Friday, July 31, 2009

Giveaway Winner

The randomly chosen winner of the Snowflake Designs July Giveaway is daer0n, the blogger behind several great blogs, including Style-ish.

Congratulations, you will be receiving your beautiful Bridget Gemstone Pendant soon.

I was so delighted to receive nearly a hundred entries in this giveaway! Thank you all for entering and for your lovely comments! And a special thank you to those of you who blogged about this giveaway for your readers.

Since I am only able to give away for free just one of these gorgeous pendants, I wanted to offer a consolation prize to all who entered but did not win. To thank you for your entries, I am offering each of you a 50% discount on a Bridget pendant of your own at my Etsy shop. Instead of $20, Bridget will be just $10!

Orders must be received by August 15th to qualify for the special pricing!

I hope that many of you will take me up on this generous offer so that you too can enjoy this pendant.

Visit this link to make your purchase: Bridget Pendant from Snowflake Designs Jewelry.

Thanks again for your entries, and check back soon for our next giveaway!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Color Series: Part Two

Express Yourself with Color

A previous post discussed some basic thoughts about how to choose the colors you wear. I'd like to share more details on this topic, since colorful jewelry is what Snowflake Designs is all about.

Jewelry doesn't need to be only gold or silver. Jewelry that embraces color-in the form of gemstones or beads- can add a special allure. It's also a wise fashion decision. If a certain gemstone or color works well for you now, it's likely to be a color you will reach for again and again for many years to come.

Consider the following to be a color guideline when choosing the color to suit your mood:

Blue is the color of water and the sky and so it is often associated with calmness and tranquility. Blue is a popular color with a relaxed feel. It’s a good choice for daytime wear, especially a casual or sporty look. For a denim blue gemstone, look for lapis lazuli or sodalite. For a lovely watery shade, try amazonite or apatite-- which are both seen here.




Red is the color of heat and fire and is often associated with desire, passion and love. Red's warm intensity also has an energizing effect; wearing red makes you seem vibrant and confident. The necklace pictured here pairs red with purple for a look that lives up to the name of the piece, Passion Flower. Red gemstones include ruby and garnet, among others.



Pink conveys the idea of femininity, sweetness, and youth. Pink can also look grown up: carrying the thought of romance and the essence of spring, as shown in the earrings pictured here. I also love the contrast of pairing pink with black or brown. The most common pink gemstone is rose quartz.



Green is an earthy color that signifies growth, freshness, and nature. Green is my favorite color, and I enjoy it in all shades. It can be found in many gemstones such as malachite, peridot, jade, aventurine, moss agate, and emerald. Many of those gems are found in this monochromatic green necklace.



Yellow is synonymous with sunshine and summer. It's a cheerful, light and energetic color and tends to reflect happiness in the person wearing it. Yellow gems may include citrine, amber, and certain types of quartz or jade. In this photo I used soft shades of yellow to convey the essence of the sun, in a necklace I named Soleil.



Orange is an upbeat color, symbolizing joy, sun and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm and happiness. This pendant combines the deep brownish orange of amber with the watery blue of apatite for a tropical, warm weather feel.



Purple is often associated with royalty and symbolizes power and luxury. I also think purple carries a hint of mystery. Since amethyst is one of my favorite gemstones, you'll see lots of purple in my jewelry-- usually used alongside other colors. I especially like to use amethyst in my Grapevine Collection, as seen here.




Since I like to keep my posts short, I will discuss neutral colors in a future post.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Giveaway Ending Soon!

I would like to thank everyone who has entered my giveaway so far. I especially appreciate all the great comments you have left. All of the feedback has been very helpful to me in knowing what items in my jewelry collection catch the attention of my readers.

If you have not yet entered the giveaway for a Bridget gemstone pendant, you can do so by leaving a comment (including your email address) on this post. The last day to enter is July 30th and the winner will be announced on June 31st.

I will also be offering a consolation prize, in the form of a discount coupon, to all entrants who do not win.

Thanks again and keep the entries coming. There's only a few days left!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Color Series: Part One

Live Colorfully

Colors
can evoke strong emotions, convey a range of moods, mark the seasons, and express your individuality. What colors you choose to wear says a lot about who are and how you feel. I believe that jewelry should be colorful; that's the most basic concept that defines Snowflake Designs.

Choosing which colors to wear can be tricky. You may like a certain color, but it may not necessarily look good on you. One way to know if a color is right for you is to listen to feedback. If you consistently receive compliments when wearing a certain color, it is likely a color that suits you well.

There are lots of experts with opinions about this topic. While researching the subject, I came across tons of online articles, most trying to group people into those old seasonal stereotypes: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The problem is, like many people, I just don't fit neatly into any of the traditional categories. Professional color analysis is also available, but this can be expensive.

I've compiled some loose guidelines that helped me to determine which colors best suit me. Here are some of my findings:

  • One thing that many experts agree on is that most people's skin tone is either warm (yellow undertones) or cool (blue undertones). If your skin's tone doesn't seem to align with your hair or eyes-- like if you have warm skin with cool eyes or cool skin with warm hair-- just remember that your skin tone is most important.
  • Wearing the right color should make your skin seem more clear, more healthy. The wrong color can make you look sickly.
  • When choosing whether to pair two colors together, consider using a color wheel as a guideline.
  • When wearing multiple colors, let one color dominate while the other colors play supporting roles. One expert recommends that 75 to 90 percent of your outfit should be in the dominant color.
  • Use neutral colors to draw the whole look together.

While you may not fit into traditional "season" based color categories, these do have some merit and can be helpful. For instance, I have warm coloring in my hair and skin, but steely blue -cool- eyes. For the most part, I stick to warm color types, but look for warm versions of blues and greens, which complement my eyes better than typical warm colors like red and yellow.

I'll share more of my findings about choosing colors in an upcoming post.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Necklace Lengths

What necklace lengths are available and which one should you choose?


Collar
Collars necklaces are usually about 12 to 13 inches in length and are designed to fit snugly, but comfortably on the middle of your neck, above the collarbone. Collar necklaces are often made up of three or more strands and tend to convey a style of Victorian elegance. This length is not a good option for anyone who feels self-conscious about their neck, since it will call extra attention to that area. Best suited for formal occasions, collar necklaces pair well with off-the-shoulder and V-neck necklines.



Choker
Despite the name, a choker necklace should never choke you, but should fall just to the base of your neck. At a length of about 14 to 16 inches, a choker is longer than a collar necklace and more versatile. A simple and classic choker can go with virtually any outfit. If you prefer modest necklines, a choker can be the perfect solution since other lengths may fall too long and become lost. It's also a beautiful choice for brides and bridesmaids.





Princess
The princess length necklace rests just over the collar bone and is a very popular length ranging from 17 to 19 inches. This style works well with crew and high necklines but it also complements low plunging necklines,especially when paired with a bold pendant. This is an excellent option for women who want to draw attention away from a thick neck.





Matinee
The matinee necklace is 20 to 24 inches long and adds an elegant flourish to business or casual clothes. It should drape to the top of your bust line. Make sure there's no decoration on your blouse to clash with it. It flatters bigger busts and complements professional attire such as blazers and button-up blouses.




Opera
The opera necklace drapes elegantly to the mid-section at a length of about 28 to 34 inches. Opera length necklaces add a feeling of lavish extravagance to a formal gown or blouse.
This style will draw attention to your bust and is perfect for de-emphasizing a round face. The impressive length may also allow for you to double or triple the strand and wear one necklace in several different ways.


Rope
Rope necklaces are usually 45 inches or longer and cause the eye to sweep down your torso, emphasizing your curves. A stunning and sensual look, rope necklaces are wonderful to dress up a classic black dress. The rope necklace is also an effective way to add an element of drama or intrigue to your look. Some rope necklaces include extra clasps, making it easy to transform their length.


Lariat
The Lariat is a long string of beads (without a clasp) which can be looped, wrapped or draped, according to the wearer's whim. This style is typically 45 inches or longer and delivers a romantic wraparound look. Lariats look best with low necklines and off the shoulder styles, and work especially well with a frilly blouse.