Yesterday Baroni Designs named Jewelry Crossings "Retailer of the Week" and interviewed me for their blog (http://baronidesigns.blogspot.com/2010/01/retailer-of-week.html ) The relationship with Baroni has been nothing but excellent over the three years since we introduced their sterling silver line on our site. They are a company that truly listens to their retailers and their sales team is friendly, attentive and, most importantly, understands the business model of an internet business (meaning we need quick turn around of product when we are restocking). Baroni is just launching their 2010 Collection and we will soon have the products available for purchase on Jewelry Crossings. The big change this year is an increase in gold-plating over sterling silver. Because the price of gold is so exorbitant, women want the look of gold without the over-the-top price tag. The Baroni matte gold look is stunning.

From now until midnight on Saturday, February 13, every customer who places an order on our web sites, www.jewelrycrossings.com or www.hotdiamondsilver.com, will be entered into our Valentine's Day $500 Shopping Spree Contest. That's $500 to spend on our web site and with six months to leisurely do your shopping! Your purchase between today and February 13 automatically puts your name in the drawing. No forms to fill out at all. The winner will be drawn on Sunday, February 14 and immediately contacted by phone and email. The winner will have the option of having his or her first name and state of residence announced on our site.

We also are offering a storewide sale of 25% off for Valentine's Day. The coupon code to activate the discount in the shopping cart is VAL25. On our home page look for the two hearts which link to all our fabulous heart jewelry made by Lori Bonn, Hot Diamonds, Sara Blaine, Baroni and more!

It's Turquoise Time

According to Samantha Critchell in an Associated Press release a few days ago, in 2010 we can expect to see a world awash in tropical turquoise. Turquoise was selected as the color of the new year by Pantone, a company that supplies and tracks color for fashion and home decor, among other industries.

"Turquoise is universally appealing. It puts everyone in the same state of mind--on vacation," says Jane Schoenborn, design director at Lilly Pulitzer. "Turquoise for us is a really big color. A lot of times it is very transporting, whether you are actually going to a resort destination or not."

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says there was no runner-up to turquoise in her mind, because people crave escapism and freshness after a tough year. The shade is on the cusp of blue and green, which makes it both inviting and serene--characteristics associated with blues--and invigorating and luminous, which comes from green, she says.

"Transporting" was a word many used for turquoise, a shade that takes designer Tommy Hilfiger to the beach, especially the Caribbean, St. Tropez, France, or Southern California, which serves as the inspiration for his newest collection. In jewelry he thinks of the American Southwest, or Central and South America.

Eiseman notes that in many cultures, turquoise is considered a protective color with people wearing the blue-stone jewelry almost as a talisman. "You often hear it attached to words like 'healing.'" In Pop Culture, Eiseman has spotted the hue in popular stripe combinations, athletic apparel, nail polish and eye shadow.

At Jewelry Crossings we offer "turquoise time" in Lori Bonn's Aruba Collection and in Sara Blaine's Hippie Chic Collection. The chunky turquoise ring set in artistically-etched sterling silver is one of my favorites.

As I reflect on the challenges of the past year as a jewelry retailer, I take heart in the contributions we at Jewelry Crossings have been fortunately able to make in spite of the deep recession. This year we have donated jewelry for silent auctions and donated proceeds from special events to the following organizations:

-Ali Forney Center in Manhattan to help homeless gay youths in New York City
-The Support Network of San Jose to aid women and children in the face of domestic violence
-CEO Women based in Oakland, California which provides refugee and immigrant women in the Bay Area mentoring, coaching and access to capital to start a small business.
-St. Andrew's Church in Saratoga, California for their SAMA (St. Andrew's Medical Assistance) mission worldwide.
-Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY, my beloved alma mater.

I am deeply grateful for the loyalty of our Jewelry Crossings customers. We realize that this year more than ever price was the most important factor in a customer's purchasing decision. We tried incredibly hard to make it possible for someone to afford a special item of jewelry. Even though jewelry is considered a luxury purchase these days, I know that it makes the receiver smile broadly and is a gift that does not wear out like a piece of clothing or disappear like an edible treat, rather something crafted in fine metal endures forever. I have pieces in my jewelry box from my late grandmother, aunt, mother and mother-in-law. Jewelry also speaks of fashion trends, history and memorable events in one's life. For these and so many other reasons, I am proud to be "in the business."

Happy 2010 to all who read this blog. May your year ahead be healthy, fulfilling and full of life's richness.

The holiday season is fast approaching. The last few months have been busy for us. Hot Diamonds came back to us and said they would like to have us again as an online retailer. We were surprised but happy as we have always loved the Hot Diamonds line and after six years of selling it had become "family." We now show the new Arabesque, Serenity and all the 2009 additions to the charm collection, Go with the Flow, Simply Sparkle, and more. We've also added a "Classics" area where we feature hard-to-find retired styles.

Our Lori Bonn gallery now includes the very latest "Windsor" collection featuring the deep blues and purples of this fashion season. The lacy, filigree silver work used in Windsor is the perfect counterpoint to the richness of the colors. We are also introducing Lori's new Love Token necklaces--14 icons like the peace symbol, sweet sixteen heart, Star of David, cross, anchor, Om symbol, lucky horseshoe and more capture in sterling silver the wearer's beliefs and passions.
Each love token pendant comes with an 18" box chain and is priced at $68.

Sadly, we are saying farewell to the Hot Diamonds line. The powers that be at their new US distributorship will not support an internet only company and we choose not to join the ranks of brick and mortar stores who have been struggling to stay alive! Jewelry Crossings was the first internet company to carry Hot Diamonds six years ago and we had a great ride watching the brand take off.

Our liquidation sale of our vast inventory of Hot Diamonds has been going extremely well. Loyal customers have been sending us the nicest notes. What a reward to hear from satisfied, return customers who tell us they will continue to shop with us for other brands because of our excellent service. Talk about making my day!

We are so fortunate to have Lori Bonn, Sara Blaine and Baroni Designs aboard--not to mention our popular JC Collection of sterling silver basics made for us in Thailand. We still seem to be the ONLY internet site carrying sterling silver baht chains. This is what we hear from all our baht chain customers. They tell us that only Jewelry Crossings carries them!

We are negotiating to carry yet another sterling silver brand. Watch our Newsletter for a launch soon.

New 2009 Baroni Designs Collections

I'm very excited about the latest Baroni Designs collections we have added at Jewelry Crossings. The team at Baroni shares their artistic aims with these words: "We continue to design jewelry with our heroes in mind; the moms, the yogis, the marathoners, the teachers, the artists, the surfers, the writers, the gardeners--celebrating the playful, the strong, and the beautiful people who wear our jewelry and shine--from the inside out."

The new 65-piece Santosha Collection is such an example. The lotus is the sacred symbol subtly gracing many of the new pieces in the new Santosha line. This exquisite flower rises from its murky waters to reach toward the light from above, symbolizing the wearer's true inner beauty and personal potential. The Santosha Collection is offered in 24k gold plate over sterling silver as well as matte sterling silver. Each piece is not only beautiful on its own, but also serves as a personal inspiration towards that which we seek: the strength and grounding of the oak tree, the transformation of the dragonfly, the joy and freedom of the dove, the universal peace sign. A truly meaningful collection, each piece reflects the radiance of the wearer, and serves as a graceful reminder of her best intentions.

Terra Firma is an exclusive collection of upscale gallery pieces designed to stop the eye and start conversation. Exquisitely handcrafted, substantial and weighty, these textured organic shapes feel as sensuous as they look. Matte and polished silver ovals are combined in an array of sizes and styles to form a full organic link necklace and a beautiful cuff bracelet. A study in contrasts--strong yet feminine, solid yet airy, striking yet simple. This is the belle of the ball--truly special pieces that are timeless in style, sophistication and beauty.

Other new Baroni Collections soon to be found at Jewelry Crossings are Meadow Walk and Fairy Tales.