Neon Alert

It’s pretty gray and dreary here in NYC. I actually really love winter when it involves lots of deep snowfalls, but this bone chilling dampness and cloudy skies is a bit of a drag. If it’s not going to snow, then let it be Spring! I know, all in good time. There’s nothing I can do to make it arrive any faster, but there is a trend that has me really happy and excited. NEON! It’s everywhere! Not in an overwhelming and tacky way either. Sneaky burst of oversaturated color is springing up everywhere for Spring!

Check out these neon sightings in my neighborhood:

Okay, so my toes aren’t exactly a neighborhood shot, but I did get my pedicure right around the corner.

I fell in love with these ceramic cuties out at Maison 24 in Bridgehampton this summer. Can you look at them and not smile? Really? Then as a most insightful and very appreciated gift, Sarah and her family gave me one for my b-day! Then I just had to run out and get a neon blue french manicure (the most appropriate thing to do).

One of my favorite close to home shops is Sockerbit (okay, maybe my very favorite). Step through the door and you enter a Candyland fantasy, only done with a very clean, beautifully edited, Scandinavian aesthetic. Today I went in to get my fix some candy and discovered the most lovely and amazing candy dish (or holder of other sorts of treasures) that comes with an assortment of neon bands. Do you love it, or what?! It’s made by the Danish design company Kahler.

We tend to think of these colors as unnatural, chemically created aberrations, but not so! These colors really do exist in the natural world. Above are just a very few examples; undersea life  and  Aroc Urtu gems!

Weekend Update

Are you away somewhere special for President's weekend? Any special plans? I'm back in NYC after being away for a 3-D design class in Sarasota. Here are some pics from my trip:

After 5 days in a computer lab stretching my brain in all kinds of directions that it didn’t want to go, we took it outdoors! Pedal kayaks – have you heard of this incredible invention? I’m hooked. It’s like a recumbent bike, only on water.

Sarasota VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And, congratulations to the winner of the iDazzle/Aroc Urtu Valentine's Giveaway! Thank you, Amber Hodge of Michigan for entering and enjoy your ruby ring!!

And if you’re in Chicago, check out Aroc Urtu in Chicago Magazine’s Spring fashion guide! Isn’t she lovely wearing our sliced ruby and geode necklaces?!

Another Day, Another Beach

I’ve never been to the gulf coast of Florida before, but here I am in Sarasota for a five day advanced 3-D software class. Rhino is an amazing modeling program that I am starting to use to make some of our jewelry, it is absolutely amazing, but mind-bendingly hard. I’m starting to get comfortable with it, though. If you have any interest in learning this program, I highly recommend this class by Lauren Pipkorn – master designer and Rhino instructor. I’m not sure what I was expecting- maybe a lot of canes and walkers and oil spilled beaches. I was definitely surprised to find a very arts-centered town with beaches that have the whitest, most powdery sand I’ve ever seen. Not that I’m getting to relax, the class is from 9 – 6 every day. My brain is exploding with new info and ideas for Aroc Urtu. I am truly hoping to get to the world renowned Ringling Museum of Art on my last day. I’ll keep you posted!

I’ve been gorging myself on grapefruits and tangerines picked right off the tree. So delicious!!!

The sand is so soft and powdery!

I don’t know who’s house this is right on the beach, but I wish it were mine…

 

SO MUCH New News

Really, there is so much news that I’m afraid I’m going to forget something important! First off, the really big news is that Sarah is engaged! So much love and joyous family celebrations going on – I feel like a human bottle of champagne. In an effervescent way, not an alcoholic way. She will be telling readers more about it on her fabulous blog Chevrons and Stripes. And, by the way and another bit of New News, Sarah and her super stylish new apartment are featured today on The Glitter Guide (another great blog to keep on your radar). Go Sarah!

Aroc Urtu Is so thrilled to be getting buzzed about also. Have you read our interview in iDazzle yet? We are so thrilled with it we are doing a Valentine’s Giveaway with them! Please go check it out and enter because I would love for you to win this ruby ring right here:

And if you haven’t heard, we were featured in Vogue Japan – right next to Leonardo DiCaprio and Jake Gyllenhaal. NICE! I still don’t know what the blurb says, so if you can translate it for me I’d be most grateful.

AND on another awesome note, Elizabeth Banks is sporting our diamond slice necklace in Women’s Health Magazine. She is so darn pretty, don’t you think? And I love that this shot was taken just a couple of blocks from where I live. I am so looking forward to seeing her in the Hunger Games!

Miami Engagement (and other great news)

We are thoroughly DAZZLED with our interview and feature in the fantastic online guide to all things jewelry, idazzle! Go check it out, learn some behind the scenes nuggets, and find out about our ruby giveaway of this:

They haven’t announced it yet, or maybe they have, so get over there and sign up! And if it’s not up yet, keep going over there until it is!

And now for more very exciting news!!

I can finally talk about what I’ve been bursting at the seams to tell you for months (well, two of them)! This was definitely the hardest engagement project I’ve been involved with as Sarah is not only my niece, but also the other half of Aroc Urtu. So much secrecy all paid off and culminated in a completely unanticipated proposal from Evan at the uber lovely Standard Hotel in Miami, and then the maybe even bigger surprise that both the families were there at the hotel to celebrate with them! Congratulations, guys!!

 

Have a fabulous weekend!

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