faux real...

Ever since I purchased my home last summer I've been relentless searching for just the right faux taxidermy-like pair of wall hangings for either side of a big antique mirror that sits atop my fireplace mantle. I really want something quirky and unusual, and I need a pair. I'm still kicking myself for losing an ebay auction months ago for two vintage white ceramic rhino heads. In a perfect world, I would just commission artist Shauna Richardson to create a wonderful set of her crochetdermy creatures. Yep, that's right-crochet.

web love wednesday!

Hey you city-dwellers, you'll surely appreciate the design blog loving. living. small.

The idea is to encourage living with style in small spaces under 1,000 sf. As the proud owner of a petite bungalow in a city, I know first hand how valuable space is. Sometimes I wish there was just a few hundred more square feet or an extra room, but for the most part, I truly do love living small. The things you acquire cannot just be things any longer. They have to be functional, important, or really, really cool.

I also believe (commence preaching) that living with less is better for everyone. What if we all moved into existing homes instead of building bigger, newer ones? What if we needed less to furnish and fill these houses? What if we used less to heat and light them? Less blight, less stuff, less waste of precious energy.

Ok, I'm done. Pretty Pictures.

all together now...

As a general rule, "family" jewelry (mother's rings and necklaces where a birthstone represents each child/grandchild) is hideous. The idea, however, is quite good. I'm all about jewelry having meaning to the wearer, but it has to be pretty too, right? This custom necklace is meaningful and pretty. The two rings signify the union of marriage and four little diamonds twinkle, one for each little darling in the family. It's wonderfully classic with a long opera length chain that adds a modern twist.

web love wednesday!

When my life feels chaotic and out of control things organized neatly suddenly makes everything calm.

web love wednesday!

Street style blogs are a-plenty in the webiverse. I like Au coin de ma rue's spin on things. Each subject displays objects they carry on themselves or feel represent them at this point in their lives and explain why. In an uber-hip and interesting way, of course.

Paley on a small scale...

Albert Paley is best known as a sculptor, but he got his start in the metals arts on a smaller scale. I love this necklace of his because it is simple in its' shape and pretty bada**. The dagger pendant is 19" long! Look closer and you'll find it is technically amazing in its construction, something that I certainly appreciate as a jeweler. The best of both worlds.