Seal of Approval

Bring a little romance and nobility into your life with our medallion necklaces.  Inspired by a box of wax-sealed letters found at an estate sale, the designers have turned the authentic 19th century seals of cracked wax into jewelry that fuses archaic symbolism with modern design.

Sterling Fidelity Medallion - (pictured above) Reads "Fidele En Absence" which means "Faithful in Absence" in French.
Bronze Coat of Arms Medallion - Depicts a lion upon a Fleur De Lis crest, representing courage & purity.
St. George's Medallion - Depicts St. George who, according to legend, slew a fearsome dragon.

Ooh-La-La Hats!

Looking to fashionably navigate a season of soirees?  Our cosmopolitan French hats are handcrafted with a swirl of frothy net and Chantilly lace.  So accent your style with a little ooh-la-la and raise the sophistication quotient at your next champagne event. 

La Vie en Rose Hat
Bohème Hat

A Lost Art: Hand Embroidery

I have a weakness for hand-embroidery. It seems it has become a lost art among today's industrialized manufacturing and usually reserved for larger textiles. However, my appetite for this small handicraft has been appeased by our uncommon collection of embroidered accessories.

Our artisans begin by hand-weaving the fabric base for all our embroidered jewelry. Then once the small patch of fabric is framed, an artisan carefully begins to hand-stitch the pattern onto the fabric. Some are graphic pre-Columbian tribal patterns and others employ the more floral Spanish Colonial motif. Often they are accented with beads but all designs use satiny pima cotton threads as their medium. The detail is so finite and perfect; everyone pulls you closer just to take a discerning look.

I like to wear them with my favorite sweater and jeans. They are also a beautiful finishing touch when heading out for a night on the town. Just be prepared to stop and allow for spectators!

Pirates of the Caribbean

If you happen to see Disney's summer blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End you will know that core to the movie's plot-line is the Spanish currency and fantasy pirate relic known as Pieces of Eight. Pieces of Eight were Spanish coins used primarily in the 17th-19th centuries and represented eight of Spain's small common denomination, the Reale. It was not uncommon to cut "pieces" of the coin off as payment since they were made of pure silver and did not lose their value even when offered in pieces.

We are featuring our own epic version of this historical coin in our Autumn 2007 catalogue. The Pieces of Eight Bracelet offers six life-size replicas of the coin, each uniquely cast and accurate to the tiniest detail. You too can experience the intrigue of a pirate's treasure or simply own a museum quality accent. Regardless your motive....ye may have ta keep a watch out for thieven scurvy knaves!