Chelsea Girls

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

"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!

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

Farewell, violet eyes.

Images courtesy of Jezebel.

The Aviator

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

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

Images courtesy of Dimensionmagazine.

Fashion Week Redux

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

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

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.