Blogger's Favorites -- Sarah of We Never Sleep + A Giveaway

Sarah Beaver makes incredibly beautiful jewelry...

It's artful and thoughtful and completely unique. I've long been a fan -- her Shriner's Fez necklace sat on my wish list for the better part of 2011, and I finally acquired one a couple of weeks ago...I wear it non-stop.

We recently met through e-mail and thought it would be fun to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her shop by sharing her favorites here with you guys this week and doing a little giveaway. (Double the fun, yes?)



She's offered up the lovely Shriner's Fez necklace in quartz above to one of my readers... Just leave a comment on this post by next Thursday, March 8th at midnight CT, and I'll announce a winner next Friday.

So without further ado, herewith Sarah's list. Enjoy and have a fantastic weekend friends!



Modernist Jewelry/Metal Smithing -- This style of jewelry influences my taste in design the most. I particularly like the idea of "wearable art" that these jewelers were referencing when creating pieces. And I'm not picky, really, I love every modernist nationality - from Danish to Mexican to Israeli. I've got a little bit of everything in my personal collection, though I'll not stop dreaming of owning an Alexander Calder or Pal Kepenyes designed piece.


Thrift Stores -- Perhaps loving thrift stores has become something of a cliche, but I have been devoutly attending every junk shop, thrift store, and flea market within a fifty mile radius of where ever I happen to be living since I was 15 years old. And, even now, I can always count of a thrift store to deliver. The leopard print trench (Raincheetahs by Naman) and 50's suede pumps in this photo are both recent thrift finds. You know the kind - that get your heart palpitating and change your breathing pattern. I know I'll never weary of the hunt and the subsequent elation from a good, cheap score.


Gilt Touches -- Lately, I've been very inspired by gilt bits. It began when a good friend gave me a booklet of gold leaf for decorating the wenvrsleep packaging. And then, I began work on these 1954 Dean Cornwell murals, which have such beautiful, strategic use of both gold and aluminum leaf. (My day job is in Art Conservation and Historic Preservation - elements of the items I work to preserve are always inspiring/influencing my other creative endeavors.)


Breakfast -- I could honestly wax philosophic about breakfast. It's my favorite meal for so many reasons - namely because it is so versatile. It can be savory. It can be sweet. You can utilize leftovers from dinner the night before in entirely new ways. (Which is exactly what I did with these Bucheron, Leek, and Thyme Mashed Potatoes from my Valentine's Day Dinner.) Breakfast, in my humble opinion, is epicurean heaven.



Silk Painting -- It is important for me to use my hands in some creative fashion at all times. The jewelry collections I began creating one year ago definitely serve to fulfill that need. Now, I have also begun testing out different methods of painting on silk bras. These pieces are all in the early stages of the process, but I am really pleased with the results. Most likely I will be stocking these in the shop come Spring.



Tuxedo and Astrid -- These are my cats and they are forever my favorite.