Default Jewelry

How talented is this photographer?

Not merely talented & incredibly beautiful, Janelle of Janelle Putrich Photography is as lovely an individual as she is a photographer.

Last year, Janelle photographed some exclusive FrameBoutique pieces & plans to do an upcoming shoot for us this spring.

An exciting opportunity for us since her creative vision & photographic eye are so similar to FrameBoutique's vintage meets modern aesthetic. 

Vintage floral fabrics, deliciously vibrant candy & embroidered lace featuring FrameBoutique's Oversized Hollywood Glam Pearl Studs:

A scrumptious combo for a gal like myself that loves all things vintage, all things lace & all things candy. 

The Pearl Studs can be purchased online at FrameBoutique.

Janelle's personal favourite of our earrings: 

Black Filigree leaf Earrings

She calls them her default pair, which made me think of how often I wear my default pair of earrings - pretty much every time I wear any! 

It's great to have a few pairs of 'grab & go' earrings, simple & classic in a neutral colour that you can match to any outfit so you have some fall backs for when you're feeling indecisive. 

FrameBoutique's line of Black Filigree Earrings are perfect to fill this need.

They add a touch of elegance & glam without all the fuss & effort. 

Another staple to invest in: a simple & classic pearl necklace or modern variation on the classic pearl necklace. 

This pearl necklace is inspired from one I wore for my Trash the Dress shoot shot after my wedding. 

The one I wore consisted only of pearls & was of varying lengths, but I wanted to create one with different textures of bead & colours of pearls 

to create a simple, yet modern take on the pearl necklace.

The one photographed (left) was a personal design I made for Janelle, but can be replicated.

Or we have a more dramatic pearl necklace which I absolutely adore & made myself a replica of. 

It's a necklace I often wear out at night -
one that goes great with
black filigree earrings. 

In my experience as a jewelry designer & simply as a woman who has, more than often, ran into a time-crunch or had one too many indecisive mornings, my advice is:Pick a few simple, minimal pieces to have as accessories that won't overcrowd your look & give the appearance of casual, yet chic. As cliche as this is, less is always more. 

A pearl ring
or stud earrings,
black filigree drop earrings,
classic floral studs &/or
a modern or classic version of the pearl necklace.

Wear your pieces minimally wearing one or two pieces at a time.

A simple, minimal necklace with a pair of matching studs is a great default
for those rushed mornings we've all experienced - standing panicky in bra & undergarments staring wildly at a pile of clothes/jewelry frantically trying to piece together some semblance of an outfit. 

Have your default pieces near your dressing area to quickly throw on as you head out your bedroom & remember, jewelry & accessories should compliment & adorn that beauty & loveliness you already have, not overcrowd it!

*** All photographs (except the dramatic pearl necklace) were taken by Janelle Putrich & as such, are not available to copy, reproduce or alter & are copyright Janelle Putrich Photography. 

*** The dramatic pearl necklace was taken by Julie Thurgood and as such is copyright Julie Thurgood Photography

Wedding Bells

Tis the season for spring weddings & designing bridal pieces or gift sets for vintage-inspired weddings using sparkling, shimmering ivory pearls; cabochon blossoms; & seasonal themed brilliant, nature-inspired colours: cobalt or azure blue, lavender purple, aventurine green, sapphire, sangria. To think a lovely bride might wear my pieces on her wedding day makes this business all the more rewarding.

Happy upcoming spring weddings to all you lovely brides-to-be!

Black Friday

As one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday has always been a day on which I've avoided making my own purchases. I've never been a fan of the corporate giants who dominate the market and the mass produced, cookie-cutter goods they sell at a fraction of the price. Because of this, I've always boycotted the shopping frenzy known as Black Friday.

However, this was before I discovered the eclectic and creative world of Etsy; a world where the little guy, the independent business/seller is able to prosper & share their goods with an international community. A few years ago, I bought vintage cameras for my husband off of Etsy and I vowed that all of my holiday gifts would come from small, independent shops that represented everything the mass produced products did not - thought, love, time. I am still a big supporter of buying handmade, buying local and buying from the small, 'little guy' businesses.

Be the change that you want to see in this world. As cliche as that phrase sounds, it is something I strive for each day and especially for this holiday season. I will not purchase items for my family members that can be found at any big department or box store, rather, I have purchased beautiful, hand-knitted cup cozies from Upper Duke Designs: http://www.etsy.com/people/UpperDukeDesigns & I will be making my own soy candles for the people I love.

Which path will you take this holiday season? What handmade products will you be purchasing and which local, independent businesses will you be supporting?

Rather than "buy nothing day", why not choose to support a small business today?

Shabby Chic Flower Necklaces

One of my new favourite designs to create are my new line of Shabby Chic Flower Necklaces. The designs integrate bold cabochon flowers with elegantly beaded chain.

With each, I've been working with some of my favourite colour contrasts including shabby chic pink with turquoise stone, translucent glass blue with cream coloured cabochon flowers, and beige tones of pearl with white pearl & pink cabochon flower.

They've turned out better than my original designs, I've been tempted to keep some of the designs for myself!

Nearing Eleven Years...

As my husband & I near what I deem to be our 'real' anniversary, not the wedding anniversary that simply made us "legit" in the eyes of some, I cannot help but nostalgically indulge in those early memories. In 1999, my husband & I met at a particular place of employment, which shall remain nameless due to the inevitable embarrassment of some & the merciless mocking by most.

After remaining close friends for two years, my husband began his first year of university while I, a few years younger, had to battle the stereotypical monotony of our small town high school. Brontë, Dickens, Tolstoy & Hemingway alleviated the doldrums of small town life.

For our first date in Toronto, I think Zeus had us in his sights. Immediately, we faced comical scenarios that reached Marx Brothers levels: from a painful collision with several bicyclists to trying to outrun an unwelcome chaperon, a screaming, barely-clad man (Two words: loin cloth) waving a staked pineapple & shouting out biblical prophecies.

Thankfully, he relinquished the pineapple he had been relentlessly poking us with by chucking it at a passing car. He then quickly rode away on his bicycle (I'm assuming to obtain more pineapples & wooden stakes). On a side note, we did encounter this man several more times in the following years, always with a staked pineapple & once, in the grocery store, we found him stocking a cart with his coveted fruit.

But, I think it's how the date ended that fully captures 'us' in a sense. The date we had anticipated for years culminated in a simultaneous trip -somehow we had managed to hook feet & trip each other. Nothing like a clumsily-executed face plant on one of the busiest intersections of Toronto, Yonge & Bloor, to really commemorate a date.

We still bear the scars to prove it (ever wondered why my husband has a goatee?).

Although our date may have resembled a scene from Animal Crackers, I can honestly say, that night I fell head over heels for my husband.

Now, it's almost been eleven years since that night. We've lived in different cities, at times different countries & attended different schools & later, different universities. We've travelled the world together & built a "house of rented home".

We have supported each other through high school, through undergraduate, graduate & post-graduate years. In our tenth year of dating, we celebrated our relationship with our lovely friends & family.

The best is yet to come.

T.E.S.T. interview: FrameBoutique

Check out my interview with the Toronto Etsy Street Team!
T.E.S.T. interview: FrameBoutique

Pocket Watch, Glasses & 'Stache Necklaces, Oh My!

At long last, FrameBoutique has (back) in stock the much sought-after, antique line of pocket watch necklaces that quickly sold & emptied our stock last time (sorry for the delay for those who inquired!). We have three pieces from the previous line along with three new varieties, each with a distinctly unique design, which I will be listing later this week!

Along with the pocket watch necklaces I will be listing later this week (if my schedule slows down!), I will be listing my black glasses frame necklace (a favourite amongst friends & often, a whimsical party prop). As well, I finally have the moustache necklaces back in stock! Getting ready for Movember!

Happy Monday everyone!