Think Pink

It's halfway through October. Fall is here in many parts of the country. The temperatures are cooler and the leaves are changing into beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange. Halloween is nearing and many kids (and adults) are anxious to dress up and go trick-or-treating. But the color that I associate with October is pink.

As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My grandmother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 7 years ago, and thankfully, is in full remission and doing well. My grandmother has always been one of my best friends and I'm blessed to have her around and to be able to see my daughter grow. Chloe, by the way, LOVES her Memaw! However, not everyone is as fortunate as I am. There are too many women, and men, who die every year from Breast Cancer. That's why Cindy and I have created a Cancer Awareness line, where a portion of the proceeds go to the research and support of those suffering, or to prevent further suffering. I hope you will find something you like and will help us to donate to a worthy cause.

Elena, a fellow blogger and talented artist who repurposes items, does a weekly Pink Saturday. She has so many wonderful pieces she shares, I hope you'll pay her a visit.

Emerging Trends Event: Boston Fashion Week

I'm not quite sure why I've waited until now to share this with all of you, but I'm participating in Boston Fashion Week tomorrow!! I'm super excited, nervous, stressed out, and exhausted. I've been working very hard the past 3 weeks after I found out I was going to be exhibiting my line of handcrafted jewelry. I will be a part of the Emerging Trends event, which is being held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers. The event will enable up-and-coming designers the unique opportunity to showcase their collections to hundreds of fellow fashion enthusiasts, retailers, press, and media.

I think this is the biggest show I've ever done and I'm really hoping it goes well! I've made a lot of new pieces, many of which were firsts for me. I've worked with some unique gemstones because I really wanted my creations to stand out. Here are a few of the pieces I've created for the event. The first picture is a statement necklace made of Biwa stick pearls in a pretty silvery green shade. I've accented them with tiny green Swarovski crystals, sterling chain, and a magnetic clasp. The second picture doesn't do the lovely Mystic Blue Topaz briolettes justice. Nonetheless, I think they're gorgeous dangling from sterling leaf chandeliers. The piece above was hard to photograph. It's solar quartz, which is a very rare gemstone. It's accented by faceted green onyx on a gold-filled chain. The last piece I will share is new for me. The collage necklace is made with antique brass findings and chain. What do you think?

Christmas In July

Well, it's the end of July already (where has the summer gone)? A lot of people are starting to think about the holidays with all the great Christmas in July sales that are going on. I came across this lovely ornament from Gretchen of Chichiboulie and just had to share. I just love snowmen, and Christmas is about my favorite holiday. Gretchen is a very talented designer and illustrator who lives in France. She's also the mommy to 3 little ones. You must check out Gretchen's blog for some great art and fun goings on!

Speaking of the holidays, how incredible would this necklace be for all those special occassions?! Hilary Johnson is a very talented jewelry artist whom I've been acquainted with for some time. She is also very knowledgeable about social media, so pay her blog a visit for some good reads (she's also very gracious)! Tell her I sent ya!

Time Flies...

...when you're busy! I've yet again neglected my poor blog, I'm so sorry! My little girl is just recovering from her stint with the chicken pox. I hated seeing her so itchy and uncomfortable! I've also been busy on the business front. I have been working with two ladies whom I've met on Twitter (love it!) who are both in the process of opening shops. I'm happy to report that I will be supplying both of them with some of my handcrafted jewelry! I'm so excited for the shops to open. I also have a show next weekend, so I've been busy working on new creations.

This week I will be featuring two of my fellow Creative bloggers, both of which I'm particularly fond of. Kelly of Macaroni and Glue is a very talented lady. I admire her ability to be a mom to a little girl, design pretty stationery, and run a beautiful blog. I fell in love with these pretty bird thank you cards. I have been wanting to find something a little more personal to include with my orders. With a few tweaks in color, I think this may be it!

Susy of Earth Expressions creates graphic pendants and other pieces of jewelry. I featured one of Susy's pendants in a Gift article that was featured last year. I particularly love this one of a kind bird pendant. The birdie is seen protecting her nest. This would be so sweet for a mom, or any bird lover. Susy also has some great rings that are perfect for summer!

They Say It's Your Birthday

Alright, I know that's a bit corny. Today is my birthday though, Happy Birthday to me! I have been busy working on new jewelry, some of which will make it to the site. I have lots of shows coming up, the first is next month at the Art on the Avenue in West Reading.

I mentioned in my last post that I have some exciting things in the works. Well, my jewelry is going to be carried in 2 more boutiques! I am very thrilled and so glad to know people really like my pieces!

I have two talented artists to share with you this week. The first is Andrew of ChainmaillebyMBOI. I have the utmost respect for artists that do chainmaille work. It seems complicated and very time consuming, which is a little more than I can handle with a busy toddler. The result is beautiful though!Secondly is Jenny of Creature of Craft. A talented beadweaver, just take a look at this piece..AMAZING!! Again, I can't even imagine the time it took to make this necklace. I'm so happy with talented artists that have joined my little blogging group. We're all about paying it forward!

I'm off to hopefully do something fun today. My soon to be 4 year old doesn't want me to have a birthday. What's up with that??!!

Ultimate Blog Party & Special Discount!

Welcome to my little part of the blogging world! I am so glad you joined! If you are a new visitor, my name is Michelle Harvey and I am a mommy to 3 1/2 year old Chloe. I have a handcrafted jewelry company, Michabella Creations, where I create unique, limited edition, elegant, and fun pieces! My blog is about my crazy life of being a WAHM and I also feature other independant artists, and talk about things that are important to me! I'm really enjoying meeting new moms and to show my appreciation for visiting me, I am offering a special discount on all my jewelry for the duration of the party! Just enter code "UBP" at checkout to receive and extra 25% off your purchase! I would love it if you followed me here on my blog or on twitter to learn more about my daily goings on.

Jewelry Perfect For Valentine's Day

The annual holiday for love is upon us again. Whether you love jewelry with hearts, or are looking for some hints to give that special someone, I've found some pretty pieces sure to fit the bill!

First up is a pair of sterling silver heart earrings from iacua. These lovelies are hand cut and stamped with the word Amore. With a price of $48, you'll feel the love every time you wear them!

I just fell in love with this necklace from TheBrassHussy (don't you just love that name?)! Two hearts are joined on this vintage brass pendant and it's completed with a vintage resin heart. It comes with a the chain and is a steal at $18!

If rings are your thing, then how about this beauty from Nafsika? A sterling silver band is accented with red enamel hearts. You will always cherish this gift of love, with a price of $60.

These unique earrings are made by Kristin Perkins Glass Jewelry. She makes the glass and then suspends silver hooks into them, which she also makes! They are available in all sorts of colors and come with a price of $38.

Lastly, if you're looking for something a little more personal, try this bracelet from the Simplyuboutique. For $28, you will receive a sterling bracelet with an initial charm, a key and heart charms, and some Swarovksi crystals. What a pretty way to say I Love You!

I hope I've given you some choices to make Valentine's Day extra special! You can show your love every day of the year with this beautiful jewelry!

Originally published at Beautiful!Fabulous!

A New Era

It's official, we have a new president! I am not overly political, but I do care about certain issues a great deal. This was one election that I followed pretty closely. I am so thrilled to see what Barack Obama will do for our nation! It truly is a historical event to have our first black president elected into office! I wish him much success as I feel he has some fresh new ideas he will bring to our country.

Now, onto Michelle Obama. Since she stepped into the spotlight, Mrs. Obama has shown us she has style! Since jewelry is my passion, I have noticed that she has brought back something that has gone out of fashion, and that is the brooch. She has also been spotted wearing bold and layered pearls. I have a design I think might just be perfect for Michelle to wear! For more on Mrs. Obama's jewelry style and how to get it for yourself, check out my article at Beautiful!Fabulous!

Getting Ready For the Holidays

I have been working furiously to get my site in order for the upcoming gift giving season. We are offering a 30% discount on all of our handcrafted jewelry!! Plus, I have added some new pieces to the site, including these Snowstorm earrings. I just love the look of these chandeliers, including the opal crystal teardrops.

We are also offering Free Gift wrap for those of you that can't stand wrapping gifts! Just include that in the comments section of your order. We still have Free Shipping, so why fight the crowds when you can shop from the comfort of your home?! Lastly, for those hard to buy for ladies on your list, we offer Gift Certificates! Order early for the best selection. I will be adding new items throughout the next coming weeks, but many of our pieces are limited edition.

Another artist getting ready for the holidays is Corinne from Daydream Art Studios. I first met her on Skwigga-zine, which is a great online community for independant artists. Check out these lovely ornaments that she made! Keep up the great work!

What's Hot For Fall: The Statement Necklace

I absolutely love big and bold necklaces! Once and awhile I may opt for a dainty piece, but typically I like to jazz it up with an eye-catching number. I guess I'm fortunate because this season, it's all about making a statement! You can take the most ordinary outfit and turn it into extrodinary by adding the right jewelry. Here are just a few of my favorites:

The necklace pictured above is a stunner and handcrafted by Elaine Haydon of Elaine Haydon Jewelry. I'm a sucker for green, and this stick pearl and peridot piece is an absolute winner! Can't you just imagine this with a simple black dress or a pretty ivory blouse? You'll certainly stand out from the crowd!

If you want a dramatic piece, here it is! Handcrafted by Annette Piper of Dip.Gem. Handcrafted Jewellery, the Iliad is named for the Greek poetry. Annette is a gemologist who has turned her love of gemstones into works of art. Luxurious peruvian amazonite is accented with a bold Hill Tribe silver clasp. Wear it with a white button down and jeans for an unbelievable look!

This gorgeous design is handcrafted by Yazmin Wickham from A Pretty Rock. I love the combination of gemstones she used, plus the oxidized silver really makes it stand out. I would love to wear this with a neutral turtleneck this fall!

This last piece would be perfect for the holidays! This beautiful 5 strand garnet and silver necklace was handcrafted by Becky Augustine of Becky Augustine Jewelry. Wear the clasp to the side to show off the garnet ends! The deepness of the garnet would show up well against black, grey, and ivory. You'll look like a million bucks wearing this to your holiday parties!

Originally posted on Boutique Flair.

Shop For A Cure

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I wanted to share some of our designs. Both Cindy and I have had family members affected with this disease, so this is a cause that is very important to us. While Cindy's mom and my grandma are doing well, many are not so lucky! With each sale of any of our Cancer Awareness Items, we will be donating 20% to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. Please help us Shop For The Cure!!

Our First Arts Festival

It's been a busy couple of weeks! Cindy and I had 2 shows in a week because of a cancellation due to Huricane Hannah. Our first one was in Wilmington, DE at the 48th Annual Brandywine Arts Festival. For our first time, it went pretty well. Other vendors and guests commented that there weren't as many people visiting this year. Many obstacles, such as the prior week's cancellation, and the weekend's hot weather could have played a part. This was the first time I spent a weekend away from Chloe, but despite a whole mess of stuff to do when I arrived back home, I had a nice weekend.

Some of our new fall pieces were a big hit, some have not even made it to the website yet! Several pieces that were one of a kind were sold. We look forward to attending next year.

Our second show was in Bel Air, MD at the Bel Air Festival for the Arts. It was a one day show this time so it was an early morning drive to Maryland for us. This was our first time here as well, and I have to say it was a bit disappointing. The people that were to be beside us didn't even show up, and you do have to be selected to be in this event. I also heard other vendors saying this show was not like it has been in years prior. I'm sure the unstable economy is the biggest factor. People just aren't spending the way they used to. I can't say that I blame them, I rarely buy anything for myself. Of course, I want to sell my creations so I'm hoping the approaching holiday season will be a success!

Our next show is Oct. 4-5 at the York Women's Show. We are looking forward to meeting a lot of great ladies and sharing our love for what we do.

Fresh and Chic

I am always so thrilled when someone features Michabella Creations and our jewelry on their blog or site. This week Liz from Wickedly Chic named us Fresh and Chic and featured our Cafe au Lait necklace! Liz had some very nice things to say about our jewelry and she loved our prices! If you haven't yet visited Wickedly Chic, it is a site devoted to "Independant Shopping for the Wickedly Fashionable". Go check it out!!

Weddings and Such

Wedding season is upon us! I myself was married 6 years ago on June 1. It took us 7 years to tie the knot. I'm sure you're asking yourself "Why so long"? Well, I was only 18 when we got engaged and was entering my first semester of college. I wanted to finish school and get my career underway before I settled into marriage. My mom re-married almost 17 years ago on July 20, which is also her birthday.

Cindy just finished designing jewelry for a bride and her entire bridal party. I haven't gotten to post the new design on our site, but I'm giving you a sneak peek here! It's pretty and just what the bride wanted! Her bridesmaids had the set with pink Swarovski crystals instead of the clear. I hope she sends us some pictures! I was reading one of the blogs in my weekly Blog-Ring group, and Stacy is getting married! She and her fiance have a 9 month old little girl and I'm sure they have their hands full! Her little one is going to be so adorable in the dress she chose! I hope they have a special day! Good luck to all of them!

The Feeling of Frustration

...with everything right now! For starters, my almost 3 year old daughter has woken up every night this week screaming for a certain animal to hold in her hand. Not just once, several times a night. Now, this may be my fault for letting her sleep with stuffed animals, but why is this necessary?! I'm lucky if I get 2 good hours of sleep before the screaming begins. My room is right next to hers, so thin walls make her calls for help even more prominent. My daughter has always been a handful, but this is starting to wear on me. I guess she likes the security of her animals and I hate to banish them all from her bed, but if this continues, I guess I will have to. She is not one that will not persist in getting her own way. Secondly, my husband. Now I am not going to give a breakdown of all the things that drive me crazy about him, or I'd be here for days. However, his unwillingness to ever get up with our daughter in the middle of the night or his failure to see where I'm coming from is about all I can stand! Lastly, my business. Now, I LOVE making jewelry! It's the only thing I do for myself. However, I spend any and all free time (when daughter is sleeping) working on ways to get my name out there. It can be EXTREMELY time consuming and exhausting!! I'm not a very patient person, so I guess I thought it would all happen overnight. Obviously not the case!! There are hundreds of very talented jewelry artists out there and finding your niche can take a long time. At least I know I'm not the only one who feels this point of frustration. A fellow Skwiggazine member, Hilary Johnson, has blogged about this as well. Hilary is a very talented jewelry artist who is finding it overwhelming, as I am, marketing yourself on the internet. Visit her blog, Designing Hilary, and show her a little love. Well, it helped getting my frustrations out. Now I need a nap!

Great New Places

Getting your name out there is truly a hard thing to do. I never could have imagined how many great jewelry artists there are out there. Every day I try to plug away a little bit, while Chloe is sleeping or playing. I recently joined a group called Everything Skwiggle, which is dedicated to bringing artists together for a place to chat, show off their newest creations, and help each other out. Missy has done a really great job making this a community for all of us. She has taught me many things and I'm happy I had the opportunity to "meet" her, so to speak!

Through Everything Skwiggle, I have also had the pleasure of "meeting" a very talented jewelry maker, Annette Piper. She has a background in gemology and has some phenomenal pieces! She has a great blog, Under the Loupe, which you should check out. Annette lives in Australia, which I can't even imagine, but they are getting ready for their winter months. I have to say I like all four seasons, but there's something about curling up by the fireplace while snow is falling outside that just makes me happy. I'm probably one of the few. Go see for yourself these great new places to visit!

Bead Show Bonanza

Cindy and I went to a bead show over the weekend, and it was great fun to see so many beads laid out to get your creative juices flowing! We managed to find some unique and exquisite beads to match some pendants we had. We have so much to do to get ready for our upcoming shopping event in Philly that I don't know where to begin. I have several packages coming filled with beads, chain, rings, watch faces, you name it. Then the fun begins! I hope to post some of our finished pieces before we head off to the show! I will be filling you in on my creative process as I have never had to make so many pieces at one time! I'm ready for a month of heavy duty jewelry making!

Jewelry Isn't My Only Love

Right now I am in the process of making some beautiful new designs for spring/summer. I can't wait to share them all with you! But I have to admit, most days I don't even get a chance to create jewelry. You see, my first "job" is being a mommy to Chloe, my 2 1/2 year old angel. She's energetic, bright, inquisitive, and knows exactly what she likes and doesn't like. My day starts bright and early and doesn't end until late at night. I get about a 2 hour break while she naps, and I find myself trying to do as many things as possible (or sleeping myself)! By the end of the day, I am exhausted from a day of playing, reading, chasing, potty training, cooking, cleaning, errands, and yes, even trying to do a little work for my business. I know in the end, everything I do is worth it. I recently came across a little blurb that really touched me, and I'd like to share it with you. It states:

CHILDREN...
Love them
Nurture them
Teach them well
and believe in them...
for they are our future.

I truly believe our children are our first priority and that's what's most important to me!

Michabella Creations is Featured

We are so thrilled that our handcrafted jewelry is being featured on From Dates to Diapers . Christine has put together a Gift guide for Christmas and has written a very nice review of our jewelry. There are lots of giveaways, including one from Michabella Creations. Go check out this amazing mom's blog and find some interesting products and sites!

Black Friday Discounts

Just in time for the big shopping weekend, Michabella Creations will be offering a 10% discount on all purchases of $20 and over from Black Friday until Monday, 11/26. This is a great way to purchase all your handcrafted jewelry gifts, because we already offer Free Shipping! Just enter code Blk10 at checkout to receive your discount. Happy shopping!!