jewelry designs
Despite the cold pouring rain, the University District Fair this year was lively on its second day. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just stopping for a minute to chat with vendors at any booth that would catch my eye.
Michelle Canuelle’s jewelry caught my eye right away. She is a certified gemologist working with stones and metals like platinum, gold and silver. Michelle says she has always liked wearing unique pieces. Designing jewelry has been her hobby and passion for 12 years now.
Michelle says she learned her trade from a Montana goldsmith Dale Walker, whom she once asked to make a custom piece for her. The jeweler explains that she became fascinated by the process and readily accepted Walker’s offer to work with him. Michelle says she has looked at over 10.000 diamonds since then, but likes working with metal more. “It’s a very labor-intensive and time-consuming process,” she says, “but it’s also very rewarding.”
Michelle says many things are yet to be learned. “If you want to become a master jeweler,” she says, “it takes at least 20 years.” She is now passing her knowledge to her apprentice Jennifer Morrell, who also works with metals.
“You can spend hours and hours working on one piece,” says Jennifer while showing me her favorite piece, a coral necklace in the shape of a spiral. “I’m kind of glad it didn’t sell,” she adds with a smile. “It will be coming home with me!”
Another exciting local jewelry artist I talked to was Wladimir Pino of Vitrofusion Art. He works with fused glass using a technique that originated in Chile and Argentina. “It’s a family business,” Wladimir says. “My grandma had it, then my mom, and now I’ve had it for a long time.” La Tienda, an old arts and crafts gallery, has been carrying Vitrofusion Art for many years.
I bought a beautiful black ring and earrings to match a ceramic pendant I got in Mexico a couple of months ago. The ring visibly consists of two glass layers. Wladimir says he paints the first layer, lets it dry and then applies the second layer. The paint and the glass become one as a result of a mysterious chemical reaction, creating delicate bubbles between the layers.
Children of the Revolution
The air was just starting to cool down from the day’s heat when my friend and I entered the elegant darkness of Capitol Club, a classy Capitol Hill bar.
Despite it being Tuesday, the place was packed. The cozy Moroccan couches were all taken. We sat down at the bar, sipping cocktails. Speaking of which, something definitely worth trying is a Capitol Club signature, the Emerald. It’s a mix of Malibu rum and Midori, shaken with pineapple juice. Sooo good! The drinks, the dim light of the candles and the hip crowd created a relaxed atmosphere and we were really enjoying ourselves.
Tuesday at Capitol Club is a Flamenco night with the Children of the Revolution. The music of this Seattle-based ensemble is a fusion of Spanish Flamenco, Latin salsa, Middle Eastern, Native American and Greek motives. They also sing in different languages. This great song from their last album Liberation is a good example of what they do. The chorus is a mix of French and Arabic!
“There is a lot of gypsy influence in our music,” says San Francisco guitarist Eric Jaeger. He plays electric and Flamenco guitars, as well as bouzouki (a Greek pear-shaped stringed instrument).
The band is as multi-ethnic as its melodies, says Eric. For example, Vocalist Vasiliy is from Greece; dancer/guitarist/vocalist Encarnación is from Barcelona.
Children of the Revolution strive to bring their message of unity through music to the whole world. They will be playing at the Northwest Folklife Festival on May 25.
music to lose yourself in
Threat of Beauty is music 
to lose yourself in,
says Seattle musician Evan Florry Barnes,
who plays double bass in this acoustic jazz trio
with a thought-provoking name.
winetasting 101
I was longing for an authentic Seattle experience last Saturday.
Weather being nice and all, I met up with a few good friends and we headed to Pike Place Market. However, in less than an hour we grew tired of street musicians, flowers, fish and German chocolate. We turned into the slightly less noisy Post Alley, looking for something new to try. At the side of an old brick building near the corner of Post Alley and Stewart, a sign read: The Tasting Room.
The state’s first cooperative tasting cellar, The Tasting Room features artisan and hard-to-find Washington wines. Glasses start at $4, and a taste (about one ounce) ranges from $2-6. My friends and I each got a tasting flight for $9.
The fascinating term flight refers to a selection that consists of “several wines that tell a story,” explained Chrissa who was serving us that day. The point is to illuminate similarities and differences between wines, bringing out the best in each one. Wines from a certain region, for example, would comprise a flight.
The featured flight that day was from Wilridge Winery. This small family-owned winery located in Madrona, Seattle was founded by Paul Beveridge and Lysle Wilhelmi in 1988. Beveridge himself was right there in The Tasting Room, pouring wine and telling people about its unique characteristics.
“They are all my babies,” said Beveridge when asked about his favorite wine. The golden 2004 Semillon, described by the winemaker as having “a touch of smoky oak,” was my personal favorite.
Other boutique wineries represented by The Tasting Room are the award-winning Apex Cellars; the craft Camaraderie Cellars; the small Walla Walla winery Latitude 46 North; the Harlequin Wine Cellars; the sparkling wine makers Mountain Dome Winery; and the well-known Yakima Valley winery Wineglass Cellars.
seattle carfree living
Like many people in Seattle, I don’t have a car.
Some stay carfree out of necessity, others make a conscious choice. For me, it’s somewhere in between. I never really made the effort to learn to drive (failed the test last summer), so walking or using public transport are currently the only options for me.
While Seattle public transit system is far from perfect, a savvy bus rider can pretty much get anywhere she wants without much hustle. Whenever I have doubts, I read Carla Saulter’s PI reader blog on public transportation (Bus Chick).
Besides, there is always walking and riding a bike. The best thing about the latter is that you don’t have to be on anyone’s schedule, says Alex, a University of Washington freshman. “I come and go when I want,” he adds, “I ride my bike pretty much everywhere I go.”
Alex works at the UW bike shop, where I went to meet some bike people.
This kind of lifestyle certainly isn’t going to work out for everyone. Not only do you have to be physically fit and healthy, but you have to wear comfortable clothes and sometimes even put up with the funny smell. If your co-worker rides his bike from West Seattle to Eastlake every day, you know what I am talking about….
My friend Alisa, who is a bus chick like myself, wears heels and carries up to five science textbooks with her on any given day. For these reasons, she says, she prefers bus to any other carfree possibility.
A carfree life in Seattle isn’t necessarily carefree. Nevertheless, it is foolish to think that having a car is more convenient than not having one. Carfree people don’t have to worry about gas prices, insurance and dangerous accidents. They don’t have to go through a daily nerve-racking experience of being stuck in traffic. They don’t have to madly circle around the block time and again in search of parking. And finally, they can feel a little better about themselves for making a difference to the environment.
Uglydolls take over the world
Today I realized I could no longer resist the cuteness of the popular urban toy and got myself an Uglydoll. If you have no idea what they are, I’m sure you are mistaken: You must have seen these weird stuffed creatures!
These guys come in different colors and shapes and can be found at virtually any arts/crafts/gift shop. Some examples are University Bookstore in Seattle, Museum of Contemporary Art in LA, Zakka Corp in NYC and even the Design Museum in London.
Although I’ve though uglys lovely since I saw them for the first time, what attracted my attention was the story behind their creation.
Sun-Min Kim and David Horvath, the parents of Uglydolls, met at the Parson School of Design, New York City, in 1996. They fell in love. When Sun-Min had to go back to Korea after 9/11, David wrote her love letters. He also drew pictures of various creatures, proclaiming their love. The doll Sun-Min made out of one of David’s creatures had huge success, and that’s how Uglydolls were born. I found this on Wootini, a retail/online 3D art provider that carries Uglydolls as well.
Needless to say, I was very touched when I read about this. I went and bought an Uglydoll at once! His name is OX, and he is a charming baby-lettuce green bunny-monster the size of a small pillow.
It’s difficult to say how uglys managed to get unlimited access to people’s hearts (and wallets – mine was $22), but it looks like they are staying there. According to their website, Sun-Min and David keep coming up with even uglier dolls and going international. I was hoping to learn more and went to www.davidhorvath.com and www.sunminkim.com, but all I found was commercial info about the upcoming toys and events. The beautiful story about love and dolls started loosing its charm a little bit.
In the end, this isn’t what matters, right? What matters is that the bunny-monster is now my friend, bringing childhood fun into my busy life.
independent fashion
“If I had to describe Seattle fashion scene with one word, it would have to be indie,” said local designer Anna Banana.
Although Seattleites are often accused of having no sense of style (I’m sure most of us have heard something along these lines at least once), independent local couturiers keep the fashion scene in Seattle alive and happening.
I met Anna Banana when I stopped by Pretty Parlor on my way home a few days ago. Located on the corner of Summit Ave E and E Olive Street, Pretty Parlor is one of Capital Hill’s indigenous boutiques.
“I’ve been around people who sew all my life,” said Anna, playing with the store kitty. Lead by her passion for creativity, she opened the store in 2001. A chandelier that is really a swing, Audrey Hepburn posters and antique chairs make Pretty Parlor a cozy place.
The store, where clothes are made as well as sold, carries vintage, designer wear and jewelery. Anna herself makes colorful vintage dresses. Some of the other things I spotted there were ties by Angel Eyes, elegant shirts by Suzabelle, funky jackets by Ruffeo Hearts Lil Snotty and Sam Trout’s silk screened tees.
My own heart will forever be with Glam Garb by Gunlis: hand-dyed whimsical Camisoles and glamorous slips. I was bewitched by these feminine garments, although I would probably be one of the last people in the world to wear a slip.
An hour later, I finally left the store feeling good about myself. I supported local designers: I bought a hip top and a vintage scarf (which were, by the way, reasonably priced)! Anna, who seemed like a very sweet outgoing person, inspired me to discover my inner creative shopper 
