iram-inal designs

Thank You, Oakhurst....

2009-10-31T08:12:00.007-04:00

October 11, 2009

Thank you, Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival, for showing me how community can come together to enrich the lives of its residents.

Only one week after my trip to St. Louis for the Taste festival, I was back in Atlanta the next weekend to participate as a juried vendor in the Oakhurst festival located in Decatur, GA. The day (luckily) was sunny, and my boothmate-in-crime, Tasha Hussey, was in full glowing pregnancy mode, and was ready to sell!
The crowds were small, but pleased to be there (and that's all I ever need to be happy). We were located right by the stage, and as a result had the full fledged sound of music in our ears. Lucky for us, the entertainment was good and varied throughout the course of the day, from folk, to the blues, to African, to alternative.

I was enchanted by the true, generous community feel of the festival's patrons. I think that if I were to live in a small community in the midst of a big city, a festival just like this one would be the ticket to making the neighborhood feel like a true home. As I reach "motherhood" age, and my wonderful husband and I consider having a baby, I'll keep this neighborhood in mind, and will definitely do this festival again next year.

By the middle of the day, my jewelry-making assistant, Shannon, also popped by to grace us with her presence (she's putting on her full mo-del face for you all here). When she arrived, she brought along our newest creations from iram-inal, which we debuted at Oakhurst to test the market. The new SL line of fabric necklaces was a great hit!
We call it the "SL line" because Shannon, who is the fantastic designer of her own line of apparel - Shannon Lynnette - helped me to bring my vision of fabric necklaces to fruition through her skill and creativity. So, because we're vast believers that independent artists need to help each other out, we're looking at the SL line as a collaborative line, and we're so proud of it. If you want a look that is chic, voluminous, lightweight and eco-friendly, this collection is for you. Stay tuned for more info on this line as we continue to develop it!

So once again, thank you, Oakhurst, for showing me community, neighborly love, and a great time filled with music and cheer. See you next year!

Taste of St. Louis Was the Bee's Knees!

2009-10-31T07:06:00.007-04:00

October 4, 2009

The "Taste" (as locals call it) is a festival that me and Mari and dedicated to doing every single year until we can't do it any more. The people are fantastic, the music is AWE-SOOOME, and the food is always on point.

Driving through St. Louis reminded me of how beautiful this city really is.... I've been to many places around this fair country of ours, and I think many of our larger cities (outside of the Northeastern region) don't take care to preserve and maintain the original structures that helped to create their cities. St. Louis is not one of those locations.
The architecture, the Arch, and the feel of the place moved me so much on the second sunny day there that I had to take pictures while driving in my car (wrong, I know). While I'm now mesmerized, I realize that I didn't appreciate the beauty of this thriving metropolis at all when growing up here.

Setup on the first day was amazingly frustrating, as there were gale-force winds up to 30 miles an hour. Luckily, our family friend, Cory, was there to help out so he helped to keep me sane by holding the tent down from blowing away (even though I had 150 pounds of weights already holding it.... we had to get more before the day's end). Eventually, my sister came to save me and added another 150 pounds to the tent to fully secure it for the eve. The festival began on Friday at 5:00pm. Normally, we are so busy in our tent that we don't have time to sample any of the delicious goods provided by over 30 St. Louis restaurants, but this year I wanted to TASTE! So, taste we did.... and I mean everything. Wish I had some photos of the great food for you folks, but it's IN OUR BELLIES! (and yes, please think Austin Powers).

This 3-day festival is one of the biggest in the city, bringing out over 150,000 patrons (some say closer to 250,000) to sample yummies, fill their tummies, and shop from fantastic artists from all over the country.

This year, we were fortunate to have our booth located on the corner of the main fairway between the juried Artists' Market and the Taste Row.... this made for a very, very, very busy 3 days. With the festival always running long (until about 11:30pm), it is exhausting work, but the great people always make up for that feeling.

Additionally, we had some great surprise visitors that weekend, from our beautiful mama, to Mari's good friend (and great supporter of iram-inal), Tim.

All in all, it was a fantastic, exhausting three days filled with great sales, new friends and fabulous finds (which I'll talk about in a later posting). Thank you to the many who purchased iram-inal designs' creations, and we'll see you next year!

It's Been So Long, and We Have So Much to Share....

2009-10-31T07:03:00.002-04:00

Party People, this is my first blog in a long time, and it surely isn't purposeful. Due to being busy (that's a great thing, right?), I've had no time to cater to the curious by reporting back iram-inal's activities.

I have to say that the past few months have been AMAZING! New stores, new designs, new connections and runways have been an integral part of our lives, and we're loving every minute of it. I'll be reporting back frequently about the growth of our lil' love business, and believe me there's a lot to say. :)

Until then.....

Jewelry Pick of the Day - The Gold Wood Woven Necklace

2009-08-03T10:04:00.007-04:00

08/03/2009

We want people to be fine, fitting and flashy at all times. We believe that gold is the key to all of these things. All in all, WE LOVE GOOOOOOOOLD (and yes, we're saying it like Goldfinger in Austin Powers).

Sometimes, a woman doesn't want to be weighed down by the weight that beautiful gold or brass pieces cause after a long day's wear, so why not choose an option that is shiny, fabulous, lightweight and eco-friendly? Well, we've found the perfect way - introducing the Green Collection gold woven necklace!

Made from South American sustainable palm tree wood, this necklace is chunky, fashion-forward and perfect for your holiday season party, in a suit, or for your weekend out in your LBD. And it also weighs in well under one pound, so prepare to get your disco on!

This necklace will be ready for sale on the iram-inal website starting September 2009. For any questions about this product, contact us any time at sales@iraminal.com.

Jewelry Pick of the Day - Handcast Resin Hair Accessories

2009-07-29T10:33:00.003-04:00

07/29/2009

We've decided to add a new column to our blog for you called the "Jewelry Pick of the Day." Yeah, it's a bit cruel and unusual to keep you waiting for our new fall line to debut, so we'll remedy that by featuring new creations that will soon be for sale online and in our boutiques across the U.S. See this as a "sneak peek" of what we're currently excited about in the world of iram-inal.

The first item: Hand-Casted Resin Hair Accessories

we are truly amped about our latest endeavor into the world of "chemistry" using liquid polyurethane resin to make fantastic creations. when we stumbled upon these vintage nickel-free brass barrettes, we had to grab them up. Featuring a wide variety of designs, from translucent, transparent and opaque solid colors, to beautiful mod-inspired print designs, you'll find our "bird on a wire" barrettes (and more!) on the website starting in September. Email us at sales@iraminal.com with any questions you may have about this fab product!

Come One, Come All.... Sidewalk Sale Trunk Show at Charm this Weekend

2009-07-08T20:50:00.005-04:00

July 8, 2009

This weekend, the MBA Allstar Game is being held in St. Louis, MO. Yuppers, that's quite the big event for me and my sis's good ol' hometown. It is anticipated that thousands of people will flock the streets of downtown to see the game and their favorite baseball players in all of their glory.

While you're downtown, we highly recommend you stop by Charm Boutique (313 N. 11th Street, ST. Louis, MO) to visit a slew of very talented local designers who will be selling their wares in a joint sidewalk sale/trunk show in conjunction with fantastic stores UMA (better known as the store that has the coolest everything) and the restaurant voted 'the best breakfast in STL, Rooster.

Find sales on jewelry, home goods, good eats, the newest designs from iram-inal and more this Saturday from 10am - 5pm. See you there!

Boutique Announcement - Sole Shoes and Accessories

2009-06-30T22:02:00.006-04:00

06/25/2009

We are proud to say that you can now find our jewelry at Sole Shoes and Accessories in the Edgewood Shopping Center in Inman Park (Atlanta)! This beautiful boutique is a place that we've had our eyes on for some time now. Their reputation in the designer community is impeccable, and as a designer, you always seek to partner with stores that offer fashion-forward design and are business-minded at the same time.

The owner Abigail, and store manager, Crysta, are top-notch, and constantly seek to provide their customers with the most current designer apparel, fashion-foward jewelry and shoes. I can guarantee you that you will find shoe and clothing selections that you will not be able to find anywhere else in Atlanta, and just for that, it's worth the trip alone.

To find out more about Sole, you can visit their website at http://www.soleatlanta.com/, or (even better) visit them in person at 1245 Caroline Street, Suite 1, Atlanta, GA 30307.

Taste of Central West End.... Fun, Lots of Sun, and the Best Customers EVER

2009-06-30T19:31:00.013-04:00

June 15, 2009
This year, we had a booth for the second time at the Taste of Central West End Festival in the hip and happenin' CWE area of St. Louis.

I (Malene) drove into a horrendous and violent tornado-warning storm storm (what we like to call normal summer weather in the Midwest) while commuting from Atlanta to St. Louis for the festival. Because every radio station in ears-length was screaming out the fact that a tornado was on the ground - and that I was driving right into the heart of the storm at night - I surged on and did not let the rain dampen my spirits and hoped for a great weekend (okay, I'm completely lying... I was scared out of my mind)....

scary St. Louis weather (seriously, ya'll)

I had thoughts of turning around and stomping right back to lovely Atlanta (where we only have to worry about the heat wave), but persevered. I arrived safely in St. Louis two hours after my scheduled arrival time and kissed the ground when I arrived at Mari's house.

Mari did this festival by herself last year, and realized it was an extraordinarily busy event. With the success of last year, we decided to give it another go with the two of us this time around.

our booth at the festival

Despite the scary commute to St. Louis, the weather over the 2 and 1/2 day festival was FAB-U-LOUS, and the customers came out in droves. Admittedly, were placed in quite an odd area off the main drag of vendors, but were placed toward an exit area, which resulted in a great flow of buying customers.

standing room only!

Anyone who has ever worked a festival knows that it's a trying, tiring effort that that takes all the strength you can muster. This particular festival went from 11am to 11pm every night, so we needed help just to make it throughout the day. We're thankful to have wonderful friends and family who are always willing to stop by and help. Big "ooo-ooooh's!" and hugs to our mama and great friends, Mike, Cara and Liz. We can't thank you enough.

We also had the pleasure of neighboring with a fellow jewelry designer named Melissa. Her jewelry was also chunky and funky, and she had a good weekend overall. Spending time with her and her parents was great fun.

our beautiful mama modeling our necklace and ring

the brains and the brawn for the weekend, our friend, Mike

our booth neighbor and fellow jewelry designer, Melissa

The biggest advantage of doing festivals is that we get to meet our buyers in person. There's no better test of your product and marketing efforts than seeing how your own product presents itself in the face of the potential buyer.

I'm proud - and unabashed - to say that our customers are the BEST new business owners could ask for... they're always honest in their assessment of our new designs, and are happy to give recommendations (and plenty of compliments) on our lines as a whole.

As it says in the liner of this entry, we also have the most fly and cutest customers ever! From indie, to sophisticated, to conservative, we create designs that look great on all. The best part?

Our oh-so-cool customers allow us to take photos of them wearing their purchases! If ever you visit our website - http://www.iidesigns.com/ - and are unsure whether or necklaces will fit right on your frame, or whether they're too big for you, just take a look at these lovely ladies wearing some of our creations:

yellow jade woven necklace

rust recycled palm wood woven necklace

green recycled palm wood double woven necklace

gray agate slab single strand necklace

It was a fantastic festival full of great music, great food, and great people. We look forward to seeing you all next year!

The 2009 Indie Craft Experience - Beehive Style

2009-06-02T13:13:00.009-04:00

05/31/2009

This weekend heralded the 2009 Indie Craft Experience Festival in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park. For the first time, at the ICE Festival, 12 talented designers from the Beehive Co-op joined together to create one big "mega booth." While sales were slower than last year, the ultimate result was a day of fun filled with lots of light, laughter and learning.

I.C.E. Patrons braving the heat Our Beehive "Mega Booth"

For this link, I'm going to give some shouts out to my fellow designers, and give you links to their websites so you can learn a little more about them and their wonderful products.

Brandi of Just Add Honey

Hazel Studstill of HJ Designs

Carrie and Sara of Brightshop

My booth, shared with uber-talented designers and friends, Shannon Edwards and Tasha Hussey

My boothmate, Shannon Edwards of Shannon Lynnette

My other wonderful boothmate, Tasha Hussey of Tasha Hussey Designs

Amy Leff of Throwing Stars Jewelry and Julia Farrill of Red Bird Ink

Julia and Amy shared a booth with the inimitable Arwen Fine of A. Fine Shirt

Alejandra Dunphy of Alejandra Dunphy Designs

An old Beehiver and friend, Wendy Burnley of Bella Bee

I encourage you to check out each of their sites. Their products are well made, handmade, and are local! Shop away!!!

Boutique Announcement - Daisy Clover Boutique

2009-04-29T18:57:00.005-04:00

05/01/2009

We are so ecstatic to announce that we are now selling our wares at the fabulous Daisy Clover boutique in downtown Webster Groves, MO. This shop is simply one of the chicest that we've had the pleasure of selling in, and we're pleased to reach an entirely new line of customers through the store and its diligent owner, Natalie.

If you're ever in downtown St. Louis, I highly recommend you take the short drive to Webster Groves to check out the store. With a huge collection of high-end jeans, dresses from emerging and hard-to-find designers, and great sales, it's a destination shop you just can't beat.

You can learn more about the boutique at its website - http://www.daisy-clover.com/, or visit the store at 8146 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, MO 63119.

Announcement! Trunk Show at Mezzanine - May 9th, 2009

2009-04-13T06:54:00.010-04:00

April 13, 2009

Model wearing iram-inal necklaces from Mezzanine's lookbook

On Saturday, May 9th, we will be holding a trunk show at one of our favorite boutiques in St. Louis, Mezzanine. Owners, Paul and Anna, always go out of their way to make sure their boutique is filled with the most eclectic collection of fashion available. With many selections from both known and emerging designers in New York and L.A. (and states sprinkled inbetween), we are ecstatic to be affiliated with such talented designers in such a cool shop.

Also, the selection in the store is to die-for.... the store always carries a full-range of items, from jewelry, shoes to apparel. You can shop on the Mezzanine website for the newest items carried in the boutique, as well as find some great savings. Our favorite picks right now:

we could scream for these Report Signature raffia pumps

the stylish woman can never go wrong with this Mara Hoffman pencil skirt

This elegant mini-dress by Love Yaya can be worn as a shirt or a dress - and it's only $48!

Voile is chic in this great dress by Travota Jeribacao

Come out and see us on the May 9th to find our latest designs.... we will have our recycled/repurposed gold brass line (great for a party or a night out with the girls), along with our traditional semiprecious stone woven collection and our recycled wood woven necklaces and cuffs.

We'll also have a selection of our chic new resin filled rings. For more information or to shop 24 hours a day, check out Mezzanine's site at http://www.mezzaninewearables.com/.

Ooooh.... Shiny!!! And eco-friendly....

2009-04-13T06:44:00.004-04:00

04-13-2009

As promised, we're going to debut a few new pieces to you each day.... Many of these designs are works in progress, and are not even available in stores yet. We're anxious to bring them to market so you all can enjoy them as much as we do.

In our effort to continue to be kind to our environment, each funky, chunky piece in this line is made from repurposed hammered gold brass rings. We love working with round shapes (as you all know), and these rings have proven to be as versatile as ever! With these pieces, we use gold-filled chain and semiprecious or cz stones (we're all about the CZ right now).

Stay tuned for even more delicious designs, and look for them at our festival circuit and in our locations a little later this year. Retail prices for this repurposed collection will range from $52 - $82.

Let us know your thoughts! As always, for custom orders, contact us at sales@iraminal.com.

Oh, it's been too long....

2009-04-13T06:31:00.005-04:00

04-12-2009

So, yeah.... we've been working VERY hard, but took a little hiatus from our blog to continue to develop our line on a national level. Thanks so much to all of you who've stayed loyal and faithful during our "incognito time" (chuckle).

In the past few months, so much has happened to iram-inal designs:

- We've grown exponentially, selling in many more stores (we're now in 7 states! 43 more to go!)

- We've expanded our line to include large, repurposed brass pieces, and are working with handmade cornstarch porcelain.

- We're in the process of creating beautiful large rings made with hand-mixed and poured resin (coming very soon)

- We've amped up our festival and fair circuit route for this year, including many more festivals in many new locations. Check back regularly for announcements.

In the next few days, I'll be sure to share some of our newest exciting designs with you.

As always, feel free to drop us a line at sales@iraminal.com, or check out our newest collection at http://www.iidesigns.com/.

See you soon!

What a Charm-ing Time - Trunk Show at Charm Boutique

2008-12-16T22:22:00.004-05:00

November 20, 2008

In the middle of November, we had a great time hosting a trunk show at Charm Boutique, located in downtown St. Louis.

Owned by entrepreneur, Kari Kraichley, Charm is a unique boutique that offers jewelry and accessories of all varieties. iram-inal is ecstatic to be one of the featured designers in the shop.

The turnout was great, and we made great sales during the chilly weekend. We were so happy to debut our newest design, the druse geode pendant at the sale, to great results. Be on the lookout for these great, simple, elegant pendants as a part of our Spring 2009 line.

You can visit Charm M-Sunday, at 313 N. 11th Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Also shop online 24-7 at http://www.charm-boutique.com/. Be sure to visit today!

Audaz at ArtDimensions 3rd Floor Gallery

2008-11-22T18:31:00.022-05:00

November 14, 2008

For those of you who don't know, ArtDimensions is a non-profit group of artisans with a mission to increase awareness and love of art in the St. Louis area, and beyond. By happy chance, Mari and I stumbled upon this group of impossibly talented artists and immediately made it a quest to join their ranks to soak up all of the art knowledge we have.

We can attest that their sentiments are not at all stuffy, as they openly accepted iram-inal designs as their first jewelry design artisans in the group, a bestowment of which we are so proud. The group is full of the young and the young-at-heart, and everyone consistently carries a hip, happening, and supportive vibe.

A few months ago, my sister, Mari, approached ArtDimensions to ask if iram-inal could be the Featured 3-D Artists for the month of November in their striking 3rd Floor Gallery; when they said yes, my sis gladly took up the challenge.

Although the gallery is like a second home to Mari, being in Atlanta, I had not yet had the opportunity to visit the site - located in the heart of cosmopolitan downtown St. Louis on Washington Avenue - and took the last day of my last visit to St. Louis to do so.

I have to say that the gallery is simply striking... big, bold, with clean lines, the gallery is more than I ever anticipated, and should be the crowning glory of the group.

Mari's great work with the group also allowed us to set up in the Flax Gallery, a portion of the ArtDimensions Gallery specifically dedicated to local women artists. In addition to having our work sold in the Gallery Gift Shop, you can also find our work in future exhibits in the Flax Gallery, as well.

Audaz opened to a warm group of art-seekers on November 14th. I never could have anticipated the beautiful job my sister did in completing the space. The installation was everything that encompassed the iram-inal identity - beautiful, Afro-Cuban inspired pieces that were Audaz, audacious and statement-making in every way.

Overall, it was a fantastic event, and we are so proud to be affiliated with such a talented group of artists and for having such a successful first exhibit! You can visit the ArtDimensions 3rd Floor Gallery Th - Sun, 12:00 Noon-4:00pm at 1214 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor (enter through Mossa Center), St. Louis, MO 63103.

Boutique Announcement - iram-inal designs at Mezzanine

2008-11-17T11:42:00.006-05:00

11-06-2008

Often, my sister and I reach for the stars in terms of boutiques and galleries where we'd like to show and sell our work. Last year I read about Mezzanine, located in St. Louis' chic Central West End, in one of my favorite fashion magazines, and decided that the boutique, its owner's sensibility of carrying both established and emerging designers in hard-to-find labels, and overall store aesthetic is a place where iram-inal belongs.

After creating our newest collection, we decided to contact the owners, Anna and Paul, to see if they'd like to schedule a showing to see our work.

We immediately scheduled a showing time in this upscale, sophisticated boutique and are ecstatic to say that our green and wovens lines are now carried at Mezzanine!

A few of our green and woven collection necklaces at Mezzanine.

If you have not been to the boutique, you must take a trip to shop for the holidays (and beyond). The store has an easy charm and shoppable, unintimidating layout that will allow you to find a wide variety of chic and interesting products, ranging from jewelry, to shoes (some of the coolest I've seen in a while), to dresses, and you're likely to run into either Anna or Paul while you're there.

A shot of one side of the boutique

Most importantly, don't let the reputation that all high-end boutiques price their items so out of range that you're likely to suffer "sticker shock" stop you from checking it out... we can attest that Mezzanine carries a wide variety of products, with pricepoints on some items starting below $50.00! And as you know, iram-inal will always provide you with high-fashion jewelry designs at reasonable prices... it's our continual mission! Now that we're in Mezzanine, it's obvious to see that they're aligned with that same sensibility, as well, by carrying pricepoints for everyone.

Boutique owners, Anna and Paul, in the store

We look forward to having a trunk show at Mezzanine in the upcoming spring with our newest collection. Be sure to be on the lookout for the date and time!!

You can visit Mezzanine any time at 389 N. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108 or shop online at http://www.mezzaninewearables.com/.

A Fabulous Jewelry Party in Alton, IL

2008-11-17T10:53:00.007-05:00

11-04-2008

This evening, my sister and I took the trek across the river to Alton, Illinois to set up for one of our fabulous jewelry parties at a very cool restaurant called Gentelin's on Broadway. Tucked away in the middle of downtown Alton, this inconspicuous location is one that is easy to miss, but we highly recommend you stop in and have a bite any time you're near the area. Oh, and be sure to order the spinach-artichoke dip, and Sante Fe wraps... they are beyond delish!

We arrived early to set up in the back room of the busy restaurant, and waited for the host, Elisa, to arrive. The party hopped off exactly at 6:30pm, with 20 women eager to dine, sip wine, and shop our newest iram-inal collections.

Our normal party setup and our Host, Elisa

Our Lovely Host, Elisa, choosing her free gift for the evening!

The Ladies, after dining for the evening

Over all, it was a wonderful evening full with prizes and great holiday purchases (many for themselves, too!). Afterward, the ladies invited us to eat dinner with them (which we are still raving about).

If you are interested in having your own iram-inal jewelry party, contact us at sales@iraminal.com for more details! We are always happy to come to you!

It's Late, but... Savor the Flavor of the Taste of St. Louis

2008-10-28T18:17:00.004-04:00

October 7, 2008

This year's Taste of St. Louis was held at the Soldier's Memorial in beautiful downtown St. Louis the last weekend of September. For the second year in a row, it was a weekend of wonderful weather, tasty eats by St. Louis' best restaurants, live music from nationally known bands, and 150,000 happily stuffed (from eating, of course) locals to share it all with.

For the second year in a row, we were proudly a part of the juried ArtDimensions market, and once again so pleased to be in such talented company.

For the majority of both days, our booth was filled with customers checking out iram-inal's newest designs.

We swear that we have the world's chicest and cutest customers, many being return buyers from last year (we were so happy to see all of you again!). As always, our fair-attending customers received the best sales on our staple lines and a preview of our new fall line, including our honeycomb cuff and stax collection bracelets (which were a great hit!).

Two of our favorite customers wearing earrings from our drops collection.

We look forward to participating in the ArtDimensions artist market at next year's fair. Thank you all for your continued support, and see you all then!

Location Announcement - Knoxville Museum of Art

2008-09-18T01:40:00.007-04:00

September 15, 2008

While we were in Knoxville for our gallery opening at Pistol Creek Gallery, we were fortunate enough to obtain a meeting with the managers of the gift shop located in the Knoxville Museum of Art. We will begin selling our jewelry in the Museum Gift Shop in October 2008.

The Museum is committed to providing a venue for both emerging and renowned artists with both a national and international reputation. The museum includes five galleries, as well as a Sculpture Terrace, an Exploratory Gallery, and two large outdoor garden areas.

It is an absolutely breathtaking venue, and many special events, such as weddings, are held there throughout the year.

The museum shop has a variety of exciting and one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone. Along with exhibition-related merchandise, posters, stationary and great coffee table books, the museum shop also offers an array of novelty and gift items, and a children's area. Also featured are textile, glass, wood and ceramic pieces hand-made by local and regional artists.

We are proud to be affiliated with such a talented group of artists, and look forward to selling our one-of-a-kind pieces there for years to come. Be sure to visit next time you are in Knoxville. 1050 World’s Fair Park • Knoxville, TN 37916-1653

Gallery Announcement - Pistol Creek Gallery, Knoxville, Tennessee

2008-09-18T00:59:00.006-04:00

September 7, 2008

We are so excited to announce that we recently found two retail homes in Knoxville, Tennessee. Having never visited the home of the Vols, we were pleasantly surprised to find that Knoxville is a large, bustling community filled with a creative arts community.

On the evening of the 6th, we opened our line at a new gallery just north of Knoxville in the suburb of Maryville, called Pistol Creek Gallery. Owner, artist and curator, Heather Whiteside, collected art from a very talented pool of artists from all over the country, and featured her own impressive architectural renderings. The opening event was a great success, filled with good food, great art, and live jazz music provided by The BBC Trio.

The best part about attending these events out of Atlanta is found in the opportunity to share a space with so many creative minds at once. I met a slew of the extraordinarily talented artists, such as Kenny Mencher, Sally Ham Govan (who has the most shophisticaed and impressive animal renderings I have ever seen), photographer Lowell Millican, Chris McAdoo, and Marshall Hall , and to name a few. Prior to the event, I had the pleasure of spending a little bit of time with fellow jewelry designer, Amanda Henry-Thompson, of Sista Creations, who makes a unique and very cool product called Bands for Bangles.

The event also supported the local chapter of the humane society, and we're very happy to say that a fostered dog found a permanent home that evening.

It was an event to remember, and Knoxville welcomed iram-inal with warm, generous and open arms. We cannot wait to get back down to the Knoxville area for our next event in November. See you all then!

August 2nd Event at DEKKA - Washington D.C.

2008-08-01T00:29:00.005-04:00

July 30, 2008

For all of our D.C. Metro customers, we want to announce that DEKKA, located in the U-Street Corridor, will be having a special celebration and sale, featuring it's fantastic artists. Go and check it out for great sales (15% - 30% off apparel, accessories and jewelry), great art, fashion and music. Find out more information at www.dcafam.com

We've Been Featured! Miss Serendipitist

2008-07-14T14:48:00.004-04:00

July 8, 2008

We are excited to have been recently featured in the great Atlanta fashion blog, Miss Serendipitist. Written by local fashionista and lover of all-things-chic, Whitney Sherrill, the blog covers cool finds from high-fashion clothing, jewelry, local boutiques, and home and bath products.

You may see her review of our new jade double woven necklace and streaming dreamcatcher earrings (both available on our fall line) here.

With new updates weekly, check out the site for everything hip at http://www.missserendipitist.com/.

Friends of iram-inal - Kimberlie Moy of Golden Plum Designs

2008-07-10T11:21:00.006-04:00

July 5, 2008

Fresh back from a successful trip to D.C., we'd thought we'd take time to let you all know about a wonderful jewelry designer, and fellow DEKKA artist, we met while there. Meet Kimberlie Moy, owner and designer of Golden Plum Designs.

A skilled and educationally trained metal smith in hand fabricated metal design, Kimberlie began making jewelry prior to attending the jewelry arts program at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE).

Model wearing Kim's designs at DEKKA fashion show

In her artist statement, Kim said that she uses a visual language that addresses purity, sensuality, modesty, and containment. Her metal forms are based on geometric and organic principles, and are made with relevance to the part of the body of which the pieces will be worn.

Like ours, Kim's beautiful designs were featured in the DEKKA fashion show at Rumberos Restaurant on July 3rd. In our opinion, we've never seen any jewelry quite like hers... her designs are sophisticated, smooth, and compliments the wearer by making a statement, all on its own.

You may find Kim's designs at the DEKKA showroom, on the first level.

Stompin' the Runway with Dekka in Washington D.C.

2008-07-08T10:09:00.015-04:00

July 3, 2008

It's official, folks! On July 1st, the sisters of iram-inal took a trip up to Washington D.C. to set up in the trendy boutique and showroom in the ever-hip U-Street Corridor.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that the boutique is located in the center of an extraordinarily eclectic area, teeming with some of the best eateries, jazz clubs, and boutiques in all of D.C. To top it off, the area boasts a great variety and mix of nearby residents and customers who help to keep the area multiculturally fresh.

When we entered the boutique, we were pleased to find a large group of very talented designers, including Yosoy, Holland Cox , LC Beads, Thembe Fashions Biribelle, Poppi Shop, Xzuberance, and Lily Lily, among them. We arrived on the day DEKKA debuted designers on the second floor of the boutique, opening up the opportunity for D.C. to learn about even more fine, local talent.

Our setup on the first floor of the boutique.

While setting up, we learned that we were to participate in a fashion show on being thrown by DEKKA on the 3rd, as a "fashion introduction" to "Independents Month" in D.C. The show was to be held at Rumberos Restaurant in the trendy Columbia Heights area on the evening of the 3rd.

Rumberos was a fantastic establishment, serving a prix fixe menu for the event, where patrons attending would receive an drink, app, entree and dessert for $30. A superb live jazz band played as diners feasted on Latin American tapas and fare.

Photos of an empty Rumberos

There was not an empty seat in the house prior to the fashion show

The show begins....

Models wearing daytime looks by Xzuberance

Model wearing day and nighttime look available at the DEKKA showroom

Model wearing nigttime look from Yosoy

Model wearing dress from Lily Lily Shop collection

Model wearing nighttime look from Lily Lily Shop collection

Model wearing daytime look by Thembe Fashions, and necklace by iram-inal

Model wearing nighttime look by Thembe Fashions, and necklace and earrings by iram-inal

Models walking out with the designers from Lily Lily Shop and Yosoy

Designer, Philissa Williams and model wearing iram-inal designs jewelry, along with the designer's mother

Overall, the event was a great success, and a wonderful first experience for iram-inal with DEKKA. Rumberos and DEKKA provided an area in the restaurant for the designers and artists to display some of their work prior to the show. As evidence that the idea is sound, iram-inal sold a few pieces directly after the show ended! We look forward to many more successful shows with DEKKA in the coming months.

You may find all of the designs, iram-inal's latest collection, (and much more) at DEKKA , 1338 U Street, 2nd Floor, Washington D.C., 20009

Boutique Announcement - iram-inal designs at Charm Boutique

2008-06-24T23:28:00.008-04:00

June 24, 2008

iram-inal designs is so ecstatic to announce that we will be one of the featured jewelry designers in Charm Boutique. Located in downtown the St. Louis Washington Ave. district, the boutique is a part of the up-and-coming, new cultural epicenter of downtown St. Louis.

Teeming with hip restaurants, apparel and shoe boutiques, Charm stands out from the crowd as being the only jewelry boutique in the Washington Avenue area.

iram-inal is proud to be in the company of other national esteemed designers, such as
Rebekah Brooks, Jamie Cassavoy, Zoe Chicco, Amy Draper, to name a few, as well as the great local talent of Sara Patino Jewelry, Scarlett Garnet, and the lovely handbags of Paula P. Designs.

To learn more about the designers currently featured at Charm, and its upcoming trunk shows, visit its website at http://www.charm-boutique.com/.

friends of iram-inal - Talking to Amy Leff of Throwing Stars Jewelry

2008-06-21T18:58:00.009-04:00

June 22, 2008

Today I met a wonderful fellow designer with a brilliant line of jewelry called Throwing Stars Jewelry. http://www.throwingstarsjewelry.com/

I loved her jewelry creations so much that I decided to share some photos of her work with all of you. The beautiful designs are hand-hammered and soldered by Amy, are made from sterling silver and gold-filled wire, and are often enhanced by faceted gemstones.

Earrings from Amy's current line of designs

Amy's model wearing a current collection necklace

Model wearing earrings and lariat from the current collection

You can find her wonderful line in several trendy boutiques around Atlanta, Georgia, including the Beehive Co-op. http://www.beehiveco-op.com/, and on her website.

Gallery Announcement - iram-inal designs at the ArtDimensions 3rd Floor Gallery

2008-06-16T09:13:00.010-04:00

June 15, 2008

iram-inal is so happy to be jewelry artists at ArtDimension's 3rd Floor Gallery Gift Shop on Washington Street in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sharing the 3rd floor space is ArtDimensions' newest juried exhibit, Think Pink, and So St. Louis, which features art portraying the awareness of women, and breast cancer during breast cancer awareness month, through art, and tells the story of the artist's interpretation of St. Louis through visual works, respectively.

The visual art in the Think Pink exhibit was juried work by gallery director, Angelia Young, and was submitted by St. Louis area female artists. The So St. Louis exhibit was directed by ArtD member, Billy Williams.

The opening reception received a great turnout on June 13th, and featured musicians, performing artists, spoken word artists and culinary delights.

Photo of the Gallery space

As of January 2008, ArtDimensions moved into the already established gallery space located on the 3rd floor above the longstanding, contemporary furniture store, Mossa, right in the middle of all of the new downtown development. The 5000+ sf loft space provides a spectacular setting for the art and is conveniently located near many new restaurants, galleries and shops. ArtDimensions (a 501(c)-3 nonprofit arts organization) has been working hard for the past 7 years to unite St. Louis artists and art appreciators at events like this one.

Photo of the Gallery Space

A piece featured during the "Rusty Springs" Exhibit at the 3rd Floor Gallery.

ArtDimensions, of which we are proud members, has it's 3rd floor gallery located at 1214 Washington Ave.

You may find information about ArtDimensions, it's gallery locations, past and future exhibits, artists, Taste Magazine and upcoming events at http://www.artdimensions.org/

Grand Opening of Genuine Artikle Boutique & Gallery - A Rousing Success!

2008-06-14T02:13:00.008-04:00

June 14, 2008

Genuine Artikle boutique and gallery opened at its new location at Lake Ronkonokoma in Long Island, NY to an eager shopping crowd on June 13th. iram-inal designs was proud to be part of the extraordinarily talented, trend-setting group of artists and designers.

From graphic print tees and girly dresses, to beaded and metalsmithed jewels, paintings, sketches and sculptures, the variety of products for sale proved to provide something for all.

Some of the featured apparel and jewelry designers include Heaven Sent Threads, RockinBones, Jinxedaposed, Shalottlilly, and artists, including Anna Todaro, Kimmie, Chris M. Clark, Kari Marboe, among others.

Genuine Artikle Customers on the night of the opening

More happy G.A. customers at the opening

An opening night customer looking at tees. See the iram-inal necklace on display on the nearby bust!

Success with a packed house on opening night.

You can find these, and the work of many other designers and artists at the Genuine Artikle gallery and boutique at 527A Hawkins Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.

Boutique Announcement - iram-inal designs at DEKKA in July 2008

2008-06-13T14:50:00.010-04:00

iram-inal designs is so pleased to announce that we will be feature artists at one of Washington D.C.'s best new boutiques and showrooms, DEKKA (phonetic spelling for DCA - "D.C. Area").

Located in the hot and happening U-Street Corridor, this boutique is the concept of husband and wife owners, Josh and Luciana Tiktin, a designer and artist, whose own apparel line and music are featured in the store. iram-inal will premiere our line at the showroom in July 2008.

Dekka is more than your regular boutique: It is D.C.'s first and only co-op featuring music, fashion and art. It has been described as the perfect haven for the trendy person in search of unique fashions, creative art, and local music, all in close proximity.

Dekka is also a showroom for its 10-15 designers it houses within its walls. While always open to retail purchases, wholesale orders may also be made directly from the designers at the retail location.

Dekka had a glorious grand opening last April, and have had such great success that they're expanding to include more designers by opening up another floor in their boutique.

You may find more information about DEKKA at their website - http://www.dcafam.com/, and may visit their retail location at 1338 U Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C.

Gallery Announcement - iram-inal designs at the Arts Clayton Gallery

2008-06-10T23:39:00.007-04:00

June 10, 2008

We are very pleased to announce that the Arts Clayton Gallery, located in historic downtown Jonesboro, Georgia, will be carrying iram-inal designs in its general gallery area and gallery store, starting in late June.

Outside the gallery

I visited this gallery space today, and was completely blown away. Not only is the gallery space and staff top-notch, the work displayed by talented artists (mainly from Georgia), was beautiful and original, as well.

You can tell that the people here really love the arts, and are working to educate the community about the arts. We are proud to be affiliated with such an esteemed gallery, which operates as a non-profit to enrich the arts in the state of Georgia, and specifically in Clayton County.

The main gallery space

The gallery prides itself on diversifying each of its running exhibits, including a mixture of folk arts, contemporary abstracts, impressionistic landscapes, and photography. It's opening reception for each exhibit is held the first Thursday of every month.

Artist, Shannon Lake's work, for the Art Clayton Gallery's Mural Project

You may find out more information about the Arts Clayton Gallery, current exhibits, artist calls, and current artists at their website - http://www.artsclayton.org/gallery/

Cold as I.C.E. - On a 90+ Degree Day

2008-06-10T11:14:00.012-04:00

June 9, 2008

The Indie Craft Experience's "Lucky #7" Festival was this past weekend, and iram-inal designs was a proud participating vendor. Although the weather would just not quit (never creeping below 90 degrees), those who love all things handmade came out in full force.

Our setup for this fair. Normally, we are enclosed, with a boutique-type feel... however, the heat prevented any of the vendors from keeping their tent walls down.

Customers looking at the variety of vendors.

A lovely iram-inal customer wearing amethyst and ruby quartz cluster earrings. She was sweet to let me take her photo for our blog!

Set in beautiful Centennial Olympic Park, folks munched on frozen lemonades and purchased all of the handmade goodies offered by a wide variety of artists, from jewelry makers, to handmade handbags, to specialty stamps. Surely, there was an item for all.

As my sister and I both had festivals on this weekend (me in Atlanta, and Mari in St. Louis), I found it was particularly difficult doing the fair without her. My neighbors, however, were wonderful about watching my booth when I had to step away, and bringing cold (and much welcomed) drinks throughout the day.

Katherine Smith of KSmith Jewelry out of Atlanta. Beautiful, elegant pieces made with semiprecious stone and silver.

Sarah Neuburger and friend of The Small Object. She makes a wonderful variety of items, from paper goods, to custom stamps. You may see her items at http://www.thesmallobject.com/

The crazy, wonderful girls of The Mod Dog, out of Atlanta. They create unique, custom designed collars, leashes and pet accessories for your dogs and cats. You may see their collection at http://www.themoddog.com/.

Also, a big thank you to the I.C.E. organizers and all of their helpers for pulling off another wonderful event. iram-inal looks forward to participating next year!

Blazin' Hot at the CWE Taste & Art Fair!

2008-06-09T14:34:00.020-04:00

June 9, 2008

See that subject line? Literally and figuratively, my friends! What started out as a soggy event, ended up being one of our most successful, thus far! Leave it to St. Louis to be hot, humid, and windy all on the same day, right?

Friday - Afternoon set up and shopping

Got to love the resilience of STL folks! 30 minutes earlier, not only was there a torential downpour, we'd also had a second tornado warning!

Take a gander at our boutique style festival set up located in the Juried Fine Artists section of the event.

Saturday Morning - the complete set up.

Our friend, and "Model du Jour," Court, wearing an iram-inal ring

Thank you to all who shopped, shopped with us again (you know who you are!), looked, and commented on our boutique, style, and jewelry! We had such a great time - see you next year in the same spot!

A lovely iram-inal customer wearing a green agate double woven necklace.

Oh, one last note - a HUGE kudos goes out to the 2008 CWE Event Staff! They were taking care of business, zipping up and down the thoroughfare in their nifty little golf carts. Way to go for pulling off such a fabulous event! It's nice to be a part of an Event where we vendors are taken seriously!

Gallery Announcement - iram-inal designs at Glasscents Gallery

2008-06-05T08:06:00.007-04:00

June 5, 2008

iram-inal designs is ecstatic to be the featured beaded and stone jewelry designers at the wonderful Glasscent Gallery. Located in the South City area of St. Louis, in the Historic Cherokee District, Glasscents becomes the new neighbor to many other galleries, vintage, antique and specialty stores in the district.

Run by seasoned gallery owner and curator, Kathy Kingston, Glasscents is sure to be a St. Louis staple and fixture in the booming downtown and South City areas.

These photos show a successful, invitation only, soft opening for Glasscents this past week. The gallery will be open to the general public later in June.

You may visit Glasscents at:

2317 Cherokee St.
St Louis, MO 63118

Boutique Announcement - iram-inal designs at New Gallery & Boutique, Genuine Artikle

2008-06-04T22:54:00.009-04:00

June 4, 2008

iram-inal designs is proud to announce that they are one of the designers to be featured in Long Island, New York's new boutique and gallery, Genuine Artikle. A boutique and gallery that allows us to express the edgier side of iram-inal, the space is an enhancement and attachment to the already booming tattoo shop owned and run by legendary tattoo artist, Zam.

Along with his partner, Alky Styles, these visionary artists are expanding their space to include the work of designers around the country. From the edgy to the sometimes lowbrow, Genuine Artikle will provide a wide variety of items to it patrons, from custom t-shirts, and other apparel, to jewelry.

Check out their site at http://www.genuineartikle.com/ to learn more.

Genuine Artikle will officially open their doors to the public on Friday, June 13th, 2008 with their Grand Opening Party.

Boutique Announcement - iram-inal designs at the Beehive Co-op

2008-06-04T22:18:00.003-04:00

You can always find the newest, one-of-a-kind creations from iram-inal designs at the popular Beehive Co-op. The "Bee" is located in the gorgeous Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia, on Peachtree Street, next to Cafe Intermezzo. iram-inal is honored to be one of the featured designers in the boutique.

Beehive is one of Atlanta's only locations to find local, handmade products by the best emerging designers in the area. Their mission is to nurture the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of these designers, and provide them with new markets and opportunities for their products.

Back View of our jewelry boutique inside the Beehive

Side view of our jewelry boutique inside the Beehive

front view of our jewelry boutique inside the Beehive

All of the designers, including us, bring in new products to the boutique every couple of weeks, so you are ALWAYS sure to find something fresh and new. Another great quality? If you don't see exactly what you're looking for, you can always contact the designers personally to get a custom creation designed especially for you. This is a personal touch that you just can't find at your run- of-the-mill store.

To get more information on the Beehive Co-op, and it's Atlanta designers, go to http://www.beehiveco-op.com/

Boutique Announcement - iram-inal designs at Bella Chic

2008-06-04T09:26:00.007-04:00

iram-inal designs is now one of the featured designers at the great boutique, Bella Chic. The boutique is located in St. Charles County of St. Louis, in the historic Cottleville area.

With products created mostly by local designers, Bella Chic has an eclectic variety of ever-changing goodies, from jewelry to baby products.

Go check out this location today, and see their website http://www.shopbellachic.com/, for more information on vendors and product selection.

Fairs, Fairs and More Fairs

2008-06-04T02:26:00.008-04:00

iram-inal designs will be appearing at TWO fabulous fairs this up-coming weekend! Be sure to come and see our newest designs at the following events:

Indie Craft Experience

Centennial Olympic Park
Atlanta, Georgia

June 7, 2008

11:00am - 6:00pm

The event coordinators of A Bardis and Patina have worked very hard to coordinate a wonderful event, and we hope to see you there, rain or shine! Get more information at http://www.ice-atlanta.com/

*************

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can also find our fabulous designs at the following festival in St. Louis:

This weekend, the14th Annual Central West End Art Fair & Taste is happening in St. Louis. Come see us at the iram-inal designs booth for our latest designs, as well as some fine food and amazing entertainment all weekend long on the streets of the historic Central West End.

With hours to suit everyone, we hope to see you there!

Friday 5 PM to Midnight

Saturday 11am to Midnight

Sunday 11am to 7 pm

Find more information at http://www.thecwe.com/CWEaft2008.htm

Who links to me?

Hey, You! were you looking for FABULOUS jewelry? Welcome to iram-inal designs

2008-06-01T20:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the blog for iram-inal designs. A line of chunky, funky jewelry created in late 2007 by sister-duo Mari and Malene ("Lani") Davis, we describe ourselves as always being "sisters on a mission to create delicious designs." If you are a person who loves to make a statement and loves fashion, our line is for you. From time to time, we will update our blog to give you more information on the happenings of iid as we expand and grow.

Check in frequently for information on the great new boutiques and galleries that carry our line, as well as art festivals and fairs where we will be selling our new designs.

We are two ladies who love fashion and our planet, and for that reason, try to use recycled and repurposed materials in our designs whenever possible. Generally, our line is made from semi-precious stones, recycled woods, repurposed brass pieces, and silver/gold-filled and plated findings.

It's our mission to create the most audacious, creative designs, but at the most affordable prices. Chunky, funky and bold year-around, iram-inal designs is your one-stop-shop for that "something special" that you are unable to find anywhere else. Always feel free to contact us at sales@iraminal.com just to say hello, for information on our line, or to place custom orders.

Thank you for your interest and patronage, and check in frequently for updates! http://www.iidesigns.com/