updates | the onyx feather pop-up shop

debuting the new color-blocked swarovski necklaces at the pop-up shop. i've been in hibernating sweatshop mode to make this happen! we're going with a mint, silver and black sand theme. working on a swarovski crystal tree as well--i've got the bruises and cuts to prove it and so does joan. ok, fine. she doesn't have bruises or cuts because she's a resourceful DIY ninja. if you are in dc stop by and say hi. if you aren't, we'll take lots of pictures!

onyx feather files | swarovski & gold

our swarovski and gold necklaces are sold out like barbeque chicken wings during the super bowl. the good news: i’m updating the shop next week with a deep plum sparkling swarovski and gold one! (and perhaps a silver one for all the gold-haters out there.)  i'm thinking of switching things up a little—and staying true to the onyx feather clasp manifesto—by adding vintage clasps to the swarovski necklaces. if you were rachel zoe this is the point where you'd clasp your hands, adjust your jeweled baby in the crook of your arms and scream: “b-a-n-a-n-a-s! i die!” 

                                                  via | haley russell for onyx feather

onyx feather files | it's coming

shooting the holiday gift guide this weekend. excited. can't wait to unveil some new pieces from the cairo and paris lines.

onyx feather files | our necklace clasp manifesto

one of my favorite parts of designing a necklace is selecting, designing or creating the clasp. to some people adding a clasp is just an afterthought. the sticky part of the envelope you distastefully lick when you are about to mail off your package. but to me the clasp is the artisanal waxed seal on a well-designed invitation. there are times i use an unconventionally modern clasp. or let a vintage clasp be the final antique touch on an otherwise contemporary piece. at times i pick a small, delicate clasp to play second fiddle to the necklace. it could be romantically floral. or uncompromisingly geometric. sometimes it is unapologetically crowned with swarovski crystals. or unassumingly etched with intricate filigree.

and then there are those moments i let the clasp steal the show. because the back of the neck is a part of a woman’s body that should never be an afterthought. because there is something alluring and elegant about catching a glimpse of  an exquisite clasp floating on the nape of a beautiful woman with an updo.

no matter the onyx feather collection your necklace comes from, every piece will have a graceful, strategically-designed clasp to compliment the nape of your neck.

                                    via | m. moore & emily barenbregge for onyx feather

onyx feather | design mode

getting back into design mode. when fall/winter seeps in the lust for creating more ornate, decadent and ::shiny:: pieces circulates through me. particularly for the russia, paris and cairo lines. maybe to counteract the dreariness of the weather? or maybe because it's fun to add a touch of unique sparkle to every girl's holiday party?

i recently picked up these raw brass pieces. thinking of juxtaposing then with some raw black diamonds for a slammin' cairo party piece. and i found some champagne czech glass cathedral beads. (heart skips a beat.) the tops and ends of each stone are speckled with picasso topaz. they look really holy--you feel like you should venerate them. insane? yes. completely mental.  cannot wait to work them into an extraordinary st.petersburg necklace.

                                                                  image | diver

press clips | onyx feather

hurray! two of our rio necklaces were featured in a fall accessories spread in the october issue of  washingtonian magazine. grab an issue today at your nearest barnes and noble or newstand. the pdf version goes live on october 21. thanks to sarah zlotnick for including us in the spread!

press | onyx feather rio collection

thanks to andrea at fly for the  mention!  =)  honored to be among the ranks of what is featured on fly.  check out her site here.

onyx feather | to go!

it's been quiet on the onyx feather blog, but not behind the scenes. we've got a lot rolling out in the next couple of weeks. get excited! we're kicking things off with our mobile site. now you can check out new collections and new additions to old collections while on the go. here's the link: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3h9snef

it's coming | our rio de janeiro line

 

the color blocked piece above is created from vintage morrocan glass. can't wait to unveil the whole brazilian line in august!

onyx feather + fly | cyprus line give-a-way!

in order to celebrate fly 's 5th anniversary (!) we joined forces to do an onyx feather give-away. we're giving away the isidore necklace from the cyprus collection (featured above) ! it's composed of crackling magnesite stones, layers of brass chain, and an antique grecian inspired brooch and it's valued at $120. to win, leave a message on the fly blog (here) explaining why you would want this necklace before 5pm on monday june 27th. also, check out the interview i did with andrea here. thanks andrea for letting onyx feather be a part of fly's celebration!

shop it to me | theory shoes

on a rio de janeiro kick right now since--after many delays--the rio line is launching soon. these leather terry slingback heels by theory are a beacon of brilliant color-blocking on the onyx feather rio inspiration board.

                                                                 via | shoe metro

onyx feather | the marseilles necklace

had the opportunity to make this custom marseilles piece (from the paris collection) for the 16th annual PILA auction and awards dinner in seattle. PILA (public interest law association) is an organization that raises revenue to provide grants to students who pursue unpaid public interest work and funds social justice programs at the university of washington law school.   the necklace will be auctioned off and all the proceeds will go to PILA (85%) and invisible children (15%).

the marseilles piece consists of a vintage bow clasp, layers of vintage chain, clear multi-faceted quartz stones, and a strand of shimmering pewter Czech glass.  usually a piece like this would be hard to let go, but these organizations are worth it.

via | onyx feather

onyx feather | valentine's day gift guide

need some ideas? our valentine's day gift guide is up! check it out here.

onyx feather | paris collection

featured above: rhodonite, sparkling pewter, and clear quartz necklaces from the onyx feather paris collection.

onyx feather | back in inspiration mode

 

already designing the new onyx feather spring line. 

love doing warm cities. can't wait to announce which city it's inspired by.

                                             
                                             necklace | onyx feather cyprus collection                                               
                                                  image | melia moore

onyx feather | invisible children update

what a wonderful week. got to send out the first quarterly onyx feather check to the invisible children legacy scholarship fund! it makes all the hectic, crazy moments associated with this line so worth it. thank you to every customer, friend, supporter, blogger, publication, and tribe member that made this possible.  invisible children is such a remarkable organization and i’m grateful you would use your purchasing power to join the mission of using art to help create a positive impact in the lives of war-affected children.

sola 

image | invisible children

great expectations | holiday give-a-way winner!

 .....and the winner of the what tickles your onyx feather give-a-way is brittany j!!!!  loved her tweet about the elegance and romanticism of our paris line. ::congratulations brittany!:: you’ll be receiving your one-of-a-kind  red quartz + gold droplet katarina necklace (from our st. petersburg line) along with an email this week!

thanks to everyone that entered via twitter and facebook!

great expectations | shiny things!

 

it's officially the holiday season.  

::dusting off the party dresses::  

what better way to compliment your holiday party attire than an onyx feather piece from the new st. petersburg collection?! 

and what better than entering our russian princess give-a-away to win this necklace?

details on tuesday.

                                                        image | mr. price

great expectations | onyx feather st. petersburg collection debut

peter the great secured all the antique jewelry, belonging to the period between the fifteenth till the seventeenth century, in a strong room located in st. petersburg, in his winter palace."

finally---the st. petersburg collection has launched. (you can view it here.)  still a few minor tweaks needed here and there  (as always!) but it’s live and ready to be viewed. the collection was inspired by the quote above and it’s the reason I chose st. petersburg when researching russian cities. the concept for the shoot was ballerina on and off-duty. russia has such a rich history with ballet and it was fun to dip into that past and remix it with more modern images for the look book. thanks to the incredible onyx feather team (melia, emily, tegan, lauren, jessica and ashley) for all the hard work you've put it in; couldn't be done without you!  

                                                                               image | tegan hare

great expectations | st. petersburg collection countdown

the st. petersburg collection debuts tonight! and there will be updates to the cyprus and cairo collections! here's a preview of the helen of troy necklace from the cyprus line.

                                                   image | melia moore for onyx feather