jeweled brides - Part II

The next Merrick Jewels featured bride is my dear friend, Anne. Seeing as I was 36+ weeks pregnant for her wedding, I was unable to attend this heartfelt down to earth celebration. From the invitations to the rings, you can tell Anne and Chris connect with the living world around us. I mean who else would invite guests to camp out after the reception?! Fun right?? (I was really looking forward to this, no seriously). So, to fill my absence I worked with Anne to create a piece of jewelry that would compliment her organic style. 

She naturally gravitated to these soft smokey gray (with a hint of lilac) coin pearls. Even with all of their imperfections, they are so beautiful. I hand-knotted three strands of the pearls finishing with a pave marcasite and sterling silver clasp. The bracelet was a lovely compliment to her frothy grecian goddess gown. What a beaming bride...

Anne, you are stunning. Congrats!

jeweled brides - Part I

With Valentine's Day around the corner it's a perfect time to set up a couple warm and fuzzy posts showcasing some Merrick Jewels brides. Seeing these beauties makes me want to get married all over again (with the same man y'all) and beef up my hardware. 

Not that a single strand of freshwater pearls for your wedding day is not beautiful I've just worn bigger pieces of jewelry to the grocery store.  Need. to. represent. 

Jennifer got married in late December in Sugarland, TX. Labeled rustic chic (think crystals, mercury glass votives in a rodeo arena with pulled pork mashed potatoes, YUM) she killed it in not just one Merrick Jewels necklace but TWO. You lucky girl. This necklace is hand knotted faceted navy glass beads with buttery velvet bow and vintage rhinestone pendant. She actually wore this necklace as her "party piece" for the reception (I told her this one was more danceable and the girl likes to dance) but these pictures are from her gorgeous bridals. 

The other necklace for the ceremony is oldie but a goodie. As one of my first big statement necklaces that I made after starting full-time, this one is always a stunner. Vintage hammered gold chain with carefully curated one of-a-kind vintage rhinestone pieces make this necklace sparkle. I could see it all the way from the back row of the church. Bravo. 

Beaming bride after the ceremony...

Same necklace on the cover of Indulge magazine in September 2009

Congrats John and Jennifer! What a gorgeous couple!

If you're looking for your own one of-a-kind piece for your big event email me at merrick@merrickjewels.com and let's start planning!! 

Sunny 16 Photography / Aves Photographic Designs

vintage 101

I've had a love for vintage jewelry for quite some time. That's part of the reason why I became a jewelry designer. When incorporating vintage pieces in my designs, sometimes it is very hard to give them up (which has led to starting a little collection of my own). Since buying vintage seems to be the soup du jour, I thought I would write some tips on collecting and tidbits of things I've learned along the way.

submerged

I was excited/perplexed when Ashley, photographer extraordinaire of To Live. To Love. Photography, asked if I wanted to loan a couple pieces of jewelry for a underwater bridal photo shoot. Familiar with Ashley's work from the vineyard shoot a couple years back which graced the popular wedding site, Style Me Pretty, I had to say yes and eagerly waited the results. I can barely take a good photo with my point and shoot and still remain on the auto setting on my "nice" Rebel camera (tis tis) so I am blown away by these beautiful and captivating photos. Take a look at the whole set... 

The theme of the shoot was soft colors (grays/pastel hues etc.) so I put together a necklace with soft pink and peach jade with gray gunmetal  faceted drops. The other piece is a natural cut smokey quartz collar which I had a feeling would make a statement but not overpower the bride and groom. I'm so happy that both pieces added to the photo shoot. Thank you for including me Ashley!

color combo crush

There's something so delightful about mint and coral... makes me feel all freshy fresh.

NYC on business

I had intended this post for Monday/Tuesday but with my Gpa's passing on Thursday the El Fenix post seemed more appropriate. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read his story. What a wonderful blessing that you would take the time to celebrate his life/metamorphosis with me. *big hugs* 

Most of last week I was in NYC on biznesss honey with two other jewelry designer friends (Kristin with Sensibly Selfish Jewelry and April with Ferocity Jewelry Designs). Sounds glamorous right? 

fur clips anyone?

As a girl who has always been into everything vintage and a jewelry aficionado(which probably started by being totted around as a child by my mother and grandmother to garage sales and estate sales), I have quite the little vintage collection going. Some pieces I use in my designs which usually brings on withdrawal like symptoms when they leave my possession and others are forever locked in my "private collection". Above is just a glimpse of my pin selection that I posted on my Instagram. I'm an addict.

shine on

So the article that I mentioned prepping for in this blog post came out online yesterday!!! I was both humbled and honored to have a feature in 360 West Magazine about my volunteer organization, You are a Jewel.

Read the whole article and take a browse through the magazine HERE. {And a special thank you to Meda and Jill!!}

I have a session planned for April 6th at 10:30 at a Fort Worth shelter. I am still looking for 2 volunteers so if you are in the DFW and would like to volunteer please email me at: merrick@merrickjewels.com. You can also help out by donating ANY unwanted jewelry/beads/broken jewelry parts. Monetary donations are also accepted. Anything helps to make this a special event for these women in these shelters! Please contact me by email if you would like to help out.

Also, let's not forget about the gift of Good Friday and Easter. I hope you all have joyous times with friends and family. I'll leave with you a couple of fun images for the weekend.

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code red

Those of you who happened to see a couple of my Instagram photos yesterday know that fun things are going on in the Merrick Jewels camp! There might be a little "sumpin' sumpin'" coming out in the April edition of a local magazine... maybe something that I have blogged about in the past {hint hint}?? You will have to wait and see. I was so honored by the opportunity but immediately had to pull a code red when informed that one of the photographers needed to come over and take *gulp* head shots and *double gulp* pictures of my workspace/studio. Seriously, CODE RED. Report to battle stations...

You are a Jewel - volunteer program

In my opinion, your "job" should be much more than what you do and more about who you are. 

About a year and a half ago, I found a program in Houston called Beading Cancer associated with Marnie Rocks (a fellow Texas jewelry designer). Founded in 2007, Beading Cancer is dedicated to alleviating the stresses to patients and their families associated with cancer treatment by providing jewelry beading parties for primarily children. 

le weekend

Since I am zipping across the metroplex today buying supplies for orders, running errands, and meeting up with a lifelong friend for our monthly "business meeting" aka chit chat sesh... I thought I'd leave you with this classic look. Looks like the perfect go-to outfit. I'm still hunting down the perfect ankle booties for my collection. If you have any leads send 'em my way.

Last night we had a successful jewelry session at the women's shelter in Dallas. I was planning on having a post ready for today outlining our volunteer night (2 fabulous girls from my church small ground came and volunteered and we might have devoured some Chik-fil-a after our creative exhaustion) but since we got home at 11+pm we'll save it for Monday. 

Enjoy your le weekend!

image from my Pinterest via 

Grammy's!!!!

Melissa wearing our rock crystal and gold chain necklace at the Grammy's

Wow, what did you think of the Grammy's last night? Our remote got a good workout switching between Downton Abbey, the Walking Dead, and the Grammy's but I would have to say the bits I watched I was pretty entertained (well, except for Frank Ocean's Forest Gump bit... keep running Forest).

PLUS, if you are a fan of my facebook page you would have noticed that one of my necklaces made an appearance at the Grammy's on my stunning art advisor friend Melissa Flory Mathis! She killed it in a hugging black number and rock crystal necklace {see above}. LOVE.

Here are some other ladies that I thought were a HIT:

love RiRi's red number by Azzedine Alaia, probably could have used a little more coverage but hey it's RiRi

Kelly Rowland in a geometric peek-a-boo George Chakra Couture gown

Karlie Koss in Michael Kors - flattering cut out in an electric robin's egg blue

And then the MISS:

Adele you are amazing! but I am not a fan of this Valentino floral mess

as a jewelry designer I admired the beading detail on top of Katy Perry's Gucci dress but found the low cut, long sleeves, and color a little off

Guiliana Ranci - arg! I hate that you are on my MISS list because I love you so much but girlfriend this just washes you out *sad face

Do you agree with my picks?

Images via

be mine - valentine's sale

1. Merrick Jewels - Sunburst collar necklace in red howlite 2. Merrick Jewels - Orbitz necklace {gold} 3. Magenta quartz teardrop earrings 4. Merrick Jewels - Socialite teardrop earrings

An assortment of Merrick Jewels pics for your viewing pleasure! Annnddd some are up to 40% off till February 14th for our Valentine's Sale (under the Sale tab on the site). Take advantage of this steal while they're available. Beautiful baubles, will you be mine?

continuing education

If you follow me in Instagram {MerrickJewels} you'll notice that I posted this picture last night from my day long jewelry class extravaganza. This time I'm not the teacher (like my jewelry classes at Safe Haven) but the student. There's something to learning new techniques that is so intimidating at first but invigorating once you dive in and get your feet wet. 

Small business owners and artisans - *note to self*. 

Now I have millions of ideas buzzing around in my head {a creative high}.

While at the University of Texas pursuing my art history degree, my mother insisted that I at least dabble in the jewelry metalworking class in the fine arts department at least while I was there (her knowing that jewelry was on the radar screen but not in the forefront and me thinking I wanted to own my own art gallery like Charolette in SATC...

source

but in reality I might have ended up like those caddy girls in Bravo's reality show "Gallery Girls" no thanks)...

source

I passed seeing as I couldn't fit the studio time into my busy junior schedule and focused more on being some frat guy's girlfriend (hehe my husband, Ryan) and attempting not to fail french. Je ne sais quoi... what I was thinking.

Now a bagillion years later here I am kicking myself and wishing I would have taken those classes. But better late than never dad gum it. Who am I kidding, 28 is not late... just seems late in hindsight. The exciting part is that I'm hoping to add some custom Merrick Jewels metal pieces to my designs. And who knows - when someone asks me if I made my WATCH... next time I might be able to say yes. 

:)

new pieces, new projects, new priorities

Wow, now that was a great staycation. I was MIA for what seemed to be weeks with no posts and hardly any activity in the studio. Once you put the guilt aside (I could be doing this, I should be doing that), taking a break from the daily grind is so beneficial - a great way to clear and rest the mind for more creativity to flow. I'm ready to work with a new palette of colors and materials. Yipeee! I was also ecstatic to see a full page spread 360 West Magazine  of our vintage chain and malachite bib necklace. So very rich.

As most of you experienced, we had a white Christmas in north Texas! I am always in awe of how this manages to happen what seems like every Christmas despite our very warm beginning to the winter season. Santa, is that you? The snow flurries were beautiful. Our relatives from Nebraska were expecting a break from snow but I believe they brought it with them.

For New Years Eve we did something that we have never done before and I'm in love, we stayed in. It was so amazing. We ordered some of my favorite take-out from the Chinese food restaurant in a gas station (don't judge, it gets great reviews on urbanspoon and I haven't died yet :), plus have any of you been to Chef's Pointe? I guess that's just how we do here in Texas) popped a bottle of bubbly at midnight and watched a marathon of our new favorite show till 2am. Completely blissful. And to boot I got up the next morning before 10am and ran 7 miles for my half-marathon training. This just does not happen people.

I'm very eager to see what 2013 will bring my business, family, and friends. Cheers.

Oh, and how could I forget! What's time off without starting another house project?? Some would argue otherwise... :) What is that I see?? A foyer reno?? Stay tuned for inspiration photos that caused this mess.

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excited for emerald

As some of you may already know emerald was named the pantone color of the year for 2013. Yes, yes, yes! I've been a fan of miss emerald for a while now. Malachite has always been one of my favorite stones and although seen as a more old fashioned stone (along with tiger's eye and lapis... what, what?) I'm in love. You can go from 0 to LUXE with a touch of malachite. Can't wait to see this color rockin' down the runway. Plus I think it compliments every hair color, no?

Merrick Jewels custom malachite and vintage chain bib necklace

Merrick Jewels jade and chrysoprase necklace

Time for me to go buy that malachite box I've been drooling over for a year now. 

Are you excited about emerald??

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seasonal sale featuring the Citadel necklace

Hello Monday! How's it going? As some of you are familiar, seasons in fashion are all out of wack. Resort collections prance down the runway in winter and designers start putting together their spring collections in late summer if not earlier. It's all topsy turvy. So, it was no surprise to be asked to participated in Sheridan French Spring 2013 look book photo shoot in late summer. I was thrilled and honored to have some pieces featured in the shoot. The feel was fun and playful yet terribly stylish with a ton of glamour. Not a huge shocker coming from miss Sheridan. Stay tuned here for the full release of her spring line. 

That being said I couldn't help but share one of my favorites from the shoot.  Styled with the flowy and fabulous Melissa dress in cornflower ikat (which if I were a betting woman I would guess it was named after our mutual friend and art expert, Melissa Flory Mathis), the Citadel necklace completes the perfect combo. Sheridan is not one to shy away from the brights and she makes the perfect marriage between neon yellow and vibrant blue ikat. I dig it. With six strands of hand-knotted neon crystals and a vintage Afghan silver pendant it's hard to miss. Take a closer look...

Yum.

And, good news! It also happens that this stunner is on sale here along with other goodies that are 50% off for our holiday sale. I can also see it styled with Olivia Palermo's neutral look for fall so no need to wait till warmer months to pick up this beauty. I'll fight ya for it...

Image via Sheridan French Spring 2013

i just want to chill out

Merrick Jewels Spring lovelies at FIG Market

horn bangles, coral, turquoise - can't stay away from these combos

October kicked my butt and I am officially ready to chill out. Field hockey games, TX/OU, 5 year anniversary (yowza), trunk shows, lost my furry friend Bowie, and FIG market really did me in. I'm pooped. 

Although a lot of work, market was great and I picked up a lot of amazing new stores! Merrick Jewels is coming to Kicks/Menlo Park, CA - The Alley/Boerne, TX - Meadow/San Antonio, TX - and Never Enough/St. Louis, MO. Love my new stores and I can't wait to send them new pieces for Spring '13. 

But seriously, I'm ready to chill out - like watching Bravo all day, organizing my nail polish, and starting DIY projects I won't finish kinda chill out. That sounds like a good time.

Another way I'd like to chill out is with some normal fall weather. Can a girl get a nice cool breeze so she won't be sweating in her riding boots?? Geez Texas, give the hot weather a rest. (I say that now, talk to me again when I'm coaching soccer in the middle of January during a very Texas arctic freeze where I can't feel any of my extremities and I will be begging for 80 degrees). I mean come on I want this...

via Pinterest

I know we are all yearning for this mystical fall weather especially since we are already being bombarded with Christmas music?? Yes, I am looking forward to Christmas and have already started brainstorming gifts (because most of them get ordered online anyway and that takes time) but I like Nordstrom's approach to the holidays. Take that retail. 

image via 

Here's to chilling out this week!

P.S. Apparently, it isn't fall until you've had a pumpkin spice latte. As a newbie to coffee drinking I admit I've never had one. (I know, I know, I know... it be cray cray) Is it your favorite fall bev??