how to find the right baubles...

when it comes to jewelry...there is so much to choose from...how do you know what is right for you?  first and foremost...of course...you gotta love it!  right?  seems simple enough...but i've had some clients absolutely love a piece...and then wonder how they would incorporate it into their current wardrobe...

i once had a designer tell me the same about furniture...if you love the piece...it will fit into your house...especially if you keep buying pieces you love...i truly believe that way of thinking...for if you love it...you will wear it...

but for those that need some guidance...here are two other things to consider...color and proportion...for example...if you buy higher end costume jewelry that mirrors your coloring...you have made a wise investment...

about color...if your coloring is warm...look for warm metals and warmer shades of stones, gemstones or colored beads...if your coloring is cool...go for cooler shades...and these will be pieces that are complimentary to you...

about proportion:  look at the scale of your features and bone structure to understand your proportion...if you are large boned...chances are that the larger pieces of jewelry will work well for you...if you have small facial features...the smaller and more delicate pieces will work well for you...and if you have a mix of large and small features...you will be able to mix the larger & smaller pieces together...and if you have larger features...but prefer delicate pieces...the way to work that in is to wear several delicate pieces together...try clustering multiple layers of them to create a bigger impact...

jewelry pieces tend to stay with us longer then our clothing pieces do...be sure the ones you collect are pieces that you look forward to wearing...if you love it...chances are you'll wear it and enjoy it!

photo source

jewelry analysis...

i spend a lot of time on this blog talking about closet clean-outs...purging...trying to create new outfits from items that you've worn only one certain way...these same rules apply to your jewelry as well...just as in your clothing...over time...things that you bought may have worked for your life style...but your style either changed...or your profession or life style may have changed...and in that...your clothing style changes...

this also applies to your jewelry...and i do recommend going through it every so often...and see if the pieces you have...are working with your current life style...just as you analyze the items in your closet...do the same with all your jewelry...lay it out on your bed or a nice clean table...

- does the jewelry work with your current outfits?

- does the color and style match your current style?

- do you have a lot of one (ie: earrings) and not enough of another (ie: necklaces)?

then start looking at your outfits that you have put together...how many different choices do you have with one outfit?  as i always say with your clothing items...that each item should be worn at a minimum of 3 different ways...so should you try and mix up the jewelry you wear with each outfit...

mix it up...have fun and experiment...put two or three bracelets together...or necklaces...make new "statement" pieces just by combining...and for the pieces that are just lying around...because they don't go with your current style...is there a way that they can be updated?  if not...it might be time to say good-bye...

photo source

bangle away...

bangle away... by fabufinds featuring a bangle bracelet

"oxblood" the big color for fall 2012...

feast your eyes on the big color for fall...

                    "oxblood"

a beautiful deep red with hints of brown...

whether you choose a handbag...brogues...
jewelry or a piece of clothing...

this color is definitely a fall staple...

"oxblood" the big color for fall 2012... by fabufinds featuring cap toe shoes

l'odyssée de cartier...

i have always been intrigued by cartier advertisements and such...and don't even get me started on the exhibit i saw in san francisco a while back...just stunning...then my girlfriend sent me this cartier link...and well...i can't get enough...

i just keep watching it over and over...so brilliantly done...and the bracelet...the one at the end? j'adore...

enjoy...

beadjoux at the triton museum of art...

the fabulous shelley bond of beadjoux will be showing her one-of-a-kind pieces at the triton museum of art...so if you are a local...get thee over there...this weekend...

i last wrote about shelley back in december 2009...when i had attended a reception in her honor...baubles and art...shelley and i go way back...i don't quite remember when we first met...but we instantly bonded...over our love of unique jewelry...handbags and shoes...

what i love about the pieces that shelley makes...is that there are no two alike...so i know that when i purchase one of them...no one else will have it...which is a pretty big deal for me...

feel free to stop by this weekend...i'm excited as i've never been to the triton museum of art either...and there will be other vendors to view...hopefully i can get some christmas shopping done...

Triton Museum of Art's 3rd Annual Holiday Gift Fair
Saturday & Sunday - October 12 & 13
10am to 5pm

1505 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95050

this is a small and very beautiful museum in santa clara and the vendor tables will be set up right in the galleries...they happen to have a current exhibition by heather wilcoxon...it's being held in the main gallery, just as you walk into the museum...there will be vendors showing and selling ceramics, glass, miniatures, jewelry and more...

you can read more about her work on www.shelleybond.com...also...feel free to follow her on her new facebook page as well...i'm still trying to talk her into selling her pieces online...for those of you that are not near...know that i'll keep suggesting that... =)


here are some of her great pieces...

jackie jones collection...

jackie jones is a local jewelry designer here in the san francisco bay area...i am fortunate enough to have two of her exquisite pieces...i'll do a separate post on my own personal pieces in the next few days...

what do i love the most about jackie jones collection? that they are one-of-a-kind pieces...

"made from the finest semi-precious gemstones and sterling silver, hand-crafted into works of artistic adornment. they are sold to fine boutiques, galleries and gift stores across the u.s. and overseas."

and the best story of all...is the late elizabeth taylor was a huge fan...here is the story of how the jewels got around to liz...

jackie herself...has got to be...one of the sweetest women i have ever had the pleasure of knowing...besides being talented...each of her pieces are a true work of art...

we currently are featuring some of her lovelies at "the savvy chic boutique" in burlingame, ca...(319 primrose rd - upstairs) only this week thursday thru saturday (july 21 - 23)...if you are in the area...i highly suggest you come on by...jackie has been kind enough to offer us these beautiful pieces at her wholesale price...but only for this limited time...

if you would like to see more of the pieces...we have listed several on our savvy chic event facebook page...feel free to visit us there...and see what other fabulous items we are showing for this 3 day event...

here is a sampling of some of jackie's pieces in the boutique...

arm candy...

statement jewelry is all the rage now...has been for some time...and that includes your wrists...the great thing about bracelets...is you can do so much with what you probably already have...the key is to pile them on...

bangles...don't just wear one...try putting two or three together...to change up your look a bit...and make it fun...mix the colors...

do you have some of those tennis bracelets in your jewelry box? how about putting them all on...to make one big statement...i have about four...if you remember...they are pretty thin...but together...they create quite the wow piece...

i've even done this with my diamond bracelets...where i used to wear one...i now combine them all...

if you've been perusing the fashion magazines...you will see that some have done this look on both arms...from wrist to elbow...that is a bit much for me...but i have to say...when i see it...i do love it...

my prior posts will reveal that my mixing and matching doesn't only happen in my clothing...but in my jewels...click here and here to see my vintage combinations...some other vintage pieces that are great for stacking are the bakelite bangles...look for them at the local flea markets...they come in the most amazing colors!

so how do you mix & match your bracelets? be sure to share and give others a new idea or two...

charmed...i'm sure...

there is something so nostalgic about a charm bracelet...not sure if it is the jingle jangle when it moves around...or most likely..the fact that you have to get up close and personal to ogle over each quirky litte charm...a charm bracelet shows a woman's history on her wrist...

i even have a book about charm bracelets...and yes...there are some beauties inside...


i have two bracelets that i absolutely love love love...this first one...i asked my fabulous friend adena to pick up for me at the club monaco store when she was in ny...she not only picked it up...but gifted it to me...yes...i was very surprised...i love how big and clunky it is...and of course...it has my favorite...the fluer de lys...

i did make the mistake of wearing it to church one day...not a good move...as this bracelet does a little more than a soft jingle jangle...isn't it a beauty?


this next one took years of collecting to get it just right...my fabulous friend margaret had bought for my birthday...the wonderful link bracelet to get me started...at that time i had just a few charms...but over the years...i kept adding as i found just the right charms...the ones that represented me...and of course...i got several as gifts...at this point...i couldn't fit another charm on there if i wanted to...here it is...the representation of me and all my loves...


lots of shoes & handbags...(big surprise),
passport...for my love of travel...
eiffel tower...my most favorite place one earth...
hersheys kiss...for my love of chocolate...
ballerina slippers...for my love of the ballet...
baby grand piano & musical notes...for my love of music...
beach chair & umbrella...for my love of the ocean...or poolside... =)
baseball bat...yes...this girlie girl loves baseball...
red lipstick...every girl should find her perfect shade...
rings...for my love of bling bling...
champagne bottle in ice bucket...for my love of bubbly...
and a heart...which of course...signifies love...

it has been years since that bracelet has been complete...and lately...i've been thinking of starting up a new one...all with beautiful cameos...of course...i only have one right now...and no link bracelet...wouldn't this look pretty as a charm bracelet?


actually...maybe i have two...if i decide to take this one off of a necklace...


do you have a charm bracelet? if so...what are your favorite charms?

meant to be together...

this week i ventured out to see one of my favorite vintage jewelry vendors...i usually only visit her once a year...but she was having a "blow-out" sale...and i had to see what she was essentially "blowing out"

i realized as i was buying my picks from her...that i tend to buy vintage to be worn in combination with...such as my birthday vintage purchase that i got last year...i have worn these bracelets several times...and only once where it was not together...i just think it has more of a dramatic look...and who doesn't want a bit of drama?

so...here is my latest combo purchase...love love love...the one bracelet caught my eye because it is like little charms...and they slide...which is so unique & different from anything else i have...and the other...well...i just loved the colors...and together...well...it was just meant to be...how could i buy one and not the other?

so...do you combine your vintage jewelry?

happy birthday to me...

today...my birthday...i thought i would share with you what i got myself...doesn't everyone buy themselves a birthday gift??

so...a few weeks ago...i went to see one of my favorite vintage jewelry collectors...
i mean...every girl needs a new something in baubles...right? she never disappoints...barbara has THE best collection ever...she has no website...no store (well she does have some pieces in a local antique shop)...mostly she does local faires...otherwise i would share her with all of you...my faithful readers...

the dilemma was...not that i wouldn't find anything...but that i would find too much...my justification...i knew that my birthday was coming up...

i found this piece first...loved the ruby red...loved the pearls...



then...my eyes feasted on this delicious piece (with earrings)



i thought to myself...should i buy both?? do i really need both?? it is my birthday...so i decided...they would look great together...doesn't that make it like buying one piece?



here it is in all its glory...les sigh...