Neon Goth Has Landed @ Mink Schmink

The last week or so has been a flurry of activity in the Mink Schmink studio and we're happy to finally launch the new range: Neon Goth. The collection is a balanced mish mash of happy bright colours, textures, florals and skulls, taking goth to a whole new level.

Take a look and tell us what you think! We have even more in our Newtown store so if you're nearby, stop by and say hi and try a few pieces on! They are even brighter in real life!

SALE - All dresses now $20 or less!

We've reduced our dresses down to $20 or less!! Get in quick!

Lots of styles perfect for layering so don't miss out.

While stocks last!
(Sorry, not available online)

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The cold has arrived in Sydney and it's feeling like an early Winter. It's definitely cold enough to dust off those unfinished knitting and crochet projects from last year (at least that's what I've been telling myself!). Or start a new project and knit yourself something fantastic to keep you warm. But if you're a knitting novice like me, it's hard to make anything beyond a plain scarf.

So when we were hunting for winter goodies and came across these fabulous beanies hand-knitted in Nepal, we couldn't pass them up. How wonderful are these designs!! We love supporting talented people! 

Check out more online!

You Tarzan, Me Jane.

Get some vine action happening with these handmade wool felt scarves from Nepal. These gorgeous scarves have 14 flowers on each vine and look amazing wrapped around your neck! We think it looks best with block colours so make sure you keep your outfit simple with this one.

4 colourways to choose from. Which one's your favourite?

Available now from our online store

Something Old, Something New... Rubber Jewellery For Your Special Day

Need some inspiration for your big day?

Need a necklace that's a bit different from the norm, and you're not into bling?

Have you heard of Marzio Fiorini?

Marzio Fiorini is the master of rubber jewellery. Yes, rubber. His collection is made from recyclable rubber in his workshop in Brazil. And I know you're probably thinking of black tyres, erasers and gum boot soles, but this is as far away in design (and smell) from that as you can get. Take a look at some of his designs:

Palmera Necklace (Available in White, Black and Red)

Graff Necklace (Available in White, Black, Red and Chocolate)

Angel Necklace (Available in White, Black and Red)

Angel Caliel Necklace (Available in White, Black, Red and Black/Silver combo)

Flower Necklace (This choker doubles as two bracelets as well. Available in White, Black and Red)

Here's a pic of the black Flower Necklace (isn't it gorgeous!?)

Mikinos Necklace (Available in White, Black, Red)

Rozas Necklace (Available in White, Black, Red, Turquoise)

OK, so the designs are out there. That's why they're so great!

Reasons Why These Necklaces Are Great For Your Special Day

1. No metal bits (great if you have sensitive skin)
2. No rubbery smell
3. Lightweight
4. Comfortable to wear all day
5. Easy to clean (just use a bit of mild soap and warm water)
6. Dramatic design without being blingy
7. You can wear it more than once (in fact you'll probably love it so much you'll wear it whenever you can)
8. It may be a designer piece, but it won't break the bank.
9. They come in different colours (great if you've got a colour theme happening)
10. You'll get compliments. Guaranteed.

Check out more of the range of Marzio Fiorini Rubber Jewellery at our online store. If an item is out of stock, get in touch with us and we'll order it in for you.

Here's more images from the Marzio Fiorini range. Enjoy!

Pretty Kitty Necklace for Lovers of Cute

We get to see some really cute things in our hunt for awesome designer goodies for Mink Schmink. This one is a favourite of ours with its little 3D kitty charm and pretty oval frame. This is definitely one for lovers of cute. Check out the necklace and other cute designs at our online store.

Aww, what a cute little kitty!

Awesome long chain!

Kitty charm dangles from the pretty frame!

6 Quirky Designer Brooches To Make You Smile

Brooches are making a huge comeback and coming into the cooler months, they are the perfect way to embellish your outfit. I'm loving these designs! They're great for wearing on your jacket, blouse, scarf or even your bag and will definitely add a touch of personality. Why wear all that black and grey on its own?

These whimsical brooches are all constructed from layers of engraved and polished acrylic for a bit of depth. Prices range from $25 - $30. All brooches available from the Mink Schmink online store  - Limited stock.

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Precious Limb Bangle by Emily Snadden

I read about the 2011 International Jewellery Design Excellence Awards today and found out that an Aussie got a Merit Award for her stunning "Precious Limb Bangle". Designed by Emily Snadden, it's design depicts the natural folds, creases and wrinkles typically found in the Australian salmon gum. Congratulations Emily!! We love seeing Aussies do their thing on the International stage.

It's a prestigious award since the entrants can only quality to enter if they have won an officially announced jewellery design competition over the past two years. With over a hundred entrants and the quality being so high, it really is a great showcase for the World's talented Jewellery Designers.

Bullfinches Necklace by Ilgiz Fazulzyanov

This year's "Champion of Champions" Award went to Russian designer, Ilgiz Fazulzyanov, for his "Bullfinches" necklace, which depicts the birds in snow. There's a lot of work in this piece and the craftsmanship is amazing. Birds and nature have been really popular in the last few years and I suspect we'll see a lot more of it to come.

This one was my personal favourite out of all the awards given. It's designed by South African designer, Kristen Malan, and it's called "Molecular Truth". Simply stunning.

Molecular Truth by Kristen Malan

Well, what do you think? Love it? Hate it? I have a feeling we'll probably see some trends trickling down from these designs.

A New Look For Mink Schmink

Welcome to 2011. Yep, I know it's March already. How time flies huh!?

It's been a long time since the last blog post and there's lots to catch up on. Our website has been streamlined and redesigned, our range has grown to include more designer goodies than ever, and we've even given our store a revamp to improve your shopping experience with us. And that's the short version.

Here are some pics to show you how the store looks now:

Our funky counter area

Colourful jewellery collections

Lots of goodies to look at

Our new fashion area with our wonderful change room built with 3 doors

Shiny shiny floor (hand polished with love!)

Cabinets filled with gorgeous goodies!

It's looking pretty snazzy don't you think? You can see more pics in our facebook album. It's not until we do a big revamp like this that we realise just how much work goes into the little details. We spent 2 days (and nights) doing this ourselves (I gotta give props to all the visual merchandisers out there who do this for a living - you guys have a challenging job).

We've had loads of positive feedback from customers since we did the revamp. What do you think? Any ideas on how we can improve it?