Playing Dress Up

Last Saturday a good friend of mine and one of her new colleagues came over to look at some of my jewelry.  When she asked if she could stop by some time I was thrilled and said, of course it'll be a fun "girls night".  

We nibbled on fruit and cheese, sipped wine and tried on jewelry. Can you think of anything better to do on a Saturday night?

My friend also tried on my "mink snuggie" and wore it for most of the night. It felt more like dress up that way.

Here she is trying to decide which necklace to try on next. She went home with the double onyx and vintage rhinestone brooch one she is modeling here.

Here she is making fun of me taking pictures of myself without showing my face for a Monkey Grass Hill post I did.

The cameo cuff looked like it was custom made just for her. 

We had a lot of laughs. And they went home very happy with their pretty pink boxes in hand.

If you would like to see more of my jewelry visit my website julielorussojewelry.com

What's New This Week

Here is What's New in the Julie LoRusso Jewelry line this week.


First up is a beautiful and playful triple strand of pink cultured freshwater pearls.

The strands are adorned with three individual flower pins.  These pins were given to me by a friend, and while I don't think they qualify as vintage, I think they give this necklace the vintage feel.  You can remove the pins and rearrange them any way your heart desires.

It's finished with a nice size sterling silver toggle clasp. 

Next up is a fun yellow extra long necklace. I've laced it with some very light smokey quartz coins and silver colored beads.

I was going for fun and affordable with this one by not using sterling silver.

You can wear it long or wrap it twice around.

I think it looks high-end with a fun little edge!

Want a little more Luxe in your life?

You can never go wrong with layers of pearls!  This necklace has three strands of stunning silvery pearls and is turned into a one-of-a-kind design with the fantastic vintage rhinestone brooch.

I found the brooch in an antique shop in Vermont about a month ago.  You can just take it off it you're not in the mood for a a little sparkle. It's stunning either way!

 AND you can adjust the length.  You've got about 2 inches to play with thanks to the sterling silver chain and lobster claw finish.  Finally, I couldn't just leave a chain hanging, so I added the sweetest little teardrop crystal to the end.

Here we have another one of my "new vintage" designs.

 This one is two strands of rich brown pearls with a vintage goldtone faux pearl earring.  The earring findings have been removed it is permanently affixed to this necklace.

It's finished with a gold vermeil "s" hook clasp.

Another versatile pearl necklace is this double green beauty.

I've added just a little shine with the vintage brooch. It's not too big, it's not to sparkly. Just the perfect amount of glam to make you feel special on a dark dreary day.

The brooch is still a brooch, so you can remove it when you want to.

This classic beauty is finished with a 14K gold-filled toggle clasp. 

Need a little pick-me-up as the days start getting shorter?

 The peaceful water tones in this beautiful apatite and chalcedony necklace will take you back to those summer days at the beach. I think it's a year round accessory--can you just imagine how striking it is with a black top.

 Finished with a sterling silver toggle clasp.

I'm into the big chunky styles, but for you ladies who like something a little more subtle I've made this one-of-a-kind "new vintage" star.

I never get tired of the chartreuse green of this single strand of pearls.  And the pendant is a vintage crystal earring.

Perfect for the holidays!

 Finished with a small gold vermeil clasp.

Another blue Monday?.....

I flash of blue apatite can get you through it. How about two strands of little chips?

Finished with a sterling silver hook clasp. 

Finally,  when you just don't know what color to accessorize with.  The watery colorless sparkle of genuine crystal quartz will complete your look.

These stones are "top-drilled" so they flip and flop and do a little dance around your neck. I finished this one with a rhinestone magnetic clasp. (not shown because by camera battery died).

If you like anything you see here and would like to make it your own just email me.  To see the rest of my collection visit JulieLoRussoJewelry.com

Four In One!

This beautiful necklace can be worn at least four different ways. How's that for versatility?

The first look is incredibly elegant!  Wear the dress from last year and no one will notice. Can you get more luxe than four strands of beautiful pearls with an amazing big faceted amethyst pendant?

It looks fantastic with black!

Next, just take off the removable (hinged) pendant and you have a rich multi-strand necklace. I have this in a few different colors and I wear them ALL THE TIME.  Colored pearls are for every day and look just as great with t-shirts as they do with dresses. 

For something a little more hip and now you can just turn the sterling silver clasp around to the front and move the pendant so it hangs from the clasp.

I think wearing it this way makes it feel less formal, even though all the components are the same.


Finally, just put the pendant on a simple silver chain for an everyday simple classic look.

 

No matter how you wear it, you're certain to get noticed.

This necklace is available for sale on JulieLoRussoJewelry.com,  and can be done (in limited quantities) in other colors. With the pendant options in clear crystal quartz, smokey quartz and lemon quartz.

More Beautiful Creatures

I absolutely love this little bee.  I found it at an estate sale this summer and I've been trying to figure out what to do with it ever since.  

It's a vintage Trafari pin

I think it's so sweet as a pin, but I wanted to make it something that would be easy to wear.

So, without compromising it in any way I figured out that it will hang beautifully as a pendant on this equally chic 14K gold-filled chain.

And another creature I've turned into a fun piece of jewelry is this preppy little pendant.

I found this alligator at the flea market a few weeks ago. It just makes me smile because it reminds me so much of the 80's. When I found him it was a pin. Now he is a pendant hanging on a double strand of mother of pearl beads.

It's finished with a small gold vermeil toggle clasp.

So, pull out those penny loafers and wide-whale cords and throw on this fun necklace that will look equally as good with neutrals as it does with bright pink and green.

 Both of these designs are one-of-a-kind and are now available for purchase at Julielorussojewelry.com 

Couture Creatures Collection

I've been drawn to the creatures lately while out treasure hunting. I've been picking up bugs, salamanders, beatles and I even bought a swordfish.

I love the idea of something seemingly not so lady like on something very feminine, like these salamander brooches on pearls.

When I was looking at these brooches at a consignment boutique another shopper asked if I knew what the salamander symbolized. When I got home I looked it up and here is what I found - The salamander symbolizes enduring faith, courage, that can't be destroyed.

What's more, both of these necklaces are designed so you can wear them with the salamander brooch (as the clasp), OR you can use the "s" clasp included to have a very elegant  multi-strand pearl necklace. 

The gold salamander is a little dressier I think.

I think this silver one on the smaller top-drilled pearls could be worn everyday.

I'll be adding these necklaces, and more couture creatures to my website.  If you're interested in any of my designs just e-mail me.

Rich Ruby Red

I don't normally gravitate toward reds, but these stones really caught my attention. 

The night I found them I sat in my studio working on this necklace late into the night.  

Every stone is wrapped with 14K gold-filled wire.

A pair of earrings to complete the look!

 It's finished with a lobster claw clasp and chain extension so the length is adjustable. 

A beautiful set, perfect for holidays.

Big Green Dragon

Is there such thing as chinoiserie jewelry?   Well, if there is, than this is it!

The very large pendant is carved jade. It has a dragon motif.  It hangs from a substantial necklace made also of jade with gold vermeil accent beads.

It's finished with a gold vermeil "s" hook clasp and chain so the length is adjustable.  Matching earrings are on 14K gold-filled ear wires.

This will be added to my website  very soon.  If you're interested in learning more about it or want to make it your own just e-mail me.