Nicole Giordano Blog

Hello darling readers!  So sorry I’ve been a bot m.i.a recently. But I have a good excuse: Vacation.  Yep, that’s right, I spent last week “roughing it” in the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas in Arizona with my mr. and some very fun friends. I spent the week {almost} completely email free and tried to reconnect with nature.  But all this is for another post. (I promise to share photos and the crazy experiences. Think donkeys, road blocks, missing friends, and Denny’s.)

For now, though, I would like to share a funky little jewelry line I just discovered: ETHER/ORE JEWELRY. The line presented itself to me at the perfect time, as it’s reminiscent  of my recent trip to Arizona, the styles reflecting an American Southwest aesthetic.

What are they all about? Here’s what:

New York based designer Nina Fagiola founded Ether/Ore Jewelry in 2010. A sculptor and traditionally trained jeweler, Nina personally designs and hand crafts every piece in her eclectic line. She combines her own metalwork with found components and chain and carves original wax models that are cast in 100% recycled metals in NYC. She has lived and traveled extensively in India, South America, and the American West and draws inspiration from the jewelry traditions of those places. Ether/Ore is a collection of wearable treasures that celebrates the union of earthly essence and ethereal energy and embraces an edgy yet elegant aesthetic.

Pretty relevant considering the awesome tribal and ethnic motifs all over fashion mags and blogs right now, huh?  But don’t be fooled, the line isn’t trendy or fleeting.  The pieces are classic (not over the topic) and are something that will remain in your jewelery box (or jewelry closet in my case) for a life time.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces:

Va-Voom V Cutout Necklace:

Red Desert Earrings:

Shell Pendant Earrings:

Molten Honeycomb Cuff:

So, check out these shoes.  They’re made from newspaper.  While I like and appreciate the initiative of creating pieces of fashion out of recycled materials, especially something like paper, a material of which this plant has plenty, I’m not sure I’m diggin’ the look of the shoes. I think they’re kinda hokey.

What do you think? Would you wear these shoes?

Well, at the very least it’s creative and the process is really cool, right?

Have you ever thought about being hypnotized?

I have.

Photo: http://smokingcessationhypnosis.wordpress.com/

I’m not sure that I would ever actually do it, as, to be completely honest, it kinda freaks me out. But, I can’t say that I’m not intrigued by the idea of cracking into the subconscious; figuring things out, setting things straight.

Why?  Well, I like the thought that aspects of my person, my head actually, could have a light shone on them. Everything from addressing my un-wavering lack of patience to forever closing the door on carbohydrates (What?! People are hypnotized all the time to help break smoking habits.  My addiction? Bread.)

Anyway, I’ve always felt kind of silly talking about my interest in hypnosis.  Not only that, but I’m kind of scared. Scared something crazy  could happen and scared I could find out something I don’t want to know.  I have absolutely no idea what, but still.

I was prompted to write this post because I stumbled upon the website of a New York based hypnotist.  His name is Ilan Zechory, a young guy who has accumulated over 800 hours of clinical hypnosis experience and uses it to help people make positive change.  Or so says his website.

Anyway, I don’t know.  I guess I’m  just curious; would you do it?

It’s been a little while since I’ve shared with you an emerging brand that I discovered while at WWD MAGIC in Las Vegas a few months ago.  Now, that doesn’t mean that I ran out of cool designers to tell you about, it just means that I am still (yes still) goign through the plethora of print material, photos, business cards, etc that I received while there.

Well, today I carved a half an hour out of my schedule to sift through the clutter allowing myself to find some great stuff to share.  First up?  Ryn Rina.  Adorable accessories hand crafted using beautiful, colorful felt in sunny Los Angeles California.

I have two pieces by Ryn Rina, the Pumpkin Flower Ring and the Taupe Lace Clip .  The pin was a gift from the designer but the ring I purchased myself out of the pure desire to have a playful and funky piece of fabric jewelry. (you all know I’m a textile junkie).

Here are a few shots from the Ryn Rina booth in Vegas.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of heading to Los Angeles for a fashion conference called Retail Camp.  A friend offered to let me stay at her apartment in the cozy little neighborhood of Los Feliz,  not far from where the conference was taking place.

It was such a great weekend; change of scenery, sunshine, and good times. I though I’d share some photos from my experience.

Lemon Tree

Nothing was blooming in NY when I left. This made me smile.

Grilled Shrimp Salad. mmm.

Lattes and Fashion Magazines. Perfect morning.

Avocado Street!

Pretty House on Avocado Street.

More of the pretty house on Avocado Street.

I need to be bi-coastal.

Eco-friendly shoes are my current interest.  I really feel as though it’s a bit more difficult to find earth-loving shoes than it is clothing.  At least shoes that are stylish and versatile and not granola and hemp-y.

It’s not like I have delusions of restocking my closet shelves with boxes of eco label shoes.  It’s just that I need a few new pairs of shoes and I’d like to try to make smarter choices.

I’ve started looking around online and I actually came across a pair of heels that look pretty chic and claim to be friendly to mother nature.

Their kinda cute, huh?

Here are the stats:

Brand: Terra Plana
Materials: Velour, Vegetable Tanned Calf-Skin Leather
Interior: Non-toxic Biodegradable gel pad
Sole: Recycled Rubber Sole mixed w/ Recycled Wood chip Pieces & Wooden Veneer Covered Heel

So, I think I may have mentioned to you all, my dear readers, that this spring and summer are big traveling months for me. And I of course, I;m absolutely loving it.

While the majority of my trips are work related, I happen to love my work so I have been enjoying all the trips I’ve been taking.

A few weeks back, I was excited to learn about an amazing event going on in Washington D.C. called Hermes: Festival of Craft. I immediately perked up with interest. What is this fashionable fantastic-ness and when can I go?  After coming down off my excitement high and remembering that I have a close friend who lives in the area who I rarely get to see, I decided I needed to attend.  So attend I did.

I took the 3.5/4 hour drive in the old Toyota, music on LOUD, singing at full volume and arrived in D.C. around 2pm.  I approached the Hermes store and was immediately delighted by the set up.  Artisans, from handbag makers to scarf screen printers, all sent from the Hermes creative laboratories in Lyon France, had set up shop to showcase how they do what they do.  A demonstration of the true craft behind the fashion!

You can check out more photos here.

After sending 3 hours consuming all beautiful heritage fashion, I drove over to spend the evening with my good friend; sipping wine, eating yummy food, catching up, and enjoying some great conversation.

Great day!

Light weight cotton voile, beautiful print, implied luxury.  All I can say is : I’m in Love.

Oh and: Yes, please!

Pretty Plum Sugar Kimono Style Robe

Fabric Close up

Available at Pretty Plum Sugar (Just in case you wanted to buy me a present)

Even though I completely love the hustle and bustle of major metropolitan areas, city living makes it practically impossible to have a garden.  The cement that surrounds me from every corner does not really allow for much planting, tending, and growing, now does it?

While I love having potted plants on the ‘sills, changing it up is always fun.  So, I’m digging (pun very much intended) these funky little wine bottle herb gardens.  They’re fun and different and act as the perfect reminder for my guy to get his butt in the kitchen and make me some homemade dinner.