Milan Fashion Week; Bright Colors for 2014 Spring (via FLooks.net)

Milan Fashion Week that was held recently already represented all the trends for 2014 spring and we will continue exploring fashion shows from Milan Fashion Week. At this time I want to show you the tendency of bright colors and bold prints that were spotted on several designer shows.

First fashion show that I want to show you is Prada collection and bright colors chosen for 2014 spring. Miuccia Prada chose bold and vibrant colors for spring 2014 and Prada fashion show turned into a parade of dazzling colors and styles. Pieces had colorful prints representing Mexican muralists. The philosophy of this collection is a woman and her strong personality.

Just Cavalli spring 2014 fashion shows and collections are fabulous; they are bold, bright and fashionable and all of them are completed with vibrant prints and patterns. The main conception of new spring collection is imaginary world with crazy color combos and prints. Styles are as bold as colors like sexy short dresses, skinny trousers, jackets as well as line of luxurious accessories.

Continue reading at FLooks.net >

Our Take on Pantone Spring Colors 2014

Pantone has introduced a Spring 2014 palette that is all about stability and balance. The collection aims to marry adaptable pastels with captivating brights, creating a sense of naturalness, energy and equilibrium.

The first four colors on the left, together with Sand, form the basis for the natural pastels in the collection. Hemlock is a very different green then we've seen in recent years, although it still calls up the color of 2013, Emerald. This green is sedate and gentle. Like all of the pastels, it can be paired with any of the bolder colors for a beautiful, energetic combo.  Match Hemlock with Cayenne or Celosia Orange to take advantage of the power of contrasting colors. These will pair up wonderfully without being overwhelming.

The pastel Violet Tulip finds its bold counterpart in Radiant Orchid, and Placid Blue has a beautiful, deeply saturated Dazzling Blue on the opposite end of the palette. The Pantone Color Institute writes that both Radiant Orchid and Placid Blue "are perfect companions to pastels, and add confidence and vivacity when mixed with other bold colors."

What do you think of Pantone's choices for Spring 2014?  If you like these selections, will you incorporate them into your work or your wardrobe? You can vote for your favorites here.

Yarn, knitting and fiber arts, oh my!

These quiet winter months have been great for creativity and new ideas. One of my new creative directions has been in knitting and fiber arts.

Knitting, like working in brightly colored clay and enameling, is a fantastic way to explore color combos and textures. I've been having so much fun working with beautiful yarns. The photo at left shows two new knit hats, with these great matching felted pins-- they're both in my Etsy shop!

Here are some more knitted projects and some great new yarns I'm super excited to work with!

 Knitted cowl-- can be looped and worn in many different ways!

 Hand knit chunky cozy golden yellow slouch hat with felted pin

Box full o' yarn. So much fun!

Polymer buttons and beads for really unique looks. Check out these polymer buttons on the Hand Knit Blue Chunky Neckwarmer!


❉

Suzanne Anderson is the creator of YIKES! Studio Jewelry. Suzanne has been busy creating for most of her life. After graduating with a BFA from Maine College of Art, she worked as a graphic designer and a painter. Suzanne works to ensure that YIKES! Studio creates work that is fun, beautiful, always interesting, and adorns the wearer with joy. Catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Etsy, or her website at www.yikesstudio.com.

Strange, Cool and Odd Jewelry and Accessory Picks for Winter 2013/14

The world of high fashion always produces some interesting and exaggerated styles, but they're often pale in comparison to the work of inspired independent designers who upcycle materials into strange jewelry creations. Here are a few pieces by designers that may surprise you in their inventiveness.

Barbie Doll parts form a macabre centerpiece in these pieces in these pieces by Margaux Lange. Lange says, "I am fascinated with who she is as a cultural icon, her distinguished celebrity status and the enormous impact she has had on our society."

Abigail Maryrose Clark Teacup Bracelets: because you've always wanted to wear teacups on your wrist, haven't you? No?

Yael Nissan's 'Into the Wild' jewelry collection features this beautiful and magical creations mimicking undersea life and organic, coral-like forms.

Versace introduced these "ear nails" in their Fall/Winter 2013/2014 runway, among other punk-inspired adornments.

Missy Industry, with her slogan of "Handmade on the Darkside," produces this pelvic bone necklace, among other anatomical body part jewelry pieces. Very cool!

Futuristic and a bit mad, these upcycled sunglasses are created by Emile Voirin at MUDAM Luxemborg. They remind me a bit of Johnny Depp's take on Willy Wonka.

Tips on Wearing Bangle Bracelets

By Jeannette Ponder, via overstock.com.
 

YIKES Studio polymer fashion stacking bangle
in fall harvest yellow, black and white. $72 at Etsy.com.

Bangle bracelets are a popular jewelry item and a quick way to spice up an outfit. They are often inexpensive and are easily paired with other bangles to create a slightly bohemian flavor or worn alone for a more modern, sleek look.

Bangles come in many shapes, sizes and colors, with designs and materials that fit every category of fashion. They also come in many different materials, including silver, gold, acrylic and stainless steel.

There's a bangle bracelet for every occasion, and they're very simple to wear stylishly.


 
Wearing Bangle Bracelets:     

1. Avoid wearing too many. Bangle bracelets are often sold in multiples at very low prices. Because of this, it can be tempting to purchase many and pile them on. Remember, as with all other accessories, moderation is important. Too many bangles take away from each piece's unique design and charm. Put on the ones you like, and then take one or two off before you leave the house. If you like wearing a lot of other jewelry items, then consider keeping the bangles even more minimal to avoid overpowering the rest of your outfit.     
   
2. Mix up designs, colors and textiles. Homogeneity is to be avoided when wearing bangles. These bracelets are an excellent opportunity to combine colors and designs for a unique look, so don't go for perfect uniformity. However, try to stay in a common color family and temperature for best results. Cooler tones like silver and pale pastels look best with like colors, while gold looks great with red and deep jewel tones.

Read the rest of the article at Overstock.com >

New Fall Gold, Red and Black Bangles and Earrings from YIKES! Studio

What's new at YIKES!? Here's a new bangle with a lovely autumn hue and an interior richly detailed with red and black.

I've been working with lots of red and black this fall, and I'm loving the combo. I think the gold really plays it up and makes it a perfect fall piece.

To go with the bangle, there are a pair of earrings in matching hues, in a new YIKES! Studio style.

It's a very contemporary design that combines intricate, traditional milliefiori-style polymer caning on the inside with a modern design overall-- really revving it up with that rich golden hue!

The ear wires are sterling silver. The earrings are approx. 4" in length.

Both of these newbies are available online from my YIKES! Etsy shop. Check out more views there. ❉


Suzanne Anderson is the creator of YIKES! Studio Jewelry. Suzanne has been busy creating for most of her life. After graduating with a BA from Maine College of Art, she worked as a graphic designer and a painter. Suzanne works to ensure that YIKES! Studio creates work that is fun, beautiful, always interesting, and adorns the wearer with joy. Catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Etsy, or her website at www.yikesstudio.com.

YIKES! Etsy Spotlight For Fall 2013

 

 

 

Pantone Fall Colors 2013

Pantone's Fall Color Report is a versatile, exciting mix of natural colors and cool Emerald, Mykonos Blue and Acai. It could best be described as a moody palette, one that can be paired up and arranged in many ways.

The 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald, is still at home in the palette, but it's ready to be lightened by the influence of bright, natural Linden Green. Pantone recommends pairing both with Mykonos Blue for a classic fall look. 

Acai is a great addition to this collection. It will pair beautifully with Samba for a dramatic punch of color, or can be regal and dressed-up when combined with Emerald.

On the opposite end of the palette is Carafe, a deep brown that invites pairing with any of the brights, especially Vivacious, Samba and Koi. This deep, expressive brown serves as an alternative to black this season.

What fall colors do you like best? If you like these selections, do you plan to incorporate any of them into your wardrobe?

10 Cute Handmade Autumn Finds

Is it too early to declare that Fall is here? I don't see any leaves turning color yet.

I'm not sure that any small animals are storing up foods in their burrows. I haven't seen any fat, fluffy, winter-ready squirrels bumbling across the yard.

In fact, the tomatos haven't all ripened yet. The cucumbers are in the peak of their harvest. The grass is green as ever.

But I refuse to believe that it's too early to look at cute fall stuff! After all, in Maine, fall comes on quickly. (And if you like shopping online for perfect handmade items, now would be the perfect time to make your choices and put in an order.)

Here are 10 adorable, cozy, and autumnal finds!



 1. Foxy Bike Handwarmers

These Bike Fox Hand Warmers will make a perfect autumn/fall/winter accessory. They are soft and cozy and they are one of those items that you just don't want to ride a bike without.

The Etsy artisan, WarmYourself from Poland, makes them in kids' sizes too.











2. Beeswax candle collection shaped like antique jars and bottles.

This brilliant wax burns longer, brighter, and cleaner than any other wax on the planet, actually ionizing the atmosphere and pulling dust and allergens from your sweet home air as it burns.

Each collection is hand-poured to order.

These lovely candle sets come in various shapes and sizes, all based upon antique canning jars and bottles. Lovely.





3. Lemongrass Green Hand Knit Hat with Wood Button

This thick and chunky knit hat is the perfect little number for comfort, style, and warmth - jazz up your autumn/spring/winter wardrobe!

The yarn is a wool and acrylic blend, with zero itchiness! The button is genuine wood.

I love the big, big button! It's a great accent for a chunky knit. The color is awesome, too.

By UpNorthKnits.









4. Pumpkin Cheesecake Lip Balm

"Sweet scented Pumpkin Cheesecake Lip Balm! Such a fun flavor for adults and kids alike."

That sounds too good to pass up!










5. Fall Yarn and Felt Striped Wreath

Celebrate Fall and it's beautiful colors with this gorgeous wreath! Featuring striped yarn with coordinating handmade felt flowers in orange, warm yellow, tan and chocolate brown finished with cream pearls!

This wreath is unique and beautiful! Have the best wreath on the block!

One of a kind by Anita Rex Designs. Check it out!





6. Autumn Glass Acorn Decorations

Gorgeous faceted glass with real acorn bead caps. These beautiful little autumn gems come in a pack of six.

They would be perfect for accenting a fall centerpiece or keeping in a small, beautiful bowl. By WhysperFairy.











7. Artisan Collection Felted Soap

These lovely felted soaps are perfect for a hand soap in the bathroom or a personal soap and scrubbie in one.

The gorgeous green and gold variegated wool soap (middle) is a great fall color and is scented Pomegranate Pear. Made by TurtleWorksShop.

For silly autumn felted soaps, try Sapling Naturals' mini monsters, Halloween Owl in a Tree or the adorable Wise Owl by Englefelt.



 8. Crochet Knit Leg Warmers

These look so cozy! Perfect for early fall. By Designer Scarves World.

These soft leg warmers are a thin delicate light weight design, fitting just perfectly under boots. They show themselves off with hand detailed off white knit lace and off white faux buttons.

The Pointelle Openwork knit is on the height of fashion trends looking absolutely fabulous over skinny jeans, leggings or tights. Give your 'any-day look' the perfect bit of lacey flair!

And get ready for people to stop and ask you where you got them!




9. Mustard Yellow and Seafoam Green Leather Journal with Antique Skeleton Key

Wow! These journals by Binding Bee are very special. The journal is created from repurposed leather and handmade paper.

The leather is thick and heavy with a gorgeous oil-rubbed finish and a feel so soft that you will never want to put it down.

The journal closure uses a leather strap and antique skeleton key in a wonderful sea foam green color. The book is hand-bound using a 600 year old binding technique that is incredibly sturdy and long lasting and allows all of the pages to lay flat when the book is open.

Record some drawings and thoughts under falling leaves this fall. 





10. Autumn Tutu Dress

"This tutu dress features the warm colors of fall; scarlet, brown, gold, orange and yellow. Yards and yards of tulle is hand looped and tied around a brown crocheted bodice. Scarlet flowers and gold ribbon give the finishing touches."

Made by My Sugar Muffin. Aw! ❉

September 5 is Fashion Night Out in Bar Harbor, Maine

Haus of Paradigm, who will perform at
D'Alessio Gallery for Fashion Night Out at 8:30 pm.

Would you like to get inspired by unique fashion, exciting bellydancing performances, and seeing a whole town come out in their fashionable best? Then the summer event for you is coming right up. It's Bar Harbor's Fashion Night Out, this Thursday, September 5 from 6 pm to 10 pm.

The whole of downtown Bar Harbor will be participating in this once-yearly fashion night, inspired by similar events in New York City and elsewhere.

Bar Harbor's interpretation of Fashion Night Out includes fashion shows on the village green, performance art, and many participating galleries, shops, restaurants and bars.

D'Alessio Gallery will be one hub of activity during the evening. I'm delighted to be showing my jewelry at the gallery throughout the evening.This is my third year showcasing my jewelry at this awesome gallery during Fashion Night Out. Stop by and say hello!

The night will also feature a performance by the fabulous Haus of Paradigm! This six member crew based in Bangor, Maine is comprised of performers and instructors.  They hail from an extensive background of different languages of bellydance from Egyptian, Turkish, American Cabaret, Tribal Fusion, and Pirate Invasions.

Performances include many traditional and contemporary props like Isis wings, swords, canes, zills,  silk veils, silk fans, fire torches, fire fans and so much more.Catch their performance at 8:30 pm at D'Alessio Gallery-- they are spectacular!

YIKES Maine-Made Custom Cuff Bracelet... A Spring-Green Sendoff to Summer

Maybe it's because summer's almost ready to segue into fall, but it feels like the perfect time to embrace summery colors. Lately I've been craving sweet spring green. Something about this fresh, delicate color is so full of vitality! So, lucky me, I got to make this unique custom-order cuff bracelet this week.

This bracelet combines some of the adornments and "bling" of my bangles with the wider style of a cuff bracelet. It's always exciting to create custom pieces because they lead to interesting new combinations and keep the creative juices flowing. Fun!


As well as working in the studio, I've been looking forward to Bar Harbor's Fashion Night Out coming up on Thursday, September 5. Join YIKES! at the D'Alessio Gallery from 6-10 pm and see the fabulous bellydance troupe Haus of Paradigm at the gallery at 8:30 pm.

Fashion Night Out features runway shows, trunk shows, performances and more, all across downtown Bar Harbor, Maine. Past years have been tons of fun and this year's Fashion Night Out promises to be the best yet. ❉

July's Etsy Spotlight: Beach Party

 

YIKES! Etsy Spotlight is where we check out what's new and gorgeous in handmade fashion and accessories from the Etsy marketplace, while pairing up some of our finds with a specially selected item of YIKES! jewelry from the Etsy shop. This roundup represents the height of summer fashion, with cool minty greens, lavender, and spots n' stripes, to help you keep cool and stand out. I hope you like it, and if you do, please share! (You can click the bottom right-hand corner of any image on my blog to post directly to Pinterest-- Just hover over any image and you'll see the "Pin it!" button pop up.) Thanks for reading, and enjoy!


YIKES Mint Green and Lilac Polymer Big Bead Necklace with Sterling Silver
Mint green and lilac come together to make the sweetest big polymer beads enhanced with fashionable sterling silver links and sparkling Swarovski crystal. Update your wardrobe for spring/summer 2013 with this substantial necklace. Can you imagine this colorful necklace paired with a crisp white blouse or perhaps worn on a romantic summer evening in a mint haltertop with a plunging neckline? This piece goes lovely with orange for a fashionable pop of color or wear with ease with more subdued color combos. Pairs very well with many greens.

MINT CONDITION Retro Inspired Halter Tie Top
This mint-green, retro inspired halter top is made for curves, and has that great vintage pin-up style that will get lots of compliments. The color is a divine minty blue-green. It's made by MySugarDoll, who offers many other halters and bottoms in a variety of great vintage styles.

Retro Mint and Black - Kindle, Nook eReader Cover
So cute! This eReader cover will protect your reader from sand and stray droplets at the beach, and from scratches or dings in your bag or at home. It's handmade by Dana Designs, and she can custom-sew covers for a whole bunch of popular eReaders.

Hey Sailor.. Navy and White Stripes Tote Bag / Beach Bag
This bag has plenty of room for beachwear, and it's design is extremely versatile-- it can be retro chic or fairly conservative looking, depending on what it's paired up with. Bayan Hippo makes these sturdy bags. ❉


Suzanne Anderson is the creator of YIKES! Studio Jewelry. Suzanne has been busy creating for most of her life. After graduating with a BA from Maine College of Art, she worked as a graphic designer and a painter. Suzanne works to ensure that YIKES! Studio creates work that is fun, beautiful, always interesting, and adorns the wearer with joy. Catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Etsy, or her website at www.yikesstudio.com.

 

Elegance: Black Cuff Bracelets and Bangles

YIKES! Studio: Black bangles and black starfish cuff

Black is the color of elegance, considered to never go out of style, to go with everything. Fashion designers have always had a great deal to say about black. Italian designer Gianni Versace said, "Black is the quintessence of simplicity and elegance." Dior defined black as the essence of elegance, a quality which he said was a "combination of distinction, naturalness, care and simplicity."

Black has enjoyed multiple periods of being in style throughout history. Black was the favored color of nobility throughout the 14th through 16th centuries in Europe, with the trend beginning in Italy and spreading across countries to all the monarchs of Europe. Black fabric was long considered special because a truly deep black required the very best dyes.

Black may also have become popular because wealthy merchants favored it. After laws prohibited these merchants from wearing certain flashy and expensive clothes in bright colors because they were not royalty, the upper classes took to wearing black. Ironically, this may have served to popularize the color black as a color associated with the upper class-- and royalty. By the 16th century, black was what all the monarchs were wearing!

In 1926, Coco Chanel popularized the ubiquitous little black dress as the fashion article that all women needed, saying "A woman needs just three things; a black dress, a black sweater, and, on her arm, a man she loves." French designer Yves Saint Laurent said, "Black is the liaison which connects art and fashion."

Do you love black? Is it a fashion staple for you or does it only make an occasional appearance? Black accessories can be elegant, striking additions your wardobe. A black dress and matching bangles with a touch of sparkle can be the perfect, timeless combination for a wonderful night out on the town.

I will be at the Maine Crafts Guild Damariscotta Show this weekend,  Saturday, July 6, 2013 from 10 am to 5 pm  and Sunday, July 7, 2013 from 10 am to 4 pm, with my newest studded starfish cuffs and bangles in black. I hope you'll consider adding one to your collection.

Karl Lagerfeld, explaining why black was so popular, said: "Black is the color that goes with everything. If you're wearing black, you're on sure ground." Timeless and elegant, striking and simple, it's easy to see why black has been so popular and continues to be today. ❉

Pushing the Limits of Polymer: Cool, Weird Clay Creations

Polymer clay is an astonishingly limitless medium. It can be used to create the tiniest of picture-perfect objects. Miniature pies, with each berry glinting in the light, can be fashioned by expert artisans. Detailed animal figurines, looking just like the real thing, can emerge from blocks of polymer clay. Fine artists and playful worshippers of various television shows and comic genres can equally exploit the qualities of polymer clay to create objects to suit their fancy.

Here we check out a few unusual polymer clay creations. They might not be something you'd like to own personally, but then again, inspiration comes in all forms. These creations show off the possibilities of polymer clay.

Here's a mindblowing piece of artistry: A complex, twining set of octopus tentacle jewelry by Kaity O'Shea aka KTOctopus. Can you imagine wearing this? If so, what with? Something tells me that no matter what you wear with it, this jewelry's going to take center stage.

These Animal Cling Rings are by Japanese artist Jiro Miura, working under brand name Count Blue. Miura creates these exquisitely detailed animal rings as well as figurines; his designs have also been used to create mass produced phone plugs and rings. It's a lucky artist who sees his work become so popular.

Baby seal rings by Jiro Miura	An attention-getting ring for sure.

Low cost and ease of use make polymer clay an ideal choice for unorthodox one-of-a-kind creations. Above is My Little Batman and Robin by Jodi Moisan. Moisan's precision with these handcrafted My Little Pony-based superhero figurines is astonishing.The exact reasoning behind creating My Little Ponies dressed as various characters from comics and movies isn't quite clear, but they're nothing short of adorable.

Joe Fig is a man of many mediums, but this diorama comes from his series of table sculptures of artists' studios in their full splendor and disarray. This particular table sculpture shows the studio of April Gornik. These studio dioramas were gathered together into a book, Inside the Artist's Studio, which is introduced this way:

"Inside an art gallery, it is easy to forget that the paintings there are the end products of a process involving not only creative inspiration, but also plenty of physical and logistical details. It is these "cruder," more mundane aspects of a painter's daily routine that motivated Brooklyn artist Joe Fig to embark almost ten years ago on a highly unorthodox, multilayered exploration of the working life of the professional artist. Determined to ground his research in the physical world, Fig began constructing a series of diorama-like miniature reproductions of the studios of modern art's most legendary painters..."

Fig uses many materials to construct his unusual tributes to the artistic process, including polymer clay.

Another by Joe Fig, this one depicting the studio of Dana Schutz.

With its blendable, vibrant colors and translucent options, polymer clay works well for skin, even the delicate  rosy skin of weirdly tiny babies. Adorable? A little creepy? The talented Camille Adams creates these tiny polymer clay babies.

Some polymer clay artists test their skill-- and even make a living-- creating tiny lifelike foods in 1:12, 1:24, even 1:48 scale. The miniature polymer foods are purchased by collectors for well-appointed dollhouses. This fish spread was made by Stephanie Kilgast.

Last but not least, Afsaneh Tajvidi steals our hearts away with her beautiful polymer clay snails. ❉

Ethical Fashion: Shopping with Conscience After Bangladesh Disasters

Image courtesy of african_fi/sxc.hu

What is fashion? In one sense, it's how we express ourselves: how we translate our aesthetic desires into a deeply personal form of self-expression. Fashion also connects us: It identifies us as part of a culture, a subculture, even a global trend.

If art is about how we see the world, fashion concerns how we wish to be seen in the world. We hope to communicate something about who we are through what we wear-- and have fun doing it!

Yet, none of these things happen in a vacuum. Although we might think of fashion as something personal, these days it's positively global.

Most the clothes we buy are made in factories far away, factories that we'll never see or hear about in the news. What goes on there is hidden from view, but more and more, people are starting to take notice. Many of our clothes are made in unsafe or deadly conditions, by workers without adequate pay or the right to stand up for their needs.

The recent deadly collapse of a factory in Bangladesh, has made people all over the world realize: the way clothes are made has got to change.

One way to make a difference is to ask retailers to sign on to agreements that they will monitor their supply chain and raise standards in working conditions and wages. The National Consumers League has started a petition asking Americans to sign on saying that they'll pay $0.10 more for clothing made by better paid workers in safe conditions.

Would you pay $0.10 more per garment to prevent disasters like the factory collapse in Bangladesh? Then sign on at the National Consumer League's Facebook page for the "10 Cent Pledge."

You can also sign on asking Walmart to help stop retaliation against workers in Bangladesh who are standing up for fair working conditions. Click here to add your name.

What else can you do?

Lots! Support local and smaller artisans who create garments closer to home. Etsy is a great place to find some of those handmade items (but be aware-- there are a few "Etsy sellers" who ship obviously factory-made items from overseas.) Etsy is also a great source for vintage finds.

When shopping for new clothes, look for the Fair Trade label. Artisans in the developing world who make Fair Trade goods are paid a higher fraction of the purchase price of the item. Check out this fair trade shopping guide. Or look for a Made in the USA or UNITE label on clothing. American Apparel, the San Francisco based company, offers US-made clothes-- but their sizing (often only going up to size L or XL in women's wear) puts their clothes out of reach for curvier women.

Among the big clothing labels and retailers, there are no "gold star" standouts, but Eddie Bauer,  LL Bean, J Crew, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Abercrombie and Fitch, Liz Claiborne and Timberland get a passing score on measures of fair labor practices.

If you need a little good news, know this: Many global clothing companies have signed on to the very important Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Code-- a legally enforceable deal that includes independent inspections of Bangladesh factories. Signatories, according to the Clean Clothes Campaign, "commit to underwrite improvements in dangerous factories and properly confront fire safety and structural problems."

IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Jyrki Raina said, “The companies who signed up are to be applauded. We are talking improving the working conditions and lives of some of the most exploited workers in the world...” Companies that have signed on include H & M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Benneton, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger. Sadly, industry leaders Walmart and Gap have not signed on.

As more people become aware of the serious problems in garment manufacturing, we can expect to see a bigger and better marketplace of fairly traded and USA-produced clothing and accessories.  Would we all agree to pay a little more for clothing made in fair, safe conditions? I think so. ❉