Saturday, December 25, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Aaah! - The Perfect Thanksgiving
Okay, Missy - Thanksgiving is all about the food! Yes, we all know you will be planning, grocery shopping and preparing for days - but, the deliciousness of the turkey is directly proportionate to whether you actually wake up to the 5:00 AM turkey buzzer on Thanksgiving morning after pulling an all-nighter!
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| Designed by Karen Egan of Karlee Enterprises for IFDA Tableau 2009 |
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| Designed by Debbie Conforti of Waterleaf Designs for IFDA Tableau 2009 |
On the other hand, it’s a great chance to amaze relatives with your tablescaping design abilities!
It’s one of those times when the entire family gets together.
A chance to see how cute and “creative” your cousin’s two youngest boys are. . .
And to see how all the other adorable children have grown in to “delightful” teenagers.
A chance for some male bonding over football. . .
And some “girl talk” over coffee and desserts.
But. . .the best part of Thanksgiving is knowing that you do not need to wake up at the crack of dawn on Friday to hit the malls for Holiday Savings. Nope. . . no tug-of-war over bargains, standing in long lines for checkout or searching for your car by clicking the remote key.
Instead - sleep until 9:00 AM, slip on your fuzzy robe - grab a cup of coffee, your laptop and head over to www.karensugarmandesigns.com
Join us for the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale to feast your eyes on some amazing jewelry for every gal on your holiday list. . . or maybe even a little something for yourself!
Sale begins on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Midnight (EST) Monday, November 29th.
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Saturday, November 6, 2010
From Room Jewelry to Real Jewelry - Gray and Gold
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| Via Fauxology |
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| Carolina Herrera Dress - My Favorite Designer |
I have always been enamored with all the little details that make a room take on a distinct personality. Space planning is fun, but really just a necessity to keep us from bumping into objects - selecting gorgeous sofas, rugs and tables are inspiring and a delightful exercise too. However, for me, nothing could surpass the delight of spending hours selecting beautiful lighting, mirrors and the just perfect passementerie for draperies - the details are what give a room it’s persona. I always associated the selection of these minute details like adding just the perfect jewelry for a room.
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| Elle Decor |
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| My Chippy Antique Italian Chandelier - I recently added new candle sleeves and shades. Arizona heat/sun really damages the fabric on lampshades. |
In between bouts of creating new jewelry designs for the holidays, I have also been very focused on finding the larger decorative accessories for my now 18 month Kitchen/Family Room renovation. Recently, I became very fixated on one of my favorite antiques acquired long ago - a gray and gold-gilded Italian chandelier that sits over the Breakfast table. There is something so soothing and elegant about the dusty gray color combined with the 24K gold-leaf accents in this chippy painted chandelier.
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| Devon Bracelet - Rough Cut Rutilated Quartz Nuggets and Luxe Gray Moonstone Briolettes |
My first attempt at combining the elements of gray and gold resulted in the Devon Bracelet. I loved the juxtaposition of the chunky golden needle-embedded beads mixed with the oversized gray moonstone briolettes and deliciously detailed 24k gold vermeil feature beads. Oddly enough, this bracelet sold about four days after listing to an interior designer from Boston.
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| Darla Bracelet - Round Rutilated Quartz Beads and Gray Moonstone Briolettes |
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| Darla Bracelet - Gold Needle-Embedded Rutilated Quartz |
Staring at this chandelier combination - I was reminded of the gorgeous but smaller round rutilated quartz beads still left and waiting from a previous project as well as the recently acquired luxe gray moonstone briolettes. The combination of the more delicate golden needle-embedded beads mixed with the oversized gray moonstone and gorgeous detailed 24k gold vermeil feature beads have a more traditional and formal persona when compared to the earlier Devon Bracelet. Who knows. . .maybe the Darla Bracelet will also find a home with an interior designer.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Spooky Birthday Sale
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| Peggy Porschen I’m not quite there yet. . . but in a few days, I will be celebrating one of those Spooky Birthdays! It’s very apropos that this Spooky Birthday falls just before Halloween.  Peggy Porschen  Peggy Porschen  Peggy porschen  Source Unknown Sadly, my sweet hubby had a business trip scheduled, so I will be celebrating alone this year - no fancy cake like these delectable confections by Peggy Porschen Designs!  Olivia (L) and Asher (R) - My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Design Assistants However, wonderful hubby that he is - he did take care of this birthday business before leaving. He asked me to come into the Family room with our little “fur babies”, Asher & Olivia and sit on the sofa (seriously, I thought I was about to get a lecture that I had spent too much money at the gem show this week-end!). Then the usual - “close your eyes and hold out your hands”.  Tiffany & Company - The Famous Blue Box! When I opened my eyes, there was a wonderful surprise! Let’s just say it involved that much coveted Tiffany blue box! In honor of my Spooky Birthday (and NO. . . I am not telling you which spooky one it is!) - I decided I should share the birthday festivities! Go to my web site here and see what special little birthday favor is yours!  Now, back to that cake. . .I think I had better celebrate with a tiny cake pop! |
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
What An Ego - My Own Design Project Inspires the Maggie Bracelet!
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| Bliss Design |
I’ve spent the last eighteen months in an on again/off again interior design mode. When I finally convinced my hubby it was really time to renovate the kitchen/family room - I agreed to play by his rules! We would do the project in phases in order to keep a positive cash flow. We are almost there. . .in the final stretch - but not quite ready for prime time!
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| Bliss Design |
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| Bliss Design From the beginning, I had to establish a color scheme that would be something we both liked, but also a projected guess of what might be in the upcoming color forecast. Thankfully, my forte and strength was always my fearless use of color and I am thrilled that my choice of aqua and charcoal/grey was spot on! I find that combination of colors very restful and comforting - particularly when infused with a generous dose of white and natural sunlight! |
Well after the fact, I have found other beautiful rooms and vignettes that confirmed what an elegant combination charcoal/grey and aqua can be.
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| Maggie Bracelet - Notice the "blue flash" of the grey Labradorite |
Strangely enough, my own design project became the inspiration for my newest jewelry design - the Maggie Bracelet. It’s funny that we all seem to associate a name with a particular person and such is the case with the Maggie Bracelet. The Maggie I know is a very attractive gal that is tastefully modern and impeccably stylish. She would, of course, inherently know that this beautiful blue flash Labradorite bracelet would be a great addition to her wardrobe of currently fashionable gray, black and neutrals. Maggie would love the beautiful Peruvian Blue Opal Briolettes - not only for their dash of color, but for their asymmetrical texture and design.
After seeing the outcome of this lovely bracelet - I am sooo ready to see the final reveal of my own interior design handiwork!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Lavender Love - The Iliana Necklace
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| Lavender & Honey Ice Cream |
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| via Flickr |
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| Southern Accents |
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| House Beautiful - Coleman/Green |
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| 1teriordesign.com |
As an interior designer, I do find lavender rooms to be very restful and based on the popularity of that color used in bedrooms - it must have some universal appeal.
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| Veranda - Kay O'Toole |
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| Robin Karp |
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| thedecorologist.com |
On the other hand, it fairly rare to see public rooms (living rooms, dining rooms, etc.) with more than a mere whisper of lavender.
Just after the lavender ice cream idea, I came across a totally new stone (for me) that was called (of all things) - lavender opal. It seems to be available in fairly limited amounts, but its slight opalescent beauty and soft coloring made me even more determined to seek it out. I ordered a very small quantity of stones and was instantly smitten!
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| The Iliana Necklace - A Truly HUGE Baroque Pearl ! |
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| A "Frill" of Lavender Opal, Chalcedony, Moonstone, Pink Amethyst & Tanzanite Create A Stunning Detail. Notice The Minuscule Hand-Linked Seed Pearls in the Chain. |
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| A Little Surprise Garnish is Placed Asymmetrically on the Seed Pearl Chain |
The Iliana Necklace pays homage to that lavender ice cream confection with a generous dollop of a creamy and luxe baroque pearl topped with a medley of lavender opal faceted briolettes, rondelles and adorable little hear shaped briolettes; lavender chalcedony onion briolettes; pink amethyst rondelles; minuscule tanzanite rondelles; sweet little faceted moonstone briolettes; pear shaped moonstones and deliciously delicate little center-drilled keshi pearls. Just like a scrumptious dessert served in your favorite restaurant, the necklace is garnished with sprigs of lavender opal, dainty keshi pearl and light amethyst rondelle on the side. The 30” chain is hand-linked with the most minuscule seed pearls ever - so delicate!
Guess it’s time for me to take a trip to Whole Foods and try out the ice cream now that the necklace is completed! Um, Yummy!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Okay, Okay - I Just Couldn’t Wait Any Longer!
Campania Necklace with Hessonite Garnet, Kyanite, Copper Rutilated Quartz and Dyed Freshwater Pearls Featuring an Italian Glass Fob
Beautiful Rich Autumn Colors - Notice The Generous Kyanite Wrapped Briolette Charm and Byzantine Gold Cross Flanking the Gorgeous Blue Italian Intaglio Fob With It's Birdcage Shank/Bale Design
You know, there are people that get a few extra dollars and it burns a hole in their pocket - then their are those like my hubby who like to squirrel it away! I won’t mention which of those two categories I really fall into - but, suffice to say those Italian intaglio fobs were like $$$ burning a hole in my pocket! They kept calling my name every day and my resolve to wait for someone to inquire about them just evaporated like rainwater on the sidewalk in 105 degree weather!
In This View, You Can See The Roman Mythological Figure Holding a Lyre With Cupid in The Lower Right
Campagia Necklace - 31 Inches of Classic Beauty
Since camel is this Autumn’s hot color, it inspired a design that I thought would be fabulous for Fall. Waiting for cool weather in Arizona is a bit like waiting for maple trees to fill a bucket with sap! For those lucky souls that will have crisp, cool Autumn days in the next few weeks, the Campania Necklace would be perfect with your camel suede skirts, jackets or cashmere sweaters. Lucky, lucky you!
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