Be Mine

i love these faceted signet rings by kerrie yeung.

Gift Guide: For him

time for another gift guide, this one is for the men in your life, tricky as they can be! whether it's your boyfriend/brother/dad/friend you're buying for, hopefully you'll find some inspiration here. i have two brothers, a dad and a boyfriend to find presents for, and i have to wrack my brains every year. socks, jumpers and smelly stuff anyone? life would be a lot easier if men liked make up and painting their nails.. or actually.. maybe not. 

one: ami flower beard print tshirt £65 at matches two: apc ribbed beanie hat £85 at matches three: brushed silver grandad watch £25 at asos four: lanvin interlocking cube cufflinks £215 at matches five: acne heart print tshirt £70 at matches six: paul smith stripe socks £18 at matches seven: nixon chronicle leather watch £250 at asos eight: apc 1987 olympics logo sweat top £115 at matches nine: lsa boris decanter £56 at red candy ten: acne scarf £110 at matches    

eleven: lanvin tartan wool high-top trainers £475 at matches  twelve: yves saint laurent leather wallet £155 at matches thirteen: peter serafinowicz a billion jokes £8.44 on amazon (i hear it's very funny!)  fourteen: acne flannel shirt £180 at matches fifteen: apc breton stripe jumper £185 at matches sixteen: handmade necktie $60 by fibrecraft on etsy seventeen: peace hand necklace $150 from verameat eighteen: ron swanson key chain $8 by peachy apricot on etsy nineteen: handmade neon pink concrete planter by daschund in the desert $19 on etsy twenty: robot salt n pepper shakers £10 at urban outfitters

twenty-one: concrete roller ball pen $77 by 22 design studio twenty-two: comme des garçons play tshirt  £63 at dover street market twenty-three: berlin black and white litho print $24 at line posters twenty-four: deus ex machina book $79 at saturdays surf nyc twenty-five: mackintosh dunoon hooded coat £688 at matches twenty-six: raymond biesinger bicycle pillowcase $30 from stay at home club twenty-seven: bleu de chanel eau de toilette £45 at boots (i bought this for my boyfriend last christmas and ohh it smells so good!) twenty-eight: scruffing lotion £15 by clinique

if you hadn't noticed, there are a few items from matches.com in this gift guide, and that's because this post is sponsored by matches, but don't worry- the love i feel for each piece i've chosen is very real! 

One Photograph:

an awesome photo by dianne tanner. see many more on her blog.

i also love dianne's tips on making it through these dark months.

Devon Smith

devon smith paints and draws the most incredible characters. she depicts all sorts of mysterious girls, full of attitude and emotion, and in such a delicate style. the beauty is really in all those tiny details.

it was really hard choosing just a few of her artworks to show you here! there are loads more to look at on her site. and you can follow devon on instagram too for great pictures of her work in progress. 

images by devon smith

Gift Guide: For Her

if you were to take one look at this gift guide and say "ismay, is this a gift guide or just a badly disguised wish list?" i'd say hmm.. kind of a bit of both? i love everything on this list and if some of these bits found their way under my tree on christmas morning, well, that would be okay. but i am trying to help you out too i swear, maybe you'll find something to get for your bff/sister/mum/girlfriend!? i hope so. oh and part two- for him- is coming soon. 

one: rosie sugden cashmere pom pom beanie £95 at matches two: mih jeans check shirt £98 at matches three: stella mccartney bra £50 at matches four: linen t-shirt from acne at matches £50 five: odette arrow cuff bracelet, silver $172 / brass $98 six: tuesday bassen nose ring holder $35 on etsy (i own this and it's the cutest) seven: grenson martha brogues £188 at matches eight: zoe & morgan sapphire and yellow gold ring £278 at matches nine: oysho tulle and lace jumpsuit £25.99 ten: tahnee lonsdale x mercy delta scarf at matches £140 (waaaant!) 

eleven: datter industries tiny golden hand necklace on etsy $50 twelve: hand painted astrological jewellery holder $29.50 on etsy thirteen: illamasqua matching lip and nail duo £26.50 on asos fourteen: zoe karssen eye print t-shirt £65 at matches fifteen: there is thunder in our hearts dip dye tote $25 fieldguided sixteen: weekend by maxmara necklace £55 at matches seventeen: nars limited edition warhol set £34.50 at asos eighteen: equipment blouse £220 at matches nineteen: iphone case by jenny vorwaller $35 at society 6 twenty: charlotte olympia moonshine bag £385 at matches 

twenty-one: alexander mcqueen make up bag £260 at matches twenty-two: cat printed tote bag by caitlin shearer $22 on etsy twenty-three: me and you pencils by knot and bow $12 on etsy twenty-four: polka dot and deer print socks £5.99 from oysho twenty-five: nike air max 1 €139.95 on inflammable (not available until january but worth the wait surely? so pretty!) twenty-six: topshop nail art set in silver £18 twenty-seven: glow cream highlighter £9 from topshop (this is the best highlighter ever, i recommend it to all my friends! it's the number one way to look healthy.. other than actually being healthy that is, and what a pain that can be) twenty-eight:  devon smith pillowcases $50 from stay at home club twenty-nine: auxo bracelets £20-25 by paper and chain thirty: mog cushion £41 donna wilson thirty-one: kittens. oh c'mon who wouldn't want to wake up to a cuddle from some baby cats on christmas morning? but they aren't just for christmas though you know, they're 4 lyf. 

p.s i know some of these pieces are a little pricey, but a girl can dream, right?

if you hadn't noticed, there are a few items from matches.com in this gift guide, and that's because this post is sponsored by matches, but don't worry- the love i feel for each piece i've chosen is very real! 

Recently

hi / ceramics by ita drew at the hereford art & crafts fair / watch c/o daniel wellington / the new 'hive' library building is quite cool / my cats are pretty / my batman print from mini & maximus needs a frame / light party / beautiful sad girls zine / i dread to think how many of these i've taken in the past month, thanks to a wisdom tooth infection. i've just had the bad boy out so here's to less sleepless nights! / a little self portrait / a little desk rearranging / nose ring holder by tuesday bassen / most awesome leopard coat from milk teeths / little auxo ring which i haven't taken off since we made it / gorgeous gus / decaf coffee with no sugar or milk, hmm / me again, hi. 

all images from my instagram

p.s thank you all for such lovely comments on the luna ring giveaway, the lucky winner has now been chosen. 

have a great weekend!

Kate Miss

the multi-talented kate miss has just released her new winter 2012 jewellery collection, and i'm totally enamoured with the photos. kate shot them herself on film in the late afternoon light. i love the styling, that fluffy jumper in the sunlight is so nice. 

the colours of all the backdrops are lovely, the flowers, the shadows, that green! amazing. remind me to take some film photos next time i do a paper and chain shoot. the jewellery itself of course is also really nice, i love the simplicity of the cast bronze crescent. 

credits:

photography: kate miss, shot on a mamiya 645AF with kodak portra 160 film

hair + styling assistance: alison brislin

model: kristine claghorn

shot in silver lake, los angeles, CA

p.s you have until 8pm GMT tonight to enter the luna ring giveaway!

Win a Luna Ring!

i mentioned in my moon post that i would be having a giveaway to launch the release of our new luna rings, and here it is! you have a choice of either the gold ring with a midnight blue stone, or the silver ring with a smoky grey stone, in small, medium or large. there are a very limited number of these rings being made, so it's quite a special prize. i'm so excited to host my first giveaway!

to be in with a chance of winning you just need to leave a comment below, and for an extra entry you can 'like' both the two two oh four facebook page, and the paper and chain facebook page. let me know if you do so! if there isn't a clear way for me to contact you, please also leave your email address. the winner will be chosen at random on thursday the 15th of november at 9pm GMT, and i will update this post on friday the 16th of november with the name of the winner. 

best of luck!

this competition is open to international readers, and paper and chain will pay for shipping, but you may be responsible for any international duties and taxes. 

update: well done holly brannigan, you won the ring!

images by me for paper & chain 

The Good Stuff 18 : The Moon

one good thing about the sun setting earlier is that we get to see the moon in all it's glory for longer. i've been noticing a few moon inspired beauties popping up around the internet, and we have even named our new (super special limited edition) rings after the moon over at paper and chain. we're calling our new rings 'luna' because the beautiful druzy stones are like some kind of magical moon rock. the luna ring will be available in gold with a midnight blue stone, and silver with a smoky grey stone. there wont be many available so if you want to keep up to date with when they go on sale, you might like to follow us on twitter or 'like' our facebook page. i will also be hosting a giveaway (my first giveaway!) in a few days- you could be in with a chance to win a luna ring of your own, so keep an eye out for that.

1. moon print - antique print store on etsy (sold unfortunately, but they do have other lovely celestial prints!)

2. glow in the dark moon clock - urban outfitters

3. glitter slippers - zara

4. moon print - fieldguided

5. evil twin 'insomniac' moon jumper - asos

6. la lune print - double merrick

7. sparkle nail polish - urban outfitters

8. purple moon ankle socks - topshop

9. moon necklace - tides tides on etsy

10. vintage moon globe - bella lulu on etsy (also sold but they have a similar one here)

11. luna ring - paper and chain, coming soon!

Style Favourites

sources: style clicker, variacje, mademoiselle robot, street peeper, the locals, street peeper, the locals, style clicker, vanessa jackman, fashion vibe, snakes nest, orchid grey 

 

it's cold! really cold. in much the same way english weather decided there would be no summer, it also decided to bypass autumn and go straight for the hard stuff. 'oh look, the leaves have fallen how lovely..  wait! shit it's bloody freezing let's go back inside'.. that kind of thing. i have been mostly thinking about jumpers and coats. jumpers, coats, cardies, boots, faux fur, flannel, blankets, duvets, etc. 

I'd wear this

topshop cardi / river island t-shirt / malene birger leather skirt / paper & chain necklace / new look boots