So, I've been living in the Bay Area (Berkeley to be more specific..) for the past two months. First of all, this is where it's at. Everyone should visit slash live here. I know I'm certainly going to.

Anyway, I'm in two stores now in the Bay.
One is in Berkeley - the store is called Pretty Penny. It is my little sister's favorite store making it that much more exciting when they said yes to housing my jewels! The store is on College Ave. Go check out my things! I have a variety of necklaces and headpieces there.

The second is in Oakland at a place called The Hat Library. It is owned by this awesome woman named May Henderson. I was so nervous when I met her the first time I accidently said, "Hi, I'm May. So nice to meet you." Ooops! Anyway, she set up a little shrine to my hats, with info about me and pictures of me being weird. 

Cha cha check it out people!
X0

Okay so I need to alert all ya'll about something. Something MAJOR. Something to bookmark and look at every morning before you face this cruel cruel world. My girls, Mattie & Amanda, have finally started their long-awaited blog:

http://myfriendgooo.blogspot.com/

In the hot mess of NYC, these girls are beacons of light and hope and femininity and I just love their guts. They are fantastic writers and just so honest about what it means to be a lady. READ, ENJOY & SPREAD THE WORD.

p.s. aren't they hotties????? I mean come onnnnn. so much style right now.

to my Las Vegas friendsies:
COME TO DIVA STUDIO tonight. selling my jewelzz there in a Spring pop-up trunk show. from 6-9. wine & hors d'oeurves... should be fun!

oh! it's right next to colonade movie theatre. the address: 8876 South Eastern Ave.

Ok, guys, I like Australians....they have nice accents.

So, when the blog/online store Lost At E Minor (based out of Aussie land) contacted me to feature me on their shop I was doubly excited!

I am now a featured artist there and you can buy a few of my pieces on the shop. 

Yay! 

http://shop.lostateminor.com/collections/featured-artist-ryan-elisabeth

This morning Darlene Dame did a post on my jewelry.

I met Darlene at POOL Tradeshow and she is the bestest! I love her photography & her and her husband have to be the cutest couple ever. She curates her blog Life's Golden Moments.

Here is a link to her post:

http://dardame.blogspot.com/2012/02/ryan-elisabeth.html

Going over to Mandalay Bay Convention Center to set up for POOL Tradeshow!!!
So excited for the madness to begin (not that it already hasn't).
Wish me luck.
xx

 Sundance is over... as of yesterday. It's a little sad but what a great festival! I saw so many great films.. over 20! 

All day I've been on a creative high and keep thinking about ways my life would be filmed if it were a movie haha. I definitely saw the power of storytelling and it inspired me to keep working on the screen play that I've had in the works. 

Anywayyy, I will add two more film teasers of the movies I saw.

First, was an amazing and well-timed documentary about Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei. Through his art and twitter, Wei Wei has become a cultural icon and revolutionary force against the China's communist government.

I put a pin of Ai Wei Wei flipping off Tiananmen Square on my backpack. It somehow makes me feel powerful.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry TEASER from Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry on Vimeo.

Second, is the film An Oversimplification of Her Beauty. Written, directed, animated, edited, and acted out by New York City artist Terence Nance. He was there at the film afterwards and I have to admit I kind of have a crush on him. What a talented dude!

The story is his heart felt account of love. I'd like to compare it to a BETTER, more artistic, more natural and indie version of 500 Days of Summer. The animations were fantastic, the music was great (all done by Terence), and it just felt real.

An Oversimplification of Her Beauty • Teaser from Terence Nance • Terence Etc. on Vimeo.

I just can't help but talk about all the amazing films I've seen... So I will put up the trailers and hope that you can get your hands on them.

First, the documentary "1/2 Revolution" about the Egyptian revolution:

Second, the wonderful film "Corpo Celeste" written and directed by a 25 yr. old Italian girl. "Corpo Celeste" is about a young teenagers struggle with religion and growing up:

Seeing more films tomorrow!! I will update you. Wooh! I love movies. ok bye.

Hey Guys!

So I'm taking a little break right before the trade show and spending a few days at Sundance Film Festival in Park City with my family. My parents have been coming to this film festival for 15 years! 

Anyway, I saw this movie yesterday. About the performance artist Marina Abramovic. It was absolutely fabulous and gave me goose bumps all over. What an amazing, strong lady. 

Watch the trailer:

Trailer - Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present from Show of Force on Vimeo.

And check out their site:

http://marinafilm.com/

 Hi ya'll !!!
So I'm back from Paris and things are getting moving again. 
Currently preparing for POOL Tradeshow in February. I have an exciting new line inspired by Paris in the works as well as some one of a kind pieces. 
Oh and Happy NEW YEAR! 
http://www.pooltradeshow.com/

I'm currently reading Ernest Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast". It is his memoir about the time he spent in Paris in the 20's. In one of the chapters I just finished he discusses his relationship with Gertrude Stein. She seemed like a cool lady from his descriptions and representation of her so I looked her up for a better understanding of who she was.

My favorite thing I came across were some quotes, so I will share them with you all.

"A writer should write with his eyes and a painter paint with his ears".

"America is my country, but Paris is my hometown".

"Why do something if it can be done."

"To write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write".

There is greatness on the horizons! ARZU STUDIO HOPE has decided to partner with me on As Time Goes By, my most recent line of necklaces. We are kicking it off this week with media presence.

ARZU, which means “hope” in Dari, is an innovative model of social entrepreneurship that helps Afghan women weavers and their families break the cycle of poverty by providing them steady income and access to education and healthcare by sourcing and selling the rugs they weave. 

Ten percent of the profits are donated to ARZU STUDIO HOPE for each necklace sold.

ARZU STUDIO HOPE's website.

SUPER CHEESY SONGZ BUT ALSO AWESOME. ***also please check out the complete leopard outfit. I want!

Watch this and then ponder (it happens naturally).

I'm reading a fabulous book right now that I would highly recommend to anyone struggling with body image. The book is called "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf. My fabulously smart cousin and fellow feminist Mattie recommended it to me. It is really addressing issues I have been pondering and gives me answers I have been searching for. Check it out ya'llllll!

Yeah yeah so it's Oprah's last show today. I'm not embarrassed to say that I love Oprah. I think she's fantastic, informative, giving, etc etc. Anyway, on her show yesterday Alicia Keys sang Superwoman. I first heard her sing this live at a convention that brings worldwide non-profits together. It was really moving for me and ever since I have liked the song.

So I had the amazing opportunity of selling at the Hester Street Fair in NYC's Lower East Side this past Saturday. It was a full day of fun and was the debut of my new collection "As Time Goes By". There was a good response to the pieces and I created connections. People kept saying we (my sales associate and I) looked like fairies/gypsies from a foreign land. Bringing women empowerment in on our shoulders. I also met some awesome older ladies who sported the necklaces like old pros. 

Overall a successful day! Here are some pics.

I definitely recommend reading Patti Smith's new book "Just Kids". It is truly fantastic. I read it for my book club and we met in Chelsea Hotel. Such a great read for a New Yorker because of all the historical context it gives the city. I was also struck with the pure awesomeness that is Patti Smith. Like can one person be any cooler??