10% Off Necklaces!

It's January, a month when normally nothing exciting happens . . . until now! This month I am celebrating my 4th Etsy Anniversary :) Hard to believe that I'm still at this little venture of mine ;) In honor of the occasion, and to thank each of you for your support, I will be offering a different special in my shop each week. I am also planning at least one giveaway this month, so check back right here for that. Week 1: January 9-15, take 10% off all necklaces! Just use the code "10OFF" during checkout, and the discount will automatically be deducted.

Have Hope

A simple, yet powerful statement, don't you think? I was compelled to create this piece after watching a TV special about local charities and how the demand is so great for their services, especially now. With that said, I will be donating all proceeds from the sale of this necklace to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. I love this organization because they do wonderful things and your money goes far when you donate to them. For example, $20 buys 60 meals! My goal is to provide 450 meals ~ think I can do it? During these times, if nothing else, we must have hope :)

Shop Update: Spring Has Arrived!

The official start of Spring is just a few short weeks away :) Word on the street is that coral is the hot color of the season. I've always been a fan of this shade ~ it looks especially great when paired with light blue, white or even yellow. I am excited to announce that a couple of favorites will be making their way back to my shop this week. If I have a trademark piece, it would have to be the ever popular Miriam necklace. Grab her quick before she is gone! Also, the pretty Valerie necklace has returned due to popular demand :) Below is a sample of what I currently have to offer in coral. Keep your eye on my shop this Spring, as you will surely see some new pieces in this fabulous shade!

Miriam Necklace, $40

Valerie Necklace, $25 Miriam's Sister Necklace, $48 Maude Earrings, $18

Bibs ~ They're Not Just for Babies Anymore

Bib necklaces are all the rage these days. Oprah has been known to sport a few in her time. You might even spot the Hollywood elite wearing this style at the upcoming Academy Awards. While not for the faint of heart, these statement makers range from utterly elegant to fun and whimsical. Look at this sample I found while searching Etsy and a few other sites. Whaddya think??

From L-R:

Lotus Flower Old Baroque French Style Cream and Gold Bib Necklace, by Katherine Cooper

Pomegranate and Peridot Vintage Bib Necklace, by Glamourpuss

Caitlyn Simple Elegant Cream Lace Bib Necklace, by Lovestitched

Kenneth Jay Lane Branch Bib Necklace, from Saks Fifth Avenue

Alice in Wonderland Necklace, by Second Sister

Gold/Coral Floral Bib Necklace, from Ann Taylor Loft

Buy 1, Get 1 for 50% off Sale!!

It's Week 2 of my "Etsy"versary Sale! The opportunity for you to get yourself an original "DOB" creation for a steal is here. I am offering Buy 1, Get 1 for 50% off on all items in the Sale section of my shop. The best part is that the more expensive item will be discounted ~ when does that ever happen?!? Please note that this special sale applies to items in the specified category only, and that no other coupons or discounts may be applied at this time. Hurry, this one won't last forever! To start shopping, click here.

Shop Update: Thick and Chunky!

If big and bold is your thing, then you’ll be happy about some new pieces I recently added to my shop. They each feature graduated strands of large round beads. I love this classic look. These will look great with either a business suit or something more casual. Keep your eye on my shop for more to come!

Robina, Tiger Iron necklace, $45.00

Carmina, Bamboo Agate Necklace, $45.00

Accessorize!

The other day I was thinking back to my pre-jewelry making days. I had to laugh, because at that time, my personal collection was pretty small. I’ve loved jewelry for as long as I can remember, but there was a time when I wore the same pieces day in and day out. How boring! In fact, I still have the hammered Sterling Silver pendant on a chain that I wore around my neck every single day. It’s simple and pretty, but nothing spectacular. The same can be said for the hoop earrings that I would wear with it. I think at the time I kept things simple because I didn’t realize how fun it is to accessorize with jewelry. Eventually I acquired more and more pieces, and learned how to change my look up a little. Part of the fun of dressing each day is picking out a different necklace to wear. I love earrings too, but the necklace is my statement maker, since it doesn’t get hidden by my hair. Soon I started to get compliments from people. The look in their eyes told me they were both impressed and maybe even a bit envious that they didn’t own anything so unique and one of a kind. I can be having a bad hair day, my pants might feel too snug, or I might have a zit on my chin, but a stunning necklace can detract from all of that. I love hearing all the “ooohs” and “aaaahhhs” when I wear a new piece of jewelry to work. I’m not the snappiest dresser, so I don’t get nearly as many compliments on my clothes as I do my jewelry. But that’s OK with me. Let me show you an example of how you can dress up your look with pieces from my shop:

Take this basic brown dress. It’s perfect for the office environment, but it needs a little something, don’t you think?! "Grand Haven", Silver leaf jasper and Silver Necklace, $38, in complimentary earth tones.

"Simple Girl", $18. Long necklaces are hotter than ever, and this piece suits the dress perfectly.

"Solar Eclipse", $40. Brass necklace with Citrine nugget pendant. Stunning!

Shop Update: Lots of Lockets, and More!

If you've had your eye on my shop lately, then you know that I've been adding many new items. Believe it or not, I still have more to go, but for now I'd like to highlight some recent additions. I was fortunate to score some really special vintage lockets, and have used them in these latest creations. Lockets seem to be more popular than ever. I've always loved them, so take a look at these two new necklaces:

"Locket to You" is the name of this shiny brass necklace, which features a vintage locket with pretty raised floral design. It is priced at $25 and can be found here in my shop. Here is a sneak preview at another piece, which is unnamed as of yet. I probably won't get around to listing many items this week, so you are being treated to an advance showing ;) Many of my new bracelets feature tiny brass locket charms on them as well. You never know what might show up next in my shop, so keep your eyes open!

As a side line of business, I will be away from the shop starting this Thursday, August 13. Purchases made after 5pm EST on the 12th will ship when I return, which will be on August 17. I hope all of you are enjoying your weekend . . . it is sweltering hot and humid here, and I am not enjoying that at all!

Shop Update ~ New Bridal Pieces

As promised, I've added some unique jewelry to my shop that is just perfect for a bride. Take a look at "Sabine", which are three coordinating pieces that are inspired by vintage romance, with a little French twist thrown in ;) Each features lovely Ivory Satin nugget pearls that are nicely sized at 10mm each. My obsession of the moment is pearls and brass together ~ I think they make a spectacular pair.

Earrings ~ $22

Bracelet ~ $32 Necklace ~ $20

These pieces would look awesome with this dress, which comes from Jones New York. The name of it is "Let's Elope" ~ love that! Soooo perfect for a beach or garden wedding. Who says you must have a big poufy gown? I love its simple elegance. At only $105 (on sale), it's ideal for the bride on a budget!

Shop Update: Bringing Back Some Old Faves

If you're familiar with my Etsy shop, then you know that I hardly ever make the same thing twice. I've never been a big fan of repetition, and I truly love coming up with new designs. My customers benefit from this by knowing that they are truly wearing a piece of jewelry that will never be duplicated. Once in great while, however, a particular design is so fabulous that it warrants re-creation. This past week I brought back two designs that have been seen in my shop before, but even they are slightly different from their predecessors. This is a new take on my "Jennalee" necklace, which I named after my sister. She just happens to be the biggest fan of my stuff, so I wanted to honor her by naming this sweet necklace after her. It has the most unique vintage pendant ~ I was so happy that I stumbled across another one of these! I've changed the design up slightly from the original, but still used white and aqua blue vintage glass beads and brass findings.

The "Miriam" necklace is one of my signature pieces. It has been a fan favorite, but the unfortunate part is that I can only create it until my supply of these fabulous Miriam Haskell beads runs out! I recently listed this piece, which is named "Miriam's Sister". It also features vintage Haskell beads, only they are slightly different in color from the ones used in the first necklace. It is absolutely stunning and perfect for Spring and Summer!

I'm in the Mood for . . . Copper!

You're being treated to a sneak preview of my new line of necklaces featuring copper ~ bet you didn't know it was your lucky day!

These will be making their way into my shop in the very near future, but I couldn't wait until then to show them off :)

Why copper, you ask?

Well, I always say that I've never met a bead I didn't love, and the same goes for metal. I love them all and I'm not afraid to use them! I think copper works well for all seasons. With the warm weather that’s sure to arrive soon, I thought these necklaces would look especially fabulous when paired with a flouncy top or sundress.

If you’re strictly a silver or gold girl, now is the time to break the mold! Don’t be afraid to mix metals ~ it can be done. The days of sticking to just one are passe’.

Copper is a lower priced alternative to Sterling, which means these pieces will be priced just right so that you can pick up a few. I’ve kept the design simple ~ most of these necklaces feature a wonderful colored gemstone pendant, but each one is unique in its own way. Be sure to check my shop soon for their debut.

Also, here are some super cute summery tops from Anthropologie that you could accessorize with my new necklaces. Have fun!

New Necklaces!

Earrings are undoubtedly a top seller in my Etsy shop, and I think the same goes for most other jewelry sellers. My Earring section is loaded up, with new additions on the way. I do think I've been slacking in the Necklace category, though. So, I've decided to focus on some stellar new necklace designs. Personally, I love necklaces! I try to wear a different one every day. I love to coordinate a piece with what I am wearing ~ it can make the difference between a so-so outfit and one that is "WOW!!" Not to mention that earrings often get hidden behind my hair, but a necklace stands out and people really do notice them.

These are two new designs to my shop ~ you will see that they are vastly different. One is made of Vintage Lucite beads, while the other is made with a stone called Crab Fire Agate. I recognize that everyone's taste is different, and I love to be able to offer something to suit your individual style.

Keep an eye on my shop in the coming weeks, especially if you're a fan of neck jewelry. I hope you'll see something that you love!

An Etsy Fave: Dornick Designs

Just because I make jewelry doesn’t mean I’m too proud to buy stuff that’s made by others. The reality is that the only time I acquire a new piece anymore is when I buy it. Feast your eyes on this recent purchase from Dornick Designs on Etsy. Kathy Hardy is the talented artist behind this successful shop. She has a penchant for naming most of her creations after Classic Rock songs. I love that! The name of this piece is “Stone Free” and it features lovely chunks of Labradorite, which is a gemstone that’s at the top of my list of favorites. The stones are hand knotted on silk cord. I love every detail of this piece. I’ve already worn it several times since receiving it about one week ago. I love the fact that it looks great whether dressed up or down. Check out this shop, if you haven’t already. Her designs are both whimsical and wonderful. Perhaps what I admire most about this seller is that she has carved a niche for herself and created a style that is unmistakably her own. Hats off to you, Kathy!