Welcome October

I heart

My father gave my mother a gold heart locket on their first wedding anniversary. Inside was a tiny piece of paper cut into a heart with the handwritten words "I Love You." If I'm not mistaken there was also an inscription on the back. I remember opening up the locket when I was a kid and reacting with the same excitement and surprise each time I saw the note - kinda like jack in the box. Years later he gave her a diamond heart necklace while was open in the center.

This Love me tender locket necklace is quite different than either of those heirloom pieces but has the key charms in fashion today - a heart, lock, and key all in one.

More for Fall '06

I have so many new designs coming to the shop and I'm excited to preview them on the blog. The silver pod necklace is one of my favorites because it's all sterling silver and great for work and weekends.

I was talking to a coworker yesterday and she was shocked that I make jewelry because I never wear any myself. I suppose it's like a fashion designer who wears all black. This necklace is the exception - I think I need one for myself!

This sterling silver bracelet is also part of the new silver collection I'll be adding to the shop. It has mother of pearl beads on a gorgeous chain. It's a bit tough to capture the elegance and luminosity of the stone and metal here but hopefully you can see it's beauty. Oh! It's also not heavy at all - none of my jewelry ever is.

On its way to the shop...

On its way to the shop...

Cool hunting with delightful blogs

Coolhunting and blog watching has become a great way for the shopping obsessed to learn the best trends before they even hit the fashion mags. For indie designers, too, there's no better way to connect with their audiences. I love the idea that customers can visit my blog or someone else's and see my designs. Plus they get an inside look on what's happening in my shop. Take a few minutes to browse for links on shopping blogs like
Charles and Marie,
She Finds,
Out Blush,
Style Bytes,
Mighty Goods,
Indie Shopping,
and Ned and Shell's Weekly Dose

and you'll see that most add checky commentary and have great style tips the way a traditional fashion magazine would. Most of these bloggers aren't fashion editors but the best ones can weed through online shops so you don't have to. The gap between reading a magazine and then searching for the product online just ceased to exist. And just one of these link links to a trillion! One click! Here are just a couple more examples: This Next, Far Too Cute and Modish.

But, if search engines are more your style, there are handy-dandy directories sorted by popular topic like Technorati. But the newest, sharpest one with an indie edge is Delightful blogs where blogs are screened and handpicked (I'm still waiting for my approval - but I'll sit patiently!).

I've bookmarked a bunch on my computer and I'll expand my shop's links section but a fabulous way to see what others link to is Style Hive or check out my account on Delicious.

Happy hunting.

Technorati Profile

Indie Handmade Xchange

The Indie Handmade Exchange is a brilliant idea. I've put my banner up on the managing site and it's displayed on someone else's site. In exchange, I'm displaying theirs. Check out the banner I received:

Welcome to my space

Find me and friend me on myspace! I'm having so much fun meeting other crafters. I'm still working on customizing my profile and I'd love people to let me know what sites to check out for template suggestions.

Today I prepared a huge order of pieces for sale. I'm super excited about a series of handpainted floral beads that completely bring together what I'm trying to do with creating a signature style for Urban Bloom.

Card business

Business cards are definitely my next print project. I'm toying with some of these designs. A good business card clearly states the vitals but I want to design something that people will want to hold on to. Do any of these hit the spot?

Fall is here. All ready?

now available (international)

Shop Urban Bloom at Hannah Zakari's online store! It's bursting with bold pieces by indie designers around the world.

now available

Miss Misa is one of the greatest online shops for accessories and now you can buy Urban Bloom there too!

now available (international)

added to the shop

More birds and lockets and lockets that have birds are appearing at Urban Bloom. I am so excited for you to see the latest additions to the shop: Lovebirds necklace, Black blossom necklace, and Ovation hoop earrings.

Impressed: Review on Mixed Plate Blog

Urban Bloom's Fall 2006 collection "Charmed to meet you!" gets rave reviews on the Mixed Plate blog.

Mixed Plate is a blog that reviews a wide range of designer goods. It's run by Liana, the talented owner of On a Friday, a shop of handmade jewelry, paper goods, and more fun gifts from Hawaii.

A designers dream: Now Available

Urban Bloom is now available at the fantastic independent shop Purple Pink and Orange! There are 9 pieces in all including a locket from the Keepsake Collection, Too Mod to Be True earrings, and a bunch of newbies. Is raving about my own necklace like a comedian laughing at her own joke? Well, maybe I do have a right to brag about my favorite piece because it's so cute. It's a heart locket at the center of a gold chain with a two smaller brass charms of a heart shaped lock and key to the left and right. It has hard giving it up for sale.

Purple Pink and Orange is run by a great girl named Amy and features popular indie designers like Miss Misa and Kailo Chic.