Wednesday Item Feature: A sophisticated Halloween choker

Halloween is fast approaching, and if you're not one for costumes and flamboyant decor, here's a more subtle item for those a little bit more quiet but still appreciative of the spooky holiday. Ohmay on Etsy knits a variety of goodies in San Francisco, and I spotted a cute one just in time for this orange-and-black holiday (or, if you'd like, in advance for that Thanksgiving dinner coming up in a month).

More like a toasty brown with dangling copper elements, this choker necklace is fitting for both the more refined Halloween lover or even just a San Francisco Giants fan looking for nice accessories to be worn on a daily basis. If you love Halloween color combinations outside of the holiday, this is a nice treat for your neck anyway. Multiple strands of dainty ribbon are clasped together in the back, with a beautifully knit pendant in front. The knit pendant is also removable and can be used as a brooch for a peacoat or plain little black dress with the addition of a safety pin that you might find laying around your house.

This is an absolute gorgeous find for those looking to buy something for the season and out of the season (fitting for both Halloween and Thanksgiving!), as this is a piece that can be worn beautifully at any time of the year and for many occasions. Looking for unique jewelry for your bridesmaids? A set of these choker necklaces for a bride and her bridal party can happen, and if you would like a different color combination, just send a message to the maker!

Crafted from cotton yarn and antique tone copper findings, this choker necklace is fitting for the older Halloween lover or just a lover of chokers in general. Get your hands on one (or two) and keep your neck cozy while you take your kids trick-or-treating or save its autumnal aura for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Check out ohmay's listing on Etsy now: Hand Knit Choker Necklace - Toasty Brown TieDye Angel Wings!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

Wednesday Item Feature: Happily hanging skulls

When we think of skulls, we normally think of them in black and white or otherwise pretty monochromatic. Bone color, dark settings, creepy feelings. Erin Crocianni from Oakland (also known as PuffyWoodson on Etsy) steps away from this feeling and presents skulls in a colorful environment, with brightly colored chains.

Erin carefully paints tiny skulls and makes them into beautiful wooden cameo necklaces, adorned with crystal accents. Choose from a purple, red, green, or pink chain to go along with it, and you've got yourself a happy Halloween necklace that your friends or co-workers can hardly accuse you of being morbid for wearing. With the cameo measuring 2" by 3" hanging on a 20" chain, this would accompany a plain black t-shirt (v-neck or crew neck) very well to help this little buddy pop out at viewers without scaring them.

Handcrafted from wood, chain, and gems, give your little daughter a happy take on Halloween if the holiday appeals to her or get two and present your best friend with a pair of these colorful necklaces to wear as symbols of your friendship if you're into that kind of thing. Know someone's birthday is coming up near Halloween? Cheer them up with a sugar skull cameo! Great as a gift, a personal accessory, or even as a decoration to hang on your wall at home by your desk or at work to give your space a little color, this necklace is one to talk about.

Remember, this listing is for one necklace only! Order one and set a bright Halloween trend; the wide grins on these skulls are sure to put a smile on your face!

Check out PuffyWoodson's listing on Etsy now: Sugar Skulls Cameo necklaces 1!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

Wednesday Item Feature: Weightless metal

Drawn to moonlike items and crescent shapes, I was drawn in by the shop name alone before even seeing any listings: The Moon Shop. Founded by two individuals from Oakland, Cory & Cassidy offer elegantly made items to wear, created from "the excess of society and the bounty of the earth by using materials that are scavenged, re-purposed, donated, and sustainably produced."

Awed by some of their one-of-a-kind necklaces, the picture of their Copper Eurydice Necklace stopped my eyes for a good minute or so. If the item listing did not have "leather" written in it, I would have never guessed. At first glance, the full necklace appears to be metal. But upon reading the description and staring hard, you will find that this necklace is made from tiny pieces of leather. Ever been bogged down by heavy necklaces? This is the solution! Each hand-cut vintage metallic leather crescent shines with beauty but rests comfortably on your neckline with a featherweight softness.

Perfect for a subtle touch of elegance with a plain black dress or with that favorite forest green knit sweater in your closet you always wear with jeans. Even with a cream colored lace dress, this necklace will add sophistication to your summer or early autumn wardrobe. Either way, this necklace will fit many occasions and would definitely be an item to start up a conversation. A great gift for lovers of metal and earth alike!

Check out TheMoonShop's listing on Etsy now: Copper Eurydice Necklace (leather)!

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

Wednesday Item Feature: One of a Kind Necklace

I recently sent my best friend a "care package" for starting grad school, which included various playing card related items (such as "chocolate cards" and dice with card suits on them instead of numbers). Though I know zip about poker, having a best friend obsessed with cards makes me more aware and attentive to things with the combination of hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades.

Bronwen Mauch (also know as TirelessHearts on Etsy) handcrafts unique charms upcycled bicycle materials. Bronwen has recently started a new series called "The Love Letters" which features pendant designs of card suits and "Love". Carefully created with standard card colors, the Queen of Hearts 2 necklace is made from red and pink latex and black butyl tubing.

Shipped ready to wear, the pendant comes on a coated stainless steel cable at choker length. Bronwen's necklace is a cutely rough square that would be a nice surprise to fall out of a love letter to your object of affection, especially if the love of your life is a poker player or card dealer. Or, on the other hand, if it's something that's your style, pick it up for yourself and show off your love for card suits right where your collarbone meets. As Bronwen says, "Hopefully, love is a gamble that pays off." And hey, you can love yourself and give yourself a gift, too!

Check out TirelessHearts's listing on Etsy now: Queen of Hearts 2, loveletter-style!

Bronwen also has an upcoming show in San Francisco THIS WEEKEND at Hecho Local! Like Tireless Hearts on Facebook and get updates and find out more! For more information on Hecho Local, click here.

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

Silver berries and silver leaves

Pretty flowers, nice cards, brunch, lunch, dinner — things to give and do for your mom next month. And then there's jewelry. Everyone knows that jewelry is a huge market on Etsy. I could spend hours browsing on Etsy for the "perfect" handmade item, but once I find something that really catches my eye, I think and long for it, whether it would make a wonderful gift or go well with an outfit hanging in my closet.

The latest piece to catch my eye is a handcrafted open necklace by Gabrielle Lessard (also known as mangosteenjewelry on Etsy) from Oakland. Her Fine Silver Leaf Berries Open Necklace is simply beautiful. Made from metal clay and sterling silver, the necklace sits on the neck, with the leaves embracing you. The details on the leaves give the necklace an ethereal look; whoever is the lucky owner of this will look like a dream.

Gabrielle's unique open necklace is one that will definitely turn eyes, strike up a conversation, and is something to awe at. From the leaves to the berries, this is a finely crafted and highly desirable necklace. Mother's Day is next month, and this is something special you might want to consider getting before May 8th or before someone else does!

Check out mangosteenjewelry's listing on Etsy now: Fine Silver Leaf Berries Open Necklace

It is also currently at City Art Gallery (828 Valencia in San Francisco).

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene

Tiny fingerprints: a touching gift

Parents always want keepsakes of their bundles of joy from tiny hand-prints molded into plaster to little stompers painted on paper. For those who want something more durable and easier to keep close, how about fingerprints in fine silver?

LilyBuds on Etsy offers 99.9% pure silver handcrafted personalized jewelry, fun to give as gifts or keep for yourself to show off. For parents of two, LilyBuds has a cute little fine silver heart that fits two little fingerprints and names. Great for mothers (think twins!), grandmothers or busy godmothers with more than one little kid to keep in mind!

As a recent college grad bearing zero kids and having no nieces or nephews (yet), I still think the fingerprints-on-silver is a great idea! And I'm a sucker for cute stuff. LilyBuds puts an extraordinary amount of effort into these little things; shipping out from Clayton, she'll send you a little kit with simple instructions on how to get your children's fingerprints done, which you'll send back so she can handcraft your jewelry with the impressions you take. Depending on where you're located, this might take some time, so if you're thinking of having one done as a gift or by a certain date, keep in mind the time restraints associated with a process like this.

If I were a mom, I'd definitely get this; there's something special about personalized jewelry, but having tiny fingerprints of your own toddlers close to your heart is even more touching. It's also an amazing thing to have for those who adore their younger relatives — I know many students who go away for college and talk about how they "can't wait to get home to play with their little brother/sister/niece/nephew". I can't imagine this being a quick and easy gift for a friend since you'd have to borrow a couple kids for a bit, but if you're a husband, think about it! You could give your wife a fancy store-bought necklace encrusted with jewels or you could give her a more personalized touch of love with the help of your kids.

Oh, and Mother's Day is coming up in a couple of months — how convenient!

Check out LilyBud's listing on Etsy now: Two Child Fingerprints in Fine Silver Heart - Medium

Tune in next week for the Wednesday Item Feature!

Love & donuts,
Mayene