nineteen: memorial day

memorial day 2011.

weheartit

wrapped

Luv AJ spike knucklebuster $150 {here}

the second i lay eyes on this magical, spiky, wire-wrapped two-finger ring i was smitten...buuut i wasn't really in the market to spend that much on a ring i didn't think i would wear that much...SOO {insert brilliant exclamation!} i decided to make-an-afternoon of it an Do-It-my{Yourself}!!! below, the inspiration versus the MINE!!  read on for details!!

YOU WILL NEED:

wire

{lots, all kinds, any kind - just make sure it's bendable with your fingers}

spikes w/ SCREWbacks

{!! one for each 'ring' -- or more if you so choose!}

scissors, screwdriver

ya know...tools...

here is my spikes + wire...so once you have everything together...wrap some wire around your finger {to whatever size ya like} about 5 or 6 times, securing the ends of the wire by wrapping it around the bundle

my ring wraps...after you've got your rings figured out pick a spot to add your spike...just screw the spike in in the middle of all the wrapped wires...

like so! then cut a piece of wire pretty long to wrap around the entire ring {also securing the spike to the wrapped wire} and wrap, wrap, wrap,   w r a p . . . .

and wrap and wrap and wrap the other ring...then wrap the two together!!

voila!

yumm. 

also look out early may for a first look at my etsy store alex marie designs!! enjoy!!! xo

cage

i got this fabulous hinged cage ring from Dainty Demeanor on ETSY - it is almost an exact replica {minus most of the detailing} of PAMELA LOVE's "double caged ring" - only it retails for only $25 {rather than $460}...

i have very mixed feelings about knock off jewelry - on one hand, it is fantastic that these cool pieces are accessible to just about anyone {and really, who has an extra $500 laying around to buy a trendy piece of metal??} anyway, i think that knock offs of more trendy jewelry are a lot easier to stomach - because i would be willing to splurge if it was on a genuine, CLASSIC piece that i was going to have for a lifetime - {this ring, though - not quite}.  the other side of the argument, however, is that the designers of these miniature works of art are not benefitting from the sales of these cheaply made pieces. even more so, i think that the knock offs devalue the original pieces {of something like this...im not talking ANY other sort of knock}.  there are a lot of {if's} and {but's} that i will not get into but basically the real one is fabulous and the knock off is so-so. 

i was super excited to receive this ring - until i put it on for a night out...forget about holding anything or taking pictures...the two pieces of the ring are not measured properly so that it feels like it is falling off if it is on so that your finger can bend...maybe i just have weird fingers though...

PAMELA LOVE double cage ring here {see the details...amazing}

overall - i am not really disappointed in this guy - for as inexpensive as it is i figured that it was not going to be very comfortable and at least i didn't turn my finger black {!!}

on another note {regarding my terrible nail polish job} i had quite an unfortunate experience with shellac nail polish the other day...the whole point of this "gel" nail polish {so i thought} was that it was super easy and wouldn't chip for weeks {okay, A week...} but literally two days after i got it done, one of my nails had a huge CHUNK missing! not to mention it took sooooo long...anyway - i will probably try it again {probably elsewhere} but as of now, i am sticking to my regular polish routine!!! so sorry for my little rant...thoughts??

xx

bullets and bunnies

a few things i am dyingggg over these days...

1. hiyamoon bullet casing [quartz & pyrite] necklaces {these guys are AWESOME - completely handmade and totally affordable} they are approaching wardrobe STAPLE {support this amazing craftsman here}

2. handmade {by ME} rabbit's foot necklace {remember jr high when it was cool to have a bajillion weird keychains...and neon bunny feet...} anyway - totally into this taxonomy thing recently - or maybe just still into FUR {contemplating making quite a few of these...takers?}

3. ysl enamel rings - LUSTING for now...contemplating the dark blue {photo here, available here}

enjoy!!

bird skull

urban imitating pamela love. hate the idea. LOVE the result. $18. {here}

red cotton candyyyy

wham bam thank you mammmmm!  mk perfecting red cotton candy.

image via stardust&sequins