Muriel Grateau

Just how amazing is this ring by Muriel Grateau? It's made of molten onyx...and in case she gets lonely on your hand, there's an equally stunning gentleman to match, complete with turban....

 £700 each, via Browns.

Another molten onyx ring with a carved face, this time with a red carnelian cabochon. I really love the way his beard flows into the band of the ring, and the way the carnelian looks like a hat atop his head. 

£2,830 via Browns.

Not only has Grateau done some great things with molten onyx, but she's used blackened gold in intricate formations to create a lace like effect. Reminiscent of Berlin Ironwork...very gothic, very me.

This ring is reminiscient of one of my rings, apart from mine was much much cheaper and is much less fabulous. 

£1,085 via Browns.

Damn, I really want this bracelet! 

18K blackened white gold, £2,840 via Browns. Maybe I'll wait for the Browns sale...

I'm a bit of an antique jewellery geek, so finding a contemporary jewellery designer who I actually like is rather a rare event. I can only think of one other current jeweller that I admire, and that is Lara Bohinc. Although, I'm not exactly a jewellery buff so there probably would be others out there if I looked harder. 

all images from brownsfashion.com

Outfit for shoppingz

I was determined to wear trousers today, I've been wearing far too many skirts and dresses! I'm glad I did too, as it was SO wet and SO windy today, it was horrid. I've not got a lot to say, nothing amazing about my outfit, but it was comfy and I got to use my favourite new bag. My cardigan looks pretty standard, but its actually really nice when you see all the details. The sleeves are quite loose, till the wrist where they are pulled in by a tight band, there's ruffles around the top half, the buttons are small and pretty, and it has ties to form a bow with. It's just like a typical pussy-bow blouse actually, apart from in a knitwear incarnation. I'm surprised I don't wear it more often. Thats all for now!

Vintage leather jacket, vintage shoes, bag (Lara Bohinc), gloves (Jarrolds), scarf (Tie Rack), socks (Ted Baker), trousers (H&M), cardigan (Urban Outfitters), mustard vest (Ted Baker).

Feeling Lara Bohinc

No, don't worry; I haven’t been indecently assaulting the talented lady herself! Today the postman brought me a present, in the form of a beautiful Lara Bohinc handbag. Very kind of the postman you may be thinking, alas not, he was merely fulfilling his employee obligation and brought it, not bought it, you fools! So anyway, I have been stroking and admiring my new wardrobe addition all day, she sure is beautiful. In a reversal of the usual ‘get dressed, find a handbag that matches’ tradition, I built my outfit around the handbag. Shiny black texture, gold hardwear, and a gorgeous red lining? I accepted the challenge gladly! *WARNING* I got very snappy happy and took far too many pictures, but we all know my photos are far more interesting than my words.

Black wool princess coat (Mango), antique lace shawl, mustard vest (Ted Baker), vintage silk scarf, red cardigan (H&M), black cardigan (Topshop), vintage black velvet skirt, black patent leather shoes (Chloé), handbag (Lara Bohinc), my favourite pom-pom gloves and finally vintage dragon brooch, gold leaf necklace, rose bracelet and rose necklace (all from ebayzz I think).