Dandelion is proud to announce the arrival of another local artisan collection; Velvet Box. These handmade glass beads are designed to fit all of the popular add a bead style bracelet systems, including Pandora©, Chamilia©, and Troll©. The designer, Jennifer Pitts, draws her inspiration from her intuitive imagination, saying ” The road I travel each night as I drift off to sleep is paved with blown, blasted and cast glass and metal pieces that speak to the trials and tribulations we face today and celebrate the human potential for greatness, and I wake each morning with a renewed desire to make them a reality.” We definitely love the reality of her dreams!

As for the name, Velvet Box? John Pitts explains how “Jen didn't want just to make jewelry.  Many people have jewelry the throw in a drawer or box or hang it somewhere and it's never admired for its beauty.  She wanted to make a piece of art that the wearer had a connection with, something they cherished and treasured enough to keep somewhere special, like a velvet box. 

You can buy a bead anywhere but when we see people react to a piece of our work and form a little emotional attachment to it you didn't just connect with our work but with us as well.  That's our greatest reward and it sums up everything behind the company name.”

I think that’s something that all jewelry lovers can truly agree on!

As the entire Nation takes a hit with this recession, some people are asking whether this is legit or if it's all just a conspiracy.  Take a look at some recent findings about spending habits.  Whether you're out spending money on luxurious cars, expensive jewelry or recycling things you already have to make new creations, we can't help but wonder where this "recession" is really going.

Hey Big Spender -

It's not the $1.27 million diamond incrusted jeans we saw walk the runway during London Fashion Week (and even worse…that someone bought them!) that shocked us; but rather the $25,000 Frrrozen Haute Chocolate desert they're serving up at Serendipity 3 in NYC.

Now, everyone knows that life in general costs more in New York City, but seriously who would want to pay $25K to eat gold for desert, 24-karat edible gold to be specific.  I don't know about you, but I'd much prefer to wear a stunning gold necklace or 24-karat gold earring set on a few occasions than devour it in one sitting.

Here's a look at the delicacy in greater detail:
 
Five grams of edible 24-karat gold served in a goblet lined with more edible gold. If that's not enough, how about the 18-karat gold and 1-karat diamond bracelet waiting for you at the bottom of your dish? And did I mention it's topped with a powdered wig of whipped cream, covered in more gold and a side of Madeline au truffle (the most expensive mushroom in the world sold at 2,600 dollars a pound!).  To truly enjoy this one of a kind treat, eat with a gold spoon decorated with chocolate diamonds.   Is this for real?! Who orders this stuff?

Save-a-Lot - 

And then there's the flip side of the big spenders…those who turn whatever you find on the floor into funky fashion jewelry and wearable art pieces.  For the thrifty artisans out there, here's what we've found as some of the most surprising new fashion trends:

Take a peek at this incredible crayon necklace; but just remember this necklace can be an occupational hazard for example:

DO NOT WEAR WHEN: At a preschool, there is a very real possibility of being choked by 3 year olds NOR while in front of a large flame (melted wax is not a fashion statement I'd like to make).

DO WEAR IF: You're a person who looses your blue crayon often and find it essential to have it with you at all times!

Then I found this on www.playground-love.com and have to admit they are pretty awesome. I would wear most of the stuff, but this one is a little too far. I believe this one is called Junk Food Nation (again, there is the dangerous possibility of being attacked by toddlers at any minute while sporting this wacky necklace).   Call Miley Cyrus and tell her we've found her a more appropriate new style.

Don't get me wrong, I am all about personalized, sentimental fashion, but this is just too personal. It's like looking in someone's lingerie drawer or wearing your diary as a sort of avant-garde fashion piece.

Fashion and style is unique to the individual wearing it, but poor economy or not, we need to draw the line when choosing the best pieces of fashion jewelry to compete our look.