etsy scout: studio five-0

today's etsy find is handmade in the o.c. by studio five-0 designer anna marie who, after a frustrating search for island home goods with a more modern spin turned up empty, set about designing her own line. an interior design degree from fidm came in handy followed by a move to oahu to study architecture at u.h. where the principles of good design championed by one mentor became especially influential in her work.

it was upon returning to the mainland (with her maui-born hubby) when anna marie realized that affordable modern island decor was practically non-existent. with that discovery, the architect turned designer spent the past two years researching textile design, experimenting with screen printing, and perfecting samples for the launch of studio five-0.

plumeria + torch ginger coasters

while only a handful of designs are currently on offer, the first round from studio five-0 consists of totes and small accessories in addition to lovely reversible coasters ($12/set) printed with water-based inks in a fresh mix of tropical botanicals.

happily, pillows, linens and other home goods plus the introduction of more eco-friendly textiles are also on the drawing board.

until then, click over to studio five-0's etsy shop to take a peek at the debut collection!

rockabella jewels fall 2009

kristel from rockabella jewels continues to push the edge with her fall 09 collection of maui made adornment. when friends returned from a diving trip with spent bullet shells recovered from the bottom of the pacific (which, may i say, is beyond disturbing to me . . . who jumps into the ocean strapped?), kristel got to work in her studio fitting healing gemstones and seashells into the unusual findings. the vibe of the shoots line is best described as rock 'n roll meets age of aquarius - gritty and pretty with an unexpected twist on upcycling discarded materials.

rockabella's other fall offerings include a lineup of carefully constructed bubbles - a playful look that finds kristel coaxing molten metals into an effervescent design with a handful of pieces crafted with recycled gold. and, kristel continues to find new things to dip in 14k gold with petite bamboo shoots receiving the royal treatment this season.

bubbles + bamboo

stockists for fall 09 include pink by nature in makawao (shoots pendants) and tamara catz in paia (recycled tiny bubbles), or click over to rockabella's online shop to take a peek and enjoy 10% off your order.

• secret code: mauinokaoi
• expires: tbd
• fyi: sale items excluded

fighting eel bridal collection

sophia

today, i am happy to present a wedding day proposal from paradise compliments of fighting eel!

the honolulu label recently premiered its first ever bridal collection filled with lovely looks designed with the island bride in mind. designers lan chung and rona bennett have been working on this extension for quite some time digging through fe's style archives to find a handful of looks to revive in wedding day white (with one notable exception: the gorgeous new sophia, shown above).

the results are simply stunning. the entire beach-friendly offering is crafted in the same comfy jersey knit as fe's main line and special attention seems to have been given to small details like the view from behind as you step down the aisle. i suspect the clean lines will find plenty of fans in brides-to-be who dream of picture perfect style with a minimum of fuss.

more peeks below . . .

canoe

karma

loca

fiona * molly * lily * ziggy * sienna

also included in the new collection: fe's signature style in 15 silhouettes for your wedding maidens. the mix-and-match frocks offer plenty of versatility with three different lengths (short/tea/floor) and sixteen colorways available for quite a few possibilities to coordinate the wedding party's look. plus, your ladies-in-waiting will appreciate the chance to rock something wearable after the ink is dry on your marriage certificate.

budget conscious brides will also welcome the reasonable price tag (bridal: $175 to $250 & bridesmaids: $150 to $200). sizes range from xs to xl.

currently, the bridal collection is available by special order only at fe's showroom.

• where: 47 north hotel street, chinatown
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 5p

p.s. enter to win a fe wedding gown and up to four bridesmaids dresses over at the star-bulletin (deadline: sep 25th).

weekly sales sheet

letarte * hazelnut cottage * soha

save $20 on every $100 purchased at the butik including new arrivals from fighting eel's fall 2009 collection.

p.s. enjoy 10% savings on all non-sale purchases under $100.

• when: fri, sep 4th to mon, sep 7th
• where: 1067 kapiolani blvd, suite a-3
• shop hours: fri/sat, 11a to 7p; sun, 12p to 5p & mon, 11a to 5p

update your space at fishcake and knock 25% off all designs (art and consignment excluded).

• when: fri, sep 4th & sat, sep 5th
• where: 307c kamani street, kaka'ako
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p (closed labor day)

stop by olive and save 20% off all styles (island labels stocked: indah, jo.jah.jae jewelry & wings hawaii) including the sale rack!

• when: sat, sep 5th - 11a to 5p
• where: 43 kihapai street, kailua
• fyi: free parking round back

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introducing lovely clusters

today is usually reserved for etsy finds but instead i wanted to introduce you to lovely clusters, the recently launched, curated indie marketplace hosted by rachel of design lovely (based on maui) and vicki from simply hue. the idea for lovely clusters was the natural evolution of rachel's blog which is devoted to sharing a sweet fix of charming romantic finds (think anthropologie) discovered during her online wanderings.

as etsy and the many other online emporiums become crowded with sellers, it can be quite a time sap to click through page after page of possibilities searching for the perfect gem. luckily for those of us who swoon over pretty little things, lovely clusters edits out all the noise down to the most delightful handmade and vintage treasures. even better, you also have the option to fine tune your search by color or category which is how i found all of these lovely clusters-approved, island-inspired offerings.

designers interested in signing up will want to take a peek at the guidelines for more details. there is a limited complimentary listing plus a more expansive shop listing available for a small monthly fee. it does help to have an online shop, but if you need assistance setting one up, send a note to rachel who just happens to design websites during her day job.

p.s. be sure to click over to the design lovely etsy shop which is stocked with handmade note cards made by rachel.