By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Katie Reim/Cultivar

Cultivar hairpieces and bouquets are ideal for brides, bridal parties or the Main Line fashionista who wants to embrace her inner Coco Chanel. Photo courtesy of Mary Kate Timbers (kateslens.com)

Katie Reim came about the idea of using recyclable materials for hair pins and Victoriana headpieces in February 2009 while recovering from brain surgery. One year later, Reim has a clean bill of health and a successful Etsy shop. Reim is also a local artist with a line of perfectly charming illustrations of some of the Delaware Valley’s most beloved landmarks and events. I chose Cultivar, Reim’s booming accessory business on Etsy, as party of AML’s ongoing series, Etsy Phavorites. Her gorgeous clips, headbands and pins are irrestible and so SJP, I knew my AML gals will appreciate the selection!

Each piece of the Cultivar collection is constructed by hand using cleaned, recycled fabrics (mostly acquired at a Philadelphia Salvation Army) and buttons, in addition to new and reclaimed beads. Want to check out the designs in person? Look for Cultivar pieces at Manayunk’s new chic boutique, The Little Apple. Read the full story

By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of High Street Market

Fly Like an Eagle
From Robson’s personal collection, an extra large 48" vintage cast metal wall eagle, $125

Interior designer Kelly Galvin Robson has a love of everything vintage. Her prolific Etsy site is brimming with irresistibly preppy, distinguished home accents-from an old set of German framed bird prints to cocktail glasses, Vera linens, milk glass, a vintage large brass horse head door knocker, McCoy pottery and more. If you are a fan of the AMC series Mad Men (the Golden-Globe winning series which depicts the lives of a group of Madison Avenue advertising executives in the ‘60s) then you will fall in love with High Street Market’s uber-chic retro collection. “I love the Philadelphia area, and I just love the creativity here among the design community. When I worked for a very high profile interior design firm in L.A., our clients always challenged us to find these amazing, one-of-a-kind pieces. They were not interested in hiring us for a living room that ended up filled with mass produced items. Every day there was the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of discovering special items for their home,” explained Robson.

But, Robson, an Orange County native, found the scarce amount of L.A. flea markets impossible to source regularly for those perfect vintage treasures. So when she and her husband moved to Bucks County a little over a year ago, she was thrilled. “I love how easily I can go to a bunch of flea markets and antique stores in one afternoon here. It was not that convenient in L.A., they were not that prolific and just working through the traffic was nuts! The Philadelphia suburbs are a treasure trove for me as a designer.”
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By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Fallen Hearts

In the upcoming New Moon movie, Jacob Black gives Bella Swan a dream catcher for her birthday. Fallen Hearts’ pewter pendant with turquoise colored enamel accents, $24.

If you have not been privy to the media buzz surrounding this Friday’s release of New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight saga, then well, you must be living in a cave. Although considering New Moon’s storyline is based on a troubled vampire, perhaps a cave is a good place to emerge from just in time for the November 20th theater debut. The highly anticipated flick is based on author Stephenie Meyer’s four book blockbuster—of which 70 million copies have been sold and subsequently translated into 45 languages across the globe. Last November’s Twilight earned $70 million in its first three days and has since grossed close to $400 million worldwide.

With her Twilight-inspired Etsy store Fallen Hearts, West Philly jewelry designer Desiree ReDavid (pronounced Ree’-David) has tapped into the tens of millions of Twilight fans, known collectively as a Twilighters. Starting her sensationally successful jewelry line was, as ReDavid explained, “a happy accident.”
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Pearl Stationery

Pearl Stationery’s charming line of trick or treat favor boxes, ideal for your chic Halloween party.

Philadelphia native Stephanie H. was invited to a card making class about a year ago with her cousin. It seemed to awaken her child within. Stephanie had a passion for scrapbooking, crafting and paper projects as a little girl—spending hours working her way through stationery kits and playing with stamps, construction paper and embellishments. And, thus, a few weeks after her class, Pearl Stationery-her popular line of high-end custom stationery-was born.

Now thriving on Etsy.com, an online store for artisans, collectors and hand crafters, Stephanie finds inspiration abounds from just her daily life. “I was riding the train into work one day this summer and noticed all the men in their business shirts that looked so crisp-white with the pinstripes. I thought the designs were very intricate and clean and summery, so my mind started thinking. A few weeks later, I put together a set of cards from that one thought. Inspiration can come from anywhere and with stationery, you can really go in so many directions-have fun, be creative,” enthused the young designer.
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