Ancient egypt cuff

This cuff is fully loaded! I've combined metallics, crystals, shell and a Swarovski pendant in this edgy-chic accessory. Starting with a metal cuff blank, I applied a metallic Aset transfer (Aset, also known as Isis, is the Egyptian goddess of life) and sealed it to the cuff. The center shell focal piece was made by layering two mother of pearl pieces and securing them to the cuff. I finished by adding rays of Swarovski AB gemstone flat backs, and finished with a Swarovski teardrop AB pendant.

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

Men's 2015; Urban Oasis

A little indie, a little rock 'n roll, that's how we roll. My Summer 2015 Men's collection is all about layering beads, textures, materials and colors to create a look that's unique, sleek and defined. As with anything I create, a slightly bohemian touch (in this case a mix of talisman charms I've collected from across the US- more on that later) creates a casually chic aesthetic. I always love a mix of high and low, which creates totally cool contrast. Contrast in the mix of Swarovski crystal rounds and recycled washers from an old hardware set. Contrast in the form of weathered industrial steel decorated with high-shine metallic patterns, applied by hand. Contrast in the merging of natural Howlite, Turquoise and agate with dainty Thai silver accents. Get my vibes?!

As a designer, I feel it's important to tell stories through my creations. Whenever I travel, I always try to collect beads, rocks, or something I can use in a jewelry piece. My most recent trip was to New Orleans, and I picked up some great specimens from the French Quarter Gem and Lapidary store, which I highly recommend going to if you are ever in Nola! The black obsidian arrowhead, featured in one of my necklaces above, is from this awesome store. I mixed it with smoky Swarovski crystals, Angelite rounds and an up cycled washer to create a rosary-style necklace.

You'll also notice a serpent charm on one of my braided layering necklaces. This was taken off a bottle brought back from Mexico. The bird skull pendant was from a trip to Houston, Texas. I scored it, along with many other cool finds, at the Sugar Land Gem and Bead Gallery. The turquoise tusk pendant? It's from a street fair in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. These all carry a specific story, and a specific energy, that I believe passes down to its wearer.

With my obsession with metallic-tattooing everything (I've done rocks, agate slices and more), I've applied that same technique here. Adding metallic tattoos to upcycled washers and steel nuts and bolts gives them a totally new life. Plus, they look seriously badass. Seriously. These provide the industrial-looking bling this collection needed. My other braided layering necklaces look oh-so-hipster cool, especially when piled on, creating an eccentric blend of multihued metal and faceted shine. It's a look for guys (or girls, I'm not into that whole gender separation thing. If you like it, wear it) who have an artistic eye and spirit. Stray from the norm, and break the rules sometimes. A special thanks to my guy models: Ryan Folliard and Bob Cooling. Thanks for being patient and totally embodying the look and mood of the collection!

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

summer style essentials

Summer is totally in full swing! And if you're in Chicago like me, you better enjoy the nice warm weather while you can.  I've put together a small guide to my favorite beauty and lifestyle picks for this season. Now, I'm definitely not one of those people with a "fussy" beauty routine. I don't spend hours picking out my outfits each day, either. I have my tried and true brands that I love, and it keeps getting ready in the morning very easy! I'll tune you in to both my fav products as well as style tips - read the full post below to score some of my style!



Beauty:

So these are my TOP picks for beauty, as I use these each and every day.  If you want to switch up your look for summer, a great way is to simply dye - not cut! - your hair. It's less permanent and lets you experiment. I dyed my hair jet black a month ago and love the look. Haircare company Madison Reed has created a healthier at-home dye, and they also have other great products to help maintain that summer frizz. Check out their hair dye advisor page to take a fun quiz on what color is best for you!

1. John Frieda Frizz Ease // $6 at drugstores. Just a little goes a long way - a tiny pea-sized dollop of this taming cream prevents frizz and flyways on straightened hair. I use it mostly at the bottom ends of my hair so they lay perfectly straight! DO NOT use more than a small dollop - if you use too much, your hair WILL get greasy. You've been warned.

2. Tocca Florence // $22 at Sephora. A totally Parisian scent, light with a hint of gardenia and jasmine. The rollerball is small enough to fit in any bag or even a wallet. I usually don't like floral scents because they're too feminine. But, this one has a pureness to it, like you're walking through wildflower fields.

3. Lush BB Seaweed Mask // $6.95 at Lush. This has got ground almonds to exfoliate, olive oil to moisturize, and of course nutrient-rich seaweed to power-charge skin. I have super itchy skin all the time, whether it's from mosquito bites or even the sun. This seems to calm everything down and prevent redness. My other favorite Lush product is their "Formulae Known As" body lotion. It's vegan too!

4.TokyoMilk Rose Water Lip Balm // $10, Tokyomilk. My favorite scent is rose, and this lightly scented sheer lip balm is great for everyday use. I really love anything TokyoMilk, because the fragrance really lasts all day. Anything Tokyomilk makes a great gift for a sister or a friend too, as their package design is so intricately cool. It's all got a vintage, Victorian flair that's super unique!

5. Dear Clark, Volumizing Tonic // $26 for 6oz., Birchbox. I use this to get beachy hair; a few spritzes adds volume and a bit of a wavy texture to your locks. Also, it smells like a mix of pachouli and herbs, which goes perfectly with any summery bohemian outfit!



Nails:

I think that neatly manicured nails are definitely a must. Now, if you've ever read any of my tutorials, my nails are always a MESS in the pictures. But it's ok, because I'm in the middle of crafting, painting or beading. I discovered gel polish (the kind you need a lamp for) about a year ago and never looked back. I'll use this all the time, because it can stand up to the wear and tear that crafting involves. Gel nails are great for summer, because they won't chip or "flake" if you're in the pool or at the beach. But who am I kidding - I am never at either of those places during the summer! :(

1. Burts Bees Hand Salve // $9, Burt's Bees. This thin - not lumpy or greasy - hand salve doubles as a cuticle cream. I use it all the time after any manicure to keep skin from drying out in the summer heat. It smells sort of like eucalyptus and you only use a very little at a time.

2. Sally Hansen Gel Manicure in White Away // $13 at Ulta. I have the whole LED Sally Hansen Gel Manicure kit, and it's the only kind of nail polish I ever wear. If you do it right, this polish will last for WEEKS on end, sometimes more. You can grab the whole kit at Ulta, but my favorite color for summer is White Away, a simple and pure white that contrasts against tan skin.



Jewelry: Bohemian Rings. Summer's the time when I really am obsessed with wearing stacking rings. I like to mix the metals for a more eclectic look, but keeping the colors somewhat coordinated. Forever 21 has a great selection of cheap rings, perfect for the season. Some of the other places for great rings:

1. FleurCaroline // A Dutch artist who creates simply chic rings from fine silver and gold. The topmost moon ring is my favorite piece of hers!

2. Generation Bliss //  An online boutique where I get most of my rings! The mystic topaz, gold and rhinestone "X" ring above are from this store.

3. Vintage. Nothing beats a totally cool vintage ring that you can mix with modern styles and create a totally unique look. I look for these at local antique or vintage stores and flea markets.





5. Gemstones. So during the summer, I'm all about that gypsy vibe. I've always been into gemstones, and me and my cousin actually tumble our own stones. This gives me plenty of mystical "power" to distribute everywhere! I always keep some stones in my wallet. These are my top picks:

1. Golden Jasper. This has been used since ancient times as a talisman of sorts. It brings general good luck and protection.

2. Black Tourmaline. Black Tourmaline is really great at protecting against EMFs, or the waves that phones (that we're always on during the summer) and other devices emit. Keeping this close to yourself is a great way to guard against these rays.

3. Girasol Opal. This is one of my favorite stones! It really aids in channeling creative energies and forces. I always am looking for inspiration when the weather is warmer, wether it's for a new blog post, style inspiration, photo ops or more. Having this stone on me always helps keep the creativity flowing!

4. Green Tea Agate. This stone boosts the immune system, because who wants to get sick during the summer?!

crystal mandala headpiece

 

The perfect accessory for all my gypsies, this crystal beaded headband is so intensely sparkly, yet so quick to make. The key?! Beaded chain. Saves you seriously hours of connecting beads 'cuz it's premade. Like who doesn't like that?!

Anyway, most of the materials I'm using here are all jewelry making supplies by Pandahall. You can find their whole array of beads and more on Pandahall.com. I love the bright red of the crystals (which definitely look like Swarovskis to me - they were sparklier than I expected!) and the contrast between silver and that cherry red. It's an unusual color for me, but I loved it! It especially looks great with brown hair, like on my wonderful model Olivia. If you had blonde hair, I'd go with a lighter color crystal like a pale blue or even clear. If you've got black hair, any color is game. Redheads - olive green or even black would be super cool.

I'll also show you how to apply a metallic tattoo to this mother of pearl focal bead. That mandala pattern totally makes the design. Metallic tattoos are so on trend - why not use them for jewelry making too?!
Let's start!



Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers (you should really use flat nose, but I'm being lazy), clear gloss glaze, E6000 glue, a small metallic tattoo, 4mm silver jump rings (mine by Cousin), a mother of pearl shell pendant, crystal flatback cabochons from Pandahall (specifically these 2.7mm Crystal Nail Art Flatbacks), Pandahall beaded chain (specifically this Red Glass Crystal Bead Chain).



Step 2: To apply the metallic tattoo to the mother of pearl, simply cut out your tattoo from the sheet. Place face down in the middle of the pendant, and press firmly. Dab water on top of the paper backing, let sit for about 30 seconds, then gently peel it off. Wait until dry, then coat with clear gloss glaze. Let that dry. Then, glue on crystals with the E6000 glue.



Step 3: Take the beaded chain, and cut a piece the same circumference as your head. Attach a 4mm jumpring to the pendant, then attach one side of the beaded chain to this ring. Attach the other end to the other side of the pendant.

With about a 3" piece of beaded chain, attach it to the jump rings again to form an arc. This will hang below the pendant (on your forehead).



Step 4: With about a 6" piece of chain, attach one end to the jumpring again. Attach the other end about 4" down from the pendant. Repeat with the other side. This will add two arcs to the headpiece.

You can keep going here, as I did, and add more arcs if you'd like. I added one more on each side, which I felt filled out my piece. Try out different combos and see what your favorite look is!



The key here is getting the lengths correct - it should fit just around the top of your head, snugly, without being too tight or too loose that it pulls down. It's lightweight enough that it won't drag down.

This design works best with straightened or slightly wavy hair, so that it lays flat. Style it with a simple black top or tee, jeans and flats (or even wedges) for a chic, beachy vibe.

All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not post or reuse without crediting me!
Model credit: Olivia Czupta