ALICIA HANNAH NAOMI

Reason I love Instagram number 1 million: It introduced me to the beautiful jewellery of Australian designer and badass silversmith Alicia Hannah Naomi.

(HAUD ON, didn't I just do a post about rings n stuff? Yes, yes I did, but the more finger bling the better, I ALWAYS SAY.)

Check out these awesome shots for her first official collection available to buy on her website. Pretty banging...

Alicia describes the collection: Deeply moved by the subtle and the intimate, the asymmetrical and the austere; the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. Believing in the poetry within things that carry this hallmark. Endeavoring to create beautiful, wearable objects that transcend our mainstream binge-and-purge lifestyles. Embracing precious, organic materials, and not compromising on quality.

Discovering beauty in imperfection and the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. Underplayed and modest; the kind of quiet, undeclared beauty that waits patiently to be discovered. Appreciating that all things in nature are transient, and taking pleasure from the aesthetic elegance in objects that carry the burden of their years with dignity and grace.


I'm not sure about all that, BUT LOOK HOW PRETTY! I'll have one of each please.

  

  

Threw in wee pendant for good measure. Seriously, I love these so much. Totally feeding my current obsession for stacking chunky rings. This is my favourite ring of hers though - not up on the website as I think it was a custom order. Smoky quartz perfection!

 

Urgh! I need! And that manicure as well please.

You can follow Alicia on Instagram @aliciahannahnaomi

BEST OF ETSY: EMERALD RINGS

Perusing the fine jewellery section of Net a Porter this morning (as I'm increasingly inclined to do) I stumbled upon this beautiful green gemstone ring by Canadian designer Pippa Small...

Something about the vivid green colour contrasted with the yellow gold setting TOTES caught my eye. Kind of magical, right? Like something a particularly CHIC witch might wear for a special occasion. Reminds me of those labradorite and onyx Monica Vinader rings I won last year..

You may or may not know but I am rather prone to a pretty gemstone and while this isn't actually an emerald (it's a gorgeous gem called chrysophase or seamfoam chalcedony as Ruth reliably informs me) I couldn't help but do a wee Etsy search for emerald rings anyway, just for the HECK of it. Here's some of my favourites...

I'm completely obsessed, especially with those uncut, chunky ones. I NEED to get myself a green-stoned ring like yesterday, even if it's not a real emerald cos they are EXPENSIVE, yo.

Lucky for you if you're birthday is in May since the emerald is your birthstone, as well as the traditional gemstone for the astrological signs of Taurus, Cancer and sometimes Gemini. Emeralds are also said to be connected to the heart (anahata) chakra, which alongside other functions, balances the energy flow between the upper and lower three chakras. Emeralds worn around the neck or placed on the heart area are said to bring emotional balance.

But, regardless, they are so PRETTY! What jewellery are you loving at the moment?

ETSY SPOTLIGHT: VANDERGLAS

Bloggies, I have a confession to make.

Here's the thing... I have a really weird relationship with teeth.
^*klaxon* insane sentence alert! ^

Wait, hear me out...

I'm kind of ambivalent to my own, unless they hurt me or go wonky or I get a Cadbury's eclair stuck in one, but when it comes to representations of gnashers in pictures, drawings, artwork or even jewellery, I become weirdly intrigued. Some of you may even remember when my background to this very blog was that teeth-in-rows print.

I have a solid silver molar pendant on a really cute delicate silver chain that I wear virtually all the time, and a fangs necklace from H&M which I often wear when I'm in a particularly gothic mood. Sometimes I wear both together and it almost always provokes a reaction of "are those TEETH round your neck? Eeew!" 

It's also a desperate wish of mine to one day own a real shark tooth or wolf fang necklace as well... Creepy? Maybe, but something about the weird, unsettling image of teeth alone, like, deviod of gums, really appeals to the creep inside me!

With this in mind, check out these exquisitely disturbing hand-crafted pieced of CHEWELLERY from Vanderglas on Etsy:

Human canine and sterling silver threaded earring

Human molar and sterling silver hook earring & chain

Two human incisors and sterling silver ring

Silver-cast molar and sterling silver ring 

Three human canines and sterling silver ring

Human molar and sterling silver ring

Four human molars and sterling silver two-fingered ring

Yup, these are real sterilised human teeth, donated to artist and jeweller Polly Van Der Glas by willing friends, family members and members of the public.

Since 2005 Polly’s work has centered on materials that were once attached to our bodies: human hair, teeth and fingernails. These materials were at one time part of an intimate, elaborate maintenance ritual. Hair and teeth were brushed, treated with colours and bleaches; fingernails were grown for show, painted and emphasized. When attached to the body, they are central to social values of beauty yet when they become detatched, the meanings they hold drastically transform. Polly examines what occurs when the beautiful body becomes the shed/dead body. How are ideas about beauty destabilised?

Polly has been creating wearable works under the label VAN DER GLAS since 2007. Silversmith qualified (NMIT advanced diploma) and 2006 Fresh! award winner, Polly’s previous study also includes a degree in fashion...

Some of you might be like, BOKE, GTF but I think I can kind of see what she's getting at. In an interview with Vice, Polly says: "Teeth are sentimental and sustainable. I personally feel no emotional connection to precious mined stones, but a lock of a loved one’s hair or a tooth they’ve lost is filled with stories of human experience and individuality."

I kind of like the fact that the four-molar knuckle-duster ring includes one with a mercury filling! I can't help but wonder what the story is behind that...

I can see why this jewellery wouldn't appeal to everyone, but all I know is I am hankering after that single molar sterling silver ring like nobody's business!

Have I lost the plot? What do you guys think?

x

ALSO!!!!! This week I reached 100 followers so thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You guys have no idea how much it means to me when I see that folk are commenting and getting involved in FFS. I've been so lucky to talk to some of you and I've "met" some really awesome, interesting, creative people through this so thanks to everyone who indulges in my mad ramblings. I'm still pondering a giveaway but I need to settle once and for all on the right item. As soon as I have I'll let you all know...

chuffed.com/purehappyinnit :)

LABRADORITE LOVE

In a desperate attempt to put off a heinous court report assignment, I thought I'd share with you my recent penchant for a particular gemstone - Labradorite.

No, weirdly nothing to do with labradors, this is actually a translucent feldspar (aka cool-looking gemstone) which originates from the Labrador region of Canada, but variations are found in Finland and Madagascar - and even in some meteorites too. Check it out:

Raw properties of Labradorite

With its shimmering array of colours, Labradorite has traditionally symbolised fantasy and creativity.

According to an Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador.  It is told that a wandering Eskimo warrior found them and was able to free most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped within the stone, and VOILA = Labradorite!

Labradorite is said to provide quick relief from anxiety, hopelessness and depression, replacing them with enthusiasm, self-confidence and inspiration. It is said to dispel negativity and to bring clear understanding by enhancing clarity of thought and improving one's ability to cooperate with others in harmony.

So far so good, but this bit get a little freeekay:
A sister to moonstone, labradorite links to the "darker" Crone aspects of the Goddess, and grants inner knowing of mystery. It enhances intuition and psychic perception; just like the cord-cutting Crone, it helps the bearer to release judgment, and understand their destiny.

Um... OKAAAAAY...?

But look how pretty it is! 

I actually first became aware of Labradorite when I spotted this Vivienne Westwood beauty on Hervia:

I was all like, whaaaa IS THAT STONE?! Pretty, no? Sadly it's more than a little out of my price range, but when I was trawling through Net a Porter looking for one of my last treats from my win, I spotted this Monica Vinader small nugget silver and Labradorite ring and snaffled it up toot sweet:

Gorgeous, right? It's actually a much warmer sort of smoky colour in real life, but the way it reflects light is just stunning. I want MORE!

I yet again took to Etsy and did a generic search. Look at what treasures I found:

Huge raw Labradorite teardrop ring. Yes please!

Faceted Labradorite teardrop pendant on gold chain.

Gorgeous orb pendant - does anyone else think the second shot looks like a wee mini universe or star nebula?

Tiny Labradorite orb silver stacking ring.

I'd be happy with any of these. Love it. What are some of your favourite gemstones?