sweet nothings 2011 - take one

while my st. valentine's cards wait to be addressed and posted in the mail, i hustled up a few gently priced delights to share with you today.

1 - meet shop toast's newest debut - the very playful smit-tin filled with heart-shaped arare and pink gumballs. ($7)

2 - patagonia's organic live simply tees always make me smile, and a sweet little whale adorned with a flower lei sends just the right message to the little girl in your life. ($25)

3 - berrysprite's crocheted ipod cozy bear will charm sweeties with a kawaii crush. ($13)

4 - add a hint of old timey romance with space moderne's pretty in pink take on its always lovely handmade felt brooch. ($22)

will you be playing cupid with your favorite sweethearts this valentine's day?

introducing pretty swell

vintage carnival garland + preppy citron hairpins

happy 2011! my wicked winter cold has lingered on into the the new year and a stuffy head sidelined any hope of writing pithy posts until now (fingers crossed). i always heart a fresh start and today's etsy find encompasses just the type of loveliness i hope to share with you this year.

i chanced upon the playfully named pretty swell while browsing etsy and immediately swooned over the chalkboard backdrops and gorgeous product photography. (take note: shop purveyors-in-the-making.) although little pockets of modern goodness have popped up since h|h was established many moons ago, delightful design experiences are, alas, too few and far between so a glimpse inside pretty swell gives me hope that there are more lonny-reading, design lovelies hiding out around the islands.

all of the playful confections are handmade by katie speed of laie who scores a well deserved gold star for the modern yet old timey reusable decorations in addition to the spot-on art direction. the whimsical fabric floral garlands promise to be an instant charmer, and i can just imagine the smiles of guests when greeted by such a cheery welcome.

the little sage cottage makes my heart happy too. as does this noel edition. don't you just want to string up a few strands and invite your friends over for cake?

the price tag hovers in the $20-range with complimentary shipping on orders over $9. in addition to garlands, fabric floral crowns, hairpins and cake toppers can be found in pretty swell's etsy shop. custom orders are also welcome for those wishing to coordinate a color palette just for you.

have you discovered any fresh island delights for the new year?

{photo credit: party/natalie norton}

happy hale*days 2010: sparkle edition

my winter cold remains my constant companion with sleepless nights and a stuffy head making writing all but impossible over the weekend (take your favorite preventative remedies & wash your hands to avoid my continuing misery, please!).

with shipping deadlines looming and the official countdown to xmas in the single digits, it seems the last remaining gifting guides will be best for those procrastinators willing to bear expedited mailing costs or negotiate the in-store crush of last minute shoppers.

without any further ado, a few pretty trinkets for your shopping list:

1 - surprise your sweetheart with wings hawaii's full moon necklace which mixes hammered hoops of 14k gold with delicate cone seashells. ($500; coordinating earrings also available. shop online or at the paia flagship)

2 - midori jewelry's 16k gold-plated labrynth links paired with faceted labradorite are a lovely discovery. ($45; shop online or find your neighborhood stockist)

3 - for the indie spirit: the burnished sunburst cuff by nina kuna designs is handcast on maui and a stylish reminder of sunny island days. ($95; shop online or hele over to your local stockist)

4 - gold plated nuggets are strung on a blackened sterling chain by la-based jools. ($44; shop online or find your nearest stockist)

5 - manoa's green tea jewels specializes in pretty minimal designs priced under $30. (online only; buy 2 styles and save 10% off your holiday order)

kealopiko x hinu holiday

your favorite kama'aina elf has been busy curating her virtual stacks for the island style gifting guides that will be launching later today, but this lovely new collaboration by kealopiko and hinu jewelry deserves its own separate shoutout.

two of my favorite designers decided to whip up a pupu hinuhinu gift set inspired by the shells found on hawaii's shores. the pupu ala organic scoop tee screenprinted by kealopiko coordinates perfectly with hinu's sterling silver leho necklace. definitely a wishlist keeper if only to help out those clueless sweeties who lack the gifting gene.

the limited edition set is priced at $100 with tees available in sizes small to xxl. enter the code below at checkout and save 10% off your order!

• secret code: hawaii nei

misa jewelry lauhala collection

statement

the debut of a new misa jewelry collection is always a happy day. designer misa hamamoto's modern approach to crafting gorgeous adornment is one of my constant crushes so i am delighted to welcome the lovely lauhala collection and its instantly recognizable woven construction.

from delicate coral under the sea to faraway shimmer in the starry skies above, misa is an expert at editing out the unneccesary details so your eye goes straight to the essence of the design without any distractions. this time around misa found inspiration in a simple lauhala gift box but stripped away the heaviness that often results when transforming the traditional weaving style into a piece of jewelry.

the result is an airy, open weave that almost seems to float while the addition of tiny chainlink and mixed metals retain a hint of modern day armor.

disc

chain

the lauhala looks are priced from $205 to $295 and are offered in a handful of variations in gold vermeil, sterling silver, and a mingling of the two metals.

take a peek at the entire collection in the online shop or, if you call the islands, los angeles or guam home, click over to the stockist list and locate your neighborhood boutique.

p.s. i will be offline for the next few days but check in after your thanksgiving feast for a roundup of black friday sales from our favorite local designers and shops. wishing you & your 'ohana a lovely holiday!