Wednesday, September 30, 2009

"back-to-work" shopping

Heyoh!

Yesterday while "back-to-work" shopping my Mom and I had some profound shopping thoughts.  I know you can't wait to hear them...

1)  Having great clerks makes/breaks your experience and it is more interesting when you have two celebrity look-alike clerks in one day, Sarah Jessica Parker and a young Marie Osborne helped me prepare for the fashionable work-force. Props to Nordstrom in all departments as well as the surprise performance of White House Black Market who put on a very good show. (Not to mention I didn't know they had shoes...cute shoes, cute and comfy shoes, cute and comfy and stylish shoes)

2)  Nordstrom is really the last department store.

3)  Isabella-like jewelry...is everywhere!  I nudged my Mother until...she said I had to stop doing that yesterday when I saw something in a case or a store window or on a person walking by, because Isabella has something just like it, and 10 xs out of 10 it's a better price and handmade...along with customizing options! Doesn't that make you excited to see what we have?  I thought so.  :)

Click here to visit us on Etsy: Shop Isabella Jewelry, LLC

Friday, September 25, 2009

the morning after...

*insert deep breath, long exhale*
we made it.

Sarah and I, thanks to numerous helpers, successfully pulled off our very first Isabella show last night. With over 60 people invited, we were (especially me) nervous/excited/stressed/anxious. We worked until the very last second on producing as much inventory as possible, making sure displays were just right and bedazzling our 'hired help' with the appropriate Isabella piece for their chosen outfit. When the first guest walked in we took a deep breath and let it happen.

With the ideal first party crowd we welcomed old and new neighbors alike, church friends, dear friends, friends of friends, and everyone in between. The next thing i knew it was 10:30 and the last guest was out the door with her Isabella gift bag in hand.

Due to the fantastic home of Mary B. we were able to display all of our pieces perfectly with plenty of room for the ladies to try on, flaunt, and pick which Isabella piece HAD to be theirs. A big, big thank you goes to the Bos. family for their hospitality and support, as well to the fantastic women who attended our party and were so very encouraging and gracious to Sarah and I.

We have learned the tremendous amount of detail that goes into throwing a party, and are anxious to do it all over again. But first, we must put our pieces on etsy.com (i promise that will be done this weekend! search: 'JewelryIsabella') and start making everything from our orders last night!

Pictures will be coming soon from the party thanks to the wonderful Allie B!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Party Preparations

2 days until our first show.

Schieze. (that's german)

We are working overtime on everything from party logistics (sign-in sheets and order forms) to extra eye-candy (photo boards of inspiration and fashion how-to) to mass production of pieces (literally making as many pieces as possible). And this is all happening when either of us are not at our other 'real' jobs...

We have all the parts to make this party a success, and i hope you enjoy the updated photos of our work (thanks to a lovely late summer evening and the help of our first 'intern' Sonoma!) Soon they will be up on etsy.com so we can start selling to our beloved fans worldwide!! Well, at least throughout Edina and maybe some out of town relatives :)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Sisters, sanity, and the bead cap.

Fall is in the air- leaves are turning red, the lake appears darker blue, and hair color is back to brunette. I'd like to say that the air is crisper, but this week's warm spell has turned Isabella HQ into a working sweatshop. As the temp hits 85, Sarah and I work with fans on high speed with a deadline quickly approaching.

We are 10 days out from our first show and have a 'to-do' list as long as NY Fashion Week's runway. Amid the chaos we have found some things to keep us sane; Our sister Caitlyn (well technically Sarah's sister, but we're pretty much blood relatives..) came into town from Boston for a quick visit! Along with Erica, our other sister, we made time for catch-up over a bottle of vinho verde and a delicious pesto torte while enjoying this freakishly warm weather.

Another aspect of Isabella that has maintained my sanity might be God's greatest gift to jewelers-- the bead cap. Many of you may not be familiar with bead caps; Sarah and I were just introduced to them at the beginning of our Isabella adventure. The beauty of the bead cap is that they can turn any ordinary bead into an exquisite masterpiece. Look forward to seeing many bead caps in our line of necklaces and earrings- they'll be the little pieces of magic adorning our beads that resemble little hats.

We are rejuvenated with positive feedback from the pieces we've made so far, the ongoing support from family and friends, and the fantastic colors and styles we're playing with!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

ISABELLA'S FAVORITE FALL COLORS


FROM FASHION WEEK TO RED CARPET APPEARANCES THE JEWEL TONES ARE GORGEOUS THIS FALL AND ISABELLA HAS CHOSEN A RICH PALETTE OF
AMETHYST,
BRONZE,
MIDNIGHT BLUE AND
MUSTARD YELLOW...
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Friday, September 11, 2009

"Craft Stores" used to make me wince

  When someone says "craft" what do you think of? white crew-neck sweatshirts with appliqué winter wonderland scenes, ornaments made of felt and a glue gun, googly eyes, colored cotton balls, doll clothes with horrid floral prints, quilts made from t-shirts, cross-stitch wall hangings...trinkets...things that make you tilt your head and say, "If I'm mad at you in December, this is what I am buying you for Christmas, Sister."



About six months ago I had a similar painful thought pattern upon hearing "craft stores," where the people are walking examples of their craftiness...and then one gross Wisconsin spring day I was complaining at the breakfast table to my roommate about the price of beads and she suggested...MICHAELS, whose tagline is THE ARTS AND CRAFTS STORE. She insisted she take me.



I had one of those epiphanies, like when you realize your parents are people too, not just your parents.


Anyway, it turned out to be a great resource and still is today, for Isabella.



In fact, the first draft of this post was:


Found much sought after Mustard Raffia yesterday at Michaels. Thank you Michaels, you complete me some days.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Creativity from Crisis and the '80s Revival

For the current unemployed twenty-somethings, drawing creativity from a crisis is survival. Yes, I could live at home with my parents where the food and wine flow "freely," and apply to every opportunity on Monster.com, but it will be creativity that will eventually move me out. Kate Betts, Editor of TIME Style&Design, writes in her note, Drawing Creativity from Crisis (Fall 09), "For Michael Kors, fashion's current 80s revival is all about confidence." It IS what we all need right now, and if MK says it you better believe Isabella is listening.


Keeping in mind a total 80s revival is not what every woman is thinking when purchasing her fall accessories, Isabella is refining some 80s inspired hoops and dangles to complete a fashionable, wearable and confident collection. As for those of you who were scarred by the age of peplums and blue-eye shadow, Isabella has something for you too.


I agree with Kate Betts, “The most creative people find opportunity in crisis." Fortunately for Natalie and I Isabella Jewelry is an opportunity combining our passion and our creativity into a company which before now, had only been talked/dreamed about around dinner tables at one of the homes where the food and wine flow freely...

Visit NYTimes for more on the '80s revival:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/fashion/20EIGHTIES.html