Where I Wish I Worked...

This photo was the last push I needed to photo my studio the other day...although I wish I had a studio more like this one...a more industrial space...slick, dark, polished concrete floors, walls I can stick stuff all over and high ceiling with large windows...oh what a dream...

Where I Work...

Have I shown where I work? I have taken many photos, but never show them as I always feel that its not clean enough, or looking right or whatever, but I realized that if this is what it pretty much looks like for my monthly open studios so I might as well get over myself and welcome you in...



A bit of background: I live and work in an apartment in a lovely house with a wrap around porch and lush gardens which in the smack in the center of a pretty little town, so I am near everything and yet it is still quiet and secluded. The town doctor once lived here with his family and my apt was his office...my studio was the waiting room, which is ideal as it is the room you enter into and the rest of the apt can remained closed off.


Above is the brain of the studio...the wall behind the desk is my "inbox" which I prefer to be able to see all at once, so I know what is on my plate. You can see a few of the many inspiration boards here too.


The white shelf unit was the paint mixing bench from the local hardware store and when they had a new one made I snagged it right up, and it is where I have all sorts of fun stuff, magazines that I cut up for inspiration, binders of files, paper supplies, framed signs for open studio and other shelvable wonders. You can see a few of my inspiration boards, my shelf of sketch books over the armoir and catch a glimpse of the shipping station in the center of the room.


I realized awhile ago that leaving up the shop part of Manic Trout between open studios was a great way to save time, keep jewelry organized, allow local shoppers to drop in and make the whole space look prettier. The table with the pink cloth, the glass blocks behind the shipping station and the sign are all part of the "shop". My painting area jammed in the back of the room, I have some room....but I really do not have enough space to paint as large as I like...one day I will.


Here is part of the wall of trout, so pretty...the other side of the shipping station, the white carts where all of the labels and wrapping materials live, the tool corner and a glimpse at where all of the jewelry zone.


Which brings us to the jewelry zone...boxes and boxes of materials...including two printmaker shelves on the right side of the desk filled with charms and covered in a sheet of plexiglass I had cut to fit over them so they stay dust free and visible. I rarely sit here without making anything...I love working here and when I look up what do I gaze...oh look its yet another inspiration board!

I hope you enjoyed the tour, you're always welcome to stop in for a visit!

Notice the color shift this week?

I just realized that the colors of the photos I have been posting this week have taken on a more subdued look, fall is creeping into my thoughts more each day...


from the fantastic photog Zhang Jinga

State of Mind Soundtrack

Here is another soundtrack for you...based on my recent state of mind in the past month...not the cheeriest, but excellent none the less...

1. I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You) - John Mayer
2. Breathe Me - Sia
3. Heartbeats - The Knife
4. Lovertits - Feist (with Gonzales)
5. I Don't Like It Like This - The Radio Dept.
6. Tropicana - Ratatat
7. Avril 14th - Aphex Twin
8. Fools in Love - Inara George
9. Gate Keeper - Feist
10. Slow Dancing In A Burning Room - John Mayer
11. Going Missing - Maximo Park
12. Ceremony - New Order
13. All Cats are Grey - The Cure
14. I Wish You Love - Rachael Yamagata
15. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
16. Plain Song - The Cure

Pure Whimsy

I have never been a fan of the ballet but I adore this Arthur Elgort photo from the September Vogue...perhaps its all that tulle that I am oh so obsessed with at the moment...

Sentimental Blooms

I have tried in the past to dry flowers that have meant a lot to me and even tried to incorporate them into art...but I just never liked the end results, or would knock over the flowers or something...as sentimental as I am, I am by no means a romantic.


Then I see images like these and I get all sorts of worked up about wanting to dry some flowers and use them in jewelry...although have you ever smelled a dried rose, its not very pleasant...so for no I will stick to resin and lucite versions and admire the photos instead.

Manic Trout in the Fall Teen Mag!

Check it out, the Anaconda Button Ring is in the Fall issue of Teen Mag!

Loving Imke Klee!

I stumbled upon the work of photograpgher and stylist Imke Klee the other day while blog hopping and was instantly smitten.


You can keep tabs on her work at her blog...I know I will!

Country Life

This makes me feel as though it defends my life...you can mix fashion and design with country living...


...well I actually do not encounter cows and live in a village only an tad bit over an hour outside of Manhattan...but I felt the need to defend this choice a great deal recently.

Old Friends

I know, I know...it's been a while since I was last here...don't even ask about last week.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to have TWO friends of mine from prep school in town this week-end and I had an awesome time hanging out with them. My friend Ed and I see each other every few months and it always brings a smile to my face...which got me thinking of a photo of us from our yearbook...a glimpse of 1994 or maybe 1995...either way...check us out...



good times, good times...

Family Bonding

Sunday was my sister Gillians birthday...and for the first time in a few years all four of us girls were all together at the same time a camera was around...and more amazingly, there was a decent photo taken...therefore I have to share it with the world...

Holly, Thea, Sierra & Gillian

Fluidity is what its all about right now...

Oh, I lust after these images, look at all that fabric flowing and moving around, love it!



By Baldovino Barani for Santuary

Manic Trout in Time Out New York this week!

This week Manic Trout (and Sierra) are in Time Out New York, yay! You can read the article online here.

Long Necklaces for Fall!

I am working on a line of longer necklaces perfect for fall and layering with other pieces...here is the first one...a bit of leafy goodness, a touch of color and goes with everything!

Any thoughts on this? Its 32", long enough?

A whole pile of Love + Happiness Necklaces!

There is a whole pile of the much loved Love + Happiness Necklaces back in stock, all one of a kind and bursting with vintage buttons and color!

Because it's pretty...

I always loved the line in Addicted to Lovewhen Sam asks Maggie why she bought the plant and she glares at him says "because it's pretty, Sam" well I am posting this wonderful photo for that reason and that reason alone...

On The Bend by TheaCphotography

Back to School Gift Guide of Goodies!

Have you been looking for that perfect gift for your favorite gal to wear when she returns to school? Be it her first day of kindergarten, her last year of high school or her leaving the nest for college, you'll find the perfect bauble to brighten her day and make her special this fall! Go visit the Gift Guide!

You can see where my head is...

I am still obsessed with a romantic, vintage, airy, soft, feminine, girly, fluffy feeling...so we'll see where this takes me this week design wise...I'm pretty excited to be going in this direction for a bit...

18 New Pieces are now available!

I did it, yay! All of the new jewelry is available...and its all one of a kind of very limited edition! Go have a looksie at all the New Goodies while I take a very patient Faye for a long walk and enjoy that weather I have been obsessing about (and walk off some of the excessive energy from the candy!)

A deep appreciation for pre fall weather...

I have been a slave to my computer for the past two days...I have done full website tweaks to all 400+ pages three times now, as I keep deciding to something else after I finish and I am in the process of adding 18 new pieces. I have basically paused only long enough to eat, sleep and walk the dog. So I was rather surprised when I just ran down the street to stewarts for some candy that the weather has become divine. I am a fan of warm days in the 70's dropping to the 50's and 60's at night, and its perfect out right now. Its been raining everyday so the air has that lush, wet smell and a bit of a crisp to it...I was completely charged by how it enveloped my senses and made me giddy with excitement...I guess I like this weather...and I am so excited for fall! ok, enough ramblings...back to work!

Gift Certificates and New Blogs

I was reminded this week end that I had been working on adding Gift Certificates to Manic Trout and never finishes, so I got my tush in gear and finished the tweaks I was working on...including now selling Gift Certificates! Buy one for a friend or loved one now!

I was reminded by a friend of mine who I have known since we were mere teeny boppers that I should offer them and that she was now a blogger! Welcome to the land of Bloggers Sam...now everyone go check out her blog (also in my blog roll): Park Avenue Photography.

New Dance with Me Bracelet!

Another of the new series of bracelets, the Dance with Me Bracelets will be available as of Monday and this time there are three of them...not just one...woo hoo!

My Hanging Garden is growing!

Another new addition on Monday will be three new one of a kind Hanging Garden bracelets filled to the brim with vintage buttons of every size and color; they are big, loud and fabulous!

Escape Plan

I wish I had a back up plan for an escape from my life so I could run away...today I would have left in a nanosecond...


I wish I was here

The Salty Air by one of my favorite photogs Susannah Tucker

Bunch of Bottle Caps

As summer draws closer to an end, production picks back up in the Manic Trout studio...which means back to a normal level of new items posted, yay! Next week's selection of new pieces will include a bunch of candy colored Bottle Cap Necklaces, all one of a kind and completely fun!

In the works...

I have been working on a new concept for a while now, gathering inspiration and ideas...playing around with materials...the usual processes. If you know Manic Trout and my style, you know I like to combine metals, materials, colors and concepts that are not typically found together (I actually eat that way too) and lately I have been obsessed with how to bring delicate fabrics such as tulle and organza into my jewelry while still keeping it wearable. I have been in fact rather obsessed with this idea for a while and I think I am finally ready to show a finished piece. I actually have been for some time, but I was feeling shy...then I saw this photo of this Armani Prive dress by Raphael Dallaporta for Stiletto Magazine and knew felt mixed emotions...one that I wished I had put the necklace online before I saw this and two rather proud that I was having similar designs in my head as the designers at Armani...any way...the dress is up above, such a stunning photo that I had to share...


So any thoughts on the necklace? I am really liking the glass, chain and tulle mix...I am unsure of quantity of tulle...for some reason I go for the off center look, is that pleasing to others? I don not think I want it centered...what about if there was more of it?

Manic Trout Open Studio!!!!

Have you been racking your brain trying to figure out what to do with your self this Saturday? Well if you live near Millbrook you should stop on by and check the Manic Trout open studio!

August 2nd 10 am - 5 pm at 7 Friendly Lane in Millbrook!

Bring your friends, check out the studio, shop for a little pretty and just hang out with Sierra!

Hope to see you there!