Insta Love // Re Elle

What influences, inspires, sets your heart on fire?  Curiosity about what does that for other people opens up new ways to get inspired and lit up.  I love to watch what my jeweler peers are doing, what they are being moved by and how that eventually turns up in their work.

My Insta Love feature will now be all about this: my favorite outtakes from the jewelers and artists we house in the shop.This art form and craft, at its best, goes beyond making pretty little things.  It is tapping into the same human and universal mysteries that all art gets itself into.

Today I am sharing some of my favorite shots from Brooklyn designer Re Elle.  I own one of her Fold Cuffs, it is a daily wear that feels a part of my body.  Her feed is one of my most heart-throbby.

Follow her @re_elle
Enjoy.

one

two

three

four

five

six

seven

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Get to Know Christina

We are so super excited to introduce you all to Crown Nine's first employee, Christina Bohn, who will be a friendly face in the boutique a few days a week.  Christina is a jewelry junkie/ creative guru at Makeshift Society/ like-a-boss at Femme Cartel/ all round swell lady. We cannot be more thrilled to welcome her to the family!

We love her for he sassy, warm smirky nature <3

Some of her favorite Crown Nine picks: Kissing Snakes Ring by Voce Keen, Facets Ring by Kirsten Muenster and The Constellation Rings and Midi Rings by Kate Ellen Metals.

We asked her a few essential questions so you can get to know her a bit:

1// What inspires you?

The Great Outdoors 

2// What is your favorite jewelry piece?

A ring gifted to me by my love

3// Favorite Oakland spots for

Cocktails:  Plum Bar

Beers:  Luka's

Burgers: Trueburger

Pizza:  Boot and Shoe Service

Fancy-Shmancy Date Night:  Camino 

Music:  The Fox Theater 

Follow her @xtina__beana

Instagram 

Twitter 

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

#favoritethings

I love photography-- so this month I'm collaborating with the talented Miranda Wendorf on a photo project called #favoritethings, which is just that: some cool photos of my favorite things in the shop.  I'm posting a pic a day on Instagram, but here are a sampling of last week's favorites in original format.  Enjoy!

P.S. We are officially on our Holiday Hours!  MON-FRI 11-7 and SAT-SUN 11-6

#favoritethings #1: my bench in the early morning light.  Can't imagine a better place to create.

#favotitethings #2: Miranda layered up with Stendhal from New York.  Love the gypsy inspired textures against this chambray.

#favoritethings #3: Petite rings from San Francisco designer Christy Natsumi.  Guiding star and Tenderhearts.  Catch her sample sale this upcoming Sunday, December 8th

#favoritethings #4:  The stunning work of SF designer Kirsten Muenster.  She hand crafts each link in these oversized chainmaille beauties.  She also gave us some stunning one-of-a-kind rings, necklaces, and earrings made from semi-precious stones.  

#favoritethings #5: Voce Keen rings for the goddess/witch/rock n roll vixen in you.

#favoritethings #6: The limited edition Chain Scarf by Boet of Portland OR.  Designer Emily Bixler only makes a handful of these puppies each year, we have only one left until next year.  Plush scarf with heavy chains that warm up against your body. 

#favoritesthings # 7: The Fishbone Earrings by Sarah Swell.  The perfect blend of feminine and edge.

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Giving Thanks

My given name is Katherine Ellen, Ellen after my maternal grandmother who taught me many things, among them: Count Your Blessings. She would tell me this as a child whenever I had a complaint or needed a little insight.  She said it both in a disciplinary manner, as in, "kid, you better recognize," and in a life-affirming loving way as in, "isn't this world a gift!"  I will always love her for teaching me this, and even scientists now know that she was right-on. So cheers, and happy Thanksgiving.

My Favorite Things Photo Collaboration
Between Thanksgiving and New Year's I'll be sharing a photo a day via Instagram and Facebook of some of my favorite things in the shop as a part of my collaboration with the talented and up-and-coming photographer and blogger Miranda Wendorf, look for hashtag #favoritethings.  Follow along to see beautiful things made by real people, which is the whole passion and heart behind Crown Nine and Kate Ellen Metals.

HOLIDAY HOURS

11/27 |  9-2pm by buzzer
11/28 | Closed Thanksgiving Day
11/29 | 11-8pm for Plaid/ Black Friday with Sarah Swell Sample Sale
{link to Map of Oakland Retailers participating in Plaid Friday}
11/30 | 11-6pm
11/31 | 11-6pm

December Hours
11-7 Monday-Friday | 11-6 Saturday
11-5 Trunk Show Each Sunday, open til 6pm
10-3 Christmas Eve
Closed Christmas Day

*Since my work-studio is in the new location, I am often in the shop during "off" hours, so feel free to ring the doorbell, email or text ahead if you're in the neighborhood and want to come inside for some jewelry-bliss.

email crown.nine@gmail.com
text 510.507.0789

#loveandmetal #happythanksgiving #plaidfriday #shoplocal

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

INSTA LOVE // Installment Five

1 // @emmabrooke [Emma Genevieve SAN FRANCISCO/ EBB & FLOW].  I stumbled upon her sweet vignettes and love each and every time they come up on my feed.  Great shots of Bay Area things.

2 // @hokaytokay [Everybody is trying / NY&LA].  I love the rich colors and slightly strange compositions that have just enough off about them to create a real curiosity.

3 // @pioneerbabe [Tehya web design + development].  Pretty girls.  Pretty scenery.  Pretty art.

4 // @lorecrosier [Loren Crosier // Oakland, CA. Graphic Designer and Art Director].  Delicious weekly graphic design collages and simple little compositions.

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

This is Oakland // Love is Love

It's about time!  I'm so thrilled that ALL Californian's can legally marry.  This is a big deal, and even though it wasn't the sweeping result we were hoping for, it along with DOMA reversal seems like a momentous start to that end.  I celebrated with queer and straight friends in the streets of Oakland, people dancing, kissing, shouting, waving flags and rejoicing.  I snapped a pic at the festivities and won the Visit Oakland Instagram photo contest this week with my image of the party!

I cannot tell you how many times I have welled up in tears this week: listening to deeply personal stories, reflecting on all the people who fought so hard for this day, watching couples embrace proudly in public as married  or soon-to-be married people... the energy has been totally electric.  I can only imagine that this year's Pride will be incredible!

My favorite part of my job is working with couples who are deciding to get married and commit themselves to one another--I stand humbled and in awe of people who can do this.  I love hearing the stories of first encounters, first dates, first kisses, obstacles overcome, and I especially love being "in" on an proposal surprise and getting the happy news that the answer was "YES!".  A true romantic to the bone, I guess I am in the right god-damn line of work!

Celebrate with Pride this week California!  #loveislove

L O V E + M E T A L

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Insta Love // Installment four

1 // @jimmymarble [sooooooooooo LA.]  Photographer/videographer hailing from Los Angeles.  His feed is filled with images that are inviting but slightly surreal and odd.  I love his portraits of unusual and pretty gals.

2 // @imogenewillie [Our story is probably exactly the same as yours… just with different character names.]  A well loved denim brand from Nashville.  Just simple and beautiful images of real people making real things.

3 // @chasinghygge [An Italian in Copenhagen, Denmark.]  My dear friend's girlfriend, Valeria, who has a great eye for catching the small details in the world around her.

4 // @jennifersashley86 [Stylist. I also like to build and make stuff. Portland, OR.]  Gorgeously styled images with a rustic feel.

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Insta Love // Installment Three

As you may know, I love Instagram.  I love seeing the creative ways people approach their photography, and I tend to follow a lot of artists and creative types.  It's an inspiring little thing to do while I have some down time.  Here are my favorites this week:

1// @sarahswelljewelry  [Oakland, California based jewelry designer. Precious metal treasures made by hand-the real deal.]  I love Sarah.  Not only as a friend, but I totally admire her as a fellow jeweler and she has a killer Instagram feed.  I mean, come on, look at her signature Fishbone series, it makes my heart skip a beat every time.  We carry some of her work at Crown Nine, they really are little treasures.

2 // @avfkw  [Textiles. I love them. And food. And plants. Natural dyes too. Preferably made in the USA.] Kristine is the shop owner of A Verb For Keeping Warm, an amazing Oakland store for knitting, dying, spinning, quilting, and all things textile.  I love Kristine's feed because it's full of dye vats, shiburi, and the behind the scenes on how fabrics are made.  

3 // @justinhager [Get at me.]  Justin is an artist, I especially love his hybrid posts.  They are so perfectly wrong, a grafting of two unlike units of pop culture into one hilarious mash up portrait. It kills me every time.  Other favorites: Danzig with Wolves,  NWA Team,and Little Wayne'sWorld... and pretty much all of them.

4 // @waywardspark [Off-grid forest living, beekeeping, goat milking, barbecue baking, organic farming, woodworking, and raising two cute kids in rural Western Oregon.]  Pretty much sums up how my fantasy life is being led.

L O V E + M E T A L

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Insta Love

This week I'm bringing you a few more of my favorite feeds on Instagram.  I am trying to collect and curate feeds that are all original photography with a look into a world that you might just want to get lost in. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1 // @boetjewelry "Jewelry and Sculpture by Emily Bixler".  Boet jewelry is true original style of intertwined heavy metals with beautifully woven fibers and textiles, created by Portland based sculptor Emily Bixler.  Her work is unlike anything you've ever seen, and her feed is a wonderful window into her studio.  See her work in person at Crown Nine.

2 // @oaklandsurfclub "Oakland Surf Club".  This well curated surf boutique's feed features daily updates to their look book, modeled on handsome dudes on familiar streets in Oakland.

3// @clafinthayerco "All leathergoods and shoes designed and sewn by me".  Oakland based clothing designer and leather guru of Clafin Thayer Co.  A worthwhile project on her feed features a custom outfits designed and sewn each month for her new baby, Pepper.  Don't miss the little leather moccasin booties, they are dreamy.

4// @kinfolkmag "Photos by Nathan Williams".  Beautiful photographs from behind the scenes of Kinfolk Magazine.  Kitchens, design, food, beauty.

S P R E A D T H E L O V E

Insta Love

INSTA LOVE

I admit it, I am a total Instagram fanatic. Unlike other social media trends, however, I feel totally proud of my love.  I see it as a gathering place for people who have a creative spirit and artistic eye, who tell exceptionally beautiful stories though imagery.  I remember taking my first photography class in high school, and how when I started to think about the world in terms of capturing a photo, it sort of opened up the world to me in a new way.  With an eye behind the lens, you get drawn into the moment, you stop and see, stop and feel the 'right now' around you.  That is why I love Instagram.  I get to see those moments in other people's lives, and have a forum to share mine, the result: inspiration.

Here are a few of my favorite people in my feed.  I really appreciate people who are doing something absolutely original, who have their own unique voice.  These ladies are total stand-outs.  Enjoy getting to know them!

1 // @folkfibers   "Handcrafted quilts and naturally dyed fabrics. Living my dreams, deep in the heart of Texas."  Stunning handmade quilts, plus shots of her bunnies, backyard clothing line, and hand dying.  

2 // @evakolenko  "Advertising/Editorial/Lifestyle Photographer."  Beautiful food, design, garden, and new baby shots, as well as behind the scene images of her photo-shoots.

3 // @stitchandhammer "Designer and Maker."  Gorgeous and understated images of her leather studio,  Colorado landscapes, and visits with other creatives living the 'maker' dream.

4 // @arielealasko "Furniture Builder in Brooklyn, NY."  Unbelievably lovely images of her work-working studio, home, and wood spoon obsession.   

S P R E A D T H E L O V E