MIDNIGHT BLING

I haven't made rings in a long time. I made this today while vending at a Holiday Fair at University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). It's major bling! Gorgeous, amazing clarity 18mm Swarovski Crystal Graphic Bead in Jet wire wrapped on high quality sterling silver 18 gauge wire. Now available in my etsy store!

STUDIO 54

Remember shoulder dusters? They were hot in the 1980's. Incredibly long earrings that graze your shoulders. So sexy! I made a pair last night and these are my favorites! Disco ball-ish glass beads are attached to copper chain. Get them now! You will be the hottest chick at your office's holiday party!

Buy them during my Birthday Sale! From November 25th - 27th everything in my etsy shop will be 25% off!

10 Things I'm Feeling For November (no particular order)

1. Open Toed Booties

2. My Birthday

3. Thanksgiving (So Much to be Thankful for)

4. My Infinity Scarf (Made by my Sorority Sister Frances Frost)

5. My Candle Necklace (see future blog post)

6. Sydney Austin Designs Fringe Necklace http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34180829

7. New Moon, Precious, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol 3D (Movies I want to see)

8. Marbled Distressed Jeans

9. Pearls and Brooches

10. Celebrating in Wilmington, DE with my Sorority Sisters on 11/21!!

Too Many Earrings?? Never!

A girl can never have too many earrings! Take advantage of my earring sale this week (11/8 - 11/14). Buy 1 pair of earrings at retail price, get 2nd pair for 50% off (lesser or equal value). Stock up! My earrings make great gifts!

The earrings above are currently available in my etsy shop. They feature gorgeous recycled glass beads that dangle from vintage brass railroad tags! How awesome! Yes, the tags are different, but I like different! It's boring looking like everyone else! Be original!

I vended at my sorority's (Alpha Kappa Alpha) Women's Entreprenuer Networking Vendor Fair this past Sunday and a Soror of mine really liked the aqua pair shown above. Her line number was #22. But she was a college student with a tight budget!

NOVEMBER ROCKS

November is my favorite month. It's my birthday month! I made this HUGH wirewrapped Citrine pendant for someone special whose birthday is in November. I got this gemstone while panning for gold on my son's school field trip. It's rough, raw, and edgy! Now available for immediate purchase in my etsy shop.

PRETTY WINGS

Inspired by Maxwell's "Pretty Wings" I wanted to make something with wings. It's alittle edgy, but the pearl adds a nice feminine classic touch. A great everyday casual necklace. For sale in my etsy store.

GOLDEN TEARDROPS

Yummy golden chalcedony teardrop gemstones made into a matched set. It falls into my simple and classic line for my Autumn Collection. The perfect mother-n-law gift...right??? Check out my etsy shop for more photos.

MUAH Necklace

It's sexy, it's quirky, it makes a Statement! I stepped outside the box on this one! This is my version of a Statement Necklace. Grab it, ya'll know, I never make the same thing twice! Just listed in my etsy shop.

Chain Hoops

These are the coolest hoop earrings I have ever made! A great take on the chain trend that is so Hot right now. Incredibly lightweight! Just listed on in my etsy shop! Be original, buy handmade!

Fall Hoops

New hoops that are now available in my etsy shop. Love the pink & gray color combo. I named the 2nd pair "Caramel Apples." The great thing about these hoops is they are incredibly lightweight!

Back to School

I'm really pleased with these hoops! They are perfect for the Fall/Autumn. Just great casual, everyday hoop earrings! Rock them with jeans or your favorite Juicy Couture sweatsuit. I think they are great for the college chick! So great that I am offering FREE shipping to college students on my jewels for 1 week only! Stock up so you can look dope walking around campus! Discount details are on my etsy site: www.sydneyaustindesigns.etsy.com

It's Wednesday, so that means it's Hoop Day!

Today is Wednesday, so instead of calling it Hump Day, I'm calling it Hoop Day! Hoops are my favorite style of earrings. The bigger the better. They look great on everyone. The hoops shown above are my latest designs. I'm partial to the yellow ones! The color just pops! I call it Tequila Sunrise. The red pair is called Cherry Slush. Just random, cute names I give to my designs. Both are currently being sold on my etsy site. Get em before they are gone!!





Later on Twitter, I'm going to post a Twitpic of me wearing a pair of hoops in hopes that people will follow suit because I'm officially declaring Wednesday...Hoop Day! Hoping to start a trend ;)

Hip Finds at Tar-jay

On a recent trip to my neighborhood Target, I snagged some great hip items!

The first item was a yummy colored (orange, purple, yellow, navy) scarf with fringe. I love it because it looks like Missoni. Missoni scarves retail for @ $200 on shopbop.com. This scarf is by Merona and it retails for $13! Woop!

The second item is a cute pair of sandals by Miss Trish of Capri for Target. The Miss Trish of Capri for Target line debuted in Target stores this past April. Her sandals have been a big hit online and in stores. Her regular line of sandals retail for $200 - $300. Her line for Target retails for $30 - $40. I snagged the last pair of Lion sandals the other day while shopping in Target for $30! I thought they were sweet because my kids are Leos. They look HOT on! So cute with skinny jeans, white blazer, and tank! This is the kicker...I was fooling around on eBay and saw that several sellers are selling these Lion sandals with a starting bid of $60! So glad I copped them for $30! Woop!

Check out the Lion's emerald green eyes!

I'll post pics of me wearing my hip items from Tar-jay later! Stay tuned!

10 Things I'm Feeling for June... In no particular order

1. ToyWatch's Neon Plasteramic in Ultra Violet (as seen on First Lady Michelle Obama)

2. The Flat Belly Diet

3. J. Brand's Bleached Ripped Jeans

4. Crisp White Fitted Tee Shirt

5. Glade scented candles

6. Beyonce's "I Am..." Tour (6/27 Greensboro Colisuem)

7. Army Fatigue Hoops by Sydney Austin Designs http://tinyurl.com/dcamwl

8. Christian Louboutin's Deva in beige ( For $1000, these are the Truth)

9. Getting my Logo!! (Still under-construction, but I'm loving it)

10. My pastor's sermon on Integrity (It was deep)

10 Things I'm Feelin' for April (In no particular order)

1. White Jeans

2. Bangles (Stack Em' Ladies!)

3. Random Acts of Kindness

4. Twitter (Come follow me)

5. Steve Madden's Trufle Platforms in Lilac (see above) They're FIRE right?!

6. My Swavroski Crystal tee that says "I'm BO$$Y" (Get it)

7. The way my daughter changes her nail polish everyday!

8. The Soulful Sounds of Nina Simone

9. Sydney Austin Designs' Handcuff earrings

10. My Hot Pink Tights by Hue

Featured Artisan: Charm & Jewels

This month's featured artisan is Crystal Carlton of Charm & Jewels. She makes the sweetest charm bracelets! I heart the bracelet shown above! Surprise, Surprise, right! ;) A note to my Sorors: This bracelet is for sale on Crystal's etsy site! http://www.charmandjewels.etsy.com/

It's too late for you to get b4 the Notable North Atlantic Regionals, but it will be too cute on your wrist this summer! See the mini interview below to learn more about Crystal!

1. How did you get started making jewelry? Designing jewelry really began with My Little Inspiration", Taya. I was working 4 days a week, 16 hours a day in the salon, and while on maternity leave I began making jewelry because I wanted to stay home with her, and that's why I started Charm and Jewels!

2. What materials do you like to incorporate in your designs? The materials I like to use most are the handmade lampwork beads and Swarovski crystals. I enjoy the lampwork beads so much because they can just about be designed however you desire, therefore I am able to create true one of a kind pieces!

3. Do you do this full-time? Unfortunately I am not able to do this full-time, but I am working on that!

4. How do you market your business? I market my business several ways, my designs are featured in several salons in the Akron area, including mine. I also have designs in several stores in the area as well. I've also experienced short term leasing in several area malls. And of course my etsy shops... including, Etsy Artists of Color, We Love Etsy, Etsy.com, Indie Public, and Art Fire. I also have an online store http://www.charmandjewels.com/ And lastly, I regularly donate to charities and auctions for even more exposure.

5. What are your future plans for your business? My future plans include growing my business and finding as many outlets as I can, until Charm and Jewels is my full-time business!!!

Rasta!

May Birthstone Hammered Hoops

Pink & Green Glass

Army Green Fatigues

"I'm not dressed unless I have earrings on, like big hoops." Beyonce...

If you like Green, get these...they are HOT!

Why Did I Get Married?

So I could wear beautiful calla lillies! Vintage lucite calla lillies with czech glass beads attached with handmade oxidized sterling silver headpins are the perfect "something blue" to wear.

Guest Artisan ~ Delilah Pearl

I have decided to feature "Guest Artisans" once or twice a month who I think make "Hip Jewels." My first guest artisan is Delilah Pearl. Don't you just love her name?! It's sounds like a movie star. She lives in Philly. She is also a Soror of mine (Alpha Kappa Alpha) so please show her some love! Delilah Pearl... (Applaud)

1. How did you get started making jewelry? How long have you been a jewelry designer?I started making jewelry when I was around 5 or 6 years old. My grandmom Gloria would watch me during summer vacation and we would spend our time going through her jewelry box. She would give me the broken and mismatched pieces and ask me to create a new piece of jewelry for her. I started working with beads when I was in middle school and this is something that I have continued off and on ever since.

2. Do you do this full-time? Yes. I am a stay at home mom to an 8 month old baby boy and I design, make and run my jewelry business full-time. I am a little busy!

3. What materials do you like to use in your designs? I like to use colorful gemstone beads. My favorite is turquoise and coral. I like to use vermeil, I think the color is beautiful! I also like to use brass and lead free pewter that is made in the U.S. If it is bright and ornate, I like it!

4. Where can we buy your jewelry? Currently, my jewelry can be purchased through Etsy (http://gloriasjewelrybox.etsy.com/). I am working on getting my work into a few area boutiques. I also do jewelry shows and parties.

5. What are your future goals for your business? I would love to expand my buisness and began selling my jewelry on a larger scale. I have big dreams for this business!

Cops and Robbers

I wore these handcuff earrings the other day and I got lots of compliments on them! It's a great conversation piece! "Are those handcuffs??" "Yes," I replied. Then I giggled.

So I made another pair and a lady bought them for her friend who is a criminal prosecutor. So I made more! Dare to be different... go buy a pair from my etsy store! Or get a pair for your friend who is a judge, lawyer, police officer, FBI agent...

Art Deco Earrings

"I'm not dressed unless I have earrings on, like big hoops. I've always worn big earrings." Beyonce...

Femme Fatale