Oh, No! Here Comes Gem Show!

Anyone who has spent any time in Tucson inevitably hears about the Tucson Gem Show: the massive party that descends upon our town every February, drops millions of dollars into the Tucson economy, and then leaves.  Well, the Tucson gem show is actually made up of dozens of small gem, mineral, jewelry and artifact trade shows all happening in the same place at the same time.

And it is my savior.

Without the Tucson gem shows, I would never have come across items that are now featured in some of my best-selling pieces.  Every year, I get my workspace ready for an influx of new STUFF, whatever it might be.  Which means making sure I've used at least some of the stuff I bought the previous year.  Which means I'm posting a LOT of new stuff on Etsy.

Last week while cleaning, I found, in a little drawer, a handful of shark teeth plated (gasp!) in SILVER.  How had I overlooked these little treasures for so long?  I wear mostly gold these days, but people are constantly asking for pieces in silver.  So, quick as I could, I threw together some of the prettiest little necklaces.  Check 'em out, and stay tuned, as I'll have more coming in the next week leading up to the Tucson shows.  And then I will disappear until Valentine's Day!

Shark Attack Ruby and Sterling Necklace

Shark Attack Green Amethyst and Sterling Necklace

Shark Attack Garnet and Sterling Necklace

On accessorizing.

Repeat after me: a bra is not an accessory.

Maybe it's the fact that time just plunged me into the realm of the 30-something (without my permission--how rude!) or maybe I'm a closet prude, but I'm horrified by the sluttiness of recent trends.  The people behind the velvet fashion rope, who decide what color will be popular this season and how many inches above the knee your skirts should fall, want you to stop wearing your clothing.  My favorite magazine, Lucky (shout out to fellow Oberlin grad Kim France, who founded the shopping and style bible), has even linked itself to the underwear-as-outfit-centerpiece fad:

Please tell me it's not whale tail month

I'm horrified before I open the cover.  In its defense, Lucky must, as its mission states, deliver up-to-date information on what's hot and where to get it.  I can only hope that they realize that this story was a terrible mistake (on par with Gob ditching Marta the first time) and republish it in their December Shit-We-Said-This-Year-That-We-Would-Take-Back-If-We-Could editorial.  Really, Lucky?  Underwear as clothing?  I expect more class from you.

Why is this a fad?  I get the appeal of the slip as a dress a la Courtney Love, as self-aware, irreverent, rocker chick chic; but only when paired with Doc Martins and a leather jacket.  This is different.  This is "how to dress for happy hour drinks with the girls."

No.  Do not do that.

And what awesome guidance do our fashion gurus at Lucky Mag bestow upon us to help us feel less...in our underwear in public?

Oh.  So...to not look slutty, wear sheer over REGULAR CLOTHING.

They use the word 'naked!'  Thanks, Lucky, for making me rethink my subscription extension.  

Opaque wearers of the world, unite!  We wear clothes for two reasons: temperature regulation and old fashioned Puritan shame.  Now I'm not a proponent of shame to its highest degree (breastfeeding in public is awesome) but for your own sake, unless you're on a Jil Sander runway, please keep your undies to yourself.  If you can afford a $215 Rebecca Taylor metallic mesh top and the $77 Zinke bralette (see above) to cover your boobies under it, you most certainly can buy yourself a tank top (camisole?) to wear in between the two.

There's a huge handbag industry out there.  And what about belts?  I love belts.  And boots!  How about some jewelry?  This stuff is sheer, and goes OVER your clothes!

seaweed quartz necklace

mountain meadow necklace

Fields of Green Earrings

Nothing shameful about this stuff.

Dark winter days, bright sparkly shit

Know how you start to feel kind of ... off ... in January?  The days aren't getting longer fast enough, you're sick of spending so much on heat for the house, you're exhausted by the effort it takes to eat a bowl of hot soup....

This is why people plan their Spring gardens in the dead of winter: to look forward to the day they don't have to sleep under an electric blanket with long underwear on.  And it's the same reason I've been using some seriously bright colors in my jewelry.  These pinks and blues are all I need to get me through the task of schlepping the space heater with me when I move around the house.

New in my Etsy shop this week:

hot pink agate slice necklace

aqua aura spirit quartz necklace

And, if the other pink wasn't hot enough for you, try this one:

pretty in pink agate necklace

I'm feeling warmer already.