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If I could save time in a bottle.... EVERYONE SING! I admit to having an at-times unhealthy obsession with Pinterest, going through pin-binges, collecting scads of ideas for projects I'll probably NEVER do. You know what I speak of. But when I do get a bee in my bonnet to make something, it's usually because I have miscellaneous crafty supplies that need a special purose! Case in point: one random, tiny glass bottle.
As promised/threatened, the Bird is BACK. I had some time with family to rejuvenate and recharge, and now I'm back with renewed energy. Or at least, that's what I tell myself -- there's always a bit of a vacation-hangover when you're back from a break. Uuuuugh. But whining aside, I wanted to share some simple DIY projects I worked on prior to my trip, something I like to call, You Look Cheap (in a good way). Upgrade existing wardrobe pieces with inexpensive fixes!
Are you ready for the spooktacular holiday that is HALLOWEEN?! I admit, my costume preparation is sorely lacking, as in I don't have one, but in honor of All Hallow's Eve, I do want to share some badass bling that this Birdy is now happily rocking on her Social Finger. Fancy this, Magpie Darlings: the armor ring.
Fear not, Summerlings, it's not Labor Day yet! This Bird has never got with the program over that old fashion of rule of "no wearing white after Labor Day." And no one else follows this either, it's just a common turn-of-phrase nowadays. But it got me thinking about why white is so lovely for summer, and how touches of gold can make a look ladylike, crisp, and dancing along the edge of preppy-sweet.
This Birdy is having a beach party in her bird-brain and you're all invited. Can you not tell how totally in Vacation Mode my mind is right now?! And I have no fabulous sandy beach-filled vacation plans in my future, so just call it a Mood of Summer Aquamarine Blues. Of all the summery colors, the liquid-blue, almost minty hue of Aqua makes me long for clear blue ocean waters.
Is it possible to wear your heart on your sleeve (or anywhere else) all year round? As you know, Valentine's Day is this week, although we've been inundated with heart-shaped Everything since January. Is there a way to celebrate the love without everything looking like a heart-shaped mess? The Magpie is here to save the day with some sweet, smart heart-themed jewelry that makes you feel like a Valentine 365 days a year.
Is it a rule that pink is only the realm of princesses? The Magpie would like to clear up this misconception, because you can totally rock a light, dusky rose and not feel like you're a headliner in the Easter Parade. A light rose hue isn't just for Sunday School dresses and minding your manners -- Rose can Rock.
Halloween is nearly here! It puts this Birdy in a spellbound Mood, thinking of gothic looks and dramatic statement accessories. Witches and spellcraft seems to be the supernatural trend these days, so I thought, what would a stylish, modern day gal who dabbles in the Black Arts wear? Only the best, of course.
So.... the Birdy's going to get all sentimental and mushy for a moment, but I became the very happy owner of a beautiful piece of jewelry. No, no, don't start the wedding bells chiming, I was just very surprised by a heartfelt gift by Mister Magpie, and best of all, it wasn't for any reason, it was simply Just Because. And we're not into big-gesture gifts, so this was especially heartfelt, and he picked a piece from one of my favorite Seattle jewelry designers, Erin Jane.
We read magazines and websites about trends and what the Next Big Thing is, but at the end of the day, the best recommendations always come from people you know. I was introduced to the beautiful handmade pieces of Omerica Organic by way of blogger friend, Rachael White, who just kicked off her tasty new blog, Set the Table. Check it out, if you haven't already given it a peek! I was immediately drawn in by Omerica Organic's beautiful use of wood in their jewelry and accessories. They really celebrate it as a material, it's not used incidentally or as a texture backdrop to other materials, the beautiful wood grain is accentuated in each piece. It makes every item one of a kind. Even when the wood is colored, you don't forget what the piece was made from, and wood has a natural warmth and tactile quality as a material. As their website says: Wood is Good.
BOO! Early Halloween wishes from the Magpie!! The Birdy is flying the coop Halloween week for a family visit/birthday bash gathering, but I couldn't let the most fantastic of holidays go without a proper Macabre Magpie Mood post!
There are so many incredible jewelry artists out there. And regardless of the All Hallow's Eve season, these pieces are perennial beauties with an edgy, cool vibe. These pieces were chosen for their sense of character as well as wearable elegance. Granted, they're not for the style-timid, but really, aren't we all warriors at heart, as we battle the challenges of each day? We should wear our fashion fierceness like ancient talismans, bestowed with the strength of those stylish souls who came before us. If nothing else, you'll be sure to get some compliments and "oh wow!" comments by wearing any of these bold pieces.
Conjured from the Magpie's crystal ball of ghoul-ery jewelry: {1} Silver and Bronze Perfume Amulettes by Talon, {2} Wicked Tentacle Ring by OctopusME! Designs from the Abyss, {3} Hunting Man gold pendant by Gisele Ganne, {4} Rose Gold Tarsier Necklace by Violet Darkling, {5} Sharks Tooth Bangle by Beau and Arrow, {6} Tooth and Bone Ring Set by Species by the Thousands, {7} Nail Triangle Ring from GWAAN
Jaunty Fine Print: items from shops listed above - Happy Halloween!
It isn't so much a post about 80s style making a comeback, but the Bird coming to terms with love/hate trends. The thing is, I LOVED all the 80s wonderfulness with bright pink and yellow neon, I thought gold jewelry was super-classy like on Dynasty episodes, cassette tapes were wizard science, the Robert Palmer Addicted to Love models were the epitome of beauty, and all was right with the world if one was covered head to toe in denim. And then I shook the crazy from my Bird-brain and vowed to never go back into the plastic dream that was the 80s.
But what trend studies say is true: what's old is new again, and somehow we find it in our style-hearts to forgive past trends we loved, then hated, and now find it in our hearts to love again. These are modernized versions of things I thought were the cat's pajamas back in the 1980s; some aren't even so modernized (well, the iPhone case is very new), it's just a different way of wearing pieces that find them a new place in our wardrobes of today. Behold, my, like, totally radical and Jaunty finds: {1} Riley by Melie Bianco faux leather envelope clutch in neon yellow at Nordstrom, {2} Florence Broadhurst by Kate Spade retro sunglasses at Nordstrom, {3} Workwear shirtdress from J. Crew, {4} Gold bangles, including Mini Ram Bangle from J. Crew, {5} Intrude pink patent pump by Steve Madden from Piperlime, {6} Sparkle and Fade Harness Bodycon dress in white from Urban Outfitters, {7} Silicone Cassette Tape Case cover for iPhone from Amazon
Jaunty Fine Print: product images from shops listed above
The Birdy is back, and I had the pleasure of being surrounded by beautiful, incredibly unique jewelry at Indulge, a Bellevue Arts Museum event last month - it was a bejeweled reminder that one should shop creatively. Unusual events and places can yield truly Fancy finds! Apologies for not posting this sooner, but my vacation snuck up on me and I had so many February-themed posts already lined up, but I don't want the timing of this to alter the fact that one should search out unique opportunities to find one-of-a-kind wearables. Many of the artists at this event were local to the Pacific Northwest, but there were several who came from afar to show their pieces in the museum's annual marketplace event. It doesn't matter where you live -- chances are, there are special boutique events or artisan craft shows that showcase artists' works. Embrace these as opportunities to discover a new statement piece to add to your wardrobe.
There are other places to go besides the traditional department store to find a true treasure. Some of the jewelry and metalwork artists I had the pleasure of meeting and trying on their pieces included these lovely folks: {1} gold statement necklace by Maria's Jewelry Designs, {2} garnet spinner pendant by Peggy Foy, {3} ring by Tamara Kelly Designs, {4} necklace by Stephanie Tomczak Jewelry, {5} Anemone earrings by Tegan Wallace. Everything is so different, with such a wide range of aesthetics, and that's the best part -- you have the opportunity to make a personal connection with artisan-crafted accessories and find a piece that is truly "you." I did some shopping and found a unique gift I look forward to giving, along with a good story of how I came across the piece. It's that wonderfully Jaunty feeling of receiving a beautiful experience as you give a beautiful gift.
Jaunty Fine Print: photos from artists' websites listed above -- please think of independent artists the next time you're shopping for your next jewelry purchase!
Winter's official first day was December 21st, but after the holidays, when the Christmas trees start disappearing and the holiday lights start coming down (unless you're one of those who leave 'em up till March -- you know who you are!), the gloomy days of Winter seem more apparent. Over the holidays, the Birdy had this talk with friends, right on Christmas Day, funny enough, and we all agreed that even the most dreary of days don't seem as bad when you're surrounded by the glow of holiday lights and sparkle all around. But once it's all put away, it's hard to keep a cheery spirit, especially when the sun disappears by five and it's dark as pitch out there. At least, that's how it is up here in the Pacific Northwest.
So I turn to the holiday gifts from friends and family to add some brightness to the gloomy days -- there were some particularly sparkly items that pair so nicely with an icy chill. While they can't warm my feet like a pair of wooly socks, they do warm my spirit and soul, when the days are short and the nights are long. You need a little sparkle to shine through the dreary days, no?
To pair with some winter sparkle, here's an exerpt from a poem by Thomas Campion, reminding us of the cozy comforts of winter, which is something not to be forgotten:
Now winter nights enlarge
This number of their hours;
And clouds their storms discharge
Upon the airy towers.
Let now the chimneys blaze
And cups o'erflow with wine,
Let well-tuned words amaze
With harmony divine.
Now yellow waxen lights
Shall wait on honey love
While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights
Sleep's leaden spells remove.
Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki, gifts by wonderful sweet friends and family - thank you! xoxo
You know you have a nook in your jewelry drawer that's got an orphanage of lonely earrings, broken necklaces and bracelets, and other little gems that are unwearable by choice or broken parts. And by nook, I'm sure it means it's a tangled mass of necklace chains, bangles and broken clips. Again, harkening to this Bird's hoarding tendencies, I never throw anything out, including these broken baubles, so I set my intention towards giving these gems a Special Purpose. I took a weekend to whip out the ol' set of needle nose pliers, which could easily be misconstrued as my own private Midnight Express torture chamber, but fear not. It's for jewelry making and repair only. Pinky swearsies.
I think it's good to take stock of one's junk pile of broken jewelry, which is to say dump everything onto a table to see what's there and what's really salvageable, because really -- you know most of it should probably just get hucked into the trash. I like earrings because they can make for great charms, which is what I did for this piece pictured above. I don't have pierced ears -- don't ask why, I'm just a strange Bird -- but I convert my earrings with little clip-on thingies. They're not the strongest attachments, so I do lose earrings somewhat often. The chandelier style earring already looks like a necklace charm, so I decided to make a ribboned brooch out of it and layered some chains from my box of jewelry supplies. I've been on a ribbon craze lately, adding it to jewelry and other projects since it's such an easy flourish to tack on.
Again, this reveals my cards for holiday gifts this year, but I don't care. I'm enjoying being crafty and want to share these random attacks of craftiness with all.
Jaunty Fine Print: photo by Denise Sakaki
Nothing says Jaunty like being a functioning alcoholic. No, wait, that's not right. Maybe people might think that when wearing jewelry featuring champagne corks, but who cares -- they're cute as a button, don't you think?
This crafty J'adore-able post was driven by my borderline hoarding problem. I do love a glass of bubbly now and again (and again, and again...), and I always love the printing on the corks. Most have a little signet on the bottom and some have a design on the top as well. I've always been drawn to stamp designs, even cancelled postmarks, and these are no exception, so I had accumulated a small platoon of these corks in my jewelry box, awaiting a crafty fate. Their Special Purpose was revealed recently when I was working on some jewelry projects and I came across some extra screw-in eye hooks, which worked perfectly to allow a coin-shaped slice of cork to hang on a chain or ribbon. The cork was easy enough to slice down using a sharp craft blade and I must say, if you do this at home, the cork of a recently-popped bottle of bubbly is easier to slice through than one that's dried out. Just a crafty FIY. So, at the risk of spoiling some holiday gift surprises this year, I wanted to share this Jaunty crafty project with you! :)
Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki
Call this Bird crazy, but I am a fiend for organization. Not that anyone would think that after seeing the catastrophe that is my work desk, but when possible, I love when things are in their place, as I hate clutter.
I love looking through antique stores, but I also kind of dread it, as I inevitably find something I love more than life itself, but am then at a loss over what to do with this life-changing dust collector. Logic tends to win the argument and the object of desire is left behind, except for a recent weekend trip. I was with Mr. Magpie, browsing the antique shops in the city of Monroe, not far from our Duvall home is, and there was an adorable shop that had a wide variety of things to make this Magpie's "ooh, Shiny!" alert go off like mad. The item that captured this Birdie's heart was an old tool chest sitting in the window that looked to have held nuts, bolts, screws, etc. It had that great patina of age that, really, after enough years, "dirty" becomes "charming."
What really got my heart racing was the individual dividers in each of the deep metal drawers. I had been looking for a jewelry box that could hold my collection of costume jewelry, and keep it organized. It's a far more Jaunty container than what I had before, which was a set of plain small plastic drawers that were a better fit for fishing hooks or scrapbooking. I decided this would be my birthday present to myself (well, an early one), and whisked it off the shop's hands. An hour of cleaning and putting small squares of scrap fabric on the bottom of each little section, and a unique jewelry box was born. I have a feeling it was maybe a tobacco hiding place, as it had a bit of that sweet, earthy smell to it. I kept as many of the old paper labels that noted which fitting was what, just because I thought they added to the charm of the piece.
Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki
More Hawaiian Paradise to share, Jaunty friends! At the risk of totally ruining some future birthday gift surprises, I couldn't keep mum on this sparkly find. You know how much this Bird loves a shiny object, so I'll be hot-diggety-darned if I couldn't resist a visit to a favorite local jeweler who has been at the Hilo Farmer's Market for the last several years. Keanalu Art Glass, also known as Aloha Artworks, makes truly beautiful art glass pendants for necklaces, as well as rings and earrings.
I visited this market shop before around the holidays a couple of years ago and picked up a really beautiful pendant that was blue-green, with an opaque black design silhouette over the iridescent texture. Have loved it ever since and returned on this trip to see more of their unique designs. They truly capture the sparkle of the 'aina (land), reminiscent of the way volcanic black sand glimmers against the rolling surf, the shimmer of the blue sea, and how the sunlight dances across a fresh rainfall on the lush greenery. The way the colors change on their jewelry in the sun is just like how the surroundings of Hawaii become a kaledescopic array of color and light. Keanalu Art Glass/Aloha Artworks sells their jewelry online, and if you are ever visiting Hilo's farmer's market, do give them a visit!
Jaunty Fine Print: Photos by Denise Sakaki; jewelry by Keanalu Art Glass/Aloha Artworks
This Bird has been a longtime fan of the natural loveliness of the Sundance jewelry collection. Yes, it's that same Sundance, as in Robert Redford-founded, carrying on his gospel of sustainability, independent storytelling, and artisan-supported goods since 1969. Every holiday, this Birdie looks forward to the catalog filled with glittering baubles, uniquely designed by different artists, showing a variety of styles and materials. It might be a little early for Valentine's Day, but some of the pieces definitely make one think of a sweetheart.
Browsing through their site, a few shiny, happy objects caught the Birdie's eye: {1} Sungazer ring, {2} Aqua and Labradorite Cosmos Necklace, {3} Earthly Delights Earrings, {4} Open to Romance Ring, {5} Lilly Pad Bangle.
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