let your soles shine

every fashionable lady needs that special something about her outfit that stands out and says:  look at me.  shoes, hair accessories, fabulous jewelry - every woman has her preference. 

for me, lately it has been shoes.  [i've been rocking my fire engine red melissa + campana "jellies" almost daily.]

i usually keep my clothing on the neutral side and let my accessories or shoes do the talking.  don't get me wrong, i absolutely adore color.  actually, i'm obsessed with it.  teal, citron, raspberry, aqua, copper - BRING IT ON.  i have always had a great eye for color combination, but grey is truly my color of choice to wear.  [you should see my closet, it looks like a bruise - mostly grey with some black and blue!]  also, when you wear neutrals, a pop of color stands out even more!  less is definitely more. 

ok, picture this:  a lovely curve-hugging sleeveless knee length dress in a soft grey hue.  after choosing the perfect look, what comes next?  shoes.  this season i've been strongly attracted to flats in bright hues - something to spark interest.  [keep it classy, not trashy ya'll.]  i am a tall woman and certainly do not need the height of wedges or heels, so it's always nice to take it easy for once in a comfortable pair of ballet flats.  they are simple to wear and come in an endless array of colors, styles, and with various designer detailing.  just about every designer is making them nowadays, so they are readily available at most stores. 

as a vegetarian, i have stopped purchasing anything that uses leather in its construction and let me tell you, it's not such an easy task to find vegan shoes that intrigue me!  many companies use leather because it is a luxurious [barf] and durable material, but other sustainable materials such as cork, recycled rubber, and recyclable plastic are being used more and more. 

one fabulous handmade shoe company that i found is EXTRASEED.  they're based in Ethiopia and absolutely fab.  a shop full of colorful flats in various textures?  love.  with extended sizes to accommodate even large-footed lovelies such as myself?  love x 2.  a mainly vegan selection?  lovelovelove.  using recycled car tire tubes for the soles, vinyl "leather" for securing the shape, and scraps of fabric for the outer color and texture, they certainly define eco-friendly shoes.  [two thumbs way up for reducing waste!]

my favorite style is this pair of teal flats that have a sort of fish scale texture - just beautiful! and at $38 per style, you cannot go wrong! 

Extraseed Eco vegan flat shoes wedding shoes size from US 5 TO 11.5 - $38

Eco friendly vegan shoes wedding shoes flat shoes Green shoes US 5 to 11.5 - $38

Hand made wedding shoes Eco friendly vegan wedding shoes flat shoes Green shoes US 5 to 11.5 - $38

EcoFriendly Vegan shoes wedding shoes flat shoes red shoes handmade shoes women shoes - $38

PS:  here are a few other favorite brands that are either vegan or offer vegan options.  amazing designer styles...be conscious and don't purchase things that use dead animals in their construction!  <3

olsenHaus
melissa
TOMS

ridiculously huge moving sale...

it's happening.  i'm finally moving my midwestern ass to the mountains.  i absolutely do not want to bring all of my inventory with me, so lucky you, it's.....HUGE MOVING SALE TIME!

please visit my conscious clothing and accessories shop, ravissant.

many items are already on sale half off, so take advantage of the extra discounts!

**please purchase items full price so your items are secure with YOU and i will refund you the difference as soon as i notice your order.  thank you for understanding!!  

if you're local - no shipping and free delivery! 

MOVING SALE: 

• buy ONE non-sale item, receive a sale item FREE*
• buy ONE non-sale item, receive HALF OFF* of another non-sale or sale item
• buy ONE sale item, get another sale item FREE*
• spend over $100 and receive a surprise gift and FREE PRIORITY SHIPPING

* free and half off items are of equal or lesser value than original purchased item.

offers are valid until monday, august 1.  any questions, please contact me.

great time to stock up on gifts for future occasions!

ON SALE - in flight - teal stone and chocolate 16x16 decorative pillowcase - $18.50

cube and circles - metal and copper - 16 inches - $24

ON SALE - jamaica - asymmetrical tie dyed linen dress - medium to large - $70

ON SALE - pants bag - chocolate and violet lightweight messenger - $25

amigurumi

what's amigurumi, you ask?  [no worries, i didn't know either!]  basically, amigurumi is knitting or crocheting smaller scale stuffed animals and other creatures.  powered by cuteness, it's a Japanese art form that has taken the online handmade market by storm. 

as a fan of all sorts of oddities, it should not surprise you that i flipped after seeing a small creation that is cross between a giant eyeball and a venus fly trap [a la rocky horror picture show].  the small alien-like bundle of adorable-ness was crocheted with love in Missus D's studio in munich, germany.  amongst the many amigurumi creations in her shop, she also features fun Lego jewelry and crocheted stones [another fantastic trend on Etsy]. 

she has a printable paperie store too - visit it here.  print cards, calendars, and art on your own time!  save on shipping and customize your order with your choice of colors and fonts.  

my favorite Missus D pieces are below. 

PS:  my birthday is in march...

One Eye Alien Plant Amigurumi- Small- Crochet - $30 USD

Crochet lavender snail amigurumi - about $20 USD

Crochet Benda Robot Amigurumi - about $75 USD

3"-4" Crochet Lace Stone / Häkelstein - about $30 USD

keeping it simple

a dress is quite definitely my favorite garment to wear.  why?  because it is comfortable, sexy, and most important of all - EASY.  easy to style, dress it up, dress it down, add jewelry and accessories, or keep it simple. 

you can quickly find a dress to fit your body shape no matter the season, occasion, or personal style.  all in one step!  ...well, two if you count adding shoes and accessories. with an infinite amount of silhouettes, colors, fabrics, and unique details, the possibilities of creating a perfect look are endless. 

one company that [in my opinion] perfects the dress is Three Little Ducks.  based out of sydney, australia, katherine humphery and patrick mcdermott take classic to a whole new place.  with lovely modern shapes, high attention to detail, and fabulous prints, their pieces are built to last through the seasons and out live trends.  of course they do not only create dresses, but also separates designed to compliment a woman's shape and fashionable lifestyle.

the piece that i am fascinated with is the sexy little number, Antique.  not only is it made of a gorgeous jersey knit [black with gold "scratches"], but it has an interesting circular shape with gathering for a perfect fit that flatters many different shapes.  hot!  i only wish that they offered this dress in many different colors - it could be a favorite of many! 

below are a few choice styles from their current selection.  take a gander and find your perfect dress.

Antique - $140

Chloe Dress - $280

Multi Dress - $280

Ink Iku Dress - $110

sweet!

who can forget the classic Super Mario Bros games for the original Nintendo and Super Nintendo?  probably no one.  unless, of course, you were born after 1990.  even then, the epic-ness of the games still exist, especially nowadays when everything retro is quite hip. 

i, for one, am not an avid gamer of any sort, but give me an evening at home with a few friends, ice cold beer, and some friendly competition Mario Kart, and you'll have one happy girl.  the sights, the sound-effects, the music, the loveable [and hate-able] characters and their usual sayings - LOVE. 

i have a handful of close friends who are "gamer geeks" and they would absolutely adore Until It Ends [Studios].  i'm not a gamer and i love it!  [ok, that must be the inner geek coming out...]  the shop features fun jewelry, magnets, key chains, and other miscellaneous small items, all with character and object charms from various games [mainly Mario Bros and Zelda].  a fantastic way to show that you're a true fan!  a bonus:  everything is super affordable. 

check out a few of my faves below - maybe you'll find something for the geek in your life!  i especially like the colorful goo-filled potion necklaces. 

As Until It Ends [Studios] says...Live. Laugh. Pwn.™

Pick Your Potion - Geeky Gamer Charm Necklace - $6.50 each

Classic Super Mario Bros. Cloud Earrings - $4.95

Super Mario Star Magnet Duo - $9.75

sustainable home

artists who create beautiful and useful products from unconventional or discarded items have a special place in my heart.

as an avid up-cycler, it's always a pleasure to see others doing the same and thinking twice about throwing out something because of a chip, hole, or other imperfection.  making something totally new and unexpected from an everyday ordinary object is a wonderful feeling.  a bike wheel wall clock?  why not?  old and rusty farm tools transformed into lawn animals?  heck yes!  t-shirts cut down into throw pillows?  i approve.  one project that i am currently working on is creating tiny wall planters from the wire on top of champagne bottles.  i have been saving them for a few years now and finally putting them to good use! 

Tytie is a home decor and furniture shop that embraces the old, making it brand spanking new in a truly fantastic way.  picture this:  vintage books as small tables, tea cups and saucers hanging from the ceiling as lights, and vinyl albums stacked as a bar stool seat.  lovely, isn't it?  [you don't really have to use your imagination, just see the photos below.]  a vinyl collector myself, i am most drawn to those bar stools - so rockin! 

also check out tytie.com to see other sustainable projects. 

record bar stool - SOLD (but, maybe they would make more by special request?)

End Tables - made from books  -  $275

tea cup light - $35

i pity the fool

do you enjoy a cup of coffee or tea?
do you purchase sweet mugs to show off while you drink?
[excuse me, but your "best boss ever" mug just isn't making the cut...]

if so, then you must check out lorrie's hand painted ceramic mugs.

or you can just check out her entire ceramics shop, LennyMud.  there you can find ring holders, soap dishes, adorable miniature creations, and other miscellaneous cuteness. 

personally, i am not a coffee person, but gosh, give me some green tea any day.  and hell yes i would love to sip tea from one of lorrie's fun and witty creations.  pinky out of course.  after seeing this "Mr. Tea" cup and funky "alice in wonderland"-esque coordinating saucer, i about fell out of my chair.  not only is it hilarious, but also beautifully painted, well-made, and vibrant - just the thing to wake you up in the morning.  so ladylike, yet so manly...i pity the fool who doesn't want to rock one of those bad boys! 

i promise that browsing this lovely ceramics shop will put a smile on your face, so check it out - or else!

Mr. Tea Pink Teacup and Saucer - $20

Mustache Small Stash Jar - $10

Knitting Bowl for Yarn KNIT - $34

black or white?

 why choose when you can have both? 

black and white cookies could quite possibly be my all time favorite cookie. 

here's why:

a staple in most delis and bakeries in and around NYC, this delicious dessert features a soft and fluffy cookie base flavored with both vanilla and lemon.  [bakeries traditionally created them from leftover cake batter.]  then comes the topping:  vanilla fondant on one half and chocolate fondant on the other.  the best of both worlds!  black and whites are also usually over-sized, so they are perfect for sharing.  or hogging.  or eating the chocolate half and saving the vanilla half for later.  personally, i like to take a small bite from each side at once to get the mixture of the chocolate and vanilla.  yumm. 

one of the many specialty foods that i miss from the east coast... 

until i came across Salt City Patisserie!

located in salt lake city, utah, this bakery is bringing black and white cookies, as well as other specialty baked items, to the rest of the US, one yummy order at a time.  although their cookies look much smaller than the NYC originals [i could never take a single bite out of a manhattan giant like in the photo!], i am sure they are just as delicious.  they also use all natural ingredients and many are locally sourced and organic when possible. 

below are the beloved black and whites and a few of Salt City Patisserie's other delicious-looking treats.  the rosemary/sea salt crackers are making me crave some wine and cheese!  ::drool:: 

All Natural Black and White Cookies - Baker's Dozen - $20

All Natural Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookie - Baker's Dozen - $16

Organic Rosemary & Sea Salt Crackers - 20-30 cookies - $14

All Natural Chocolate Parisian Macaron's with Organic Strawberry Ganache - 1 Dozen - $24

hidden treasures

as i have stated before, i am a lover of all things miniature.  [alright, alright, i'm a fanatic!]  give me mini terrariums, baby elephants, bite-size cupcakes, or tiny utensils any day!  i also enjoy freakishly large things as well, but we'll keep it small for today.  

these adorable mini oil paintings are created by brooklyn artist Khara Ledonne and are just adding fuel to my obsession.  not only are they teeny-tiny works of art, but they are located INSIDE of adorable spherical brass/copper lockets!

YES, she takes special requests.

YES, the necklace is probably the most unique and perfect gift you could get for any interesting lady.  [hey, at just under $40, how can you go wrong with a customized gift?]

YES, there are even discounts for bulk orders!  think bridesmaids, friends, employees, "just in case" gifts to have on hand - many possibilities!  they come packaged in a small tin, ready to give to that special someone. 

take a looksy at a few samples of Khara's hard work - so inspiring! 

Brooklyn Water Tower, Hand-Painted Locket - $36

Oil, Hand-painted Super Yellow Airplane Locket - $36

a beautiful custom order

fun and unique packaging

closed locket

"mixx"-ing it up

these days, many women are looking for versatile, well made garments that are not too trendy and can last through the seasons.  why have a disposable wardrobe?  layering possibilities, classic colors, tailored designer details, and great fit are my top four requirements for clothing purchases.  of course there are exceptions, but for the main part, i stick to basics that can be made my own through the use of unique accessories. 

lamixx is one of the hottest indie clothing shops around, selling "basics" to the masses.  and by "basics" i do not mean boring and predictable.  i simply mean that their pieces fit into the everyday style of many different types of women and are easy to wear [i heart knits!].  knitwear is so popular because of the stretch and the ability to fit various body types.  with neutral colors, sexy detailing [think off-the-shoulder dresses and low-back tops], and comfortable fabrics, there are plenty of possibilities of "mixx"-ing up things in your closet. 

not only is lamixx full of great style, but the clothing is beyond affordable - most items are priced between $25 - $60!  and to top that, for the month of july, the shop will offer a different Deal of the Week special.  just another way to save, save, save! 

below are a few of my choice picks: one dress, one bottom, two tops.  knitwear made in the golden state with love. smokin' hot. 

Adore one sleeve v-neck black shirt, s m - $26

Intermix maxi shift skirt grey s m l - $48

Asymmetrical effortless halter top, grey s m lg - $24

Open shoulder la vie market dress, black s m lg - $36

just breathe

for you romantics out there, this just may be the perfect piece to get your loved one - a statement necklace that seems to say "without you, i cannot breathe."  or maybe it is simply a symbol of life in general, for without our lungs, we humans cannot breathe.  and if we cannot breathe, we cannot exist.  ...or am i thinking too deeply about this?  maybe it's just something to attract attention and make you wonder why one might wear a respiration organ around their neck.

whatever your thoughts [i'm a romantic, so i am going with option number one on this], it is certain that Peggy Skemp's Anatomical Lung Locket is a fine art piece of jewelry to treasure always.  from the intricate detailing of the human lung's bronchi, bronchioles, and lobes to the quality handmade hinges and snaps, all handcrafted in sterling silver, this necklace is sure to turn some heads. 

for other conversation-worthy jewelry featuring beautiful stones, fine metalwork, and the occasional sea creature, please have a look at the rest of the artist's online shop, Heron Adornment.

yet again, Chi-town represent!

A.  MAZE  ING.

Anatomical Lung Locket - $399

outer detail

inner detail

* photography by Rachel Hanel

fun mail

i'm one of those people who still loves to send [and receive!!] snail mail.

maybe it's my obsession with paper products and gift-wrapping supplies, but i believe there is certainly something sentimental about sending a card to a friend or loved one that must physically be opened to reveal a handwritten message.  don't you agree?  so old school!  yet so up-to-date and just plain sweet.  it makes me smile as i imagine the recipient excitedly opening his or her fun mail.  or am i the only one that gets giddy when i get mail?  hmm.  i sure hope not...

my stationery preference is always changing, but i am consistently drawn toward minimalist detailing with clever sayings.  after discovering REDSTAR ink, i may have fallen in love with paper.  again.  [yes, it happens on occasion.  ok, ok - all the time.]  located in near-perfect san diego, california, this simplistic and modern paper goods company encompasses many things that feed my note-worthy obsession:  eco-friendly products, kraft paper, organizational tools, fun prints, and vibrant colors.  the product selection includes calendars, planners, notebooks, photo albums, and tags.  be sure to check out the vibrant Native Summer Collection for a splash of color and geometric delight. 

the featured item is a variety pack of eight different cards with matching envelopes.  with sayings including "you rock", "what's up?", and "i miss you", you'll have every sort of of situation covered. 

* i like to carry blank cards and envelopes with me while traveling so that i can hide a little note to show my thanks when staying at a friend or family member's place. 

simple notes. variety pack. black - $12

trendy candy

if you know me, then you know that i have quite the sweet tooth.  abnormal at times, really.  pretty much anything delish and sugary, i'm all over it.  Vintage Confections' old school hard candies are no exception.  boasting over FIFTY flavors [champagne, tea-berry, pistachio, amaretto, bubblegum, pear...oh my!!!], vibrant colors, and fun designs, who could pass up anything in this shop?  certainly not me! 

Chi-town represent! 

of course i could not choose just one treat to highlight, so here are a few of my favorites including some lovely lollies and birthstone-colored bite-size gems. 

happy salivating! 

Old fashioned hand twisted cotton candy lollipops - 3 pc. - $9

Shirt buttons hard candy lollipops - 12 pc. - $15

Mustache on a stick hard candy lollipops - 6 pc. - $12

April birthstones hard candy gems - Diamond Champagne- 5 oz. - $6

not your gramma's doily

a shop that i have admired for quite some time now has a motto that says "let's get nuts!"  how appropriate since the shop's name is squirrellicious and there are some crazy unique items that are a little nutty!  the Dutch artisan creates everything from fun notebooks, eye masks, quirky lunch bags, and i-phone cases - many with funny little animal embroidery or applique details and colorful fabrics. 

but the items that i am most drawn to are the giant "doily" bathroom rugs.  just like gramma's table doilies - only giant sized.  and colorful.  and awesome.  created from cotton jersey fabric, these rugs will add a perfect amount of charm to your home or apartment.  what fantastic work and adorable logo placement!  want.  need.  LOVE.

doily bath rug bright yellow/lime - $70

detailed view