Hungry hungry hippo…..

So, I’ve been asked to be a guest blogger on my homie’s food blog, Elizabites. For many many years, we have explored numerous cities together, both far and near, to satisfy, what we call our “four stomachs” (it’s pretty self explanatory…we like to eat). As a food writer, she is invited to restaurant openings, meet some incredible chef’s, as well as dine at their table. Lucky me, I get to go along for the ride sometimes! While most of our epicurean adventures are stateside, we’ve also traveled far to feed our appetite. Prague, was one of those destinations.

My previous collection was heavily inspired by the places I visited while in Prague (ex. Kutna Hora Project, An Ode to Arms & Armory). Going to the bone church in Kutna Hora blew my mind and all I wanted to do was create a whole line of bone shaped jewelry! Ok, so what does this have to do with a hungry hungry hippo? Nothing, except for the fact that Prague is where I discovered my favorite hungry hippo of all time. KINDER HIPPO!

What is Kinder Hippo you ask? Well, you’ll have to find out at Elizabites and since Elizabites is a food blog, it’s obviously some kind of food.

So, as a little teaser to my guest bloggin’, please enjoy the following video and Happy Labor Day Weekend!

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Porcelain on thee mind…..

Lately, porcelain has been on my mind. Why? I have no idea. Working with metals most of the time, it’s nice to mix things up a bit and check out something outside of my world. So, this week it’s porcelain. And what I found was not only beautiful pieces of art, but discovered some porcelain companies with a rich and interesting history.

Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg has been handcrafting porcelains since 1747 “manu factum” which literally means entirely by hand. As their website states, “Each plate is turned by hand, each vase cast by hand, each ornament applied by hand – because the machine doesn’t exist that is able to recreate the individuality that may be achieved by hand.” Sounds like craftmanship at it’s finest. Many of the skills required to create these pieces have been passed on generation to generation. The manufacturing process is quite extensive and for those who are interested visit their site.

Here are some pieces I’d like to have…now.
Oh, hello Mr. Hippo.



Nymphenburg also offers guided tours. Fun? I think so. Check out these photos of their workshop. Makes me want to hop on a plane to Munich.


Another company that caught my eye is Sargadelos, a porcelain factory in Coruna. So, naturally, after I visit Munich, I’ll skip on over to Spain. This porcelain obsession is becoming a little expensive….I think I’ll stick to admiring their sites, for now.

Plant A Tree please….

Love her clothes, now i love the compilation cd Vanessa Bruno has released to support Planete Urgence. For each cd purchased, five trees are planted. Plus, that donkey with the feather…who doesn’t think he’s cute? The donkey is asking us to plant some trees to save his planet we have slowly destroyed, so the least you can do is buy this cd (available at Vanessa Bruno boutiques and Colette).

If I was a stuffed teddy bear….

It’s Friday and today, I feel a little like this (see below)….tired after a long week. If I was a stuffed teddy bear, I think this is how I’d look (today, at least).


Check out more of Kent Rogowski’s series of inside out stuffed bears.

Red Couch

This post is a little late, but better late than never. Lollapalooza was some two weeks ago but the shows are still pretty fresh in my head. Keep in mind, I can’t stand music festivals. Why? Port A Potties. When it comes down to it, I can tolerate the sweaty mass of humanity, the humidity, the occasional drunkard that decides to yack very close to me (yes, this happened this year), but what I can’t handle are Port A Potties. Call me a snob, but my body literally shuts down.



This year, the line up at Lollapalooza was particularly enticing, with Radiohead opening on the first day and Nine Inch Nails (Kanye was at the other mainstage) closing the festival out, I decided to pony up and go. Port A Potty was lurking in the back of my mind as I was making this mental decision. Luckily (and as if someone was reading my mind), we scored ARTIST PASSES from Evan and Antwoine (The Cool Kids) who were playing at Lolla this year. Thanks guys! This pass was my ticket to getting backstage, the artist lounge which was giving out free food and drinks, and luxury air conditioned portable bathrooms that flushed! SOLD! I was the happiest music festival attendee there.

For three days, I trekked my way to Grant Park and saw some pretty amazing shows, from Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, to Wilco backstage. We didn’t make it to the Cool Kids (all the shows were so far apart!) but had we known about the sweet golf carts that were zipping guests with artist passes around the venue, we would’ve been front and center!

So, what makes me so special to get this pass? Perhaps the Cool Kids are loyal, devoted Toki clients and wanted to give me this as a special thank you? Wrong. Although, I’d love to customize something for them. The real reason lies within this red couch. What can I say? Artist passes for our red couch. If it saves me a trip to a Port A Potty, I will give up this red couch any day. So, can you guys pick it up now?

Music that moves me…

I was never that student who needed complete silence to study. There was always something playing in my tape player (yes, I had a tape player at one point), cd player, Ipod, or stereo when I was cramming to finish a paper or studying for a test at 3am. I don’t know how well this helped me retain information but it kept my eyes open in the wee hours of the evening/morning. The same goes for when I’m creating a new collection or filling orders. As much as I actually love the sound of my workshop…the hammering, the hissing of the torch, and the tumbler rotating methodically, background music is the best accompaniment to mellow the sounds out. Depending on my mood, it could really be anything, from hip hop, classical, rock, to the 80’s! And if it’s the 80’s, “You’re the Best Around” from the Karate Kid soundtrack might take the cake. Highly nostalgic and highly motivating in the cheesiest way possible.

But when I need creative inspiration, I find dark, moody, and hauntingly beautiful tracks to do the trick. It’s particularly a bonus when there are a lot of instruments, like acoustics, strings, and the piano. Needless to say, I’ve been listening to a lot of Radiohead over and over again and Kenna’s Hell Bent. Just recently, however, I came across Portishead’s “The Rip.” Animator Nick Uff is the brilliance behind this video.

Portishead – The Rip
Uploaded by portishead

Check out a version done by Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. Beautiful….

But for those of you that are more interested in my other music favorite, enjoy.