riverstone wrap bracelets

The simply subdued moss greens, frost blues and light sage combine perfectly here in these wrapped arm adornments. Using small pieces of thin gauge wire to wrap on stones, crystals and pearls to leather cording creates lightweight, eclectic bracelets that definitely look sophisticated.



I've chosen beads that all fit within this very calming color scheme. You could totally mix up the look by using bright colored leather and tropical beads (wood, shell, painted, etc) to create a totally tiki-chic look! Or, go with a neutral color scheme of black, gold and silver for something surely glam. No matter what the theme you pick, the technique always remains the same. It's all about those wraps, bout the wraps, bout the wraps.


I'll spell out the entire steps below -- read on!



Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are an assortment of beads (gemstones, crystals, metal --great gemstone mix here), lobster clasps, 6mm open jump rings, 28g craft wire, leather or suede cord, wire cutters and flatnose pliers.



Step 2: Cut a piece of leather that is 3X the width of your wrist (usually 7 or 7.5 inches), plus 2". Thread a jumpring .5" from the end of the leather. Bend the leather backwards, capturing the jumpring in the loop. Use another jumpring to secure this loop, squishing it closed around both pieces of leather. This is a super easy way to end leather, no cord ends necessary!



Step 3: Cut a 4" piece of wire. Wrap snugly about 1.5" from the end of the leather, then string on a bead. Wrap the wire around the leather again to secure this bead in place.
Wrap on more beads, or cut the wire flush to the leather to finish off.



Step 4: Continue with this wire wrapping method, wrapping on random beads (mix it up for an eclectic look!) anywhere from 1-2" apart from each other on the leather strand. When you've reached about  2.5" from the end, thread on another jumpring.



Step 5: Secure the end, repeating Step 1's method. Use additional jump rings to add a lobster clasp to one side.



Simply wrap the bracelets around your wrist and clasp to close. These look even better when stacked with more wraps, in a cool color scheme. You could also wear these as necklaces, too, or even try as anklets! Very versatile!

COPYRIGHT

Because I take all photos for my blog, the images within this post are all copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations.
If you'd like permission to use a photo, email me at allison@quietlioncreations.com

sunset soliloquy

   

"all that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream"

A palette of crumbling cracked concrete, ashen marble slabs littered haphazardly in a ghostly blueprint, and dull olivine grassy groundcoverings surely presents itself as a seemingly desolate destination, void of any aesthetic appeal. Complimented by the light shuffling of palms blowing in the beach-soaked wind, the afternoon rose-quartz glow of a dying sun and the occasional buzzing of lonely crows nestled in branches above, the air is heavy. Heavy with time, heavy with memory, heavy with history.

The attraction to such a place can seem quirkily contradictory for some -- but for me, it's only fitting. Is there such a heaviness? With feet sinking into the sand, perhaps yes…but with each gust of breeze washing through the rows of stone, the energy is in a way, cleared. These souls are gone, of course, and only structural markings remain.

Metallic tones of chrome, antique gold, bright copper and deep bronze can indeed offer a lightness -- bringing in a contemporary set of texture, color and shine to an otherwise rustic landscape. When these elements are paired with a sophisticated wardrobe of dark bohemian pieces (embroidered fringe ponchos, a 20's-inspired emerald minidress and a crisp lace-up tunic) an entirely new mood emanates about. Who is this girl? The late afternoon sun so deftly dances off each sewn sequin, each crystal charm, each strand of chain, mimicking the way she flows through each sitting grave. She leaves an almost tangible trail, aside from her light footsteps imprinted in grey sand below. There is a certain aura about. Is it….hope? Is it….strength? Nothing intentional as she passes through for just a few minutes, but the effect is lasting. The grave markers stand almost as a sleepy audience, silently observing her path. Just as fast as she appeared, she continues on her way out, in tandem with the sun as it begins to creep behind trees and below the horizon. A slight air of wonder is left about, and any tension lifted. One crow feather gently skims across the concrete trail, out of sight.

Model: Emily Geer
Jewelry / Styling: Quiet Lion Creations by Allison Beth Cooling
All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling

COPYRIGHT

Because I take all photos for my blog, the images within this post are all copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations.
If you'd like permission to use a photo, email me at allison@quietlioncreations.com

a laowai diary

Yes, this post is about a month late - and if you've been following my social channels, you'll know in early April I traveled literally across the globe, on a work trip, to...China. Below is my recap of sorts - a visual diary of this faraway world. Seven cities, two weeks,,,, are you ready?!

SHANGHAI

//

Our first stop in China, and probably my favorite stop of all. Arriving in the late evening (and leaving in early morning), we really had to make the most of our short time in the city. Our hotel was right across from a huge walking street, which boasted both retail stores and restaurants, plus the occasional tourist trap. A short ten minute walk and we arrived at The Bund, and the beautifully lit skyline shimmered and danced off its waterfront setting. It was night, and the electro-neon pops of rainbow hues emanated from the contemporary high-rises. But take a 180 degree turn, and you were met with the complete opposite; massive colonial-type stone buildings reflected Shanghai's past. That ironic mix of old and new seemed almost unreal, but definitely adds to the city's character and charm.

The next day we stubbornly awoke at 5 am, hoping to catch the infamous Bund sunrise. I'm so glad we did. The sheer difference in color, mood and aura from last night's light show was validation enough. Contrasting the Vegas glitz and glam, the skyline stood as a ghostly silhouette, against tanzanite fog, like a mirage of sorts. As the sun rose higher and burned off the shrouding clouds, peaches and rose gold tints emerged from the purple haze. At about 6:30 the sun was full blast, creeping behind the TV tower and ultimately becoming the center of attention.

Leaning on these early morning rays of sun as our remembrances, we begrudgingly scurried back to our hotel to pack. It was on to the next city. 

NOLA style
Shoes by Urban Outfitters
Vest by
Necklace by Quiet Lion Cre

   

YIWU

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The second stop, located more centrally within the continent, was the large city of Yiwu. The mood here was a total contrast to the high-rise, high-energy vibes of Shanghai. Yiwu had a more "community" type feel, but was certainly still bustling with  both tourists and natives alike. The Yiwu market drew the attention of most visitors - packed with literally everything you could imagine, this monstrosity of a building is where we spent most of our time. This is the largest commodity market in all of China, and we could see why.

GUANGZHOU

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After escaping the slightly chilly weather of both Shanghai and Yiwu, we landed in a more southern part of China - Guangzhou. The air was humid, the terrain tropical, and definitely a lot more on the warmer side. It kind of felt similar to the weather of Florida, which I definitely needed after spending a week shivering in the North China air!

Guangzhou was a fireball of shoppers, workers, taxi drivers, bike riders, moped users and us - the Laowai (foreigner or tourist). It's a very important city, and we could see why. Again, we spent most of the day browsing through the many indoor markets (and even picked up some sparkly treasures). Luckily we had a translator - I don't even want to imagine what sort of mess it would have been without her!

We stayed in the older part of the city, right outside of a large walking mall with both American and Chinese stores. I really liked Guangzhou, and wish we had more time to explore outside the markets. Last note -- Guangzhou had Starbucks, which I hadn't seen up to that point - yasssssss.

SHENZHEN / DONNGUAN / SHIJIAZHUANG

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Shenzhen and Dongguan, located around the same area as Guangzhou in Southeast China,  both reminded me a little of Yiwu. It was quieter in these cities, and I didn't notice as much foot traffic. But then again, I'm not an expert, but just a Laowai :).

Shijiazhuang is located back in North China, not far from Beijing. The only thing I can say about this city is wow,,,,, SMOG. I was warned about the smog before going to the country, but really hadn't noticed anything really that bad up till that point. The pollution smell hit me straight after coming off the plane in Shanghai, but it wasn't as intense as I had suspected. it would be. Pollution is MUCH worse in North China, and you could definitely see that in Shijiazhuang. It looked like the entire city was covered in thick fog, and everything was hazy. There's a lot of pharmaceutical factories located here, which contribute to that pollution.

I don't have really any pictures from these cities. It was all work here, no play!

HONG KONG

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Our last stop - Hong Kong. I was legit super excited for this part of the trip - all play, no work! We stayed on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong (the mainland part, separated from Hong Kong island by the harbor), and had an awesome view.
The sheer amount of high rises here is insane.

First stopping at Times Square and then browsing through some street markets, we definitely had soaked up the energy -- it was nuts. The amount of markets, stores, cars and people packed into these small places was unlike anything I had ever seen.

What's great about Hong Kong is that a lot of people there speak English - it's definitely a world "city" (or nation, whatever you want to call it - it is not part of China, though). There were tons of Chanel, Dior, etc stores but they are definitely out of our budget, so we took a pass! Fashion was key here, and the place certain has a specific style. They don't really do bohemian fashion there (which kinda is my thing) -- they are all about the tailored look, sharp silhouettes, and platform sneakers. Go figure.

 Oh, and did I mention the cat cafes? Small coffee cafes where you can literally pet cats all day. I'm not opposed.

The day seemed to go by at lightning speed, reflecting our whole China trip. As it got darker, we returned to Kowloon and waited outside for the light show (which unfortunately never came) but still witnessed the lighted boats sailing in the harbor.

COPYRIGHT

Because I take all photos for my blog, the images within this post are all copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations.
If you'd like permission to use a photo, email me at allison@quietlioncreations.com