Spring Preview

I've known Morgan Moran and her family since Morgan was in first grade. Recently, we've become reacquainted, since Morgan's sister Maddie has been working for me as an intern (while also studying fashion merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth University). Right now, Maddie is working on a logo and packaging design for a new line of children's birthstone jewelry I'll be launching this spring. She brought her sister Morgan over one day last week when both were home from college on winter break (Morgan is a junior at the University of Alabama, where she's studying political science). We had a great afternoon taking pictures of Morgan in some of my new spring pieces, going over logo ideas, and playing with my toy poodle Jackson (who managed to find his way into one of the photos).  Here are a few of my favorite photos from the shoot. All the jewelry is available in my Etsy shop. Click on the photos to link to each individual item.

New Jewelry for Fall

Lately I've been inspired to make pieces that can stand alone or be worn layered with other jewelry. Here are some of my favorite new items: baby pearl pendant, large olive jade pendant, large smoky quartz pendant, mixed stone necklace, leopard jasper bracelet, raw quartz cluster pendant, large serpent choker, leopard mother-of-pearl bracelet. All of them are available in my Etsy shop.

Race to End Women's Cancer Tribute Bracelet

Over the last few years I've been privileged to get to know several women who've battled some type of women's cancer (otherwise known as "below the belt" cancers). Although my friends who've fought this devastating disease are very different from one another, they have one thing in common—they're all fabulous women. So when one of them suggested that we work together to design a tribute piece to raise money for the National Race to End Women's Cancer, I was on board right away. 

After much trial and even more error, we came up with this simple bracelet made with either silver- or gold-plated chain, natural amethysts, and shell pearls. The purple amethyst represents the color of the Foundationfor Women's cancer. This handmade bracelet is delicate and easy to wear alone or stacked with other bracelets. And at only $30, you could get one for yourself, one for your mom or your daughter, and one for your best friend and still come in at under $100!

The bracelet can be ordered online from my Etsy shop. For those of you who live in the Washington, DC, area, they can also be purchased from Debra Schule directly at schulemedia@mindspring.com. The bracelet will also be available for purchase at Rock, Paper, Cocktails,  a shopping benefit to support the mission of the Foundation for Women's Cancer on September 30, 2013, 6:30—9:30 pm, in Alexandria, VA.

All profits from the bracelets will go to the Race to End Women's Cancer. Please buy one (or several) and join the fight!

My Best Model, Hands Down

I visited my parents at their home in Bellevue, Washington, recently, and while there I took some pictures of my mother in her studio, wearing my jewelry. At 81, she is still a working artist. The photos show some of her works in progress. Her website is under construction, but in the meantime you can read about her and see a few of her finished pieces on her gallery's website here.

I would have liked to write something heartfelt about my mom in this post, but I can't seem to come up with anything that doesn't sounds like a Hallmark card (and she would hate that!). So I'll keep it simple and just say that I couldn't wish for a more beautiful mama.

In these pictures, my mom is wearing my triple strand pearl necklace, my cherry quartz nugget necklace, and my long gray coin pearl necklace (worn long and doubled).  Her earrings are her own.

The Best Kind of Friends

Checking out the goods

Florence wearing my ram pendant

Sara wearing my red turquoise pendant; Florence wearing my lapis and clear quartz necklace

Florence wearing my leopard, pearl, and quartz necklace

Sarah wearing my red turquoise pendant

Sara, Florence, and Sara's baby bump!

Sara wearing my blue quartz pendant (coming soon)

Florence wearing my keishi pearl necklae

Sara wearing my red turquoise pendant

Sara wearing my cheery quartz necklace; Florence wearing my leopard, pearl, and quartz necklace

How lucky is it when you have a super-supportive friend? What about when you have not one but two such friends? AND they're big fans of your work who also look gorgeous in it? It's all just a little too much good fortune. But that good fortune happens to be mine. Meet my friends, sisters Florence Gill and Sara Golden. These two beautiful women couldn't be more different from each other, but they share a warmth and generosity that makes it unsurprising that they're related. Plus, they're both insanely chic and love to incorporate my jewelry into their outfits, which I take as a huge compliment! Recently, the three of us met up at Buzz Bakery in Alexandria on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to enjoy ice coffees, catch up, and take some pictures. I think the results speak for themselves. 

Late Summer Loveliness

You may remember my daughter's friend Sarah who did some modeling for me earlier this summer. I was lucky to have her stop by to shoot a few more pictures before she finishes up an internship in DC and heads off for a semester abroad in Morocco. Having  known Sarah since she was a shy little girl too scared to spend the whole night at my daughter's 8-year-old sleepover birthday party, I find it a little disconcerting to see her now as a grown up, self-possessed, and beautiful young woman. But that's exactly what she is, and I'm so glad she was willing to share her gorgeousness with us one more time! (As you can see from the last photo, my dog Jackson was pretty thrilled to see her again, too.)

Sarah is modeling (in order) my long clear quartz pendant, cherry quartz nugget necklace, mixed chain and clear cubic zirconia bracelet, lapis and clear quartz necklace, blue-green turquoise earrings, and pink variscite pendant. All pieces are available in my Etsy shop.