Rock of Ages

images from The Mineral Kingdom, copyright 1968

banded agate rings from Brazil, $58

Ever since my friend and favorite painter, Elizabeth Deull, gave me a ring carved from a single piece of amethyst for my birthday, I've been on a quest with Rony to find some for the store.  Smart Rony got Clarissa to bring some back from Brazil, and the store is all but vibrating with potent power of crystal energy.  

get OUT.

i. want. to. go. there.

I am pretty sure these pictures are actually killing me.

Do real people actually live like this? Do they have jobs, kids, electric bills? Or do they float around sipping sangria all day with nary a care? Aagh. I can't take it. My day is ruined. (Sadly, I'm being totally serious.)

via marie claire maison, found on ill seen, ill said

vintage rings

vintage rings, $140-$185

A closeup of the vintage rings modeled here by Leigh.

salt of the earth

somewhere in the air up there bowls, $12-32

Aren't these perfectly imperfect, handmade, gold-leafed ceramic bowls (and tiny spoon) just luminously beautiful?

Small bowls are both the perfect vessel, and the perfect gift. You will always find a use for it (bobby pins, rings, chance, keys, salt cellar...), and I find that I always remember where they came from.

The Future Perfect

custom monogram necklace by Blanca Monros Gomez, $300

I look at jewelry as a past-and-future family photo album. I have a similar monogram necklace from my great-grandmother, and I love the idea of giving this to a new mother with her initials - who knows who's neck it will grace one day, generations from now.

robert clarke

I love everything this guy is up to.

Sweet little Muffin

My friend Dave brought his pup to visit yesterday- she just got back from being spayed, the little trooper.  She has the poutiest lips I've ever seen on a dog- they called her Angelina Jolie at the vet's office.  

Frankenstein hand, wearing the prettiest rings in town

Katrina LaPenne diamond ring $1800
vintage rings $140-$185
Bittersweets teensy diamond ring $195

It's true, it's true- I need to moisturize. Let's focus on the sparkly, intoxicating things in this photo- the jumble of rose-cut gray diamonds and vintage pieces that Rony unearthed for the shop (and available for a song) makes me a little lightheaded. It's entirely possible that if you pop into the store, you'll find me nonchalantly wearing these as if I own them. The Bittersweets pinkie ring is all mine though, so my hands don't feel quite so naked when it is time to return our borrowed friends to the cases at the end of the day.

i cannot improve on this.

"An example of the Hully Gully. My understanding is that Ed Sullivan popularized it because it involved no physical contact, which meant he felt comfortable showing it on television.

Note that when they call out “Sammy Davis Junior” the corresponding move consists of covering one eye and doing the Swim with your free hand. That might be my new favorite dance."

shamelessly lifted from Lemon Ice Forever

yellow owl workshop

new york postcard set (i'm hoping for a new jersey one soon), $10

bird stamp set, $12

camp stationery set, $14

These irresistible items and more just in from one of our favorite teams, Yellow Owl Workshop. I love the sweetness of their design.

I, like Leigh, never went to camp, but if I did I would have been over-the-moon for a stationery set where you can write your initials in the crest. How perfectly pseudo-waspy!

21st century ice cream man

A delicious and dangerous development: The Van Leeuwen ice cream truck has been hanging out in front of our store recently. I love that both the Van Leeuwen truck and the Endless Summer taco truck are owned by 20 somethings. Though I have left that particular decade behind, it was also the decade in which I began I started my business.

where shall we adventure today, now that we are afloat?

message in a bottle, $16

The perfect way to tell your barista/tattooer/neighbor that you think you might quite possibly, maybe, might be in love with him.

brilliant.

Sophie Blackall's illustrated Missed Connections from Craigslist are brilliant and executed so perfectly. (And it's a nice bonus that they often mention The Borough of Kings.)

On a side note, I once found someone who was looking for my friend, Cat, on Missed Connections and I was able to reconnect them!! Can you even imagine how exciting?!

Found via Frolic, via Cup of Jo.

stuffed to the gills

notebooks, $5.50-7.50

I just returned from a weekend in Bucks County, where I sat by a pool and moved only to eat and refresh my beverage. Whilst sitting by the pool, I jotted down tips and ideas from the backlog of magazines I was perusing in this simply perfect wildflower notebook. It was divine laziness at its absolute most languorous peak.

so jersey.

My love for New Jersey runs deep. This video is true art. Amazing.

need some sparkle?

Deepa Gurnani sequined scarves, $84

In honor of our recently departed Supreme Leader of Pop, or maybe just to add some sparke to your life, I highly recommend a sequined, skinny scarf. Totally slammin' with a wife beater and jeans.

Terrariums are back in stock!

And they are soooo special. Act fast - these babies have legs. (Or wings.)

$55 and up. By the inimitable Amy Merrick.

Living Easy

nikki b. assorted beaded bracelets, 4 for $30

I was never much for summer camp, but my favorite part of that which I did not like was arts and crafts. Tis the season, and these little beaded numbers by nikki b. are reminiscent of the sine qua non of camp: the friendship bracelet.

How do you say "diamond" in Elvish?

Blanca Monrós Gómez diamond studs, $190

Iwona Ludyga diamond studs, $210

I've somehow, willingly, gotten sucked into watching Lord of the Rings for the second time. I pretty much slept through the entire 9 or so hours the first go around, managing only to keep my eyes open for any scenes with Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler (my official high school style icon). They both glow to an insane degree, and make the idea of sprinkling wee, twinkling diamonds all over one's person (or elf) seem incredibly logical.

Time Wastes Too Fast.

Oh Maira Kalman, how I love thee. (And that Thomas Jefferson fellow wasn't half bad either.)

The Golden Bough

Sometimes fingers cry out hungrily: "Adorn me, Adorn me!"  Such greedy little beasts.  Satiate  them with these slightly dangerous looking branch rings from Brooklyn jeweler, Iwona Ludyga, available in blackened silver for $44 and 14k rose and yellow gold for $88.  

the best wedding present.

John Derian plate, $165

soap on a rope.

Now in the stock: Saipua soaps by the awesome Sarah. So fresh looking and smelling, they look as if they were born in the store. (Totally coincidentally, we sell some of the papers she wraps her soap in.) Soon also available on line.*

*The new website was supposed to be done in January. And I am really, REALLY not known for my patience. Aaagh.

Bearded Baby!

Species by the Thousands baby tee, $35

The must have tee, for every baby, from here til forever, if you ask me.  Available in 6 months, 12 months, and 2T in super soft, perfect gym-class heather gray.  

Freshen Up

Summer is not typically the stay at home, nesting season, but I've been dealing with this month of rain by pottering about my home, freshening up, clearing out, doing all the things I won't want to do when the sun remembers the earth and Bloody Marys need to be made and consumed.  In the meanwhile, these $4 sheets of gift wrap, amongst others, are perfect for changing out your wall art, or decoupaging some sidewalk treasure.  

Did you know?

The dove perched on the guitar of the Woodstock poster is actually a catbird. I just learned this tidbit from the book I can't put down.

A humble beast (both the pigeon, and an early morning stationer)

plaster pigeon, $26

This weather is for the birds. Weak, yes, but forgive a girl who's not yet had her morning coffee.

Kiss of a Spider-Bejeweled woman

Old Hollywood, $128

I'm a big fan of subtle nods to other seasons- shell necklaces in the winter?  Why not?  Noirish, deep autumn spiders in the summer? Please do!  I'm also a big fan of Old Hollywood, and if someone doesn't buy this necklace, expertly constructed from vintage pieces, soon, it might have to come home with me.  And, seeing as how I am accidentally responsible for having my brother's car towed this week, I don't think he'd appreciate me leaving it in hock, while I tool around town glittering with new, old jewels.  

Here's hopin' for you, kid!

Sweet little card cases ($30) from our gal pal, Shara Porter. Perfect for the recent grad, who might have to wheel and deal their way to employment a little more than those of us blessed to graduate in a flusher time.

Fear not!

slim Frenchie notebooks, $3.95

School is many months away. We are safely ensconced in the early days of summer, when even for those of us who have long since left school, there is an easier, breezier feeling to weekdays. We just got another shipment of these lightweight notebooks which are perfect tote around to jot down details for all your many summertime soirees.