Tis the Season to Pick and Pack

Black Friday has passed and Cyber-Monday has turned into Cyber-Week at Charming Life. Much like the anticipation of a tropical storm, we have batten down the hatches and are holding our own as the eye of the storm hits. Tired, yes, but there is a bit of a thrill as we see the fruits of our labor come to fruition.

Andrea (the tired one in the photo), Amanda and our team of pickers and packers carefully prepare each and every order. With our 5-step quality control process, we strive for 100% satisfaction!

In addition to our attention to detail, we are able to respond to your unique shipping needs. Whether it be a hand-written note to the recipient, a gift-wrapped package, or an international order, we are happy to help you this season. Please note that our online check-out process does not always allow for unique requests. However, you may simply email us with your specific instructions.

Time to get back to more packing . . . this Monday will probably be busier than last Monday.

Barb

Mark Your Calendars - Holiday Open House

December 10th - 12th
Thursday 1:00 - 6:00
Friday 1:00 - 6:00
Saturday 11:00 - 3:00




Come one and Come All! We are having our annual Holiday Sale and have twice as many products this year. Stop by our workshop before you hit the malls. We guarantee you'll find something for even your hard-to-please loved one. Plus, you might even find something for yourself. Now that's a sweet deal.

Address: 9730 South 700 East, Suite 104, Sandy, Utah. We are on the west side of 700 East in Candlelight Plaza.

Call us at (801) 553-2524 for more directions or other questions. See you soon,

Barb

Black Friday Madness - 30% Off Coupon

Oh, it's here and in a BIG way. Black Friday has arrived and customers are online line and shopping. We have doubled-down on our shipping team and, as always, will ship your order within 48 hours. In most cases, however, your order goes out the day it's placed. Now, that's not a bad way to avoid the crowds.

Charming Life makes it even better to shop with us. FIRST, with your purchase of $40.00, we will give you a free pair of freshwater pearl earrings. SECOND, free shipping is included with each and every order. THIRD, don't forget to SAVE even more by using our 30% Off coupon code: HOLIDAY. FOURTH, our Charming Life Designs black jewelry pouch is included with each order.

So, stay in your PJs and enjoy shopping with us.

Barb

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, we had a lovely company lunch to celebrate the holidays at Market Street Grill. Thanks Barb! Here is a photo of most of the crew. We are bracing ourselves for a hectic 5 weeks or so! We don't worry as much about Black Friday as we do Cyber Monday!!!

We hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Holly Russell Godard

Fred Ball, Zions Bank, features Charming Life Designs

Last Friday, Fred Ball of Zions Bank featured us on his "Speaking on Business" radio show. Just in case you didn"t get a chance to hear the radio spot, here's a transcript of the show. We are grateful to Jody, Jacqueline, and Allison at Zions Bank Women's Financial Group. Throughout the years, they have helped us grow our business. They have supported us through our loan applications, including our Small Business Loan which later grew to be our Commercial Business Loan. Their on-going support is greatly appreciated.

Barbara

November 20, 2009
This is Fred Ball, Zions Bank, speaking on business.

Being adaptable is an excellent trait to have in any situation but it's particularly valuable in the current economic climate. This is why I was so impressed after my recent visit with Barbara Kidd about her company, Charming Life Designs.

Barbara tells me the company started in 2003 as Fashionable Fundraising and was designed to do home shows and help nonprofit organizations raise money. She loved the work but found it difficult to make a profit. To increase her profitability, Barbara designed a collectible charm for one of the nonprofit organizations she was working with.

Other nonprofits caught wind of it and started requesting their own charms. Barbara learned more about designing custom charms and began making them in all kinds of forms, from Chinese characters and a whimsical heart to breast cancer awareness charms. The charms were so popular that Barbara completely changed her company's focus, turned it into a for-profit business and re-named it Charming Life Designs in 2005.

Sandy-based Charming Life Designs provides custom charms to boutiques across the United States. In addition, Barbara also secured a contract to sell her charms and handmade jewelry on Overstock.com. She makes necklaces, bracelets and earnings from genuine gemstones, freshwater pearls and 14K gold filled and sterling silver precious metals. Barbara noticed early on that customers gravitated toward less expensive items. Earrings quickly became the top seller. The online jewelry portion of the business started in 2006 but didn't take off until 2007.

One of the special things about her company, Barbara says, is that all pieces are handmade. She employs 15-20 part-time workers, mostly stay-at-home moms, who create the jewelry. She hopes to see Charming Life Designs continue to grow as she finds clients searching for custom-designed products and adapts to each new situation and change in the market.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

Charming Life Designs
9730 S. 700 E., Ste. 104
Sandy, UT 84070
801-553-2524
http://www.charminglifedesign.com

The Power of the Dragon

Representing supreme spiritual power, the dragon is the oldest symbol in Asian mythology. For centuries the Chinese dragon has symbolized wisdom and strength, power over the land, the water and the heavens. The dragon's magical powers were thought to bring wealth and good luck to the Chinese people and much needed rainfall to ensure plentiful crops. Today, the dragon is still a prominent figure of Chinese New Year, repelling evil spirits and safeguarding a prosperous New Year.

It seems symbols of mythology are gaining in popularity as people look to history for symbols of inspiration, wisdom, power and strength. Check out the Chinese dragon charm at www.charminglifedesigns.com. 

"Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth. Tame the dragon and the gift is yours." Noela Evan

Namaste

You've been om-ing your way through yoga class for years, but have you ever wondered what the mantra really means? According to the Yajur-Veda, one of the earliest sacred texts of the yoga tradition, om represents the entire universe -- past, present, and future. The sound is actually a combination of four parts: a ("ah"), or wakefulness; u ("oh"), the dream state; m ("mmm"), the quietness of deep, dreamless sleep; and the silence that follows, which represents pure consciousness.

I recently returned from a visit to Tustin, CA where I was able to check out my cousin's new Wellness Retreat/Bookstore. She was promoting everything "zen." As I pondered the meaning behind many of the beautiful sanskrit symbols I realized how magical they truly are. In a world where there is so much chaos and confusion, it's nice to wear something close to your heart to help remind you of peace and happiness. Check out CLD's extensive selection of asian-inspired jewelry. Add a little calmness to your daily routine...I promise you won't regret it!

-Kris

Affordable Ways To Punctuate Yourself!

We are all individual novels. Some are like literary fiction, plot driven with predictable lives, appealing to the masses, weaving unique, creative characters into the plot, very character and human condition oriented. Others of us are like mysteries, thrillers, and horror novels, always with a problem that needs solving involving red herrings, and false leads and usually very exciting, with heros, and psychopathy and sociopathy. Some of us are romance, chick flick and fantasy novels, frequently involved in love and loss, possibly unrequited, always entertaining, emotional based, and intoxicating. Sometimes, humorous with a bent towards trysts and turns. Yet others of us are historical fiction, alluding to the past, exemplifying values and mores of so called "better times", giving an air of knowledgeable, fascinating, factual based pasts that somehow seem untouchable by today's standards. Some of us are simply science fiction, always looking towards the future, defying gravity and all logic, stretching the barriers of reality.

Wearing jewelry can be like putting an exclamation point in a sentence or simply a comma, or even some parenthesis. It can, finish a paragraph, create a whole chapter or define the novel that you are! Capture your imagination, create your image: austere, meek, balanced, eclectic or refined. What you choose to portray yourself as can be so easily accomplished with a simple pair of earrings. It can transport you back in time or catapult you into the future. It can bring serenity and peace to your soul. It can make a statement about who you are or who you are revolting against. It can convey your need for attention or your desire to remain mysterious.

Wearing jewelry is very telling, about who you really are or who you want to be! Are you obsessive or organized? Do you have a random or ADD personality? Do you have plenty of time to put yourself together, and match your outfits and accessories each day? Are you always in a hurry trying to beat the clock and maybe put one favorite pair of earrings on and wear them for a month? Are you quirky and odd? Cute and sweet? Immature or outspoken? Craving attention? Arrogant and showy? Married or single? Are you stylishly trendy, staunchly conservative or like to bling your brains out? Yeah, I dare you to ever consciously pick out a piece of jewelry to wear after reading this.

It is human nature to always be looking for something new. That innate desire fuels the trends that we seen in fashion. The nice thing about our fashion jewelry, is that you can afford to try on different trends and you can portray yourself in a variety of genres without going broke. We do research color and style trends and we know that in a fragile economy, people still want a little something to make them feel valued, noticed, or appreciated. There is always pleasure in getting something, however small, even a simple pair of earrings!

Holly Russell Godard

Turn Off the Music and Listen to the Leaves

Today I heard holiday music in a store. Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-holiday music. In fact, I have a huge collection of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and the usual suspects and I enjoy listening to all of them, in December. However, on November 12th, I would much rather savor the last days of a gorgeous fall. I love the golden tones of the fallen leaves and the fresh crisp smell of those cool autumn mornings. I even look forward to embracing those chocolate brown sweaters and earth tone tops.

Charming Life has a great collection of jewelry to complement this season’s earthy colors. Our champagne golden pearls, art glass beads, and carnelian gemstones complement those rustic sweaters and wool jackets. And, don’t forget to take an additional 25% off your entire order when you enter CLDBLOG at checkout.

El Dia de los Muertos/Milagro

It is interesting to learn about the customs, holidays and folklore of different cultures. Given the Latino population in the United States is growing quickly, I think it's important to have a basic understanding of events that are important to their culture, just as it is important for Latino families to keep their culture alive so their children have an appreciation for where they came from.

El Dia de los Muertos is the most celebrated Holiday in Mexico. It is an occassion that gathers family and friends to remember those loved ones who have died and to pray for their souls. It is celebrated in Mexico and by Latinos in the United States. The five day holiday starts on October 28 and runs through November 2.  November 1^st is the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day is on November 2.  The celebration often includes building alters for the deceased, sugar skulls, marigolds and enjoying the favorite foods and beverages of the deceased.

Charming Life Designs offers a sterling silver charm necklace called Milagros Miracle. Milagro means miracle in spanish and are small charms which are believed to be endowed with spiritual powers. They are thought to have healing powers and contribute to an individual's well-being. They are also given in gratitude for prayers answered. I think we could all use a few milagro to help us through this life.

Lynn

Sometimes You CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Admittedly, the world is changing at a much faster pace then I seem to be able to handle. My head spins every time I hear about a new trend in technology and my initial reaction to all this stuff is typically, "If I ignore it, it will go away". I don't really know if that strategy ever works, but it is clear it won't work in this case. The tidal wave has hit and I am struggling to keep afloat.

Thankfully, I have good and smart friends, like Maile Keone at www.lava7.com. Maile is always ahead of the curve and she has been gently coaching me along this bumpy road. Yesterday, in her attempt to teach this old dog new tricks, she invited me to attend a social media presentation held at Lava7. That was when I had one of the those "Ah ha" moments . . . It IS starting to make some sense to me. So, if you are at all interested in learning something about this relatively new phenomenon, you might want to take a look at this video clip. Let me know what you think.

Barb

PS: Here's the direct link to the Social Media Revolution

It’s autumn and it’s November. As you may know, each month has a stone or stones that are typically associated with that particular month. In addition to topaz, citrine is often referred to as the stone of November. A member of the quartz family, citrine gets its name from its color ranging from lemon yellow to a deeper brownish-red.

Interestingly, citrine is has been know historically as the “Merchants Stone”. Apparently, in the past, many merchants have placed a piece of citrine in their cash drawer believing that it would increase sales. Citrine has also been associated with increased self-esteem, clarity of thought as well as helping with digestion issues. With the Holiday season right around the corner, it may be worth a try. It may help to make Holiday sales more profitable or at least reduce heartburn if the sales piece doesn’t work out. At any rate, investing in a piece of citrine jewelry will allow you to carry around the beauty of the autumn season.

Lynn

CafeGive and Charming Life Partner to Raise Funds

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Sandra Morris, a Founder and CEO of CafeGive. Based in Portland, Oregon, Sandra and her talented team have launched an impressive website that helps individuals and communities raise money for non-profit agencies (they call them “Causes”). The idea is simple: You sign up as a member shopper of CafeGive , select the Cause of your choice, and then shop at any of the hundreds of on-line stores they partner with. The Cause and the Advocates then earn funds through CafeGive.

I’m happy to announce Charming Life has just joined the ranks of the CafeGive merchant partners, which include the likes of Banana Republic, The Westin Hotels, The Walking Store, Macy’s, PetSmart , etc, etc. The most exciting part about becoming a member of the CafeGive community is that EVERYONE gets to earn money for their favorite Causes. As a merchant partner, Charming Life Designs is committed to giving a percentage of every Charming Life Designs sale initiated from CafeGive to member non-profits. As a consumer, you get to buy the products you need (or want) AND a portion of those sales goes back to your favorite Cause.

CafeGive’s concept is simple, yet brilliant. Not only can you shop via the CafeGive website, you can actually become an advocate for your Cause and send little links (they call them “Widgets”) to all of your friends via email or twitter, or post them on your facebook page. When your friends make a purchase via your Widget, they are also contributing to your Cause.

In these tough economic times, it is refreshing to run across a business that bolsters the fundraising efforts of non-profits simply by connecting people, their products, and their causes. For more information about becoming a member shopper or a member Cause visit CafeGive’s website.

Gold Elephant In The Room

No one around here ever really wants to have to talk about 14 karat anything. Mostly because it is hard to explain and it’s confusing to decipher the difference between gold plated, gold filled and vermeil. The bulk of what we produce is sterling silver, but we are adding more 14K gold filled items every year so it would be helpful for everyone to know what the difference is. So, lets start with some basics!

Base metal is usually a metal that can easily oxidize or corrode and reacts easily to acids and oxygen. This is why some people break out, their body chemistry breaks down the iron, nickel, lead, zinc or copper in the metal which then causes an allergy or rash.

Precious metals are less reactive to outside influences, they have a high luster. Precious metals are generally used in fine jewelry and coins because of their rarity, value and stability. Precious metals include gold, silver and platinum. Platinum by the way, is it’s own metal, it’s not a created alloy, it is found naturally like silver and gold.

Pure gold is too soft and far to costly to be used in most jewelry. Pure gold starts out as 24K gold. For the purpose of making jewelry, this pure gold is mixed with an alloy that can be made up of copper, zinc, silicon, nickel, silver or boron. The mixture of metals is then referred to as 18K, 14K, 10K. The less gold there is the smaller the number gets. 18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.5% gold and 10K is 41.7% gold. The larger the K number, the more pure gold is in the product. Different colored golds can be created by the type of alloy mix that is used. White gold, for instance is more likely to have more nickel in it which is good for nickel sensitive people to know! Rose gold would have more copper in it.

Gold plated items are cheap base metals which have a super thin coating, of 14K gold on them which is applied with a tiny bit of electrical energy. There are no laws which govern the creation of gold plating so you won’t ever know how thick the plating of 14kt gold is. It usually wears off quickly, exposing the base metal, which can make your skin vulnerable to breaking out. Personally, I would stay away from anything that says its plated.

The term gold filled doesn’t really make a lot of sense. It is also known as gold rolled. Gold filled means it is a sheet of 14kt gold “filled” with a stronger base metal. That base metal can be simply a mix of cheap metals or it can be sterling silver. At Charming Life Designs, we use gold filled that is over sterling silver. The layer of 14kt gold is mechanically bonded with heat and pressure to another metal. Think of it like frosting on a cake or a wetsuit on a diver. 14kt gold filled is used in fine jewelry whereas gold plated is more commonly found in costume jewelry. Gold filled metal has bout 100 times more 14kt gold than gold plated metal. Gold filled items won’t peel, flake or wear down to the base metal and won’t generally bother sensitive skin because it is like wearing regular 14kt metal. Gold filled jewelry is more affordable than 14kt solid gold but has the same durability and wearability. Some people are hesitant to buy anything less than 14Kt or 18Kt gold because they think it is going to tarnish or make their skin break out, but 14K gold filled is a high quality, fine jewelry material that is safe to wear for most people.

Gold vermeil is always solid .925 sterling silver that has been heavily plated with usually 22 kt gold which gives it a deeper, more golden color. Gold vermeil would still be considered fine jewelry because it is constructed of precious metals rather than base metal.

Any questions?

Holly Russell Godard

Lipstick Effect

They say the new F-word is "frugal". With the current level of uncertainty in the economy, many of us are looking for ways to tighten our belt. Even as we reduce expenses, it seems women still find a way to indulge themselves with more affordable "luxuries". It's called the lipstick effect. Leonard Lauder, the Chairman of Estee Lauder Companies, coined the term after September 11. Sales of lipstick skyrocketed. At Charming Life Designs, we are experiencing a similar effect with jewelry. Our sales have jumped dramatically since the economy went south. The pieces we offer are quality products at affordable prices. Consumers recognize and appreciate the value our products represent. One may not be able to afford that new pair of $500 boots but can afford to spend $40 on a great new pair of earrings. It still makes us smile without breaking the bank. So, visit us online and you might "find" something "fun" and "fashionable" while "feeling" good about being "frugal".

Lynn

"Speaking On Business" Radio Spot

Mark your calendars. Charming Life Designs will be featured on KSL's radio program, "Speaking On Business", hosted by Fred Ball, on November 20th. You can also listen to the broadcast by going to KSL.com and on Zion's Bank website, ZionsBank.com type “Speaking on Business” in the search engine at the top right of the page).

Weekday Broadcast Schedule:

Wasatch Front - KSL 102.7 FM, 1160 AM (7:23 a.m., 11:47 a.m., 5:23 p.m.)
Logan - KVNU 610 AM (7:43 a.m., 5:28 p.m.)
Manti - KMTI 650 AM (8:15 a.m. and 5:25 p.m.)
Moab - KCYN 97.1 FM (7:40 a.m., 5:20 p.m.)
Monticello - KAAJ 103.5 FM (7:50 a.m., 5:10 p.m.)
Richfield - KSVC 980 AM (8:20 a.m., 5:22 p.m.)
Price - KOAL 750 AM (7:30 a.m., 5:18 p.m.)
St. George - KDXU 890 AM (7:25 a.m., 5:25 p.m.)
Vernal - KVEL 920 AM (7:45 a.m., 5:15 p.m.)

Hope you tune in,

Barb

.925

When you purchase sterling silver jewelry, it should have .925 stamped into it or incorporated into the design somewhere. This number means that the product you have should have 92.5% silver and the other 7.5% is often composed of other metals like copper. Adding other metals helps strengthen silver which is used in jewelry, dishware, musical instruments and medical instruments. Pure silver is far too soft and maleable to be of much use in these products. When you find some tarnish or corrosion in silver, it is the metals mixed with the silver that are reacting to environmental factors such as sulfur, sodium and oxygen. Silver itself, is not highly reactive with oxnygen or water.

Silver prices fluctuate a lot. The price of silver per gram is now more than twice what I paid for it when I first started making jewelry. As the economy gets worse, silver and gold prices often go up and as the economy improves, precious metal prices come back down, in general.

One of the things I would highly recommend, to protect your silver jewelry from becoming too tarnished is to keep it in small ziplock baggies, forcing all the air out of the bag. This will keep your silver shiny for a long time. You can buy commercial products for cleaning tarnished silver but you really have to use caution if your jewelry has any pearls or gemstones because the harsh chemicals in the cleaning agents can destroy the finish on those.

If you want to clean your silver using household products, give these ideas a try!
You can try sprinkling baking soda on a damp cloth and rub it on the silver to remove tarnish. Some people use white toothpaste and a tooth brush work well. Rinse the silver off and dry the silver with a hair dryer to keep water spots from clouding it.

Another option I discovered once by experimenting with different things around the house. I saw an infomercial, where you could buy this metal plate that you put in a sink of hot water and added baking soda and then immersed your silver in it.

The idea was that the tarnish would transfer to the metal plate. So I put a large aluminum foil sheet in a stainless steel pot. I add 3-4 inches of water and add 1/4cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of salt and a squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid. (Dawn has degreasers in it more so than other soaps, so that will help remove body oils from the jewelry.) I toss in a handful of change from my purse, and a few nails and a few metal odds and ends like keys, that find their way into my catch all drawer. Bring the water to a boil. Put the silver into the hot water and let it sit for a short time to see if it is going to remove the tarnish. Truthfully, I think you can leave out the change, nails and metal odds and ends, I just tossed them in because the informercial mentioned that there were a lot of different metals in their magic plate that helped remove the tarnish off the silver. Plus, it was sort of magical looking to the kids when they were little to watch all the ingredients go in and the tarnish come off.

You will begin to notice the tarnish transfers to the aluminum foil. When you remove the silver, rinse if off well and again dry it with a hair dryer. This method is not useful or recommended for jewelry that has an antiqued finish and definately do not use this method with base metal that is simpy plated with silver! If your silver has a lot of tarnish, you may need to do this process several times.

One last bit of advice to help protect your sterling silver jewerly. DO NOT WEAR IT IN THE POOL, HOT TUB, SHOWER! I have found that my sterling silver jewelry tarnishes a lot more when I wear it in the shower and I suspect it has something to do with the salt in the soft water treatment we have. Harsh chemicals in pools and hot tubs also tarnish and erode sterling silver jewelry.

Holly Russell Godard

Our Newest Member at Charming Life

Hailey has been with Charming Life Designs from our humble beginnings and she's helped us become the organized, well-run office that we are today. So, when she decided to leave her position as Office Manager and become a full-time mom, we had mixed feelings. Of course, we were all thrilled for her. Most of us are moms and we know how magical those baby years are. However, Hailey was our computer guru and an expert at loading software, solving server issues, dealing with CSV files, and handling computer meltdowns with confidence. I really had no desire to delve into THAT territory. Hummm, I thought, maybe she really won't want to be a full-time mom . . .

Then, of course, Miss Evalyn Ruby made her grand entrance (3 weeks early, I'd like to add). My dreams of avoiding calls to tech departments were dashed. It was clear that Evalyn was here to stay and that Mom had her hands full. It was also clear that all of us at Charming Life Designs would have to wean ourselves from our need to run to Hailey to solve our technical problems. Oh, how reality bites sometimes.

Now that the dust has settled, Hailey and Evalyn are back in our lives. This time as a team. Hailey continues to be a stay-at-home mom, but helps us by working out of her home. She's now a member of our manufacturing team and creates jewelry for us when Evalyn is napping. Evalyn helps out by being an absolutely gorgeous and perfect baby.

One of our most popular charm necklaces is our Angel Wing and Heart necklace. For many customers, the Angel Wing Necklace represents someone dear to their hearts. Packaged with a jewelry pouch, it makes a great gift for the holidays.

Barb

The Beauty of the Paua Shell

Did you know that PAUA shell is only found in the sea around New Zealand. This marine mollusk eats seaweed and lives clinging to rocks at depths of 1-10 meters, normally along the shoreline. PAUA is harvested by skin divers from its habitat below low tide level off rocky exposed coasts around southern New Zealand. The shells are crushed and tumbled to remove the outer layers of lime and marine growth.

The color in the PAUA shell changes when viewed at different angles. This iridescence, similar to that of the Mother of Pearl shell and Opals, but far more brilliant, is what makes PAUA shell so amazing as a gem material for use in jewelry. PAUA shell is the most colorful of all the abalone shells. With colors of green, blue, and purple. The brilliant colors are from light being refracted within the crystal layers. Most other abalone shells are pale in comparison.

It is truly one of nature's marvels. Each shell is also different in it's patterns within the shell. The black patterns in the shell come from layers of protein that are laid down between the layers of calcium that make up the shell.

No wonder why I am so fascinated by this simple yet beautiful shell.

Thinking ahead for Christmas gifts? Take a look at all our beautiful PAUA jewelry and use the code CLD15 for a 15% off discount.

Britnee

Boston for Fun and Fashion

Boston is simply one of the best town's to visit in the USA. It has something for everyone, particularly for the young at heart. With over 40 universities and colleges in its vicinity, it is the quintessential college town. Coupled with great shopping, historical sites (who can resist taking the Freedom Trail 2-mile hike?), and fantastic food, it is surely a city not to be missed.

My trip brought me to Boston for two very specific reasons. First, I was visiting a Charming Life Designs customer who is very excited about our newly formed partnership. Charming Life will design exclusive jewelry for this selective online store. We'll keep you posted when our new products are up and running. Although not New York, Massachusetts is home to many well-known apparel companies, including Talbots, Chadwicks, and Sigrid Olsen and we are looking forward to working with our newest customer.

My second reason for coming to Boston was personal. My daughter who is a sophomore in college, brought me out here for parent's weekend (well, she didn't really bring me out here . . . I sort of jumped at the opportunity). We had a ball eating and shopping our way through Boston. As we meandered our way through the streets, I notice several things. Unless you are in the market for expensive, fine jewelry, you are at the mercy of mass-produced costume jewelry, made of brass and rhinestones. The styling may be good, but the quality is really quite poor. Before making your next impulse buy, check out our unique jewelry at Charming Life Designs. We guarantee our quality and our products. Don't forget to take an extra 15% off your order by entering CLD15 at checkout.

Barb

PS: For a great meal, head to the North End and take a look at the many Italian restaurants on both Salem and Hanover Street. We took a gamble on L'Osteria, a humble but highly-rated restaurant and we loved our meal (104 Salem Street). Even if you have no room for dessert, you MUST walk over to Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street. You can't miss it. It's the small and simple shop with customers pouring out the door, even late at night. The canollies are to die for! However, that's all I was able to taste. I would imagine that all the pastries is pretty darn spectacular.

At LEAST Buy Quality!

One of the things that still floors me is to walk into a store like Nordsroms to look at their fashion jewelry and discover that some of the stuff they offer is just base metal and plastic! Seriously! How many of us know someone who can’t wear jewelry because they break out from the metal. The more shocking realization is that people will actually spend a LOT of money that poor quality stuff.

Our jewelry is created with .925 sterling silver and 14kt gold filled. Even my daughter, who is extremely sensitive to most metal can wear our jewelry without breaking out.

Our onyx earrings are similar to some by Dabby Reid at Nordstroms. Her simple earrings are $24 and made of a hematite colored base metal earring. Ours is $19.99 at Overstock.com and made with .925 sterling silver leverback earrings.

Take a look at our popular cat charm necklace, and compare it to the black cat necklace by Betsey Johnson at Nordsroms, Ours is .925 sterling silver chain and charm, and frankly, prettier and more charming than hers! Hers is $45 and ours is only $29.99 and a much classier cat for the buck! For a couple dollars more, you can pick the size chain you want to go with it!
Holly Russell Godard

Save money, shop at Charming Life Designs

The other day while looking through this month’s InStyle magazine I saw a pair of clear rock crystal quartz earrings by Ivanka Trump that were selling for $750! I looked all over the internet trying to find these earrings so that I could compare them to the similar ones we have here at Charming Life Designs (shown in the picture to the right), but was unable to find them. I did, however, find some other simple quartz earrings to compare.


These rose quartz earrings from HSN.com (shown on the left) sell for $199 and are very similar to our rose quartz briolette earrings, which we have available for $24.99 - $29.99 in many different colors, such as smoky quartz, turquoise, carnelian, onyx, aventurine, red jade, blue lace and more.

-Andrea

Charming Life Designs Gets a New Website

It's here and just in time for the holiday season. Going against all common sense, time, and energy, the stars happened to align in such a way that I was literally forced to respond quickly to our reality. As it turns out, the company that hosted our old website was purchased by Network Solutions and the old platform was soon to become obsolete. That basically left me with two options. Option One: Do nothing and hope for the best (translation: The whole site would automatically be shut down and we'd have to figure out how to patch it together at a later date). Option Two: Migrate to the new platform, design a new site, reorganize inventory, rewrite content pages, and deal with all the details that go along with a cybermove. I promise you, I really wanted to go with Option One. REALLY.

However, I didn't. After weeks of jumping through hoops and pushing hard to complete this project under Network Solutions insane design timeline, our new Charming Life Designs website has arrived. I have to admit, all of us at Charming Life are thrilled with our new online home. In the next few weeks and months, you'll continue to see changes, adjustments, and improvements as we settle in. We hope you'll stop by to check us out. Oh, comments are always welcome.

Barb

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October marks the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which spreads awareness and provides education about the disease. It seems like every family has been touched by breast cancer in some way, whether it was a mom, or an aunt who is a survivor, or a friend who passed away from the illness which is expected to take the lives of 40,610 women and men in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society.
I already love to wear pink, this cause makes me especially proud to wear it. I want everyone to be aware of this special cause that does ring so close to me and my own family. Help raise awareness and show support for all the beautiful women in this world fighting this disease. Wear your pink!

Britnee

Seriously, Do I LOOK Like I Have Time To Blog?

Guess what? There is supposed to be a recession going on and I am having a hard time believing it! While there has been an air of doom and gloom circulating in all the media, the reality is, that for us, business has been quite decent. I think the holiday sales are already in progress for us and my biggest worry, at this point, is that we will run out of supplies before we run out of customers!

Sort of kidding about that, but it is true that it has been a lot more difficult to procure many supplies this year. Chain that we normally don't have too many problems acquiring has been harder to find this year. I was told that the larger silver and gold-filled chain manufacturers had let employees go and cut way back on production because the economy was down and precious metal prices were up.

Vendors who usually carry some of our standard gemstones have run out and don't know when they will be able to restock them. Many vendors just aren't reordering because often they have to order in huge quantities and they are opting to sell out of what they have instead. I am finding that I can't always count on vendors I've used in the past and I have to spend a lot more time looking for new vendors who sell the same or similar items!

Of course, that means I get to go to more gem and jewelry shows too, which is always fun when it means I can get out of Utah for a few days. (Don't get me wrong, Utah is BEAUTIFUL, but I've never lived one place this long before and those mountain ranges begin to look like ominous walls on the huge rut I start to feel like I'm stuck in.) I get to visit friends and family when I go to gem shows in other states, so all the way around, it is a bonus for me that the economy stinks!

Meanwhile, our sales have increased and we have acquired more venues to sell through and increased the number of items we sell. We have done a lot of things right this last couple years and it is paying off in the form of consistent and increasing sales. Even in a recession, women will still reward themselves with small, affordable "luxury" purchases. A new necklace and earring set goes a long ways towards accenting last year's stale yet still stylish wardrobe. Fresh earrings and a bracelet are a more feasible than investing a lot of money in a whole new wardrobe.

This is the time of year my family thinks I become a poltergeist lost in some weird jewelry timewarp, furiously making jewelry and ordering supplies. Thank heavens for cell phones because sometimes they have to call me to see if I really do exist. They all lose about 10 pounds because there is no one to cook for them. If only I could purchase "Family Food" as easily as I can purchase "Dog Food", already in bite size pieces, ready to serve, 100% nutritionally complete! (You think I'm kidding? I plan to invent it soon, that will hopefully secure my "retirement".)

We all end up working a lot of overtime hours around here and pretty soon, I think we will need to clone all of us! Seriously, I'm wondering what I'm doing sitting here writing a blog when I should be online finding all the things we need! I think I need a jewelry angel looking out for me!

Holly Russell Godard
Director of Operations

Little Known Properties of Amethyst

I love the color purple. Always have. Consequently, I am really drawn to the beautiful violet hue of amethyst. While doing some investigation online, I was surprised to discover the ancient Greeks believed that this quartz stone protected them from drunkenness. In fact,they often wore amethyst and drank from amethyst vessels believing that it would prevent them from becoming intoxicated. Hmmm. Also, the word amethyst comes from Ancient Greece meaning "Not" and "Intoxicated".

So, the moral of the story, as we approach the Holiday season, is that it may be worthwhile checking out the amethyst jewelry from Charming Life Designs. Maybe, if we believe as the Ancient Greeks did, wearing a pair of amethyst earrings, necklace or bracelet may prevent that dreaded hangover after one too many Holiday libations. Who know? The Greeks may be on to something.

Lynn

When You Wish Upon A ... Smoky Quartz?

Have you ever owned a piece of jewelry that you absolutely adore? Maybe it's a necklace that makes you feel better the minute you put it around your neck. Or possibly a special pair of earrings that add a sparkle to your eyes and a bounce to your step. Well, there may be more to that than meets the eye. You may want to see if there is a semi-precious stone included in that treasured piece of jewelry. Did you know, for example, that smoky quartz is said to foster serenity, calmness, positive thoughts, calm fears, and lift depression? It is a good luck talisman and Improves creativity and enhances joy. Smoky quartz disperses negative patterns and vibrations, and transmits a high quantity of light. As we approach the new fall season and pull out our warm, winter clothing...maybe it's time to think about how our jewelry plays a role in not only our appearance, but our well being. Come on, try a little smoky quartz. See if it turns your wishes, dreams and desires into reality. You never know...

-Kris

Finding Inspiration Outside the Box

On a normal Thursday, you are most likely to find me back in the office, juggling business demands, employees needs, and trying to stay on top of current sales and budding trends, not to mention "managing" (I have to use that word cautiously) my own teenagers and their immediate needs. Finding the time to create new designs can be a challenge.

Today, however, I am outside my Thursday box. I am in Portland, Oregon (my home town) and she is exceptionally beautiful today. The city is glowing with fall sunshine and the river is calm. City walkers are out and it seems that every building downtown has been lovingly restored. The city is a visual feast for the eyes and I find true inspiration by simply walking the streets. I am outside my box and cherishing it!

Moments like these help me recharge those creative juices. I am able to get away from those daily interruptions and take in the natural beauty. The contrasts of light and dark, muted greens, soft blue skies, and endless designs are all going into my mental tool box. Sunshine is in the forecast for the next few days in the Northwest, a rare treat. I think I'll stay!

Barb

Travel Tip: Open Table (www.opentable.com) is a relatively new site that offers real-time reservations in most major cities. A great resource for travels and non-travelers alike. My tech-savvy Portland friends love it.

Elephants are in this fall! Have you noticed the prevalence of elephants in this fall's jewelry collections from a variety of jewelry designers, including Charming Life Designs? Check it out. It's kind of interesting and cool to wear elephant jewelry since the elephant has always been a symbol of strength, wisdom, longevity and good luck. The elephant is the national symbol of Thailand where it is associated with the prosperity of the country. Throughout all Asian cultures, the elephant symbolizes wisdom and long memory. With the power of positive thinking, maybe wearing elephant jewelry will bring us good luck, a long life, wisdom along the way and the ability to remember where we've been.

Lynn

Calling All Bridezillas!

The "traditional" wedding season may be winding down for 2009, but if the recent flurry of wedding invitations in my mailbox is any indicator, it's not over yet! Many brides like to purchase jewelry for their wedding party to wear on the special day. In the past it has been popular to purchase jewelry that complements traditional wedding dresses...usually white or ivory. But wedding jewelry has trends just like any other type of fashion and the recent trend has been to purchase jewelry which matches a special theme of the wedding, or perhaps brings out an accent color. More and more brides are making their wedding day unique by making a fashion statement with their jewelry.

We offer so many wonderful jewelry sets. If you're looking for a theme...we have lotus flowers, daisies, butterflies, angels, etc. If you're looking for a splash of color, you can find hundreds of semi-precious gemstone combinations to satisfy even the most discriminating of brides.

Planning a wedding can be so hectic and so stressful, but choosing the perfect jewelry will never be a problem if you choose a Charming Life Design!

-Kris

Buyer Beware: You Don't Have to Sacrifice Quality for Style

The leaves are turning and fall is in the air. We even had our first dusting of snow in the foothills. At least for me, that means it's time to clean out the closet, shake out those wool sweaters, and do an assessment of what needs to go. I do this exercise every fall for one simple reason: Guilt free shopping. I can go forth, with my "must have" list and enjoy the hunt. Basics are always on the list. Jewelry, thankfully, I have that covered.

As I combed through my favorite stores, including Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, and a handful of usual suspects, I realized that much of the jewelry out there is truly, well for lack of a better word, junk. I admit, the styling is funky, fun, chunky, layered and flashy. However, most pieces are made of base metal (which will tarnish or irritate skin), plastic beads, and fake pearls. The end clasps are flimsy and will probably not survive a season. Even more surprising, the pricing was high for costume jewelry.

Charming Life Designs has created many of these popular styles without sacrificing quality. In many cases, our prices are as good as or better than the fashion jewelry you'll find in many stores. Plus, we use genuine pearls, Swarovski crystals, gemstones, sterling silver, and 14 karat gold filled metals. Our money-back guarantee helps our customer's feel confident about their online purchase and our design center is ready to help you design the perfect piece of jewelry. To learn more, simply send us an email.


Barb

Golden Champagne Crystal Earrings Create a Classic Look

Several years ago, we discovered a gorgeous crystal called "Golden Shadow". Made by Swarovski, these crystals have become one of our all-time favorite items and our customers seem to agree with us. Although Swarovski crystals are very elegant, many women enjoy wearing these earrings as one of their daily staples. They have a soft, golden champagne glow to them and go nicely with many outfits.

The earrings pictured here are made of a highly-faceted, 13x13mm, briolette crystal, which has been hand-wrapped onto a 14k gold-filled leverback ear wire. Check out the additional styles and colors available, or contact us to place a special order.

Barb

Custom Jewelry Orders

Have you ever needed jewelry to match a particular outfit and spent hours going from store to store looking for the right color, style or price? Next time consider having jewelry custom made by the designers at Charming Life Designs. It is often more affordable than what's available in major department stores and you get exactly what you want.
We will work with you to select the style, stones and color and email a photograph of the design for your approval. Upon approval, the jewelry is usually ready within a few days. It will save you time and provide you with a quality, handmade piece of jewelry that will last for years.

Lynn

The Perfect Pearl Necklace

I've always loved long strands of pearls, even the one's Grandma use to wear. And, I have always found myself wanting to have the option to wear those long necklaces as 2 necklaces (doubled-up) or even as a multi-strand bracelet. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? For some reason, those necklaces wear never quite the right length to suit my needs.

So, as the saying goes,"necessity is the mother of invention", I decided to design my own line of versatile jewelry. This pearl necklace was our first design. It hangs beautifully as a long strand of pearls, sterling silver beads, and clear rock crystal gemstones. It can be easily converted into a 2-layer necklace. If you prefer, it can wrap around your wrist to make an impressive pearl bracelet. Several links and a lobster clasps allows you to adjust the sizing to best fit your needs.

This necklace has become one of my personal favorites, and it truly is the perfect pearl necklace.

Barb

Jade

Jade has been used in jewelry for thousands of years all over the world and has come to be known for many different things. In China, it is believed to increase energy and symbolizes the five virtues of humanity: wisdom, compassion, justice, modesty, and courage. For believers in the metaphysical, jade is considered to have many different properties, from healing to emotional balance and stability, from strength to attracting and enhancing love. It’s also known as a stone of generosity. Jade comes in many different colors as well, such as green, lilac, white, pink, brown, red, blue, black, orange, yellow, and imperial, which is a deep emerald green. With such an assortment of colors, it’ll be easy to find the perfect color of jade to go with any outfit.

Andrea

The Queen of Gems

An unknown author once wrote, “The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens”.

Women have enjoyed pearls for centuries around the world. In America, the Native Americans were the first to collect and use freshwater pearls from the Mississippi River Basin. Interestingly, both males and females wore pearls as decoration. Many Native American tribes prized pearls. It is said that Pocahontas’ father amassed a large collection of pearls over his lifetime.

Women continue to wear and enjoy pearl jewelry today. With the introduction of cultured pearls, they have become more available and affordable. Cultured pearls are still considered real pearls as they are grown organically inside an oyster with the help of man to get the process started. Natural pearls are often found in estate sales where they are a part of an older jewelry collection. Because their formation is left to chance, they are more rare and more expensive. In 2007, a double strand of 68 perfect natural pearls was auctioned at Christie’s for $7 million.

Thank goodness for the introduction of the cultured pearl so the rest of us can enjoy our own strand of “perfect” pearls.

Lynn

Jumbo Swarovski Pearl Earring

This classic pearl earring can be worn all-day and into the night. The large, Swarvoski crystal pearl (12mm) hangs from a sturdy sterling silver leverback earring. Additional colors available.

Don't Leave Your House Naked!

I'm not sure about all the other women out there...but if I leave the house without my earrings I feel totally naked! I have even been known to duck into a discount store to grab a pair of cheap earrings before a meeting just so that I don't have to face the world without my baubles. It's amazing how two little seemingly innocuous pieces of jewelry can make or break your day! Now is the time to ramp up your current inventory to match the new Fall trends. Purples, greens and browns are big for the season. Charming Life carries so many beautiful choices made from semi-precious stones. We offer gorgeous earrings made of amethyst, smoky quartz, turquoise, amazonite, kyanite, and so many others. Most are offered in a choice of either 14kt. gold-filled or sterling silver. Don't hit the Fall season unprepared...treat yourself to a new pair of earrings and enjoy the cool weather while showing off your HOT new jewelry!

-Kris

The Denver Gem Show Day Three

Exhausted and shopped-out, we make our way back to the Denver Airport. As in years past, it is always a challenge to forecast sales and to predict hot-sellers and trends. Certainly last year was more challenging than most, when we experienced a drastic slow down in sales in October and then limped along through the end of the year. And, we were the lucky ones! Our year-over-year sales were good and we survived the economic tsunami.

Now we find ourselves in the same place, one year later. However, the atmosphere feels quite different. Vendors are wiser and buyers are buying, albeit cautiously. We head into the last quarter with sales already heating up. Our best sellers, such as our pearl earrings, charm necklaces, and art glass bracelets as really starting to move very quickly. The million dollar question that looms over my head is, "How much DO we buy for the end of the year?" I'm feeling optimistic and taking a leap of faith, proclaiming, "Yes, this is going to be a good holiday season. Buy now or forever hold your peace."

Travel Tips/Denver: The airport is quite a fair distance away from the city (10 miles or more). Plan accordingly. If you rent a car, it takes about 30 minutes to drop the car off, gather your luggage, and shuttle to the terminal. The terminal is huge, so time needs to be allotted for going through security and taking the train to your terminal. I was traveling on a very light travel day and it still took me a long time to navigate through the airport.

Barb

We're Evolving

Today, it hit home that the Christmas season is underway, when I ran up charges on the credit card at just one vendor that came to 5 figures. THAT is a first for us. Vendors seemed generally still hungry for sales and most were willing to make good deals since we were buying most things in bulk. We found some great new items that can't wait to get back and use in new designs. Some of the vendors I'll be seeing again next weekend when they come to the Salt Lake City area.

Found a great way to transport the stuff we are buying too. We went to Walmart and bought a Jeep brand backpack that has wheels and a handle. It is 100% better than the old jewelry tote that I was using. This has 3 pockets and is nice a roomy inside and the wheels are great. The handle is nice and long too. You can wear it as a backpack also, which is nice for events where they won't allow any strollers or luggage style totes. It was a great buy, now i think I want one for my own travels.

Holly Russell Godard

The Denver Gem Show Day Two

Today we made it to the International Gem Fair at the Denver Mart. This show is huge and we didn't even make it through the whole show. It is always fun to see our favorite suppliers and to see what's new. We hand picked our favorite pearls and gemstones and are geared up to start a new round of designs.

It's nearly midnight and our legs are jello from pounding the payment, but we feel very happy with all our new treasures.

Got to get back home and back to the design table.

Barb

The Denver Gem Show

Today was Day One of the Denver Gem Show. Actually, the Gemshow in Denver is not a singular event. It is a huge show with a multitude of mini shows. In fact, I would say that it is similar to Tucson, but smaller. Many of our favorite vendors are here as well as a large showing of unique and interesting companies. As the holiday season is fast approaching, we are frantically trying to keep up with demands by seeking out the best pearls and stones available.

This season we've seen a substantial increase in sales in everything bronze, taupe, and purple. I'm sure you'll be seeing these same trends in the stores this fall season. Charming Life Designs sells a great pair of bronze earrings for an outstanding price at Overstock.com. These simple earrings have proven to be a huge hit. Also, check out our gorgeous amethyst jewelry, which have also been snatched up quickly this September.

Need something special? Please feel free to contact us at info@charminglifedesigns.com.

Barb

Fall Trends 2009

As I was out shopping I noticed layered necklaces continue to be a popular look this season. Multiple chains, often strung with charms and beads, are one version of the style. Just as popular are multi-stranded necklaces made from beads of varying gemstones, shapes, sizes, and colors. The necklaces might be
ready-made for layering, but don't hesitate to mix and match your own jewelry. Raid your jewelry box and stack a few necklaces around your neck.
Want to wear something a little more simple yet bold try conversation starting chandelier earrings.
You will never hear the end of how great you look. Who doesn't love attention?

Britnee

Amethyst: Not Your Typical Gemstone!

Are you a believer? According to crystal healers and New Age believers, crystal and gem healing is a viable practice because of the power of the earth's energies that have been absorbed by these sacred objects. They believe that crystals have physical and spiritual properties that can treat, among other things, pain, stress and depression. With the jewel tone color palette hitting stores this Fall, what better gemstone accompaniment than amethyst? Amethyst is known as a power crystal with prolific healing powers which can be characterized as purifying, pacifying and transitional. Amethyst has the ability to transform lower energies into higher and acts as a healer at all levels of mind, body and spirit. It contains sobering and calming qualities, is associated with peace and is known to calm and protect the mind.

So, whether you believe in the healing powers of amethyst or simply want to be in on that latest fashion trend, one thing is certain...you can't go wrong with this amazing gemstone. Buy, wear, enjoy!

-Kris

What To Look For In Silver Jewelry

Charming Life Designs is in the business of designing and manufacturing handcrafted jewelry and specialty charms. All of the collections are created using only quality materials including genuine gemstones, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and precious metals (sterling silver or 14K gold fill).

Many jewelry designers, including Charming Life Designs, use silver extensively in their collections due to its durability, beauty and its affordability.

When purchasing silver jewelry, what should the consumer look for? The standard for high quality silver jewelry is sterling silver. Since pure silver is very soft, it is combined with copper to create a metal that is both strong and durable. For centuries, sterling silver has been 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Today, jewelry that is sterling silver must be stamped with 925 indicating that it has been made with 92.5 percent silver.

Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful, durable and affordable. One can be assured, when purchasing sterling silver jewelry from Charming Life Designs, the quality of workmanship is unsurpassed.

Enjoy,

Lynn

Interesting Links About Jewelry Trends

Some jewelry trends in color this year to look for include black and white, coral and yellow, amazonite greens and translucent turquoise according to Anne Rush, a jewelry designer.

Look for more cloth beads, Indian art glass beads, more texture, matte beads, seed beads, chunky wooden beads, printed and painted shell, rose gold plating on metal parts and chains, and colorful, lightweight, chandelier earrings.

http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/spring-2009-jewelry-trends-the-jewelry-designers-guide/

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At this link, you can find photos of current and upcoming jewelry and gemstone trends: http://www.annerush.com/savvy-gallery/

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At this link, you can find numerous articles written by author Lorraine Yapps Cohen of CUSTOM GEMSTONE DESIGNS, a jewelry designer who wholesales her jewelry to galleries across the country: http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/547891/lorraine_yapps_cohen.html

Have fun exploring! Holly Russell Godard

Safety Pin Jewelry Trend

I saw Avril Levine on tv showing off her new line of kids fashions. One girl was wearing a heavy chain necklace, actually two strands of it, and the longer one had two giant safety pins holding the chain together. I wonder if giant safety pins are the new trend in jewelry? Keep your eyes open for what people are wearing these days. I'm curious what will be popular this year.
Always looking for what's next...Holly Russell Godard