#158 Madeleine Brown Handmade Jewellery

About a year & a half ago I used google image to search "doily jewellery"...
Oo hello!!! Be still my beating heart...
These earrings are hand made by tatting cotton doilies before casting them. That's pure genius that is.
They were a strong contender for a long while as possible earrings for my own wedding, but given the quite bold lace on my gown I was concerned it would look too busy & so consoled myself with a promise that I would simply have to obtain some to wear every. single. day.
With a simple dress, or even one with more subtle detailing these would look positively breathtaking as wedding day accessories.

   

Since the moment I first laid eyes on these pieces (seriously, they still make my heart skip each time I see them) I've had a girl crush on the exceptionally talented Brisbane based jeweller Madeleine Brown.
Madeleine hand makes custom jewellery, including stunning engagement & wedding bands that are created after receiving a brief from a client & really figuring out what it is about their personalities or journey together that can be expressed through the final gorgeous product. Couples can also choose to be involved in the actual making of the rings, which would be a pretty special experience & memory.

   

Madeleine also does amazing work in reworking old jewellery pieces to reflect their new owners, such as the second ring pictured above which was originally inherited from the owners grandmother. With Madeleine's talent & insight it was remade into the beautiful ring it now is. You can see the original ring on the madeleine brown handmade jewellery blog, along with many more redesigned & original projects.
Whether a new or reworked, there is no denying that every ring is absolutely undeniably unique & personal.

 
 

The versatility in Madeleines work just amazes me, is there anything this woman can not do!?
Also featured on the blog some time ago was a little sneak peek of works with bone & I'm very excited to see which direction that will go in too.
I love these contempory pieces & think that aside from being generally lovely, would be wonderful alternative bold wedding pieces. How cute is that locket?

   

As well as through the blog you can also find Madeleine's wares through the online store & on facebook.
Check out the blog for super super super sweet photo's from the wedding of the lovely lady herself!

Cx

p.s If you're a design & interiors inclined person I certainly recommend checking out M's fabulous home which at times makes appearances on the blog.

#130 Bamboo Earrings + Cuff links

Wooden earrings are brilliant, they are aesthetically very lovely but also so lightweight that they are incredibly comfortable to wear. I have a couple of pairs & they are easily favourites.
These earrings are from Bamboo Village, any guesses what they're made from?

 
 

So beautifully ornate. A bridesmaid accessory &/or gift?
The lotus pair are definitely my top pick of these & they're only $24.95!

And a pair of Bamboo Village cuff links for the boys, you know, so they don't feel left out.



Cx

#112 For Flowery Girls

These very cute porcelain bird hair clips would be a very sweet flower girl present, & look very cute for them to wear on the day

 
via revisions on etsy

"The dove was a symbol of peace and long life to the ancient Chinese. The ancient Egyptians held the dove to symbolize quiet innocence. Two doves can symbolize love."

I quite like the Egyptian symbolism ( which I hadn't heard before) & it seems very appropriate in this context too.

I love that the porcelain is unglazed & I think that while they are age appropriate & something that most little girls would love, that if cared for it is something that they could also quite easily wear as adult.

I'm all for thinking forward on children's gifts on special occasions such as weddings, I'd like to imagine that they will always treasure the gift as well as enjoying the memory...

Cx

#84 Wedding Ring for Him

I came across this jewelers work on etsy a while ago & I must say I am quite impressed.
 Jewelery by Johan features rings for women & rings for men as well as wedding sets.
I particularly like his mens range, which include more classic contemporary pieces like the first two pictured below...



And the last two, a little more unusual with inlaid wood stripes & a diamond setting, or a matte titanium finish.

But my absolute clear favourite are these unique pieces...




Aren't they just wonderful???
Mr N likes them too so I think at this stage that one of these rings is definitely the front runner for the big day & ever after!
Which one? Well that is quite another matter...
Also, another piece of eye candy from Jewelery by Johan, & in the spirit of something blue?



C x

#80 Bedazzlement

I'll start honestly by saying, I'm really not a fan of bedazzlement.

When I first started wedding planning I was truly aghast at the truckloads of sequins & diamontes that seem to the overwhelmingly prevalent option, at every turn.

That said, although not to my usual taste, there's something about these two photos by Flo & Percy that got my attention...

the wilderness forehead band by flo & percy

I saw them on love my dress & unusually, my instinct to dismiss all things shiny (& pearls) failed to kick in.

Is it because I have found an exception to my anti-glitter rule?

Is it perhaps because the little roses aren't spangled?

Is it because the photographs & model are a bit cute?

It's a complete mystery to me, but I thought whilst in a magpie mood, I should take advantage of the fact by having a look through the rest of the Flo & Percy collections.

The mystery deepened as I found more twinkly things that took my fancy...

Oh the glistening... Next thing you know I'll be sobbing about double rainbows...

Jokes aside, if sparkle is your thing, well worth checking out!

C x

#78 mysweetmuse

Wedding day accessories. So hot right now.

I am love love loving the pop of colour trend for accessories & shoes that is absolutely everywhere worth looking at the moment. 
I generally like things less when lots & lots & LOTS of other people like them too... Mary Mary Syndrome? Yeah maybe. 
Anyhow, that sentiment doesn't extend so far as that I like the colour trend any less, or that I'm going to stop loving mysweetmuse anytime soon...


I love that mysweetmuse has the perfect jewelery for either a more traditional wedding piece (albeit extra spunky) or a vivid punch of colour piece.
Speaking of spunky... yep, that gorgeous model is the genius behind the jewels, the fabulous Eva Carter.
SUPER excited that we will be featuring an interview with the lady herself very soon...

all images via mysweetmuse
I love this piece, imagine that with a white or even champagne/oyster wedding dress....
Knock out.
And yes. Custom pieces are also available, as well as any colour you can dream of.
As if we needed any more encouragement?
Would be uber awesome as bridesmaids gifts too I'm thinking...

Cx

#44 Gretchen Hillhouse Design...

Or perhaps that should read Gretchen Hillhouse Divine?

After both the magnificent talent & the Gorgeous Gretchen herself!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Shall we start closer to the beginning?

This is a photo of my STUNNING little sister E (On the right), backstage at the Gretchen Hillhouse 'Heloise & Hildegarde' collection fashion parade (Unfortunately I couldn't locate a photo showing said amazing collection so I'll just make clear that her attire is her own).

Fast forward, & I'm going a teensy bit out of my mind trying to find anything remotely like what I want my wedding gown to be, a particularly snooty Canberra bridal shop assistant gives me a little panic inducing scare (see previous post) with her speech on how long it will take to alter a wedding dress as well as suggesting I do some rather strange things with a bolero - apparently she's a designer?.

Anyhow, it's safe to say I am officially freaking out.

Then Gretchen quite unexpectedly comes to mind...

I try not to get my hopes up as I ask E if she thinks Gretchen would be interested in rescuing me from wedding dress hell...

A nail biting wait for the call that says -YES!

I fly to Victoria within the week to have my initial meeting with Gretchen, a little extension on my visit, & in less than a month from thinking 'Hmm perhaps I could look at having my dress made by someone?' - the dress of my dreams...

IS FINISHED.

Unbelievable.

Gretchen Hillhouse, ladies & gentlemen, is an angel, a miracle worker, a ridiculously talented artist of so many mediums AND indescribably friendly, delightfully sweet & undeniably good looking to boot!

One visit to her home studio & I had complete confidence that she understood & would in fact most skillfully exceed my expectations in creating the gown that I had envisioned.

I also felt as though I had known her for years - Which is a strange & very lovely thing.

Gretchen Hillhouse with some of her exquisite jewelery & her breathtaking ceramic bowls.

Those bowls really do blow my mind... One day.

Via Gretchen Hillhouse Design

Well worth a visit to Gretchen's website to see LOTS more swoon inducing ceramics & jewelery...

I also love her jewelery, which as it just so happens, looks mighty bridal appropriate to me?

Um, hello ceramic wedding ring in the 5th photo?

Well maybe not so much the Electron Collection for wedding wear (Correction - MY wedding) but they're just so fun & quirky that I couldn't resist showing you ;)

I have 2 more fittings at the end of January, for final adjustments = weight loss, but it is completely constructed.

I really still can't believe it. SO exciting... It makes it so much more real?

So much of the planning process is not tangible but I have held the dress that I will be wearing when my love & I say 'I Do.'

Wow?

x

edit: Yay!!! Some pictures of the beautiful models Ella & Freda in the equally beautiful Heloise & Hildegarde collection!

Unfortunately blogger is having a tantrum and won't let me post them any larger, but still, it's a glimpse...

LOVELY no?

Thanks Gretchen :)