trend watch: forest frenzy

anniversary sale!

A year ago, we moved the grayling headquarters to the Olympic Mill building.  We'd quickly outgrown our space in the SW hills and we wanted to be closer to downtown.

When the move was complete, we'd created a new showroom space to feature our jewelry collection in its entirety.  The addition of a showroom allowed us to efficiently meet with wholesale buyers.  We also met with several brides, moms, husbands, and boyfriends for custom jewelry work.

An area tucked behind the showroom became our new production workshop.  Within this tiny space we designed, produced, packed and shipped hundreds of wholesale and web orders over the past year.

 - - - - - - - -

We are having an Anniversary Sale - which marks two years in business - and one year  in our new showroom.

Hope you can make it:

we heart design*sponge

If you've been living under a rock (or just working day in and day out with zero breaks, only to crash on the couch the moment you get home X REPEAT EVERY DAY) then this is the first time you've heard of design*sponge, a Brooklyn-based blog penned by Grace Bonney.  

Grace started design*sponge in 2004, and spends her days unearthing, researching, and sharing the coolest of the cool with her readers several times a day.  

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Bonney recently when she was out in Portland.  She stopped by the grayling studio and showroom and picked up one of our raw agate rings after lunch at Olympic Provisions.

A few days later, I started getting emails from around the country inquiring about the ring she bought.  I was puzzled.  How do people even know about the ring?  They're weren't online yet.  Then I realized.... 

...the grayling raw agate ring was featured on design*sponge!

Some rad earrings from fellow-Portland designer Better Late than Never were also pictured (I first drooled over BLTN pieces at Sara's Crafty Wonderland booth last Spring).  

What an honor!

on design*sponge, scroll down for the ring...

Thanks, Grace!

beauty tips to benefit your jewelry

When our jewelry looks its best, we look our best and when we look our best, our jewelry looks its best. It's a whole circle of life thing. Here are five beauty tips and reminders that will help your jewelry achieve it's full potential.

1. Nail care: hands are one of the first impressions a person makes when greeting someone and shaking hands. You don't want someone to notice your nice bracelet and then turn their focus to your chipped nails polish.

2. Lotion up: jewelry lays against the skin and that means if people are looking at your jewelry, they are looking at your skin. Just like how bad nails can bring attention away from your jewelry, so can sporting dried out leather bag hands and elephant elbows. Keeping your skin moisturized and soft gives the jewelry a nice palate to lay on.

3. Drinking water: nature's number one beauty secret. Drinking water has a ton of health and beauty benefits one being it clears up your skin and makes you glow. Well hydrated skin has the best tone to it which means you can find the best looking shades of stones and metals to go along with it.

4. Shoe care: something you may not think of when you think of jewelry, but shoes are an important part of how you present your jewelry. A ratty pair of shoes can really throw off a look. Your jewelry and shoes should be appropriate together and help compliment each other to pull the entire outfit together.

5. Don't over-accessorize: we all love jewelry but just like with cake or booze, too much is a bad thing. Don't go overboard so people only see the jewelry and don't see you. You should be wearing the jewelry, don't let the jewelry wear you.

honor thy mother

Mother's Day is this weekend so to all the mothers out there wiping noses, fixing breakfasts and juggling the world on your shoulders, here's to you! Our love, gratitude and appreciation goes out to you and all that you do, Thanks!

a Mother's Day Haiku

loving and caring

poise, beauty beyond compare

steadfast like a rock

do's and don'ts of mother's day

Mother's Day is fast approaching and we all want to give our mothers something meaningful to show our utmost gratitude for all she has given through out the years. While it is the thought that counts, some gifts say "I love you mom!" much better than others. Here is our list of the Top five Best and Worst gift ideas for Mother's Day.

BEST:

1. Breakfast in Bed: a true classic, (just be sure to clean up the kitchen afterwards)

2. Chanel No. 5: Sophisticated and refined, just like your mother

3. Spa Day: every mother loves a full day of pampering

4. Hug Coupons: for the budget minded, you can't go wrong with unlimited hugs

5. Jewelry: your mother will look lovely in a new grayling piece like this Seneca Necklace

Worst

1. Anti-aging Face Cream: You want your mother to look her best, but this isn't the day to mention crows feet

2. An E-Card: she birthed you, take the time to call, e-cards are a little insulting

3. A Broom: unless its a magic broom leave chore related gifts for a surprise Tuesday

4. Viactiv: You care about the health of your mother's bones but this isn't the kind of chocolate she is looking for

5. Drive Through Dinner: Picking up some burgers at McDonald's drive through window isn't taking your mother out to dinner

Do the right thing and go all out for your mother this year.

best images

1. via recipes.howstuffworks.com

2. via chanel.com

3. via spafinder.com

worst images

2. via hallmark.com

3. via lowes.com

4. via viactive.com

5. via mcdonalds.com

remember the classics

While we can get caught up in the bright shiny newness of what's hot and "of the moment" it's always nice to take a minute to remember the classics. Just like Hepburn and Bardot, or Streisand and Warwick, or Casablanca and Gone With the Wind, classics never fade away. Here are some of our favorite grayling classics. They just get better with age.

Anthracite earring in sky $89

Tranquility bracelet in sky $96

Quartzite necklace in sky $184

find these and all the classics as well as our limited edition line for spring/summer at graylingjewelry.com

when nature inspires

Nature has always been a big influence for all of the grayling pieces. She is powerful, awe inspiring and beautiful. So when we saw these pictures of supercell thunderstorms by amazing Montana photographer Sean R. Heavey we were absolutely blown away.

No, these aren't stills from an science fiction movie,
just good ol' Mother Nature at her best.

Absolutely breathtaking.

Just seeing images like these totally get us inspired to create.
A storm is a brewin'...

check out Sean's website here.

ahoy ye maties!

Sailor Town by Cicely Fox Smith

Along the wharves in sailor town a singing whisper goes

Of the wind among the anchored ships, the wind that blows

Off a broad brimming water, where the summer day has died

Like a wounded whale a-sounding in the sunset tide.

(Jil Sander Dress)

There's a big China liner gleaming like a gull,

And her lit ports flashing; there's the long gaunt hull

Of a Blue-Funnel freighter with her derricks dark and still;

And a tall barque loading at the lumber mill.

(Cole Haan Heritage Basket Weave Kendra Shopper)

And in the shops of sailor town is every kind of thing

That the sailormen buy there, or the ships' crews bring:

Shackles for a sea-chest and pink cockatoos,

Fifty-cent alarum clocks and dead men's shoes.

(Adam Arnold Dress)

You can hear the gulls crying, and the cheerful noise

Of a concertina going, and a singer's voice —

And the wind's song and the tide's song, crooning soft and low

Rum old tunes in sailor town that seamen know.

(grayling Pazi Statement Necklace $298)

I dreamed a dream in sailor town, a foolish dream and vain,

Of ships and men departed, of old days come again —

And an old song in sailor town, an old song to sing

When shipmate meets with shipmate in the evening.

image 1 via JilSander.com

image 2 via ColeHaan.com

image 3 courtesy of JesseChamplin.com

image 4 via graylingjewelry.com

rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

These are just a few of our favorite things. Get excited for spring with grayling. Here are some "can't-wait-for" items from the grayling team.

Katy's favorites:

1. Sitting out in the sun on some sleek, modern outdoor furniture like the Montego lounge chair from Room and Board

2. Chloe wedge sandal = LOVE. available at Nordstrom.com

3. grayling Ama necklace, fun, bold and ready for the sun $325

Shannon's favorites:

1. Finally wearing shorts without tights like these Dusen Dusen highwaisted shorts available at Urban Outfitters

2. Listening to the new TV on the Radio album, Nine Types of Light on constant repeat

3. grayling Shield necklace, subtle statement $115

Lauren's favorites:

1. brightening up the day with some neon nail polish

2. lightening up the ol' legs with some pastel skinny jeans from American Apparel

3. grayling Chenoa bracelet, perfect mix of color and glitz, dress it up or dress it down $125

Brady's favorites:

1. Sitting on the porch in the sun sipping Stumptown cold brew coffee

2. Blocking the sun with some sweet Karen Walker harvest shades

3. grayling Turquoise Celestial necklace, perfect to kick up a plain white tee shirt $269

it's all in the name...

For the names of our new spring/summer collection we drew inspiration from Native American words. So what exactly do some of them mean?

huyana necklace: falling rain in Miwok

$269

atsila necklace: fire in Cherokee

$89

tiva necklace: dance in Hopi

$156

all pieces are limited edition

check these and the rest of the Grayling spring/summer 2011 collection on our website.

source for names: snowwowl.com and behindthename.com

official update: it's spring!

It’s official! The first day of Spring is here and we couldn’t be more excited! It’s time to pack away those winter coats and bust out the sandals! So what are our three favorite things we are super excited about this spring?

Number 1. Not being cold while eating a fresh Caesar salad.

Try this amazingly tasty Jamie Oliver recipe from FoodNetwork.com

Number 2. Wearing a deep v tee shirt tucked in cuffed slim khaki chinos with cute flats.

Tees by American Apparel, Chinos by Band of Outsiders, Flats by Common Projects

Number 3. Dressing up said outfit with a piece from the Grayling spring/summer line like the Pazi statement necklace. (available beginning of April)

Happy Spring everyone!

Shop Grayling online here. Spring/Summer collection available beginning of April

celebrate st. patty's day with grayling

Whoever said wearing green on St. Patrick's Day had to be tacky? Leave those big plastic shamrock pins and green felt hats at home. Do St. Patty's Day right and class it up a bit with some fashionable jewelry from Grayling in the tone of the day:

anthracite earring in forest

palms necklace

ivy necklace

caviar necklace in forest

caviar bracelet in forest

You won't need luck to become the talk of the town when you pair one of these contemporary fashion jewelry pieces with a classic Shamrock Shake. It'll be sure to be an instant hit.

Find your pot of gold and shop the entire Grayling Jewelry collection to discover the perfect piece to match any occasion.

go big or go home

You know we love a good statement necklace here at Grayling, well check out these ridiculously beautiful editorial shots of Melody Monrose by Peppe Tortora for Gray S/S 2011. These pieces are to die for and Melody is absolutely stunning.

Gush!

So lovely. A statement necklace always looks so pretty paired with a simple top. We love.



Image-Fashion Copious

let your pants do the talking

We absolutely fell in love with these Celine pants when we saw Christine Centenera wearing them on Stockholm-StreetStyle.com. The bold print is an exciting and well-appreciated breath of fresh air in the stagnant world of trousers.

The pants are part of Celine’s Spring 2011 collection. We love Ms Centenera’s gold choker but those pants would also look amazing paired with a plain black tank and a Grayling Tranquility Necklace.

This spring liven up your wardrobe with some daring britches and be the talk of the town.

photo via stockholm-streetstyle.com

meet our new best friend, Aperol.

Sometimes a mid week drink really just hits the spot. Try this tasty Aperol drink we found on one of our favorite food blogs, Orangette. Take the work week edge off and make yourself a glass.

Pamplemousse

Adapted from the Walrus and the Carpenter

At home, I serve this drink in a Champagne coupe, but at the Walrus and the Carpenter, they put it in a martini glass. Frankly, I like it so much that I could probably be convinced to drink it out of a rusty bucket, so serve it in whatever you like.

Also, consider the amount of Aperol below a starting point. I like to use a little more. And if you have sparkling wine on hand, try substituting it for the white wine - a great variation.

½ oz. Aperol

2 oz. freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, pulp strained out and discarded

2 oz. dry white wine

Fill a tall glass about halfway with ice cubes. Add the Aperol, juice, and wine, and stir to blend. Strain into glass.

Yield: 1 drink

Photos and recipe via Orangette

happy mardi gras

Bright metallic beads are so passé. You are a lady, not a child anymore, class up your mardi gras with a real necklace. This Fat Tuesday, don a simple black mask and let your neck do all the talking.

platinum

gleam

caviar in smoky

Be the envy of all those plastic beaded fools with an elegant Grayling piece you can wear long after Fat Tuesday.

blast from the past

While doing a little spring cleaning and going through boxes this little to do list that was made (and somehow saved) from the fourth grade was found. And that got the ol' noggin' thinking...

Mousse is due for a comeback...

Try a sky high rockabilly hair style to mix things up

Pair with pieces from the Grayling Falcon Collection

Falcon Necklace

Falcon Bracelet

And who said Elvis had left the building?

Image 2 and 5: Fashionising.com via Miguel Reveriego for Vogue Germany

Shop the Falcon collection and all of Grayling fashion jewelry here.

lbd tonight

Every gal needs a great little black dress. Something simple and effortless to throw on and look perfect in every time. We think we've found a pretty great LBD. Get ready for a night on the town with this perfect LBD getup.

Grayling Nova Necklace $169

Acne Coyo cap sleeved dress $120

Surface to Air Open Wedge V2 $415

Get ready for a wild night and hit the town.

stop by the Grayling studio (open Thursday and Friday 11-5) or contact us to order the Nova Necklace

pictures courtesy of Acnestudios.com and Surfacetoair.com