Childsplay with a Skirt

Do you ever feel like you want to deliberately recreate a childs-play scenario; the mother's heels, the lipstick, frou frou something that flops around your ickle body, the overall messiness of it all? I hope she doesn't take offense but when the lovely Super Kawaii Mama very very kindly made me this full length skirt because she saw this pleated sheer material and thought sheer-lovin' me would love it (and she guessed quite rightly....), that's immediately what came to mind. Not fiddling around and doing lots to the skirt but just because it's the got the sort of 'Disney' quality that would make you want to put it on immediately without any regard as to what it's actually being worn with and what consequences that has. There's just so much fabric and with the several layers of two toned pleats, you just can't help but gather it up, swish it around and 'sashay' around in it. Note: I rarely use the word 'sashay' which for some reason makes me think of drag queens doing dramatic walks. In my current childs-play state, it's on with the very worn-out grey AA vest and the Acne white cut-out wedges. Dressing up and down at the same time but most of all it enables me to look quite acceptable walking around with so much fabric swathing around the legs.

Mongolian Artisan Jewelry

Metalsmiths and Jewelry Designers

Mongolian style filigree and enamel jewelry is handcrafted by artisans using traditional Mongolian art forms, that reflects Russian and Chinese influences from the past 1000 years. This jewelry was made for the Mongolians originally, and then filtered into what is now China. During the 1700s, it was made exclusively for the Empresses and manufacture was very limited.





London Blue Topaz and Enamel Pearl Necklace

Beautiful polished necklace features a pear cut London Blue Topaz stone in a filigree setting of 24k gold plated over sterling silver with enamel details. Necklace is teal dyed Freshwater Pearls, 18" long.

$140



The Filigree work is hand-fashioned with tweezers, in which sterling silver wire is shaped into flowers, butterflies, and other subjects. The completed compositions are fired in a kiln to approximately 1700 degrees F, to be fused together with silver dust. This creates the body of the piece to which enamel and gemstones are added.





Peridot and Enamel Dragonfly Pin

Beautiful Peridot and Enamel Handcrafted Dragonfly Pin. Peridot eyes in a filigree setting of 24k gold plated over sterling silver. The pin features beautifully enameled wings. 2" by 2.5" long.

$54



The outlined designs are then filled with a very finely ground enamel powder. The colors are blended to create special effects, and the piece is once again fired the kiln. This turns the enamel powder into glass with a high gloss finish. The final step is to set the stones and to plate the pieces with 24k gold.





Abalone Shell Necklace

Beautiful Abalone Shell Handcrafted Necklace. Abalone in a filigree setting of 24k gold over sterling silver. This necklace features a magnetic clasp for ease of use. Pendant measures 2" long by 1" wide. Necklace measures 17.5".

$89



Many unusual stones such as Chrysocolla, Rhodochrosite, Chrysoprase, Water Sapphire, Black Star of India, as well as semiprecious stones like Garnet, Lapis, Amethyst, Madeira Citrine, Onyx, and Turquoise are used in these designs.



Each artist has been extensively trained in the basic techniques, and over time they become considered Master Craftsmen. Because the filigree and enameling skills are so totally different, an artist is trained in only one or the other. As a result, some items require two artists to complete one piece.



Each design of enamel and filigree work takes several days to complete, and it reflects the artisans' training and the art of their culture. The technique is similar to that used to make the original Faberge Eggs, which were made of gold, silver, and precious gemstones.



Gorgeous wearable art, and so affordable.

See full article.





Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Susan Marie Designs Jewelry - 04 July 2008

April Higashi Enamel Jewelry - 11 July 2008

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Archives 7/4-7/10 2005-2007

Here's this week's entries from the archives...

July 4 through July 10, 2005

Independence day?

Leather dies style 21206

Style 22692 Bundling & Bagging

How quickly we forget

Bagging Tutorial

July 4 through July 10, 2006

Process and Progress

H&M Is Taking Over the World

Hot working bras

Freudian slip

The devil wore Prada

Machine washing

Miracle's off the hook

July 4 through July 10, 2007

Library of Congress

Geek Holiday day 1

I am not evil

Geek Holiday day 2/3

Geek Holiday day 4

A Fleet for you?

The reaction was a little mixed last time I posted about Fleet Ilya. Now that the website is lot more evolved, it seems far more clear as to what Fleet Ilya is all about and now I'm sure that there's a Fleet Ilya accessory for everyone, despite the self tagged 'taboo-breaking' description.

We have the 'Classic' line which consists of simple oversized bags (I spy the bag as a dress trick there...), well made belts and even a simple harness that concentrates on craftsmanship that comes from Ilya Fleet's (one half of the partnership behind the label) background and training under saddler Robin Cochrane.

Then there's the 'Concept' line with couture pieces that mainly involves powerful statement-making belts used in Ana Sekularac's AW08 show. The belt with a one shoulder strap has me thinking about the belt being used more as a garment than an accessory.

Finally we have the 'Restraint' line, probably the most intriguing out of the lot as whilst it's described as the 'epitome of luxury bondage' and I'm not really into bondage gear, I love the extremity of the harnasses and accessories. The lookbook images here obviously are purposely provocative but again, out of that context and they become something else altogether...

I'll find out for myself once and for all, what sort of Fleet Ilya girl I am as they're holding a sample sale this weekend at Unit 8 Maun House,1 Dunn Street, London.

walking on sunshine

The office building outside my window says that it is 4° in Toronto- a bright, glorious heatwave compared to what it's been like these past months, and the first time I've been able to wear open toed shoes without knit stockings. Next week I'll be in NY where it is three times as warm. Time to break out the sundresses. Hurrah for spring!

The YSL Tribute sandals above were spotted leaving a Giambattista Valli show. I'm not crazy about the Tributes, simply because they seemed to be attached to every third body at Paris Fashion Week, but as for Signore Valli, I wouldn't mind having his fierce sandals in my wardrobe this summer...

A little risky in the death department (particularly if you have a ceiling fan, though I acquire more injuries from head-butting doorframes and falling down stairs), but very pretty.

P.S. They look similar to this Gucci design from 2006, don't they?
La Coquette wrote about her experiences walking on these and other killer heels for Chicago Magazine a while back...

Ruby - The July Birthstone

I love rubies! One of the pieces of jewelry I remember from childhood was a faceted ruby pear (glass, of course) pendant that hung from a gold chain. I loved it; it made me think of fairy tales and India and other exotic places that, at the time, I didn't know if I would ever get to see. Now that I have, rubies still remind me of India, Turkey, Egypt, and Spain. I love working with them, and I'm always on the lookout for rubies to put in my jewelry - and the bigger they are, the better! (See links to jewelry at the end of this post.)

Rubies are a folklore staple, part of their exotic mystique. My favorite bit of ruby lore is the belief that putting a ruby under your pillow will ward off nightmares. Also, the ruby is associated in many cultures with an increase in prosperity, fame and accomplishments. Wearing a ruby was/is said to protect one from danger, and various diseases of the blood. According to Aryuvedic traditions, they strengthen the heart, restore balance in both love and spiritual relationships, and help to prevent miscarriages. Of course, rubies are thought to represent passion when a man presents one to a woman as a gift.

In Arabian lore, the ruby (also called the jacinth) was used to describe the beauty of the houris in paradise. Another name for the ruby, widely used in the 17th century was the carbuncle although it was more common to use this word to indicate a garnet. In India, it was known as the "Lord of the Gemstones". In Proverbs 31:10, a virtuous wife’s worth is “far above rubies.”

Scientifically, rubies are known as corundum (as are sapphires) and are a 9 in hardness on the Moh's scale. Only the diamond is harder. Many of the best, dark red rubies are known as pigeon's blood rubies. The best rubies were always thought to come from Burma. However, rubies also come from Thailand, India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and even North Carolina in the USA.
It's hard to beat the richness of rubies, even with my favorite - the emerald. The ruby has luxury, mystery, and romance all rolled into one fabulous gemstone!
Ruby Bracelets Ruby Earrings Ruby Necklaces All on the Cluny Grey Jewelry website.

jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping braceletsbeads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker tak? juvelen lampwork beads The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories jewelry ruby necklace ruby braceletrubies

Up To My Neck

Sure, it might be summer time 'round these parts, but the hottest accessory right now is the scarf. What? Oh yes, dear readers, get ready to tie on one. But while every celebrity and her mother is wearing Sir Alistair Rai (yawn...so five months ago), the DCGF has rounded up the freshest, coolest scarves and wraps that will put you ahead of the fashion pack this season and beyond.

First up is Little Factory's laser-cut "Uppercase Scarf," at right. Look closely: the scarf is comprised of the letters of the alphabet. Get out!

The scarf comes in white or black, and also in "Numbers" and "Lowercase." Each measures 160cm by 10cm (or about 62" by 4") and are 100% microfiber suede. And with the lightweight, open design, they're perfect for hot weather.

Now don't get upset, but currently the Uppercase version is out of stock in both colors. I wanted you to see it, though, because it's my favorite of the three and I'm sure they'll have more very soon. I want, I want, I want!!

For a more colorful look, I like this Crocheted Beaded Silk Scarf from Manushi in Nepal. It's sold via Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade organization that supports the work of artisans around the world.

Manushi - meaning "energetic woman" - is a women's collective in Kathmandu that designs and creates products, in addition to aiding in entrepreneurship and skills training. Sound familiar?

This vibrant scarf is woven from recycled loom-end silk with beads on the fringe, so it's environmentally friendly, too. And no two are alike. I think this would look amazing with a crisp white linen dress for daytime, or a black tee and denim pencil skirt for evening. You don't even need to add any jewelry! It's such a statement piece. Oh, and it only costs $20. Perfect.

And finally, the highest-tech and most expensive of the bunch is also the most likely to provoke strangers to stare at you and little children to point. In other words, you have to be a committed fashionista to pull off this one.

Check out the Color Changing Scarf by Yasuyuki Machida, available from the MoMA online store! The polyvinylidene fibers change color when exposed to heat or cold, including changes in one's body temperature. This version in green changes to yellow and there's a gray one that turns white when it comes into contact with skin.

Kinda reminiscent of the Generra Hypercolor tees of old, right? Only way cooler. And at $110, it's certainly not cheap, but think of all the fun you'll have! The only question is, green or gray?




Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on eBay funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities.

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.