Flaunt Designs Jewelry

January...

2012-01-04T20:08:00.002-06:00

The two birthstones for January are deep cranberry red GARNET and soft petal pink ROSE QUARTZ. These two look glorious together, a gorgeous color combo, so I made a treasury featuring items from Etsy artists to show them off. Enjoy! ♥

Happy New Year! 2012

2012-01-02T14:25:00.003-06:00

A treasury collection to celebrate the New Year, featuring some beautiful items from Etsy artists. Feel free to browse and discover some new favorites! ♥

HAPPY 2012!! ♥

2012-01-01T17:39:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!
Wow, 2012 already!
This is the year that my home town of London hosts the summer Olympics - so exciting! I can't wait to escape the heat of a Texas summer to go spend time with my family and friends, and perhaps get to see some of the events!
This year, my New Year's resolution was to not make any resolutions. With all the best will in the world they usually end up broken and give me a feeling of failure. I know what they should be, I'll do my best, but no promises - and no regrets!!
Wishing everyone a fabulous 2012 full of love and blessings,
~ Lin from Flaunt ~

OCTOBER: Breast Cancer and Tourmaline ♥

2011-10-20T16:41:00.003-05:00

OCTOBER is breast cancer awareness month... Of course, for those who are survivors, sufferers or friends or relatives of either, EVERY month is breast cancer awareness month. On the right-hand side of this blog, beneath the featured items for the month (all related to breast cancer awareness - go have a peek!) is a pink ribbon clicker which will take you to the site to click to give free mammograms for women who cannot afford to do so themselves. It costs you nothing other than a few seconds of your time, but to another woman out there it will mean everything. Go ahead, please click!

The traditional birthstone for the month of October is the flashy OPAL, stone of spontaneity. The alternate stone is PINK TOURMALINE, the stone of healing past hurts & bringing peace.

APRIL BIRTHSTONE

2011-04-22T15:54:00.002-05:00

Better late than never..! DIAMOND is the birthstone for APRIL, the stone of purity. The name derives from an ancient Greek word, adamas, which means "unbreakable", apt since diamond is the hardest naturally occuring gemstone, prized for its rarity & beauty. The alternate birthstone is clear, colorless crystal quartz, the universal healing stone (as shown in Flaunt's "Glitz" rose carved earrings above).

MARCH birthstone

2011-03-04T09:35:00.002-06:00

AQUAMARINE is the birthstone for MARCH, stone of Courage and Serenity. It derives its name from two Latin words, "aqua", meaning water, and "mare" meaning sea. According to legend this stone had its origin in the treasure chests of mermaids and has been considered a good luck stone by sailors since ancient Roman times.

Oscar, Oscar

2011-02-27T14:00:00.007-06:00

Well, tonight is the 83rd annual Academy Awards!! Found out Flaunt's Sakura earrings were featured in a stunning black & gold Oscar inspired treasury. Thank you, DotStitch!!

FEBRUARY! Short but Sweet ♥

2011-02-02T15:51:00.004-06:00

February is here! Who can believe it - one month down, 11 to go! This may be the shortest month of the year, but is also the sweetest, filled with LOVE, ROSES and CHOCOLATE!

February came howling into Plano, the town where I live in North Texas, on icy cold feet. We have been shivering in the lowest temperatures for over a decade - and this the week that the Superbowl comes to town!! At least the two teams taking part are from cooler Northern climes, so this'll be nothing new to them... For me, the fact that we may get up to a HIGH of 20F / -7C today is weird, even colder than my hometown of London, England. Hysterical!

Etsy Collection to the right features listings in shades of gorgeous amethyst purple, February's birthstone. More about that later...

NEW Unofficial Etsy Forums

2011-01-22T20:15:00.003-06:00

An alternative venue to meet & greet to critique, offer site help, promote - and all those other things that we may not be able to do in a forum format on etsy much longer... :(

http://unofficialetsyforums.proboards.com

Ocean blue - thinking of summer!

2011-01-17T11:45:00.003-06:00

Although I am enjoying the cool, grey days of winter here in north Texas, it has been DAYS since we've seen the sun; SO unusual! I have started to dream of golden warmth, sand and blue green Caribbean seas, and hence this necklace was created. One gorgeous bubble of turquoise blue, a hand blown glass bead, simply capped with smooth sterling silver, floating on the most delicate sterling silver chain. Ocean, by Flaunt...

January Birthstone

2011-01-07T08:51:00.003-06:00

GARNET is the traditional birthstone for the month of JANUARY, known as the stone of love, devotion & friendship. It derives its name from the Latin "granatus" ("grain"), possibly a reference to pomegranate fruit with its glossy deep red seeds like polished garnet gems. The alternate birthstone for January is petal pink ROSE QUARTZ, stone of universal love & emotional healing.

Garnet has been loved and used for thousands of years. The biblical Noah, it is said, used a lantern made of garnet to safely steer his Ark through the darkness of night. Red is the most frequently seen color BUT garnets also come in different shades of green, pale to bright yellow, fiery oranges and brown tones (Hessonite garnet). Blus is NOT seen in garnets.

Garnet has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs' scale which is why these gemstones are sturdy and resistant to everyday wear and tear. Beautiful, meaningful AND tough!! Who says you have to be a January baby to wear these pretty stones?!

2011 is on the way!!

2010-12-21T22:33:00.005-06:00

NEW item in the Etsy mini to the right - in icy blues and frosty white and silver. Mmmmm.... Have a browse, you may find some new favorites for the New Year!

GIVEAWAY! ♥

2010-12-03T08:40:00.003-06:00

Jacki, the wonderful woman behind ChristieCottage on etsy, is hosting a Giveaway on her blog... The winner can choose any one of Flaunt's European style birthstone bracelet charms. Don't have a Pandora / Troll style bracelet? NO problem - they are equally pretty popped onto a heavy necklace chain or leather thong choker, and I have sold a couple specifically for that purpose ♥ There is a charm for each of the 12 months of the year, and they are sterling silver and either Swarovski crystal in the appropriate birthstone color or, in the case of June (pearl) and December (turquoise), genuine gemstone!

Go have a look, pick a fave from Flaunt and enter the giveaway. This could be your lucky week!!

http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/2010/12/win-it-wednesday-new-giveaway.html

NEW! Crystal pearl charms ♥

2010-11-27T13:19:00.003-06:00

I love freshwater pearls, their luster and the fact that they are natural, but it is SO hard to get perfectly spherical pearls in a variety of colors to make pretty charms from. So, I finally bit the bullet and bought some Swarovski crystal manmade "pearl" beads. This way I know that every one can be used! There will still be freshwater pearl Pandora / Troll style charms at Flaunt, but now there are just more styles to choose from!

11 /11

2010-11-11T09:19:00.004-06:00

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we will remember them...

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~ John McCrae ~

Naughty Lin...

2010-11-03T23:03:00.004-05:00

It has been an absolute AGE since I have posted anything on this blog! Naughty Lin..! We're planning a Bonfire Night party for Friday 5th November, when Brits "celebrate" the foiling of a 1605 plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the subsequent burning at the stake of the ringleader, one Guy Fawkes. Yes, that IS how Fawkes the phoenix from Harry Potter, who keeps spontaneously bursting into flames, got his name... We've made a "Guy" from old clothes and balls of newspaper, but we're not planning on stuffing him on a bonfire as it is against city codes. For the same reason we're having a subdued firepit and sparklers instead of a raging log pile and full on fireworks! Baked spuds & bangers are on, though, and it'll be fun ♥

England Trip ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-07-17T19:39:00.010-05:00

So, I have just come back from my home country, England ♥ What a wonderful visit - and here are couple of snaps :)

(1) Alternative parking for bicycles - London style!!

(2) Flower tub beside the ornamental pond, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey. This is part of the "new" wing, added by their royal highnesses William & Mary in the 1600's (the rest dates from the mid-1500's!)

(3) The Seven Sisters, chalk cliffs on the south coast of England. Cuckmere Haven to be precise. Beautiful, huh?!

(4) Me, in one of my favorite places - the lavender field at the end of my sister's road! There is a sign out on the road which reads "Purple Distraction Ahead!" No, they're not talking about Barney...

A Breath of Fresh Air

2010-05-26T08:38:00.008-05:00

Pretty, refreshing aquas and limes brighten up the dreariest day and add some "Zing"! Found browsing Etsy categories, see the mini to the right... Click on the links - and perhaps discover a new favorite store!

While you're here, don't forget to click on the "Free Mammogram" breast cancer awareness ribbon button, lower right, to enable free screening for women in need ♥

Want to become a FAN of the Flaunt FaceBook page? Copy & paste and follow me...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Flaunt-Designs-jewelry/72654043500

Really? THIS is Spring in TX?

2010-03-21T11:36:00.002-05:00

REALLY? It's almost the end of March and was 73 degrees on Friday, followed by 3 inches of snow Saturday! Weather is rarely boring in this neck of the woods...

Spring is in the Air..?

2010-02-21T00:32:00.004-06:00

Well, it was warmer in Dallas than it has been for a while, and my pansies looked quite perky, which put me in the mood for spring... Got me thinking of flowers, and gentle rain showers, birds and pastel colors and pretty pinks, hence the pretty collection of items found browing Etsy in the mini to the right. Enjoy ♥

GEMSTONES galore - my addiction ♥

2010-01-19T10:17:00.005-06:00

Hey - I didn't think that this would work! Computers normally hate me! This is an easier way to show you what I've been up to - and the addiction continues...

NEW arrivals ♥

2010-01-14T20:23:00.002-06:00

Look what arrived in the mail today - my first batch of gorgeous gemstone briolettes! I am happy to say that I made ALL my purchases from Etsy sellers - keeping the love in-house! Don't you just love the way they're strung with silk tassels?! Here we have some prasiolite, lemon quartz, a few grape-purple amethysts, juicy tangerine carnelians and delicious green onyx... They're not going to stay like this for long as I have PLANS for these babies.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Flaunt in London...

2010-01-01T11:00:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year - and a happy new DECADE! - to you all from me, Lin, at Flaunt... As I am in my hometown of London, England at present, here is a piccie of London's most famous clock tower, attached to the Houses of Parliament, which houses the famous bell, Big Ben. As the bell struck the 12th and final bong of midnight, out went 2009, in came 2010 - and the sky exploded with sparkling colour as fireworks lit the sky. Magical!

Twitter Jewelry

2009-10-03T16:47:00.012-05:00

I know it's a little crass to feature your own stuff, but I have just GOT to share these new jewelry pieces, 'cos I think that they are SO sweet, so you're just going to have to forgive me (and also because I haven't worked out HOW to feature other people's pictures and haven't had time to look into it! Can one of you explain, please?)

Anyway, Twitter earrings and charm necklace from Flaunt; THE cutest little birdy charms, fun and modern, on handcrafted sterling wires... (Silvertone and brass are available...)

October - BREAST CANCER Awareness month ♥

2009-10-01T19:39:00.009-05:00

So, it is now October, Breast Cancer Awareness month... I have a new Etsy mini to the right featuring items related to breast cancer awareness, from various shops, and I will be changing out the items throughout the month...

As some of you may know, I lost a friend, Liz, to this disease, when she was just 34 years old, and I have a pendant in my shop that raises money for Komen for the Cure which is named in her honor (pictured).

You can help! CLICK on the pink awareness ribbon symbol under the "Save the TaTas" mini to help raise money for free mammograms for women. It doesn't cost you anything except a moment of your time! Ladies, we are ALL in this together, so remember; FIGHT like a GIRL! Every day brings us closer to a cure ♥

Argh - where did the time GO?

2009-09-05T14:03:00.003-05:00

So, yesterday morning, 4 September, I woke up to the realisation that my first baby was now a legal adult... Yikes, that's enough to get you out of bed in a hurry to inspect the wrinkles!

One a Day...

2009-08-27T11:18:00.003-05:00

So, the other day, my friend Jenny and I decided to be very self-indulgent and treat ourselves to a movie & lunch. We very rarely get a chance, with work & family commitments. We went to see "Julie and Julia". Have any of you seen it? I loved it - a movie featuring some of my favorite things; food, France, Meryl Streep, food, New York, food - well, you get the picture... The main theme of the movie was the lead character taking on a project; to cook her way through over 500 Julia Child French recipes in the course of a year, and blog about it on a daily basis. So, my question to you is this; if YOU had to take on a challenge and blog about it daily, WHAT would that challenge BE?! I want to KNOW! (Hmmmm, what would I chose? weight loss? Nah, boring, I'd lose all my followers.... Maybe make a different pair of earrings daily? Mmm, have to think about it.) Come on - tell us YOURS! A challenge a day keeps the boredom away...

2009-08-20T17:02:00.006-05:00

I PROMISE to get in here after the weekend and WRITE something, if not before! Yep - and update my FB fan page, my Flikr uploads and list more things on Etsy! We have been sorting our daughter out, she had her first day of college classes today ♥ Does the above picture bring back memories for any of you? Cheap self-assembled furniture, boxes & books; Room-in-progress - that was a few days ago at college move-in...

SAVE the BOOBIES ♥

2009-07-14T11:39:00.004-05:00

I have added a link to the right, above Followers, where you can simply CLICK to link to a site which supplies free mammograms to women. One click per day, does not cost you a penny - yet you are helping another.... If you have a moment - PLEASE click & Save the Boobies ♥

Be happy ♥

2009-07-13T01:29:00.003-05:00

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems. But it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."
~ Herm Albright ~

Inspirational Sunday

2009-07-12T12:15:00.006-05:00

I had a nice surprise this morning as my "Elizabeth" pendant, which I made to honor a friend and raise money for breast cancer awareness, has been co-featured on Audrey's Country Crafts blog, along with a girl raising money for ovarian cancer... Check it out!

www.audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com

EXCITING!! ♥

2009-06-27T00:45:00.005-05:00

Imagine how excited I was to find out that the green "Flower Pod" resin earrings from my FlauntRox store had been featured on Etsy in the Summer Jewelry hot deals weekend section in Storque!! Yep - I was bouncing round the kitchen like a bunny with a caffeine high ♥

If you want to check it out, here is the place to go
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-extra-hot-weekend-deals-4267/

Another summer Quote...

2009-06-20T10:45:00.004-05:00

"In summer, the song sings itself. "

~ William Carlos Williams ~

I received a BLOG AWARD ♥

2009-06-17T01:37:00.009-05:00

I found out that I have been awarded a blog award!

What a wonderful surprise, especially since I am so new at blogging! Thank you so much Jocelyn from NewCreatioNZ for choosing me! Please visit her blog and her shop specializing in paintings, photographs, fabric and paper art.
Now, I get to choose 15 more blogs to send an award…

bathbuddies.blogspot.com
thelittleboythatgrewuptobeme.blogspot.com
redheadhomestead.blogspot.com
wunderkrafts.blogspot.com
myveryprettythings.blogspot.com
http://www.kaleidaeclectics.blogspot.com/
purplecats-corner.blogspot.com
oneofakindkeepsakes.blogspot.com
jdfootloose.blogspot.com
aneedleinthehaystack-debbie.blogspot.com
gifteddesigns.blogspot.com
miasophiasday.blogspot.com
christiecottage.blogspot.com
ranamuck.blogspot.com
dirtygirlsoaps.blogspot.com

Nothing ventured, nothing gained..!

2009-06-15T15:37:00.007-05:00

So I always like to try something new... This week, it's wire wrapping! I bought about half a mile of very fine sterling silver wire and have been practising on anything that will stay still long enough. Make sure you don't fall asleep on MY sofa...! Here are some smoky topaz glass briolettes that I finished - you'd be amazed at how much wire it takes. Wrapper's delight... Yes, I know, I am MEANT to be working on that cupboard below - but I will get round to it!

From chaos comes beauty... we hope

2009-06-02T15:01:00.006-05:00

OK, so today I am starting to organise my jewelry work space. My "studio" is the kitchen table, and storage is confined to one kitchen cupboard, which has overspilled onto the top of the unit.... If you think I jest, just take a gander at this piccie and tell me I'm wrong... Urrrggghhh, not pretty, nor is it efficient, as I rummage around muttering " I just KNOW that I had some extra headpins SOMEwhere in here?!"

My thought is that, if I can produce so many pretty pieces despite the awful chaos, WHAT could I do with organization..? Scary ♥

What tips do those of you who are crafters have for staying on top of the mess during busy times? If you are going to brag about having a WHOLE ROOM as a studio, I am going to sulk...

2009-05-26T14:59:00.002-05:00

Hello!

This is a new experiment for me, so we'll see how it goes. Be patient - I am new at this!

I design and make handcrafted jewelry to suit many tastes, though my preferred style is clean, simple lines, beautiful colors and understated elegance. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication..."

Pictured is an example of my work. I LOVE these new interchangeable earring components which allow you to mix and match your earring look to your wardrobe and mood. Shown are Flaunt's new Sea Breeze Swarovski crystal & sterling earring charm Trio on our Hoopla classic hammered sterling silver hoop. Both items can be found at Simply Flaunt at www.flauntdesignsjewelry.etsy.com More coming soon!