WHIMSY

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Fashion Picks

Oct. 16-18

If you don’t like Halloween, you’re crazy. Who doesn’t love a chance to wear a crazy outfit and pretend to be someone else for a night?! And uh…I don’t think I even have to mention the candy and treats you get to eat!

In honor of my favorite holiday, I gathered together a short—but fantastic—list of Halloween-inspired jewelry from Etsy made by independent artists. I listed the artists’ names, too, so you can check out what other goodies they have to offer.

Raven earrings.

 Two simple black birds hang from oxidized sterling silver wire. Simple and not too Halloween-y that you couldn’t wear them all year long. Listed by Etsy user joyfulmoon.

 Skeleton cameo ring. 

The Halloween cocktail ring done right. It’s very reminiscent of Guns ‘N’ Roses, in my opinion, so I pretty much love it. I would be tempted to wear it regardless of the holiday because it would be a great conversation-starter. Listed by user ivcreations55.

 Pumpkin earrings.

If you’d rather stay away from the “scarier” jewelry options, these pumpkin earrings are super cute and kosher right up until Thanksgiving. Pair them with a cozy sweater at a family get-together. Also listed by user ivcreations55.

Rose ring.

I absolutely love this silver rose ring because it’s definitely not Halloween-specific and would look so chic with a little black dress. It’s actually made out of clay, which surprised me because it looks like brushed sterling silver. It would look great with a witch costume! Listed by user Morado.

 Good Witch necklace.

 Speaking of witches, this “Good Witch” necklace is cute and very tongue-in-cheek. Let everyone know (or trick everyone into thinking) that you’re the good witch this Halloween! Listed by user LittleGreenRoom.

DISCLAIMER: No samples were received for any of the reviews above. Photos are from each individual Etsy user.

-Keri

Keri is a 24-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

Chain fringe is all the rage in jewelry this season—not surprising, because when you flip through the pages of the latest fashion magazines, you see studded bags, boots and belts. The edgy, biker look is back, and since we—the ladies here at From The Jewelry Box—LOVE chunky and slim, mismatched chains, we’re thrilled to see the trend reemerge this fall! (We’re girly but we like to feel dangerous!)

Stella & Dot, a great jewelry company with tons of funky and fabulous pieces, offers these chain fringe earrings. With slinky chains and lines of tiny rhinestones, they’ll sparkle and sway while you’re dancing on tables at a girls’ night out.

I was surprised (and delighted!) to find this leaf and chain fringe necklace at Pac Sun. It’s very “funky fall” and would look fantastic with a coral-hued top.

Besides the fact that I love the name of the jewelry line—Dirty Librarian Chains—ShopBop offers this necklace that looks like a hodge-podge of delicate, old chains repurposed into something simple and elegant. Check out the model photo to get an idea of what it would look like with a strapless top.

Have some extra cash to spend? This FANTASTIC chain fringe bracelet from Winifred Grace is stunning and absolutely beautiful. Featuring freshwater pearls and gold detailing, it’s a definite splurge at $310, but it’s a great inspiration when bargain hunting for something more affordable.

I fell in love with this chain and leather necklace from Express as soon as I saw it. It’s a total “mixed-media” statement piece—almost like a treasure chest of all sorts of charms and dangles to look at. For the daring fashionista!

I wasn’t really expecting to find anything in a search for “chain fringe ring”, but I stumbled upon this aptly named Studio 54 ring, complete with a generous bundle of fringe! Not sure how it would feel on my hand because the fringe seems rather long, but I’d be curious to give it a try!

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads  

(real) books.

Are you ready to be fabulous for fall? We’re here to help!

Enter now to win a sterling silver, interchangeable bead ring by WHIMSY™ and a striking, collectible Murano glass bead by Chamilia™. A $150 value!

WHIMSY rings by designer R. Craig Whitten are an exciting new way to showcase the hottest jewelry trend of the year – striking, collectible Murano glass beads. The rings accommodate the majority of the glass beads made by all of the major bead manufacturers including Trollbeads and Chamilia™. Their interchangeability allows the wearer to express their individuality and easily change the ring to match an outfit, complementary jewelry — even a mood.

Because precious metals and gemstones are finite resources, the WHIMSY™ ring is crafted entirely from reclaimed materials. Today’s consumers expect more from the products they purchase — merchandise that is created responsibly.

Ready to win? Simply enter a comment below. Winner will be randomly chosen. Contest runs from August 21 – 30 and winner will be announced on Monday, August 31.

Good luck!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com.

If you wear, own or even like Uggs, your name deserves to forever appear on every Worst Dressed list ever. I don’t care how you might defend this hideous excuse for a pair of boots—they are called Uggs for a reason, people. No woman should wear shapeless boots that make her look clubfooted unless she’s playing in the snow in her own—very private—backyard. (And, for the record, I feel the same way about Crocs.)

There are plenty of cute ways to keep your toes toasty when the chill kicks in this fall, and I’ve chosen a few very promising options below. (And none of them shall be worn with a ripped denim miniskirt and leggings. K, thanks.)

Ankle boots help ease the transition into fall, and they look hot with a minidress. I prefer a little red dress with a pair of black boots like these faux-suede ones. The metal buckle adds just enough detail to keep things exciting, and the wrapped look is trés chic!

These are probably the cutest fold-over ankle boots I’ve yet to find. The rounded toe keeps them semi-casual so you don’t feel over-dressed, and they make you look stylish-without-trying. They come in black and brown, and if you’re like me, you’ll buy a pair of each!

Knee-length skirts and dresses look fantastic with high boots, and this look will keep you cozy on chilly fall nights. These super-hot, knee-high black leather boots will slim your legs, and the tapered toe and shiny leather amps up the sexy. Every woman should own a pair!

These black suede zip-ups give a little “rocker” edge to any outfit. The flat heel gives your feet a break from other high-heeled options, and you won’t be afraid to traipse around town in them. Pair them with your favorite jeans and a cropped jacket for the perfect bonfire party outfit.

Despite the fact that my friends make fun of me for it, I tuck my skinny jeans into my boots because, well, the jeans just won’t stretch over top of them. Plus, I like showing my boots off! I bought these low-wedged boots last year and plan to wear them again this fall and winter because they held up so well and are super comfy! They’re also nice enough to wear when I go out and they don’t make my feet look big and clunky—the wedge heel actually makes me feel kind of snuggly-sexy!

I found all of the options above at Famous Footwear because they have great prices, but they’re also available elsewhere. Do a little shopping around to find the best deal!

-Keri

Keri, WHIMSY marketing director, is a 23-year-old

(soon to be 24-year-old!) lover of Chinese food and

Sex & the City. She desperately wants to move out of

her parents’ house and get a puppy!

Since 1977, artist and jeweler R. Craig Whitten has created one-of-a-kind jewelry for discriminating clients. From coast to coast, his pieces are designed to showcase each client’s individuality. His original designs can be seen regularly gracing instantly recognizable faces in music, television, stage and fashion.

The following interview explains his dedication to the use of recycled materials, his love of great design and most importantly – what’s next for the WHIMSY™ line.

How did the WHIMSY™ line come about?

In 2008, I created a very special ring as a gift for my wife Cynthia. She’s a huge fan of Murano glass bead jewelry, but she couldn’t find an attractive ring that would incorporate the beautiful beads. So, I created a simple, elegant piece that highlighted the beauty of the beads and allowed her to change them easily to match her various bracelets and outfits.

After seeing the ring, her friends and coworkers began asking for rings for themselves and to give as gifts. In 2009, we launched WHIMSY™, a collection of interchangeable bead rings that are uniquely customizable.

The WHIMSY line is created entirely using reclaimed and recycled sterling silver, 14-karat gold and gemstones. Why did you decide to use reclaimed materials in your designs?

It’s about being responsible. Everyone still wants beautiful jewelry and lots of style. They don’t have to sacrifice style in order to use reclaimed materials. With the WHIMSY™ jewelry line, the two come together for some truly gorgeous jewelry that you can feel good about wearing!

Why do you think it’s important for the jewelry industry to “go green”?

If we don’t who will? This may be a small step, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Where do you get your materials?

We purchase “old” gold, sterling silver and gemstones directly from consumers, rather than use post-industrial scrap materials. We also produce on-site. So we can say with certainty, that the WHIMSY™ jewelry line comes from 100% reclaimed materials.

What’s next in the WHIMSY™ line?

A new collection of ring designs is in process, with a release date for fall 2009. We also have several other pieces to add to the line, some of which also incorporate the use of glass beads. A third collection release is planned for spring 2010.

How can people purchase your products?

Our website is www.whimsyworldwide.com and includes an easy-to-use Store Locator. For convenience, there is also on online shopping option.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com.

Kelly Clarkson rounded out a wonderful week of food, fun and music at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Del. on Saturday. Her presence brought fans from all over to fill the Grandstand for a packed concert, where Kelly performed chart-topping hits like “Walk Away” and “My Life Would Suck Without You”. Crowds even gathered near the fences in front of the gates in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the former American Idol contestant.

The following Delaware-based companies “swagged” Kelly with great products:

WHIMSY™ Worldwide (www.WHIMSYWorldwide.com), Pike Creek Coffee (www.PikeCreekCoffee.com), Winterthur Museum & Gardens (www.Winterthur.org), You’ve been Sentenced! by McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds (www.McNeillBrighterMinds.com), Delaware Today (www.DelawareToday.com), Currie Salon & Day Spa (www.CurrieDaySpa.com), The Best of the Saratoga Special by Sean Clancy & Joe Clancy (available on Amazon.com)

The fair brought a variety of artists from different music genres to Delaware fans; pop, rock, country, hip-hop, and even a great comedian! We can only imagine what next year’s Delaware State Fair will bring–the performers, the music, the food, the fun!

-Keri

Like just about every other female I know, I look at engagement rings—on the internet, in jewelry stores and catalogs, and wherever I happen to see them. It’s not because I’m in any hurry to get engaged or married—I just love to look at big diamonds! I daydream about the day a man will pull out a ring box and propose to me with a huge rock, even though it won’t be for quite a few years, and I highly doubt it’ll be with a huge diamond (though a girl can hope). Those are just the kinds of things a young, unmarried 20-something thinks about from time to time. And when I’m grazing the pages of Modern Bride or jewelry websites for the “perfect ring” (i.e. the ring I would propose to myself with), my eyes are drawn to antique-y settings and cushion cut diamonds.

Cushion cut diamonds are harder to find than the more popular round and princess-cut stones, but they’re gaining in popularity again as antique settings are also becoming more mainstream.

Lussori, one of my favorite places to pretend-engagement-ring shop, has a good selection of cushion cut diamond rings in unique settings that include everything from filigree designs to pave diamonds encrusting the band. Some even have rose gold accents and pink pave diamonds, which I love.

It’s all about the details in an engagement ring, in my opinion. A Lussori platinum designer setting with pave white diamonds and filigree detailing is absolutely gorgeous and extravagant.

The pave pink diamonds and rose gold I mentioned above are a delight in this Lussori platinum GIA-certified diamond ring. Something about that beautiful antique look with such a modern twist—the colored diamonds—is beyond alluring. And no worries about prongs breaking, because the cushion cut center diamond is bezel set.

If your budget doesn’t include a ring upwards of $20,000, King of Jewelry has a cushion cut diamond ring with a center stone just over one carat, framed by moon cut, princess cut and round cut diamonds, making a total weight of 2.54 carats. It clocks in at just under $6,000 and is also available with a larger center diamond—definitely an option that doesn’t seem too far fetched.

Or this KOJ three-stone cushion and princess cut diamond ring is a great option at under $5,000. It’s a lot more of a “classic” engagement ring, but it still incorporates the cushion cut diamond, which is less conventional than a princess cut.

Most of us ladies will never get the chance to wear a diamond engagement ring that costs more than the average four-door sedan, but we can certainly dream (and internet window shop)—something I’m getting quite good at!

-Keri

Heather Lehman, our new Miss Delaware

shows off her brand new Whimsy ring.

The 2009 Miss Delaware Pageant was held this past weekend and it couldn’t have been more fun! As a longtime sponsor of the event, Craig and Cindy Whitten once again gifted the very deserving Community Service Award winners and of course, the new Miss Delaware herself — Heather Lehman!

Craig and Cindy Whitten present Susan Powell,

Miss America 1981 with her new Whimsy ring.

Every year the Miss Delaware family is entertained and enchanted by pageant emcee Susan Powell, Miss America 1981. Exactly 5 minutes after meeting Susan it is immediately apparent how she won the coveted Miss America title. Beautiful, talented, personable – did I mention beautiful?—she is the embodiment of everything a titleholder should be. To show their appreciation, this year Craig and Cindy presented Susan with her very own Whimsy ring – a perfect gift because after all, what pageant girl doesn’t love something sparkly?

Craig and Cindy Whitten met the reigning Miss America

Katie Stam at the event.

This year’s event was extra special because the reigning Miss America, the lovely Katie Stam was in attendance. Meeting Katie was a thrill for everyone!