October 19th, 2010
CRYSTALLIZED GHOSTS
- CRYSTALLIZED bats
Super cute NEW kits!!!
- CRYSTALLIZED Tree
- vintage owl charms
new kits available!!
- turquise pupmking earrings
harvest pumpkins
Tags: bats, Ghosts, kits< CRYSTALLIZED, owls, pumpkins, vintage
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October 18th, 2010
brooklyn bridge
If I am lucky, Or I come up with a great reason, I get to travel to the east coast, I find the entire east coast to be such a contrast to Hawaii that it excites my creative energy. I had not gone to visit this area for at least 15 years and 5 years ago, I started to travel in that direction often somtimes 2-3 times a year. perhaps it was to runaway from the island life as we know it where really, there are no fashion rules and we wear slippers, shorts and t shirts to the mall. believe me.. the New Englanders dress nicely to stay home!
I traveledfor sourcing merchandise, ideas, personal shopping, etc. but now it is really to visit with old friends that I have met over the years, for creative candy where everything in NYC is beautiful this is where I realized that I am drawn to Architecture, history and middle Eastern and Medditeranean Foods.
bead Stores?? there are several the only problem is that most are owned by one family many of the stores are planned the same, and the merchandise is the same. and all the samples look like they came straight from a foreign area with no individual creativity. I do however visit the trimming shops and dream to have one like MJ trimming and Tinsel Trading.
My latest visit was extremely short I basically only had 60 hrs unfortuately, as I was on my way home after spending the week with Swarovski and working a bead show, a friend Kellie Defries of Crystal Ninja ( who by the way is the most talented Rhinestone artist there is) and her husband were comming to NYC and was going to be there on my only available day so we booked a Pizza tour thru Brooklyn, we had a great adventure seeing the sights of Brooklyn including the many sights from movie scenes, multi million $$ homes and Yes Pizza.!!
after the tour we walked in the rain to SOHO where the Swarovski Creative Concept store was and I have to tell you it was beautiful! what I would do to have a crystal wall like that! but it comes with a pricey price.
I got to see the movie Wall Street with 2 of my city friends and ate dessert at one of those cute little cafes that you see in the movies, took a coffee break at Bryant Park which I absolutely adore. and got my hair cut by the cutest Puerto Rican Hair Stylist KIKE who I visit at every trip. and went to a Back yard BBQ in Queens, NY style and that is where everyone was surprised that I was not Hispanic! my only regret of having such a crazy schedule this time is not going to Grand central Station, and Central Park. so until next time..
bryant park
coney island
- times Square
- val and kellie at the Crystal wall
hand bag cart
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October 15th, 2010
A couple of weeks ago, I along with 18 other SWAROVSKI Ambassadors ventured out to Rhode Island where SWAROVSKI North America headquarters is Located. This facility at one time was where many of the jewelry pieces sold in boutiques across the US was designed, manufactured and Plated, over the last several years, the actual production is now outsourced to other factories around the world, you may ask “what is a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ambassador?” first of all there are only 32 of us world wide. we are known as the right arm to SWAROVSKI Elements DIY division. we are the voices and the designers of many of the products and ideas in the creative circuit. Some of us are professional designers, magazine editors, bead show hosts, bead store owners, extreme hobiest. Our goal is to promote the Brand name, quality, sparkle and design buy teaching, creating and brainstorming new products and techniques.
From the moment we checked into our hotel rooms, the creative energy filled the rooms with sparkle and ideas and excitement flowed as many of sparkle sisters and brother, reunited or met friends for the first time. we were even instructed by our manager not attach any beads or stones to anything in our hotel rooms which literally made us want to do so :) Our group spent the first day and a half learning very technical marketing, trends, legalities and branding the second day was really enlightening as we learned new techniques with new products that we will soon be implementing a t Creations By You and across the country.
exploring and discussion of new products
val, Diane Whiting, Deb Simon, Monica Han, Brenda Schewder
The state of Rhode Island in it’s prime was a huge factor in the American Industrial Revolution as early as 1790 where to this day you will see the remnants of old factory buildings some renovated as luxury apartments, office spaces, or retail . but you can still feel the nostalgic reminisces of yesteryear where these factories made textiles, clothing, luggage, shoes, hats, furs and once was the leading area for costume jewelry manufacturing. now sadly most of all factories have all closed due to outsourcing all the manufacturing to Asia. Rhode Island was also known for the “Slave Trade” region as they were the main port of New England for slave trade.
currently, Rhode Island is home to 3 very well known Colleges RISD Rhode Island School of Design which one day I would still like to attend on a non credit base. Johnson and Wales which is known for hotel Hospitality, buisness school and Culinary arts, and Brown University.
Tags: rhode Island, sister, sparkle, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ambassador
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