New Jewelry: Modern Femininity

The latest addition to our collection exudes a subtle sexiness in its delicate yet self-assured femininity. Its airy minimalism is fresh like a light breeze. Even better, it's perfectly versatile and accessible. That was the intention of brilliant designer Rachel Blakely. Handcrafted jewelry for well under $50 that illuminates outfits from the classic white t-shirt and jeans to a hot little cocktail dress. Beyond functional and affordable, it's really creative. Rachel uses film, familiar objects, sentiments and the natural world as inspiration. Remember friendship bracelets and necklaces from your schooldays? Here's a sophisticated version below available in blush and mist.
I'm patting myself on the back over this find! (I'm amazed by the great work coming out of the North West.) What would you wear this with?

golden kites necklace | teardrop wonder silver necklace | satellite petals necklace in gold or silver | friendship necklace in blush pink or gray mist | jumprope chains gold necklace | faceted stones set of stacking silver and gold rings

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{ Sneak Peak } One of a Kind

Something very special is coming this week: one of a kind agate necklaces styled with gold and silver details... a little stone & honey. Inspired by the beauty of the natural world, designer Teresa Robinson forges fresh works of art from geological treasures. While pursuing a "serious education" as a painter, Teresa learned the craft of jewelry making while studying abroad. Her work has much breadth. The trouble is that I'm tempted to keep these beauties for myself... What can I say? I'm a sucker for the original.

rippling cerulean blue agate with silver pinwheels

creamy agate with silver feather and shimmery crystals in the center

pools of caramel agate on gold

multi-toned agate with shimmering amethyst crystals on gold

slice of caramel agate with gold pinwheels... sounds good enough to eat!

agate cylinder with shimmering amethyst crystals on gold (assymetrical bottom on back)

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Mothers Day Fav

Snailmail gets a little retro, a little artsy, a little green and very thoughtful for Mother's Day: a postcard easy-to-grow garden kit with ilustration of a lovely botanical garden. Ladylike and original! Want to get yours to Mom asap? We can handwrite the note for you and send out right away.

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Milestone Anniversary

Ten years ago, just a year out of college, my husband chose me. They must be in the minority, those well-educated men who know their hearts and can make such serious pledges at such a young age. Although getting married (well, getting engaged) was originally my idea and I understood the scale of that pledge, it was many years later that I began to understand its full scope and meaning, and realized the full significance of the choice he (and I) made at that age. Ten years after that dream-like day sitting in our house with our dog and working on our business, I'm struck by wonder over that choice and gratitude for my best friend, the most impressive human being I've met, and our life together.

I'm not saying life is easy and marriage is a piece of cake. (Wait, cake isn't easy to make! Not the the moist, delicious, labor-intensive, suspenseful, made-from-scratch kind... the authentic, legitimate kind. So maybe marriage is like cake after all.) Act I of life (pre husband-to-be) made me think I drew the short straw. Fortunately, the universe balanced that unsolicited, soap-opera worthy first act with Act II, the real deal. 

Our wedding was a sweet, languid, old-timey celebration on the lawn of a cozy 17th century waterfront house on the National Registry of Historic Places. Think "an al fresco high tea à la Martha Stewart". The house, somewhat close to our alma mater, is in the country by way of long and windey unnamed roads. Picture a rolling lawn with a gazebo-like well, tiger lilies, and an unobstructed view of the river. In retrospect, I think the house is much like us - combining a love of history with a love of innovation, old stories with fresh, modern sensibilities. Its renovation was beautiful, from the restoration of the original house to the addition of sophisticated yet airy and unpretentious modern quarters. The grandparent-like owners didn't advertise, so theirs was a small operation distinguished by their elegant Southern hospitality. This made the site a hidden gem, giving our wedding a made-to-order feel. I was so charmed by that house that I, during my years as an event planner, took clients there for their destination-esque weddings. Apparently, something about our wedding inspired the owners, too; ten years later, our photos still head the site's online gallery.

So how did we celebrate this milestone anniversary? We went to Istanbul in May (more on that later), so on the big day we did one of our favorite things. We cooked dinner together, experimenting with new recipes, while listening - and, occasionally, dancing - to all kinds of music. Course I: Mymouné Whole Figs in fig-infused Syrup with Manchego and Novella Rayons de Soleil 2008 Muscat Canelli from Trader Joes (maybe overkill on the sweet stuff, but this wine is so refreshing with its aromatic notes of apricot and honey). Course II: Tilapia steam-baked with zucchini, tomato and basil. Course III: English trifle, for which I suggest using sponge cake instead of pound cake, Framboise or Grand Marnier instead of light rum, and lemon curd with or in lieu of vanilla pudding. You can't beat a gourmet meal at a fraction of the cost at a restaurant. We had a blast!

What token did we gifting experts give to each other? The trip to Istanbul was gift enough, of course, but we sneaked in a little something extra on the big day. He surprised me with a shirt I tried on in Istanbul and a replica of the first gift he gave me, a Coke and a Snickers bar (college story). I, in the bad habit of buying the perfect card months in advance of a special occasion then hiding it so well that I (or he) find it after the occasion, rushed to make him one when I couldn't find the store-bought card. From style of card to style of wording, our cards coordinated - jinx! (Those are silver-stamped birds in a sky of clear iridescent glitter on the cover of the one I made. The one he gave me, on the right, has clear iridescent glitter on the wings.) I paired it with a handmade crepe-paper rose reminiscent of the flowers at our wedding. I had another gift in mind, but it's such a time-intensive project that it's still in-progress. Hopefully, I'll finish it for his birthday, and I'll unveil it to you then because he does read this blog.

On to the next ten years... and more cake, of course.

p.s. - Our wedding cake was exactly like the one in the photo. Lemon with raspberry filling. To. Die. For.

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Martha Stewart wedding cake, bridal bouquet by deeakright, cards by natalie@calliopeboutique

Exuberant Pairings: Favorite Flicks

Movies, like any art form, have the power to evoke, inspire, question and elate. These are some of our favorite picks in random order, along with a few goodies inspired by these flicks. Our Exuberant Pairings are a great gift idea - grab a movie in the theme of your gift of choice and take both to share with the lucky recipient. A meaningful gift to remind them of that special or "just because" moment you helped them celebrate!

1. Bottle Shock: There are certain moments in history when America has proven itself to the world. One such moment, however, never got the recognition it deserved - the famous 1976 'Judgment of Paris' tastings, which changed the history of wine forever. Told through the lives of a father who sacrificed everything to create the perfect hand-crafted chardonnay and an unwitting British wine shop owner who hoped to revive his own failing Parisian business by sponsoring a competition which pitted the traditional French powerhouse against the California upstarts.
: blind wine tasting kit to test even your most know-it-all friends

2. Son of Rambow: A love letter to the movies set in the 1980s. Will is a shy young boy who is different from other kids because of his family’s religion which does not allow him to have friends at school or watch television. He gets into a fight with Lee, a tough kid constantly getting into trouble. Lee forces Will to help him make a homemade version of FIRST BLOOD. After watching the original, Will is captivated and writes his own sequel, casting himself as the son of “Rambow”. The boys use imagination and grit to launch the project and bond as blood-brothers. Soon the entire school wants to participate, including the ultra-cool French exchange student, jeopardizing the integrity of the production as well as Will and Lee's growing friendship.
: a little camo coverage for boys and grown-up camo for dad

3. Paris, Je T'aime: Eighteen famed directors present his or her own short story for this cinematic homage to the City of Light. A slew of indie actors come together for these pieces, each featuring a different cast of characters. Each tale is markedly unique and specific to the quirky style of its director with some relying on sparse dialogue and vivid imagery. Mysterious and magical, evoking the city’s romance and longing.
: puzzling love in pewter

4. Vitus: Vitus is a 12-year-old boy who seems to be from another planet--he has hearing like a bat, plays piano like a virtuoso and studies encyclopedias. His love of flying and mischief offers him a chance at a normal childhood; but when Vitus employs a ruse, his future as a piano virtuoso falls at risk.
: classic instruments help develop an ear for sounds, strengthen dexterity, reinforce color identification

5. Love Actually: Cynics believe we live in a world of hatred and greed. Love actually, the equal-opportunity mischief-maker, is causing chaos for all. Laughter, havoc, heart-break, choice and risk - exciting, unexpected, inconvenient and inexplicable. Set in London, this ultimate romantic comedy weaves together a spectacular number of love affairs into one amazing story.
: modern portable totes travel in style

6. WALL-E: One of the most moving love stories, this animated film with virtually no dialogue features a photorealistic world. Amidst a desolate and polluted future Earth, WALL-E the robot and his pet cockroach are the last living things on Earth. WALL-E allocates and disposes human waste for 700 years simply because no one turned him off when the human race left the now-hostile planet. Eve, an assertive automaton crashes from above, becoming the object of his infatuation. At the drop of a hat, the tender and inquisitive little guy follows her back into the dangerous unknown.
: flower planting kit in biodegradable bag spread green

7. Joyeux Noël: Based on a true event during World War I, this is a touching tale of an unlikely, if fleeting, reconciliation amidst battle. Trenches occupied by French and Scottish troops lay a mere hairbreadth away from their German counterparts, to the point where an alarm clock in the French trench can be heard in all three dugouts. Suddenly, and entirely accidentally, Christmas Day brings a magical moment of humanity event to war history.
: soccer-themed reusable water bottle soccer, the international sport

*Film descriptions referenced from IMDB and RottenTomatoes.