52 Pick-me-up: Silver / Confusion / Clarity

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This week's 52 Pick-me-up neutral is my favorite metal for self-adornment: Silver.

My rings --I wear them 24/7, they all hold memories.
Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday. 

I featured my rings on my (sort of) new WordPress blog, where I'm doing a June Challenge in order to get more comfortable working with the platform. I want to create an e-commerce site on it (Blogger's search is terrible and I can't add a shopping cart). It's true, if you do something every day, you get more proficient -- unless it's cleaning up clutter. I fail at that one!

Full outfit:

Roxanne gave me the top -- I've gotta admit, it's one of the more uncomfortable things I've put on my body. Metallic yarns ITCH! As you can see, I put it on over a tunic -- still the THOUGHT of it made me itchy. I'm selling it on Poshmark for $10, if you're interested. It has holes and snags. Don't I make it sound ENTICING?

Disintegration seems to be The Thing for all the silver garments here. 

My Union Bay "fauxkenstocks" are falling apart too. [Sad face]. All of a sudden, all the glue is failing -- on the straps, on the sole. Do Birkenstock's last longer than a year? Maybe it's time to upgrade to the real thing.

On a happier note, how about those leggings?

They're my own pattern, recolored from a silkscreen print that I made in the 70s. (Read more here).

Society6 had one of their better sales ($5 off, free shipping), so I pounced.
Available here, if you want to be twinsies. (Disclosure: I will get about $2.50 commission).

Time to add your neutrals!

Silver / Confusion / Clarity -- link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Amber / Passion, Part 2

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Patti's Visible Monday is back in session, the epitome of a Passion project. Patti certainly inspired me to start my own weekly link-up, though I'm more restrictive and feel the need to have a theme. This week on 52 Pick-me-up, we're going with the color AMBER and the word PASSION.

I told you about my latest creative passion yesterday (shoemaking), today I give you a shirt with amber
(and honey and rust and olive):

It's a Kikit by Maurice Sasson shirt, remember that brand? A gem from Larry's stash that fits.

I wouldn't say that the amber Pantone chip (in middle) gives a sense of the fiery glow that I think of when I think of Amber the gemstone. "Honey" and "Amber" were some of the more difficult colors for me to define with a paper chip. I did Google Image searches, took screenshots (trapped on my broken iMac. Could replicate here on the laptop but too lazy).
Some beautiful earrings came up in a Poshmark feed yesterday that shows it better:

Amber Clip-on Earrings on Poshmark

Yeah! AMBER!
Linking up with Visible Monday.

Wearing anything Amber? Have a Passion for something or someone?
Link and tell!

iSpy: Endless Jewelry Double Wrap Bracelet

PRESS SAMPLE/ 

I was sent a complementary Endless Jewelry Double Wrap bracelet with 3 charms to review. 
Words, photos, and opinions are all my own and not vetted by Endless. 

I received a "coral" leather Endless double wrap in the mail and my immediate thoughts were: burnt orange? Purple and turquoise charms? Blingy daisy charm? The next day I tried it on (not initially figuring out the clever magnetic clasp) first as a bracelet (okaaaaay) and then as a choker necklace. And discovered that it was REALLY COMFORTABLE! [I have "computer neck" and can't tolerate much in the way of necklaces for extended periods]. I kind of liked it! And the color looked OK against my complexion.

So now to shoot some nice photos for a post. What to match it with? [Checks closet]

The Desigual shirt!

So pleased with it all, I wore it to the last day of class on Saturday:

See my joy? Shot after home from teaching.
End of Summer Semester. YES!

Some close-ups:

"Hey, how about me?"

Thanks Endless!
Here's some of their own verbiage:

"Our new Endless Jewelry collection, which focuses on shapes and colors, allows you to become your own fashion designer by giving you the unique opportunity to create your very own custom piece of jewelry. All our charms and bracelets are designed to be compatible. You can mix and match your jewelry according to color and design any time you wish. 

Endless Jewelry allows you to show off your creative talents -- the possibilities are literally Endless! Our calf leather bracelets come in many different colors and sizes. For even more variety, you can choose from our single, double or triple wound bracelets. Here at Endless Jewelry Shop online, the only official online retailer of Endless Jewelry, you can buy all of our leather bracelets and charms easy, fast, and with free shipping.

All leather bracelets are equipped with a safe, stainless steel magnetic lock to keep your bracelet on your wrist. Select a gold or rose-gold lock finish for an added individual touch. If you're looking to jump-start your collection or just a great gift idea, take a look at our starter-sets!"

I was sent a coral double wrap (value $70), with two enamel charms (value $50 each, currently unavailable), and a peridot flower charm (value $95).

52 Pick-me-up: Bejeweled

PURCHASED/ GIFTED/ 

I'm more of a silver rings on my fingers kind of a gal.
On my wrist, I've draped a rhinestone necklace that I got from my mom years and years ago.
Happy holidays to all!

Have something sparkly to share? Link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: 30s

PURCHASED/ GIFTED/ LINKS/ 

It's 30's Week on 52 Pick-me-up!
It's all about bias cut dresses with lingerie details.

OK, maybe I have some vintage silk chiffon bias cut lingerie camouflaging my 40's dress.

And maybe the shoes are more 50's?

They are beautiful but WAY too small! I'll be selling them on Etsy after my road trip. Leslie gave them to me.

I also have on a mother of pearl brooch that Bella of Citizen Rosebud gave me.

Not sure of its vintage either.

I suggest that you visit Sammy Davis Vintage who will give you the lowdown on authentic 30's styles.
Me, I got as close as I could. So can you! Link and tell!
PS: this was a total costume moment. I stayed on the back porch in this look.

52 Pick-me-up: Go Green

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ GIFTED/ PURLOINED/ 

It's almost St Patty's Paddy's Day, when everyone wears green. Let's be sheep and do it too. Baa!

Severo found this coat for me. It's too heavy to wear around town, but it's fun to pose on the back patio with it.

What's underneath:

Patucci made the necklace. It includes SUPERBALLS!

Labels of the vintage coat and scarf:

Did Leslie give me the scarf? Was it her mom's? Can't remember.

Don't risk getting pinched on St Patty's Day. Go green, then link and tell!

An InLinkz Link-up

Rings on Her Fingers... GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]

I wear 10 silver rings on my left hand.
I used to wear a bunch on my right hand, but can't anymore because of a medical condition (sad face).
The oldest, the plain one at the top of my pinkie, I got sometime in high school; the newest, the Navajo double ring on my index finger, at Idyllwild Arts when I was up there at summer art camp in 2007.

I'm trying a new giveaway service called Gumball. They choose the item, I get a widget for SpyGirl.
I thought this cocktail ring was a good item to start with!
Good luck!


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. ODDS OF WINNING DEPEND UPON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE ENTRIES. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN TO ALL LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND CANADA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF QUEBEC. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. YOU MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET TO ENTER.

Regrets, I've Had a Few...

These bracelets no longer fit over my wrist.

I shot a bunch of enticing photos for a Threadflip listing.

As I was processing the photos, I started getting a sad feeling.

I remember when I first acquired them in the 80s, from Jone Pasha in Providence, RI [closed].

I looked at the stack of the ones that still fit me. Something was missing.
They just didn't look right.

The green! There is no green in the ones that fit!
So, no, I cannot split them up. My attempt at decluttering failed.
I don't regret it.

reunited

These are made of plastic cord wrapped around grass. From my brief internet searching, I believe they originate from Burkina Faso and the cording is recycled from prayer mats. [See this site]. Jone got them via Craft Caravan in NYC [closed]. They sold for $3, if I remember correctly.

Pinterest Hacking Update

I was SO HAPPY to get this:

 When I was pinning this:

to that "Adorbs" board that showed up on my upload list yesterday.
Yay Pinterest!
(My thinking was, if I pinned something to the board, then maybe it would show up - it was only visible in the list, not on my Pinterest profile - so that I could delete it. Does that make sense?)

Next I tried pinning exactly the same thing that I pinned yesterday to a new board:

Aaaaaah, no gremlins have added random things to the board.
Yay Pinterest!

Meanwhile, the whole process finally got me to put something up for sale on Threadflip: my nOir earrings that I got from Ideeli and never wore. One of those unfortunate purchases done in the heat of the moment. Here's a better photo:

If you crave them, click on over to my Threadflip!

Photo-a-day Objects become an OOTD

the outfit

the details

the Instagram Photo-a-day photo for today
the "everything" bangle wouldn't fit over my knuckles...
boo!

I'm still at the Photo-a-day project and I am one month from the half-way point and still have lots of jewelry to shoot. (It helps that I used to make jewelry. And doesn't hurt that I collected a lot of ethnic stuff in the 80s). I spotted the fish top in one of my heaps and thought the bracelets coordinated nicely. Later I tried on the top to see if it still fit - YES! Added other burgundy-toned items and I was ready for work and ready to join the Visible Monday gals.
Go check the Visibles out!  They are a lively bunch and will perk up your day!

365 project update

link to Pose post

If you're my contact on Facebook (personal, not SpyGirl page), Instagram, Twitter (@annembray) or Pose, you have been getting the daily feed of my 365 project: "365 Days of Jewelry" If not, and you were hoping to see it on Flickr, um, sorry about that -- I'm WAY behind on my Flickr uploading.

I just took a bunch of screenshots from Pose, thinking I'd do a big recap for the however many days [I'm not counting] I've been at it. I changed my mind -- it would make this post gigantic. Here are the most recent five days:

Some thoughts I have about Pose and my process on this project:

Pose:
The app is still very clunky. HATE that I can't delete misfires (see upper earring shot that I accidentally tagged as a "romper" and then accidentally hit the done button. I ran into a room with no phone coverage - not difficult at my house! - so that it wouldn't upload but it uploaded at work anyway. Grrrrr). Tagging items is difficult with my fat fingers and slow 3G phone service. Wish it was available for iPad. Uploads are not all in chronological order. I will carry on using it, despite all this. Maybe it'll improve during the course of the year...

iPhone photography:

I got a macro lens that I absolutely adore and that's very helpful for capturing tiny items and details on rings. I wish there was a lens for close-but-not-macro (and if you know of one, please share!). A lot of the bracelets and larger pins + earrings are out of focus. On work days, it's still dark in the morning, so the images have suffered from low contrast. Sometimes I process the images in the PS Express app though that sometimes backfires, making things too pixellated.

Aesthetics + process:
My jewelry styling is improving, it's been a good learning process. The best part of this, BY FAR, is going through my piles of jewelry and scarves! I've been cruising down memory lane big time -- I'm on the memory interstate! Most of my backgrounds are scarves, textiles or objects from the shops, locations or era of the jewelry piece. I see a whole bunch of blog posts fomenting. With the ethnic pieces, I've been trying to research their origins. I recently shot a necklace on a mudcloth textile, thinking they were both from Mali and then discovered that the necklace is from a tribe in northern Kenya. Oops! Scrap that one... here's the shot I won't use:

In summery, so far, so good.
I'll update you again in a month or so...

IFB: 365 pieces of jewelry

Do I have that many? I wonder...

I've been toying with the idea of doing a 365 (taking a photo every day) project and the gals over at IFB convinced me to take the plunge for their Project #29. I'm going to take a picture of a piece of my jewelry every day in 2012. I will use the Pose app [stopped using in March] and the posts will go to my Tumbler and my Twitter (@annembray) feeds. I'll do monthly summaries here.
[a few days later]
THE BEST LINK to this project is on
my Flickr 365 set, which has an RSS feed
[a month or so later]
way behind on updating Flickr
here is the public link for my Pose set for shots through March
[May update - so badly behind... Pose became horrible to use, I switched to Instagram. The Tumbler archive is probably the best place to go for now... Can I just go to a deserted island that has wi-fi so I can upload all my photos since February to Flickr????]

Here is the first one:

four African necklaces from ???
Pose link

To see more 365 project links, click here.
There is also an IFB-365 group on Flickr here

And now a word from the stylist:

"rawr"