the photography for the look book was a shared collaboration. ben syverson shot all of the still jewelry, vanessa churchill shot the white light/curtain shots, and i shot the beach and garfield park and styled the looks. big thanks to my friend sarah wert for modeling.

you'll notice lots of new pieces and updated versions of past designs. i'm loving a more subtle fade of ivory to dark grey for this season. it's a shift from the dramatic white to black fades from last fall/winter. peach, coral and royal blue are colors that have been on my mind. my favorite color combination this season is on the peach party necklace. it was an accidental discovery. a container of red beads tipped over next to a swatch of peach lace i had dyed. so thankful for that. peach and red are so lovely together. i fell hard for cubed pyrite, cubed brass, and brass bars. each season i discover a new jewelry component i've never used before. this time, it was the brass bars. they seem to be endlessly interpretable. most of the chain i'm using now is flat drawn cable chain. it's sparkly, it's pretty, why not? i love the tourmalated quartz and it's simple spherical cut. a mini moon of sorts. i'm so excited about the color blocked crystals. they add a subtle level of intrigue.

thanks so much for checking it out. more color options in the shop.

color blocked crystals, a model out take and a cat in lace

2011-04-01T13:20:00.009-05:00

possibly my best blog subject title ever? yeh, pretty much. here are a couple of last minute sneak peeks for you before we update the collection monday morning.

a couple months ago i started thinking about the glass and enamel votives i used to make. i realized that crystal actually is "glass" and enamel would also take to it in the same way. after much studio experimentation i came up with these color blocked crystals. i'm very excited about them. i've always been a sucker for various light phenomena. the northern lights, sun dogs, and the way light travels and bends through water droplets. these crystals offer a subtle and beautiful trickle of color that travels through the striations of the stone. i can't wait to show you how i've used them in these pieces.

i love this out take of sarah. i'm constantly adjusting the jewels on her at photo shoots and she is forever graceful and patient. (the talented vanessa churchill took this picture and captured that moment so beautifully)

here is a picture of sarah's cat wompa being a total scene stealer this morning. i needed a couple more shots of sarah and wompa wanted in on the action. a white cat in white lace? yeh, that's pretty good.

monday's the s/s collection update. very excited to show everything. this collection has a mini-collection within it. i think my sophisticated side is coming out. still lots of playful pieces in the mix but there's now an added dose of drama sneaking in.

this weekend we have a friend in town visiting so we'll be wandering the art institute tomorrow. it's a good excuse to get out and play tourist. sunday we'll be working on the update all day for monday morning. i hope you have a lovely weekend. xo.

studio redesign

2011-03-29T11:14:00.005-05:00

a couple of weeks ago, i started a major re-haul of my studio. i'm embarrassed to admit i hadn't done this in over a year. it felt really great to evaluate every object and every square inch. do i use this? do i need this? is this helping me? huge philosophical questions peppered in. will this clamp help me become my true self? (kidding) blanket statements. freshwater pearls need to go. white tables are cathartic. lesson learned: glossy white tables are hurty on the eyes.

as you can see from the old space, i have a new table + shelving set up. the new set up will accommodate myself and an assistant more comfortably. the timing of this studio re-do coincided perfectly with the launch of the adorable and awesome website (studio sweet studio). i met meg (one of the co-founders of sss) last year when she did our home tour on apt therapy and i jumped at the chance to share my new studio setup. the studio tour is up on studio sweet studio. check it out.

s/s look book: great gatsby skirt

2011-03-25T12:32:00.005-05:00

i have chronicled my love for this skirt many times. the color is inspiring, it moves so gracefully, and it has this timeless appeal. great gatsby skirt i love you! these are snippets from my s/s look book. i love all these colors and textures so much. the champagne pleats and folds of the skirt, the beach grass, the sand, and the brown oxfords. the love for this skirt spawned a bit of research into 1920's era fashion. these films from that era are fun to watch.

* my collection release has been postponed to monday april 4th.* i still have a lot to share about everything next week. have a wonderful weekend. tomorrow night is jon's solo audio/video performance. i'm so excited for him. i hope you have a good weekend. xo.

spring summer color palette

2011-03-23T12:52:00.004-05:00

i've been playing a lot with peach in this collection and ivory fading to grey. the peach is a friend i brought back from my first collection. (i need to put up an archive.....it's on the to do list.) some of these pieces feel a little more sophisticated. the grey/ivory pieces especially. i guess that's fitting as i am growing up myself. i still have the cobalt blue that i think i will never tire of and the sunny yellow for kicks and giggles. coral i had to bring you back because you are amazing. you're not red, you're not orange and you're not pink. you're the best qualities of all of those shades combined. ahhhhh. is it weird how i'm now addressing a color and speaking to it like it's a person?.. possibly.

last night i got together with some friends. we were discussing color. red, blue and yellow specifically. the question was, if you had to eliminate one of those colors completely which would it be? some people could answer immediately, some (like me) struggled. i still find myself teetering back and forth. definitely not blue. blue i will always need. red is classic and sexy but yellow is so fun. possibly yellow. can you answer this question? or do you teeter like me?

happy spring!

2011-03-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

it's really starting to feel different isn't it? i'm not much of a new year's person. jan 1st never feels like the start of something for me. spring always feels way more renewing and energizing.

on saturday we went to the garfield park conservatory and the beach to take some more look book shots. i styled, directed and took the pictures. at first, it was scary not having a photographer, but sometimes schedules don't align and you are left with yourself and your model buddie. by no means am i a professional photographer, but i learned that in a pinch i can step up and take some pretty decent pictures. (pat self on back ***) of course, it helps to have a good camera, gorgeous weather, two beautiful environments, an awesome model, and fun summery outfits.

we took some long strolls in the cactus room at garfield park. currently, it's my favorite room. it's full of such oddities that we don't really see up here in the north. it's so hot and dry in there, it makes you long for summer. spring will usher in those days and we won't be far off now. next week i'll be debuting my spring/summer collection. i'll be posting some sneak peeks throughout this week so stay tuned for those. xo

eye candy

2011-03-14T08:34:00.004-05:00

how about some monday eye candy? yes, i think so.

just got this brass/silver triangle ring from teresa in the mail. it's amazing. ($20)

new nail polish. light lavender + orange-y coral. yes, i have an addiction but there are worse things in life.

the prettiest skirt in all of the world. i pulled it for my s/s photo shoot last week. i really want to keep it now! reminds me of something my 1st grade teacher would wear.

back when there was tons of snow on the ground i painted my nails like an 8 yr old would. it was very special.

megs! + tulips! nice.

party flags i strung up for my birthday last week. fun!

the boontje vase doing it's thaaaaang.

cool building at carpenter + grand.

that is all. xo.

tourmalinated quartz

2011-03-02T17:25:00.008-06:00

for years i've had a love affair with tourmalinated quartz. at bead shows i've poured over different cuts and i've admired it lovingly in my hands. recently, i let myself buy one strand. finding the right idea for it never seemed to come to me. so there it sat with all my other "beautiful things that don't make sense to me yet bin". when designing, i need to have all materials at hand and out on the table. things are happening quickly. whoa, crazy rapid fire ideas! (most of them are gnarly, but that's ok. we're moving forward!) last night i was tweaking this large statement piece i've been working on and the tourmalinated quartz was just the thing i needed to tie it all together. i am thrilled to finally use this lovely stone. i think you will love it too. i was reading more about it and found out it's good for dissolving fear in oneself and it can aid in eliminating negative conditioning patterns we have experienced in our lives. so apparently, this necklace will bring beauty to your wardrobe, it will help you feel better, and it will kick that bad habit of yours. magical necklace much? yes, i think so.

(beautiful specimens + photos of tourmalinated quartz on allison eastman beads.)

march

2011-03-01T08:07:00.002-06:00

hey. look. i made a computer collage. all of the new dieppa restrepo shoe colors excite me to no end. coral especially. and. ahem. cate blanchette for the dress win! the detail, the palette, it's structure + flow. so lovely.

starting off with a new month always feels good. (especially, when it's your birthday month i think.) february always goes so fast. we were mostly under a ton of snow, but i still made time and effort go out and see pals. i became an unofficial master of stew in our kitchen. i unveiled a secret that i'd been dyiiiiiing to share, and as of yesterday i completed the design of my s/s collection. there are still some fine tuning tweaks to do this week. thursday i meet with a photographer to discuss lookbook ideas. it's all coming together nicely and it will definitely go up in the shop this month. march is looking pretty sweet already. i hope your february was good and you are looking forward to march.

(background image in collage via confetti system)

paid in trade

2011-02-25T14:33:00.002-06:00

i'm not gonna lie. i would have liked to been paid partially in trade from anthropologie for the order of party necklaces. my outfit would be the feather skirt, with the hermitage top, the neoclassical blazer, top drawer lace ups, a sling bag, this crags ring, and the windowpanes scarf. oh yes. oh hell yes. oh yeh, and while i'm rocking my new duds i'd be tossin wildflower seed bombs around town. h to the izz-o v to the izz-a!

last week i did a radio interview with the lovely dj marie from break thru radio. the show's now available online. if you have an interest in listening to my silly blatherings you can listen to the stream here. i had a lot of fun and dj marie was such a joy to chat with.

i'm excited to have a weekend of work in the studio. things are coming together for the spring/summer collection. i hope you have a good one too!

winter cooking/healing

2011-02-23T11:23:00.005-06:00

honestly, who doesn't like pictures of home cooked food? winter is such a perfect time for spending your early evening hours preparing a meal and then the rest of the evening eating it and watching something equally delicious (like this) on tv. (yes, it can take me hours but i enjoy a perfectly diced carrot and i do all my dishes as i go etc. i savor the process.) it's time we face facts. it's cold out. what else is there to do? about a month ago, jon and i had all 4 wheels stolen off of our car. em. yeh. that's. crazy. it's possible you might remember, not half a year ago, this happened to our other car. after a tree falls on your first car and all wheels get stolen off of your other car within the span of 6 months, you start to feel a bit frayed at the edges and un-trusting of people. you get shifty eyes + weird thoughts. (however, i'm aware there are much worse things in life.) so anyway, i was in a general malaise and was feeling pretty bummed out. enter in my sister who jumped to my rescue and surprised me with molly wizenberg's a homemade life. i have never read a book as fast as i read that. cover to cover in 2 nights and it was all i needed. it changed my mood and it re-inspired me to get cooking again. i highly recommend this book and i also highly recommend having an awesome sister. they make life pretty sweet, at least mine does.

(**if any of you own a honda fit or know anyone who does, please implore them to buy + install wheel locks. they cost about $25-$50. they will save you lots of money and a ton of headaches. honda fit tires can be installed on other honda models so that is why they are a "target" and why they are "worth more". i only mention it because i wish we would have known and i'm now aiming to be a crime fighting vigilante of sorts.**)

rodarte fall 2011

2011-02-16T08:32:00.002-06:00

my heart skipped a beat when i saw rodarte's fall 2011 collection. it's inspired by the american plains. laura ingalls wilder meets 2011. of course i was bound to fall for something prairie themed. we shall put the cows out to pasture in our evening gowns + long coats. perfection.

i'm also smitten with the fluorescent light sculptures on the catwalk.

charcuterie style dinner

2011-02-15T12:38:00.006-06:00

last night jon + i intended to make our own sushi for dinner. we went to whole foods to get sushi grade tuna but then we strolled by the cheese counter and started salivating. sushi plans were scrapped immediately. i remembered reading about this lunch last week and how much we also love a casual thrown together meal on a cutting board. standing there at the cheese counter brought back memories of our amsterdam trip and it felt more special to us. at home we sat down to our cutting boards + our glasses of sophie and watched a documentary about machu picchu. (holy...stunning...amazing..)

i hope you had a lovely valentine's evening as well.

party process

2011-02-13T18:02:00.006-06:00

thanks for all the sweet comments about the anthropologie order. making all those party necklaces was truly a wonderful way to start the year. it was such an eye feast to see all the parts and the process. here are some of my favorite images from that time.

party necklace now at anthropologie

2011-02-09T07:04:00.007-06:00

we party'ed soooo hard last month. ha. ok not really. but sort of. anyway, the party necklace is now sold online + in a store near you at anthropologie. eeeps x eeeps = eeeeeeppss!

heart and daggers necklace

2011-02-07T18:08:00.011-06:00

i've created this special ruby necklace just in time for valentine's day. the best part besides it's ladylike toughness? it's $25, which equals a sweet and very affordable treat. it's made of faceted ruby quartz, vintage brass "daggers" and arrow shaped hematite on silver plated chain. it hangs 18", so it's real close to your heart (or someone else's). order it before 12am CST on 2/8/11 to ensure delivery on valentine's day (can only ensure delivery on 2/14 for u.s. orders). otherwise, it's fine it will get there a little later. (hey, it's the thought that counts). this is a limited edition so catch them before they're gone. shop here.

chicago blizzard

2011-02-02T07:56:00.003-06:00

good morning. here are some images from our back porch area. there is so much white the camera had trouble focusing. it's truly a sight. jon and i went out briefly last night at about 9pm to feel the wind and snow whip us around. i believe that was my first thundersnow experience and it did not disappoint. (jon shot two videos of it. 1 & 2. i make a brief appearance at the end of #2. "it burns") i so wish we had proper cold gear and snowshoes because we would be wandering around in this big white quiet, instead we're tucked away safe + warm. making this stew tonight.

iceland landscapes

2011-01-28T08:37:00.003-06:00

jen (of hound) and a group of friends traveled to iceland recently. i've been soaking up these images + loving them. it looks like they had a trip of a lifetime. i'd love to go. it was hard making a decision about which images to pull for this post. hop on over and read more about her travels. so inspiring and beautiful!

string gardens

2011-01-26T08:34:00.000-06:00

i'm getting cranky for plants. it doesn't help that i have a sister that lives in seattle and knows that i am a plant lover and sends me text pics of evergreens and moss and such during our desolate chicago winters. nice. i came upon these string gardens on a cup of jo and my heart skipped a beat. i'd totally get some but i'm afraid the cat would have a dirt party.

coming up for air

2011-01-25T08:35:00.000-06:00

this month has been so busy at the studio. i fulfilled a large order of necklaces with a retailer that i'm very excited about. it's still a bit of a secret but i can share all of that with you very soon. these last three weeks have been non-stop production work. it's been a culmination of extremes to say the least. here's the highlight reel! i hired my friend sarah to help (so awesome). we'd take breaks and dance like weirdos. i've schooled myself in early east coast and west coast rap. honestly, i feel like i could pass a test. i've come up with faster production methods. i've burned myself in "faster" production methods. the world outside the studio was so inspiring. it looked like a snow globe, the train would buzz by, and the sunsets were sick. my hands started to memorize the actions and my mind would wander off to all the other thoughts and goals i have for the year. my collections for later in the year already feel solidified in my head. now i'm excited to attack the rest of the year and get back into a normal working/living pace. i hope this new year has been treating you kindly.

holidays at home

2011-01-03T20:20:00.007-06:00

jon and i had a quick trip home, but it was lovely. the comfort of family and traditions, soaking up sunsets on a blanket of white snow, taking a snow walk with dad, seeing an eagle, working on cursive work with mom (she offered to help me excitedly because she is the sweetest lady i know), finding myself saying "uff dah!" more often because i was in the proper location and demographic, getting tempted by sweet treats daily by the satrom home or "cookie emporium" as i dubbed it, and buying a car (!).

fade out necklace

2010-12-22T10:34:00.003-06:00

hello. hello. my exclusive necklace is now available at of a kind! it's called the fade out. i really, really love it. read all about my studio inspiration in HARD ROCK here. these necklaces are limited in availability. scoop one up here.

of a kind

2010-12-16T15:00:00.005-06:00

hello. very exciting news to share! i've been sitting on some top secret news for awhile but today i can finally share. i am one of the designers that has partnered with of a kind. of a kind just launched last month. each week, they select one designer whose work they love. they share a series of stories about that designer—inspirations, personal life, taste, training, you name it—along with a limited-edition piece designed exclusively for of a kind. i'm very excited about this necklace i designed for them and can't wait to show it. starting monday they'll be posting some interviews/stories about me and tune in wedneday the 22nd to view the piece and snag one for yourself. these are limited in quantity and once they're gone they're gone for good.

it's been a total blast getting to know claire + erica over these past couple of months and i can't tell you how flattered i am to be in such excellent company. dusen dusen, lizzie fortunato, all knitwear, mandy coon, collina strada, and symmetry goods are all amaaazingly talented.

crystal buddy

2010-12-15T07:31:00.004-06:00

last week i went to a gem rock + bead show to stock up on some cursive supplies. can i just say "professional shopping" might be my favorite aspect of this job. i told myself before i went that i wouldn't succumb to buying a crystal, or a pyrite obelisk, or a turquoise sphere, but as you can see i caved. this guy. thhhiiiiiiiiisss guy. too cute. reminds me of a terrarium. looks like moss in there. i'm glad i caved in. i love him. (and yeh, it's a him.....weird...)

deborah lippmann

2010-12-14T08:50:00.000-06:00

omg. deborah lippmann. omg. this entire blog could go nail polish.

current habits

2010-12-13T08:41:00.003-06:00

cuddling in the couch blankets before we head out, wearing a side chignon, wearing my summit necklace and new dores earrings, and cooking beautiful wintery food.

getting things finished up before the end of the year. soon we'll be home to visit our families. i. can't. wait.

pretty light

2010-12-10T08:22:00.000-06:00

i always love the winter light. it's a nice reward for cold + frigid. is it it me or is this winter punching us in the face? maybe since we were in amsterdam for two weeks in november we missed some sort of natural progression to frozen. jon holds my hands in his every night and they warm up INSTANTLY. i'm impressed by men's inner core temperatures.

ahh these days are nice + busy. a happy busy. my sister came for a visit and if you were at last week's renegade sale than you saw her at my booth. i miss her already. most of our time together was spent giggling. we went to a girly movie and cried. after it was over we looked at each other's cry faces and doubled over in laughter at what humongous saps we are. we shopped for lipstick (specifically this. here i am trying it out.) there was an accidental spraying incident with ck one which will live down in infamy. i was surprised to see they still make the stuff + one whiff will take you back to 1995. here's the ad/video. so funny!

renegade holiday + brooklyn based this weekend

2010-12-02T10:33:00.006-06:00

hello. so excited to be doing the renegade holiday sale again this weekend in chicago. this will be my 5th consecutive year doing it! whoooa. i'll be in the auditorium this year up front near the north wall. i'll be next to my pals up in the air somewhere and pearl + marmalade. AND as an added bonus my sister is flying in to help me with the show. isn't that the sweetest?! hope to see you out at the show. i've got some new pieces i'm selling that aren't in the shop yet. here is the show info.

also, if you're in the nyc area the of a kind gals will be selling an exclusive necklace i designed for them at the brooklyn based/shiny squirrel mobile pop up shop on 12/4. more info here.

amsterdam: what i bought

2010-12-02T10:12:00.000-06:00

these are the lovely ceramic pieces i got from that artists studio/shop, i got egg cups and this awesome wool throw for 5 euros (!) from a flea market, scarf from a fabric market, this chunky hat from a vintage shop, and oh you know about a kilo of cheese. jon + i've been indulging in fancy dutch cheese party's at home almost every night. (by the way...can you see a connection here?...still have a penchant for collecting white objects....so strange..i can't help it + didn't notice until i posted the pics..)

the times we had were so grand. prediction: we'll get back there soon. thanks so much for letting me share this trip with you. the writing i've done here has been a wonderful way to keep these moments close to me. xoxo

amsterdam: markets + shops

2010-12-02T08:14:00.001-06:00

i loved the open air markets so much and did most of my shopping at them. fabric markets, flea markets, flower markets and food markets we hit so many of them. i was also struck with the specificity of the kind of shops we saw. a chandelier shop, a toothbrush shop (selling only toothbrushes), a grandfather clock shop, a cushion shop, a hammock shop (hello dream porch situation!). i know we have that here in the u.s. as well but not to that level of specificity. i think my favorite shop was one that susan and i wandered into. an artist's ceramic workshop/storefront. she had been there since the late 70's. we told her we were artists from chicago that shared a studio together. she was so delighted and completely lovely. that was my favorite purchase of the trip. supporting artists in their environment is just so much fun! makes me wish i could find a storefront studio one day. y'awl could wander in + see my fabulous work attire/hairdo's and i could give you coffee and dazzle you up with jewels. ahhh one day.

speaking of markets, i'm currently hard at work prepping for renegade holiday this weekend. if you're in chicago stop by + say hi. i'll be in the auditorium.

also, please note all holiday orders need to be placed by dec. 8th (domestic + international) to ensure delivery by dec. 24th.

amsterdam: canals, streetlife + more canals

2010-12-01T11:25:00.007-06:00

pretty much every day we'd all wake up/get going walk out the door and say "oh god it's sooooo cute" , "oh it's too cute", "ridiculously cute", "really pushing it with the cute already". but. it. is. i loved the detailed tops of the buildings, the canals + bridges of course, the light off the water, the holiday decorations, the houseboats (old + new designs). susan thinks that chicago could really devise some sort of canal system and i have to agree with her. we've got the river and lake to make use of. this will be my main deciding factor in voting for a new chicago mayor. blah blah better schools, transportation, recycling program, blah, em yeh what are your thoughts on a city wide canal system? because i need to wake up and live in cute every day.

amsterdam: food + drink

2010-11-28T21:38:00.008-06:00

i'm breaking up the rest of the amsterdam vacation posts into 4 categories (cuz i have sooooo many photos) let's start monday off right. it's called CHEESE, CHOCOLATE, + BEER people. you're aware i don't use CAPS much so this should should be a "tip off" into how much i enjoyed eating + drinking there. curiously, i did not gain one single pound. which is strange since my diet mainly consisted of cappuccinos, breads, cheeses (lots of them), sweet treats (chocolates, macarons, oliebollen, pannekoeken), and of course beer (lots of that as well...hey i was on vacation and in that neck of the woods one of my favorite beers is on tap practically everywhere). i think this lack of gaining weight was because on average we walked 5 hours daily (and on some days it was more like 7 or 8) so triple win score for me! (check in the rest of the week for canals/architecture, markets/flowers, and what i bought)

all the lovely details

2010-11-22T08:17:00.017-06:00

since i'm such a gal about details and the little touches in life it makes sense for me to start off sharing about our trip to the netherlands with the tiny things that grabbed my attention. one thing i can tell you is that i completely fell in love and will always want to go back.

moss + vegetation in full bloom in november

fact: all cappuccinos come w/ cookies. fact: sometimes they also come with chocolates + a shot of liqueur. fact: you + your friend will indulge in many of these chocolate, liqueur, cookie cappuccinos + will wish you would have had more later.

the cheese was both delicious + brilliantly decorated

loved this combo of plaid + lace

berries in boats

candles + lanterns that were so inviting

shutters on windows

bikes everywhere!

i'll be sharing more throughout the week. i'm very glad to be home but i could totally use one of those cappuccinos this morning. it's going to take me awhile to get over the fact that free cookies are not a part of my daily life anymore..

fall/winter outfits by garment house

2010-11-17T05:31:00.001-06:00

i'm so excited to have elly of garment house on the blog today. i met elly (+ the rest of her family) ages ago when we were teenagers (!). our families vacationed at the same lake cabin resort in MN for years + years. we were bonnie beach neighbors + campfire buds. a couple years ago we reunited through flickr. elly makes thoughtful clothing + accessories under her garment house label. i own a charming white knit necklace + fingerless gloves that i wear on heavy rotation (in fact, gloves are currently w/ me in amsterdam). (thanks so much elly for sharing your little winter outfits)

*this is the last of the guest posts. i will see you back on monday with pictures from our trip to the netherlands.

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I'm so excited to be doing a guest post for Sarah while she's having a grand time traveling in Europe! I decided to share the couple outfits I literally threw together before my recent trip to Portland, Oregon, where I was lucky enough to participate in the Little Winter Holiday Sale.

meet and greet

As soon as my sister and I arrived in Portland, it was off to West Elm for a meet and greet party for the vendors and sponsors of the Little Winter Sale. I had spent fourteen hours traveling, and wasn't sure how I was going to pull off anything but a nasty, bag lady/ scraggly look, but the low lighting and effortless bun and plenty of hairspray sure helped. I always look forward to having a chance to dress up, but feel like i'm terrible at putting together sophisticated, grown up ensembles. I've created a rule for myself that seems to help things along: wear neutral colors and natural, but more involved makeup than my everyday life. My daily routine involves nothing more than matte powder and blush or cheek stain, so wearing mascara always feels so glamorous!

pearl bakery and powell's books

While we had very little down time, we did get the chance to walk around Portland one morning, grab coffee and breakfast at Pearl Bakery, and head on over to Powell's to get lost in the aisles and aisles of books! I had some birthday shopping to do for my nieces and nephew, and decided to pick up a couple things for the family back home while I was at it.

little winter market

For the sale itself, I tried to dress in anything that was comfortable and low hassle. I got talked into wearing one of my own dresses on the last day, and am so glad I did! I got to see how my garments wear over a long, exhausting day! It was great, even though it always feels a little weird to do your own advertising!

I'm so glad I got the chance to share - lets hope Sarah is having the trip of a lifetime!

fall/winter outfits by fieldguided

2010-11-15T03:43:00.000-06:00

i'm so honored to have anabela of fieldguided sharing her thoughts on her winter wardrobe. i met her this past spring at a dinner that caitlin helped organize when anabela was visiting chicago (hello dear, come back soon!). she's the author of a very well read and insightful blog called fieldguided, is a prettymaker, and shares her unabashed love for all things cat. i love looove the masculin/feminin set. it's a balance that i (try) to achieve in my style as well. (thanks so much anabela!)

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Thanks for having me on your blog, Sarah!

I thought that while I was dreaming up outfits I would just go to pure fantasy while keeping it very me. Of course, I don't dress like this in real life, but I wish I did.

Masculin/Feminin

This image from the shop Stand Up Comedy in Portland is one that I've been thinking about so much. I love the combination of masculine details combined with the very feminine side braid, a look I am really into right now. This particular outfit was directly inspired by that image as well as by The Gentlewoman magazine. If I were to wear this outfit, Hons & Rebels by Jessica Mitford (in this beautiful Folio Society edition) would be a good, humorous companion. The APC wool cape coat adds a slightly Sherlock Holmes-ish touch. Smile, everybody! I would totally wear this outfit. If only I could snap my fingers and make it so.

Cozytime

Let's be honest: all I can think about right now is staying warm and staying indoors. Toast makes the perfect accessories for the cozy life, and even though I don't have a fireplace, at least the Diptyque candle can make it smell as though I might have one. By the time I'm ready for bed I can't do anything but flip through a magazine, and the sweet & sassy Frankie is the perfect fit.

fall/winter outfits by nice etc

2010-11-11T23:50:00.000-06:00

i first met caitlin (of nice etc) at my first outdoor renegade show 3 years ago. her booth was a cheerful corner of cute and we've since become fast friends. she's composed some really lovely thoughts on winter dressing. it's strange because i've been so pulled in by sparkly things lately as well. (maybe because we get less sunlight now? we all want to dress like little light beams..) (thx so much for playing dress up caitlin!)

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winter moodboard

I guess this collage is more like a mood board filled with pretty things that I hope will inspire my seasonal wardrobe. Flowing blouses that can be worn under sweaters or cardigans, cute but practical shoes, draping necklaces that sparkle, playful tights that are on the simpler side, and a beautiful Lanvin handbag.

work day/errands

This is my work day (I work at home) and errands outfit. My shop is called Nice, so how could i resist this comfortable, slinky tee. Coincidentally, Sarah and I were talking shop through emails and she brought up the oh-so-important notion of being nice to yourself, in fact, 'Be Nice' is exactly what she said! The pants seem cute, I'm not sure if the so called kimono works but I know it's something I would enjoy throwing on while working (on non-messy things) or running out. And it has rhinestones. I wanted a basic shoe and these just caught my eye. I find ballet slippers easy to wear when you've got to run out quick, and the marbleized oxfords are just cute. The necklace may be a little much, I think I'd probably wear my Endless Bummer necklace or one of Sarah's necklaces that I own, perhaps the Force Field necklace!

festive holiday

The closer we get to the holidays, the more I feel excited to dress...festive? Am I the only one who would wear this? I think it could be fun to wear on a night out. Plus the bag is nice and looks useful, the shoes are wedges and must be fairly easy to get around in, and the ring will protect me (from getting too tipsy?).

fall/winter outfits by hound

2010-11-10T08:55:00.002-06:00

jennifer beeman is the lovely gal behind hound. a couple weeks ago i was able to get up close + personal with her lovely new collection for my photoshoot. she is so talented + she's come up with some great ideas for chilly weather. my favorite? em that would be"sick day"! pug me! (thanks jen!)

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Hey all, I'm super pumped to be guesting on the Cursive blog and sharing some of my fall/winter outfit picks. Some of these items I have, most I don't...except for the fawn pug. I do have the fawn pug. I'm still waiting for a little black pug buddy to show up at my doorstep though...

heading to the studio

Here's a little outfit I imagine myself heading to the studio in someday when my studio isn't located directly off our bedroom. Cozy sweater for the drafty brick walls, jersey top (hound of course), large tool bag to haul things in my bike basket...you get the idea.

holiday party

I'm pretty much a homebody, but at some point this season I'm likely to be invited to a holiday party and will have to leave the house. In my real world, I will be decked out in my Cecilia dress and Essie polish, snapping photos with my Diana Dreamer. In my dream world I will be toting said Dreamer in a Chloe purse, Swedish Hasbeens on my feet with Isabele Marant keeping my shoulders toasty. All with a Cursive necklace of course!

sick day

And speaking of the real world, it's a known fact that despite a flu shot, I will be sick a minimum of 3 times this winter, and I know I'm not alone! Here are are a few items to keep you cozy through your quarantine. If you don't have pugs, other dogs or cats can sub. Possibly other animals as well, but I have no experience with that.

Thanks for letting me hang out with your readers Sarah, hope you're having a great time in Amsterdam...totally jealous!

amsterdam packing by up in the air somewhere

2010-11-08T06:38:00.000-06:00

susan is coming to amsterdam with me so i thought it'd be perfect to start with her this week since we were both confronted with the same light packing issues. (in a couple hours we'll be on a plane. eeee) most of our amsterdam research has involved frite + waffle stands. yes, we are going to carb it up to the max. i first met susan 10 years ago (!) when we were both students at SAIC. she's my good pal, neighbor, and studio mate. she makes ceramics, paper + awesome sculpture work. (thanks susan!)

Thanks for inviting me to guest post, Sarah! It's fun to step away from the studio for a bit and think about personal style. Right now I'm packing for our trip to the Netherlands, which means our flight is in a few hours. My fiancee and I travel often and we have become very skilled at packing light (or at least shoving everything into one carry-on bag) so it doesn't take me long to pull together everything I need. Because I like to pack light, I have to carefully consider what outfits I want to wear on the trip. Normally I don't put a lot of thought into my daily outfits, so it's fun to take time and choose the clothes I really love. For this post, I put together two outfits: one that represents my typical day-to-day traveling outfit and one that I'd wear to the gallery opening in Einhoven (the reason for our trip). I mixed in a few pieces I own along with some fantasy pieces.

day to day traveling

This set represents my day-to-day traveling outfit. The weather in Amsterdam is going to be a little chilly, so I plan on bundling up with my Madewell boots (I have these and LOVE them), my A Peace Treaty Scarf (my sister gave this to me for my birthday and I plan on keeping it on my neck through the spring), and a light parka. A few different tees and tanks take up very little pacing space and a cute cardigan can be worn almost every day. I recently purchased this fantastic North Face backpack. It is super light weight nylon, huge, and folds up into it's own tiny pocket for storage. It's perfect for me because I can take it the studio folded up in my purse and fill it up with finished pieces to take home at the end of the day. It's amazing.

gallery opening

This set represents what I'd like to wear to Jon and Ben's opening in Eindhoven. I will say right now that I spent a few feverish hours on the verge of buying this Madewell dress (…I still really want it. I should get it, right?!) It would look great with my black blazer (not the outrageously priced McQueen one pictured, but a similar one I have from the Gap) and some cosy wool tights. The icing on the cake of this outfit are these fabulous Melissa wedges. They are RUBBER and feel incredible on your feet (yes, I tried them on…. and purchased them… and returned them when I was honest with myself about how often I'd wear them). The rubber really sold me for this trip in particular because they would be resistant to the rainy weather. Finally, you can't go wrong with a rich leather cross body purse and a cool little necklace (I wore this one on a trip to Brazil last year; I swear it goes with everything from a bikini to a scarf).

amsterdam packing

2010-11-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

deciding what to take on this trip has been interesting. so i decided to get organized + take my ideas to polyvore for some planning. i want to travel as lightly as possible. i also want to take as many shoes as possible + jackets. em...ok..... so what that means is: all other items need to blend seamlessly. this has made me default to black as my base color. (i don't know why i'm disappointed in myself for this but somehow i am.....even though it makes total sense..right?) anyway, i'm bringing all versions of my new jewelery collection to punch these outfits up a notch plus i have statement pieces like gold shoes + a mustard yellow scarf + red chanel lipstick. i have added striped shirts for pattern + this weekend i have plans to do some subtle tie dyeing on long sleeved henleys. those will bring me into the color + pattern realm again. most of the items pictured here i do own (or i own versions of). that tano bag for example is something i wear nearly every day. we leave monday afternoon. i. am. so excited! we will be gone for nearly two weeks. BUT the good news is i have some amazing guest bloggers lined up that will be sharing their favorite fall outfits with you. (starting monday!) i will also have internet access while i'm there + may be sharing some travel bits here + there. i hope your upcoming days are full of laughter, love and intrigue! xoxo.

goldenponies

2010-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

my goldenponies arrived last week. i love! i love! just in time for our amsterdam trip. i wore the gold ones on jon's birthday. my friend ben shot a video of me dancing in them. maybe i can convince him to email it to me..and it could be the first video i post here...yes? jon caught me "red handed" in the act of hoarding fall branches. look at my face! so. busted....

around home

2010-11-03T10:20:00.003-05:00

i've added some new details around our home. tassels + trim above our computer area. a gold branch/vellum piece i made awhile back but had yet to put up. i like the ceiling shadows it throws. oh hello megs.

party time

2010-11-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

last week jon turned 30. he finally took a day off and we had brunch + dinner out. i orchestrated a little surprise at our place after dinner. he was sHoCkEd. yes!! our friends threw streamers + balloon creations all over our home for the big surprise. we loved the balloons so much that we've been keeping them around. party decorations are the. best. ever. no wonder confetti system is so extremely awesome.

harvesting seeds

2010-10-25T08:09:00.001-05:00

about a month ago i let our chive + dill plants start to flower because i knew i wanted to collect their seeds. once the petals fell off and the seed pod had dried out i clipped them and took them inside to get the seeds out. it's a satisfying activity to get them out. you just whack em! some dill seeds were still pretty green so i plunked them in a tiny vase to dry out. cute + functional. perfect. come spring jon + i will plant these little guys again. i really love this cycle. (also, that right there is my favorite grey nail polish. and it's sally hensen from the drugstore in wet cement.)

photo shoot details

2010-10-22T08:57:00.002-05:00

working with sarah + ben has been such a dream. first of all, ben is amazing. just completely talented behind the camera. the shoot day started off a little bumpy but then we were able to snag him at the last minute. i was all "forward ho! before the sun is gone!" it worked out perfectly because the sun was at the best angle to capture flare and the sunset that evening was like a thomas hill painting. sarah is such a beauty. she is so great. and i will tell you that it's all her because my direction can be downright weird at times. "you're beautiful!" "oooh more of that!" "yeh, yeh keep it natural" "oops you're doing the t-rex arm thing" if you knew sarah i think you'd agree that these photos look wonderful because she has great inner beauty. she just opens up and it comes through. all of the images were taken in humboldt park (in an hour!) it's truly one of chicago's great gems. chief landscape architect jens jensen said, "i have always thought that if the city cannot come to the country, than the country must come to the city."

cursive + hound

2010-10-21T08:15:00.001-05:00

if you happened to see hound's lookbook and mine yesterday you might have noticed something....a couple months ago jennifer (the designer of hound) and i noticed that we'd be unveiling our collections around the same time and we had the lovely idea of shooting her garments with my jewelry + vice versa for our own lookbooks. i think it's a lovely marriage plus our studios are literally blocks away from each other so it was easy to meet up + show each other our plans. we can't claim total credit for this idea because earlier in the year anabela wrote a post about pairing my color theory necklace with jennifer's tunic. (thx anabela!) jennifer designs (+ makes!) really beautiful clothes that i think would flatter a multitude of shapes. i can tell you from handling her garments up close that her work is impeccable. the beatrice mustard top is a favorite of mine. i truly believe mustard is a brunette's power color and i would be truly unstoppable in it.

fall/winter collection

2010-10-20T12:10:00.003-05:00

my new collection is now up in the shop. check out more images of the look book here. very excited about this collection and i hope you are too. i'll be doing lots more writing about it throughout the week.

gaurdian of good vibes

2010-10-18T06:47:00.000-05:00

this is my new arrangement on the dining room table. he's a sparkle keeper and he also maintains quality control. (platter: up in the air somewhere, wooden rocks: kindling, creature pot: plane jane project)

apartment therapy home tour

2010-10-15T09:26:00.002-05:00

hello. just wanted to share this link to our home tour that went up yesterday on apartment therapy. it was so nice to meet meg. (hi meg!) i did a longer interview over there that you can read. next week i want to share some more decorative details that we weren't able to cover for this tour. like my new dining room table arrangement that i'm calling "guardian of good vibes". (which is totally working by the way)

time is moving so fast these days. yesterday was my fall/winter look book photo shoot. i can't wait to share these images. i worked with sarah + ben again. the three of us work so well together. it's becoming intuitive.

country in the city

2010-10-13T08:33:00.000-05:00

a couple weeks ago susan + i checked out the design harvest show. we were both pretty delighted to see a petting zoo + hay bail ride at the end of the show. it was so wonderfully bizarre to ride on a hay bail and sit next to dried corn as the grand bus passed us by. i love those strange moments in life. sorta live for them in fact..

amsterdam trip

2010-10-08T14:33:00.000-05:00

in one month me, jon, susan + ben will be in amsterdam! this has become a reality in my world because tickets were purchased this morning. it's weird to fully comprehend it's even happening. jon + ben are presenting a collaborative art work in eindoven. (so proud of them!) we will be traveling around in holland + belgium before + after their gallery show/performance. i'm excited to tour breweries (em the best breweries in the whole wide world in fact!), eat new food, get lost, find new things, see different street fashion, and to feel a different kind of life for a bit. this year blew by me and my work life has been so hectic that i think this little escape into something new will be so inspiring. it will fuel me for the power i'll need to get through the rest of the year.

ben syverson portraits

2010-10-08T08:21:00.001-05:00

my dear friend ben takes THEE most amazing portraits and he's contributed his time + effort to this great organization where his portraits will be on view at this event. he's so, so, so incredibly talented. (p.s. ben shot my spring/summer lookbook + jewelry stills)

paint it black

2010-10-06T10:55:00.006-05:00

i've got swatches + inspiration to share. you must turn on paint it black. full volume. that's sort of where my head is right now. (em...the color fading part of the lyrics not the depression.)

earlier in the summer elly sent me this book of beautiful montana landscapes. i've been soaking them up here + there when i'm relaxing. i love them so much.

this collection is coming together so quickly and soon i'll have the photoshoots wrapped and will have the new pieces up in the shop. i currently have 3 other secret projects on the horizon that i can't wait to share. but all in due time...

posting will be lighter these next couple weeks as i ramp up to get this new collection out. thanks for letting me share as always :)

mia christopher

2010-10-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

love these painted notebooks by mia christopher and this larger art piece would be a dream to have in our home. (via all the mountains). *girly side note moment* aren't her nails lovely too?!

have a lovely weekend. i'll be attending a lot of the glitch events my man + his art compatriots have organized. so proud of him! also, going to check out design harvest. very excited to walk + shop a bit at a show. (how novel!)

carrie mulligan

2010-09-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

i picked up this month's vogue. i don't do that often but the carrie mulligan cover photo persuaded me. i think she is so genuine and lovely. i love this photoshoot. the big hat with big dresses. all styled by grace coddington (of course) and shot by peter lindbergh. my favorite quote from carrie in the article, "i'm not better than anyone. i just want to watch other actors and learn to be good." i really love that. a little humility and grace goes such a long way.

goldenponies

2010-09-28T11:44:00.003-05:00

2 shoe posts in less than a span of a week. i know. i know. but i feel very excited that my fall shoe dilemma is over/answered. i do love a good boot but i'm more drawn to flat oxfords in slim silhouettes this year. so i decided go with what you love right? and than poof! i saw anabela's post about her new goldenponies and i remembered from a previous post of hers that they make oxfords too. after a bit of browsing in their shop i decided to get two pairs (and for the price it's totally doable) i copied anabela and got gold (but i think it's fine she lives in toronto, i live in chicago) and for my second pair i got a duo in black/grey. i also looove this satchel bag. i can't wait to hit the town in my new ponies.

(also, wanted to share the info about my mug from my previous post since it received some interest. it's from white forest pottery. everything they make is beautiful. and i've written many love notes to them.)

new routine

2010-09-24T10:13:00.005-05:00

aaahhh hot cappucino in the morning. i think i've officially made the switch to hot coffee + tea. we used to have an espresso machine and than it broke (along with my heart..) but than our friend rescued us and got us a stove top one and my sister got me a milk frother wand. i love this new process of making our morning coffee. it's all on the stovetop. heating the milk up in a little pot reminds me of my grandma. when everyone forced her to get a microwave she didn't know what to do with it. it just sat there and to her it was an over sized clock. i won't go back to a machine again. this routine keeps her close to me, especially first thing in the morning.

it's been a wonderful week. lots of internet cursive love.
the scoop
renegade interview (+ stay tuned for something over on their blog today...)
oh joy
+ many more. thank you so much!

the endless search

2010-09-23T12:08:00.000-05:00

and thus begins my search for the perfect fall boot or shoe. (but we all do this every fall...no?) i can't even figure out if i want a boot or shoe so things are already starting off on a confusing note for me.
i have something like these (and i adore!)
and these (meh. like but don't wear often..)
and these (i'm selling because i never ever wear)
love these, love the shape, and i *think* i love the muted metallic. seems fun.
i *maybe* want to get a lace up (like these) but last yr i got a pair that looked none too flattering + all i could see was my highschool self staring back at me in the mirror (might as well dig out the pearl jam shirt again..) don't get me wrong. they look great on other people but i'm not sure i can go there.
i love the shape + heel on these but the textured leather is a little strange.
i feel like i won't find what i actually want until december and by then i'll just have to wear my snow boots all the time (wah. wah.) but the news is looking up in that department because these seem perfect + tough looking. i want something that's like "yeh i see you black slush puddle, i'm not afraid of you".

quilts

2010-09-21T08:04:00.001-05:00

my mom + sister have been making (and non stop talking) about quilts lately. i think it's so cool that they share this passion. when i was making the falling color piece i felt this odd connection to them. the pieces in it are hand stitched/hand tied together and the process of making it felt very much like quilting to me. i was standing there night after night with a needle in between my teeth thinking i bet mom is doing the same exact thing right now. it was comforting. my mom introduced me to free form quilting. i did a search and found these amazing quilts. the patterns really blow me away. the best part is that they are all made before 1965. the middle one was made in 1935! (i love that it is made with cotton feed sacks. i'm sure resourcefulness was a necessity, but the bits of text really add to the design too). my mom is drawing up plans to make jon and i a free form quilt. we're going to add in bits of fabric that are sentimental to our lives in some way. part of jon's father's coat from the army, a t-shirt my mom wore in the 70's and i've been wearing since i was a teenager, a plaid shirt of my grandmother's etc. etc. i feel so lucky and it makes me feel teary knowing i'll have this heirloom piece from her forever and ever.

falling color

2010-09-19T19:50:00.002-05:00

this is the piece i made for the shop window at orange beautiful. (currently on display until oct. 15th). it's inspired by the things that intrigue me about this season. as fall progresses, branches bare their form. there's an explosion of color and a cascade of falling shapes. fall and spring are by far my favorite seasons. the change is taking place almost every minute. i love to get outside for walks and investigate the difference from day to day. when this piece is in a dark space and top lit it throws some pretty wonderful shadows on the wall. when i get it back from the shop i'll re-shoot it at night and show those images as well.

and now some random insider info about this piece. do you remember this ordeal in june? yeh, this is one of the branches that came crashing down. (i thought it was only fair to take a couple for myself). also, you can see a lot of recognizable jewelry shapes that i use/have used. i'm a total crazy nut job and for years i've saved every (!) little bit that didn't make the cut hoping that someday they'd find a home. i think they are home now.

i have to thank my awesome summer intern abbie. she took an entire day and sorted every piece and little bit by color. this piece wouldn't have come together as smoothly without her help.

new ring

2010-09-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

a couple weeks ago while adding to my cursive inventory at the gem + bead show i came across this nice booth in the wholesale section. i'm normally not so into rings but the bezle setting + simple glow of this stone caught my eye + i couldn't put it down. it's called an oregon sun stone and it's mainly found in southern oregon. i love this ring because it reminds me of my sister (who lived in southern oregon for awhile). my friend lisa who was at the show with me also got an awesome cocktail ring made from a huge chunk of red vintage glass. its like a friend/sister ring that stacks nicely with my wedding ring. from here on out any other rings i add to my hands have to be special and remind me of someone i love.
(since the weather is cooler my nails have transitioned to matte navy. like denim they go with everything)

all together now

2010-09-16T09:12:00.002-05:00

the other day i was a traveling salesman. literally. (you can now buy cursive at orange beautiful!) i'm very honored to be their first jewelry line in their seriously adorable shop. i also brought a large scale art installation i made for their window (i promise i'll share pics soon) i rarely set all my jewelry out like this on one table. it was really fun to look at all the pops of color and to see the connections between the pieces. (you can probably spy some new designs. some of these will definitely be in my fall/winter collection.)

sunrise to sunset

2010-09-13T10:29:00.003-05:00

this weekend at renegade jon + i paused for the sunrise + sunset. so nice. someone asked me this weekend what my favorite thing is about this show. i zoomed out and generalized my answer to describe all shows. my favorite thing is meeting you! that's it and that's all.

now i'm off for my annual "day of relaxed whatever". i may go to a movie, i may just sit and read on the porch, i may get a manicure. i love having this day of not knowing what will happen.

thanks again to all who came out. i'm still smiling and i feel very fortunate to do this work.

renegade-ing

2010-09-08T01:03:00.005-05:00

renegade is this weekend. i can't believe this will be my 4th yr. (!) as per usual i'm living at the studio. but it's a wonderful place to be. susan bought a malbec for happy hour breaks (yum). i'm lucky to have a certain lovely friend visit me (+ dance) + jon brings late evening treats.

there are piles of beads, rows of braids, new dip dyed ombre lovelies and many etc's.

the weather report is looking lovely. i will be at booth #246 which is located at hermitage on the north side of division. i have a large cursive banner now so i'm not to be missed. if you're in town i hope to see you at the fair.

lake time

2010-09-03T06:10:00.000-05:00

i hope you have a lovely holiday break. we had our vacation last weekend. the sun was bright, the water was cool, and i floated around all weekend just boppin around on waves and laughing with dear ones. i'll be working this weekend. (since renegade is next weekend.) (eeepp!) have a good one! xo

(the 1st 3 pics are from one of those disposable waterproof cameras. it was so fun getting film developed again. i think i may dig out my 35mm soon. i highly recommend getting one of those waterproof cameras if you're going in a body of water this weekend. so much fun!)

bounty

2010-09-01T10:18:00.004-05:00

hello september. here is our first CSA box from green grocer. i'm so excited to get a produce surprise every week. at first, i thought it'd be difficult to fit into our cooking routine/planning. but now, i look forward to the challenge. it's already made our lives easier. we just walk down the block every tuesday and pick it up and someone has partially dictated our meals for the week. what a relief. we own two businesses and the day to day of those combined decisions *can* get overwhelming. these days i'm all about simplifying.

jon and i both have family members that own farms in ND and i love that we're part of a large group supporting family farms in our area. it just feels good.

sun worship

2010-08-31T05:50:00.009-05:00

excuse me while i devote an entire post to the sun. oooommmm.

while on vacation last weekend in michigan one thing that was a "must do" on our list was watching the sunset. we get the sunrise on the chicago side of lake michigan but they get the sunsets. i always suspected they got the better end of the deal. (who can find the time to get down to the lake at 6am? i've only done it a couple times myself.)

ok. it's time. we leave the backyard drinks + snacks and set off to find the sun. it's a pilgrimage. we walk + walk + walk + walk. i get antsy + impatient. we'll get there, we'll make it.

oh my. well hello. she's BIG and yellow and orange and HOT with a thick glittering line of gold in the water.

she's plunging down. the line is pink, and it narrows to a pin stripe.

the circle changes shape.

finally, the color i've been waiting for. hot peachy/coral on blue. and it's the last sliver. i put the camera down for the rest. these last intense moments are savored.

and she's gone. we're left with pink and coolness. we could have waited for purple but mosquitoes were setting in.

weekend getaway

2010-08-27T10:24:00.003-05:00

in a couple hours jon + i will be off with a group of friends to st. joe in michigan. i'm so excited! looking forward to sunsets over the lake, laughter with loved ones, swimming, baking this cobbler, and drinking pims. it will be a fine farewell to summer. i hope you have a lovely one. (photo credit: sunset, cobbler, pims)

joon + jung

2010-08-24T12:01:00.003-05:00

just found the work of joon + jung. their work excites me very much. (especially all of the cloud pieces) jon + i *may* be going to eindhoven in november. how cool would it be to try and schedule a studio visit? very cool. indeed.

cursive design

packing my bags for berlin

fab.com valentines sale

studio sale pics

shield necklace in nylon

studio holiday sale

3 day only fab sale

faded points necklace

holiday shipping deadlines + gift wrap + cyber monday

cursive w/ hound

ray li magazine

hugging piles of flowers

i'm a scrapper

ilana kohn

a/w 2011 collection

10.13.11

Chicago Renegade this weekend

excited + scared + it's all good

wedding outfit planning

50% off sale!

summer jewelry update. neon yellow!

random bits

insta-summer

seattle visit

cursive in time out chicago

blooms

new things

heading west: outfit planning

elephant in the room

giveaway winner

night & day, supermoon and shield GIVEAWAY

summer in april

summit necklace on oh joy

s/s look book

color blocked crystals, a model out take and a cat in lace

studio redesign

s/s look book: great gatsby skirt

spring summer color palette

happy spring!

eye candy

tourmalinated quartz

**march**

paid in trade

winter cooking/healing

rodarte fall 2011

charcuterie style dinner

party process

party necklace now at anthropologie

heart and daggers necklace

chicago blizzard

iceland landscapes

string gardens

coming up for air

holidays at home

fade out necklace

of a kind

crystal buddy

deborah lippmann

current habits

pretty light

renegade holiday + brooklyn based this weekend

amsterdam: what i bought

amsterdam: markets + shops

amsterdam: canals, streetlife + more canals

amsterdam: food + drink

all the lovely details

fall/winter outfits by garment house

fall/winter outfits by fieldguided

fall/winter outfits by nice etc

fall/winter outfits by hound

amsterdam packing by up in the air somewhere

amsterdam packing

goldenponies

around home

party time

harvesting seeds

photo shoot details

cursive + hound

fall/winter collection

gaurdian of good vibes

march