We Have A Winner

Thank you very much to everyone who entered my giveaway. It was so nice to hear from some new readers.

The winner was selected via the tried and true method of "pulling a name out of a hat  bowl" by my assistant who can't read yet (so you know it was completely random).

 Janet, from The Gardener's Cottage was one of two bloggers who mentioned my giveaway on her blog to gain an extra 10 entries, so she had pretty good odds!  Congratulations Janet.  E-mail me to let me know what your choice is. 

I hope you will think of Julie LoRusso Jewelry over the holidays when you're looking for the perfect gift or accessory for yourself.  Remember, every purchase comes wrapped and ready for giving AND I'm offering a generous discount through January 1, 2011. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

You Know You Want It.....

This weekend Matt asked me what business I was in now. (I have a lot of interests.)  I indignantly said, jewelry, I've been into the jewelry business for a long time now.  He said he thought that was great, and that's where I should be. Then he said he thought the blog was really good for me.   What?..... Who are you?  And what have you done with my husband?...

So in celebration, and as a show of commitment both by me and my husband, I'm going to do another giveaway.

I'm gearing up for the holiday season which has always proven to be very successful for me, even when I took my hiatus (because I've got some really great repeat customers).

I've just redone my new website and I even have a sale page.

In addition, from now until January 1, 20011 I'm offering a 25% discount off my already very good prices for real (not costume) jewelry. I have A LOT of really fantastic designs to get you through the holidays w/o having to buy a new dress. I also love to do custom designs, so let's talk!

I'm giving away any item on my website, priced $125 or less that is still available on Friday (at the time of the giveaway).

To enter,  visit my website and then just leave me a comment telling me what you like. That's it.
If you're a blogger you can increase your odds by mentioning it on your blog.  That'll get you TEN more entries.  Leave a comment telling me you're a blogger and you mentioned it.

I'll select a winner at random on Friday.

Good luck!

Vintage Mink

Maybe it's all those I Love Lucy episodes I watched as a kid. Remember how the ladies were always vying for a new mink?....

Something must have rubbed off on me.  I LOVE MINK!

I would never go buy a mink coat at a retail store. I could never see myself in a full length fur either.  I love the old styles, and when I see vintage coats, stoles and collars I just can't help myself.  They're so luxurious, soft, beautiful and believe it or not affordable.

But how much mink does a woman in Virginia need? This particular woman has quite a bit.  On Sunday I bought another and I can officially say now that I collect vintage mink.

It started with this stole about 7 years ago. I found it at an estate sale and paid $35 for it.  It kind of hangs like an open cape. I thought it would be fun to wear around the house in the winter instead of wrapping up in a blanket--my version of the Snuggie.  I might have worn it out once to a black tie event.

Then I bought this curly wool coat with a mink collar at an estate sale about 6 years ago. I think I paid $85 dollars for it. It was worth EVERY penny. It has velvet-lined pockets and 3/4 length sleeves. I have worn it A LOT! I wear it almost every day in the dead of winter.

 I got this mink collar/scarf a couple years ago. I've worn it a few times. I think I'll wear it more this year.


I got this collar at a consignment shop for $8. I just hung it on this dress on a hanger to give you an idea how I've worn it. I think it looks like it belongs on a coat instead of a dress though?...... I might give this one away.

This summer I found a different style stole at an estate sale. It's just one long straight piece that you can wrap around yourself. I really don't intend to ever wear it like this.

My plan from the moment I saw it was that it would be an accessory--a luxurious throw.  It looks much better on the chair. 

On Sunday I bought this curly wool coat with a white mink collar at the flea market. It was $70.  It's in mint condition and has velvet-lined pockets too.  Why did I need another?..... This one has full length sleeves, and sometimes the shorter sleeves (on the first one) could be a little challenging.

I think these old pieces have so much character. One of the things I always like to see, is how the ladies  personalized their coats and furs.  There is always a name or monogram.

And a lot of them have designs embroidered into them too. I'm sure you had to pay extra for that. This one has a big flower design.

Ester went with a smaller flower design.

I don't think I always felt so good about wearing animal fur. But I remember years ago watching a story about how fake fur is really bad for the environment. So I feel like collecting old mink is paying a tribute of sorts to the animals and their beauty. And, it's better than buying a fake fur.  Last year I made our Christmas stockings out of white burlap and I trimmed them at the top with vintage mink cuffs that had been ripped off an old coat.  They were adorable (that was before I started blogging so I don't have a picture. Hopefully they're in the box and I can post about it in December.)

What do you think? Is vintage mink chic? Or does it look like something an old lady would wear?

I'm going to end this post now, I Love Lucy reruns are on and I'm getting chilly.  

Late To The Party

Yes, I know it's been done, probably a million times on blogs before me.  I'm joining the party a little late on this one.   But it didn't really occur to me to make something with the chalkboard paint until I saw Janet's post  where she said she made her own chalkboard/menu boards.  After reading that she made her own chalkboards and used them for menus I had it in my head that I absolutely HAD to have one too. 

So the search began.

And ended shortly after it started when I visited my brother who is doing a complete gut job renovation on an old house in DC.  I stopped by to see the house and As I was leaving I complimented him on a old mirror that was leaning against a wall on his front stoop. It had been in the house for a very long time! He said I could have it.  I knew it was "the one" I had been searching for the moment I laid eyes on it.

I love the details in the frame.

I covered the frame and a little bit of the mirror with tape and newspaper. I thought it would be interesting to have a little reflective border by leaving some of the mirror showing.

Sprayed a few coats of  chalkboard paint.

Then hung it up in the kitchen. 

 It's a hit!

Believe it or not that's artwork!

Bats In The House!

My little guy loves Halloween. It might be his favorite holiday. Seriously, he talks about Halloween and looks forward to it more than Christmas.  The day after his birthday (in July) he started asking when we could start decorating for Halloween.  Last year we had a kids costume party.  

 I was a pirate

 Drew was a skeleton

I'll be honest, I don't love this holiday and never decorated before last year, but it's so much more fun now that Drew gets so excited. I try to keep it friendly though because I think it's gotten out of hand and the decorations you're bombarded with from Michael's craft store to the party store even in restaurants could give a child and some adults nightmares for months.

 Yesterday I  brought down our Halloween box.  Here is what we've done so far.

For the party last year we cut out a bunch of bats (something we saw in a magazine) and taped them all over the house. I just put them up again on the windows walls and mirrors throughout the house.

I bought this friendly ghost and vintage looking decorations at Marshalls a few years ago on clearance.

 

I plopped the pumpkin on a boston fern in an urn in our entryway.  (After a few years, I'm over the fern and all the little dead leaves it drops EVERY day.)

The cute little bunting/banner I bought at Target today. It's made of felt and only cost $3.50.  They had a lot of really cute ones to choose from and some were as low at $2.00.

I'm sure this is not the last you'll be hearing about Halloween from me this year. Stay tuned, I'm sure it'll be riveting :)

 Enjoy the season!