It’s such a heady time of year with all the wonderful things in bloom! The lilacs, irises, and peonies may have come and gone (or if you’re a little farther north, maybe they’re still around), but gorgeous day lilies and sweet honeysuckle are hot on their heels, with black-eyed susans and other posies still to come. At Ped, we adore flowers—and we like to wear them whenever we can!

The undisputed queen of lovely blossoms that never fade is Swiss fiber artist Karin Wagner. We recently received a new shipment of her hand-felted wonders.

We are particularly crazy about her floral rings, like this attention-grabbing Lilia beauty:

The way Karin has cut tiny diamonds out of the crimson petals is so unusual! Wear this ring and watch as conversations spring up all around you!

Many of Ms. Wagner’s blooms are versatile. Who says you have to wear a brooch pinned to your clothing? This Clochette cluster, for example, makes a fabulous barrette:

And, attention, summer brides, a wonderful alternative to wearing fresh flowers in your hair is to entwine Karin Wagner’s Daisy necklace in your up ‘do on the big day:

You’ll have a sweet memento that will never wilt (hopefully, like your love). Plus, you can wear this vine of buds, leaves, and blossoms in a myriad of ways.

Another knockout flower necklace comes from Sophie Digard:

We love how each blossom has a different color scheme on each side—you can spin them and move them along the cord to create a new variation every time you wear it.

Sophie also works floral magic in her scarves and bags. For instance, how chic is this Geranium Handbag?

Drop-dead gorgeous with a nostalgic air of romance, this bag’s crocheted blossoms must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Each one is unique and contributes to the garden-like impact of this sweet bag.

At Ped, we even like to wear flowers on our feet!

The Accessoire Island wedge, with its pretty rosette on the toe, is one of our favorite styles this season (and Ped’s Laura reports it’s a treat to wear—cushy and comfortable)!

There are even more petaled pretties to make you smile blooming at the Ped site. After all, there is nothing like the power of a simple flower to remind us that, despite wretched oil spills and ugly intolerance, the world offers so much beauty.

Ped fans, we hear it all the time: “I love those shoes, but I’m not sure what I’d wear them with…” We understand—the last thing you want is to buy a knockout pair of shoes only to have them languish in the closet! But chances are even the most offbeat color or bold design is easier to wear than you think. Here are a few ideas for how to make things work.

On the other hand, you may prefer your style more muted. Even so, you can still wear a sandal boot and have it look smashing:

All these outfits were created at Polyvore.com, which offers a wonderful way to try out items together when you’re shopping online. It’s also just plain fun! So, if you fall in love with a shoe, don’t resist; in the words of Tim Gunn, you can “make it work.”

(By the way, we’re pretty sure you could make lots of things work with this week’s “sweet treat,” Cordani’s Erin. Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page to get 20% off this fresh espadrille platform!)

Hey, Ped fans, I just got back from my twice-yearly trip to Paris, where I scouted out all kinds of wonderful things for you to enjoy in Fall 2010. Let’s just say you have a lot to look forward to!

I started off the trip by spending a rainy day in Milan visiting Fiorentini + Baker and hunting for cool, new shoe designers. As usual F+B wowed me with their fabulous boots—get ready for an over-the-knee knockout(!!!) and a chunky-heeled ankle boot coming your way in autumn! I am smitten with F+B’s blue and green leathers, plus there’s a beautiful new grey called “rabbit.” Are you wondering if I discovered any new designers to add to Ped’s lineup? YES, I did! I don’t want to name names just yet, but I found three—one from Israel, one from Belgium, and one from Barcelona, Spain—who all create unusual and beautifully made designs! I can’t wait for you to see them!

It may have been rainy at the Duomo di Milano, but Amy's smile was still sunny!

My shoe friend Amy from Virginia was also in Milan, so we battled the rain and went out for a “light” dinner. Let me tell you, going “light” in Italy is impossible—we feasted on bruschetta, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, and ravioli in cream sauce. Yum!

Then it was off to Paris for five days! While there, I picked out new Antipast items, which you will love, and swooned over Sophie Digard’s latest designs. Cross your fingers because I’m hoping she’ll make us some arm warmers for chilly days next fall! Karin Wagner took the train from Switzerland to deliver her latest wonders to me in person! How sweet was that?

Sophie Digard (center) flanked by her lovely staff amid her gorgeous scarves!

As usual, Rafi from Cydwoq and I went to our favorite Lebanese restaurant to talk shop. I also drank coffee and discussed new styles for Ped with Trippen’s Michael and Claudia. And we had a Seattle Ped reunion when I ran into former Ped employees, Nealy and Nicole! The days were so full that I didn’t have any time to sightsee or shop this go-round, but I did enjoy my morning walks through the Jardin des Tuileries on the way to work (although, brrr, it was brisk—26 degrees)!

Children sailing boats in the Jardin des Tuileries. What a wonderful walk to work!

I came back happy and satisfied from a very productive trip! Although I’m in no hurry to rush through spring and summer, wow, is Ped ever ready to dazzle you in Fall 2010! You’re going to smile, I promise!

The days are rarely frigid here in the Bay Area, but I know winter has been running roughshod over many of you Ped fans! I see photos of mounds of snow in the Midwest and on the East Coast and hear about day after day of icy temperatures everywhere. Brrrrr!!! When you’re simply trying to stay warm, style often gets relegated to the backseat.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Ped has lots of ways to keep cozy that also let you turn up the style temperature! (After all, your admirers count on you to lift their chilly spirits!)

Our mothers always told us, “Put a hat on!” They were wise because there’s no cuter way to combat the cold than with a Karin Wagner flower-embellished cap:

Our beloved Swiss mistress of textile art first hand-knits a cap of 100% soft wool and then pretties it up with her one-of-a-kind, hand-felted blossoms.

Now that your head is covered, let’s go to the other extreme and make sure your toes are toasty.

These striped tights from Antipast aren’t just snazzy (which they definitely are), they’re also 71% wool to keep your whole lower half warm when it’s cold!

One of the most practical fashion trends to come along has been arm warmers, which keep your wrists and palms snug while leaving your fingers free. We especially love the ones from Rain + Jack:

Rain + Jack combines the softest Australian lambswool with the most wonderful colors to warm your heart as well as your hands!

And, of course, you need a scarf! The winter wind will just have to blow down someone’s else’s neck when you wrap up in one of Sophie Digard’s woolen wonders:

We just got in this Wildflower Scarf and is it ever GORGEOUS!!! Each little velvet-centered flower is unique. With this wool beauty twined around your neck, you’ll be the envy of everyone who sees you!

But perhaps you live somewhere more temperate and only need a little something to stave off the chill. Sophie’s still your go-to gal because our Parisian queen of crochet also makes lighter linen scarves, like this Pastille Pop stunner:

Winter won’t last forever, but as long as it’s here, pull on your Ped and look and feel wonderful! Don’t let the ice keep you from feeling nice!

Once again, we’d like to express a boatload of gratitude to several sites that have found things to appreciate at Ped! Whenever we discover a Ped item highlighted on these wonderful blogs, it’s like finding ourselves at a party where the other guests are all so interesting (not to mention pretty!). So, thanks for including us!

pincurls.blogspot.com — a blog about lovely things by Michelle Alyssa Mae, owner of the Etsy shop, Pale Woods & Co., which specializes in select vintage fashions.

deargolden.blogspot.com — a site where graphic designer, yoga instructor, and vintage purveyor, Lauren, shares all the loveliness she discovers. (She also owns an Etsy vintage shop of the same name, Dear Golden Vintage.)

bluemossgirls.blogspot.com — Michelle Taylor continues to thrill us by putting us in good company in her rundowns of well-designed things. (And, yes, in addition to selling her beautiful repurposed baubles in stores, she, too, has an Etsy shop, Blue Moss.)

blissfulb.blogspot.com — Mrs. French serves up aesthetic treats all week long at Bliss, but her “I heart Mondays” are not-to-be-missed. Getting hearted is like receiving an unexpected valentine. (She also has an Etsy Shop, Blissful Images, where she sells her lovely photographs.)

If we haven’t mentioned your site, but you’ve mentioned Ped, we are so appreciative (and invite you to let us know)! At Ped, we only carry things we truly love, so it’s nice when others notice. To all of you who are so kind to us, we send a virtual bouquet of spring flowers!