Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Ayana Designs at Co-op 28 Handmade & Indie Designs

I'm excited to share that Ayana Designs will be carried at Co-op 28 Handmade & Indie Designs store in Los Feliz! This new store is chock-full of handmade items from local and international independent designers. The boutique carries products ranging from bath and body products, clothes, vintage movie & rock star photos, and of course handmade jewelry!!

Look for our pieces in mid-July. If you're in the Los Angeles, be sure to stop by and check out the super cool store. And remember to support the Handmade Movement and buy handmade!!




























































Monday, June 20, 2011

Out and About

Just a quick post to highlight and thank some stylish fashionistas who are mentioning Ayana Designs, or wearing some of my pieces. Thank you, ladies!

The lovely CC at Couture Carrie:

Gabbie at 5am je'taime did this gorgeous photo shoot wearing the Claire necklace and green bracelet:




And Naina of Style'n wearing the Green Quartz earrings out for Father's Day!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Happy Father's Day

When I was a little girl in Korea, my mom once said to me, "If you ever get lost in a public place, stop and look up for your dad." My dad, at 6'2", was about a head taller than most people in Korea. It would be easy to find him in a crowded area.

I could go on and on about my dad - how he's one of the most honest men I know. How he always tried to do the right thing for his family. How he shaped my view of how a husband and father should be. But if we're lucky, we all feel this way about our dads. So I'll just post some of my favorite photos of my dad, and wish all the fathers out there a Happy Father's Day!

Handsome Dad, we called him a Korean Elvis :)

The Korean tradition is an exchange of a watch, which means giving the gift of time.




Thursday, June 16, 2011

Daily Beauty: Lauren Hutton

How we know her: Model, actress, motorcycle enthusiast. Made the gap-tooth look hot (way before Madonna).

Road to success: Born in South Carolina, she started her modeling career as a Playboy Bunny. She wisely rejected the advice to fix the gap between her front teeth. Her famous smile transcended beyond the pages of magazines and gave her personality, something the other models lacked. Because of this, she racked up more magazine covers than other models during that time.

Why she's beautiful: A pretty face is a dime a dozen. Quite simply, she's fearless, rejecting convention and making her own rules. At age 60, she posed nude for Big magazine, saying "I want them (women) not to be ashamed of who they are when they're in bed."




Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Jamie Wearing the Lily Coral and Turquoise Necklace

If I had my way, I would personally hand-deliver any piece of jewelry to the person that purchased it, partly to make sure it gets there OK, but mostly so I can be there to insist they put it on immediately so I can take their picture wearing it. That doesn't really happen though. But if it's a friend, they're usually kind enough to send me a picture.

My friend Jamie bought the Lily necklace recently. I'm lucky not just because she bought a necklace from me, but that I can call her a friend. Her intelligence, sense of humor and generosity is inspiring. I have no doubt we will one day see her on Forbe's Most Powerful Woman list.

Here she is wearing the necklace and looking beautiful.


Friday, June 10, 2011

Inspiration: House of Lavande Vintage Couture Jewelry

I subscribe to too many daily deals / sample sale websites. You  know the ones: Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, Haute Look, One Kings Lane, Taigan... they all go into a folder so I'm not tempted to shop all day. But once in awhile I take a peek to see what's out there, and today I saw House of Lavande being featured on Taigan.

I don't know where I've been, but I've never heard of this shop before. It's a vintage costume jewelry collection that spans the 20th century, from the bakelite era in the 1920's to 1950's glam. Maybe because they're out of my price range (for now) I've mentally tuned them out. A quick look in their shop shows their pieces ranging from $400 - $3,000.

 But it's still free to window-shop... these are gorgeous, non?






Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Happy Best Friends Day

I don't really believe that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Your best friend is the person who's always there for you, your personal cheerleader. And if you're lucky enough to have one, be sure to tell her how much she means to you because today is Best Friend's Day. Get her a little gift or just call her to say hello. It'll only take a few minutes. Isn't she worth it? Happy Best Friend's Day, everyone.


They may not be your best friend, but they are awfully pretty...

Monday, June 6, 2011

Birthstone for June: Pearls, Pearls and more Pearls

Some people may have guessed that I have a mild obsession with pearls. They are truly classic and, in my opinion, made even more stunning by layering on multiple strands. They of course look great with the little black dress, made famous by Coco Chanel (see post below), and Audrey Hepburn. But they also look fantastic when they're toughened up a little, with black leggings, high booties and red lipstick, and dressed down with a simple sundress.

I demonstrated these looks with three of my pearls necklaces, the Selina Multiple Strands of Pearls, the Josephine Pearl Bouquet necklace, and the Amelia Blue Flowers and Pearls necklace. I created these sets on Polyvore. One of my early aspirations in life was to be a photo editor for a magazine or art books, so I had a blast using their tool where you can create your own layouts. I won't tell you how long it took me to create these. But you'll probably see more of these in the future because I might be addicted :) Happy birthday June babies!

The Selina necklace ready for cocktails.

Going downtown with the Josephine necklace.

Summer days with the Amelia necklace.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Jess Wearing the Natalie Silk Ribbon and Pearls Necklace

The winner of the Couture Carrie's necklace giveaway contacted me to tell me she received her necklace and she loves it. Oh, that makes me so happy! She even blogged about it. Here she is, looking adorable in a flower print dress, paired with sunglasses and the necklace. She also recently graduated from high school. Lots of good things coming her way. Congratulations, Jess!