I Might Have a Slight Problem

I declared to Micky not two days ago that I was not going to collect any shells on this beach trip. 

"I have a really beautiful collection already," I said, "What am I going to do with MORE shells? Psh."

I sounded so sure of myshellf. 

Maybe it's the hippie in me talking, but I think the rust-colored pair in the middle could make a totally cool set of earrings. Right??

- Cathleen 

Craft Fair Find: Ash

This past weekend I spent a gorgeous Saturday afternoon trolling the aisles of the Rock & Shop Market in downtown Durham, NC with my friend Nicole. While I usually get super stoked about craft fairs and love seeing what people have been working on in their studios, I'm often struck by how it all sort of starts to look the same, show after show. Especially in the jewelry department. But this time I noticed one table that stood out among the hand-crafted crowd.

Ash is a jewelry line created by Ashlee Meadows and based in Raleigh, NC. Her work is mostly matte porcelain pendants and earrings, dipped in different pale glazes then dunked again into a gold overglaze. The results are pretty, delicate geometric pieces that have a nice weight and feel to them. You can see the full range of what she does on her website, www.jewelrybyash.com and purchase work through her Etsy shop.

Hexagon Porcelain Earrings, $58 

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

Porcelain Bar Necklace, $65

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

Circle Porcelain Earrings, $58

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

Tiny Porcelain Hexagon Necklace, $54

by ashjewelrystudio via Etsy

- Cathleen

Ovoiding

Hannahk Infinity Earring

$208 via Una

14k Gold Circle Ring

$295 via Scoutmob

Variscite Impression Jasper Stone 14k Gold Earrings

$42.74 via steinschmuckdesign on Etsy

I'm really loving this oblong shape in jewelry. 

Too bad dangly earrings and chunky rings are so attractive to baby hands, however. 

[P.S. I don't know why I'm even looking. 

I've worn the same pair of earrings for...oh, 8 solid months now.]

- Cathleen

Just a Phase

La Lune Screenprint, 60 EUR from Double Merrick

Moon Phases Scarf, $185 from LeahGoren via Etsy

Moon Phase Stud Earrings, $135 from Cisthene

Men's Gold Moon Shirt, $36 from alittlelark via Etsy

Moon Phase Bag, $45 from Lotfi

1955 Set of 12 Original Moon Phases Prints, $255 from antiqueprintstore via Etsy

Today I bring you another round up: my favorite phases as of late. 

Happy Moonday!

- Cathleen 

Confession Time

Though I attended the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair a couple weeks ago with the full intention of ONLY shopping for loved ones, I in fact ONLY bought something for MYSELF. For shame, I know. Especially with my birthday and Christmas right around the corner. And because I am the loudest complainer when my dad—who rarely treats himself to anything and is SO hard to shop for—suddenly lets loose with the credit card and buys himself like 5 new things 2 weeks before Christmas that I TOTALLY could have gotten him.

I am a hypocrite and a louse and I don't care. I love these earrings and I have worn them everyday since guiltily purchasing them for myself at the Hook and Matter booth last month. [After long admiring her work.] I got them in gold and they go perfectly with everything. If you're interested in snagging a pair for a loved one (or yourself—no judgements) they can be purchased for $40 here.

- Cathleen 

Decorate Yo Self!

Gold Plated Ant Broach, $42

from SeldaOkutan on Etsy

Durango Hand-painted Brass Pendant Necklace, $38

from sonofasailor on Etsy

Vintage Carved Stone or Shell Ring, $12

from smallandmousey on Etsy

Set of Three Skinny Florence Bangles, $30

from vozclothingandart on Etsy

Gray Cotton Stripe Scarf, $34

from Bellabisinia on Etsy

Beige Sand Beaded Earrings

from SarahRobinL on Etsy

Vintage Faux Coral Necklace, $48

from UpcomingLegendary on Etsy

Seven favorites (I couldn't pick just ONE necklace) for your earlobes, wrist, finger, chest, and neck. Rounded up on Etsy. 

- Cathleen 

Taking Shell-ter

Spiky Shell Pendant Necklace, $125 via MejiaJewelry on Etsy

As you read this, I am hopefully toe-deep in the sands of Sanibel Island with my honey. It is one of our last solo trips before the little guy arrives, and I really want to make it count. Which means there will be lots of naps, leisurely walks down the beach, and bikinis with my huge belly hanging out. I also plan to collect as many shells as my carry-on can carry—Sanibel is known for its superior shelling. Any guesses on what I want to do with them?

Real Conch Shell Ring, $18 via FeatherAffair on Etsy

Goose Barnacle Stud Earrings, $15 

(sorry, already owned by moi) via bellekelle on Etsy

Spots Cone Shell Pendant, $18 via aPieceOftheSea

- Cathleen

So Much Booty

Just finished up one of the best weekends ever, due in no small part to the gorgeous afternoon Micky and I spent at the Renegade Craft Fair in Williamsburg on bright and sunny Saturday. There were SO many amazing things for sale this year that I cashed out pretty quickly and had to borrow 10 bucks from my sweet husband. Whoops! I couldn't wait to share the spoils with you guys so here goes: 

Photographic print by Debbie Carlos 

I've always admired this when I've seen it online 

and was SO psyched to see she was representing at Renegade this year. 

Purchase!

A pretty hand-printed gray and yellow tea towel from Ktaadn

This was in their samples bin because of a slight misprint, 

which made me love it all the more. (Cheaper AND one-of-a-kind!)

Sterling silver star post earrings from Queens Metal

I'd been looking for tiny star earrings for awhile. Yessssss! 

Two small illustrated recipe prints by Claudia Pearson

Another maker I was totally stoked to see at Renegade. 

Like I literally gasped when we came around the bend and saw her booth. 

Took me awhile to settle on just these two (I also really wanted this one), 

but I'm excited to hang them in our yellow kitchen. 

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful trip to arts & crafts wonderland this year. I also gathered loads of business cards from people whose stuff I loved and can't wait to feature on the blog in a series I'd like to call The Best of Renegade. Or maybe Renegade Recall. So I haven't settled on a title just yet, but this way we can make Renegade last ALL SUMMER!

- Cathleen 

Maranon Jewelry

I discovered the beautiful hand embroidered jewelry by Lorena Marañón on Etsy a while ago when her shop was called spinthread. One of her pendant necklaces has been on my Christmas list for a couple years now (ahem). 

She’s recently moved on to her own bigger and better website, Maranon Jewels where she has expanded her line of accessories (hello, shoulder epaulettes!) and also features photographs of some of her finer work. Look into it!

- Cathleen


[All photos courtesy of artist's website.]

You Are Such a Doily

Doily from Vintage Scrap Co. on Etsy

A simple phrase Grace once pegged at me in high school that she thought completely described my essence, but made me feel pigeon-holed and totally misunderstood. Few like being summed up so easily, insisting they are far more complicated and mysterious than anyone can possibly understand! (Foot stomp here.)

In my old age I have transformed from a petulant teenager into a person who doesn’t take herself quite as seriously anymore, and can now appreciate that her best friend of 18 years knows her better than she even knew herself back then.

Resist all I want, I am constantly drawn to these little lacey things.

My mother draped doilies on every chair back and gleaming wooden table she could find in our house growing up. And I just recently discovered an amazing doily stretcher in my grandmother’s basement a lot like this one I found on Etsy.

Years ago, doilies were used to guard furniture from scratches, and shield the expensive upholstery of sofas and settes from the oils used to groom the hair of gentleman callers.

Two years ago, I made a doily out of my own hair during my second semester of grad school. 

Heart-shaped paper doily garlands were strung around the Knights of Columbus where Micky and I got married a few months ago.

And now I’m seeing them everywhere! At the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this past June, I met and snagged the heart-shaped metal dog tag calling card of maker Angela Spencer after browsing through her booth. Angela, founder of A.S.I.S, was selling some very rad T-shirts (see below) and stunning earrings.

Angela Spencer can regularly be found shilling her wares at the Brooklyn Flea on weekends (Saturdays in Fort Greene and Sundays in Williamsburg, 10am-5pm, rain or shine). I couldn’t locate the gorgeous lace earrings on her website that she featured at the fair, but you can take my word: they were divine! They looked like small snippets of intricately woven loveliness dipped in gold! Here’s a non-precious metal DIY version from Honestly WTF:

This next incredible piece isn’t exactly a doily per se, but I love the idea of a crocheted cobweb tacked up in the rafters of a dusty, musty attic. It's work from artist Shane Waltener, a beautiful reminder that knitter’s needles and a spider’s nimble arms and legs are not that far removed from one another.

Delicate, complex, and lovely, the doily evokes something pretty and sweet, with one lacey utilitarian toe planted firmly in the past. I suppose it’s not the worst thing to be associated with.

- Cathleen