Downton Decadence, How I Love Thee!

 I, along with millions of others, am a HUGE fan of the Masterpiece Classic series Downton Abbey. As a costume and jewelry geek, DA sends me into paroxysms of ecstasy. The story begins in 1912, and takes you through World War I. Drama, war, scandal, plotting, romance, and some of the finest costumes and jewelry I have ever seen on television! After what seems like an eternity of waiting, Season 2 is finally underway. Let the eye candy begin again! Take a peek at some of these lovelies.

There's so much to love in every shot. From the opening credits that showcase the stunning manor house, the opulent interiors, and the precisely set tableware, to the stunning gowns that rustle and tinkle with ornate beadwork, I can't help but want to dive into that world (skipping the pre-women's rights society and world war, of course).

The character Lady Mary Crawley gets some of the best frocks on the show. Her evening gowns and riding outfits are to die for! It is impossible to not be inspired by this show. I absolutely must include an ornate Downton-inspired necklace for my Truly, Madly, Darkly midwinter collection. Like the young Lady Sybil says, "Is there anything more thrilling than a new frock?" No, indeed.

Little Darlings: Some of My Etsy Faves

If you're like me, a "quick" peek on Etsy can easily turn into hours of ooh-ing and aah-ing. Every click just leads you further down the goodie-filled rabbit hole. Since joining Etsy, I've come across some wonderful designers and artisans creating items that make me want to reach through my computer screen screaming, "Mine, MINE!". Here's a sampling of the lovely offerings available from some of my favorite shops.

Made by Moe
This designer collects and assembles vintage components to create new and delightful jewelry. Moe has a keen eye for color and stone combinations. There are cabochons in colors so soft and rich, they look like frosting flowers.

Some pieces in the collection play with the juxtaposition of hard and feminine, like this grey agate and pink rose necklace. This piece showcases Moe's talent for creating good composition and balance in a piece of jewelry. It's one of the things that repeatedly draw me to her shop.

When I look through Made by Moe's collection, it evokes afternoon tea in a sunlit parlor--so many delectable things to see and sample!

Janine Basil
Embrace your inner superhero with this awesome collection of retro/comic-inspired accessories! Janine's handmade designs have an amazing blend of kitsch, sparkle and originality. The girl who sports these looks can't be viewed as anything other than fun and bold.

Janine is a London-based designer, who describes her lovely wares as "retro geek style, with a twist of glamor and glitz". Her Day-Glo color palette packs a superhero-size punch with rich reds, blues and yellows. There are plenty of sweet and sassy options for the extroverted party girl and the quietly confident retro fashion lover. As for sparkle, this collection has it in spades!

That rhinestone pillbox hat is pure glam, and I love it! You've got to take a virtual stroll through Janine Basil's shop, and you're bound to fall in love too. You can look out for new additions on her Facebook page. And the best part: she ships internationally, so you can have your very own Janine Basil design come to you from across the pond!

In the Works: Truly, Madly, Darkly

I'm going through the new trinkets for the the Accessory Showcase collection. The story is "Truly, Madly, Darkly", and as I mentioned in a previous post, I'm going for darkly romantic, a la Stevie Nicks. Here's the first creation in the story.

Love these Victorian-inspired earrings! They remind me of vintage cameos, and the gunmetal finish adds a little modernity to them. Onward and upward we go to some necklaces!

Sowing the Seeds of Love

 Stevie Nicks has always been fascinating to me. Her unique voice; her signature, ethereal, witchy style.

She has a thing for the darkly romantic, and I love the way she uses it in her look and persona. That feel is what I'm going for in my upcoming additions to the Accessory Showcase collection.

Picked up some wonderful components for what will become the "Truly, Madly, Darkly" Midwinter/Valentine collection. It will reflect the stark, bare feel of midwinter, coupled with the romance of heart shapes and red stones.

I'm picturing ornate earrings, dark charms on thick chains. I want to invoke the image of velvet skirts rustling in a dark wood. Let's see what develops! 

Hello, Lovely: Upcycled Chic

From the first time I spied the Lilian Asterfield shop on Etsy, I immediately got a major case of the "Wants". Vintage ties turned into gorgeous women's neck adornments? So cool and original!

Nicole Deponte, the designer of this amazing line, had her "aha" moment years ago when she stumbled on two trash bags full of neckties.  Her creativity spawned what is now her highly successful line of accessories that include neckwear, brooches and fascinators. All are handmade in the United States, and are available online and in high-end boutiques around the country.

This eco-savvy collection melds edgy and whimsical elements to create amazing looks with cleverly combined patterns and prints. Ms. Deponte has managed to make a collection that's feminine, without being saccharine--the perfect balance every modern woman should have. Take a look through the Lilian Asterfield collection, and you're guaranteed to have a case of the "Wants" too!
To have an upcycled lovely of your very own, check out the shop here.

Seasons Change

So, here's what I've been up to over the fall and holiday seasons. Once we got settled in the new digs, I went to work on new additions to the Accessory Showcase collection and geared up for my annual holiday cocktail and accessory parties, which are too much fun to really be considered work. Fall brought in more nature- and vintage-inspired items, like these.

These one of a kind Dead Sexy Skull and Rose earrings were my favorite fall pieces. A friend snagged me some lovely hand painted Day of the Dead skull beads while on vacation in Santa Fe, and I knew they had to become earrings. They now grace the ears of a very happy lady who chose to treat herself to a Christmas present!
For winter/holiday, it's all about adding shine and sparkle. Handmade keycharms, multichain fringe earrings, and charm bracelets were what I had the most fun putting together. If you're at all like me, pretty, shiny things make the cold, dark days of winter far more cheerful!

I'm very excited about how these lovelies turned out. I wore a pair of them to two gatherings over the holidays and they were a hit. I used black and silver finish chains in varying widths to create the fringe. I also created a multichain necklace of the same materials. Fringe and mixed metals are two jewelry trends I love. More midwinter/Valentine ideas are coming together. Photos to follow soon!

Long Time, No Write!

Happy New Year! It's been quite awhile since I've entered the blogosphere. Many a change has occurred since May. Went full-throttle into looking for, finding, and closing on a house north of NYC, which consumed most of my summer and fall, and left no time for blogging!

Now, the fam and I have left beloved Brooklyn and migrated north to the Hudson Valley. We've traded a lot LESS action for a lot MORE space. 

A worthy tradeoff? Mostly. There are some moments that we miss the BK terribly.

Well, since my last post's subject was the much-anticipated Mermaid Parade, I'll share with you the finished Steampunk Siren costumes I created for my friend and I. My favorite parts? The necklaces and tiaras! 

Awesome, right? I found most of the components from some great suppliers on Etsy, and went to town. We had a blast at the parade--the perfect mix of sunshine and sideshow. Gotta love Coney Island! I'll tell you, it was interesting riding the subway in our costumes. Definitely one of the highlights of an insanely busy summer. Here's the finished look.