Golden Rose

I recently discovered this amazing shop, and, I must say, I'm already hooked! I'm a sucker for beautiful jewelry, especially jewelry that's handmade, which is why Golden Rose is right up my ally. Shop owner Natalie comes up with the most beautiful pieces that give off such a warm, beachy feel. I'd have to say my favorite piece is her rose gold hoop earrings (in a stunning satin finish!). Hoops are always so classic and timeless, but the rose gold and satin finish give them a chic and modern twist. 

See anything you like?

P.S. I loved her jewelry so much, that I got these beauties for my mom on her birthday!

Mod cocktail ring

To be worn with nude nail polish, black winged eyeliner and an adorable black shift dress.

Colored engagement rings

Oh my goodness...how gorgeous are these?? Typically, women are proposed to with a white diamond ring, but how would you like to be offered one of these beauties? I'll admit, I still have my heart set on a beautiful yellow diamond, but any one of these rings (especially that amethyst stunner...gee whiz!) would still be quite spectacular.

What about you? Classic white diamond or something a little different?

Japanese-inspired jewelry

My friend Monica loves Japanese culture, and I immediately thought of her when I came across these pieces from Alice in Japan. She would especially love the earrings, which are crafted from Japanese origami paper.

What culture do you really admire?

Sparkly drop earrings

Swoon!! These are definitely on my Christmas list...along with every other pair of earrings that Anthropologie has to offer.

What would you like for Christmas?


P.S. The 2011 An Air of Surprise Holiday Gift Guide

Mistletoe necklace

 Smooch! This red laser cut necklace would be perfect to wear to Christmas parties, or to bring yourself some pre-holiday cheer!

Halos ring

Jewelry designer Zuhal makes some pretty awesome pieces that combine futuristic elements with those of the 60s mod and the 70s disco era . I mean, just look at this ring! Doesn't it look like some sort of trippy mad scientist hat??

Ombré bracelet

Buy here. :)

Gold bubbles

Don't you love these pieces? They remind me of tiny clusters of gold bubbles. They're so simple and feminine! The necklace would lay so nicely against your collar bone and the cuff would look so powerful wrapped around your wrist. But, I especially love the studs, as they'd make a wonderful addition to my earring collection, haha!

Which piece is your fave?

Pearls and disks

I don't know what it is, but something about these pieces reminds me so much of the beach. Maybe it's the fresh water pearls, or the fact that the tiny silver disks remind me of seashells. Either way, they're lovely, don't you think?

(Images via The Modern Romance)

Bike jewelry

Rachel Pfeffer makes some truly amazing pieces, but I especially love her bicycle-inspired jewelry! They make me wanna go out and buy a bike for myself! But, what about you? Do you ride a bike?

P.S. An adorable cutout of a couple on their bike.

Ultra-mod

How AWESOME are these? London-based artisan Jennifer Loiselle uses handwoven grosgrain ribbon and mirrored perspex to hand-make ultra-modern necklaces, earrings, brooches and headbands. And the best part? The mirrored headbands can double as necklaces!

Too groovy.


Which one's your fave?

Coffee capsule rings

How awesome is this? These delightfully modern rings are handmade from crushed coffee capsules! Interesting way to recycle, no?

Check them out here!

He loves me, magnifying glass & two tiny robots

Courtesy of the lovely shop Temporary:Secretary that has tons of similarly cute and quirky pieces!

P.S. I know what you've been dying to ask and the answer is, yes. I am, in fact, accepting early birthday gifts ;). You can find the above thingies here, here and here.

Wedding Wednesday: Clay Bouquet Shop + Giveaway

This week's Wedding Wednesday post features the stunning work of Jennifer, who runs the Clay Bouquet Shop on Etsy from her living room in north New Jersey. Jennifer was kind enough to feature some of her creations, sit down to answer a few of my questions and even sponsor a little giveaway! Read on to find out more.

What made you decide to open your etsy stop and when did you first get started?

I got started after my own wedding, when my family, friends, and wedding vendors encouraged me to offer my wedding creations to other brides. I created my bouquets and bouts out of clay, my veil, hairpins and headpiece, our invitations, placecards, save the dates and table numbers, and our table arrangements. It was definitely a handcrafted wedding. : )

I opened my Etsy shop approximately 6 months later, in April 2010.

Is this your full-time profession or just a side gig?
I enjoy creating my wedding accessories on my own time, after my full time job (where I am a business analyst for a health insurance company.)

What are your favorite materials to work with?
Swarovski crystals, pearls, and clay, which I use to create clay flowers for wedding bouquets, bouts, and accessories.


I know it's a tough choice, but what's your favorite piece in your shop right now?
I'd have to say it would be between my bouquets and the Victoria sash and headpiece...which I would have worn for my own wedding had I created it beforehand. :) 

Any big plans for the future?

I am developing new products, such as fascinators and an expanded line of jewelry, to be released later this year. I'll have photos of the bouquets and bouts I am creating for three Autumn brides in a few months. And as soon as my time allows it, I plan to start making embroidered wedding and home accessories.

Where else can we find you and your work?

For brides in the NJ area, some of my hair accessories can be found in Cherished Bridals, a consignment bridal salon in Wayne NJ.

Some of my jewelry selections and beaded hairpins are also in Salon FiG in Newton, NJ.

For Philadelphia brides, a selection of some of my sashes, hair accessories and jewelry sets are available at the Paris Chic Bridal Gowns Boutique.

I also am featured on www.EmmalineBridal.com and www.BravoBride.com.

My candy buffet and chair sash rentals and some bridal accessories, as well as additional photos of my bouquets, can be seen on www.ClayBouquetShop.com

And I usually post sneak-peek pics from my photoshoots at www.Facebook.com/ClayBouquetShop 

And a random question just for kicks: PB&J or grilled cheese?
In the fall and winter, grilled cheese, but PB&J all year round. : )

Thanks Jennifer!
Don't you just love her work? The thing that I love most about her shop is that a lot of her pieces are incredibly affordable. And while they're perfect for weddings and proms, they're also just as lovely for those of us that just want some everyday bling! 

Giveaway

Jennifer is offering a $25 gift certificate to her shop! To enter, all you have to do is follow An Air of Surprise via Google Friend Connect.

For additional entries, you can blog about the giveaway, list your favorite item in her shop, favorite her shop, follow her on twitter and/or like her on facebook. Each of these things is worth one additional entry, so be sure to indicate which ones you've done in separate comments.

The giveaway will end on August 10th at 1 PM EST and a winner will be selected at random. If the winner does not respond within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. Please ensure that there is a way for me to contact you.


Best wishes!


{Giveaway Closed}