de Madrid al Cielo
Nearly all year round the sun shines in Madrid and her particularly blue skies which are always the talk of the town. I learned a saying when I first arrived from some fiercely proud local friends, de Madrid al cielo which means there is no other place in the world you would rather be other than heaven and after nearly 13 years here now, I guess they´re right!
I realised early on that to see most of Madrid’s majestic beauty, you have to remember to look up. Her white and gold ornate buildings are a wonder against the electric blue, particularly in Summer when the Golondrinas (swallows) are diving and dancing across the sky from dawn to dusk.
This collection has pieces made to order from a new Barcelona supplier that has a workshop in Jaipur, India. Once again I had pieces made to order from the Menorcan workshop and I collaborated with the Galician mother-daughter-duo who made me a crocheted bag and carnation flowers which I turned into earrings and a comb. I used a lot of new stones such as emerald, labradorite and moonstone which reflect beautiful rainbow colours in the light and I included some smaller sleepers to help you layer up and curate your favourite looks.
I hope you can find a little slice of Madrid´s blue skies to make your own in this collection. My adopted hometown sure gets under your skin!
With love from Spain,
Annabelle xo
Red crocheted Carnation flower handsewn by Annabelle onto a mini gold comb. Wear it any way you want and feel like a real Chulapa (aka woman from Madrid in traditional dress) and embrace your inner Señorita. The gold comb measures 2.5cm in width and 4cm in length and the crocheted Carnation measures around 5.5cm in diameter.
*In Euros these combs are valued around 45EUR.
The Carnations were lovingly handmade by the mother-daughter duo Sea & Horse. Charo and Brenda are Galician artisans/designers/women of many talents that are keeping traditional techniques alive. To be able to collaborate with them on these special pieces again is such a privilege and pleasure.
San Isidro is Madrid´s city saint and the city bursts into a week long party every Spring to celebrate. Everyone, young and old dress up in Madrid´s traditional dress and hit the streets dancing Chotis (traditional dances from Madrid). The city is a sea of women wearing the red Carantions in their hair. Traditionally how you placed and how many you placed on your head indicated if you were single, engaged, married or widowed… a flower language!
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
You can follow more of Charo and Brenda’s work here Sea & Horse
Handmade by Annabelle, red crocheted Carnation flower handsewed onto hypoallergenic zamak hoop earrings made in Menorca, electroplated in 1 micron of 18k gold or with 5 micron sterling silver plating and embrace your inner Señorita. These are stud earrings and the flower measures around 5.5cm in diameter. The gold pair are on PRE ORDER for the moment, delivery may take up to 6 weeks.
* In Euros these earrings are valued around 85EUR
The Carnations were lovingly handmade by the mother-daughter duoSea & Horse. Charo and Brenda are Galician artisans/designers/women of many talents that are keeping traditional techniques alive. To be able to collaborate with them on these special pieces again is such a privilege and pleasure.
San Isidro is Madrid´s city saint and the city bursts into a week long party every Spring to celebrate. Everyone, young and old dress up in Madrid´s traditional dress and hit the streets dancing Chotis (traditional dances from Madrid). The city is a sea of women wearing the red Carantions in their hair. Traditionally how you placed and how many you placed on your head indicated if you were single, engaged, married or widowed… a flower language!
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
You can follow more of Charo and Brenda’s work here Sea & Horse
Handmade round red crocheted Carnation flower bag with resin handles and a detachable chain and crochet strap. Made from rescued t-shirt fabric off cuts, this piece is the perfect sustainable reinvention. Feel like a real Chulapa (aka woman from Madrid in traditional dress) and embrace your inner Señorita.
*In Euros this bag is valued around 175EUR.
The bag was lovingly handmade by the mother-daughter duoSea & Horse. Charo and Brenda are Galician artisans/designers/women of many talents that are keeping traditional techniques alive. To be able to collaborate with them on these special pieces again is such a privilege and pleasure.
San Isidro is Madrid´s city saint and the city bursts into a week long party every Spring to celebrate. Everyone, young and old dress up in Madrid´s traditional dress and hit the streets dancing Chotis (traditional dances from Madrid). The city is a sea of women wearing the red Carantions in their hair. Traditionally how you placed and how many you placed on your head indicated if you were single, engaged, married or widowed… a flower language!
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
You can follow more of Charo and Brenda’s work here Sea & Horse
Limited edition, handmade by Annabelle oval moonstone, amazonite, emerald, black onyx and labradorite stone charms with 18k gold plated solid sterling silver frames on hypoallergenic gold stainless steel chain. These necklaces measure 21cm from the back of the neck to the bottom of the stone charms.
*In Euros these necklaces are valued around 40EUR
The Metropolis necklace is inspired by my all time favourite building in Madrid which sits right next to the start of Gran Via, Madrid´s main street that divides the old town. Designed by French architects and built in 1907 it´s quite a new building in the scheme of things, but I´ve always adored the gold trimming with a bright blue sky backdrop and what I thought was a bronze angel. It turns out it´s actually winged victory aka the goddess Nike looking out over the city.
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
Limited edition, hypoallergenic zamak sun hoop earrings made in Menorca, Spain, electroplated in 1 micron of 18k gold or varnished with 5 microns sterling silver plating. They have a stud system for pierced ears only, measure 4cm in diameter.
*In Euros these earrings are valued around 52/48EUR.
Puerta del Sol is the heart of Madrid, they say New York never sleeps but it doesn´t have anything on Madrid. You can find all sorts of people streaming through this plaza at any hour of the day on any day of the year. It´s where Madrid´s iconic bear and Madroño tree stand proudly, it´s where the plaque for kilometre zero marks the start of all the roads that go from Madrid to all over the country and it´s where the whole country watches on as the last 12 seconds of the year count down to midnight on New Year´s Eve so everyone can eat a grape per second for good fortune for the next 12 months in harmony.
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
Limited edition, brass sun charm plated in 0.5 microns of 18k gold with a special varnish finish (it won´t lose it´s colour or tarnish) and an embedded labradorite stone made in Jaipur, India on a hypoallergenic gold stainless steel chain. This necklace measures 22cm from the back of the neck to the bottom of the sun.
*In Euros this necklace is valued around 50EUR
Puerta del Sol is the heart of Madrid, they say New York never sleeps but it doesn´t have anything on Madrid. You can find all sorts of people streaming through this plaza at any hour of the day on any day of the year. It´s where Madrid´s iconic bear and Madroño tree stand proudly, it´s where the plaque for kilometre zero marks the start of all the roads that go from Madrid to all over the country and it´s where the whole country watches on as the last 12 seconds of the year count down to midnight on New Year´s Eve so everyone can eat a grape per second for good fortune for the next 12 months in harmony.
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
Limited edition, sterling silver angular mini sleepers made in Jaipur, India and plated in 0.5 microns of 18k gold. They have a lever system for pierced ears only. They measure 1cm in diameter. The pearl sleepers pictured next to them are El Palacio Real Sleepers. The gold pair is on PRE ORDER atm, delivery may take up to 4 weeks.
Puerta de Alcalá is one of the 7 original doors that led into the city from the principal surrounding towns. Built at the end of the 18th century, its stunning decadent arches are surrounded by some iconic streets and Retiro Park. It’s lit up beautifully at Christmas and you have views of Cibeles and Circulo de Bella’s Artes through it’s arches. In 2021 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
Limited edition, sterling silver sleepers made in Jaipur, India, plated in 0.5 microns of 18k gold and studded with pearls. They have a stud system for pierced ears only. The large pair measure 2.2cm in diameter and the mini pair 1.7cm. The large size is on PRE ORDER for the moment, delivery may take up to 4 weeks.
These sleepers are inspired by Madrid´s Royal Palace, the largest in Occidental Europe with 3, 418 rooms. It was built on top of the site of the old Muslim Alcazar after it burned down and it took 17 years to complete. Apparently the the royal family had a different palace for each season and they resided in this one in Autumn. Nowadays the palace is open to the public and only used for official events. The gardens around the palace are some of my favourite places to sit and watch the world go by with friends as the sun lights up the sky at sunset. You feel more like you are on the edge of the world overlooking Casa del Campo there (a nature reserve).
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco
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Limited edition, vintage style circular sterling silver earrings made in Jaipur, India, plated in 0.5 microns of 18k gold. They have a stud system for pierced ears only. They measure 2cm in diameter and 2.5cm in length. These are on PRE ORDER and may take 6 weeks to deliver.
In Euros these earrings are valued around 80EUR.
These earrings are inspired by Circulo de Bellas Artes which is Madrid´s most prestigous arts school and centre. It was the first rooftop that I saw Madrid from above for the first time. I had never been to Madrid before I moved here, and I was so busy learning Spanish and preparing to study that it wasn´t love at first sight. Madrid one me over with little discoveries like this one one after the other. On top of one of Spain´s most revered art schools you have 360 degree views of Madrid´s skyline. Nowadays there is a bar and restaurant up there, one of my favourite sunset spots in town and one of my nostalgic places of Madrid´s and my love story!
Photography: Marijke Kuesters | Models: Yura & Carla Martinez | MUAH: Leopoldo Rodriguez / Wardrobe: el Divan de Coco