Ring

Fuck this blog.
Actually just the posts pertaining to weddings. Since my last post I have broken off an engagement AND ended a relationship. But the purpose of this blog is not to rant about my romantic personal life (seeing as how I currently have no romantic life to speak of). Unless you count my undying love for fashion. Boyfriend, fiancés, husbands... they come and they go. But that perfect LBD or pair of Loubs OR, even better still, that vintage Chanel bag you've wasted countless hours obsessing over and saving what-should-have-been-rent-money for... those will last forever.
If only the last part of that statement were true.
During my engagement I did, however, come to the realization that I love jewelry. And now that I no longer wear an engagement ring everyday I have begun (obsessively compulsively) filling that void with even more jewelry than I think I've ever owned or donned.

Ring: Jennifer Lopez Collection for Kohl's, $24.00

Porcupine

Brandy Melville "Ruth" top; $56.00Opening Ceremony "Jean" shorts; $210.00K/ller Collection quill necklace; $265.00
All available at Need Supply [dot] com

Note: This is not me, guys! Although I wish it was, this model has wicked tattoos. I just liked the photo. I'll be making an outfit post, soon. I apologize for any tomfoolery :)

Pretend all the good things are for you

Pretend all the good things are for me, too

And the weather changes not halfway between 

your house and mine.

Simple post today- statement jewelry.  Although I don't often wear it, I long to, especially these.

I love the sweet contrast of the satin and ruffles with the edgy studs and chain.

Super Candy by Candace Ang satin ruffle necklace, $48.00

I think this would look amazing against a plain white tee or beater, and just the right amount of tough elegance to an outfit.

UO Geometry necklace, $48.00

I especially heart this ring, and the blue color on the beetle.  And yeah I almost spelled it "beatle."

PYT scarab ring, $168.00

This necklace is made of flat electrical wire!!  It would be so appropriate of me to wear it while listening to some of my NIN or Skinny Puppy or Ministry.  (Get it?  Industrial, electrical wire...?  Industrial music... yeah...)

Paola Volpi criss-cross necklace, $250.00 ($225.00 for MoMA members)

Leather zipper cuff with silver chains.

Jen Kao cuff, $660.00

Or if you're like me and prefer the daintier version.

Jen Kao bracelet, $440.00

lyrics: Rilo Kiley

It's sixteen miles to the promise land

And I promise you I'm doing the best I can.

Last night I ate an avocado.  And boy was it scrumptious, my dears!  I just attacked it with a spoon like I was eating a grapefruit =P

So, I've been feeling a little blah lately.  I don't know if it's been the flip-flopping of the weather since it can't make up it's mind or what, but I have just felt like complete shit.  My head feels twice its size and I feel just gross.

PLUS I'm a bit bummed because my paintings I submitted (see a few posts below) did not get "accepted" to the exhibit I applied for.  I got a nice generic email from the grad students who were "judging" the entries which said "We regret to inform you... blah blah blah... the amount of entries exceeded our expectations and we couldn't accept everyone... blah blah."  In other words "Emily you shouldn't have submitted unfinished work and now you're fucked."

But I did drop into the Starbucks by my parents' house and asked them straight up if they are accepting any new artwork to be displayed and they are!  So hopefully this will work out =)

In other art-related news I'm currently making a fashion illustration based on this photo.  I wanted to do something with the Balenciaga dress, and I loved this photo.  Right now it's just working and re-working in my sketchbook, and I can't decide if I want to complete the final illustration in b&w or color.

So anyway, since my blog has felt uninspired lately (I do apologize for the lack of posts) I decided to blog about another blogger who has plenty of inspiration.  Frankie at Swell Vintage is one of my favorite bloggers who constructs the most amazing pieces of jewelry out of vintage materials.

For instance her necklaces made from antique drawer-pulls?  Genius, I say.  Genius!

I urge you guys to check out her blog, and her Etsy shop.  I told her the only reason why I have yet to purchase one of her pieces is the simple fact that I'm broke =/  But I have a job interview on Saturday with American Eagle of all places, but a job is a job!  They've gotten better clothes in recent seasons anyway...

Lyrics: Rilo Kiley

For the birds. Excuse me, I mean, bees.

This is one of the most interesting and beautiful jewelry concepts I have ever seen.  It's a honey-comb necklace hand crafted by Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons, and while the necklace itself is unique the "packaging" is most unusual.

The alarming en masse disappearance of honeybees worldwide is the inspiration for The Abandoned Comb Amulet.
Each amulet is one of a kind, and handcrafted from actual honeycombs sculpted by bees on a rooftop hive in Brooklyn.  It is quite a lengthy process to construct the amulet; each piece is harvested and using the ancient "lost wax" technique, the honeycomb wax is ultimately destroyed, leaving an exact 18k gold replica behind.


The idea behind this amulet is "a bittersweet collaboration with nature," with each individual pendant broken down from a greater whole.  Once the necklace is complete it is encased in a sugar-glass pyramid.  What is most interesting to me is the narrative that accompanies each piece; "The Abandoned Comb Amulet is defined by a Solomonic dilemma"- either the owner chooses to forcefully destroy the amulet's casing, or he or she can choose to recognize value in its current form and allow the casing to naturally deteriorate revealing the pendant inside.
Good things come to those who wait.
Click for more info

The issue of practicality: Form vs. Function

I love conceptual jewelry design, even if it is a bit impractical at times.  Last night my boyfriend and I were having a nice conversation/debate about the functionality of art and design; you see, he is a graphic designer, and believes that art should be functional and practical.  I think at times it should be, especially in his field, but I'm the fine artist, and I enjoy pieces that are aesthetically interesting and conceptual, even if it means throwing practicality out the window.  Which is why he is so great at what he does, and why I failed miserably when I was in his major.  We both fit in somewhere, and I tell him this is why we a so good together; we balance each other.  I'm the Dharma to his Greg, let's put it that way.

Anyway, back to jewelry.  These pieces are by Ana Canadas, a graphic and fashion designer, who comes up with some pretty cool shit.  They are part of her "000 The Process" collection.

This is a 3-finger ring, the concept being that it sits at the bottom of your fingers, each finger projecting out as an extension of the object itself.  I think it is an awesome design.




I believe these are actual scissors, or made to behave as such seeing as they open and close like real ones.  The best part is the description on the website: "It is a more aggressive piece that requires caution when it is being worn."  (This is the point where practicality vs. insanity came up in our conversation.)




Okay, I believe this piece is very PRACTICAL.  Who wouldn't want to wear an instrument in which to blow bubbles with around your neck?

Love me, love me...

Say that you love me.  I hope that song is now stuck in your head =)

Anyway, thanks *again* to notcouture.com, I have found another clothing & jewelry site worthy of "= love."  Locher's is a darling little collection of sweet tops and adornments that amalgamate cute embroidered designs and vintage finds with mischievous aphorisms; or "perversion with a touch of class" as Nicole puts it.

In other words, things "Your mother wouldn't wear, and Daddy shouldn't see."

Some of my favorite pieces:

Sweet desperation. Who doesn't want to wear a meat cleaver around their neck? Chop! Chop! necklace, $71.00

I love the additions of the little bows on these necklaces. My Better Half necklace, $71.00

The best part about this necklace is the name. The Kate necklace, $69.00


I love this one! Tiny Dancer necklace, $69.00


Won't we all? At least for some Christian Loub's... Will Fuck for Shoes brooch, $64.00