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10 march 2010
Last year, my youngest daughter was in tears after being pinched by a classmate for not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day.
Horrified, I told her to tell people what I (the most non-Irish looking
girl in a Catholic grade school run by a mean, red-headed Irish nun) used to tell my Irish-for-the-day friends. That, DUH!, your underwear is green! Didn't fly with my quiet, shy 2nd grader. So this year, I'm arming my
girls with these.
And green underwear.
a.
9 march 2010
wow. I really thought I had written something in March, but alas, this month must have whooshed in like a lion thsu preventing me from giving you proper attention. (sorry!)
After weeks of sunny skies and warm temps, it has become gray again in Portland. But the jewelry sitting on my desk and making its way to the website is anything but!
I'm planning a midnight-at-the-oasis-girlfriend-getaway here in spring. And this will be on my wrist.
happy almost spring!
a.
25 february 2010
With this modern, clean-lined bracelet on your wrist, you'll feel quite at home reading
this.
"As she sat contemplating the disrupting concept of adding a second story to her mid-century modern, she took comfort in the quote engraved inside her bracelet. For perhaps the contemporary life was no longer for her, and
a busy victorian house was in her future.
a.
19 february 2010
I tried this necklace on today, but wrapped it around my wrist over and over and over and completely felt like
the darkness of winter had passed and the warmth of spring was on the horizon...Plus, it is just way cool.
have a great weekend!
a.
11 february 2010
Let your Valentine know there is still time!
Pick one of these so you don't get a pair of
these.
FREE 2nd Day Air delivery on all orders over $100 placed today! Better late than never, right?
Because while the latter is so very tempting, you'll be able to leave the house with the former.
a.
29 january 2010
Anyone stop and read the little messages on the new generation of candy hearts lately? Crazy, they are. All those silly abbreviations for words like, BFF (best friends forever and LYL (love ya lots)...
Well, being newly twitterfied (kind of like terrified), we are trying to wrap our minds around all this quick-talkin' lingo, but are finding the shortened versions of some phrases conspicuoulsy absent.
For instance, why not BMT = Buy Me This?
Or, IRWOOT = I Really Want One Of These!!!
And why not IU(heart)MGT4M = If You Love Me Get These For Me.
have a candy-sweet weekend!
a.
26 january 2010
We did it.
We succumbed.
We were thouroughly twitterfied by a saucy, ultra-cute, twenty-something techie last week who convinced us that, yes, we really did need to enter into the fast-paced realm of 140 character social networking.
So we did.
And there we are.
And now we need you.
To hang out with us.
We promise it will be fun.
AND, we are having a contest TOMORROW (wednesday, the 27th) for a TWIST gift card - the recipient randomly selected from followers.
And we would love more than 8 people from which to choose!
see ya on the twitterside,
a.
19 january 2010
I felt something very distinctive in the air Sunday night as I sat and watched the Golden Globes. (By the way, watching awards shows like that is like a serious, olympic-caliber game for those of us who love jewelry. Identifying
designers by the split second glimpses we get is a hard-core sport!). Anyway, I sensed a big comeback. And no, not for Micky Roarke (guy, give the hats a rest!). For jewelry. Big luscious, colorful, sparkling, statement-making
jewelry. It was a sight to behold. And a welcome one at that!
Check out some of the looks here.
And especially Calista...who looked absolutely lovely wearing jewels by this designer. But she kind of needs to eat a cracker or something so the weight of the
earrings don't blow her away.
xo
a
18 janurary 2010
(I'm still trying to figure out if it is 'twenty-ten' or 'two thousand and ten'...)
I was just given a huge tray of jewerly from this designer to begin prepping for the site. ANd the race is on! Let's see if I can finish writing my descriptions
before the photographer shoots, edits, crops and links them. The winner will be you as soon as they are all online!
a
and oh, by the way, we are expirimenting with Twitter...join the data collecting and follow us...and then maybe we'll continue our jewelry fun and games there...
7 january 2010
Happy New Year!
Happy New Decade!
The only think keeping me distracted from the fact that this is the decade I turn 50 is that I have a bracelet like this on my wrist. (And if I just alienated all you twenty and thirty-somethings out there with my age, become a fan of TWIST over on Facebook where the action seems to be happening. Besides, we're having a contest and you're invited!).
xo
a.
22 december 2009
Anyone besides my daughters counting the days? My oldest is using her attorney-in-training skills to convince me to start the Santa festivities tomorrow. Yes. Tomorrow. Lucky for you - or anyone else out there who is still
in denial - THERE IS STILL TIME! We are going to be shipping tomorrow for delivery on Thursday! So lounge around the rest of the day, but get to business tomorrow!
And Happy Solstice!
a.
15 december 2009
Another little GIFT GUIDE for YOU! And yes, I meant that literally. If you don't pick out what you want, can you be sure Santa will? What with all of the toy trains and dollhouses he's got to
get together, certainly the little jewels will fall through the cracks...And time is tick-tocking away...
Price Point: under $500 but over $100
Recipient : YOU, baby!
* If you would rather wreck your nails on the rock wall than glam it up at the holiday ball, then ask for this.
* You have endured wayyyy too many close calls with the earring-tugging-baby : try these.
* The holiday frenzy is wearing you down and all the hot yoga in the world won't ease the pressure : zen out with the simplicity of this serene necklace.
* Because you have received too many salad spinners from your husband and really don't need another one (thanks for the thought, honey) : maybe he can get you this and you can pretend he has read the inscription.
* You just want something beautiful : ahhh...these are perfect.
Last day for UPS Ground is Wednesday, December 16th!
Last day for UPS 2nd Day Air (all orders over $200) is Monday, December 21st!
ho ho ho -
a.
8 december 2009
Here's a little GIFT GUIDE for you.
Price Point: under $75
Recipient : one of the many friends you have
* For the woman who stopped you because your coffee was still on the roof of your car (she was a lifesaver!) : these mocha toned earrings.
* Your twenty-something cousin who needs an accessory other than her phone : this so her
eyes can practice focusing on something other than weensy text messages.
* For the sister-in-law who insists you are related by blood and calls you 'sis' : this because maybe she needs it in writing.
* The teacher who gracefully (and discreetly) informed you of your child's in-class-booger-eating habit : these for their knowing, quiet elegance.
* And for the childhood friend you ate bologna sandwiches and played barbie's with : this because she is the only one with a key to your little-girl past.
a.
3 december 2009
Hoo-boy! Husbands, boyfriends, partners, significant others....get ready. You are about to receive a stealthy planned approach from your verbally agile, incredibly convincing and totally deserving better half.
She's armed and ready and knows what she wants. Play it cool - like you always do - and beat her to the punch. Chances are, she's done her research, has been sending you hints and knows exactly what she wants.
And, chances are, she has one of these. What are you waiting for? I'm just sayin'...
ho ho ho -
a.
25 november 2009
At TWIST, we are thankful for the bounty of creativity we get to be a part of each day. Thank you to every single artist and designer we represent online.
You inspire all of us!
We are also thankful for YOU - our customers / shoppers / blog-readers / Facebook fans!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
a.
20 november 2009
If I had to decorate my holiday tree today, it would look like this. There are simply not enough adequate words to describe this collection and I am still trying to scoop up my jaw and mop the puddles of drool from the floor.
a.
19 november 2009
wow.
I have one week to get ready for Thanksgiving? Last year, I thought this would be the cat's meow. It was more like the cat's
pained wail in the dead of night. Never. Again. As a matter of fact, it was such a horrible experience, we are going Mexican this year with fresh tamales made by one of my husband's students. Yum.
Late tomorrow / early Friday, we will have a sweet, holiday surprise for all Cathy Waterman fans! I cannot wait to unveil it!!! It will be way better than unveiling last year's Thanksgiving fiasco. Way better.
a.
13 november 2009
My ten year old daughter is at a sleep-over where is was rumored they were to be watching the original "Friday the 13th". Not a fan. Of a ten year old watching it. So I'm the mom that spoils all the fun.
Never thought I'd be THAT mom. But alas, I am. So in honor of her missing out a movie she should be watching when she's...oh...like 30, I'm dedicating this Fancy Friday to her. Because I know all 6 of those girls
are holed up in the bathroom, painting their nails and attempting to curl their eyelashes without serious injury.
I would put her in this dress with faded skinnies, her chocolate brown Uggs and
this necklace (fancy for a ten year old!). Then maybe I would let her watch a scary movie. With me.
Happy Friday the 13th!
a.
For another look, go to our Facebook fan page...go on!
12 november 2009
THRIFTY THURSDAY: we are loving these earrings worn with anything because they are "cool and pretty" (thanks FB fan Julia Ann!).
We agree and especially like them with a vintage inspired holiday dress!
What would you wear them with?
Tomorrow = FANCY FRIDAY....hmmm....what oh what will I wear?
a.
5 november 2009
THRIFTY THURSDAY:
Charcoal grey, short-sleeved sweater dress in chunky knit, long black cardigan (unbuttoned), black tights, black suede boots and
this great necklace.
Thanks Joanne!!! Love it love it love it!
What are your Thrifty Thursday ideas???
a.
29 october 2009
In an attempt to once again organize my life, I'm going to add a little structure to this blog. From now on, Thurdays will be THRIFTY THURSDAY. I will be choosing something
wonderful from the site that is under $100. And I'd love to get suggestions from you! Email me with your Thrifty Thursday piece along
with what you might wear it with and I will post submissions each week.
I'll go first:
This with a 3/4 length sleeve black tunic over skinny jeans and tall black boots. Hair in messy, high pony-tail. Minimal
make-up.
Your turn!
a.
27 october 2009
I consider myself a generous person. After all, my husband gets to polish off the 1/8" layer of ice cream I always leave for him. My daughters have
taken over my finger nail polishes, only to scccrraaapppe it of their nails while it is still gooey. But I'm REALLY generous when it comes to giving away
my boss's money (ah, the pleasure, the pleasure). And since he is still a total non-believer in the power of social networking, I'm going to teach him a lesson.
Go to your favorite place and become our fan. And if you are already a fan, get your mom or sister to become one. I will randomly select three lucky people to
receive a $100 Gift Card to TWISTonline. Yup. I'm doing it. But if you don't hear from me for a while, it means I got caught.
Go on:
TWIST
I promise I won't make you play Mafia Wars or Farmville.
a.
23 october 2009
After seeing this bracelet, I promptly went home, fell asleep and had the most inspired dream!
I was backstage at some kind of awards show in LA and off walks Madonna - one of my all-time heroes. She was wearing an ultra-low cut, tight-fitting black blazer
revealing the most incredible pendant designed by Cathy Waterman. It was a ginormous 22K blackened gold heart pendant
absolutely covered in sparkling diamonds. In the center was a stunning marquis of fire opal (the stone of energy and vitality) and it was hanging from this necklace.
As she approached, the woman standing next to me said, in a serious, professional and I-mean-what-I-say voice, "I need that necklace."
Oprah, if you're reading, we can make it happen.
a.
20 october 2009
I remember the first time I met Jill Platner. It was the first Trunk Show I ever attended (finally - mystery solved about what the heck a trunk show was!!).
I loved her jewelry for the earthy cool look. I loved her even more! She arrived wrapped in the most amazing dress she had someone actually make on her body. Bracelets covered
her wrists and she had the casual air of a down-to-earth surfer. Loved. Her. Well...ten years after that date, I get to meet her again!
This time, I'm make sure to mop up my drool and not stare so much!
If you are anywhere close to the vicinity of Portland, come join us!
a.
2 october 2009
School has begun but I'm going to keep the assignments to a minimum. This weekend, your homework is to join us on the social network you love to hate. Yup, you guessed it!
TWIST
But we're pretty mellow and will only tempt you with beautiful jewelry. We won't make you play Mafia Wars or Farmville or make you take those silly tests to find out what your hippie name is. Promise.
And don't hold your breath...Twist doesn't Tweet...at least not yet. We're too busy adding more crazy gorgeous jewelry!!!
See ya in the fan room!
a.
24 september 2009
Since hopping on this screeching hamster wheel of a school year, I have been moving non-stop. So last night, I sat down for some R&R (read: cheesy network tv premieres) and stumbled upon this show. How relevent. And tragic. I love that Courteney Cox is my age. I love that she has a great sense of style. I love that crammed between her cleavage is the necklace that matches these earrings. I really love that she is wearing this necklace the morning after her one night stand. But really, she should just put on the amazing jewelry and stop right there.
Because being a 'cougar' isn't really something to flaunt. Amazing jewelry, on the other hand, is.
wearing-great-jewelry-in-the-privacy-of-my-own-home-and-not-at-the-bar,
a.
11 september 2009
So I'm not tan, the pounds didn't melt from my thighs and the garden I so carefully tended to in June would make a great meal for someone on the dry-food-only diet. There may also be a few new grays sprouting from my head. But.
BUT....I'm not chalking all of my days into the lost summer column quite yet. There is new Me & Ro with a nod to the made-famous-by-the-80's (and oh, the Scottish village producing the textiles
after which it is named) paisley. Love love love this pattern combined with the coziness of a chunky-knit fall sweater. And check out the latest collection of Dana Kellin with rich, sparkling jewel tones. So perfect with your new favorite jeans.
Another bit of good news, I can still do basic math. Combining the in-stock collection from our three bricks and mortar stores, we have over 100 Cathy Waterman rings including this...this...magical object.
My assignment this fall: to get off the one month blog plan. Time for straight A's.
Until our next class,
a.
11 august 2009
I am in total denial about summer being in its sunset month. I really am. I have no idea when the kids start school (I'll figure it out in a few weeks), I haven't figured out any kind of child care (is 8 and 10 too young to stay at home alone?),
my sweaters are in storage (hmmm...might be easier to just get new ones), I have yet to take the rest of my summer vacation (let's here it for New Mexico in September!!!).
And this jewelry is definitely keeping me in the sunshine and warm weather. Loving the colors and the reclaimed vintage elements.
A perfect pairing for...uh...back-to-school outfits.
enjoy your August!
a.
29 july 2009
If you've been wondering about my whereabouts, I have been slowed to a screeching halt by the excruciating heat in Portland.
And it's really hard to use a computer when I'm trying to keep my head above the pool of sweat in which I find myself treading. Really hard.
Today, I'd like to be wearing these. And pretty much nothing else.
So cheers from Portland, which seems to be having an identity crisis and thinks it is Al 'Aziziyah,
a.
8 july 2009
I kind of go into lazy summer mode right around now. But the day this man left our world was like a octo-shot americano.
It woke me up and made me a little sad. Certainly the end of another era. So it's no coincidence his music and genius energy filled my thoughts as I wrote the descriptions for this artist's latest collection. At his best, during his prime, he was a shining example of creativity, inspiration and imagination.
Hope you are moonwalking around the stars up there, MJ.
a.
24 june 2009
Something very important came to my attention today. While chatting with the most wonderful and friendly barista / baker this morning, he
said, "Would you PU-LEEZ blog about the kelly green and black situation? It's just wrong!!" Hmmm, I thought while I quickly scanned my outfit for the offending color combination, I hadn't really noticed what he sees as the nausea inducing clash of two neutrals. "Kelly green with beige would be fine...or even with
red if you want to do the Christmas thing", he
lamented, "or...I'm looking at your earrings and am imagining it paired beautifully with gold!" So, my friends, should you consider the kelly green in your jewelry collection, allow me to offer some suggestions:
There is this handsome bangle (but don't pair it with the related item because that would be wrong...).
Or, you could splurge on these.
Or maybe you just want to dip your toe into the kelly green pool with this necklace.
Just keep it away from black.
xo
a.
19 june 2009
Somehow Portland has adopted the weather of my home town: humid, overcast and threatening rain. If I look at
these lovelies the day gets a little bit sunnier!
a.
16 june 2009
I have a love / hate relationship with all of this facbook / twitter / texting stuff. Really. As curious as I am about what is going on in the lives of my friends and family, I really don't care
what you are doing to combat the dry rot in your basement, how many times you chewed your hamburger or think your kid is cute standing with Cinderella in Disneyland. So why do I log on every hour (don't tell my boss...)?
What is our fascination about being so voyeuristic? What did we do when there was no internet or cell phones? We lived through busy signals and anxiously awaited a personal letter in the mail from a faraway
friend. You had to wait for pictures to be developed only to be horrified by closed eyes and a blurry hand-in-motion. And do you remember catalog shopping? Filling out the enclosed form and sending it in the mail???
For better or for worse, we've come a long way baby.
Friend us on facebook, you never know what you might get from us!
a.
12 june 2009
I get asked a lot about my jewelry collection. People comment that it must be amazing since I'm surrounded by so much amazing jewelry. Do you know how long I have worked here to procure my small collection?
Let's just say proper meals and good nutrition is over-rated when you weigh it against great jewelry. Besides, my kids could easily forage for a full meal from the floor of my car.
a.
8 june 2009
Portland. Sunny. Monday. Wearing my fav jeans, a black tee and my cydwoqs. Decided it's not as much about the clothes as it is about the accessories.
Wearing these. Added this to my stack of bangles. And seven of these babies on my middle finger. To complete
this look I washed my hair and applied a swipe of lipstick.
Happy almost summer.
a.
15 may 2009
Sometimes I think people get worried about having to spend a gob of money when they buy jewelry as a gift. Not true. I gave this to my daughter when she finished lower elementary and she hasn't taken it off. My brother, dad and I gave these to my mom and they remain some of her most treasured earrings (and dividing the price three ways made it affordable for us 'kids'). I gave my bestest friend this for her birthday and she loves it (but loves it even more that her friend works at TWIST!). Another one of my friends received this for her 40th birthday.
The point I'm trying to make is that if you really think hard about the person you are buying for - think about what would speak to them. What metal? What color stone? What size pendant? Are they
a minimalist or are they trendy? Don't get too specific thinking about the designer or the price because that will naturally fall into place...
....Unless you have a seven year old daughter like mine who said to me, "Mama, I want something from TWIST for my birthday and oooooohhhhhh, wouldn't
those be sooooo pretty with this mama?!"
Guess she doesn't quite fit my theory. Oh well. There are always the stats you have to throw out, right?
Have a swell weekend!
a.
11 may 2009
I love when we get new jewelry from this artist. The color combinations are always new and fresh and you can liven up your look without having
to spend too much $$$.
a.
8 may 2009
Today, I'm celebrating my 20th annual 21st birthday and let me tell you I'm getting DOWN! I've got my double layer of spanx on and am headed home to make margaritas. Back in the day (before the invention of OR need for spanx), I would
have let it all hang out on the dance floor and maybe ended the evening in my skivvies and these.
Have a great weekend everyone!
And to the moms out there - Happy Mother's Day!
a.
5 may 2009
It has been one of those days. Lost a diamond ring, daughter wouldn't get into the car, forgot the class snack, got locked out of the house, pouring rain, spilled coffee....you know what I mean.
I'm pretty sure it's a mom thing because I have never seen my husband experience a morning like this. I treated myself to a mini double-chocolate shake for lunch, but it wasn't very good. Bad day made worse.
So moms out there, don't feel bad if you end up treating yourself to something as a reward for the tireless job you do.
You're not alone!
xo
a.
1 may 2009
Not only do I run this website, but I am also the mother of two attorneys-in-training / master negotiators / experts-in-pulling-the-sympathy-strings who really don't
let me get a word in edgewise. Imagine dinner at my house - me and my husband trying to have a conversation with each other using ONLY facial expressions. We've probably lasted
as long as we have because I interpret his eyes to be saying "Honey, you rock!" when really, he is trying to nonverbally say, "I can't believe you haven't paid the water bill yet!!!
So moms out there, it's time to speak up! As a reward for the wrangling we do, the multi-tasking we have mastered and the committment we have made to this lifelong unpaid job, we need to request validation in the form of
14K gold, But 18K is nice too. And certainly 22K gold would bring a smile our faces.
Just a beautiful, sweet token is really enough.
I'll be pondering some more Mother's Day picks over the weekend.
a.
24 april 2009
Every Friday I leave my office with an extensive mental list of things to do, things to organize, things to make, things to....you get the picture.
There never seems to be enough time in the weekend to get it all done. So tomorrow and the next day, I'm going to simplify and stop to smell the flowers. If I could translate
this idea into jewelry, it would look like this.
Have a wonderful weekend!
akira
21 april 2009
Don't be surprised if us Portlanders are all wacky and delusional today. It's sunny and 80 degrees and we all feel like we are living in an alternate universe where it is July.
I'm gonna go home, change into my favorite summer dress, throw on these lovelies,
pour me a cold one, grab my book and down a bag of my new favorite kettle corn.
ahhhh...we heart Pretend Summer!!!
a.
14 april 2009
I ate a lot of candy over the weekend.
Tons.
Too much.
But I love knowing that I'm not hallucinating from toxic sugar consumption when I browse
this amazing collection. It
is all very real.
And so mesmerizing.
And so so so beautiful.
Thank you Cathy - for sharing your love with us!
enjoy!
a.
8 april 2009
I am SO glad we do not have one of these!!! Can you imagine all your significant others
watching it like overtime of the NCAA Finals?
At TWIST, we are straightforward. You go here and then here and no one else in the country will ever know.
xo
akira
26 march 2009
In an attempt to create a lean, mean, jewelry-clad machine, I've eliminated all dairy and refined sugar from my diet (no, that was NOT me eating the mini-cupcake
for ann's birthday last week - y'all are hallucinating again). I used to pray to the goddess of half-and-half every morning as it swirled around in my hot coffee.
No more. I have switched to this deliciousness. So amazingly good. And the
if I wear these open petal earrings, I'll be able to float even lighter on my feet!
happy spring everyone!
akira
18 march 2009
two words:
NEW DEVON.
6 march 2009
I feel like I'm in college again - with huge deadlines looming and that panicked feeling of not being able to finish my work. I used to do anything BUT write the paper / do the research /
finish the art project...until...until...the eleventh hour. Then all hell broke loose and I consumed more caffeinated substances than probably legal. Fast forward oh...20 years or so and the feeling is the same!
I have a desk full of new jewelry waiting for me to post online. Boxes full. I kid you not. Boxes. And while I'd love to procrastinate by playing Scrabble with my friends on
Facebook (because we all know FB is for when you're supposed to be doing other things...), I'm listening to the amazing new music of these guys and cranking out the jewels!
Check out the list on our homepage for the latest additions!
And have a wonderful weekend!
Akira
27 february 2009
March - bring it on! Lion, lamb - whatever - I'm ready. I have a positive attitude, sunshine in my step and - to echo the crazy world we are living in at the moment -
these in my ears. I wear them everyday because I like the toned-down look of the
brushed silver, their simple, straightforward, modern design and their casual appeal. And these days, that's how I roll.
Have a wonderful weekend!
akira
12 february 2009
Wow! Looks like I'm on the one-month-blog-plan. You know, it's cheaper and I'm trying to save where I can. That's why the new image to the left (my sweater-clad
wrist) is there. I added ONE Maria Rudman cuff to my old collection and it
completely revived the look and renewed my passion for her jewelry.
Simplify by adding just one thing and it can change the entire dynamic of your favorite look.
Carry on -
Akira
12 january 2009
I watched the Golden Globes last night. It was like eating a pint of ice cream or reading a copy of Cosmo...complete mental junk food. But oh so good! I couldn't tell if Kate Winslet was acting or if she
was genuinely that astoundingly flummoxed at her double win. I'm guessing she was reassuring us she did indeed deserve both of them...
I also noticed Rachel Griffiths and her exceptionally great taste in jewelry. Did you see??? She was wearing this and these and that incredible cuff!!! Great taste Rachel! So since I've met Liseanne (the "L" behind LFrank), does that mean I'm like three degree from Rob Lowe, Rachel's co-star?
I'm thinking yeah...
Tomorrow - Golden Globe Binge Part II.
Akira
30 december 2008
I hope everyone had a lovely, warm and wonderful holiday! Now we get to look forward to a new year and let me tell you, I'm well on my way to positive thoughts,
being satisfied and content in every moment and not obsessing about trying to have perfect skin. I know, the last thing is a little superficial, but my family and I became the proud
parents of a new tv (quite possilby larger than my little '95 Toyota) and blu-ray disc thingy. One word: wow. Who knew that not only could you pick up on every bit of eyeliner Clive Owen wears in
King Arthur, but Keira Knightly does not have the perfectly flawless porcelain skin I thought she did!!! Ahhh, yes - movie stars are JUST LIKE US! They just have the advantage of automatic air-brushing and
round the clock trainers.
So while I may not be obsessing about perfect skin now, I'll be enjoying the ability to positively identify movie jewelry once again! Woo-hoo!
Happy New Year All!
Akira
18 december 2008
Wow! it's been crazy busy around here! and that's a good thing because this big ol' economic elephant in the room is beginning to cramp my style. He smells bad too.
So this is what I think - I've spent so many years doing this and seeing so many people buy their way around the one thing they really want. A $40 dollar pair of earrings here, a $100 necklace there,
maybe a $200 bracelet after that…before you know it – you have already spent the amount of the one precious object you desire...
and the longing for it remains.
It seems if ever there was a season to eliminate the ‘buy around’ it’s this one. Choose well. Choose what you really desire.
And have a wonderfully warm holiday season!
Akira
5 december 2008
I know, you only need to half open your eyes to realize we are all in the midst of the holidays. So friends, there is no need to rub in all of the Martha-esque
things you are doing by making mention of it with your Facebook status. If I read things like "Holly is finishing up the life-sized gingerbread house." or "Liz is hand-making micro-knit sweaters for her friends' kids."
or "Carlen is printing her holiday cards with ink from the berries she harvested in July." I'm going to loose it. Really.
It's cool though. I'm sitting here in a cloud of calm reading the simple messages on this down-to-earth jewelry. It's keeping me very centered.
Akira is happiness - complete - spirit - mind in motion.
26 november 2008
I'm already knee deep in a food coma just thinking about tomorrow. I'm serving a turducken. I know, I know...I can hear
your moans and groans. And please, you really need to sympathize because I thought I'd be getting a tidy little package - completely un-turkey-like - to stick in the oven oh, for like an hour or so and viola! Thanksgiving dinner!
But no, I have to drag my sorry self out of bed tomorrow at 6AM so the triple-bird-heart-attack-on-a-platter thing can cook for NINE HOURS!
So due to the lack of sleep, there'll be no time to fancy it up for me. I'm thinking black velour pj's, hair in a sloppy bun and
these earrings so my guests can look at something pretty while I'm giving them post-coronary mouth-to-mouth.
Happy eating everyone!
akira
19 november 2008
I am SO in the right field of work - I fidget and admire my rings as I type, get distracted by the newest additions to our collection (like
this one and this one), chat with fun customers who are torn between two pairs of earrings and obsess about when I'm going to have my next cup of coffee. Thank god I'm not responsible for the technical
aspects of our website or I think I'd be banging my head with one of our ring sizing mandrels. So another shout out has to go to Ned and his peeps for fixing the tech issues and doing whatever they do with the
'code' behind the scenes.
later-
akira
12 november 2008
Wow - the time changed and I totally went into hibernation. Thank god the election got me out of the lair!
Well, I've woken up and have developed an immense crush on these bracelets. I just stuck a bunch of them on my wrist this morning and managed to take that one-handed picture over there (yeah, to the left) and did not take them off.
They are so fun and easy to wear and offer a great bang for the buck. They have been keeping my wrists cozy all day and look a HECK of a lot better than the
oh-so-crafty wrist warmers I knitted during last year's hibernation...
stay cozy!
akira
24 october 2008
Can you feel it? The amazing warm energy coming from our Nw store in Portland? I bet you can because Cathy Waterman's abundant joy and warmth are filling our store
right this moment. She and her assistant, Dana, are here to celebrate Cathy's latest collection of jewelry. There is an organic elegance and respect for natural beauty in so many of these pieces. Not to mention the beauty and elegance of Cathy herself!
Wish you were here -
Akira
10 october 2008
I just had the most delightful conversation with a woman who has such the right idea. She was cheerful, totally positive and had such happiness in her voice
as she told me she just needed 'a little pick me up'. We looked at these, then at these and then at these. I can't wait to see which one she chooses as her 'comfort food'!
Some people turn to mashed potatoes or chocolate, others turn to jewelry. It lasts a lifetime and keeps you smiling!
Have a wonderful autumn weekend!!
akira
8 october 2008
Thank the lord for the distraction of good Oregon wine and beautiful new jewelry from this artist and this artist. Cheerful color, sparkling natural stones, creativity and not too serious - these new collections
have helped me retain my sanity. When everything else seems to fluctuate and change with every blip of a second, jewelry remains a beautiful constant.
30 september 2008
ah...it's that awkward time of year when I look at my closet and think to myself, "What the hell did I wear last fall? Tank tops and flip flops???BECAUSE I AM CERTAINLY NOT SEEING ANYTHING IN HERE THAT WILL PROTECT
ME FROM THE HARSH OREGON ELEMENTS!!!"
I kid you not. Today I'm wearing a coco colored yoga tank, denim blue capri sweats, my Kork-Ease wedges and a long long
tobacco brown sweater. My hope is that by wearing these great earrings the eye will be drawn upward thus
distracting the onlooker from noticing that my capris actually double as pajama bottoms.
xoxoxo
akira
25 september 2008
Dear Mr. Draper,
I am writing to you so that you may consider me for your secretary position. I spend my days typing and while I have no formal training, I believe I would make an exceptional secretary for you.
I am also very nice, agreeable and presentable and make a mean Rob Roy in a blink of the eye. Since I believe it is impolite to ask for a salary for such a prominent position in the offices of Sterling Cooper, I am not asking for
monetary compensation, but for this instead. I know, pricey, but it will cover my career with you. If you feel stunned by the price tag, perhaps you
will consider this.
I appreciate your consideration and look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, I will be wearing this and anxiously awaiting your response.
Most sincerely,
Ms. Mann
19 september 2008
Okay, Miss Peggy, it's your turn. I love your iron will and steely resolve. Your take-charge-of-them-boys attitude will get you far, but
your style...well, take Joan's advice. It could really use some of that energy you put into that vibrator / relaxasizer thingy ad campaign. I know your a reasonable gal and probably on a budget, so we'll start with
these earrings. They're a little flirty but not too flashy. Buy honey, you really need to splurge on
this. You have a classic edge about you and don't seem vulnerable to trends. So get this amazing necklace and wear it everyday. Who knows...
Let your hair down, add some gloss, wear the jewelry and you may just work your way up to Mr. Cooper's Asian themed office...
Whew, I feel better -
Akira
16 september 2008
Is it after November 4th yet? No? Well please wake me up when it is...
Until then, I'm just going to focus my attention on giving jewelry makeovers to the characters of my latest obsession. And I do mean obsession...ask anyone who works with me. They mention the name "Don Draper" and I sweat and faint.
Anyway, let's start with you, Betty Draper. It's time to up the ante. Lose the faux pearl clips and silly scarf and wrap this around your neck.
I bet Don wouldn't be sleeping at the office anymore...
And you, Ms. Holloway, need to step out of the steno pool and update the necklace pen with this and some of these.
Peggy, you're next.
Akira
10 september 2008
these presidential candidates (and i mean both of them) are an awful lot like jewelry - they sparkle and change depending on light, circumstance and surroundings.
so lately, i've been trying to ignore the hurricane of
news by choosing to focus on the jewelry. at least good jewelry goes well with lipstick....
a.
8 september 2008
see that picture over there? yeah, to the left on the bottom....right, that one. it's my desk. and it's full. of orders. of lists of new jewelry collections to be posted online. of meeting notes about changes we will soon be making
to the website. thank the beauty god i had a 2 hour facial on saturday and spent all day yesterday lounging on a boat. i'm rested and ready to go! HELLOOOOOO AUTUMN!!!!
your very busy friend,
Akira
3 september 2008
Summer - over. The chance to escape to the beach - over. Morings of luxuriating in bed until the last minute - also over. My stash of Season 1 discs of Mad Men - so so sadly over (I heart you, Don Draper!).
School - so here. The gorgeous shades of autumn leaves - so now. Cool collections of Mizuki, Mallary Marks and Anthony Nak are so so here and now!
Happy September everyone!
Akira
12 august 2008
Every year at this time I hear, as if in collective complaint, "What happened to summer? It went by so fast??!!". So true. Consequently, I'm finding myself moping around a little. And my head must be down because I found my
first autumn leaf on the ground yesterday. On the flip side, I was able to rescue my suede Kork-Ease by dodging a sidewalk full of bright, ooey-gooey, melted, candy-covered chocolates. I swear looked like
this necklace all a-scatter. So on the bright side, it's still warm enough for melted candy and turquoise blue skies!
And, for those of you who have noted my blognation (blogese for: not writing) - it's because I have been so busy behind-the-scences tweaking some of the technical aspects of our site. AND, of course, plowing thrrough new
collections of Dana Kellin, Alexix Bittar, Cathy Waterman ... for you to see!
Enjoy your August!
Akira
18 july 2008
Brighten up your lazy-hazy summer days with something beautiful from this artist.
Very goddess-like and regal with a whisper of color, I love love love the earrings. All of them. Just this side of fancy, can't you see them on with a sarong and tankini? I can.
Have a splendid weekend!
Akira
11 july 2008
Remember summer camp? And those friends you made who quickly became pen-pals and BFF??? The ones you never saw again? The ones who went home wearing the bestest friendship bracelet you ever made?
Well, you won't have to toil away trying to get your woven macrame spriral perfect anymore. Check out the latest friendship bracelets by
Dogeared. I'm giving one to my new BF. And she better be wearing it when I see her in person.
L8R
akira
9 july 2008
I have a new method of transportation to and from work now. Yes, I'm doing my part for the environment. And my health.
And it's fun. But (and this is kind of a big but - NO, not a big BUTT!)...but, I'm totally struggling with what to wear. Not to mention that the helmet is totally earring-unfriendly. I either have to wear
these which I totally love or I have to pack my jewelry along with my clothes and big, ol Kork-Ease in my messenger bag. All I have to say is Mother Earth better be glad I'm accessorizing while I ride.
Akira
3 july 2008
The 4th. The fireworks. Not really the best holiday for dogs and toddlers who tend to freak-out at the noise. But great for anyone else needing another excuse to drink and stare at lights. Through my jewelry obsessed eyes,
I just see gobs and gobs of sparkling gems raining down on me. Ahhhh....colorful explosions of these falling from the sky. Or,
what if those big, circular fireworks were really huge versions of this necklace or these earrings? Trippy, no?
Have a safe holiday weekend!
Akira
1 july 2008
My lord - July already?!? But wait! I haven't lost my Christmas cookie fat yet! Oh well, I stuff myself into one of these every summer (and yes, you really do look 10lbs slimmer in them) so I better just accept that summer is here.
And if you're not quite ready to dive into the summer jewelry scene and just want to get your toes wet, try a fun and funky combination of bracelets. Just today, we received about five orders of bracelet combos only. What a perfect way to test the waters! Then, dive in with a cool necklace a little later in the season.
Happy Summer!
Akira
24 june 2008
Nothing like a trip to the midwest to make me appreciate living on the west coast! Whew! But then again, there's nothing like a trip to my sister-in-law's house in the midwest to make me
appreciate the generousity of Hermes, Gucci and Prada hand-me-downs. Yeah, so they're SO 2005, but do I care? Heck no - they're...vintage. And I'm feeling like these funky earrings will give my new goodies a modern edge. The Hermes shirt (crisp white, long cuff, wrap-tie shirt), paired with a long tiered skirt (I'm thinking a violet-toned Gap skirt) and the earrings
will give me that perfect circa '77-summer-in-San-Francisco look I'm craving.
Anyone have a new, signature look for the summer? Let's hear it!
Akira
17 june 2008
Don't worry, I'm still here - afloat in a sea of jewels...Ah...the turquoise, the opals, the pink tourmalines, the pearls...It's all here in our latest collection of
Darlene deSedle. It's strong, dramatic, sophisticate and confident. Large in scale and in statement.
It's been a long day and I'm headed off to enjoy a relaxing facial...see you tomorrow!
Akira
12 june 2008
So where oh where do I start? First of all, I must profusely thank my new best friend in Atlanta who has rescued us from the horrid abyss of internet mayhem! But it's a long story and water under
the bridge. What kept me going during the past few weeks was all of the new collections we've received. I'm especially enamoured by this new designer. Sublime, sophisticated and subtle, her jewelry expresses a raw creativity inspired by her years spent around the beautiful jewelry at Barney's. I think these are my absolute favorites - paired with a long, flowing dress, my fav flip-flops and I'm ready for the warm, summer evenings.
Akira
2 june 2008
OMG. Can I just tell you how good it is to be back with you all? You have NO idea. But I certainly won't bore you with the details of my life (it's not nearly as interesting as picking up a copy of USWeekly...).
So onward into the summer months we go and the twittery nerves of proposals, engagements and weddings are in the air. I so love the phone calls I receive from timid husbands-to-be, trying so hard to be all in-the-know about
the fancy jewelry. It is so darn cute. I imagine it must be like me going into a computer store and acting all, "Yeah, I need the MegaRamHertzByte drive thing..." with no clue.
We try to make it easy around here. There is clearly a special category to point you in the right direction. But I hold hands too. If your man
needs help, drop him my toll free number (877.248.6790). Just make sure you know it's not a scanky chat line when you see my number on his bill.
enjoy june!!!
akira
12 may 2008
I have been smelling the spring scent of the lilacs on the left since they began their explosive blooming in Portland last week. I so love how a simple, natural shape like this four-petaled flower can influence so many artists, each interpreting its beauty in their own unique way. Some will transform its natural simplicity into this or this. Others may look at the shape and feel something more like
this or this. There is so much inspiration out there...just look around....
akira
2 may 2008
My tenth annual 30th birthday is next week. Oh dear. I just read somewhere that 30 is the new 18, so that must make 40 the new 21. WOO-HOO! Tequila shots for everyone!
For my eighth birthday, I remember totally obssessing about wanting a name necklace - you know, the gold plated ones that spelled your name. But the closest I could ever find was
"Alicia". My mom wouldn't get it for me. I begged her to let me change my name for the necklace, but that idea didn't fly. I ended up with a super-cute, 14K gold plated "A" and proudly wore it around my neck.
Now, we have the super-cool adult version in rich 18K gold and sparkling with diamonds. Maybe you've gotten over the idea of wearing your own letter - but what about the
initial of your child(ren)? Or boyfriend? Or best friend? Or the name you wish you had...
Have a splendid weekend!
Akira
25 april 2008
It's strange here in Portland today. Something very unusual is going on causing me to squint my eyes and recoil from its warmth. I think it may
be coming from the sky, but I can't really be sure of this. Deep in the recesses of my memory I can recall the same thing happening last year. I think. But it's been so long maybe I'm just gettting confused with a dream I had recently.
The light has erased the grayness and there is now bright color everywhere! Oh - the sun? THE SUN? That's RIGHT! Now I remember...
Speaking of brightness and color - if you happen to be in Portland tomorrow (Saturday, the 26th), you'll not only get to experience the miracle of good weather, but you can meet this artist who will be here for a Trunk Show featuring her incredible collection as well as some beautiful one-of-a-kinds. And if you are in Seattle next Saturday (May 10th) you can catch here there!
Have a great weekend!
Akira
22 april 2008
So I have been re-reading past blogs and just realized that I have been so darn lazy on the blog front. Typical me - getting really really into something and loving it, but then feeling overwhelmed at maintaining the routine.
It's the same in every thread of my life - working out, keeping the pile of clothes off of the bedroom sofa, answering every email, flossing, being a vegan...(haha! just kidding on that last one...).
I kind of have life ADHD...but don't tell my husband, he might start to worry that he's the next thing I'll loose interest in...
That's why I love the jewelry of this designer. His ever-changing color combinations keep us guessing with excitement. And, in honor of Earth Day, this reclaimed Bakelite
bracelet gives 'going green' an entirely new meaning.
Find a way to celebrate!
Akira
16 April 2008
I'll blame my blog hiatus on the piles of papers I had to find, sort and organize for taxes. Not that that's what I'm doing at work, but it sure occupied a lot of mental space.
That and the gobs of jewelry we've been adding to the site have kept me ... from surfing the net. OOPS, I mean really really busy.
So last weekend we had the most amazingly warm day. Temps soared to the 70's and the sky was clear blue. It totally inspired me to shave my legs and paint my toenails. I even caught a moment to
sit on the deck and tan. And you know when you lay in the sun and feel the warmth on your skin and can see the brightness through your closed eyes? Well, it totally reminded me of the luxurious richness and warmth of
this jewelry. Sumptuous, hand-hammered necklaces, bracelets and earrings with an unstuffiness and earthy elegance.
xoxo
akira
26 march 2008
Okay, back to the Oscars. Not because I am still upset about the winner of best picture or anything, but because
I'm a little obsessed with this amazing actress. She is the epitome of understated glamour, natural beauty and incredible talent. Not to mention that
her films are some of my favorites. So pair her with one of our most amazing designers - master of elegant, sophisticated and quietly understated jewelry and you
have the complete picture of beauty (see left - not me, silly, the gorgeous blonde in the picture below me!).
We now have the exact necklace Laura wore to the awards. So I guess that means if you treat yourself to its decadant glamour,
you'd be two degrees from ... pretty much all of Hollywood.
Kisses-
Akira
21 march 2008
Ahhh...a day that is seconds longer than the dark, dark night. Finally! Light at the end of the long, winter tunnel. Speaking of light, if you've
been feeling overly-bombarded with this news, don't fret. Everything always works out.
And if you need a little brightness to tide you over, this little collection will surely
raise your spirits. At least try it before turning to this. It looks a lot better on.
Happy Spring everyone!
Akira
14 march 2008
Am I the only one still recovering from the hour robbed from our slumber by Daylight Savings? I cannot for the life of me stop yawning through my afternoons. But enough about me. What about
THIS new jewelry? It is so sculptural - nearly defying the jewelry-ness of jewelry.
One piece is enough to make a statement, but a few people I know (hi Molly!) layer the nail bracelets with other bangles for the coolest and most unique look.
Ah...enjoy your weekend!
Akira
11 march 2008
So did this little blog roll into March like the wimpiest lamb ever or what? sheesh ~ what am I thinking? Flash-backs to college when I was a closet-slacker. But there weren't any blogs back then,
just gobs of papers I always had a creative excuse for not doing on time ("my step-grandmother's half sister's niece died" "I had to drive to Michigan to pick up a stranded friend" "Paper? I never received the hand-out.")
I promise to go out like a lion you guys!
Speaking of lions, check out the lastest addition to TWISTonline! I know I have raved about this before, but I love
the saturated colors and modern, geometric compositions. It reminds me of the poster in my college apartment I used to stare at...
when I was supposed to be writing papers.
roar on,
Akira
29 february 2008
What did you guys do with your 'extra' day? I could read a gazillion explanations and yet will never really understand the concept.
So I'm a big worshipper of this woman and would even love if she ran for office, but alas, she isn't. She is, however, 'teaching' an online class focused on
this book in which I have enrolled. First exercise, spend some time in the presence of something beautiful (a flower, gem, or other natural object). Hmm...
not hard. I sat in wonder of this today ~ it's natural color, composition, creative genius of it's designer leave me nearly speechless. I love how each artist we represent sees the rawness of the materials - the gold, the platinum, the silver, the amazing stones - and creates such a unique collection of compositions. It is
truly inspiring.
Have a glorious weekend!
Akira
27 february 2008
I wore these today. Yes I did. Because it's sunny. I wore them with a fun little black dress and footless tights. No earrings but a bunch of necklaces all layered together.
I know it's still February, but I am chomping at the bit for warmer weather. I even shaved my legs and painted my toenails for the occasion. Not that you asked.
With Spring comes a gob of new jewelry collections. Like this one we just posted. Inspired by the recent birth of her son, Jeanine's new group of jewelry is one of the most dynamic I have seen! Teensy little vessels open to reveal the most preciously tiny photos or tablets with quotes.
So darn inspiring!
Enjoy the sunshine...or the clouds...or whatever your day brings!
Akira
25 february 2008
Right now, writing this, I feel like I'm on the phone with a really good friend who wants to chat and catch up, but I really need to get off of the phone because my house is a disaster, the kids have traipsed mud through the living room,
the cat has caught a bird and is eating it in front of my eyes and my husband is nagging me about dinner...and I just don't have time to chat. Well...in real life, I have piles of new jewelry collections sitting here ready to post...
there's new, amazing Jeanine Payer - inspired by the recent birth of her son, new, super-cool Beth Orduna, some select necklaces from Devon Page McCleary, another great collection from Melissa Joy Manning, more jewels from the ever-inspired
Mallary Marks and that's just the fist batch!!! If there is anything you are looking for and just can't wait to see the pics, let me know ~ I promise I'll stop to chat!
Akira
22 february 2008
A while back, I shared my unusual habit of scanning all movies I watch for recognizable and interesting jewelry (did I mention my husband confessed to this as well?). It often distracts me from important content and plot lines about which
I am completetly confused by the end.
The most lovely thing about watching this annual event is there are no twisting curves, surprise endings or deep-rooted themes about our society.
I suppose you could argue against that, but it is all eye candy in my opinion. And the jewelry, the dresses, the hair, the smiles...it's all so decadent and delightful.
See you Monday!
Akira
predictions anyone???
21 february 2008
Spring is there somewhere in the air. Really. I can feel it. At least the plants know it. So it's time to whip my tired-winter-bootie in gear and get back into shape. Too bad I couldn't burn
enough calories this winter sitting on my couch knitting to look ripped in my two-piece. My regular routine involves going here at least three times a week to
wreck my manicure and scale 15ft boulders. I love
the rugged durablility of this jewelry. It's a cool contrast to my chalk covered tank and jeans.
later-
Akira
8 february 2008
BUMM to the 'E' 'R'. The parking gods have struck me down. Ever since November, when parking in this area became an Olympic event complete with triumphant yells after an all-day parking place was scored, I have been
blessed with amazing parking karma. I've called the one hour rock-star parking place right outside 'mine' for nearly three months without incident or seeing that pesky little envelope on my windshield.
No longer. And just when I really wanted to get some of these to add to my collection, I get a darn ticket.
Maybe one of these should be hanging from the rear view mirror.
And HEY! Let your Valentine know that he/she has time to shop and will receive FREE 2nd DAY AIR (orders over $200.) until Tuesday. That means you have the whole weekend to pick out what you want!
Akira
7 february 2008
cripes! I'm all off schedule...I'm gonna blame it on current events.
So a week from today...I want you to imagine the gift that would bring the biggest smile to your face. The piece of jewelry that will honestly symbolize the feeling of
such a romantic holiday. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. You never know...you just might get it!!!
love -
Akira
4 february 2008
Am I the only one who used yesterday's sporting event as an excuse to call potato chips, peanuts, chicken wings and beer dinner? Hope not.
Add 10 days on to today's date and you have a very special holiday. So this week, you need to print out your favorite piece of jewelry and leave it in strategic locations...say, oh
i don't know...in the ice cream...or the tool box...or the gym bag...where your partner is sure to get the hint. And if this sweet piece doesn't say it all, I don't know what does.
Happy Monday -
Akira
ps - yeah, it's a new pic over there...I really tried to get our photographer to make me look like her, but again, no matter how long he worked with that little magic tool in Photoshop, it didn't work....
30 january 2008
grrr. another gray day here in the lush and lovely northwest. makes me want to don my spring attire, pile on this delightful collection and frolic like the french in an attempt to hurry the arrival of spring.
how are you all faring?
akira
29 january 2008
eeps! someone down there is in desperate need of a tan! well, at least the little lovelies are looking good ~ they kind of warm the skin with their
golden glow.
that's how it is at the end of january...waiting for the explosion of color and warmth...bulbs are just beginning to pop out of the ground, the lilac buds have formed and you're so so close to throwing your
sweaters and tights right out the window. and boots? ugh! bring on the super-cute strappies! i know i'm ready!
now is the time to take your fall and winter favorites and begin layering them with something fresh. kinda like what i'm doing below. pick two of your favs, then add
somethin funky to the mix. you certainly can't go wrong using this as a versatile layering piece. or try
this if you're more into silver. there are no rules.
be well
akira
25 janurary 2008
OOooOO--eeey!
That's it down there!!!
The symbolism of jewelry and the power of adornment is simply magical!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
akira
24 january 2008
For those of you who don't know me, know this: I am totally obsessed with rings. It's bad. I think I have been
deliberating about purchasing a special ring for myself for about...uh...something like eight years now. The difficulty was in the decision making process. I can barely decide what size coffee to order let alone
make a decision involving a large sum of money. Well - I did it. I went for it. Because I fell in love with these rings.
Next photo - my new treasure!!!!! Check back tomorrow!
akira
22 january 2008
LOVE:
- our most recent collection from this designer...especially this one with its delicate combination of lavender, honey and sage and its amazingly intricate, hand-crocheted design
.
- the book I just finished...beautiful and dreamy!
- that Valentine's Day is in the air...time to update your Wish List!!!!
- this movie - nominated today for a Best Picture Oscar
.
NOT loving this sad news...
be well
akira
18 january 2008
In an effort to minimize clutter, mazimize efficiency and keep my chakras crystal clear (see 15 january below) I purchased the sweet little jade
plant in that photo down there. If you are a child of the 70's, you may associate sprawling jade plants with macrame wall 'art', psychedelic tapestries and
the smell of ... uh ... the plant some people smoke. I love its minimal, modern curves and stark simplicity - plus I think it's fending off any bad karma I absorbed in the soaking tubs.
Jade just happens to be Friday's gemstone - rich with meaning and symbolism. I love how it is used in
this necklace and in these earrings. This designer uses a tiny jade bead at the closure of every necklace and bracelet ~ a little
hint of good luck to carry with you.
happy weekend!
akira
16 january 2008
Over there is a little sneak peak at what is currently on my desk....a little hint at what we are working on....
15 january 2008
I finally had the opportunity for some much needed R&R this past weekend. Despite being surrounded by naked hippies and consuming a vegetarian diet, the weekend was beautiful. The focus of the weekend was yoga and
meditation. Sounds great right? Some 'om-ing', some downward-dogging, and some delicious soaking.
So to begin the weekend, there I am, on my back, in a room aglow with candles, dim lights and flowing chi listening to my instructor guide us through a chakra clearing. Yes, that's right, a chakra clearing.
Sounds easy, doesn't it - you just lie there with your eyes closed and nap. Well, between the various syllables we were supposed to be repeating, figuring out exactly what part of my body my third eye needed to 'see'
and the flower I was supposed to envision, I ended up with a massive headache. During the clearing of my 'root' chakra, I was supposed to be dreamily gazing at a four petaled flower with a yellow square center.
What did my mind's eye see? This charm - sparkling with clear white light!!! Seriously, I have never had to think so hard while trying to relax.
My advice, skip the mantra
chanting and chakra clearing and just wear this. I'll think you'll find it just as enlightening as a weekend yoga retreat.
om, shanti, shanti, shanti -
Akira
I think there are three different kinds of 'new year' people. There are the Jump Starters who have a few select resolutions they have carefully pondered and are ready to execute at the drop of the ball. There
are the False Starters who have compiled pages of unreasonable and unattainable resolutions (usually the same each year) which they abandon as soon as they have rid themselves of their champagne hangover. And then
there are the Slow Starters who are in complete denial of the fresh, new slate of a year and keep writing '2007' on every dated document. Can you guess which category I'm in? Yep - that'd be the Slow Starters.
Shoot - I just can't get it together. And there are so many things I want to do this year. One of which is take action on my interests rather than obsessing over them. For starters, I should just buy
these amazing earrings and quit taking them out of the case to try on.
Because you know...if they were mine, I'd be able to accomplish ALL of my 2008 goals!
Akira
3 january 2008
2008!!! I wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year! It's already off to a great start with the arrival of some new and exciting jewelry. We will be adding to current collections and
certainly introducing more in the coming weeks!
Of course with a new year comes the annual list of resolutions, things you want to accomplish...blah blah blah. Why not simplify this year and change up the categories?
Like, "The one class I want to take" or "The one book I really really want to finally finish" or "The one yoga pose I am going to practice until I get it right".
Add on to your own personal list as you see fit. Maybe "The one ring I'd really like to have on my finger" or
"The one necklace I would wear with everything"....
And if you can only make one resolution this year ~ just enjoy each day!
Akira
27 december 2007
Mostly, I am just hung-over from the holiday feasting, gift-giving, package-opening and nap-taking. And I have the same feeling I did as a child when it took about two weeks for it to sink in that yes, I really
did receive the gift of my dreams. Every time I reach up to my neck, I gulp with disbelief and delight that yes, this magical necklace is still there.
Thank you TWIST Santa!
Akira
19 december 2007
You can still eke out more time. Really. But tomorrow is it, with a capital "I". Thursday is the last day for our FREE 2nd DAY AIR (on orders over $150.) if you want your package to arrive before Christmas.
If you really miss the boat, get creative and cut out the photo of what you are giving, put it in a box with a bow and place your order. Better late than never, right?
Have an absolutely glittering, shimmering, sparkling holiday season everyone!!!!
Akira
14 december 2007
I know you all think you have 'more' time...well, there are really 7 online shopping days left. Just enough time to slip in a little gift for yourself. After all, you've braved
the malls, navigated the tangle of online check-out systems and remembered SO many passwords you'd fit right in with the CIA. I'm kind of partial to this designer for the subtle jewel tones and rich, gold chain settings.
Or, if self-gifting isn't your thing, leave print-outs in strategic places for your significant other to find. I spoke with a man yesterday whose wife kept putting the same page from our website on his desk. He'd
recycle it (because December 1st is WAY too early to shop, according to him) and she would print out another. He'd recycle it and she'd print out another. It worked because she is going to be opening a box with
this inside. Lucky woman!!!
We're closing in on a fabulous time of year - full of sparkle and delight! Enjoy it!
Akira
8 december 2007
Yesterday, I met one of my jewerly idols. She's beautiful, kind, creative and, well, the best word to describe her is simply lovely. Her collection is rich and earthy and looks incredible just loaded on your wrists, fingers and around your neck.
I was in such a swoon that I lost all social graces and made one of the most unforgivable faux pas known. So I'm standing behind the case of Liseanne's (aka LFrank)
collection, enamored by her earthy elegance and style as two customers are captivated by a pair of her earrings.
They are both attractive, blonde, dressed with great personal style and I, distracted by the shimmer of rose cut diamonds, blurt out to the older-looking-ish one, "ARE YOU HER MOTHER?"
OH. MY. GOD. They look at each other in horror and then at me for some kind of explanation. I think I just stared at them. And then tried to blame it on the diamonds.
Never underestimate the power of jewelry. Never.
Akira
7 december 2007
All this talk about others. What about YOU? Have you taken the time to fill out your Wish List? Lemme tell you, your significant others LOVE it!
It takes the guesswork and panic out of the whole process. You would be amazed at how agreeable they are when they can just pick from a list. It's so endearing...
So, assignment for this weekend: Take some time from the frenetic pace, make yourself a delicious cup of tea and wish away. Because many times, they come true!
Akira
ps - don't forget the handy-dandy "Email to a Friend" button....works like a charm!
4 december 2007
I answered the phone the other day and this is what I heard:
"Hi! I'm helping my husband do some research and was wondering if you could help me?"
And she didn't mean a book report on Umberto Eco. She meant with this! He had no idea where to start, poor guy. I think he'll get a good grade because I gave her my notes to pass along to him.
I'm available for tudoring too! If he's failing in Jewelry, tell him to call me. The test is really really soon.
ho ho ho!
Akira
28 november 2007
Don't know if any of you noticed, but this little blog was down for a while. I'm not so good at the technical aspect of this whole blog thing...
too many arrows and equals signs and quotes in the code that make no sense to me whatsoever. This guy on the other hand, rocks in the fine mechanics department. His hinged bracelets are forged from steel and embedded with a twinkling of
diamonds. A great gift for the mom who has bailed you out of your credit card debt or helped you mend your heart after a bad break-up.
If you are holiday-gift challenged, email me. I can help...with jewelry, not break-ups.
Akira
23 november 2007
I can't chat. Partly because my brain has been damaged by the enourmous amount of whipped cream consumed yesterday (I quadrupled the amount used for
this delectable dessert) but mostly because I've been
busy posting this new collection and frankly, it has left
me a little speechless.
Have a great weekend everyone and be nice to each other at the malls. And keep in mind, you don't have to compete for parking places when you shop online.
Akira
21 november 2007
I am so full. Yes, just thinking about tomorrow's carb-feast makes my stomach ache. The good news is that it's just going to be my little fam so there is no need to
fancy up. I'm going to be in my favorite sweats with the expandable waistband all the darn day. Ahhhhh... Of course I'll add some low key
earring bling to the comfy mix - you know, hair up, dangly earrings, a wrist full of
bangles clanking around while I'm whipping the cream. Yum, the perfect Thanksgiving.
So if you find yourself with any free time tomorrow - between the turkey and the pies - let's move right on down that list of yours. I'm thinking
this new collection for sisters, sisters-in-law, aunts,
the yoga teacher that helped you learn how to do this pose and maybe the friend who got
you cleaned up and tucked you into bed after being scooped from the bar floor...
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Akira
15 november 2007
I think I have a plan. We're going to follow a little program together for this holiday season. It will be low stress, low cal and won't use too many internet miles speeding
all over from site to site (it's bad enough having to remember which password and secret email address you are using!). We are going to start easy ~ with the little token gifts. You know, for teachers, babysitters, the carpool mom, the friend who scooped you off the
bar floor a few weeks ago...for the third time. The gifts you really don't need to ruminate over too much and can't really afford to spend too much on.
This is the perfect jewelry. The sweet earrings even come in their own hand-sewn pouches (in addition to our gift wrap) for that extra touch.
Or browse this new collection for something totally unique and wearable (much unlike the apple pin or light-up ornament earrings).
So make your list. Let's be efficient. I've already crossed three people off my list.
What about you?
Akira
12 november 2007
I think I'm in holiday denial. Up until today, the weather here in Portland has been like early September - blue skies, crisp warmish air and just lovely.
So of course, the holidays must be months away, right? Well as soon as the rain started to fall this morning, I began to panic. Thanksgiving is in what? A week???
Do you think if I don't tell my kids and husband, they'll just forget? (If you knew my husband, you'd know this is a reasonable possibility!)
So for those of you also in holiday denial, don't you love love love online shopping? It's so about the instant cross-that-off-the-list. I like to snuggle in bed with my
loyal laptop, burrow into this delicious bedding and shop shop shop.
Add things to your wish list, ponder and then purchase. Easy easy easy.
I'm working on a little holiday gift guide for you guys and I'll post it AFTER I get all of this incredible jewelry online for you to see! We have gobs!
Akira
6 november 2007
I know it's been a few days...but we are all a flutter with the arrival of Pippa Small today for her very very special Trunk Show. She is quite simply a force of nature. Each and every piece of her hand-created
jewelry has a rich and meaningful story behind it. Whether it's a light-as-air gold necklace created by the Kuna people of Panama or a pair of earrings using Collette cut chrysophase
she found in the pouch of a stone dealer in India, her jewels stand on their own as mini treasures.
She is here for the day only and when she leaves, her jewelry goes with her so if you are interested in seeing more of what she brought, please
email me today and I will send you more images.
All Best -
AKira
31 october 2007
No tricks today, just treats. And this a good one! Pippa Small fans get ready because she is landing in Portland on Tuesday, November 6th for a Trunk Show!!!
If you haven't made your plane reservations, don't worry, we are going to have as much online as possible! We will scramble to
post the incredible collection she will be bringing with her for the day. Let me know if there is anything you are dying to have and I will scout out the goods for you. The Trunk Show jewelry will only be available
on that day, so act fast if you see something, because her jewelry goes scary fast.
Happy Halloween!
Akira
24 october 2007
I might quite possibly be having a perfect day ~ sitting here drinking a cozy cup of yummy organic tea, listening to some online ambient radio, watching an autumn drizzle from my window
and writing about an artist who has a special spot in my heart. I know I've mentioned this before, but she was my first Twist "crush" way back when.
My little earrings with the sweet and teensy photographs and hand-engraved poetry were my most treasured pair in my early 20's. Her collections have ebbed and flowed and
changed over the years with forward-thinking, subtle and sophisticated transformations.
To celebrate her creative longevity and poignant, soulful collections she has brought back some special classics for a very limited time. Some of these pieces might
inspire in you a nostalgic daydream of roaming barney's in the late 80's or coming across her work in a tiny Maiden Lane boutique. This collection will only be available until
the end of December and then they will be permanently retired to her archive.
Oh, it's also a perfect day because we have about a dozen artists on deck whose collections we will be adding to in the next few days.
Have a good one,
Akira
18 october 2007
One thing about me is that I procrastinate. Another thing ~ I hate making decisions. From what to order to what to wear to which kid to kiss
good-night first. So it's no real surprise that I have taken forever and a day deciding who announce as the winner of the layering contest.
You guys are so incredibly creative with your jewelry - I love it! Without further ado, below is the direct entry from the chosen winner. She is
an amazing customer who is just beginning to build a stealth collection of great pieces. Her combinations reflect a creative, sophisticated and elegant style:
The first reflects my current obsession with all things Cathy Waterman:
1. The Cathy Waterman Double Arrow-Cross Charm, on the 16-inch platinum/diamond double arrow chain it is pictured on.
2. My own 18-inch platinum and black diamond briolette chain, which I don't have a picture of, but which is very simple - two medium sized links of platinum with an approximately 8 mm black diamond briolette between them, repeated all the way around. It sparkles, a lot.
3. The 20-inch Ten Thousand Things silver necklace.
with
4. The Cathy Waterman black diamond pendant charm hanging from it.
The second entry has more to do with my obsession with stars and moons and Mizuki's collection.
1. The Mizuki crescent moon necklace with diamonds,
2. 18-inch Mizuki gold wrapped chain.
3. Another Mizuki necklace, my own, which has the yellow gold and diamond starburst charm on a black silk cord with three faceted gold beads above the star charm. This necklace has a variable length, for this layering combination, I would shorten it to between 18-19 inches.
4. The Devon Page McCleary yellow gold compass on diamond and faceted rosary bead necklace (20 inches).
She will be enjoying a TWIST gift certificate to help her add on to her growing collection! Congratulations! And thanks everyone for sending in your brilliant ideas!
Akira
11 october 2007
Lest anyone discount the importance of jewelry, I have a little story. My eight year old has had her ears pierced since April. Being
the supressed Cathonlic-school-girl I am, I allowed her to wear only her original studs (boring little flowers). She then graduated to a pair of
these in July. That's about as far as I was willing to go with her
self-adornment. Since then, she has been asking and begging and pleading to try on ALL of my earrings - "Just for fun, Mom!". Because she is an
attorney-in-training and could convince me to eat nothing but organic cough drops for a month ("Because Mom, they're healthy, sugarless, sweet AND have
vitamins."), I finally gave in.
Let me just tell you ~ her entire expression changed from one pair of earrings to the next. It was as if her persona
reflected the style of earring down to the glimmer in her eye. She looked like a completely different person (and not so much a kid...) with each pair.
So you know, not only are you choosing jewelry to match a particular outfit or look fashionable for a particular event - you are choosing it to become a little bit different, to take on
another facet of your personality, to reflect a deeper sense of what is 'you'. Go ahead, find something really special. Don't be afraid to splurge
on that one thing that will strike a chord within, that makes your heart flutter just a little bit more. It's okay.
Akira
8 october 2007
Know what? The owners are in Paris so I'm extending the layering contest until the end of the week. C'mon you guys! I know you can
put together something really fab! The combinations we've seen so far are incredible and so creative! Layering is such a personal
expression of style - go for it!
Akira
3 october 2007
So I recently received a huge box from my parents. Every now and again, I receive these installments of childhood belongings.
I never know what's in the boxes and am either pleasantly surprised or horribly mortified. This one had a small collection of jewelry from my grandmother.
No, it wasn't her diamonds, but some large, rather colorful beaded numbers (think Sarasota, Florida circa 1977). I pondered. And
pondered. Dress up box? GoodWill? Cat toy? Then it occurred to me. It's all about layering. LAYERING!
I coupled it with this,
this and
this and the result was a textured, multi-dimensional sensation.
On their own, each of the necklaces is great, but the secret to a good layering composition is the singular piece that puts it all together.
And I have grandma to thank for that one.
So, your turn. A $50 TWISTonline.com gift certificate goes out to whoever comes up with what we think is the most smashing layering combo
using necklaces from the website plus one of your own. You can copy/paste the pics or their descriptions and email them
to me. We will decide by Monday what we think.
Ready. set. Go!
Akira
24 september 2007
Okay, it's officially autumn. Blink twice and all of those Halloween displays will be carelessly tossed into clearance bins and you'll
be in the midst of December Holiday-land. I mean it. I've even seen some stores with BOTH Halloween and December Holiday displays
going on. Really.
And I'm taking their cue and getting an early start. Why not? It will be way more fun and less painful in the end.
I'll even help you guys get going. We can break it down into easy steps. Let's start with something relatively painless ~
the babysitter / teacher / nanny gift. See, not so bad. Go ahead and cross it off.
Akira
Not to make you anxious or anything, but remember this from
last year?
18 september 2007
Gray days. Changing colors. Chilly temps. Warm soup. Loosing yourself in an
amazing book. And these new treasures
of warmth and
richness.
I love autumn!
akira
13 september 2007
I just ordered the most fabulous pair of boots. And now the anticipation begins. I don't want to be the only one out there
impatiently waiting and waiting for something. I'm all about instant gratification. I'm also about not having to suffer alone.
That's right, I'm bringing you in to my world of pacing around and burning calories running to the door thinking the UPS lady
is just about to knock.
So for those of you who have been wondering and WONDERING when the heck we
would be getting our new collection of fall flavored Alexis Bittar...just you wait! Until tomorrow. We have a huge new collection ready for your
autumn casuals ~ jewel-toned earrings and necklaces are being photographed right now....uh-oh gotta go. I need to re-insert the caffeine IV into my
photographer so he gets everything finished......
...check back tomorrow! And remember we are on the west coast...so later in the afternoon...
Akira
7 september 2007
...and I have never been so happy to see a Friday afternoon. I'm exhausted. The quad americano didn't do it. The mid-afternoon slice of heaven (happy bday Julie!) has resulted in a sugar high that came crashing to a screeching halt moments ago. And these things??!! I'd have to snort the entire box up my nose. This is because school has started. And I am having trouble getting everything done - like
sleeping, making dinner, paying bills, keeping my daughters from scratching each others eyes out in the morning, working, driving the carpool....
Then I think about our newest designer Rosa Maria. No doubt she can probably manage to do all of the above AND create
these fabulous rings. And guess what? She's
probably making them as rockets go screaming overhead because she lives
in one of the most complex, volitile cities in the world.
Wearable inspiration.
Enjoy your weekend!
Akira
4 september 2007
Did I actually write 'september'??!!!?!?! Can you believe it? And I am back-to-school busy. There is a crazy amount of new jewelry headed your way and you are in for some
great surprises...Keep checking that list on our home page for the latest additions.
And who says Back-to-School shopping only applies to kids? And clothes? And notebooks? Shoot, I'm thinking about a nice little back-to-school-you-go-kids-don't-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out ring for myself...
Don't forget to pick-up your kids tomorrow...
Akira
23 august 2007
Y'all are ON it! And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one out there gazing at the Me&Ro dripping from Nancy Botwin's neck and wrists....(when is she
gonna stop wearing her wedding ring? And why does the guy who plays Judah always play the dead love interest on shows
when we should really be seeing more of his cute self???). Anyway, within moments of posting the question, we had a winner - a customer living in our country's capitol. Congrats!
(And don't even think of emailing me to chat about Weeds this season, because I mean it, I'm really behind and haven't watched it yet.)
Am I the only one out there with seething envy for anyone who is part of the DIY / Craft movement? I read blog, upon
blog, upon blog on a daily basis and am in awe of
what these women can create with a piece of fabric or paper, an idea, some spare time and a snide salute to Martha. Really, it's so inspiring and I secretly wish I could be one
of them. But alas, the closest I can get right now is to shout out a big "BENVENUTO!" to our latest designer Pepita whose collection of bracelets and necklaces are artful compositions of tiny embroidered, fabric and crocheted charms. Not fussy or too-cute, but
really elegant and stylish. This necklace is my favorite and makes me want to pair it with a plaid mini,
tights, high suede boots, a cozy sweater and curl up with a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird.
xoxo
akira
21 august 2007
I try to pride myself for being on top of trends, cutting-edge, ahead-of-the-curve, fashion-forward, up on the pop culture vibe...
but truth of the matter is, I'm sadly about 19 months behind the curve...which either qualifies me for loser status,
or for being so behind, that I'm riding the second wave of the style. So I am JUST NOW finding out how amazingly funny the show
Weeds is. Right now, I'm totally addicted to watching
the previous seasons on dvd and obsessed with identifying Nancy Botwin's jewelry. Great combos!
So tell me, fellow viewers, which designer carried by TWISTonline does she wear???? Email me
if you know! A little prize will go to the winner.
Akira
17 august 2007
haiku friday:
shimmer and sparkle
golden relics of pure beauty
are coming your way
I know, I know...bad. I should probably stick with the ABAB rhyme scheme. I'm slammed with trying to post the new fall jewelry and didn't want you
to think I forgot about you!
xoxo
a.
14 august 2007
I'm back. And ahhh, nothing like a little R&R to rejuvinate oneself. We even returned with both kids and didn't have to set up the roadside - 'Buy-one-get-one-free' - stand.
Which is good because my oldest daughter got way into our new Chore Chart before we left and I need her for that.
The only bummer about my trip was that I lost one of the stones to my favorite Pippa Small necklace. It was the necklace about which my youngest daughter said, "Mama, I want
that necklace when you die." Once she saw the stone had fallen off, she said, "That's the only reason I wanted that necklace. Now you can be buried with it if you want."
Nice, huh? Anyway, let this be a lesson ~ not all jewelry is meant to be worn ALL the time. I should really heed my own words because I am forever telling customers
to treat their jewelry with special care. It's not indestructable. Treat it well.
Of course this loss has added fuel to the I-really-want-to-buy-something-new fire which was slowly igniting before I left.
I need suggestions! So send me an email!
Akira
1 august 2007
Tomorrow I'm off. To northern California for some R&R with the fam. We'll be bouldering on the beach, camping in the Redwoods and then meandering
through southern Oregon to visit Crater Lake and then back home on the 13th.
I'm a little nervous about you guys. I'm leaving you in the very capable hands of our staff here at TWIST, but Paul, the TWIST
god, I mean owner, will be responding to some of your emails. He really knows a lot about
jewelry and likes to email...a lot...from his iPhone...Be nice to him, don't correct his spelling and be glad his emails aren't hand-written!
And if he or anyone else doesn't treat you right...let me know!
Until later -
Akira
27 july 2007
It's about @#*&#^ time! I have been beh-HEGGING for this collection to be represented on the website. Sometimes price has everything to do with it and you really don't
feel like having to choose between paying your electric bill OR getting yourself something pretty - because, darn it, a girl likes to have
her cake and eat it too! With Dana Kellin's jewelry, you get the whole thing. You can choose something perfect without damaging
your credit rating. The detail is just right, the colors are amazing and you can wear her earrings and necklaces with everything.
Have a fab weekend all!
Akira
25 July 2007
OMG. Ann would DIE if she knew she still existed in cyber-world wearing the same (*gasp*) outfit. I won't see her wearing that combination again. Ever.
So be gone with you, picture of Ann! You are SO yesterday!
But you should see her today. She is a symphony of simplicity and urban style (and no, you won't see a photo of her today because it took something like
2 hours and 5 photo shoots before we got it right last time...we have JEWELRY to shoot here!!!! Not fantasies of tea parties and mossy shoes...).
So to play off of her semi-80's look (leggings, silver kitten heels and cute dress), she chose this minimal necklace and these earrings. Very art student circa 1984 (dance / photography double major), paying subtle
hommage to Studio 54. You'd expect to glimpse at plaster encrusted fingernails while she casually plays with her necklace and sips a gin and tonic.
Ahhh, Ann.
I so admire you!
Akira
20 july 2007
So you guys know a lot about me...I'm a total fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal. Planning and deliberating is not my style. I'm all about
spontaneity. But let me tell you about Ann, the manager of the NW Portland store. Her approach to fashion is totally opposite of mine and every bit
of jewelry supports her well-planned outfit. Me, I've been wearing my favorite Pippa necklaces with my Manon for the past month. It's my summer signature.
And my Cydwoq flats have been on my feet since June. Ann - she hasn't done a shoe repeat since
late March.
I can't explain it better than this. In her very own words, here's Ann:
"First, each day I develop "subtle dramas" that outline the direction of my outfit/persona each day. These things can rarely be thought out in advance and are
usually influenced by dreams or moods each morning. Today I awoke to grey rain-threatening skies. I am attending an evening garden party tonight, so I started thinking about that- dewy roses,
rain in teacups, mossy afternoons, faded grandeur, shortbread and old perfume. I also recently saw the documentary Grey Gardens about the nutty Bouvier-Beales (cousins of Jackie-O) who holed themselves
into a decaying North Hampton Mansion and went completely bonkers and I LOVED their sense of style! Therefore I dipped into my pre-fall wardrobe and chose a lightweight garnet sweater with attached rosette
at the neck. I paired it with a neutral pencil skirt and brown plaid heals- sort of chilly garden party meets proper east coast charm school graduate meets secretary at my daddy's office circa 1959."
She complimented the incredible outfit with this pendant on Cathy's Tiny Lacy Chain,
her favorite Mark Davis bangles (yes, she owns them!) and
some Anthony Nak earrings.
Ann. Her 'subtle dramas' and deep jewelry collection are totally inspirational.
What inspires you?
Akira
16 july 2007
So last Friday, I was initiated into a long-standing Oregon tradition - the Oregon Country Fair. It's kind of like Burning Man meets a Renaissance Faire at a trippy bar, they
do some kind of crazy hallucinogenic and then have a polygamist relationship
with a west coast crafts fair...while having flashbacks of Woodstock. Seriously, this
event is something you cannot describe...only experience.
And that I did. Fully clothed (c'mon, I was with the owners of TWIST - someone had to be reasonable!). And yes, I "worked" during this field trip...looking at all of the craft jewelry being displayed in hobbit-like hutches housed in the
nooks and crannies of mossy trees while sipping divine, fresh-squeezed, organic strawberry lemondade. And all I have to say is you don't know how good you have it
here.
so glad to be back!
Akira
10 july 2007
The visit went well, thank you. Nothing like some good rum and a couple of late nights to clear up some twenty year old misconceptions. No, really, it was a very pleasant visit
and just confirmed exactly how much time has gone by and how old I really am.
The Pippa necklaces haven't left my neck, but now that it is nearing 105 hot and heavy degrees here in Stumptown, I feel like
stripping down and wearing the lightest, most bare jewelry I can find. I'm not really into the damp, trickles of sweat that gather
under the heavier pendants and thick leather bracelets. So this is my pick for the heat. It's super light and has a barely-there feeling. Ahh, now just hand me one of these to slurp and it's all good.
stay cool,
Akira
3 july 2007
Speaking of fireworks, my high-school / college / first-love boyfriend is in town this week. He's like some world famous guy in the international world
of psychological academia. AND, he is staying at my house with me and my family. Seriously. I'm a little freaked out because whenever I think of him, some
pretty crazy images flood back...Um, let's just say it was my young and wild days.
Anyway, I can't look like I'm trying too hard, but I still need to express an "even-though-I'm-a-mom-I-haven't-let-myself-go-to-pot" look.
So I have it all planned out: a couple of Pippa necklaces for the first few days with my collection of Rudman cuffs ~ you know, a casual-funky-earthy thing. Then, later in the week, I'll switch to a more
mature, refined combo of these with my favorite
Jamie Joseph ring. Then, maybe
wow it up a notch with these paired with my
favorite black tank dress...
Thank the heavenly love gods, my husband is the ultra-cool-not-jealous type.... And that he looks like Sting if I squint hard enough....without my contacts....after a couple of cocktails...
Have a great 4th everyone!
Akira
27 june 2007
Another little bit of info is that I really like to chat. Really. As in a lot. I always got into trouble for talking in class, during
final exams (that's where I perfected my silent whisper), on the stage during plays, during the SAT's (yes, it's true...) so it goes
without saying that if you have a question about something or need advice - and we better keep this jewelry related - give me
a call. Really.
Akira
22 june 2007
Those of you in the know have been hip to this little bit of info for months, but if you've just discovered us, this is one aspect of
how we operate:
Whenever a new collection of jewelry is added, it goes here at the top of the list over on the right. If you are sneaking computer time at work (not accusing anyone...), bookmark
our site and when your boss leaves you alone, quickly click back to us, glance at the list and you'll know if anything new
has been added. See...we got your back! Just don't shop at work...we can't be responsible for your employment. And I'm not sure
you can list "browsing for amazing jewelry" at the Unemployment Office after you are fired...
Enjoy your weekend!
Akira
19 june 2007
I confess. I am a product of Catholic School. But I wasn't Catholic. But I really really really wanted to be because all of
my friends were. They got to go to mass where they ate that mysterious, but holy wafer and I really wanted to know what that thing tasted
like. And what was in the lovely, golden goblet? Water? Wine? Or really the blood of Jesus? I was baffled. My friends also got
these cute little Virgin Mary charms in the cutest shade of blue. They wore them around their necks hanging from delicate gold chains.
I just had a gold-plated "A" necklace...not something my friends looked at with breathless reverence.
Our latest collection from
Nash - jewelry co-created by Fred Segal owner Nina Segal and her accessory buyer Ashleigh Cohen - is comprised of one-of-a-kind
collections of these little charms mixed and paired with other spiritually symbolic charms. Each one-of-a-kind composition
hangs from airy, feminine link necklaces.
And phashew, I don't have to be the only 39 year old taking my First Communion to wear one!
blessings -
Akira
12 june 2007
You know that game Six Degrees of Separation? Our latest, fabulous jewelry collection will bring you within five degrees closer to stars like Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Cindy
Crawford and Kirsten Dunst. I don't know about you, but I kinda like bumping myself up on the close-to-celebrity scale (even though in reality, I'm about
as far away to them as my second cousin Kori-Jon in South Bend, Indiana...).
This is an important collection. Jennifer Meyer is in the mix. She gets to see Spidey without his suit (Tobey Maguire is her baby-daddy) and host parties with Hollywood's
hottest A-listers. She has put together a very personal collection of fine jewelry using simple, organic images of life, hope and luck ~ like leaves, wishbones and
four leaf clovers. And maybe with a little luck, you too can hob-nob with the famous.
Welcome to TWISTonline, Jennifer Meyer - we love your jewels!
Akira
8 june 2007
Okay, the only way to do this is announce in my best Oprah-esque voice,
"We have new Pippa SmAAAAAAAHHHHHHlllll!!!!"
And so sorry, we are (unlike the daytime goddess) unable to stick this amazing jewelry under your seat as part of our "Favorite Things" collection.
Bummer, I know.
Have a fab weekend!
Akira
4 june 2007
You know, our buyers do an amazing job finding spectacular jewelry. Really. They have the most discerning eye for design. Everything
they select is part of the bigger picture here at TWIST. Often, we liken each designer to a musical instrument ~ completetly unique
on their own, with a distinctive look and quality, but also part of the bigger picture here - the visual symphony of TWIST. The balance
is intentional, crafted by the owners with as much care as our designers create their jewelry.
Finding outstanding collections in the upper price range is almost easier than choosing elegant, quietly stated jewelry in a price
range that fits a broader range of budgets. That's why I am such a fan of this newly added designer. Her hand-faceted stones are perfectly centered on a silken cord and appear
to be floating in the center of your neck...right in that sexy little hollow. And, AND, the price is right. You won't have
to decide between one of her necklaces and feeding your family. The necklaces are a perfect wear-it-everyday summer piece and
also make a totally affordable graduation gift!
xoxo
Akira
PS - I know, the picture is old...from a month ago. We'll get another one up there soon...just waiting for a good hair day.
23 may 2007
As I mentioned in the previous blog, I have this thing for flipping through magazines
every month. But what I accicentally-on-purpose forgot to disclose it that I also have this thing about scanning the pages for
jewels we have here at TWIST. It started a decade ago when I was a salesperson here and would come to work, all excited about
the Cathy Waterman
earrings I had seen Gwyneth Paltrow wearing in Vogue and everyone was
all, "Uh, yeah...Welcome to TWIST - we are always seeing the cool jewelry we carry in the magazines..." So now, it's like a little secret
thing I do...alone...without telling anyone...
So I loved the cool blurb and photo of the Demitasse jewelry in this month's W magazine...
But what drives me crazy about these magazines is when you are trying to find where the heck to buy the necklace (or earrings, or shoes,
or handbag, or scarf, or chair...) you have to find your fashion-forward "reading glasses" (ahem, bi-focals) and page through the
impossibly tiny lists of stores and websites in the back of the mag while flipping back to the page with the item you want to make sure you are getting the page
number correct. Grrrr...Love the press, but we also want you to be able to find the jewelry with ease, without effort, with the press of a button...
Speaking of the cool Demitasse necklaces...I have customers who are so into the funky-miniature-antique look that they are already on their second
and third necklaces - layering them together for a look that is totally ahead-of-trend. I love it!
Au revoir -
Akira
15 may 2007
Do you women hoard magazines? Me, I have a little ritual I like to do twice a month: I collect the ones I subscribe to until the last one trickles in (I think
it must be Elle Decor) - then I put the kids to bed, get my favorite pint (yes! pint!) of
ice cream, prop myself up on a bed full of soft pillows and page through them. About a
week and a half later, the whole thing happens again for all of the mags on the stands I feel like buying. My college roomate and I used to fantasize about a job where
we were paid to do this and, darn her, I think she may have actually found it.
So anyway, this month, I'm chomping at the bit for this magazine to hit the stands. With its perfect
balance between fashion, style, decor, and gossip, it gets an evening all to itself. And the best thing about June's issue is that it features the jewelry of the incredibly
talented L Frank. I know I have raved about her work before, but I
cannot get enough of it. It stands apart from anything else out there. It also diverts attention from the Haagen-Dazs thighs...
xoxo
Akira
11 may 2007
Okay...none of you guessed correctly...but that's okay. I love ya anyway! Let's just say the necklace I'm now wearing everyday is chock
full of little charms and trinkets remininding me of my stubborn, bullish nature, one of my favorite stones and the symbol for
the ruler of allure and attraction. Now can you guess?
So in case you haven't perfected that salt-dough handprint ornament, you can still shop here for your mom. She didn't mind when you came home 2 hours past your curfew in high school wearing someone
else's clothes, or when you decided you would forego your soccer scholarship for a year of backpacking through Europe, or even when you got engaged for a few months
to the lead singer of the local grunge band ("but mom, he's an artist!"). Trust me, she's not going to mind getting a fabulous Mother's Day gift a few days late...really.
Have a great weekend everyone! And Happy Mother's Day to the moms out there!!!
Akira
9 may 2007
I'm in heaven you guys! Thanks to everyone who sent those emails to Paul (you know who you are!!!)! I did receive a gorgeous and amazing piece of jewelry for
my birthday, but I want you to guess what it is!!! Email me and tell me what your guess is!
But don't let it take time away from shopping for your mom. You have time still and we are offering FREE UPS 2nd DAY AIR for all orders over $150 placed through tomorrow (because
a Monday delivery is better than not giving a gift!!!).
There is always sweet and simple. Or, fun and funky. And you can always feel good about giving cool and classic. Just give.
Akira
8 may 2007
No you guys, I didn't get fired as a result of my absolutely outrageous birthday requests. And no, I have no idea if your pleas
to bequest me with glamourous jewels have been heard. And yes, it is indeed my birthday. But there's no rest for the weary (and OLD!)...
I have been busy helping you show your love and gratitude to your moms. Either you have amazing moms or you need to borrow some money because there
are going to be a lot of happy mothers out there on Sunday. Yes, SUNDAY! Mother's Day. May 13th. There is time yet and we will
offer FREE UPS 2nd Day Air on orders over $150...just to help you out...so you don't get grounded.
Is she really trendy? What about this? It's sweet, understated and meaningful.
Is her sense of style elegant, but firmly rooted in, say, a more conservative fashion era? She could use this to update her look. If she is the classic earth mama, a couple of these would look great! Or, just to prove you aren't still babysitting for a living, you can totally
surprise her with this.
But know what? She'll appreciate anything you choose. Mostly she'll just be
happy it's not another salt-dough handprint...And if you need some help, give me a call!
Akira
27 april 2007
Have a great weekend everyone and check out the new Tai jewelry we just added. Exotic cool with an even cooler price. More will go up on Monday!
Akira
26 april 2007
So thank you everyone for not asking how old I will be on my upcoming birthday. Let's just say that in my mid-teens, my
biggest goal was to see how tobacco-tan I could possibly get each summer - well
before sunblock was a can't-live-without product.
Which brings me to the most recent issue of People magazine.
Stars without makeup?!?!? Love love love seeing this. But what I really want to see is stars without makeup AND Photoshop! I mean how
easy is it to create flawless skin with that program? Easy. Very easy.
And since I can't walk around with the Photoshop spot healing tool to remove uneven skin tone, sun-induced wrinkles and the random blemish, I distract onlookers from the scary no-makeup face
by wearing things like these sweeties. Or even these because the person you are talking to will be spending so much time reading the dizzying words, they won't notice you have a big dot of
this smack in the middle of your forehead.
Get back to work now -
Akira
24 april 2007
Okay, okay, I know. My wishful thinking / dreaming / scheming was a little over-the-top. Can't help it, I'm a Taurus - we love
luxury and all thing material. But by all means, do not stop with the emails to pauls@twistonline.com...no no no!
If, however, you are more comfortable suggesting these little baubles to him - I am not stopping you.
And I'd take any of these in a heartbeat (to add to my
growing collection...they're kind of addictive!). Or, surprise me and pick something out yourself ~ seriously.
Have fun today-
Akira
P.S. For you Devon Page McCleary fans, have I got some incredible jewelry for you!!! Check back late tomorrow (PST)...
20 april 2007
Here's the thing: I really don't think my boss reads this blog. And, my birthday is coming up (not giving away the age, so don't even go there!). I need your help.
I need you to email him at pauls@twistonline.com and tell him that I really, really, reaaaaaalllly want
these as my birthday present. Or, if you catch him in a good mood and suggest
these, he might listen to you, the ever-
powerful customer! If you're feeling bold, you could tell him I've been coveting this for
a long time and would really like to be wearing it on my own wrist.
It's one thing to be around this jewelry everyday - to bask in its beauty, relish the designs, write in enough detail
so you feel like you are holding an earring or necklace or ring in your hand. It's entirely another to actually take it home with
you to have as your own. That's what I need. To have it as my own. Help me out here - seriously - he's a nice guy and would
love to hear from you - really - even if you guys are picking out my birthday present!!!
luv ya -
Akira
P.S. You have 18 days (now you know my sign) to compose your email. So get started!
17 april 2007
Wow. I wish I would have known moving the entire contents of a house could be so draining, overwhelming and exhausting. It's
kind of like having a kid ~ someone well experienced in the venture should pull you aside ahead of time, shake you thoroughly
and force you to answer some serious questions before letting you jump off the high-dive blindfolded....really. You should
have to pass a test.
So this morning, in a desperate attempt to counter the confusion and chaos consuming the rooms of boxes in our new home, I chose
these earrings because I love their crisp,
streamlined, minimal look...nothing extra, nothing to interpret but the simplicity of the flattened metal. Wearing these helps
me feel like while I am dressed for work with everything it its rightful place. Ahh...now if only I could feel that way about my house....
Akira
10 april 2007
Thank the jewelry goddess that I can come to work and drown my sorrow in diamonds, opals, moonstones and high karat gold. If I didn't have this
as an outlet to the chaos raging at my half-packed-up house, I would be a great case study for acute anxiety. We (my girls, hub and I)
are moving to a new house this weekend. There are boxes, bins and random piles taking up every inch of my home.
So here I am, in the peace and quiet of this lovely office...next to jewelry that soothes my senses, calms my anxiety with its
pastel colors, and warms my soul with its golden hue. Go here and see what I mean. Irene's earrings are so incredibly flattering ~ pick a pair and you'll reach for them to wear more than you think!
Her necklaces are easy
answers to the "What should I wear with this?" question. It's all glamorous, with a casual, California edge.
Enjoy!
Akira
6 april 2007
I was just looking at the lovely Gabrielle Sanchez
earrings a second ago and do they not look like little Easter eggs tucked into little golden pods? I think so. And
this jewelry is
all about warm weather...the brown leather and gold collection work really well with the capri skinnies and flip-flops you are chomping at the
bit to wear. And I love seeing pearls worn everyday...not only at weddings and funerals...
I hope everyone has a great springtime
weekend and if anyone figures out what to do with too many hard-boiled eggs (besides this), lemme know!
Akira
5 april 2007
My inner dialogue each morning of late: "blog? add jewelry? blog? add jewelry? blog? add jewelry?"
(kinda like the "go home? one more drink? go home? one more drink?" inner conversation I had every night in my 20's). So if you've been checking the right-hand colum on our homepage lately,
you'd know the answer. So go here for some dreamy earrings. And here for even more. And then go to this page for some sublime necklaces...See...I'm here, just happily drowning in jewels!
Akira
27 march 2007
First there were the planets, then the stars, then the jewelry and then the book (well okay, maybe my version of The Creation is a little fashioncentric...). THEN, the jewelry equivilent of
The Big Bang occured and the sexy, sublime result was this. I've already poured through the astrological tome and determined what cult sextrologists Stella Starsky and Quinn Cox
say about my marriage, my relationships with each and every ex as well as what my life with
Sting would be like.
But if you need to be grounded in the concrete, material and tangible, this collection of jewelry is for you. I am in love
with my Stellium necklace ~ and am drawn to
the insightful and right-on combination of charms. And if you knew me, it would be no surprise that the stubborn bull represents
my astrological sign.
What's your sign?
Akira
Happy Glorious Spring everyone! Finally ~ light at the end of the winter tunnel - it being the equinox and all. It's time for you to come out of your shells now and celebrate the new season!
I was going to write about this a few weeks ago when I first noticed it. Initially, it was only
a few customers. Then, it became a more frequent occurance ~ a total mini-trend! And it is a totally cool, creative and cheap-chic combination of bracelets!
Many of you have, unbeknownst to each other, ordered this, this, and
this. A virtual group of guerilla trendsetters!. I love it, and I love love love
this bracelet combo. I especially like the idea of wearing them layered all together but also having the option of wearing each one alone.
How cool will they look with a flouncy shirt, skinny capris and a cute pair of strappy espadrilles?
You guys are also all over the new Me&Ro collection ~ with its focus on the seven chakras. I like this collection because it is the fashion equivilent to taking a yoga class or reading
this. After all, isn't it
much easier and less time consuming to just slip on a gorgeous necklace and a pair of earrings?
Get outside today!
Akira
13 march 2007
I know. I know. I know. It's been way too long and you probably thought I forgot about this...well I didn't! And every morning, I sit
at my desk (on which the available workspace is rapidly decreasing) thinking, "Write about the jewelry that is threatening to avalanche upon my keyboard or wax poetic about the
fact that I just bought a house and sold my own last week." So I decided to write about the jewelry and add it to our ever-growing
online collection...because it's a great way for me to avoid thinking of the reality of the house purchase. It's so much more
complicated than anyone ever lets on...kind of like having a baby. No one takes you aside, knocks you on the head and screams, "DO YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU ARE REALLY GETTING YOURSELF INTO!!!!" And they should.
But enough about that. The jewels...ah, the jewels. We've seen a ton of you falling in love with Demitasse which I am really excited about. The first batch of orders just arrived and they are so beautiful,
original and like nothing else you will see out there. Also, new Devon has arrived. As always, it is amazing. If you don't need to put a down payment on a house, snag one of her bracelets
because they never stay around here for very long. The Indo Russian beads are set with the most amazing asymmetrically cut and
sparkling diamonds.
And keep checking that list on our home page...you know, the one on the right hand side. We are adding to it everyday.
Akira
23 february 2007
oh. my. god. I am back after a serious bout with the flu. After surviving on a carb-heavy diet of saltines, ginger ale and ramen
(yes, ramen.), moaning in pain so much that I think my husband purposely od'd me on Thera-Flu and watching small internal organs
exit my mouth with startling force accompanied by above said diet in liquid form (yes, gross.), I think I am finally healthy. Ugh. All I have
to say is thank god for my laptop and the ability to watch all the episodes of Daybreak (yes, Daybreak.) online.
During my delirious afternoons where time, place and my sub-conscious had no foundation in reality, these necklaces floated
in and out of my mind. They are hauntingly intriguing, mysterious in a historical sense and like nothing else out there. Based on
the once fashionable fascination with elaborate tableware, each necklace is a meticulously miniaturized version of its decorative
original. They remind me of something you might find down the rabbit hole with Alice. I find them so incredibly distinctive, so uniquely designed and so totally affordable. One of
my dear customers just bought my favorite one.
And I know she will treasure it just as the special and precious silver of yesteryear was.
Have a great weekend all!
Akira
7 february 2007
It's looming large. Do you have a pit in your stomach? Are you hoping he chose something that suits your incredibly discerning
sense of style? Know what? You can also take matters into your own hands here...
Let's go back in time...circa 1983 (I'm giving up my age here people!). Eighth grade. Public high school. Valentine's Day approaching.
Some silly club selling carnations. The boys bought them and sent them to their sweethearts (yes, that was plural...).They were delivered throughout the school during third period. Are you getting the picture here?
I think I must have spent three weeks agonizing over whether or not Peter Bryant would send me one. Can you imagine the torture of
being fourteen and sitting in Algebra while carnations were being passed out to the chosen few? FOURTEEN! My god ~ what teacher
thought this would be a GOOD thing? Anyway, if I knew then what I know now, I would have marched up to the booth during lunch,
bought myself a dozen, signed the little construction paper heart cards with sweet nothings and proudly flaunted them in front of Peter...who ended up not sending me one.
So really, there are gobs of choices here for you. If you are in the mood for something really spectacular, what about this? It has a breathtaking, powerful presence.
I come back to this sweet charm all the time because of its simplicity and
universal message. Take it literally, take it figuratively
~ let it be your personal message to put out there. It also looks great with everything! There's also these...and seriously, I could go on and on and probably will the next time I blog...
Until then...think about treating yourself...
Akira
30 january 2007
Do you ever have "life envy"? You know, when you see or know someone and you want their life? Not just their house, clothes
and body...but the whole kit-and-kaboodle of their life? Well...I have "life envy" of the newest artist to our website.
This woman is
not only a gorgeous former model (damn her!), she's European (of course ~ imagine the accent!), living in NYC (uh-huh), has
an incredible sense of style (how could she not?) and is the creator of an electic, super sexy collection of jewelry. Beyoncé
wears her body chains, Naomi shows up in court wearing her necklaces and Cameron chooses her earrings for magazine shoots.
And the other TWIST managers and I...well we each own one of her necklaces. One of the reasons we wear it so much is
because we think maybe, just maybe, it will make us look a little more like her...or give us a little smidgen of her life around
our necks. And also because we love love love the slinky, sparkly, minimal and modern look of her jewelry.
Welcome Manon!
Akira
ps ~ see that picture of me over there to your left?...look closely...there's my super-cool Manon necklace...don't I kinda look
like her too???
26 january 2007
In an email I received from a lovely customer this morning:
"FYI, browsing your website is almost as satisfying as getting lost for a couple of hours in the fine jewelry boutique at
the back of Barney’s New York. No one to hurry me, lots to look at, but then the shock of glancing at the clock and
seeing how much time has been spent in, well, not so productive reverie..."
I couldn't agree more! But "not so productive"? Well...all the energy it takes to study the jewels...imagining yourself wearing
them...mentally calculating the total cost of your favorites...slipping a few in your shopping cart and clicking on the "checkout" button...
openining your package when it arrives...wearing something like this and feeling fabulous...I think I'd have to call that productive!
Have a fantastic and fun weekend!
Akira
23 january 2007
I'm having a grumpy day. Really grumpy. So grumpy that the sugar / caffeine high of my afternoon chocolate and coffee won't
even put a dent in it. So grumpy that I think I just caused one of my orchid blooms to wilt and fall of its stem.
No worries though...I am posting jewelry from one of my favorite designers and I think it's doing the trick. I may be able to
bottle up this sense of calm and serentity I'm feelin' and get an FDA approval for a new drug.
So I have never met this woman, but imagine her to be someone I'd like to befriend over a glass of pinot at a sparsely
decorated, eames-esque, large-windowed-full-of-natural-light restaurant somewhere...maybe eating a broiled prawns and wilted
arugula salad. Her jewels are so well designed, so intentional in their look, yet not overy showy. They don't
scream for attention, but rather make an impression that whispers for you to recall their simple aesthetic.
(OMG ~ I kid you not, she just phoned our office...whoa...). Her rings can be worn in dramatic stacks and necklaces can be layer upon layer. Or, they can be worn on their own and still make an impact. It's all about individuality. It's all
about finding your own sense of style.
Okay, phew, I'm not grumpy anymore! Thanks LFrank! Thanks beautiful jewelry!
Yours truly,
Akira
12 january 2007
(...and I think I'm finally getting the hang of writing the correct year on things...don't you hate that?)
So I have this thing about magazines. It started in my teen years with Seventeen. Remember that one? So innocent, so fresh-scrubbed,
so I-want-to-have-the-same-haircut-as-Phoebe-Cates (thinking, of course, that my stylist would, while cutting my hair, also
make me LOOK like Phoebe Cates as well...oh, the disappointment). Once bored with Seventeen, I graduated to Glamour and Mademoiselle -
completely oblivious to their similarities and the fact that I was doubling the income for Conde Nast, their mutual owner. I felt
like I had been inducted into a super-elite fashion club when I received an invitation to get a charter subscription for Elle.
After that, my appetite grew and every month, and I loaded up on Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Allure and the short-lived Mirabella.
After two kids and a startling decrease in attention span and brain cells, I have limited my magazine intake ~ scouring them now
for jewels and the latest celeb sagas.
That's why I get so excited when I get calls from mags like Lucky,
Allure and Martha Stewart (yes, even Martha has great taste!). Seeing jewelry from our designers gracing the
pages furthers the fact that our collection is right there on the forefront of fashion.
So pick the longest line at the market, grab a mag and look for our jewelry in upcoming issues!
Have a great weekend!
Akira
9 january 2007
Oh jeez...so much for one of my New Year's Resolutions...no, make that two. First, I was going to resolve to write at least
every other day...but alas, life and that thing called work have gotten in the way. Secondly, I (like 99% of everyone) had resolved to eat
less sugar this week, I mean this year. Well, that was completely shot when these magnificant designers sent us the gift we at TWIST anticipate all year: a box of rugelach. Not just a tiny box with three or four pastries we have to fight over. No, it is always
a huge box with several layers separated by thin, butter-soaked sheets of wax paper, revealing tiny crescents of pastry spilling
with nuts, fruit and chocolate. The box is so full, you can grab handfulls at a time and hardly make a dent (ahem...I'll
admit, I'm speaking from direct experience...). My theory (this year) was that if I ate them while walking back to my office,
I would simultaneously be burning the calories I was consuming. Not sure this worked. The Miss Sixty's are a little tight.
I hope all of you had a glorious New Year and have been able to segue gracefully into 2007. After we finish updating the website,
we will be adding tons more! New designers, new collections, new jewels.
Later -
Akira
27 December 2006
Ah...the hulla-balloo has settled and I am still alive. And I know there are many of you out there flaunting your
incredible gifts of jewelry! Somewhere out there is a beautiful and oh-so-happy woman wearing these jewels. And I know a very special daughter has this around her neck. And someone's "Foo-foo" just became engaged with this masterpiece. Me...well...let's just say my jewley wishes have been granted too...with some very
special treasures from my most favorite designers!
Enjoy the tail end of 2006 and have a fabulous New Year!
Akira
20 December 2006
It's hightly doubtful any of the men doing their frantic last-minute online shopping (YES! there is STILL time!!!) will be
taking the extra 13 seconds to read this. But I'm sayin' it anyway ~ when penning your poetic gift message, please keep in
mind that our little gift enclosure cards are roughly 1.5" by 1"...not your standard trade paperback. While I love transcribing
the sweet messages sent to girlfriends, wives, mistresses,etc., I am not practiced in the art of writing in the manner of, say,
this artist. Remember,
less is really more. Another thing, boys ~ the lovey-dovey nicknames are so darn cute, but girlfriends named after body parts or cartoon characters
freak me out a little.
And if you do happen to be one of the men out there reading this ~ THERE IS STILL TIME! We will be shipping until tomorrow via
UPS 2nd Day Air and Overnight. If you wait until Friday, you'll be paying a pretty penny for a Saturday delivery, but we will
make it happen!
Have a wonderful holiday everyone! And if you have any suggestions on how to convince my kids not to even ATTEMPT staying
up for Santa, please advise. I have gifts to wrap and dollhouses to build. The last thing I want is a hyper seven year old
bound and determined she is going to be waiting for him as he squeezes through the 6" slot of our fireplace...
And a thank you to Lucky mag. for their shout-out in the January issue.
You guys rock!
Don't drink too much egg nog!
Akira
7 December 2006
Love love LOVE the holidays! Especially when so many eager ones flock to our webiste for the perfect goody to give. I love
the gift notes they write, I love packaging and wrapping up special jewelry just-so, I love helping people come up with a reason
to treat themselves this year (like the woman who, after years and years of obsessing, finally gave herself this!) and I love the overall frenzy and excitement of the December jewelry high we are all on here.
What I dislike, however, is anything that stands in the way of a seamless internet transaction. I so understand the need for
immediate gratification when it comes to shopping. I am known to doze off next to my laptop after a marathon online purchasing
spree. So when anything stands in the way of a quick and easy purchase, I can feel the links in my necklace start to break, the
sparkles of my diamonds begin to cloud and the nimbleness of my fingers begin to slow. If you encounter any technical issue,
call me. If you feel like you have specific questions about some jewelry, call me. If you would rather talk through your purchase...
yes, call me. I don't have time to chat, but I can find what you are looking for, hold it in front of me and help you realize you
have come to the right place for jewels.
joyous shopping!
Akira
29 November 2006
I am SO FULL! Yeah, from a delicious Thanksgiving meal I am still feasting upon, but more so from the incredible
amount of amazing jewelry I am frantically writing about and posting for the holidays! Incredible earrings and necklaces from Mallary Marks, the latest lovelies from Alexis Bittar, an incredible new collection from Devon Page McCleary (online shortly!). This is when I am thankful to be afflicted with ADHD. It enables
me to mutli-task with the energy of a three year old child who has just consumed an entire can of Redi-Whip....
And it's not even December....yet...
So get on it people...it's time to start emailing your Wish Lists, dropping hints, leaving print-outs of jewelry in briefcases, hiring a prop plane
to write "TWISTonline.com, dear" in the sky, standing outside of your husband's office with a bullhorn, tatooing a realistic image
of this on your forehead (...oh dear, not good)...my point is,
ask for what you want...you may be surprised by what comes your way!
And have fun...it's holiday time!
Akira
22 November 2006
A most happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday to everyone!
I think the quote inscribed upon the surface of this cuff perfectly sums up the sentiment for the season.
Eat good food, take long naps, enjoy a good book! And if you are like me and force yourself to
eat the pumpkin pie because it is simply a vehicle for consuming whipped cream, try this recipe ~ yum!
Be well ~
Akira
14 November 2006
One (of many!) secret pleasures I have with this job is witnessing the number of jewelry gifts that flutter into our
Orders Inbox and then getting to write the touching gift messages which accompany them. A friend from one side of the country
giving this to her friend on the
opposite coast as a token of good luck; a father sending this sweet necklace to his pre-teen daughter for her birthday; a husband surprising his wife with
this …just because; a big sister sending
this meaningful necklace to her little
sister at college…. And that is just a teensy-eensy glimpse of the thoughtfully chosen jewelry I have seen sent as special gifts.
Then there are the gift messages! Ah the abbreviated thoughts condensed into words on our enclosure - so personal and heartwarming
and silly and full of secret nick-names and code words and inside jokes… (they will always be included if you type it this box and are a clear indication to the intimate nature of giving the gift of jewelry.
Your jewelry makes a strong statement about who you are, what your mood may be and provides a little window to your
personality, but giving it as a gift makes an even stronger statement by recognizing these traits in someone else. Have you
ever received jewelry in a small, perfectly wrapped box and the instant you open it, you feel the sentiment going straight to your heart? It doesn’t
even really matter whether or not you “love” it. There is a certain delicacy in giving someone the gift of jewelry – it’s
the very quiet risk taken to impress, to express and to reveal. And as the recipient, it is safe to assume a great deal of
thought and emotion went into the choice.
And so the holidays are upon us (go here to see how much time you really have left!). There is something on this website for everyone ~ nearly 3000 items from nearly 50
designers, many of which are in the under $200 price range! You still have time to think, ponder and choose something to
give…or add something special to your Wish List and email it to your significant other (ooooh – then I’ll get to write
your secret nick-name on the gift enclosure...don't worry, I won't tell!)…
enjoy the experience -
Akira
1 November 2006
It is indeed the 1st of November. I will not mention how many days you have left until the December holidays because
I do not want to cause a premature panic thus resulting in our website catching fire. But we cannot ignore the proverbial
elephant in the room. The most exciting time of year is upon us! However, the elephant in the room I’m envisioning looks
more like….say, Christy Turlington. And she looks gorgeous in her simple and elegant nuala loungewear...and on her fingers are some of these yummy rings (please Santa, please!)and hanging from her ears are these lovelies (but honey, I have been SO good this year!). She has this bracelet slinking around one wrist and this one on the other. And…oh god, I’m getting all visions-of-sugar-plums-dancing-in-my-head on you!
Just the other day, our photographer said to me in the serious, factual tone he uses, “It’s getting quite frantic around
here.” He has been shooting new jewelry non-stop. And I must admit, it’s my fault the collections aren't appearing online in a more timely
manner. I spend a good deal of time just staring at it all. And dreaming. And staring. And imagining the thought
and consideration and care each designer has put into the materials and stones used. Each collection has such a distinctive style and
personality. Each necklace, ring, bracelet and pair of earrings is personified to the point of being a beautiful
little jewel just waiting to be freed in the world...with you! (and no, I’m not drinking rum punch…yet…)
So brace yourselves for our pre-holiday jewelry posts. And keep in mind, if you are interested in anything that may need
to be special ordered…the elephant in the middle of the room says there is this much time left.
kisses -
Akira
19 October 2006
I was a little bit giddy on my way to work today. No, I was a BIG bit giddy on my work today. The butterflies in my belly
weren’t even knocked out by the quad-americano I downed. They were exacerbated by the trays and trays of sparkling diamonds,
deep green tourmaline, sky-blue turquoise, rich 22K gold necklaces, luminous pearl lariats we at TWIST have been experiencing since its arrival yesterday (I'm getting all dreamy just
thinking about it!). These butterflies persisted until
I came face to face with one of the most beautiful designers in existence. Cathy Waterman. She is a gorgeous, elegant, open, warm, unpretentious and incredible woman. Here for a special Trunk
Show and evening event, she has spent the day chatting with customers and further solidifying their connection to her magical, lyrical and lacy jewelry. Each time I meet
her, I fall for her even more. And this time, she brought her lovely assistant who seamlessly helps run the studio with amazing
enthusiasm and efficiency.
It was a room full of magic as the customers seemed to reflect in their eyes and spirit the beauty of what they were
trying on and buying. The warmth of this special trunk show has emanated throughout TWIST today ~ creating an atmosphere
of excitement, fun and passion for her incredible jewelry!
Wish you were here!
Akira
We will be posting new Cathy Waterman jewelry in the coming days...
4 october 2006
When I first discovered TWIST, years and years ago during my first visit to Portland, I totally fell in love. I would stand in front
of the jewelry cases examining the designs of each and every artist, ruminating over which pair of earrings I should spend
my hard-earned teacher's salary on. Much has changed since then. We no longer sell single
earrings resembling the shapes of funky women with jazz hands - worn to balance the then fashion-forward asymmetrical coif.
But some things have remained the same ~ staples of the large jewelry collection we are so proud of here.
I remember being completely captivated by the jewelry of this San Francisco based artist ~ a designer we have had at TWIST for well over a decade. Her tiny photographs of babies with hand-painted golden angel wings haunted me
for my entire visit. The impossibly teensy lines of poetry engraved on silver amulets and rings had me in a swoon. Literally
moments before my departure, I dashed to the store in the downtown mall and splurged on two pairs of Jeanine Payer earrings.
Feeling slightly guilty because I had spent way more than the usual $12 for mass-produced jewelry at a chain store, I coveted
these little treasures and read her Artist Statement over and over. She (and TWIST) had me - hook, line and sinker.
It has been so amazing to watch her collections change and grow. She is endlessly creative, always inspired and the cause of much
distraction when her jewelry arrives. This new collection is strong. Once again, the preciously tiny baby pictures set under
perfect squares of glass are part of these necklaces, the poetry is ever-soulful and the passion in her work is felt.
Be captivated...
Akira
15 september 2006
I know! I know! I know! It’s been way too long! (And all of you out there browsing our website while you are
bored at work….I’m so sorry you spent your time on this
site instead!).
We are inundated with jewelry. Seriously. And right now it’s all about Mark Davis and his vintage Bakelite bracelet collection. As soon as I saw these bangles I immediately recalled my mom’s jewelry drawers
(yes, drawers…plural) and her collection of Bakelite bangles. Super saturated paprika red, carnelian orange,
marbled brown and creamy yellow clanked on her wrists in a flash of color and 70's glamour.
Bakelite – also known as “the material of a thousand uses” – was used in its early days to make everything from car
parts to cameras to jewelry. Mark Davis has collected these bracelets, polished them back to their original color and
carefully set each one with a precisely laid out design of precious and semi-precious stones. This jewelry is rare, in
very limited production and often one-of-a-kind. I also think that each combination of color and stone speaks to people
individually. You may be someone who wears a touch of pink somewhere in your outfit daily…a bangle with hot pink
sapphires would look scrumptious. Or you love the look of russet-golden brown and white…check out the Evelyn Bangle with
Diamonds…
Okay…I have more jewelry to get posted…but I’ll be back!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Akira
30 august 2006
You know those movies you see where the actress is wearing some absolutely incredible piece of jewelry and you
become so distracted by it that you have completely lost track of the plot? Or what about being at a dinner party
and completely ignoring the conversation your host is trying to have with you because you are trying to figure out
how to fit her ultra-cool credenza into your evening bag without her noticing? Or remember that cute, croc-wearing
guy you made eye contact with at the store last night? This pretty much sums up the way I am feeling about Irene
Neuwirth’s new jewelry. I can’t get it out of my mind. I keep clicking back to this page. I can’t help myself. The necklaces are modern amulets. They exude a sense of power. One of our super-stylish salespeople was wearing one today
and I couldn’t take my eyes off if it. For those of you who want to create your own sense of strong, personal style –
now is your chance.
Uh-huh….see…you’re obsessed now too, aren’t you?
Akira
p.s. - the missing jewelry has been found! thanks for the help!
24 august 2006
Me: “Honey, have you seen my rings anywhere?”
Honey: “Uh….no, aren’t they where you usually keep them?” (as if he even knows where that is…)
Me: (ashamed and in a whisper) “no.”
Me: “Hutton? Did you take my rings and put them somewhere?”
Hutton: (who, as a toddler, would take my keys and drop them into various vases, boxes and random containers and now,
as a five year old, will snatch my wallet, cell phone or a flip-flop and use it as a jail, bed or car for her
Playmobil people) “What rings?”
Me: "Cassin? Do you know where all of my rings are?
Cassin: (queen of verbatim and seven year old rock-climbing prodigy) "Mom, you really need to keep track of your
things better. Maybe you left them outside in the backyard!!!" she yells, running out
the door and seizing this as an opportunity to spend yet another six hours outdoors.
Clearly, I'm getting nowhere with my family members.
Then it dawns on me. Before leaving for vacation, I stashed these and this
and this and a bunch of other TWIST
goodies in a little pouch along with my engagement ring and grandmother’s wedding ring and put it somewhere. Key word here: SOMEWHERE! Not in the bra
drawer, not in the t-shirt drawer, not in the desk drawer, not in the vases, not in the freezer. I have absolutely no
recollection what I did with it. None whatsoever.
And I swear, my coffee wasn’t spiked that morning.
help...
Akira
21 august 2006
STILL SUMMER!
I am in serious denial that summer is “coming to an end”. C’mon people! We have a full 4 weeks or so left of this
languid, drink-in-hand, flip-flop wearing, tank-top-clad, oops-I-accidentally-on-purpose-forgot-to-wear-sunscreen-
because-I-like-to-tan season. Flaunt the remaining glow on the curves of your shoulders, sport the capris and t-shirt
for as long as you darn well want, and keep that mojito glass filled! We have until September 23rd for gosh sakes.
But for those of you who have moved on, your fall shopping complete and already making your holiday lists, we have a ton of cool,
crisp-weather jewelry here at TWIST. Read on...
For the college bound: Alexis Bittar is always current with his rich, jewel-toned earrings and necklaces. I’m
thinking a rich, stout-colored sweater with ¾ sleeves worn with skinny-skinny jeans (and that’s where I draw the line at the re-surfacing of scary 80’s fashion) and a pair of
these.
Your little one is beginning kindergarten: the sweats you have worn for the last 5 years must be removed now…and I do mean NOW…because you will be wearing this
one-move-and-you're-dressed number
with this current favorite
and be the envy of all the other velour-clad moms at drop-off.
It’s your first lecture on French feminist
writers and you must appear serious and academic, yet approachable: it’s all about the perfect balance between
denim and tweed (sans elbow patches….puh-leez) and the autumn-hued jewels in this incredible necklace.
Me: I’m in my usual late-summer freak-out mode – juggling the logistics of child-care, car pools, rock-climbing practice and the
drama that comes with sending my diva daughters off to school. Going for the "Serenity now!" look, I'm picking
these earrings.
Akira
15 august 2006
Sometimes in the middle of the afternoon I get an incredibly strong craving for something sweet. Usually
something chocolate. Most always, dark chocolate. So yesterday, I mosey on down to the office where the kitchen is
search of something sweet so I don’t go into a narcoleptic episode (oh don’t pretend you’ve never suffered from the mid-afternoon
I-must-have-chocolate hour). On top of the fridge is an old box of Triscuits, some rock hard crusty bread and a
box of Slim-Fast bars…but then I spot them….the tell-tale blue bag of chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
MMmmm! I pop one into my mouth and am completely satisfied. Little did I know that someone else had the same
idea…and that this person decided to devour the entire bag without even giving thought as to who the owner of
these precious goods may be. Well this morning, that owner was MAD…like a woman whose earrings have just been
ripped from their holes... like a woman whose necklace is tangled in her perfect up-do…like any reasonable woman.
It was ugly...really ugly. I fessed up. I ate ONE! .
Speaking of sweets…I could have sworn that these were fossilized gum balls .
They are so amazingly luscious, your mouth will start to water when you see them. And don’t be surprised if the
five-year old kid behind you at the grocery store begs her mom for a quarter to put in your jeans pocket so she
can choose something from this.
And remember these? Get some of
this mod
jewelry and you won’t get a cavity.
So pick something and satisfy your own craving…without the calories!
akira
9 august 2006
oh.my.god.
Can I tell you how good it feels to be back – sitting here at my desk, looking out the window without scenes
of Northern California whipping by at breakneck speed while my children self-tattoo their little arms and legs
with crazy-bold designs inked in crayola marker? And the quiet – ah the quiet…no one asking for the 79th time
“how many more hours until we are there?” (I think I have been in serious denial that my girls would ever utter
this stereotypical child-trapped-in-carseat question. Why my daughters would just look at their Hello Kitty watches and figure it out for themselves. Not.)
And FINALLY, I can put my jewelry back on. I pared down and left it all at home foreseeing the undesirable smell
of smokey campfire deeply absorbed into my favorite leather bracelets and the pewter-like patina of my silver bracelet once submerged in
the Pacific Ocean. But I felt naked, so naked - wearing only my simple platinum wedding band and feeling so very
like everyone else. I wanted to yell out, “Really – I have some really amazing and cool jewelry at home– really
I do!!! And the website – YOU SHOULD SEE THE WEBSITE I MANAGE!!!” But alas, I didn’t think a response remotely
resembling that of mild excitement or enthusiam would come from my fellow, fleece clad campers at the Redwood National Park.
Next vacation, I'm going here...ALONE!
Akira
25 july 2006
Dear readers, lovely customers and the 42 members of my family who read this regularly and send their comments
and spelling corrections to me – don’t worry – this will be updated soon. I am taking a short blog break until
the beginning of August.
Until then, do me proud and keep wearing good jewelry!
Akira
21 july 2006
It. Is. Hot.
And I’m not talking about the weather in Portland – I’m talking about the new Jill
Platner I just added to the website. Groovy, soulful, and totally modern. Durable, funky and surf-ready. Her
jewels are inspired. Jill is
inspired. The energy she exudes is evident in each hand-finished piece she creates. Meeting her in person is like
a shot of pure sunshine straight from a Mexican beach. I’m envisioning a halter, sarong, flip-flops, this and these. And maybe a chilly mojito in your hand for the recommended daily fluid intake. In this heat, one must
make hydration a priority (second only to good jewelry). Besides, water is over-rated. No flavor. No buzz.
If there is a beach close-by, grab your sunscreen, some of these and dash. Bring the laptop, browse our jewelry and stay cool. Conserve
energy by not thinking too hard. And have a great weekend!
Akira
PS – This from a customer’s email:
“You should not be complaining of your cool weather!
Portland's 5 day forecast: 104, 99, 95, 90, 90. (my city’s) 5 day forecast: 106, 109, 110, 108, 106…”
Okay, ’ll shut up now...
18 july 2006
What I love about this job is when a piece of jewelry is so thoughtfully chosen by someone as a special gift. I
have sent jewelry as graduation gifts, birthday presents, wedding anniversaries, best friend tokens, new mother
celebrations and the occassional "congrats on dumping the loser boyfriend" necklace. I must admit, however, I
sometimes feel slightly voyeuristic reading the sweet gift messages that are
included in these orders. The words can be profound, sentimental, corny, encouraging, predictable, cheerful,
amorous, nostalgic, coy and full of private nick-names (“boo-boo”, “lovie-lou” and “shooter” – you know who you are!) -
but always from the heart. I have become so adept at writing these long messages of honest expression on our
teensy enclosure cards I am considering applying as an engraver at Jeanine Payer's studio...
If you are looking for something super-special and unique to give, it exists on this website. You can spend a little or you can spend a lot. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that the gift you give has come straight from
the hands and heart of the designer whose creation you buy – just as it has come from yours.
And it’s okay to use the private nick-names – your secret is safe with me…
Akira
11 july 2006
So that I don’t throw rotten organic
tomatoes at the cars in front of me moving as slow as my grandma did when she plowed her Cadillac into
a telephone pole at the speed of a banana slug AND so I don’t, oops, key the car of the person who stole my rock star parking place AND so I am
at – ah – peace with the current state of the world, I have
been wearing this little medallion around
my wrist. Every time I feel the urge to quadruple-click the Inbox button because our T1 internet connection is just
not fast enough, or I can’t finish a five word sentence because I am being interrupted – again – by the 8-and-under
debate team I share a house with, I look at the little disc dangling from my wrist and breathe a little slower,
worry a little less and feel more at ease with the current moment.
Find something that helps you get through those gray-hair inducing instances in your life. It could be the sparkle of
this, the simplicity of this or the way the color of
this makes you feel ~
just give it your own personal meaning.
And for gosh sakes, enjoy your summer!
Akira
6 july 2006
I'm still here! But I am drowning in a very large and vast sea. No, I’m not blogging from Aruba or
heaven. I am at my
desk surrounded by stacks and stacks of jewels – they are waiting in a silent queue for me to write their descriptions.
Thank god for Alan – who is helping me fill orders this week. He’s the guy that makes the TWIST stores
twist with his whimsical
displays and creative visual merchandising. He’s also brightening my day by sliding around my office on his chair
singing the lively and ambiguous lyrics of this
timeless rocker. He also gently scolded me for my version of “Philadelphia Freeway” – who knew it was actually
“freedom” – and led me to the real lyrics for this song which I have been singing for about three decades by making strange, wordless
sounds that resemble the cries of a rhythmic, but fatally wounded hyena.
So I work - fueled by chocolate, the good humor of co-workers and my beloved caffeine. Gobs of new jewelry are being
added faster than you can decipher the lyrics to "Rocket Man".
Rock on tiny dancer!
Akira
27 june 2006
Whooo-eee it’s hot. So hot, I tell ya, that I’m thinking we’d be better off if everyone just lost the whole
clothing thing. Yes – it’s that uncomfortable here in Portland
where we love complaining when sun shines too many days in a row and the temps hit the triple digits. God forbid
we should need to squint around here. (I kid you not, my kids cry when it’s too sunny in the car!) But before you start freaking
about this drastic solution– we wouldn’t be completely in the buff. Everyone would be wearing some fabulous piece of
jewelry that is so incredibly eye-catching and cool that onlookers would be instantly distracted from any bodily
imperfections by its dazzle. Like this
draped around your neck. So bring on the ice ice baby. Wear this pendant of gorgeous mint ice (as in the stone, not the gelato or ice cream!) and your inner heat index will immediately drop into the comfort zone.
My point is this - the power of jewelry goes far beyond the visual, my friends. It can change your entire demeanor and
way of thinking. Select something so beautiful, wear it and watch how things change...really!
But if you would rather keep clothed (which, after some thought, I highly recommend after all...), may I suggest this
this coupled with some of these gold bangles? Wear them for a powerful statement of stunning summer style.
keep cool out there ~
Akira
21 june 2006
They are creeping out of their safe, silver-clad seclusion. They are seeing the light, the warmth, the richness.
They are becoming bolder in style, more sophisticated in their selections. No no no – I am not talking about some
kind of sci-fi alien…ewww. I mean you bold women
out there who are venturing into the world of gold. I know, I know – it’s a daring move for some of you. And it
reminds you a little too much of those huge rings and clanking bracelets of your Great Aunt Gladys. Trust me - it’s
different now. You have someone to hold your hand during the process if necessary (me).
I have the sweetest customer on the East Coast who has ever-so-slowly stepped over the line. She is a smart librarian (but assures me that she is by no means whatsoever your stereotypical
book-pusher) who not only provides me with great book recommendations but has asked my advice about an entry-level
piece of jewelry to help her segue into the more mature and elegant post-silver world. I sold her this bracelet and she love love loves it. And - she is still breathing despite her anxiety
over breaking away from the comfort and familiarity of precious Ag (c’mon – don’t you remember your 8th grade science class?).
shop on -
Akira
16 june 2006
So that picture of me is getting a little tired, no? But since we are all convinced here that no one reads this
blog except my dad in Ohio and Paul, the TWIST god, we haven’t made it a priority to update it. But I’m a little
worried my dad thinks I've become overzealous with this jewelry thing and now sport multiple, all-over body piercings
from which I can showcase the great jewelry of our artists…ouch…hence keeping the older photo of me posted from when I wasn’t so into high-fashion self-mutilation. (Don’t
worry dad, that’s not the case and I look the same – except for a few more gray hairs which have been covered, of
course, by my colorist in warm, caramel highlights).
If only my photo could be as sweet and petite as this! Then I wouldn’t be so darn self conscious when the camera comes out and I am supposed to look “natural”.
Plus, the angel wings would certainly divert viewers from the fine lines on my forehead.
Or, I could really scare you all by posting a photo of me from the era of fashion disasters....but then again you probably want to get some sleep this weekend...
smile ;)
Akira
12 june 2006
It’s very hard work sitting at my desk and waxing poetic about all the amazing jewelry I get to play with
and try on before it gets posted on our website. After months and months of moaning and complaining
(and those are the nice words for what I did!), I finally FINALLY have one of these upon which to rest my weary tush! This aerodynamic beauty not only lets me
feel good while I look good, but it is affording me the luxury of rolling across the room to prepare packages at
our UPS counter and not having to exert more energy than necessary by standing up. Lord knows my pedicure can only
bear so much walking before those pesky chips appear…
But I have it easy. While I literally sit in the lap of luxury, the powerhouse couple and driving force of TWIST
have been traveling tirelessly from show to show seeking out more new and interesting collections to add to our
arsenal of already incredible jewelry. While they were in this city of sin I’m told that no gambling or secret weddings took place, but hours upon hours
were spent inside climate controlled venues meeting designers and selecting from current collections. In this
city of stars, they
spent this past weekend doing much of the same (I believe them because they were not beach-brown and sun-kissed
upon return and resumed their passionate work today without missing a beat).
It’s also incredibly rewarding to hear from them that this website (which takes place completely in one large,
loft-like office) has quite a dedicated following! We work really hard to provide an easy online shopping experience
as well as little extras - like this blog –
for you to enjoy. I love hearing from you guys, so bring it on (remember that little comment link up there…)!
luv ya tons!
Akira
8 june 2006
Sure, the jewelry collections we carry are regularly featured in Elle and InStyle
and are seen on the rich and famous, or have been covered in the press with the well-deserved and proper promotional
credits. But every so often, faster than gold increases in price, I will catch a fleeting glimpse of something that
is ever so familiar to me. My brain registers a glimmer of recognition as my retinas record a familiar design or
current color-story. This phenomenon has led me to develop an obsessive and problematic condition. I like to call it
Extreme-Jewel-Fanatacismphobia. Yes, I believe it may very well be a true medical condition requiring nothing less
than complete immersion in our jewelry or regularly eating morsels of this.
I rarely make it through an episode of this show because honestly, I am so focused on looking at earlobes and necks I am oblivious to whose strand of
hair was found tangled in the cold toes of the dead body and am left poking the arm of my husband with another,
“What just happened????”
And during this movie
I was so sure that the earrings worn by Frances McDormand were a pair of these that I was sitting on the edge of my seat, gripping the Stella McCartney-covered arm
of my friend waiting for another close-up until she grabbed our popcorn and moved away from me. I was caught
completely off guard when the final credits started rolling.
I will admit to following someone down the street - as if I was an undercover operative hot on the trail of a fashion-don’t – to grab the
wrist of an innocent pedestrian for a closer look. Yes, I get strange looks on a regular basis.
If this condition is life-long….then I think I'll be just fine...
Akira
6 june 2006
Along with drivers who are too darn polite, complexion-freshening rain, and coffee strong enough to grow hair
in unpredictable places, Portland has this little baby
virtually exploding in its backyard. Apparently, the lava dome is now taller than the Empire State Building.
I’m not sure if this is something to be proud or terrified of, but when Mother Nature begins her own, eruptive
version of ranting and raving, I’ll be running the other way. And in the spirit of all things earth, these will be dangling from my ears and this from my neck as I escape the descent of ash and flow of lava.
Akira
2 june 2006
I’m having a conversation with Paul (a.k.a. God of all Things TWIST) and we’re sitting there debating who is
worse at ordering gifts last minute: men or women? Of course he is thinking men are the lame-o’s who procrastinate
until their blood pressure reaches a life-threatening level, but I’m here to defend these taciturn males who have
the best intentions and often pull through with weeks to spare. (A sweet customer of mine just ordered this luscious necklace today for his
10th anniversary – which is IN JULY!). If truth be spoken it’s the multi-tasking, assiduous women who have sent
me panicked emails about last minute graduation gifts, bridesmaid favors and accessories for next day events.
So I’ve compiled this helpful list for you. Study. Memorize. Purchase. Of course we offer overnight shipping,
but if you plan ahead, you won’t need to drink one of these after work to de-stress you from the frenzied, last minute gift buying.
Young Graduate: this necklace with a message
High School Graduate: this because she'll always be your star
College Graduate: this perfect, timeless bracelet
Recipient of triple MD/PhD/JD: certainly, she deserves a stack of these
(and that trip to Aruba)
For your Bridesmaids: this to make them feel better about wearing the hideous mauve dress
And you, miss wait-til-the-last-possible-second: if you wear this with these,
you’ll be set for the multitude of summer events you'll be attending!
Cross something off your list this weekend!
Akira
30 may 2006
Today I am faced with making a serious decision. I need to replace a beloved pair of earrings that I lost this
weekend during a soggy, freezing and utterly miserable camping trip on the Oregon Coast. While huddled around a campfire that required more effort than birthing a child to keep going,
I lost one of these.
Rather than ask my sweet husband to root around bare-handed through hot coals and sooty embers to retrieve it,
I kept thinking that perhaps this was a direct message from the Jewelry Gods.
My rough translation of this situation: “Get another pair!!!!” As soon as this realization began to take root in the
part of my brain that has the entire inventory of TWISTonline memorized, the sun parted the misty air, shone through
the tall cedars and this vision appeared
before me.
Yes, I know…quite a different pair of earrings entirely. But the Tree of Life motif came directly from the Jewelry
Gods…and I cannot disobey…
May your vision appear as well…
Akira
26 may 2006
So it’s Memorial Day weekend. Another excuse we Americans use to drink even more beer and sleep late.
Perhaps one reason Brad and Angie are seeking refuge in Namibia is to get away from this culture of liquid and languor. But certainly you have so many fun-filled
activities planned for yourself this weekend the Brangelina Baby Watch will be way way way under your radar…..right?
Well, if not and you are bored silly at the annual family picnic, stare into the
Jell-O mold and entertain these fantasies:
You have been invited by Brad and Angie personally to attend the birth celebration of Brangelina-Bambini.
Of course, you wear this – not
just because it makes you look like a Namibian princess, but Brad just can’t take his eyes off you.
You and Brad are having a heart-to-heart because he is tired of the pendant hanging from some kind of strap
around Angie’s neck (see People magazine). You advise him that this necklace is way cooler and kind of goes with that round ring he wears on his
middle finger (ibid.). Plus, the Gore-Tex will withstand the sub-Saharan heat much better than thread.
Angie has invited you to hang out. Ah, yes – as she sits regally, surrounded by her harem of children, she goes
on and on about her addiction to these You too confess to having an astounding collection of high-karat gold bangles
(shhh, she doesn’t have to know it’s imaginary) and discuss the best number to wear at one time.
Okay wake up…..and have a great weekend
Akira
22 may 2006
I think there may be some of you out there who are in need of a little encouragement. You need a little push,
perhaps some guidance, to venture into unfamiliar territory…a terrain rarely traversed…a place you see and are
curious about, but are too timid to enter. Be bold. Go gold.
I know, I know. You may be harboring some awful memory of the free rings your dentist gave you when you were young,
or the boyfriend who thought
wearing a gold chain with an open shirt was fashion-forward, or of the 14K earrings and necklace set
your older cousin re-gifted to you. It’s okay – you are not alone.
Wearing gold will open up a new world – one of warmth, richness, versatility and style. I used to be one of those
silver / platinum / white gold only kind of gals and let me tell you – I adore gold. I imagine it’s kind of like
going blonde – without the roots.
Start easy – wear these
They are whisper thin, subtle and won’t break the bank if you freak out and decide the adventure to the other
side is just too much. Then, move on to a pair of these – glamorous, elegant and feminine. Add this to complete your initial foray into the worldly realm of gold and you’re set. You can send me hate mail
if I’m wrong…
Akira
16 may 2006
With temps here in Portland in the upper 80’s and lower 90’s, the lure of hot coffee is not nearly as seductive
as it is during the rainy months. Yeah, there’s iced coffee and lattes, but I add about 7 packets of sugar to make
them drinkable. That’s bad. So what do I do about the buzz? I desperately need it to power me through afternoons
filled with trays of jewelry collections to write about and sweet customer emails to answer. So I started to drink this unusual elixir. I warn you, it's a little weird. The strange little floaties in it are
purportedly chock full of powerful and health-promoting properties. And I swear, it’s like drinking a healthy
coffee – complete with the kick-in-the-pants I need after lunch.
The warmer weather also begins the season of the celebratory skin show, which means more exposed bellies than I
really care to look at (especially the ones flaunted by seventeen year olds who have NO idea their taut abdominal
skin WILL NOT last forever…or the men who are oblivious to the 94 beers sloshing around in the protuberance hanging
over their cut-offs…). It also means that time is running out for me to pick my seasonal jewelry look. Last summer,
it was this coupled with two
Pippa Small treasures. This year, I think it will be my new Manon VonGerkhan necklace (Thanks P & L!!!) layered
with this or this.
What are you wearing?
Akira
P.S. If you’re curious, I’ll email you an image of my cool Manon necklace!!!
12 may 2006
This week was amazing! I had the pleasure to be absolutely slammed with phone calls, emails and Mother’s Day orders.
I have to say, it’s a blast to help you pick out jewelry. The variety of customers we have is impressive - there are
the really decisive women who know exactly what they want and if it’s not in stock, will wait weeks for it without
batting an eye; there are women more interested in immediate gratification (I can relate!) and will take my
suggestions readily; and there are the sweet men, eager to purchase the “perfect” piece for fear of death or maming by
stiletto heel.
So tell me, men – would you really know that Mother’s Day is this SUNDAY if there were no publicity for it?
Seriously, is it a holiday you would remember like your birthday or anniversary (oh yeah, you always forget that
one too)? Well, you really need to remember it and if you are reading this and are still empty handed – repeat after
me: “Better late than never!!!” It’s really okay because you can still order something lovely and present it late with style and claim that you are going through a
streak of non-conformity. Besides, you’re adding some spark to the relationship by keeping the element of surprise
alive and well.
T.G.I.F. – you wore me out sweet people! I’m going home to one (or several) of these on ice. And if I fall fast asleep as a result, I’m banking on my kids waking me with breakfast
in bed on Sunday morning…
Akira
9 may 2006
I think Mother’s Day should be more about repentance than anything else. It’s kind of like a day of amnesty where
all previous wrongdoings are forgiven provided you celebrate your mother with enough praise, flowers and jewelry to
blur all incriminating past events. She probably won’t be charmed by another salt-dough hand print or painted flower
pot (unless you are under the age of 5). You need to pick out something super special that will make her forget about
all those late nights of worry, the cars you wrecked and the money she had to dish out to make sure your clothes were
cool - something that pretty much causes acute amnesia of your entire teen years.
And if you’re a mom with kids too young to legally earn their own income…..you know the angle you need to take.
It’s all about leaving the obvious hint…. the computer print-out in the diaper, the magazine photo pinned to the
back of their shirt, the note in the coffee cup. Remember, your goal here is to get the message across to the one
in possession of a usable credit card!
If you don't parent humans, you're not only incredibly sane and reasonable but are
certainly "mom" to something - a pet, some houseplants, your boss? Go ahead,
leave the guilt behind and pick out something for yourself!
As moms, we deserve it, don’t we? What other being can simultaneously have a phone conversation with the accountant,
cook dinner while analyzing the news story on NPR, navigate the maze of shoes on the floor, and break up a fight between
the kids using hand gestures alone - all with Olympic speed and razor efficiency?
Best -
Akira
3 may 2006
All I have to say is, “wow!” The lengths many of you would go to get what you want from this website.
Goodness, please don’t go doing those crazy stunts in real life or anything – you’ll wreck your nails or break a heel! Ya’ll are a feisty
bunch and would probably fair well on Fear Factor...or at a Marni sample sale.
My official winner is a sweet, regular customer who owns one of the most beautiful Jamie Joseph rings I have ever seen (a huge, cabochon ruby!). She will remain anonymous lest
anyone tempt her by making her do the following: "I would eat all my meals sitting in the middle of the living room
watching the repo man take away my furniture, just so that I could buy that favourite piece of Gurhan jewellery. I would skip one or, even two, mortgage payments just so that I could buy
my favourite piece of Cathy Waterman designs. I would run around the neighbourhood on recycling day collecting all the bottles set
out for recycling, just so that I could buy my favourite piece of delectable delights from Yossi Harari." Desperate? No, gentle readers! This woman knows what she wants!
So thanks for the comments and keep sending them…I need something to do distract me from the Anthony Nak jewelry sitting here on my desk waiting to be photographed…hmm…. I swear I
would prepare recipes from this forever if
I could just have that necklace...yeah...that one right there...
Akira
1 may 2006
So this is something like my 23rd TWISTonline blog (but who's counting?) and while I have an imaginary audience
to whom I write, the only empirical evidence that there are people actually reading these are the emails comments
from my dad in Ohio and Paul, the owner of TWIST. While I appreciate their steadfast dedication to the website and
unwavering support and encouragement, I'm feeling a little alone here as I rant and rave...
I'm reaching out to you...my readers....with an offering. I have a gorgeous, black leather TWIST jewelry box,
hand-crafted in Italy for the most intriguing reply I receive in response to the question below. (and DON'T tell
Paul, he has no idea I'm doing this and when he reads this he'll probably garnish my wages for the missing
merchandise or banish me from the espresso machine in the kitchen - not sure which would be worse....).
See that little word "comment" over there...to the right? No, silly, up there...yup, that's it. Click on it and
send me an email telling me what you would do to get your most favorite piece of jewelry form TWISTonline. Say you are loving these...would you stop wearing deodorant for a month? Or what if it's this .....would you eat nothing but Twinkies for two weeks? I'm sure some of you would
drop your cell phone in the toilet if you knew you'd be getting one of these? Would you send your 2 year old to boarding school for this?? (oh, c'mon, I'm just being creative here!).
I'll give you until Wednesday to respond. Then I'll reveal the comments...and the lucky winner!
Akira
P.S. - No Jill, Emily, Ann and Bethany, you're not allowed to play!
27 april 2006
God, I knew I should have gotten my degree in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy! I just spent a good half hour on the
phone with a regular customer of mine whose marriage I do believe I just saved. Year after year, he phones me at
the last minute in complete and utter desperation. Tomorrow is his wife's birthday. He was, until moments ago,
empty-handed, on the verge of a panic attack and headed straight for the doghouse. Tonight, he's going to sleep
like a baby knowing that a package will be arriving at the front desk of his office tomorrow morning containing
this - beautifully gift wrapped and ready to present to his wife at the lovely dinner
he has planned. Problem solved and I didn't even need to ask him about his relationship with his mother.
Believe me - this scenario can take many forms: your mother's birthday and you are stumped for something sweet, but not too expensive; your best friend just gave birth and deserves a major reward for enduring labor; you want your husband to buy you these, but don't know how to ask. I've seen it all and have matched something fabulous
to each request. Yes - I'm available to help you. And the therapy is free.
Until our next session -
Akira
25 april 2006
I have never really been afraid of spiders. I've encountered furry tarantulas in the jungles of Ecuador, creepy black widows in the deserts of New Mexico and had the unnerving experience of
lifting my pillow to discover a skinny-legged spider just waiting to nibble my flesh. My kids spend long summer
afternoons throwing various and innocent bugs into the webs of orb weavers to watch their rapid fire demise as they
are attacked, spun into a meal and quickly digested. And when I hear my husband call my name with a meek tone, I
know I will be climbing furniture to a remote corner of the ceiling to capture some kind of fast-crawling arachnid.
And who can forget Charlotte - E.B. White's beloved Charlotte -
ever-so patient and wise as she encouraged Wilbur the pig with the salutations and one-word messages spun in
glistening silk from her web in the barn. Remember the tiny "goodbyes" of the hundreds of children she had at the
end as they drifted away? I think it was the first time I bawled at the movies as she bid farewell to Fern, Wilbur,
Templeton and the other farm animals with her quiet lesson about the circle of life.
So I simply cannot resist Cathy Waterman's magical rendition
of my first fictional heroine. Featured on page 182 of the latest In Style mag, they are the perfect earring for the sentimental lover of children's' fiction
or the jewelry loving arachnophobe.
Have a good one!
Akira
21 april 2006
Apparently April is host to some important national observances,
many of which I'm sure we have all failed to properly celebrate. So far this month, gone are National Workplace
Napping Day, National Check your Batteries Day, National Licorice Day, Walk on Your Wild Side Day, Take a Wild
Guess Day and National Tax Freedom Day. These party opportunities have passed without proper recognition!
The naps I take under my desk would have been justified for a day! The black licorice I consume unbeknownst to my
children could have been rightly shared, and the taxes...oh the taxes I could have evaded! Never fear, this is what
you can look forward to the rest of the month: Hug an Australian Day is the 26th, National Hairball Awareness Day
is the 28th and Spank Out Day is the 30th. Hmmmm.....not sure how I'll celebrate that one....
At least with Earth Day - which is tomorrow - you can celebrate the geological treasures, the minerals and the
metal, the richness of stones and gems by treating yourself to something wonderful that originated in the depths of this planet. Get your hands dirty
in the ground, plant fresh herbs in tiny pots and bright flowers in a windowbox, pick a fragrant bouquet and put
it in a vase by your bed. And then think about what the invitations for your National Hairstylists Appreciation Day
party will look like because it's next week.
Have a great weekend!
Akira
19 april 2006
Sunshine at long last. Long-stemmed French tulips. Springtime. Jewels. Flip-flops. Breezy afternoons. Fresh, pink lemonade.
Really big hoop earrings.
A nap after working in the garden. A great book to read. BBQ's on the patio with friends. A good, cold, cheap beer. Sweet-faced pansies. A fabulous, all-season middle-finger ring. Your favorite t-shirt - soft
and casual worn with faded jeans. Flipping through Elle Décor Magazine. A delicious green salad with arugula and baby
spinach followed by a bowl of the world's best ice cream. And a necklace to take your breath away.
Here's to the perfect day!
Akira
18 april 2006
I am always amazed at how busy it is around here at the beginning of the week. There are orders to fill, phone calls
to return, emails to answer and more fab jewelry to add to our ever increasing online collection. I am sensing the fast
approach of wedding season based on the number of emails and phone messages I am receiving from the men out there. Such
sweetly composed correspondence! I am working with several couples right now with Malcolm Betts wedding rings. These rings are incredible online and even better in person.
They are like something you would uncover in a treasure chest stashed away in a hidden turret of an English castle and
once worn by a fair maiden cloaked in velvet robes whose love....oh, geez I need to get back to work!
So for all the men out there: the process of selecting a ring is much less painful than the scenario you have created
in your head. As a matter of fact, I will make it fun for you! Start by browsing our Ceremony section for the perfect one. And don't be shy - pick up the phone and call me if you
have any questions.
And ladies - be decisive and take the matter into your own hands. Make this the first of many mutual decisions and
send him an email of the ring you really want! He will be relieved and grateful for the information...he will.
Kisses,
Akira
14 april 2006
Here in Portland we have "fake" spring. It's the season that lasts all of about four days - when the lilacs bloom,
the leaves on the trees start to sprout, and the scent of daffodils and warmth scent the air. It's just enough
to bring Portlanders out of their caffeine-fueled reclusive state, shed their layers of Gore-Tex and reacquaint
themselves with the beauty of the local flora and fauna. It's just long enough to contemplate mowing the lawn or
weeding garden beds or, perhaps making Northwest Escargot for dinner with the abundance of slugs that have made
residence in your yard (just kidding about that...). The sun is shining, spirits are high and
then BAM! the rain starts to fall, the sky turns gray and the furnace kicks on again. This lasts until July.
I kid you not.
To snap me out of the "fake" spring funk, I pick out my most favorite Alexis Bittar pin, dress in a palette of spring hues and bite the bullet until July. Or,
I wear these Cathy Waterman classics.
If they could speak, they'd whisper, "It's okay my dear, spring really exists!". Believe me, I need the
reassurance.
Have a great weekend - and if you don't have "fake" spring where you live, get out there and enjoy!
Akira
11 april 2006
You know you've had them ~ those panic-inducing nightmares when you walk into a classroom only to have forgotten the term
paper is due and you haven't even cracked the book. And your entire academic career was riding on the
completion of this crucial assignment. In real life, you read the classics under duress, were coerced
into writing prosaic essays about character development and plot structure and relied on
purchased-at-the-last-minute Cliff Notes (remember this one?). Ah, the rich literary life in which you could have immersed
yourself if it weren't for those crazy frat parties, the out-of-control shopping sprees and the shady
intricacies of your college love life.
Jeanine
Payer is on to something with her jewelry. She has extracted the beauty and lyricism from
many an author for your pure reading enjoyment. Only the most soulful and profound words from Shakespeare,
Rilke, Dickinson, Thoreau and some other lesser-knowns appear on her jewelry engraved in impossibly tiny
cursive writing. Just look down at your bracelet. It's all there. And there's no pressure to write a one paragraph synopsis.
Enjoy your day!
Akira
7 avril 2006
I'm a perfect candidate for those "word-a-day" calendars. While it may seem as though the English language
is a virtual thesaurus of expository words ready to pin-point every expression, there is only so much I can
do with the limited array of adjectives in my vocabulary. Describing jewelry with unequivocal precision so that you
know exactly what each piece looks like in real life is no picnic in the park, my friend. I often sit dumbfounded,
thinking of another adjective for "amazing" or "beautiful". My companion during the descriptive writing marathons
is this powerhouse of a book. I have
been known to take it home to read in bed - no, not as a replacement for Ambien, but out of sheer determination to
add a broader selection of adjectives to my vocabulary.
So imagine my challenge when I sat down to describe the 27 newly added pieces from the enigmatic and phenomenal
Devon Page McCleary. There is a certain
power that emanates from her jewelry that is impossible to express using our common, earthly combinations of letters.
Had I remembered all of the French I pretended to learn while living in Paris, I may have attempted to apply the
more illustrious and lyrical words of that language to this incredible collection.
But it's Friday, English will suffice and Devon is here. I will be able to sleep well tonight (without the thesaurus
OR Ambien) knowing that her collection has arrived and is ready for you to shop.
Á bientôt!
Akira
5 april 2006
I'm the kind of person that freaks out when I have a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time.
Usually, this occurs at home when I mistake a scampering dust-bunny for one of my children or the dirty
laundry has fossilized into some kind of interesting scientific specimen. At work, however, when I have piles
of jewelry to add to our website, I am crazy-hyper (amplified by my coffee intake, no doubt) about the time it
takes from receiving the jewelry to adding it to our online collection.
Here is the low-down: We receive boxes from designers on a daily basis. It gets received and inventoried,
I then receive a hand-chosen selection to describe and photograph. My goal is to accomplish this as quickly
as my daughter can set up an entire Playmobil village on a freshly mopped floor directly underfoot...which is
darn fast. Me pacing behind and/or scowling at our photographer / website administrator can either hinder or help this process -
depending on whether or not he has consumed chocolate that day.
This week, I am freaking out because here's what is sitting on my desk: Anthony Nak, Alexis Bittar, Patch NYC,
and....for those of you who have been emailing me wondering when, oh when we'd get more...Devon Page McCleary!!!
Must go, the jewels are beckoning...
Akira
4 april 2006
I'd be remiss if I didn't complain for at least a moment about the whole Daylight Savings thing...It's three days after the fact and even my daily quad latte
isn't taking hold. I'm wondering, would it really be that bad if we put an end to the whole thing?
C'mon, it's only one hour...would it kill us if day broke at 5am? As a desperate attempt to jump start my day,
someone sent me this to watch and I tell
you, the gems had me alert and awake in no time.
Ah...the gems. At least the ones I get to see are of the real variety...and not attached to sweaters.
In addition to the fantasy that I am queen of all things beautiful and sparkly, my fantasy includes
this necklace as part of my
own personal and very extensive jewelry collection. Seriously, I would wear it not only
with my jeans, t-shirt and flip-flop uniform, but also with the evening gowns designers lend me for the
various awards shows I attend on a regular basis.
Perhaps I should watch that video again, wake-up and smell my quad latte...
Enjoy your day, just say "no" to faux gems and have a little jewelry fantasy!
Akira
31 march 2006
March is out like a lamb (did it come in like a lion?...don't remember). Tomorrow is April and once again,
the espadrilles and flip-flops can become footwear staples and my glam-red toenail polish won't chip and
wear off a day after a pedicure. AND I can retire the comfy chocolate brown hoodie I've been wearing all
winter! Perhaps I am living in serious fantasy world because warm weather really doesn't get underway in the Northwest
until about mid-July...and even then, the chocolate brown hoodie is never far from reach.
But please let me dream ~ because I have created an entire weekend around this funky, urban-ethnic jewelry. First, I'd choose these earrings and would wear them with soft, faded cropped pants, a great t-shirt and,
of course, flip-flops ~ a casual-artist/painter-living-in-an-
airy-studio-on-the-coast-of-Baja California kind of outfit.
I'd layer this necklace with
this for a bit of soulful direction
(lord knows everyone could use some of that on a wild Saturday night!) and this little pendant for balance. Not bad for a Friday jewelry fantasy...
But don't wake me up until Monday morning...please. I will need to recover from the slumber party my daughters
are having in time to write about the new and amazing Irene Neuwirth and Anthony Nak jewelry that will be posted
early next week!
Have a great weekend!
Akira
30 march 2006
Way back when I began working at TWIST,
I was a salesperson. Most days were spent helping eager customers with jewelry and the fabulous objects we carry.
But, there were those inevitable slower moments when we stood around chatting (shh, don't tell the owners!) and
after the sordid details of love-lives, boyfriends and husbands had been exhausted, we'd play a game called
"If you could have only one thing, what would it be?" I would lament that we weren't in the vacation home business,
because who wouldn't want a house on the French Riviera...I mean if it's just ONE thing you could have, wouldn't it be
this?
But I'd agree to follow the rules of the game and thoughfully browse the store, creating my wish list and searching
for the one thing that would fulfill my deepest jewelry desires.
If I played this game today, I'd pick Cathy Waterman's Charlize band.
If I had to get married all over again (to the same husband, of course!) I'd choose it as my wedding band. It is meticulously designed
and sparkles with tiny clear diamonds. It is heavy and substantial yet elegant without being showy. You can wear it alone
or with an engagement ring. Or, buy it for yourself and wear it as a middle finger ring stacked with other bands.
(This game is dangerous ~ I could really create a whole existence based on this jewelry fantasy!).
Dream away, save up for the ONE great thing you really want and have a fab day!
Akira
28 march 2006
"Where did you go?"
"Who did you see?"
"What did you find?"
"Did you get anything new?"
No - these are not the questions I ask my husband when he returns from the grocery store. It is the
deluge of questions the jet-setting owners of TWIST
face when they return from one of their many buying trips.
Whether it's from New York, L.A., Paris or London, the second they appear, we hover around them like
hungry tabloid reporters trying to eek out as much detailed information as possible.
Most recently, they spent a glorious day with Cathy Waterman in her sun-filled studio pouring over her
newest collection. While no details were revealed about what Cathy was wearing, what was served for lunch
or which Hollywood starlet was knocking on her door eager to view the latest, they did return with
these amazing treasures.
As the most important designer at TWIST, she brings years of honed talent and inspired energy to each piece
of jewelry she creates. Her latest incarnation of blackened gold encrusted with sparkling diamonds is an elegant and
bold departure from her platinum and 22K gold. One of the most incredible pieces is
this fossil pendant ~ a 140 million
year old ammonite sea creature from the depths of the waters near Morocco. Its subtle iridescence and perfectly segmented
interior spiral is set delicately upon a framework of gold and diamonds. What a statement!
Rekindle your childhood interest in fossils, get the answers to your questions and bravely wear bold jewelry!
Akira
24 march 2006
It's Friday.
Coffee in left hand: check
Jewelry being photographed: check
Car parked in a legal spot: does it count if only the steering wheel portion is in "all day parking" and the back
half is in "2 hours"? Uh-huh.
Kids in school: god, I think that's where I left them!
I am so glad it's the end of the week, because I don't think I have enough brain capacity to power me
through another work day...honestly. Unless someone can start administering an intravenous chocolate drip I
think I will be pretty useless after 5pm this afternoon.
I will be spending my weekend doing this.
I declare it the next yoga. It's a serious workout for body, mind and eyes - what with all the
rippling arm muscles on the men hanging from the boulders in provocative positions. And my hunch is that you
will soon see this exercise trend moving west to east. What about the jewelry, you ask. How does one accessorize
while vertically traversing a 14' wall? Well, of course I remove my ring to prevent unnecessary wear and tear (yes, even platinum can scratch
if you aren't careful). But these gems
rarely leave my ears and add an element of glam to my rough-and-tumble
surface-scaling attire.
Have a great weekend, get some exercise and take off your rings while you rock climb!
Akira
23 march 2006
I'm having issues. More specifically, I'm having issues with Hummers. No no no ~ I'm not going to get all judgmental
about the whole SUV thing...I'll save that for my next incarnation as an environmental activist. I just don't understand
how, after traversing the unpaved expanse of hill, mountain and valley through muck and mud just
mere moments from downtown, all the Hummers I see driving around town are so darn
shiny and clean!!! I mean that is what these people are doing, right? And all of the passengers look so glam and put
together ~ no worse for the wear after all that crazy off-road driving. Hmmm, must be the exceptional shock system
...must be.
If I were driving an H3, I'd certainly be doing it in sub-Saharan Africa where I wouldn't look so out of place behind
its tank-like body. And no doubt I'd be researching the mating rituals of the Giraffa camelopardalis. And if I were to be in such a rugged and durable automobile, I'd certainly
be wearing jewelry that looked equally adventure-ready.
Like this necklace which no even-toed
ungulate would ever be able to chew off.
Be a responsible driver, clean your car and if you are out gallivanting off-road somewhere, make sure your
jewelry is secure around your neck...
Akira
21 march 2006
This is just about the time of year when I feel like the weight of the gray clouds is about an inch above my head.
Forget about the sweet comments I made yesterday about springtime. The rain is back and I am seriously considering
either moving to Aruba
or ending it all by stabbing myself repeatedly with an earring back.
Thank god for my Jamie Joseph ring.
When I bought it, the color of the stone reminded me of swimming pools, blue skies and summertime. It's like having a portable sunny day on my
finger. We're kind of desperate here in the northwest for any reminder that the sun does indeed exist. So until July -
when the sun does decides to reappear - I'll wear my ring and fight the urge to abandon my family, job and friends for the
tropics.
Today, try to smile at a stranger, find your own sunny moment and shop for some jewelry!
Akira
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