Speaking of a passion for quality...

Speaking of a passion for quality, a nod to fashion line Phi for choosing quality over commerce. While it is sad to see a label close their doors, sometimes that may be the better choice than the alternative; to wit: 

"...the management team of Phi, while discussing its future, saw a shrinking opportunity for small luxury labels to succeed. Julia Hansen, the chief executive of the company, which had about 35 employees, said the decision to close was influenced by the many requests from retailers to change designs to make them less expensive. (By designer standards, Phi’s prices were not overly obscene — a pair of harem shorts may have cost $1,495, but they were suede.) “There was a lot of pressure to go down a path that we felt would compromise the integrity and value of the brand,” Ms. Hansen said. “But this was about being realistic.”

Read the article from the New York Times here:  "So Young, So Smart, So Gone"

Inspiration for the Day - Hermes

My inspiration for today is Hermes: for their use of color, for their sense of whimsy, for their ability to make art out of simple basics, and most of all, for their long-standing conviction that beautiful items of quality and distinction are worth spending money on.

I've particularly fallen in love with the "Le Monde est Vaste" Silk Twill Scarf, designed by Cyrille Diatkine; not only is it beautiful and the concept behind the imagery fascinating, but a percentage of proceeds go to the National Geographic Society Crittercam program. Check it out! And try not to get too distracted from whatever you were doing browsing their web site (I'm not saying that happened to me).

Le Monde est Vaste Silk Twill Scarf

 

Cat Deeley's Finale Necklace?!

[Idle] curiosity made me do it... Google Cat Deeley's "So You Think You Can Dance" Finale necklace, that is. Turns out Cat is launching her own jewelry line, inspired by vintage pieces she owns. The line will be available on QVC. OK, not so crazy about the necklace (a little bling-y for my taste); LOVED the shoes.

Cat Deeley wearing one of her necklace designs.

The Color Turquoise

On December 8, Pantone named turquoise as it's 2010 Color of the Year, pointing out its [perceived] "qualities of protection and healing in stressful times." Read more here:  http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20706&ca=10

I had the pleasant experience of working with the color turquoise recently, in the form of blue-lined crystal seed beads that I picked up from my LBS, Isabellas. The project was an off-loom square stitch bracelet. The second I began sorting through the beads, I found myself mellowing out. The weaving itself was meditative but more so, the calm expanses of tropical waters evoked with each bead handled did the trick. It is always great when a piece you are working on also becomes an antidote to the stresses of everyday life!