Etsy, Etsy, Etsy.

So as of recent I've been spending a lot of time (and money) on Etsy. I figured I'd share with you some of my favorite purchases and artists on there while I take a break from making things for the Etsy we here at Order & Chaos intend to open.

Tiny Leather Book Necklace by JanDa Jewelry

I love this thing! I wear it all of the time. It is made of vintage leather scraps and hand cut pages. And yes, it opens and is completely functional.

 

 Coco Takes a Trip earrings

and

Don't Eat Phyrexian Berries by Lad Named Felix

I've worn this necklace pretty much every day since it arrived. I get compliments on it all of the time. I haven't found the right occasion to bust out the earrings but when the time comes you can be sure I'll rock them with style. I am Coco, after all.

And I just scooped these up today. I can't wait for them to arrive.

 

Conjoined Twins Handmade Notebook by Karolin Felix

I fell in love with her art the moment I saw it and I just couldn't resist this book. I can't wait to get it so that I can see all of the amazing detail she put into it. Seriously, look through the images to see what I mean.

Origami Crane Pendant by theishida

This shop is donating all of their profits this month to relief efforts in Japan and I fell in love with the imagery of the origami crane and the meaning behind it. Japanese legend says that anyone who folds 1000 origami cranes will be granted a wish of their choice, such as prosperity or recovery from an injury or illness. It is my hope that this crane will help Japan recover from the damaging effects of the earthquake and tsunami. Although they are not trying to sell 1000, I think it would be amazing if they did.

Yesterday I posted about Arts & Crafts United For Japan and their charity auction. I spent a good deal of today with my jewelry making supplies and cranked out a few pieces that I'll be submitting. I plan to make more over the course of the next week. Expect pictures when mom gets back with my laptop.

Love & muffins,

Coco.

Keeping promises and so much more.

Gonna throw some pictures up of new work and things I simply forgot to photograph before.

 I did some cleaning today and set up a nice little area to display my designs and take pictures of my work. The Momiji are added for cuteness. Did I mention that I bought some oddly pigmented body parts on which to display my work?

First we have the lovely velvet vixen Europa displaying the first piece of MANLY jewelry designed by myself. I haven't named the little bugger yet but I love him to pieces.

He consists of a glazed ceramic pendant embellished with the word "Go" and 18 inches of hand-knotted black hemp cord.

 The closure on this one is a simple knot & loop deal with some frayed edges left to give it a rugged feel.

Nice, simple, positive, MANLY.

Another warm welcome to Bodacia, our not-quite-life-size pink hand model. Though her wrist is a bit thin to actually wear our bracelets it won't stop me from using her to display them. Currently she is holding a piece tentatively titled "Letters From Afar". It features a vintage-style sparrow charm clutching an envelope in it's beak as it dangles from the point near the clasp where the two strands connect.

One strand is a length of chain in the same antique bronze tone as the clasp and charm while the other features lavender bicone-cut and pink faux-jade glass beads.

Well, I'm afraid that is all of the pretty things I have for you today. I'm going to be taking a bit of a break from making pieces for our Etsy as I concentrate on designing some things to submit to Arts and Crafts United for Japan's charity auction to help raise funds for relief efforts in Japan. If you have not heard of them please check them out on Facebook and Twitter. If you happen to be a crafty person please consider submitting some pieces to the auction, it is for a really good cause.

Well, I'm off to spray a few more coats of resin and hit the sack. I've got a long day of crafting ahead of me.

Love & kisses,
Coco.

its been a while.

hello dolls and gents! 

well, as coco has already informed you, my life is a bit hectic right now. so i do apologize for my absence recently, here on our blog. my mother is very ill and it's been very difficult for my father and i to really focus on anything else. so right about now, everything is on hold. 

i was going to work on some jewelry today, but i left literally ALL of my material in my dad's car. ugh. so its going to be a sewing and painting day, i think. once i finish something, i'm still trying to get things done for my beloved angelina's birthday, which i completely missed, due to the insanity that is my life! her birthday was early february. i'm a terrible friend. ugh. 

because i normally don't even have a single second to actually sit down, i am watching the movie version of 'eat. pray. love.' instead of FINISHING the book version that is sitting on my bed stand up stairs. this is how i blog. 

also, i would like to share with you some things i have found within the past couple of days. my darling boyfriend twittered about this one a day or so ago and i nearly peed my pants laughing while at work.
HIPSTER TRAPS in new york

 you can read about it HERE definitely read the comments below the article, they're the best part!!

another fantastic find, that i actually found about a minute or so before i started writing this is the wonderful jewelry, accessories and clothing of hardcouture. her makings are beautiful and eclectic!!
http://shophardcouture.com/ 

 isn't this headband amazing!? it's like if a gypsy and an angel got together and made crafts! love!!

so those are my recent finds. i haven't had much time to find anything really. and i would also like to apologize for not posting a frugal friday segment this past friday. shit kind of hit the fan middle of last week and by friday i really couldn't even move. but i'm hoping i'll be able to get something up this week.

Oh and just for fun.... a video! 

love and absolute peace to all of you.
XOXO, holly. 

Just a quick one.

I know we've been quiet around these parts but fear not, we're not dead. No we're not dead. They tell us we're not dead and that we won't die for some time... (Okay, I promise I'll stop with The Jane Austen Argument lyrics now!) Anyhow, I'm kind of updating on behalf of the others at the moment. Amanda has been busy juggling two jobs and a relationship and a hyperactive cat and a million other things so she hasn't found her way to the intarwebs for a bit, not to mention that today is her birthday.

HAPPY FREAKIN' BIRTHDAY AMANDA!!!!

I love you. I wrote this in purple because I know it is your favorite color. You're gonna freaking love what I made you.

Our doll Holly has also had a lot of working going on in her life and a lot of worrying about her dear mother who recently had a series of heart attacks and is still in shaky condition. We love and are praying for you and your family darling.

I, on the other hand; don't have such stellar reasons for being offline. I have been working a lot and not getting enough sleep but mostly I have been working on small pieces of projects and projects I can't post because they would ruin surprises. OH!! Speaking of things I couldn't post; here, finally, at last, is one of my favorite pieces I have EVER designed:

I made this for Holly as part of an art swap. I titled it "A Study in Sage" though I don't think I ever told her that.

Here's a close-up of the pendant.

And here's a shot showing the beads and ribbons I strung it on.

I hope she wears it at least once in her life.

Well, that is all I have for you today. I am still working on getting those pictures I promised and on stuff for the  MANLY line. I mean it, I promise that I will post man stuff soon. Seriously, there's a half-finished project in my lap right now that I really should get back to.

Love & Muffins,

Coco.

Ich verbrenn mein studio, schnupfe die asche wie koks.

Yes, the above line may read as "I burn down my studio and snort the ashes like coke" in German, but who are you to judge? I'm currently having a bit of a love affair with my ipod. I seem to have forgotten as of recent just how amazingly therapeutic music can be. Do you think musicians have any idea just how much their work can affect a person? Anyway, I'm rambling. Back on subject! *whip crack*

So didja know that we here at Order and Chaos had a meeting on Thursday? This is how it went.

A lot of coffee and tea, a sweet treat or two.

Disjointed bits alongside finished works.

A ton of ideas and planning, plenty of off topic conversation and catching up.

A little bit of order perfectly mixed with plenty of chaos.

And let's not forget plenty of craft store shopping. Seriously, I put a drain on my bank account. I lost hours that I will never get back poking through ribbon, findings, and beads. I actually have some cohesive ideas for a Spring line. Also a bit of inspiration for a Summer line. And plenty that, upon inspection, would better fit in with an Autumn line. Nothing Winter. Screw that. I've had enough of that for now. But yeah, to say I'm inspired would be putting it mildly. Very mildy. I am itching to get to work on a bracelet as we speak but I promised pictures of the works I've finished in my last post so here I am typing.

As mentioned, I finished Bad Wine and Lemon Cake, the pendant inspired by this here song. [Linked to the version with Amanda Palmer for Holly.]

I also threw together a little something for the "Cute as a..." collection. A very basic color scheme here but I was going for a kitschy, kawaii sorta feel.

And I find that I've forgotten to take pictures of the other stuff I've finished. FAIL. I'll get them up soon.

I promise better pictures when I rediscover my digital camera.

So I leave you with more promises. Oh, and an awesome music video. One that Amanda would be shocked that I didn't turn off after the first few seconds.

'Til we meet again.

-Coco

Nudity....lots and lots of nudity....thank you "Chloe"

Seriously, you can thank the movie Chloe for the title.  Usually I quote what I was watching, but there was nothing good to quote, and since the movie is about a call girl, of course there's a lot of nudity.  Mostly of Amanda Seyfried and Julianne Moore.  It's a good, but very messed up movie, one of those weird psychological ones that make you think too much.

Anyway...the real reason for my post, I think I've been to Pat Catans, the craft store close to my work, more in the past few days than I have been in the past few months!  And it's really gotten me kind of inspired.  Like I finally made the bracelet I've been promising my boyfriend, Nick, for 7 months!  I know, I'm such a procrastinator.

The bracelet base was a pre-made wrist band I found in Pat Catans.  It had little holes punched along the sides, so it made it easy to sew the other bracelet on to it.  The top bracelet is two different types of hemp I also found at the craft store.  For our first anniversary, I gave Nick a small key charm and told him it was the key to my heart.  Ever since then he's been asking me to put it on a bracelet so he could have it with him instead of letting it sit on my dresser.  Lol.  So the final touch to the bracelet is that same charm.  I would like to do more piece like this, without the key obviously, for the shop. Figured they'll fit in nicely with the rest of "Manly" The Man Line we're doing.

That's it for the night.  Just wanted to get on real quick and share that with everyone. 

Good night!

<3 Amanda

P.S. I just thought the bear was cute and has absolutely nothing to do with the bracelet aside from a good way to wrap it.

Japan relief and frugal friday.

hello my darlings. 

as you all know, japan has been hit with a horrendous earthquake and tsunami. it makes me sick to think about everything that, that wonderful culture and their beautiful people are going through right now. as coco has stated earlier, i feel that we should be doing something to help. i am going to paint something this weekend, most likely tonight and make prints, and we'll configure a way to make sure all the proceeds go to helping out our friends in japan. and i'm sure the other girls are going to come up with something also, so stay tuned for that. 

along with that, mother monster, my beloved lady gaga has designed a bracelet to help out. i'm going to purchase one and donate more as well tonight. here's the link.

lady gaga japan earthquake reliefe bracelet 

please everyone... i beg you to help out in any way you can. these people need all the help that they can receive.

i'll post more about the issue later on tonight or tomorrow as soon as i'm able to get something finished! 

  on a less stomach turning note... (yes, it turns my stomach. that's how upset about it i am)....it is frugal friday. i wish i would have done something related but i did not. so there's a bit of a contrast between my writing and today's frugal friday installment. so i do apologize. 

this week does have another kind of theme to it, but it's not geared to a celebrity of any kind, though, it does sort of corolate with miss nicki minaj. i really do like her latest album 'pink friday' and i believe when i was putting this set together, i may have been listening to it :)

so here ya go! 

'pink' frugal friday by hollyerinn featuring neon jewelry

that's about it for now. please keep checking back frequently for the japan relief items. 

XOXO, holly

Let's do something!

I'm sure by now you have all heard about the massive earthquake that hit Japan today and the resulting tsunamis. This event, while quite tragic on its own, hit me in a much more personal way. I spend a great deal of my time online posting on a small Japanese forum on which I have made many friends and have come to care deeply for the people on there. Currently I am worried sick about my friends and penpals in Japan and, as expected, my forum has fallen silent. During periods of unrest I am not the type to fall silent. I need to do something to help in some way, even if none of my friends were harmed during the events today. So I ask; ladies, can we please make an item to sell to raise funds to send aid to Japan? I know this is all still fresh but I am sure that charities and relief agencies are already rallying and pulling things together, let's do something to help. Please?

-Coco

recent finds. and a polyvore.

hey there kiddos... yes, i know i haven't been keeping up with the blog and the twitter as much this week. i've been so exhausted, it's almost unreal. well, enough of me whining. let's get onto the interesting shit!

first off! i did alittle thrift shopping yesterday and found some neato stuff. pictures will be up later... but on my way back home i stopped at the local rite aid to get something to drink. of coarse i can not walk into a store that has a cosmetic section without at least passing through it to see if there's anything interesting. well, i did find something fun this time! 

now, for anyone that knows me well...they will tell you that i hardly EVER wear lipstick. i just don't like the way that it feels and its so much up keep. but i'm a sucker for a good lip balm or chapstick! but everynow and then i do crave a little color for my lips, and yesterday i found the perfect balance.

covergirl has just come out with their new natureluxe line and i really like the gloss balm that they have. i bought the coral color and i think it looks super cute! it's light and stays on for a good while without fade. it doesn't feel gross like a sticky normal gloss and it doesn't feel really heavy and flaky like lipstick. and on top of all of this wonderfullness, it has just a little tiny bit of shimmer too! so go pick up a tube for yourself! i highly recommend it.

i recently subscribed to NYLON magazine, again. i let me subscription run out and was like 'oh! i don't need to get a magazine, that's so frivolous and unnecessary!".  yep, i am weak. i bought another subscription. any way... i was flipping through the latest issue and saw a bunch of neato stuff i want to share with you guys!! now, keep in mind most of this, in my opinion, is very overpriced. now, i'm scottish, so being a cheap ass comes with the territory. i will not pay over $30 for a pair of jeans. but i do like to look at pretty things! so enjoy!

anna sui's spring line is absolutely darling in all it's bohemian glory! check it out...

 has your adorable little brains exploded with amazingness yet? i'm sorry i'm about to kill it with more...

the makeup and hair in yves saint laurent's spring line drives me crazy! in a good way. it makes me want to stay out of the sun forever! and possibly move to sweden. i don't know what that's about.

 another fantastic find i stumbled over in my magazine... schmutzerland

Schmutzerland is an independent accessories and life style company bringing you the most imaginative in handmade necklaces, rings, brooches and hair accessories. We believe that our designs should be fun and entertaining as well as exceptionally well made.

Since 2008, Schmutzerland has been dishing out our own grass roots creativity and flare, that captures our unique view of the world. We are proud to be part of the ever expanding DIY community. All Schmutzerland products are hand assembled, with the utmost care given to quality and craftsmanship.

(taken from the website)

 

i love love love their stuff... it's a little quirky and a little cute. and the best part... reasonably priced!! here's a few samples.

 i really like all of the things that they're doing! 

 

have you ever heard about the traveling boutique wanderlust??? me either! that is until today... they're based out of portland. and really, they just make me want to go to portland that much more! check out these photos! 

 if anybody's in portland, tell this wonderful lady that holly from O&C loves her! hah!

okay... you might need to sit down for this one. well, if you're reading this on a computer, you're probably sitting anyways, but seriously, prepare yourself for awesome...

wonder woman MAC cosmetics line. yes, i'm serious.

 ummm why yes, i would like to do my makeup like wonder woman. thank you for asking! shiiiit! who ever came up with this one is a god damned genius. comic book heroine makeup! does it get better??? no. okay... maybe... comic book villain vixen makeup. (pssst...MAC! how about some harley quinn?? plz?)

alright to wrap up my finds from my NYLON mag, it's my favorite columnist peaches geldof. i think she's absolutely gorgeous and her writings are witty and rather humerous! i try and read most of what she writes, she is mainly why i renewed my subscription to be completely honest :) 

 kind of a girl crush, i can't lie.

 well, beyond all of this fabuluoscity, i have even more! i know, mind blowing, right? 

as all of you already know, i love free people and all that they do! i found this video a while back before i had this blog. and i would love to share it... i'm probably going to do this with my hair once it get a tincy bit longer. 

i think it looks super rad!

also this one is pretty neat too!

it makes me want to dye my hair a million crazy colors! (coco, hair dye party soon??? hit me up girlfrannnnn!)

 OH! and i almost forgot...polyvore.

"the nerdy dude's girl friend" 

the nerdy dude's girlfriend by hollyerinn featuring flat sunglasses

well i'm thinkin' that's enough for today
XOXO, holly