The Totam never expected to discover San Francisco-based jeweler Alix Blüh’s workshop and gallery, Modern Relics, tucked away on a sleepy residential street in the heart of the Richmond district, but after spending a recent afternoon hearing the stories behind her wares, we’re delighted that the secret is out.

Located in a former jewelry school, Modern Relics’ high-ceilinged, spare loft houses Blüh’s studio upstairs and the showroom below, partly camouflaged by a whimsical, curtained window display. It took the better part of a year to transform the space to reflect the artist’s exacting standards, with walls paneled in recycled fence timbers, stenciled floors, turn-of-the-century glass display cases, old-fashioned bare-bulb lighting and a vitrine constructed from a cast-iron sewing machine pedestal. The resulting effect is at once ornate and austere, a curio parlor of fanciful oddities balanced by the weathered utilitarianism of a schooner-captain’s quarters.

Alix Blüh, named for family friend Alexander Calder, was formally trained as a painter at the University of Massachusetts and at Oxford, where she developed her passion for collecting and dealing in antiques in London flea markets. Raised among avant-garde artists in rural New England, Blüh creates sublime pieces of wearable sculpture inspired by the forms found in nature and historical objects of remembrance.

Alix Blüh jewelry

Using a meticulous wax carving technique, Blüh’s pieces are hand-wrought in precious metals, with a signature rough hewn texture. Lacy, carved coral and honeycomb forms are studded with pinhead-sized jewels. The artist’s variants on the cross, anchor and heart- symbols of faith, hope and charity that many sailors and their wives wore in Victorian times- have a medieval touch to them, and figure prominently in her latest collection. Blüh hopes her jewelry will function as personal talismans for the wearer:

“I have always been so moved by the stories found in nature, in time worn objects, in mourning jewelry and religious reliquaries…I want to create heirloom pieces that are not about fad and fashion but art and timelessness.”

Blüh’s reverence for beautiful mementos with sentimental value extends to her own collection of daguerreotypes, tintypes, mirrors and books, found throughout Modern Relics. She has been quietly showcasing a mix of handpicked antiques, reproductions, her own jewelry, and the work of like-minded creatives in her tiny atelier for the past year or so.

Clockwise from top left: Suga necklace on antique handmirror, Swallow thorns, tooth and jackalope, Swallow painted glass with 22K gold backing, reproduction scrimshaws

We love that Blüh views Modern Relics as a platform for more than just her own work; Blüh feels such kinship to the work of Brooklyn-based artist Ria Charisse, whose Swallow line of cast-metal creatures, woodland letters, and paintings of whales on glass layered w/ 22K gold leaf, that over half the space has been given over to Charisse’s creations. Swallow’s pairs of bird feet and pewter tooth are Totam favorites. An additional case features the dainty jewelry of Blüh’s assistant, Soojo “Suga” Rocereto.

Modern Relics is located at 771 Cabrillo Avenue between 8th and 9th Avenues in San Francisco. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday 12-7pm. Contact (415) 422-0477 or relics@alixbluh.com

Alix Blüh will also be exhibiting jewelry at the NY International Gift Fair this August- look for her at the Jacob K. Javits Center, Booth 535.

(All photos by Aileen Tat except where noted)

Tags: accessories, Alix Bluh, antiques, artist, jewelry, Modern Relics, reliquaries, Ria Charisse, San Francisco, sculptor, Suga Rocereto, Swallow, Victorian.

If you happen to be in New York this week, you’re in luck. Not only can you claw your way through the Barneys Warehouse Sale but get ready to party 1990’s Grind-style, or head over to Craigslist for fashion week tickets and you just might score a free ride to Jersey.

Join the frenzy. Indeed.

1/ The bi-annual Barneys New York Warehouse Sale starts today just in time for fashion week. Now is the time to find your Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, and Marc Jacobs at 50-75% off. Our tip: Wear a dress or skirt for easy try-ons as there are no dressing rooms. We would love to hear what treasures you find as well!

*255 West 17th Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues. 212-450-8400

Hours: Thursday, Feb. 12th - Friday, the 13th: 8am - 9pm / Weekdays: 10am - 9pm, Weekends: 10am - 7pm

2/ Party like it’s 1992 again at photographer Clifton Parker’s fashion week bash with host Eric Nies. Yes that Eric Nies, the early ’90s host of MTV’s dance show The Grind. Our tip: Don’t forget your baja jacket.

*Friday, Feb. 13th / Hudson Terrace, 641 West 46th Street, between 11th & 12th Avenues / Doors at 9pm /  RSVP necessary to info@cliftonparker.com

3/ British designer Matthew Williamson will be opening his first U.S. store in New York’s Meatpacking District, with an opening party on Sunday night. Fans of Williamson’s Indian-inspired togs include Sienna Miller and Jade Jagger. This one will be a tight list. Our tip: Ogle from across the street.

*Sunday, Feb. 15th, 6:30 - 9:30pm / 415 W. 14th Street, near Washington Street

Hopefully Bryant Park is a little more organized.

4/ Who says there are no free rides? Maybelline and Marie Claire are teaming up to offer complimentary taxi rides to fashion week attendees as they leave the Bryant Park tents on Thursday, Feb. 19th. The stunt is to promote the Style Network’s new reality series Running in Heels, starring Marie Claire fashion editor Nina Garcia. No word yet on how far one can go once inside the cab. Our tip: Hoboken, please! (Fashion Week Daily)

Surprise, honey! We're not on the list!

5/ Can’t get into the shows? Need a Valentine’s Day date idea? Try Craigslist. For anywhere from $80 - $500, you too can stand with the best of them. Since the last time we checked, Charlotte Ronson show scalpers seem to be pretty popular. Our tip: Don’t waste your money. Instead, stay tuned to The Totam for fashion week updates from the Rachel Comey, Karen Walker, Tom Scott and Matthew Ames’ shows. (The Cut)

Tags: 1992, Barneys, Bryant Park, Clifton Parker, Craigslist, Dries Van Noten, Eric Nies, Fashion Week, Hoboken, Jade Jagger, Karen Walker, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Matthew Ames, Matthew Williamson, New York, Nina Garcia, Parties, Rachel Comey, Running in Heels, Sienna Miller, store opening, Style Network, The Totam, Tom Scott, valentine's day.

In this week’s Short List: random dispatches from Paris and London (fashion), New Orleans (food) and the World Wide Web (blogs).

Chanel's Spring 2009 Couture Show / Images via style.com

Paris: Karl Lagerfeld debuted his 2009 Spring Couture collection yesterday for Chanel. Over sixty outfits came down the runway, all in variations of white with models wearing intricate sculptural paper crowns and headdresses. The rich fabrics of Lagerfeld’s creations combined with the simple everyday aspect of paper provided a stunning contrast of luxe and commonplace.

See the entire runway show here (style.com)

Hussein Chalayan's "Readings" dresses

London: The Design Museum is showcasing fifteen years of work by Hussein Chalayan, the fashion designer who has always upended the disciples of art and fashion, often times creating pieces that are more conceptual than wearable. Case in point: the dresses above which are composed of over 200 moving lasers. These pieces were specially made for the show and unfortunately not a part of his ready to wear line.

Until May 17, 2009.

Chalayan’s 15 Years in Fashion Video (style.com)

New Orleans: Mardi Gras season has officially begun and this is important for one reason: king cakes. We have always loved the oversized danish-like cakes which are brought to Mardi Gras parties in festive tradition. Each one is baked with a plastic baby inside and whomever lands the coveted piece will bring the king cake to the next party. A lovely tradition indeed. Out of towners can order their cakes here.

Tavi of Style Rookie

www.: The fashion bloggers are getting younger and younger still. First, it was 15-year-old Camille of Childhood Flames, who posts photos of herself in very Alexander Wang inspired outfits. Now it’s 12-year-old Tavi, who at only 4 feet and 6 inches runs the blog Style Rookie. At first it made us feel a little uncomfortable reading a middle schooler’s musings, but French Vogue is calling her a l’enfant prodigue, so we’re taking a second peek.

Tags: blog, Chanel, French Vogue, Hussein Chalayan, Karl Lagerfeld, king cake, London, New Orleans, Paris.

Our favorites this week are monochromatic (well, with a touch of red) but speak in other ways. Vocal pieces such as Rachel Comey’s Bradbury Wedge shout while others whisper (Kate Spade’s Have Courage Bangle has a private message for its wearer).

1/ Rachel Comey Bradbury Wedge available at Totakelo.com

2/ Online shopping can be a lonely affair. Totokaelo.com’s solution is the members only online store of Seattle based boutique Impulse. With a roster that includes Acne, Tom Scott and United Bamboo, the site expands social networking ideas and allows users to leave comments on pieces, creating a community shopping atmosphere.

3/ Antique Buttercup Set Diamond Ring available at Doyle & Doyle. Solitaire diamond engagement rings are always teetering on the border of being too loud or uninspired. This ring avoids both with a balanced combination of rough and delicate with a unique setting and an etched band.

4/ Comme des Garçons Alphabet Wallet available at Aloha Rag.

5/ Antique drawer knobs. Find similar ones at Anthropologie.

6/ Kate Spade Have Courage Bangle available at Kate Spade. The graphic enamel bracelet has an unexpected message etched on the inside, for times of intimate resolve.

Tags: antique, Comme des Garcons, diamond, kate spade, Rachel Comey, Totakelo.