Shell Pearls—What Are They?

As time passes, I find myself using shell pearls more and more often in my work (for example, in this Beauty Queen necklace). Why? Because they have the elegant, sophisticated, but still fashionable and not-too-serious look that I want for my pieces. Also, they're available in lots of colors and sizes, and, best of all, they're inexpensive, which allows me to keep my prices reasonable.

My clients often ask me what shell pearls are, exactly. So, in case you're wondering, here's the answer. Shell pearls are laboratory-made pearls that begin with the shell of an oyster. The raw material is then coated, shaped, and polished. Shell pearls are durable, and perspiration, perfume, and detergents won't damage them.

In short, while shell pearls are not "real" in the sense that they come straight from the oyster, they're not really fake pearls, either. They're the perfect happy medium for those who like beautiful jewelry and plenty of it!

In My Next Life

If I ever get married again (not in this life, I hope, since I already have a great husband, not to mention a great engagement ring), this Jamie Joseph Wisteria ring with pave diamonds will be my next engagement ring. It's so beautiful and unique, and, although it's large, you wouldn't have to choose between the ring and a down payment on a house. Jamie Joseph is such an amazing designer!

Steal!

I've been wanting a pair of the oh-so-popular J Brand Houlihan cargo pants (first image) for a while, but spending $230 for a pair of cargos that will probably be out of style in a season seemed excessively self-indulgent. So I was pretty happy when I found a nice pair of knock-offs (second image) at Old Navy last weekend, and on sale for $25, too! The fact that they fit well and are super-comfy is another bonus. I wore them with a Madewell tee (also on sale), my Tory Burch flats (finally, after wearing these about 100 times, they are starting to get comfortable), and, to dress things up a bit, my Diva sterling silver cluster pendant with onyx, cubic zirconia, and freshwater pearls.

I'm in Love

I'm in love with this Vince sweater I got such a fabulous deal on at Emily Grace at the District Sample Sale last week. You really can't tell how great it is from the picture. The way the neckline drapes is amazing, and the knit is so incredibly soft. Plus it's my favorite color—dark gray. As soon as the weather gets cool enough, I'll be wearing it with my "Trendsetter" bracelet with oval shell pearls.

District Sample Sale, September 2010

Thanks to Natalia, who writes about the DC arts scene for examiner.com, for including a photo of me and my table in her article about the District Sample Sale. View the slideshow, or read the article. The event was a lot of fun, and it raised money for a great cause, GW's Mobile Mammography Program (GW Mammovan).

Boutique Find: Treat's Renee C Vest

One of my favorite things about selling my jewelry at small boutiques is having the opportunity to shop at those boutiques. I tend to rely on chain stores like Gap and J Crew for wardrobe basics, but I love finding unique, special items at boutiques to make those basics more interesting. Last weekend while dropping off new jewelry at Treat in Old Town Alexandria, I was excited about the collection of new pieces (all under $100) from smaller designers that the store has just added. After much deliberation I picked out the renee c vest pictured above. I'm wearing it today for the first time, and I know it will see a lot more use as fall unfolds. It's the kind of thing you can wear with a tee shirt (as I am now) as well as with all sorts of other things. There was a another really cool one in black and darker grays, too. It was hard to decide!

At first I was going to wear it with a necklace, but with the sort of scarf-like, drapey neckline, that felt like a bit much. So I opted for the Bombshell earrings and my new Ruthie B bracelet. Perfect!

Fall Finds

Last weekend, I took advantage of some of the great discounts out there to get a head start on my fall shopping. I got a pair of Steve Madden brown leather slip-on oxfords (not on sale, but still a great price),and a slouchy sweater and cropped skinny jeans from Gap (everything at the store was 30% off, and the sweater was on sale, too.) By the way, in spite of the name, you do NOT have to be skinny to wear these jeans, and they're not too low-cut, either. I think this outfit would look great with my new "Ruthie B" tiered necklace made with delicate brass chains. Now if the weather would just cool off!