Have you ever felt like you were two different people?
Johanna Ferguson knows all about that. Sometimes her style is “sultry sophisticate.” Sometimes her style is “edgy rocker.” So how does she decide whether to listen to the sexy angel on her right shoulder or to the hard-core devil on her left?
If you want to know how Johanna solves her dilemma, click here.!
Schizophrenically (and loving it!),
Olivia
If you’re passionate about sales, you’ll love The Passionate Collector.
Susan Shieldkret has a Graduate Diploma in Pearls and a Certificate in Jewelry Essentials from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She also loooooves jewelry.
She’s spent the last three years collecting the finest work from her favorite jewelry designers – and designing some of it herself, as well.
To read more and get the sale code, click here.
Passionately,
Olivia
This Little Piggy Went Banking
The economy is slow, prices are going up, the job market is falling – it’s hard to keep your chinny-chin-chin up in times like these.
A lot of people turn to retail therapy when they’re feeling down, but it’s smarter to save than spend these days. But how to battle the bearish blues?
Well, we here at WooMeOver have found one way to pig out a little without breaking the bank!
When you buy a bejeweled piggy bank, you feel like you’re splurging on a luxury item, but they’re actually pretty affordable. Sometimes, when you can’t buy jewels, the next best thing is something bejeweled. And the bonus is that they encourage you to save, save save… and in style!
To read more, click here.
In Hog Heaven,
Olivia
I’ve heard some jewelry described as “timeless,” but this has got to be the gold standard!
Archaeologists were excavating a site in Jerusalem when one of them found an ancient earring. The earring dates back to the time of Christ, making it about 2,000 years old. I’d call that a pearl of a find.
To read more, click here.
Enviously,
Olivia
John S. Brana is Northern California.
His jewelry design reflects the heavy arts culture of the area. He gets his inspiration from the nature that surrounds him in his natural habitat. Even some of the names of his design lines are taken from famous neighborhoods and regions of the San Francisco Bay Area – he pays homage to Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff, and even SoMa.
The resulting pieces are an amazingly accurate representation of the designer, as well as the homeland that he holds so near and dear to his heart.
To read more, click here.
Inspired,
Olivia
The “Wing Necklace” by Mollie Dash (about $50) screams Mister Mister.
Take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free!!
Marie Antoinette once said, “Let them eat cake.” As for me, I’d rather wear it.
Cake Jewelry is having a parking lot sample sale on Saturday, November 8th, through Sunday, November 9th. They’ll be open from 10am-6pm on Saturday and from 11am-5pm on Sunday.
Participating designers include:
Material THings
Material THings Bra Buster Bracelet, $125 at cakejewelry.com.
Lori Cooper
Lori Cooper Atomic Leaves Earrings in Oxidized Sterling Silver and Vesuvianite, $140 at cakejewelry.com.
And of course, Cake Jewelry
Itty Bitties by Cake Bow Tie Necklace in Champagne Citrine, $250 at cakejewelry.com.
Samples are selling for up to 70% off, AND you get extra discounts if you pay in cash! Vintage selections start at $5-$20!
Cake Jewelry
4649 Russell Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 363-3321
For out-of-towners: Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about you, and neither has Cake! Check back at their website for online deals starting November 15!
Frugally,
Olivia
If your birthday is in November, then your birthstone is the topaz!
Topaz is a mineral made of silicon, aluminum, and fluorine. In its purest form, it’s clear, but most topaz is colored by impurities (I guess you could say that it’s beautifully flawed). It can range in color from the straw-yellow typically associated with the gem to sky blue or white or even pink!
It’s got a nice Mohs rating of 8, which makes it tough, but still feminine. Yes, it’s tough, but it’s not tough to find!
Affordable Accent
Kohl’s 10k White Gold Blue Topaz Heart Pendant, $89.99 at kohls.com.
This vivid blue pendant shows how the wearer feels about love — she loves it! And accenting the blue topaz is an army of diamond accents, chiming in, “And WE love YOU!”
The Investment Piece
Bounkit for Vivre BiColor Drop Earring, $460 at vivre.com.
While blue topaz is bright and brash, gray topaz is seductive and sultry. These earrings start with lemon quartz and graduate on down to the smoky depths of the topaz. The allure is well worth the investment.
Living in Luxury
JudeFrances Jewelry Cinnamon Topaz Ring, $3,240 at neimanmarcus.com.
Okay, so I know that I didn’t feature any yellow topaz here, but can you blame me? I was too busy drooling over this tasty cinnamon topaz ring. Flanked by pavé diamond accents and set in 18k white and yellow gold, this ring is truly droolworthy. And, hey, if drool was money, I’d be able to afford it just by ogling it! 
Topaz is a symbol of friendship, and it’s no wonder — you’d be hard-pressed to find a warmer gemstone.
So, to all you friendly November topazes out there, keep showing others your warmth and allure!
Warmly,
Olivia
You’d have to love chunky to love the bold designs of Kenneth Jay Lane, and I don’t mean Jennifer Hudson. Shoot, can’t say that this month, huh? Then how about Callie from Grey’s Anatomy?
A little bit Dynasty, a little bit rock n’ roll, these make fantastic, attention-getting statement pieces. Alexis would be proud.
Bracelets and Rings and Necklaces Oh Mine! All come with a very reasonable price tag.
Find them at Shopbop.
x o x o
~ jewels
(Be sure to catch Part I and Part II of the interview!)
Rita Chung wears Asian2Woman silver and jade hoop earrings.
One day, Rita Chung was signing up for a new e-mail account. The username she wanted, asianchica (many of her friends call her “chica”), was already taken. So was her next choice, asianwoman. So was asian1woman. Can you guess where she went next?
Rita’s always been a people person. She loves getting to know new people, as well as keeping up with old friends. Her people skills often help her to stay on the cutting edge of her trade.
Take for example, the way she learned to tie Chinese knots: she was running a production house in the early 2000s, and she needed to find some corporate gifts. She found a place that made Chinese gift baskets tied with Chinese knots, and quickly made friends with the people who made the baskets. She was inspired to create jewelry from these decorative tassels, and offered to buy lunch for anyone who could teach her how to tie them. They quickly jumped to the task, and Rita was soon tying her own knots for jewelry that she would design and make herself.
The designer wears her own jade necklace and carries an evening bag of her own design.
She also knows a certain Mr. Kung in China. He’s known in Hong Kong as The King of Jade (I like to think of him as “King Kung” — heehee!). She confessed to me that she doesn’t know all of the specific details about the different kinds of jade (although she does know plenty) — but Mr. Kung knows all there is to know. He carves all of her jade for her.
Jade lends substance and dignity to everyday silver hoops.
And she doesn’t stop at jewelry, either — she also designs evening bags (see above) and is working on an exclusive line of kimono accessories for a boutique in Tokyo, Japan. I’m sure that she’s already made friends with half of Tokyo.
And it’s no wonder that she has so many friends — she’s got such a magnetic personality! Much like jade, her favorite material to work with, she’s beautiful, mysterious, and high-energy. It has been our pleasure to get to know this lively woman, and we look forward to seeing what she cooks up in the future.
Enthusiastically,
Olivia
