Magnolia Pearl...a discovery

 

For so many years I'd seen and admired the textiles and hand of 

 Robin Brown's "Magnolia Pearl" clothing...

...the lush natural textiles, the small flourishes...

Then, at the breakfast table in Round Top at Spring Antiques Week, when Jo Packham and I were both guests of Holly Kuhn and her Old Glory Antiques grand opening, Jo suggested I try wearing the clothing to really discover the "Magnolia Pearl" experience...

It was so interesting to put on these soft and loose garments, 

it felt utterly feminine...

So, Jo arranged for us to host a Magnolia Pearl Showcase at The Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck...

If you were there, you might have attended some of our chats at 11am each day where we explored the garments and had 2-3 of the 

Earth Angels' Art Girls RoadShow members model the clothing.

Here are some pictures of the days, the outfits, the fun we had in them...

off to the Fair where I worked in them and loved them made this a very wonderful experience...

I was unprepared for how wonderful the garments felt on....

how I could move in them...

And then Allie took over the box and played dress up ...

 

 

We really had such fun trying them all on...love the one size fits all...

...the clothing is like nothing else I have worn, and I have a much deeper appreciation for Robin's style and artistry now that I have experienced wearing the textiles, working in them, layering them with love and a reverence for texture.... 

thanks to Jo for making this possible...and thanks to Stella Show Management an Hearst for allowing us to show case these glories at the Rhinebeck Fair...

 And if you are interested in learning more about Magnolia Pearl, 

please visit their site...

 xxoo Jen

just an FYI...FREE SHIPPING on all Jewelry & Accessories until 6/2

It's time to step out...

add some bling, some fashion 

play dress-up with

Fabulous Jewelry & Accessories 

All SHIPPING FREE this week

 

...featuring new arrivals and signature designs from Lisa Leonard, "leighelena",

KBD Studios, Melody Elizabeth, 

 "Elements by Jill Schwartz", & Hotcakes

use code BLINGSHIP for

free standard shipping until 6/2

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ALL Jewlery & Accessories NOW

Enjoy xxoo Jen

start 2014 in style....a nice little SALE on Maruca Designs

Time to share a little news about a sale we are currently hosting...

Start 2014 in Style & SAVE 25% on ALL 

Maruca Designs Purses & Accessories until 12/31
with code BAGIT25 at checkout

...that means these made in Boulder, CO with American-loomed textiles bags start at just $7.50!

Pretty cool, eh?

SEE ALL AVAILABLE FALL 2013 Designs & Pre-Order the 2014 COLLECTION HERE

Here are some of my fave shapes and patterns...

...note the new 2014 designs are shipping in January....Enjoy! xxoo Jen

Got Fashion? Get FOLK...

 I love that FOLK is reaching into the heart of what Americans are all about. Working to cultivate a nation by hand, with style and ingenuity intrinsic to our success.

CONGRATS Ben on another fab issue of FOLK magazine...the best yet! 

(Did you get yours yet? If not, CLICK HERE TO ORDER..

It's a whole lotta cool American goodness for 7 bucks....)

How perfect that the NEW issue is all about stories and storytellers and the fashion that is so uniquely our own.

Here's a peek and an excerpt from my current feature on re-purposing textiles and  fashion...

 It was fun to take a closer look at the work of Melody Elizabeth...

 She has a fab fashion story...and I love sharing her work with our customers, but chatting with her about her inspirations and training was really cool.

Here's an excerpt from the article...

you'll want to peek at the issue to read and see more.

Now, American fashion – where style meets with raw ingenuity -- is quite simply an unbridled luxury fueled by unfettered imagination and a culture that grows daily. It is the novelty of conveying a mood, a tone, or one’s personal style within a vast and diverse community.  So, in making a handmade life, we cannot help but reach for garments that send salutations of our personal style.

Yet, trends in fashion and wearables don’t always march to the same tune. Tides in fashion come and go, but a good garment, or a fabulous accessory, can long outlive a seasonal burst of attention.  And certain fashions – like the artful creations of artist Melody Doyel -- are simply transcendent – allowing the wearer to cross time and trends with certain aplomb and beauty in true American style.

This designer’s work whispers to the best remembrances of fashion’s many eras.  While it seems from another time or just slightly out of step with what many others might be presenting in the marketplace, her clothing and accessories are totally in-fashion and on-trend with their brave use of texture and color.  Her work conveys a thrumming retro vibe that is utterly appealing; her work is textiles retold.

In her inimitable style, the designer creates wearables and accessories by repurposing cast off garments, old upholstery, junk shop finds and piles of vintage baubles and jewelry findings that on their own appear only a jumble of possibility. In Melody’s capable hands, and with her limber imagination, a seemingly motley array of textiles emerge as new garments that convey style and a savvy sense scale.....

~~~~~~~

Thanks again Ben for the chance to showcase the work of another Earth Angels Studios' artist....I cannot wait to see what you come up with for the next issue!

xxoo Jen

old is new again, with a dose of style

I really adore anything that bravely nods to vintage style, especially fashion.

 

Ben Ashby of FOLK magazine likewise reveres the past and has a great respect for clothing, textiles and American made designs; he's asked me to do a piece on talented Earth Angels' artist Melody Elizabeth who creates artful jewelry, purses and wearables from vintage textiles, clothing and found treasures. So we started with a photo shoot of Melody's creations...

Here's a peek at some of my fave images...there will be oodles more in the next issue of FOLK magazine -- The Fashion Issue. So stay tuned for news on that!

...and while I  cannot spoil the surprise here...I just had to share a few and say thanks to Ben, give a salute to Melody Elizabeth and a shout out of appreciation to our wonderful models Allison and Danielle.

 Loving these textures and colors...

 We did have fun too...

 Umm, not sure what's going on here...

 Allie tidies a shelf and models at the same time, that girl can multi-task...

 "Where can we go next for out next fashion shoot?", they say...

 The dice earrings are my personal fave, fun, festitve and love Bakelite dice and crystals alike!! You can shop for them and her other jewelry creations here...

I want this one, it;s in Melody's personal collection, but she always brings a few special coats to share at the Country Living Fairs...

  

 And I love her purses, pretty and sturdy at the same time...you can shop for them here...

Thanks to all and stay tuned for more on this article....FOLK magazine and more creations from Melody Elizabeth...

xxoo Jen

one inspires the other

...if you have the current edition of Where Women Create, you have a magazine that is very special to me...

...here it is above...

My dear friend Jo Packham is the creative force behind it -- one of her most wonderful ideas ever -- to share the stories and spaces of inspiring women and in doing so, to inspire others.

I remember meeting Jo...she called and introduced herself to me in 2007 after seeing me and my biz in Country Living mag...then she got on a plane and came all the way to Warwick, NY to attend one of my events and asked me to be in issue #1 of this new magazine she was creating...

So much has happened since that first issue in November 2008...And as the years -- and with them many issues of this now well-known magazine -- have accumulated, my friendship with Jo has deepened. I am forever grateful she picked up the phone and reached out to me.

I was very touched by her editor's letter this issue and have to tell you, I write her right away saying it is she who inspires me -- she who inspired so many of us...I love working with Jo on each edition...and this mag she has created, it's such a gift to the many artful spirits who read it cover to cover each edition...

And good news -- once again Jo will be our special guest at our upcoming annual "Spring Soiree" in Saratoga, NY on May 19 & 20...hope you can mark your calendars and attend to meet Jo...

xxoo Jen and if you need the current edition...just call or email me...