4.30.2010

Coin Purse

I've been tossing around the idea of branching my jewelry line out into small leather accessories (belts, key fobs, totes, clutches). Not that I know anything about how to make small leather accessories but I figure I can learn, right? There was a time when I didn't know anything about how to make jewelry. But between running AGJ, MBD, and planning my wedding I've got my hands full for a while. If I do ever make the jump, I imagine making cute little things like these coin purses by Emma Carrol. I mean can you handle that pink color? Cause I can't... These would be perfect for all those nights I spend out in da club when I make Alex carry my keys, lip gloss, money, id, et al.


{images c/o Emma Carroll via Daily Candy}

4.29.2010

Vaction all I ever wanted

So in a great stroke of luck... the stars have aligned and Alex and I are able to take time off work next week for a vacation! Since we're not going on our honeymoon right after the wedding (and we're about to celebrate our 6th anniversary) we wanted to go somewhere a little more grand.  We tossed around a few ideas and decided on a hop across the pond to London and Paris. I'm so excited... but I've never planned an international trip on such short notice.  We literally bought our tickets a week ago. 

We'll be spending 3 days in London with a friend of ours then chunnling down to Paris for 6 days.  Both Alex and I have been to these cities before but it was many years ago. Any recommendations of sites not to be missed? Places to eat? Fabulous flea markets (cause you know I love me a good flea)?

I'm counting down the days until May 6th!!!

4.28.2010

AGJ in In Touch


As seen in the pages of In Touch Weekly!! Holla! Click here to order your own pair.

Special thanks to Rachel for all her help.

Vellum mobiles

 

Loving these DIY vellum mobiles by the talented Jordan Ferney.  I don't think I'll ever get enough of cute crafty paper projects.  Click here for instructions (you can make em yourself for less than 25 buckeroos).

{image c/o Project Wedding}

4.27.2010

I Heart Pandora

Pandora only keeps getting better. Not only can you listen to music for free all day everyday and constantly discover new awesome music but now they even show you lyrics!
The other day when I sat down to do some good old book keeping I went to cue up some music. I saw this new little blurb and got intrigued... so I clicked on full lyrics and saw this
Granted this Black Keys song, while awesome, is not a lyrical masterpiece. But if I was curious what Dan Auerbach was saying right after that third 'no' well now I know.

FYI Pandora also has a Blackberry app that streams all your stations for free. This was very useful when I had to drive from San Diego to LA by myself with a sofa sticking out the back of my trunk and I had to drown out the noise of the wind and my pounding heart. Bisous Pandora!!

4.26.2010

Crayola Love

An evolution of Crayola's crayon color offerings.  As a child of the eighties I feel like I got the short end of the stick (although it's nowhere near as bad as back in 1903).

{via Black*Eiffel}

4.23.2010

We Love Liam Raffle

The very talented Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press is trying to raise money to renovate her 6 year old son's bathroom. Liam has a rare neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2. She's hosting a raffle with tons of great prizes from a wide variety of donors. "There is an overwhelming amount of talent here. The work being offered for prizes is made with love and integrity." AND it's for a good cause. I just bought 5 tickets for $50. You should too.

4.22.2010

Holy Crystal Cave Batman

If this place weren't 950 feet below sea level in a cave that tops 122 degrees I would totally go there. Too bad it combines my claustrophobia with my hatred of extreme heat because this place seems amazing.
From a recent issue of National Geographic:
Mexico's Cueva de los Cristales (Cave of Crystals) contains some of the world's largest known natural crystals—translucent beams of gypsum as long as 36 feet... Modern-day mining operations exposed the natural wonder by pumping water out of the 30-by-90-foot (10-by-30-meter) cave... The crystals thrived because they were submerged in mineral-rich water with a very narrow, stable temperature range—around 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
Apparently if they stopped pumping water out of the caves and let them fill back up these babies would continue to grow. BANANAS!
{images c/o National Geographic via This is Glamorous}

Tufted Rainbow

How awesome is this kaleidoscopic rug by Portuguese company Piodao?? They recently previewed this beauty at Milan Design Week. I hope it goes into production soon... wouldn't it be perfect in a bright living room or nursery??

{images c/o Piodao via Poppytalk}

4.21.2010

Sniffles

I've been a little under the weather since Sunday with a nasty cold. It's drizzly outside and altogether yucky. Dreaming of warmer days in warm waters...

{Anja Rubik by Carter Smith c/o Fashion Gone Rogue via Dress, Design, Decor}

4.20.2010

New wave paint

What a playful paint job... but keeping the colors muted, the furniture simple, and the floor rustic keeps it refined. Loves it.

{c/o Marie Claire Maison via The City Sage}

If I had a hammock


...I would never leave it. I'm loving this one by Novica which not only benefits endless hours of lounging but it also benefits the environment. It's totally eco-friendly AND for every one sold, 6870 acres of rain forest will be preserved. Gotta love that for $69.99. One of these days I will have a yard or a porch or a balcony for my hammock. One of these days.

4.19.2010

AGJ in Real Simple

Be sure to check out the latest issue of Real Simple Magazine. AGJ's Peruvian Opal Ring is featured in the Mother's Day Gift Guide. Click here to order your own! Click here to read more.

Big thanks to Julee Wilson!!

Banksy in LA

New work by Banksy spotted around the corner from my studio in downtown LA (actually on the wall of my former parking lot) at 9th & Broadway.  A new documentary is coming out about him soon that should be good, Exit Through the Gift Shop. Thanks for the tip off Dad.

{image c/o LAist.com}

Ampersand oh ampersand...

Oh Ampersand... how do I love thee? Let me count the ways I can write you in different fonts (ok. Not Shakespeare I know). But I do love this new Ampersand print by Keep Calm Gallery. Each print comes with an identification key that details the names and weights of all 61 ampersands. From their site:
Based on the Snellen eye chart, this three colour print has been designed to keep your typographic eye keen on the details of everyone's favorite conjunction. A corruption of the words 'and per se and,' ampersands are often a way that the type designer can show a little bit of flair and style in their design.
 {image c/o Keep Calm Gallery via Design*Sponge}

4.16.2010

Dotty Vases

Yes. By now you know that another great e-issue of Lonny has hit the virtual news stands. Lots of great eye candy. I'm finding myself obsessed with Michelle Adams' (the founder of Lonny and Rubie Green) bedroom. In particular this gold polka-dot vase that is a Kate Spade Cloverdale Dot Vase from a few seasons ago. Where do I find me one of these!!?? Must find gold polka-dot vase...

**UPDATE*** I do love me a challenge. After some interweb sleuthing and a few phone calls, I have a brand new gold polka-dot vase coming my way courtesy of Abe's A Touch of Joy's Ebay store. He said that he has a few more coming in but I would give him a call if you want one. Apparently they are selling like hotcakes! I'm not going to think about how much it cost me ($200). I'm just going to smile and be happy with my new purchase. Plus Abe said that it retails for $250. So really I'm saving money or something.

{image c/o Patrick Cline for Lonny}

4.15.2010

Letterpress Dice

Love this idea... all of these prints were made by letterpressing dice.

all prints available at Stukenborg's Etsy shop.

Big Girl Purse

So as an overdue present to myself for getting into Lucky magazine back to back (one of the first goals I set when I started AGJ 9 months ago), I've decided I'm going to splurge on a fancy new purse. I'm even willing to pay full retail (gasp!). Now I'm not too wrapped up in 'it bags' but I really do like how these look and I could see carrying them daily. Thoughts? Faves? Am I crazy?

Goyard St. Louis PM bag ($940) with some cute personalization (more $$) a la Diane Kruger. Although these are apparently only €510 in Paris so if anyone is planning a trip I'm happy to prepay you :)

Balenciaga City Bag  ($1395) in some fun color like this girls

Mulberry Oversized Alexa Bag ($1250) named after Brit It girl Alexa Chung.
 PS1 by Proenza Schouler Bag (starts at $1595) similar to the Alexa but not quite the same

The Balenciaga City is the front runner at the moment. I like the cross body options of The Alexa and the PS1. The Goyard St Louis seems the most impractical as it has no inner pockets (although the monograms are hand painted which you gotta love). Plus I tend to carry my bag on my forearm rather than my shoulder. Although I'm not quite sure this is a practical or wise decision in the first place. Do you have a favorite bag that I'm missing?

Surprise wedding

The perennially adorable Amy Moss over at Eat Drink Chic is a sneaky sneaky girl. She invited her friends and family over for what they thought was an engagement party. Turns out it was the actually wedding! I love this idea!!! Her vibe was backyard, rustic, personalized, and playful. UH-MAZING!!! Congrats to the happy couple.

{images c/o Eat Drink Chic}

4.14.2010

Wee See

These developmental DVDs seem pretty cool to me. Do I need to be an infant to want to watch them?


From Wee See's site:
Part art installation, part pacifier, Wee See is a collection of black-and-white animations built from basic shapes to delight both child and parent. As vision develops slowly over the first months of life, Wee See provides surfaces of bold, well-defined artwork to engage your baby’s curious mind and bring the screen to vibrant life.
With great sensitivity to the delicate nature of the audience, Wee See’s animations move methodically slow and maintain an extraordinary simplicity yet remain endlessly inventive.
With both DVDs containing an original score by Tim DeLaughter, each moment has extra meaning. The same level of playfulness and care at the heart of the imagery also shines through in the music.

 {images c/o Wee See via Black*Eiffel}

Just in time for Mother's Day...

We've got a bunch of new styles that are the perfect present for you or your mama. Including my new favorite design... The Close to My Heart Necklace (top left). It's a modern take on the BFF necklace but instead of half a weird jagged heart, it's a set of delicate little hearts with alternating halves paved with diamonds. Tres chic!

Just head over to arielgordonjewelry.com to check out more of our new styles...

4.13.2010

Moody Blues

I'm loving the moody jewel tones of this house.  Plus all the contrasting texture - the skin console tables, the lush velvet seating, the angular acrylic chandelier. LOVE IT!

{via Dress, Design, Decor}

Camila Alves wears AGJ on Shear Genius

 
I don't know if you watched Shear Genius this season... but you should have (even though stupid Brig  and her stupid roller skates ended up winning). Not only did my good friend Kristin style Camila Alves' hair through out the entire season, but Camila also ended up wearing a bunch on my jewelry on the show.  In one episode she wore the square dangle earrings, the fatty ring, the hex ring, and the faceted cigar band ring. YAY!


 (Sorry for my shoddy screen shots. It's the best I could do)

4.12.2010

Dr. Gordon aka Dad

Allow me to digress from my typical post topics to talk about something a little more personal. A local San Diego paper just did a profile of my dad, Dr. Gordon, and his views on the health care debate. I'm so proud of you Papa Bear for all the hard work you do to reform the system!!

4.11.2010

Invites

SO, my August wedding is starting to feel like it's getting really close. I've been super busy the last few months and things have been put on the back burner. I feel like I've got to kick into action. I'm trying to figure out what I want our wedding invites to look like and I'm feeling torn in so many different ways. I'm pretty sure I want to do something graphic and modern with hearts but that's all I've got. 

Invites like these make me think I should just stick to something simple and use negative space as part of the design...

 BUT... invites like these make me think I want something bright and playful.

It's kind of my eternal aesthetic dilemma (not to sound too dramatic or anything) What are your thoughts? Decisions decisions...

{From the top: Bespoke PressStory by Mia; Satsuma Press; Thoughtful DayDolci Odille; Mae Mae; The Indigo Bunting: Thoughtful Day}


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