Weird Car Parade Mods

Yacht Yak

Wearing Tribal and Ethnic Jewellery

Ethnic and tribal jewellery can be very elegant, sophisticated and stately especially the pieces that are like wearable art. Statement pieces like this Clasp Necklace oozes of dramatic appeal. This necklace is made using gold metal clasps to create a stunning Cleopatra like necklace that flattens out on the chest in majestic style.



Tribal and ethnic jewellery is a key element when trying to achieve the boho look or the folk look. The boho look is reflective of the hippie styles of the 1960’s. Essentially the boho look which emerged on the fashion scene in 2000 is an ethnic look that throws together clothing and accessories inspired by styles worn by native people from around the world.


Boho look

Maxi dress one of the key elements of the Boho look

The folk look which emerged on the catwalks in 2007 was characterized by the use of paisley prints, tassels and fringing detail and was a bit of a hybrid of the boho trend.


Tunic dress

Whatever your style, tribal and ethnic jewellery is a must for any wardrobe. Go for pieces that will make a statement time and time again and those that will team nicely with several outfits. Copper and brass jewellery for instance is a bit like gold jewellery which can be used to accessorize most outfits. This Modern Man copper bracelet is very tribal indeed.


Add interest to neutrals and monotone outfits with this statement fringe necklace using earthly colors.

Tribal and Ethnic Jewellery

African tribal jewellery is a big trend this summer. This rich ancient tradition from african heritage and tradition we see reflected in the embellished dress, the statement necklace and colourful accessories.

Ethnic jewellery is usually characterised by the use of natural materials such as shell, leather, seeds, nuts eg tagua nut jewellery, stone, bone, metals such as copper and brass and including gold and silver all ideally from sustainable sources. While the material used is important more importantly is the creativity in using these materials to design unique and special pieces of jewellery.


Copper jewellery like this handcrafted Bali Girl necklace is a fine example of ethnic jewellery. Just imagine the intricate work that went into making this handcrated medallion style copper and brass necklace which simply looks majestic.



Leather jewellery
Another popular style of ethnic jewellery is leather jewellery. Flower jewellery using leather to recreate special exotic flowers like orchids and hibicus that can be worn as jewellery is very imaginative. This hand painted orchid necklace intricately cut by hand is reminiscent of caribbean tropical holiday destinations and exotic holidays.


Tagua nut jewellery
Tagua Nut jewellery is another favorite that really captures the imagination. These South American nuts usually linked to Brazil and Colombia can be dyed to create splendid colourful nut beads. But again it is the way in which these beads are cut and strung together that creates the beauty and uniqueness of the pieces as in this colourful summer Tagua Nut Necklace.

Tokyo Milk packaging

While perusing the bath section of goods at Anthropologie, I spotted these beautifully packaged bubble baths and soaps from Tokyo Milk. What a lovely and sophisticated use of ephemera ~ I think that the images on the bubble bath are actually printed on the back side of the bottle so that they are slightly tinted by the color of the bubble bath. Just looking at these makes me feel relaxed and less stressed!

{bottles of bubble bath}{paper wrapped soaps}

Walnut 2009 ~ The Spoils ~ Part 2!

{beautiful title page}

I know I mentioned in my last post that the McCracken files were my favorite find from Walnut this year, but on second thought, I should have said ONE of my favorite finds. I hate to admit it, but I have shopped so many shows, seen so many things and bought quite a bit, that I had forgotten much of what I acquired ~ until I started rediscovering things as I was cleaning off my dining room table. The dining room table is where I put things until I am ready to photograph them ~ sometimes I get quite a pile ~ obviously I don't use my dining room table for dining!

So, here is a lovely little autograph book with a theme of sealife from around 1881. There are few entries and those that there are are very faint ~ there is one though that gives some interesting information. The book was a gift from Ella Crawford, aged 6 years to her Aunt Minnie ~ she wishes her a long happy life. The entry is dated Sept. 21, 1881 in Crawfordsville, Iowa. Makes me wonder whether Ella's family had something to do with the start of the town she lived in. Quite a beautiful book ~ the cover is decadent and the inside illustrations in color lithography ~ I especially like the "Album" title page.

{embossed, foiled cover}

{one of several vignettes}

8 Most Awful and Bizarre Body Modifications

Corneal tattooing is not only possible, but it has been known and done now for over 2,000 years — it became almost commonplace in the late 19th century and into the 20th century to correct defects such as corneal scarring and leucomas.

These days, it is done less often because contact lenses are very effective at covering these defects, and prosthetic technology is also more accessible. However, not everyone can wear contact lenses, and not everyone wants their eyeball popped out even if it is blind; hence cosmetic tattooing of the eye.

2. Scarification

Scarification is the creative and artistic application of scars in a controlled manner to achieve an aesthetically or spiritually pleasing result. In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting the skin. Even though many people hold that scarification is no more painful than tattooing, it is somehow more "intense" to most of them.

3. 3D-Art Implant

A 3D-Art implant is any object implanted fully under the skin for the purpose of affecting a sculptural change of the surface. The "invention" and popularization of implants as 3D-Art is credited primarily to Steve Haworth. Implants can be stretched just like piercings. A good example of this are horn implants—they start as smaller implants, and are then taken out when healed and replaced with slightly larger ones. This process is repeated to achieve the final size. There are some risks of irritation to the skin above the implant if this process is pushed too fast, as with all stretching.

4. Corset Piercings

One of the newest trends in body modification comes in the form of corset piercings. They are a series of surface piercings arranged up the back in two vertical columns. The piercing is located in the spot where the eyelets would be if one was wearing a corset. It is a symmetrical piercing with an equal number of holes on each side. As few as four holes can be used (two on each side) up to as many as the expanse of skin will allow.

5. Branding

The Human Branding is, perhaps, the most painful of all body modifications. In full-scale branding, the iron is heated hot enough and applied long enough that the resulting wound is a third degree burn, which destroys the nerve. These third-degree burns never regain sensitivity. It will make a silver scarred area in the shape of the third degree burn, due to destruction of the entire dermis layer of the skin. The surrounding skin will eventually fill in areas that haven’t been severely damaged, which takes years.

6. Body Suspension

Body suspension is the act of suspending the human body via temporary piercings made just before the suspension process. The body is then raised either partially or completely from the ground by especially modified fishing hooks.

7. Tongue bifurcation

One of the newest body modifications to hit the scene is tongue splitting, or tongue bifurcation. The process involves literally cutting the tongue in half directly down the center. Once the tongue is split it is possible to move both sections independently of one another.

8. Pointy Ears

Summer dress

This summer linen dress by East is classical and elegant. Simply designed with a gathered scoop neck that ties in the middle, the simplicity of the style is enhanced by the use of the bold spot retro print in linen. The rich colours green, brown and turquoise go so well together and offers many options for an accompanying cardigan. A lovely summer evening dress that will team nicely with a pair of exquisitely designed leather handcrafted summer rose sandals.

Files, files, more files!

As promised, thanks to a day of good weather, here are the cabinet files I mentioned yesterday ~ black and white Hercules prescription files. I bought these several years ago ~ for some reason I actually remember where I got them too ~ sometimes it amazes me that I can remember where I have gotten most of my treasures, given that I go out so often! The white files came from Curious Sofa, the black files from no-longer-in-existence, State Line Antique Mall. I love these files ~ they stack nicely on top of each other and are great for holding all of my backup CDs ~ fabulous looking AND functional!

Below are yet some other prescription files ~ Phillips brand. Now that I have committed to the black and white versions, I have decided I will probably sell these ~ after all, I don't have room for everything! I'd bought these years ago as well at another now defunct antique mall ~ thinking I would repaint them and make my own label ~ instead they have been used as is to hold videos next to the tv ~ I guess the rather rough labels kind of grew on me.