Handmade Oak Wood Jewelry Box

I happened to be cleaning out old pictures from my computer the other day when I came across these. This is a handmade jewelry box my husband designed (and made by hand) for me that mimics the cut and details of my dresser. He gave it to me as a christmas gift in 2004.

It is oak wood that was stained to match our existing bedroom furniture. I actually notice in picture #2 that is is slightly unfinished -he had yet to get the liner in there because he wanted me to choose the one I liked best. The end result was an absolutely beautiful handmade oak wood jewelry box for all my Crystal Allure jewelry.

Well, if the truth be told....it's no longer big enough to hold my personal collection of Crystal Allure pieces, but I still use it!

My Book Shelf: A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade

I just recently finished A Christmas to Remember by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer. The sad part....I've probably had the book for at least 1-1/2 to 2 years before actually picking it up and reading it. A short time ago, it just happened to work out where I was able to dedicate at least a half hour to an hour of time during the day to pick it up and read it.

As some might say, "back in the day" I used to read books as if they were nutrition and I would starve if I didn't read at least one or two books a week. I loved reading. Then came college and I was "forced" to read. It made the reading experience not so enjoyable and it was during this time that I lost my interest in reading for pleasure. Then life took over and well, I just couldn't find the time. Hence the reasons why it took so long to read this book.

I purchased it because it did look interesting and I am a fan of Thomas Kinkade paintings -so beautiful, so serene. The book was just as beautiful and by "beautiful" I mean...what's the word...nostalgic? I love winter (yes, I know I'm crazy) and I love Christmas (as I'm sure most of us do -especially if you remove the bad parts and focus on the good parts). If you let yourself and open up to the story you can almost feel a part of the tiny town and there are many elements in the story of that nostalgic feeling of Christmases' past. It definately leaves a warm feeling in your heart.

It is one book in a series of I think about 10 other books written in storylines of different characters/visitors of the seaside hamlet of Cape Light. The next book I picked up in the series was A Christmas Visitor and I'm reading that now. I hope to have that done before Christmas. Wish me luck.

By the way -should my sister in law be reading this...yes, I still have the book you gave me (oh, probably 3 years ago?!) and I will get to reading it (someday). But I certainly understand why you haven't lent me any other books since. :-)

It is because I spend so much time designing jewelry and running my business that I felt the need to take a step back and try to enjoy other facets of life (and to try and not be consumed by my beads!). This past weekend I went shopping with a good friend and she happened to ask me about my other projects (the basket weave crochet blanket and the chair reupholstering) and to date the status of both is -I've done nothing. See. I have great ideas and I would really love to do these...I just get side tracked or forget about them or well, everyday life takes over.

So as we approach the holidays I do have some time off and although I will be baking, it is my goal to try and complete these or at least pick them back up again. Stay tuned for updates.

Studio Friday -Well, Studio Monday

Okay, okay -today is monday. But I had planned on posting friday, just got side-tracked. As you can see, I spent a good portion of friday working in the studio on the blog. I changed around the columns, tweaked a few widgets in the smaller columns, and added a few features. Now located at the end of every blog post are two buttons labeled, "tweet this" and "share". The first cool little button allows you to 're-tweet', if you will, the blog post on your twitter account -or share the post through just about any other social media using the second "share" button.

I'm still working out some smaller quirks that bug me and some alignment issues, but I do like the fact that the first column is now the "reading" column -that's what'cha came here for right?!

On another note. It really irks me when someone steals my entire web template, favicon and some photos from my web -just so they can take a short cut to start their own online store. You know what? I've spend years and hours upon hours (and not to mention money) on getting my site, brand and photos to where they are. Take the high road and stop stealing my hard work. I know who you are now and will be following you -oh yeah...and I reported you.

There's always one, right?!

Autumn Brides -Custom Fall Wedding Jewelry

Back in September a bride-to-be contacted me about the Red Aventurine Gemstone Beaded Necklace to see if I had more than one in stock. She wanted to give them as gifts to her bridesmaids for her upcoming October wedding. Although I didn't have but one in stock because it was a one of a kind beaded necklace, I discussed creating a second similar necklace to give as gifts to the bridesmaids and to get the Red Aventurine Gemstone Beaded Necklace for her maid of honor. That way, the maid of honor will stand out from the rest of the bridal party.

I sent off small samples of the beads that would be used, since she really wanted her wedding jewelry to match with her fall themed wedding. The bridal party dresses where strapless with a sweetheart neckline in a rich chocolate brown color. Her wedding colors were to be brown and orange so these gemstones and style necklace were perfect for her wedding!

In the days after speaking with her I got set off on finding just the right pendant and gemstone to coordinate with the existing necklace she planned on purchasing. What I found was a beautiful teardrop Red Aventurine pendant with a cut out in the middle. Instantly I pictured a single chocolate freshwater pearl dangling like a leaf in the middle. I was able to secure the same pearls and gemstones for the bridesmaids dresses and with some beautiful gift packaging, Sarah's Custom Bridesmaids Autumn Necklace Set was sure to be a showstopper!

The picture above is not of her wedding but it is a representation of how beautiful a fall wedding can be especially with a chocolate and orange color combination. The custom bridal jewelry from Crystal Allure is pictured in the middle with my specialty packaging just for her wedding in the lower left corner.

PS In case you're curious about the small favor boxes shown on the plates in the upper right hand corner, they can be found and purchased over at Favors With Love.

Shop or request your custom jewelry from CrystalAllure.com

Custom Bridal Memorial Bracelet

It seems almost impossible to combine the words, "bridal" with "memorial" -right? I would have thought the same thing but found recently that's not quite true. A very dear customer of mine approached me about designing a custom bracelet for a bride whose father had already passed away but asked her cousin (my customers' husband) to walk her down the isle. Here's the story..

Mary Kay's husband was asked by his cousin to walk her down the isle on her special day (her father had passed before her wedding day). She came to me to design a unique and special bracelet that he could present to her in honor of being asked to walk her down the isle.

At first, it was difficult to come up with a design because I wanted to include both the honor of his being asked but also honor the memory of her father and still keep the design beautiful enough that she could wear it on her wedding day. It all came together when I found the sterling bali prayer box charm with the word "Dad" on the side. It was absolutely perfect!

The bali prayer box charm holds a single Swarovski crystal in the birthstone of her father and the initials each represent the first initial of the bride, her father and Mary Kay's husband (with the bride's initial in the middle). To make the bracelet even more meaningful, I included a little card that read:

I am honored to have been chosen to walk such a special person down the isle on her wedding day. This bracelet symbolizes how I feel and although I am physically here for this honor, your father is here in memory. On this bracelet, handmade just for you, is a prayer box containing an emerald Swarovski Crystal in your fathers’ birthstone. It also has three initials to symbolize that although I will walk beside you, your father will also in heart and spirit. We will both be “walking” you down the isle on this very special day.

Both Mary Kay and her husband were absolutely thrilled with the design and special meanings behind the charm used and letter beads. And I am always thrilled and exceptionally happy to create a special jewelry piece that has meaning and will be cherished for a lifetime.

New Beaded Necklace: Sugar Plum Fairy

Every other year or so, my husband and I will attend the local Nutcracker Ballet show. It's a beautiful ballet and perfect introduction to the surprise, excitement and beauty of the upcoming holidays. Personally, I've never professionally danced although when I was young I'd stand for hours on end at the local dance studio watching all the girls dance -wishing I could be one of them. Alas, it never happened. But to this day I still love the beauty and magic of the Nutcracker -the dancing snowflakes, the land of the sugar plum fairy, clara, the Nutcracker, well, the whole thing!

Sugar Plum Fairy Ruby Quartz Natural Ruby Pave Gemstone Beaded Necklace

When shopping recently at a bead show I came across the most beautiful natural ruby gemstones and knew I had to have them. It wasn't until I 'accidentally' set them next to my ruby quartz gemstones that the design immediately came to life. Once again, I dropped everything to work on this design and I added sterling Pave' style stardust beads that give the illusion of fairy dust floating in the midnight sky, as Clara danced.

I have tried everything I could think of to get the best picture of these stunning and beautiful gemstones, but I just couldn't wait any longer to intro the piece. I'm like a kid in a candy store...when I love a design so much I just can't wait to share it with everyone. I'll still be working on a better picture but trust me, in person, this necklace and matching earrings are beyond words -so feminine, so beautiful...

And because I love sharing my designs so much, I'm making Tuesdays -Two for Tuesdays! So for today only, purchase the necklace and get the earrings FREE!! No coupon needed, I'll automatically ship the beaded earrings with your order.

Check out all the new beaded jewelry including beautiful holiday jewelry!