loads of pearls at nordstrom

She was really bombed,
And I was really blown away,
Until I asked
her what she wanted,
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.

photo credit: me

organize your jewelry

how much digging

and untangling of messes

must we endure until we realize

we can't possibly wear it
unless we can find it.

It's time to learn how to get your jewelry in order, ladies. Please take a moment to visit Portland, Oregon based stylist Kami Gray's blog. She knows a thing or two about fashion, jewelry, and how to "make it work" for you.

photos-courtesy Kami Gray

inside the grayling showroom

the grayling jewelry showroom
in the historic OLYMPIC MILL BUILDING

- - -
107 se washington, no. 135, portland oregon
open 11-5 every thursday and friday

http://www.graylingjewelry.com/

+1 503 548 4979

winter showroom party @ grayling

Please click on the little flyer below for more information. We hope to see you on December 4th (or before or after, of course).

hit me with it!

I am busy figuring out what to add to my e-commerce site. {You have checked out the grayling jewelry online store in the past, right?}

TRUTHFULLY... what would you like to see more of? A new color? ________ priced at _______? More ________? Is it easy or hard to shop?

I'll give a $50 gift certificate to one of you so get your thinking caps on... and PLEASE leave your feedback in the comments section below!

GO TO MY ONLINE JEWELRY STORE

acquire - yes, please.

This store was even better in person. When I visited a few weeks back they didn't have much by way of jewelry, but here's what they DID HAVE:

an amazing rusty tool cabinet, loads of skulls, beautiful lucite bottle openers, little gold-leaf wall pods, amazing knives, woven pillows, and a few other must-haves. Next time Pa and I will bring our covered-wagon so we can bring it all home from Boston.

http://www.acquireboutique.com/

natasha spotted in grayling!

What a nice surprise. A beautiful Grammy-nominated singer (who co-writes and co-produces her own music) was shot wearing one of my necklaces on the red carpet (or in this case, on the patterned carpet in NYC).

I have immense respect for Natasha Bedingfield and I was absolutely THRILLED to see her in a grayling Caviar necklace.

The Caviar necklace is one of the first pieces I designed for my jewelry line, grayling.

When I launched in 2009 I had no idea one necklace would cause such a frenzy of sorts (the Caviar has been the "top viewed" item in my online store for the past six months and several grayling stockists report the necklace doesn't last but a few hours in a case before it's out the door).

The funny thing is, the necklace has pretty humble beginnings. I remember when I designed it. I was on my couch at home, with a pile of materials. I'd just dropped a sizable sum of money at a gem show, and I was excitedly playing around with metal combinations.

With my trusty kitty at my side (always - she is soooo curious), I started stringing crystals and wrapping them with chains of all sorts. Halfway through, I looked at what I'd done, and thought it looked awful. Then I started weaving a chunk of agate into the necklace. By the end of the day, I'd wound and cut and re-strung the piece countless times. And it had really turned into something!

When I finally added the clasp (the finishing touch!) I had in front of me one part sculpture and one part necklace. And the name Caviar described it well.

Interesting, pretty, unexpected - but ultimately versatile and infinitely wearable... sounds like my kind of jewelry line.

Please note:

The Caviar is officially registered with the United States Copyright Office,

and impostors will be sought out and given no mercy. And I mean none.

2009-2010

photo credit - LIFE

jewelry designers philip crangi, pamela love + justin giunta on the business of fashion

“I wanted to find the buried treasure in flea markets or in the attic,” he says. “I never did, so I have to make it myself.” -Philip Crangi


“My philosophy was to never chase after anybody and let everybody come to you. I feel like you are going to get more support and love from people who reach out to you and really want to work with you.” -Pamela Love



“I lay out materials like paint on a palette, and draw together disparate elements of color and texture... morphing them to ensure they land appropriately into the composition...” -Justin Giunta

Read the entire interviews on The Business of Fashion

photo credits: 1.Giles and Brother 2.Forward by Revolve 3.Subversive

baubles & bibelot: fall fete at narcisse

...featuring new jewelry from my friends brehan todd and jess of paper treasure, plus the fall line of clothing from noa noa.
.

paper treasure

brehan todd


noa noa

{fall fete at narcisse}
saturday september 18 2010
~ 8 to late in the evening ~

1015 sw washington
portland oregon 97205

photos courtesy noa noa, brehan todd, & jess mcccloskey

the ultimate statement piece?

You know its been a long week of making jewelry when the necklaces you've created begin to look like a turtleneck on your form.

the latest links: jewelry

emerald, the birthstone for May

These links are worth a click:

Not your typical birthstone jewelry

A young jewelry queen reigns in Queens, NYC

Jewelry designer Philip Crangi and family strive to create a dynasty of design

Bankruptcy for offshoot of Portland, OR institution Carl Greve Jewelers moves ahead



image credit: www.pkbennett.com

celebrity jewelry lines cometh

Kim Kardashian x Loren Jewels

Nicky Hilton x Titan Brands for Endless


Madonna and Lourdes collaborate on Material Girl for Macy's

Photo credit: Thomas Iannaccone, WWD, and Loren Jewels

one year later

Here's the inside of my new space at the Olympic Mills Building. I feel spoiled rotten to be in the same building as Olympic Provisions, Citrus, Parliament Design, and other high-falutin' businesses.

Of course, this means I'll be moving out of my Multnomah Village studio, which I've shared with local jewelry legend and dear friend John Rink for the past year. I'll miss the days filled with a rare mix of tasteless jokes and sparkling diamonds.

I supposed it was time to leave my little jewelry incubator to move into a larger space. Seven new stores picked up my jewelry line in the past month or so, and I needed more room.

Of course, I'm no stranger to change. Today marks the one-year anniversary of my departure from my former job. Many of you knew me in my previous profession in the retail clothing world, before I was "reincarnated" back to a jewelry designer (I use the phrase back to because jewelry is what originally led to my 7-year stint at the boutique).

Do I miss it? Yes, sometimes I do. But, a lot of times I don't. Life moves you through stages, and I believe you have to see what's in front of you with new eyes sometimes.

One year ago, I was really confused about what the future held, but at the same time, I knew what I had been doing wasn't right for me anymore. Fortunately, I was able to take all the things (good and bad) I learned with me.

I couldn't be more fortunate than I am today. In 12 months time, I started a viable business, got back to my roots as a designer, and I hope to hire my first employee later this year. I'm headed to a trade show in a few weeks, where, for the first time, I will be the rep, no longer there as a buyer.

Wish me luck,

Katy

the latest links

See by Chloe OTK (over-the-knee) boots- available at net a porter

These links are worth a click:

A slideshow of the best Fall boots at Refinery 29

The current trends in jewelry discussed, with photos at Femita

Gorgeous diamond slices by fine jeweler, Susan Foster

All the accessories the kids will be wearing at Urban Outfitters

The 30 day clothing diet everyone's talking about, discussed by Kami Gray

photo, refinery 29 and SBC

a few of my new necklaces

g r a y l i n g: cathedral necklace


g r a y l i n g: gold fire necklace


g r a y l i n g: lichen necklace

g r a y l i n g: voyager 10-in-1 necklace

VIEW MORE NECKLACES HERE

[ we offer free shipping in the u.s. - cool, right? ]


{all images copyright grayling jewelry 2010}

a few of my new earring designs

g r a y l i n g: long caviar earrings

g r a y l i n g: falcon earrings

g r a y l i n g: moon earrings

tranquility earrings

VIEW MORE EARRINGS HERE

[ pssst... free shipping in the u.s. ]

{all images copyright grayling jewelry 2010}

g r a y l i n g: summer lookbook

palms necklace + earrings


palms necklace + earrings


azure necklace


azure necklace


natura necklace - coming soon


natura necklace - coming soon


luminescent necklace + diamond one earrings
coming soon


luminescent necklace + diamond one earrings
coming soon


MORE LOOKBOOK IMAGES HERE

{all images copyright grayling jewelry 2010}

baubles & bibelot: draugsvold jewelry

What do you think about these numbers from Draugsvold? I sort of love how they combine old bits and parts to form an entirely different look (the bottom necklace even looks like it has tiny owls in it).

There are more great finds on their website here. And p.s. if it's good enough for Beyonce it's good enough for me. xx

photos - all draugsvold

baubles & bibelot: engaging rings

Cast your gaze at several unusual and beautiful styles via a recent article from Refinery 29: 20 Engagement Rings You'll Love. It's worth a peek no matter what your relationship status.


And p.s. if you need a ring custom made, John Rink is the ultimate guy-to-turn-to. Contact me for info. He made my ring and I am amazed by it every day!

sneak preview: grayling summer 2010

moon earrings

lichen necklace

caviar long earrings (also available with short tassels)

cathedral necklace

All styles coming soon to
my online store:

http://www.shop.graylingjewelry.com/