Halloween is When We Can be Kids Again

May be I will surprise you, but I do not like Halloween. Trying to be less critical I'd say, I do not like the way Halloween is seen and celebrated here, in the US. Why? Just because it is too much. Too much death and blood, too many living dead zombies, severed heads and legs, monsters, witches. And of course, too much advertising, and commercialization around. Too much is too much. I am a sensitive person and have kids, you know.

Though, Halloween can be a nice family holiday or a great occasion to have fun at a party with your friends. It is actually an ancient holiday with possible pagan or even Christian roots. Well, anyway it is a nice occasion for our kids to hang around dressed-up. And needless to say, adults love it too. We can be kids again and it is priceless.

Here is my Halloween selection: beautiful and fun accessories which do not make us think of decomposition, horrors and death. It is all about fun, beauty and life.

Yarn & Clay bracelet

BOO-tiful Halloween Headband by Joelle Fritz

 Autumn and Halloween scarf by Yarn & Clay

Strapless Halloween Mask by The Midway

Handmade Venetian Masquerade Mask by Trendybowsnbands

Pumpkin Hat by Crochet Mignonne

Motorcycle and Vintage Jewelry

Sometimes in my dreams I ride a motorcycle with the feeling of not knowing where I am going. My dream came true with this "James Bond Girl" look. Elisabeth Michel Meyrueix's vintage necklace and rings became perfect fits for this look:

The cheetah can run FASTER then any other land animal. Definitely, this necklace matches perfectly with the idea of the look.

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A ring with three white petals and four black triangles. The black triangles make me think of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO).  And three white petals are a symbol of life on Earth. Where does Earth meet the Sky?

White flower as a reminder of how fragile women are. It looks marvelous with my black pants and the motorcycle on the background - a symbol of strength.

Rings and necklace by Elisabeth Michel-Meyrueix
Photography: Eugene Polyak
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Hair: Timberly Gwan Kerby 
Moto Jacket: Andrew Marc
Pants: Denis Simachev
T-shirt: Camaieu
Shoes: Aldo

All the pictures
Model and styling: Albina Patou-Chebykina
Project is made in cooperation with Rue1 showroom

Copper Charming Chemistry

Copper jewelry brings us back to prehistoric times. It was the first metal discovered by Prehistoric Man between 10,000 and 13,000 years ago.  It is the oldest mined mineral and its discovery and usage allowed ancient civilization to step into the Bronze Age.
Hammered and etched copper jewelry has been fashioned and worn by the Native Americans since Ancient times.
In the third and forth decades of the 20th century the production of modernist jewelry from solid cooper was on its rise.
From as long ago as Ancient Egypt, people have believed that copper jewelry has special qualities that improve or protect the health of the wearer. 
Some people today believe that copper stimulates the mental and psychic flow of energy, relieves stress and improves concentration and communication. We are certainely attracted by copper because of its long history and the beliefs in its healing qualities. But most of us would wear copper jewelry just because it is so beautiful and can make a perfect accompaniment to to our wildest or most sophisticated looks.
Working with copper is a real art. 
Here what local LunaBay artist Courtney Collins said to me about her work with copper:

"I started working with copper because I was able to purchase a large spool of heavy copper wire at a salvage shop.  I generally like to make art out of found or salvaged material - and this provided me with a new starting material. I had the idea of hammering the copper and making it into jewelry.  I love that its different from the traditional silver or gold tone of jewelry and that it can either be polished or have a rougher more industrial look to it. Its been fun to learn how to work with copper and come up with new designs for the jewelry".

 Luna Bay earrings

 Luna Bay necklace

Luna Bay brooch
 
You can find more about Luna Bay: www.lunabayarts.com or at the Luna Bay Facebook page.
You can buy Luna Bay jewelry and art at Ricochet boutique (1610 S El Camino Real, San Mateo 94402)

Here are some other examples of different copper jewelry I found and really liked:

Jade in copper wire pendant by Eva Balli

Goddess pendant by CharmedLifeDesigns

Long Copper Earrings by Dawily

Six Looks on a Woman

Usually, I tend not to put people in boxes, especially if they are women. Women are such different, contradictory and changing human beings, and at the same time they are so constant through time and space. Why do we love them? What are we looking for in women in the first place? These were the questions I asked myself before organizing a series of shoots called "Six Looks on a Woman". I was playing with the word "sexuality" at the beginning but the photographer-friend I was getting ready to work with, started sending me provocative semi-nude Helmut Newton photographs to inspire me. So, I quickly abandoned the term "sexuality" and just decided to explore the Woman's way of thinking, acting and being. Another important goal of this project is to feature women's accessory and clothing fashion designers creating beautiful clothes and jewelry locally in California.
There are six looks and six attributes matching each look and corresponding to a specific female type. Yes, I finally put a Woman in a box. I put myself in a box, in six different boxes to understand how you look at the world from this box and how the world will look at you.

1. Skateboard... Freedom, easiness, youthfulness, naughtiness, risk = Childlike Woman.
A woman-child is a type of a woman, that both men and other women are crazy about. Do you like Vanessa Paradis, Natasha Vodyanova, and the rising star Emma Watson, those girlish women who keep their angelic faces untouched by time and experience? These girls-women are little suns and we love their sunny smiles, baby voices and we are ready to excuse the small harmless pranks they play on us.

Photography: Ekaterina Sklyarova (Double Rainbow Photography)
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Hair: Jikulya Amankulova
T-shirt with bicycle print: Effie's heart
Jeans: Adriano Goldschmied
Jeans jacket: SL8
Sneakers: Converse
White headband and red hat by Yarn & Clay


2. Cigarette... Mystery, elegance, sophistication, experience = Mystery Woman
They have secrets. They do not unveil them. And we love them that way.

Photography: Eugene Polyak
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Dress: Sinequanone
Pumps: Pura Lopez
Vintage hat by Yarn & Clay

3. Guitar... Music, romance, dream = Romantic Woman.
For those who love reading the classics, this type of woman is well-known. They are tender and charming. They are good mothers and wives. After having chased after their kids and prepared delicious treats in the kitchen, they may be found with a romance novel on the balcony, waiting for their husbands and dreaming, dreaming, god only knows what about.

Photography: Ekaterina Sklyarova (Double Rainbow Photography)
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Hair: Jikulya Amankulova
Skirt: Michael Kors
T-shirt: 1,2,3
Necklace by Yarn & Clay
Bracelet by Anna Tail Designs

4. Macarons... Sophistication, sweetness, fragility = Sweet Woman
They are funny, smiling and sexy but as fragile as flowers. Though, as flowers do, they embellish our lives.

Photography: Eugene Polyak
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Dress: Effie's heart
Pumps: Vince Camuto
Earring and ring by Yarn & Clay


5. Laptop... Intelligence, seriousness, impeccable behavior = Business Lady
They know what they want. They are goal-oriented, strong-willed, direct, energetic but sometimes pushy and aggressive. Though, we have tremendous respect and admiration for them.

Photography: Eugene Polyak
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Hair: Timberly Gwan Kerby
Dress: Theia Grazi
Suit: Sinequanone
Pumps: Pura Lopez


6. Motorcycle...Strength, strong-will, speed, risk = James Bond Girl
Some like it hot. These women are wild and risky. They are secret agents and gorgeous detectives. They live in our fantasies and in their flesh and blood movie characters played by Angelina Jolie and Eva Green.

Photography: Eugene Polyak
Makeup: Makeup by Lana
Hair: Timberly Gwan KerbyMoto Jacket: Andrew Marc
Pants: Denis Simachev
T-shirt: Camaieu
Shoes: Aldo
Necklace and ring by Elisabeth Michel-Meyrueix

All the pictures
Model and styling: Albina Patou-Chebykina
Project is made in cooperation with Rue1 showroom