island crush: nene letterpress

while scouting for letterpress prints on etsy last fall, i stumbled upon the delightful birds and blooms of the 50 states series by sf's dutch door press. after dashing off a note, co-designer anna branning kindly tipped me off that an illustration of our state bird would soon have its turn on their chandler & price printing press.

last week, anna happily sent word about their lovely new arrival: our beautiful nene surrounded by bright red hibiscus!

limited edition. 100 prints.

$15 online.

isle style: pearl.love

i have been patiently waiting for the official first day of summer to share today's peek, and then a little computer emergency abruptly delayed my plans. reading clicks upon clicks about hard drive errors has a way of frying your brain waves, so after recovering from attempting to comprehend a download of details, i cannot wait for you to finally meet the lovely featured designers recently introduced by kristel of rockabella jewels.

the gorgeous gray glow by pearl.love is a welcome holiday for the senses (especially after my geek glitch), and conjures up dreamy visions of escaping to the breathtaking blue waters of french polynesia. the modern mermaid-worthy creations are handmade by sisters emily and tara of oahu who entwine freshwater and tahitian pearls with leather strands to channel the glamorous gypsetter style popping up everywhere this summer.

the debut collection ranges from simple single drops to a cascade of bohemian beauty, and can be yours for 15% off during this week's summer solstice sale!

• sale dates: now to sun, jun 26th
• fyi: sale prices marked

{mahalo kristel!}

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 ...

misa jewelry azteca collection

bar

my day always becomes a little brighter upon receiving a sweet note from la-based jewelry designer misa hamamoto who recently wrote to share the happy news of the launch of her azteca collection. longtime readers know my appreciation for misa jewelry goes back to the very first collection, and misa continues to look to cultures near to her heart before refining her current inspiration into shimmering beauties.

for azteca, misa balances two design moments: the breathtaking symmetry of the ancient aztecs and the glamorous elegance of art deco. the discovery of misa's influences allows you to notice the collection's references to stacked pyramids and grand skyscrapers with every long ago flourish thoughtfully reduced for modern lovelies who prefer to wrap themselves in more minimal ornamentation.

the simplicity of the azteca bar reminds me of a delightful secret shared by only the most observant design enthusiasts while the striking translation of the azteca arrow is an edgy possibility for style archeologists. i also love the parallel of the aztecs' reverence for craftsmanship with misa's small jewelry atelier handmaking adornment sparked by its source.

meet me after the jump for more peeks and details!

large pyramid

small pyramid

arrow

if you share my swoon, azteca's price tag starts at $120 and the nine-piece collection can be peeked on the official website where you can also fill your cart with your favorite designs. and, while the burnished glow of gold captures my fancy, just know most pieces can also be yours in sterling silver.

if you prefer to shop local, hit the stockist list or save yourself the click and find selections from azteca at bungalow 9 on kaua'i and riches hawaii at kahala mall.

island crush: indian summer

although i have yet to make it to the monthly art & flea in kaka'ako, the other day i discovered one of its indie vendors on etsy. amongst soul sparrow vintage's thrifted treasures, my eye was immediately drawn to the indian summer bag constructed of lucky fabric finds which whisper of sunshine and summertime in faraway lands.

quite the steal for such a fetching carryall!

$25 online.