Novica Archives * Style Chicks

NOVICA White and Red Reverse-Painted Glass and Wood Framed Wall Mounted Round Mirror, ‘White Star’

May 31, 2016 · Leave a Comment

NOVICA White and Red Reverse-Painted Glass and Wood Framed Wall Mounted Round Mirror, ‘White Star’

I adore this intricate mirror from NOVICA. The frame is painted in the reverse glass painting technique, where glass is handpainted on one side, and then reversed for display. This makes the colors seem incredibly vibrant, combining the beauty of stained glass with the vibrancy of a painting.

The detail on the mirror is incredible. The white background has a pearlescence to it, which makes it quite versatile. The edges are highly detailed, making it easy to match with either traditional or modern decor. The coppery gold gilding makes it an impressive piece, yet the floral motive adds a bit of whimsey.

I purchased the item because I thought it was beautiful, but initially, I didn’t know where I would display it. At first, I thought about placing it on a wall near a large Peruvian painting with similar colors. As beautiful as the two items would have been together, this mirror is commanding enough that it would have been too much to have two showstopper pieces together. After trying a few other spots, the perfect place became evident: on the brick wall in the kitchen. We have multiple antique copper pieces and the copper-gold tones of the gilding pick up beautifully when places with other display items. It also reflects the tones of the Tiffany light fixture and the colors of the two play off of each other beautifully around sunset.

About the Artist: Asunta Pelaez learned her craft from her husband’s family and started honing her trade when she was seventeen in the Andes. She uses simple tools like basic brushes, but her process is intricate and meticulous as she creates her beautiful pieces. She uses India ink, tempera paints, and purpurina, or gilt, and creates stunning designs inspired by local illustrations. Thanks to NOVICA’s microfinancing, she can employ several women!

Find it at Amazon.com.

NOVICA White and Red Reverse-Painted Glass and Wood Framed Wall Mounted Round Mirror, ‘White Star’

I received this item at a discount for testing and unbiased review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer it!

NOVICA Handcrafted Floral Reverse Painted Glass and Wood Framed Wall Mirror, ‘Purple Summer Garden’

May 1, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I am a huge fan of jewel tones. Rich, vibrant, saturated jewel tones. This is one of the reasons I love this small mirror from NOVICA.

“Purple Summer Garden” is an intricate and whimsical piece. It employs the reverse painted glass technique where the design is painted in reverse on the back of the glass and then displayed from the front. This technique makes the colors seem more vibrant, combining the visual qualities of painting and stained glass.

I find the versatility of this piece fascinating. I recently moved some art out of my office as we’re in the middle of construction and I didn’t want anything to get accidentally damaged. As I looked around at the bare walls I started considering a décor reboot and wondered if Purple Summer Garden would fit in somewhere. I realized that it would work with any direction I chose to go, as the colors fit with both lighter and darker schemes. While the purples and coppers are deep and saturated like autumn colors, they also take on the beautiful colors of a summer sunset. It wasn’t until I realized that did I recognize how well named this piece is: it truly is reminiscent of a Summer Garden under the August sunlight as it ebbs towards twilight. Light blue dragonflies dance around the blossoms surrounding a clear and true diamond shaped mirror.

The back has a sturdy hook to securely hang the item and comes with the artist’s story and his thoughts on the piece in a lovely NOVICA booklet.

This is indeed a small piece: it is a 10”x8” frame surrounding the 5.25”x3.7” mirror. So while this isn’t going to replace your bathroom mirror, it is an incredible and eye-catching piece that draws people in. My biggest problem with this mirror is that people are so captivated by it that they inevitably touch the glass – so you may have to clean some fingerprints off of it every once in awhile! But that is a small price to pay for a piece that garners so much attention.

The artist, Gelacio Giron, is located in Peru and trained as an accountant, and started pursuing his craft during school. He enjoys sharing Peruvian artistry with the world through NOVICA, and enjoys the thought that you and I are decorating our homes with his pieces. He works with his brothers in his workshop to bring us his stunning works.

Find this stunning piece at Amazon.com.

NOVICA Handcrafted Floral Reverse Painted Glass and Wood Framed Wall Mirror, ‘Purple Summer Garden’

I received this item at a discount for testing and unbiased review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer it!

NOVICA Mohena Wood with Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

April 24, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a showstopper of a decorating piece? NOVICA’s ‘Cuzco Sun’ Bronze Leaf Round Starburst Wall Mirror is your shining answer.

This gorgeous 18” mirror comes from Peru and is made of Mohena Wood, a Peruvian hardwood, and is intricately covered in bronze leaf. One of the things I love about this mirror is that the bronze leaf is a definite bronze color with indirect natural daylight, but takes on the most beautiful gold color at sunset, just as the sun does itself. The artist has truly made a study of light!

I chose to put it on the mantle above the Living Room fireplace as we have other bronze items around the fire and because the vibrant color of the piece is so striking against the dark wood. The mirror would look good against any background, but I think the depth of the detail especially lends itself towards a darker, richer wood background. It was a bit of a toss up for me between the Living Room and the smaller Dining Room fireplace mantle, but the grain of the wood in the Living Room and the grain of the Mohena Wood looked sharper to me.

The mirror itself is 7.8” but appears larger. It is an exceptionally true mirror and shines vividly. If you are looking for a central vanity mirror you might want to look for a piece that has a larger mirror, however the reflection is excellent and stands by itself as a good mirror apart from the incredible craftsmanship of the frame.

It’s worth a few words as to the sizing of this mirror. This is considered the Medium Size of the design at 18”. However, the depth and striking appearance of the mirror draws the eye far more than a larger and less detailed mirror would. So if you want to place the mirror as a centerpiece among other items, the Medium is the right size. If you want a stand alone large piece for a wall, then you might consider the larger version. But truly do not underestimate the impact of this mirror. As with all decorative pieces, think about the impact more than the specific size.

The piece was made by Jose Marcos Luzalde Rosales, who taught himself his craft starting at 17 in his neighbor’s workshop. At the ripe age of 18 he decided to go out on his own and became known (with good reason, as you can see) for his incredible work. He has delighted in preserving Peruvian Woodwork Artistry for 35 years now, and thanks to NOVICA, we can delight in his work as well!

I absolutely adore this mirror. It adds light and depth to the room and has drawn gasps from anyone who has seen it.

NOVICA Bronze Leaf Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

Find this incredible piece at Amazon.com.

NOVICA Bronze Leaf Starburst Wall Mirror ‘Cuzco Sun’

I received this item at a discount for review purposes. If you have any questions about the mirror, leave me a comment below!

NOVICA Multi-Gemstone Y-Necklace ‘Dazzling Flower Bloom’

April 14, 2016 · Leave a Comment

The artists who work with NOVICA always hit it out of the park when it comes to stunning, unique pieces, but this necklace is a particular favorite of mine.

“Dazzling Flower Bloom” combines two tonal loves of mine: a Spring-like yellow-green quartz and Autumnal colors that blend together beautifully. When trying to find the perfect outfit to highlight this stunning necklace, I ended up pulling out stacks and stacks of clothes as it matches perfectly with so many colors. The necklace looks like it was custom made for each and every outfit.

NOVICA Multi-Gemstone Y-Necklace ‘Dazzling Flower Bloom’

The pictures speak for themselves, but there are some features that are particularly outstanding. The quartz centerpiece flower is absolutely breathtaking. While the yellow-green color of the quartz doesn’t seem like it would necessarily match with some of the autumnal colors in the necklace, they complement each other so beautifully. I also absolutely adore the clasp: two green orbs that hold the substantial necklace in place securely.

NOVICA Multi-Gemstone Y-Necklace ‘Dazzling Flower Bloom’ Centerpiece

NOVICA Multi-Gemstone Y-Necklace ‘Dazzling Flower Bloom’ Clasp

The packaging is worthy of its own praise. The beautiful fabric pouch (with a hand-numbered sticker) comes in a heavy plastic bag, and within the fabric pouch is a plastic bag holding the length of the beaded necklace. Now here is my favorite part: The centerpiece flower is held in a smaller bag so as to not get tangled or damaged by the other pieces. NOVICA takes so much time and care into making sure their pieces arrive in perfect condition.

NOVICA Multi-Gemstone Y-Necklace ‘Dazzling Flower Bloom’ Pouch

As you know, NOVICA works with artists throughout the world to produce the stunning pieces they offer. Each piece comes with a small, beautiful mini-book that tells the story, first hand, of the artist. This artist, Nareerat Tansuwansophon, tells one of the most compelling stories I have read of NOVICA artists. She likes to create unique, unusual pieces that really stand out. Unlike many NOVICA artists, she didn’t learn her craft from her parents, in fact, her mother died shortly after she was born. When she developed an interest in the jewelry craft, she bought several books and studied hard. She spent a great deal of time honing her craft and individual style until she perfected her trade.

She now offers work to over 30 local women, many of which have children. She allows them to take work home so they can be with their children and make money while making jewelry. She also offers less taxing tasks to older women so that they can make money. Isn’t Nareerat a kind-hearted individual?

NOVICA Multi-Gemstone Y-Necklace ‘Dazzling Flower Bloom’ Story

I absolutely adore this necklace and plan on wearing it frequently Spring through Fall. It is breathtaking!

Find it at Amazon.com!

I received this item in exchange for my unbiased review. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer it!

NOVICA Alpaca Blend Wrap in Bold Black

April 8, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Usually, when I grab for a wrap, it is because I’m cold. With this Alpaca blend wrap in Bold Black from Novica, it is because I want something stylish but cozy. And cozy it is: last night when I wore it for a walk after work in the center of town I couldn’t believe how warm, soft, and luxurious it felt.

This wrap is the answer to a years-long search for me: a wrap that looks professional enough to wear in the office. My office tends to get freezing cold. I’ve tried other wraps, including some rather expensive high-end brands. They have all been difficult to style in a way that doesn’t look like I’m wearing a blanket. Not so with this wrap. It drapes easily and looks professional, and I’m not shivering in the conference room when I’m presenting to workmates. It is such a luxurious look and feel that it fits in well in a high-tech office and it is versatile enough to use with casual looks. There is a local Farm to Table restaurant that I frequent, and it is also freezing there. It works as well with jeans and a tee shirt as it does with a Ralph Lauren suit. When the weather was a little warmer before this recent cold snap here in the Northeast, the wrap also served as luxurious looking outwear for that in-between timing when it is too warm for a coat, not still chilly in the morning and at night.

I have a few friends in the astronomy field who have Star Gazing Nights in the Spring and Summer: several of our friends gather together for a night of sitting on blankets on a gloriously lovely field away from the city lights and enjoy the night sky. It gets chilly and I can’t wait to bring this soft and warm wrap out for those incredible nights!

The workmanship on this item is incredible. The knit is even and the edges are finished so beautifully. The wrap is 45% acrylic, 40% alpaca, and 15% wool, and it is one of the softest things you will ever touch. Alpaca has a reputation for being hypoallergenic, which isn’t entirely true but there is a far lower chance of getting itchy from Alpaca due to the type of fibers. I’m usually pretty sensitive to that kind of thing and I had no problem with it at all. And I have been wearing it a lot because it is just so soft and cozy!

About the Artist: Alfredo Falcon is exceptionally talented with textiles from Peru. He learned the best artisan weaving techniques from his parents when he was a child. This is a family tradition: his parents learned it from their parents as well. Don’t you love families who pass down their expertise to the next generation?

He now uses both traditional weaving techniques as well as classic machine weaving techniques that combine Inca and Colonial themes with modern colors. This is definitely evident in this lovely wrap!

Alfredo has been working with Novica for seven years and this alliance has allowed him to expand from a few local vendors to a far greater market. He has been able to purchase better production equipment and produce the beautiful pieces you see in his work on Novica.

Find this gorgeous wrap at Amazon.com.

Wearing my NOVICA Alpaca Blend Wrap Bold Black out for a walk in town.

Damsel in no distress – I was really comfy in the wrap!

The edges are finished so well on this piece

I received this item at a discount for the purpose of review. All opinions are 100% mine. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer it!