Raise your hand if you like jewelry! I expect most of you have your hands stretched as far as you can get them over your heads. If that’s the case, you’re going to like what I have for you today: I was recently introduced to the Zulugras jewelry. This lovely jewelry has an earthy, organic look and feel. It can be worn in single or multiple strands as a necklace or bracelet and so allowing you to get the color, depth and weight of the jewelry that you like.

Made from Zulugrass —sustainable grass that is hand cut and dyed, and then combined with Czech glass beads, this jewelry is a surprisingly versatile fashion accessory. It comes in a wide variety of color combinations. I used my set of five single strands mostly as bracelets but you can also wear them as a hair tie or “tie” them together for a belt or a much longer necklace. Really there are so many options. The rich colors make it perfect for a casual outfit.

I specially loved the story behind this brand and its commitment to helping women on the other side of the world. This unique jewelry is designed by Philip and Kathy Leaky and handcrafted by the Maasai women of Kenya. So, each purchase provides economic opportunities for the women and their families. The line also offers many different designs and is available at select show rooms around the United States and online at http://www.leakeycollection.com

One lucky winner will win a set of two identical 7″ ZuluSport Bracelets.
Contest ends Sunday, July 17 at 11:59pm PST.

HOW TO ENTER:

Mandatory:
• Head to the Zulugrass jewelry website www.leakeycollection.com and take a look around. Leave a comment telling me what you liked about the site or about a piece of jewelry you would like to own.

• Leave a comment saying how you follow CreatedbyChicks.com.

Earn additional entries (please leave a separate comment for each additional entry):
• Blog about this giveaway, with a link back to here, for two additional entries. When you leave your comment make sure to include the URL to your post. Please write original content and not just copy this blog to yours. You could write about why you’d like to win this giveaway.

• Follow CreatedbyChicks.com in Twitter @createdbychicks for an additional entry.

• Like CreatedbyChicks.com (http://ht.ly/5wk4U) on Facebook for an additional entry.

• Grab the CreatedbyChicks.com button and display it on your blog or website for 5 additional entries. Then come back and leave a comment with the name of your site and URL address. (If the button is not displayed on your homepage but it is posted elsewhere, you will not be eligible to win with your additional entries).

• Tweet about this review and giveaway. Please tweet the following: “I want to win the ZuluSport Bracelets from #CreatedByChicks.com”. After your tweet, please leave the URL of your tweet so I can check. You can re-tweet once a day for 1 entry each time.

• Comment on any one of  CreatedbyChicks.com non giveaway posts for an additional entry. Leave a comment here to let me know which post it is.

Read fine print:
Lucky winner or winners will be selected through True Random Number Generator. If your profile page does not show your email address, please include your email address in your comment, so that I may get in touch with you if you are selected as the giveaway winner. Each giveaway winner has 48 hours to respond to the winner’s email. If the winner does not reply within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen using the True Random Number Generator. If you would like to know who was the lucky winner of a giveaway, please go back to the original post of that giveaway. Once a winner is selected through random.org, I will post a screen shot of the the number random.org picked. You will be able to see which number has been selected and if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can cross check who the giveaway winner is. A complimentary product (or products) was sent to me for review purposes. I did not receive any form of compensation from the company. All opinions are my own and not influenced in anyway. Reviews are not always positive, but they are my personal and honest opinions and do not reflect the sentiment of the CreatedbyChicks.com community. Other people’s views and experiences with the product or products might be different from mine.

Although we’ve featured bits and pieces of Ruche here before, I wanted to do a full post on some of their lovely women’s fashion trends today.  Have you spent time looking through ShopRuche.com?  It’s one of the greatest things since sliced bread (not even exaggerating).  I love their indie/vintage looks.  My fashion dreams now consist of filling my entire closet with Ruche items… and their JEWELRY is so dreamy, too.  But, alas… I need to quit typing and start showing you why I’m so crazy about them!

Sprouting Up – http://www.shopruche.com/outfits-sprouting-up-c-24_114.html

Even though this shirt has sold out, I had to feature it.  Isn’t it lovely?  And I think it could work beautifully to be made modest with a pretty v-neck/scoop-neck shirt underneath, especially with sleeves that end at the elbow.  It would also look gorgeous with a simple cardigan on top.  You’d want to leave it open, though, so the lovely embellishing could shine through.  I think the thing that draws me most to this outfit is the simple colors (tan/khaki with white linen pants) with the bright pop of blues in the embellishing.  This top would also be fabulous for people like me that need some proportion-compensating for not being as well-endowed in the chest region (a.k.a. members of the “flat like a wall” club).

Picture Frames – http://www.shopruche.com/outfits-picture-frames-c-24_116.html

This is a really great outfit, combo.  I especially am crazy about the belted look in the final picture.  The top is quite loose fitting, but it’s well-balanced by the form-fitting leggings.  This looks like such a comfortable outfit that wouldn’t look sloppy.  It could work well for a day running errands with the kiddos or even a get-together with friends.  Since I’m a food photographer by profession, I have this vision of things that work well as a “photographer outfit” and this would definitely classify as something I’d wear to a shoot.  It would look professional, but still casual enough for my clients to feel comfortable (even though I’d be so drop-dead sexy they’d have a hard time focusing on the food – always a problem… ha, ha).  Just fabulous.

Orange Sherbet – http://www.shopruche.com/outfits-orange-sherbet-c-24_100.html

I also have a BIG thing for orange… oddly enough my high school’s colors were green and orange (lucky, right?).  This orange top is just gorgeous.  I love the pin tucks along the bottom, as well as the vintage embroidery across the bodice.  They’ve paired it perfectly with the chocolate-colored cardigan and sailor pants (aren’t sailor pants AWESOME?!!).  Yes, I’ll take this whole outfit right away please.

Here’s some of my favorite tops: Celestial Embroidery Tank, Poplin Zipper Top, Daisy Wings Cap Sleeve Top and the Bella Embroidered Striped Tunic

And a few fun shoes: Pink Studio Leisa gray platform wedge sandals, Gray Studded Pointy Heels and Rocket Dog “Dart” frayed canvas ballet flats (I love Rocket Dog shoes!!)

Here’s some of their sexy earrings: Up Up and Away Dangling Earrings, Coral Moondrop Swarovski Earrings, Mini Mesh Rose Earrings in Silver, Golden Flower Drop Earrings, Jaded Dangling Hoop Earrings by Ollipop and Golden Daisy Sparrow Drop Earrings

A few rad bags: Box Pockets Purse in Chestnut, Leaf Bag in Avocado and Take Me With You Clutch

I love these necklaces: Not So Typical Diamond Locket Necklace by Thursday Island, Cream Rose Indie Necklace, Cherokee Feather Necklace by Thursday Island and All in a Dream Sparrow Necklace

To-die-for accessories: Chenin Grape Scarf in Chocolate, Sweet Sage Flower Headband, A Straw Hat for Huck’s Girl, Grey Berriflower Headband, Mustard Seed Ruffled Scarf and Astrantia Melody Headband

And now, the grand finale… yummy rings: Flower Child Oval Cocktail Ring by Ollipop, Purple Quartz Daisy Ring by Ollipop, Baby’s Breath Ring by Ollipop, Lost in Time Capsule Cocktail Ring by Ollipop, Lorelei Pearl Ring and Green Leaf Flower Ring

So…. are you loving Ruche like I am?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Recently, I became the proud owner of a custom the r house hand-stamped necklace!!!  As a member of SassyScoops.com, we were all recently fortunate enough to review and see first-hand all the wonderful creations from the r house.  You may remember that I featured them awhile ago, so I already went into this a BIG fan.  However, after seeing their jewelry and hearing their stories behind everything… let’s just say… I’M HOOKED FOR LIFE.  My wish list just keeps growing longer and longer each day.

So today I wanted to show you my gorgeous necklace and toot the “the r house” horn again.  They had lots of different styles of the silver “Sassy” part of the necklace for us to choose from.  I loved this one’s design.  Then, they had a lot of different styles of beads for us to add to our necklaces, making each of our necklaces very sentimental to us.

I fought for with flying elbows and hormonal aggression chose the beautiful little jade bird.  I’ve got a thing for green (you all know this very well) and I love birds.  I also chose a pearl and a sweet little purple-y bead.  All-in-all, there’s rarely a day that goes by that I don’t wear this necklace.  I’m completely in love with it!

You can see all what all the other Sassies thought of their custom necklaces in our Review and be watching tomorrow for the fun, follow-up Friday post (generally there is a giveaway and I hope there is for the r house; you’ll want to be SURE to watch for that).

I don’t know about you, but I adore the “things” in my life to have sentiment attached to them.  I’m always drawn to items that carry a story or a special meaning behind them (the r house is especially amazing at this and thus I love absolutely everything they create).

Today I found an artist who makes lovely, little items, full of sentiment and meaning.  Emily Rosenfeld creates jewelry, gifts and Judaica, all with the motto “Made with Joy.” Emily says, “My goal is to make jewelry, Judaica and gifts that are contemporary and expressive. The work is given its full meaning when it becomes part of your personal expression. I hope the joy and strength I get from making this work is what it carries and inspires.”

Check out a few of my favorite pieces from this fabulous, creative chick (as usual, click on the pictures to be redirected to her store):

Sterling Dove Earrings – $42.00

Tree Locket – $48.00 (isn’t this locket a fun spin-off of traditional lockets?)

Sterling Silver Contemporary Star of David Bracelet – $70.00

There are many more sentimental, hand-crafted jewelry pieces and gifts that I really enjoyed.  To see Emily’s full selection, go to emilyrosenfeld.com.  Thanks for inspiring us with your creativity, Emily!

The first principle of design that we will feature is proportion, or the size relationship of parts to the whole. Note, in this jacket example that the arrangement on the figure to the right has much more balance vs. the one at left.

Raspberry Fleece Jacket by Erin Alexandra Klym – $121.00

For example: the size of your hand in relation to the size of your arm. Or a clothing piece in relation to the whole outfit or body.

This concept can apply to colors as well; do the colors complement each other? Or is one color ill-proportioned to the other by having too much of a really intense color in comparison? What we want are dimensions that relate to each other, attract our viewers, and give a pleasant or complete feeling.

Tiger Lily Moccasin Navy by Darlingtonia – $129.00

The feeling of completion and pleasantness can be done with any style preference. Funky, all-natural, feminine, girly, frilly, classy, boyish….anything – as long as you follow the basic principles of proportion.

Some people seem to have a natural ability to know what works and what doesn’t, so what about the rest of us? Are there any basic rules or ways to find out what works if you aren’t a natural? Luckily there are! Throughout civilization, artists, mathematicians, psychologists and even philosophers have studied to find out what is naturally appealing to the human eye and mind. There are a lot of theories, but one that is best known and applied is the golden mean. Discovered by Egyptians, Greeks, renaissance (Notre Dame) and many other civilizations.  It is one that is found in nature in seashells,

in ferns,

Fern Ring by honeybee, Amy Moore Designs – $68.00

and even the human body.

So, here is a basic math version of the golden mean (section): 3+5=8, 5+8=13, 8+13=21, etc… What does that mean? If you look to the right of the image above, there are lines that help you visualize the proportion. The blue line equals roughly 5/8 of the white line. This proportion not only works for men, but for women as well.

What do you do if you don’t have an ”ideal” figure? No worries, my next Fashion Friday post will teach you some tricks and optical illusions to help you give your body a well-proportioned look.

For more images and examples to train your eye, go to http://feng-shui.lovetoknow.com/The_Golden_Ratio or http://goldennumber.net/goldsect.htm

I woke up early this morning to find something fabulous to feature on CBC today, when lo and behold, in my email was a sweet little note from a really lovely Etsy artisan!  I checked out her store and immediately wanted to feature her and her beautiful, vintage earrings and hairpins… soooo fun!  So, without further ado, check out these little beauties, created by Erica of {Little Lovelies}.  p.s. don’t forget to click on the pics to be redirected to the item in her store.

Purple Gardenia Flower Lovely earrings – $7.50

Orange Ornate Floral Hair Lovely – $2.25

Light Blue Gardenia Flower Lovely earrings – $7.50

Lily Pad Hair Lovely – $1.50

Coral Leaf Heart Lovelies – $7.00

Oooh, la, la!  I could snag up every single one of these!  I think I would quickly become addicted and my other earrings and hairpins would wonder what they ever did to never be worn again.

I snagged up a fun little jade green beaded bracelet from a fun online shop I stalk and wore it every day until the Sunday before last when my 1.5 y/o pulled on it and the bracelet broke, sending beads all over the chapel floor (very reverently, though, of course).  I’ve definitely felt a void in my wardrobe and have decided that I am a person who thrives on wearing green accessories.  Call me crazy, but I swear it helps me stay centered and happy during the day.  So… I think these little babies from {Little Lovelies} would be the PERFECT addition to my wardrobe (looking at them feels heavenly… ahhh….):

Celery Sprig Vintage Flower Cabochon Studs – $8.00

What’s your favorite from {Little Lovelies}?  Do you have a color that you love to wear and especially accessorize with?

Thank you for your fabulous creativity, Erica!  We LOVE your {Little Lovelies} shop!!!

p.s. Erica has a stinkin’ fun blog I’m going to start following now because I think she’s hilarious and possibly a long-lost sister – check it out: Erica’s Bloggity Blog.  She’s also a preggo photog, just like me!  Seriously, meant to friends or what?

Recently, my amazing friend, Emily, brought me a “get-well-soon” package of fun gifts…. sooooo incredibly nice of her.  It included a sugar-free Starbucks steamed milk (yummy!!!), two super-cute shirts that I can wear now and my preggo belly can comfortably grow into and the most FABULOUS bookmark from artist, Kelly Rae Roberts.  I know, who is seriously lucky enough to have a friend that wonderful?  I ask myself that everyday and am definitely sure I’m not a deserving recipient.

Now, I am a HUGE Kelly Rae Roberts fan.  And let me show you why (as usual, click on the pics to be redirected to the original site)…

Fly Necklace – $17.00

Versatile Art Plaques – $16.00 (don’t you just love the set of 3 in the frame like that?!)

Unleash Your Joy Magnetic Bookmark – $4.00

Believe in Possibility Magnet – $4.00

I love her fun, eclectic style.  I think I love everything she makes.  I love her use of color and combining different art mediums, like paint, pen sketch and print.  Thank you for introducing me to Kelly Rae Roberts, Em!  I’ll forever be grateful (and forever pining for her art).  Isn’t she FABULOUS?!!

Why the FAD is bad. Don’t get me wrong, fashion is wonderful, but Fads and Fashion are totally separate things, and it is time to point that out! First of all the definition of Fad, a fad is something that is trendy, has no or very little element of design to it, and will go out faster than it came in. Those pictures that you hate in two years and wonder “what on earth was I thinking, I looked awful in that, but it was ‘in’!” that is a FAD.

Oversized T-shirts with biker shorts, hemp necklaces with no shirt and leprechaun shoes, tuck in that giant T-shirt, add a belt, black jeans and more leprechaun shoes! Cool? FAD!

Fashion on the other hand follows elements and principles of design (look them up in a design book, or just keep reading this post each week, because I am going to highlight one of the elements or principles each week). Fashion is something that also is catching and soothing to the eye of the general audience, and will continue to be used in different ways throughout the decades.

Fashionable: Bon Voyage Navy Pleated Skirt Dress from Shabby Apple – $78.00

Here is an example of a fad that you will hate yourself someday for wearing: Uggs and capris!

Some of you may hate me already for just writing this because you have worn them and jumped on the fad wagon. But let me point out why this fad will fade fast and how it is reckless abandonment of elements and principles of design. Some of you might say the rules are made to be broken, but not ignorantly ignored and that’s what this fad does. Don’t worry though if you’ve made this mistake; we have all made plenty!

1. Line and figure flattery- The wonderful thing about design is you can accentuate any figure and bring out beauty of the wearer with lines, colors, and patterns. But if you misapply or ignore design then you will exaggerate and pull out the worst of a figure.

Notice that nobody’s and I mean nobody’s figure looks very nice from the hip down with this combo. That is because it creates two very LARGE tubes equal to the hip tube (the largest point on your lower half). Also it gives you a 1-2” visual of skin at THE THICKEST PART OF YOUR LEG!!!! Creating the visual image that your calf is as large as the widest part, all the way up and down!

She may look “cool”, but her calves look humungous! (and I’m guessing they aren’t really)

The lines that cut right at your calf also visually shorten your leg to make you look like a munchkin. (Notice the girl on the right) Whereas, if you are wearing full length skinny jeans, tucked in with uggs, it lessens the effect by visually carrying your leg down into the boot rather than the boot being part of the leg. But if you have short legs already, just skip the uggs there are plenty of other options! Even if you wear fitted capris it still has a chopping effect, too many horizontal lines making very wide, short legs! We all know by now horizontal lines shorten and widen!

2. Mass/visual mass/density/weight- Even if you wear slender capris and you believe your leg doesn’t look like a massive tube, or you don’t mind the cut at the thickest part of your leg, there is a visual mass that is not balanced and it is brought to those “clodhoppers”. The weight of denim and other fabrics covering balances the weight. Right now the visual emphasis is on the silhouette as a whole and up towards your lovely face.

Notice how much stuff these women are carrying up top and they still don’t look balanced! They look cluttered, unorganized and unaware that the primary thing you notice are the massive boots, and you are distracted too much to notice what lovely springy dresses and faces they have. Exaggerated visual weight at your feet is just confusing or weird to most people’s psyche when they look at you. So it is not soothing or lovely, it’s just a fad.

3. Seasons! – Okay, I know we are all sick of snow and would love to wear our capris, but if it is too cold then it is too cold. If you need some spring in your life but it is too cold, use brighter colors, light cotton with lots of layers, floral patterns, and of flower headbands.

Fashionable: Tropical Escape necklace by Rachelle D. – $29.50

Seasonal clothing is there for a purpose, not just for comfort it also makes others comfortable and is visually satisfying. For instance, how would it look if you showed up wearing Eskimo clothes to a Luau in Hawaii? Or how about just the opposite what would you think of a person walking around in a bikini out in the snow? If we go against the weather and all common sense, it is usually because we want special attention put on ourselves and go to extremes because we are insecure. This isn’t a psychologically appealing concept right now. Most people want to know people who are not caught up in themselves and are not going to extreme to find attention. Seasonally Uggs and Capris look confused, and even if the weather is confused, we don’t want to be completely blown around by it or be as confused as the weather.

What looks do you think are fads right now?  What fashion fad have you participated in and then regretted later (we’ve all done that)?

This post is a continuation of my previous Fashion Friday post.

Increased consumer education in a shaky economy is a common cycle or trend throughout fashion history. We are headed for some really amazing times in fashion and in our future! I can’t wait to see the creativity and intelligence that burst out of the ashes of the economy!

Tuesday Morning Hairpin Set by Hot Pink Chick – $14.00

Handcrafted, One-of-a-Kind
Because we value supporting our economy and neighbors, consumer education is going up. We want to know that we’re getting quality items that will last. We want to know who makes it – that there is a real person behind it that we can trust, because we have a distrust for the “too big to fail” companies and their motives. Quality is important now – not quantity. You know you aren’t wasting money on corporate handouts and large overhead.

Large Boulder Opal Necklace by Sandrandan – $24.00

Though we will see a variety of items from the internet moving across the country, we will see the spectrum moving closer and closer to home. We have already seen the influence bloggers can have because we trust them. It will just get closer to home as we want to meet those we are putting our trust in. We need to get to know people so that we can understand their motives. Are they just out there to make a buck? Or do they really care about and understand their customers and products.

Rosette Jersey Scarf by Sue Bradbury – $24.00

We will also move toward locally-made because the well educated, jobless people in our communities will start making better products of their own, with higher quality, cutting costs. Sellers will look at “how low can I get the price?” instead of “how much can I charge?” We will get a lower cost, better quality item from someone we trust. Basically it is BACK to the AMERICAN WAY.

Monument Earrings by LKFarnsworth Studio – $19.00

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I’m so excited to feature Sarah Ward’s jewelry company, Blue Bijou jewelry, today!  I realize that I’ve been featuring a lot of jewelry recently, but I think you’ve GOT to see some of the Blue Bijou pieces.  Don’t you just love jewelry, though?  I mean, honestly, it’s like shoes – no matter what your weight, it always fits.

Also, in so many cases it seems that the jewelry makes the outfit.  I spoke with Sarah recently about this and am sure she agrees.  Sarah is a professional image consultant and specializes in helping people look their absolute best.  Also, Sarah is always up-to-date on what trends are happening and incorporates this into her jewelry pieces, so you can be sure that anything at Blue Bijou is going to fit the 2010 fashion, style and color trends.

So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite Blue Bijou jewelry pieces (click on the pictures to be redirected to the item in her store):

Joy – $25.00 – Gold leaf with 2 Swarovski bicone crystals on gold 16″ necklace with lobster claw clasp.

Sarah – $15.00 – Dazzling circular filigree earrings with gold shepherd hooks.

Brindee – $20.00 – A new twist on the classic Y shape necklace, this leaf lariat with green and pink faceted beads will compliment your V-neck beautifully!

Ruth – $36.00 – Glorious Amazonite and Sterling Silver Bead Bracelet with a Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp.

This last piece is from her Turquoise Color of 2010 collection.  There are many more lovely turquoise pieces that would be such a fast, easy update to any wardrobe.

It was SOOOOOO difficult to only select a few of Blue Bijou’s pieces to feature as I love so many of them!  Be sure to take a peek at Blue Bijou and I’m certain you’ll fall in love with them, too.  Thanks, Sarah, for your lovely creativity!!!