Artbeads Components Review

We've been ordering components and supplies from Artbeads.com and using their items in our designs for about 5 or so years now, so it was really wonderful when they asked us to review some of their products here on our blog.

We create lots of jewelry using some very basic 'staples' (as we call them) such as 2mm seamless round beads, as well as various styles of chains, some pendants, Swarovski Crystals and more from Artbeads.com and we've chosen several items which we'll post over the next month or so to blog about. We're very lucky as Artbeads.com put no stipulations (include the "good, the bad, and the ugly") on how we review any of these produts.

Many of the items we will blog about will have not only the featured item included in the design, but several other items from artbeads as well. And, we're going to include links to all of the Artbeads.com items we use so you can easily find them for your own beading pleasures!

Since it's basically summer time (well, here in Arizona it is because it's already hit 100 degrees once this year and it's supposed to be 104 in a couple of days!) we decided to do our first review on a wonderful little Thai Silver Sun Design Pendant - in the Hill Tribe Silver Pendants Section of Artbeads.com - and it couldn't have pleased us more!

We wanted to create a lightweight, airy and fun pair of "summer" earrings - your 'go to' earrings for all summer - so, we paired these little beauties with some faceted citrine we picked up at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show this February and hand forged these large oval hoop ear-wires with sterling silver 20 gauge round, half hard wire for the beads and pendants to dangle freely from. Very simple, yet versitile and fun!

We were very pleased with these little pendants when they arrived. The thickness of the silver is quite nice - not too heavy, yet not so light they will bend. The antiqued (blackened) sun pattern in each pendant is quite nice and each one shows slight variations of the pattern due to the individual hand-crafted nature, allowing them a truly organic look and feel.

The 'bail' on each tiny pendant is perfectly suited for the size of the pendant, yet is still large enough to be strung with seed beads, or anchored on to flexible beading wire for a multiple-strand necklace or bracelet.

These little pendants/charms are perfect for designing a cute pair of earrings (our choice), hanging them on a bracelet with other small pendants and/or charms to create a really cute 'moving' bracelet or for putting one center stage on a small chain with a few natural stones, beads or gems (pearls!!) to have a simple, yet striking necklace.

Rating these (our idea - not artbeads.com) on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best and something we'd highly recommend) we'd give these little Thai Silver Sun Designs Pendants a perfect 10 and not only because they're right up our alley as far as their style goes, but for their durability and quality, their fantastic price - only $3.89 each! - and their unlimited design options. Plus they're super stylish and fashionable right now, too!

Please weigh in and let us know what your impression of these earrings are using Artbeads.com's Sun Design Pendants.

Until next time,

Peace, Love and Artbeads.com baby!!

~Shel~

Color Is,....

Hi there gang!

We're really liking the latest blog post from JCK Online Blog - Jewels on Jewels - and her mention of color and how important it is!

Check it out here: Jewels on Jewels

So many beautiful colors are making their way into our lives this spring in jewelry, clothes, accessories, and all sorts of other items as well. Spring (and summer, too!) seems to be a time when people venture out and experiment with all sorts of new colors - colors they normally don't think about.

We've been hit with the 'color-bug' here in our studio too this spring and we're going to be sharing some of our latest creations throughout the spring and summer (if we can get them posted before they leave the studio in the hands of our customers!) - so stay tuned for some colorful beauties!

Until our next colorful time,

Peace, Love and Pearls!

~Shel~

Woo Hoo!! Style Envy Picks Our Earrings For Spring!

We're so excited that Style Envy has picked our earrings to feature in their Spring Looks for under $250.00! How sweet is that?!

Go check it out and shop all the great finds over at StyleEnvy.com!

Click here to find those gorgeous earrings on our site as well,...after all, graduation is coming up, Mother's Day is around the corner,...I mean there's always an occasion for gifting someone a gorgeous pair of earrings, right? Even yourself - because you deserve it most!!

Have a fabulous weekend, and until nex time,

Peace, Love and Pearls Baby! (especially the ones featured!)

Cheers,

~Shel~

This ROCKS!!!

Just wanted to share with you and email I received over the weekend from Janet over at the Carlos Santana House in Los Angeles who's involved with the Prom Project that we donate our designs to each year:

"Michelle,

I saw your beautiful earrings at the Santana House Prom Event today. You are so amazing, not only with your creative designs, but with you generosity. You made some young girls very, very happy.

Thanks again,
Janet G. "

Does that ROCK or what?? What a fabulous compliment and what an amazing feeling to know we've helped out a bit with completing a young girl's prom wardrobe, making her feel a bit extra 'special'!

Thanks to everyone at the Santana Youth Action Center for allowing us to participate and for giving us great feed back!!

We're looking forward to next year!

Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pearls!!

Cheers,
~Shel~

Prom Drive Donations

MiShel Designs is proud to help out a few of the Prom Drive Donations in the country! Here's a pic of just of few of the designs we've wrapped up and sent off for some lucky girls to enjoy this year.

Please offer your help if you can by donating a gently used prom dress, bridesmaid dress, or cocktail dress that is tastefull and appropriate for teenagers to wear, along with any designer shoes, handbags, jewelry or gift certificates to hair salons, nail salons or spas to allow girls who might not normally have the opportunity to do so, to be able to attend their prom and enjoy it to the fullest!

For more information or to help, please contact:

Carlos Santana House's Youth Action Center / Violence Intervention Program
Prom Dress Drive / Prom Project
Attn: Anne Marie Herwig
1721 Griffin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90031
323-221-4131 xt. 170
email: mailto:aherwig@vip-cmhc.org

~ AND / OR ~

A Cinderella Affair
Attn: Alisa Mauldin
c/o Tempe Cummunity Council
34 E. 7th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-858-2309
email: alisa_mauldin@tempe.gov

Until next time,

Peace, Love and Pearls!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Santana House's - Youth Intervention Program's "Prom Project"

Once again, MiShel Designs is proud to contribute to the Santana House's Youth Intervention Program's "Prom Project" by donating several pieces of jewelry for the girls to wear to Prom.

The idea came from the young girls on the Santana House Youth Council. They wanted to make it possible for some high school seniors in the neighborhood surrounding the Santana Center, who might otherwise not be able to, to attend their Prom by providing them with dresses, jewelry and make up and hair styling. They work in conjunction with the Los Angeles Violence Intervention Program. You contact the Carlos Santana House Center, located at 1721 Griffin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90031, at 323-226-2095 for information on how to donate.

We've gotten rave reviews from the girls and are told they love our jewelry. And, from my conversation last night with this year's coordinator, things are moving along splendidly, but they'd love to accept any donations or services you can provide. So, even if it's out of your area (it's not in our backyard, either, but we still wanted to help!) please contact them if you have any ways in which to contribute. These girls deserve a great prom night!

We'll be posting more information here on our blog and also pix of our designs we'll be donating this year. Plus, be sure to sign up for our newsletter on our MiShel Designs website as we'll have more info in our March edition!

Until next time,

Peace, Love and Pearls!

~Shel~

P. S. - These are a few of the items we donated last year!

Our Oscar "Best Dressed" Picks!

Here's our picks for "Best Dressed" at the Oscars!



Marisa Tormei - Wow!

Natalie Portman - Beautiful!

Kate Winslet - Stunning!

Jennifer Aniston - Very Classy!

Anne Hathaway - The Epitome of Old Hollywood Glam!

The not so good - well, we're not going to go too deep here because even though their acting is incredible and their charitable causes noble, some peoples tattooed bodies stood out more than their little black dresses and others, well, their choice of dresses looked more like 'black and gold wall paper in a hotel', wedding cake toppings, big-bowed bridesmaid "mistake" dresses and drab curtains than Oscar worthy gowns,....so we'll just stop right there.

And, although we were happy to see some people with great jewelry choices - Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, and all of our above mentioned 'Best Dressed" of course, we'd LOVE to see more pearls than diamonds any day!!

Who impressed you the most on Oscar night? Do tell! Who should fire their stylist,...or maybe get one!!??

Until next time,

Peace, Love and Pearls,

~Shel~

Great Reviews!

Just wanted to share some great reviews we got from Anne Rush's Blog, The Savvy Designer!

Check it out here!

Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pearls!
~Shel~

We're Back From the Gem and Mineral Show

We're back from the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show with all our 'treasures' - lots of pretty pearls, gemstones and more! (pictures in another entry - I promise)

We're going to be posting some links and photos of a few of the great people/vendors we met while at the gem show, too - so stay tuned for that as well. We would like you to have the opportunity to visit their websites or local shops if you're in their area - so we'll get some of these up with in the week.

Also, come March, we're going to be doing some jewelry fashion reviews, telling you about some really cool designers (both established ones and up-and-coming ones!), and gathering information to share with you regarding spring and summer's latest trends and what to watch for through out the year, so check back often!

Until next time!

Peace, Love and Pearls!

~Shel~

The Good, The Positive and the Abundant!

Okay, so one of my models and I are out walking some of the shows at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show and one thing we hear over and over is "The Economy". From vendors selling, to shop owners, to designers and manufacturers, to all the buyers and shoppers - everyone's got those words coming off their lips. Yes, we all know about "The Economy",...don't we?!

However, here's where we're going to stay focused on the good, the positive and the abundant (that's a switch from the latest on the news, isn't it?!). To quote Mike Dooley, " Thoughts become things. Choose the good ones!"

In this "economy" (the word that should only be whispered!) one thing you can focus on to bring about positive change to your business is "What can I do that will help this situation and bring about the results I want".

Here's some things to think about whether your business is jewelry design, manufacturing, retail sales, etc. so you can have the good, the posititve and the all abundance you deserve. I mean, we're ALL looking for a very prosperous 2009 and beyond, right?!

Remain focused on your goals. Remaining focused will point you in the right direction, helping you maintain and grow your business through this "economy" so you can see those goals become reality.

This is a fantastic time to build relationships. Be sure to ask yourself, "How can I help my vendors?" Just one of the many ways you can help is to communicate what you see in the 'field'. Let them know what your clients are looking for; what trends you see from your clients (not just what the fashion mags/companies tell you - they've already heard those, too!) and then ask your vendors how, other than spending more money on their products, YOU can help THEM. Their answers might surprise you.

The answers we received were VERY different than what we expected - and we'll share some of these answers in another entry at a later time....remember, I promised to not ramble too much!

Try "New Thinking" (instead of 'stinkin' thinkin') and look into the social networking that everyone is telling you about and doing themselves (i.e. - blog spot, myspace, facebook, linkedin, virb, etc. - the list IS virtually endless!)

Cross Reference - think on how you can link your connections up with each other or how maybe someone they know, or have a relationship with, could be beneficial to you or those in your business circle.

Our "ecomony" (I whispered, honest!) will thrive again and, like everything else, we should work now to be prepared so when it does happen we aren't left with words like "Should have", Wanted to, but", etc. coming off our lips. (ooohhh, those will sting!)

So,...build relationships, network (which is truly just relationship building, not "how can I use you to make another sale"), ask questions of "How can I help you?", advise on how others can help you or your business should they get the opportunity, and try new thinking and ways of doing things to grow your business . And then there's the oldie but goodie "Attitude is everything!

Yes, it really is!!