Monday, March 22, 2010

Bittersweets Wedding Bands for Men!






Our current collections of wedding bands are the Bittersweets response to calls for simple, modern-classic bands. Didn't your mother always tell you what's Bittersweets for the goose is Bittersweets for the gander?

We so loved watching ladies slip their Letter Ring Royales on their left ring finger for the very first time, that we decided to make a wider version of this ultra slim band for guitar-playing gentlemen far and wide.

The resulting Thin Line collection is available in 4 widths, 3 colors of gold, and 4 finishes, so you can choose your ring like you chose your love. A wide range of personalization is available - letters, numbers and symbols.

The Cowboy collection is a bold choice for the bold couple who desires a substantial and weighty band. Each ring is carved from wax and lost in the casting process, resulting in a one-of-a-kind wedding band. Matte and shiny finishes accentuate beautifully faceted and hammered texture.

Finally, we have the Gatsby Collection. All of your bands in these two collections are carved out of wax, according to your size and specifications. The Gatsby offers your choice of matte or shiny finish on an elegantly carved ring, boasting a sleek line befitting Mr. Fitzgerald's gorgeously fallen heroes & heroines.

We Have a Fantastic New Website!

If you're reading this blog, there's a good chance that you've already noticed that the bittersweets website has been relaunched with a new, easier to use design, new images and new products! We also added a new category to the online shop - Wedding! A few months ago we released the Twig wedding ring collection and we received such an amazing response to it that we wanted branch out further in this new direction. We've added men's wedding bands, special bridesmaid present discounts, a simple yet luxurious necklace for the big day and more to come soon, including pieces for the mother-of-the-bride and new ring designs.

Since the site is so new, you may experience some kinks, though hopefully not. If you have any issues with it, please send an email to info@bittersweetsny.com so we can resolve the problem. We're very proud of the site and hope you like it.

Friday, February 5, 2010

My Bittersweet Valentine!



For Valentine's Day this year, we are introducing *five* new pieces!

The dainty heart necklace
The dainty heart bracelet
The teensy heart ring
The garnet heart & dagger
The garnet half-a-heart necklace

And here's the best part - they are all on sale through Valentine's Day!
We're also putting a few other romantic favorites on sale for the holiday - the entire Heart & Arrow Collection and Cupid & Psyche Necklace. For those of you with a sweetie pie, slip them a link to the item of your dreams, and for those of you spending the holiday alone, treat yourself to something shiny and tell everyone it's from your secret admirer!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010



Hello! This is Caroline, Robin's Assistant. I found this photo of me at my friend's wedding and I wanted to share with you my favorite bittersweets piece - the gold hoop earrings. See how delicate they are? You can hardly feel them, but whenever I wear them, I get sooo many compliments.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Kittens need home!



They love each other and sleep Yin/Yang style. They live in the Philadelphia area, but will take a hovercraft to NYC for a loving home! Please email us to adopt these adorable kittens.

Monday, December 7, 2009

December Email!

Hi Robin,

I just wanted to let you know that I received the jewelry and it is beautiful. Thank you so much.
And, I had the baby! 9 lbs, 21 inches...Peter!

Best,
Kate

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Favoritest Ring Drawing Ever

The incredibly awesome Notcot, requested a behind-the-scenes of our new designs, the Twig rings! Included in our story of the inspiration behind the rings, is this killer drawing sent to us by Gavin. He proposed to Katie with this drawing and asked us to make it come to life. We had so much fun working with the lovliest couple this side of the Mississippi.

Man-Machine Book II is here



Takes a sec. to load. Worth the wait. Use mouse to scroll comic from left to right.
Take me to Man-Machine.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

BUST Craftacular!



We will be at the BUST Holiday Craft Fair in New York!
And our Bittersweets Infant Bodysuits* will make their debut!
Front: Bittersweets Tongue logo by Aaron Cantor
Back: Josh Slater's Unicorn or Vamp Spock.

All Bittersweets jewelry at the BUST craftacular will be offered at a discounted price! In addition, our entire online catalog can be purchased at the booth at a 10% discount! We will gift wrap and ship it for free, in plenty of time for the holidays.

And finally, sign up for our FREE raffle and enter to win a $100. gift certificate to Bittersweetsny.com! Winner will be notifed by email Dec. 7th, 2009.

Directions:
The Metropolitan Pavilion is located at 125 West 18th Street in NYC, not far from the 1 train at 18th street, or the F, V trains at 23rd street. BUST Magazine’s Holiday Craftacular will take place from 10:00 AM – 7:30PM on December 6th. Your entry ticket also gives you a shot at winning a BUST-load of booty in the Craftacular Raffle! There is a $2 entry fee.

*"Onesies" is a registered trademark of Gerber Childrenswear, which objects to both the usage of the term as a generic name and the usage of the singular form "Onesie". Gerber Childrenswear continues to aggressively enforce and defend its trademark.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgrandma!!!



My sister & my grandmother.
Frame by mom.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Two for Tuesday!

We got two adorable emails this week!

Hi!
My necklace arrived today, and I'm even more thrilled with it than I thought I'd be. It's absolutely gorgeous....just perfect! Thanks you so, so much for creating beautiful and meaningful pieces of love that aren't focused on diamonds and hearts. My necklace is graceful, understated and private, yet full of sentiment for me and my husband. Well done!
Many, many thanks,
Jill

**************************************
Hi!
Just to let you know that we got the rings and they are perfect!!! They turned out exactly like we had pictured. Thank you so much for your work!!! We really appreciate everything that you've done. You've got a great company! All the best in the future. :)
Thanks so much again,
Rebecca

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Warning:

Your head might explode with how much useful and sensible information is contained in this video. Should you come across one at a garage sale, or thrift shop, spare no expense. Dig deep into the pockets, for it will be the best $2 you've ever spent.


Jeremy + Jennifer =

True Love Forever... And, incredibly beautiful photos of Paris!







Thank you for the photos Jeremy & Jennifer! Can't wait to see where you go on your many, many, anniversaries!

Man Machine II

It's here. Now.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

All Quiet on the Western Front


Today is Veterans Day, but what you may not know is that it was originally called Armistice Day, in recognition of the end of World War I. We've done some research and found out that there is still one American veteran of WWI, and what you also may not know, is that he is the cutest. His name is Frank Woodruff Buckles, and he is 108 years old. In recognition of this special day, we invite Frank Buckles to contact us and we will send him literally any Bittersweets jewelry that he wants! How about a Bittersweets Buckle for Mr. Buckles? Thanks to all Veterans and their families on this day and every day.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Bittersweets Contest



If you can tell me the name of this vampire movie I just saw on cable with Michael Madsen (i heart Reservoir Dogs) I will name you the winner of the contest. And I'll send you a $50 gift certificate.

Ferdinand's First Walk!

Yes, it's true. He's been a city bunny for so long that we never took him out for walks. The other problem, was that we could only find these stringy leashes that looked as if he might turn himself into a victim of bunny-strangulation via macrame plant holder. Admittedly, Mr.Bunz reprimanded me for making him wear a polka-dot leash attached to a blue crossing guard vest... Even if they are "safety" polka-dots.


"Eh okay, I'm fine here. I'll just stay in my little mesh bunny-box, where there are niblets leftover from when you tricked me to the vet. Mmmm, still crunchy."


Radio, live transmission.
Radio, live transmission.
Listen to the silence, let it ring on.
Eyes, dark grey lenses frightened of the sun.
We would have a fine time living in the night,
Left to blind destruction,
Waiting for our sight.
And we would go on as though nothing was wrong.
And hide from these days we remained all alone.


Here is a picture; he's comfortable, smelling the grass. Notice how mad he is at me for making him go outside on a nice day. Check out the squinty eye!


"I like to dig & and I dig to like" bumper sticker please. Yours, Ferdinand.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

"Alex, I'll take 'Magic' for a thousand"



Keeping in our theme of introducing a varied and sometimes puzzling assortment of what makes Bittersweets tick, we present a link to you, our dear Bittersweedettes, that opens a portal to the fourth dimension. Eh, or you could say that this is one of our favorite interviews of all time. We still have the original newsprint pressed between Brother's Grimm & our Welding Handbook.
Alex, take me down the rabbit hole please!

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Allo baby...



Voulez-vous couchez avec mon snugglefestival? You see, my little petal, I am a lover, not a fighter. I am a wearer of Bittersweets. What could be more seductive? The bed is already disheveled. Too forward, you say? But, my little cabbage, understand, I only wear dangerous looking jewelry. My heart is pure gold.
Yours, Oliver

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Greetings!



Just want to thank everyone for letting us know when you need an order by a specific date! It really helps us get your Bittersweets to you on time. We now have teensy adorable gift cards that we can add to your order for free! We can even type a heart-felt message on it, when we send directly to your Bittersweetie. Not limited to Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, ground hog day, and/or any event you want to commemorate with delicious jewelry!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

"Alex, I'll take 'Beowulf' for a thousand"



An English guy with a metal detector stumbled upon the largest stash of Anglo-Saxon treasures found to date, on his friend's farm in Staffordshire, last July. We read about this a while back, but realized, how perfect this is for our ever expanding search for whimsical blog entries for you, our darling Bittersweeties! K, back to the gold story.

The Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic tribes that occupied Britain from the fifth century until 1066. Out with the Romans, in with the new... eh, I mean old, Old English*, that is. Terry Herbert found no less than 1,345 items dating to 675-725AD, weighing in at approximately 11 pounds of gold, and 6 pounds of silver, making it the largest hoard to represent this time period, period.

The pieces contain gems, and expertly carved beasts, exhibiting the very finest in Anglo-Saxon workmanship. Crosses, pommel caps**, & hilt collars, were found along with a strip of gold simply stating in Latin, "Rise up O Lord, and may thy enemies be dispersed and those who hate thee be driven from thy face." If our swords were meant to kill rather than thrill, I guess we'd go a little heavier on the bitter, than the sweet, as well.

*Not to be confused with Olde English 800, commonly referred to as OE, Old Gold, Olde E & 8-Ball, a brand of malt liquor produced by the Miller Brewing Company. We don't drink malt liquor here at Bittersweets headquarters. It's bad for you.

** What's a pommel cap you say? Here's what one looks like, plus the price in case you're looking to buy your very own:
Alex, show me "pommel cap" for $500.

Despite the annoying ad, this clip does show the objects up close.
Take me to youtube!

This one features the guy who found the loot, narrating!
The guardian, please!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

And the winner is...

it's a four way tie! We have four favorite Halloween costumes this year!

Who's driving, Miss Daisy!? No, it's not a reference to a movie that admittedly, no one here has actually seen. That's Daisy, the wonder dog!

Not that we're obsessed with movies or anything, but we would call this costume, "JAWS!"

And here's a purple monkey and a lobster. Isn't there a sci-fi movie where a monkey teams up with a giant lobster and they terrorize a small fishing village?

Young Drawing Whiz!

We are proud to say that we knew Hope when she was an even younger drawing whiz. Our "about" page features the very first Bittersweets catalog illustrated by, you guessed it, Hope Gangloff! Read what New Yorker has to say about our lovely gal:

This young drawing whiz shows large paintings of pretty, languid friends that are mannered and feel trendy, pleasantly. They conflate lapidary facture à la Gustav Klimt and the everyday eros of Elizabeth Peyton, with a dash of Neue Sachlichkeit. Pale-fleshed lads and lasses project second-nature chic, just slightly decadent, in modest circumstances. One subject is a plainly overqualified waitress with a dainty tattoo, lurching to grab a bottle of Tabasco sauce. A clamorous, gravity-free still-life celebrates a world emblematized by beer, soda, and wine bottles; fancy shoes and umbrellas; containers of Chinese food, salt, and matches; and what looks like a Geiger counter. Through Nov. 25. (Inglett, 522 W. 24th St. 212-647-9111.)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Awesome Email from Across the Pond:

It is going to be a birthday/yay! I'm starting university gift for myself.
I've typically never really liked jewelry but there is just something so enticing about this. Plus it gives me a chance to use the (expensive as my mum keeps saying) necklace that my mum bought for me but I have never gotten a chance to wear as all other charms are generic and ugly as hell.

So bittersweets, I thank and salute you.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Vampire Jewelry


Some of Bittersweets jewelry is inspired by Vampirism, a concept older than, say... Vampire movies.
That is all.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

A Bittersweets poem titled, " C804"

Two letter rings were requested,
by a lovely couple at Catbird.
One, small and yellow,
The other, large and white.
Both, with the same mysterious message!

A guy & a gal,
went to City Hall to get married.
They took a number...
as if standing in line at a deli!

Bittersweets rings,
were just the tings,
for Mr. & Mrs. C!- (#C804, that is)
Couldn't have happened to a nicer couple!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Darling Email of the Month Goes to...

M: When we first started dating we got the heart charms, I knew she was someone special but she graduated before me and moved away. We broke up, I wore it forever, never forgot about her yadda yadda yadda. We are back together, very serious and I wanted to get the rings for us because it's your little charm that reminded me of her everyday and we have always wanted the rings. Needless to say, I am 100% positive you will be designing my engagement ring for her someday, so thank god you do custom stuff.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Wonderful email of the month goes to...

Lynn! And here's her darling email. I loved the !!!!s!

Dear Robin, It came today!! And I do think it is very cute and delicate and charming and I do love it! And it fits perfectly!! And this was my first experience in tracking something--rather fun I thought! I'm going to be thinking about an anklet down the road. Whenever I come to Brooklyn again, is there any place where I might find you? Thank you so much! (I'm full of !!!s!)! XOXOX Lynnie

Monday, June 1, 2009

Teepee!!!


Photos courtesy Jezebel (see blog list on right)

Let me just say that Teepee is the inspiration for a new Bittersweets bracelet that is soon to be unveiled online. If Teepee wore a wee little bracelet, what would it look like? Go to Catbird and find out in person! See below for photo!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Gold flowers, wax and precious gems!

The latest design with the flowers is the Black Eyed Susan Ring shown here with a thick band. Catbird has the teensy band version with a single flower.





Here's how the flowers look before the casting process.



Yellow gold and amethyst earrings for Janka's god daughter.

Baby Vamps with Black Diamonds

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Josie & Michelle!



Thanks for the pics! What a beautiful wedding, bride, & groom. xoxoxox r

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Photo by Raymond



Raymond took these incredible photos of the shop. Here's a link to the flickr post of more pretty images of Bittersweet's Boutique:

Nice Customer of the Month Award Goes to...

Jon!!! I got this darling email from him and asked if I could share it all with you! Aaaaawe, aint love grand?!

Hi Robin,
I did receive the rings that you sent. I'm VERY sorry for not sending you a picture or describing the AWESOME reaction from her!

The day before the Vamp rings came in I bought some "Cracker Jack Box" style rings. When the Vamp rings came in I gave the crappy rings to her (she likes little things like that). Of course as I gave her those rings she got excited and thought they might be the Vamp rings. So as her excitement faded for the Vamp rings but the excitement for the other rings was at its highest, I pulled out the Vamp rings! For a solid 15 minutes I couldn't understand anything but "giggle", "OH MY GOD!" and "They're perfect!"
Thank You SOOOO much for making jewelry that isn't boring and looks like everything else! I'll be sending you a picture asap!
What do we do for engagement/wedding rings? By her reaction I'm not sure that much can top that!

Thank you!
Jon

Thursday, March 5, 2009

first letter necklace with new lower case stamps!



Now, when you order letter rings, lil ID bracelets or letter necklaces, you can choose CAPITALS, lower case, or a ComBinAtiOn tHerEof !

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

New Rings!

Sneak Preview of the New Letter Ring Stamps!!! That is one fancy " D L A " ring!



And here's a sneak, sneak preview of the lower case letter rings. Agnes is a name that my friend Eddie picked out. He's so handsome and smart that I had to make a little ring. Prrrretttttyyy!

James

I don't have a photo for this, and it has been over 3 months, but our beautiful kitty James passed on. I realized, that I should let people know, who came to the shop and loved him as well. I will miss him forever.11.13.08



Well, here's a photo. Not sure how appropriate it is, but I can only hope that our beautiful James is lettin' it all hang out in kitty heaven.

Monday, February 9, 2009

My Sister



So, I guess my memory is off, but I remember my sister having a monogrammed sweater with just her initials, and not the entire name spelled out. And I only mention this, because it's the inspiration for the new letter rings I'm working on. They are a slightly thicker gauge wire, with a 3 letter limit, using a stamp kit of capital, cursive, letters. My memory of her being super glamorous is spot on, however!

Frame made by mom, 1987.