love us some Fab

so, we got this lovely little gem in the mail yesterday, and i had to share! the cover alone feeds my love of both neon pink (undying) and good type. i thought it was just going to be an advertisement, but lo and behold! it is a new publication by Fab, that profiles their designers! and it’s awesome!

check it out…

Read More

madesmith: a beautiful writeup of Son of a Sailor

when Sumeera originally contacted me about a new website she was creating that focused on makers and their stories, i was intrigued. with only a bit of description of her goals and vision, i knew we wanted to participate. today, our feature on Madesmith, one of the loveliest sites we’ve seen in quite some time, is live!

in what was the longest interview we’ve ever had, Billy and i spent two hours on skype with Sumeera. she is lovely, and we can’t wait to meet her in person when we venture to New York in June. and the collaboration we’ve created, on four exclusive Madesmith pieces, brought forth new colors and palettes for our jewelry. 

but the best part, the part that has filled me with joy and extracted tears of pride, love, and humble flattery, is the story that they captured about the beginning of Son of a Sailor. go take a look—it means so much to us, and we believe it truly captures the spirit of what we’re doing. 

and you can pick up the exclusive designs of some of our favorite jewelry, while you’re at it!

hey y’all! i want to share a project that is happening right now that i think is important for the austin creative environment. take a second to check out Citygram, a new publication that i am super excited about and think is important to support!

their kickstarter project is going on RIGHT NOW and is worth your consideration! let’s make this happen!

there are so many creative forces behind this online publication, and i am convinced it is going to be a fresh and innovative voice for the Austin cultural scene. seriously, look who’s involved…

Read More

i’m going to let you in on a little secret. it’s south by southwest here in austin. i wanted you guys to know, because it’s kind of hush hush.

just kidding. it’s totally inescapable. in fact, with all of the corporate sponsorship, fast food brand showcases, and tweets about the long lines and general overwhelming craziness, i’ve been loving staying in this week. yeah, i power-streamed a few episodes of Girls last night…and in no way did feel like i was missing out. 

but, it’s time! we’re going to venture out into the madness. we’re headed to the Flatstock print convention, and then we’ll attempt to see some music. i’ll let you know how that goes…

i’ve been inspired to put together a new finds post about my go-to sxsw outfit—keep in mind this outfit is not for those type of sxsw-ers who are trying to showcase their cuttingest-edge super cool style, like many folks out there. that’s really not my speed. instead, this is a classic, comfy, on-trend staple kind of outfit. no neon here.

1. this double pocket blouse from ASOS is right up my alley these days. breezy, comfortable, and stylish, it’s perfect for running around town. $47.47
2. today i decidedto pile on our beaded necklaces, with reckless abandon. i’m actually loving the cluster of brightly colorblocked beaded action that’s going on with it! $46-50 each
3. Golden Ponies, from whom i’ve purchased a number of pair of handmade leather shoes (including my wedding shoes), now has this customizable Holly leather belt, and i’m sold. love her work, need more of it! oh, and it’s only $20…
4. ok, full disclosure. i wear these Frye boots everyday. probably not in a cute “oh she loves those boots and is wearing them for 2 weeks straight!” kind of a way. but more of a “hmmm, does she own any other shoes?” kind of a way. i don’t care. they are perfect. i’ve had them re-soled three times, and they are still amazing. so, yeah. i’m wearing them to sxsw. duh. $348
5. there are tons of boutique jeans out there, and many awesome ones, for sure. but i have to go for Levi’s as the golden standard. they’re just that awesome! these high-rise skinnies are no exception. $78
6. if you can’t find them vintage (i remember a few years ago when you could snag them for $10 at the thrift store…) Coach classics are basically reissues of the best designs from the legendary brand. this color is really doing it for me right now, too! $278

we’ll see if this venture out to sx confirms the fact that i’m getting too old for this shit, and that the awesome music festival i once knew has turned into a taco bell dorito piece of crap. maybe we’ll go out and have a great time in spite of it all! i’ll opt for that, as i am generally optimistic and know that we’re going to have a good time no matter what! 

this is official son of a sailor business. 

we’ve decided that this song (robyn, call your girlfriend) specifically the video of taran killam from snl split screen dancing against robyn’s video, is the official song of son of a sailor. 

we’ll be continuing the trend of playing it at the beginning of every work day, here in the studio.

6 degrees of everyone i know!

i love reading about people i know. then when they’re working with other people i know, that’s even better! then, when the people that the people i know know each other, it’s a flippin’ love fest up in here! that’s how i felt reading Chris Perez’ article about a Crafted Collaboration.

it all began at last year’s East Austin Studio Tour, when Chris, a contributing writer to Apartment Therapy (which I used to do, as well) was inspired by the work of Sophie Roach. he conjured up the idea to have an illustration of hers laser etched at MakeATX on to something like Natalie Davis’s Canoe Vortex Wallet. it was a brilliant idea.

i’ve loved Sophie’s work since I met her at Schatzelein’s 2nd anniversary party, and Natalie’s leather goods are beautiful. the two ladies at MakeATX and their giant laser is are insanely inspirational as well. all of these ladies are amazing makers here in Austin, and Chris came up with a fantastic idea in this wallet!

this is why I love Austin. there is no end to the creativity that you’ll find, and folks are ready to work together at the drop of a hat! or a wallet… go check out the rest of the post, and a super cool video of the process at Chris’ blog, MetropoChris!

alright, alright, alright.

i finally figured out what my new year’s resolutions are.

1. drink more french press coffee

2. get dressed for work more. (fewer jammies)

the first one is easy. the second one, ugh. i love my jammies. but it’s getting a little out of hand! i need to pretend like i’m working in public. because, you know, i occasionally do go out in public! and as fancy as my jammies can get (not that they have) they’re still jammies.

sorta sad. sorta invigorated. 

i gotta go get dressed now! (after this cup of coffee…)

que bellisimo!

chelsea, from Coterie Market, is blowing us away with her amazingness. not only do we love her local goods delivery service, but she is hitting all of the right notes in seemingly every aspect of her business. she couldn’t be any nicer, and she keeps amazing us with things like this gorgeous promotional video. 

and super big props to Christian Remde for this beautiful short film! we want one!!!

get it, girl!

2013, you’ve got big shoes to fill!

as we move into this new, fresh year, we are reflecting on the ways in which our lives and business have grown in the year preceding. what an amazing year we had, with such monumental personal milestones. we wanted to share some of the highlights of 2012…

more after the jump…

Read More

SASSY BRASS GIFTS

Clearly, we have a love for brass. But apparently we’re not the only ones! Caitlin has put together a gift guide full of sassy gifts in our favorite metal. Take a look at how other craftspeople are using brass in their creative endeavors with her picks!

1. Brass is a wonderful backdrop for some lively color, and Son of a Sailor’s jewelry collection is full of just that. I’m a big fan of the Altair’s shield-like shape, and will surely make any lady feel extra warrior like. It has a great shape and design, managing to keep it simple, but not boring. Plus, who doesn’t love a little brass bling? $50
2. Speaking of brass bling, let’s talk about Stone & Honey. Her new Arcos collection is full of wonderful brass shapes and contrasting linen thread. And boy, I am a sucker for contrasts. The Polis bracelet is great bling to add to a special someones collection. $117
3. As someone who spends a lot of time measuring and cutting, reliability is a must. And brass is great at that….you know this ruler won’t bend out of shape, and those scissors will give you some serious cutting heft. Brass is also nice to look at, and most rulers and scissors are not. $36 from Best Made and $14-29 from West Elm
4. Know someone who deserves a metal for all that they do? Then snatch up one of these vintage inspired hero medals from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. No dinky ribbons here, just pure solid brass on some nice looking ribbon. They would make a great stocking stuffer for a hero of any age. $20
5. Like every good hip kid, I have a soft spot for animals, especially woodland animals made out of brass. These cute little guys are not only impeccably designed with their polished accents and black patina, but they also pack a historical and collectible punch. Walter Bosse started designing these miniatures in the late 1940s and today they are reintroduced in a licensed reissue. $45
6. There’s something about a little extra weight in your hand that makes cracking open a cold one that much more satisfying. But no need for one of those bartender bottle openers, with the rubber handle and all. Instead, spring for one of these brass lovelies, which are pretty enough to leave on the counter and not in the draw. The other upside? They’d be a great gift for any beer lover in your life, guy or gal. $46-68 from Spartan

GIFTS FOR YOUR SISTER
(a.k.a things your really want to get for yourself and plan on stealing right back from her soon enough)

This is the perfect theme for Teresa from Stone & Honey because, trust me, as soon as you meet her you want her to be your sister. You’d even be fine with her stealing all of your awesome stuff! She’s got style coming out of her ears, and I would even venture to call her a tastemaker. Check out these obsession-worthy finds from a pretty neat lady. 

1. BOET Jewelryby Emily Bixler. I am completely and totally smitten and obsessed with Emily Bixler’s beautiful sculptural pieces. there’s just something so soothing about her clean geometric shapes crocheted in cotton with vintage brass chain. I don’t know if there’s some magical mathematical formula about the proportion or something that gets me, but something is working here. I could stare at these all day. 
2. Shibori Pillows from Folk Fibers. I was introduced to Maura Ambrose’s beautiful work via Natalie & Abby from Feliz, and have been in awe of her ever since. Every detail of Maura’s work is absolutely stunning. I got to see all of these pillows stacked up in person at Feliz last month, and it was painful not to be able to take them all home with me. It is now my sole mission in life to have about a half dozen of these stacked up on my bed. So beautiful! about $125
3. Fragrances from OLO Fragrances can be a tricky gift, but you really can’t go wrong with anything from OLO. I’ve been wearing Dark Wave and it’s the perfect warm & woodsy scent for winter. I am not kidding when I say that strangers stop me on the street and tell me that I smell good when I wear this stuff. Her newest scent, Toji, is my new favorite. It’s meant to evoke the scent of the winter solstice yuzu baths in Japan, and it’s amazing how it does just that.  I like to put it on before bed and let the scent carry me off to sleep.  $45
4. Golden Protective Hand Bracelet from Kaye Blegvad.I don’t know what it is about this particular piece that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but it just feels super dreamy. Like those little arms would indeed wrap right around you and keep you safe. $76
5. Ceramic Jars by Ben Fiess at Gretel Home. 
   I love the color combos and beautiful glazes on these magical jars by Ben Fiess. And how all of those pieces are held together with that contrasting rubber band? Perfection. $80-100
6. Sculptural rope baskets and totes by Doug Johnson. I love the stitching detail and feel on these hand sewn baskets. I like knowing that they are flexible and I think they would feel great in your hands. This tote is a beautiful take on an everyday staple, but there are a wide variety of both simple and complex shapes to choose from. $48-400

prismatic 2013 calendar

chelsey dyer is behind the annual astrology wall calendar that i absolutely cannot not own. every year the calendar gets better and i can’t wait to get my hands on it! this year might be my favorite—although i’ve said that all three years!

this year, each month has its own page, and there are a few new details that put a smile on my face! can’t wait to put next year’s up on the wall. i just wish i didn’t have to take last year’s down!

GIFTS FOR THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE!

Did you ever wish that you could have your favorite Austin-made items delivered right to your door? Well, Chelsea Staires has made your wishes come true. This fall, she launched Coterie Market, an online boutique stocked full of artisanal foods, handmade goods, and otherwise amazing items sourced from our fair city. Go! Sign up for the newsletter! Check out the many amazing items that you can have Chelsea bring right to you. And, in the meantime, she’s applied her awesome curatorial skills to a list of gifts to buy for the men in your life…

1. Your guy will crack up at this stocking stuffer- lump of coal soap from Latika. Just goofy enough that he’ll actually use it. Bonus is that it’s high-quality, moisturizing ingredients make it soap you woud have bought for yourself. $7.90
2. Dudes are sometimes obstinate about caring for themselves. Make it easy on the man in your life to sooth and heal his damaged skin with this easy-to-hide tin of all-natural salve from master herbalist Ginger Webb. Available at Coterie Market. $10
3. We usually imagine gifted wallets as large, flashy things. Consider doing him a favor and going the opposite route with Noah Marion’s rustic, yet sophisticated, sleek card case- just enough room for cash and a few cards. He will thank you. Available at Coterie Market. $45
4. This easy to wear leather accessory from Son of a Sailor looks especially great with long-sleeve sweaters and winter boots. I like to think of the two beautiful leather tones snuggled together as a love note to your man. Available at Coterie Market. $25
5. In my opinion, any boyfriend, husband, brother, son, uncle, or dad just can’t have too many of these. Criquet’s organic cotton polos are uniquely designed and go with everything from swim trunks to suit pants. Available in many awesome colors. Available at Coterie Market. $75
6. Get your guy a beautiful, locally hand-crafted beer stein from Rhyno Clayworks. Classic. He’ll really enjoy saying “beer stein” to anyone who comments on it. $26
7. Every man (and woman) will secretly scarf down this stunningly delicious chocolate bar filled with expertly salted handmade caramel from Steve Lawrence. My personal favorite flavor. Available at Coterie Market. $10
8. Did your fellow just move? Need some very hip, engaging wall art? Even an art collector? Consider this limited edition geo print from Alyson Fox. Available in six colors at Coterie Market. I love the black simply framed as a gift for any gentleman. $35
9. There’s something very nostalgic about giving a man a beautiful pocket knife. The hard part is knowing which on to give. Natalie Davis made it a no-brainer for us with her heirloom quality, hand wood burned French Opinel knives, with safety open and close. Available at Coterie Market. $38

i love my job.

alright, so it’s 11:20pm, and billy and i are sitting in the studio making jewelry. i’ve just finished my first glass of wine and he is about to pour himself one.

i just wanted to take a minute to express how grateful i am that this is my job. that billy and i get to sit side by side, making jewelry that we designed—that, apparently, people like, is pretty amazing.

billy & i when we first began son of a sailor, may 2011

in this moment, i hope that we can make this endeavor, that we began almost exactly a year and a half ago, one that can sustain us. if we’re able to achieve that, i can’t begin to say how amazing i think it would be.

i am very thankful for my husband and the job we get to do together.

(and that’s all just with one glass of wine…i will not be allowing myself to post anything else for the remainder of the weekend!)

anthology gift guide is out!

Anthology, arguably my favorite lifestyle magazine around, has released their 2012 Holiday Gift Guide! Not only is it chock full of super-wantable gift ideas for all sorts of folks, but we’re included in the Holiday Deals section! Like discounts? Yeah, we got ‘em!

come peruse the digital issue and hopefully fill some of the entries on your list. (And lengthen your own, if you’re like me!)

Some of our other favorites are included in the guide, too! Fail jewelry, Leah Duncan, Amelia…so many good things!