After Years of Collecting: A Charm Bracelet's Worth of a Choker Necklace

After a lifetime of collecting charms and I finally filled a bracelet! The sound this thing makes is divine, like what I'd imagine a jewel sparkling would sound like if such a thing were possible. I decided to turn this thing into a choker on a whim one day by attaching it to another chain I had laying around, and I was SUPER into it with my hair shaved! I'll continue to wear it like this with ratty T-shirts :)

Here's a tour of what we got

Adirondack chair for my childhood spent in Northbrook Lodge

A revolver with a spinning "chamber" just about the weirdest charm that came on a bracelet my mom found years ago, it was alongside the cup that says "baby" and a book that says "I Love You" on the same bracelet

Gum ball machine with retracting coin slot

A crown

A toilet with a seat that opens and closes because of course

A cup that says "BABY" no clue

A crate of oranges for my grandparents in Florida

A book that says "I LOVE YOU"

A cat that goes in and out of a trash can a Valentine's day present from Jevins in 2020

An egg that opens to reveal a yellow chick

A case containing a full tiny pack of cards

A birdcage with a bird inside

An hourglass with white sand, 3 seconds

A soccer ball 

A moving (!!!) Punch and Judy puppet show, the back features a crank that allows them to beat each other up 

A pretzel for my lifelong New Yorker status

A cocktail shaker with a tiny devil inside

Milagro depicting a pair of eyes

A medallion that says "I'll never STOP loving you" on a stop sign

Got a whole lifetime left to fill up the other chain.

Also, not sure if you noticed, but yes, I do put blush on my neck- a Studio 54 kinda trick!

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Fancy Laze

Jonathan Simkhai tee, Brandy Melville bra, AG jeans (℅), Jewelmint long locket, Lulu Frost zigzag & crystal necklaces (℅), vintage chain choker, American Apparel cardigan

Achieving comfort at the end of the day is always going to be one of life's finest delights.

Sometimes I still pile on sparkly stuff when I'm just lounging about.

For example, took these after going grocery shopping, making dinner, and then partaking in some of that Modelo Especial. 

Mmmyes.

Also, many thanks to my go-to hair dude for 2 years now, Barton for the fancy Fall 'do.
He's at Graceland if y'all ever need recs for a colorist. 

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Lotsa Hands: A Li'l Studio Visit with Kaye of Datter Industries

Back when I was a Freshman in college, I found myself with a paycheck. I took that paycheck, promptly deposited it into my bank account and took my hard-earned money right on down to good 'ol Etsy, where I came across a ring that would wear everyday for the next three years. Fast-forward to, er, yesterday, and I am sitting with the designer of said ring, Kaye Blegvad: illustrator, ceramicist and jewelery-maker extraordinaire, and I'm giddy with awkward giggles.

Kaye's fantastic, and she welcomed me into her studio ever so graciously after an email correspondence spanning a couple'a weeks. Upon arriving, we sat down and she gave me a brief li'l overview of her life since graduating: from London, she studied illustration in college, came to NYC to sow her work deep in a sense of adventure, and then started her jewelry line: Datter Industries, after TEACHING HERSELF how to make jewelry. Like dude, lemme tell ya, times is hard for creative-types, especially if you're in such a competitive field such as illustration or design, and Kaye has managed to make a fantastic career for herself out of how she shapes her world and takes joy out of the tactile crafts she works within (she also polished and breathed new life into my ring, as documented above, and it was SO COOL TO WATCH!).

...All of which is why I found it fitting that so many of the photos taken during our visit involve hands; Kaye's journey has been predicated by her hands and her vision, and I have infinite respect for her and how much she has accomplished. So much of her work stems from motifs of ancient strength, from natural elements and from a sense of instinct. What drew me to her jewelry was her choice to make symbols of strength wearable: the arrow, the third eye, the soaring bird or the open hand- even a laurel wreath, these are all symbols that are as old as time (most of which, are symbols of the Greek warrior goddess Athena/ she also turns to medieval manuscripts for inspirado), and they all (to me at least) point back to this inner intellect that is steeped in both sinister cynicism and bright light. Her illustrations are beautiful in that they are quiet, yet they're really strong in what she intends to express.

Ok, so what I've been able to share here is Kaye's space, but y'all should really check out this fantastic interview she did with Need Supply so that you can see her illustrations and craftwork along with her very personal and inspiring explanations. She's great, seriously.

Thanks again, Kaye!

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Claw'd

I snagged these insane in the membrane talon ring clips in eBay some time back for about $3 each and they definitely occupy a spot on my Top-5-Best-Purchases-Ever list! The clip component slips in-between your knuckles and pretty much stays put if you don't move your hands around too rapidly. I tend to have really dramatic hand gestures when I speak, so I also covered the pieces with clear nail polish to make sure they grip a little better and to make sure the paint doesn't wear off after frequent wears.

These add just the right amount of subtle edge to anything I wear, but I like to keep it simple and wear 'em with just a white button-up (like the one I'm wearing) or maybe a black slip dress (like this one). They also look crazy chic when worn with a chunky knit, their sleekness is such a great contrast. I like to think of these as a step-up from wearing the usual natural science-inspired jewelry like  bird skulls or Ibex head rings.

You should be able to find the same pieces by just searching "talon ring" or "talon clip" under Jewelry. Sellers usually source these things from the same factories, so you should get more than one seller.


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