Can you remember the name of your first crush? Pretty sure mine was a boy named Kyle in 8th grade. My memories of crushing on him now seem embarrassing and obsessive  in the most ridiculous teenage ways possible. Scribbling his name in combination with mine all over my notebook, like it would summon him into my loving clutches.

My Missouri childhood inspired the newest Mini-State collection, so a blog about the Show Me state seemed fitting. 

The proud owner of divorced parents, I called Soularde, Spanish Lake, Wentzville & Florissant all home at some point.

There are a few different birthstones that represent December; tanzanite, zircon and turquoise. One thing they all share is their vibrant blue hues. Including one of these beautiful blues in your winter wardrobe is definitely a must.

Alice & Chains Jewelry prides itself in making one-of-a-kind jewelry. Whether a fashion or fine piece, there is an irreplaceable value and amazing story in working with a client to create a unique design that no one else will be wearing.

Topaz is also a soothing stone. It has been said to calm tempers, cure madness and eliminate nightmares. Topaz ranges in color, from beautiful blues, to brownish yellow to orange, but the most prized color is Imperial Topaz, featuring a vibrant orange hue with pink undertones.

Top 3 reasons you should wear a choker:

1. Chokers literally go with everything...
2. They're flattering - slimming the neck, accentuating the jaw, drawing the eye upwards from your outfit, and who doesn't like that?
3. They're cheap! Ours are $15 & Alice & Chains Jewelry will be at the Dobbs Ferry Holiday Pop Up helping you create your own choker for $10 :-)

Each stone flickers with a unique fire and a good opal is one with an opinion of its own.

Jewels, A Secret History - Victoria Finlay

One of my favorite non-fiction authors is Victoria Finlay. This post is about her most recent book, The Brilliant History of Color, which delves into the background of colors found throughout some of the most historic pieces of art. When time allows I sit at the table while my daughter eats her breakfast reading aloud to her the history of colors in art. While I have read further, my little loves to hear the story behind red ocher over and over again.

Colors, even those from art are important to me, as exposure to each variation of red or blue expands my library of color. Jewelry is often about the play of light, how to best exemplify a stone's unique and one-of-a-kind color. I often find myself telling clients and others that the color a gemstone has to offer, in my mind, is much more rare and special than the biggest and clearest of diamonds. I'll take an included, colorful gem any day!