I got into the spirit of Valentine’s Day this year and made some hairpieces for a few of my buddies as small tokens of affection.

I used a mix of leather and suede. I chose different color ties to match each of their unique styles, but was sure to give them all a heart of gold!

I also made a hair stick with a little bird resting on some leather hearts with a smaller heart suspended from a  gold chain.

It is commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that Valentine’s Day is a day for romance. Who knew?

I thought the stick could also be interpreted as cupid’s arrow shot thru the hair, sparking love and desire. Hee hee.

I spent the afternoon roaming around Chinatown checking out the action and picked up a few souvenirs along the way.

I found this sticker at a calligraphy shop. It was definitely old, judging by the yellow tinge and that the paint was starting to wear off. The woman who sold it to me told me it was a picture of the building across the street, which made it extra special and cool.

I couldn’t resist this little guy. I also figured it couldn’t hurt to have a lucky dragon.

I’d been searching for a pair of jade hoops for quite some time and finally found them. Yay! Jade is a symbol of beauty, protection, good health and strength. Not only are my hoops pretty; they can ward off evil and bad luck. Excellent.

Furoshiki means “cloth for the bath.” It was initially used in public bathhouses during the Edo period as a bath mat and to carry clothing and toiletries. Nowadays it is used to transport gifts and other goods. Furoshiki are always square and the cloth may have images that reflect the occasion and significance of the gift.

I used these handkerchiefs I found at a Japanese dollar store. They cost less than a roll of wrapping paper and encourage reuse.

In keeping with my Japanese theme of gift-wrapping I crocheted some amigurumi ornaments to make them extra festive.

I used some cord, gold chain, leather, leftover kimono fabric, and some other random things.

It was fun experimenting with weaving the materials together to see how the colors and textures altered the look of the braid. I used chain on the ends to make the closure adjustable for a universal fit. I also stamped a heart shape out of leather to add a little bling.

It’s amazing how many things one can haphazardly cram into one headband.

I’ve always been one for symmetry and simplicity, but for some reason I decided to mix it up. My buddy Charlene who lives in Canada was visiting at the time and I thought it would be fun to split the pieces up so she could have one to wear back home. Instead of friendship necklaces we could have earrings!

Charlene is a great resource when it comes to design. I especially like to consult her on color because she is a color therapist. I think mixing both of our styles into the earrings produced something random, yet fun. It’s boho-chic meets urban bird watcher. Hee hee

The Armadillo emphasizes the soft yet durable quality leathers used.

The Chameleon displays the variety of select Vernis colors released every season. It wasn’t until 1998 that Louis Vuitton introduced color to his collections. They were only in grey and white.

The Beaver showcases a clever way of organizing one’s life using men’s bags and wallets.

I think this one is my favorite. The use of key rings for its claws is brilliant! I also love its gold tooth.

For my best pal’s birthday I decided to make her a custom hairpiece. She has always been a great source of inspiration and support to me that I wanted to make her something special.

I found some exotic sticks made of coconut wood. They have a beautiful dark grain and are super smooth and sturdy.  I set a baby bird resting on a nest of feathers. Amongst the plumage I included a dotted feather for a bit of whimsy, along with a train of apricot fringe for a splash of color and movement. I had to make sure the piece also had some sparkle- hammered gold discs. I thought it would be festive and reminded me of confetti. Happy Birthday Rochelle!

Sobral is a Brazilian designer from Rio de Janeiro known for his beautiful handmade resin jewelry. My favorite pieces are from his “Pop” collection. I love the mix of candy colored translucent and opaque stripes. Everything is so smooth and shiny. It makes me happy!

Not only does Sobral make fun and vibrant works, his entire production process is eco-friendly down to the packaging. He also partners with the Museum of The Republic to educate underprivileged children in the art of making fashion jewelry.

Every time I wear my hoops it feels a few degrees warmer- color therapy never felt so good!