DIY Decor/Everyday Glamor : Candle stick holders as bracelet/cuff stand

Shopping for home decor - decor that is both functional and affordable - can take a while.  I was looking for decor that could be beautiful and functional.  Every day glamor can definitely be hard to achieve when I wanted something minimalist, didn't take up a lot of space, and still looked beautiful.

But one day, I looked at my tangle of bangles and bracelets and a picture of someone's living room filled with candles and had this light bulb moment - why not use candle stick holders to artfully stack my jewelry (specifically my bracelets)?

I bought the IKEA BLOMSTER set of candle sticks - these are simple, glass candle stick holders for taper/long pilar candles.  The shape is lean and long which is perfect for stacking cuffs.  Note that it is more  difficult to stack delicate bracelets if they are of varying widths (the smaller ones will fall through the cracks!)  But I do like the fun presentation of bracelets in a unique and way that doesn't take up too much room!

Here is how I use the candle stick holders as the bracelet holders:
1. Stack the sturdiest/thickest cuffs at the bottom.

2. Place cuffs and bracelets askew to ensure that the bracelets at the bottom support the ones on top.

3. Remember to remove the bracelets when you actually burn candles (the wax can definitely overflow with this particular model of candle stick holders).

Hermès Festival des Métiers (Festival of Crafts) Singapore and how Hermès scarves are made - Sept. 3-7, 2011

Ever wondered what exactly goes into making a Hermès bag, cuff, or scarf?  Find out for yourself if you stop by the Hermès Festival des Métiers (Festival of Crafts) in your neighborhood; this tour has already passed through Europe and the US and is now making its way through Asia.  Artisans will demonstrate their skills in jewelry making, silk engraving, and leather workmanship right before your eyes.  I was really curious about this and went to the Festival this past weekend.

I got to see a handbag being created (wish I had good pictures, but everyone was crowded around a great, bright pink Bolide? bag), a wallet being sewn, an engraver etching some engravings for a scarf, and almost the entire process of making a Hermès scarf.


Fun Facts:
- There are 75,000 different colors for scarves!
- The entire process of making a scarf from design, to engraving for scarf screens, to printing and prepping the scarf takes two years
- 60% of Hermès employees are artisans trained in different crafts
- 20 scarf designs are released annually and each design may have 10 combinations
- A scarf screen is created for each separate color layer.  The one I witnessed took 15 screens while the red one at the end of this post took 45 different screens.
- Any mess up in the scarf results in the destruction of the scarf (even if you're at screen 45)
- A scarf printer can train for up to five years!



The process:
1. The scarf printer has the final design in mind and attaches a scarf firmly to a table for printing.

2. The printer uses individual screens for each layer and mixes vegetable gum and colors for that screen.

3. Screens are created for the same as well as different sections to allow for variations of colors in the same design.  Precise placement is needed at each step.

4. The scarf is complete with the printing process and is then taken to a steam bath to soften the texture of the scarf (stiff from vegetable gum) and allow the dyes to permeate the scarf.


This scarf took 45 different screens to print!  The face alone is 15 different screens!

I have a newfound appreciation for the craftsmanship and time that goes into the creation of each scarf.  These are true artisans and you can also now see the justification behind the price as well as the value in handing down a quality piece like an Hermès scarf!

I've uploaded a few more pictures to my Flickr here - enjoy!

Fun Finds/Decor Thoughts: Modern (and luminescent!) garden gnomes

Say good-bye to garden gnomes of yesteryear and say hello to these "Baddy" resin sculptures.  They are not only a modern take on the uber-cheesy garden dwarves, they are made of a luminescent resin that absorbs light and glows for several hours in the dark!

Baddy by Joe Velluto (JVLT), Plustcollection

Who said your outdoor accessories have to be boring right?

Designer Thursday/{Runway Inspiration}: Lanvin Pre-Fall 2011 - Animals abound

"It's not about Marilyn Monroe moving to India and having an acid trip, it's about real women's needs and desires."

Alber Ebaz

Maxi length skirts/gowns, luxurious layers, and clean coverage are all part of Lanvin's pre-fall 2011 collection.  Day and evening looks seamlessly come together and many pieces can be mixed and matched to be worn any time of day.   While I don't spot any signature large ruffles or bows, the pieces are versatile, easy, and cool in an almost casual way.

It's the perfect collection to wear when you're hanging with your pet flamingo.
I guess you could wear it for other occasions too.  I thought this was a pretty unique photoshoot and of course the clothing is lovely.

I commend H&M for really opening my eyes to Lanvin.  While I may not immediately buy this collection, I have developed an appetite for the slinky jumpsuit below and can at least set my sites on Lanvin shoes or handbags (the Happy crossbody is too cute!)

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Funky. Ridiculous.  Luxurious.  Lanvin.