Brooches and pins sometimes get a bad rap – memories of PTA ladies with giant costume pins perhaps?
Brooches really don’t deserve that – in fact, there are lots of great indie designers producing hip, trendy and fun pins.  Check out this whimisical little brooch from Etsy seller Tiny Art:

image: Tiny Art

Do you like your jewelry with a funky edge?  How about jewelry that benefits other women?
Be Sweet is right up your alley then!  I’ve written about them before, but essentially the company empowers South African women by creating jobs and training them to create high-quality accessories and more.
Be Sweet has a charming line of jewelry, which includes the “Little Heart Brooch” – perfect for Valentine’s Day!

It’s also available in a flower shape as well
image: Be Sweet

This is the time of year when I like to browse through my archives and share my favorite posts with you, my lovely readers
There are fashion & jewelry trends I like, celebrity fashion and some “just because” picks.
In no particular order…

I love most of Paraphernalia’s jewelry, but this series of bold necklaces is particularly yummy.
Finding celebrity jewelry is a challenge sometimes, but I think this jewelry from the Sex and the City movie is worth it!
More movie jewelry – I had several reader requests to find jewelry from the latest James Bond flick “Quantum of Solace“.  I tracked …read more

I think almost everyone is trying to be a little more thrifty these days – even with their jewelry purchases!
I’m going to have an ongoing series here called “Big Spender or Spendthrift” where I’ll compare different pieces of jewelry – and find options that will work with the average woman’s wallet.
The first pick is the lovely Chanel Camellia brooch:

image: Bluefly
This particular one is plastic-covered knit fabric, made in France.  Elegant, iconic – and rings in at $680.00 on sale.
That’s not in my price range these days…
So what’s a thrifty fashionista to do?  Look to indie designers of course!
Etsy turns up …read more

I wrote a few tips about how to wear festive jewelry without looking like Christmas threw up on your clothes…
Today’s post is Christmas & holiday jewelry to avoid…
As a general rule – I avoid wearing jewelry that lights up, flashes or glows:

Unless you’re going to a very festive club perhaps…
I prefer not to announce my presence in a room with jingle bells:

But if you’d like to play “Santa’s Little Reindeer” go right ahead…
And the last tip for the day – if it’s too bright and Christmas-y to go on your Christmas tree, it does not belong on your sweater!

Now go …read more

Christmas is my favorite time of year – the lights, the decorations, wonderful music and the fantastic food!  Christmas and the holidays are a lovely time of year to share your love of jewelry with people on your gift list.
I’ve put together a jewelry shopping guide with suggestions for your mom all the way to your co-worker.  Have fun and keep your shopping stresses down by shopping online this year!
image: Stock.xchg 

I’m a big fan of Pushing Daisies – and especially their costume design   Did you see Olive Snook’s (played by Kristin Chenoweth) bee pin in last night’s episode?  Too cute!
While I wasn’t able to find the exact pin they used, here’s an un-painted version from BeulahBeast:

The pin is silver-plated brass and based on a vintage design.
image: BeaulahBeast

Do you need a new brooch to match your Labbit ring?
How about this adorable sterling-silver plated rabbit lapel pin from Fred Flare?

image: Fred Flare

I think this “Long-stemmed Iris” brooch by Alexis Bittar is just exquisite:

It’s made from hand-painted & hand-sculpted Lucite, Swarovski crystal and gray pearls.  The details and delicacy just blow me away – it’s worthwhile taking a look at the zoomed in image on the website!
image: Sak’s 5th Avenue

 I’m a sucker for vintage flower jewelry – I even wore vintage porcelain flower brooches in my hair last year when I got married!
I think that’s why I’m so excited to see Tarina Tarantino’s new “Floriculture” collection of jewelry.   She’s designed it around a collection of vintage resin flowers – which means that each one is one-of-a-kind.  It’s extravagantly feminine, but still totally wearable.  Want to see what I’m so excited about?
Vintage resin flower collage comb:
 
Vintage resin & crystal flower pendant:
 
Vintage flower collage “Anywhere” clip:
 
images: Tarina Tarantino