portobello west

photos by me

[ 1: dotdotlove morse code necklace , 2: vic & albie goat fork, 3: Cocoa Nymph Sesamo Bianco ]

Last month, an invitation was presented by one of the board members of Portobello West to attend the September market fair. Although the monthly fair has been around since 2006, I have never personally been exposed to it until recently. To say that I was surprised would be a definite understatement. Portobello West offers artisans more than just a venue to sell their work; it offers them exposure and attention in an appropriate environment. Products offered ranged from a morse code necklace that only pilots will understand to a cheese fork that has been flattened, soldered, and stamped with a certain man's nickname. I like esoteric things apparently so I snapped these up immediately along with a couple bags of oddly addicting sesame + sea salt chocolate. Next Portobello West is on October 30th, 2011.

http://www.portobellowest.com/

xxx

ROK

photos by MC & me

(LaRok dress & Rock of Kristia 'Sari' earrings and bracelet)

Feast your eyes on these beautiful and socially responsible pieces gifted to me by Andrea Masakayan, one of the founders of Rock of Kristia! ROK focuses on creating cultural and timeless jewelry; each creation is handcrafted and has a meticulous thought process behind it from the colour of the precious gemstone to the shape of the charm. This particular set consists of bright red bamboo coral and recycled paper rolls, the latter of which was handmade by women in Uganda (this fact STILL boggles my mind). Andrea and her mother Nancy, are local designers with a penchant for making each Rock of Krista piece an individual one! Go here: www.rockofkristia.com.

That is all

xxx