Pretty "Remark"able

Make a statement without saying a word...I remember this was a quote from some product line a long long time ago (maybe not that long ago). What about in today's world? Is there anything out there that you can buy that will have you making a statement without saying a word? Not much huh? Well, lucky for you, someone who makes such a product found me!

Rebecca, who runs BananaSaurus Rex, on etsy is the creator of the Remark Cuff. Rebecca uses all kinds of vintage fabrics to create all of her pieces, but she takes some of these vintage fabrics and creates these cuffs (fabric bracelets for those of you who may not know) and puts various quotes right on the fabric. Most of her Cuffs have quotes about love on them from Shakespeare to Virgil.

Here's a picture of the one she made for me. It's made with denim, white fabric (which has the "remark" on it) and this pretty piece of floral fabric. Nice, bright red snaps finish it off. The quote is by Mr. Rogers. I gotta tell you I felt like a little bad ass when I put it on :-). It kinda reminded me of those cuff bracelets from the 1980s but this one being much more feminine than those that Joan Jett wore. Plus I think having the wonderful quote on there is much nicer than spikes!

Here's a little info from Rebecca's site about the Remark Cuff's and so you know..part of the proceeds from sales are going to charity:

"On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that all Californians have the freedom to marry. The landmark decision ends the state ban on marriage for same-gender couples. But, Proposition 8 - which would amend the California Constitution limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman - has qualified for the November 2008 ballot.Surrender to love, people! BananaSaurus Rex sends half the purchase price of each Remark Cuff to Equality California, a non-profit organization that works to achieve equality and secure legal protections for LGBT Californians. For more information, go to www.eqca.org."

You can get a Remark Cuff in the denim like mine or other fabrics, like the ones pictured here. Make sure to measure your wrist so you know what size you need. If there's not one in your size, you can get a custom sized one. All of the Remark Cuffs are $15.

The Remark Cuffs are not the only work Rebecca does. A couple of my favorites are her Market Bags ($25-$45) and her Power Flowers ($12). My favorite Power Flower is the one in her store's Avatar with was made into a choker necklace. You can find much more in her Etsy store. So, if you like Vintage, like upcycling, like pretty things...check out BananaSaurus Rex!

Pleasant Under Glass

Ok, so I've been on a jewelry kick lately...sorry so sue me :-)

My most recent acquisition is from Under Glass on etsy. And, let me tell you this is one of the most unique jewelry stores I've come across. The necklace I got was this beautiful Snowflake on a blue background. It looks large in the picture but it is actually very dainty. Carol-Ann, the artist of Under Glass, placed the digital image of the snowflake under a thick, glossy coat of resin. The result, naturally, makes it look like it's (sorry bad pun here) Under Glass. The pendant has these black and white stripes around the sides and as simple as they are, they add depth to the pendant. It hangs on a silver plated chain...(I usually prefer Sterling Silver but the silver plated chain is actually much brighter than most of my Sterling. ) There are many other snowflake pendants on Carol-Ann's site that are just as or more intriguing than mine. They run $24 and are really little pieces of art.

And, there aren't just the snowflake necklaces at Under Glass. Carol-Ann makes another kind of series of necklaces called Reliquary Pendants. They are basically glass tubes in which she will place an inscription on and some sort of design on it. Inside there are coordinating glass beads that will roll freely inside. Some hang horizontally on the chain or vertically with some added glitz like the one I have shown here called Garden Girl. The Reliquaries go for $29.

And, it's not just the jewelry that caught my attention. When I got my package in the mail, the presentation Carol Ann makes is just as unique and pretty as the necklace inside the box. Just take a look at how my necklace was packaged. It's this kind of attention to detail, not just in the main body of work, but how the customer receives their merchandise..is truly something you don't normally find in this day and age.

Of course, I'm only cruising by the tip of the iceberg here. There are many many unique works of art at Under Glass. There are several other types of necklaces and of course, earrings and bracelets. I'm sure you'll find something just as unique as you are.