The Brass Petal

Lovely brass is our new favorite metal, after reading up on the newest HGTV Design Star, Emily Henderson. Though the premier episode of her new show, Secrets of a Stylist, didn't feature much brass, it gave us a glimpse into her impeccable style and adorably quirky personality. We'd be her best friend if she'd let us...

This Custom Chunky Multi-Rod Ring ($90) by Ahna6 is the blingified version of Emily's delightful home design style. The ring fits gorgeously over the middle knuckle as well as, our favorite, pointing back toward the hand in a chic cascade. The best part about the ring is that the artist will make it in any metal you like! So if you're not a brass fan (or if you just want to stock up on options) you're still covered. Shipping's under $5 worldwide, so you won't break the bank. And with a beautiful shop, you're bound to find a few other stellar pieces to marry with your new favorite ring.

Love,

Bling!

PS - Ahna, the artist behind Ahna6, has a cute sense of humor that will definitely make you want one of her pieces ten times more!

Garden Party Bracelet

It's dainty, lacy, and reminds us of tea parties and strolling through gardens... Wear it with something edgy or androgynous to off-set the pretty, girly vibe. The Double Strand Cuff Bracelet ($26 in mustard floral with lace) by Ponder And Stitch is just about the cutest piece of bling we've seen come out of Illinois. The fabric is lovely, the lace adds the touch that makes the bracelet special, and the big yellow button is that last detail to finish it off. It fits closely on the wrist at about 6 3/4 inches and is machine-sewn impeccably. Shipping is under $3 and if you buy something else from Ponder And Stitch, it's only 50 cents! There's only one in stock so hurry and get yours before someone else does.

Love,

Bling!

PS - this bear-shouldered tee shirt is oddly alluring...

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - Movie Inspiration

So we finally saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World tonight. It's been quite the busy week actually, as a side note. We had our one year anniversary with the Boy and quite the annoying project at the desk job. But despite, we'll get back on track next week. Promise. Anyway, we finally saw Scott Pilgrim. Delightful, hysterical, and rather clever. You sort of have to be a video game geek (or at least know some basics about video games and comics) to understand the subtleties. But we think everyone can appreciate the basic amusement and a lot of the clever jokes. There are some great non-comic, non-vidgame references too - like the fantastic music references to Crosby Stills and Young and Smashing Pumpkins, to name a couple. We also loved the fashion.

This Comic Pow Embroidered Headband ($23) by JanineBasil fits the spirit of the movie wardrobe quite well. Though they would never style one of the characters in such a blatant comic reference, we think it makes a great movie reference for our streetwear styles. Probably not the best work piece, though... Feel free to ask the London-based artist for a different color and peruse her shop for some other cool head-decor. Her top hats are pretty neat!

Love,

Bling!

PS - on a completely (we mean complete-ly!) different note, these little baby booties are just so delicate and darling...

SALE Alert: Structural Flutter at Gilt!!

We love good karma. This ring we featured last week is on sale at Gilt through Friday at midnight (unless it sells out first!!) with a ton of other really lovely pieces. Read: Get it before it sells out! The Jana Silver Ring by Flutter (a collection by Jill Golden) is just $50!!!!!!!!!! Down from $115. Buy it. Now! It will sell out because it is one of the better pieces in the sale, amongst other brands like Joomi Lim, Dannijo, and Paige Novick to name only a few.

Gilt is a private, invite-only, sample sale website. But if you're not a member, don't worry! We've got you covered. Sign up with this link, login and navigate to the It's Elemental: Silver Jewelry Essentials Sale, then scroll down a bit to locate this gem of a piece, and click on it!

Love,

Bling!

The Secret Garden

The Skeleton Key Ring ($78) by Anne Kiel is so mysterious and secretive. It reminds us of The Secret Garden, especially the first part of the classic movie before she wakes up screaming and the part when she initially discovers the garden... What a great movie! And what a great ring. This piece is made from sterling silver and just kissed with an aged finish. The band seamlessly integrates with the focal point of the key and you get a custom size to your exact specifications.

Beautifully Sinister Rings

Positively creepy... but eerily beautiful. BloodMilk's gorgeous rings (and other bling) are made from cast body parts of small animals (like owls and bats). The ring above features a sterling silver setting cast from a sparrow's claw.  The Sparrow Claw Ring Single ($120) by BloodMilk is finely constructed with just enough imperfection to compliment the interestingness of the animalistic feature, just like the two other rings below. The Conjoined Eagle Talon Ring ($235, left) and the 1000 Profound Virtues Hummingbird Skull Ring ($115, right) employ similar stunningly sinister aesthetics.

     

Love,

Bling!

PS - Check out the great necklace too!

Structural Flutter

The Jana Ring ($115) by Jill Golden (part of the Flutter brand) is such a stunning structural interpretation of, we imagine, a butterfly. We love the delicate, almost imperceptible straight lines amidst the beautiful curves of the piece's outline and band. Warning: you will get noticed if you wear this. Maybe hold off if you're shy, like us. Or maybe use this piece to break out of your shell for a night! Definitely check out the entire Flutter brand, which offers up around ten collections of countless stunning bling. You're bound to find something you LOVE.

Love,

Bling!

When We're Sick...

This morning we awoke to a pounding headache, a stuffy nose, and extreme exhaustion. We dutifully went to work and pushed through lunch. But eventually it caught up with us and we could no longer focus enough to deign being at the office. Headed home early without pay, we took a nice long nap... and then all we wanted to do is cuddle up with some apple juice and a book. Point? This ring is inspired by Dostoevsky. We love bling inspired by literature and this ring is no exception.

A Toast To Dostoevsky ($143) by Klewism is just one of the many intricate pieces they offer that employs skillful wire-wrapping techniques and beautiful antique components. This piece includes part of a brooch from the artist's grandmother, copper wire in a variety of hues, and several freshwater pearls. This particular ring is a size 5 1/2, but many of the other rings shop-wide are different sizes, and the artist not only encourages custom requests but also admits that many of the rings can be resized. Check out Klewism's profile to find about the artist behind the store.

Love,

Bling!

Statement Bracelets

We've all heard of statement necklaces, but what about statement bracelets? Mmm... The Cubist Ebony Cuff Moonstone ($188) by Isharya is quite the statement. The piece is impeccably made (like everything from this artist) with 18k gold plate and moonstone. There are some pretty awesome gemstone earrings about as well. Enjoy the fact that celebrities from many walks of culture wear the duo's bling, like Camilla Belle, Rachel Leigh Cook, Hayden Panettiere, and the cast of Gossip Girl to mention a few. Duffy even wore one on stage quite similar to the piece we're touting today.

Love,

Bling!

Hello, Deer...

Pretend to be a stag with these Antler Hair Pins ($42) by WoodlandBelle. We've featured this artisan before, but we just can't resist these. How quirky to pin your hair back with your very own antlers! We love. Each antler is hand formed singularly, so you'll never get a duplicate. And the rest of their shop is gorgeous, so do stop by!

Love,

Bling!

PS - playing pretend with a friend? Try exercising your imagination with this wolf headpiece.

Epitome of Lovely: Floral Necklace

The flowers on this pendant necklace remind us of ice cream shops and sprinkles, not just because the artist reminded us that they look like waffle cones. They are so simple, chic, and clean. That is just like an ice cream parlor. We love the way they dangle lightly from a thin 18" inch chain. The Scoops Necklace ($34) by PrarieOats mixes metals beautifully with its brass chain and gold toned floral elements. Best part? It's made from vintage components and you can wear it daily. Oh! And the shipping is $5 and under anywhere around the world. That means you get this stunning handmade necklace that incorporates vintage materials (read: eco-friendly) for under $40. Um, yes please!
Love,
Bling!
PS - The PrairieOats shop contains a veritable treasure trove of other upcycled jewelery, bags, and miscellany. You must poke around for a bit to find your favorite delight.

Lace Inspired Bracelet

We appreciate the detail that goes into lacemaking and really love when that same aesthetic shows up in other mediums. This Lace Tortoiseshell Cuff ($95) by Tatty Devine at Eden & Eden is one of the beautiful ways jewelers are incorporating the beauty of lace into their pieces. The piece is laser cut from a sheet of acrylic to mimic the edge of a doily. We love the orange-tinged brown hue. Coupled with the lace motif, it will give our outfits a bohemian flair.

Love,

Bling!

PS - the same cuff is available in white for 31 pounds at Tatty Devine's website. The white reminds us of tea parties, ski trips, and going to the ballet.

Recycled and Upcycled, Delicate Spoon Bracelet

The inside of this bracelet is so beautiful, you must go to the end of the post to see the pic of it!! This Vintage Spoon Upcycled Silverplated Bracelet ($28.99) by MonPetitChouBoutique would look gorgeous hung from our wrist and paired with almost any outfit in the world. We would probably pick a floral sundress and wear the outfit to afternoon tea, not that we've ever been big tea fans. In case you didn't figure it out, the bracelet is made from the handles of vintage, silverplated spoons. The process of creating this bracelet from just two old spoons is entirely handcrafted using professional jewelers' techniques - down to polishing it finished.

Copper Penny Bracelet

This beautiful piece works great alone or layered with other bracelets. The Penny Bracelet ($30) by Liv'n Good Jewelry is eight inches long with a gorgeous rope pattern crafted from itty bitty copper rings. The entire piece is handmade using a linking method called Jens Pind Linkage. The pretty S-hook closure is a nice touch that doesn't distract from the simplicity and delicate nature of the bracelet. And at that price, it's quite the steal! The artist doesn't seem bothered by custom orders or changing the piece to fit your fancy, so do take the time to ask about anything special that might make you take the step to slip on some of their bling!
Love,
Bling!

The Perfect Handmade Watch

This handcrafted watch by Revolt70 (on Etsy) is so incredibly stunning. We love the way the face is offset so we can better see the beautiful gears that work behind it. The Geotronics 2 ($192) by Revolt70 (or Marianne's Handcrafted Watch Studio) is all we need to make a plain outfit gorgeous. And we love that it can be fully customized with an engraved message, your favorite color band, and even your wrist size. It's made with the finest materials: carf leather, detailed brass casing, and Seiko quartz for the moving parts (we looked it up, it really is one of the most accurate time-keeping methods). And we really love that it has a warranty in case we (being the rather destructive klutzes that we are) hurt the beautiful thing. The shop is having a summer sale, so check out their discounted items!!
Love,
Bling!

Winged Statement Necklace

We'll admit, we're sort of finally falling for statement necklaces. Sort of...

Jewelera, an Etsy shop, makes gorgeous organza wings and fashions them into great jewelry like the Wings of Iris Organza Necklace  ($125) above. We're not much for the sequins, but we do think they pull the necklace together, so we're willing to compromise. The wings are handprinted and a few feature gold leafing to warm the design and bring it up a notch. The metallic portions of the necklace catch the light well.

Lovely Drop Earrings

So we'll be the first to say that Juicy Couture is typically tacky. Designer sweatpants? That just doesn't cut it for us. But these Modern Nostalgia Drop Earrings ($58) by Juicy Couture we found on Net-A-Porter are the tops! They're very elegant, but work well with most levels of dress. We think they're great for Autumn weddings to round out your not-prettier-than-the-bride look. Plus, if you don't like them when they arrive on your doorstep, return shipping is free.

Love,

Bling!

Maple Wood and Blue Resin Ring

Trevor O'Neil Design makes beautiful bling, like this Spalted Maple and Blue Resin Ring ($65). It's definitely big and statement-making, but it's stunning. The details of the wood and the texture in the resin are a complete eye-gasm. Plus, it's handmade to order in your size. The rest of the shop is pretty spectacular as well, featuring plenty of bling and sculpture, furniture, art, belt buckles, and housewares! Whoosh! We highly recommend saving up for a shopping spree...

Love,

Bling!

Girly Guillotine Necklace

This necklace reminds us of a guillotine. But it's really girly, and sweet, and sort of delicate. We're not quite sure how this one pieces manages to do both those things, but we love it. The Pearls Eye Necklace ($150) by Surface To Air is found on Need Supply Co. and features a beautiful pink-toned pearl hanging inside a steel razor. The chain is 26 inches. The store features a slamming collection of jewelry as well as some great clothing, shoes, and accessories. Average bling price is probably around $100, but it's a great place for that special piece you've been searching for.

Love,

Bling!

Custom Two-Finger Banner Ring

We love things you can customize... with more than your initials. This Two Finger Banner Ring ($40) MerCurios is swirly and girly, but since it's made from heavy gauge copper it's tough and throws a masculine edge in. It will be customized not only with your choice of words, but also will fit both your fingers perfectly! MerCurios asks for your fing size... for both fingers. The rest of the shop isn't too shabby either (as in it's pretty awesome!) so be sure to check it out.

Love,

Bling!