Hallmarked by Cynthia Rybakoff

Love For Sale

2012-02-10T08:27:00.005-05:00

For 25 years, God's Love We Deliver has created nutritious meals for the body and soul. This weekend, Artists & Fleas presents a very special Valentine's sale and fundraiser, Love For Sale, to benefit the organization which has improved the health and well-being of those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses, by delivering high quality meals.

Ricky Becker of Spooky Boutique, has transformed a part of the market into a red room, merchandising the romantic works of over 20 participating artists, designers and vintage collectors, with a generous portion of the proceeds going to God's Love We Deliver.

Shop this weekend for all things red, including my vintage Lips earrings, pictured above, and enjoy some Brooklyn style DJ Karaoke on Saturday, starting at 5pm.

Artists & Fleas is located at 70 N. 7th Street between Kent & Wythe in Williamsburg.

Get Away Now

2012-01-11T18:48:00.006-05:00

Here's a nifty collection of casual get away items, including sweet floral espadrille wedges and a super cool chunky knit anchor sweater (wrap those up to go please). The Feather cyanotype silk scarf is by Handmade on Peconic Bay for Club Monaco.

Photo courtesy of Club Monaco.

It's a Wrap

2012-01-06T09:05:00.003-05:00

Here are some lovely pics from the silk accessory collaboration between Ashdel Handmade and Handmade On Peconic Bay. Ashley Delose, a talented textile artisan, noticed the potential in my husband Matt's cyanotype and Van Dyke brown printed silk seconds, and fashioned them into something decidedly a first! See her Ashdel Handmade collection on Etsy, made entirely from vintage and recycled textiles.

Chelsea Girls

2011-12-19T06:59:00.002-05:00

A quick look at my holiday pop-up at Chelsea Market in NYC!

Artists & Fleas at Chelsea Market, located at Tenth and 15th. Open 10:30 -7:30pm daily through December 31st.

Join the Club

2011-12-07T11:27:00.008-05:00

After months of top secret development, my Resort 2012 collaboration with Club Monaco launches today! I've designed a mini collection of modern pendants with a vintage look and feel. Inspired by Victorian Scottish and English sterling silver, with lots of great period detailing, these limited edition pieces can be yours at a very affordable price.

You will COVET and adore my vintage classic Anchor of Hope and Albert Watch Fob pendants, created in pewter and brass with nickel free antique rhodium plating. Based on 19th century period men's accessories (think Sherlock Holmes style coolness), they're updated with a feminine touch.

Like other independent designers chosen to create cutting edge items for top retailers like J. Crew, Madewell, Topshop and Target under their own brand name, my collaboration with Club Monaco is an amazing opportunity to have my work presented in a super hip fashion environment, with tons of great clothes and accessories.

Cynthia Rybakoff for Club Monaco pendants, $89. See my website for a full list of stores. If yours is not listed, you may be able order it from another location.

Brooklyn's Best

2011-11-30T13:09:00.004-05:00

Brooklyn's best are coming to Manhattan. Save the date for Artists & Fleas at Chelsea Market! December 15th - 31st. Click on this flyer for more information.

River Crossing

2011-11-14T13:44:00.010-05:00

Beginning December 15th, Artists & Fleas brings the best of Brooklyn to the heart of hip with a 2-week long holiday pop-up at Chelsea Market. Artists & Fleas at Chelsea Market is an opportunity to showcase a selection of hand picked artists and designers in NYC, since first opening their doors in Williamsburg in 2003. 30 crafty vendors, including Cynthia Rybakoff fine fashion jewelry, and Handmade on Peconic Bay modern vintage prints, will be transforming a never-before-seen 4000 square foot industrial space on the corner of West 15th Street & Tenth Avenue into Manhattan's best holiday happening.

The venue sits at the cross-roads of fashion, culture and urban innovation – nestled beneath the High Line park and between the the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, the West Village and the Hudson River waterfront. Chelsea Market is known around the world as much for its creative use of urban space and architecture as it is for exciting retailers and cosmopolitan food makers.

Artists & Fleas at Chelsea Market is located on the NE corner of 15th & 10th. Accessible via the Chelsea Market corridor near the 10th Avenue entrance, and doors on 15th & 10th. Map it!

The Market runs from December 15 - 31, 10 - 8pm, with exceptions listed below:

December 15, 12 - 8pm

December 24, 10 - 5pm

December 25th, closed

December 31, 10 - 5pm

Harlequin Romance

2011-09-13T13:51:00.006-04:00

I just love the mix of bold graphic prints at Kelly Wearstler, for Spring 2012. Ms. Wearstler's fashion designs tend to serve a dual purpose in my book. Each set of looks here doubles nicely as a mod-glam inspiration board for your latest interior decorating scheme.

Pictures courtesy of style.com.

Neo-Geo

2011-09-05T19:10:00.008-04:00

New for fall, my Mixed Messages collection made it's debut last night at Hester Street Fair Takes Over Bendel's for Fashion's Night Out.

Cynthia Rybakoff collection in sterling silver with polished brass. Available at Artists & Fleas, Williamsburg, weekends 10-7pm.

Movin' On Up!

2011-09-01T09:26:00.010-04:00

An unlikely combination, or the best idea ever? Hester Street Fair is movin' on up, to midtown's tony Fifth Avenue shopping district, for one night only, on September 8th. Stepping out of their Lower East Side outdoor market mold, and transforming the 3rd floor of Henri Bendel on Fashion's Night Out, the Hester team will re-imagine the space as a new world market.

Over 50 vendors, including artists, designers, and chefs will be there, plus live jazz and "interactive booths" to create their new world shopping experience. Henri Bendel has long been a supporter of emerging designers, with their Open See! initiatives. Bringing Hester Street Fair to Bendel's for Fashion's Night Out 2011, underscores this commitment to new and innovative talent.

On another note, Henri Bendel was the first major specialty store to carry my hand-crafted jewelry, back in the late 80's and early 90's. Now, some 18 years later, I'll be there again, on Fashion's Night Out to launch my new Fall 2011 collection!

The Hester Street Fair Partners with Henri Bendel for Fashion's Night Out
September 8th, 3pm - 11pm
Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Avenue

Jean Therapy

2011-08-05T22:22:00.006-04:00

What do you do with that pile of worn out denim jeans in your closet? The ones that are ripped, and not in a cool, carefully distressed way? Reincarnate them perhaps as upcycled art? That's the unique vision of photographer and printer Matt Shapoff of Handmade On Peconic Bay, who's know for creating unique modern prints, stationary and textile accessories, using 19th photographic techniques.

This weekend Matt unveils his newest collection, in collaboration with über kreativ Montauk textile artist Anne Drager, and the results are nothing short of 1960's Woodstock flower child meets BoHo chic. The abstract patched denim and cyanotype printed textile throw pillows will look equally as home in your prefab Leisurama weekend getaway, as they will in your Williamsburg glass power tower. See the entire collection here.

Anne Drager for Handmade On Peconic Bay one of a kind upcycled denim and cyanotype patched throw pillows, available exclusively at Artists & Fleas. Custom work available on request (just bring us your old denim and Matt + Anne will create something special, just for you).

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby

2011-07-28T13:33:00.008-04:00

"Let it never be said that romance is dead" ~ Kaiser Chiefs "Ruby".

I adore precious gemstones in their raw state. Here are two examples of delicate ruby and sapphire slice pendants, with oxidized sterling silver. Always one of a kind, these geometric lovelies were sliced from naturally occurring hexagonal crystals in the corundum family.

This season on Breaking Bad, Hank, the cranky bedridden family narc and gunshot victim, who's new hobby is collecting mineral specimens, scored a premium example of natural blue corundum on eBay. "Sapphire", I screamed out loud to the TV, to no one in particular. I love mineral specimens too.

Cynthia Rybakoff Ruby, Ruby, Ruby Pendant, $138, currently available online at Supermarket and weekends 10-7pm at Artists & Fleas.

Sapphire pendant photo courtesy of Ashdel Handmade.

Heavens to Murgatroyd!

2011-07-08T15:49:00.006-04:00

That's what gay cartoon icon Snagglepuss might say, if he saw you sporting this chunk of ruff rock crystal points around town. I don't know which galaxy Murgatroyd is located in, but just think of all the gems that might be found there! Exit, stage left!

Cynthia Rybakoff Murgatroyd Crystal Pendants with oxidized silver foil bezel on a heavyweight sterling silver chain, for boys and girls, $128. Available at Supermarket and Artists & Fleas.

Swede Times

2011-07-01T09:05:00.009-04:00

One chilly June, in the late 90's, I spent a blissed out two weeks in Sweden, scouring flea markets, pristine antique shops, salvation armies, tony mid-century galleries, and dusty old junk stores, until I had filled several suitcases with treasures representing over 100 years of Scandinavian design in wood, glass, metal and ceramic. It helped to be staying with an expert Swedish design picker, who led me through the modern city of Stockholm, into the cobbled streets of the historic Gamla Stan, and out into the surrounding provinces like a pro, on what was to be the design trip of a life time.

Waxing nostalgic for 11pm sunsets, Josef Frank prints and crayfish, I couldn't resist this recent aquisition of colorful limited edition vintage Swedish map charms; eye catching mod souvenirs of a country that personifies good design. Celebrate your love for all things Swedish with these collectible kitsch pendants in the shape of one very cool country.

Cynthia Rybakoff one of a kind and limited edition vintage travel charm collection, available weekends at Artists & Fleas, Brooklyn and online at Supermarket.

Anchors Aweigh

2011-06-08T18:44:00.004-04:00

To the Victorians, the Anchor was a symbol of Hope, an emotion that provided a refuge from the travails of living in a time when death was always near. No doubt, those tight corsets had a lot to do with it. Faith (Cross), Hope (Anchor) and Charity (Heart) were popular charm motifs in Victorian jewelry.

The Anchor of Hope on it's own, was often made into larger brooches, which could also be worn as pendants. Two of my recent acquisitions, and shining examples of the 19th - early 20th century genre are pictured here, in sterling silver with finely engraved detailing and entwined ropes. The superb larger brooch is inlaid with charcoal colored Scottish granite.

Cynthia Rybakoff Estate Collection jewelry is available at Artists & Fleas.

Mixed Messages

2011-05-18T08:53:00.009-04:00

I heart wearing my initial or monogram, hand engraved on fine sterling silver. Sentimental keepsakes, as well as instant heirlooms, an engraved piece of jewelry is a perfect way to celebrate a special event, capture a memory, or simply make your mark on this lonely planet.

Cynthia Rybakoff hand engraved monograms and initials are now available by custom order at Artists & Fleas, weekends 10 -7, 70 N. 7th, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Silver Obsession

2011-04-21T07:49:00.006-04:00

"One to Watch: Cynthia Rybakoff's Sterling Silver Obsession" ~ special thanks to NBC New York and Catherine Blair Pfander for this thoughtful and definitively groovy profile on the Thread|NY insider fashion blog!

Find Cynthia Rybakoff modern vintage jewels weekends only, from 10-7pm, at my Artists & Fleas pop-up shop, or online at Supermarket.

Stone Cold Cool

2011-04-05T20:24:00.008-04:00

I'm in love with these new black agate rings with mixed stone druzy tops. Designed by mother nature, naturally.

Cynthia Rybakoff druzy rings are available at Artists & Fleas, $25 - $98.

Color Me Mine

2011-03-28T21:08:00.004-04:00

Want, want want. These brightly-glazed ceramic colliers have an art deco feel and are strung on seductive soft cording. Handmade in France by Marion Vidal. For collectors, for color enthusiasts, at Anthropologie.

Inages courtesy of Anthropologie.

Good Enough To Eat

2011-03-25T18:18:00.007-04:00

Pret a porter or pret a manger? Introducing Mise en Place Vintage, Brooklyn's newest source for DIY vintage jewelry, as well as unique finished items. Browse a delectable selection of "ingredients" at the vintage bead bar, gathered from all over the globe, for making your own designs. Or say the word, and Cynthia or Courtney will help you put a little something together, right there on the spot.

For the connoisseur, sample one of a kind and limited edition pieces from the Mise en Place House Reserve Collection, created entirely of vintage parts from the Mise en Place bead bar, including mid-century modern plastics, Japanese ceramics, and West German glass and chains. Vistors can even catch a glimpse of the designers at work, creating new pieces each weekend at Artists & Fleas!

Visit Mise en Place on Tumblr and Facebook.

Images courtesy of Mise en Place Vintage

Violet Eyes

2011-03-23T22:00:00.004-04:00

Farewell, violet eyes.

Images courtesy of Jezebel.

The Aviator

2011-03-22T10:05:00.006-04:00

There's something about aged glove leather and riveted aluminum cladding that gets my creative juices all a-fluttery. Sure, it's mas macho than my usual gender neutral interior leanings, but a piece of two from the new Restoration Hardware Aviator Collection would surely add some masculine romance to a library or media room. Man with great hair, steely eyes and pilot's license optional.

Images courtesy of THE GENT - THE REBEL - THE POET, Restoration Hardware.

New Dimensions

2011-03-19T09:56:00.005-04:00

Pallas ~ The Greek Titan God of Warcraft. Envisioned + styled by Asanti Austin, and featuring Cynthia Rybakoff jewelry.

Images courtesy of Dimensionmagazine.

Fashion Week Redux

2011-03-09T22:36:00.005-05:00

There's a bit of Fashion Week for the rest of us, happening this weekend at Artists & Fleas, in Williamsburg on the waterfront. Come browse a curated showcase of over 12 emerging independent jewelry, clothing and accessory designers as they unveil new looks and new lines from their Spring/Summer collections.

New Designers & New Designs will also shine, sparkle and dazzle with a spring assortment of my fine fashion jewels! Read more about what folks are saying about Cynthia Rybakoff jewelry, over in the 'Burg, after the jump.

Images courtesy of Artists & Fleas.

Faded Glory

2011-02-21T15:21:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time, in the mid-1970's, there was the original pre-faded jean, Faded Glory. The "it" brand of it's day, one rocked those jeans with a pair of Frye Stitching Horse boots, and a foxy Huck-A-Poo shirt.

I was stoked when I saw the Stella McCartney spring collection, because her easy peasy modernist take on denim seemed so eerily familiar. Those loose, boxy silhouettes worn with sensible sandals may be nothing like their 70's disco ready predecessors, yet they resonate the same pre-washed coolness responsible for teenage popularity way back when.

Images courtesy of style.com.

Beholden

2011-02-20T09:43:00.005-05:00

Can you fall in love with a belt? Seriously, date it? There's much to adore on BHLDN. Behold the nautical rope belt that whispers softly in my ear "you know you want me."

Image courtesy of BHLDN.

Travels With My Aunt

2011-02-18T12:06:00.004-05:00

She's the original Gaga, having survived an early career as an infamous cabaret singer, and several marriages to curious gentlemen of European extraction. She's been around the world more times than she cares to recall. She loves to collect souvenir items, and doesn't think it's touristy at all. She has a flaming bouffant and long lacquered nails to match, with impressive stones on almost every finger. She wears Cleopatra eyeliner and flowing caftans in loud prints. She makes flourishing gestures with her bejeweled wrists and hands for emphasis, as if casting a spell. She drinks bellinis at 10, espresso at 4, martinis at 6, Campari and soda at 8, followed by a continental dinner at 10, her only meal of the day.

She is your aunt, not you, of the understated chic urban set. But you love touristy things too, especially little hand painted enamel charms from fabulous places you and your husband are too busy to visit, what with careers, a family, and a home to manage. Maybe some day, you tell yourself, when the kids have grown, you'll plan fabulous trips around the world, more times than you care to recall.

Cynthia Rybakoff one of a kind sterling silver and vintage enamel travel charm collection, available weekends at Artists & Fleas, Brooklyn.

Red Hot

2011-02-14T15:37:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Images courtesy of Chance.

A Love Story

2011-02-11T14:24:00.006-05:00

With Valentine's Day around the corner, and New York Fall Fashion Week in full swing, love is in the air on and off the runway. While perusing the Steven Alan fall collection, I was immediately struck by it's retro classic nature, and pictured the looks on a modern day version of Ryan O'Neil and Ali McGraw in Love Story. Released in 1970, Love Story was as notable for it's doomed love affair between Ivy leaguers Oliver Barrett IV, and blue collar Jennifer Cavilleri, as it was for their preppy bohemian style. For fall, Steven Alan captures the essence of the young collegiate intellectual perfectly, in his oh so wearable collection for men and women. I've picked out my fave looks, paired as couples, for some Valentine's fun!

Images courtesy of Marie Claire, and Style.com.

Dog Show!

2011-02-09T11:10:00.003-05:00

Matt Shapoff, "Helper Dog Cyanotype No. 321", 2010

Mascot Studio

Katherine Streeter

I can't think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day, than celebrating our four legged loved ones at Mascot's Studio's annual Dog Show. Dogs don't need a pedigree or agility training to be included in dog artist extraordinaire slash gallery owner Peter McCaffrey's show, just a great image. Attend the opening night reception in Mascot's cozy East Village gallery, or peruse the pup art at your leisure from February 14th to March 31st. With all these talented canine artists, you'll be hard pressed to choose a "Best in Show"!

The 12th Annual Dog Show
Feb 14th - Mar 31st
Opening; Valentine's Day 7-9pm

Mascot Studio
328 East 9th Street
New York, NY 10003
212.228.9090

Bunny Love

2011-02-07T11:18:00.007-05:00

Rabbit with color fade, by Perch

White Rabbit Necklace, by Georgia Varidakis Jewelry

Screen Printed Organic Cotton Rabbit Cloth Napkins, by Oh, Little Rabbit

Rabbit Jumps the Laurel Necklace, by Christine Domanic Jewelry

White Rabbit Ring, by Georgia Varidakis Jewelry

It's the Year of the Rabbit, and I just love those little clover mowers! Yesterday, at Artists & Fleas, jewelry designer Georgia Varidakis was babysitting a sweet little black bunny, and I just wanted one right then and there! My two kittehs would probably not approve, so I've assembled a collection of cute bunny inspired designs instead.

Images courtesy of Perch, Georgia Varidakis Jewelry, Oh, Little Rabbit, Christine Domanic Jewelry.

Love Tokens

2011-02-05T08:44:00.005-05:00

I'm moving to Brooklyn! Cynthia Rybakoff jewelry debuts today at Artist & Fleas in Williamsburg, with a special selection of modern vintage jewels for Valentine's Day. Shop the entire collection, all winter long, at Artists & Fleas' spacious new location. See more of my Love Tokens, available exclusively at Artist's and Feas.

70 North 7th Street
Between Wythe and Kent
Weekends 12 - 8pm

Big Love

2011-01-30T09:16:00.013-05:00

Lavender Heart Valentine at Etsy.

Art print cards on display at Glittering Conscience.

Van Dyke brown botanical print tote at Artists & Fleas.

Cyanotype botanical print at Mascot Studio.

My husband Matt is a true romantic. Recently, he created a heart shaped wreath made of dried lavender from our garden, and made a few test prints. They were a hit, so we've expanded the theme for our Valentine's collection of botanical heart note cards, totes and prints for Handmade On Peconic Bay.

Our Lavender Heart note cards are eco-friendly and come in six amorous colors, perfect for Valentine's Day or any heartfelt occasion! They're available at Etsy and Glittering Conscience, 96 West Houston, in NYC. The one of a kind cyanotype lavender and rosemary heart, pictured above, is available at Mascot Studio. Mascot Studio carries a carefully curated selection of Handmade On Peconic Bay prints and note cards, in a tiny jewel box of a shop, tucked away in Manhattan's East Village.

For those of you in the hood, come visit us in Williamsburg, starting this weekend, when Handmade On Peconic Bay make its debut at Artists & Fleas. Shop our entire hand crafted Valentine's collection of art print note cards, one of a kind cyanotype and Van Dyke brown canvas totes and prints, plus a whole lot more!

Black + Cream

2011-01-27T09:11:00.005-05:00

Vive la couture! Jean Paul Gaultier's Victorian vixens have a punk attitude with glam style. These creatures of the night, with feathery mohawks and provacative jet accessories, are most appealing in black with high contrast cream or mocha. The level of rich detailing in the luxe fabrics and tailoring is extraordinary! But of course chéri, this is couture. Some of my favorite ensembles are shown here, juxtaposed with 17th century blackwork prints, which were ornamental designs for enamel jewelry making, produced in Northern Europe between 1580 and 1630.

Images courtesy of Style.com and BibliOdyssey.

Tribal Vibes

2011-01-22T10:40:00.006-05:00

Paris. Spring. 2011. Could have fooled me. I thought it was 1973, judging from those chunky African trade bead chokers and bracelets! At second glance, Isabel Marant's spring collection is more fabulous than I thought. Ultra modern easy styling that's preppy chic, and urban bohemian all at once, with a sophisticated mix of texture and color that's soft and feminine. A striking contrast to the heavy glass bead bracelets and chokers that scream hippie. It really works.

I bought tons of African trade beads, when I was first starting out, including the interlocking snake beads, featured heavily in Marant's appealing spring accessories. The jewelry I made back then was rather lumpy, but colorful and full of that 1970's New York City ethnic vibe. Little did I know, my African trade beads were bona fide antiques, made predominately in Venice and Bohemia from the late 1400s through the early 1900s, and traded in Africa and the Americas for goods, services and even slaves.

Today African trade beads have been making somewhat of a comeback. The beads themselves, when authentic, are quite collectible, plus they fetch a pretty penny. I quite adore them right now, for livening up a modern look with an unexpected tribal twist. And won't they be a refreshing change this season from all the fussy glitz, and be-ribboned rhinestones we've grown accustomed to?

Images courtesy of accessoriesmagazine.com.

Grazie! Merci! Arigato!

2011-01-04T15:32:00.008-05:00

Here's a handy little cheat sheet for some post holiday etiquette: how to say "thank you" in more than 465 languages. It's always nice to write an actual note to Aunt Clara, for the vintage glass doorknob she gave you for Christmas, on some eye catching stationary. May we suggest some botanical themed blank note cards by Handmade On Peconic Bay, to convey your sentiments, while appealing to her aesthetic nature? And don't forget a pretty stamp. Aunt Clara appreciates the details!

Handmade on Peconic Bay blank notecards are available on IndieShop and Etsy.

Happy New Deal

2011-01-04T11:58:00.005-05:00

Your New Year's shopping resolution: I will get great deals. This January, look for special sales events on Cynthia Rybakoff jewelry, starting with 20% off on my entire oxidized sterling silver collection this week at Sicaria. The sale runs through Sunday, January 8th!

Got Yule?

2010-12-24T11:28:00.008-05:00

Two white squiggle ornaments by Will Squig Design.

Just a little Christmas eye candy for some yuletide cheer. Whether you adorn your home with scented garlands of pagan pine, kitschy pink tinsel trees, or yards of colorful LED lights, decoration makes this time of year feel extra cozy and special. Forget about hanging stockings by the chimney with care, or baking cute cookies, I prefer to decorate!

Above, are some of my favorite ornaments, collected over the years. Many are vintage, but some are brand new. This season, I purchased two beautiful hand painted ornaments with an allover white squiggle pattern from Will Squig Design, who was selling wonderful Christmas ornaments at Artist & Fleas in Williamsburg, reminiscent in feeling of vintage Keith Haring grafitti inspired patterns. You can also check out his affordable pop-art on Etsy.

Cool Things Made By Nice People

2010-12-14T15:54:00.008-05:00

From the creators of the Hester Street Fair comes The Big Social Holiday Market, opening just in time for the last minute Christmas dash! I be there with my jewelry, in a big way, pulling out all the stops, and showcasing an amazing collection of colorful holiday jewels you won't find anywhere else! Enjoy the artisanal crafted foods and refreshments, Hester Street Fair has become known for, while shopping in a curated gallery space filled with over 40 vendors.

The Big Social Holiday Market

December 17 - 23

11am - 8pm

Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street, NYC

Meet Your Maker

2010-12-09T21:49:00.004-05:00

Join us this weekend, at The (Makers) Market in Brooklyn, for unique holiday shopping and refreshments, in a charming rustic environment. I'll be bringing tons of my sterling silver jewelry, including vintage and unusual semi-precious stone designs, and Matt will be showing his Handmade On Peconic Bay collection of modern vintage prints and cute holiday cards, so stop by and meet your maker!

The (Makers) Market
December 11 - 12
11am - 5pm
The Old American Can Factory
232 3rd Street, Brooklyn
Map it

Christmas Balls

2010-12-09T11:29:00.013-05:00

From the Cynthia Rybakoff archives, here's an understated holiday look from 1989. I'm not going to exaggerate the time and effort that went into gluing each Swarovski crystal and vintage bugle bead, one piece at a time, with tweezers and delicate fingertips, to this 3 tiered neck piece with a zillion sparkling baubles. If made today, the piece would retail for about $18,000.

The necklace was part of a collection designed for the Fall/Winter Isaac Mizrahi runway show, and included a braided suede wrist wrap, that doubled as a necklace. The versatility of this piece is nicely demonstrated in this not at all provocative ad for Harvey Nichols.

Take A Chance On Me

2010-12-07T10:20:00.005-05:00

Once and a while you fall quite madly in love. With a new fashion and design collection you've stumbled upon. It happened so suddenly, I was simply smitten by Chance. What could be better than entire women's collection dedicated to the pattern I love most in life, stripes?

And the Chance Essentials. Don't get me started on this curated collection of year round nautical and beachy items. My picks are the 2-Stripe Stocking Cap for right now, Vintage Vera Scarves (so necessary for boating), The denim Skipper Sun Hat, a Cotton Knot Necklace, and can't live without sweet Turtle Necklace!

Don't miss the cool extras, like a clever illustrated time line of French sailor stripes and the célébrités who wore them (so very well).

Images courtesy of Chance.

Glittering Conscience

2010-12-01T20:31:00.003-05:00

Wade Watson of Ruff&Cut, Danny Bitran of Nahui Ollin, Kate Harrison of The Green Bride Guide and Nina Valenti of NatureVsFuture are popping up a shop in SoHo...

Join them on Thursday, Dec 2nd, from 6-11pm, for the grand opening of Glittering Conscience! Enjoy an evening of drinks, hors d’oeurves, music, and mingling with other eco-conscious minded enthusiasts, while shopping green for the holidays with a variety of earth-friendly products, including green process photographic prints and scarves, and recycled paper note cards by Handmade On Peconic Bay.

A percentage of proceeds will go to funding a well in Tanzania, a place where clean drinking water is much needed.

Thank you for taking an interest in sustainability!

(¯`*·. glittering conscience…

…socially responsible luxury.·*´¯)

Serious Moonlight

2010-11-26T14:19:00.005-05:00

Moonlight Necklace by Cynthia Rybakoff

Each holiday season I donate a special piece of jewelry for the silent auction at the Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest, an invitational ski event which pairs former Olympic ski legends with television and film celebrities for a weekend of skiing, live music and fundraising for the environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance, which supports and empowers Waterkeeper member organizations to protect communities, ecosystems and water quality.

This year I created The Moonlight Necklace, with a variety of unusual black semi-precious stones, which shimmer with golden highlights. Three rows of freeform black moonstone nuggets form a bib, suspended from a strand of oxidixed sterling silver wire wrapped black tourmaline slices, obsidian and black spinel marquise briolettes, and faceted pyrite rondels.

Waterkeeper Alliance is among the world’s fastest growing environmental organizations, with nearly 200 local Waterkeepers patrolling rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on six continents. For more information about this vital organization, founded in 1999 by environmental attorney and activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., visit their website, and like them on Facebook.

Meet The Designer

2010-11-10T13:38:00.016-05:00

There's a brand new feature on IndieShop.com worth taking note of! Did you ever wonder about how independent designers got their start, get their inspiration, or how they make their unique products? Now you can get an intimate glimpse into the mind of the artisan, with "Meet The Designer" video clips, located on the product pages of each designer's store on IndieShop.com.

Here I am, above, discussing how I got my start as a jewelry designer, and my first big break, before becoming a corporate jewelry designer for brands such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, and what inspires me now that I've decided to be an "indie" designer once again.

Here's my husband Matt Shapoff, whose Handmade On Peconic Bay collection of modern vintage photographic prints is also available on IndieShop, revealing the secrets of how he creates his cyanotypes prints, totes and scarves, plus the mysterious significance of the year 1895!

Videos courtesy of IndieShop.com.

Pink For The Holidays

2010-11-09T12:26:00.006-05:00

Artists are going pink for the holidays, at the One Of A Kind Show and Sale NY. Many of the artists attending the show, including Handmade On Peconic Bay, have come together to donate their time and talents and create exclusive items for a silent auction, to be held at the Susan G. Komen GO PINK FOR THE HOLIDAYS booth at this years event. 100% of the proceeds from this auction will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which supports breast cancer education, research and prevention. We've donated a special edition of our best selling HMPB Happy Holidays cards in signature shades of pink! Read more about the event and the items to be auctioned off in ReadyMade magazine.

And if you haven't already received your complimentary tickets to the show, get them here (a $30 value)! Matt and I look forward to meeting you at the show, Nov 18- 21st in booth A13.

Buy Extraordinary!

2010-11-06T14:56:00.008-04:00

On November 18-21, be our guest at the One of a Kind Show NY, a curated fine arts & crafts show, now in it's second year in NYC. Get your complimentary tickets here.

Give the gift of art. Handmade On Peconic Bay will be showing a unique selection of modern vintage cyanotype and Van Dyke brown photographic prints in frames made from recycled wood, plus an amazing array of photographic printed textiles, including silk scarves and totes.

Choose from a fabulous assortment of hand printed blank notecards, perfect for the holidays and beyond!

Handmade On Peconic Bay
invites you to the One of a Kind Show and Sale NY

Nov 18-21
7 West 34th Streeet @ Fifth Avenue
(across from the Empire State Building)
booth A13

Click here for complimentary tickets to the show.

Death In Venice {In Style}

2010-10-30T20:49:00.005-04:00

Some inspiration for all you little fashion creatures of the night, skull jewelry by the venerable luxury Venetian jewelry house, Codognato! Famously known for their intricately rendered vanitas themed jewels, skulls have become the trademark motif of the house. The subject of vanitas or "vanities" was popularized by 16th century Dutch painters, who meant the skulls to represent the vanity of living.

A cautionary tale for the viewer about the transient nature of wealth and pleasures of the flesh, the skull and and other symbolic objects, such as snuffed out candles, dead flowers and rotting fruit, were meant to remind us of the certainty of death.

Images courtesy of Elle, Quintessentially, NotesPrecieuses, Paula Stenberg.

Nice Ice Baby!

2010-10-26T21:20:00.006-04:00

Sweet as sugar, with none of the calories! My new Sugar Cube Necklace is a unique holiday gift, at a great price. Created with hammered rock crystal and sterling silver, the surface texture of the crystal cube resembles a tasty hunk of rock candy. Yum. While you're at it, soothe that sugar rush, with a Crystal Calm Bracelet, or earrings, and the natural healing energy of pure rock crystal.

Cynthia Rybakoff sterling silver and rock crystal Sugar Cube Necklace, $28.00, Crystal Calm Bracelet, $68.00, and Crystal Calm Earrings, $18.00, available at CynthiaRybakoff and Supermarket.

Treasures & Pleasures

2010-10-22T15:15:00.008-04:00

The name Treasures & Pleasures is well suited to describe George Yzquierdo’s fabulous curated collection of vintage and antique jewelry. Besides supplying what appears to be most of New York with pretty baubles each week, George happens to be extremely knowledgeable as to the provenance of his wares. A definite must when buying vintage! You can find him chatting with customers streaming through his booth each weekend at The Hester Street Fair. Be sure to check out his website, for even more glorious fashion finds.

Gorgeous photomontages courtesy of Rafael Medrano.

Table Talk

2010-10-20T19:36:00.011-04:00

What does your coffee table say about you? Modern coffee tables are more than just accent pieces for your living space. They are the focal point in a seating arrangement, so it's wise to consider all your needs before taking the plunge!

Are you an uber modern sophisticated type? My father was, which is why he purchased the Knoll Platner table back in the late 60's. Growing up, I was both in awe and somewhat horrified by my father's taste in furnishings. Particularly, the pink-red-orange geometric jacquard couch, and hideous cork and glass bead curtain that separated our living room from the dining room.

Are you confident in your mix of color? I prefer to keep things neutral, yet I can't help but love the laser cut birds taking flight across the Orange 22 Botanist Flight cocktail table. The bright pop of color reminds me of a NYC couple that decorated a deceptively traditional looking East Hampton summer cottage, with orange modular shelving, parson tables and Hellerware dishes. Ah, the 70's.

Do you demand form with function? In our apartment, the coffee table is a work horse. We chose a minimalist glass and steel table table, with a bottom shelf and casters, so we could re-arrange our space instantaneously. We eat on it, pile books and magazines, and use it for our design work. I love the functionality and mod Scandinavian bent wood design of the Function Works Tre table. And it's perfect for small spaces, where the furniture needs to multitask.

Post sponsored by All Coffee Tables.com.

Sicaria In The City

2010-10-20T16:30:00.007-04:00

Last week I had a surprise visit from Khushbu Sikaria, of the sicaria, at Madison Square Market, where I was promoting my holiday collection for IndieShop.com. Khushbu, who is also the founder of sicaria.com, a luxury fashion e-tailer launching soon, was visiting designers in NYC + enjoying herself in the Big Apple! She suggested a video presentation of my holiday collection might be fun for her blog, so I did my best not to sound too silly.

Video courtesy of the sicaria.

Boo!

2010-10-16T12:23:00.014-04:00

Meet Numbskull Van Dyke Brown No. 256, a modern vintage photographic print by Matt Shapoff for Handmade On Peconic Bay. A proponent of sustainable design, Matt uses solar radiation to expose his Van Dyke brown prints outdoors, while the sun is shining. Combining a 19th century photographic printing process with 21st century digital design, each print is a unique exposure, with a brush mark signature of the photochemistry applied to 100% cotton rag fine art paper.

Numbskull is a perfectly creepy yet memorable hostess gift for that Halloween bash you're attending. He's also ready for framing in something dusty, dark and old, for that year round Gothic touch!

Image courtesy of Supermarket.

Dead White

2010-10-16T09:54:00.008-04:00

Move over Martha. Here's a spooky chic take on DYI Halloween decorating tips, from the talented and crafty new team at Sweet Paul. In their second issue I found winter white knitted skulls, white washed pumpkins, and vintage glass bottles labeled with icky contents and white coral stoppers, cool enough to display as year round curiosities. Take their advice and don't follow the rules this year. A white Halloween looks pretty sweet to me! Read on for more DIY white Halloween projects here.

Images courtesy of Sweet Paul Magazine.

Cavalry Couture

2010-10-05T20:58:00.005-04:00

Ralph Lauren called out the cavalry for Spring 2011. Was someone watching old re-runs of F Troop? Of course, Ralph is in his comfort zone when channeling the Wild West, but nobody does it better.

This season's menswear heavy theme had a distinct military flair, with great accessories like shoulder slung carpet bags, over sized longhorn belt buckles, feminine beaded earrings, and two-tone metallic silver motorcycle boots. Also notable were the luxurious details like crafty lace, and plenty of fringe.

My fave look could be a modern day Annie Hall, in sharp white trousers with suspenders, a bowler hat and owl rim glasses. La-di-da. La-dee-da.

Images courtesy of The Spirit of the Old West, Style.com.

Suite Seduction

2010-09-29T10:04:00.005-04:00

Bask in the staid luxury of these oil paintings by artist Page Laughlin, whose lovely interiors are not quite what they seem. Veiled in seduction, the contents of her paintings most reveal one's innermost desires for glamour, and the sheer excess of rooms resplendent with expensive taste.

For years, Ms. Laughlin has been studying the fantasies presented to readers of high-end shelter magazines, such as Architectual Digest. Basing her paintings on photographs of stately interiors from these commercial publications, she presents the viewer with a dappled brush stroke fantasy of materialist beauty.

Images courtesy of Page Laughlin.

Silver Foxes

2010-09-24T08:52:00.006-04:00

Silver has never looked more distinguished, than it does on dapper dressers this fall. Kristen McMenamy and Roger Sterling have it right, in tailored elegance. With sterling silver recently hitting a two and a half year record high, at over $20 an ounce, the warm gray metal is more precious than ever and deserves your studious attention. Polished silver adornments, such as Tiffany's timeless classics, are what to wear with menswear looks for fall, and letting your hair go gray.

Images courtesy of Vogue, Tiffany, and TV Guide.

Dessert Party

2010-09-17T09:12:00.020-04:00

As the calendar leaps into the NYC fall season, there's the promise of crisp autumn weather, and holiday goodies right around the corner. It's party time, and that means getting the coffee maker into high gear for a Sunday afternoon dessert party. Whether you prefer a stove top espresso maker, French press, or a traditional drip, the point is stimulating the cortex of your brain for some energetic party banter!

Coffee making has become a scientific pursuit in our household, with Matt's quest for the perfect brew, so the first step in planning our sugar and caffeine infused bacchanalia is picking the beans. We're fans of the artisanal coffee roasters at Gimme! Coffee, whose pure, brilliant beans bring sensory pleasure, not to mention a real kick.

My favorite part is selecting an array of desserts for an afternoon as decadent as my favorite home shopping scene from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. I love the technicolor explosion of light and crispy, melt in your mouth French macarons handcrafted by Macaron Parlour, whose unexpected sweet and savory flavors, like Cinnamon Pistachio with Morello Cherries, Candied Maple Bacon and Caramel Fleur de Sel are beyond anything Ladurée, inventor of the double-decker macaron, and Marie Antoinette ever imagined.

We dig Baked By Melissa's groovy bite size cupcake morsels, and Momofuko Milk Bar cookies in trademarked flavors like Compost and Cornflake-Marshmallow-Chocolate Chip. To top it off, we'll definitely need some Doughnut Plant cake doughnuts, with a painterly glaze of seasonal fruit and fresh roasted nuts. Dinner that day would be optional.

Images and courtesy of cookware.com, Macaron Parlour, Nate Tharp, Almost Bourdain, SlashFood.

Post sponsored by cookware.com.

Delicate Flowers

2010-09-14T18:37:00.008-04:00

One of the inspirations at Carolina Herrera's Spring 2011 show was botanical plates collected in the eighteenth century. Dried botanical specimens were carefully affixed to the page with the scientific name and origin of the plant neatly written by hand, and then framed.

For the collection, this was interpreted as scaled up floral prints climbing up the models' stem-like figures, complete with faux tape and calligraphic labels detailing the plant's name and origin. I find this bit of quirky fashion surrealism to be just the thing for adding a dash of elegant wit to a spring charity event or gala.

Kudos Ms. Herrera, for referencing both botany and beauty, and would you please do this line for Target.

Thanks,
Cynthia

Images courtesy of Jezebel.

Daisy, Daisy

2010-09-07T07:24:00.007-04:00

Goodbye summer, hello fall! Well, not officially until Wednesday, September 22nd at 11:09am, so let's call it early fall. It's also my favorite time of year on Peconic Bay, which is located on the south fork of Long Island. The weather is bright and crisp, and farm stands explode with Technicolor produce. It always feels like a new beginning and a fresh start to the year, rather than the end of summer freedom. In the Jewish culture, one actually does celebrate the New Year in early fall, with Rosh Hashanah.

Once the summer flowers have faded, autumn is the time Montauk daisies kick into gear, having spent the past two seasons quietly spreading dark green bushy leaves. Unlike the common Shasta daisy, which blooms in spring and summer, the Montauk daisy, also known as the Nippon daisy, with origins in Japan, only blooms in fall. Aesthetically, I prefer the Montauk daisy's shorter, bushier profile in the garden, with multiple blooms per stem. As an added bonus, butterflies love them, while the ravenous deer and bunnies ignore them!

Handmade On Peconic Bay Van Dyke Brown Montauk Daisy 5" square print with gift envelope, $20.00, at Hester Street Fair, A Little Of What You Fancy, 19 Newtown Lane East Hampton, 631.324.3113.

Montauk Daisy garden image courtesy of Garden Blog.

Be Still My (Black) Heart

2010-09-02T18:27:00.009-04:00

Black Heart Pendant

Black Heart Drops

Is there a silver lining in the future of fashion? I sure hope so. Meanwhile, silver jewels rock out for Fall 2010, in a smoky distressed finish, with glistening black stone accents. Fabulously chic and versatile, you'll want to wear these delicate yet substantial pieces everyday, with everything from denim to a sleek LBD. See the entire collection at IndieShop.com.

Cynthia Rybakoff oxidized sterling silver and cubic zirconia Black Heart pendant, $98.00, and earrings, $48.00 at IndieShop.com.

Eat, Dress, Love

2010-09-02T09:34:00.004-04:00

The one in which a group of models search for food across an unknown English location shoot, and what they discover in their travels. Earthy and feminine fall fashion!

Images courtesy of Anthropologie.

Fresh Totes

2010-08-28T06:59:00.004-04:00

The harvest of fresh totes for fall! Printed with sunshine on Peconic Bay, and still drying on the line, before being brought to market in New York City.

Handmade On Peconic Bay "Numbskull" Van Dyke Brown printed totes, $25.00, from a selection at Hester Street Fair.

Candid Camera

2010-08-26T10:09:00.003-04:00

Rare, candid moments from the life of Marilyn Monroe, snapped by American photo-journalist Eve Arnold. Here we seem to get fresh glimpses of the real Norma Jeane Mortenson. Far more interesting and intimate than any studio portraits of the Hollywood sex symbol and tragic beauty, don't you think?

Images courtesy of MailOnline.

Silk Impressions

2010-08-18T20:01:00.020-04:00

My husband, Matt Shapoff, is a scientist who filed for a patent when he was 16 years old, and an artist-photographer, with a predilection for vintage hand mixed photochemistry recipes.

So three years ago, when a friend suggested that Matt’s experiments in alternative photography would make great product designs, it took me about 30 seconds to say “Let me make a logo and some packaging!”. Handmade On Peconic Bay was born that day, and has grown to become a full line of modern vintage goods, using 19th century photographic processes to create art prints, note cards, and our latest addition, cyanotype silk scarves.

The scarves, which are not dyed, are one of a kind photographic prints on silk. The iron-cyanide based photochemistry is applied to the fabric, turning it Prussian blue as it oxidizes in the sun, and leaving behind a stark white impression on the silk, of the objects that were arranged on it. Read more about the scarves on ecco*eco and Hand/Eye.

Here's a cool video of Matt making a feather scarf.

Click To Play

Handmade On Peconic Bay cyanotype silk scaves are available at Hester Street Fair, weekends through December. Check the HMPB Facebook page for upcoming dates.

The Well Appointed Kitchen

2010-08-17T10:50:00.012-04:00

I believe that a small, well appointed kitchen is all you need, to create fabulous meals for two or more, and investing in a few traditional high quality cookware items, like Le Creuset cast iron and enamel pieces, is a great place to start. I also love their modern stoneware serving pieces and accessories. They come in a range of cool colors, my personal fave being Dijon.

I grew up in NYC in the late 60's, with the kind of parents that wallpapered our kitchen with psychedelic yellow and brown daisies. Coppertone brown appliances, ochre countertops and a Saarinen walnut tulip table completed the hideous picture. Needless to say, I was entirely uninterested in cooking and preferred my Swanson's TV dinners in the living room. This promo film for Westinghouse shows the range of 60's kitchen insanity. We had the Herman Miller clock at the 1:30 minute mark!

Things changed, the summer I spent in Italy, in the hilltops of Tuscany. I may have been there to hone my painting skills under the Tuscan sun, but I was far more interested in shopping the local markets for the exotic fresh foods we prepared and ate alfresco, in our farmhouse, overlooking gardens, a vineyard, and orchards. At age 18, I fell in love with the art of Mediterranean cooking and vino rosso fatto a casa.

Today, my own kitchen is stocked with vintage and modern pieces in those same shades of brown and yellow. I don't miss the wallpaper or TV dinners, and base my cooking on what I learned that summer in Italy. My husband and I look forward to the August bounty of fresh vegetables from our local farmer's market, which we make into soups or stews, and serve with grilled meat, some ciabatta bread and a nice Long Island wine.

Images courtesy of cookware.com, vi.sualize.us and retrorenovation.com.

Post sponsored by cookware.com.

Stunningly Sustainable

2010-08-16T16:57:00.007-04:00

Cynthia Rybakoff Collection, Modern Vintage Charm Bracelet

Salvatore Ferragamo, Fall 2010

Cynthia Rybakoff Collection, Modern Vintage Charm Necklace

Not wanting to fully embrace the fall fashion season just yet, here are some late summer offerings, made from vintage and recycled organic components, including stone, raffia, wood, coral and bone. The aqua-celadon green and salmon-ivory color palettes transition well into early fall's neutral mood, including my new favorite shade of brown, burnt sienna.

For more stunningly sustainable jewels, including my Modern Vintage Charm Bracelet visit ecco*eco for a round up of Summer 2010's ethical style gems!

Ferragamo image courtesy of Style.com.

Cynthia Rybakoff Collection jewelry available exclusively on CynthiaRybakoff.com.

Sigmund And The Sea Monsters

2010-08-11T17:30:00.007-04:00

My husband Matt and I are beach babies, and love to collect pretty shells, but also scary things that wash up on the shores of Peconic Bay. The most fierce creature by far is the horseshoe crab (if ever their was a reason to wear aqua socks!). But nothing we've ever found compares to fascinating prehistoric sea creatures, like ammonites, in both beauty and potential ick factor. Ammonites are related to squid, and their golden spiral shells were once home to creepy-crawly multi-limbed marine animals.

Matt's Van Dyke Brown print for Handmade On Peconic Bay, featured in the current issue of Hamptons Magazine, depicts a variety of ammonite forms, from Ernst Haeckel's 1904 Kunstformen der Natur. Framed in upcycled vintage wood molding, with the original paint, it's a pleasant reminder of a time when sea monsters ruled the planet.

Handmade On Peconic Bay "Art Of Nature" one of a kind Van Dyke Brown framed print, $225.00 at A Little Of What You Fancy, East Hampton, 631.324.3113.

What's Old Is New

2010-08-04T11:54:00.009-04:00

Art print note cards

Van Dyke Brown prints

Cyanotype prints

Cynthia Rybakoff-Shapoff

Matt Shapoff

Hester Street Fair, located in a beautiful park setting on the corner of Hester and Essex, was once home to New York City’s largest and oldest pushcart markets. Established in 1894, it was was the busiest outdoor market in New York City, by the turn of the century. The new Hester Street Fair has sought to create a space that reflects the dynamic energy of the Lower East Side then and now. Mission accomplished! If you haven't been yet, make a point of visiting soon.

Today, the Hester Street Fair focuses on curated local crafts, artisan food and vintage goods. It's the perfect place for our Handmade On Peconic Bay modern vintage wares, including cyanotype and Van Dyke Brown photographic prints using techniques that date back to the mid 19th century.

Handmade On Peconic Bay will be at the Hester Street Fair weekends through December. For fair dates and announcements, follow Handmade On Peconic Bay on Facebook.

Town and Country

2010-07-21T11:32:00.012-04:00

If we can’t get out of town for the weekend, for a culinary visit to the Hamptons, where my husband Matt and I gather fresh seasonal ingredients at our favorite markets and farm stands, we typically do the same thing right here in NYC. It’s fun to create a locavore meal and something to look forward to as the sun sets over the rooftops. Invite some good friends, open a bottle of local wine and set the right mood with some inspiring new dinnerware sets!

For great summer entertaining in the city, why not bring a little country right to your table? There's an abundance of fresh meat, poultry, fish and produce to be found at green markets in cities throughout the country. Sure, I’d rather be clipping sprigs of fragrant rosemary in our chef’s garden, but I can find everything I need right here as well, including fresh baked goods and delectable desserts.

Matt plays chef for the evening, conjuring up his summer specialties, like sweet corn salad with tomatoes, English peas and chives, while I set the mood and the table. For a Scandinavian summer in the country theme, this notNeutral dinnerware in fresh green and brown, with an Alessi Blow Up Bamboo centerpiece is perfect! Or if you'd rather be by the sea, you can't go wrong with Dansk classic blue and white nautical stripes or their Arabesque pattern, for a retro Mediteranean feel.

Post sponsored by cookware.com.

Rare Earth

2010-07-18T10:52:00.009-04:00

New for fall 2010, but something you'd want to wear year round, is this magnificent smoky quartz druzy necklace from my Rare Earth Collection. I heart druzy, because of it's organic texture. It's nature's own statement piece!

Druzy crystal formations, which can be found in numerous types of stone, is a natural curiosity, growing inside the hollow cavities of rock veins and geodes. The smoky quartz druzy beads in my Treasure Island necklace have a micro-crystalline top surface reminiscent of brown sugar with a smooth flat bottom.

Cynthia Rybakoff sterling silver and smoky quartz Treasure Island Necklace, $148 at Supermarket and A little Of What You Fancy, 19 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, 631.324.3113.

Curiosity Shop

2010-07-07T17:11:00.003-04:00

Summer is in full swing at Mascot Studio. An amazing resource for modern vintage objet d'art, proprietor Peter McCaffrey has curated a wonderful little collection of paintings, drawings and prints for summer. Cyanotypes by Matt Shapoff for Handmade On Peconic Bay, mixed media paintings by Paul Moreno, limited edition giclee prints by Chris Buzelli, and some terrific watercolors of birds on found vintage coin collector's notes, by Peter himself, are currently showing and selling fast.

Be sure to "Like" Mascot Studio's Facebook page and see works by all the artists mentioned in this post!

Staycation

2010-06-27T10:08:00.006-04:00

In these troubling times of economic uncertainty, and environmental disaster on an unimaginable scale, it has become ever so popular to take a staycation, venturing out on daytrips, to sample the local cuisine and explore new neighborhoods. So why not stay home in seasonal style? It's easy to add some great summer items to your living space or closet with just a few mouse clicks!

1. Anthropologie ~ Rope Frame
2. Thomaspaul ~ Portland Dessert Plate Set
3. Anthropologie ~ Large Rope Magnifier
4. Anthropologie ~ Paper Sketch Vases
5. Anthropologie ~ Driftwood Hurricane
6. Jennifer Sitko ~ Patterned Stem Lamp
7. Thomaspaul ~ Large Coral Tote
8. Thomaspaul ~ Crab Pillow
9. Anthropologie ~ Sundried Hat

Little Creatures

2010-06-25T13:44:00.009-04:00

The Handmade On Peconic Bay Summer 2010 selection of cyanotype prints, cards and rustic wood framed art is now available at Mascot Studio. Beach themed images include various crabs, shells, grasses and seabird feathers that my husband Matt and I find on the beach around Peconic Bay.

My personal fave is this cyanotype print that Matt created, based on an illustration of "Decapoda" by German biologist Ernst Haeckel, from his encyclopedic masterpiece, Kunstformen der Natur, 1899 - 1904. Some of these leggy little sea creatures look delish for a pastasciutta with seafood and pomodoro, but are probably more suitable as curiosities for your Wunderkammer decor obsessions!

You can now find Mascot Studio on Facebook, as well as 328 East 9th Street, New York City.

For The Birds

2010-06-18T18:08:00.005-04:00

"My love for birds pushed me to create art which shows their beauty and importance." - Olivia Bouler.

An aspiring Ornithologist and artist, 11 year old Olivia wept when she heard about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. So she contacted the Audubon Society with an idea to help raise money for the cause. So far she's raised over $110,000! Read a charming interview with this amazing young artist and activist, and how she's raised the money (CNN). Olivia might just be my favorite new artist!

Images courtesy of AOL artists.

Romper Room

2010-06-17T09:54:00.006-04:00

Here in NYC, a new summer trend has emerged. Woman of all ages and types are sporting "the romper". It certainly looks cool and easy to wear, if the pictures above are any indication, but is the romper really for everyone? Like flip flops with bikini tops with cut-offs, is it appropriate for the gritty streets of NYC? I might wear one to the beach, or shopping for produce at Halsey Farm in Watermill, but the romper just looks out of place in the city, and for the most part unflattering on the myriad of women I've seen wearing them.

"Fiona" aka Gabrielle Anwar

With one exception. And that woman is Fiona Glenanne. Sure, she's a fictional character played by the 40 year old lithe and preternaturally tan Gabrielle Anwar, who can pass for 28, and stars in my favorite action packed spy series Burn Notice. A force to be reckoned with, who looks like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine, Fiona runs around Miami in a skimpy outfits, towering platforms and fabulous accessories, while carrying heavy artillery and catching the baddies. With her cool manner and nonchalant style, like those practical leather hip bags, she always wears, Fiona is the kind of woman who would look super kick-ass in a romper anywhere!

Images courtesy of couturecandy, Roxy, shopbop, USA Network's Burn Notice.

Pretty In Pink

2010-06-13T18:52:00.009-04:00

Agate fosters love, truthfulness, courage, bravery, strength, abundance, wealth, good luck, longevity, acceptance, protection, balance, harmony, generosity, security, congeniality, compatibility, and creativity. It's also quite pretty in pink!

Cynthia Rybakoff Crazy Heart Collection, featuring agate and sterling silver pendants and bracelets, at Supermarket.

The Sea Will Tell

2010-06-12T09:55:00.006-04:00

Nautical themes are my fave, when it comes to home decor. I like my place to feel beachy year round! I even married a sailor, although Matt's more of a photographer-artist these days. You can find his modern vintage nautical prints in our Handmade On Peconic Bay Supermarket and Etsy shops.

Matt Shapoff creates his one of a kind prints of sloops and lighthouses using a 19th century photographic process called the cyanotype. The nautical series is also an artistic collaboration with Second Life virtuoso RJ Kikuchiyo. Matt takes RJ's 3D digital images and makes special negatives for the cyanotype process, printing them outdoors in sunlight just as it was done over 100 years ago. Then Matt blind embosses the Handmade On Peconic Bay logo on each print, using his 1895 Pearl letterpress. Finally, both artists sit down to co-sign the work.

Handmade On Peconic Bay one of a kind Cyanotype nautical prints by Matt Shapoff, $38 each at Supermarket.

EcoFABulous!

2010-06-10T18:31:00.007-04:00

On June 19th, in chic and sustainable style, The Green Gala will highlight local produce, products and production on Long Island's East End. With a farm-to-table approach, local farmers, growers and celebrity chefs will utilize and promote the fabulous bounty of the Hamptons.

Browse an exciting array of green-focused auction items, during the cocktail hour, including this necklace I created especially for the event. Composed of recycled and vintage materials including Chinese bone carvings, Indian carnelian briolettes, raffia beads from the Philippines and delicate Japanese deep sea coral branches, it will hopefully encourage guests to give and go green! Read more about this eco-fabulous event and purchase tickets here.

2009 Gala images courtesy of East End Gala.

Wired

2010-06-03T17:50:00.006-04:00

I simply adore the brightly hued quirky wire furniture in the June Anthropologie catalog. What do you suppose is the mysterious purpose of the umbrella top on this cheerful green Tudor Garden Bench? I have no idea, but I want one!

I do like the idea of suspending chairs, but where is everyone going to sit when they arrive for the party?

This rustic meets chic interior design slash art project makes me yearn for a drab little cottage to colorize, on a lake in upstate New York!

Images courtesy of Anthropologie.

Turquoise And Marine

2010-05-28T15:28:00.011-04:00

Memorial Day Weekend has arrived, the traditional starting point of the summer fashion season. I don't know about you, but I already wore white two weeks ago, gasp! This season is ripe for a true turquoise revival, but I'll be mixing it up with deeper shades of marine blue for a fresh take on a classic summer look. You can see what I mean with this BCBG ombre gown and APART swirl patterned top, which artfully blend shades of turquoise with ultramarine blue to stunning effect. Wear either with my Blue Is Versatile Wrap Bracelet, a cluster of tonal blue stones on suede cord you can wrap around your wrist or wear as a necklace.

Cynthia Rybakoff POP collection oxidized sterling silver and semi-precious stone bracelet available at Supermarket and recently featured on Kitten Lounge.

Images courtesy of BCBG and APART.

My, She Was Yar

2010-05-23T10:32:00.006-04:00

"My, she was yar...It means, uh...easy to handle, quick to the helm, fast, right. Everything a boat should be, until she develops dry rot."

- Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story

Images courtesy of Daytrip Society, Handmade On Peconic Bay, Cynthia Rybakoff

Silver Lining

2010-05-14T11:51:00.008-04:00

I scored this fab silver sequin Shimmer Blazer last night at APART showroom's Splashion Soiree event. There was great shopping at amazing prices, and the APART team did a bang up job on the nibbles, including cupcakes Baked by Melissa. The always lovely Kimmie Smith of Kitten Lounge was on hand for styling tips, looking fabulous as usual. What's more fun than shopping with treats and cocktails?

Image courtesy of APART.

Splashion Soiree

2010-05-12T09:25:00.008-04:00

Join us tomorrow evening when we officially kick off summer at the Hamptons Splashion Soiree, hosted by APART showroom with editor and stylist Kimmie Smith of Kitten Lounge. Join us for cocktails and nibbles while browsing the APART summer collection and a fabulous selection of Cynthia Rybakoff jewels, including new items created exclusively for this event! Get ready for summer now, with this very cool APART Modern Mexican Dress, and accessorize it with a Rock Candy Ribbon Necklace. I'll also be introducing my new Route 27 Collection in sterling silver with Japanese salmon coral and smoky quartz!

Splashion Soiree
Thursday May 13 6-9pm
APART Showroom
253 West 28th
Map it!

APART Modern Mexican Dress, $125 at apartstyle.com, Cynthia Rybakoff Amagansett Hoops from the Route 27 Collection, $128 at cynthiarybakoff.com and Rock Candy Ribbon Necklace, $78 at Supermarket.

Well Wed

2010-05-08T10:18:00.008-04:00

Last May, I had the pleasure of attending a truly spectacular Hamptons wedding. Planned with impeccable taste, the reception was a lavish at home affair, yet filled with plenty of down to earth details, like old fashioned cocktails served in drinking jars on the back deck and tables named after popular Hampton surfing beaches. There was comfort food on the menu and the bride and groom drove from the church to the reception in a vintage Land Rover. Check out more stylish Hamptons weddings in the new issue of WellWed magazine.

Images courtesy of WellWed.

Hamptons Giveaway

2010-05-04T18:31:00.008-04:00

Win an amazing tote bag filled with goodies for the beach, or your favorite summer spot! Four lucky winners will receive Hamptons Guide gift bags filled with tons of great stuff from Skinny Water, Stephanie Johnson, Natori, Yak Pak, Purple Lab and more.

Winners will also get one of my limited edition Rock Candy Ribbon necklaces, a fabulous summer look you can wear with anything!

The contest is being hosted by Kitten Lounge's Hamptons Guide so click here and leave a comment telling Kimmie how you get yourself beach-ready, whether it's a look or state of mind. Winners will be chosen on May 21st and receive their gift bags just in time for Memorial Day weekend!

Images courtesy of Kitten Lounge and Supermarket.

Stay At Home Mom

2010-04-30T11:24:00.006-04:00

A great idea for Mother's Day that's sure to make her feel appreciated and pampered? Why a goody bag filled with fabulous skincare essentials from MALIN+GOETZ of course! There's also a wonderful selection of scents from their perfumery, for some aromatherapy, and cool items in the apothecary, so go ahead and put together a first-class at-home spa day package for mom. Bonus points for the cool graphic design!

Image courtesy of MALIN+GOETZ.

Weekend At Buffy's

2010-04-28T15:12:00.005-04:00

Set sail for summer in these preppy inspired classics from Steven Alan, with a fresh twist of uber modern styling! Loving the overall slouchiness, plus the cool oxfords and rope tied belt.

Images courtesy of Steven Alan.

Set Yourself APART

2010-04-17T10:15:00.008-04:00

Save the date for a very special pre-summer NYC shopping event with the Hamptons in mind! Come hang out with us on May 13th from 6 - 9pm at the Splashion Soiree, hosted by APART fashion showroom and Kitten Lounge. Check out the fabulous APART Summer Collection, sip Figenza vodka and Skinny Water, and browse a colorful selection of Hamptons ready Cynthia Rybakoff jewels! Come meet the APART team and get style tips from Kimmie Smith of Kitten Lounge. I'll be there as well, so stop by and say hello!

RSVP to Rose@apartstyle.com and get ready to think summer!

Wisteria Lane

2010-04-13T08:05:00.017-04:00

There's a real Wisteria Lane located in a forgotten alley in Greenwich Village, and it was the perfect location to shoot my Spring 2010 Collection look book!

The Washington Mews originally housed stables but was converted to housing in the 1930's. We choose the loveliest home for the shoot, with shell pink doors and fragrant bunches of wisteria climbing the facade on woody vines. The flowers happened to be in full bloom, which only lasts a few weeks each year... Dinah, the cat who lives there, came out to say hello to the visitors.

This particular house has a unique story. It was once the home of Gertrude Vanderbuilt Whitney, founder of the Whitney museum which was originally located just around the corner on 8th Street!

It also had a cozy bedroom for her niece Gloria Vanderbilt, who would stay with her aunt during school breaks. Gloria painted this wonderful picture from memory of her aunt's home, for New York Magazine, when they published an article about this converted carriage house!

Cynthia Rybakoff Spring 2010 Collection available at CynthiaRybakoff.

Images courtesy of Matt Shapoff and New York Magazine.

How To Travel In Style

2010-04-09T09:37:00.010-04:00

There are so many wonderful films about Americans traveling in Italy, but my favorite is Sir David Lean's Summertime, starring a gorgeous middle aged Katherine Hepburn. A story of unrequited love and a hopelessly romantic secretary named Jane Hudson who falls for Renato, a married antiques dealer and Lothario, the film celebrates the city of Venice like no other.

Here's Jane showing us how it's done at any age, with amazing style and grace. I never get tired of her prim wasp waisted 1950's dresses, sensible white sandals for meandering the streets of Venice with her movie camera and perfect costume jewels...

Read more about the film here and do watch this wonderful clip of Renato admiring Jane in the Piazza San Marco. My guess is you will rent this movie or make travel plans to Venice pronto!

Travel in summertime style with distressed sterling silver stacking rings from my Estate Collection, featuring miniature hand painted enamel vintage travel charms. Popular tourist trinkets that date back from the 1940's to the 1970's, I'm sure Jane picked up one in Venice for her fabulous charm bracelet!

Cynthia Rybakoff Estate Collection Venezia Travel Rings, $275.00 exclusively at CynthiaRybakoff.com. See them at NOTCOUTURE.

Film stills courtesy of ALoverOfVenice.

The Royal Treatment

2010-04-05T23:34:00.011-04:00

WHAT designers is a curated website that promotes the work of bold, modern, independent designers. Be sure to check out their Spring 2010 Independent Design Guide called The Royal Treatment in which indie designers put their spin on brilliant blue-hued designs. I've featured highlights here, including my Blue Is Peace Pendant. You're also invited to vote for your favorite design! The designer with the most votes will get a feature in the Summer 2010 design guide.

Cynthia Rybakoff sterling silver and blue quartz Blue Is Peace Pendant, $105.00 at Supermarket, Shopflick and CynthiaRybakoff.

Images courtesy of WHATdesigners.

Lady Treats

2010-04-01T19:42:00.009-04:00

Do I have your attention yet? Good. It's no secret, I'm addicted to sweet things, and my favorite treat is rainbow cookies. These tri-colored confections look particularly yummy, gracing the cover of Edible East End magazine, and they're vegan! Made in Montauk by Gurney's Beach Bakery, the line of healthy baked goods is available at local IGA's and Schmidt's in Southampton.

This spring I've also got a sweet tooth for candy colored stones, which seem just right for the prevailing fashionable mood of soft pastels and tinted neutrals. Case in point, my Sweet Spiked Collar from the Sticky Sweet collection. Made from kunzite, a rare semi-precious stone, its delicate and tender hues of lemon, rose and lilac are both feminine and seductive.

Cookie image courtesy of Edible East End. Cynthia Rybakoff Collection jewelry available at cynthiarybakoff.com.

Style Icon

2010-03-29T21:52:00.009-04:00

This 1979 picture of Lauren Hutton has grabbed my attention. Is it the periwinkle boxy blazer with jeans and maybe a pair of wing tipped oxfords? Is it the idea of a casual cool style icon stepping out sola to a Dire Straits concert? Or is it the jaunty chapeau?

I'm going with the Panama hat. Here's an updated version of a snazzy straw fedora as styled by the eclectic imaginations at J. Crew.

I'm loving the classic panama hat this spring, but I would skip the tween romper in favor of this Liberty inspired tiny floral print school boy blazer! How would you wear this season's hot new accessory?

Images courtesy of Jezebel and J. Crew.

Let's Get Minimal

2010-03-28T10:23:00.004-04:00

I stumbled upon this romantic minimalist set at Polyvore with my Bubble + Chain stiletto earrings. I love the neutral taupe colors, the softness of the slip dress and all the different textures going on with the accessories. The blunt-toe platform shoes are an interesting contrast... don't you think?

Image courtesy of Polyvore. Cynthia Rybakoff sterling silver Bubble + Chain Earrings $22 at Supermarket.

Spring Ahead!

2010-03-24T10:31:00.011-04:00

It's official. My new flagship website has launched in previews, with more fabulous jewels and pages to be posted over the next few weeks. It's a fresh start for Spring 2010, and one that feels as good as an old fashioned closet purge of items that are sadly no longer relevant. The old site was a labor of love, yet it was no more than a pretty face for the brand. And with the surprising success of my Supermarket store, which launched one year ago this month, I wanted something akin for my higher end Collection and Estate pieces. The new site is built on a solidly reliable e-commerce platform, powered by fine folks who make shopping easy at Supermarket, so you can imagine my excitement in presenting my fans with a new and improved home for the Cynthia Rybakoff Collection.

Crystal Palace

2010-03-20T14:28:00.005-04:00

Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace of 1851 was grand cast-iron and glass building erected in Hyde Park, London, England. It's revolutionary modern design referenced the great cathedrals of antiquity with it's monumental and awe inspiring presence.

Another magnificent crystal palace, albeit fictional, is Superman's frozen Fortress of Solitude, the inspiration for my super popular sterling silver and crystal spike Fortress Of Solitude Series.

The Fortress Of Solitude Series available exclusively at Supermarket.

Here's my Smallville hero Clark in his Arctic fortress and a certain superwoman wearing the Fortress Of Solitude necklace with super styling!

Good news for Superman fans, the fortress actually exists! This awesome image is from a giant crystal cave called Cueva de los Cristales in Mexico..

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Dylan Cole Studio, Cynthia Rybakoff, TV, all the mountains...

Top Shelf Goods

2010-03-16T11:30:00.005-04:00

Do take 10 minutes out of your busy day to watch this charming and rather wacky short film entitled "Damaged Goods", by London ceramic artist Barnaby Barford. It's tragic tale of low born boy meets upper class girl played out by porcelain figurines in a cluttered bric-a-brac shop.

The film explores forbidden love between the different strata of society, their world portrayed here quite literally as a hierarchy of shelving, with the messy floor of the shop representing the lower class origins of the boy, to the top shelf lifestyle of the privileged class girl amongst the crystal and silver.

It's also a classic rags to riches story with shattering consequences! I love the mix of characters and the choice of animating classic porcelain figurines - they remind me of my mother's Royal Doultan collection I played with as a child.

Images courtesy of designboom.

Reclaimed Rococo

2010-03-14T14:23:00.000-04:00

Everything today is being designed with reclaimed materials for their upcycled chic appeal. So why not create a luxurious collection of 18th century French Regency inspired furniture and decor, done up in salvaged and raw looking materials? Weathered wood, brass nailheads, unbleached rough textured linen all in a desaturated palette of soothing neutrals.

I love the idea of grand furnishings of a golden era, hand crafted in down to earth materials, with the ornately carved wooded forms left unembellished with only an aged patina... The Restoration Hardware Spring 2010 Collection captures the essence of this Reclaimed Rococo style with studied elegance.

This modern vintage Van Dyke Brown peacock feather art print by Matt Shapoff for Handmade On Peconic Bay in sepia tones would look perfect in an ornate Rococo frame stripped of it's gilded past...

For post-economic downturn luxe, choose neo-classic forms that look fresh again with roughly textured upholstory, like this natural Belgian linen nailhead bench.

18th century inspiration for a modern wingback chair, plainly upholstered in raw Belgian linen with a bare nailhead finish.

Sepia tones + romance = heaven!

Images via Restoration Hardware, Meade Design Group, French Essence, Trouvais, Handmade On Peconic Bay, The Frick Collection, National Gallery of Art.

Preppy Italian Style

2010-03-12T11:32:00.005-05:00

Perfectly worn denim jeans with white flip-flops and tanned toes for a mid-morning visit to the rocky Amalfi coastline. Hey, these cabanas match my top! Check the time, we need to start thinking about where to have lunch... the traffic will be horribile.

The sexy side of preppy Italian style... I think we'd better take that swim now. It's getting kind of caldo around here!

Renting these motorini was the best idea. Ever. There's a really great bar about half a kilometer from here, andiamo!

Such a long hot day of sightseeing and posing for the Leica has made me thirsty. How about a sparkling Sorrento lemonade? Thank god we got a room with a breezy patio... sigh.

Images via Gant Magazine Spring/Summer 2010.