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Designer Profile: Shana Aldrich of The Ropes

In our last entry we wrote about the art of bracelet stacking, so now seems like an excellent time to introduce you to one of our newest lines, The Ropes. These unique bracelets are handmade by Shana Aldrich using marine ropes and hardware -- materials inspired by her surroundings in Maine. These colorful pieces would be a great addition to any bracelet stack, but they're also substantial enough to make a statement on their own. We asked Shana a few questions about herself and her work and here's what she had to say:

Have you always made jewelry? Is this a new medium for you?
No. Yes, I always wanted to becoming a clothing designer ever since I was 8 years old. I studied Apparel Design/ Fashion Design at RISD and worked in the industry for the beginning of my career. I worked in both Boston and New York City for about 10 years in the fashion industry.

I would have to call myself an accidental jewelry designer. I was just playing around with some rope one day and wanted to make myself a bracelet and then one thing lead to another. My friends seemed very interested in the bracelets that I was creating and so I started going around to local stores with my jewelry. But I would definitely have to say that I have gotten the biggest support and exposure from local people just wearing my jewelry.

We were drawn to your line because we grew up in Maine and appreciate the rugged but peaceful lifestyle. Can you comment on how Maine has inspired you?
I always had a very far fetched dream of trying to bring my design skills, and even harder yet fashion designing skills, back to Maine. Though big cities are where all the major designing/ fashion are to most, I always found the cities to be inspiring in a cultural sense but stifling from a creative and design stand point. I like the idea of visiting different metropolitan cities but then coming home to Maine to interpret and digest everything. Maine does not have all those big city comforts or conveniences, therefore I believe it pushes you to be more creative. Things are not so straight forward or obvious; you have to look outside the box and that is where creativity flourishes.

We have found that Maine has been a place where many creative businesses have started and thrived. Have you found a lot of support from other designers and Portland community for your jewelry?
Definitely! So many people in/ from the area have gone out of their way to help and support me.

What's next for The Ropes?
Next for The Ropes there will be several new designs to look for in the Spring 2012 collection and of course there will be more to look forward to in the novelty boutique/higher end pieces only available in specialty stores.

When More is More

While it’s certainly not a new trend, bracelet stacking is something we’ve been pretty excited about around here lately. We have lots of great bracelets available in the store right now, and we love mixing them all together for a pop of color on our wrists.

Mix colors, materials and sizes, expensive with inexpensive, old with new. You really can’t do it wrong. Just pile on a bunch of your favorite bracelets and watches and watch the magic happen. Here are a few pictures we found around the internet of stacking at its finest:

Designer Profile: Karen Erickson of Erickson Beamon

Recently we were lucky enough to have a chance to ask Karen Erickson, of jewelry powerhouse Erickson Beamon, a few questions for the blog. Erickson Beamon is known for exquisite handmade costume jewelry which has become a fixture on fashion runways and in magazines around the world. As you may know, we carry a small selection of Erickson Beamon jewelry here in the store and on our website (check it out here!), so we were very excited to learn a little more about the brand and the jewelry itself.

What inspires Erickson Beamon designs?
"I draw inspiration from all aspects of life. The world is my inspiration. Nothing is off limits to spark my creative flame. Something as simple as a word or an image, or a general theme for an upcoming photo shoot, can lead to the production of an entire collection. I strive to create memorable, fashion-forward pieces that push boundaries within the design world."


What do you think is important in a piece of jewelry?
"Each piece is created by hand, which allows Erickson Beamon to customize and create entire collections at the request of the most influential names in fashion. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor our clients’ desires, without ever sacrificing our design aesthetic. The Erickson Beamon collection appeals to all ages and styles, from flashy and intricate, to the simple and understated; either way, each piece speaks for itself."

How are Erickson Beamon pieces made? How much time goes into each piece?
"I enjoy mixing unexpected materials to make each inspiration come to life. Each piece of jewelry has its own persona, creating an individual presence within the collection. I incorporate materials from a variety of resources, which elicits my free range of style. These materials include Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones, lucite, wood, pearls, chains, feathers, fabric flowers. My choices are infinite."

What is the proudest accomplishment for Erickson Beamon so far?
"Erickson Beamon jewelry dazzles worldwide, pioneering the coveted, handcrafted necklaces that have become our trademark and a staple in the industry. I have designed custom pieces for many runways, including Jil Sander, Givenchy, Dior, Chanel, Anna Sui and Ungaro."

What can we expect from Erickson Beamon in the future?
"Bigger. Better. More!"

Photo Credit: New York Magazine

Double Watch Dilemma

One thing we've been trying to pull off lately is wearing two watches. It's not the most conventional idea, and you may be asking yourself, "Why do you need to wear more than one watch?" Megan has certainely posed this question, and she's not wrong for doing so. But here's another question - why not? It's fine to stack bracelets, layer necklaces etc., so why is it strange to wear two watches? As a person who loves watches, and owns several, I think it's sad to only have the chance to wear one at a time. We spent some time stalking the idea on the internet and found that we're not the only ones into watch stacking.

Here's a picture of Princess Diana wearing two watches.

Here is a photo from the blog Ascot Friday, stacking watches and bracelets together

We've also come up with a variety of excuses for the inevitable moment when we're asked why we're wearing more than one timepiece:

- One is a backup in case the other one stops

- They're set to different time zones so we can relate to what's happening in the rest of the world

- We couldn't decide which one matched our outfit best

But still, we're not sure if we're on to something or not. So the real question is, what do you think? Is wearing two watches the next big thing, or should we forget it and move on?

- Moria

Jewelry Care Series - Rings

Recently, we have had a few customers visit us asking us to help them with "runaway" stones. This made us think that it might be useful to start a Jewelry Care Series with little tidbits of information on how to take care of your special pieces. One of our recent customers came in with a beautiful antique ring where the emerald had fallen out of the setting. We replaced the stone and replaced the prongs in the delicate setting to prevent further problems. Although the emerald is now safe in it's new setting, we told her to make sure to check this ring on a regular basis. Unlike the diamond in your engagement ring, emeralds in particular are soft and more susceptible to wear and tear. Rings like this should be taken off when doing household chores.

In our busy lives, it's difficult sometimes to find the time to keep up with things like jewelry care. Unfortunately, it's the nature of jewelry, like most other things, to loosen or break when not properly cared for. Gold and platinum are strong metals, but they will bend and wear with time. Having the settings of your rings checked every six months to a year is very important, will save you a lot of stress and potentially a lot of money down the road.

Here are some tips for taking care of your treasured pieces:

• In addition to regular check-ups, try not to put your rings in drawers or jewelry boxes with lots of other pieces, as they may scratch each other.
• Take rings off before swimming in chlorinated pools or using cleaning products that contain bleach or chlorine, as these chemicals can discolor diamonds and other stones.
• Take rings or other jewelry off before doing any activities during which stones might be hitting hard surfaces. Any blows to your stones could damage them.
• Apply lotions and perfumes before putting on your jewelry. These products can damage or discolor your metals and stones - pearls are particularly susceptible to this kind of damage.
• Always research how to clean your particular stones. Every stone is different and requires different types of care.
• Never leave colored stones lying in the sun, they can bleach and fade.
  

Gentle & effective ways to clean diamond rings:
1. Soak your diamond ring in a warm solution of mild liquid detergent and water. Ivory dish washing liquid is a good choice, but any other mild detergent is fine.
2. Use a soft brush if necessary to remove dirt. Soft is the key -- don't use a brush with bristles that are stiff enough to scratch the ring's metal setting.
3. Swish the ring around in the solution, and then rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Close the drain first, or put the ring in a strainer to keep from losing it!
4. Dry the diamond ring with a lint-free cloth.
5. Ask your jeweler for a professional cleaning every once in a while.

Over the past several months we've been hard at work on a relaunch of our website, hoping to create a home for M. Flynn on the internet which more closely reflected our Boston storefront. Today we are incredibly excited to say that we're finally ready to launch this new site, and along with it, introduce you to our collections of fine jewelry, Alexis Bittar, Erickson Beamon, Julie Rofman, Vita Fede and estate jewelry.

At M. Flynn, we think jewelry should be well-made, versatile and always classic. The jewelry we make, as well as the jewelry we carry by other designers, all falls into these categories and together makes what we hope is a well-curated collection of pieces for everything from everyday wear, to wedding day keepsakes.

M. Flynn Fine Jewelry
Several years after starting M.Flynn, designers Megan and Moria decided to take their business a step further and create a line of fine jewelry including necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets for specials occasions. These elegant designs incorporate precious stones and can be custom made for weddings, special events and gifts. M.Flynn fine jewelry is handmade just for the client using the highest quality materials.

Click here to see the M. Flynn Fine Jewelry collection

Alexis Bittar
Alexis Bittar is a well-known, Brooklyn-born designer and winner of the 2010 CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year award. His pieces have been featured in major magazines and ad campaigns and his jewelry has recently been a favorite of Michelle Obama. Best known for his Lucite pieces and crystal work, we love Bittar's designs for the touch of modern antique elegance they bring to any jewelry collection.

Click here to see our Alexis Bittar collection

Erickson Beamon
Detroit natives Karen Erickson, Eric Erickson and Vicki Beamon are known for their exquisite handmade costume jewelry which has become a fixture on fashion runways and in magazines around the world. They combine crystals, beads and stones to create unique, vintage-looking pieces that are great for special events but also wearable on a day to day basis. If you're looking for a piece of jewelry that will make a statement, you can count on Erickson Beamon.

Click here to see our Erickson Beamon collection

Julie Rofman
Julie Rofman is a painter and sculptor turned jewelry designer, making hand-woven beaded bracelets on a traditional bead loom. Each bracelet is made of Japanese glass beads in bright colors and arranged in the native patterns of cities around the world. We love these bracelets because they're a fun pop of color and are the adult equivalent of the friendship bracelets we used to love wearing when we were kids.

Click here to see our Julie Rofman collection

Vita Fede
Vita Fede is a line of accessories designed by Cynthia Sakai and inspired by the detail and craftsmanship of Italian leatherwork. Made of high-quality leather and mixed metals, these bracelets are great everyday places to wear alone or stacked with other favorite bracelets.

Click here to see our Vita Fede collection

Estate Jewelry
Unique period jewelry we've collected along the way at auctions and estate sales.

Click here to see our Estate Jewelry collection

Happy Shopping!