Exclusive line of luxury jewelry    
 by Brehan Todd for Eco1st Art.com

Aviary at Dawn Necklace by Brehan Todd-$1500.00

I am so excited to announce the launch of my exclusive line of one of a kind, luxury jewelry! The line is specially designed  for Eco1start.com, a brand new online, eco marketplace.  I was invited to participate this Spring by Janeen Swing, a well known interior designer in California, who has worked all over the world. She started the project in order to help provide "green" solutions for decorating and lifestyle for her conscious clients, while helping provide a marketplace for artists to reach the buyers. She told me that Jane Goodall and several celebrities were endorsing the site and the amazing philosophy behind the business.  The site includes artists from around the world and features innovative, sustainable design in art, furniture, lighting, jewelry, apparel, accessories (including shoes) and collectibles.  I'm beyond proud to be one of the first few jewelry designers that has been added to the, still under construction, website. Here is a look at the necklaces I've handmade from vintage and recycled materials inspired by the movement to save the environment in our world. Eco1start.com is scheduled to launch, officially in October, but you can check out the few artists featured so far and check back for updates. I'll be adding more new designs before the launch as well, including cuff bracelets and earrings. View the work so far at this link, or click on each photo caption to take you straight to the listing, http://eco1start.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=eco&Category_Code=NCK

Fit For a Queen Choker by Brehan Todd
price-$1050.00

Stowaway Statement Choker by Brehan Todd $1100.00

Under the Streelight Necklace by Brehan Todd-$1100.00

How High the Moon Necklace by Brehan Todd-$1100.00

Aviary At Dawn Necklace by Brehan Todd price-$1500.00

New Fall Location Shoot

Fall 2009 By Brehan Todd Hello again my friends, How is everyone this week? Thank you so much for all of the excitement and enthusiasm about the hats! Several lovely articles and blogs mentioned my work for Flutter and I was thrilled. Jen Mcabe did a lovely article on Oregonlive.com, thank you so much! Here is the link, http://blog.oregonlive.com/shoporegon/2009/10/new_brehan_todd_hats_at_flutte.html I'm excited to announce a lovely shoot I had with Dave(my boyfriend and housemate) at our new house in California! I wanted to have some nice, interesting photos for a lookbook on my website, www.brehantodd.com (posted soon)! We shot this in my new and hardly set up yet, studio, which has amazing light and will be coming along quickly. Here is a little preview of some of the line. Hand made from vintage buttons, materials and castoffs Made from a vintage pocket watch, recycled wool, hand raised hen feather This fall collection is something I'm really excited about and I hope is well received. These designs are a complete reflection of my life and what influences and inspires me as a designer. I've never felt more in transition in a way, but at the same time completely inspired. We were moving during production stages, so it was designed and constructed sort of half in Oregon, half in Santa Rosa. We've been feeling a lot of roller coaster emotions this past year as a country, not to mention overcoming hurdles personally and professionally. Through this process, always I find solace and passion in the work that I'm doing, no matter what else is going on in the background. I think it's so important, and I've really learned the value of that, for everyone to have a true passion that can provide comfort or escape and keep us well rounded in intense times.

Traveling Hands Timepiece necklace by Brehan Todd hand made from vintage floating hands, pocket watch and vintage beads and charm

I have things in my life that influence me and my design constantly, like politics, what's going on in the world, art, music, architecture, things that are constantly evolving. Some of these things I latch onto are classic, images of swooping swallows, timepieces, Alice and Wonderland, vintage hardware, anything to do with an old carnival or circus vibe. I launched my spring 2009 line with a heavy circus theme and I still love that look but I think it's evolving into something more modern. When times seems to stand still, as it did during the Bush administration, I found myself, holding my breath, thinking, "please do not blow up the world, please do not get elected again". I think now it's just starting to sink in that that part of history is over and there is potential now for change. I think this plays a role in why I find myself excited about design and art and music right now, more than last year. It's as if things were asleep for awhile, while we were waiting to feel ok again, and now there are some really interesting, innovative and exciting things happening in the art world as a whole. I'm thrilled to be whatever part of that I can be and to maintain a commitment to new ideas in sustainable design and supporting other designers with this as a mission, globally. Show Pony Necklace www.brehanclaire.etsy.com Acorn Choker by Brehan Todd brehanclaire.etsy.com I do find myself to be an emotional person and moreso than my first collection, this shows that very personal side of me. The focus is still on color but more emphasized in the variations in color of the metal and working with what can be done with that, or combining as many different colored metals as I can, with other organic elements, such as the acorn. This is my representation of the beauty and density in organic and animal matter in the forests of Oregon and Northern California. What kind of colors come from that, or the way I feel excited every time I see a deer, even if I've seen a hundred already, the vast bird varieties, all around this region, even all the crazy fungus that piles up on a stump . Again, I've carried over an emphasis on birds and feathers, as a constant element, as well as a use of bold, saturated color, with varied texture. Some of the lines are harder, more architectural and organic, combined with feminine detail, as well as some elements of a Rock and Roll influence, mixed with traditional Equestrian culture. I don't know exactly where I got these ideas right now, except to say that I've met more horses in the last year (and boarded two) than ever before in my life? I find them fascinating and so beautiful, mysterious and simple. I suppose, it's fair to say I have always been influenced by the fashion associated with that culture as well?. The other great source of influence, now and always, is music. To me the real music right now that's coming out, that really means something after a sea of pop nonsense for so long, is very easily translated into a combination of old school tradition, with an almost dreamy and preppy idealism, mixed with old fashioned rock elements. I couldn't know less about or be more influenced by this other art of music that I can' seem to participate in, except to listen and know what I like. To me this combination of horses and studs, leather and lace have always complimented each other. Birds of a Feather Cuff Links by Brehan Todd Handmade from vintage materials available on etsy.com Horse Meadow Choker handmade by Brehan Todd available on etsy.com and soon at Flutter Mad Hatter Rings by Brehan Todd Made from vintage, pewter monopoly game pieces -

Fini Photographs by Brehan Todd

Ultra PDX Photoshoot

Hello readers! I was so excited when one of my favorite Portland Stylists, Elianna Barel recently swung by Narcisse to borrow one of my statement necklaces and some lovely garments. As always she did an amazing job styling this eerily romantic photos shoot with Seattle photographer Howard Petrella. Photos for Ultrapdx.

Vintage Chandelier Statement Necklace by Brehan Todd-

available at Narcisse, Portland OR , Retail $284.00

This is my personal favorite photo of the shoot. Lovely belt, by Noa Noa, also available at Narcisse Jacket by Noa Noa, available at Narcisse

Vintage Headdress avialable at Flutter, Portland OR

All photos by Howard Petrella

http://www.petrellastudio.com/

Styling by Elianna Barel

http://eliannabarel.com/splash.html

Thanks come back soon!

Welcome

Hello and Welcome to my new blog!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and view my blog. My name is Brehan Todd, I am a designer and fashionista in Portland, Oregon. I've recently launched a line of refashioned jewelry and accessories and I decided it was time to start sharing all of my adventures and knowledge with a few friends. For my first blog post, I visited one of my favorite stores in Portland. In fact, it might be my fave store anywhere? It's called Flutter, and it is located on a great block of other cool shops and businesses, Mississippi Ave. This street is the place to shop green, for the home, garden, kitchen, and wardrobe, not to mention the amazing gifts at Flutter! I am so excited to be working with Flutter on a custom line of re-fashioned jewelry and accessories. I find the colors and look of this shop so inspireing, it's easy for me to come up with designs that compliment. The theme is focused on birds (including live finches nesting and snuggling in little baskets), feathers, nature, color, and junk that is combined in a unique, nouveau bohemian style. I have dreamed of having designs in this store, for awhile, with all of the lovelies here. The owner, Cindy Rokoff, has done an amazing job of selecting mainly vintage and handmade fashions and home needs as well as gifts, vintage clothing, fragrances, books, lot's of handmade jewelry and refashioned clothing by local designers like Frocky Jack Morgan and Urchin, as well as many other talented designers. Here are some photos from recent trips, each time is different and you never know what you'll find?...

I would just love to curl up on this tiny bed for a snooze, so summery and cheerful! Cindy impecable taste selecting vintage furniture and it's very reasonably priced.

I have an obsession with chandeliers and their discarded parts. You can find plenty here. Always plenty of furry friends (vintage) and feathers as well as interesting ethnic antiques. Oh boudoir, I dream of my closet looking something like this someday, all feathers and fluff and full of "green clothing". I love the painting on this armoir, probably one my favorite pieces of furniture ever!

Some of the refashioned hats by Brehan Todd at Flutter and flutterclutter.com Blue Velvet... This makes me chandel-erious with lust. I dream of jade blue chandelier crystals.

One of many feather mascots among a vintage cowboy boot collection.

Circus Couture Feather Necklace by Brehan Todd available at flutterclutter.com Animal heads and Black Forest style antiques are a bit of a theme here, one of my favorite themes to decorate with.

Vintage stamp collection, why not? Lion in a Cage Necklace by Brehan Todd for Flutter available at flutterclutter.com, handmade from vintage, recycled and natural materials. Each piece is hand sew in place to the silk fabric fragment, which is left over from projects. The inspiration for this piece was circus couture, obviously and began with the lion brooch. Owner of Flutter, Cindy Rockoff, sitting pretty in a large vintage sofa. More on Flutter, and other adventures coming soon...