Mia

Miss Mary P. pendant

Secret Garden pendant

Wild poppies pendant

Mia + an almond croissant in France

My buddy Mia is my "Martha Stewart" friend. And I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Maybe you have one of these friends, too? When she makes things - cakes, crafts, you name it - they are perfect. I mean perfect. A few years ago (much to my absolute joy) she decided to make things for a living! She started by moving to New York and doing the Pastry and Baking Arts program at the ICE. Then, because making the most delicious cakes, caramels and cookies on the planet wasn't quite enough, she opened an Etsy shop called Brown Paper Bicycle. She uses vintage calling cards, postcards and other paper ephemera to make studs, pendants and other baubles. She just started making double-sided pieces and they are my absolute favorite. I love how you can see postmarks, stamps and bits of writing on the backsides! Hooray for crafty friends.

P.S. If you live in NYC you can sample some of Mia's goodies at Three Tarts in Chelsea.

My dresser

Moving back into our house gave me the opportunity to rethink my jewelry organization. I decided that I really want to be able to see my jewelry all the time. It's so beautiful, why not make it part of the decor? That means no more tiny boxes and tins hiding everything away. Now most of my necklaces are hanging and my big jewelry box is open and tidy - for now! My grandparents and my dad are also out where I can see them every day.

Tunic time

Here's a little outfit post and a peek at the new jewelry organization in my bedroom (more of that tomorrow). A special thanks to Lauren (aka Dear Golden) for making me buy this cute tunic when we were shopping together in Berkeley this spring. I totally would not have picked it out myself but now I am so glad that I have it!

Tunic: Buffalo Exchange, Berkeley
Shoes: Hand-me-downs
Bracelets: 1900s and 1930s gold plate slide bracelets (my new favorites)
Necklace: D. F. Briggs Company fob locket, headed to the shop very soon

A new sale page!

I just put together a little SALE section this morning. I snagged twenty great pieces from the shop and marked them down 20%. The section will stay up through the end of the month which is - yikes! - less than one week away. You can check it out here.

Don't stop 'till you get enough

1930s Art Deco German brass and enamel necklace

1960s beaded clutch || 1980s rhinestone rosette brooch

1940s cameo earrings SOLD

1910s scalloped rhinestone fob || 1940s brass and glass ring

1910s gilt filigree and glass pin

1900s Victorian mourning pin || 1930s glass bead necklace

Some red. Some black. Some gold. I never tire of this color combo in jewelry! I listened to a little MJ while working on today's shop update and this song really made me happy. Since it's Monday, I thought you might appreciate a great oldie like this one. And the dancing is the tops!

Art Deco, 100 years later

This article on the New York Times blog made me gasp. First of all, the prospect of a new "Great Gatsby" movie is just too exciting. Especially with Carey Mulligan! And then there is this jewelry by Jené DeSpain. These pieces are from her Roaring 10s collection (click on the photos to see the full descriptions). I could stand to see a lot more deco-inspired jewelry collections like this one.

Photos courtesy of Jené DeSpain

A wee bump

We've been home for a week now and I am just starting to feel settled. And I forgot how easy it is to take photos in this house. The light is wonderful - I don't have to go outside anymore! I thought I'd show you my little (17 week) belly today as well as my awesome necklace from Lisa over at Tree & Kimball and this great sterling buckle ring that I just listed in the shop.

For the girl who loves mummies

Here is another amazing find from Erie Basin. This is a 1920s Egyptian Revival necklace with a tiny sarcophagus and a pale blue enamel chain. For a gal who begged her parents to have a t-shirt made with her name in hieroglyphics when she was little (yup, I did and they obliged), this piece speaks to my inner Egyptologist. You could even fashion a little mummy out of tissue or something and tuck it inside! At $198 the price is very reasonable, especially since Egyptian Revival jewelry is getting so hard to come by.

Photos courtesy of Erie Basin

My Moroccan wedding

This display represents about 1/20th of the cookies at the party.

Glasses ready to be filled with mint tea.

Getting into my first outfit/accessories with the help of my official dresser

I'm ready!

Soren's outfit was a little less elaborate than mine.

Our grand entrance.

I'm getting ready to be hoisted up in my awesome canopy.

Dancing with one of the younger guests.

Our second outfits and our second entrance.

This time we both get to go up!

Lots of singing, shouting and swaying to the great music.

Soren was instructed to kiss me on the forehead - it was a little tricky up there!

Back on the ground, feeding each other milk and dates and exchanging rings. Then we got to kiss for real.

I'm happy because Soren gave me a really sweet, big kiss.

Jouhara giving Soren a big hug as the party comes to an end.

The musicians' cheat sheets for our names. This one says "Emily (her)."

And this one says "Soren (him)"

Soren and me recovering the next day.

Almost exactly three years ago to the day, Soren and I were in Morocco having our second wedding. Let me explain! I first visited Morocco in the spring of 2002 when I studied in Rabat for a semester and lived with the El Idrissi family. I became very close to them, especially to my sister Jouhara, and I visited them again in 2005. In 2008, I decided it was time for Soren to meet my family and visit Morocco so we traveled there together in the summer. To mark our visit, and to properly welcome Soren into the family, Jouhara threw us a wedding party.

I had been talking about the party with Jouhara on the phone for months but I still had no concept of how serious it was going to be until we got to Morocco. It was basically a full-on wedding. I got my hair done. We made hundreds and hundreds of cookies for the guests. We rented extra chairs, glasses and plates. We hired servers and musicians. There was even a videographer. I certainly felt like I was getting married again! No matter how long I live I will never forget that day.