Colors of Spring: Accessories! Must-Haves!

Continuing with the spring theme, here’s four must-have accessories for the season:

butterfly necklace pendant : My Selvaged Life

Bomber ear flap hat : Shanionie

thin beaded tribal bracelet : jewelry by carmal

recycled leather and floral handmade ladies sandal : Cholesburys

Colors of Spring: Mustard, Green and Blues

lace and linen mustard yellow off shoulder dress : SpathDesigns

floral & denim cotton rope bracelets : maslinda

cabochon vintage ring : jessjamesjake

1940’s olive green Florsheim Maryjanes : jessjamesjake

Sweet Things for Under $25

Hello necklace for $17 : Exaltation
sterling silver with grey pearl for $20 : Forged in Life
tiny heart bracelet for $18.50 : Water Horse Studios
sterling silver daydream charm necklace for $24.99 : hukathryn

Vintage basket full of yarn balls for $16 : shepshaberdashery
blue enamel tea pot for $22.63 : Kelly Powell Designs
Original Patina kettle for $18.95 : A Jewels Quest
Vintage rolling pin for $18 : shepshaberdashery

vintage sheer blouse for $18.07 : Extinct Vintage
Liz Claiborne pleated floral skirt for $20 : dalatlanta
floral halter dress : the vintage side show
vintage print button up shirt for $16 : T Town Vintage

Shop of the Week: Bluebird Bijou and a Giveaway

Though Bluebird Bijou is a new shop, it is gracefully taking flight.  

I am glad that Mary Lynn agreed to do this interview on my blog and she has been generous to offer a giveaway – this beautiful pair of blue earrings for one reader:)  But before that, let’s get to know a little more about the shop owner.

What’s the inspiration behind your shop’s name?
I think defining the name of your shop is something that everyone deliberates over and over and over again and then just when they think they have it…the name is already taken or uncertainty creeps in and they start questioning themselves again!

I believe the goal behind a shop name should be to evoke the essence of what you represent as an artist or to define the type of service you want to provide.  To come up with the name of my shop, I started by writing down words that expressed how I felt when designing jewelry.  Basically, I wrote down every adjective under the sun for happiness.  I then thought about what symbolized happiness to me and I thought of my wedding song: Somewhere over the rainbow by IZ.

    “Oh, somewhere over the rainbow, 

blue birds fly, 

and the dreams that you dreamed of, 

Dreams really do come true.”

And, that is how the name Bluebird was born. As for Bijou- short and sweet- my husband suggested it- and I like it.

Bluebird [ˈbluːˌbɜːd] A true-blue, authentically genuine, fabled Blue Bird of Happiness
Bijou [bē’zhū’] A small, exquisitely wrought trinket

How old is your shop?
My shop is only 4 months old- it was launched in November 2010.

What inspired you to start your own home business?

I have always loved artisan handcrafted jewelry. When traveling to seaside towns or areas across the country, I love browsing unique artisan shops – particularly the handcrafted jewelry section.  Unfortunately, I am like a moth to a flame- somehow I am always drawn to the most expensive item in the store. So, there was more browsing than purchasing!

When I got married, I wanted to buy my bridesmaids some jewelry- again everything I liked was very expensive.  I lucked out and I stumbled upon a craft store one day and they were having a trunk show of the most unbelievable gemstones. I was hooked! I took some classes and learned the basics and the rest is history. I am constantly taking classes and learning new techniques.

Eventually, I started making jewelry for family or for friends. When they would wear my jewelry, people would ask them about it and wanted to know where they could buy it. So, my husband encouraged me to open a store on Etsy.  My goal was, to create one-of-a-kind artisan jewelry at an affordable price without compromising the quality of ingredients and craftsmanship.

“I usually sit outside on my deck, on my sofa, at the table, or on a chair at the beach!” –MaryLynn

Can you give us a peek on the creative process involved in your craft?

Hmmm, this is a hard question for me.  I really do not have a designated work station.  I usually sit outside on my deck, on my sofa, at the table, or on a chair at the beach!

I prefer to keep my craft simple- meaning only hand held portable tools. I remember I picked up a copy of Wire magazine and thinking, “You can create that… with two pliers!”   I find the smaller and more tedious the work the more I love it!

As far as the creative process, I see jewelry as a miniature canvas with gemstones as my paints. I am mesmerized by nature and the beauty of gemstones.  I try to mix textures and colors that seem to naturally go together.

What was the toughest challenge you faced so far?
Having confidence in my craft and feeling vulnerable from exposing my art for the world to see and judge.  And, I also deal with a small defect called perfectionism!

How did you get over it?

I don’t think you ever get over it!   However, having an incredibly supportive husband,  family and friends definitely helps.  I am also insanely thankful to all the people on Etsy who have sent me a friendly message, hearted me, or circled me- it really makes my day!

Please Name:the things you do when you’re not busy in your shop?

Work wise- I am actually a scientist and try to develop new drugs- most recently I worked on developing new drugs for Malaria. Currently, I am working with a group to develop a medical device to allow HIV positive women in developing countries to breastfeed. One day, I would love to open a small boutique and do science on the side as a consultant!

MaryLynn, designer/shop owner of Bluebird Bijou

Personally- I love taking classes to learn new techniques to create jewelry. I also love everything outdoors, travel, museums, and am a huge foodie!

Stuff inside your bag you can’t leave home without?
This is easy; I have to have in my purse at all times lipstick, tic-tacs, wallet and my droid phone.

Your favorite shops?
There are so many shops that I love on Etsy, but here are a few of my favs:
BijouxOdalisque’s- all of it!
Skydreams- all of it!
Idolly Designs- I love, love, love her Leaf Necklace!
Elementclaystudio- Nesting Scallop Bowls, Copper Blue
Creativethursday- I am a thriving artist
Lighttexture- Steam Light Micro Lamp
Yoola-Tutorial set
Ok- I have to stop this could never end!

Your top 3 favorite picks from your shop?

The first favorite pick is easy, the Just for You Necklace.   I designed this necklace for my mom.   In Christmas 2009, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. When the time came for her to start treatments, I was unable to travel and both my brother and sister were overseas.

Since we could not be there with my mom, I went searching for a special gift that would help her through this difficult time. But after not finding anything personalized or special enough, I decided to make her a necklace that she could wear everyday to remind her of family and that we were there for her in spirit.

The necklace helped her fight the battle against this disease by giving her the motivation to get up for her treatments and still fix her hair and make-up. As my mom said to me, “I could not wear something so beautiful and special without putting myself together.”   She was able to wear the necklace throughout her radiation treatments. It really helped her to focus on family and not what was happening at the time; it was as though we were there with her. It’s funny how a small object can have so much power.

I truly believe in the power of this necklace to give comfort and strength. My mom is now cancer free!

Second favorite pick is the Opal-Essence Earrings. These earrings remind me of the summer sitting on the beach or looking for shells. It’s just a great feeling I get when I look at them.

Third favorite pick is The Ocean Blue Earrings. They are simple and elegant.  I designed these earrings to go with the necklace I created for my matron of honor in my wedding- they just remind me of her.

What tips would you want to share for aspiring home based entrepreneurs like you?

Believe in yourself- follow your dreams- and don’t be so hard on yourself.

Any message to your customers and the people who support you?

Thank you! Thank you for the support and for believing in my art. Everything in life takes a village.

A special thanks to you Rachel at theshopbug :))

 ~*~*~*~
Thank you MaryLynn for being our Shop of the Week!  

All the Best to Bluebird Bijou!

To Enter the Giveaway:

Simply visit Bluebird Bijou at Etsy, then leave a comment here and tell us your most favorite item.

Additional Entries:
Please leave one comment for each step you do.

1. Be a follower of my blog.  (Click on the follow button on the right side bar)

2. Link this post on Facebook.

3. Link this post on Twitter.

4. Blog about this interview & giveaway.

Check back on March 21 to see if you won. If you’re not a blogger, don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you.

Wish List: Tiffany & Co.

Vintage Jewelry by Tiffany & Co.

on sale here now.

Thank You Simag Jewelry

Last Tuesday I got the parcel from Sima Gilady of Simag Jewelry.  It was a beautiful 14 karat gold filled necklace with our names on it!  Thank you Sima for the giveaway and the wonderful interview.  If you missed the interview, you can read it here.  And if you are looking for a personalized jewelry, please do visit Sima’s shop.  Her creations are made out of love and she is such a sweetheart to work with.

Simag Jewelry Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in the “iloveyou” Simag Jewelry giveaway.  And the winner is “the giveaway diva”.  Congratulations!  I’ll contact you soon for details!

Silver Puppy Necklace Giveaway by Junghwa

Photo by: Junghwa

And here’s another giveaway from Amy Stewart’s blog.

Shop of the Week: Simag Jewelry

It has been months since we have featured a Shop of the Week and I’m very happy to make up for the lost time with a very special shop and seller.  I’m sure that many of you may have been acquainted with Sima Gilady, either through her Etsy shop or through her blog. 

This interview has long been put on hold and finally, it’s here.  And so without further ado, let’s get to meet the woman behind Simag Jewelry:

What’s the inspiration behind your shop’s name?

♥ SPREADING YOUR LOVE ♥  ONE LETTER AT A TIME ♥

If every necklace were like every others, our kids will not be so unique.

How old is your shop?

My shop is two years old

What inspired you to start your own home business?

Everything… because inspiration is all around me. I get inspired by my family, my beautiful kids, my life, my dreams, nature (I live in beautiful Boulder, Colorado), and song lyrics.

I often browse fashion and home magazines for inspiration and get ideas from friends and customers. I truly see each custom personalized design as my opportunity to share the life of that family – through joyous occasions such as a birthday or holiday or wedding and through their sadness in my pieces of remembrance in sharing a family’s loss.

Necklaces by Simag

I create every piece with love, one letter at a time – it’s the ultimate personal experience for me. This isn’t just a job for me, it’s a great passion and blessing to be able to be a part of a family’s story – even if just in that short moment of time.

I never forget a family’s special request for a custom order and every time I duplicate that certain piece, I’m taken back to the wonderful unique stories that my work allows me to share with my community.

Rings by Simag

Please Name: 

the things you do when you’re not busy in your shop:

I love being with my family.

I LOVE to cook, bake and photography.

But my biggest passion is thrift store art.  I bought some amazing pieces of  furniture,then repaint them.

The Gilady Family

stuff inside your bag you can’t leave home without:

My camera, My Lipgloss, My Sunglasses and Money

your top 3 favorite picks from your shop:

Circle of Joy Necklace

Love of My Life Necklace

14 k Gold Filled disc and Sterling Silver disc

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sima for being a sweetheart since the first day I tried to get in touch with her through e-mail.  Thank you so much for offering to sponsor the “iloveyou necklace giveaway“.  If you haven’t yet entered, please do so now before March 29th, when the winner will be announced.  And please do visit Sima’s shop, you’ll surely find a lot of beautiful ways to spell love.

a thousand ways to say i love you…

Each one of us have his and her own ways to say i love you and it doesn’t need to be verbal all the time.  It can be waking your wife first thing in the morning with a sweet kiss on her nose.  It can be a tap on the shoulder or a smile.  It can be a huge hug when he comes home from work.  It can be a call in the middle of the day just to say hi.  It can be breakfast in bed when you do not feel well.  A surprise note by the wall.  It can be a long walk with your hands held together.  It can be terms of endearment or words of encouragement.  a warm touch.  a poem.  an act of kindness.  and sometimes it must be spoken – just as it is… i love you.

On 29th, we are celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary.  I would like to share something special to one of you – a sterling silver iloveyou necklace from Simag jewelry.  To be part of the giveaway, you can do either one or all these steps for more entries:

1.  Leave a comment.  What’s your own unique way of saying i love you?
2.  Blog about this giveaway.
3.  Follow my blog if you are not yet a follower.
4.  Link to my blog.
5.  Link to this post from your Twitter or Facebook account.
6.  Add me to your Facebook contacts.

The giveaway winner will be chosen on March 29 using Random.org.  Please, don’t forget to say in your comment all the steps you’ve done to take part.  Oh, and please make sure that I can get back to you either through your blog or email.  Thanks 🙂