Off the Cuff

One mistake you don’t want to make is looking like your outfit was thrown together, off the cuff, if you will. I know you all have heard the saying, “You get one chance to make a first impression.” If you want to give a good impression, you can’t afford to be impromptu about your jewelry. It should not be a second thought in your outfit but just as important as the outfit itself. From classic to eclectic, jewelry tells everyone who you are. It is an expression of your personality and sense of style, your trademark. You can take a plain outfit and turn it into a fabulous outfit, if you have the right piece of jewelry. How do you know if you have the right piece(s) of jewelry? The overall important decision when choosing jewelry is not to follow trends, but to stay true to your unique style. Pick a piece that glorifies your beauty in all ways. I personally love jewelry, but I don’t like to over do it. When I pick out a piece of jewelry, I like to make it count. I like it to be different, bold, look like it was made for me. When I wear jewelry, I like to keep it simple and then throw in a great bold piece, whether it’s earrings, a necklace, or a unique bracelet. It has to be great. For the next several weeks, I will write about the great bold and unique pieces that I find on Etsy.com. Last week, I featured necklaces. This week, I am featuring cuff bracelets. I found some exceptional pieces. The artisan’s that I chose have paid great attention to detail. The attention to detail and uniqueness of the jewelry are the factors in choosing the jewelry shops this week.  When wearing these wonderful creations, I can guarantee you will never walk into a room and find someone else wearing the same piece of jewelry.  They are like you, one-of-a-kind.

I found a rare tresure when I stumbled upon this store.  Custom, handcrafted, exotic leather goods and accessories is how Unearthed describes their products.
Unearthed "Where Style is Unapologetically Luxurious"
To see more striking pieces from Unearthed's shop click here http://www.unearthed.etsy.com/.

Green/Burgundy Stars Stingray Cuff 

Metalic Genuine Stingray Cuff Bracelet-Magenta

Whimsicals describes their jewelry products as art.  A wearable expression of your personality.
To see more ways to express yourself from Whimsicals, click here http://www.whimsicals.etsy.com/.

Metallica Cuff Bracelet

Garnet of Delight

I would love to express myself with the jewelry from Cindy Caraway's shop.  She describes her creations as wearable art and beaded adornment.
To see more wearable art from Cindy Caraway's shop, click here http://www.cindycaraway.etsy.com/.

In the Pink Beaded Cuff Bracelet

Amber Bear Beaded Cuff Bracelet

Serrelynda says she designs her jewelry for comfort, wearability, and style with an edge.
To see more of Serrelynda's stylish designs, click here http://www.serrelynda.etsy.com/.

Rhinestone and Filigree Wide Cuff Fashion Bracelet

Rhinestone Flower and Silver Filigree Cuff Bracelet

The Fashion Edge turns antique cutlery into wearable pieces of history.  Some of their antique spoons and forks that they craft their jewelry from are getting close to 100 years old. 
To see more of The Fashion Edge's amazing transformations click here http://www.thefashionedge.etsy.com/.

Silver Plated Spoon Cuff with Genuine Pearl and Crystals

Silver Plated Fork and Spoon Bracelet with Large Stone Bead

Beads of Aquarius also falls into the category of wearable art.  Jewelry pieces are one-of-a-kind.
To see more unique pieces from Beads of Aquarius, click here http://www.beadsofaquarius.etsy.com/.

Babylone

Teotihuacan Bracelet

The next two shops are honorable mention.  I usually choose six shops to feature each week, but this week I had two more that I wanted to share.  They both represent the category of hand knitted and crochet wearable fiber art jewelry.

Lavenderfield's shop states that it has handmade crochet jewelry like you have never seen before.  They were right.  Before I found this shop, I had never seen crochet jewelry.  This cuff bracelet is my favorite piece from Lavenderfield's shop.  I love the design, and the colors are cheerful and bright.
To see more crochet jewelry from Lavenderfield, click here http://www.lavenderfield.etsy.com/.

Arm Candy Cuff

Serebadesigns has hand knitted creations that are fabulous for every occasion.  To see more hand knitted jewelry by Serebadesigns click here http://www.serebadesigns.etsy.com/.

Band of Little Glass Seed Beads

I enjoy sharing with you the creative talent of others, but I also realize that is not what is important in life. The Bible says in Psalm 31:3, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Encouraging you to have a relationship with the One who created you is the most important message I can share with you. God is the one who gave you the personality you want to express. In the Bible, Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Take pleasure in the fact that you are God’s masterpiece.


Living Graciously,

Lisa

What a Girl Wants, What a Girl Needs

Borrowing the words from Christina Aguilera, what a girl wants and what a girl needs are not usually in the same category.  At least that has been the case in my own life.  Today is Wednesday, which means I will be showing you the Etsy.com shops that you girls will WANT to visit.  My theme this week is jewelry.  I have been busy, busy searching Etsy.com to bring you the latest and greatest for my Wednesday post.  It has been a fun treasure hunt.  This week was hard for different reasons than last week.  Last week I had a hard time finding things to show you, this week I have had a hard time narrowing it down.  Just when I thought I have found the best shops to show you, I would find one even better.  The shops that I narrowed it down to had to meet my criteria.  My criteria: it had to be unique, show artisan skill, and would be something that I would wear.  One of the fabulous things about Etsy is the unique items you can find for yourself or someone else.  Because I have found so many wonderful treasures, I did something different this week.  Instead of featuring six jewelry shops, I narrowed it down to six jewelry shops in the category of necklaces. I will feature different jewelry shops for the next three weeks, featuring Bracelets and Cuffs, Rings and Earrings, and the third week will feature the shop that I have given the title, “Best Overall.”  With the statement pieces below, you’re sure to get noticed.

Melanie-Joy Creations describes their jewelry as using "non traditional" materials to create original works of art.  Up to 100 work hours can go into a single piece.  Click here to see more Melaniejoycreations.etsy.com.

River Gazing

Bohemian Rapture

Star of the East's shop description states that all jewelry is one of a kind or made in a limited edition.  Click here to see more staroftheeast.etsy.com.

Nefertiti's Dreams

Combination of Dissonant

Vixen Design Studio describes itself as specilizing in handmade unusual jewelry and funky vintage finds.  Click here to see more of Vixendesignstudio.etsy.com.

Turquoise Blue and Shell Necklace

Green Turquoise British Coin Necklace

Quil Jewelry states that it gets it's inspiration from love, nature and the abundance of beauty all around. Every stone is handpicked and artistically handcrafted into a one-of-a-kind imaginative piece. Click here to see more quiljewelry.etys.com.

The Duchess

Mystic River

Cindy Caraway's shop states that it has jewelry for every occasion: from casual pieces to wear everyday to one-of-a-kind gallery pieces.  Click here to see more Cindycaraway.etsy.com.

Heavenly Shades of Night

The Duchess

Vintage Existence states that it's main goal is that each piece become a talking point and keepsake in their own right.  Click here to see more Vintageexistence.etsy.com.

Evergreen

Blue Romance

Now that I have shown you what a girl WANTS. I wanted to talk about what a girl NEEDS. If you are anything like me, when you think about all of your needs, the list can get pretty long. Since I have been searching through the jewels to share with you I am reminded that God created jewels for His glory and our benefit. We get to enjoy His perfect artisan skill. You are surrounded daily by His handiwork. He has given us so many benefits in His creation. But it still isn’t enough to fulfill our needs. The good news is that the greatest gift He has given us is his Son, Jesus. A personal relationship with Jesus is all a girl truly NEEDS. Go and enjoy the benefit of being the BEST part of His creation and living under His grace.

Living Graciously,

Lisa