Great Holiday Gifts for $20 and Under from Adorn Me

Christmas is coming.

How the heck did that happen? Time took some kind of quantum leap and we've already had our first snow (two, actually, though it didn't stick) and the holidays are already upon us. I was seeing Christmas stuff in the stores even before Halloween.

So, we've been thinking here about how so many budgets are tight and wanting to encourage people to buy handmade and have what Etsy likes to call Handmade Holidays. To that end, here is a collection of items from our store that, at $20 and less would make nice inexpensive gifts for friends and loved ones. And you can get even more bang for your buck by reading the following...

Adorn Me is participating in I ♥ Handmade's Seasonally Inspired Handmade Market. They have a lot of great shops of all kinds participating in their online craft fair. Because they are a favorite venue, we are giving a special deal to those who buy from our shop (it applies to any of the items in the store) through their page by using a special code. We are offering a 15% discount and free shipping within the United States (including Alaska) to anyone using the code "I Heart Handmade for 15% and free shipping! This way, get an even better deal on your holiday shopping. Now, here is just a modest smattering of the wide selection of unique, handcrafted items using beautiful findings, stones, pearls and beads, at incredibly inexpensive prices...

Tiger Ebony Wood and Baby Blue Glass Flower earrings

Deep, Bright Green Christmas Ornament Earrings

Lillian - Bronzed Czech Glass and Vintaj Natural Brass Earrings

Aqua Sakura Flower Adjustable Ring - A little bit of Spring on your finger, size 6 up to Plus Sizes

Oasis, lavender glass, crystal and copper earrings

Sage Green Lily Adjustable Ring

Little Leaves, Brass and Freshwater Pearls earrings

Mini Pumpkins - In Blue - Long Earrings

Heavy Metal Rocker - Wild Feather and Metal Very Long Earrings

Mod Design - Carnelian and Eggplant Copper Circle earrings

Adorable Little Birdies Earrings in Silver with Aqua Peacock Spear Beads

Karen - Striking Carnelian earrings

Aqua Chalcedony Faceted Briolettes earrings - from the Petits Luxes Collection

Charming Forest Lily Adjustable Ring - size 6 up to Plus Sizes

MagentAqua, from the Posey Bouquet Earring Collection

Purple Nostalgic Earrings With An Art Nouveau Feel

Birdie in a Basket - Whimsical Birds in Nest Baskets Earrings

You'll find even more gorgeous gifts -- including unique gemstones and luxe creations by clicking here, as well as the rest of our offerings, including our $20 and under gift selection by checking out all of our offerings here, at our our jewelry store at Etsy. :c)

Thank you, Jessica!

Jessica from Crazy Daisies Designs made a treasury that was chosen to be on the Front Page of Etsy. Thank you for including my earrings, Jessica!!



Come visit us at www.AdornMeJewelry.etsy.com. :)

Today's Treasury: AquaViolet

Today's treasury has a favorite color combination: aqua and violet. While they are not complimentary colors, and as someone who loves op art and vibrant colors, it pleases my optic nerves because the color combination pops off the page.

Please come take a look at it, maybe click the items to look at them, and comment, if you're so inclined. You can find it here, before it's retired.

And as always, you may find our jewelry store at www.AdornMeJewelry.etsy.com. :)

The American Craft Guide Community...

Some of the photos I've uploaded to the American Craft Guide Community. My page there can be seen by clicking here.

My Birthstone is Peridot...

Some of you may or may not know that Adorn Me isn't our only store at Etsy -- the other shop Fractal Girl is for my fractal art, though I have to say, that store isn't as well attended as Adorn Me. Last night I made a treasury for the Treasury Team for my other shop and thought I'd post it here. For the next two days you may find it here, before it's retired.

Artists featured in this treasury are, in order from left to right, top to bottom:

ByTheWayside: Vintage dishes, knick knacks and books. (team member)

Dal Mare: Handcrafted Classic Jewelry.

Flanders Field: Fine Art Nature and Floral Photography.

AAARealGem: Basic and exotic hard to find gemstones.

M. Wilson's Groovy Inclinations: Photography-based creations from prints to t-shirts.

Susan Sheehan: Lampwork Glass and Pandora Compatible Beads. (team member)

Susan Sheehan: Lampwork Glass and Pandora Compatible Beads.

Arosha Jewelry Design: Quality, Individuality, Freedom, Art - Jewelry design.

Beyond The Rockz: Jewelry handmade | repurposed | antique | vintage | eco.

Zaftig Delights: Plus Size Clothing * Jewelry * HairStyx * Accessories.

Rosey Corner Creations: Original handmade items to make you smile!!!.

Waterrose: Hand Embroidery Textile Artist - Jewelry, Quilting, Home Decor.

Liat Fine Jewelry: Handcrafted Gold Vermeil & Semi-precious Jewelry.

See my fractal art at www.Fractalgirl.etsy.com

And as always, you may find our jewelry store our www.AdornMeJewelry.etsy.com. :)

Thank you, thank you!

Adorn Me jewelry is pleased to announce that our necklace design, Lucid Dream, using Vintage Natural Brass has won the Vintaj Design Challenge for July! To read more about it please click here. Click the thumbnails to view the photos at their full size.

I know I already made a somewhat similar post before this, but this post gives more info on the elements used in the necklace. This necklace is basically a nostalgic statement necklace. It has a lovely Vintaj Soaring Swallow that swings free at its top by a Vintaj petite etched cable chain as its wearer moves about. Up that side is a large, darker red not-quite-round carnelian that is nestled into a Vintaj 16mm filigree bead cap. The chain used is Vintaj petite etched cable chain and Vintaj flat oval chain. Headpins used are by Vintaj, as well.

The stones used in this necklace are an amazing - huge - carnelian teardrop pendant, inverted and wrapped in a Vintaj peony filigree. From it hangs an amazonite round, a peacock freshwater pearl, a faceted Czech glass teardrop in topaz color, and it is surrounded by a drape of more Vintaj petite etched cable chain. Along one side are more amazonite rounds alternated with carnelian-colored Czech glass melon beads, and Vintaj flat oval chain. Hanging from the swallow's tail are a teardrop amazonite and a pretty little pearcock freshwater pearl.

The clasp in the back is a simply gorgeous Vintaj Large Woodland Toggle Set The beautiful etched jump rings you see are Vintaj's Etched Jump Rings, and they are used in multiple areas of the necklace - every place where I wanted a strong and beautiful connection. At one side of the toggle you can see the cluster of pretty danglies - a glass melon round, a peacock freshwater pearl and an amazonite round, with the melon and amazonite hanging from hammered, antiqued brass (non-Vintaj) headpins. Because the necklace is so substantial I decided that less is more for the matching earrings. I used the hammered headpins for the lower, smaller amazonites and Vintaj's Round Loop Ear Wire. You can find many of these Vintaj products from Sue at Blue Marble Beads and Karen at Karen's Treasures. Thanks upon thanks to those who voted our Lucid Dream necklace into the winning spot!

There will be more Vintaj Statement Necklaces (and more sedate items, too) in the near futire, and as always, you may find us our Adorn Me Jewelry store at Etsy. :)

I Love Vintaj Brass!

There is something about the deep caramel color of Vintaj brand brass that draws me in. Their name is synonymous with "quality." As brass goes, it is definitely more expensive than your run of the mill, generic brass findings and materials. But worth it. Yes, it's brass, not fine silver, gold or platinum. I know that some turn their noses up at what they consider to be the 'lesser' metals. But let me tell you, you just don't find jewelry made with the old Arts & Crafts, Art Deco and Art Nouveau molds in those higher-priced metals. And when you do, well... better check your bank account, because you're going to pay dearly.

My friend Sue, at Blue Marble Beads, has carried Vintaj for a while, and my friend Karen, of Treasures by Karen, carries Vintaj brand findings now. She also sells Tierra Cast findings, which are GORGEOUS, but another story for a different day. Karen sent me this Vintaj Peony filigree to work with, wanting to see what I would make with it. My friend Sue at Blue Marble Beads sent me the bead caps used in this piece. The photos in this entry are the result of these generous gifts. Thank you, darling women!

What you see is my newest necklace, "Lucid Dreams" for short. I entered it into Vintaj Blog's Design Challenge for July. Wish me luck, please. :) As always, you are always welcome at our Adorn Me Jewelry store at Etsy. :)