All I can say is, wow!! I am obsessed with ken and dana’s “freedom” collection. I know it’s über dorky of me, but these pieces appeal to (1) my sense of fashion (2) my sense of self and (3) my relationship with the law. What a cool idea!! I can’t wait to rock my 388 U.S. 1 1967! Be sure to check out all of their amazing designs :).

From ken and dana:

This series uses four landmark civil rights case ID numbers as it’s voice. We are drawn to numbers that can evoke emotion and carry such significance and meaning. Initially cryptic, these four groupings of numbers and letters remind us all to fight injustice.

20% of all RIGHTS sales will help fund supplies for a jewelry/sculpture
program ken & dana design run at the Harlem Children’s Zone’s Beacon 54 School.
The cases:

517 U.S. 620 1996 – Romer v. Evans – protects against discrimination by sexual orientation.
258 U.S. 130 1922 – Leser v. Garnett – upholds 19th amendment – Women’s right to vote.
347 U.S. 483 1954 – Brown v. Board of Education – desegregates schools.
388 U.S. 1     1967 – Loving v. Virgina – legalizes interracial marriage.

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I had the craziest dreams last night! What does it mean when you drive down a little dirt road and come out to a sand bar surrounded by 9 foot swells that appear like they’re about to come crashing down on you but, at the very last minute, dissipate into a cool refreshing foam? Hmmm…..

Anyway, I could have sworn that I wrote about Lizzie Fortunato in the past but I couldn’t find the post anywhere. I figured since she helped dress up VPL (yesterday’s post) it would make sense to post about her now! Here’s the skinny from The Cut:

Lizzie Fortunato Jewels‘ mantra is that high-end jewelry should not be limited to precious materials. Designer Elizabeth Fortunato uses ecofriendly found and reclaimed objects from around the world, while her twin sister, Kathryn, handles the business end of the company. The young women have grown from winning over their peers during their days at Duke to becoming favorites of Condé Nast editors, and they recently designed jewelry for VPL’s runway show. With their notably statement pieces taking New York by storm, we sat down with the dynamic duo to talk about old-school Betsey Johnson, Obama, and the open road.
Read more: Lizzie Fortunato Jewels Thinks You Should Ditch the City for a Harley — The Cut: New York Magazine’s Fashion Blog 

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Back when I was a little kid I had a crazy imagination. I had a huge chest of “dress-up” clothes that I considered completely suitable for  everyday wear. The coolest part about childhood is the transformation that takes place during dress-up. When I put on a princess dress, I was a princess and no one could convince me otherwise. When I was a witch from Salem (complete with jet-black wig) spells were cast, potions were conjured and crystal balls held the secrets to my future. The thing that sort of sucks about getting older is that moment you become self-aware, hindering those sort of cerebral transformations, even when you look the part.

One of the greatest gifts in adulthood, I think, is finding people who are capable of resurrecting that completely carefree disposition of youth.  Last night in the midst of minor frustrations, my horizons were broadened in a simple conversation. My perspective shifted back to a time of wonder, possibility and I embraced a silliness I haven’t felt in a long time. At the same time I was struck… strike that… assured that things really do happen for a reason. Thanks SS!!

My experience last night would surly resonate with today’s designer Elizaveta. A quick run through of her personal perspectives, in her own words:

* I trust in the Universe and the theory that everything is meant to happen for a reason
* I believe that One can break any negative cycle in one’s life, history & family
* My son is the best thing that has ever happened to me
* Inconsistency is the one consistency in my life
* I am a creative person who needs to be creative to emotionally survive in this universe

I love her playful, creative and often ironic pieces. They’re spectacular reminders that we really need to stop taking ourselves so seriously all the time and that great things can happen when we listen to signs (i.e. our intuition/ the universe/ Angels, whatever “it” is to you), embrace our passions and allow ourselves to be open to experience. After all, last night’s realization, this post, and the smile I have this morning would have never happened by for a smile in CHE and a simple three word text.

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For the first time in a long time I actually had a relaxing long weekend. I spent some time on the tip of a jetty at one of my favorite Cape beaches. It was so peaceful that as I kind of zoned out listening to the water against the rocks, I was awoken by the oddest sound …. and when I looked up I saw it was a giant Osprey-ish looking bird flying overhead and the sound was the noise it’s wings made as they cut through the air. Now that’s the kind of peace you just can’t find in the city.

It seems I’m not the only one inspired by nature… Mia Morikawa of Ka/Pow/Wow gets her inspiration from “natural structures and emotional landscapes.” This Central St. Martins graduate learned a language of visual poetry while living in Tokyo and London. A self professed “warrior of beauty,” she is currently living, loving, laughing, dreaming and soul searching in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal. Her label mainly produces constructed textile pieces which are exquisitely organic in form and spirit.

The thing I like about pieces like this (especially in this economy) is the way they can transform things you already have into something entirely new!

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Okay, I’m not quite wired yet, but I do plan on slowly work up to that level over the course of the day so I can go out and unwind later! I love today’s designer…. I especially love her chaos bangles (in name and form)!

[wired] is a collection of accessories made entirely from reclaimed and surplus industrial materials. The materials used come from the discard piles of various local Chicago industries and include alternator wire, rubber and transistors. Each piece is handmade individually, and is either one of a kind or produced in limited quantities. The found materials dictate the design of each piece and foster different design challenges than traditional materials.

[wired] designer Melissa Kolbusz holds a BFA in Industrial Design from University of Illinois at Chicago and also studied at the Universitá di Genova in Italy. She has worked in the fields of furniture design, engineering and architecture. In 1999 she began [wired], a project creating jewelry from recycled and surplus materials, which has since branched out into other accessories and art installations. Her work has been published in the books Green Design (NY) and Recycle: The Essential Guide (London), Style Naturally (San Fran) and featured on the WB Morning News in NYC and NBC5 News in Chicago.

In this age of mass production and big business, recycling has become an integral part of contemporary life. A positive strategy for counteracting the waste created by industry is to recycle these materials into creative, wearable accessories and fashions that challenge the designer to think outside the box. By partnering with local industries, [wired] reinvents and revamps the surplus produced by these businesses that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Every sustainable [wired] piece is an individual work of art, crafted locally and by hand, that its owner can wear for a lifetime, rather than having these materials go to waste in their original state.

Check out [wired] on Etsy, Stars and Infinite Darkness, and Elegant Roots.

Free song download of the day:

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I haven’t had much time to be introspective lately. For whatever reason, stuff keeps happening in rapid succession, so I don’t have any time to actually digest things. It’s like, in the very moment I begin to make sense of one situation, a new one emerges that needs my immediate attention and so on and so on. Hopefully this weekend will offer a reprieve.

In terms of designers, I thought I would leave you with obsession-worthy artist, Chhaya Kapadia. She founded Maya Jewels in 2004 to rave reviews. I adore her Eclipse collection which is inspired by an ancient art form originating as far back as the early 13th century. These painstakingly handcrafted bangles are the definition of wearable art!

About Chhaya Kapadia

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Chhaya spent her childhood surrounded by bright colors, elaborate art and women wearing bangles up to their elbows. Inspiration to become an artist was around every corner, but upon completing a degree in science, she married and moved to New York City. Hard-working and ambitious, Chhaya thrived in the finance technology world, moving up quickly to high-ranking positions at Citibank, NASDAQ and Kaiser Permanente. Then, when many people in her field began to plan for retirement, Chhaya began planning her new career as a jewelry designer. All her childhood dreams, combined with the inspiration of living in New York City, bottled up for decades came flowing out into what we know today as Maya Jewels.

Enjoy, and happy Easter!

Also, be sure to check out all the great blogs on Amber Magazine’s A-List Publishers page!

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February is my birthday month and I’ve always loved the fact that amethyst is my birthstone. I love the rich purple! One look, and you can imagine how much I LOVE Marie Maciel’s beautiful b-stone ring (the one on top). Then I saw the price…  $12.00. Seriously, no joke. $12.00 for a sterling silver ring with a bezel set amethyst and a shank (the part that holds the stone) made of hand drawn round sterling silver. Yay! Recession-friendly splurge!

Marie started her jewelry business in Sweden approximately 10 years ago and moved to the US 5 years later. Her Etsy shop, Birka Scandinavian features over 100 great designs.  Her focus is to produce elegant designs at affordable prices, which basically makes her a saint in this economy!  The designs are based on traditional chain pattern work as well as innovative forms based on the principles of modern Scandinavian design. The jewelry is handcrafted into timeless and elegant pieces intended for everyday use as well as for special occasions. Her influence comes essentially from ancient jewelry which she studied as an archaeologist in Sweden.
Aside from making it possible to treat ourselves during an economic downturn, Marie also spreads the love to a cause close to my heart. She supports ASPCA, The Humane Society of the United States , Alley Cat Allies  and SAVE - A Friend of Homeless Animals. I got my cat Kobe from the MSPCA and watched Black Cat Rescue, a wonderful organization here in Boston, literally perform miracles with some homeless cats.

So here’s my Friday gift to you… gorgeous jewelry that you’ll want to buy, that you can actually afford to buy and that you can feel good about purchasing. Go ahead, splurge a little!

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