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

The Bangles

Arc Bangle by Another Feather 

$64 from Need Supply Co.

Because it's just another manic Monday I have rounded up some simple yet totally excellent bangle bracelets, one for each member of the band. 

(Yes, there were indeed originally five Bangles. I had to look it up too.)

((Woah! Did you know Manic Monday was actually written by Prince?)) 

Rele Bracelet by Fay Andrada

$110 from fayandrada.com

Twisted Brass Bracelet by Fort Standard, New York

$40 from Magpie & Rye

Arrow Bangle Bracelet 

$18 from RecocoNYC via Etsy

Ponti Bangle by Ursa Major 

$920 from The Cools

- Cathleen 

New Crush: Todd Reed

Just came across the work of jeweler Todd Reed yesterday and I am in full-fledged, head over heels love. I mean L.O.V.E. Sorry, Brian. 

A quote which is basically a thesis statement about his work: "I want to make jewelry that is exquisite in every way, jewelry that is powerful and humble, jewelry that is simply... the best." 

Here's a sampling of his work - all my favorites: 

All pictures via Reed's website which can be found here. 

I like that his work has a micro-mosaic element to it, but redesigned with a toned-down palette. 

Reed's signature. Ooo lala - fancy. 

- Grace

Falling Into the Gap

So Gap has been struggling for a few years now. Apparently now they are reporting gains but the truth of these gains are not from Gap but from their other company Old Navy. I don't know if I am still in the key demographic for Gap so I don't know if it matters that I find their clothes mediocre, and overpriced. This being said I spied these beauties on their website this week and I am having very sinful covetous feelings for them:

Via Gap.... duh!

Priced at $49 the price is reasonable and with their current promotion 30-40% off these babies are even more alluring. Snags in the plan? Well they're sold out of every reasonable shoe size and the reviews from buyers are not good. People who own the shoe are calling them flimsy. 

Come on Gap! Get yourself together. I am going to keep an eye on their stock prices. 

Happy Friday!

- Grace

PS- My Etsy shop is exploding with some amazing Spring finds! Check it out and make some purchases. 

A Change of Perspective

The pairing of white and gold has long been one of my favorite color combinations. Together they can evoke so many different moods...

...simplicity,

Clementine Gold Lip Dish

charm,

Tiny Bouquet Earrings

  

luxury,

Gold Leaf Bowl

 

individuality.

Periodic Table

 

I’ve believed that silver has been rightfully quarantined where it belongs: mid 90’s jewelry. 

However, I recently rediscovered an unlikely combination of materials that has me rethinking my standards of beauty.

Enter: dark wood and silver.

Silver Moon Crib

 

 

Silver Moon detail

Alone, neither silver nor mahogany is my favorite but together they have become a source of inspiration. Now I’m re-evaluating my other prejudices and wondering what other revelations I might have.

So here’s wishing you a weekend filled with pleasant about-faces in your point of view.

Happy Weekend!

-Alissa

Capturing Nature

Pale Seaglass Green Multifaceted Eco Resin Ring

$50 from RosellaResin on Etsy

These handcrafted, one-of-a-kind works of wearable art are created by sisters Jessica and Gwynne Burgess in their studios in Seaforth and Ottawa, Canada. They cast each bangle and bracelet in eco-resin, capturing natural materials like gold flecks, moss, bark, and feathers within hand-mixed transparent and opaque hues, polishing each one to smooth, faceted or non-faceted perfection. Gorgeous!

Red African Gray Parrot Feather Bangle

sold from RosellaResin on Etsy

Birch Bark Round Resin Ring

$55 from RosellaResin on Etsy

Emerald Green Round Gold Leaf Bangle

$175 from RosellaResin on Etsy

- Cathleen