gemmifer

Laugh-out-loud funny.

2012-01-27T20:28:00.005-05:00

This book made me laugh out loud. Many, many times. Dare I say, even more than Tina's book? I highly recommend it for a quick, fun read.

P.S. I just discovered The Concerns of Mindy Kaling, a site chock full of Mindy goodness. From the "Prelude" page:

Mindy Kaling is an actress, comedian, writer, producer and shopper. She can translate Latin and is an avid slow jogger who covers small amounts of distance over long periods of time.

More from Isabel.

2012-01-21T07:14:00.004-05:00

Vince printed tunic in blanc/rouge
Fimo keyhole dress in noir (I'm not sure about the sandals and socks, though)
Paco blanketwrap in marine (LOVE this!)
Some more of my favorites from Isabel Marant's new designs, found on the blog of San Francisco's Metier boutique.

Etoile.

2012-01-21T07:04:00.004-05:00

Hera floral dress in noir
Hume start print tunic in creme
Budy embroidered peasant top in noir
Helba star print shirt in bleu
Wonderful new designs from Etoile by Isabel Marant. All found on the website of Metier, a San Francisco boutique I hope I'll get to one day soon.

Holiday sweets.

2012-01-08T14:39:00.005-05:00

At my workplace, the holiday season means receiving many, many edible gift from businesses we deal with: cookies, chocolates, even a lunch of enough barbeque to feed a small city. As much as I enjoyed indulging in all of these treats, I can honestly say that my very favorite this holiday season was a box of incredibly delicious and decadent Champagne Truffles from Teuscher Chocolates. Only once before in my life have I had these truffles (as a "thank you" from a client at a prior job), as they are much too expensive for me to buy for myself. So I have been trying to make them last as long as possible, eating only one at a time. So far, so good; at this point more than half the box remains uneaten. Soon to be minus one more... typing this post is making me very hungry!

I had to post some photos here; the packaging is so pretty and colorful.

Farewell, Eva.

2012-01-01T22:20:00.005-05:00

I only just found out this sad news. Zeisel was an incredible artist with a lasting impact. Her timeless yet modern designs will live on.

Pinned.

2012-01-01T21:34:00.005-05:00

Over the past few years I've overloaded my computer's hard drive with hundreds and hundreds of screen shots of all sorts of things that fascinate me on the web: fashion, DIY, crafting, art, photography, textiles, jewelry, and on, and on... So I realized it was time for me to jump in and join Pinterest. Now not only can I save all my faves from around the internet in one place (without clogging up my Mac's memory), I can expand my inspiration by browsing the boards of other pinners.

I'd love to follow you on Pinterest... do me a favor and leave me a link in the comments on this post? You can follow me by clicking on the red Pinterest button on this or any of my other recent posts. Hope to "see" you there soon!

Jedi wisdom.

2012-01-01T16:22:00.003-05:00

I was wondering what Yoda had been up to lately... Now I know.

Shine.

2011-12-31T17:33:00.005-05:00

A little bit of DIY sparkle for my New Year's Eve.

Also on the heels, so I can shine coming and going.

I hope your New Year is sparkling and happy!

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

2011-12-29T20:25:00.005-05:00

I'm not someone who's totally in love with everything Zooey D. does, but this little diddy with Joseph Gordon Levitt is both sweet and holiday-appropriate. I've always loved this song, anyway. Also, her voice sounds really good here. And JGL isn't that bad of a crooner, either.

Joy.

2011-12-25T00:23:00.004-05:00

I wish all of you, wherever you are in this great big world and whatever you may celebrate, the very happiest of holidays. Time with family, good friends, good food and drink, laughter and smiles. Peace and happiness in the New Year. Thank you all for visiting my little blog and leaving comments... I hope you will continue to stop by throughout the year to come; I promise to make it worth your while!

Photo: Jennifer Zinn

Crafty Holidays.

2011-12-18T00:17:00.005-05:00

I love this sweet video holiday card from Chronicle Books!

I've been very neglectful of my little blog lately... No excuses other than sheer laziness when I'm home from work. With the promise of a full week off (with pay!) between Christmas and New Year's, I've been making a "to do" list that includes not only some housecleaning/de-cluttering, major laundry doing, and a visit to the local DMV to renew my little Civic's registration, but also catching up with friends I haven't seen in ages, finally seeing the Muppet movie, finishing up some of the many craft projects I've begun but never yet completed, actually listing new items in my Etsy shop (instead of only continually writing here that I'm going to do it), and doing a bunch of new posts here that I've had in mind for months or longer. Whew! That's quite a list, considering when I first learned about this little break I imagined myself doing absolutely nothing except lying around watching DVDs and reading magazines.

Cool collab.

2011-11-29T21:47:00.003-05:00

This is very exciting news to me (and, I'm sure many, many others out there)... I've never did the waiting-on-line-to-grab-whatever-I-can-by-(insert designer's name here)-whether-I-really-want-it-or-not-because-it's-all-going-to-sell-out-in-under-one-hour thing, but that may have to change come March. Fingers crossed that the designs and quality will be worth the wait. And I really, really hope there's some great necklaces such as Consuelo Castiglioni is known for.

Collared.

2011-11-13T17:18:00.005-05:00

Collars: a big trend lately. Peter Pan. Pointed. Scalloped. Cloth. Metal. Plastic. Bought or DIYed to wear over your own dresses and tops. I haven't jumped into this fashion yet... As much as I love them, I don't know if this is one fad that I'm too old to partake in. That is, until I saw this fabulous design. I really, REALLY want to add it to my wardrobe. ASAP.

photo from YOUNG FRANKK's Etsy shop.

Shock to the system.

2011-10-29T21:24:00.005-04:00

I've been AWOL again for the past few weeks... Between work, and my friend's husband's 50th birthday/son's 1st birthday party (yeah, you heard right), and a five-day trip to the San Francisco Peninsula for my sister's wedding (woohoo! The best I've been to!), and back to work, I've not had much time for my little blog. And if I've had time, I haven't had the energy to compose anything coherent (see, I'm rambling right here, even when I'm not that tired).

As for my post title, we're now experiencing a bad storm here in the Northeast... strong winds, heavy rain, sleet, wet snow... It's a terrible shock to my system after the lovely warm and sunny weather in California. The day of the wedding in San Gregorio it was in the lower 80s, and the rest of our stay in Half Moon Bay the temps were in the upper 60s/lower 70s. I've just started sorting through the hundreds--yes, HUNDREDS--of photos I shot on the trip... I do believe I got some images worth sharing here, but until I get them edited down quite a bit, I'll just leave you with a small preview...

My very talented father, hand-lettering the chalkboard that would sit at the entrance to the wedding venue...

My beautiful sister, waiting to see her super-wonderful groom...

The breathtaking sunset on the beach our last night in Half Moon Bay...

My photos, along with my memories, will help keep me California warm during this destined-to-be nasty New York winter!

Connected.

2011-10-08T22:30:00.002-04:00

I finally managed to get a cord for my new camera (a ridiculous saga not worth recounting here), so now I can download my photos onto my computer. I've been playing around with some product shots of my jewelry, enjoying the freedom of a faster camera that allows me to shoot much crisper handheld images. It's also nice to have control over depth-of-field/selective focus again.

D-Lightful.

2011-09-18T22:29:00.004-04:00

Well, I finally did it. I took the plunge.

I finagled the funding to adopt a brand-new Nikon D3100, which came home with me on Saturday. My very first DSLR, and my first non point-and-shoot camera of the digital variety. I'm excited to get back into framing images with my eye to the viewfinder instead of looking at a screen while pressing the shutter release, to having the camera as an extension of myself instead of holding it away from my body as I shoot.

Though I was (and am) well-versed in the ways of the film SLR camera, I've got quite a bit of manual reading and practice shooting to do to feel competent with its digital relative. I'm looking forward to every bit of it.

Now, to buy a USB cord so I can download my shots to my computer, as the card reader I splurged a big $7 on doesn't seem to work (surprise, surprise). Otherwise, the only way I'll be able to share them will be like this:

Smooth as silk.

2011-09-12T06:00:00.003-04:00

This site is going to be a real time sink for me, but in the very best way. Click and drag your mouse around the screen to create beautiful, flowing designs that look like silken fabric rippling in a breeze. A relaxing, soothing way to take a break from all the flipping around I do from site to site, blog to blog, tumblr to tumblr.

{One of four beautiful wallpapers you can download from Silk}

{One of my creations from the site}

Found via How About Orange

September song.

2011-09-05T15:18:00.005-04:00

To all of my friends in the States, Happy Labor Day! To all of you elsewhere, Happy first Monday in September!

I've been away from here for so long... My job has been taking up a lot of my time, and last week we moved into a new office space too. Then there was the little fact of Hurricane Irene beating up the East Coast of the US, and leaving me without power for five days. I feel terrible for all of those who are still without power one week later, not to mention all of those whose homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by the flooding. I got away very easy, when I think about it.

So, while I spend the holiday being incredibly lazy, prepping for a new week at work, I thought I'd at least drop by to say "Hi!" and let you all know that I'm thinking about some fun new posts, working on new pieces for my shop, and getting very excited for the new DSLR I plan of FINALLY buying this week, so there should be some better-quality photos coming down the pike in the next few months too. I also found a simple yet gorgeous dress for my sister's October wedding in California and am working on the shawl and necklace I'll accessorize it with... now to figure out what shoes to wear...

On a totally different subject, is anyone else as excited as I am about the impending arrival of fall? It's my all-time favorite season... After the heat and humidity of summer I'm looking forward to spending more time curled up indoors with a cup of tea and a good book; wearing sweaters, scarves, boots, and great coats; enjoying apple cider, cider donuts, and pumpkin-flavored treats; the scent of woodsmoke in the dry, crisp air; the crunch as I walk through carpets of fallen leaves... I could go on for ages, but you get the idea. Fall, I'm waiting for you with open arms. But until you get here, I'll just enjoy some photos from your last visit.

Cheers!

2011-08-21T08:20:00.004-04:00

Found via the wonderful Park Street (Yet another great post, Audrey!)

SHIRO Cheers System from HN on Vimeo.

M.I.A.

2011-08-14T21:55:00.006-04:00

Hello out there!

Sorry I've been missing in action lately... my job and commute to Manhattan have been keeping me pretty busy (and tired!), and the summer has been filled with birthdays, barbeques, dinners out, and only last week a visit from my sister and her fiancée (all the way from San Francisco). I really need to get back to working on new pieces for my shop; just today I made a list of all the new designs I've come up with and have to not only get cracking on producing them, but also make sure to photograph and get them into the shop soon after so they don't all sit around on my worktable for ages (not that I've ever let that happen before--or now ;)

I hope you've all been enjoying your Summer--or Winter, depending on your hemisphere--and hope to see you here again soon!

xoxo,
Jennifer

In the meantime, please enjoy this random photo of a summer garden, shot by me:

Thoughts and prayers.

2011-07-24T22:23:00.003-04:00

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Norway. How terrible that the actions of one bigoted madman can cause so much pain and sadness.

Colorful driving.

2011-07-18T22:33:00.004-04:00

This public art work is so original and clever. And colorful! I'd love to see it happen in NYC. (Thanks to Honestly...WTF for bringing this to my attention... be sure to watch the video on their site!)

Photo via Honestly...WTF

Shop update.

2011-07-18T21:26:00.002-04:00

I've restocked some of the sold Chevron necklace color combos in my shop. I'll get those wood and brass bead necklaces in there sometime this week; crunch time at my job is taking a toll on my ability to keep my word ;-)

Daydreaming...

2011-07-17T11:46:00.004-04:00

I am really in love with this bag... picturing us wandering small seaside towns in France... sitting in cafes, watching the world go by... if only it wasn't out of my budget... SIGH!

Adeiu, sweet satchel, I'll see you in my daydreams.

Jour de Bastille Heureux!

2011-07-14T20:26:00.003-04:00

Happy Bastille Day to all of you in the States! To those of you where it is already the 15th: belated Happy Bastille Day to you!

I'm not ashamed of my advanced years but tend not to reference my age in my posts. That ends now; this clip is from a favorite movie of my teenage years and is presented here in honor of Bastille Day (just watch; you'll see the connection). Many of you may have only been a twinkle in your parents' eyes (or not even that) back when this film was in theaters, so if this is your first experience with Better Off Dead, please Netflix, rent, download, or stream it ASAP. It's totally an 80s comedy, with a very young John Cusack to boot!

Additions.

2011-07-11T23:49:00.003-04:00

Some new necklace designs in wood & brass; in the shop later this week.

Lovely colors.

2011-07-07T22:42:00.004-04:00

My Independence Day weekend was pretty mellow... foreign magazine browsing at a local bookstore, craft store perusing, outlet shopping (inexpensive additions to my work/weekend wardrobe are always welcome), dinner/ice cream cake/disney movie watching with good friends, bbq with extended family... an excellent weekend, in my opinion. Oh, and I almost forgot Friday evening at the new section of the High Line: art installations/food trucks/beautiful wildflowers... how could I forget that?

Part of the craft store perusal was spending at least 10 minutes in front of the embroidery floss display, picking and choosing new colors to create more and different Kumi necklaces, and possibly a new bracelet design I've been thinking about.

I am just completely enamored with this spectrum and can't wait to get started working with it.

Empire State.

2011-07-04T22:43:00.002-04:00

Friday morning I was sitting in Bryant Park, having stopped for a few minutes on my way to work. I looked up from my book and saw this perfectly framed view of the Empire State Building, so I had to grab my camera from my bag and snap it. As much as I grumble about the city sometimes, there are so many things I do love about it.

Snake in the grass.

2011-06-29T20:04:00.003-04:00

Or on my hand, in this case. Also on my fabric samples.

Wiksten/Dealtry collab.

2011-06-27T22:57:00.004-04:00

This looks to be exciting collaboration! (And how cute are Jenny and Helen?)

Photo by Tara Donne

Farewell, Readymade.

2011-06-22T22:57:00.002-04:00

This is sad news. Another print magazine bites the proverbial dust.

Silly old bear.

2011-06-21T22:38:00.003-04:00

I think I may be waaaay too old to be excited about this, but I am (excited), and I don't care who knows it.

Summertime.

2011-06-21T21:14:00.004-04:00

Summer is definitely not my season (I wilt like a lettuce leaf in the heat), but I am looking forward to evenings at the beach, when it's at its most beautiful... I mean, look at that sky!

I hope all of you in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy your summer, and to my friends in the Southern Hemi, happy first day of winter!

Ermie.

2011-06-10T23:29:00.005-04:00

Check out this great interview (over at the Collete Patterns blog) with Jennifer Parry Dodge, the super-sweet, super-talented creator & designer of the incredible clothing line Ermie and writer of the fabulous blog also called Ermie (after her great aunt).

Jennifer also has a fabulous guest post over on Simple Lovely. She's got a great eye and highlights a load of great finds--and dig her awesome logo!

I have been following Jen's path since the days when she was working as a nurse, through her decision to leave nursing and be a full-time designer and artist, up to her current amazing new spring/summer line... I'm excited to see what she goes on to do in the future!

All images courtesy Ermie; designs copyright Jennifer Parry Dodge & Tomory Dodge

Written from my sick bed.

2011-05-30T16:32:00.010-04:00

(Scan down for various photos of my weekend.)

So, I started out this weekend with loads of energy... I got out of work early on Friday and headed down to Warby Parker's Chelsea headquarters to get my new glasses adjusted*, and then stopped in to the Fifth Avenue J. Crew (got a chance to admire the Hugo Guinness prints in the bathroom!). Afterward I wandered around the Union Square Greenmarket, getting a big bag of delicious handmade Martin's Pretzels, some fresh organically-grown pears, and some Deep Mountain Maple candy. I finished the afternoon off with my very first Coolhaus ice cream sandwich: brown butter w/ candied bacon ice cream on peanut butter cookies (YUM). I look forward to trying more of their delicious-sounding flavors.

Saturday started with the weekly catch-up over brunch with my dad, something that means even more to me as we both get older. Then a few errands (library, Target, Anthropologie) before heading over to a gathering at my good friend's house.

One of my oldest friends, Jennifer, (we've known each other since kindergarten and have been friends since third grade--in the 70s, mind you, so it's a really looong friendship!) was in town for the weekend with her two beautiful and hilarious girls. Another good friend (since junior high), Debbie, and her family hosted a bunch of us for a beautiful afternoon lounging around in their massive backyard while everyone's kids tired themselves out on the trampoline and with games of horseshoes. It was the first time that Jen got to meet Randy and Noah's precious little boy Zach (aka my nephew, now eight months old!) and everyone spent loads of time being charmed by his beaming smile and happy temperament. Lots of good food and good drinks with great friends; the perfect way to spend a breezy, sunny, late May afternoon!

Sunday was a day of more errands, none worth mentioning (except, perhaps, that I picked up some colorful climbing ropes at REI and EMS to experiment on a few new bracelet designs), then heading home and succumbing to the cold that was creeping into my system since I woke up that morning.

I woke up today with big plans of getting out to the local bookstore for a few hours lazing around in the AC with a cool drink and some foreign magazines (for research). Unfortunately, my bug had gotten worse overnight and my sinuses didn't like my plan for the day. They decided we should stay home in bed, dozing off in front of the NCIS and Roseanne marathons on cable. Oh well... the best laid plans of mice and (wo)men...

*Photos of me in my new glasses coming as soon as I'm camera-ready again, as I know you're all dying to see how they look ;)

My delicious Coolhaus sandwich, mid-consumption:

Hugo Guinness in the Fifth Ave. J. Crew bathroom:

Zach, ever the party animal:

Cookies decorated by the artistic children attending the party:

Bonus photo: one random shot of my bedroom windowsill:

New items, and a discount.

2011-05-22T16:03:00.004-04:00

I've restocked my shop with Chevron necklaces, including several new color combinations. Please do stop by to see them, and don't forget you can get 10% off any purchase from the shop (use code MOPIEGIVEAWAY through May 31st at 11 p.m. EST)!

Macaron, Je t'aime.

2011-05-19T22:48:00.002-04:00

Laudree coming to Manhattan this summer?!? Fantastique!

Chevron rainbows.

2011-05-18T19:42:00.006-04:00

Work has been kicking the you-know-what out of me lately, but I've managed to make a bunch of new Chevron necklaces and will update my Etsy shop with them this weekend. There will be a couple of new color combos as well as several in the original colorways.

And don't forget the 10% discount offer on all items in the shop, including these new necklaces! Ends May 31 at 11p.m. EST.

Freedom Riders.

2011-05-16T22:59:00.004-04:00

I just watched this documentary on PBS. If you are in the states, you really should make sure to see it when it airs in your area... a recounting of an horribly turbulent time in American history, and incredible that it was only fifty years ago. I hope those of you in other countries can also get to see it, but even if you can't you really should visit the website about the rides and the riders who worked to bring desegregation to the US.

Mom.

2011-05-08T12:35:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love and miss you every day.

bloesem kids Wear Neon.

2011-05-07T22:05:00.005-04:00

Irene and her friend Vivien have started a little line of sparkly treats for little ladies. Adorable!

And don't forget about my Chevron Necklace giveaway over at Maureen's blog; it closes Sunday night!

I wood wear this.

2011-05-07T19:55:00.006-04:00

Well, wooden you?

A Little Exchange.

2011-05-03T19:28:00.003-04:00

Last week I received a wonderful package in the mail. Lenneke, designer and proprietress of shop and blog A Little Hamster in the Netherlands, sent me a sweet, delicate braided bracelet from her shop as part of the exchange project she is doing with other jewelry designers around the globe. Thank you Len... I look forward to wearing this all summer!

Chevron giveaway!

2011-05-02T22:41:00.003-04:00

I hope you'll check out the giveaway that the lovely Maureen is hosting on her fabulous and fun blog, Mo Pie, Please... In celebration of her 200th follower, you could win one of my Chevron necklaces! Congratulations on hitting a double century, Maureen!

Skirting the issue.

2011-05-02T20:20:00.004-04:00

I have a feeling we're in for a steamy summer here in New York... I'm thinking wearing this breezy skirt along with my new H&M Hasbeens* will be a great way to try to beat the heat (or at least tame it down a bit).

*That is, if I can learn to walk in them without almost falling four times in one day like I did on Friday.

Petal hearts.

2011-05-01T15:17:00.003-04:00

Beauty even in decay. Ranunculi, my favorite, post-bloom.

Would you 'Like' me?

2011-04-26T20:58:00.005-04:00

I've started a new {gemmifer} Facebook page... I'd love it if you would click on over and 'Like' it! Besides links to blog updates, in the future I plan to add some other items that won't necessarily end up here.

Above photo: Header from the early days of {gemmifer} on Blogger

Phono number one.

2011-04-21T21:38:00.005-04:00

Completed my first necklace with the African phono beads; now I'm looking forward to making some for my shop in this colorway as well as black with red accents and silver beads. Stay tuned.

Carrying on the tradition.

2011-04-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

I still mourn the demise of Domino, Blueprint, House & Garden, and other wonderful print shelter magazines. However, there are several great publications carrying on and building on their tradition. In the digital realm we have Lonny, Rue, Matchbook, Covet Garden, among others.

Carrying on the tradition in print are wonderful publications such as Uppercase and Anthology.

So while we've lost some incredible titles over the past few years, some wonderful additions have helped lessen the blow. I look forward to what others may arrive in the months and years to come!

Rainy day (or night) additions.

2011-04-16T22:02:00.013-04:00

It's pouring here right now; high winds, thunder, pelting raindrops on my window. So I figured a rainy night at home was the perfect time to add some new items to my shop. Chevron Necklaces in three new color combinations. More to come (including the phono disc necklaces and more Kumi, Geo, and Chevron necklaces) as I finish and photograph them. Thanks for being patient with me... working full time plus a two hour round trip commute takes up much of my time nowadays, so I have to try to fit in making new items and getting them into the shop.

Holy compliment!

2011-04-13T19:38:00.005-04:00

I'm really thrilled that Ann from Holier Than Now not only loves the Chevron necklace she bought from my Etsy shop, but that she featured the necklaces and my shop in a post she did about jewelry sellers on Etsy (see #6)! Thanks so much, Ann!

Disc-o.

2011-04-05T20:07:00.004-04:00

I'm still working on my necklaces featuring the African phono disc beads. I had hoped to get at least two up in my shop this past weekend, but didn't realize the beads would need a good washing first. I guess all that dirt made them more authentic! The beads are now clean and dry and should be in necklaces in my shop by this weekend.

Strike a match.

2011-04-03T18:29:00.005-04:00

Matchbook issue three is now online!

Spotted in my shop.

2011-04-03T17:52:00.002-04:00

Another new design in my Etsy shop.

The Coturnix Necklace, named for a genus of quail whose speckled eggs the dalmatian jasper beads remind me of.

Shop update.

2011-03-30T22:08:00.003-04:00

After a lot of braiding and photographing, I have listed seven new Kumi Necklaces in my Etsy shop. I continue to work on new color combos and will add them to the shop as I finish them over the next few weeks. Also, I plan to add a brass and dalmatian jasper necklace as well as two African record bead necklaces in the shop this weekend, so please stay tuned for more updates!

"Mo" compliments.

2011-03-30T19:32:00.002-04:00

I admit it, I did it... I Googled my shop. And came across a very flattering mention of my Chevron Neckaces on Mo Pie Please, a blog I didn't know before but will definitely be visiting frequently now. Meagan has put together a really cool mix of fashion, photography, art, style, writing, and too many other fabulous things to list here. Thank you, Meagan, for the mention, and for an awesome blog!

Surprise délicieuse.

2011-03-27T11:48:00.004-04:00

After work on Friday I walked through Rockefeller Center on my way up to see "Infinite Variety", the incredible quilt exhibition at the Park Avenue Armory*. I noticed a mass of people on 51st Street near Fifth Avenue, and being a New Yorker my first thought was that it was a pack of tourists blocking my path (really, I'm not that cranky!). As I got closer, I saw they were all either nibbling on yummy-looking food or queueing up to get a plate from a food truck parked on the corner.

I joined the line and was rewarded with a plate of delicious treats from the new Air France in-flight menu created by master chef Joel Robuchon. Perfect timing, as my tummy had begun growling at me shortly before I left my office. My plate contained a shrimp and salmon rondelle, French shepherd's pie with duck confit, and a perfect pastel green pistachio macaron.

As a thank you for the free treats, there was a City Harvest donation box that was filling up with our contributions; so many hungry people in NYC and here we were enjoying free gourmet food. I joined the makeshift dining area (leaning against H&M's side wall) and savored every bite of my petit repas. And to top it all off, I was able to enter a raffle to win a trip for two to Paris!

*I shot well over 100 photos of the exhibition and it will take me a bit of time to edit them down before I do a post about the show; until then, here's one to whet your appetites.

I hope I'll be able to convey how incredible a show it was!

Spot on.

2011-03-27T11:44:00.003-04:00

Update: now in my shop!

Fun with dalmatian jasper. This one's mine (greedy gal that I am); more soon in my shop.

New season, new work.

2011-03-20T17:05:00.006-04:00

Happy first day of Spring to all of you in the Northern Hemisphere! As for those of you in the Southern Hemi, I wish you a happy first day of Autumn!

The new season(s) bring(s) the promise of new merchandise in my shop very soon...

Taking advantage of this sunny afternoon I threw open the windows and shot photos of a whole bunch of new Kumi Necklaces; now it's just a bit of retouching and description writing and they'll be listed in the shop. (Photo below shows just a few; more colors coming in the shop update.)

Yesterday was also a lovely (if a bit chilly) day which I enjoyed by meeting up with an jeweler friend to try to restrain our spending at the Whole Bead Show in Chelsea, followed by good conversation over a tasty muffin (for her) and pretzel croissant (for me--YUM!) at City Bakery. I did limit my spending by having a shopping list; though I didn't find everything on that list I was able to get what I really wanted: some vulcanized rubber beads from Africa! I can't wait to start making necklaces with these, for me, and for the shop! I also found some fantastic black glass African beads that are a sort of squarish version of those in my Chevron Necklaces for which I'm already brainstorming ideas--stay tuned for updates!

Anthology.

2011-03-12T22:32:00.003-05:00

Anthology. Issue number 2 is shipping now. I got mine last week and love every bit of it! If you're still waiting by your mailbox this video should help tide you over. If you haven't subscribed yet, maybe it will help convince you that a subscription would be worth every single penny.

Issue No. 2 Trailer from Anthology Magazine on Vimeo.

Everything is illuminated.

2011-03-12T19:37:00.010-05:00

My father is an artist. Nowadays, I guess he'd be called a graphic designer but back in the day he was called a "commercial artist" (as opposed to a "fine artist"). I can't tell you how many times as a kid I got asked "what commercials did he do?". In reality, he has been creating lettering by hand--no computers involved!--for more than fifty years. I may be biased, but I think anyone who sees his work would agree that he is incredibly talented.

For ages I've been meaning to do a post about my father's work. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I had him pull out some of his work so I could photograph it, and ended up also getting photos of some personal work he did when he was at his first job back in the late 50s. So one post became two...

This, the first, is to show that early personal work: a group of calligraphic pieces based on illuminated manuscripts. When I asked my dad if I could shoot them, he pulled them out of a manila envelope kept under some files in a cabinet in his home studio. A manila envelope! I can't believe he doesn't have these matted and framed and on prominent display, but my dad is not an overly proud person. I'm hoping I can convince him to hang at least one of these in his home.

Click on any photo to enlarge; the detail is fantastic.

This one is based on the style of a medieval Book of Hours:

This one is a selection from Moby Dick:

My father is still fantastic at creating ornate letters such as the Q in this one:

My father is an incredible person, and I'm so proud of his amazing artistic talent. He's also plays great jazz piano!

Praying.

2011-03-11T19:09:00.004-05:00

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan, and with the people of all areas affected by the tsunamis.

I can't fathom the terror and sadness. So horrible.

Please consider donating to Mercy Corps, Red Cross, or one of the many options listed on HuffPo.

Honorable mentions.

2011-03-09T22:40:00.003-05:00

I'm so honored to have my Chevron Necklaces mentioned recently by two wonderful bloggers. Thanks ladies!

i am a greedy girl.

A Thousand Facets

I'll tumblr for you.

2011-03-06T16:25:00.005-05:00

{gemmifer}tumblr

I finally joined the visual insanity that is tumblr. One more thing to try to keep up with!

I'm still deciding on a visual theme, so the layout may change. All part of the excitement, folks.

Game. Set. Matchbook.

2011-03-01T22:09:00.007-05:00

The second issue of Matchbook Magazine is out now!

images from Matchbook Magazine

Aesa taste, (almost) Madewell budget.

2011-02-21T14:25:00.005-05:00

I have loved this Aesa necklace since I first laid my greedy little eyes on it. Sadly for me, at almost 600 clams it won't ever be in my budget.

image via Totokaelo

So I was glad to see this Madewell necklace which, though it isn't a dead ringer for the Aesa jewel, gives a similar enough feel (at just over 1/10th of the price) to help style up my wardrobe. Even then, I think I need to wait for a sale or coupon. The continuing sad tale of a girl on a tight budget... *sigh.*

image via Madewell

In good company.

2011-02-17T21:32:00.008-05:00

Updated 2/19:

I started my first experiments for my Chevron Necklaces back in August 2010, and finally came up with an design I liked in September. Jennifer from Ermie commented on one of my posts about the necklaces and mentioned that Isabel Marant was using similar beads in some jewelry designs for her S/S 2011 line. I'm flattered to be in such good company! My necklaces may not have the cachet of Ms. Marant's, but they sure as hell are a much more affordable way to get a similar vibe. Heck, you could afford to buy a few and wear them together, my favorite way of doing it!

Isabel Marant Spring/Summer 2011:

{gemmifer} handmade:

More necklaces.

2011-02-13T14:15:00.005-05:00

2/20: The past week of work was pretty crazed, so I'm hoping to grab the clasps to finish these off tomorrow. The weather's supposed to be cruddy but, if I'm lucky, I'll have enough light to get product shots for the shop.

In the shop next weekend, after I can get detail photos of each one.

Not so Beady.

2011-02-07T21:32:00.002-05:00

Well, my anxieties about successfully securing additional thread to my beading project have kept me from moving forward on it. (Yes, this is par for the course with me; phobias about the minutiae of life.) Not that anyone was concerned, but I will make myself get over this fear (with the help of some online video tutorials) and post the final resulting necklace ASAP.

Around the house.

2011-02-06T13:54:00.001-05:00

I'm crafty.

2011-02-06T13:42:00.005-05:00

Getting prepped to send an order to one of my Etsy customers.

Experimenting with some of my hand-carved stamps:
Potential notebook idea.

Potential greeting card idea.

Potential baby card idea.

Brooklyn Bowl.

2011-02-06T13:23:00.006-05:00

Last night I experienced Brooklyn Bowl for the first time. My lovely friend and her husband had a joint 40th Birthday celebration there, filled with good music, good food and drinks, and, of course some fantastic bowling (by some; some okay bowling by me). I was so busy socializing and bowling that I forgot to take any photos, though I remembered to snap one of the lanes we were on.

And they had "Labyrinth" playing on screens at the ends of the alleys; how awesome is that?

The Ice Storm.

2011-02-06T13:20:00.002-05:00

The ice storm made for loads of fun getting to work on Wednesday morning. The 1/4-inch thick crust of ice on my car was pretty impressive.

Scanned memories.

2011-01-30T20:47:00.003-05:00

This afternoon I decided to finally put my scanner to good use and start scanning some of my film negatives. I have a stack of binders filled with them, from my college days all the way through the early/mid noughties (it's a lot, trust me). Here's a small sampling, shot in NYC in 2002.

A perfect Match.

2011-01-27T21:12:00.003-05:00

The great online lifestyle magazines just keep coming... Now we have Matchbook, whose tag line is Field Guide to a Charmed Life. I look forward to spending some time with their first issue, especially reading the interviews with Warby Parker founder Neil Blumenthal, decorator and journalist Rita Konig, and designer and boutique owner John Derian.

Game, Set, Matchbook!

Beady.

2011-01-27T15:10:00.002-05:00

A quick snap of one of my projects in process. I hope to have it finished, photographed, and posted here by next weekend.

He'll be your mirror.*

2011-01-25T21:11:00.007-05:00

I was so thrilled to learn about this film. I've been a fan of Cunningham's work for years. I saw him every so often around Barney's and Bergdorf's when I worked uptown several years ago; I was once even silly enough to tap him on his shoulder and say "I'm a great fan of your work!" I don't think it changed his life much to know this. Cunningham is a bit of a mystery; not much has been known about his personal life and he's pretty ambiguous about his age (just discovered from the film's site that he's 82). I'm hoping Bill Cunningham New York will shed a little light on this man, myth, and legend of the fashion world.

Bill Cunningham New York Trailer from Gavin McWait on Vimeo.

*With apologies to the Velvet Underground.

Rue the day.

2011-01-22T23:12:00.003-05:00

I don't know how I missed the launch of this fab online magazine, but I'm glad I'm caught up now. Rue is a stylish, well designed publication... and their blog's pretty darn good too.

Shop additions.

2011-01-21T20:20:00.003-05:00

New goodies coming to my shop this weekend... stay tuned.

Change is afoot at Rare Device.

2011-01-18T23:06:00.000-05:00

Wow--this is big news!

Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke.

2011-01-08T19:58:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday, David Bowie... 63 and still rocking!

Kooky.

2011-01-05T23:03:00.004-05:00

How creative and original this film looks! And it seems there was no CGI used; it's all puppetry and live action.

Triangulate.

2011-01-04T20:17:00.004-05:00

How fantastic are Hannah's new kicks? Answer: really, truly, totally!

I love the combination of colors in the print which, by the way, is Hannah's own creation. I'm hoping she'll decide to offer them for purchase by those of us who are fans of her work. If you're not already, you should really be reading her blog and checking out her clothing designs.

Ring in the New Year.

2011-01-01T08:59:00.004-05:00

It's official--my sister and her boyfriend are engaged!

Congratulations Lesley & Gabe... and Gabe, I can't wait to be your Sister-in-Law!

Season's Greetings.

2010-12-24T05:52:00.005-05:00

Here's wishing all of you a very Happy Holiday season, whichever you may celebrate (or not)! Enjoy time with friends and family, good food and drink, and just the general spirit of the season.

On my dresser.

2010-12-14T21:58:00.002-05:00

Looking through some older photos on my computer; a couple of views of the top of my dresser.

Long time, no post.

2010-12-05T22:51:00.001-05:00

Quickly stopping by to say hello... I'm still adjusting to the commute for my new job and to the job itself, so posting will be light for a short while. I hope to be back soon with something of more interest to everyone. Have a great week!

xo Jennifer

Gratitude.

2010-11-25T13:33:00.004-05:00

I am thankful for so many things this Thanksgiving, not least among them:

• That my sister has flown across the country from San Francisco to join in our family holiday meal;
• For the loving relationships I have with my family and wonderful circle of friends;
• For my good health and that of all those I love;
• To be gainfully employed (with health insurance! and a 401K!) in an industry I love after 21 months of unemployment;
• For the emotional and financial support that kept me sane and with a roof over my head and food in my kitchen during my layoff;
• And for the many lovely people who visit my blog and Etsy shop... it honestly does make me so happy, especially when you leave me comments, so please be sure to drop me a line as often as you can!

A very happy and healthy Thanksgiving to all of my readers in the US, and a very lovely and happy day to everyone! I wish you all the best, and hope to see you here again in the future.

Good news!

2010-11-21T12:30:00.004-05:00

Well, for me that is... I started a new full-time job this past week, 21 months after being laid off from my last full-time job. I am very happy and relieved to finally be off of unemployment and contributing to the economy again!

My new office is right near Rockefeller Center, which means I am dangerously close to one of the most amazing Anthropologie stores. After work on Friday I wandered over to see their new holiday windows and then spent a nice hour roaming around the store. I snapped loads of photos both out- and inside. Below is just a sampling; more to follow soon.

More San Francisco treats.

2010-11-07T21:56:00.004-05:00

Here are some more items I picked up while I was in San Francisco last month:

My first piece of Heath Ceramics: a beautiful aqua bud vase...

Handmade vanilla marshmallows from Miette patisserie...

A handmade wooden top and sweet letterpress postcards of NY and SF from Rare Device...

Uppercase #7 and some pencils from The Curiosity Shoppe (the fortune slips were free)...

I'm happy to have brought a variety of non-souvenir souvenirs back with me; they'll be happy reminders of my lovely trip!

San Francisco treats.*

2010-10-31T15:35:00.013-04:00

I picked up a lot of great things when I was in San Francisco two weeks ago. Here's the haul from my visit to Japantown (click any photo for a closer look).

From Ichiban-Kan (I got all of this for just over $20!):

From Daiso, where almost everything costs $1.50:

And isn't their logo sweet?

I only bought a few things at Kinokuniya since I'm lucky enough that there's one in NYC. This tote bag was designed by an employee of the SF store and was available in so many colors it was hard to choose!

I'll post photos of some more of my SF goodies later this week.
*Anyone else remember this slogan?

Tricky.

2010-10-31T00:07:00.006-04:00

Obviously the love of accessories hit me at a young age.
Happy Halloween to you all!

Ermie.

2010-10-26T21:07:00.002-04:00

I am so blown away by Jennifer Parry Dodge's designs for her new clothing line. Ermie, also the name of her great blog (which you should be reading), is named for her great aunt Ermengarde who inspired her creativity. Jen has not only designed all the articles of clothing for Ermie but also the pattern on each and every fabric (some are collaborations with her artist husband Tomory).

I'm so flattered that Jennifer accessorized one of her dresses with one of my Chevron Necklaces; they look great together, in my humble opinion!

PLEASE NOTE: All textile designs and photos featured in this post are © Jennifer Parry Dodge and Tomory Dodge 2008-2010 and have been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

SF itinerary. (a very wordy post)

2010-10-22T20:15:00.014-04:00

*My visit to SF (10/13–10/18/10): love & happiness!*

1) -arrive @ SFO in early evening
----drinks @ The Plough & Stars on Clement
2) -breakfast @ Fred's in Sausalito (fried French toast!)
----walk around Sausalito
----walk around Clement (including the fabulous shops Park Life and Seedstore)
----dinner @ Parma on Steiner (penne w/smoked salmon & asparagus in light cream, bruschetta, excellent wine)
3) -breakfast at Eats on Clement (apple & roquefort tartine, eggs over easy, excellent coffee)
----walk around Chestnut
----walk around Union
----lunch at La Boulange on Union (monte cristo sandwich, salad greens, cornichons & olives from free bar; wish I had a reason to use the jar of free Nutella!)
----dinner @ Troya on Clement (bread to dip in olive oil, paprika & sumac, and chopped pistachios; kofte kebab; Pellegrino Limonata; Baklava & complimentary Nightingale's Nest Baklava with ice cream)
4) -lunch @ Boccalone in the Ferry Building (panini of italian sausage with fennel & pickled peppers)
----visit Heath Ceramics & Miette Patisserie in the Ferry Building
----Blue Bottle Coffee Co.'s New Orleans style iced coffee at Ferry Building farmers' market
----Rare Device & The Curiosity Shoppe in the Mission
----Ichiban-Kan, Daiso, & Kinokuniya in Japantown
----party (Aktoberfest) in Upper Haight
----dinner @ King of Thai Noodle House on Clement (chicken satay, pad see lew)
5) -breakfast @ the apartment in Presidio/Laurel Heights (omelettes with black forest ham & swiss cheese, slow-cooked bacon, sweet pluots)
----drizzly drive to Napa (outlet shops)
----rainy day nap @ the apartment
----dinner @ the apartment (homemade pizza with pepperoni & red onion, salad with homemade dressing, Kara's Cupcakes for dessert--chocolate with fleur de sel caramel!)
6) -homeward bound :( boo.hoo.

City by the Bay.

2010-10-12T19:38:00.006-04:00

Well folks, tomorrow I'm off to San Francisco to spend time with my lovely sister and her wonderful boyfriend. I can't wait to see them! I might get one post up while I'm away, but stay tuned for an account of my big adventure when I get back next week.

Shopping for Chevrons.

2010-10-11T20:47:00.005-04:00

The new Chevron Necklaces are now all in my shop. I hope you'll like them enough to take one home!

Camera ready.

2010-10-11T19:19:00.003-04:00

I was so jealous of SF for their Levi's® Workshop, but oh my how they've made up for it in NYC!

Fabrications.

2010-10-10T01:13:00.004-04:00

I've been dabbling with Spoonflower's tools in hopes of designing a pattern that would translate well to a scarf (in cotton lawn or silk crepe de chine). Here are some ideas I've come up with so far. Any thoughts?

Oh, and Chevron Necklaces in the shop on Monday!

A bevy of Chevrons.

2010-10-04T20:12:00.004-04:00

Photos have been shot, and the Chevron Necklaces will be up in my shop this week. Check back here for updates.

Oh happy day!

2010-10-04T17:21:00.005-04:00

Wonderful news today... a new baby has arrived in the world! Congratulations to my dear friend Randy and her husband Noah, and welcome to their precious little boy.

These lovely, yummy cupcakes were made by my very talented friend Mara for the super baby shower she threw for Randy and Noah in August.

*gemmifer*

Laugh-out-loud funny.

More from Isabel.

Etoile.

Holiday sweets.

Farewell, Eva.

Pinned.

Jedi wisdom.

Shine.

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Joy.

Crafty Holidays.

Cool collab.

Collared.

Shock to the system.

Connected.

D-Lightful.

Smooth as silk.

September song.

Cheers!

M.I.A.

Thoughts and prayers.

Colorful driving.

Shop update.

Daydreaming...

Jour de Bastille Heureux!

Additions.

Lovely colors.

Empire State.

Snake in the grass.

Wiksten/Dealtry collab.

Farewell, Readymade.

Silly old bear.

Summertime.

Ermie.

Written from my sick bed.

New items, and a discount.

Macaron, Je t'aime.

Chevron rainbows.

Freedom Riders.

Mom.

bloesem kids Wear Neon.

I wood wear this.

A Little Exchange.

Chevron giveaway!

Skirting the issue.

Petal hearts.

Would you 'Like' me?

Phono number one.

Carrying on the tradition.

Rainy day (or night) additions.

Holy compliment!

Disc-o.

Strike a match.

Spotted in my shop.

Shop update.

"Mo" compliments.

Surprise délicieuse.

Spot on.

New season, new work.

Anthology.

Everything is illuminated.

Praying.

Honorable mentions.

I'll tumblr for you.

Game. Set. Matchbook.

Aesa taste, (almost) Madewell budget.

In good company.

More necklaces.

Not so Beady.

Around the house.

I'm crafty.

Brooklyn Bowl.

The Ice Storm.

Scanned memories.

A perfect Match.

Beady.

He'll be your mirror.*

Rue the day.

Shop additions.

gemmifer