Birds of Prey Photo Shoot with Dandy Boy - my Men’s taxidermy accessories line!

Art Direction and Model - Wesley Burness
Photography - Naomi Peters
Wearing: Dandy Boy - Sparrow Skull Cuff Link

Art Direction and Model - Wesley Burness
Photography - Naomi Peters
Wearing: Dandy Boy - Dual Chain Bird Skull Necklace

Right now, I am consumed by total fear of really messing up on the first final I did. I just finished everything but I’m just petrified of the first one I did because I really should have NEVER set a foot into the room to do that exam. I spent those excruciating 3 hours fighting my body because I felt so sick. Which, most likely resulted in really sub-par essay skills. So upsetting!

However, one to better things in life. My friend, Wesley Burness who studies Fashion Communication at Ryerson University borrowed a few of my Dandy Boy pieces for a photo shoot assignment. Posted here are some of the results and my most favourite. I never told him what I wanted and he had complete creative freedom with his assignment but the first two pictures that used my pieces WERE EXACTLY HOW I WOULD PHOTOGRAPH THEM HAD I THE SKILL. The dreamy nostalgia, the slight play on androgyny, the black, the natural light, the brands… I was so surprised it was so spot on to what I liked. 

As you can see I have (if you do not follow my TWITTER and FACEBOOK then you are missing out on what I have) been secretly working on my other aesthetic. A mixture of androgyny, chains, death, leather, and natural history. It’s for Men and Women and I’d like to somehow make it more interchangeable then what I normally do. I’m definitely drifting away from what normal taxidermy jewelry would look like. I’m currently working on a clutch, too! Keep you guys updated.

What do you guys think? He’s goregeous - right? Any feedback on the photo shoot?

The Creative Heart Collective, New Ideas and a Farting Alpaca!

I really love having those moments in which inspiration just strikes you hard enough to wobble your brain. I had one of those moments at 5AM while reading my Ecological Economics textbooks for University. I kept thinking about Consumerism and how it was King -> Crown -> Death…viola! My latest inspiration and foray into more gothic aesthetic. See the picture above. Wouldn’t they be perfect for an ornate necklace or ring? :)

The Creative Heart Collective was pretty nifty. I table-shared with Morico buddies Chu and Cindy. It was nice to meet old familiar faces and new ones. Thank you everyone who came out to support me! I hope to participate at bigger venues next time around. 

I end this entry with my Farting Alpaca totebag from Chu of Morico. It’s a beautifully random bag of sorts…I’m not sure what draws me to it more. The fluffiness of the pictured Alpaca or the blissful expression on it’s face as it passes gas. Hahaha. Go figure. 

Currently, in woe over two pairs of green shoes (one vintage and another XXI) that have slipped from my grasps. Now, before classes I’m going to go looking for some green shoes to fill the void. 

New Stockist: HELLS BELLES and Late Summer ~ Early Autumn Items

As of August 9th I have added a new Stockist for my items. You can now find my items at Hells Belles at Queen Street West and Spadina. They are one of the longest running Goth stores in Toronto and it is an honor to work and sell with them!

They will specifically carry my Men's Accessory line, Dandy Boy. So far, this includes black and white bird skull cuff links, corded necklaces, and lapel pins. I have juuuuust found adjustable Men's ring bases so expect those to be stocked in a few more weeks. They also carry my Women's taxidermy line with white and black bird skull necklaces and adjustable rings.

Please, check them out if you are are passing by Toronto! You will not be disappointed! :)

These are some new hair slides I made. Some will most likely be available online but I'm not too sure as of yet. They'll be making their debut appearance at my first ever craft show (The Creative Heart Collective) at The Gladstone Hotel - September 18th. If they sell well, I'll be making more in the coming months but as of now they are test products. I think they are unbelievably adorable.

These are the Dandy Boy bird skull necklaces for Men. I thought that fine chain would be too delicate and opted for some waxed cotton cord instead. I could see a guy wearing this quite nicely!

Here's what the packaged goods of what I dropped off to Hells Belles look like. 13 items in total and notice how the Men's items have pure white tags and Women's items have vintage colored tags.

Here's some Mori Girl items I made. Lace bow barrettes in three color ways: Tea-stained, Ecru, and Cream. Gorgeous and they come with not pictured pearl and charm dangles! Perfect for keeping hair out of your face when the autumn winds blow.

Lastly, here's a sneak peek at my new Autumn line under, Ofelia Ljuv. Very foresty and Mori Girl. The charms are motifs in nature that I hold dear to my heart: mushrooms, squirrels, acorns, and leaves. I will be selling them in sets at a promotional price and loose pieces. They'll be on my ETSY this coming week as will so many of my other items!

Don't forget to LIKE my QUAINTRELLA Facebook Page (tab on side) for a chance to win a surprise item in my GIVEAWAY when I reach 100 Fans! :)

Death & Sneak peek of New July Product!

It's been a tough week. I just attended my first open casket Wake yesterday. One of my closest friend's mother died a couple days ago. It was all so sudden. :'( I bawled when I heard she had a few months to live and then a couple days later she passed. I cried a lot over it. I didn't breakdown at the Wake which was a slight relief. Nothing worst then being the loud catalyst of grief - when I cry I get pathetically loud and clogged. My heart and prayers go out to my friend's family. Especially my friend who has been nothing less then precious and to this day remains one of my most steadfast buddies. I love you, A.

That aside, been busy working on new designs! I have also expanded into Men's accessories. Lots of Mori Girl + Mori Boy / Dolly Boy items. Dolly Kei headpiece. Natural Kei + Fur Puffs and Tails are back after so many personal requests! Here's a few quick low quality pictures of my items until I get them photographed nicely. :) Enjoy!

As always, comments are welcome and I don't mind constructive criticism at all. :)

- Blogged from my iPhone

Busy Busy! New jewelry: Mori Girl Pendant Necklaces and Bird Skull Jewelry

I have been immensely busy. A large quantity of my older Ofelia Ljuv Collection (the Mori Girl line) under Quaintrella is now available at Nathalie-Roze & Co.  boutique in Toronto's Leslieville. It was an exciting experience and Nathalie is really awesome and I found her to be one of the most wonderful boutique shopkeepers I have ever met since starting this whole consignment business after leaving my business partner. She gave me so much advice and support. I will be eternally grateful for that openness and inspirational stuff she told me. :) I wish there were more people like her - or at least I started out with her as my first consignment shop (though, technically - I did wholesale with her). And, I just found out I have known of her back in my high school days through her Frugal Fashionista columns in the newspapers. Small world. 

I have been contacted by another boutique. The funny thing is I actually talked to the boutique owner a few weeks back about my taxidermy jewelry and then she randomly found me on Etsy and was interested in my Mori Girl items. Since, I sold a significant quantity to Nathalie I began working on more. It was sweatshop-mode...I was able to make 9 pieces in one day. See below. That is the greatest input I have done in a day for these things. Usually I average around 3 a day if I can put my mind to it. But, seeing that people like my stuff and continuously tell me they have never seen anything like it - I feel pumped!

See my most recent work below. I began making bird skull rings. I personally HATE costume jewelry ring bases so I will only make them with sterling silver or gold. It ups the price by a lot but at the same time you will never have a green finger. :) I also ordered my brand label tags and more vintage doilies. I just need my business cards and then I should be good. :)

Tell me your thoughts and which pendant necklace is your favourite! I would't mind feedback.

9 Mori Girl Pendant Necklace pieces done in one day.

Began sterling silver base bird skull rings.

This is a necklace I will be selling to a boutique - TNK Vintage on Saturday.

New Products: Wood Pins + Necklaces, Taxidermy jewelry, and fiber-ceramic jewelry!

Today, was a bit of an unproductive day. Being a night owl (not by choice) usually means I get the most workta done in the dead hours of the night - I live in downtown Toronto which means that there are no sirens, crazy people yelling, or traffic to interrupt my thoughts at 2 AM - 5 AM in the mornings.

I mentioned in my previous post I worked on a lot of product for consignments. Here, are more pieces which are mostly going into consignments. Ransack the Universe carries most of the wooden pins and a unique wooden necklace! Don't be afraid to check out their rather awesome store!

Wooden pins - waterproofed with an matte acrylic glaze.

Sparrow skulls casted in plastic - these are the pieces I worked on with a taxidermist in the US for months. :)

More recent wooden pins. If I don't drop off the rest of these to Ransack the Universe then they will be going to ETSY by the end of this week. I have more wood-based jewelry on my new ETSY: http://TheQuaintrella.etsy.com

My newest piece to date. Bird skull rings. I have a huuuuge pet peeve regarding costume jewelry rings (necklaces are a-okay in my book). I hate how they always turn my fingers green. So, I decided to only use sterling silver ring bases. Unfortunately, they only come in size 6 and I have yet to find gold bases. :( Also, I used gold chains on all my necklaces which means there'll be a switch over to half of the stock to silver chains.

While these pieces aren't particularly reflective of all my latest fiber-based pendent necklaces. They represent a new foray into using ceramic beads and charms. I'm not sure if I should put these into consignment so I believe they will be on ETSY soon enough!

I'm the biggest supply hoarder - I always think there's a use for everything. You guys, have no ideas how happy I am to find a use for my ceramic bead charms!!! All my Mori Girl and fiber-based pieces are stuffed with the exterior cut-outs and left overs. No waste. I also recycle shoulder pads for forms. Sometimes, I like to think of Mori Girl fashion as earth-loving since there is such a close affinity to nature when I think about it.

Another project I am going to start is the dismantling of all my super-long upcycled and vintage fox tails. I have waited for the listings to expire on my Marionette Atelier ETSY so now the surgery can begin! They will be half in length and price! :) I know many people have asked me for shorter ones. Well, now - there will be shorter ones!

Sent from my iPhone