A Model Society

They're baaaack! As you've probably heard, dear readers, our favorite supermodels of the 90s are showing up in more ads now than possibly they did then. Claudia Schiffer has signed on for fall campaigns at Chanel and Salvatore Ferragamo, Linda Evangelista will be parading in Prada, Naomi Campbell (assuming she stays out of trouble!) will be layering on Yves Saint Laurent, and Christy Turlington will be ensconsed in Escada.

Already ads by Louis Vuitton (like the one at right) have reminded fashion magazine readers what a fashion ad with professional models looks like. Could this possibly signal an end - or at least a diminishment - of the incessant celebrity-driven advertising campaigns of the 2000s? The UK's Independent traces the demise of the model in fashion ads to Donna Karan's Fall 1996 campaign featuring Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, reminding readers that by the end of that year Calvin Klein claimed people "just aren't that interested in models".

Maybe there was some fallout from the media saturation of the so-called Big Four: Christy, Cindy, Linda, and Naomi. They were practically everywhere in the fashion and pop-culture world, including music videos and full-length documentaries. Remember Unzipped? And then they settled down, got married, had kids, or just found other pursuits for awhile, many of them philanthropic. And Hollywood seized the opportunity to use fashion as a medium for promoting everything from the casts of television shows to A-list movie stars to celebutantes who had no discernible skills beyond the fact that they could fit into a sample size.

I recently stumbled upon an Allure Magazine dated March 1998 in a pile of vintage fashion periodicals that were donated to me, and who is on the cover but Jennifer Aniston! Aside from the incredibly awkward pose and unnatural airbrushing on her face - or maybe because of it? - this magazine could be from last week. It has all the hallmarks of the current fetishization of celebrity found in most fashion magazines: "Special Issue CELEBRITY BEAUTY" in the upper right hand corner; "PRIMPING FOR THE OSCARS" in the lower left hand.

Because knowing about "The Stars, The Experts, Their Top Secrets," somehow made one more fashionable in 1998. Just like it still does today. Doubtful!

Anyway, I thought it was just fun to see a magazine that's now over 10 years old and to realize how little has changed since the seismic shift of the late 90s. But I'm ready for something new, or maybe just a return to what was before. I'm ready to see a model on the cover of a fashion magazine again.

Vogue attempted a trip down memory lane with their April issue this year. On the cover is - gasp! - Giselle Bundchen. You know, a model. Sure, she's posing with LeBron James, but it's the "shape issue," so having an athlete on the cover seems perfectly reasonable.

Unfortunately, what made headlines about this cover was not the fact that it was absent a movie star (thank goodness!), but that there might have been some racial undertones to the pose of the two cover subjects. While that debate raged on, the DCGF quietly smiled, crossed her fingers, and secretly hoped that this might be the change I'd been hoping for. Tragically, the two subsequent months of Vogue featured Gwyneth Paltrow (new movie in theaters!) and Sarah Jessica Parker (new movie in theaters!).

-sigh-

Same as it ever was.

Even if we never again experience the beauty and magic of the heyday of the supermodel, perhaps there's still hope for fashion magazines and their increasing collaborations with the art world.

I'd love to see Lucien Freud or Takashi Murakami commissioned for some cover art on a major fashion magazine. I know this sometimes occurs on international versions of these same periodicals, but why can't we see it here? If the Gap can get Jeff Koons to design a t-shirt, then anything is possible.

Check out the Vogue cover to the left, from October 1957. It's stunningly beautiful. And painfully simple. Something like that would never fly today, I know. We need all of our little headlines telling us how much slimmer, prettier, hipper, chicer we'll be after reading 300-some-odd pages of shiny copy.

But maybe, just maybe, there's a shift out there, back toward the fashion industry's roots. Back to beautiful clothes and accessories, and not just the touched-up celebrities who are lucky enough to get to wear them.

I look forward to what's in store for us...

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.

Friday Furnishings: I'm Such A Fan!

I asked, dear readers, and you responded. You told me that you want Friday Furnishings to focus on sustainable living in small spaces and on a small budget. Perfect! That's what the DCGF knows best. But we'll still have to dream big, right? Of course...

It's been super fantastically hot in D.C. lately. Like, melt-your-ice-cream-on-the-way-home-from-the-market-one-block-away hot. And we all know how high energy costs are skyrocketing. Not every place can be as resourceful as Juneau, AK (you have to read about how they cut electricity use by 30% in a matter of weeks), or Rock Port, MO (they are laying claim to being the first 100% wind-powered U.S. town). But there are small things we can each do to stay cool and be eco-friendly, too.

Fans are a huge help whether or not you have air conditioning in your home. But I can't fathom keeping a white plastic thing around my carefully curated apartment. Luckily, there are a number of incredibly design-friendly options on the market today, at a variety of price points.

Restoration Hardware makes some of the best models out there, even though they'll set you back about $200. I had a friend who swore by his telescoping Allaire model, though. Never a moments trouble. Seen at right, the Allaire comes in two different sizes and adjusts to suit the height of your furniture and whatnot.

The best part about this particular model is that it's very, very quiet, even at high speeds. And that's key, especially in a small apartment. You don't want to have to be turning your TV up so high to compensate that the neighbors start complaining!

Oh, this fan comes in brushed nickel (shown) and black, either of which will suit just about any decor. And I know the price is high, but think about this: how many cheap fans have you gone through in the last year or two? Twenty or twenty-five bucks might not seem like much, until you shell out for a new fan at that price twice a year. Just sayin'...

For a more economical option, I highly recommend the Deco Breeze Oscillating Fan from Target. Why? Because I own it! I've had it for two years now and it's fantastic. At $50, it's still not cheap, but it's a fraction of most metal fans. And it's available in a huge selection of vibrant colors and patterns, the latter of which cost around $60.

I have the mandarin orange, shown at left, but there's also green, blue, fuschia, gray, gold, orange flowers, green flowers, and cow print (not making this up!). If you cannot find a Deco Fan to match your apartment's or home's color scheme, the apparently you have invented new colors of which I'm not aware!

Seriously, though, it's well built (and cat tested, in my household) and exceedingly efficient at cooling off my 200 square foot living room. I use it with the A/C on to circulate the cool air. So far, my electric bill hasn't exceeded $22 and change this season. Fingers crossed!

For those of us with low ceilings, floor and table fans are the perfect portable option. But let's say you have a home where ceiling fans are a possibility. And let's also say that you want only the best, most amazing conversation-starting ceiling fan known to personkind. Then you probably was the Brisa 2000 (even the name is awe-inspiring!) by Matthews Fan Company, which explains that, "Like satellites orbiting a planet, the Brisa's select mahogany blades and lunar counterweight gently orbit about its spherical gear housing."

Blah, blah, blah. It just looks freakin' amazing! Although it comes in a variety of finishes and blade combinations, my favorite is this, the bronze and mahogany version. The mahogany is ecologically harvested and the fan knob is crafted of marbleized Bakelite. Truly awesome. But here, of course, is the rub: it's gonna set you back anywhere from $850 to $1200!

Figures. Certainly the price doesn't diminish its lust factor. It just makes the Brisa 2000 that much less unattainable. That and the fact that it would probably give me a serious haircut were I to install it in my own basement apartment. Stay cool!

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.

Lee Lee's Valise - Plus Size Boutique in Brooklyn!

At the opening of a fab new plus size boutique in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn last weekend, I realized I, your own Lisafashionista, had NEVER BEEN TO A PLUS SIZE BOUTIQUE! I've been to Torrid, Lane Bryant et al. But a boutique? Nope! Because there are NONE in NYC! (Ok, so there is like half of one, a store that sells muumuus and big jewlery somewhere on the upper west side, but that doesn't count!).

The store I am talking about is called Lee Lee's Valise and is run by the fabulous Lisa Dolan, a big girl with a big dream. She gutted a busted laundromat and carved out a gorgeous boutique full of the best plus size fashions. She is stocking a number of incredible lines, including Svoboda, Abby Z, Kiyonna, Igigi, Fashion Overdose, B&Lu, Size Appeal, C.enne.V and lots more!!!

She is also selling plus size thongs from Hanky Panky, beautiful jewelry, purses, large size bras, and course, more than anything - she is selling a feeling - of having the right and privledge to shop in a store that sells your size!

Here are a few of the items I saw in the store:




Top Row:
(L)- Kiyonna Lace Top
(R)- Size Appeal Butterfly Top

Bottom Row:
(L) - Fashion Overdoze Halter
(R)- Kiyonna Colorblock Tee

Visit Lee Lee's Valise:
368 Court Street (at the corner of President St)
Take the F or G train to Carroll Street Station and walk 1 block

Call 718-246-LEES for more info

I might just see you there!

Funky new finds from IGIGI

IGIGI just got some really cute stuff in stock. Although they stock a variety of pieces, my favorite items of theirs tend to be their dresses.

I've raved before about their Satin Dream gown before, which is so soft and comfy that it feels like you are wearing pajamas but look appropriate for a black tie event. It's also a great dress for cleavage - and its covered up enough to wear a regular bra with!






Here are some of their other items I am fond of:




L: Fur Shrug, $90
R: Brocade Lace Wrap Top, $65




L: Fiorella Lace Gown and Shrug, $209
R: Pencil Skirt, $52

Good Guy/Bad Boy

One of the best things about shopping at Goodwill and other resale, thrift, and vintage stores is that - for not much money - one can acquire a wardrobe full of different looks and trends that allow one to be a different personality whenever one chooses. Want to be the neon-leggings and vintage-tunic wearing fashionista one day and the suit and secretary-blouse sporting careerwoman the next? Done. Have a desire to be a biker dude on Saturday and a boat-shoe-wearing prepster on Sunday. No problem.



In that spirit, this week's Goodwill Good Buy of the Week offers two men's look that might seem to be diametrically opposed. But, for the right person, they're just the variety he needs for his wardrobe.



The "Good Guy," wears linen/cotton chinos in a lightweight denim finish from Banana Republic. They're a size 31R and feature a tab front closure, two side slash pockets, and two back slash pockets. They have a straight leg and are perfect for casual Friday at the office or Saturday morning flea market adventures.



On top is black button down knit shirt - also from Banana Republic - that is a size small and still has its tags! It has a collar, embossed buttons, and is in super-soft 100% cotton. Every guy needs a shirt like this.



But what about the "Bad Boy"? What does he wear? Well, he starts with a v-neck, collarless tie-dyed shirt from Diesel in a size medium. There's about a one-inch rip on the inside seam of the right arm, so look for a special price on the DC Goodwill eBay store later today.



And for pants, the "Bad Boy" goes with ultra-distressed jean by Guess Premium. No need to wait for the seams to wear thin, or to add your own patches - they're already present! Check out the detail below...nice.



And here's the fun part: these jeans are also a size 31R. Hmmm...are you saying, DCGF, that both pairs could be worn by the same person? Yes, exactly! Just not at the same time.



That's the beauty of a trip to Goodwill, as I said. Try something new. Try something old. Try a bunch of stuff and if it works out or if it doesn't, at least you can say you took a chance on something different and know what suits your style. And then, well, just donate back what you don't like! Trust me: another Good Guy or Bad Boy will come along to perfect his style, too...





Pssst! Gals, I meant to tell you that I have four pairs of BRAND NEW black trouser jeans by PURE COLOR up on the DC Goodwill eBay store now. You know how great those are and how hard they are to find! Happy shopping....











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.

Ayyyyy! Melania Trump!

Manolo says, Melania Trump, woman of hard face and gimlet eye, knows what suffering is.

Say 'No' to Dilation Tests

Viktor Rolf for Shu Uemura paper clip eyelashes public wearing dashed. Why? Pesky opticians failed to tell me that after a dilation test, my vision would be so blurry that I'd need my boyf to help me home, wear sunglasses for the next six hours because light made my head go all woozy and basically start seeing wonky shapes everywhere. So in the end, I missed out on the private view evening of the Viktor & Rolf exhibition at the Barbican. Still, like blurry vision was going to stop me playing around with my vintage puffball dress which I won on eBay for pennies and haven't really done much with it. Not sure if 'giant scrunchie' was on my mind but that was sort of what I was aiming for. Treading on the 'What ifs' isn't usually healthy but here's the 'If I had gone out last night if I was temporarily blinded by my optician...' outfit. Now there's a scenario I hope not to repeat...

Dandelion Vintage Sale!!!!

25% off of all stock!!!
www.dandelionvintage.com

From now until next Satuuday night - 5/24.
Discount will be subtracted in the shopping cart.
Regular shipping charges apply.
Discount does not apply to items already on hold.
Discount cannot be combined with any other offer.




Also, Boris is doing much better. We still don't know what was wrong with him. The vet wants to wait another week to take x-rays. It was most likely a touch of pneumonia from aspirating on something, probably food because he inhales it without chewing. He has been very active lately, must be the steroids. He's perfectly back to normal with no signs of breathing trouble.

Flick and Decide

Now I know the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony collection probably divided opinions across the board. Love? Hate? Dug the shoes, hated the clothes? Liberty print overdose? Tight gingham pants not doing it for you? Opinions are unsurprisingly varied but perhaps a look at the latest photobook curated by Chloe and shot by Mark Borthwick that has resulted from the collection might sway the naysayers? Or not... the opinion remains staunchly negative. So just enjoy flicking through this fun photobook that is split in half so you can mix and match Chloe's upper/lower half with a whole bunch of things. It also includes transparencies and illustrations by artists such as Marika Thunder and Rita Ackerman if the clothes are really REALLY turning you off.

mad hattress

Interior decorating, vintage enthusiast style.

I'm trying to find a way to display my vintage hats, purses, shoe buckles etc without creating clutter in a very small apartment, or frightening away male visitors (albeit the majority of them are gay men who are more likely to borrow the accessories for a night out).

When my [straight] uncle stopped by the apartment for the first time, he stood speechless in the main room, staring around in thinly disguised horror at the pink, silk, chandelieriness of it all, finally uttering: "holy chick house". At the time, I took it as a compliment, but now I'm working on creating some contrast - Demeulemeester biker boots balancing out 1940s floral headpiece, urban graffiti interspersed with Millais's Pre-Raphaelites, pink curtains making way for Indian fabrics and so on. Off to IKEA for storage ideas this weekend. I'll post photos if my mission is successful.

P.S. Chanced upon this stellar feather hat worn in a magazine last fall (there is a shop in Toronto that lends out vintage pieces to movies and magazine shoots). I dream of finding that beautiful Galliano suit Ana is wearing next...

Day 3 of W.E.I.O.

The Happy Hippie is a sick hippie today, so this will be short. My schedule for today consists of vegetating in bed with North and South on DVD. Mmm, Patrick Swayze.



Yesterday's ensemble was simple, casual, and most of all comfy because I was already starting to feel under the weather. Speaking of weather, it's officially chilly, and I enjoyed pulling a cardigan out of the closet yesterday. Layers, delicious layers.

Hopefully I'll be feeling better tomorrow, and my post matter will be more interesting. My apologies until then. Toodles!

Pucci. Prints. Perfect.

Joy Bryant arriving at the Costume Institute's Party of The Year in May 2008.

Michelle Ogundehin at the VIP Dinner and Cocktails hosted by Nadja Swarovski celebrating The Crystal on December 5, 2007.

Keyshia Cole attends the If Looks Could Kill party hosted by Toyota and ESSENCE on June 11 2008 at Eyebeam in New York.

Jill Scott's Real Thing Cocktail Reception at the Roof Top Garden on June 14, 2007, New York City.

The pioneer of kaleidoscope prints, Emilio Pucci, started a trend in the late 60s that just won't go away. Whether you love or loathe the bright in-your-face psychedelic shapes that have become synonymous with the designer, you certainly cannot miss them (or the woman who dares to wear them). Nowadays many designers and stores have copied the famous prints and used them in their own designs. This however hasn't stopped anyone from being able to identify a genuine Pucci. See the ladies above for proof that pucci + prints = perfection!

Austrian Big Shoes

Manolo says, the Manolo finds it difficult to believe that this display of gigantic shoes is not located in China

Linktastic Thursday!

Jane sent this fabric, which is on sale at Hancock's of Paducah ... she also sent earlier some even better alphabet fabric from Fashion Fabrics Club ... which is now unavailable. (I'll take my own pic and post it when mine arrives.) She also sent this text-based fabric, if you just can't get enough typographical goodness.

Kathy found this pattern at a yard sale for 33 1/3 cents (she got three for a dollar).

Needless to say, I love the pockets.

Speaking of pockets, Kim sends this brilliant Sesame Street video about their social importance. (Watch for the über-Seventies carpenter pants pockets.)



Nancy found near-perfect ginkgo fabric from Marimekko. I can see I'll have to start a special savings fund for this one. (Warning: site loaded badly in Firefox 3.)

Cookie found the fauxlero to end all fauxleros, at the Antique Dollhouse of Patterns:




I think that pattern is also a dirigible hostess dress, for sure, from the late, waning, Pan-American days of the industry.

Heather sent this wonderful ruffly number.

Melissa sent this comma necklace. Want.

Kate in Texas sent this really cute bee fabric from Hart's Fabrics -- which doesn't let you link directly to items, frustrating! So search on "bee" if you want to find it.

I would make a very serious tailored dress out of this ... it's $8.99/yard and only 45" wide though, so maybe not this week.

Another "not this week" fabric (I missed the auction!) is this:

I have not a single, solitary idea what I could have made out of it, though, even if I had gotten to the auction in time, since it was only 4 yards of 36" wide ... from seller emt-mom-70.

Marilyn wants to know if there are charities that would take her cedar chest full of wool fabric ... and I'd like to know if there are charities that would like a lot of cotton scraps, since mine are getting outrageous, and -- let's be honest -- the chances of me making that charm quilt I keep muttering about? Are infinitesimal.

I haven't seen the Sex and the City movie yet (I know!) but HotPatterns (spoiler alert) has a related pattern ... now I think I really should go see it.

But not today. Today I have 500 emails to answer. Wish me luck!

Hurry on sale now - Vera Wang

On sale now at the time of this post - the Vera Wang Enhancers strapless bra. It is a very light nude color with baby pink trim across the top and bow in front. This is the softest bra I've ever touched! Made of 79% Nylon and?21% Spandex, it feels so smooth! Like suede!

34A-38D available. Comes with clear straps. Seam free cups have extra fabric below - extending the band to keep it in place. Firmly padded with a layer of foam and supported by concealed underwiring. Comfy and supportive.

Regularly $65.00. SALE! $32.50

Blog the Blogger: The Spaztastic Adventures of a DC Fashionate

Kiki's been at this whole blogging thing longer than the DCGF, and her blog - The Spaztastic Adventures of a DC Fashionate - is funny because it's true. Recently, she tried to forgo shoe shopping in order to save up for a laptop. And then a posting titled only "Failure" expressed how so many of us give into the temptation of fashion, even when other necessities beckon. I laughed out loud. But those shoes (at left, from Reiss) are cute! Forthwith, Kiki answers to the DCGF's soon-to-be Famous Five (plus One) questions...

1. What is the first article of clothing you remember that you loved to wear? I am and always have been an accessories kind of girl. I don't remember a particular outfit or dress that I loved at a super young age (my love for all things taffeta didn't really click until I was about 9 or 10) but I do remember that the bows in my hair had to ALWAYS coordinate with whatever outfit I had on. Yellow fish t-shirt with hot pink biker shorts? That meant a yellow bow with hot pink ribbons and a fish applique. I totally blame my mother. She was an enabler.

2. Where is your favorite place - besides Goodwill, of course! - to shop for a fashion bargain in the DC area? I'm a TJ Maxx-aholic. Again, this is my mother's fault. We make TJMaxxing a sport. While I'm not as impressed with the DC-area Teej's as the ones in the South, I've still been able to get some good stuff on occasion. In addition to the typical chains like H&M and Forever 21, I also love to shop the sales at Annie Creamcheese, Commander Salamander (they've got some seriously fun accessories!), and Nido. Eastern Market is also a fave... you can eat cheese while shopping! There's not much better than that.

3. Where is your favorite place to shop for a fashion bargain outside of DC? I'm originally from Atlanta and there are some great thrift stores down there, namely Value Village. I've found some fantastic vintage shops on South Street in Philadelphia and Akira is one place in Chicago (along with Giordano's pizza!) that I really wish would move to DC. Etsy.com is one of my most favorite shopping sites for things both spendy and thrifty (usually thrifty!). My mom's closet is also a fantastic spot for vintage scarves, jewelry, and sequined skirts I can turn in to holiday dresses.

4. Who is your current favorite designer? I love all things Valentino, but I'll keep things accessory-minded. I absolutely love Benjamin's sunglass collection. I fell in love with men's sunglasses after seeing a pair of Tom Ford's on Brad Pitt and I think these Benjamin's just have that vintage vibe that makes them super special. I love handbags by Elisa Atheniense and Cynthia Rowley. Fave (dream!) shoe designers include Ferragamo (for classics), Stella McCartney, Reiss, Leopoldo Giordano, Jill Stuart, Pedro Garcia.... [Name dropper! Ha... -the DCGF]

5. If you could own any single item from fashion past or present - money is no object! - what would it be? Hands down something from Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection. I think I'd go with Liz's personal favorite: the Krupp diamond. Yes, it's incredibly gaudy. I like it that way!

Bonus Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? I actually had a Tootsie Pop just the other day! I was doing really well on the not-biting until I got annoyed by a bus driver who just decided to blow past me. Then biting was involved. So I guess the answer is... "until DC Metro pisses you off." Which if you actually rely on Metro to get around should only take three or four licks.

Wow, that's some great insight on both Tootsie Pops and D.C.'s public transportation predicament. Nice work, Kiki. And although that diamond is perhaps just a tad over the top, I'm all about wildly oversized costume jewelry, so I can dig it. Good luck on your continuing quest to save up for a laptop. I have one word for you: MacBook. I'm addicted to mine. In a good way, of course. You know, like how I'm addicted to shoes, too! Have a great weekend dear readers!




Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on shopgoodwill.com 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.

Marianne Anderson Jewelry

Jewelry Designer and Goldsmith

Acclaimed British jewelry designer Marianne Anderson graduated from The Glasgow School of Art in 2003 with a First Class Honors Degree in Jewelry Design. Since then, Marianne has developed her exquisite jewelry from her studio in Glasgow, Scotland. Enjoying the creativity of designing and the challenge of running her own business, Marianne exhibits and sells internationally.





Ornamental Cluster Ring

Oxidized silver, 18k gold, Garnet, and Freshwater Pearls

This lovely cluster ring features a collection of briolette garnets and drop pearls grouped with oxidized silver and 18k yellow gold details. All pieces move around creating a really tactile piece.



Inspired by the history of ornament, Marianne Anderson's jewelry presents a considered exploration of traditional ornamental forms and a refreshingly original interpretation of the decorative. Working within a restrained palette of oxidized silver, 18k gold, Garnets, and white Pearls, she creates luxurious and wearable collections that skillfully reference the human fascination with adornment.





Pearl Pattern Brooch

Oxidized Silver and Freshwater Pearls

Hand pierced in oxidized silver and featuring gorgeous surface decoration and a scattering of freshwater button pearls. This brooch is a real statement piece and would suit anyone who loves bold contemporary jewelry. It measures approximately 70 mm in diameter.



Working mainly in oxidized silver, 18k gold, red garnets, and white pearls, she creates luxurious collections that reference historical ornamental detailing, and she draws inspiration from intricate motifs and patterns. All the pieces in her collection are entirely made by hand.





18k Gold Decorated Gold Band

This beautiful ring is richly decorated with Marianne's signature ornate trimming that forms tiny hearts around the ring's surface. Perfect as a unique wedding band or gift for someone special.



Artist Statement

My interest is rooted in how we learn and draw from the past and return frequently to designs, motifs, and patterns of historic and symbolic significance. By purposefully engaging with the past, my aim is to highlight the importance of ornament in a modern context. Far from superfluous, ornament has always had its own vocabulary and meaning, and I try to engage with this through my work.



In my jewelry, pierced silhouettes of oxidized Silver are systematically arranged and intersected by grids of gemstones, pearls, and 18k gold, or scattered randomly to deconstruct controlled patterns, creating bold fragmented images on an intricate scale. The arrangement of repeated parts into patterns creates symmetries and contrasts that are alluring and elegant.

See full article.





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Back to My Bracelets!!

Serendipity strikes once again! A set of lampwork beads, oddly coloured with tones of brown, beige, olive and purple, carelessly placed on a desk next to some new strands of beads, and voila, a combination I may not have otherwise come up with. This matching bracelet and necklace (earrings will be posted soon) contains ametrine, moss opal, amethyst, and tiger-eye beads as well as those pretty, but oddly coloured lampwork beads. This necklace is very versatile (yes, despite the purple) because it looks great with neutrals such as khaki, black, browns, camels, and tans. I'm not selling them as a set, but I did make them together using all the same elements in each piece.


I've been making some bracelets this week (well, among other things); the unique bracelet above is one of my favorite combinations with the last of some of my favorite lampwork beads by Robin Weber. Fire agate and aqua Peruvian chalcedony may not sound like the perfect match, but with these lampwork beads - I'm in love! This is only the second time I've used this combination, but I think it's going to become one of my classics. Below is another classic: the labradorite bracelet with two strands - two strands so that there is always some blue flash showing! I choose my labradorite pieces carefully when I make a piece of labradorite jewelry so that each piece has "flash" and the stronger, the better. But even so, labradorite flashes with movement (the reason it's so great for dangling earrings and bracelets).
Below is a rainbow moonstone bracelet - also double-stranded for the same reasons as the labradorite bracelet. This one also has great lampwork beads in white and clear with a slight iridescent quality. I'll be making more moonstone jewelry since the modern birthstone for June is the moonstone (the traditional birthstone is the pearl).


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