Currently Coveting: Lovely Leather from Poketo

I'm in love with these upcycled leather goods from Poketo. I love the clean lines, contrasting colors and uniqueness of each piece.


I'd be totally smitten jet setting with this passport cover tucked away in this tote. Of course, I'd switch to this clutch for the evening.


(Seriously, can someone buy me that clutch? Swoon!)

Music Monday: Marie-Pierre Arthur's 'Porquoi'

Oh, I am so very in love with this song and its adorable video. Marie-Pierre Arthur is a Quebecois singer, songwriter and bassist. You can read more about her (en français) and listen to a couple of her other wonderful songs (also en français ;) here!

Springtime in Colorado

I moved to Canada in October 2009 and promptly decided to plant my feet firmly there. Life became so full and so busy so quickly that I didn't even have a chance to come back to my home country, the U.S., until...now. So it's been a year and a half since I've been at home in the amazing state of Colorado. It's been so wonderful to be here--I've practically consumed my weight in Mexican food and spent a large amount of quality time with Target.

For those of you who have never been, Colorado is a lovely place (and a lovely place to grow up). So I thought I'd share some photos...

Spring in Colorado means...gorgeous trees in bloom! When I left Canada a week ago, parts of the lakes and rivers will still frozen over. To see trees in full bloom like this makes me giddy.

Long roads that you can see for miles and mountains that are gorgeous even when it's hazy!

Hanging out at the Denver Art Museum on a gorgeous day.

Baking GIANT cookies with my mom. We made equally GIANT ice cream sandwiches for my nephews with them!

And...THIS view outside my bedroom window every. single. evening. Swoon.

Name The Necklace Contest: Winner!

Ladies--I have to tell you; you are one talented group of gals! I was so completely blown away by all of your incredible entries! Your names for our lovely little necklace stretched from the shores of Australia to the streets of Spain to the ancient histories of both Istanbul and China. I so enjoyed each and every one of your entries; I really felt as though I was exploring the world through your eyes.

So now, without further adieu...the winner is...

Landylicious!

Laura (I think that's your name!) submitted the city of Seville. Her description of the city instantly transported us to this Spanish city and made us wish we were strolling down its streets:

The necklace reminds me of the flesh of an orange, and so I would name it Seville, after the Spanish city. Seville's streets are lined with orange trees and in the Spring the entire city smells like orange blossoms. I've never experienced anything else quite like it.

Well done, Landylicious! We'll be in touch so we can send off your prize and this necklace (and its matching earrings) will be arriving in our shop tomorrow along with EIGHT other new styles!

For all the lovely and talented ladies who didn't win, we've got something for you too: just enter the code NTNWIN to receive 20% off your entire urbanite jewelry purchase! A huge thanks to everyone who entered! You're amazing!

Contest: Name the Necklace Entries!

We're totally loving the entries you lovely ladies have submitted thus far for our Name the Necklace Contest! It's SO interesting and fascinating to see all the places you love and have visited--and which cities you think fit this piece so well. I feel like I'm discovering the world through your eyes, which is amazing.

Some highlights from the entries submitted so far:

From Kate: This piece reminds me of a natural sea sponge or coral - which brings back memories of my time in Cairns in Australia! Going scuba diving and snorkelling with green sea turtles and giant fish!

From Landylicious: The necklace reminds me of the flesh of an orange, and so I would name it Seville, after the Spanish city. Seville's streets are lined with orange trees and in the Spring the entire city smells like orange blossoms. I've never experienced anything else quite like it.

From Karie: I'm saying Saigon. To me the design looks alot like lotus seed pods - which were everywhere in the neighbourhood we lived in.

I'm loving ALL your entries, ladies! Still want to enter--or enter another city? You have until Tuesday night to pop on over here and comment with the city you'd name the necklace after as well as why!

music monday: yael naim's 'paris'

I have been completely and totally smitten with this song for probably a year or so. And even though my downloaded version of this song is missing its first verse, I find myself listening to it over and over again. Yael Naim (of New Soul fame) sings this song in Hebrew and French, which I completely love. It's a beautifully melodic and gorgeous song. Enjoy!

Music, Innovation & Eye Candy

A completely amazing display of workmanship, patience, precision, ingenuity and innovation. Color me mesmerized & consider me entranced.

P.S. There are few materials I love as much as wood & would love to see a phone like this come to North America.

Contest: Name The Necklace!

Here at urbanite headquarters, we're pretty fond of travel (as you can probably imagine) and the stories and experiences travelers pick up as they traverse the globe. One of the things we love the most about naming our pieces after world cities is that people often purchase jewelry because of the city it's named after. They love that they can carry a memory of their favorite destination around their neck, or wear a pair of earrings that reminds them of their hometown.

Something we've always wanted to do is enlist our lovely fans to name one of our designs after their favorite city. And well, we finally found a chance to do so with a design that we're sure you're going to love!

We've been selling this necklace (and matching earrings) locally for a few months and it's been a huge hit. It reminds us of a very modern take on a crysanthemum (mum) flower. We love it and we'd love for you to name it!

How do you get in on the action? Simply comment below and tell us which world city you would name this necklace after & why.

• Does the piece remind you of your grandmother's garden? Maybe you'd name it after her home town.
  
• Does this necklace remind you of a designer's or aritst's work? Maybe you'd name it after his/her home city! Get creative!
  

The person with the best entry will have the necklace named after their city! The winner will also receive matching necklace & earring set of the pieces they named! The Fine Print:

• You can submit multiple entries with different cities, but each entry must include a different city and explanation.
  
• Submit your entry by commenting on this blog post with the city you would name the necklace after & why.
  
• Be sure to include an email address in your entry so we can contact you.
  
• The contest closes at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, April 12, 2011. Winner will be announced by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
  

And while we're at it, a sneak peek at the matching earrings in gold (they'll be available in silver & black, too!):

music monday: mr. scruff's 'music takes me up'

I love, love, LOVE Mr. Scruff. Never heard of him? He's a really fabulous DJ out of Manchester, UK, which is where I went to grad school. You may have heard his music around 10 years or so ago when one of his tracks (Get A Move On) was used in a super popular commercial for Lincoln (the car company).

Not only is his music totally chill and awesome, but the adorable cartoonified fruit in the video above is hallmark Mr. Scruff. Scruff draws completely awesome cartoons for his live sets, CD artwork and even for the tea company he owns. I know, I know--it's no wonder I love this guy: awesome music + an artist + a tea shop owner and a maker of my favorite brew? I'm sold.

Enjoy!