A visit with Melissa Joy Manning

A month or so back I was invited to visit the studio of jewelry designer, Melissa Joy Manning. So I drove up to Berkeley and spent two glorious hours basking in the greatness that is her work.

Melissa makes sustainable hand-made pieces, and has done for 15 years now. Ethically sourced gems and stones, up-cycled and recycled metals and materials, what's not to love? You know when you meet someone who radiates passion for what they do and then it makes you want to go out and conquer the world? That's what meeting Melissa was like. Her store/studio was incredible; you walk into this stunning little shop full of antique wood boxes that are filled with gorgeous engagement rings. As you make your way to the back there's a door with glass windows and a peek inside showed her staff crafting some custom pieces.

I got to see an engagement ring being made, some earrings, and random other bits. She explained to me how she just couldn't have a conventional job, about how she needed to be creative, which is something that seriously resonated with me. If you're into jewelry or other little gifts and you're in the Bay Area, GO TO HER STUDIO. You will leave enlightened and inspired, I promise. Aaaand if you don't live in the Bay Area you can peruse the site for hours on end here.

There's something about being surrounded by people that are really passionate about what they do that makes you want to accomplish even more than you (currently) are. Especially those that are in a creative space, in my opinion. The fact that something like jewelry making, a handicraft if you will, is still around is amazing. I love the idea that things like this haven't been fully lost in the tech-age that we're currently in.

It's all very romantic to me.

p.s. sorry this is so photo heavy, I just love so many photos I took this day. If you'd like to see more I posted a ton of them here.

Accessory: Catbird stacks

Catbird Classic Hammered First Knuckle Ring (pointer) 

Catbird Silver Alphabet Rings + Rose Gold Heart
Catbird Mignon Memory Ring* (pinky) 

This post is not in any way sponsored by Catbird. I'm just literally that much in love with them.

It's semi-hilarious to me that just a month ago I was like "yeah I don't wear much jewelry" and now I couldn't imagine not wearing FIVE rings on one hand. Who am I? I don't even know how this happened.

And I can't really help myself to be fair  — I literally have no restraint. After I posted my last post about the rings Richard got me, Catbird was lovely enough to send me a knuckle ring... and then I had to buy myself one. There's something about the knuckle rings that seems so delicate yet edgy, in classy way, of course. The detail they put into such small little pieces is never going to not stun me. They're just fun and soooo pretty and I really love anything that lets me express myself/my style. Plus I love that I can mix and match what I wear; if I don't feel like wearing the R ♥ C stack, I can pop the heart on my middle finger knuckle. If I want I can wear the hammered first knuckle ring on my pointer or my middle finger. I can cater to however I'm feeling that day. Maybe that's what I love so much about these — you can 100% mix and match to your mood and basically all of the rings they make/sell will look amazing together. If you're in the need for a little inspiration, check out their blog posts on stacking.

Images via Catbird

Come on now, what's not to love? I'm already saving for the Bittersweets NY Teensy Black Diamond Ring and the Catbird Tomboy. Someone needs to hold me down, seriously. Can't stop, won't stop. Sorry not sorry... and all that.

What do you guys think of my little stack + knuckle rings? I can't be the only one obsessing, right?!

Rings by Catbird

Alphabet Rings in Silver

Rose Gold Heart Ring

I'm quite picky about jewelry and I don't wear much of it — but I do have a slight major inclination towards delicate and dainty things. Maybe it's because I just find them a bit more romantic... or because I have small wrists/hands. Who knows. When it comes to brands I'm always lusting over, Catbird comes first. Always.

I've been talking about how much I've wanted these for a while but just couldn't bring myself to get them for whatever reason. But! Richard surprised me with them at dinner last night and yes, I cried.  I really couldn't have asked for anything better. They're just perfect and such a cute gift for anyone! They're very thin and small but are such great quality; I'm not at all worried about them breaking somehow or anything like that. My only qualm is their sizing — I'm in between a half and whole size and ordered a size up, when we should have gotten a size down. Luckily their exchange/return policy is great!!

Anyway, if you're in the market for some new jewelry; be it alphabet or heart rings, knuckle rings (waaaant), bracelets, or even non-traditional (but still ridiculously beautiful) engagement rings, etc. you should totally consider Catbird. Such a great company doing really really awesome things. 

What do you guys think? Do you adore Catbird as much as I do?

P.S. Here's what they look like on/stacked!