Small Acts, Big Heart

Yesterday, while the big art relief event was being held at Kobo next door, a smaller, yet equally special story of generosity was being told at Momo. Giddens’ grade schooler, Sabine, came to us with $70 in bills and $5 in pennies that she had collected on her own, for our donations jar. When asked about the pennies, Sabine replied that a donor mistakenly thought she was asking for pennies instead of dollars, and gave her 500 pennies. Yes, Sabine, as your T-shirt says, Life is Good, especially with sweet souls like you in this world.

Test Drive Jaipur Avenue

Delicious Jaipur Avenue, new and now at Momo.

Lately I’ve desired to take a break from the usual double-short-2% latte, and along comes entrepreneurial Seattleite Jillu Zaveri with delicious chai options. Which do I love best? The Cardamom or Masala? Saffron or Ginger? And I’m dreaming of Vanilla for summer iced-tea times. Just add water and the gratification is instant: smooth and slightly spicy sweet, the flavors of Jaipur Avenue could easily become my new addiction. The ingredient list is short and simple and a box of 15 packets sells for $15 — that’s just a buck apiece for a lovely chai tea break. The award-winning graphics make it an attractive gift, too. Thank you to food aficionado Ivy Chan of Cocoa Chai Chocolates for making the introduction.

Cop-Copine Spring: Fresh + French

Our favorite French fashions have arrived at Momo, just in time to blend in with the dreary Seattle landscape. Nonetheless, we love the shibui shades and ultimate ease the fit, fabric and lovely layers lend to our daily life. Come try it on!

Silvana Segulja

Momo is severing up silver platter earrings from Silvana Segulja

Meet Silvana Segulja, our newest designer of self-adornments. Her passion for jewelry making was ignited when her sister, returning from many years of living in exotic climes, presented her with a shoebox brimming with stones and findings she collected throughout her

Silvana shares a favorite piece

travels. That was over ten years ago, and today, in Silvana’s diverse array of necklaces and earrings, you can see influences from around the globe, including that of her Croation origin. In her north Seattle studio, she envisions her creations in semi-precious stones and pearls, sterling silver or gold vermeil, and sets about to make those daydreams a reality until she’s happy with the end result. Lately, the concurrent caterer’s been experimenting with silver platters — not for serving but for wearing, shaping them into amazingly lightweight earrings, accented with a dangling stone or pearl. 


[Silvana Segulja jewelry, $72 - $189]

Hoppy Year of the Rabbit!

The Lunar New Year begins Thursday, February 3, 2011

The gentle Bunny is most welcome after the torrid year of the Tiger. Now we may rest our souls and prop up our pretty feet, taking time out to enjoy a wave of peace and calm. 

'Maneki Bunny' by Toni Yuly

Tact and diplomacy will be practiced at home and in political arenas, with happy compromise reached easily and without animosity. Instead of striving for what isn’t, the Rabbit’s contemplative mood will have us appreciating what is, whether that is good health, a loving family, or devoted friends. In this hour of contentment, we must refrain from self-indulgence and procrastination. 

A reality check will have us hop to it, ensuring that we continue to take care of our self and the business at hand. In the year of the lucky Bunny it may seem that money’s not as tight, parking is plentiful, and everyone is a wee more relaxed. Intimacy is our carrot as human relationships take the spotlight, from one-to-one romances (Rabbits crave companionship) to issues of global heath and poverty. Culture, arts and entertainment will flourish as the refined Rabbit always enjoys an evening out. Paradoxically, we will continue to be concerned with living green while not skimping on life’s true luxuries.

All in all, 2011 is a year of hope and happiness. Let your hare down and dabble in some old-fashioned fun!

International Online

A photo borrowed from Elle Brazil.

The other day I received an email enquiry from across the world — an enterprising Swiss-Vietnamese jewelery designer found Momo on the the blog of one of our vendors, Trois Petits Points Paris, purveyor of  beautiful French enamel lockets ($88). Right now we are clean out of them, awaiting a shipment just in time for Valentine’s Day. We love the sleek and simple oval that opens up to reveal secrets inside. And the colors, trés fabuleux! We are the only shop in Seattle and one of few in the U.S. to offer them. As for the other jeweler, well, who knows, we may soon be showing a collection fresh from Switzerland.

Ja matta, Jessica-san!

The cycle of retail goes on and as we end the year at Momo, we bid adieu to another Momo girl, Ms. Jessica. Originally, she was a loyal customer, buying bunny hats and scarves (she’s the Princess of Accessories). Then, lucky us, she applied to work here and became our resident Japanese girl (she lived in Japan for awhile). Through the year, she’s helped many a shopper pick the perfect gift, and on more than one occasion, garnered a little Momo PR in local magazines. Now, she’s moving on to pursue a career in publishing. We wish her only the best and hope to see her on the other side of the counter at Momo. Gambatte kudasai, Jessica-san!

Local Less Than $40

With the rain and recession, we Seattleites are literally staying closer to home and shopping has become very selective. It’s all about affordable local, and yes, gathering goods from the community does save on shipping as well as stimulate the regional economy, plus I get to meet a passel of wonderful folk. So, being the girl who goes wit da flow, I thought I’s share pics of qualified gift-worthy goodies in the shop. I know I missed more than a handful, so maybe you want to stop by and unearth a few discoveries for yourself. Thank you for making it Loco Moco!

Dinah Coops Tea Towels

 

Kokoro from Toni Yuly

Lauren Burman’s Little Shirleys

Dinah Coops Tableware

Kimono Kool Shoelaces

Wish Necklace from Lindsay Marsh

Laura Castellanos

Sock it to Me

More Kimono Kool and Umbo

Moufelt from Portland

BF Woo + Co Soap + Candles

Sockseeds from Tomoko

Una Arm Cozies

Thea Starr Kanzashi

Wraptillion from Kelly Jones

Our own Amanda’s felted ornaments

The Time is Nau

This sleek Italian bicycle jacket from Nau of Portland is designed for the Northwest: casual, elegant and equally at home on the road or out for the evening. The color is a sophisticated blocking of midnight navy and espresso brown — both not quite black and handsome with denim. And doesn’t Tom make a fantastic Momo model? No, it’s not his evil twin, that’s his mirror image.

 [Nau Italian bicycle jacket, $269]

Ms. December

Ms. Moanalua Spirit Award 1975
Junior Prom Queen 1976
Class Clown 1977
And yet another coup in a long list of achievements:
Ms. December Seattle Magazine 2010

From the recent annals of Shameless Self-promotion, a full page of Momo and me in Seattle Magazine’s current issue. On newsstands now, just in time for my birthday.