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Black Sheep, 1504 Camden Road, Suite 200.
Halo Handmade — Jewelry
Feeling like royalty may be something you're familiar with, but whether you look the part is debatable. Amp up your trend factor this holiday season by checking out Trudy Green's jewelry line, Halo, available at her recently opened shop SoBo Loft Boutique & Gifts, in South End. When creating her line, Green wanted to honor local roots, so she decided to go with Halo in light of the Queen City's crown. The pieces, like their namesake, are "inspired by royalty, recreated with an urban twist," says Green.
The line began as bonding time between Green and her daughters. "We would sit in front of the TV and make jewelry," she says. Gradually, the project evolved and her 19-year-old daughter Bailey became her partner.
Oftentimes, their creations are a combination of semi-precious stones found in antique stores and online, beads, buttons and mixed metals. Necklaces are hand-wrapped, hairpins are colorfully called "pony-buttons," and headbands are also a big hit.
While Green and her daughter come together to produce a line that's been popular among local patrons, Green believes their styles are quite different. "I tend to have one look and she has another," she says. "I'm more eclectic, but both styles do well."
In addition to selling her line in SoBo Loft, Green also has a shop on Etsy called Halo Handmade. Necklaces range anywhere from $36 to $100, earrings are between $18 and $32 and hairpins and headbands are $12 to $21.
"You're not going to see anyone else wearing it," says Green, who has a passion for one-of-a-kind. "That's why they make great gifts."
SoBo Loft Boutiques & Gifts,1820 South Blvd., Suite 200.
www.etsy.com/shop/HaloHandmade
(Kadee Blakely)
Pendragon Corsets — Corsets
Nothing says sexy like a corset. And Deanna Pendragon, also known as Charlotte's queen of burlesque Big Mamma D, would know. In the past year, she left a professional career to become a full-time costumer and seamstress, and started her customized corset line Pendragon Corsets.
Pendragon says she makes "discrete creations" for people, whether it be a fitted bodice on a corset for a woman who's undergone a mastectomy, or something fancy for someone who is into BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism).
"These aren't throwaway club clothes," she says. "They're made for people who know that they want something sturdy. They're making an investment in something that's going to last a long time."
All of Pendragon's corsets (starting at $120) come with a lifetime guarantee and are available in a variety of materials: silk, brocade, satin, leather, cotton, denim, and more. Right now, the most popular colors are red and black, and iridescent. You can also personalize your piece by adding accents like crystals, beading, sequins or lace appliqués.
"My corsets are created with a figure, a beauty and a glamour in mind," says Pendragon. "When you give something like a Pendragon Corset, you're saying, 'I find you this beautiful. And I want you to have something that makes you feel beautiful.'"
Gift certificates are available on the website; if you purchase one for a loved one, Pendragon offers fitting services.
