Bella Vita Holiday Gift Guide

Check out the 2012 Holiday Bella Vita Gift Guide! I compiled a nice document of my best selling jewelry to give you all gift ideas! There are price points for everyone's budget. If you're interested in a custom order please remember to get it to me as soon as possible. If you want to see a larger version of the gift guide, check it out on my facebook page here! 

Happy Halloween y'all!!

 

 

 

  

Charmed

 I've been going stamp crazy! About 3 weeks ago I got my complete set of U.S. States custom made for Bella Vita. Since then, I've had a few (exciting) wholesale orders and will be featured on a "Southern" blog soon. All this excitement has me making samples like crazy! The stamped charms are not limited to states, nor are they limited to the beaded bangles. I just love the look of them on the bracelets! But, I can certainly make ANY stamped charm into a simple necklace on a vintage chain.
 I also picked up a new set of letter stamps that is a cursive font and a few new designs stamps that you can see below. I had fun photographing the bangles the past few days. The first few photos are with my Cannon DSLR and the last few are with my iPhone, Hipstamatic app. The color in the Hipstamatic pics isn't accurate but I really like how they turned out :)
 Pricing on the bangles is as follows: Bangle w/ state charm - $25, Bangle w/ design stamp or letter stamp $20. If you want to order multiple bangles please let me know and I can give a group discount. I've had tons of people tell me what great gifts these will make! It's never too early to think about your Holiday shopping lists!

My first order going straight to a Holiday Pop Up Shop in Bryant Park, New York, New York!!

Southern state bangles that will be featured on a "Southern" blog very soon!

New cursive font letter stamps.

Design stamps, bird, peace sign, spiral, diamond, skull and bones.

More states! Missouri, California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii - isn't Hawaii adorable?!

iPhone Hipstamatic pics.

iPhone Hipstamatic pics.

iPhone Hipstamatic pics.

Fall Show Schedule

  Shows, show, shows, and more shows! I have a really busy and exciting Fall lineup. You can find the schedule below and I'll be making event pages on facebook with all the details as soon as I find a minute to do so. In the mean time, if you have any questions, feel free to email me brandy.elizabeth@gmail.com

 

Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show - November 9th and 10th - Springdale, Arkansas

Bella Vita Trunk Show at DeVito's Restaurant - November 28th - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Bella Vita Trunk Show at Bungalow Designs - November 30th - Harrison, Arkansas

Bella Vita Trunk Show at Stash!!! - November 17th - Norman, Oklahoma

Bella Vita Trunk Show at the Makeup Bar - November 15th or December 6th (date still being determined) - Oklahoma City, OK

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

Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar - December 8th - Oklahoma City, OK

Bella Vita Holiday Trunk Show at Good Things Boutique - December 14th & 15th - Fayetteville, AR

 Like I said, I am still working on adding all the event information to facebook. I might also be doing more shows in Oklahoma City the week of December 17th - 23rd. All of this is still being worked out. Follow  Bella Vita  on facebook for all updated information and/or sign up for my newsletter here.

 Hope to see you at an upcoming show! And as always, you can shop online or place custom orders by emailing me, brandy.elizabeth@gmail.com... if you are planning a custom order, I encourage you to place it sooner than later :)

New designs

  I finally got to spend some quality time with all the amazing goods I bought on my trip last week! Check out what came out of the studio. I can't wait for you to see these peices at my upcoming shows. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

 

Vintage metals, chains, and Art Deco glass.

New!!! I am branching out! Big time! I made stud earrings. Made with vintage glass and surgical steel posts! Very affordable too, $7 - $15 each.

These might be my fav. They come in royal blue and turquoise. Vintage brass and glass.

Necklace version!

And these beauties! I started riveting metal to metal and just had a hard time stopping! More colors to come.

Vintage St. Cristopher medals embellished with semi precious stones and vintage chains! These are $40 each.

Buying Trip

 I just returned from a super secret shopping trip and all I can say is "WOW!"
It was amazing! 
 I was joined by my friends Stefanie Wolf - from Martha's Vineyard, and Christy Bourns - from Little Rock. We had the best time! The three of us spent 3 1/2 days digging through 2 warehouses totaling 180,000 sq. ft. To say I was in heaven is an understatement... although, it isn't all fun and games. There is a lot of planning - planning for upcoming seasons, new designs, budgets, etc. It was all very overwhelming too! 
 My 109 lbs should be delivered via UPS sometime tomorrow. Can you imagine the separation anxiety I am experiencing???!!!! Make sure you follow on facebook and instagram so you can get a sneak peak at all my goodies.

The "don't go in there" room! :( I wanted to dig in here too!

Chains for days! Vintage, dead stock chain.

My favorite room... full of vintage glass cabochons, rhinestones, and various other glass stones.

One glimpse into the warehouse. Aisle after aisle after second floor, first floor, basement, basement 2 etc. etc. etc. They even have closeout rooms... who ever would have thought?!

Czech crystals in their original packaging!

Loved hanging out with these two! Stefanie Wolf Designs (left) & Robinson Lane (middle). Check them out!

Shopping for a Building & Other Little Rock Adventures

I got to be neighbors with my "old" neighbor, Jen. I lived in the house behind hers for about two and half years.

  So if you follow my newsletter or my facebook page you probably know I was in Little Rock last week. I try to get to Little Rock twice a year and this was my Fall trip. I participated in the Hillcrest Harvestfest on Saturday which is always fun! It is a great little show I've done for the past two years in my old neighborhood.

  The rest of my time was split between meeting with friends/artists/business people, shopping for a building to house my retail store (when we move back), working and teaching at Argenta Bead, and doing a little hanging out with friends!

  I found some really beautiful buildings in LR. One of my favorites was the old Buice Drug Store building on Markham in the Stift Station neighborhood. I got a chance to walk through the space and immediately fell in love with it. It is really large though, there is a second retail space beside the drug store and an apartment that spans the length of the building. This space is for sale for $360,000 and that is probably way out of my price range as a first time investor. I have tons of ideas flowing through my head... The building itself needs a lot of repairs and restoration. I am not completely giving up though, Matt and I are going to research business grants for women and for historic buildings to see if there is any way this could work out. Even if it doesn't it is really exciting to dream about. 

  If the drug store space doesn't become mine (which it probably wont) I think I narrowed my decision down to the neighborhood around South Main St. I feel like there is more parking and more business in this up and coming pocket of Little Rock. We will see though... so much research and so much planning is in my future!

The old sign for the drug store.

Inside of the drug store, original built in cabinetry. How perfect would those be for jewelry display? I'd also like to have a museum type display of antique buttons in honor of my Grandmother. :) I also love the original ceiling and while I was in there I noticed the original wallpaper is on the walls above all the wood work.

Beautiful building detail. I just had the best day walking around downtown LR. Peeking in windows and wondering about the businesses that used to thrive there.

A much more appropriate building for a first time investor. The price is feasible but it is only around 400 sq. ft. It used to be a barber shop... not sure if it is way to small.

Judith and James - Jewelry with a Cause

  Remember back in May when I posted about my friend Jennifer's trip to Africa? I introduced you to her and told about what her intentions/goals were for her trip. You can find that post here...

  Anyway, Jennifer is back and she has some incredibly beautiful jewelry designs by the women she employees in Nairobi. I met with her this morning and purchased my first batch of these lovely earrings. All the earrings are one of a kind and are made with African fabric scraps. 

If you are interested in purchasing a pair please email me, brandy.elizabeth@gmail.com They are $25 each and will be making their debut in my booth at the Hillcrest Harvestfest this weekend in Little Rock!