Just a short little post to share with you all the major lovefest im having with crystals at the moment i know some people conjure up images of Woodstock and the hippie era gone by whilst thinking of crystals (personally where i take alot of my inspiration from)but these little adornments have been all over the runways in the recent shows and top end jewelry designers like Pamela love are dedicating entire ranges to crystal work alone and chain stores such as Asos,topshop,forever 21 and Zara to name just a few are all loving the crystal movement…..

Get adorning my friends i want some major crystal moments xx

To read more of my crazy ways http://thecurvygirlsdiary.blogspot.com/

Pics courtesy of google images

When it comes to jewellery, I like something different. Of-course the high-street is the epitome of quick fashion and is crazed by the press, but what about having something that you won’t spot on hundreds walking down the street? I don’t know about you, but I find high-street jewellery extremely over priced and lacking in quality. Being a former sales assistant for one of the most affluent high-street brands, I know a lot about where the stock comes from. If interested in fashion you would have probably taken a pretty good educated guess that all the jewellery across stores come from near enough the same stockist. Take a look at Topshop for example, the jewellery in there is of exactly the same style and quality as what is sold in Matalan – yet double the price.  I would physically show you but unfortunately Matalan are yet to put their jewellery online; if you haven’t yet noticed, look when you are next in town, it is surprising.

Anyway let me get to the point of this post. There is so many online jewellery boutiques that I have come in contact with since being a blogger, selling individual, quirky designs that are not only cheaper than the high-street, but more personal. The bonus? not everyone will have what you have. All it takes is thinking outside of the box, oh and maybe a slight obsession with scouring the internet for unique bargains.

I thought I would share with you my favourite pieces of jewellery right now, featuring affirmation rings. I have a very sentimental side and live by words such as ‘hope’, ‘dream’ and ‘believe’ and feel positive when wearing them on a piece of jewellery. I received my first affirmation ring when I was fourteen, it was a present from my friend and was bought from Selfridges- the first thing I had owned from Selfridges which also made me more excited. A few years later my God Mother’s daughter, Lucy got sick, her cancer returned and I thought about what I could give her to give her hope. I passed on my affirmation ring to her, something she could wear all the time to help her feel positive. Unfortunately when she passed, we couldn’t find the necklace in her things, so wherever she is now, I hope she has it. Gee, I do get side tracked don’t I?

You can get any word on them really, it is just hunting around for them [generally online]. The ones shown are from Junk Jewels and prices start at a mere £8.00.

I hope you enjoyed my first post
love Jemma Louise
Come over and visit me at  Floral Etiquette

Summer is a time for sunshine, music festivals, and feeling free.  This season, the fashion is no exception.  With an abundance of clothes and accessories to fit the trend, you can be hippie chic in time for the concert next weekend.  I’ve listed some of my favorite pieces for achieving this look on any budget.

1. Feather Earrings – The hottest new accessory for summer, adding them to any outfit instantly gives it a hippie vibe.  For even more of an effect just wear one extra-long feather.
2. Crochet Vest – One of the season’s most fun new trends, it comes in so many styles to choose from.  Long, short, or with fringe, you can find the perfect one for your style.
3. Cutoffs – What hippie look would be complete without jean cutoffs?  Definitely the easiest piece to find, you probably already have a pair in your closet.  They are available in every price range, or be daring and DIY from an old pair of jeans.
4. Sandals – Leather sandals complete the look, personally I’m a fan of the ones with fringe!
5. Maxi Skirt – Nothing says peace and love like a free-flowing skirt.  You can find them in most retail stores now, and many websites offer organic free-trade versions.
6. Woven jewelry – Even if you don’t want to do full-out hippie, adding some woven bracelets to your look is a fun way to incorporate the trend.  Etsy is a great place to find unique handmade bracelets and anklets to compliment any look.

If you liked this post and are interested in more, you can visit my blog, Indigo Impression.

Down here in Aussie land its pretty common to see our surfer type friends rocking there vintage homemade friendship bracelets on a daily basis and until recently i thought it was just a trend i would leave back in the early 90′s when my best friend and i spent hours sitting on the verandah trying to make them just right.

So it has come as a pleasant surprise that they are making a Massive comeback and are seen on the wrists of everyone from Lauren Conrad to Sharon Osbourne and now come adorned with diamonds if we so choose,but its not just friendship bands that make up this revival its all things woven my personal favourite being the hobo bag but you can get everything from a clutch purse to a poncho and it’s set just to get bigger so grab your friends hit the markets and grab your woven goodies!

To read more of my fashion adventures visit http://thecurvygirlsdiary.blogspot.com/

Images courtesy of google.

Rose Gold is made by mixing gold with copper, the amount of copper that is used in the mix determines how red the result is. Most rose gold jewelry is 50% gold 50% copper though the more expensive pink gold is closer to 75% gold, 25% copper.  Not only is rose gold a very pretty color but it is less expensive than a traditional yellow gold because of the mix.

Rose gold has been around for a while but this spring is when there has been a major increase in selection. I am sure a lot of the reason is because of the elevated price of pure gold, but it also seems like designers are realizing that rose gold is unique and beautiful so they want to use it more and more.

A rose gold watch is a great staple piece of jewelry to have. Most people wear a watch everyday and want it to be a fashionable and attractive piece of jewelry. Right now both Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors have multiple Rose Gold watches for sale so I am sure you will find one that you will enjoy.

Top Row: Michael Kors MK5403- a rose gold watch with mother of pearl face and Crystal-paved bezel that adds glamour to this great everyday watch. The oversized face gives a bit of a feel of a men’s watch but at the same time does not lose its femininity.  This watch can be worn for work, play, and even when getting dressed up.
Michael Kors White Ceramic White Dial Ladies Watch MK5269- The perfect summer watch in a crisp white ceramic. This watch has a gorgeous rose gold  and Swarovski crystal trimmed fixed bezel. The rose gold is carried over to the buttons on the side. This is a really great everyday summer watch to wear.
MARC BY MARC JACOBS ‘Rock’ Chronograph Silicone Bracelet Watch - A sporty everyday watch that has a grey silicone band trimmed in Rose Gold. The case of the watch, side buttons, and much of the face of the watch are also Rose Gold.  While this watch is not the best choice for when you dress up, it is a great all around every day watch that can be worn year round. I love that the watch is grey, making it much more unique than teh standard traditional black or white band watch.

Bottom Row: MARC BY MARC JACOBS ‘Pelly’ 2-Tone Crystal Watch- This watch incorporates the trend of studding into this watch in a feminine way. The sides of the silicone band are studded with Rose Gold. The case is Rose Gold and crystals which adds a feminie touch, balancing out the studs. This is an every day watch that will be great all year round.
Michael Kors – Round Rose Gold Analog Watch (Shiny Rose Gold/Light Rose Gold) This is a great watch id you are looking for a watch that is classic and not overly trendy. This watch is timeless and can truly be worn for all occasions, year round, and for many years to come.
Marc by Marc Jacobs – Jazzy Classic Henry Chronograph (Two-Tone Stainless Steel/White) - Like the previous watch, this too is a classic timeless watch that will never go out of style.

Back in the  late 1980s and early ’90s , one of the biggest trends, for teenage girls especially, were handmade friendship bracelets. Now in 2011 it seems that these type of bracelets are making a comeback and are better than before. In the past these bracelets were simply made with a variety of embroidery floss strings in as many or few colors of your choosing. There were so many patterns of these bracelets that  you could make and no two bracelets were ever 100% identical to another. The idea was to make a bracelet and give it to your friend but over time it became more popular to make a great bracelet for yourself. These bracelets were suppose to be knotted on your wrist and not taken off. Eventually the strings would break down and fall off on its own but many chose to tie it loose enough to slip on and off of your wrist when wanted.

The friendship bracelets that are popular right now are a bit less homemade than before and some of the current batch of these bracelets do not even really resemble those from the past. Many of the current friendship bracelets are made of metal and have strip at the closure or they are a string bracelet with a metal clasp closure.  Even though these bracelets are not identical to those from the past, the idea behind them to give them to a friend still stands.

The Juicy Couture Embellished Friendship Bracelet is a solid coral or turquoise string bracelet with a gold tone embellishment and stone on the bracelet. The closure for this bracelet is a gold tone chain with clasp. You can wear one or both colors of these bracelets at the same time, or perhaps, buy both and give one to a friend so match one another but still have individuality at the same time.

Click Here To Buy Juicy Couture – Embellished Friendship Bracelet (Turquoise) – Jewelry

The Kris Nations Friendship Bracelet is available in three different colors : Slate, Clementine, and Turquoise. All three of the colors have the same metal bangle bracelet and metal button closure. The variance between these bracelets is the braided string that holds the button. Wear one, two, or all three of these bracelets together.

For More Information or To Buy Kris Nations Friendship Bracelet in Turquoise Click Here

The most traditional friendship bracelets are the Michelle Roy Friendship Bracelets. These handmade bracelets are wide colorful bracelets with detailed weaving. Attached to the bracelets there are either crystals, studs, or crowns. You can easily put on and take off these bracelets and look great when multiple bracelets are worn together, though they can be worn alone and still look great. These bracelets are a often seen on celebrities like Nicole Richie, Miley Cyrus, and Lauren Conrad.

Click Here To Learn More About Michelle Roy Friendship Bracelets

Whether you buy these bracelets for nostalgia, looks, or to give to a friend any of the above friendship bracelets are a perfect choice. Make sure to click any of the above links or pictures to learn more about these bracelets.

Recently there has been a new trend in jewelry that I have noticed, specifically with rings. I have seen more and more double, and occasionally triple,  knuckle rings. No longer is a ring worn simply on one finger, but now they can be worn on two, three, and even four fingers at once. Now a multi knuckle ring  is not something you wear when you are looking for something simple and understated, in fact it is just the opposite. These rings are big and bold and attention grabbing.Double Knuckle rings range from casual and fun to formal and artistic.

The Pamela Love Wave Ring is a sterling silver double knuckle ring with a wave detail. The ring sticks out far from your fingers so be careful as to not bang into anything. You also need to be careful not to get caught on anything since the shape of the rings can catch easily. Don’t get me wrong, I love this ring since it is very unique and a piece of art. The Pamela Love Wave Ring  is a ring that can be worn everyday or for a special occasion.

Pamela Love Wave Ring

The Bop Bijoux Inverted Rhinestone Double Knuckle Ring is  unique  since it is open at the top. When you wear this ring it looks like you are just holding three stones between your fingers and not wearing a ring.  The Inverted Rhinestone ring  will most definitely bring attention and question about this artistic ring  and  should make sure that you have a great manicure.

Bop Bijoux Inverted Rhinestone Double Knuckle Ring

While turquoise can be worn year round, I love it for spring the most. The Soixante Neuf Turquoise Double Knuckle Ring is set in 18k gold vermeil. I really love all the different shapes the turquoise stones are. This ring would be great with a Maxi Dress to complete a boho look.

Soixante Neuf Turquoise Double Knuckle Ring

A fun and colorful cocktail ring is a must have and the bigger the ring, the better. I love the Noir Double Knuckle ring in all three colors: Lavender/Pink, Brown/Aqua, and Clear/Grey.With so many great color choices I can not decide which is my favorite of them.

Noir Jewelry – Double Knuckle Ring

If a double knuckle ring was not enough, you may want to go for and try the triple knuckle ring. The Soixante Neuf Triple Knuckle Ring is a thin and feminine ring that has a delicate quartz stone set in the middle. This ring does take some getting used to since it does connect three of your fingers together. This really is a great ring and truly is unique.

Soixante Neuf Triple Knuckle Ring

Keep in mind that all of these rings are going to get you a lot of attention so make sure that you keep your jewelry simple. Do not wear any other rings besides the double ring on your same hand and keep any bracelets to a minimum on that arm as well. Let these great rings speak for themselves.

A bangle bracelet is the perfect accent piece to your spring and summer 2011 outfits. These bangles will even take you into the fall and winter. Most bracelets are not too trendy and are timeless so chances are you will be bored with the bracelet before it goes out of style. Of course though there are a few bangles that are tied closely to the current Spring and Summer 2011 trends so they will have a shorter wear life than others.

Polka dots are a hot trend right now and the Marc by Marc Jacobs Polka Dot Confetti Cocktail Bangle fits the trend. The great thing about this bracelet is that the polka dots are artistic and the metallic bubble dots will go with an array of outfits. Also available in black.

While I do own a fair amount of yellow gold it is not my favorite, I much prefer rosegold not only because it is less common but because of the great pink hue. The Jules Smith Americana Classic Bangle is a classic bracelet that will never go out of style. It is slightly symmetrical which makes it stand out from other simple circular bangles. This bracelet is available in rosegold ( pictured ) as well as yellow gold and silver. You can wear a mix of all three colors if you would like.

I love cork shoes and when I saw the Kenneth Jay Lane Large Cork Print Bangle I knew that I would want this as well. I love that the bracelet is a realistic cork print since real cork would probably rub away from brushing up to clothing and other objects.

The House of Harlow 1960 Red Cabochon Stone Bangle really pops with the red stones and makes this a great bracelet when you want to dress simply but need a little something to brighten up the outfit.

Stackable bracelets are fun to wear especially when they are all slightly different from one another. Some of my favorites are: Belle Noel Three Stack Bangle in Yellow Gold, Dream Collective Braille Bangles, and CC Skye Womens Bamboo Bangles . All of these bracelet sets are architectural and make a statement.

When getting dresses you should always try to have something in your outfit make a statement. This statement can be a vivid print, ruffles, glitz, a great pair of shoes, a head accessory, a handbag, or jewelry. If you want to make your statement with jewelry, a necklace or earrings are a good way to do so. Both of these items are going to be noticed since most attention for others is to your face or neck area. Less noticed are the wrist but there are plenty of great statement bracelets out there as well.

One of the biggest trends this Spring and Summer 2011 is fringe and there are a lot of excellent fringe necklaces, earrings, and bracelets to choose from.  Unlike fringe clothing where the material used is a light fabric that moves and flows easily fringe jewelry is made of metal most of the time so it is not going to move as much.

Fringe Necklaces

1. Adia Kibur Chain Fringe Necklace is a multi strand antique bronze that is handmade.
2. Noir Jewelry Artisian Bugle Bead Neckace is a great metallic bugle bead fringe necklace.
3. Elizabeth and James Long Fringe Necklace is a gradauted feather fringe necklace, perfect for boho looks.
4.Juicy Couture – Laurel Canyon Fringe Drama Necklace another great boho necklace but with a twist, the charms can be detached and worn as a bracelet.
5. Antik Batik Multicolor Necklace Simoni a great muti-color tribal necklace that with liven up any outfit.

Fringe Earrings

1. Noir Jewelry Bugle Bead Earrings with bugle bead trim these earrings are great when you dress up
2. Adia Kibur Multi Charm Earrings antique metal and charms with mixed metal fringe
3. Juicy Couture Laurel Canyon Gypset Fringe Earrings mixed metal and rhinestones perfect for boho looks
4. Soo Ihn Kim Odille Earrings a great all around earring for any occasion
5. Jessica Simpson – Precious Metals Fringe Duster Earrings (Two-Tone) – Jewelry two tone metal and rhinestone earrings for a great price

Fringe Bracelets

1. Gara Danielle Chain Link Bracelet sterling silver and cord weaved bracelet with fringe at the end
2. Juliet & Company Paris Bracelet coil wire and glass pearls with short fringe at ends
3.Juicy Couture Laurel Canyon Gypset Braid Bracelet rhinestones and mix metal fringe bracelet with ring clasp
4. Juicy Couture Laurel Canyon Gypset Fringe Bracelet multi strand with chain fringe in middle

Ever since I was young I have been drawn to heart jewelry. My go to every day necklace is a Lagos Diamond Heart Pendant on a Chain. This is one of many heart necklaces and bracelets that I own. Since it is American Heart Month I thought it would be appropriate to show off some great heart jewelry that can be worn year round.

The first piece of heart jewelry that I love is the WGACA Vintage Vintage Chanel ’93 CC Heart Necklace. This necklace has an asymmetrical heart on a chain with the signature Chanel interlocking Cs in the middle. While this is bit of a pricy necklace, it has  a classic look that will never go out of style.


For More Information or To Buy Click Here

High on my wishlist is the Jennifer Zeuner Mini 1/2″ Heart Bracelet with Ruby. Not only do I not have much rose gold jewelry but the Ruby is my birthstone. I love how this bracelet has a secure lobster claw clasp and is adjustable so it is sure to fit no matter the wrist size. I do not have to worry that it will be too big and have to take it to a jeweler spending  money resizing it.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Most of my heart jewelry is necklaces and bracelets, I do not have much in term of earrings but I am really liking the
Marc by Marc Jacobs Surreal Heart Drop Earrings. These are long dangle chain earrings, with a chain heart at the bottom of each drop.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Surreal Heart Drop Earrings

Not all of my jewelry is solid gold or silver and simple. Many of the rings that I wear are unique and one of a kind. I love big oversized cocktail rings especially. While I do not have the Marc by Marc Jacobs Colorblock Hearts Dome Ring it is very high on my wishlist. This is a fun conversation piece that should be worn with no other rings on the same hand.

For More Information of To Buy Click Here

If I did not already own the Lagos heart pendant necklace, I would most definitely have this necklace at the top of my wishlist. The Alex Woo “Little Princess” Diamond And 14kt White Gold Heart Pendant, 16″ is very similar to the Lagos that I wear constantly. This is a great necklace to wear for any occasion.

Alex Woo “Little Princess” Diamond And 14kt White Gold Heart Pendant, 16″

I do not tend to wear many bracelets that are not a silver or gold chain but there is something about the Accessories & Beyond Set of 15 Black Leather Bangles. These are a bunch of leather wrap bracelets that can be worn with as few or as many bracelets at a time as you want to. While the majority of the bracelets are a simple black leather , some the 15 have a heart charm on it.

For More Information of To Buy Click Here

No matter the time of year you can always wear heart jewelry from the subtle and refined, to the fun and trendy. Take some time to look and you are bound to find something that fits your taste.