jewelry » Her Daily Muse - The digital sketch book of designer Sierra Bailey

The Bridal Line from Manic Trout is now available!!

Feb 292012

I am so excited to share the new line with you today!! The last push of putting it all online made me have to let go of some of my daily tasks such as blogging these past few days, but it was worth it because today the new Bridal Line debuts at Manic Trout!! You have seen the behind the scenes, heard about the inspiration and even been given peeks at the finished designs as time has gone by...but FINALLY you get to see the entire collection all together and finished!!

As you may have gathered, I was inspired to create this line after planning my own upcoming wedding. I of course want to have fabulous necklaces for myself and my bridesmaids (my sisters!) and when I began designing, I decided that if I was probably not the only bride in need of fabulous necklaces.

You will find in this new line both a collection of fabulous, one of a kind statement necklaces and three styles which can be beautiful accents for the bride or can be mixed and matched for your maids. With the Endless Love, No Ordinary Love and The Way You Look Tonight Necklaces, you can play with the colors and styles to give unique looks to each of your favorite ladies, while keeping a cohesive look between them.

As always I have named all of my new necklaces after songs, but the Bridal Line has a special twist...they are named after the top wedding songs of all time!

Here are a just a few of the necklaces from the new line...

Endless Love Necklace in Amethyst

No Ordinary Love Necklace in Opal

The Way You Look Tonight Necklace in Amethyst

Unchained Melody Necklace

It Had to Be You Necklace

Here and Now Necklace

You may view the entire collection here.

Wow, I am so happy (and exhausted, I was working until 4am last night finishing up the coding...I am too old for that!) to have the line announced that all I want to do is take a nap . There is much work to be done though, SXSW is in two weeks and as I am doing shows both weekends...well, I can't even think about that. Enjoy the new line!! Oh, and Happy Leap Year Day!

Recently in Instagram (part 2)

Austin, jewelry, life of a designer, shows, Sneak Peek No Responses »

Feb 212012

The rest of the week was just as busy as part 1 with more baking, and a bit of time spent exploring Austin!

My booth at the Austin Social Affair Valentines Day Event at The Rattle Inn

Out with friends after the show

From the upcoming Bridal Line

I treated my self to a stack of books from the Goodwill on Valentines Day

Making Rainbow Cupcakes with Lisa!!

So pretty on the outside...

and even better on the inside!

The inside has been renovated into an amazing house!

Piranha has the most incredible Sashimi roll wrapped in cucumber!

Recently in Instagram (part 1)

Austin, jewelry, life of a designer, wedding No Responses »

Feb 202012

Last week there seemed too few Instagram photos to bother with a post and then BAM! There are so many now that I have to split it into to two!

Out with friends...on our way to dirty 6th from dinner

This months inspiration boards in my studio

White chocolate chips for a baking creation

I gained a new respect for chocolatiers during this process

I finally figured it out and boy was it worth it! I made Red Velvet Cake Balls with White Chocolate Shells and they were ah-mazing!!

Beauty in a parking lot

Wearing the Hisa Going in Circle Necklace

At a meeting with the wedding planners (I stole this from Adam!)

Wondering if it’s ok to mix metals when wearing jewelry?

Fashion, jewelry, Style Tips No Responses »

Feb 072012

Part of my job is to know what is going on in the world of design. I have started sharing with you some of the snippets that industry in the last few emails and it's made me realize that perhaps there is more to share than just pretty pictures. As much as I love eye candy, all of the images in the world are useless if you don't what to to do with them. That goes for fashion and specifically jewelry as well. You can have the worlds largest collection of beautiful jewelry but if you are unsure of how to wear it all, those little pretties will just sit there collecting dust. You should be having fun with fashion...and particularly with jewelry as it can very quickly update or change an entire outfit in seconds!

Today I wanted to let you know that one of the age old jewelry rules is meant to be broken.

Yes, that is correct...you are free to mix those silver and gold chains, stack your brass, copper and gold bangles, wear a gold watch with silver bangles and pile on white gold, yellow gold and rose gold bands on your finger! As the tip states...they key is keep all of the pieces the same style and scale, regardless of metal color. In other words...don't wear your modern gold cuff with a pair of dainty antique platinum and diamond earrings and avoid mixing a chunky gold necklace with a delicate silver chain.

Another way to keep a cohesive look, is to wear a two toned piece as a way to ground your mixing. For example, when shopping for a new watch a few years ago, I opted for a stainless steel model with gold (or brass?) links in the band as well. I am rather thankful for this now as my engagement ring is platinum and yet I wear almost vintage brass necklaces exclusively. The two toned watch brings it all together nicely and makes sense of the mix of metals. Speaking of wedding rings, two toned wedding bands be it white and yellow gold, platinum and rose gold or any other combo are also an excellent way to always have a foundation piece on for mixing metals.

Have fun mixing your jewelry and know that this tip applies to interiors and metallic clothes and accessories as well!

Behind the scenes look at the Bridal Line

jewelry, Ramblings, Sneak Peek, studio news, videos No Responses »

Feb 032012

Here is my first attempt at a video from the Manic Trout studio! A peek at the progress on the upcoming Bridal Line. Please excuse the learning curve here as its the first try.

Hope you like it!

p.s. if you cannot see the video, click here to watch it on youtube.

Recently in Instagram…

Austin, food, jewelry, life of a designer, Sneak Peek No Responses »

Feb 012012

Three colors from the Bridal Line!

Another Bridal Line peek

Dinner out with friends...we were waiting for them and decided to have a photo shoot

We tried the Bone Marrow at dinner

Who says Fruit By The Foot is for kids? (or that Adam isn't a kid?)

One of my favorite Manic Trout Necklaces...The Little Secrets Necklace

I started creating Adams "Man Space" as he has moved in with me

To deal with insane population growth, Austin keeps building the roads up higher and higher

It's so easy to get cupcakes in this town that I had time to walk up to the Hey Cupcake trailor and score this beauty while Adam was at the bank

I realized this week that I am walking distance from both Hey Cupcake and Big Top Candy Shop. Kinda scary as I ordered my wedding gown already and have to fit into that size. No yummies unless I walk there!

(want to follow me on instagram? I'm: @manictrout)

Recently in Instagram…

Austin, food, friends, jewelry, life of a designer, OhThePlacesI'veBeen, Sneak Peek 2 Responses »

Jan 242012

Date night! (adam's taking the photo...next time we'll make sure to have the waiter do it!)

Uncle Adam!

Pretty little flowers from a yummy brunch

Materials for consideration in the Bridal Line

The very first necklace from the Bridal Line!

Testdriving the second necklace...I took it to lunch

The breathtaking view of Lake Travis from our table...it was a gorgeous day!

Lisa put her soap skills to work and made lunch prettier!

A sketch of the third necklace from the new line!

The past two weeks have been filled to the brim...lots and lots of studio time, but tons of fun fit in there too!

Are you on Instagram? I am @manictrout, look me up if you so desire!

Tangerine Tango…Manic Trout Style!

jewelry, jewelry match Comments Off

Jan 062012

I'm still on a color high here in the studio and may have been heard yelling "...and here's MORE Tangerine Tango!!!" a few times from my studio yesterday. It was so much fun playing I spy the Pantone color of the year with Manic Trout that I thought I would let you in on it...as to not bogart all the good times over here and all...

Material Girl Earrings

Bianca Fireworks After Midnight Necklace

If It's Magic Necklace

Celie Closet Romantic Hair Pin

Aure Dig That Crazy Chick Necklace

Vanda Joy Ride Earrings

Slava Sour Cherry Necklace

Aratius Sweetest Thing Earrings

Thank you Pantone for picking such a rad color this year!!

Want a free pair of gorgeous earrings?

contests, jewelry 26 Responses »

Dec 132011

It's time for the monthly giveaway at Manic Trout!! This month, one lucky winner will receive a pair of the Star in The Sky Earrings from the new Luxe Line!

It's so simple to enter...all you have to do is pick your favorite piece from the Luxe Line and share it with your friends via Facebook or Twitter with the buttons on the page.

Then come back to this post and comment where you shared and you are entered to win!

You may enter until Midnight on December 19th and the winner will be announced via the Blog, Newsletter (sign up over in the right hand column) and Facebook on Tuesday, December 20th.

Good Luck!!

** We have a winner!!! Congrats goes to Megan!!! **

6 gorgeous pieces from the new Luxe Line have arrived!

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Dec 072011

There is a new line available from Manic Trout...perfect for lavishing the most important women in your life with: The Luxe Line.

Created with opulent gemstones, fantastic limited edition supplies and the usual special attention to spectacular design that you have grown to expect from Manic Trout...(click the image to see at ManicTrout.com)