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.

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.

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

Travels With My Aunt

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.

Love Tokens

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

Tribal Vibes

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.

Stunningly Sustainable

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.