Perch'd

  I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Sunshine's new business venture. Perch'd, a modern home accessories store located in Automobile Alley in OKC. Sunshine has a great eye for design and you will recognize that as soon as you pull up to her new shop. I think the "coolest" part of her concept is the shipping container that she up-cycled for her storefront. It is, for a lack of better words, "bad ass!" It doesn't stop there, she carries a plethora of interesting modern pieces you will fall in love with. Check out my favorites below and be sure to follow Perch'd on facebook and instagram @perchdmodern. Oh, and she carries Bella Vita Oklahoma necklaces and Thunder Up necklaces!

"Never Give Up"

Hi! I've decided to start a new series of posts. They will feature my clients (with their permission) and their custom orders. I've met some amazing people over the last couple of years and have been commissioned to do some really neat pieces of jewelry for these people. I think it will be fun to share with you! Short sweet posts about really cool designs ideas and inspirations. Hope you enjoy!

Meet Lane - I know her as momma extraordinaire to Super Tuck and the writer of supertucksmama.com.
Lane found me on Instagram via a friend and emailed me about a necklace that she wanted.
After a few emails I came up with this design for her. 
I really enjoy following Lane on Instagram (@supertucksmama) and on her blog. Go check her out!

2013 Spring Color Forecast

 I just got a chance to browse the 2013 Pantone color forecast for Spring. I was a little surprised by the colors... But I think they are all very beautiful. I guess I was surprised because they seem a little "muted" versus the past years. The colors that excite and inspire me the most are: "Monaco Blue", "Sunflower", "Vibrant Orange", and "Emerald".

 I leave for my annual materials buying trip in exactly 3 weeks and I will be using these colors as inspiration. I am so excited to see what new stones and other materials I can get my hands on. 5 days of shopping in the Arizona sun... I hope... one year the weather was awful- record lows and freezing pipes! But, most years the weather is amazing and sunny.

Are you a little surprised by this color palette for Spring 2013? Tell me why.

Oh my goodness, Hello 2013, Hello Blog!

It has been so long since I posted and I am so sorry for that.
Christmas sales took over my life! It was a lot of fun but a lot of hard work and long hours.
I ended up picking up 6 new wholesale accounts over about a 4 month period of time. No complaints but it kept me very busy. I also participated in some of the most amazing shows I've ever done! The Northwest Arkansas Boutique show and The Little Craft Show proved to be very successful for my little biz this year. I couldn't be more pleased because I love supporting both of these local Arkansas shows. I also had the opportunity to participate in my first "Pop Up" shop, curated by Allison Barta Bailey (Shopcrawlr), at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown OKC. This was a lot of fun and sales were nice too. The days were somewhat challenging b/c I was working on so many custom orders that I was getting up at 4:30 a.m. to get them completed, going to the shops from 11-8 and getting home around 9 and going straight to bed. But, all in all I really enjoyed the experience. I loved going to work downtown everyday and being in such a beautiful location was great too!

After all the shows were over I took about 8 days off to go home for Christmas. It was really nice to visit family and friends in Arkansas and Texas. It's been hard to get back into the groove after being away for so long. But, I am finding it, slowly but surely. I thought things would slow down business wise for a bit - because that is how all of my January's have been... but not this one. I've been presented with a few interesting opportunities and I am hoping they pan out. I'll share details if everything goes as planned.
Then there are taxes... which we all deal with. It seems like it is never ending... I think if I could just devote one day to this, I could tackle it... but, I've been getting orders and have to stay on top of thsoe too! Yay! No complaints at all, just surprised.

This weekend takes me to Little Rock to look at a few spaces that might be appropriate for Bella Vita. I want to jump into a store front but I am leaning towards renting a small artists studio to start things off. Going that route seems a little less stressful - personally and financially. I get really overwhelmed when I think about moving myself/matt/stuff/dog and my business all at the same time.  But we have about 6 -8 months to get things sorted. I can't believe our time in Oklahoma is almost up. It's SO bittersweet. I've really enjoyed the past year here and will truly miss this place. Wow, I said it!!! :) If you know me at all, you know how bad I have been longing to get back to Arkansas! I miss my family and friends and that has been the hardest thing about living 5 hours from all of that.

I hope you all had a fantastic Holiday season and an even more fantastic new year. I'd love to hear some of your goals/ambitions/fresh starts. I have many of my own... mainly to start exercising (which I have, boot camp classes baby! ouch!), eating better (less processed foods, don't eat out so much, etc.), and taking a little bit more time off for myself. )

Other items of note that I am working on for Bella Vita for 2013...
I am going through a re-branding of my business! I am very excited to be working with Braid Creative out of OKC. And, I can't wait to reveal what we come up with for BV.
I will also be working on my blog content, I want to add more informative posts and maybe a new look. So, I hope you stick with me because I think that 2013 will be very exciting and I am determined to get back on track with a weekly/bi weekly post. I'd love to hear any suggestions for posts and what you want to see more of... I am always up for new ideas.

Have a great week!!!

Shipping Dates, Custom Orders, Etc...

  Hi blog readers! Sorry I have been on hiatus for the past few weeks. I've been doing a lot of shows and taking a lot of custom orders and have gotten picked up by 4 new stores!! 
I've had time to do some new designs which you can find below. I have also updated my website with brand new designs (photos by Meredith Mashburn Photography).

I am still taking custom orders and I will continue to take them until Dec. 18th. I can take custom orders after that but I can't 100% ensure delivery before/by Christmas. I can always email you a cute certificate to present to the recipient on Christmas... 

So, the important USPS shipping dates:
- First Class Mail (Bella Vita's standard shipping method) - shipped by Dec. 20th will make it by Christmas
- Priority Mail (usually a couple bucks more than First Class) - shipped by Dec. 21st will make it by Christmas
- Express Mail (next day service/appx. $18) - shipped by Dec. 22nd will make it by Christmas

Don't forget Gift Certificates are available 365 days a year. I can simply email the certificate to you and you can print it at home!

So there is that. I'd like to offer you blog readers a free shipping code. Use BLOG2012 at checkout for free shipping, it will be good for the next week.

I sure hope you all are having a great Holiday Season!!!

Hand Stamped Custom Orders - starting at $30

State Jewelry - all 50 states available- starting at $25

Vintage Brass Lockets - $40 each

Vintage Lockets $50 each

 

 

 

 

Arkansas Cut Out Pendants - available in OK too - $75 - $85

Bronze & Semi Precious Stone Necklaces - $35 - $45

Vintage Religious Medallions - $45 - $50

State Bangles!!! $25

Giving Thanks and Shopping Local

 

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to all the small businesses that carry an updated stock of Bella Vita Jewelry.

Arkansas:

Good Things Boutique - Fayetteville

Mayapple Salon & Boutique - Fayetteville

Shannon Wurst Music - Fayetteville

Vesta's - Little Rock

Box Turtle - Little Rock

The Butler Center Gallery - Little Rock

Bungalow Designs - Little Rock

Elysian - Bentonville (Opening Dec. 1st)

Zarks Gallery - Eureka Springs (coming Dec. 1st)

Oklahoma:

The Makeup Bar - Oklahoma City

Perchd - Oklahoma City (Opening Dec. 15th)

Made: the indie emporium shop - Tulsa

STASH - Norman

Studio Zen - Norman

Other:

Diana Warner - New York City

Bourbon & Boots Blog

I am very passionate about supporting small, local, businesses. I hope you will remember all the small business and local artists during this holiday season! And, you can check out all the new designs in my online shop! I am offering a discount for free shipping and a free gift with every order placed between now and Monday at midnight! Tis the season y'all! See details below :)

 

If you can't make it out tomorrow you have plenty of chance to catch an upcoming show too!!!

November 28th - DeVito's of Eureka Springs - Eureka Springs, AR

November 30th - Bungalow Designs - Harrison, AR

December 1st - The Little Craft Show - Fayetteville, AR

December 2nd - Block St. Bizaar @ Good Things Boutique - Fayetteville, AR

December 6th - The Makeup Bar Open House - OKC, OK

December 8th - Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar - OKC, OK

December 14/15 - Good Things Boutique - Fayetteville, AR

December 17th - 24th - Myriad Gardens Pop Up Shops - OKC, OK

If you have ANY questions about these events feel free to contact me, brandy.elizabeth@gmail.com

The Little Craft Show

  Last year I was one of the few fortunate artists that got accepted to The Little Craft Show in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
When they said "little" they sure weren't joking. I think there were around 20 artists packed in a tiny space. It was amazing! The lovely ladies that organized the event, did such a great job! I think we were all amazed by the amount of people that walked through the door that day.

My jewelry was featured on the cover of a local newspaper, representing the show. I was so proud. :)

The girls decorated with Christmas lights and it looked so good! This is a pic of my "little" set up.

 Well, fast forward to this year... they have stepped up the game a bit. The event will now take place at the Fayetteville Town Center on the Square in beautiful downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas. They have accepted about 50 vendors this year and I am so proud to be one. In fact, not only am I a vendor, I am also a sponsor of the show. I cannot brag on the ladies that make this show a possibility enough! It's what Fayetteville/Northwest Arkansas needed!
 So, mark your calendars for December 1st and plan to attend The Little Craft Show.