Pretty by Nature » Accessories

Gift Ideas: Recycled Glass Earrings

Michelle Smith — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:45:56 +0000

When I was a kid, my mom took us to stay in a beach house for a weekend. Out front there was this bare-looking (possibly dead??) tree that someone had decorated with colored bottles. Red, green, blue…..it was pretty colorful, a funky 70s style statement, for sure.

That tree was the first thing that came to mind when I found these recycled glass earrings from Smart Glass. I’d really like to get my mom a pair. I think she’d enjoy the reminder of that family vacation at the coast.

Rectangle Recycled Glass Earrings
Smart Glass – $60

A bit mod-looking, a bit organic-looking and a whole lot “Eco”, these light-weight earrings are chic enough for special occasions, but versatile enough for everyday. Handmade from recycled bottle glass and finished with sterling silver.

The earrings are available in Lime, Amber, Clear, Cobalt Blue, and Sage (as shown) glass. I like the rustic sort of detail around the edges, it gives them a real artisan appearance, rather than looking like something produced in an assembly line. They measure 1.5 inches by .5 inch.

Image credit: Green With Glamour

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Black Friday Shopping At Etsy

Michelle Smith — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:52:03 +0000

Black Friday shoppers, don’t forget to take a look at Etsy when looking for holiday bargains. Many of the shops are taking part in a Black Friday event that will last Friday-Monday.

These earrings from Mandy Willard’s Etsy shop are a good example. They are currently 20% off and shipping, world-wide, is free.

Cute little black glass pearls and brass bead caps combine with brass kidney earwires to make the lovely pair of earrings. Will go great with anything! Vintage brass kidney earwires, brass filigree bead caps, and black Swarovski glass pearls.

I love these Laurel Wreath earrings….

Pewter filligree laurel wreaths strung on silver ear wires. They remind me of fans. These handmade earrings measure 2 1/8 inches.

How about this Scarab bracelet…..

Dark and mysterious, this bracelet draws inspiration from the times of Egypt’s Pharaohs. It consists of a Vintage brass scarab, copper chain, and wire-wrapped rounds of sparkly green stone. It closes with a brass hook and eye clasp.

Image credit: Mandy Willard at Etsy

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Vegan, Faux Leather Handbags

Michelle Smith — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:48:45 +0000

NOAH handbags are cruelty-free, made of vegan-friendly materials like canvas and Italian PVC. They are easy to organize inside with 3 pockets which can be used for stashing phone, change, or your lipstick. There’s a clip for your keys and an inner zipper compartment. They are closed with a magnetic closure.

The Fall Collection includes beautiful appliqued bags. Each piece an artist statement. Below you can find a few that I thought were especially cute. If you find something that you like, then use offer code DEAL25 at checkout to receive 25% off of your purchase price.

Autumn Leaves

The Autumn Leaves bag is available in two shoulder strap styles. One has a tote-bag look with a brown faux leather handle set in the middle of the bag. There’s also a bag that they are calling North South with a up and down rectangular shape and an additional zipper down the side. Both are made in a khaki canvas with a brown applique.

Wavy Canvas

The Wavy Canvas bags are made of a quilted canvas. They are fully lined and the shoulder straps are made of PVC in either an orange or a dark brown. It comes in a tote or a large or small hobo bag.

Image credit: Noah Hand Bags

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Statement Necklaces from 1 O.A.K. by Sara

Michelle Smith — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:05:44 +0000

Last March, I interviewed jewelry designer, Sara Reichert of 1 O.A.K. by Sara. I love her beautiful pieces that feature both new and vintage materials and are worn by celebrities like Mia and Jaime Pressley.

1 O.A.K. by Sara is handcrafted jewelry inspired by the people, places and objects that embody every day. Every piece is created by mixing fine quality beads or crystals with base metals or 14 kt gold-filled elements. Vintage pieces are also added for just the right sparkle and shape resulting in a variety of unique and pretty accessories – truly defining you as 1 Of A Kind.

Take a look a this picture of Jaime Pressley wearing the Coco necklace cute and casual sweater and knit cap…..

Isn’t it beautiful? It’s made with Swarovski glass pearls, Swarovski crystals, 14K gold filled beads, and hung on a 14K gold filled chain. It measures 31.5 inches and it’s adjustable. The Coco necklace is $300 and it’s part of the Hollywood & Vine Collection.

Here’s a close up of the necklace…

Image credit: 1 O.A.K. by Sara

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3 Sleek, Chic, and Eco-Friendly Clutch Bags

Michelle Smith — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:46:54 +0000

I love a clutch bag. There’s something about a sleek, little bag, tucked under your arm, especially if you’ve got a cute bracelet on…it’s a very feminine look. Here are some eco-friendly clutches for you to take a look at. They are all available online at Green with Glamour.

The Ruffle Clutch from Refind Originals comes in three colors; mustard, royal blue, and red. I like the mustard best because it’s a soft buttery hue. Very pretty with the double ruffle. The Ruffle Clutch is made from recycled material, “…super-soft leather, originally used for clothing, uholstery, and the like…” It measures 10″ x 5″.

Ruffle Clutch
$90

I love the shape of the Amelia Clutch. This is a vegan bag with a lovely curved shape and a bit of black lace embellishment. It measures 10″ x 5″ and it’s made by Rozcoo.

Amelia Clutch
$85

The Black Fanny Clutch, by Fahmina, is made with pieces of scrap leather that were previously discarded (no waste, I like that). It features mulitiple snaps for both function and fashion – they wanted to give it a “rock-n-roll edge.” What do you think about it’s long, lean shape? It measures 15″ x 5″ and you can also use it as either a shoulder or waist bag. I think that’s where the “fanny” in the name comes from. Another good thing about this bag – it benefits the Give Light Foundation, which works with orphananges in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.

Black Fanny Clutch
$230

Image credit: Green With Glamour.com

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3 Reusable Shopping Bags Under $25

Michelle Smith — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:09:43 +0000

When I shop, I use re-usable shopping bags. My boyfriend calls them my “hippie bags.” Whatever, you want to call them, they make sense for a number of reasons. Some of the bags are plain, utilitarian, which is fine, but if you are going to use them again and again then why not get something cute and fun?

Here are a few bags that I found at Nimli. Right now, at Nimli, you can get 20% off your order of $100 by using the savings code WA1.

On to the shopping….

BYOB Natural Cotton Abby Gr Tote Bag
Regularly $32, on sale for $20

Can you spot the hummingbird? This winter why not add a bit of whimsy to your outfit with this adorable tote! Ethically and sustainably made in Canada.

The Outfit Peace Tote
$24

Cool organic cotton canvas tote. Screen printed front with japanese inspired design bright graphics and contrast stitching trimming. Bag is fully lined with 3 interior patch pockets. Bag measurements are 15″x4″x14″.

Check out this last super-affordable bag. Perfect for eco-friendly fashionistas on a budget.

NIMLI Organic Tote
Regularly $20, on sale for only $7

Organic cotton canvas tote with Nimli’s logo. Dimension: 15 x 18 x 6 inches.

Image credit: Nimli.com

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Keep Your Head Warm, Girl (And Boy)

Michelle Smith — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:00:17 +0000

One of the most effective ways to stay warm on a cool Fall day is to put a hat on your head. A lot of body heat escapes through the head, so cover up with something cute and warmly go along your merry way.

Here are a few handmade and upcycled hats that I found while looking around at Etsy…

Recycled Wool Brimster – $27
By A Babneau Art

Made from what was one considered a “hideous pair of wool slacks.” The hat is lined with tan flannel inside.

Boarder Beanie - $15
By Matic Studio

Cute unisex beanie fits a standard 21.5 inc standard head form. The Boarder Beanie was crocheted from recycled gray tee scraps.

Purple Recycled Slouchy Hat – $23
By Ark’s Endeavors

Slouchy beanie-style hat made from recycled sweaters. These slouchy beanies are also available in other colors, so check out the whole store.

BlackEyed Susanna Newsgirl Cap – $46
By Super Jenny Love

Super-cute hat made from recycled wool fabric, lined with linen, and set off with a black-eyed susan. The flower was made from a recycled cashmere sweater. Expect to see more hats from Super Jenny Love soon. There are too many to chose from and I will definitely be writing up that shop again.

A Cozy Wooly Plum P.B. Jones Hat – $54
By Sparky Jones

I love the plum color of this hat. This unisex hat used to be a Halloween costume and is lined with an organic cotton to hold it’s shape.

Image credits: A Babneau Art, Matic Studio, Ark’s Endeavors, Super Jenny Love, and Sparky Jones at Etsy.com

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Moose Poop Earrings

Michelle Smith — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:13:40 +0000

Here’s something interesting (possibly just to me, but I hope not….), are you looking for something unique in accessories? How about the latest in Coprolite jewelry. Coprolite? Is that a fancy gemstone? Well, not exactly. Coprolite is fossilized poop. Yes, poop.

Jewelry is made from moose and deer poop, but there are many sources of coprolite out there, including dinosaur, fish, turtle, crocodile, and shark coprolite. I’ll have to do some research to see if there is any dinosaur poop jewelry (what kid wouldn’t be fascinated by that?) out there.

What does the Moose poop jewelry look like? It looks like shiny oblong stones. Sort of like a Milk Dude all shined up. The moose poop is shiny because they coat it with polyurethane after completely drying it out.

Moose Poop Earrings
$10

Moose Poop Clip On Earrings
$10

Moose Poop Tie Tack (or Hat Pin)
$8

Image credit: Tell Me Where On Earth.com

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Fall Trend – Choker Necklaces

Michelle Smith — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:32:06 +0000

When it comes to making updates to your wardrobe, adding new accessories is an easy and cost-effective place to start. Cheaper than a new pair of high-end booties or a designer bag, chokers are fun and funky Fall accessory trend.

The look is a mix of bold and feminine. The use of heavier-weight materials or a wider necklace takes a girly item and give it a touch of edginess. Some of the choker designs include multi-strand chains, beading – glass or metal, assorted baubles, and gemstones. Take a look at Rihanna below for an example.

I found some cute chokers in the Leaf Lee shopat Etsy. My favorite is this one, the Gold Mesopotamian Style Wire Wrapped Necklace. The use of varying sizes of metallic beads draws your eye all over the necklace. It’s an interesting piece – on trend and very reasonably priced at $28.

The Red Oriental Wire Wrapped Necklace adds a burst of color at the neckline. It’s made of flexible wire with a mixture of beads – glass, plastic, and pearl. It’s a bold color choice for only $28.

Leaf Lee’s Chain Necklace is made from dangling bits of chain. The links are of a large diameter. This choker sells for $34.

Rihanna image: Zuma Press
Choker images: Leaf Lee’s Little Sweat Shop at Etsy.com

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Etsy Weekend – Sherry Pruitt Level Necklace

Michelle Smith — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:48:28 +0000

Etsy weekend shopping…… In Sherry Truitt’s shop I found this necklace that is made with a repurposed carpenter’s level. I like this necklace because it immediately brought my Grandpa to mind. He used one, but it had yellow liquid inside.

Level Necklace True Blue Spirit
$42

Here’s what Sherry had to say about her True Blue Spirit Level Neckace…..

Watch the bubble float gently along in this working carpenter’s spirit level necklace. It’s calming, so zen. It creates a focus to put your life in balance. And, really comes in handy during a picture hanging emergency.

Very unique. I like the blue, it looks like a little bit of ocean. The necklaces are handmade and may vary slightly. The level is attached to the necklace with recycled aluminum end caps. The chain is 18 inches long. The necklace arrives in a box that is perfect for gift giving. Shipping is free.

Image credit: Sherry Truitt’s Shopat Etsy

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