new peeks: rockabella jewels

these darling bff bracelets by rockabella jewels were intended to be shared as a cute summer crush, and then i realized that kristel has introduced quite a few new styles since our last show & tell. while the knotted friendship bands make me reminisce of small kid time when you would wait until the salty ocean waves and hot hawaiian sunshine released your wrist from its pledge, the grownup versions are designed to charm with seashells and semi-precious stones befriending the most delightful patterns.

inspiration always seems to strike kristel in unexpected ways and rockabella has made many fans with its pretty hints of the pacific. this time around gold dipped cowrie shells pair with hand dyed hair elastics for the aptly named mai ties while hammered golden loops have been carefully fabricated in her maui studio as a contemporary remake of the lei.

more peeks of rockabella's summer sparkle after the jump!

rockabella lei

mai ties

layered puka * hawaiian island nameplate

isn't the layered puka with a gold dipped shell hugging its tiny counterpart the sweetest idea for a new mama welcoming her first little one?

prices start at a very reasonable $8.50 for a mai tie with most of rockabella's signature designs under $100.

select styles may be found at your neighborhood stockist while the online shop offers complimentary shipping to hawai'i mailboxes!

aloha friday scoop

the latest book on my nightstand is a must read if you covet fancy fashion labels with some of the most fascinating pages detailing how luxury came to dominate kalakaua avenue in the 80's. a good lesson for both designers building their brand and status shoppers coveting the now corporate-owned logos more concerned with profit margins than the handcrafted workmanship that were once the calling card of the legendary couturiers. alas.

after you shop the kcc farmers market, stop by and say hello to flower child which recently opened its second outpost filled with local favorites including florencia arias, kealopiko, organik, tiare hawaii and more!

• where: 746 kapahulu avenue
• shop hours: tue to fri, 11a to 6p & sat/sun, 11a to 5:30p

on the valley isle, make your way to wailuku town to shop for father's day and save 20% off at maui thing.

p.s. off-island peeps also score when entering secret code dad in the online shop.

• when: fri, jun 17th & sat, jun 18th
• where: 7 north market street, wailuku
• fyi: pono & jewelry excluded

then hele upcountry to tamara catz for the annual sample sale where lucky locals can save up to 70% off!

• when: sat, jun 18th - 9a to 7:30p
• where: 83 hana hwy, paia

Click to read more ...

hey mama! 2011 sparkle guide

i suspect most mamas would prefer a carefree day spent together filled with stories, hugs and laughter because making memories is simply priceless. that said, it is still hard to resist treating your number one fan in life to something unexpected as a small way to say mahalo for all she does for you.

first up . . . handmade adornment gathered up from around the islands!

1 - show some love for the islands with maui jewelry designer erica wissmar's i love hawaii bangle and necklace. {$50 to $60}

2 - rockabella jewels treats mama & keiki to matching puka bangles (baby sized too!) in sterling silver or 14k gold fill. {reduced to $55/set 'til sun, may 8th}

3 - quartz drops mingle with a slice of earthy agate in maui jeweler debra mack's mystical gaia necklace. {$140}

4 - honolulu's padma & pickles donates 20% of jewelry sales, including this pretty watermelon tourmaline ring, to help care for abandoned animals. {secret code hapahale saves you 30% on the entire collection during the month of may!}

5 - cabin no. 7 helps mom represent her hometown with custom handstamped jewelry. {$66; contact drift to order}

6 - [ki-ele] offers a sterling style getaway in the form of tahitian-inspired moorea bungalow earrings. {$56}

more possibilities next week!

rockabella jewels sparkle sale!

dreamcatcher by melea matthews

the holidays have begun beckoning for our attention and with it the possibilities of new year's dreaming of fresh starts and happy adventures. for those who may need a mesmerizing reminder, maui jewelry designer melea matthews has crafted show-stopping dream catchers intermingling feathers and gold coaxed to catch your subconscious wishes.

it's one of the many gorgeous new arrivals to rockabella jewels' online shop which recently launched a featured artists series to introduce up-and-coming maui makers to your radar. (also in the mix: contemporary photographer alex merk.) rockabella fans waiting for a shop update will be delighted that kristel has returned to crafting ravishing bits of glow, in between moments tending to her tiniest little one, with fresh takes on old favorites alongside new designs.

rockabella custom coins & organic glow

. . . and bubbles & sunrise

if a featured style is not stocked in the online shop, just send kristel a note to inquire about availability. there may be a little wait since each piece is handmade but an exclusive 25% off storewide deal (just for the h|h 'ohana!) seems like a sweet exchange for patience at the mailbox.

• secret code: hapahale2010
• expires: wed, dec 1st

{mahalo kristel!}

rockabella thinks pink

kristel from rockabella jewels is showing her support for all the women (and men) who have battled breast cancer with a delicately crafted awareness collection. the iconic ribbbon shines in 14k pink gold and is joined by hand stamped reminders to continue to hope and believe in addition to honoring every survivor's journey.

in other news, rockabella's effervescent bubbles have more company in the form of decadent caviar drops and gold dipped ilima leaves, shark teeth, and vana chips scavenged from the beach in the recently expanded fall/winter 09 collection.

more peeks below . . .

awareness collection

ilima

caviar + shark's tooth

both collections can be found in rockabella's online shop and the awareness collection is available in-store exclusively at pink by nature on maui.

p.s. 40% of the proceeds from october sales of awareness jewels will be donated to the hawaii chapter of the susan g. komen foundation.