Big Things Are Happening

This week has been a bit of a whirlwind. My mom and I have had numerous conversations on what we really want to do with Jewels For Hope. We always love making so many different kinds of items, we are constantly discussing if we should only do one thing or branch out and do tons of products. We struggle with this a lot because we think that it would definitely look more uniform if we only did one specific item in different variations of color/size/etc. But we also feel, that would be a bit boring for us. We like to change it up and make new fun items.

After our week of discussions, we decided we are going to do what we love for a bit. We started out making big elaborate pieces that are funky and real "show stoppers!". We haven't done that in a while, trying to get our pieces into stores..... making them simple, more available to the public. Don't get me wrong, I love that our jewelry is in stores now. I'm so SO happy about it and forever grateful. But we want to do something a little bit more daring now.

We are creating a brand new line of jewelry. Definite statement pieces.

I want to show them off SO badly, but we are waiting. Trying to put together a full collections before we launch it. We are so excited about it, even my mother had tears in her eyes during one of our talks because she was so happy! This is just what we need.

I can't wait to show you all! I hope you come back to check it out. Big things are happening!

LA's The Place; Press Piece on Jewels For Hope

So happy to show off another great press piece on Jewels For Hope from LA's The Place! This was a great article about a ton of awesome TAG products that were gifted at GBK's Gift Lounge leading up to The MTV Movie Awards!

Jane, the writer for LA's The Place wrote such beautiful words about our item....

"Owners Sandy and Steve D’Andrea of Jewels for Hope and their nautically-inspired necklace will always help you find your way back to home, hearth and personal conviction. Such a fantastic way to always feel connected to what matters most to you in a whimsical and beautifully crafted wearable compass to your heart. Jewels For Hope has always given back part of of their proceeds to charities. 

We love Jane and were so happy to be included in this fantastic round up of handmade items!

Go take a look at the article to see some of the other handmade swag!

Jewels For Hope on Etsy; Perfect Gifts for Kids

We love Etsy. I know, I know, right now Etsy is getting a lot of crap for not allowing all handmade items onto their site. Personally, I think that is disappointing, but I will always love Etsy. I have found some amazing items from different Etsy shops- high quality, lasting products.

Jewels For Hope will always have an Etsy account. We started out on Etsy and feel like it is something we should keep going. We do have some different items though on our shop compared to our website. We have some less expensive products shown on Etsy- as well as some of our standard items.

Here are some items from our Etsy shop. What do you think?

Flower Ring ($10)

 

Hope Key Chains ( $7.50)

Princess Jasmine Necklace ($11.00)

We think that having our Etsy Shop have some items a little less pricey is a way to get our jewelry out there for everyone. We feel these items are geared more towards kids and think they are the perfect gifts to give to little girls! What do you think?

Do you know anyone who would love that Jasmine Necklace? I know I do!

Top Of The Line Drapery & Upholstery

I am happy to say I have an amazing day job.  Right now in my life, Jewels For Hope cannot pay all of my bills, so working is a must for me.

I was lucky enough to find a job as an assistant at Top Of The Line Drapery & Upholstery this past year. I seriously don't know what I would have done without this job. The people, the atmosphere- everything about it is perfect for me. I am so blessed to have both a day job and company that I love working for!

So of course, now that I am happy with my work life, I have to share a bit about it.

My boss is such a talented upholsterer. She works side by side with interior designers and decorators and makes spaces stunning. Seeing the work room and looking at hoe all of this is created blows my mind! I don't know much about fabric and design but I am learning so much while working here!

Here is some amazing work from Top Of The Line! If you are a decorator and looking for a new work room to do business with, (and you live in Connecticut/New York area), please give her a call! 

 

Recently featured in Traditional Home Magazine (April 2015)

 

 

 

Isn't her work stunning? My mouth drops every time I see a new piece brought out!

For more photos of Top Of The Line's work, check out their Pintrest Page!

40% OFF EVERYTHING

We are doing a HUGE Sale for this weekend! Why? Because we love our customers!

Jewels For Hope is giving EVERY. ITEM. 40% OFF with code: HOPE40

Need a birthday gift for mom? What about a graduation gift for your niece? Looking for that perfect Red White and Blue piece for Memorial Day? Get it here! 

Huge discount! and to sweeten the pot a bit.... 

everyone who uses this code will get a free surprise gift with purchase.

Sale Ends 5/18/15

What are you waiting for? Check it out!

 

 

Jewels For Hope; In The Press

Jewels For Hope is proud to mention we have another press article written about us from the MTV Movie Awards Gift Lounge we participated in through The Artisan Group! We were featured on WinnkSyle! Go check out the write up on our Nautical Necklace she received in her swag bag. 

She took such a lovely photo of it below, I had to share!

Click here to see the full article!

Looking for Handmade? Check out The Artisan Group

In case you haven't read any of my previous posts, you're in for a treat today. I want to share with you all an amazing organization I am honored to be a part of.

The Artisan Group.

The Artisan Group (TAG) is a group of handmade artists of all kinds, brought together by one spectacular woman, Valerie. This group has about 1,000 members- from photographers, jewelry designers, graphic designers, crocheters, soap makers and more!

Valerie, runs this group and I honestly don't know what I would be doing with my life if myself and my mother never met her. She has provided this group with so many amazing opportunities and resources, our business would not be where it is today without her.

TAG is a way for small businesses to get their products into the hands of celebs, on tv shows & movies, and given to exclusive members of the press.

I am lucky enough that I have gone out to do some celebrity and press events representing the members of TAG. I've come across so many talented people in this group and am blown away by the work these artists create. If you or someone you know have your own handmade shop, please take a look at The Artisan Group and if you think it's a good fit, apply! I promise, if you get accepted into the group (it's a juried organization) it will change your life! My mom keeps saying TAG is going to take over the world. We both believe so much in Valerie and what she has done with this organization that we know it's only up from here!

Take a look at some of the special shops below! Here is proof that TAG really is an amazing organization that helps promote well crafted handmade items/businesses!


1. Jewels For Hope (of course I have to show ours in this list, haha)

Product placement- our Swarovski Pearl Necklace on FOX's Bones

2. Soap Cauldron

J-Woww posing with Soap Cauldron @ MTV Movie Awards Gift Lounge

3. Nature's Image's By Design

Dot Marie Jones posing with Nature's Image By Design @ MTV Movie Awards Gift Lounge

4. Jody Edwards Art

Kelly Clarkson with Jody Edwards Art @ CMA Awards Gift Lounge

5. Zoe and Piper

Product Placement.. Zoe & Piper Jewelry on Modern Family

6. SoapyBliss

Anthony Anderson with Soapy Bliss @ Golden Globes Gift Lounge

If you have any specific questions on The Artisan Group please feel free to email Valerie @ info@theartisangroup.org

Go check out some of these amazing shops! Want even more handmade greatness? Head on over to TAG's Pintrest Page. An item from every one of TAG's members is pinned!

Style, Style, Style!

My mother and I have completely different styles when it comes to what we wear and what we create. We both like to make items that we would wear ourselves.

I love a great "bohemian" look. Lots of jewelry, layered up, with gold, stones, and any kind of earth tones. I love creating pieces like this and pretty much make a duplicate of each item to keep for myself. Some of my new creations are.....

What do you think? I love them! I can picture them with a great white peasant top and a pair of dark skinny jeans. 

My mom on the other hand.... has a different style then me. She loves pearls and crystals and anything classic.

This is one of her new babies. Gorgeous, isn't it? I do love the pieces she makes- they are stunning, just more along her style then mine.

Which style is yours? What do you think of our new creations?

Jewels For Hope Featured in Stamford Daily Voice

Big Thanks to Jean for featuring us in The Stamford Daily Voice!

Check out the article on me and my momma, perfect for Mother's Day this upcoming weekend!

It took us forever to take this picture by the way haha 

But I think it turned out very nice for the article. :)

Life & Style Weekly #Giveaway @LifeandStyle

The Artisan Group's gift bag that was gifted to celebs at the MTV Movie Awards Gift Lounge is also being gifted away on Life & Style Magazine!

This gift bag is worth $1200!!!

You can see in the far right corner, our jewelry is included in this giveaway! You'll get one of our Nautical Necklaces that donates a portion of the profits to Save The Sound.

Let me know if you enter! So many amazing handmade goodies, I hope whoever wins enjoys it!!!

Hooked On Yarn CT; Perfect Summer Flip Flops

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love wearing flip flops. I could live in flip flops all year if I could (unfortunately, the Connecticut winter doesn't really let me, but that's a different story!)

I know in the summer months, wearing flip flops everyday occasionally hurts the tops of my feet- when my feet swell from the heat. The perfect solution? Wear pretty crocheted flip flops!

These flip flops are the most comfortable flip flops EVER! I love them. I have them in pink (obviously). My aunt, Lori, creates these in her Etsy Shop. She has tons of colors and they are perfect for everyday wear. I practically lived in mine last summer.

Perfect for adults or children, I think these are the way to go this summer! 

Do you have the same issues with flip flops that I do? Check out my aunt's etsy shop, Hooked on Yarn CT! I promise you won't regret it!

New Worth Saving Line

For those of you that know us, we are big on family. We love supporting one another and honestly, most of the charities my mother and I support through Jewels For Hope has sentimental meaning to us.

Well, my uncle, my mom's brother, drew this logo and placed it on a shirt over 40 years ago. He is big on saving wildlife and endangered species.

We took this logo he created and made it into a pendant,our  Worth Saving Necklace, in which a portion of the profits will donate to The World Wildlife Fund.

 

Isn't that so cool? We love the meaning behind this and my uncle was so touched that we created his work into one of our pieces. The look on his face when we gave him a pendant was priceless. It made us feel like we knew we did the right thing with this line.

What do you think of it?

Personalized Photo Pendants- 15% OFF

We really are broadening our horizon's this year with Jewels For Hope. We want to make something for everyone. We have some higher end products, some inexpensive products, and now, personalized products!

This is something so cute, I just have to share it with you.

We are now making personalized photo pendants. To show them off, we put our old puppy Ava in one. I swear, Ava was just the cutest puppy! So this photo was a clear option for us to make into a pendant.

Look. How. Cute.

Everytime I look at this picture my heart just melts. We had to give Ava (and her brother Leroy) up a couple years ago when we moved to Stamford. I actually still see them from time to time because the amazing family we gave them to ended up living next to my boyfriend. How weird is that? Meant to be!... But, I'm babbling now.....

Do you have a special photo you would like to see turned into a necklace? Check out our site! Here is a code for 15% off your own personalized photo necklace: THANKS15