Lovers make music for the future of friendship

amongst light flares, medicinal plants+god's eyes

The BFFs in their magical alley behind the homes they make together

the album art for DarkLight, with paintings by Cubby Berk

Lovers playing inside Room 207 at Portland's Independent fashion event, Content09

A few of my favorite people made an amazing new album:
Buy the new record "Dark Light" from Portland's Lovers here
and read a bit more about them here
I am over the moon about these girls, as friends + musicians.. a certain very special lady in my heart is one third of this tight trio of radical, hilarious, authentic BFFs.
I am so proud to share in some of the art direction for their new album and website, loversarelovers.com-we have collaborated on the band's photo shoots, styling and projects together for the past 2 years (they played inside my Ace hotel room for Content09 ) and we continue to inspire each other, excited for what the future holds.
Look for a feature on the band in next month's Nylon magazine- the issue is a special one about Portland. Also, they look really hot in my jewelry, don't you think?

goodnight summer...

you fell awkwardly this year but we don't mind.
bring on the squash soups and leaf crunch, we got the thick blankets+records+ candles.
see you next time.

Open doors this First Friday, October 1

There is a lot going on at the 811 building this First Friday--Come join us through the evening for sales +treats.
Sword+Fern will be open from 6-9.
Here's some of the happenings:

Haunt Sample Sale 7-9pm- at Holly, Laura, and Rachael's Studio/Shop- Haunt, #113
A multi-designer sample sale, including favorite local clothing designers: Kate Towers, Linea, Church + State, Emily Ryan, Liza Rietz, Holly Stalder, Claire La Faye, Frocky Jack Morgan, and Laura Irwin.


Aequinimetas Fabric Sale
(Richelle +Heather Treadway's studio in the back breezeway)
6-9 pm , #119

Bombshell Vintage, Golden Rule, Redux, Stand Up Comedy, +Nationale will be open too.
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆
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FEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINISTFEMINIST
MALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALLMALL
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

The Goddess will thank you in ways you can only imagine.

∆,
Emily+the 811 LADIEZ:
May/Nationale
Diana+Rachel/Stand-Up Comedy
Kim/Bombshell Vintage
Tamara/Redux
Heather+Rachelle/Aequinimitas
Wynde/Golden Rule
Holly,Laura+Rachael/Haunt

new arrivals from the ancient future in the shop

Some interesting new items have made their way into the shop this week..
Vintage collector Mat Greasy, brought a few gems by for me.
He picks most of his vintage from treasure mines in Eastern Washington, coming to Portland occasionally to sell records and now to bring booty to sword+fern when he's not busy building intentional community with my best friend from highschool on some land up in Centralia.
One of my favorites Greasy brought today is this SX-70 Polaroid Land camera in nice vintage condition.
Film for this beauty is available through the-impossible-project.com
Some light wear to the exterior, but in nice shape for the age.
He also brought a few pen knives, an old clock, some paper goods, a great gems and minerals book, and a giant graphite pencil. Come by and see!
UPDATE: the SX 70 has been sold!
thanks! I will continue to have old cute cameras, so come visit!

more gemstone bolo ties for fall

geode crystal bolo tie.

hand braided leather+quartz crystal bolo tie.
each is one of a kind. also comes in amethyst,pyrite,agate. $72.

sword+fern amethyst hand-braided leather bolo tie and Mothlove belt+jumper at Portland's Runaway fashion show,October 2008.
photos by Minh Tran.

gathering

some sturdy wrists have been hard at work making making making.
mobiles, odd ceramic objects, felted bangles, and porcelain wishbones soon will be arriving in the shop, start your wishlist before the leaves fall...

autumn is arriving

here is a very tiny preview of some of the things that will be filling the shop in the coming months.
they're not available at this moment, but email me if you'd like more info on arrival times, etc.

drifting

new driftwood jewelry coming very, very soon.

gretchen jones is doing awsome on season 8 of project runway.
i love each piece she's made and her wins have been well deserved.
go, g!
and thanks for sporting your custom sword+fern warrior princess necklace on episode 2!!
xoxo

we belong to the light

top-protector necklace; recycled glass, tarnished vintage chain, white chain
middle-light advisor necklaces; rough quartz crystals, thick vintage silk thread
bottom- shelter necklace; recycled glass trapezoid, car parts, chain

U R INVITED

visit sword+fern in vegas and NYC in two weeks--

visit me in person this month at the upcoming POOL tradeshow, happening in las vegas, august 16-19.
i'll be at booth #701, along with sister eco-jewelry designers, molly m. and paperwings.
my line will also be shown at the cameron marks agency booth of the new york international gift show, august 14-18, at booth #9428 in the handmade/designer division!

nightclubbing+lavender mirror this week!

our friends matt+genevieve are the DJ duo linger+quiet and throw an amazing party called nightclubbing, and their 2 year anniversary is happening tonight at holocene- don't miss it! many an earring is produced while listening to podcast #6-available on their blog..
kerby+my wierd electro band, lavender mirror will play a set this friday at holocene- before DJ Lifepartner's party NO SHADE...join us, Nolita selector (Fruitcake PDX), and come early for holocene's apertivo happy hour before- our show starts early with Oak Rot at 8, and Lavender Mirror at 9. we can't wait. let it shine, summertime.
hope to see you!

i am home!

i am home from the redwoods and my family vacation, feeling relaxed and looking very sun-blown..
the shop is open today, from now until this evening.
come by and say hi!
shop hours this weekend:
friday- 11-4
saturday-10-7
sunday- 12-6
monday-closed

2 exciting events and things on the near horizon

1.sword+fern's TWO(2) year anniversary party--date TBA..but the actual date is august 1!
hint: i am planning a rager with kegs, not kidding.
2.new things that you can expect to see in the shop in celebration of said milestone:
-the return of ladyhawk botanicals-new organic lipbalms+new new new magic herbal products-including sea salts and salt crystals for both culinary and therapeutic use, natural, organic incense and essential plant resins for aromatic burning, and small batches of organic herbal teas. very very soon!
-art shows- megan holmes will show her photographs for first friday in august, lisa schonberg (of explode into colors) is working on a very exciting multi-media art installation involving her entomology studies, for this coming fall.

new in the shop: ceramics,paper,textiles,jewelry,vintage,objects,wearables

ceramic vases: crystals, fern, rainbow
blank shapes pocket notebook
vintage necklaces: oversized blue plastic; long sunset orange beaded
vintage earrings: enameled goddess-ey moon+star posts, bakelite turquoise spider-y posts.
vintage name pins: 'juanita'+ 'diane' in hand-formed brass wire

chain+drip silkscreened textiles for hanging or using
blank origami writing cards
colorful vintage world cards
origami globes
tiny letterpress notebooks
insect-embedded resin paperweight
painted ceramic eggs
new necklaces: triple recycled glass swords on long dark oxidized chain with brass beads;
vintage african yellow beads+red coral with copper details and grey silk on dark oxidized chain
wooden bangles with brass inlay
brass+shell bangles
canvas grocery bags with minimal shapes



amazing new summer colors of the false knit scarf by chelsea heffner-seafoam green, magenta, grey, and pearl
metallic linen clutch bag- in so many quiet rainbow colors
forestbound bags- 3 styles remain
hand-stitched cross emblazoned pillow
magical postcards from days of travels of old
new- notebooks handmade from old maps
brass and black shiny campin' knife, only one remains
blank notecards
heavy stone eggs

new jewelry: mixed metals 'fly' earrings; mix of found hardware, copper, and rings on dark oxidized chain





tiny sedum planters by eden batki- has a tiny hole to hang on a wall, or sit upright on a flat surface



vintage stoneware vases-grey and brown




old metal letters rescued from the desert somewhere near Reno: a giant E, A, y, H , K, v, S, #2
rings from andy lifschutz! 6 sterling silver rings, one of a kind, sizes unknown, but they range from XS-L, and he is happy to re-size them for you if needed.


new jewelry: found hardware+ muted colors of jasper stones
porcelain drinking cups by e.benotti




shiny vintage brass bangles
delicate ceramic blue and brown chain by eden batki

vintage blue and white stoneware vessel or planter
copper knots
stones, keys, charms,shells, all found in the new 'lost+found drawers'- everything in the drawers are under $10

crystal prisms in the lost +found drawers

the lost+found drawers are filled with things for you
email with any questions or to have something shipped to you--
...see you soon