Mark your calendars for San Francisco’s Mission District’s annual Spring Open Studios — April 23-25!  I’ll be participating at my studio (744 Alabama St., studio #302).  As always, there’s an opening party (not to be missed) on Friday night from 7-11pm — hope to see you there!

For details on participating studios and artists, visit the Mission Artists United website.

Circle & Square, a jewelry and accessories boutique in the swank Laurel Heights neighborhood of San Francisco is hosting a spring bridal event starting with a suaret at the store this Thursday (March 18th) from 10am-6pm with cake and champagne!  The event runs until the beginning of June.

Circle & Square
344 Presidio Ave
San Francisco, CA
circleandsquaresf.com

Aiko Designs has a small collection available for purchase at the shop. Be sure to stop by to check out bridal pieces, bridesmaid’s gifts and plenty of other fun things for every day or other special events.

It was a gorgeous day in Marin last Saturday and the deals were pretty fantastic at The Marin Store Sample Sale. An empty retail space in the former Larkspur Landing shopping area (now Marin Country Mart) was  full of The Marin Store’s select designers, artists and producers.

Some of my favorite products were by:

• Be Sweet — gorgeous knit scarves and bags (I’m coveting the Stinson Oval Weekender)
• Circadian Studios — a local SF jewelry designer!
• Klub Nico — a footwear company based in Santa Cruz with shoes made in Brazil — I bought a pair of lovely sandals to celebrate Spring!

Everything was on sale (everything!), including my pieces which ranged from 10-20% off.  The show was such a success it looks like it’s going to happen again in a few months — keep May 1st in mind and I will post the details here when I know more.

Aiko Designs is now listed on the Mission Artists United directory.  With such a large concentration of artists in the Mission District of San Francisco, it’s great that there is a place to find the artists and studios spread throughout the district — check out their map here — it’s a great tool for the upcoming Spring Mission Open Studios later in April. Hope to see you there!

10th Annual Art Explosion Open Studios
APRIL 23-25, 2010
Friday 7-11, Saturday, 12-5, Sunday 12-5

The latest Marin Store catalog containing beautiful, quality products from Northern Californian artisans, designers and producers is now out!  You can find the catalog in Marin Magazine.

Check out page 8 for a peek at the Black and Gold Chain Necklace by Aiko Designs and to see more products, go to the Aiko Designs page at the online store  (themarinstore.com).

Aiko Designs and 20+ other local Northern California designers will be participating in the Marin Store Sample Sale on Saturday, March 6 — hope you can join us in the fun!

Date/Time: Saturday, March 6, 9 AM-4 PM

Location: Marin Country Mart (formerly Larkspur Landing)

Exact Address: 2405 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, CA 94939 (map)

Additional Perks: Parking is free and plentiful. Shoppers coming from San Francisco can take the ferry to Larkspur – Marin Country Mart is located directly across from the ferry terminal, with a convenient walking bridge between the two.

Facebook event page

This year’s February (versus August) Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia was full of crazy travel stories and talk about the weather.  The artists near my booth at the show were from places such as Dallas, Portland, Baltimore and Santa Fe.  Other artists came from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii.

The market wrapped up this past Monday and after several days of hard work I splurged on some jewelry for myself!  Take a look at what I’m coveting now:

Caviar Ring by Stubborn Jewelry

Stubborn is by Melissa Stiles, a former architect who currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two daughters and her admittedly scary looking dog!

I particularly liked this ring as it’s something that I would never make myself, it looks great on and adds a great pop of color to whatever I’m wearing.

I was weak and got two pieces from Cynthia Jones Jewelry.  Cynthia lives in Santa Fe and creates lovely metal pieces in sterling silver, gold fill and copper.  I love the brushed oxidized sterling silver pieces in her collection as well as these powder-coated copper rings (had to get one for myself!).

Take a look at the brushed, oxidized sterling silver “feather” earrings (love!)

You can now find Aiko Designs at The Peak in Hong Kong!  The LookBook, a jewelry and accessories shop has opened at the Peak Galleria.

“The Peak” is Victoria Peak (太平山) , a Hong Kong landmark with spectacular panoramic views of Hong Kong, Kowloon and Victoria Harbour.  And what would an Asian landmark be without great shopping nearby!?

Lots of new sweet and shimmery pieces to see — take a look here.

Check out the Aiko Designs interview by One Fine Day, an event and wedding planning company that I met at the San Francisco Wedding Fair a few weeks ago!