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.