make a wish

leather bracelet + flower ring + heart hoops

my lingering winter cold seems to have finally been kicked with just enough time to squeeze in a tardy show & tell of sweet valentine's finds from wishing bridge (coined after h-1's double crossing bridge under which designer lauryn chun believed was the one spot on the island where childhood wishes would come true).

wishing bridge's poetic back story definitely references the modern romantic designs composed of handmade hearts and stars which have become a signature motif of the collection. sparkling stones and leather accents intermingle with 14k gold fill and sterling silver which the self-taught designer often hand hammers into shape.

chunky pearl + agate chunky heart

multiple star necklace + blacklip leaf earrings

hammered bangles

price tag ranges from $10 for a single bangle to just under $150 for a convertible necklace. custom orders for everyday to your wedding day are also welcome (contact lauryn for more details).

click over to take a peek at the most recent collection and remember that h|h readers are invited to knock $40 off orders of $100 or more in the online shop.

• secret code: heartday
• expires: mon, feb 15th

[ki-ele] introduction - take two

cherry sea earrings + layering bracelets

a few weeks back, i mistakenly linked to the incorrect website when [ki-ele] stopped by alliway to celebrate the local jewelry line's first birthday. since readers who stay updated via rss or the daily-ish email may have missed the last minute correction, i thought it only appropriate to post a few peeks so everyone can get better acquainted with [ki-ele] which, for obvious reasons, deserves a second look.

longtime readers will recall that the islands were first introduced to the style skills of [ki-ele] designer marylea conrad with the debut of melia conrad, the retro glamorous swimwear label that launched back in 2007 (currently on vacation while marylea focuses on [ki-ele] which continues the tradition of naming lines after her little ones).

lovelies who swoon for mermaid chic will adore the sweetly styled pieces with its splashy mix-ins of tropically hued gemstones, brilliant beads and eclectic findings which combine with seashore discoveries to create a refined recollection of sunshine, sand castles, and enchanting moments spent beachside.

seahorse treasure

alas, [ki-ele] is still ironing out the details for its online shop so marylea kindly sent along a sneak peak of her upcoming holiday collection (shown above). many pieces are under $40 which makes for a friendlier price tag in an era of friday furloughs, looming layoffs, and other budgetary constraints.

also, take note that the initiale designs featured in the soon shell be found offering can be customized with your favorite letter adding a quiet hint of personal flair to holiday gifting.

be among the first to scoop up the new looks when marylea stops by shasa emporium for a pre-holiday trunk show this weekend during which every [ki-ele] purchase will go home with a pretty surprise!

• when: sat, nov 21st - 11a to 3p
• where: shasa emporium, kahala mall

p.s. other [ki-ele] stockists include alliway, into, split obsession and, for all the leeward peeps who want to avoid a trip to town, plantation home decor in kapolei.

nina kuna designs fall 2009

tahitian pearl collection

count me in the company of those who typically find pearls either a bit too preppy (hello betty draper!) or way too costumey (i.e. layers of faded victorian glamour), but it may be time to reconsider after eyeing the smoky pearl combinations featured in nina kuna designs' fall 09 offerings. the maui designer looked to the south seas for her latest collection and nina's lustrous new concoctions seem made for modern island lovelies rocking that always coveted unfussy-yet-elegant beach girl look.

dig deeper into the treasure chest and you'll discover more gorgeous seaworthy adornment from a hand cast sterling silver starfish necklace to a leather wrapped cowrie shell bracelet-slash-choker. and, if you have swooned in the past for nkd's edgy hand hammered strands, you will be delighted to make the acquaintance of another statement making style of carefully composed graduated organic circles that seem to linger oh-so-prettily without a care.

more peeks below . . .

starfish necklace * cowrie shell bracelet

cosmos circles * ocean blue coral * drip earrings * sea tangle

on a happy note, nina opted to sidestep the middle man since her jewelry was last featured which means tinier price tags (the looks above range from $45 to $245) just in time for the holidays.

and, order up your favorites in the next three weeks to score an extra 10% off in the online shop as an early bird bonus!

• secret code: holiday09
• expires: tue, dec 1st
• fyi: complimentary shipping on all orders!

p.s. oahu readers can also call dibs on the nkd fall 09 collection when it arrives in-store at shasa emporium next month.

new peeks: jools fall 2009

scroll cuff * snowflake earrings * suede rose drops

hope everyone has survived the great sugar coma of 2009! a sneak peek of the jools fall 2009 collection was posted in friday's sales sheet, but i wanted to feature more of the new looks since they are such an eye catching departure from la-based designer (and hilo girl) sybil shimazu's usual offerings.

this time around, laser-cut suede accessories have joined the delicate filigree metalwork that have become a jools signature. i dashed off a note to sybil to learn more about the process and discovered that computerized sketches (which involved a crash course in illustrator to create the detailed designs) were the blueprint for the laser machine which precisely cut each design into the suede fabric in mere seconds (or minutes, depending on the intricacy of the design).

the results add an unexpected edge and are especially crush-worthy when the laser-cut technique has been combined with the bohemian dreaminess of far away lands. mix in a little color (all of the laser-cut pieces are available in a rainbow of pretty jewel tones) along with a few playful, die-cut shapes and the fall forecast looks to be filled with vibrant flourishes designed to chase away the chill in style.

more peeks below . . .

24k filigree wreath + suede leaf earrings

double lotus necklace + 24k filigree cuff

since the process was so demanding, the laser-cut pieces will only make an occasional appearance going forward so if you love something definitely scoop it up asap.

happily, fall 09 is gently priced from $28 to $52 and becomes even more budget-friendly if you shop the current 20% off sale happening in the jools online shop by tomorrow!

• secret code: scary20
• expires: tue, nov 3rd
• fyi: complimentary ground shipping on orders over $49

new peeks: misa vega collection

asteroid pendants

i happened to spy pieces from l.a.-based jewelry designer misa hamamoto's new vega collection when we met up at edwin ushiro's opening reception last month and they are, quite simply, spectacular in person. for fall/winter 2009, the starry skies provided unlimited inspiration for misa who retreated to her studio to turn constellations and other far away celestial elements into modern treasures that seem to have been scavenged from galaxies far far away.

the petite asteroids featured throughout the collection are a quick study into the intricate molds misa meticulously casts by hand to create gorgeous, abstract orbs that you can imagine wandering straight from the night sky to adorn us here on earth. and, while sterling silver and matte gold vermeil quietly shimmer like the heavens, the two metals occasionally find themselves grounded with geological stones imbued with healing properties for vega's assortment of edgy rings.

more peeks below . . .

marquis ring + plain stacking bands

rays bangle

asteroid ring

the vega collection is priced from $30 to $245 and can be ordered via email until misa's online shop makes its debut. you can also find neighborhood boutiques located from los angeles to guam on the stockist list.

p.s. the best bet for oahu readers swooning for vega is riches kahala which recently received its first shipment of styles.