Presents!

Although I truly love my own jewelry, I can't help but purchase jewelry from other artists such as MimosaStudioSF and girlinworld (both fellow Etsy sellers). Can you blame me? I sort of have a weak spot for pretty, sparkly things.

The first time I saw MimosaStudioSF was at Feria Urbana a couple of years ago. The cutest little pair of white star freshwater pearl earrings on her uber-inventive (dish) jewelry rack caught my eye and they were only $13.00. It didn't take long before I picked them up and Regina was really nice and professional and has a bright smile. She has fantastic, delicate, colorful, detailed pieces in her collection. I have seen her at a couple of other shopping events since then and I always buy something from her. She gives the same outstanding level of customer service each time and remembers every single piece of jewelry she sells. How many people can say that? I don't think I can. Overall, I have bought four very different, awesome pairs of earrings and a cool beetle pendant from her. At first glance, I thought the beetle was just black, but when I heard it was iridescent, I couldn't resist anymore. Iridescence ... another weakness. The latest pair of earrings are a pair of trapeze earrings with blue topaz briolettes (above). I looooove them, there is nothing better than getting something in the mail. (Thanks to Etsy, I get something at least once a week. I have to stop.) Anyway, Regina is always fun to talk to and has such a great laugh and is the mother of an adorable little boy. I'm going to see her at PopNShop on the 28th and I have to try my hardest NOT to buy anything from her table. My budget is limited. *sigh*

I convinced my boyfriend to just let me buy at least one thing, more than likely it will be from Regina :)

One of my favorite presents from my boyfriend are the Bright Skinnies bangles from girlinworld. I was bored, surfing on the net late one night, and saw an article about 'quitting your day job' on Etsy. I was still an Etsy newbie at the time, didn't know about the Storque feature, so I read her inspiring article, (I want to quit my day job!) looked at her shop and found these bright sterling silver bangles. They were just what I wanted. My only dilemma was do I want 12 or 20 bangles? My boyfriend got them for me as an anniversary gift. They catch the light so well, every time I wear them, I play with them, polish them, I CANNOT leave them alone. They are comfortable and they slide up and down my arm, cheering me with the music they make. It's at the point where I love to wear them but I don't because I get so freaked out about just losing ONE bangle, that I only wear them on special occassions compared to all the time like I did before. I have small hands, so they tend to slip off and I lose jewelry often which is why I need to become MORE organized!

I can't wait until her store opens up, so I can look, drool, and FAIL to resist clicking 'Add to Cart' on said items.

Girlinworld also has another Etsy store called paintedmetal. This store has many more awesome pieces. It will take every ounce of my willpower to not buy anything from either designer, actually it will take all that to just stay off of Etsy altogether.

Hmmm on a side note ... I think I overuse 'awesome', (sorry!) blame the series 'How I Met Your Mother' :) They brought it back, made it a thing.

If I could, when I make more money from my NEW job, I want to buy MORE jewelry from each of these talented artists.

Just wanted to take the time to shine the spotlight on just TWO of my favorite designers. I have many, many more favorite people just like them who inspire me to make creative, beautiful pieces just as they have. Perhaps, one day, they would want to wear my designs just as much as I want to wear theirs.

That would be ... well, awesome.

UPDATE: I bought one more pair of earrings from Regina at Noise Pop and she gave me another pair for FREE, for my birthday, she says. AWESOME. Nothing better than free jewelry.