In a Box

I've found [German jeweler] Anne Gericke's designs captivating since I first saw them almost a year ago. It's not often that a jeweler uses a piece to literally tell a story... Here are some works from her "Snapshot" series.

Young Couple on a Bench Pendant, $405



Old Couple on a Bench Pendant, $456



Bathing Women Necklace, $504




Three Men and a Woman Necklace, $505

And some more from her website:

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Today's Jewelry features a tired girl with a much-loved Hammer Bubble Necklace bought for $10 at Urban Outfitters.

Also, some shiny silver studs... I've had to buy more since a fair portion of my tiny earrings have been lost to the bathroom drain monster, who is presumably now very well accessorized.


(Monster pic from Bill Casselman's website. Earrings from Peggy Li, Refinery29, Madame Bijoux and Erie Basin.)

Everything at Once

Okay, time to catch up around here.

First, the stunning WendyB tagged me for that purse content thing that's been going around like the flu. Here we go:

Black bag from H&M--my in between bag until I decide where I want to waste $200 on a purse. The Lucky bag is going back. I just don't love it. (Also, I have no idea what happened to the plant. It just started to go downhill.)


Inside you will find...
One or two books depending how far into the first I am (in this case I am just finishing up Beginner's Greek and will begin--re-read-- A Prayer for the Dying on my train ride home), sunglasses, keys, phone (more for Scrabble than phone calls), iPod, pen, Sweet Mint Orbit Gum (the only kind I will chew), Aveeno lotion, wallet, earmuffs (the big white cotton ball thing), glasses that I never wear (Prada), lil' brush, mittens, red cosmetic bag, and some assorted lip stuffs (Smith's Minted Rose balm, Neutrogena lipstick, etc.)


Next. Anna Maa Designs is having something of an awesome sale.

Green Flourite Cocktail Ring, $106

Green Amethyst Necklace, $89

Smooth Chalcedony Necklace, $62 (!)

On to number three... lovely reader Sharon (of the excellent blog The Back Story) left this comment the other day:
"Do you know Moss Mills? (I'm sure you do, I only just discovered it). I like their stuff, wondering if you know of any other designers in that price range who do similarly styled precious-y stuff -- I'm especially in love with the various heart necklaces. Please advise if you can! "
Now, since I fancy myself a sort of jewelry advice columnist, I am, of course, thrilled to assist. But I thought it might be useful info for quite a few of you.

Moss Mills is a rather trendy brand with simple gold and silver image jewelry--trees, hearts, birds and the like. The jewelry is unique in that it is fairly well-made, affordable, and interesting. Here a few more sites that offer some of the same (you will be able to find lovely and unique pieces for under $200 at all of these places):
Indie Shopper Stars and Infinite Darkness
Etsy (if you have patience, you will prevail--I promise!)
I've mentioned them before, but I love Pyrrha

(Sharon, I think Pyrrha is the closest to what you are looking for, in terms of similarity to Moss Mills style.)
Trunkt has a collection of great designers
Phoenix Roze varies in price, but they've got beautiful jewelry
Tina Tang has some ridiculously cute hearts, and bows, and flowers...
I really like Greener Grass Design for some modern pieces

I don't want to replicate my bookmarks page here, but I hope this gets some of you interested in worthwhile independent designers...

Lastly! We haven't done a Today's Jewelry in a bit, and I'm not actually wearing much jewelry today anyhow, but I wanted to show off my new Brooklyn Industries dress (on sale for $22!) worn with black bangle and black rhinestone studs:
*And really, truly last! I'm having a thing where I need to buy dresses. It isn't a new thing, but even less practical in winter. Here are my two most recent purchases:

Free People La Isla embroidered dress, $118 (And I have to say, this doesn't happen often, but the dress actually looks way better on me than this model. Too much stuff going on there. Anyhow, my birthday is in March, and I have talked my BF in to giving this to me then. I won't be able to wear it now anyhow.)


Vintage Peach Slip Dress from Bona Drag, $25

UPDATE: Was just informed that some other girl got to this dress about an hour before I did. Darn that Agathe and her gang of readers!

Phew.

Today's Jewelry: Pre-Thanksgiving

-Violet and rhinestone earrings from an adorable shop in Philly. Can't recall the name.
-Marcasite ring, previously seen
-Shiny sparkly nail polish!
-Short-sleeve cowl neck black sweater, purple tank, black Diesel jeans
-Yes, I am wearing socks. And very unhappy about the development.

Today's Jewelry

Back with a new one! (Finally!)

-Blue J. Crew V-neck sweater, grey skinny (esque--they need to be washed) jeans, gun metal grey ankle tie flats.
-Goldenrod and silver bead necklace that I made the other night... I don't bead that often, but I was looking for something very specific to wear and couldn't find it anywhere.

Today's Jewelry: Not too cold

-Green ball drop earrings, F21
-Marcasite ring, Nordstrom?
-Favorite black zippy, skinny blue denims, satin ballet flats
-Hair pulled back because it's driving me crazy



I totally get why fashion shoots are rarely held in offices.

Today's Jewelry: No, Really. It's Cold.

-Silver circle bracelet, gift from mom
-Silver ball earrings
-Purple cashmere turtleneck sweater (one of the warmest things I own; what will I do when it gets colder?), black sorta skinny pants, black ballet flats

Today's Jewelry: Beginning to Whine About the Cold

In addition to the numerous other negative things Winter carries on it's back (ie cold, freezing, chilly, brr-weather), one of my least favorites is STATIC. My hair has been floating all over my head this morning, reaching out towards my chair, trying to make phone calls on it's own, beckoning to people it likes...

Anyhow.

*Vintage rhinestone necklace (that refused to photograph clearly), from my grandma. The stones are in varying shades of smoky greys; I don't know if that's original or from age, but I love it.
*Black enamel berry branch earrings, from Cape Cod
*Black long sleeve tee with satin stripe, dark blue skinnies (lazy me!), black patent flats
*Space heater turned ON
*Casio watch

Today's Jewelry: Morrissey

*Morrissey T-shirt from concert on Friday night (thanks, bf, for fronting me the $35(!!) for it). It's a little Christmas-y, but it's also a little Tudor rose, which I am digging.
*Skinny dark blue denims and satin black ballet flats
*Gold and citrine wire-wrap ring from Bainbridge Island, Washington
*Brown pearl earrings

Today's Jewelry

*Morning Song Necklace by Laurel Denise purchased at the (sadly) now closed Trunkt on Hudson street, though they still have a website up. If I am remembering correctly, I bought this necklace with my first just-given-a-raise paycheck like, two years ago.
*Bracelets and Casio watch, ball earrings.
*Favorite and much mended Diesel jeans, that miraculously fit this morning.
*Orangey (a nod the the holiday!) red short sleeve sweater and white tank.

Today's Jewelry: Severe Schoolmarm Edition

*Flowers from boyfriend (aww!)
*costume crystal and pearl necklace, circle marcasite earrings
*Black sweater set, grey skirt, black/ grey tights, black satin flights. On two separate occasions (with a different outfit), a woman has told me my tights are sexy. (!) In a corporate setting, no less. What a compliment, right?


Have a great night!

Today's Jewelry with Special Bonus Feature

I can't even express how much I'd rather be asleep right now. It's one of those days where words lag somewhere in the deep recesses of the brain. You're a second too slow on responses. People may look at you funny.

Here's what I'm wearing today:

*Chunky black enamel cocktail ring with crystal from Banana Republic (of all places)
*Embossed hoop earrings, no idea of the origin
*Olive green sweater, grey tank, dark blue skinny jeans, gun metal ballet flats (with unseen ankle ties)

Bonus Feature:
People, I need your help. For the better part of this year, I have been looking for a new necklace to replace this:

It's my grandma's. I think it might be made of lucite or crystal or something and it broke. The connector rings are shot. I haven't tried a jeweler because I am convinced this exists somewhere and probably plentifully. (Also, I think a bunch of the beads are missing.) I feel like I've seen a million of these necklaces over my lifetime! If anyone could help, well, it would be much appreciated and would make my grandma the happiest lady ever, basically. I saw a blue one on ebay as lucite, but haven't seen anything close since.

Today's Jewelry

Well, yesterday's "Today's jewelry" feature was pretty well received, so let's give it another go. I am not promising this every day, but I'll keep it up as long as possible!


*Brown pearl earrings seen on other TJ posts. They just go with everything, you know?
*Turquoise and gold bead necklace, purchased as a birthday present to myself this year, as I wandered around NYC. My office encourages you to take off birthdays. I never really want to, because what fun is it mulling over your mortality alone? But they kind of actually force me, so I'm usually found at one of two places:
1. Optimally, at some artsy city theater watching a pristine reissue of a Godard film.
2. More often, at some cheesy romantic comedy that BF refuses to see.
*Wearing: brown comfy cords, ancient tank, teal converse (why, yes, my shoes often match my jewelry!), cocoa colored cashmere cardigan (alliteration alert!) that I wear a whole lot. It's the prettiest neutral!


Also, NPR, where is this rain you were so foreboding about? Huh? I got all rain/ comfy dressed and it's beautiful out!

Lastly, A Note About My Hair: I know this is pretty vain, but I'm kind of excited about my hair. I've been gagging on two tablespoons of flax seed oil every night and like to think that there is some definite shiny happening here. The oil must not be in wont! I've also been taking "Hair" vitamins every other day. I don't know where the sudden obsession came from.

Today's Jewelry

Obviously, this is now a sporadic feature!
-Erica Weiner brass filigree ring purchased last year at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg. Can also be purchased here: Erica Weiner Jewelry.
-Gold bead necklace purchased yesterday at the Third Avenue street fair. It's kind of a long story, but I've been wanting a necklace like this ever since a blogger fave of mine, Nothing But Bonfires, came back from Ecuador with one. Apparently, the regional style consists of layering gold bead necklaces and wearing a fedora--and that's limited to the ladies!
I've been working on an elaborate plan to get BF into a vacation to Ecuador, but I figured me wanting to go purely for these necklaces wouldn't fly.
Anyhow, I was pretty psyched when I found the gold bead necklace yesterday.

Black empire waist dress and black pattern tights. And, yawn, black satin flats. It was early! And dark!


Here's Nothing But Bonfire's pic:

Today's Jewelry

Here we are again...
Turquoise earrings purchased for me by my dearest mother. We got them, oh, ten years ago? I think I was still in high school. From a shop in Sugarloaf, NY. (Great lil' craft town.) Watch/ bangle deal as usual. My nails! Painted 'em last night (I hate being on a budget), isn't the color pretty? It's this very loud pink/ orange/red mixture. My clothing is super boring: skinny dark blue denim and a navy blue AA shirt, teal Converse.