Necklaces!

What person who was born in the 70's and 80's doesn't have extreme nostalgic attachment to Smokey the Bear? He had me convinced as a child that even thinking about fire in a forest would result in a landscape of charred stumps and flocks of birds attempting to fly to safety.

This poor excuse for a plastic dollar store ram appears to be carrying his weight in jasper and chain. His lifeless eyes are happier when he's sporting an Hibou Accessories piece!


xoxo Amarina

Handmade Nation Tonight

After beating almost a week of flu funk, I am very excited about reintroducing myself to the world via my attendance at the Canadian premiere of Handmade Nation. Check out the site, it's sure to be a much needed, inspirational kick in the pants that couldn't have come at a better time in the season!

xoxo Amarina

Amarina Bush

So check out Kate Bush in Babooshka.

When I was a young thing my parents had an insane amount of vinyl that I used to go through constantly. Afternoons were spent opening the sleeves, reading the song titles and staring at all the pictures. I spent a significant amount of time staring at Kate Bush. We had the single for Babooshka which was transparent electric blue (!) and featured Kate Bush on the cover in an outfit which can only be described as a medieval dominatrix costume from the set of Dynasty. It was the riskiest thing I'd ever laid eyes on. I wanted to be Kate Bush when I grew up.

I'll be spending the afternoon drinking tea (ahem...wine) and making molds for new resin treats. It'll hopefully not end up with me spilling latex everywhere, but we'll see. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

xoxo Amarina

Earrings!

I've always found it easier to make necklaces than earrings. I think part of it is my fondness for large jewellery; you really have to edit yourself with earrings as there is only so much weight that is comfortable to wear. Yet all of a sudden I find myself making tons of earrings. Here are some of my faves!

xoxo Amarina

Amarina Green

In celebration of V-Day, I've posted one of my favourite living room dance party songs. Single or taken, dancing alone or with somebody else (or in my case with my cat who secretly loves it but doesn't want me to know) is there anything better than a sweaty living room dance party?

This is Adam Green "Dance with Me". He was in The Moldy Peaches. He also has a solo career and has released a handful of ridiculously amazing and offensive albums. He's a sensation in Germany if that says anything. Also, when he performs live he doesn't blink at all. Seriously. I've missed songs I was looking forward to hearing because all I could concentrate on was counting the time between blinks. He's one of a kind.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo Amarina

Whistle while you Work

So I've been trying my darndest to Etsy everyday and I pretty much have been (unlikely but true!). Now I'm not one to frown on internet dating (this sounds completely unrelated to the previous sentence but I assure you I'm going somewhere here), however I have to say that I was rather surprised when I was contacted from a fellow Etsyer (Etsyian?) for a DATE. Via an Etsy listing. Based (from what I understand) completely on a picture almost identical to the one above. This of course, is not me. It's my lovely friend E. who also happens to have a sweet Etsy vintage clothing shop.

Really, I'm just throwing this out there. I thought the whole thing was amazing...what kind of guy straight up asks a girl out because of a picture featuring her chest with a necklace on it...on a site that sells necklaces? It's bold and I like it.

In other news, I've listed some new hot things and have been perusing local dollar stores for fancy prehistoric and modern day jewellery displays. I found a great plastic sheep and was probably more excited than anyone should be over a plastic dollar store sheep.

Hey, it's almost the weekend!

xoxo Amarina

One last thing,
The whistle on the necklace above was a great vintage find...and it works!

Necklace!

Allow me to introduce you to Glocky. Named after the sound his hooves would make on the ground if he was real, Glocky is sporting one of my new pieces.



xoxo Amarina.

Amarina Condon

So it's Sunday. This means that I spend the morning pretending that my bed is a raft in the middle of the ocean and I make a list of things that I would absolutely have to have for my trip (that would fit on the mattress of course). Aside from having my significant other, I would probably die without Beirut. And water. And maybe those delicious minty white chocolate treats you can only get around the holidays.

Beirut is an absolute cure-all for me. He holds my hand when I'm super grouchy, uninspired, hungover or crampy. Also, this video is amazing...I hope you like it.

I'll be posting fresh necklaces, earrings and charm bracelets all week. Check it.

xoxo Amarina

Things that are Great

What the hell is this, you ask?

Well this happens to be an awesome sterling silver Monkey's Paw charm from adorable NYC Jewelry shop Bittersweets. They have unique pieces that you're not going to come across everyday. I've been drooling over the Earthworm bangle for no particular reason other than the fact that I've never seen anything like it before in my life! And it's crazy amazing.

Also friends,

If you live in the Toronto area and are into reading, ephemera, exciting discoveries and the scent of old books I urge you to check out The Monkey's Paw on Dundas St. W at Dovercourt. They're currently having a February Clearance Sale - "Behind the Red Curtain" featuring hundreds of books and treats for $1-$3! Honestly I have no affiliation with this place, it's just a really fabulous store with great staff...and I have ALWAYS wanted to know what was behind the red curtain in the back! I've found countless inspirational books and magazines there, so check it out if you're in the neighbourhood.

That's enough gushing for one post.

xoxo Amarina

P.S. I've all of a sudden decided to unofficially declare The Monkey's Paw as the one store in Toronto that I would like to have a sleepover in. If I was a goldsmith, you could bet your bottom dollar I'd be making a gold medal right now!