Designer Spotlight: Destiny Ray Jewelry

I paid Destiny a visit yesterday at her new home studio.  I walked into her garage and immediately got workbench envy.  It was well organized, yet lived in.  I also loved the personal touches: a set of three art pieces done by a friend, a polaroid of Destiny and her fiance, and a funny  junior high Glamour Shots photo.

For the next hour, we chatted about jewelry design, and she worked on a few pieces from her new collection. It’s always such a thrill to see a fellow artist at work, and I always feel so inspired to create something myself!  To see a slideshow of Destiny making a ring, go here.

I am really excited for the unveiling of Destiny Ray’s newest jewelry on our webstore, all priced between $30 – $60.  My favorite in the collection is the Half Hoop Earrings ($60), seen below.  I also love the Three Gold Circle Earrings ($35) – so sweet and lovely.  Find both at www.oliounited.com this Friday!

 

Melissa shoes for the summer

   

The Melissa Ultragirls just arrived-  just in time for some summer fun.  The Ultragirl, with the peep toe feature, is our most popular style.  Darling with skirts, fantastic with jeans.  They are so easy to travel with, too!  They pack compact and they are super convenient when going through airport security.  

Shown above is the Ultragirl in red ($68) and the Ultragirl Slingback in purple ($58).  Shop here to order your pair now.

 

Another trip to NY needed

via ecco*eco

Design for a Living World Exhibit at Cooper Hewitt until Jan. 2010
I’m really hoping for another trip out to NY soon so I can check out this exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt in NY.  The Fashioning Felt exhibit will be up until September 09 which is another must see.  The Nature Conservancy has organized the Design for a Living World exhibit as a way to educate us on how products are designed and produced and their impact on the environment.  They’ve invited 10 well know designers to create new objects from sustainable materials from around the world, including Kate Spade, Isaac Mizrahi, and Hella Jonjerious.  My favorite piece (online) is Christien Meindertsma’s organic wool knit rug.  If you’ve seen the exhibit, I would love to know what you think.

…be sure to check out the Cooper-Hewitt’s earlier exhibit with a similar story : Design for the Other 90%

 

Still Unpacking…

We’re not quite ready to resurface from our massive move from the Central Eastside, but we did want to let you know that Spring shipments are on their way! Dresses from San Francisco label She-Bible will go online this week, Portland designer Heather Treadway’s collection will launch online next week along with Melissa shoes and few more of our favorites. If your not on our mailing list yet, be sure to sign up to receive your invite to view the new collections and learn a little something about our favorite designers.

Heather Treadway Spring

 

Last Hurrah

Last Friday was our last day open as a retail store front on Water Avenue.  It was a beautiful sunny day in Portland, much like the first day we opened our doors.  Several more customers came in to bid their farewells; one even with a camera.  Korinne and I have been so touched the last couple of weeks by all of the emails and visits from friends, family, and fans.  All the kind words and support have been so encouraging for us in this time of transition- thank you!

Next week we’ll be packing up boxes and going underground (literally) for the next couple of months. We’re excited to see where the business goes from here.  The internet is a pretty big place, but we still intend to keep it real with our customers.  Stay tuned for updates on new changes and plans the next few weeks!

A year ago

Last Friday

 

 

A time for change

…to an undecided location. Cathy and I have given it our best shot in the Central Eastside Industrial district and we’ve decided we’re ready to call it good and move on. We made the decision quickly and are closing up our SE Portland shop even quicker. We’ll be moved out by May 15th! We’re clearing EVERYTHING out of our shop, including decor, furniture and fixtures between now and May 8th. Everything is marked down dramatically so be sure to stop by soon – our stock is rapidly decreasing-finally.

We will miss our neighbors (especially my morning obsession: Bakery Bar) and our BEAUTIFUL space on Water, but truly are thrilled to transition into Olio United 2.0. We’ll be focused on refining our vision and improving our online presence right away. We’ll also be hosting trunk shows, art openings and collaborations all around Portland, so be sure to sign up on our mailing list, if you haven’t already.

For those of you who have visited our shop, it’s been a true pleasure getting to know you and we’re excited about seeing you again at our first Olio pop-up event. We’ve met some great people and amazing designers through our shop and we’re hopeful our business will continue to grow through this next phase. Cathy and I would love to hear any feedback or ideas you want to share…thoughts on neighborhoods, studio spaces available, free basement…it’s all welcome!

 

Update: Sample Sale extended

We still have some stock leftover from the Sample Sale this weekend!  Great opportunity to get a great deal on current Spring styles, seconds, and discontinued items.  I just picked up a Bonnie Heart Clyde sweatshirt (Emily Katz collection) and I love it!  Super comfortable and flattering.  There are still a few left; see photo below for one of my favorites:

 

A Fortes Design at the Sample Sale

Janessa Bautista started her line, A Fortes Design, in New York and, like many other independent designers, made a recent move to the City of Roses.  Her collection blends well with the likes of other Portlandites such as Emily Katz and Filly Designs-  all three exemplifying beautiful lines, natural fibers, and quality design.  

I’m excited to announce that there will be 28 pieces of Janessa’s collection at our shop for the sample sale.  This is a great opportunity to add a classic addition to your wardrobe and at a fantastic discount!  Check out some of the styles below that will be part of the sale.

 

Hemp silk dress, $270 sale $108

 

Overdyed stripe dress, $220 sale $108

 

Quilted hemp french terry and hemp dress, $280 sale $164

 

French terry quilted cowlneck, $208 sale $108

 

French terry quilted cowlneck dress, $236 sale $120

 

Sample Sale starts tomorrow at 10a!

Get ready for some great deals on clothing and accessories!  We have several racks of clothing at up to 75% off plus a $25 or less rack.  The Sample Sale will only run for two days; you want to show up early for best picks.  For more info on participating designers, see post below.  

 

Sample Sale with Local Designers- up to 75% off!

An event you don’t want to miss!  We’re throwing a sample sale at our store next weekend with seven local designers: Emily Katz, Lindsey Reif, Destiny Ray Jewelry, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, MothLove, A Fortes Design, and AK Vintage.  You’ll find clothing, accessories, and home items 20 – 75% off.  Products include seconds, discontinued designs, samples from Spring ‘09 collections, and current items in perfect condition but discounted for this event only!  We’re also going to have a table of discounted display products from our shop.

The sale event runs from Friday, April 3 – Saturday, April 4, and we’re keeping our store open an hour later (’til 7pm) on Friday for those who are walking the First Friday art tour.  Here’s a sneak preview of some of the products that will be at the sample sale: