Blog Archives

Christmas gift ideas

19/12/2017

If you are still searching for some last minute gift ideas, here are some great ideas.

Jewellery is always a favourite and here are some examples of some beautiful jewellery I’ve come across. Fu.zone makes unique handmade jewellery; these two rings are just samples of the different items they make. The first ring is made with 9.25k silver wire; it is also veneered with golden toned rhodium. The green stones are made of green quartz. Another ring that caught my eye is a quartz lilac stone, made from 9.25 silver and veneered with golden toned rhodium. You can find them on facebook.com/fujewelleryzone, and fu.zone on Instagram

Boodi_jewellery also makes beautiful jewellery from recycled sterling silver, and it is all hand made. There jewellery is also positive ethical jewellery; %10 of sales goes to animal charities. The gem stones are citine, white, blue sapphires. You can look at their full selection at boodiejewellery.com

U2girl4god on Instagram makes her own hand made jewellery and hand paints her clothing. She is the designer and owner of brave girl clothing, and fused glass by Judy Ann. One of my favourites is this beautiful butterfly fused glass necklace. You can find her at u2girl4god@sbcglobal.net, brave girl clothing on facebook, and Judy Ann on facebook for her one of a kind fused glass jewellery

Another great gift idea are these fabulous flexsole technology sandals. They are made with %100 natural leathers. The leather anatomic insoles absorbs sweat and supports feet properly. You can find them at www.fantasy-sandals.gr/.

Another handmade jewellery maker makes her jewellery from sterling silver sheet and wire. These are samples of her beautiful work, hoop engraved earrings and a feather necklace. Her necklaces come in 16” sterling silver chain, but you can request a longer chain. She is on Instagram @danielle_easler_jewelry, and at DanielleEasler.com.

This company Zenshopworld makes an ocean and wave projector. You can plug your cell phone into it also to play your favourite music. I also love there moon that sits on a stand, and can be used as a nice soft bedside light. You can find them at zenshopworld.com/collections. They also sell a variety of other products

If you are looking for a company that makes natural and organic skincare and makeup that nourishes the whole body. My favourites from there line are the nourishing exfoliating miracle mud, clarifying detox clay mask, cellular renewal night serum, luminous antioxidant elixir(active serum plus makeup), translucent perfecting powder, lip and cheek polish(siren), and in pink pleasure. You can choose different products and make a gift basket, which would make a great gift. www.gabellanaturals.com/.

Love your melon is a company that makes scarfs and hats, and other products. They are dedicated to giving a hat to each child fighting cancer, and supporting the fight against pediatric cancer by donating some of their sales to the cause. www.loveyourmelon.com/collections/al

I came across this hair curler by Conair, Conair infiniti pro curl secret curling iron. It curls each strand of your hair in just seconds. You can find this new curler at Walmart.

For those who love scented candles I recommend checking out chapters.com. There Voluspa by Prosecco Bellini that has a coconut wax blend in a beautiful decorated tin container. Another of their candles by Illume Tonka Noir has a nice light perfumed scent.

This perfume by Dolce and Gabbana is the perfect scent for any woman. It’s a long lasting scent but isn’t overly strong, it has the perfect balance.

Pandora is known for their bracelets and many charms. I came across this lovely fluttering butterfly that can be worn on a necklace or on one of their bracelets. It would make a lovely gift for any woman in your life, for all ages also. They have many Pandora stores located all over.

My last gift idea is a warmer trimmed with copper and decorated with unique linear leaf design. Use it with your favourite fall east melt cups fragrance. This warmer’s flameless heater works very quickly, before you know it your whole room will be filled with fragrance. You can find this warmer at yankeecandle.com. I hope some of my gift ideas help you find the perfect gift for someone special. I hope everyone has a happy holiday.

Written By; Patricia Roy

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Bri's Spotlight ... Don Mateo Clothing, Los Angeles

10/12/2017

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Los Angeles is known for streetwear. The warm weather allows for T-shirts to be worn year-round, and the locals relaxed approach to living breeds a host of brands that are able to produce clothes with tongue-in-cheek references.

L.A. is where the beach vibes meet the grit of street culture, and the resulting gear presents some remarkably undeniable swag!

No stranger to streetwear, LA Has served as home to iconic brands like Stüssy, FUCT and UNDEFEATED and American Apparel. Once known as just a jeans city, the brands that thrive here have expanded this base while still keeping true to the casual cool, quintessentially American vibe that marks California culture. As a proud So Cal native and new ambassador I’m honored to have interviewed Matthew Bryant- Owner of DM Clothing.

What is Don Mateo (DM)?

We are a Los Angeles based streetwear brand who is all about expressing love and inciting thought in an artistic way.

How did it start?

I've always been a huge fan of fashion. I wanting to launch my own brand for a few years now, but just did not know where to start. I had all of the initial designs completed but that was really the easy part. I knew nothing about dealing with manufacturers or distributors so a lot of time went into research along with trial and error.

Were you always supported in your endeavors?

With any decision or career path you make in life, you're not going to have 100% support from everybody you know. This was no exception. Not all opinions are equal, but I love those who support me to this day.

What has been your favorite experience since launching?

I know this sounds cheesy but this whole experience has been great. It's very stressful at times but I can't see myself doing anything else.

What’s a typical day for you?

A typical day for me. First off I'm notorious for sending emails at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, so usually the first thing I do in the morning is reply to the email responses. Then I check the orders/fulfillment to make sure everything is on time. The rest of the day consists of picking up where I left off the day before, whether that's a graphic design, experimenting with various fabrics or enhancing marketing strategies.

What is the biggest challenge you faced?

The biggest challenge I've faced so far was securing a quality manufacture. The process made me realize that money is not as valuable as we tend to think it is. When first starting out I had several of them declined my application stating that I was not established enough. I was not willing to sacrifice quality so I kept trying. I saw why so many people give up on their dreams, but quitting was not an option. My biggest challenge became my biggest accomplishment.

What’s your audience like?

Don Mateo appeals to fans of the streetwear culture as well as appreciators of art...People who are not afraid to think outside of the box and question things that exist around them.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Being a newer brand, our main focus right now is to build our fan base and create a presence within the fashion community. So far, we have been moderately successful in doing so via social media and our website, but there's always room for improvement and we look to improve year after year.

If you could style your favorite celebrity, who would it be and what would they wear from your collection?

If I could style one celebrity who would it be? Believe it or not, I would have to say Lady Gaga. I don't know, she just has this dope energy about her and she tends to not be afraid to push the boundaries of fashion. I would put her in one of our "free your heart" cropped hoodies and maybe a pair of high waisted jeans.

What's your favorite item?

My pieces are like children, I love them all "equally."

What are your favorite quotes?

"To find yourself, think for yourself." - Socrates
"If you believe, you shall achieve" -Panda
Do you have any shows or events coming up?
We may have something going on in LA this upcoming Spring, but that's the secret.

What would you tell anyone doubting themselves trying to pursue the same
Goals?

Usually the largest hurdle, when it comes to following our dreams, is ourselves. We tend to believe that we are predestined to follow a path that has been set by the environment in which we were raised. If you feel that that path is not for you, then get out of your own way and follow your dreams. You never know, you may just surprise yourself.

Who inspires you?

In the fashion world, I'm inspired by the likes of Virgil Abloh, Rhuigi, Jerry Lorenzo and Pharrell.