The Quiet Lion: July 2016

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

for those about to rock....

Model credit: Flávio Aguirre
Photography copyright Allison Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations

I salute anyone who is reading right now -- you're a Quiet Lion fan, a rockstar, and you definitely love DIY jewelry, am I right?!

Well, it's that time again -- I feel like every summer, I churn out some sort of men's jewelry. Behold 2016's collection -- plenty of metal, the occasional amulet, and even guitar strings and bullets. The colors, bold BLACK X GOLD X RED X BLUE are definitely staples for guys, 'ya can't go wrong.

My favorite pieces are the men's malas- made with real garnet stones and tibetan pendants, it's definitely a sharp update on the usual bohemian accessory.

Now, back to the guitars. Trend report: guitar string jewelry. I've been seeing this slowly creeping into the mainstream jewelry realm < not that we're mainstream at QLC >, but I definitely think it's a cool idea. I did mine the right way, by using ACTUAL broken guitar strings -- I'm not sure who's supplying these other companies with THAT much string product. But, I won't get political here. Basically, it's like a really thick beading wire (and very stiff), so a little tricky to work with. Use the thinner strings for easier jewelry making. I mixed with more metal beads, garnet and black agate beads.

Finally, them bullets. Again, upcycled, they make a perfectly edgy pendant necklace when paired with quartz points (you can grab great ones, in all colors, on Etsy!) and simple ball chain for a slightly military look. A single Swarovski crystal skull adds serious sparkle (yes, sparkle is OK for guys), especially when mixed with fishbone chain.

I'm definitely planning on some tutorials for these pieces - stay tuned!!

So in the meantime, strike a power chord, light some sparklers, wreak havoc; just don't blame me ;).

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

Thursday, July 14, 2016

champagne supernova

All photography: Delane Ashley Photography

Outfit credits: Shirt/Jeans (generationbliss.com), all jewelry by me.

Rosy champagne tones in the form of metallic finishes, my muppet-chic boa (similar here and here) and the occasional street cat coincidentally tie the mood for this look together. The burnt browns of Mars, neutral grey of Mercury and rusty reds of Jupiter are reflected in this very inconspicuous shoot location; who knew an abandoned porch would provide the perfect backdrop and aesthetic? High contrast comes in the form of these warm tones mixing with the grassy greens of summer foliage and the ever-necessary eclipse black of my wardrobe.

Honestly, I think it's all about this undercut of the ENTIRE GALAXY here - my Riri-inspired shave was deftly crafted by my mom, a supernova sunburst radiating out and down the neck. These undercuts do not last long (mine about 2 weeks) but can easily be re-designed with a quick touch-up. A must-try, I must say.

More intergalactic interest flows throughout the details, such as the shimmer star tooth tattoo (my photographer's idea, and why not?), delicately dripping charm necklaces and crystallized wrap bracelets, casting sparkles like interstellar diamond dust. Since I did pile on an astronomical amount of accessories here, a simple offset involving a charcoal scoop neck tee and classic black skinnies creates balance. And that Chan Luu skinny scarf? Hippie it up as a headband, bohemian belt or lariat necklace. Mine was on sale from UO, but you can find similar styles here or here.

What better way to ignite a lonely alleyway than with twinning twinkling sparklers, each one creating a tiny solar system all its own?...

Finishing up as the atmosphere is losing light for the night, a few strums are all that's necessary. Actually, that's because I have very limited intelligence on how to play this guitar. It's on the to-do list!

☽ * ○ ☆╮ a dreamer dreams she never dies ╰☆ ○ * ☾ br />

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

Sunday, July 10, 2016

#worldtraveler decoupage books

Have a case of Wanderlust, but caught in reality too much to follow it? Cheer up with these DIY decoupage books. I used magazines, paint and old novels to create totally chic decorations, worthy of any tablescape.

Check out the full tutorial on the CraftPaperScissors site here!

Sunday, July 3, 2016

escape to ⟡ magical unicorn land ⟡

In the land of lore and lollipops lives two tiny unicorns; high above in the atmosphere, sprinkled with delicate sparkles and bright marshmallow white clouds, in a faraway place only the mystic are privy to. Gilded with the glitziest of Swarovski crystals and embellished with the swirliest of spiraled wire, these magical creatures are quite shy. Their pearlesque horn holds their magic, and they spend their days frolicking in cotton candy skies.

Unicorns made with 16g wire (from Cousin Corporation) and Swarovski crystals. 28g silver wire was used to attach swirls and beads to the wire frame. Of course, I just had to make a black one to offset that strawberry pink sweetness. Unicorns can be edgy too, no?