week 69 & 70 | pinterest

so some of you may already be deeply invested in pinterest... i on the other hand have only invested an 8 hour day into it today (thank you sherry and emily). i knew this would be a problem... mostly because i have a potential rennovation project in my future, but also because this is a perfect venue to collect mesh inspiration! it is far too easy for me to gather design concepts on this site... and highly adictive, although there is no doubt i will be ready for my rennovation project when the time comes, as well as our next mesh production session!

if you do not already have a pinterest account and you use some type of 'favorites' marker on websites or collect photos from the web in any way shape or form, i would highly suggest signing up for a invite. 'ben' (the creator of pinterest) has made this site extremely user friendly, and set up is a breeze! to go along with our recent inspiration posts...check out our mesh pinterest board for fashion trends slowly moving into fall...

on the table | laptop with endless amazing photos loaded and ready to inspire!

week 68 - we're inspired...

we are all inspired by something...perhaps you are inspired by a sunny day, or maybe a favorite fashion catalogue you get in the mail? well, we have realized that mesh is not only inspired by travel and window shopping...we are also inspired by countless other things! mesh is going to start sharing everything we are inspired by. please don't hesitate to chime in on our blogs, posts, etc... as we want to know what inspires you too!

this week our inspiration is a medium for creative displays that most people have in some shape or form within their home....bookshelves! the possibilities of a basic bookshelf are endless. there are color combinations and textural variations that you can't help but get inspired by. whether it carries a collection of books or timeless treasures you have collected over the years, it is difficult to ignore a filled bookshelf. i always gravitate towards visuals of bookshelves. i have a bookshelf image hanging just over my laptop at work that i must have ripped out of a magazine during my first week in my workstation 6 years ago...and somehow the image is still relevant. i love the photo of some stranger's living room bookshelves, and the worldly decor that they exhibit.

i have one small bookshelf in my living room that is forever evolving. sherry has a favorite bookshelf that can be found at design within reach. where would we find your favorite

bookshelf?!

keep the inspiration coming!

on the table | new one of a kind creations for our mia sorella delivery next week!

week 57 through 67 - on-line shopping

we're back and we've been busy!!! for years now people have been asking ‘do you sell mesh on line?’ well, until today our answer has been ‘no.’ it would sound more convincing if we were trying to make some artistic statement or something by not being on line. but, the bigger reason is we hadn’t found something as simple as store envy! really effortless and free for mesh to use! perfect combination!

drum roll, please . . .

hope you enjoy our new store! we’ll be updating you with new products and updates via facebook. so, join our page if you aren’t already following us.

-mesh

on the table packaging for our first online order!!!

week 56 - asian excursion

well mesh fans…it’s been a while since you heard from us and we apologize for that! but we have a good reason! other than the typical summer schedules, our lives took a bit of a turn with an impromptu trip to shanghai and hong kong in may. it wasn’t all sun and fun…there was work to be done…but i will admit there was a fair share of shopping. and when i say fair share, i might mean
daily.

as you know from previous blog posts, melissa has been traveling back and forth to shanghai for work. and when she invited me along this time I didn’t hesitate to be her designated body guard for 8 days. i’ve always wanted to go to china!...and it just so happened to be my birthday while we were there! so i jumped at the chance.

i must say the style of the chinese ladies was quite inspiring. the mix of patterns worn in one outfit are unexpected, to say the least. striped shirt with polka-dot skirt and mis-matched shoes is the norm. they know good taste for sure . . . as most duds are partnered with a high-end bag. gwen stefani is right on target with the styles displayed on her japanese inspired harajuka girls' perfume bottles.

so, nevermind the larger than life skyscrapers, roof-top infinity pool, and disastrous flight home (future blog entry perhaps). the big question is ‘did you bring back mesh goods’? of course! we are pretty pumped about the scarves we purchased. great color combinations and textures . . . and a different size than we’ve ever had. you can even get creative and wear some of these as a top.

we also bartered for beads . . . just enough to make some new mesh delights! our first mesh night back post-jet lag is tonight! we’ll be launching all these sensations from the orient at nici’s homeshow in less than 2 weeks!

-sherry

on the table #1 Chop Suey from across the street.

weeks 53 through 55 - r & d

i started this blog 3 weeks ago...before leaving for my spring break getaway...and i was apparently lacking inspiration...

'on this rainy evening in chicago, i am sitting in my sister's living room brainstorming blog topics with my dad - after the quick intro i gave him on what a 'blog' is...and then a brief seinfeld rant that he went into about one of peterman's urban sombrero blogs - we have now established that this week's blog will be on mesh's r&d...research and development that is

after further brainstorming while visiting the island of vieques off of puerto rico - where wild horses roam and white sand beaches flow seamlessly into crystal clear water - i realized that mesh is in constant r&d mode. we are always thinking of a bigger and better ideas, and while we have many dreams for mesh and our growing inventory of 'must haves', we have to pace ourselves.

so...now that i have lived through an inspired vacation filled with vibrant color schemes, bold textural combinations, and SUNSHINE; this week's mesh production night is sure to be flooded with new ideas, concepts, and strategies on how to retain our momentum and energy through 2011!

it is amazing what a simple plane ride, and a few days of reading design magazines while basking in the sun, really does to rejuvinate the creative soul. stay tuned for new and exciting mesh endeavours. it is only a matter of time until we really start concuring all of our wildest dreams!

-melissa

on the table | notes of inspiration for tuesday's production night

week 52 - art anyone?

so, i have this big dream to some day be fancy enough to own an artwork collection. i mean the big pieces of art that take up your entire living room wall fancy! the one that you think..."i couldn't spend that much, could i?" but you do!

my current problem is...that I've found the art. however, i'm not really in the right stage of life to be fancy yet! (translation: get me out of my one bedroom condo already!) there is an art gallery just a few blocks down from the church my husband and i attend. it is called the thomas masters gallery. occasionally, we stop in when something from the storefront catches our eye.

last year, there was an amazing painting in the front window by artist and french painter, david gista. it was spectacular...a library scene with a girl in an amazing blue dress staring at her books. he work is noticeable with just the right about of abstract. since that show, i've dreamt of hanging that piece in my living room someday. the day after i win the lotto, mind you.

well, i was thrilled to get an email last week that announced that the artist was featured again and that the opening night was last friday! perfect! our friends, mike and erin, were in town and we figured we would sneak in a quick peek before dinner at pizza art cafe in lincoln square (go there-get the bruchetta...now).

the work was spectacular...so much so, that now my slight intrigue has turned major obsession. this collection featured the typical library scenes and these new amazing stair shots.

i really would recommend a quick stop into the gallery. it's worth it. 245 w. north avenue in chicago.





-sherry

on the table| new spring necklaces!

p.s. hope to see everyone on thursday at spring bling!

week 51 - late night

after a late sunday night mandarin/english conference call with my shanghai project team; i just got off a monday night call with our latest design partner in hong kong. first, i am very disappointed in myself that i have never learned a second language, beyond my 7 years of spanish that i barely made it through in high school and college... second, it amazes me that someone on the other side of the world can accommodate my lack of motivation/brain capacity to learn a second language, by speaking to me in english. while there is always a slight barrier between our phrases and speech patterns...sometimes more than slight...i can only be thankful that my teammates speaking to me in their second or third laguage have taken the steps to accommodate their counterparts around the world. this makes me want to take up a language...what shall it be?!

aside from this worldly epiphany...mesh had a very productive evening tonight. six new necklaces ready to find a home, and a vacation afternoon scheduled next week for a buying trip! we can't wait to update you on our 2011 finds!

-melissa


on the table montage delights!

week 50 - go big or go home

so, you know the saying 'go big or go home'? well that pretty much sums up mesh for tonight!

one of our 2011 goals is to dedicate time to press and publicity. logically, the next natural action step is to send mesh goods to both oprah and michelle obama (would you expect anything less?).

michelle's necklace :: mrs. o is getting a lot of attention for the vintage broaches she has been sporting. therefore we've designed her piece around a 50s stunner we found at an antique booth last year. the teal accents on the broach will beautifully compliment her skin tone, and the necklace can be worn both with a jcrew cardigan or a cocktail dress.

oprah's necklace :: to celebrate her 25th year on television we knew we needed to do something BIG for oprah. we've created a longer piece for oprah; made with aquamarine, rock crystal, and a massive chunk of labradorite to tie it all together. rarely do we fashion a triple strand of beads...but for oprah there is no holding back.

so, wish us luck as we put these pieces in the

mail this week...and stay tuned for news! you will either see mesh on the entertainment tonight broadcast or....well, at our next home show. either way we'll be thrilled!

-melissa and sherry

on the table | gifts for oprah & michelle :)

week 49 - schedule

melissa and i have struggled the last few weeks with our schedules! you know how one day, you look at your calendar and realize you have scheduled something every night for the next 5 weeks? well, seems like that is what both of us did!

intervention is upon us! so, after a week off of mesh this week we are working on a little breathing room in our schedules! we've got to get our acts together before summer right?

enter stage left, my husband. the other night he was reading me the list of this summer's concerts in the park! i thought, wow...that is so far away! but it's not at all. (hallelujah!) june 15th is the first concert. ok...well, it's 100 days away...so, give me a pass here.

anyhow, it was a good reminder that I certainly do plan well in advance to relax and take in the sites of our great city. but, we need to act on this too! i'm definitely going to the july 13th concert...broadway tunes.

check out the schedule and plan to relax a little people! wear your favorite mesh necklace, grab a bottle of wine, and that salad from whole foods you only buy on special occasions...and hit the park!

-sherry

on the table | packaging for oprah and michelle's necklaces

week 48 - window inspiration

as i was scrolling through my facebook posts today, one of my all time most inspiring topics came up - anthropologie's windows. yes, their windows are nothing short of amazing; I could stand in front of them for days trying to figure our who's mind came up with the creations of reusing trinkets, treasures, paper, cardboard, and making them into something beautiful. similar to what mesh is all about with our reuse of ordinary things and making them extraordinary.

one recent example of a window i loved was in their nyc meat packing district shop last month. the window had fans blowing at a plethora of vintage price tags that had been made into a skirt. okay...this sounds like it could be a colossal mess, although it was so well done, that you actually envisioned the tags as a skirt, before looking at them as a slew of old price tags. this particular store also had a flowing glam skirt made out of tissue paper a few years ago...one that has been stuck in my head since i spotted it.

we have to use these sources of inspiration to move us forward with our creations...it is always the concepts that you think - 'i wish i could create something to that extreme' - that actually push you to eventually doing so.

we are pushing the envelope with mesh this year. watch for our 'window' creations in the months to come!

-melissa

on the table | custom creations to send out to oprah and michelle this week.

week 47 - think spring

think spring.

i recently realized there is a pattern that has developed with mesh. every year after a successful holiday sales run we automatically go into hibernation for about 1.5 months. we’re exhausted from the whirl of holiday shopping, shows, and trips to the post office. don’t get me wrong...it’s our most fun time of year while we help everyone pick that perfect mesh piece under the tree for friends and family.

but with every season of hibernation comes a fresh new perspective around the corner! melissa and I had a power meeting a few weekends ago to launch mesh 2011! (power meeting = my kitchen counter with pizza) we love scheming, planning, and strategizing what we are going to do in the new year.

here is where I don’t tell you what we really have up our sleeve and say ‘stay tuned for further updates…..’

however, since this power meeting, we’ve booked two new spring shows with two brand new ladies! good way to start the year! we’d love to have a home|show at your place! give us a shout if you need a reason to get all your friends together this spring or summer!

-sherry

on the table | necklaces to send a few unmentioned celebrities

week 46 - art institute

has everyone recovered from the blizzard of the century yet? hope so! glad february wasn’t this snowy last year on this exact weekend when I got married. this weekend i celebrated my first wedding anniversary.

a few weekend details that everyone needs to take advantage of! first, please tell me that all of you have dined at terzo piano…the restaurant on the top floor of the modern wing of chicago’s art institute! it is the most phenomenal experience in chicago dining. It is our special occasion place…as we had our first date at the art institute.

anyhow, the menu is always fresh and has such interesting combinations of flavor. the atmosphere is light and airy. open for lunch only, but is such a relaxing experience. we were there on sunday and felt as if we were sitting in a snow globe once the snow started flowing thru the city skyline.

secondly, a ‘must-see’ at the institute right now is the watercolor exhibit by american modernist john marin. (this is another thing my husband has introduced into my life via his institute pass…amazing rotating exhibits!) i am partial to water color and I thought these were really inspiring. john marin traveled all of america and europe. it was a fun experience to try and guess the city in his works.

lastly, i always take visit to the museum shop at the institute to see what new jewelry designers they are featuring. and this time…I got brave! i asked for the information for mesh to exhibit in their store. so, wish us luck as we put together the application!!

-sherry

on the table - the paperwork for the Museum Shop!

week 44 | 45 - snowed in

if you are in chicago tonight, you are hopefully snowed in somewhere you are happy to be. we are in the midst of a colossal blizzard; one like chicago has never seen before, or so we are currently being told. perhaps i can use this blizzard as an excuse for missing our mesh blog two weeks in a row!? i am so sorry again to our avid readers, although i am hoping that you will enjoy this little mid-week snow day read.

last week took me to nyc for an afternoon of walking the extensive length of 5th avenue - or at least 37 blocks of it - to stop into every little shop i would not typically have time to check out. after visiting my old standbys surrounding rockafeller center, i made my way south, past the ny public library and bryant park, into 'beads on 5th', through the flatiron district,

around the corner onto 19th street, through chelsea to the meat packing district.

i loved this walk, not only because it lead me to buddakan for dinner, but also because it took me into our favorite bead shop in the country. we love 'beads on 5th', as they never disappoint with their ample stock of our beloved 30/40 faceted quartz. we have already started creating a slew of new spring necklaces, to utilize our latest and greatest 30/40 scaled vibrant stones. while it is difficult to think of mesh spring collections in this weather, the designing must go on!

okay...now that the lighting is mixing with the snow outside, it is time to wrap up the mesh blog for the week. stay safe and inside!

-melissa

on the table | cameras to document the storm of the decade!

week43 - tai kang lu

my trip to shanghai last week was filled with a lot of work and a bit of inspiration. it was a complete whirlwind of an excursion, although it opened my eyes to the city and its culture, beyond what i had experienced on my previous visit.

nici (my project teammate & mesh extraordinaire) and I looked forward to a few hours of down time all week. we finally got a chance to shop on tai kang lu before our 12.5 hour flight back to chicago. we heard earlier in the week that this was the place to find an eclectic assortment of artistic boutiques. we hailed a taxi to take us to the area and knew immediately that we had arrived, when we saw a cluster of anthro-esque store fronts. as we wandered along the adjacent alleys, beyond the main 'lu' (road), we came across multiple art galleries, original clothing boutiques, bikes of the masses, enough scarves to wrap the city, and personal laundry drying in every shape and size.

the texture, color, and unique quality filling these meandering streets was something you would find in a small european village. the creativity and inspiration was endless. each boutique had one of each item being sold, as the store owners

have everything made to fit...all of the way down to the shoes they sell. the cashmere capes and scarves varied in style to represent each boutique owners' creative vision. it was a truly artistic representation of fashion and art in the city.

while we were more than happy to get home unscathed from the stench of stinky tofu that hovers over the streets of shanghai; i am quite anxious to return and visit with the shop owners that have developed such unique identities on tai kang lu.

- melissa

on the table | notes for tomorrow's transition meeting with sherry, before she departs for india!

week 42 - first necklace of 2011

as we start another year we begin a whole new list of ‘firsts’ for 2011. a quick search will tell you that the first baby born in chicago for 2011 was a girl at 12:01am at loyola. the first couple to get married this year in chicago was on january 3^rd. so, it was the justice of the peace…it was legit.

i myself am celebrating my first anniversary next month! i’m also taking my first trip to india of the year in 9 days! i’m excited about both of those things…

the other big news of this year is the first mesh necklace made in 2011. whew! i officially introduce you to necklace #668. (yes, as in….we’ve made 668 necklaces to date!) we went to a bead buy back in december and i have been dying to use these chunky stones! they have been sitting on the folding table in the corner of my loft for weeks now…just taunting me! so, i did it. managed to get a couple hours in on sunday of bead making while melissa was 25,000 feet in the air flying to shang hai.

anyhow, these are my fabulous natural stones that I got from a vendor named may! they are my favorite. nothing but the classic mesh offset would do these justice. maybe you will snag it at the first mesh show of 2011. in the meantime, i’ll be sporting it until then….

-sherry

on the table | may's beads for 2011

week 40|41 - resolutions

we are back in action, after a one week holiday hiatus from our monday night blog. we hope you enjoyed your holiday season and all that came with it!

here we are in 2011, ready to concur some resolutions and goals in the new year! talking about resolutions...my goal for every new year is to travel as much as possible; and while 2010 took me on my first trip to shanghai, there was not much travel beyond that. this year, sherry and i are both starting out strong with international travel. i will be returning to shanghai next week for a design presentation, and sherry will be heading out to see her girls in india shortly after i get back. we are thrilled about these adventures around the world, and hope to run into amazing inspiration for our upcoming mesh 2011 product launch along the way!

as you all know, we are constantly searching for new inspiration to enhance our evolving creations...and these trips are prime examples of inspiration finding us (or us finding it, after a 14 hour flight, etc...). we can't wait to update you all on our finds and experiences on the other side of the world. stay tuned to our blogs and facebook posts over the next few weeks...much excitement to come!

as for your resolutions and goals for the new year...start strong, but don't lose your momentum in february. i will keep you posted on my travel resolution status as the months go by!

happy new year!

-melissa

on the table | empty suitcases ready to be packed with mesh souvenirs and treasures!