Custom, Color and the Jewelry Giveaway!

2012-01-19T00:15:00.000-05:00

I'M SO EXCITED! There's nothing I'd love more than to make someone happy by designing jewelry especially for them! /*{literal}

A #Jewelry Tradition

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

For three winter Sunday evenings beginning in mid-January and ending late February, I can be found popping some popcorn, opening a bottle of sparkling juice, positioning myself in the most optimal position in a big, comfy chair with a warm, plush blanket wrapped tightly around my legs and feet, laptop in lap, remote control in hand, ready to witness an annual Hollywood tradition: The Awards

New Year, New Career?

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012! It's a brand new year full of wonderful possibilities. I'm not a big believer in resolutions mainly because I've rarely been successful at committing to them but I'm a huge proponent of setting achievable goals with viable action plans. So in that vane.... Earrings from JulRe Designs LUXE A couple of years ago, a custom design client asked if I would bring some of my

Dreams, Visions and Inspirations

2011-08-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

Part of my jewelry design process has always, in some way involved my dreams. Whether daydreams, nighttime visions or walking meditations, inspiration for my designs often comes from things I see when I'm not really looking for them. When this happens, I try to capture some kind of image. Fast, before it flees. I carry a tiny sketch pad and colored pencil set with me wherever I go. Some kind

Light Bulb Moments

2011-06-21T12:00:00.004-04:00

"To have a "light-bulb moment", the power has to be on." — Jennifer L. Feuerstein, Author So far, the first half of this year has been filled with awakenings for me. I thought my creative juice flow had been extremely compromised at the end of the cold, gray Winter season. Dealing with a complex business issue that would have significant impact on my personal life stifled me. Finding the

Spring Inspirations

2010-12-27T07:00:00.005-05:00

Spring has sprung in my studio and I'm having fun creating delicious gemstone charms that drip from delicate chain. Here's my inspiration board for some of my new designs currently available at The Shop at JulRe Designs.

The Sporting Life

2010-11-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Left to right: US Open Tennis, NY Jets Football, NY Yankees Baseball, NY Knicks Basketball You could label me a sports-aholic, sports addict or sports fanatic and be very accurate in your assessment. Year-round, I'm mesmerized by athletics of all kinds. From boxing to tennis to track and field, at any given time of the year I'm finding a way to be in a stadium, arena or glued to the TV for

Strong Images & Warm Sensations

2010-10-25T12:55:00.001-04:00

This weekend, a customer visited my studio and while perusing my current collection of jewelry, she picked up a particularly colorful necklace and began to stare at it intensely. After a few minutes, I began to wonder if she felt a special connection to the piece, if it reminded her of something or someone or if she was repulsed by it. Actually the necklace was conjuring up a series of strong

Color Commentary

2010-10-04T10:00:00.003-04:00

I may often dream in black and white but I live in color. I've consciously chosen entrepreneurial ventures that have allowed me to surround myself with a wide range of beautiful hues and patinas. During my years as a Fashion and Personal Image Consultant, one of my jobs was to advise people on how to make an impact and present the best of themselves for career success. I was trained in the

On Hiatus....

2010-09-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Pleasure of Pleasing

2010-08-30T10:00:00.020-04:00

Last week I got a phone call from a very loyal customer who asked me to join her for lunch. This wouldn't be something so unusual since many of my customers invite me to dine with them or attend special events except this customer is notoriously private and would never be mistaken for a social butterfly. She's quite proud of her exclusive life and enjoys the privacy that she works very hard to

Art on a String

2010-08-23T10:00:00.002-04:00

Those who regularly read this blog know that I am a big fan and huge supporter of indie artists. I've written about my carefully curated handmade coffee/tea cup collection. My home is lovingly filled with wonderful pieces of handcrafted furniture. Being an artisan myself, I have great respect for craftspeople because I understand the heart and soul that these creative people pour into their

Color My Cardigan

2010-08-16T08:00:00.006-04:00

So I was playing around on the ColourLovers website as I often do when I'm trying to design a new piece of jewelry and I decided to put my loss of focus to good use by designing a color strategy for my fall wardrobe. The palette above is the culmination of my exercise in procrastination. I selected rich, wholesome colors that worked well together but are strong enough to hold their own in a

A Foodie's End of Days

2010-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

I've begun to mourn the loss of Summer even though the almanac says that the Fall equinox doesn't occur until September 22nd this year. For this foodie, the best part of this warm weather season has been the abundance of fresh fruits available at farmer's markets and food stands in my area. As a true lover of all berries including blueberries, strawberries and blackberries, I've been enjoying

No Means No. Really.

2010-08-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Lately, I'm too frequently reminded of an old Odd Couple TV episode in which Tony Randall's character, Felix explains to Oscar, played by Jack Klugman that "One should never assume. You'll make an ASS out of U and ME." Often some of those closest to me assume that because my entrepreneurial venture allows me the opportunity to work from home on occasion that I'm available to do favors, run

In Honor and Humor

2010-07-05T11:39:00.000-04:00

"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade with guns tanks and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle but with family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you've overeaten, but it is patriotism."~Erma Bombeck I have always been among those who

Getting Rubbed the Right Way

2010-06-28T08:00:00.007-04:00

Swedish, deep tissue, sports, reflexology and hot stone are all types of massage therapies that I have received over the years to combat high levels of stress, migraines, and a recurring lower back problem. They've become a necessity. I'll sacrifice a meal in order to squeeze in a session no matter what's going on in my world. Tough to do when you're on the move but thankfully, massages are

The Fresh Factor

2010-06-21T09:18:00.003-04:00

The Raw Food Diet, vegan-ism and the Pure Food and Wine restaurant in NYC are all eating concepts I've dabbled in and enjoyed - in little bits and pieces. Eating well has become a healthy obsession for me but I'm not at the point where I can get into any extreme eating plans. In fact, the word "plan" really freaks me out. Structure and food do not make an appealing pairing. Having the

An Important Play Date

2010-06-14T17:10:00.001-04:00

If there's one thing I've learned from running my own business is that in order for your life to work while you're building your empire, you must schedule regular play dates with yourself and others. A lot of entrepreneurs, myself included, have a tendency to be delegation-averse, fearing that no one can do what you do as well as you do it. That's just fine but it's the surefire, fastest way to

Confessions of a Quirky Collector

2010-06-07T16:40:00.005-04:00

Since I was a small child growing up in southern New Jersey, I've always had a penchant for multiples. As a gangly pre-teen who reached my current height of 5'8" with size 10 feet by age 12, my fashion choices were limited by what was available in that obscure world between the Juniors and Misses sections. My clever and imaginative mother would go on search and find missions in her favorite

Taking Advantage

2010-05-31T08:56:00.008-04:00

As many Americans in the United States honor the memories of the men and women who gave their lives in military service to our country on Memorial Day and celebrate the unofficial start to the Summer season with parades, BBQs and informal family and friend gatherings during the extended weekend, my man and I took some time to pay our respects and enjoy a much needed slower pace, doing only things

My Fab 5

2010-05-24T09:42:00.007-04:00

You know how satisfying it feels when you find an insightful book, a time-saving product or just about anything that makes your world feel less like it revolves on a tilt as the ground shifts beneath your feet? Then you and I have a lot in common. I'm always on the hunt for ways to help make my daily life simpler, safer and saner. I'm a big time sampler of all things fabulous but once I make a

Creative Audacity

2010-05-17T09:00:00.010-04:00

This weekend I was very politely asked by a customer if I could really make a living at what I do. She'd always assumed that people just couldn't walk away from well-paying corporate jobs to become artists or craftpersons and expect to sustain themselves in any meaningful way. I did. "You must have benefactors." That's the only way a creative lifestyle and career can ever work, she implied.

Feeling a Little Ruched

2010-05-10T10:02:00.006-04:00

No matter what the "happening now" fashion trend is, there are two distinct clothing detailing features that I reach for on the racks time and again: eyelet lace and ruching. I believe, my love of eyelet started with a trip to a senior center to visit a relative. As I sat in the lobby, a woman next to me was actually embroidering eyelets into a handkerchief. The careful detailing of her

When Life Gives You Lemons....

2010-05-03T06:00:00.006-04:00

....make lemonade! We've all heard the saying. Dale Carnegie, the writer, lecturer and author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" coined the phrase many years ago albeit with slight differences (It is believed that the exact quote begins "When fate hands you a lemon, .....") Nevertheless, I believe his intent was to tell us to get over ourselves and keep moving when life throws stink

A Colorful Celebration

2010-04-19T06:00:00.004-04:00

There's nothing that gives me more pleasure than designing jewelry and seeing smiles on the faces of happy, fashion savvy women when they put on one of my bold, bright necklaces or shoulder-grazing stiletto earrings. It's a pleasure and a privilege. It's what gets me up every morning. So as I entered this, my 10th year of creative bliss, I wanted to design a collection of Summer jewelry that

Meditation Schmeditation

2010-04-12T11:24:00.004-04:00

Eyes closed, legs crossed into contorted pretzels, chanting spiritual verses until my mind numbs had not been my ideal state of being. Endlessly repeating mantras or intensely focusing on inanimate objects with palms in prayer position was an undesirable way of finding nirvana. I wanted to truly master the art of meditation but I could never get beyond the uncomfortable stillness of the

Writing Gems

2010-04-05T06:00:00.003-04:00

I've been writing the great American love story. I took advantage of a perfect opportunity to dust off the cobwebs on it while I was in a relaxed state this past holiday weekend. I don't talk about it too much and when I do, those that know me scratch their heads and wonder if I've taken that final leap into insanity. They make not so subtle comments about my life already being filled with

I Went Where No Jack Should Go

2010-03-29T06:00:00.003-04:00

I'll be back with a new Style Baubles post on Monday, April 5, 2010. Juliet

'Tis the Season to be Moisturized

2010-03-22T10:31:00.010-04:00

It's not that women don't think about some aspect of their appearance all year round. It's just that Springtime usually elicits a more concentrated look at how the dry air and cold temperatures have reeked havoc on our hair and skin. My annual quest for the best body moisturizer picks up pace when the birds start to chirp and the flower blooms come out of hibernation. With its vital role as

Brunch, Anyone?

2010-03-15T06:00:00.006-04:00

While it is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, weekend brunch is the meal I look forward to the most. Typically, it's the one meal that brings my favorite things together - the leisurely consumption of wonderful food and the amazing people I'm so fortunate to have in my life. Whether I'm cooking brunch for a group of friends, hosting a catered buffet in my jewelry

Deep in Color Therapy

2010-03-08T06:00:00.003-05:00

I think one of the many reasons I became a Jewelry Designer is because of a life lesson my mother unwittingly taught me many years ago. She said simply "Always surround yourself with color". The context in which she made this statement had more to do with a lifeless outfit I was about to wear than some profound life change she was prescribing for me. But I've always held those words close and

It's All On The Wrist

2010-01-25T00:08:00.005-05:00

Some say the origin of the bracelet dates back more than 6000 years to ancient Egypt and throughout Africa in the cradle of civilization as well as in ancient China. Bracelets in Egypt and Africa were initially made with wood, stones, bones, and plant fibers and later copper and bronze while China produced the first known innovation to this popular jewelry with jade bracelets and elaborate gold

There's Always Room for Love

2010-01-18T14:49:00.002-05:00

I had a friend (emphasis on the word "had") who has a rather depressing, doomsday view of life. No joy can be found in this person's soul. Life's trials and tribulations have robbed her of inner peace and slowly eroded her desire to get it back. Unfortunately, I can no longer let her malevolence drain my spirit and I made the difficult decision to end our relationship. However, today I sent

Soulful Eating

2010-01-11T10:00:00.004-05:00

Have you heard the advice “eat mindfully”? It asks that we be consciously aware of what foods we are consuming and just how much we are taking in. It requires a level of focus that easily escapes us when we are overworked, stressed out and under pressure. I’m trying to adapt to more mindful eating since a recent fast showed me exactly how toxic my body was from months of neglect. I won’t get

The No Resolution Revolution

2010-01-04T10:00:00.009-05:00

I stopped making New Year’s resolutions when I realized that they were just another vehicle designed to set me up for failure. Make a list, check it twice – BAH! Tricks, mind teases? What are we actually saying when each year we have the same d**n things on the list? I’ve decided that I’m going to dedicate myself to making necessary life changes as they are needed, throughout the year on a

Versatili-Tee

2009-11-16T09:27:00.009-05:00

The modern tee-shirt has got to be, hands down, one of the most versatile pieces of clothing available to man and womankind. Prints, solids, hand painted, embroidered, long sleeved, cap sleeved, fitted or full, there's a style and fit for every body. They are pure simplicity wrapped in plastic and bought in 3's or Art on Cloth. We wear them easily with jeans and unexpectedly with long satin

The Uncommonness of Courtesy

2009-11-09T16:32:00.007-05:00

Last week, a gentleman held a door open for me. It wasn't my dad, boyfriend or brother. This was a random person who obviously felt extending a courtesy wasn't an act of treason at that moment. My profuse thankfulness may have caused the man to have second thoughts about his actions but the truth is I was stunned. I rarely get to see even the most common courtesies expressed to myself or

Get Thee to ETSY....Coffee Table Edition

2009-11-02T18:48:00.006-05:00

Some day soon, I’ll get over my intense need for safety and security and pop the cork on my hard earned savings to purchase a new home. And when I do, I’ll finally be able to completely unleash my taste for contemporary design by filling the house with expressive, modernistic furniture. My favorite space in my current home is the living room. It’s where our friends and family join us for great

Scrub - a - Dub

2009-10-26T14:24:00.004-04:00

Let’s be real – our face gets all of the attention when it comes to skincare. We spend exorbitant amounts of money feeding our need to be blemish-free, wrinkle-free, soft, even-toned, becoming slaves to brightly colored bottles and jars filled with the latest lotions and potions…..whatever the endless stream of beauty propaganda from the fashion magazines, television and movies dictate we should

Eating Royalty

2009-10-05T22:23:00.008-04:00

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with cupcakes. I have them available at all times in my jewelry design studio for customers. That’s what I tell people but the truth is they’re there to feed my addiction. I serve them for dessert at all of my parties. I give them as gifts and when traveling to a new city or country, I research their availability before going. I just discovered Cupcakes for a

The Generosity of Jeans

2009-09-28T09:00:00.004-04:00

Jeans are the fashion gift that just keeps giving. They are undoubtedly the only items in my wardrobe that, with the exception of in formal or conservative corporate environs, work every time. The styles, fits and price points are endless. Decorative stitching and denim washes make jeans more versatile than the go-to black trousers. Don't get me wrong - black pants will always be a must-have

The Customer's Always Right and Other Unfortunate Myths

2009-09-21T13:26:00.008-04:00

We had an exceptionally bad experience at a local restaurant yesterday. I woke knowing that I would never be able to continue my day if I didn’t write about it. Let me preface this by saying I'm not a particularly patient consumer. By definition, I'm intolerant of poor customer service and especially unforgiving when spending my hard earned money results in dissatisfaction. I think this

A Different Kind of Marketplace

2009-09-14T12:23:00.020-04:00

I continue to be amazed by the amount of extraordinary talent in the world of handcrafted artisans. One could spend hours scouring shopping sites like Etsy and ArtFire to see that creativity abounds. There's a sense of community among the artists, a mutual respect for each individual craft as well as a healthy dose of competition just to keep everyone striving for higher quality and

When a Rose Is Not a Rose

2009-09-07T19:41:00.018-04:00

While walking through a field of wild flowers has always been an aesthetically pleasant experience, it's never been appealing in liquid form captured in a spray bottle. I've become more of a citrus or fresh scent gal because most floral fragrances smell clawing and suffocating on me. I make an exception with roses. In fact, I've gone through many bottles of Jo Malone's Red Roses over the years.

Beware of the Buzz Kill - a Coffee Saga

2009-08-31T12:14:00.007-04:00

I’m having a love affair with coffee again and I’m not ashamed to proclaim it to the world - especially since certain health officials have finally extolled its beneficial virtues. There was a time when I’d sworn off the dark, steamy liquid heaven and switched to its lighter, less frenetic sister, tea. I blogged about it last year, convinced that the “buzz” I got from coffee ultimately wasn’t

The Quest for Togetherness (or Tote Bag Envy)

2009-08-24T16:15:00.017-04:00

You’ve seen them. Those women who look as if they rolled out of a bed of sheets and into a bed of roses, perfectly coiffed, not a speck of disarray. They walk with proud, perfect posture and jaunty steps usually with some kind of fashionable handbag clutched under their arm, in the crook of their elbow or slung over their well-toned shoulder. I envy their “togetherness”. It takes planning and

Stops, Starts & Other Random Delays

2009-08-17T16:17:00.008-04:00

JulRe Designs Style Baubles

Less is Less. More is More.