Texts from Last Night

from here

This one just made me laughed out loud.  And then I felt sad that I didn't have a copy of the Land Before Time.

lol,

Seimi

Quote - Elizabeth Taylor

"As I look at some of my jewels I realize what a very lucky girl I am.  Sometimes I wonder what will become of everything, because just like the Duchess of Windsor's collection, they will all be up for auction one day.  They will be scattered to the four corners of the world, and I hope that whoever buys each piece loves it as much as I do and takes care of it and realizes that having jewelry is a temporary gift.  In truth, we 'owners' are just the caretakers.  Nobody owns beautiful paintings.  Nobody every owns anything this beautiful.  We are only the guardians."


Taylor, Elizabeth. My Love Affair with Jewelry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Jewelry of the Day: Betty Draper's Pearls

Betty Draper Francis (née Hofstadt) is one of my favorite characters on AMC's Mad Men.  Sure she is not without her flaws - she is vain, childish, spoiled and airs an overwhelming sense of entitlement.  But parts of her personality is very relatable.  Underneath all that facade is a woman who desperately wants to be happy.  When she smiles - an occasion few and far in between - she looks completely vulnerable.  That vulnerability tugs at your heart strings.

Love,

Seimi

Looking forward to Mother's Day! AND - Elizabeth Taylor's 1st piece of Jewelry

You know, you always hear stories of how little girls used to wear their mother's pearls, make up and heels?  Looking back, oh gosh, I never did.  Mom wore very little jewelry or make up - and I certainly didn't appreciate heels until I was in highschool (by then Mom and I were the same shoe size, so I just wore her's).  

One of my happiest memories was riding on the vespa with Mom.  My siblings had already started school so I had Mom all to myself.  We would cruise around on her blue vespa, and occasionally go pick up some noodles for lunch.  I would stand in front of the seats, feeling the wind hitting my forehead (I was barely tall enough to clear the dashboard), and then see the noodle soup wrapped in plastic bags swing back and forth on the handle bars - just brushing by my cheeks...  Thinking back, it sounded so dangerous - what was my mom thinking?!  But we had so much fun, so much fun.  I love you Mom <3

Gold plate and colored stone brooch
circa 1965

I was reading Elizabeth Taylor's memoir a while back, and she talked about this brooch - it was such a sweet memory.  As a child, she secretly saved up all of her allowances (50 cents per week) for months to buy this brooch for her mom for Mother's Day.  It was her mother's most valued possession, and when she passed she left it for Elizabeth.  Isn't that just precious?

Love,

Seimi

Taylor, Elizabeth. My Love Affair with Jewelry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Scarab Jewelry

Photo Source

14k gold vintage nephrite scarab ring from Doyle & Doyle

Look #1 from Bottega Veneta Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear

Look #2 from Bottega Veneta Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear

King Tutankhamun's lapis scarab

King Tutankhamun's pectoral scarab with desert glass

Beetles on my mind,

Seimi

Super cute - Hear no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil

I recently watched a TEDTalk of a fantastic Q&A between Secretary Albright and Pat Mitchell.  What a foxy lady, I looooove her.

And this transcript excerpt must be shared:

MA: [...] I have my youngest granddaughter, when she turned seven last year, said to her mother, my daughter, "So what's the big deal about Grandma Maddie being Secretary of State? Only girls are Secretary of State."

(Laughter)

(Applause)

PM: Because in her lifetime -- (MA: That would be so.)

These pins are from her memoir, Read My Pins:

Former Defense Secretary Cohen, President Clinton, and Secretary Albright.
Photograph by Diana Walker.

And yes, this is why this post is aptly named "Super Cute."  I dare you to do anything else but smile.

Love,

Seimi

Albright, Madeleine et al. Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box. New York: HarperCollins, 2009

Jewelry of the Day: "Boucle de Diamants" ring from Chanel

Photo Source

"BOUCLE DE DIAMANTS" RING

18k White Gold and Diamonds, by Chanel

Cleopatra vs. Marc Antony, WINNING!

The Banquet of Cleopatra, by Giambattista Tiepolo (1696 - 1770) 

Legend has it that Cleopatra once bet against Marc Antony that she could host the most extravagant, expensive and sumptuous dinner party ever imagined.  Marc Antony accepted the challenge, and attended her banquet.

It was an extraordinary meal, but Marc Antony, who was not a stranger to lavish dinners, remained unimpressed.  Cleopatra then ordered the next course to be served, and it unveiled to be a strong glass of vinegar.  She then proceeded to remove her state-of-the-arts pearl earrings, crushed them, dissolved the jewelry - rumored to be the biggest in the world and worth 15 kingdoms - into the vinegar.  And then she drank it.  Marc Antony accepted his defeat, and Cleopatra won the wager.

Winning,

Seimi

Jewelry of the Day: Elizabeth Taylor's Antique Brooch

Photo Source

Art Nouveau enamel, glass, and pearl brooch, circa 1910
by Lalique

Blue-green glass face surrounded by golden serpents and enhanced by blue and green enamel.  A single baroque pearl is suspended from the mystical, hypnotic brooch.


A gift for Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Burton, by her very beloved Richard Burton.

Love,

Seimi

Taylor, Elizabeth. My Love Affair with Jewelry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Elizabeth Taylor - My Love Affair with Jewelry (excerpt)

My Ice Skating Rink

Photo Source

"Toward the end of 1957, Mike (Todd) and I had been on this crazy junket promoting Around the World in 80 Days, and our last stop was in Russia.  We were on a tour in one of the great museums and we had this darling Russian guide with beautiful gray hair, and he was dressed in a perfectly matching gray suit.  He was showing us the painting and sculpture galleries, and the jewelry, which was my main interest.  When we came out of the museum, my diamond ring (which I had to sell years later) was sparkling away in the sunshine, and this dear man couldn't take his eyes off it.  He looked at me and said, 'I mean no offense, madam, but a stone of that beauty should be in a museum, where everyone can see it.' 'You know,' I answered, 'I disagree with you.  When I wear it, anyone can look at it, and I'll let anybody try it on.  So more people have probably touched this stone, seen the beauty in the pure sunshine or when it sparkles at night.  Anyone who is around me can see it up close.  Isn't that better than putting it in a museum?  How many people in a museum can actually take a rock of this size out of a case and put it on their finger?  Besides, I take care of it.  It's a part of me while I have it, and I'm there to protect it and insure it.'  At that moment he finally understood what I meant.  Then I asked whether he wanted to try it on."

Taylor, Elizabeth. My Love Affair with Jewelry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Poetry - W.B. Yeats

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heaven's embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.


- William Butler Yeats

Jewelry - Exchange

A very pretty girl helped me checkout at the Park Slope Foodcoop today.  She was wearing this gorgeous, vibrant blue cocktail ring.  I instinctively asked her what kind of gem was she wearing.

Her:  Oh... I don't know, I think it's the Hope Diamond.

Me:  Wow.  Did you break into the Smithsonian?

Her:  Yah.  There's some espionage thing that went down.

And did you know...
The elusive Ms. Evalyn Walsh McLean once wore the 44.5 carat Hope Diamond - set in a headpiece surrounded by three tiers of white diamond - as a part of her costume to a party thrown by the Vanderbilts at the Marble House (Newport, Rhode Island)?

Photo Source
She later had the diamond's setting changed into a pendant, as photographed.

Wow,

Seimi

Weddings: Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham

While searching for a picture of Jacky O and JFK's wedding, I came across this article that details President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham's story.  It'll make you go aweeeeeee.

Love,

Seimi

Famous Engagement Rings: Jacky O and JFK

Senator John F. Kennedy proposed to Ms. Jacqueline Bouvier on Wednesday, June 24, 1953 - two years after they've met.  John Kennedy's father, Joe Sr. had picked out this Van Cleef And Arpels engagement ring:

One 2.88 carat diamond is mounted next to a 2.84 carat emerald with tapered baguettes.  

The couple were married on September 12, 1953 at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island in front of 750 guests (and an additional 3,000 outside the Church hoping to catch a glimpse).

Photo Source

Jacqueline's dress was made by Ann Lowe and the couple danced to their first song, "I Married an Angel" during the reception at the Auchincloss waterside estate, Hammersmith Farm.

Love,

Seimi

Photo source

Jewelry of the Day: Annie Moran's Ruffle Ring

Photo Source

Gorgeous collection.  Annie is super nice and so über talented!  Visit her site to see the rest!

Love,

Seimi

We're Obsessed With: Armor Jewelry

Despite that it snowed earlier this morning (yes, in April.  Crazy weather), it's been a wonderful Friday.  And a great weekend to look forward to.  And a great week to follow!

Earlier in the week I wrote about nOir and their fantastic pavé cocktail rings.  The Armor Jewelry couldn't be more different.  My dear friend Han-Chin had highly recommended the designer after I told her that I was seeing these very structured pieces in different magazines like Nylon and Interview.  

Armor is started by designer Sandee Shin in 2009.  The pieces are handmade in NY and the body pieces come in dress sizes.  

UME Body Chain

I love that the pieces can be draped over you to construct an edgy silhouette and that it looks like the jewelry is molded onto your body.

CHRISTOPHE Shoulder pice

And let's face it: the pieces remind you a little bit of BDSM, no?  A little naughty, a lot of personality.

JILL Body pin

I have to have this whimsical bow pin.

BOLERA Body Chain

Armor also carries ear and wrist/digit pieces in addition to the body chains, for example, this number:

AMIRA Wrist Chain

Love,

Seimi

I borrowed all the pictures liberally from Armor Jewelry's website.  Also be sure to visit their blog and like them on facebook.