To Purr Kensington & Beyond!

Some Necklaces I am sending off to Purr Kens tomorrow, along with many pairs of earrings. Thank God for re-runs of Felicity and the new Local Natives Album to keep me amused while I spend all week "creating" in my dark apartment dreaming of sunshine and dog parks. Please Believe.

Sweet Mother of Pearl. Im in Deep!

Ok. So I found these wicked Quartz pieces this weekend. I dont know what's going on with me, but I was swooning like a teenage girl with her first crush in jr high. I, sadly, missed this in real life as I went to an all girls school but I hear these are intense feelings, bordering on obsession, so it seems like a fitting comparison.

Anyway, I threw one on a silver chain, closed it up with a crazy silver disco ball looking bead when I got home and have been wearing it ever since. I kinda wanted the pure simplicity of the quartz, but that may just be me. I am fighting with the idea of putting it on a necklace with some other magical looking charms. Will they take away from the wonder, or add to it? Tough Call. If other people feel these obsessive teen crush feelings on them I will buy more.... what ya'll think?

Parlour Magasine Launch

Last night I went to a swanky fashion party for the launch of Calgary Parlour Magasine. Parlour is an independent fashion magasine coming from Edmonton, which has recently been increasing it's presence in Southern Alberta. I have had the pleasure of working with them for a few issues now, namely as a stylist. The most recent issue turned into almost a full time job of outfit planning, and story brainstorming of the "characters" with the (amazing!) photographer, Laura Ramsey. We had a ton of fun, and it was really great having a creative frenzy with Laura via texts and inspiration emails... some of my favs were the picture texts of the "rainbow tears" that Laura rigged up via watery multi coloured sparkle tears. Epic. I even managed to make some pretty out there pieces for the photo shoot, a "daisy chain" made of many different braided chains with feathers and such hanging off the ends, also some wild shoulder length chain tassels with turquoise and feathers and of course a super long version of the braided beaded native piece that I have come to love and wear on a daily basis.
CHECK OUT PHOTOGRAPHER, LAURA RAMSEY'S WEBSITE, http://www.lauramargaretramsey.com for more amazingness.

nostalgia

I just had the pleasure of working at my old stomping grounds, Nokomis, this past few weeks. Jessica was on a buying trip and I was trying avoid getting back to my life in Calgary so naturally I took up her offer to take care of the shop for two weeks. The familiarity of being on Whyte Ave was really lovely; walking down the ave stopping at the corner Starbucks for my Grande Latte and a warmed cheese croissant really made my mornings feel complete. Having a peek in to Eden Lily to look at the beautiful flowers and smell all the great smells on my lunch break made me really miss Edmonton. Then at the end of the evening, being able to look forward to heading to the Empress for a half pint of Guinness made me love my week! I mean, how could you not love that schedule!?

When I was in the shop alone for my entire 11-7 shifts, I would sometimes spend some time arranging and then re-arranging my jewelry in the display cases. Needless to say I took a few photos (with my crappy, pixelated camera) of the Millicent stock that remains there. Often I felt a little embarrassed when people would look at my pieces but I always appreciated it when they actually bought it. Yay!

On my last day in Edmonton, I managed to spend a good chunk of time in my favourite bead shop to stock up on some fun new materials to get the creative juices flowing... get excited people, because I sure am! This next week will hopefully yield many great, beautiful new designs. Let me say this, I am really feeling turquoise right now. Blame it on my month in Phoenix, but I am feeling the whole Navajo summers in light denims, florals and lots of saddle brown leather. I plan on being clad in chain, feathers and turquoise every day of my life.... today is the first day of Spring, so a girl can dream, right?

Vacay!

Arizona style earring display!


Even while I have been soaking up the rays in ol' Phoenix I have managed (with great pressure from my grandfather to "get on with it") to make a few pieces of jewelry to bring home with me. However impressive it may look that I have been able to do a little work while I have been on vacation, do not be overly floored - I have been here for 3 weeks now and have only 2 necklaces and 1 pair of earrings to show for it.

Also, I should say I wore the earrings to this crazy German Restaurant that turns into a wild all night indie dance bar on the weekends. We stumbled out of the bar after much hardcore dancing at 4 am and the earrings really paid for it. Considering I was borderline head banging in 4" heels and I must say I am impressed they did fair so well.

Nokomis Bound

Hey pals,

It's been a long while since I've posted anything on this thing. I assure you I have been terribly busy and now find myself relaxing in the desert for a few weeks. I can't even imagine going back to the Alberta snow and desolate cold. The idea of wearing socks and proper pants makes me nauseous.

Before I left for Phoenix I managed to create some really great pieces. Have you ever had one of those moments where you feel like you are really hitting your stride? I was working on some necklaces and had this feeling it just wasnt right so I took them all apart and re-started the whole sha-bang and made a few things I really, really loved. I was amped! I hoped around my living-room feeling really pleased with myself. I must say it's hard finding your personal style when you are creating things. I can make things I think other people will like, but the real clincher is when you make something you are really jazzed on, and it's almost painful to give them up. However, here's my heart strings that I sent off to Nokomis. My mama bear, Jessica is the best friend a lady could have, she convinced me to go full force ahead and has taken all my jewels. Go to Nokomis in Edmonton to snag them up!

xo m

Obsidian Arrow Heads & Raw Quartz Crystals!

Im so jazzed on these new finds. I love how organic and magical they look. I made a necklace with the obsidian arrow head that is both shiny and dangerous, those arrowheads are sharp! When I was in University doing anthropology I always felt border line intoxicated by Obsidian. God, that sounds weird now... but truly it's such a cool material. My first year anthro class we had this Santa Clause look a like man - short, chubby with a giant white beard and a huge shiny bald spot. He was an archeologist, a rock lover and would of had the power to make me never take another Anthropology class had he not brought in some obsidian for us to fashion our own arrowheads. I became hooked. I'm not sure if it was a flashback to my younger years collecting river rocks and shiny black coal pieces from out at my cabin and painting them with clear nailpolish to keep the shine. No matter what the reason is, I love me some obsidian and crystals! Now, to figure out how to keep them just as beautiful on a necklace!