Friday Favorites: The Purple in Spring

Songs I am digging this week:
1. "Expectations" by Cut Off Your Hands (You tube video)
2. "Naive" by The Kooks (not new, but I have loved them for a bit now... hoping to head to the show next month in Brooklyn)
3. "What's a Girl to Do" by Bat for Lashes (If you haven't already, this video is a MUST WATCH)


1940's Amethyst Cocktail Ring, $625


Amethyst Chandelier Necklace from the Met Museum Store, $75
"Our Amethyst Chandelier Necklace is based on an earring, dating from about 1600–1640, that was part of the famous Cheapside Hoard uncovered in 1912 near St. Paul's Cathedral in Cheapside, London. Produced in cooperation with The British Museum, London.
24 kt. gold-plated sterling silver, with faceted amethysts and pink cultured freshwater pearls. Length 16 1/2 in."




Bent Key Ring, $23




Vintage Purple Rhinestone Pin, $22




Alexis Bittar Amethyst Cube Earrings, $195

Resolved

Resolution #1: Calm down with the chocolate. Ever since these babies went half off at the supermarket, I've been eating them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

(Pic from Candy Blog)
They are basically Cadbury Mini Eggs, but with less egg shape and more Christmas. Also, resolution #1 may quickly be broken by Easter.

Speaking of Cadbury--Deep Fried Creme Eggs, anyone? Mmmm.


(Pic from Lovescool)
I think I've mentioned before that I grew up in Northern New York, a land of strip malls, sweatpants and morbid obesity. Anyhow, one of the biggest social events every year was the Orange County Fair, right in the heart of Middletown. Oh the artery-clogging bliss that could be found there! In addition to the general fair menu of fried dough and kabobs, we had fried Twinkies, fried brownies, and fried Hostess cupcakes! Isn't your mouth watering?

Resolution #2: Wear socks more often. Self-explanatory.

Resolution #3: Post some fancy and in no way affordable vintage emerald jewelry. Done and done.

1.61ct Diamond and Emerald Art Deco Ring, $10,700

Late Victorian Bracelet, $15,750



Emerald and Pearl Ballerina Charm, $650



18K Emerald and Yellow Gold Bracelet, $6100

The word Emerald is said to originate from Sanskrit, meaning green. An Austrian created the first accepted synthetic emerald, but the real stuff comes from areas of Europe, Africa, South America, India and the Middle East. It's May's birthstone, and perhaps because of it's geographical origins, the emerald is a very biblical stone, popping up all over the old testament.

The emerald's myths run old and wide:
-In the Catholic Church, green has a special meaning as well, since it has always been considered the most natural and elementary color in liturgy. Some say that an emerald in a shape of a bowl fell off the Satan’s crown. That bowl was later used by Christ at the last supper, and Joseph of Arimathea caught Christ’s blood dripping from the cross in that bowl, founding the order of the Holy Grail.
- Associated with the Greek goddess Venus, the stone was said to protect lovers from unfaithfulness.
- A noted healing gem, emeralds are associated with eyesight, said to help infections and inflammations.
- Good for memory and aids public speakers in eloquence and creativity.
(Info from Jewels for Me and Wikipedia)


The Mogul Emerald is one of the largest and most famous. It's a 217 carat rectangular slab inscribed on one side with Islamic prayer, and ornate flower imagery on the opposite side. An anonymous buyer purchased it for $2.2 million in 2001.
(For more information on the Mogul Emerald, as well as other famed emeralds, go to Jewelry.com)

Phone It In

Oh this fake Spring is killing me. This interrupted winter. This perfect May day in the middle of January. The window is open, heat is off and I am wearing a short sleeved shirt. The breeze coming in smells like warm grass.

Angst and Plaid

I'm officially swimming in My So-Called Life. We've been making our way through the box set steadily, pausing only for quick questions, mostly posed to me by the BF. He's eight years older, and the show is closer chronologically to my HS experience than his. Also, he's a boy. Boys sometimes don't get it.

"Were you mean like that in High School?"
Yes, but I told him no.
Did you hate your mom?
Sometimes.
Were girls mean like that always?
Yes.
Did you pass notes?
Yes, but it made me deathly afraid. I was a goody two shoes.
Did you wear plaid shorts too?
Yes, but without the tights.


Ugh, I am cringing here, but yes. I wore shorts like that. In public. I also wore my (6'3" tall) father's hand-me-down oxford shirts, thinking them stylish. God, I was clueless.

Anyhow, in honor of my (very badly dressed) high school self, here's some plaid jewelry:


Tartan Plaid Bangles, $6.99




M. Haskell Plaid Hoop Earrings, $15





Rachel Abroms Plaid Ribbon Necklace, $162





Betsey Johnson Plaid Ring, $28




Plaid Earrings, $5.99

Cold/ Gold

My feet have been mercilessly bound in socks for the past two days due to ridiculous temperatures in the area, but as soon as I heard 37 degrees this morning on the radio, I knew it was time for flats again. Unfortunately, the socks must have done something, because now my feet are freezing and I have to spend lunch looking for socks or something. (I am cringing at the thought of flats with socks. Bad grandma style. And not bad as in naughty.)

Anyhow, top three songs for me this week (links to myspace pages--you will love at least one of these songs, promise):
1. "That's Not My Name" The Ting-tings
2. "2080" Yeasayer
3. "New Soul" Yael Naim

Friday Favorites:


Citrine Horseshoe Earrings by Yen Jewelry, $65




White or yellow gold one-of-a-kind initial necklace, $1,560




White kingdom Ring (Sterling silver integrated 9K rose gold ring inlaid a rose cut moonstone) by Artisanimpact, $92




Long Petal Citrine Earrings, $775

For the Birds

A while back, I mentioned my search for a slightly pricier (ie outta H&M for once) bag. I think this is something every woman suffers through: the search for the ideal purse. I've gone the messenger route and traveled through tote-ville to no avail. Poor BF has to suffer through with me as I bombard him with questions. Too dark? Will I use it? How about that strap? (Oh, how I love him.)

Anyhow, armed with a couple of gift cards and coupons at Macy's, I accidentally found a bag I really like. I haven't actually taken the tags off yet, but I stare at it in my closet for a long moment every morning. What do you folks think?

Lucky Brand Suede Gathered Hobo Bag
(I DID NOT BUY THE BLUE ONE! I purchased it in "mulled wine" and it is apparently impossible to find a good pic of that color online.) It's got a nice bright paisley print inside. C'mon people. Convince me to make a decision about it one way or the other...

Next non-jewelry topic:
On Saturday morning, BF and I took the 8 AM train into Manhattan to catch the 10:35 AM showing of There Will be Blood. Bf is a big Paul Thomas Anderson buff, and the movie is only playing in one theatre (!); it seemed like an adventure. The theatre wasn't even open when we strolled up at 9:20, but there was a short line, so I ran next door for croissants and fruit while he waited. We were the first ones in the place--it was at Lincoln Square Cinemas, home of the recreated movie palaces--so we settled in one of the front rows (there was a mezzanine, but I forgot my glasses), played Scrabble on my phone and ate breakfast. By the time the lights went down, the theatre was packed. So many people! 10:35 AM!

Paul Dano and Daniel Day-Lewis, neither of whom I would kick out of bed (Uh, honey, only if they are tired! No funny business!)

The movie was only good, but Daniel Day-Lewis was amazing. Mesmerizing.
Watch the trailer here: There Will be Blood
Metacritic reviews (average score of 95!)
(Oh, so the tickets were $6! Wow, right?)


Finally, inspired by one of Clothes Horse's thrift store buys, I went looking around for some cute bird cage necklaces:

Topshop Bird Cage Necklace, £12




Bird Cage Necklace at Shanalogic, $34




Empty Birdcage Necklace by adorapop, $18.50





Caged Bird Necklace + Empty Cage Necklace with three escaping bird brooches by Allison Wells, $175

In A Row

Happy New Year, everyone!

I know posting has been sporadic around these here parts, and I apologize. My lesson to you: never underestimate your boss's fear of contagion. Even though I wasn't even so sick anymore, I was told repeatedly not to come in. Geez, complex much?

Anyhow, the computer has come back to life (yay!) and everything is fully functional, including my desire to post lots of jewelry.

Last time, I talked about the awesomely thought-out present the BF gave me. The subsequent decision: to return it, which I did today, but not before snapping some photos, for comparison sake.

Here's how it looks online:

And here is how it looked sitting on my desk this afternoon:

Not quite as crisp, or even recognizable. It was hard for me to capture details, but let me tell you the stitching was not all that. There were little pulls and snags on it. My fear? That elderly people would be staring at my chest going, "And what is that honey? A pillow with holes? Black cheese?"

Perhaps I exaggerate, but surely you get the point.

Anyhow, I've missed themes and Friday Favorites galore, I know. But we are back on track starting today:


Antique Uncut Diamond and Ruby Ring (1880), $350




Danielle Welmond Chalcedony Necklace crocheted with vintage metallic thread, $320





Crystal Crater Bracelet by Subversive Jewelry, $1,195


And finally, I want to thank the lovely and ever-so-stylish Clothes Horse for naming me one of her top Five Thinking Bloggers. What a fantastic way to start 2008!
Per the rules of the Thinking Blogger Awards, here are my top five:
* Que Sera Sera: She writes about everything under the sun, and wonderfully too.
* (Into) the Fray: Makes me ache for Seattle and DIY-ness.
* Jewel Box Dreams: A fellow jewelry lover with an obsession for initials.
* Valley Girl: Soap opera extraordinare.
* Queen of the Posh and Broke: Best style pics on a blog. Nice and concise.