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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

It's Turquoise Time

According to Samantha Critchell in an Associated Press release a few days ago, in 2010 we can expect to see a world awash in tropical turquoise. Turquoise was selected as the color of the new year by Pantone, a company that supplies and tracks color for fashion and home decor, among other industries.

"Turquoise is universally appealing. It puts everyone in the same state of mind--on vacation," says Jane Schoenborn, design director at Lilly Pulitzer. "Turquoise for us is a really big color. A lot of times it is very transporting, whether you are actually going to a resort destination or not."

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says there was no runner-up to turquoise in her mind, because people crave escapism and freshness after a tough year. The shade is on the cusp of blue and green, which makes it both inviting and serene--characteristics associated with blues--and invigorating and luminous, which comes from green, she says.

"Transporting" was a word many used for turquoise, a shade that takes designer Tommy Hilfiger to the beach, especially the Caribbean, St. Tropez, France, or Southern California, which serves as the inspiration for his newest collection. In jewelry he thinks of the American Southwest, or Central and South America.

Eiseman notes that in many cultures, turquoise is considered a protective color with people wearing the blue-stone jewelry almost as a talisman. "You often hear it attached to words like 'healing.'" In Pop Culture, Eiseman has spotted the hue in popular stripe combinations, athletic apparel, nail polish and eye shadow.

At Jewelry Crossings we offer "turquoise time" in Lori Bonn's Aruba Collection and in Sara Blaine's Hippie Chic Collection. The chunky turquoise ring set in artistically-etched sterling silver is one of my favorites.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

As I reflect on the challenges of the past year as a jewelry retailer, I take heart in the contributions we at Jewelry Crossings have been fortunately able to make in spite of the deep recession. This year we have donated jewelry for silent auctions and donated proceeds from special events to the following organizations:

-Ali Forney Center in Manhattan to help homeless gay youths in New York City
-The Support Network of San Jose to aid women and children in the face of domestic violence
-CEO Women based in Oakland, California which provides refugee and immigrant women in the Bay Area mentoring, coaching and access to capital to start a small business.
-St. Andrew's Church in Saratoga, California for their SAMA (St. Andrew's Medical Assistance) mission worldwide.
-Keuka College, Keuka Park, NY, my beloved alma mater.

I am deeply grateful for the loyalty of our Jewelry Crossings customers. We realize that this year more than ever price was the most important factor in a customer's purchasing decision. We tried incredibly hard to make it possible for someone to afford a special item of jewelry. Even though jewelry is considered a luxury purchase these days, I know that it makes the receiver smile broadly and is a gift that does not wear out like a piece of clothing or disappear like an edible treat, rather something crafted in fine metal endures forever. I have pieces in my jewelry box from my late grandmother, aunt, mother and mother-in-law. Jewelry also speaks of fashion trends, history and memorable events in one's life. For these and so many other reasons, I am proud to be "in the business."

Happy 2010 to all who read this blog. May your year ahead be healthy, fulfilling and full of life's richness.