Pep It Up Monday: Be Real + A Giveaway

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{Pinterest via Original Source}

Sometimes I read blogs or watch my friends and think why don't I have it all together? Then I remember that appearances are fleeting and surface. Friends, I don't have it all together. Shocker, I know. There are days my house is a mess. Days where the laundry overflows. Days when there is a clump of Jane dog hair on my pretty wood floors. The biggest thing though is I love my family. I spend time with friends. I laugh a lot. I blog with purpose. I am having fun! Together is not fun. I am real. I was born to be real. Monday is not a day to rush or stress. It is a day to look back on your weekend and smile. Perfection is silly!

To celebrate the fabulous and real ladies that we are I thought why not a giveaway? Shulis Jewelry Design is giving away this gorgeous gold leaf necklace! Isn't it just perfect for your Valentine's date? We aren't big in to celebrating Valentine's Day so I would wear this necklace with sweats while sitting on the couch. You know I try to keep things romantic!

{More About Shuli}
My name is Shuli and I'm from Israel. I always have had a special interest in creating and crafting. Making jewelry is my latest passion which I have been doing in the past couple of years. I enjoy it very much. It inspires me and brings me joy! My second passion is sewing and I enjoy making bags, purses and wallets from inspiring fabrics. I have a shop on Etsy called Shulis where I sell my designs. You can also find me on Facebook.

Interacting with customers and knowing that they enjoy my jewelry is extremely fun for me! I love photographing, especially macro photography, so taking photos for my shop is another creative outlet for me. You can also find me model there. :) I love making delicate, subtle jewelry, especially in gold and with colorful beads. I currently make necklaces, earrings and bracelets and I'm always growing and adding new pieces that inspire me. I also recently graduated my B.Sc degree in industrial engineering and have been working in the field for the past two years.

Who wants to play? Comment below on where you plan on wearing this lovely necklace. Date night? An important meeting? First date? I just love this gem. It is simple and classic! We also ask you like both Shulis Jewelry Design on Facebook and Lovebird Productions. If commenting without a sign in option below, please leave an email address for us to contact you. The winner will be announced next Monday, February 11th.

Want more Shulis Jewelry? Thought so. Check out her stunning Etsy shop here. Enter coupon code LOVE20 from now until Valentine's Day for 20% off your entire order. Isn't she just fabulous? Happy Monday!

*Commenting multiple times below does not acquire multiple entries. For your entry, one comment below along with liking both Shulis on Facebook & Lovebird Productions. One comment person entry please.*

New Vendor: Crafted Locally

Good Monday morning friends! The weekend is gone but I have a fun post for you today. Hey, I try to always brighten your day. :)

Today we are featuring a new vendor who I am very excited to share with you. Technically she is not new at what she does but she is new to Lovebird Productions readers. Say "Hi" to Debora Griffin of Crafted Locally.

I should technically call her Mrs. Debora because she was the first one to ever give me a job. I babysat her two beautiful girls back when I was in high school. Her oldest daughter is going into her senior year of high school which means I am old. Mrs. Debora is one of my favorite people. She has a true talent for taken something that appears broken and making it into something new! She crafts gorgeous jewelry and makes fresh breads and laundry detergent. Her shop Crafted Locally has no two set of earrings alike. Each woman gets something that is personalized for them. What a special treat! Now it is time for you to get to know Debora a bit more... 

1. Give us a little background about you and your family.

I have a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and worked many years as a stock broker. I married late in life (31 yrs old) and had children when I was even older (38). My husband and I are both from South Arkansas and have settled here to raise our family. My two daughters are 13 and 16 now and keep us running with their many school activities. We also like animals. We have two cats, one dog and two guinea pigs!

2. How did you get started in crafting jewelry?

I got started when the girls and I decided to make book marks similar to ones we saw in a large chain book store. We looked at theirs and decided with a few beads and a few tools, we could make those too. We did, but then the girls moved on to their next interest and we had a bunch of beads left over. I saw a short tutorial on line about making earrings and when I tried a few I FELL IN LOVE with making my own. I love earrings and have more pairs than I care to count.

3. What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is making the earrings. Browsing all the bead choices and combining materials to create unique, one of a kind, handmade earrings plus learning new skills to keep the work fresh is fun. Currently I’m learning how to make wire weaved flower earrings and pendants. I particularly like when customers have broken jewelry they want to try to re-cycle so as to not be wasteful, or we exchange some of my already created pieces for their pieces…everybody wins. I get “new” unique pieces to work with and they don’t have to pay for an equivalent amount of jewelry already made!!

4. What do you hope to offer brides?

I offer unique, affordable, handmade jewelry to dress up or down any outfit. The range of styles - from delicate and graceful to fun and funky – guarantees there is something for everyone. I use broken jewelry along with new pieces and re-cycle what I can to create one of a kind pieces.

I have also done custom jewelry for two weddings that was a GREAT deal of fun. Designing with a bride for her special day fulfilled a place in me to make her day all she wanted. From the bride’s earrings down to the flower girl’s little bracelets, everyone in the wedding party had a beautiful handmade piece of jewelry designed and selected especially for her.

5. Tell us a few fun things about yourselves!

I love making earrings, hate housework & am learning to cook at 50+ some odd years. I love my husband more and more each year and look forward to the day it will be just us in the house again.

I did discover in the last few years that I really only like learning “something” until I do it well then I’m ready to move on and learn “something” new. That’s one of the reasons why all my jewelry will be unique pieces because I don’t like to repeat my work.

Now it is time for you to go visit Debora's Pinterest, Etsy shop and Facebook. I also wanted to show you a few more treats made by Crafted Locally!

Don't you just love the owls? Happy Monday folks! Make sure to leave a comment for Debora below. See you soon!

Vera Wang Does it Again

If you have read this blog at least twice you know that I have a small love affair with Vera Wang. Well, more like a big love affair. She is brilliant and unbelievably driven.

She creates stunning gowns, clothes, accessories, perfume, shoes & handbags. This woman does everything.

Everything.

This past fall Vera struck again when she started creating a jewelry line at Zales. I may be late to the game but I was just getting around to looking at her collection. Just like every other thing Vera touches, the jewels are fabulous. One thing I love about her is that she creates something for everyone. If you want to spend $10,000 on a diamond she's got it. If you want to spend less, you can do that too.

Let's take a look at some of my favorites:

Price: $3,500 Photo Source: Vera Wang LOVE Collection

Price: $3,300 Photo Source: Vera Wang LOVE Collection

Price: $10,000 Photo Source: Vera Wang LOVE Collection

Le Sigh for Vera. She also adds a pretty sapphire to each ring. Thank you to Vera Wang for ambition and impeccable style. We would be lost without you. For more on the entire collection click here.

Have you seen the collection? Which ring is your favorite? I would love to hear your thoughts on the collection. Happy Tuesday friends!