Swooning at Loulerie

I spotted these lovely pieces on the Loulerie site the other day and can't stop thinking about them. I think they will certainly make their way on to my wish list for Christmas. The stacking ring above is made of antique rose cut diamonds and 18k gold. Buy them one at a time and stack 'em up with each birthday or Christmas or any old excuse at all!

I love these initial pendants. Available in silver or gold and also with a semi-precious drop. Wouldn't they be lovely with separate ones with the initials of your kids for example? I think I'll drop some serious hints to my Santa!

Angel wings! I don't wear long earrings very much, but I think I'd make an exception for these. Aren't they pretty...

Have a look at Loulerie's site for more beautifully chosen pieces. Or ideally visit her pretty store on Chatham St - it's one of my favourite shops to look around when I'm in town.

Wrap me in Gold Chains Please!

Isn't this pretty! I like the delicate chain that still has tons of impact due to it's length. It would be delightful over a plain t-shirt and pencil skirt with a thin tan leather belt perhaps... It's by Mallarino over on Net-A-Porter. A little pricey but a lot beautiful!

Pretty Pieces

I met the really talented jewellery designer, Aisling Nelson of Rangoli at a wedding Fair last week and fell in love with her gorgeously original designs...

She makes stunning bespoke hair pieces as well as all types of jewellery. The difference with her work though is the methods she employs to create them. She crochets some of the delicate wires to amazing effect and can create vintage styled or more modern designs.

Aisling works with crystals, pearls and precious metals and the real beauty is that she will consult with you to design your ideal piece.

Aisling is a hit with many Irish brides and deservedly so...

Have a look at her site here and her lovely blog which contains lot's of wedding inspiration too...

Gorgeous Gemstones

There are numerous supposed benefits to wearing gemstones. From re-balancing your chakras to more specific results they have a huge following. Whether that is hocus pocus to you or not, at least this jewellery designer, Nallik, has made them into stylish necklaces, so you can look great whilst you get the benefits ( or not - whatever you think, yourself!)

Above: Quartz and brass - good for balancing your mind and physical body.

Rose Quartz- balances your emotions.

Quartz on 30 inch brass chain.

Amethyst and gold - considered one of the most spiritual gemstones, it is good for attaining wisdom and peace.

Chrysocolla and brass - good for those needing peace and harmony and recovering from a broken heart.

A Shot of Neon

A bit scared to actually wear the new neon trend? Well you can easily embrace it with some pops of acid brights. I love these aztec inspired necklace and earrings by Tom Binns . Made by him painstakingly hand painting Swarovski crystals...shockingly expensive, but cool!

A much easier and perchance more accessible way to wear neon is to paint your nails. The shade below is Lemony Snicket by Sally Hansen and I adore the straw bag with acid edges by Marc Jacobs...

Watch It

I have fallen in love with this rose gold watch from Michael Kors. I'm seriously lusting after it, I tried it on the other day and can't stop thinking about it. It's €275 but how pretty and lovely and worth it, no?
If it were mine I would never wear long sleeves and hide it's rose gold beauty. I would offer the time to strangers on the street and would ask kids if they want me to time them in races - all to get the value out of it you see!

What time is it? What time is it? (repeat ad infinitum - I won't care!)

On Target

From time to time I love nothing more than browsing through the vintage jewellery auction online catalogues and adding things to my wish-list. Lately, Ivan and I have been imagining what we will treat ourselves with if our new business is a success. His treat will be a new car (surprise, surprise!) and mine will be this Victorian target ring that is currently up for auction at O'Reillys Fine Art on Francis St in Dublin. Isn't it beautiful! I have found myself looking at it every day and imagining it glistening on my right hand....

We got my engagement ring (above) in an auction too and it was a pretty exciting process as I had fallen in love with it but there was no guarantee we could get it until Ivan placed his bid over the phone as the auction was going on. Our hearts were in our mouths as the lot number approached!

Lovely Loulerie

There's a beautiful girl called Louise and she sells beautiful jewellery in her store in Dublin called...yes, Loulerie! It's been open for a few years now and she sells the most stylish and chic pieces. After a few years spent working in the industry in New York she was exposed to lots of creative new labels previously not seen on these shores. She still travels there each season bringing back her pick of the latest trends. The designers she stocks represent something different in the, dare I say, slightly jaded jewellery scene in Dublin. Not everyone wants the now ubiquitous charm bracelets and run of the mill wedding solitaires and bands. Louise and her team offer a fresh approach and can help you to accessorise an outfit as well as offering a bespoke design service for something truly original. It's my favourite contemporary jewellery store and I frequently pass by and stare longingly in the window.

I am currently coveting this stackable 18k gold ring and bangles... aren't they pretty!

The Moss Rock

Here is La Moss's engagement ring. From the 1920's and bought in the Bond St jewellers she frequents to buy her own diamonds each year on her birthday; this is a ring and a half and yes, I love it!

Forget that other Kate's upcoming wedding, it's this Kate's nuptials I'm more interested in....the dress, the hair, the venue. Prepare to swoon over the style, that is if she lets us see anything at all. The notoriously private Kate is not expected to do a deal with OK/Hello mags any time soon! Yes, I know she is always papped falling out of parties, but I don't reckon we'll see a peep of her big day - more's the pity.

Wish List

I found these pretties yesterday whilst browsing, I love the delicate bow necklace so much...

This rainbow coloured cuff would be so gorgeous to liven up the ubiquitous winter blacks...

I always like to see contemporary styles of pearls and this half ribbon, half pearl design has my heart...

(from anthropologie )

Magpie Session

There was nothing on TV last night but doom and gloom about the economy etc etc. So I left that viewing pleasure to Ivan and went to look at some pretty jewellery. I get solace from the tighter times by picking out things for my imaginary wish list. I call these my Magpie Sessions!

I love these rings from Janish Jewels, a great little shop on Etsy. They use rough and dark diamonds as well as precious stones on hammered silver, yellow and rose gold bands. Their prices are really reasonable for the quality of the materials , so perhaps some of these may actually make it off the wish list and into reality!

Love this rose cut diamond, so unusual...

These emeralds are from another little etsy shop called One Stone New York...

This bib necklace would be great to dress up a t-shirt or peeking out from under a worn denim shirt. It's from here...

My inner magpie was really squawking at me when I saw this Swarovski crystal wrap bracelet. The crystals are sown into silk cord and it ties with a cute button. It's also from Red. Lovely.

Jewels and Gems

I stumbled across this jewellery designers site and fell in love rather quickly. I'm really drawn to handmade, unusual pieces such as these rings. I like the irregular non-uniform shapes and the rich tone to the gold...

Deep tourmaline...

A simple yet beautiful setting...

Isn't this beautiful? Tiny pearls encased in gold...

These are rough, uncut diamonds so they lack lustre but still look amazing...

I think this would be a lovely wedding band... love the circular shape.

Pearls Please

A new way to wear pearls...The Bib necklace, I'm loving it.

By J Crew

Pretty Rings

I was hunting through Etsy the other day which is one of my favourite places to browse for creative handmade jewllery and I saw these rings by Bloom Studios...aren't they lovely?

I really like these thin gold hammered bands...gorgeous for a wedding band or just stacked...

This unisex hammered gold band is cool too...perhaps for the groom?

Pretty Pieces

I came across these gorgeous pieces of handmade jewelery on Etsy. Aren't they lovely! They are made by a girl called Rachel in Seattle. Check out her shop called Elephantine here...