+keeping connected+

stumbled upon this website Cisthene which has more folkish, talisman type jeweller. It features hand-crafted jewels, bath and beauty products, as well as hand-tooled leather accessories.
Cisthene (pronounced kees-THEE-nee) is the mythical island where Medusa is thought to dwell. She is the subject of seduction, envy, and spell-binding tales.

Brooklyn based designer Erica Bradbury from Species by the Thousands created this connection ring (found here) from renewed and recycled materials which i think is pretty dope. I love me a good connector!!

Species By The Thousands::Connection ring
Brass

Debra Baxter also created this Quartz necklace (found here) which i think would be better shortened as it's on a 34" long chain. Clear quartz is seen to amplify healing energy so a good one to have by your heart, especially if you're heart broken ;) 

Debra Baxter::Crystal Quartz
Brass & quartz

+it's personal...for Marie+

it's been awhile my dear friends, but i was away on holiday and i have a rule to not be on any technical gadgets then which is such a liberation. so, i went to see my little dubai starlet who always gives me inspiration and rejuvenation. on the lookout for blogging stories, i happened to ask her about the jewellery she was wearing so, we got personal...

marie makes it personal through milestones and healing

so tell me about your ring, when you got it and how...

"i got it when i was 14, turned 14, from my parents and i remember opening the box and i was completely shocked. i was like 'HOLY CRAP! is that real? is that a ruby a pearl and diamonds?"

and you got it because?

"i was leaving for boarding school, so it's my 'grown up' gift"

and what about your necklace?

"my necklace, was... i got it made in America from thingsremembered. it was originally a bracelet, but when i got it i didn't like it as a bracelet so i made it into a necklace. the inscriptions read 'MLE', 'live, love, laugh', 'universal love' and 'health'. it brings me luck for my health, and is very personal. and the little evil eye is to ward off evil energy. and the little dolphin reminds me that im a pisces. it's also made of rose quartz." 

Thanks Marie. 

Whenever i'm at her house i feel a sense of ease and calm every time. part of me thinks its partly to do with the crystals around her house which is why she also mentions the significance of rose quartz. Rose quartz aligns with the Heart Chakra, governing the emotions, especially love, and is known as the “love stone”. It can be used to nurture, attract love, promote self-acceptance or, on a more spiritual level, love of whatever you hold sacred.

whenever i have bought a crystal or stone, ive never done my research. it's been what i am drawn to. afterwards, when i find out the meaning of it it does directly reflect my energy and emotions for something that is going on in my life at the time. so always pick what your mind tells you to... 

+tarnished love+

being in the sun makes me feel so alive, and these rings made by Torafu Architects represent exactly how I feel. rejuvenation and allowing a new layer to come alive. 
The silver ring fades over time, revealing the gold after years of wearing. how lovely is that as a wedding ring? now that's commitment if i've ever seen one.

+its personal...for Bert+

so we've got a placement at our work who i happened to notice wearing a ring that caught my attention. I asked her if it had a story, and sure enough, it did! so we got personal...

Bert makes it personal through cherishing

Tell me about your ring...

"My best friend, Rose, always wanted this ring that her Mom owned and so her Mom had planned on giving it to her when she turned 18. She passed away when we were around 9 years old though, and because I remained close to her Mom and family, even after she had passed, her Mom decided to give the ring to me on my 18th Birthday. I've been wearing it ever since."

And how do you feel when you look at your ring now?

"Special [she says with a smile]...good memories...it makes me think of her and her mom...sad sometimes...it's mixed."

I think it's a beautiful story, and one that I'm sure will be passed on for decades. Thanks for sharing babes! x

+skull sale+

who doesn't love a good sale eh? better hurry up to house of harlow then because they have some great pieces that are. it's been awhile since i found some nice skull jewellery so here are my two favourites...

triple skull ring found here

i like ugly pretty things, and these are just that. bordering on tacky, but added onto a black ensemble with white tshirt it would be no probs...

skull statement earrings found here

by the way, anyone listening to Robyn's Body Talk album? makes me wanna daaaaaance!! i keep feeling like i'm in a music video when i have my headphones on playing it walking through the city. this girl is fierce. i'm glad she keeps surprising us and making us unsure of what she's going to do next. kudos. 

+it's personal...for Edi+

so in the midst of trying to engage my readers, i thought i'd try and bring a new section called it's personal... the idea is to share stories about the jewellery we wear, because i know, in my own case, i would grab my treasure chest if my house was ever burning down. it may be materialistic, but they are my memories that never let me forget. so, to introduce my first story, (and brain behind this idea) is my colleague Edi who reminds me a little of Hannah from the sitcom Girls—she's a little quirky, a little pessimistic, but extremely bright and funny (and she has an awesome middle name...Spike. she's going to kill me that i mentioned it, but..hey ho).until then, let's get personal...

Edi makes it personal by stealing, bargaining and surrendering

"The topaz ring is from the 60's. it was given to my mum by her aunt who traded in gold jewellery. i stole it - uh borrowed it, but she never got it back."

Why did you steal it?

"i liked the colour. it's ended up being really useful as it holds the other one in, it's become part of a pair.  you can also see it is hand cut when you look at the sides."

and the other one? 

"The other is a sapphire ring. i liked it when i saw it on a stall at Oxfords Antique Market, but couldn't justify buying it myself on a whim. i came back another time and saw it was still there. I ended up helping the stall man sell a watch to another customer. he then gave me a serious discount on the ring." 

"also, i dont' know who 'RJ' is. If anyone can get into contact with me about who RJ is then i'd really appreciate it."

(funny girl). so this is my favourite story, tell me about your 'chastity' ring.

"basically a friend of mine and i were having a dry patch with boys in our teenage years, all our friends were in couples. and so we went to Norfolk for the weekend just me and her, and there was a craft fair, and a woman handmade these silver rings. so we each bought one to remember our 'lack of luck', and ever since then things have picked up."

So, would it be your 'unlucky chastity' ring?

"yeah, unlucky for chastity, lucky for me."

i love hearing these stories and hope you do too, so if any of you have similar ones you'd like to share feel free to message me and we'll talk about a post! 

+golden knuckles+

more knuckle rings for ya lovers from catbirdnyc. Always nice to stack a few as the 'x&o' pic (sorry about the lo-res), so go on and get creative! 

Catbird Alphabet rings
Gold/Silver

+fitting in+

sometimes you just want to be different (cue Siam style rings), other times your ring is just too small to fit, but whoever said you can't just wear it wherever it fits? I remember watching Friends back in the day and seeing Phoebe with the layered look thinking it was really different. now i think it's just a bit silly to buy 'fitted' rings for a layered style. Just buy a different size! I'll still give you a link for it though ;)

1. V ring from here
2. Layered knuckle rings from here
3. Silver knuckle ring from here

+seeing double+

double the love=double the fun
Get em now for cheaps at Tobi!!

Tobi double cuff rings
Silver, and gold toned   

+pink eye+

having a pink eye can be positive...atleast in this instance. Slightly inspired, and envious, of the warmer weather in Kenzas blog. I wouldnt normally talk about clothes in this blog, but i have to point out the luscious skirt that can be dressed down with a white tank and how the accessories have all come together.

From Kenzas

A similar skull bracelet can be found here, geometric silver bangles here, studded bracelet here. Or you can go with a nut and bolt bracelet from here.

Aelios design from Etsy
Alpaca silver (ie Nickel alloy)

Anarchy Mercy Spike
Gold 

Anarchy Nut and Bolt
Gold

River Island cross ring
Gold tone

Next

+hear me roar+

On the topic of friendship bracelets in one of my past posts, this Gilt ring was sent to me by my best friend from college. I love it because not only does it remind me of her, but also of my Dad who's a leo so I feel a sense of strength whenever I look at it. 

Gold plated with crystal eyes

Spotted::Hidden promises

What I love — Jordan Askill's birthstone heart ring. Saw it, bought it, on me forever.

July heart birthstone ring 

Yellow gold with ruby,£245 Liberty

           For those with a leaner pocket,

          Laura Gravestock x Cockpit Arts:

       

                     Written single heart ring

  18ct Gold Plated Sterling Silver,also available in Sterling Silver,£49