T3’s Ticket to Fabulous Honeymoon Hair!

Calling all Brides-to-be! T3's got your ticket to fabulous hair! Beach getaways bring on more than romance – they bring on frizz! That’s why, T3, designers of professional hair styling tools and products, has teamed up with acclaimed hairstylist, Orlando Pita, to give brides everything needed for Hot Honeymoon Hair.

T3 has a really cool promotion going on called Honeymoon Hair - brides to be enter to win a 2-day trip to New York City, a private hair consultation/makeover with Orlando Pita, T3 tools (a line of pink styling tools) and products, cash and a Sephora shopping spree! Brides can enter at www.honeymoonhair.com! The contest has already begun and ends June 13th. Jump for more tips on fabulous hair from Orlando!

More for Valentine's Day

I'm still trying to get my depleted website full once again, but it's not easy when you're a one-woman design team. Custom orders do keep me busy and away from the computer (that's why I'm always writing at night, at home, since my studio is downtown.). If I could make jewelry and work on my custom orders at home, I'd never get anything listed on the site. This week, sickness has also intervened , keeping me in bed for 3 days and away from the studio and the computer. My dear kitties , who are only a bit over a year old , totally exuberant, full of life and energy, spent most of those 3 days in bed with me, one sleeping beside me, one on my feet or legs. Of course, now they have energy to spare and all they want to do is play.Some of the new bracelets that will be on the website soon (or at least by the end of this weekend) are on the post today. The first is a rose quartz bracelet with pretty lampwork beads by Riveroaks Acres; it is big and chunky thanks to the rose quartz nuggets and the sterling bead with the heart on it. The next bracelet is unusual - a heart bracelet - perfect for Valentine's - but instead of pink or blue or red, the beads and heart are a combination of amber, black and metallics, both gold and silver in an odd combination that I really like. I mixed some black agate with banding with it, but the beads (by Lynn Nurge) are really the bracelet. It is goldfilled from each small bead to the toggle clasp. It will be on the Lampwork Bracelets page.
The sapphire bracelet below is made of more of Lynn's beads, borosilicate this time, and faceted sapphire rondelles. Loads of sterling silver are on this one.The amethyst earrings hang from some of my favorite posts with a cabochon amethyst bezel-set in them. The dangle part of the earring is made of carved amethyst lilies (love these lilies, love carved beads!). I like the posts myself because years of wearing heavy earrings have stretched my ear piercings. With the nice metal and plastic disk back, these posts hold the earrings in place without stretching your earlobes.

The Tuscon Gem Show is coming up in less than a month and I'm very excited about all the new gemstones I'll be getting. Every year there is something new and special to play with. I can't wait!
Note to my readers in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, and Norway - we here in Arkansas feel that we are suffering because the thermometer hit 20 Fahrenheit. No snow yet, but the wind is bitter. I wonder how we would fare in Lapland?

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Oh Thelma...

Still no sunshine to be found for prancing-around-in-dress time, but something else has cheered me up immensely and that is Thelma's AW08-9 collection. I personally don't need any encouragement when it comes to trying things on the head and accessorizing it to the maximum but other people might need coaxing. The beauty of Icelandic, Paris-based designer Thelma's headgear is that it might be something quite exaggerated stuck on a headband which means it's not at all fiddly and she gets the balance of restraint and drama just right in each of her pieces. She might go all out for private clients like Bjork (yay for the Icelandic collective...) but in her ready to wear pieces, there's nothing terrifying or OTT about her headbands adorned with oversized rosettes or pieces of crochet that demosntrates her Ecole Lesage (Atelier de Broderie) training. Yet there's still that bit of an 'edge' that probably means you won't be seeing these on the Gossip Girl headband crew just yet (give it a few more seasons and they'll do an SATC where the fashion just goes into overdrive....)...

Get your own posse

Among a certain set of celebrities, a posse in an indispensable accessory...after all, everyone needs someone to carry their cell phone, hold the money, be in charge of makeup... Only problem for the real girl is you have to pay them.
Have no fear...the Juliana Tote from Possé New York does all that, and you don't have to buy it drinks or dinner.

The Julianna is large enough to hold everything you can think of from daily essentials, to papers or even a lap top. An outer pocket which sits just above an additional flap pocket makes for a pair of perfect places to quickly stash change, a cell phone, a lip gloss...the things that usually stop you in your tracks as you try to put them back in their proper place quickly...as the person on line behind you in the market can attest...you're not that fast.
Two grades of leather, smooth and pebbled add a monochromatic accent, and the chain shoulder straps give the bag an almost retro feel. The straps are topped with padded leather to give carrying comfort 9totes can get heavy, and nothing is worse than a metal chain digging into your shoulder!)
Inside, are a zip pocket as well as 2 open pockets, and the top snaps shut with a magnetic close.
The Possé New York Julianna comes in black or red and is $495 from Couture Candy.

My Picks!

Left to right: Maxi Tube Dresses, $29.50, www.oldnavy.com; Maxi Braided Halter Dress, $39.50, www.alloy.com; Maxi Bra Top dress, $98, www.victoriassecret.com; Janie Maxi Dress, $44.50, www.delias.com

Left to right: Leaf Print Maxi Dress by Matthew Williamson, $1675, www.net-a-porter.com; Gina, $129, www.mangoshop.com; Diane von Furstenberg Long Chiffon Print Dress, $425, www.pinkmascara.com; Diane von Furstenberg Oroiti Long Dress, $425, www.pinkmascara.com

A maxi dress lends itself to so many possibilities – heals or flip flops, belt or scarf, earrings or necklace. The possibilities are endless! I say go for flip flops this season. Also invest in a vintage-inspired leather belt. Next find the perfect accessories including a slouchy bag, big earrings, long pendants and lots of chunky bangles. And don’t forget a cardigan - you’ll need it when the weather gets a little chilly.

SizeAppeal.com

Above: April, $48, www.sizeappel.com

Left to right: Malin, $28; Aziza, $28; Alice in Mint, $29, all available at www.sizeappeal.com

So the other day my co-worker and I were having yet another frustrated conversation about how stores don’t carry pants wide enough for our hips or jeans big enough for our booty. Then my other co-worker yelled “shut the hell up” from down the hallway since none of us knew what it was like to be over a size 14 trying to shop at the local mall. Granted she had a point but what’s up with all the hostility? I’m just playin’! This sista is always dressed to impress. You would never know the trouble she goes through trying to find clothes that flatter her figure. It was her who suggested I do a write up on www.sizeappeal.com. She’s bought many of her summer items from this online store and I can tell you first hand that the stuff is cute! Now I have another place to complain about. Can a sista get that green dress in a size 8?!

Estelle Covers Bleu Magazine…

U.K. singer and rapper Estelle grace the latest cover of Bleu magazine. I knew of Estelle almost 4 years ago when her music was still playing on underground radio stations in London. I’m really happy for her recent explosion into the U.S. market although I’m fascinated to see if her image will help or hinder her. She is after all the antithesis of the light-skinned, long haired beauties that are saturating the market these days. I with her much success!

Bleu magazine is a great publication for “urban” men. Think GQ for the sophisticated black man. I say visit the site, snoop around, then if you like what you see, recommend it to your male friends. This issue hits stands April 29th.

Credit: ConcreteLoop.com for photos.