Toki Collection

WE'VE MOVED!

2008-11-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

Well, not physically just in the blog sense. Please make a note that our blog has moved to WordPress (www.tokicollection.wordpress.com). The change was much needed. Everytime a new post went up, an old one deleted! You'll find all entries at the WordPress account.

If I was to move, however, wouldn't it be nice to move into a home with a room like this? Check out more of Photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo's work here. The photographs will have you pining for more.

Happily Ever After....

2008-10-20T23:54:00.000-07:00

The folks over at Gen Art recently wrote a nice piece about Toki on their online magazine, Gen Art Pulse. To read more, click here. Thanks Caroline!

In the interview, I touch on what inspires me. In particular, I mention the book, "Once Upon A Time" with illustrations by Arthur Rackham. The details in the artwork seem to go on forever.

Installation @ Gen Art Fresh Faces Show

2008-10-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

So, here it is...my installation for the 2008 Gen Art Fresh Faces show! I knew I wanted bright pops of color, so I threw in some reindeer moss and peacock feathers. But what especially made the display was the 40's shoe cabinet I found at Scout. I almost lost this incredible find to a couple of folks that were doing some serious debating about a couple of pieces at the counter. While I was mentally willing them to pick the other choice with all my, um telepathic might, it might have just been my creepy and unwelcoming demeanor that made them pick the other piece and get away from me as quickly as possible. Now, it's happily sitting in my studio.

With all my close family and friends at the show, I have to say, it was quite the special night.

Tips for Fall

2008-09-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

In case any squirrels...yes, squirrels..are reading my blog, here are some useful tips to make it through the season.

Happy Friday everyone!

GEN ART FRESH FACES 2008!

2008-09-15T09:45:00.000-07:00

Toki has been selected as one of Gen Art's Fresh Faces! We will have an installation exhibit of our new collection on October 1st, followed by a runway show hosted by Pete Wentz. Thank you Gen Art for this honor and congratulations to all the designers that are participating!

Nature at it's finest....

2008-09-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

As I write these blog posts, I question what relevance it has to my jewelry. A lot of times there is absolutely no connection. While I will sprinkle the in's and out's of my jewelry life throughout this blog, it's also a place where anything goes. If it interests, inspires, or shocks me, there is a good chance it's going to be written about.

So, today, I'd like to share an article that I read a couple of days ago. For those of you that don't believe animals are intelligent beings, you may think again after you read this story about altruistic dolphins filmed in Korea. As one dolphin was following behind in a group of hundreds of them (due to breathing problems), 4-5 dolphins repeatedly pushed the dying dolphin to the surface to help her breathe. Although the story ends sadly, it demonstrate nature at it's finest. Click here for the full article.

And, if you're into animal rights issue as much as I am, you'll take the time to check out this organization (Save Japan Dolphins) that is campaigning to end the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji.

Stripped.....

2008-09-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

Call it morbid, call it strange, but I can't help but be fascinated by bones, skulls, taxidermy, and the like. If you've read some of my previous blog posts, this won't come as a surprise to you. So, when I came across the artwork of Hyung Koo Lee in Theme Magazine, I was ecstatic. So much so, that I ripped an illustration from his Animatus series out of the magazine, framed it, and put it next to my other favorite pieces of artwork in my studio (far right image).

I suppose this is what Bugs Bunny's skeleton would look like. Why is he so scared?

Just recently, I discovered Michael Paulus' artwork and I have to say, he has taken Hello Kitty to another level. Her dome is quite big, no?

Pebbles.....

2008-09-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

I've been going back and forth with liking monochromatic color schemes and bright pops of color. I found these images (which are happily slapped on my wall) in this month's Elle Decoration (why is the UK pub so much better!) and the Miss Van illustration on the right from Juxtapoz Magazine.

Yesterday, I think I was feeling more monochromatic than colorful. Maybe that's why I couldn't stop making these little pebbles. Pretty, aren't they?

Hungry hungry hippo.....

2008-08-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

So, I've been asked to be a guest blogger on my homie's food blog, Elizabites. For many many years, we have explored numerous cities together, both far and near, to satisfy, what we call our "four stomachs" (it's pretty self explanatory...we like to eat). As a food writer, she is invited to restaurant openings, meet some incredible chef's, as well as dine at their table. Lucky me, I get to go along for the ride sometimes! While most of our epicurean adventures are stateside, we've also traveled far to feed our appetite. Prague, was one of those destinations.

My previous collection was heavily inspired by the places I visited while in Prague (ex. Kutna Hora Project, An Ode to Arms & Armory). Going to the bone church in Kutna Hora blew my mind and all I wanted to do was create a whole line of bone shaped jewelry! Ok, so what does this have to do with a hungry hungry hippo? Nothing, except for the fact that Prague is where I discovered my favorite hungry hippo of all time. KINDER HIPPO!

What is Kinder Hippo you ask? Well, you'll have to find out at Elizabites and since Elizabites is a food blog, it's obviously some kind of food.

So, as a little teaser to my guest bloggin', please enjoy the following video and Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Porcelain on thee mind.....

2008-08-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

Lately, porcelain has been on my mind. Why? I have no idea. Working with metals most of the time, it's nice to mix things up a bit and check out something outside of my world. So, this week it's porcelain. And what I found was not only beautiful pieces of art, but discovered some porcelain companies with a rich and interesting history.

Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg has been handcrafting porcelains since 1747 "manu factum" which literally means entirely by hand. As their website states, "Each plate is turned by hand, each vase cast by hand, each ornament applied by hand – because the machine doesn't exist that is able to recreate the individuality that may be achieved by hand." Sounds like craftmanship at it's finest. Many of the skills required to create these pieces have been passed on generation to generation. The manufacturing process is quite extensive and for those who are interested visit their site.

Here are some pieces I'd like to have...now.
Oh, hello Mr. Hippo.

Nymphenburg also offers guided tours. Fun? I think so. Check out these photos of their workshop. Makes me want to hop on a plane to Munich.

Another company that caught my eye is Sargadelos, a porcelain factory in Coruna. So, naturally, after I visit Munich, I'll skip on over to Spain. This porcelain obsession is becoming a little expensive....I think I'll stick to admiring their sites, for now.

Plant A Tree please....

2008-08-22T11:44:00.001-07:00

Love her clothes, now i love the compilation cd Vanessa Bruno has released to support Planete Urgence. For each cd purchased, five trees are planted. Plus, that donkey with the feather...who doesn't think he's cute? The donkey is asking us to plant some trees to save his planet we have slowly destroyed, so the least you can do is buy this cd (available at Vanessa Bruno boutiques and Colette).

If I was a stuffed teddy bear....

2008-08-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and today, I feel a little like this (see below)....tired after a long week. If I was a stuffed teddy bear, I think this is how I'd look (today, at least).

Check out more of Kent Rogowski's series of inside out stuffed bears.

Red Couch

2008-08-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

This post is a little late, but better late than never. Lollapalooza was some two weeks ago but the shows are still pretty fresh in my head. Keep in mind, I can't stand music festivals. Why? Port A Potties. When it comes down to it, I can tolerate the sweaty mass of humanity, the humidity, the occasional drunkard that decides to yack very close to me (yes, this happened this year), but what I can't handle are Port A Potties. Call me a snob, but my body literally shuts down.

This year, the line up at Lollapalooza was particularly enticing, with Radiohead opening on the first day and Nine Inch Nails (Kanye was at the other mainstage) closing the festival out, I decided to pony up and go. Port A Potty was lurking in the back of my mind as I was making this mental decision. Luckily (and as if someone was reading my mind), we scored ARTIST PASSES from Evan and Antwoine (The Cool Kids) who were playing at Lolla this year. Thanks guys! This pass was my ticket to getting backstage, the artist lounge which was giving out free food and drinks, and luxury air conditioned portable bathrooms that flushed! SOLD! I was the happiest music festival attendee there.

For three days, I trekked my way to Grant Park and saw some pretty amazing shows, from Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, to Wilco backstage. We didn't make it to the Cool Kids (all the shows were so far apart!) but had we known about the sweet golf carts that were zipping guests with artist passes around the venue, we would've been front and center!

So, what makes me so special to get this pass? Perhaps the Cool Kids are loyal, devoted Toki clients and wanted to give me this as a special thank you? Wrong. Although, I'd love to customize something for them. The real reason lies within this red couch. What can I say? Artist passes for our red couch. If it saves me a trip to a Port A Potty, I will give up this red couch any day. So, can you guys pick it up now?

Music that moves me...

2008-08-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

I was never that student who needed complete silence to study. There was always something playing in my tape player (yes, I had a tape player at one point), cd player, Ipod, or stereo when I was cramming to finish a paper or studying for a test at 3am. I don't know how well this helped me retain information but it kept my eyes open in the wee hours of the evening/morning. The same goes for when I'm creating a new collection or filling orders. As much as I actually love the sound of my workshop...the hammering, the hissing of the torch, and the tumbler rotating methodically, background music is the best accompaniment to mellow the sounds out. Depending on my mood, it could really be anything, from hip hop, classical, rock, to the 80's! And if it's the 80's, "You're the Best Around" from the Karate Kid soundtrack might take the cake. Highly nostalgic and highly motivating in the cheesiest way possible.

But when I need creative inspiration, I find dark, moody, and hauntingly beautiful tracks to do the trick. It's particularly a bonus when there are a lot of instruments, like acoustics, strings, and the piano. Needless to say, I've been listening to a lot of Radiohead over and over again and Kenna's Hell Bent. Just recently, however, I came across Portishead's "The Rip." Animator Nick Uff is the brilliance behind this video.

Portishead - The Rip
Uploaded by portishead

Check out a version done by Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. Beautiful....

But for those of you that are more interested in my other music favorite, enjoy.

One Week Left!

2008-07-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

In this month's Lucky, I'm offering 20% off any item purchased on the Toki SHOP site. There's only one week left so take advantage of the deal while you can. I'll be posting some web only and a small selection of the current collection in the next couple of days, so check back often. Just plug in LUCKYJULYDEAL when you're done shopping! Thanks Lucky for the shout out!

DWELL on this....

2008-07-20T23:19:00.000-07:00

Dwell is one of those magazines that I can't wait to pick up at the newsstand, along with Elle Decoration, British Elle, Theme, National Geographic, etc...the list is really endless. This month's issue of Dwell is particularly hot! The work of my very talented architect friend, Elissa (Scrafano Architects), is featured in the July/August issue. The article features a sustainable home in Echo Park (LA) built with bamboo flooring, recycled plastic closet doors, and a tankless water heater and solar paneling on the flat roof which provides 50% of the energy! Read the full article here. It's good to be green.

Sty Guy

2008-06-30T16:08:00.001-07:00

Our beloved "Studio Manager," Oliver had a hell of a week. Day in and day out, I would check to see if this strange little woogie he developed on his lower lid was getting smaller. Although it didn't seem to bother him, minus a few paw rubs here and there, I kept thinking how annoyed I would be if I had something like that on my eye! So, I got a rec from his vet and they sent me to a Veterinary OPTHAMOLOGIST! After a three, yes THREE part diagnostic test, we were able to get a diagnosis on the mysterious growth. The test included 3 blasts of pressure into his eye, litmus like paper shoved underneath his eyeball for SIXTY SECONDS (I'm still not understanding why it had to be for sixty seconds), and then to top it off, the doc turned off all the lights and started to flash different colored lights into his eye. I was beside myself. (sigh) All I could do (from the corner I was sitting in so they could do their job) was throw out intermittent words of encouragement like, "you're such a good boy" and "you're ok." All the while, he didn't take his eyes off me and it broke my heart to see him so scared. Diagnosis: impacted STY which will require surgery. (Double sigh)

So, you think it ends there. What may have been more stressful than the eye appointment for our dear Oliver is the bath he had to endure. Not that he's bound for the Westminster Dog Show, but his level of barn animal smell was starting to reach that intolerable level. Yes, I know...the natural oil from a dog's coat is good for them. But when he starts feeling slick to the touch and he is sporting some serious "guido" like hair, it's time to bust out the grooming kit. While I normally send him to the groomer, I thought to myself that I'm missing out on this "bonding" time with my buddy. Bath NEVER equals bonding time. It was total chaos from the time we turned on the shower. Wet dog running around the house trying to get water out of his ear, hair flying everywhere, utter chaos. But, after the dust settled (after some blow drying), he came out quite sparkly clean and fuzzy. And for now, all is good and quiet.

Howl....

2008-06-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

I think they're pretty fresh. Download the Empires album for FREE. Yup...gratis.

TOKI @ Assembly New York

2008-05-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

Toki women's & unisex pieces are now available at Assembly New York. The men's shop also stocks Endovanera, Corpus, Chronicles of Never, and Henrik Vibskov, to name a few. Check back for more new Toki to arrive at Assembly in June!

You Don't Know JAC?

2008-04-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well, you should. If you live in the Atlanta area or plan on visiting anytime soon, Jac is one of those boutiques you must stop through. From hard to find labels and emerging designers to more established brands, Jaci, our friend and owner of Jac, keeps her stock interesting and fresh. It's great to be in the company of such talented designers. Check out Jaci's blog where you'll catch up on the latest happenings at her shop and a recent Toki shout out. Thanks guys!

Official Debut....

2008-02-07T00:56:00.000-08:00

So, I was starting to feel a little like the boy (or girl, rather) who cried wolf. But, I kid you not....the website is up and running! Please go to www.tokicollection.com and take a look! I'd love to hear your comments about the site. I must give props again to my talented friends who made this site possible. Big ups to my web designer (& Pink Berry cohort), Tomo, Dave (my web programmer whom I've never met), and Jay Lewis for his wicked photography skills.

I'm also happy to announce that there is a small shop section to the site. Here you'll find web only exclusives and I'll be rotating the styles frequently, so definitely check back often! And since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I posted some special treats that were inspired by this day.

Available at the SHOP site for a limited time!

Available exclusively at p45, one of my favorite boutiques in Chicago!

2008-01-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A little late on the post but better late than never. I'm happy to say that the website is almost done. I was hoping to kick '08 off with some web action, but you'll have to wait just a wee bit longer. There were so many amazing pictures to pick from, so needless to say, not all of them made the cut. Seems like such a waste to hoard all the pics for myself! So, here you go. A little sample of what you might expect to see on the website. Enjoy!

TOKI BLOG!

2007-12-14T02:40:00.000-08:00

HELLO!

So, I finally decided to revamp my poor excuse of a website by hiring some wickedly talented friends to design a pretty slick site for Toki. (Thank you Tomo & Dave). I've never met Dave/aka Super D (he's kind of like the wizard behind the curtain), but I can't wait to see the site when he's done programming it! Tomo, thank you for your endless patience. AND I couldn't of had such beautiful photos without the genius of none other than Jay Lewis. After two full days of hunting for props in NYC and painstakingly setting up the tedious jewelry shots with the wonderful assistance of my girl Julie of Crunchy Jewels, we shot over 75 pieces of jewelry and also managed to squeeze in an embarrasing mini photoshoot of me (awkward.....). So, the road to get to this point was arduous, long, but nevertheless, it's been exciting, new, and definitely worth the time! The site is almost done, but not quite there yet. So, until then, I will keep you all posted via the Toki Blog.

Make sure to cruise through my Friends and Give links! I've met some smart, talented, and supportive people along the way, as well as encountered some amazing causes & philanthropies that are worth a look. Thanks for everyone's support!

Love,
Tonia

Studio space in Stuart & Wright (Thanks Alec & Celeste!) Such an involved set up for such tiny tiny jewelry!

My New Blog!

2007-12-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

So, I finally took the plunge and hired a real web designer and a REAL graphic designer to design a pretty slick site for Toki. It's about time! It's not quite there yet, but until then, I can keep you all posted via the Toki Blog. I'll try to keep the blog to all things Toki related but I can't guarantee I won't go off on a tangent and start posting design related topics (or food, or music, or tech...etc.)