hello friends.  so here's the thing about gift giving during the holidays.  i love to do it, love watching eyes widen as loved ones fold back the wrapping - but not a big fan of being on the receiving end.  i know that may come as a surprise to my family and long time girlfriends - but the truth of the matter is this - if i really want something, i buy it.  i am an aries and categorically one of the most impatient creatures on earth, that said i do not do well waiting around for a random holiday when i really want something.  and then there is the word "want" - do i really want it?  do i need it?  can i live without it?  those answers have shifted considerably over the last few years for me.  we purged so much over the last year as we moved from a nearly 2000 square foot house into a less than 1000 square foot apartment, giving me a unique opportunity to apply william morris' philosophy, "have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

but my primary weakness remains unaltered.  jewels.  while many women pine for the prefect over the top heel - i desire raw rocks affixed to burnished metals.  regardless of what my husband may think, i have been much better about buying jewelry and have applied a rule to my habit - the belly flip.  does my stomach tighten when i see it, do the little hairs on my arms stand when i hold it - is that my pulse quickening?  and it works - really - i have become a fierce editor.  i do always buy a piece when i travel - they are my talismans - they have a unique power to shift my mood and i swear to you that i can pick up every piece in my collection and tell you exactly where i was when i made it mine.  and... it makes me heavy with love thinking about passing these pieces on to my girls one day.

so this wish list is really not for the holidays, den and i have other plans this year of where to put our money - but a few things that make my belly flip... jewelry and otherwise... that will maybe give you some gifting ideas...

- pamela love is my favorite designer right now. and this is unreal;

- so much goodness at billy bride;

- obsessed. with. this;

- i held this at the new barneys co-op in cobble hill.  and yes, my pulse quickened;

- i love black diamonds and not sure how much longer i can hold out on this.  love everything in that shop;

- i had the pleasure of meeting the creator of this line in nantucket {she was the bride's maid of honor and the one who recommended me to that bride - thank you steph!} and i am addicted to her rose empress - my face glows when i use it - i have never used anything with such results, it is amazing;

- this book has been on my list for a long time;

- but i have recently added this one and this one as well;

- i bought this print yesterday.  i couldn't help it. another shop where i am mesmerized by everything.

- and don't you think i need this?

Comments

[Nisrine]

The ring is simply gorgeous!

[Melissa de la Fuente]

um...wow. Thank you for introducing me to some wicked gorgeous shops & pieces...my love will always be jewels too. I think you need to get that black diamond spike & cuff pronto! ( I am no help, am I?) :)
xo
Melis

[Caroline Hancox]

Oh I love billy bride stuff, I saw the rings somewhere else recently although unfortunately I can't remember where now, they are just so natural and raw looking, gorgeous. Oh and I like the new look of your blog - punky!

[jla]

isn't it nisrine?

no help at all melissa ;)

thanks caroline!