MEGAN AUMAN

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using my paintings to show off my newest jewelry line

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art jewelry on a recent watercolor painting

When I started painting again, my first thought was to try and find ways to bridge the gap between my jewelry and paintings. (I’ve since decided to let go of feeling like they need to be related, but that’s a conversation for another post.) But since I kept my initial explorations with watercolor marker in a similar color palette to my jewelry brand, I found that my paintings make excellent backdrops for my new collection of silver on steel necklaces! (I’m even thinking about swapping my usual painted canvas displays for watercolor paper – especially when I fly to San Francisco for the American Craft Council show next month!)

And while I’m sure I keep the backgrounds a little more simple if I go this route for a show, I’m still excited about how the Zoe necklace (shown above) and the DeFeo necklace (shown below) look on top of these paintings!

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statement earrings for summer

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big unique statement hoop earrings for summer

When I first re-introduced my silver on steel collection, I started with the same sizes I had used in the original collection. But, true to form, I immediately found myself craving larger styles. And nowhere was that more true than in earrings.

While I may be a necklace girl most of the year, summer has me craving statement earrings. There’s just something nice about a statement accessory that doesn’t cling to you in the heat!

So I set out to create pretty much my perfect summer statement earrings, and I think I pretty much hit it out of the park with these giant silver on steel statement earrings. They’re super lightweight, full of impact, and incredibly unique.

Plus, they work with so many different summer styles, I’ve worn them with dresses and running shorts, and they work equally well with both! (And if you want your own pair, they’re available now in my online store.)

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lilac season and new/old silver on steel bracelets

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white lilacs and silver on steel stacking bracelets

Of all the seasons, spring is definitely my least favorite. (Thanks allergies.) But there is one thing I love about spring, and that’s all the flowers. And there’s no flower I love more than lilacs. I’m fortunate to have a number of lilac bushes outside my studio (both purple and white varieties) and the smell always makes me so happy.

Plus, the lilacs seemed like the perfect opportunity to show off the new(ish) silver on steel stacking bracelets that are now available in my online store.

These bracelets were actually part of my very first collection when I was starting my jewelry business, and after many years, I decided to bring them back. It turns out that, after years of making jewelry, my skills at making them are much better than when I retired them!

And it’s not just bracelets. There are earrings and necklaces too! So head over to my online store to check out the entire silver on steel collection.

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one dress challenge, day 13: block print embroidered jacket over striped midi dress

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creative outfit ideas: block print embroidered jacket over striped midi dress

I bought this embroidered coat when I was in India last year sourcing stones for the Contra Collection, but I’ve been trying to figure out how to style it ever since I got back. I kept trying to wear it with jeans, and couldn’t quite make it work. It turns out, that’s because it was made to be worn with a dress! (This dress to be precise!)

I love the contrast between the warm and cool shades of yellow and the pattern with the stripes. (Not to mention the stripes on the inside of the coat!) And I decided to add a Contra necklace with some color to it too, to further play with color mixing!

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one dress challenge, day 12: plaid shirt over striped midi dress and jeans

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creative outfit ideas: plaid shirt and striped dress over jeans

After spending most of the week layering other dresses over this month’s dress (resulting in some pretty fancy looks), I decided to mix things up today and go more casual, by layering the dress over jeans! I wanted the dress to be shorter (because a midi dress over jeans doesn’t really leave much jean showing), so folded up the mid section of the dress to give it a shorter hemline. Then I topped it off with a the plaid shirt, which serves the dual purpose of hiding the place in the middle where the dress is folded and making the whole look more casual. (Then I tossed on this Contra necklace for a little more visual interest under the collar!)

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one dress challenge, day 11: military vest and floral dress over striped midi dress

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creative outfit ideas, pattern mixing: military jacket and floral dress over striped midi dress

This outfit is the perfect example of how sometimes you just need more layers to make a look work. I really wanted to layer this floral dress I picked up on my last trip to India over the striped midi dress. Even after tucking the front of the floral dress up under the belt (to give a fun peplum effect), I still wasn’t totally feeling this look.

But then I threw on my trusty military vest, and it was exactly what I need to break up the broad expanse of floral and create some vertical lines in this look! (Oh, and I wasn’t trying anything fancy with that green belt. It was just the only belt I could find quickly!)

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one dress challenge, day 10: striped dress with midi skirt and black and white dress as duster (plus a nod to the 10×10 challenge)

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capsule wardrobe 10x10 style challenge (and one dress, thirty ways): polka dot maxi dress over striped dress and midi skirt with statement necklace

I decided to repeat the dress from yesterday because A) I never want to take it off! and B) by repeating that dress (plus the skirt from Day 6) then the first 10 days of this month’s one dress challenge also technically count as a 10×10 challenge. (If you don’t count shoes, which I’m not, since I wore the same pair the whole time anyway.)

If you aren’t familiar with it, the 10×10 challenge asks you to chose 10 pieces from your wardrobe and style only those for 10 days. I didn’t start off planning on doing the challenge (as I’ve mentioned here before, I’m not into capsule wardrobes, just creativity within constraints) but I like that I inadvertently ended up doing the challenge. I also looked back at my looks from the last ten days and figure I could probably style another ten looks out of those pieces. (Hmmm, I think another blog post is in my future.)

To mix things up a little from yesterday’s outfit, I opted to layer in a black midi skirt and keep the polka dot dress open so that it functions more like a duster. Plus, I swapped in a different Contra Composition necklace that’s actually a little bolder. (And even though this month’s challenge is all about that striped midi dress, I wouldn’t be surprised if this black and white dress makes at least one more appearance in this challenge. I love it so much!)

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one dress challenge, day 7: striped dress and printed midi skirt

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outfit inspiration, one dress, thirty ways: printed anthropologie midi skirt over striped dress with statement necklace

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since starting the one dress challenge, it’s my unapologetic love of a great midi skirt. (Ironic that it took a challenge about dresses to figure that out!) The truth is, I had a pretty decent collection of fabulous midi skirts before I started January’s one dress challenge, but they had been languishing at the back of my closet. But after layering them over (and under) various dresses, I’ve realized just how much I love having them in my wardrobe.

Which is why I won’t hesitate to buy a fantastic midi skirt when I get the chance. I spotted this one at Anthropologie while visiting a friend in North Carolina a few weeks back, and new I had to have it! (Especially when I realized it would be the perfect compliment to April’s dress!)

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one dress challenge, day 4: striped midi dress and floral coat

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creative outfit ideas: one dress, thirty ways: striped midi dress with floral coat and statement necklace

I’m a little behind on the challenge, because I was hit with a massive headache, but hopefully I’ll get caught back up today! I decided to continue the idea of pattern mixing from Day 3, but this time with this really fabulous coat!

Apparently I really have a thing for this specific shade of yellow, because I bought this coat back in the fall, and it perfectly matches the yellow in this dress!

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