Multistrand choker necklaces

While I have a few days to myself this week, I'm in full-on production mode. Here are a couple of my latest creations—two new "Heiress" necklaces. This has been one of my most popular styles over the years, and I love coming up with new variations. Both are available from my Etsy shop.

30% Off Everything!

For 3 days only, enjoy 30% off everything in my Etsy shop and my Etsy wedding shop! Use the code STOCKING at checkout. Ends at midnight on Friday, December 28th.  Have fun shopping!

Cluster Madness

With my holiday shows over and all holiday orders safely delivered to their recipients, I've been having fun starting to restock my inventory and create new designs. First on the list is a new crop of cluster necklaces. I especially love making these because it's a chance to mix colors, shapes, and textures. Sometimes I have the piece all planned out from the beginning, and other times I just plunge in and see what happens. All these necklaces and others are available in limited quantities in my Etsy shop.

A Little Piece of the Sea

I always start thinking about summer right around this time of year. Since there are no beach vacations in my immediate future, the next best thing is this new starfish necklace that I just added to my Etsy shop. It makes me feel like waves and sand aren't far away. If you're lucky enough to be going somewhere warm this winter, wouldn't this be the perfect necklace to take with you? It would also make a great bridesmaid's gift for anyone planning a beach wedding. It's also available in my wedding shop, where the cubic zirconia teardrop can be ordered in the color of your choice to complement your wedding colors.

Sweaters and Pearls

I love sweaters and scarves (like this super-soft Autumn Cashmere turtleneck I scored during Hysteria's sale at my trunk show there last weekend) at this time of year, but all that cozy deliciousness makes it hard to wear jewelry. The solution: a pair of my shell pearl earrings. They come in small, medium, and large, all available at my Etsy shop, and each size is available in sterling silver or gold filled with gray, white, or champagne shell pearls. Need them for a holiday gift? Order by Monday, 12/17, to ensure that they arrive before Christmas.

Hysteria Trunk Show

Hysteria

Franny modeling my long "Trend-setter" necklace with turquoise squares, large "Drama Queen" octopus pendant, and "Charmer" pendant with seahorse and leaf charms and cubic zircona. Contact me to order.

I had such a great time at my trunk show at Hysteria this weekend! In addition to hanging out with the store's wonderful manager, Alicia, and her great employees, Franny and Alex, I met so many appreciative customers. My most exciting sale was a special-order earrings and necklace set to Sam Kass's mom; she's going to wear it to the White House holiday party. Maybe Michelle Obama will see it and decide she needs one for herself! (A girl can dream, right?) Icing on the cake was the absolutely gorgeous Autumn Cashmere sweater I scored thanks to the incredible discounts the store was offering over the weekend (which, by the way, is still going on). The store carries a large selection of my work, so if you're in Old Town, stop in a take a look.

FW Cover

My new "Luxe" necklace with blue quartz teardrops is on the cover of the December 2012 issue of FW (Fashion Washington), the Washington Post's fashion glossy! The model is wearing two of the necklaces layered together. The necklace is available in my Etsy shop in blue quartz or smoky quartz. This is a piece you could wear with holiday party attire—and then to brunch the next day with a simple white tee shirt or gray cashmere sweater!

Leopard and Green

I've been wanting a bright green sweater for a while, so when J Crew had a big sale recently, I sprung for this cashmere tee. I can't wait for it to arrive! I'm going to wear it with my new leopardskin print mother-of-pearl necklace, which is now available in my Etsy shop, and my favorite Real Straight jeans from Gap.

Washington Post Express Gift Guide

My "Luxe" bracelet with amethyst nuggets is in the Washington Post Express Holiday Gift Guide! (See. p. 39 of the November 30th issue.) Check the issue out for lots of other great gift ideas, too. The bracelet is $125 and is available at Julia Farr, or contact me to order.

New Pieces

"Heiress" necklace with XXL mixed shell pearls. $250.

"Luxe" necklace with leopardskin mother of pearl ovals. $165.

I'm excited to share these two new necklaces styles. The Heiress necklace with shell pearls is big sister to the smaller version, a long-time favorite. The Luxe necklace with leopardskin mother-of-pearl ovals is a brand-new look for me.  Both will be available at my events this weekend, the Campagna Center Christmas Marketplace on Friday, 11/30, from 9 am to 5 pm at the Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, and the Ruth Barzel Jewelry Open House at my home in Arlington on Saturday, 12/1, from 4 pm to 9 pm, and Sunday, 12/2, from noon to 5 pm. Everyone is welcome! View my website for details about both events. Can't be there? Contact me to order either necklace.

Find! Short Pea Coat

I normally think of Land's End as a place to buy outerwear for kids or maybe a basic polo shirt for my husband. So it was with some trepidation that I took the plunge and ordered this short pea coat for myself. What a pleasant surprise! The coat fits really well and is soft and comfy. I ordered it in Palmetto, and I absolutely love the color, too. And with the 30% off + free shipping deals that Land's End frequently offers, the price is pretty unbeatable. This might finally be the wool coat that manages to lure me away from the frumpy down jacket I always seem to end up wearing when it's cold out.

Etsy Holiday Gift Guide

shell pearl pendanthttps://www.etsy.com/listing/112745520/round-shell-pearl-pendant-necklace-item

Etsy is an amazing place to shop. But it's daunting wading through everything to find the good stuff. Since I spend a lot of time on the site, I thought I'd share some of my favorite items that would make great, unique holiday gifts. Wouldn't it be nice to give everyone on your list something special that was made by hand?

Here's my list:

simple shell pearl pendant (made by me!)
pure wool dog sweater
chunky lace cowl scarf
cool silk tie
gorgeous gold-and-diamond stacking rings
to-die-for leather handbag
felted cat bed
cute leather business-card holder
chai latte marshmallows from Scotland
one-of-a-kind bookmark
beautiful leg warmers
"I love you" clay pears
personalized coasters
gorgeous pillow
adorable tiny felted mice

There! Shopping done.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving I'm especially thankful for our newest family member, Jackson. Jackson is a 6-year-old toy poodle we adopted recently. I embarked on the journey of dog ownership with much trepidation. But now that Jackson is ours, I'm not sure how I ever got along without him. In addition to being awesome in every way, he has proven to be a great jewelry model! In this photo he's wearing my Glamour Girl red turquoise necklace. Isn't it perfect for him?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Simple Curved Bar Necklaces

A little while ago I posted about some of the new bigger pieces I've been working on lately. Much as I'm loving them (and there are more in the works, so check back!), there's no substitute for a simple, understated necklace that goes with everything. I'm really happy with these curved bar necklaces that I started making recently. They come in silver or gold and are perfect for days when you're in the mood for something low key but still cool. I think they'd look especially good with a basic tee shirt. And at $49 each, they make great gifts. Available at Reunions and Kiskadee (while supplies last), or contact me to order directly.

Reunions Trunk Show

Here are a couple of photos from my trunk show at Reunions in Alexandria this past weekend. What a lovely shop! The owner, Barbara, and the entire staff are so warm and welcoming, and the merchandise is great. Need Christmas decorations, gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list, and maybe a gorgeous antique dresser or some beautiful vintage china while you're at it? Reunions has it. No wonder the store is so popular.

New Store

I'm excited that my jewelry is now available at Kiskadee, a super-cute boutique in Del Ray in Alexandria, VA, that sells clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and gifts. If you're in the neighborhood, stop in and check it out. The whole area is a great place to prowl around.

Gray Boots

steve madden "intyce" boots in stone leather

I've been wanting a pair of gray boots for a while, and I also needed a pair of comfy but stylish shoes to wear at all my upcoming holiday trunk shows and events. This pair by Steve Madden works! I'll wear them with lots of different things this winter, but I'm especially looking forward to pairing them with leggings, a loose sweater like this one, and a long, delicate necklace. To see the outfit live, stop by my trunk show at Reunions in Alexandria this weekend!

Big Jewelry

"luxe" blue quartz teardrop necklace

"luxe" sky blue quartz nugget necklace

"luxe" long mixed-metal necklace with honey jade nuggets

"luxe" amethyst nugget bracelet

For my very first post on this new blog, I wanted to show you some of the bigger pieces I've been trying out lately. I have mixed feelings about this new direction because I've always preferred simple, understated jewelry (and I definitely plan to keep making a lot of that, too, so don't worry!). But I actually really like these new pieces. I'd feel comfortable and not ridiculous wearing them to holiday parties—or pretty much anywhere, for that matter. In fact, I think I'm going to wear the long necklace with honey jade nuggets tomorrow! These pieces aren't available in my etsy shop yet, but you can purchase them at Julia Farr (while supplies last), or contact me to order directly.