Listening to...

Currently, I'm loving the upbeat vintagey vibe that Camera Obscura's "French Navy" brings to the studio...so fun!

A Cinematographic Wonder

I just finished watching a short film that left me with my head shaking in awe and disbelief.  Alex Roman is some kind of genius for creating such a thing of beauty and I wanted to share it with you.  From the color palettes, cinematography, timeless modern architecture, artistic compositions, vintage cameras...I could go on and on....this piece is truly breathtaking in that it is all CG! I was lucky to see some of these places in person, and Roman's rendition is, dare I say, even more beautiful because he shows it through such an ethereal lens. Enjoy it in full screen and speakers on!

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Bises,
Julie

Lovely Hair Adornments

The Fall wedding season is here and one of my friends from college, who
is getting married in November,  asked me to design a beautiful hair piece
to go with her blue dress (so cool, so her). She envisioned something in ivory
and warm greys... so here are some of concepts I thought I would share...

An ivory bloom with rustic, natural elements like winterberries:

A hand-made ivory and grey bloom with natural elements:

A hand-made ivory and grey bloom with feathers:

This project is still in the works, but I love the way these concepts are headed
and was excited to share Some of these beauties will be making it into the Poési
Collection for sure!


bises,
Julie

Revamped website! (Behind the scenes)

Hi there, I'm so thrilled to announce the official GRAND OPENING of our newly revamped (and e-commerced) website: www.ilovepoesi.com! It took much effort, especially on the part of our resident graphic designer, Carol, but it is finally ready for it's launch!  To celebrate, we're offering 25% off all orders placed during our first week :)

Although it was hard work, I also had so much fun planning the look and feel of everything... especially the splash page. It will be my virtual storefront, where I will be designing and changing out the display windows seasonally and also where I make any announcements.  Sketching the building exterior took me back to my former life as an architect for a moment-feeling like I was back in Paris on a sketch assignment.

My favorite part, however, was playing around with the interior element: what the future brick-and-mortar boutique could look like someday... and since this part did not make it onto the website (except as a line drawing), I thought it would be nice to show it here...

Who knows how my vision will evolve, but as of now, that is my little dream shop :)

bises,
Julie

Introducing the Études Collection...

I'm very excited to announce a new era for Poési with cast pieces!  Although all of our designs begin with ideas put onto paper through many many sketches, now there is a sculptural aspect where I create my designs in three-dimensional wax (the blue below) and then cast it in metal. Here is a little peek at the process for a custom 14k necklace designed for a new mother (the peridot is the birthstone of the baby and the branch symbolizes the beginning of their family tree... we'll be adding on more gems as their family grows.  This design will be named after them and is christened the Dean Twig Necklace.

This new process means that so many of my sketched ideas can now become a reality - a thrill for me! Here is one concept that lived only as a drawing for years...and now is finally a beautiful reality as the Raphaëlle Branch Necklace. It is one of my favorite names...ever since I was introduced to a girl named Raphaëlle in France while studying abroad.  This piece is my pièce de résistance thus far, and it just felt right to call it a name that references the great Raphael, renown for the perfection and grace of his work. )

These will be a part of a new collection that will be called the Études Collection, which is based on studies of natural forms that inspire me with their simple beauty. I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I love creating them!

bises,
Julie

Delightful Display Ideas

Now that you have a nice collection of jewelry you love, where do you put it all, or more importantly, how should you do it? I've come across some creative jewelry display ideas over the years and wanted to share some of the ones that would be charming (and practical) in your home. For me, the most important function is to showcase the pieces so that you can easily assess what you have and pick the piece(s) you want to wear for the day, but also important is to keep the jewelry relatively separated so that chains don't tangle, etc.  I love the idea of creating a stylish and imaginative accent for the room with it, like these...

{clock-wise from top-left: Vintage cups and saucers in jewelry drawer via Martha Stewart, Rustic jewelry display frames by Pottery Barn,  Shadowbox frame via Martha Stewart, Antique velvet-lined boxes via Martha Stewart}

You'll have to use your imagination for the next few, but they are gorgeous and have lots of wiring to hang earrings off or drawer/shelves to set your jewelry on. I've always loved the look and feel of antique card catalogs and finding new purposes for them :)

{clock-wise from top-left: Aviary Castle from Anthropologie, wire teacup via homespunforte, antique display cabinet via Haute Home,  vintage card catalog via Red Jet Whistle}

The next couple jewelry storage ideas are even more unconventional, but fun and very practical...

{glass Ikea spice jars via Mochatini,  rotating nuts&bolts organizer via Re-nest}

That's all for now, but  there's more to come for jewelry storage and cleaning tips soon!

bises,
Julie

p.s. Please note that any jewelry that is prone to tarnish (such as sterling silver and gold-filled pieces) is best in kept air-tight bags/containers for long-term storage, unless you are ok with polishing them every couple months or so.  Also, it's best to keep any colored gemstones out of direct sunlight, as continuous strong exposure can cause fading.

i heart succulents

Something that I hope to acquire someday is my mother's green thumb. She reminds me of the pie-maker in Pushing Daisies who magically brings dying plants to life and even makes them thrive.  One of her (and my) favorite plants is the adorable succulent...she grows huge planters of them, while I admire from afar (for now). Here are some photos I came across while browsing wedding planner and home blogs...a past-time I never get tired of. I love the plump rosette forms (particularly the 'Echeveria' variety) and the subdued color palettes...perfect for summer weddings. On top of everything, they can be a green alternative to cut flowers since they are potted and will last for a very long time! They look beautiful used alone:

{images via Living Arrangments)




































{images via yes, please}

(images via Succulent Love}

.....or they can be mixed in with other florals for a luscious effect....

{images via erinheartscourt}

{image credit unknown...my apologies- I found this before I started keeping track!}

{image credit unknown...my apologies- I found this before I started keeping track!}

{images from Kuga Designs and Martha Stewart}