Heirloom Jewels + What I've been up to...

  A true Jewelry Redux: This custom order started with an heirloom bracelet made of gold and sapphires. It wasn't exactly my clients style but it is very special because it belonged to her Mother. My client wanted to make rings out of the sapphires for the women in her family... so that is exactly what I did. I saved the clasp of the bracelet in case we want to use it on a project in the future. Then I cut a few links apart and filed the metal and then wire wrapped them into rings in the sizes requested. There are plenty of sapphire links left over for future projects.

New (old) key necklaces! See them first at Block St. Party in Fayetteville this weekend!

Working on a project... I sifted and sorted through all my saint/religious medals yesterday. They are all so beautiful! Hard to part with them ;)

 Now I am preparing for Block St. Party this weekend! It will be a fun event if you are in Northwest Arkansas. Check out the facebook event for more info.

Help Me Help a Friend

Jennifer and I worked together at Argenta Bead in North Little Rock a few years back. I always knew she was passionate about helping people abroad and now she has an exciting opportunity. I volunteered to post Jennifer's information on my blog, please read her post and if you can, send her a little love and maybe a monetary donation. Remember, any amount works, $1, $5, or more. If you would like more info from Jen, her email is at the bottom of this post. Thanks for reading! -Brandy

 Hi, my name is Jennifer Bentley.  I live in Little Rock and am excited to have the opportunity to go to Nairobi, Kenya this summer to teach jewelry skills to disadvantaged women.   I will be going to Kenya at the end of June with Melody and Lewis Taylor of Go-Near ministries and hope to specifically work with the Widows Empowerment Project in the Gituamba slums of Nairobi.
 The Taylors have partnered with a local pastor to set up a 2 year sewing project for widows.  These women are sole supporters of their children and often cannot find work to pay for the most basic necessities of life.  I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach jewelry making skills so that they will have another tool to help support their families!

 I am depending on donations for the trip itself and for jewelry supplies for the women.  I would really appreciate your help.  If you would like to donate please send a check made out to Go-Near Ministries to: 600 Mimi Ln “A”, Little Rock AR 72211.

Thank you!
Jennifer Bentley
Please contact me at jenniferb88@gmail.com

Widow and her child.

Gituamba slums of Nairobi

Teaching how to sew.

Dustbowl Arts Market @ The Norman Music Fest

 This past weekend was my first outdoor show of 2012. I have cut back on outdoor shows because I am not set up well enough to fight the elements... I learned that last year... the hard way! 

This past Saturday was perfect though. Low winds, overcast skies, and cool temperatures. It was  a great day. 

Dustbowl Arts Market!

Experimenting with a new product. Succulents in antique china.

New earring design! Glass scarab with chain tassels.

 This Dustbowl was extra fun because it is part of the Norman Music Festival, which is a completely free festival in downtown Norman. Most of the music was Indie and I hadn't heard of many of the bands but I did know who Alejandro Escovedo and Hayes Carll were and I made my way to their shows after I packed up my booth on Saturday. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both musicians. After Alejandro's set I stuck around the stage waiting for the next show and found myself standing very close to Alejandro. I guess he came out visit with fans. I really wanted to go over and thank him for playing this festival. I had always wanted to see him live but he hasn't toured anywhere close to Norman. I stood there a bit longer and then saw he was going to walk right by me so I stepped over and thanked him! He shook my hand and that was it. It was a fun rock star moment. Hayes Carll was great too, he had local musician Travis Linville sit in with him so that was fun. I have been wanting to see a Hayes show for a while now to... I got to see both for FREE! Thanks Norman Music Fest!

 
 Sunday brought about a day of rest and tending to our garden. The garden is coming a long quite nicely. We are having some pest problems but hopefully have them under control now. I started some more seeds yesterday, zinnias, sunflowers, pumpkins, habaneros, cherry tomatoes, and I think that is it. I planted my basil starts, some cilantro starts, a lavender plant I purchased, and a few random flowers (because I never have enough flowers!) 

 I am working hard this week and next to make some new statement pieces for Bella Vita. I have a couple of shows coming up in Arkansas and will travel back to my home state for about 12 days. Until then, I am going to enjoy my time at home with my hubs, garden, doggie, and friends. Now, I am off for our morning walk/jog. I downloaded couch to 5k to help me get into jogging... it's just ok. I hate jogging but feel like I can do it so I am trying and Matt is being really patient with me :)

A Moment in Little Rock

  I spent all last week in Little Rock. I had shows, worked at Argenta Bead, taught a class, got my jewelry in a new gallery (The Butler Center), hung out with old friends, saw new friends, and attended the Tom Petty concert.

  I had an amazing trip! Lots of business was conducted and lots of socializing was done too. But, the most exciting thing was seeing a necklace I made, on a young gals neck at the concert! I shrieked and went over to visit with her... then remembered her mother and best friend picking it out for her a few years ago.

I forgot how "cool" it was. I love the color combo and the vintage brass horse pendant! It has inspired me to do more statement pieces like this.

Beaded Bangles + Giveaway!

Coral + Turquoise set embellished with ruby moonstone, quartz, copper, amethyst, orange moonstone. $75/set

  Back in February I decided to take a risk and invest in these beautiful, handmade, beaded bangle bracelets. I had seen them for the past couple of years at one of my vendors booths but wasn't sure if I wanted to offer something that I didn't make. Well, after thinking about it for a year, I decided I was ready. I had also come up with my own design idea for these handmade bracelets. To put my own twist on these bracelets, I decided I would sell them as is and also embellish them with charms and semi precious stones. 

  Needless to say, the bracelets are a HUGE hit and I am expecting my second order today!

Now, there are a lot of these beaded bangles on the market today. I am really surprised that they became such a hot accessory this year... like I said, I have seen these bangles at my vendor for years! My bangles are not the popular "Lilly and Laura" brand, but, they are just as special! The beads are higher quality glass, smaller in size, and more uniform in shape. A lot of the color combinations are more subtle which allows you to have a more neutral look or a fun/funky look by mixing and matching. The other thing about the bangles I carry is, they cost less than any I have seen so far! How is that? Me, an independent jewelry designer can offer these for $10 each or 3 for $25? I am not really sure... but I do know that I search and travel high and low for you, my clients! It is very important to me to be able to offer you the best possible pricing. So, there you go! Come see me at one of my upcoming shows to personalize your set of bangles. You can choose from my bangles or bring your own. I have a tray of charms and semi precious stones waiting for you!

Or as always, you can order off my website, email, or call me! 

Meditation Set - amethyst, pyrite, silver, garnet, chalcedony. $75/set

About the Bangles and the people that are making them:

(this is directly from my source)

  "All of the bangles we sell we have made for us in Bali and Nepal. We design the colors and patterns and then send over the seed beads for them to crochet - mostly Japanese size 15 & 11.  We have worked with the same family(s) in both countries for over 20 years.  In the last 5 years we have put more energy into designing the colors and patterns according to upcoming color trends, etc.
 In Bali our supplier employees 15+ women and men who come to work from 9 to 5 in her home studio.  It is all open air overlooking a rice paddy and they get an hour for lunch.  When I was there a few years ago I decided I wanted to move back and work for her if only I could learn to crochet and stitch!

  In Nepal we send over the beads to our supplier in Kathmandu and his bead & bangle makers come down once a week/month to his offices to pick up new beads and then they go back to their mountain/village homes.  They work at their own pace while caring for their families etc and when they have finished with their beads they bring them back to Kathmandu.

  In both countries we pay what they ask - a fair wage - and we never

bargain with them."

The women behind the beautiful bangles.

Bangle customized at a recent show... I believe this custom design was around $28. I love this design! I can't wait for my new order to arrive so I can claim a few for myself.

  Now, if you have made it this far in this blog post good for you! Please leave a comment telling me how you would customize your own set of bangles. You can find charm ideas on my website, www.bellavitajewelry.net as well as some of the bangles (I am expecting a lot more colors any day, hopefully today).

I'll be giving away one set of bangles (excluding charms) on Friday, April 27th.

For an extra entry, share this on facebook, twitter or your own blog. Just make sure you leave a comment or email me, brandy.elizabeth@gmail.com so I know. (this contest is open on facebook as well)

Weekend Recap - in Photos

Restocked my necklace selection in time for Friday's Trunk Show.

Finally had a chance to add the charms to the new Beaded Bangles!

Spent a lot of time with this guy (and Matt) while working in the yard all day Saturday!

Planted a bunch of seeds for veggies, herbs, and flowers... and got all my pots planted! Can't wait for everything to start flourishing!

Photoshoot with the lovely Miller sisters and Rex Barrett on Sunday.

Can't wait to see what his creative eye comes up with!

 Topped off with a steak dinner with our "City" friends. T'was a grand weekend! I got a lot of work done, spent time with friends, and got to spend a lot of time in the garden! I never got my nap in though ;)

New Jewelry Line - Giveaway

  Yesterday I did a "soft" launch of a new line that has been added to my website called "Personalized by You." I'm very excited about this latest addition because it will allow you to design your very own necklace or charm bracelet. 

There are 16 stone charms, 19 charms, 2 lockets, and 8 stamping blanks to choose from. So, that makes ??? how many combinations? I don't have time to wrap my head around that number :)

  Not only can you customize a necklace you can also customize the new "Beaded Bangles" that are in the Bella Vita shop (see sample below).

I would LOVE for you to check out the new products your self. 

As a thank you for looking at my new product line I am going to host a GIVEAWAY for a charm necklace (limited to two charms of your choice)!

Leave a comment below telling me the following:

- Would you customize a necklace or a beaded bangle bracelet?

- What charms/stones would you choose for your very own?

  Each comment is an entry, you can comment more than once but each design has to be unique. For an additional entry into this giveaway share it on facebook or twitter. If you share it please leave another comment on this blog post. The drawing for the winner will be on Friday March 23rd at noon! Good LUCK!