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

Totally Clawsome

I very much like this bracelet. 

It's hand forged from the pincers of an actual crab, you guys. It comes in brass for $55 and sterling silver for $125 and is made to order by Brooklyn-based Lauren Newton of The Green Glass Door. I haven't worn a stitch of jewelry in months, for fear that it will either scratch my kid up when I am trying to change him, or that said kid will rip it off me like a mugger on a subway platform. (That happened to me and a pair of $5 sunglasses once! True story! The bandit's fingers raked through my hair, grabbed my glasses, and slipped out the closing doors before I could even whelp. Trauma.) But all of this is just to say that I would seriously consider wearing jewelry again for these little guys, baby maiming and mugging be damned.

- Cathleen 

Let's Pretend Gift Guide: Part 3

 The final chapter of the Let's Pretend Gift Guide! Comin' attcha!

If we gave each other Christmas gifts, here is how it would go: 

Happy Holiday, Grace McNicholas! 

Now this hypothetical Christmas gift is neither as useful nor quite as affordable as the last two, but I haven't found anything that screams "Grace" more. This Turquoise Bar Ring from Sasa Jewelry is a bold statement piece that I think would add a great pop of color to any and all of the tres fashionable things you wear day to day.

Hope you like it! 

P.S. Dear Readers! On a slightly related note, we will all be taking a short break from the blog until the first of the year. (I just couldn't leave poor Grace without an imaginary gift to open.) Thank you for coming round to read what we write! We so appreciate your support. And we look forward bringing you more beautiful things in 2014 to brighten your days and inspire you!

See you in the New Year!

- Cathleen 

Under This Moon

I know, I know. More moon stuff. But this! This beautiful necklace is just the thing! 

You provide the month, date, year and location where the auspicious occasion took place, and Lorena Martinez-Neustadt of Gemagenta will custom engrave the lunar phase from that day in sterling silver to celebrate your special event, with the date on the flip side. Not into necklaces? (What kind of monster are you?) It also comes in ring or charm bracelet form.

This would be an incredibly poignant and thoughtful gift to commemorate the night that you met each other, to mark the significance of becoming a new mother, or the moment that she set foot on this earth. (Hint hint.)

You can find this and more of Lorena's jewelry in her Etsy shop, Gemagenta. 

- 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

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

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 

Dali Jewelry

Jewelry designed by Surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Amazing collection that bends the mind! A book of the collection is available through Amazon:

Also when doing research for this post I came across this photo: 

Yes! That is Michael Kors's real belly button and yes my skin crawls every time I look at it. 

- Grace

Hook & Matter

Lasercut Neon Pink and Clear Starburst Necklace, $28 on Etsy 

Next in Renegade Redux comes Brooklyn-based Hook & Matter, another great seller that caught my eye at the craft fair. What I love about this company is the diversity in what they make—jewelry in metal, plastic, porcelain, and even pillows!—but everything has the same hard/soft aesthetic. Nice!

Simple Gold Bar Stud Earrings, $40 on Etsy

Porcelain Roll Gold Necklace, $58 on Etsy

Gold Stacked Square Earrings, $40 on Etsy

Links on Links on Links White Porcelain and Gold Necklace, $78 on Etsy

Square Geometric Gold Studs, $38 on Etsy

Pink Silkscreened Arrow Pillowcases, $46 on Etsy

- 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