cross-pollination/promotion

I have really enjoyed writing for my imaginary online audience! One of my good friends recently started her own blog. She named it Boudoir Betty which I think is a perfect name for a shop! She was sweet enough to feature one of my etsy shop items. Oddly enough, the item recently sold!

I can't help but wonder, was this by random coincidence?

Off to load the UHaul. It's amazing how much crap one accumulates in 4 years...

~flutterbyblue

risd|works

My baby brother is graduating this weekend! In addition to spending many hours in the hot sun watching far too many speeches on a big screen, I have also spent some time walking around Providence, RI. A small little corner shop called risd|works proved a particularly exciting find. The items at risd|works are designed and produced by Rhode Island School of Design alumni and faculty. The artistically arranged shelves and tables showcase all sorts of fun and unique items, from gorgeous handmade pottery and glassworks to unique jewelry and kitchen utensils. One of my favorite items was this funky doorstop:

FOOT IN THE DOOR

We could ALL use a foot in the door! Just place the ever-so-dainty toe of this playful pump under the crack of your very own door and it will be held open in style.

Another favorite was this gorgeous faux suede and leather bag designed by IMOOI:

IMOOI is named after the dutch word for 'beautiful.' Oddly enough Mooi was also the name of my beloved pet dog (although technically she was named after the Cantonese word for 'little sister.')

Goedenacht,
~flutterbyblue

while you were sleeping

Check out my friend's grand opening for her very own online shop at pequitobun.moonfruit.com!!! She is the one who inspired and encouraged me to start making jewelry of my own! There are some gorgeous pieces all made from beautiful vintage components reassembled into creative and very original items. I love how she combines all sorts of colors and textures! I don't think I'll ever reach her couture status, but I do love looking at her stuff!

Last night while my jet-lagged boyfriend was fast asleep I made this piece:

while you were sleeping

(It's my new favorite!)

We are moving house next weekend so projects may be few and far between. However, I do find jewelry making quite relaxing and meditative so every spare chance I get I'll be crafting!

~flutterbyblue

afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten at 4 o'clock and traditionally includes loose tea served in a teapot along with various tea sandwiches, scones and other cakes and pastries. It is possibly my favorite kind of afternoon activity. Therefore, I have made it my mission to try out all the afternoon tea spots in Boston before finishing graduate school. A lofty goal, I know, but I'm willing to make the attempt.

The first location was the tea room at the Ritz Carlton (now the Taj). The room was filled with comfortable armchairs and cozy couches, and tea was served on small round tables by tall windows overlooking Newbury Street or on low coffee tables more interior. A harpist offered additional old world ambience. The food, in a word, was FABULOUS. Everything was served to perfection from the lobster profiteroles to the tiny little tea cakes. Tea was served in ceramic teapots heated over tealights and an attentive waiter came by periodically to refill the cups. For a classy, but light afternoon tea experience, this is the place to be.

Next on the list was the Mother's Day tea at L'Espalier. Here the food was PHENOMENAL. Unlike at the Ritz, the focus was on the savory fingerfood. My personal favorite was the Toasted Niman Ranch ham and Comté with currant chutney. Following the vast array of sandwiches came the dessert plate. This was less impressive than the desserts at the Ritz, but after all the savory bites, I could barely finish the sweets! Still, the Tarragon Madeleines and chocolate covered strawberry were particularly good. L'Espalier provided the best tea sandwiches I have ever had, although the dining room does not have the same lovely ambience as that at the Ritz.

Most recently I tried out tea at Intrigue in the Boston Harbor Hotel. Although the food was not on par with L'Espalier or the Ritz, the waterfront location more than made up for the difference. In summer there is outdoor seating right along the harbour and on cooler, rainy days the indoor seats afford a view of the water through tall windows. And for the surprisingly affordable price - it was definitely worth the trip!

If, in the off chance you cannot make it out for afternon tea, why not have it at home? A Whittard of Chelsea just opened up on Newbury Street. Stop by to peruse their tea selection while you sample freshly brewed teas along with scones, cookies and madeleines. Perhaps you'll find a special bone china teacup to call your own!

À tout à l'heure,
~flutterbyblue

PINK is my favorite color...

Well, it's not really...(I'll let you guess what my REAL favorite color might be!)...but who can resist a pair of petal pink stiletto heels?

pretty in pink

Did you know that the stiletto heel is named after the stiletto dagger? They say that the heel of a stiletto shoe can transmit greater pressure than that exerted by an elephant standing on one foot. Now that's impressive!

This charming necklace is made in honor of opening weekend at the South End Market in Boston. Sadly, the weather here has been terribly cold and rainy, but hopefully tomorrow's opening day will go well! The SoWa Open Market hosts a wide variety of vendors, whether you're looking for hand-crafted accessories, original art, antiques or just a fresh loaf of bread, you'll find painters, sculptors, photographers, clothing and jewelry designers, milliners, handbag designers, house wares, antique dealers, florists, bakers, local farmer's produce, and much more every week! So if you are in the Boston area, it's worth a trip!

~flutterbyblue

Jours de la Semaine Collection

My new Jours de la Semaine Collection!
…something light and unique for every day of the week!

Additions will be on the slow side (grad school gets in the way of jewelry making far too often!) but I'll do my best to keep things updated. My inspiration comes from every day life mixed with a little bit of fantasy. These pieces will be light, airy and delicate -- perfect for pairing with those cute little summer dresses and tank tops!

wednesday night at the modern



sneak peaks of current projects:



Sweet dreams!
~flutterbyblue

off with the old and on to the new...

So the problem with making jewelry you love is that eventually you might have to part with it! One of my favorite items just sold this week on my mintd website:




Sigh...then again, just about everything I make is my favorite piece! Here's a new one:

luck of the irish



and a sneak peak at my latest project...


Ciao!
~flutterbyblue

blogging confusion

After spending the better part of Friday playing with my brand new blog site (trying out some html and learning the ropes) I thought I was in pretty good shape to keep it up. Blogging is easy! Blogging is fun!

However, after spending an hour tonight just trying to log back IN to my account I am realizing this may take some getting used to. This is why I never majored in Computer Science back in college...

...and yet, she continues to plod on. My current plan is to launch a small summer collection in the coming weeks. If I could keep a secret it would have been a surprise, but already there is a new section in my etsy shop:

jours de la semaine

As one can't help but notice, nothing is listed as of yet.

Once my jewelry making skills catch up to my minimalist French capacity, I will let you know.

Friday afternoon blog

Welcome to my blog site! To be honest, I'm probably quite inept at this sort of thing, but a good friend of mine has convinced me that blogging for the program-challenged is possible! So here it is...

...a blog devoted to all of my favorite things:

good food
pretty jewelry (things I make and things I wish I could make!)
art and shopping

Oh, and I spend most of my day in a laboratory posing as a graduate student. ;)

We're just getting started, so I'll check in again soon!

Cheers,
~flutterbyblue

Stop by my new etsy shop here!

amusing inspiration