isle style: sea by gypsy

despite my absence on the beach this year, hawaii is all about the endless summer and i could not say goodbye to the season without sharing a peek of gypsy's newest love. with island lovelies coveting the north shore line's pretty underpinnings, it was only a matter of time before designer kate ruggiero turned her attention to transferring those fetching patterns to seaworthy textiles.

sea by gypsy debuted with a single yet becoming handsewn silhouette composed of a flirty bottom paired with a bandeau in either a slip-on or tie-on style. while there are only two colorways to tempt you, will you sigh over the vivid violet reminiscent of sunset slipping beneath the horizon or swoon for the splashy mint awaiting a dip in the pacific?

more peeks of the dreamy lineup after the jump!

luckily, procrastination has a silver lining since both hues have just arrived in the sale section which will save you 25% off on all mix-and-match pieces!

kate mentioned that the sale will go on until the last bikini finds a devoted owner so hele over to the online shop to peek, click and order.

{photo credit: daeja fallas . . . gorgeous as always!}

shop toast: custom heart stumps

jeremy and michelle from shop toast unveiled a shiny new website last month, and i am happy to report that one of their sweetest favors can now be custom ordered. the petite heart stumps are even cuter when personalized and i can already imagine all the party possibilities (and delighted smiles) from happy birthdays to anniversary celebrations.

definitely something to remember when you have 25 peeps on your guest list and a 4 week turnaround time.

online orders welcome or stop by the studio for more details:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

p.s. meet the makers with a charming peek behind-the-scenes filled with all the little things which make them smile.

sleepy owl dreams

my cousin's first baby shower is this weekend and i am madly making everything pretty before dashing off to the post office so her gift box can begin its long journey across the pacific.

alas, i happened across cutsie patootsie's adorable crocheted newborn beanies a bit too late, and cannot help but sigh over the sweet pueo design's tiny handmade knits to keep little ones warm and cozy.

for a few dollars more, the sleepy owl cap can also be sized up for keikis of all ages (grownups too!).

available in pink, blue, and yellow (custom colors available upon request).

$28 online.

p.s. designer keikilani is crafting away for next month's oh baby! expo at the blaisdell so please convo her to special order until her etsy shop is restocked.

aloha friday scoop

this week's thrill was the unexpected discovery that trader joe's accepts coupons. somehow this delicious fact eluded me for all these years despite being a tj's fan girl since college. mahalo interweb!

heading to the lei chic pop-up this weekend? a few of our favorite local lovelies shared a shopping preview:

• peek allison izu's fall 2011 denim collection and save 20% off pre-orders plus an extra 20% off past season looks when you spend over $98
• snap up guava shop's pretty lauhala leather clutches for 20% off
• give the wings hawaii 'ohana a big hug (truck x storefront = unhappy day) then meet honi honi & little wings
• save 20% off all umee loveliness with an even sweeter deal on the prettiest frock

after you hit the kcc farmers market, make your way to the lily lotus warehouse sale to scoop up yoga basics from unprinted styles to showroom samples plus past season jewelry.

• when: sat, sep 17th - 9a to 2p
• where: 3160 waialae avenue, kaimuki
• fyi: cash only & all sales final

Click to read more ...

typecast: jeff canham designs

more design goodness for you! with the exception of the official hapa | hale facebook page, i remain a steadfastly intermittent and somewhat reluctant fb-er when left to my own devices yet must follow a dizzying number of designers and shops to scout local possibilities to share with the h|h 'ohana. i can only suspect that my google reader shudders every time i log on with all the unread posts vying for my attention.

while catching up with greenroom (the petite surf gallery in waikiki), a passing reference to one of their featured back in town artists being a local boy made my day. earlier in the year, i serendipitously stumbled upon sf-based designer jeff canham's website and was delighted to browse his collection of creations which range from old timey signage to handpainted wooden collages (scallop-y waves . . . be still my heart!). at the time i did not realize that he grew up in the islands, but once this little tidbit hit my radar i did the happy dance for the chance to share a peek inside the portfolio of one of my favorite designers.

shall we scroll through a few selections which make me smile?

are you swooning over the jack johnson album billboard too?

a seattle baby by birth, jeff spent most of his childhood on oahu surfing waikiki before studying art at the university of oregon upon graduation from punahou. bfa in hand, he soon became art director at surfer magazine and, upon saying aloha to pursue freelance life, eventually found his way up the coast where he settled in san francisco.

after accompanying a friend who was having a sign made for a new surf shop (the now iconic mollusk), jeff immediately began an apprenticeship with the sign writers at new bohemia where he practiced his lettering and discovered a natural knack for hand painted signage.

the signs are what first caught my eye and i love how they playfully capture a bygone era when mom & pops outnumbered chain stores. isn't it especially nice to see a long lost craft from the past enjoying a small renaissance?

jeff's limited edition honolulu and waikiki prints (only 100 of each) were made especially for the greenroom show so hele over if you hope to make one (or both) yours:

• where: 2350 kalakaua avenue, waikiki
• shop hours: daily, 9a to 11p

raise your hand if you are crushing over jeff's designs too!