I originally published these tips on this blog a few months ago. It was a popular post that many found helpful, and the ideas are truly timeless. Here it is again for any who missed it the first time:
1. Time and money spent on keeping your skin and hair healthy will pay off in the long run. No matter how well dressed you may be, you'll never feel beautiful unless these essentials are given the proper attention.
2. Makeup completes your look, and most of us would never dream of being seen without it. But it can be costly. An upcoming post will discuss where to scrimp and where to splurge to keep your makeup kit well stocked without breaking the bank.
3. Use your jewelry and other accessories to achieve the overall look you want. Some basic points to keep in mind are that tailored menswear styles are softened when paired with more romantic jewelry, whereas feminine clothing should be complemented by jewelry that is more subtle.
4. Having a few key accessories that you really love can help you be prepared for anything. Look for a future post which will discuss the most important key elements that every woman must have.
5. Find the best colors that work for you and enhance your complexion. Once you know what these colors are, you can learn to seek these out when shopping for accessories and clothing.
6. Don't be a slave to the fashion magazines. You don't need to follow every trend. A good rule of thumb is to strive not to be the first or last person wearing a certain style. Be an individual. Wear what you like and don't worry excessively about what the "experts" say.
7. Buy well fitting, season spanning clothes. Resist the temptation to buy the size you want to wear or the size you used to wear. More about this later.
8. When shopping for basic elements like skirts, pants,and jackets, always buy classic styles that won't embarrass you later. Save trendy styles for smaller items like accessories.
9. Don't be afraid to spend a little more on stuff that you'll wear every day. The quality will pay off in the long run.
10 .Jazz up basic, simple clothing with great accessories and you'll look more fashionable without spending a lot on clothes that will be out of style next season.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
End of Season Clearance Sale!!!
Since the fall and winter season is now upon us, I decided to mark down some colorful, summery items in my Etsy shop.
These are one-of-a-kind items so once they're gone, they're gone for good.
I'm hoping to find new homes for these favorites soon. Snowflake Designs is moving onward and upward! Look for more elaborate wire work, more luxurious gemstones, and more upscale jewelry designs from me over the next few months.
These are one-of-a-kind items so once they're gone, they're gone for good.
I'm hoping to find new homes for these favorites soon. Snowflake Designs is moving onward and upward! Look for more elaborate wire work, more luxurious gemstones, and more upscale jewelry designs from me over the next few months.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Eat Dessert First!
We've all heard this concept applied to various aspects of life and it's certainly important to take time to enjoy the little things.
I think this philosophy applies to the world of jewelry too. Rather than being a quickly thrown together afterthought, I believe jewelry can be the perfect starting point for building a gorgeous wardrobe. An amazing eye-grabbing piece can really steal the show, enabling your basic neutral clothing to transition easily from one season to the next. It's also a great tool to highlight your best features- such as drawing attention to your decolletage with a fabulous draping necklace.
However, as with many other little luxuries, women tend to turn into martyrs when it comes to buying jewelry for ourselves. Perhaps you just feel that jewelry should be received as a gift from a loved one, rather than a gift for yourself. But consider this: Do you just keep wearing the same old shoes and carrying the same boring tote bag around for years because you're waiting for someone else to buy them for you? Probably not. You recognize that these are important accessories and you're probably happy to shop for them and even splurge a little bit when you find something you really love. So why give your jewelry less attention?
Or maybe you're battling your inner Scrooge and just can't bear the thought of spending your hard earned cash on something as "trivial" as jewelry. Think of it this way: Dinner for two at a nice restaurant can easily cost $50 to $100, even more. You'll enjoy the experience, savor every bite, maybe even tell your friends about it. But then it's over. Choosing quality jewelry over the Wal-mart variety may cost you an extra $50 to $100, maybe more. But you'll enjoy it every time you wear it- probably for many years to come!
We all deserve a little decadence, and it's high time we stopped viewing pampering as unimportant. Take time to smell the roses, enjoy a beautiful sunset, eat dessert first, and buy jewelry you really love!
I think this philosophy applies to the world of jewelry too. Rather than being a quickly thrown together afterthought, I believe jewelry can be the perfect starting point for building a gorgeous wardrobe. An amazing eye-grabbing piece can really steal the show, enabling your basic neutral clothing to transition easily from one season to the next. It's also a great tool to highlight your best features- such as drawing attention to your decolletage with a fabulous draping necklace.
However, as with many other little luxuries, women tend to turn into martyrs when it comes to buying jewelry for ourselves. Perhaps you just feel that jewelry should be received as a gift from a loved one, rather than a gift for yourself. But consider this: Do you just keep wearing the same old shoes and carrying the same boring tote bag around for years because you're waiting for someone else to buy them for you? Probably not. You recognize that these are important accessories and you're probably happy to shop for them and even splurge a little bit when you find something you really love. So why give your jewelry less attention?
Or maybe you're battling your inner Scrooge and just can't bear the thought of spending your hard earned cash on something as "trivial" as jewelry. Think of it this way: Dinner for two at a nice restaurant can easily cost $50 to $100, even more. You'll enjoy the experience, savor every bite, maybe even tell your friends about it. But then it's over. Choosing quality jewelry over the Wal-mart variety may cost you an extra $50 to $100, maybe more. But you'll enjoy it every time you wear it- probably for many years to come!
We all deserve a little decadence, and it's high time we stopped viewing pampering as unimportant. Take time to smell the roses, enjoy a beautiful sunset, eat dessert first, and buy jewelry you really love!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Fall Jewelry Collection
Pumpkin, crimson, rust, amber, chocolate.... I adore classic autumn colors and I've been itching to add more of these shades to my jewelry lineup. Unfortunately, I had some delays in launching my fall jewelry collection. But here they are at last!
The October Necklace
The Nostalgia Pendant
The Amber and Rust Necklace
The Rhapsody Necklace
My next post will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how I created the Amber and Rust Necklace.
The October Necklace
The Nostalgia Pendant
The Amber and Rust Necklace
The Rhapsody Necklace
My next post will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how I created the Amber and Rust Necklace.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Stop By and Say Hello!
I'll be at the famous Grape Festival in Naples, New York this weekend (Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm). If you're in the area, please stop by and experience my jewelry in person. Try the pieces on and find one that's perfect for you!
If you haven't been to the Grape Festival before, you really have to check it out. Wine tasting, grape pies, lots of arts and crafts. I specialize in grape-themed jewelry which is always a big hit at the event.
This year I've landed a spot in the prestigious "King's Row," the area of the event that's reserved for the artists who are rank highest in the pre-event jurying. You'll find me right in front of the Town Hall.
If you mention that you've seen me on Etsy, you'll receive a free gift with purchase. I'll also be doing a drawing for some other goodies, including a gift certificate for my online store.
If you haven't been to the Grape Festival before, you really have to check it out. Wine tasting, grape pies, lots of arts and crafts. I specialize in grape-themed jewelry which is always a big hit at the event.
This year I've landed a spot in the prestigious "King's Row," the area of the event that's reserved for the artists who are rank highest in the pre-event jurying. You'll find me right in front of the Town Hall.
If you mention that you've seen me on Etsy, you'll receive a free gift with purchase. I'll also be doing a drawing for some other goodies, including a gift certificate for my online store.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
What's In a Name?
Some have asked me for the story behind my business name, Snowflake Designs. Here's the scoop:
Originally I set out to make exclusively one-of-a-kind pieces. Each and every item of jewelry that I made was unique and I never repeated any patterns or designs. No two were ever alike. Just like snowflakes.
There are so many beautiful gems, so many perfect pearls, so many intriguing glass beads, so many exciting new techniques to learn. I was certain I would never run out of ideas for new jewelry designs.
And so far I haven't.
But there are some problems with creating only one-of-a-kind pieces. I started to play favorites. A few designs turned out so well that I just fell in love with them and didn't want to see them go. Sometimes I would keep these items for myself, but the artist in me still wanted to share these creations with the world. So I started to think about how I could shift my identity.
As I started to do more and more repeatable designs, I found that my creativity was not suffering, but rather flourishing. The more time and practice I had with each piece, the closer it came to my original vision. And as I started to perfect my techniques, I became more confident to use more lavish gemstones, precious metals and other premium materials.
I started to wonder: Should I change my business name? Or could I simply learn to look at it differently?
Snowflakes are one of the most intriguing elements in nature. I have always been fascinated by their intricate details and multifaceted complexity. And it was a similar fascination with sparkling tiny things that attracted me to jewelry making. My approach to jewelry is also multifaceted, using a broad range of varied techniques and materials.
So, today you will find in my jewelry collection some repeating designs alongside some one-of-a-kind works. And the name Snowflake Designs will continue to represent my work, even as I continue to reinvent myself.
Originally I set out to make exclusively one-of-a-kind pieces. Each and every item of jewelry that I made was unique and I never repeated any patterns or designs. No two were ever alike. Just like snowflakes.
There are so many beautiful gems, so many perfect pearls, so many intriguing glass beads, so many exciting new techniques to learn. I was certain I would never run out of ideas for new jewelry designs.
And so far I haven't.
But there are some problems with creating only one-of-a-kind pieces. I started to play favorites. A few designs turned out so well that I just fell in love with them and didn't want to see them go. Sometimes I would keep these items for myself, but the artist in me still wanted to share these creations with the world. So I started to think about how I could shift my identity.
As I started to do more and more repeatable designs, I found that my creativity was not suffering, but rather flourishing. The more time and practice I had with each piece, the closer it came to my original vision. And as I started to perfect my techniques, I became more confident to use more lavish gemstones, precious metals and other premium materials.
I started to wonder: Should I change my business name? Or could I simply learn to look at it differently?
Snowflakes are one of the most intriguing elements in nature. I have always been fascinated by their intricate details and multifaceted complexity. And it was a similar fascination with sparkling tiny things that attracted me to jewelry making. My approach to jewelry is also multifaceted, using a broad range of varied techniques and materials.
So, today you will find in my jewelry collection some repeating designs alongside some one-of-a-kind works. And the name Snowflake Designs will continue to represent my work, even as I continue to reinvent myself.
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