We have a terrific idea for a video - about layering necklaces and bracelets - that’s full of info and lots of fun. You’ll really be able to see what to wear for a trip to the hardware store and how to suit up for a posh event. The idea is to use the jewelry you have (and a couple of my pieces, of course).
The trouble is… it’s video; and at my age… lighting is everything.
Anybody out there who really understands “cosmetic” lighting for video?
I need all the help I can get!
Just back from the Hawaii, after staying both south and north of Kona on the big island. You know, the one with the huge extinct volcanoes. Well, it was beautiful. I got just the teeniest bit of tan, because that equatorial sun is strong. The Big Event? Seeing whales on our last evening, about three hundred yards out; and watching a kayaker “play” with them. I’m not kidding. The whales were all around him, sounding (You know, just the water spout.) and breaching (the full monte). Worth the trip.
The first time I realized how much I love design complexity was when I bought my first patchwork Citron shirt. Do you remember the early Citron days? I wore those shirts with everything. In fact, I think I just sent the last one to Goodwill.
Naturally, my gem- and pearl-based jewelry designs have incorporated complexity. But I’ve been looking for a new way to express the idea 
in metal. This new creative “voice” is coming together in etchings. Yup, you guessed it, etchings that mix patterns. I’m putting ancient and vintage patterns together, mixing them up with vintage elements like buttons. It’s all on my work table and will be on the site soon. Keep an eye out.
At a family birthday celebration, I was talking with my stepdaughter about her daughter, Gracie, age five. Gracie had been down with a very bad cold, and Monica said to her, as the cold dragged on and Gracie drooped around, “Honey, you’ve lost your sparkle.” Gracie replied, “I think it’s behind the couch.”
Gracie. In Full "Sparkle."
Aside from being beyond touching, this mother/daughter moment made me think about how I lose my”sparkle.” When there’s too much to do. When emotions come up as circumstances bring up My Issues. When I take it all soooo seriously. The question is, how do we maintain that “sparkle?” (No, I’m not leading up to buying more jewelry.) It’s really about how we brave the world. How we keep shining in the face of stuff that makes us all droop and fade from time to time. I’m not offering advice or spiritual consolation or words about inner work, etc. We all have our ways to stay in tune and keep the lights on.
So. How do you keep your “sparkle?”
One Of My Very Own Top Tens
Ahhh. That age-old subject: time and money. It’s high on my list of concerns. I’ve been realizing that I’m so busy, I don’t have time to spend money. (Probably a good thing.) I’m five feet tall on a good day, and almost any clothing I buy requires alterations. So it’s not only the shopping trip, it’s two trips to the dressmaker.
I was talking with my friend Maria-Tina about this last night. She really nailed it. “Anything I buy now has to be a 10.” I think that’s true for all of us. Purchases, especially those impulse buys that involve clothing and accessories, have to be spot on. They should have lasting value.
So, here’s an idea that will save you time and money. Every time you shop for anything, buy only what’s authentically you. Make 100% sure it fits your body, personality and lifestyle. A perfect 10 completely lights you up when you put it on. You’ll see that in the mirror.
This lovely vintage and antique store has been open for about a year. It caught my eye, and sure enough my jewelry is a perfect fit. The store is right on the corner of San Anselmo Avenue, near Tunstead. It’s a large, beautifully-arranged store, run by Silke Solomon and Holly Harper, two women who eally know their antiques. Since my jewelry incorporates Victorian and Edwardian buttons and metal beads, it’s a natural for the store. See you there, so to speak.
Ouch!
Has anybody out there signed up for five-inch gladiator sandals? I see them in the pages of the big five fashion magazines, but on the streets? Not in my world. Satchel-sized handbags are everywhere, though. I imagine the next big fashion thing will be little clutches. And where does that huge investment in leather go? You got it. Straight to the back of the closet.
Next up, mongo necklaces.
I know faster and faster fashion cycles keep the industry alive. But our world now demands that you make your choices very carefully, in everything. That’s where style comes in, and that’s why I make jewelry that’s timeless.
Style is all about you, your authenticity, your ability to make choices, the way you express your love of color and creativity. Style is about your sense of lasting value. I’m not having an original thought here. The difference between fashion and style was defined long ago. A woman with style expresses her art in what she wears, says, does and feels. More on that soon. Meanwhile, who’s feeling stylish out there? Pictures, please.
Getting out there.
I’ve been enjoying the beautiful weather lately by revisiting an old hobby…being a tourist in my own neighborhood.
The goal is simple, really just getting out and walking around, shopping a little and dropping into the occasional cafe. It’s been a lot of fun, somewhere between relaxing and stimulating.
I thought I’d share that with you, and remind you that you can find my jewelry in some great shops around the bay area.
On that note, where are your hot-spots? Are there any places you shop that should know about my jewelry?
Or, if you know a neighborhood that’s great to spend time wandering in, share it in the comments.
Maybe I’ll see you out there…
Every Day Necklace
I have a uniform. This is what I wear every day. Usually Christopher Blues, a teal or gray or teal or darker teal top. Chacos in the summer and running shoes in the winter. And some kind of cardigan or light jacket. And my pearl, kyanite, aquamarine necklace, at the very least. (I wear jewelry to take out the garbage.) Watch. Earrings, small, not too dressy. Product in the hair. And I’m off an running. Often, the only people who see me are the cats.
My artist friends are all the same. We dress to be comfortable, to work out some time during the day, to get dirty.
I just don’t have the time to spend much time on what I wear. (More on dressier occasions later.) So. Enough about me. What’s your uniform? Or are you one of those amazing women who love playing with your colors, clothing and accessories every day? For now we’ll have to interact via email: ll@leslielawton.com. I’d love to hear from you.
Gold and freshwater pearl "bowtie" earrings.
The beauty of art to wear is that the visual ideas don’t wear out. They become timeless - treasures you want to wear and wear and wear. In a world that is becoming ever more commoditized, this kind of style has real meaning. The art you wear isn’t superficial. It expresses your essence. Your choices tell others who you are, that you’re willing to be seen, that you’re proud of yourself. This actually takes a surprising amount of courage. I’ve seen women shyly put something on and literally start to glow. It’s a beautiful thing. So, Beautiful, what do you think?