Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving. Everyone celebrates this holiday and it is a time for reflection on the wonderful blessings we have in our lives. I am personally grateful for much this year. My health and the health of my family, the ability to spread goodwill to others, my wonderful friends and family, my staff with which I could accomplish nothing without, all those who love and support my work, and above all, my incredible daughter, Olivia, who has taught me as much as I hope I have taught her.

Thank you all for being a part of this jewelry business with me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, I hope you have a fantastic holiday with those you love!

Best,

Amanda

CUSP

Since Fall 2006, CUSP from Neiman Marcus, has been a boutique with a to-the-point perspective. Their clients already know the right look of the moment and are eager to embrace what's next. They're still in love with the classics, but the CUSP girl knows it's the delicate balance between the radical and the refined that keeps her style on the CUSP. Amanda has designed 4 styles exclusively for CUSP. The Gable Choker, JB Earring, Currie Earring, & Blair Earring. Get yours before they're gone, they're the perfect accessory for all of those holiday parties!

Happy 4th Birthday, Olivia!

Little jewelry model

Today is Amanda's daughter Olivia's 4th birthday! In honor of our sweet little cupcake we are offering 40% off through midnight tonight, on the website on orders of $100 or more. Use the code "HBOLIVIA" at checkout. Happy Birthday, Liv!

The best little helper, ever!

Sneak Peek of Spring '11 at FIG Market

What do you guys think?

Oh Happy Day!!

We have two big celebrations going on in the office today...a birthday and bosses day! Actually both events are tomorrow but the celebrations start today...

A history of Boss's Day:
Patricia Bays Haroski registered "National Boss' Day" with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1958. She was working as a secretary in Illinois at the time and chose October 16 because she forgot that the birthday of her boss, who was also her father, was the 16th. Since, it has traditionally been a day for employees to thank their boss for being kind and fair throughout the year.
Thanks Amanda for being the best boss ever! Thank you for your kindness and generosity throughout the year and for making us feel like important parts of the team. We love you!


A history of Andrea Glanzer:
Andrea Lynn Glanzer was born on October 16, 1984. As a young child she enjoyed wrestling with her brother, cuddling with kittens, wearing visors and cleaning airplanes. Now as an adult she still enjoys cuddling with kittens, cooking delicious foods, weaving, and shopping/blacking out at Nordstrom Rack.
We love you Andrea, you make the office a cheery place! Have an amazing bday tomorrow!!

Employee Profile: Zachary

Hi, everyone! We'd like you to meet Zachary - our new intern here at Amanda Sterett Jewelry Design. Zachary comes to us from the Art Institute of Dallas as a Fashion & Retail Management major. We asked Zachary to answer our employee profile questions so you all can get to know him a little better!

What is your job at Amanda Sterett?
I am the fantastic new intern! :)

What is your theme song?
My theme song is "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morissette

If you could go anywhere in the world, free of cost, where would you go?
I would really love to go to Iceland. The weather is never hot, great shopping (I hear) and hot springs!

If you were stranded on an island, what three things would you want with you?
I'm practical! A knife, lots of matches and someone else to share in the experience.

What is the one article of clothing you can't live without?
I couldn't live without my Sperrys! They go with everything and are super comfortable.

What is your biggest fear?
I have a huge fear of hobos.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall?
Fall! Cool weather, changing leaves, apple cider!!

What gemstone are you?
Opal

What is your motto?
"Everything is going to be fine, fine, fine...because I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is giving a high five."

What is your favorite hobby?
I love to paint, shop, and eat

If you could spend a day with anyone - dead or alive - who would it be?
I would love to spend the day with Virginia Woolf. She is my inspiration and hero. I have a tattoo dedicated to her, lol.

Zachary hard at work tagging jewelry.

TGIF

Sundance Catalog, round 2

Annie Earring, red garnet/red ruby

We are proud to be a part of the prestigious Sundance Catalog for the second time! They have chosen some of our classic past gems: the Annie Earring & the Sophia swag earring. Be on the lookout for more Sundance jewelry from us, they can't get enough!

Sophia Earring, turquoise/green/red/orange

Looks We Love: Animal Prints

Sure, the trend of animal prints is nothing new, but this season it's back in all sorts of ways, and it's fierce. With this kind of edgy trend, edgy jewelry is a must - like mixing a lot of oxidized sterling silver with gold and pyrite. For those that aren't familiar, oxidized silver is basically just silver that has reacted with oxygen, and the result is a gunmetal color. The Jennifer Earrings, Pulsera Bracelet, Elle Earrings, and Katie Choker are all made of oxidized sterling silver material, and all look to die for with this trend. The Free People cardigan is good for those of you that want to take baby steps into the trend. It goes well with jeans, leggings, or a skirt with tights and boots. The chiffon blouse from Equipment is a classy and chic way to take this look. Pair it with the Sophia Earrings in pyrite to add some rockstar to your classic look. This See by Chloe crossbody purse is sold out at most places online, but you can find it here. It's a timeless bag that you will definitely get your money out of. Pair it with your everyday casual clothes, as well as stuff the strap into the bag and carry it as a clutch - adorable!

NYC Stone Buying Trip

Right around this time of year when the leaves are turning colors, and the air is getting cooler, Amanda is at her work bench and designing her next collection - Spring/Summer! This past weekend Amanda, and her assistant Andrea took to New York City to get some inspiration as well as search for the jewels and gems that make her collection so unique. Stones in lemon, turquoise, baby blue, chocolate and soft purples made their way back home with them in their suitcases. Amanda is now back, and hard at work designing a gorgeous collection that we can't wait to debut for you guys in January. Keep on the lookout for some sneak peaks!

Halls Best of the Best Party & Trunk Show

Last week we had our Halls trunk show in Kansas City. The night before the trunk show, Halls threw a "Best of the Best" private shopping party. The party was a celebration of style and a private night of shopping with 10% of purchases going to the United Way of Greater Kansas City Community Care Fund. The show was fabulous and fun - we always love seeing our friends at Halls!

Amanda is wearing the Gable choker and Amanda Fringe Hoop in pyrite.

Facebook Contest Winners

We are so thankful to everyone that participated in the Facebook NCAA contest. UT won with 10 votes, with TCU and Texas Tech tied for second with 5 votes each. These contests are so much fun for us and we love to see all of the enthusiasm! Amanda drew 5 UT fan's names out of a bowl and we have sent them their orange citrine Mini-Courtney hoops (pictured below). Stay tuned for our next contest, and tell your friends to become a fan of our Facebook page for future fun!

Attention College Football Fans!

Amanda is a HUGE football fan and in the spirit of the season, from now until end of day Monday, September 20th, comment on our post on our Facebook page with your favorite NCAA team. The most popular team's fan's names will be put into a bowl & we'll draw 5 names to receive a free piece of jewelry in their team's colors! What a way to represent your team! Guys should vote too, get your gals a gift and be a hero! Get friends to comment, share this link on your wall - all 'posters' must be fans to enter....GET TO COMMENTING!!!!

About Trunk Shows

A trunk show is a special event within the fashion world in which an artist or designer puts on a special display of his or her work for review by a select group of people, like a boutique or a division of a department store. They are referred to as "trunk shows" because a designer or sales rep will literally show up with a trunk of merchandise to show off. When Amanda has a trunk show, she too brings a trunk, filled with the entire current season's collection. This is an opportune time for customers to come and not only meet the designer, but also have their pick of the entire collection. Last week we had a trunk show at Louis Morgan in Amanda's hometown of Longview, TX and it was fabulous, as always! We have another trunk show this week at Melanie Gayle in Snider Plaza in Dallas. Melanie has been carrying Amanda's jewelry since 2005, and we always look forward to her events. Melanie Gayle Trunk Show: this Thursday & Friday from 10am to 6pm. Stop in and see all of the new fall product.

Leather Cuffs, Amanda, and Birthstone Necklaces @ Louis Morgan Trunk Show

Melanie, Amanda, & Andrea at a Melanie Gayle trunk show last Spring

Melanie Gayle/6818 Snider Plaza/Dallas, TX 75024/214.369.1700

The Women Behind the Breast Cancer Collection

Andrea from Amanda Sterett walking in the Susan G. Komen
Race for the Cure, which she does every year!

You all are now familiar with our Breast Cancer Collection, and how we're giving 20% of the proceeds to Breast Cancer Awareness & Research, but we wanted to give a little insight into the women behind the collection. Each piece is named after a woman that has battled the disease, and here is a little bit of information about each of these courageous women.

The Bev Hoop, a delicate huggie-style earring hand-wrapped with faceted pink quartz. This earring is in honor of Bev Sorenson, who was diagnosed in 2009 and is currently undergoing treatment.

The Bonnie Earring, a delicate linear earring of faceted pink opal. This earring is in honor of Bonnie Sheets, a 20-year breast cancer survivor.

The Bridgie Earring, a linear chain of four hand-wrapped circles with faceted drops of pink quartz. This earring is in honor of Dolores "Bridgie" Cowan, who was diagnosed at the young age of 29, and after undergoing treatment, was in remission for 10 years before it took her life at a young age of 41.

The Danielle Earring, a small hand-wrapped 14k gold-filled circle adorned with faceted pink quartz and pink opal. This earring is in honor of Danielle Miller, who was diagnosed in 2009, underwent treatment, and is now cancer-free today.

The Foster Hoop, a 14k gold-filled hoop hand-wrapped with: pink opals, pink quartz, and 14k gold-filled frosted beads. This earring is in honor of Claire Foster, a dear friend to Amanda and her family, who was diagnosed at the age of 81 in 2002 and after undergoing treatment, is free of breast cancer today.

The Monica Earring, a small stone of pink opal nested in 14k gold-filled wire. This earring is in honor of Monica Taylor, who has been cancer-free for a year.

The Virginia Earring, a faceted stone of pink opal wrapped with pink garnets. This earring is in honor of Virginia Adams, Amanda's grandmother, who was diagnosed and battled breast cancer during her life.

The Debbie Necklace, a delicate chain made of hand-wrapped pink quartz dropped with a pink opal pendant wrapped in faceted pink quartz. This necklace is in honor of Deborah Stephens who was diagnosed October of 2009 and is currently undergoing treatment.

The Maria Necklace, a delicate necklace of hand-wrapped faceted stones of pink quartz on a 16" 14k gold-filled chain. The necklace is in honor of Maria Melgarejo, who was diagnosed early in 2008 and passed away just before Thanksgiving in November of 2009.

The Tara Necklace, a delicate 14k gold-filled chain with a small hand-wrapped 14k gold-filled circle adorned with faceted stones of pink quartz. This necklace is in honor of Tara Hohenberger, dear friend to Amanda, who has survived breast cancer at the age of 35 and has been cancer-free for one and a half years.

Looks We Love: Jewel Toned Velvet

We’d like to think that this fabulous fall trend is inspired by the tones and rich colors found in the latest Amanda Sterett Collection. With its usage of deep tones like red garnet, pyrite, olive pearl, and onyx it perfectly coincides with the Jewel Toned Velvet trend. Velvet dates back to the 1300’s and is traditionally associated with the noble and elegant, but velvet can also be edgy.

Take the royal blue velvet blazer from Juicy Couture. It instantly adds some depth and texture to an ordinarily plain outfit. Put on the Tina earrings of blue moonstone and you have a dramatic and sophisticated day look. To take it to a night-time look, add the Gable Choker in chunky chains and edgy stones.

If you want to just ease yourself into the velvet trend, these House of Harlow ballet flats are a great embellishment to jeans and a plain t-shirt. Don’t forget the Annie olive pearl and pyrite earrings to further spice things up.

The Brian Lichtenberg leopard print red velvet dress is for those risk-taking fashionistas. It mixes together two fabulous trends this fall, velvet and animal print (which we’ll talk about later!). To be worn only with the black Grace Earrings, they’re the perfect dramatic match!

The Free People Foliage Dress shows the sweet side of this trend. It goes wonderfully with the Emma Necklace, a beautiful harp-harped treasure, and with the Alexander Wang Duffel as a cross-body bag.

So whether you’re sweet, edgy, elegant, or it just depends on the day, velvet can be an easy addition to your wardrobe. Just make sure you’re adorning it with some complimentary rich toned baubles!

Looking for Interns

Introducing the Breast Cancer Collection

Everyone knows an individual who has been affected by breast cancer in some form. According to research, 1 in 8 women (roughly 14%) will have breast cancer during their lifetime. In 2009, 40,170 women were expected to die. This number has been decreasing since 2009 due to treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness. Although Amanda has never been infected with breast cancer, a few of her loved ones have, as well as those close to her family and friends. This is her opportunity to remind others how important it is to remember we can help!

Each piece of this collection is named in honor of a woman that has battled Breast Cancer, hand-made in pink opals, pink quartz, and 14k gold-fill. 20% of proceeds from each piece sold from this collection will go to Breast Cancer Awareness & Research. Check out the entire collection here.

Maria Necklace
Delicate princess necklace in 14k gold-fill with faceted pink quartz.

Latest Collection Up!

It's almost that time of year: fall. I know it probably doesn't seem like it will ever get here, with the over 100 degree weather we've been having here in Dallas, but its spirit, or at least its jewelry, is upon us. We've launched our latest collection to the Amanda Sterett website. The look is edgier with emphasis on large earrings and full necklaces, with options of delicate and drapey designs for the neck. Check out the website and let us know what some of your favorites are!

Veronica Earrings, gold/greens/pyrite

Thank You to Fans

As a thanks to all of you for voting for us for Best Jewelry Designer in D Magazine’s Best of Big D 2010 we’d like to offer you something special. From August 2nd to midnight on August 8th use coupon code BESTOFDALLAS2010 to get 30% off of your entire order. The new fall collection is out now, so stock up on gifts, party jewelry, and everyday essentials while this fabulous deal is going on. Thank you again, you guys are the best!

As of today, our latest collection is available on our website, go check it out and take advantage of this awesome discount!

Tina G Visits Dallas

Last week we had the pleasure of finally meeting one of our amazing customers/accounts, Tina. tina g, LLC was founded in June 2009 by Tina Guerra, a graduate gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America. Her boutique is currently serving the Rio Grande Valley with excellent personal shopping and service. Check out her website here and follow her on Facebook, here!

The gang at Sfuzzi, yum!

Clockwise from top right: Tina, Jordan, Amanda, Catherine Page (fellow Dallas jewelry designer and collection at tina g), Andrea, & Ashley (one of our lovely showroom girls)

Tina, Jordan, Amanda

Tina shopping from our latest collection with Amanda!

Birthstone Series

In Spring/Summer 2010 Amanda Sterett debuted her brand new Birthstone Series. Since then the necklaces have been a staple in our day to day wardrobe. They consist of a small, hand-wrapped circle adorned with your month's stone selection. You can wear one, or many charms for your kids, significant other, grandkids, the possibilities are endless! At only $95, it's an affordable yet elegant day-to-day piece. Necklaces come with one charm, and additional charms are $40. Check them all out here!

July Necklace

Fabulous Facebook Fans

In correlation with our fabulous press this month, and our awesome Facebook fans (that's you!) we are having a secret code just for you guys. "JULYFBFAN" gets your 20% off the Polly earring featured in InStyle this month and the Delaney Earring featured in Cosmopolitan. Hurry, the code expires next Friday, July 16th.

Polly Earring, gold/pearl as seen in InStyle Magazine

Delaney earring as seen in Cosmopolitan Magazine

Bi-Annual Donations Report

Giving back to our community is a huge priority here at Amanda Sterett Design. We typically donate to over 40 organizations a year, and this year has been no different. In the past six months alone we have donated over 45 pieces to local charities and organizations! Check out our website for an itemized list of our charities and organizations. We are updating them daily!

Amanda & her friend Jamie at the

12th Annual Dallas Stars/Park Place

Dealerships Casino Night

supporting the Dallas Stars Foundation

Passion Pit

Last night the AS Team took a trip down to South Dallas to the Palladium Ballroom for the Passion Pit Concert. It was to say the least, amazing. Check out some of our favorite songs from last night.

It's A Mess

Well I think the title says it all, it's a mess in here! We are all trying to work in our own mounds of papers, jewelry, and coffee cups. Lupe finished painting up the office and other than the mess it is looking fabulous. We're off running errands today getting new things to organize and revamp our space. Look for new desks and rearranging in the near future, wish us luck!

To everyone in Dallas, hope to see you at the Passion Pit concert tonight!

Presskit Friday!

Aside from re-modeling our studio we are also in the thick of getting our lookbook out to stores and press! While we've got a lot of addressing and stamping to do we hope you are gearing up for a relaxing summer weekend!!!

Remodeling and Renewing

We had been on the search for a new office for a while, when our perfect new office was just down the hall. So now we will be occupying two offices in our building. We are growing everyday! We are remodeling and renewing the offices, starting of with a much needed change: new paint! I can't wait to see how great and sophisticated our new offices are going to look when we're done. We will definitely keep you updated on our renewing process as it goes!

Cosmo & InStyle July 2010 Press

We are so excited that we are in two major publications for the month of July!! Cosmopolitan has featured the Delaney Earring, and InStyle has featured the Polly Earring in gold/pearl. Woo hoo!

Dallas Market Day 1

Today is the first day of Dallas market at the Fashion Industry Gallery introducing our latest: Collection 2010, Part II. So far it's going great! We have a wonderful spot in the Thirty2Thirty showroom, and the girls adorned the table with some gorgeous flowers. The weather is pretty gloomy in Texas today, but at least we have the rich colors of the jewels to brighten our day.

Our setup

Sun and Swim

This Texas weather is getting hotter by the day, that means swimsuit season is upon us. While shopping online during our lunch breaks we have found some of the cutest swimsuits known to man. According to our Facebook fans, jewelry with bikinis are a must (we think so, too!). Here are some of our floral favorites, along with the jewelry we think should be rocked with them.

Anthropologie's Mai Tai Bikini, with Olivia Hoop gold/pink opal.

Free People's Cottage Rose Bikini, with Taylor large/gold earrings.

Maya Napali Coral Ruffle Bikini, with large silver Angela Hoop.

Good thing jewelry never makes you look fat! After all the swimsuit shopping, I think it's time for us to go and work out now....

Hello, Real Simple!

We are so excited to announce our latest press, in the prestigious Real Simple magazine! Its beautiful pages have everything from fashion, to recipes, to home decor and entertaining. This editorial is breathtaking and our "Elsa" earrings in turquoise just look gorgeous! Turquoise really is the best summer gemstone, don't you think? You've got to check out the magazine, on newsstands now!

Check out the Elsa earrings, here.

A Note from Amanda

Hi all!

For those of you who find these updates interesting, I just wanted to share that we have completed- and are currently having photographed my latest collection, Fall/Holiday 2010. We took the brand new collection to NY this past May 3-5 and it had an outstanding reception from all clients. This was our strongest market EVER, and the response was positive, energetic, and self-fulfilling for me. Stores seem to be performing well with it- selling out of their stock quickly, following a very strong series of trunk shows (we actually conducted 15 major events between markets in Atlanta, Dallas, and NYC, and our store's trunk shows since the beginning of January, in just 4 months). Atlanta is a new market for us, which we will be participating in 5 times per year with Ambrosia & Co., in addition to our 5 Dallas markets, with Thirty2Thirty, and 3 New York shows per year (independently). I am wiped, to say the least, but am definitely seeing the rewards of all the hard work from all of us here, including our jewelry makers (3, of which are brand new), Jordan, and Andrea, my assistants who literally hold me up, and Jessica, our public relations representative.

Of all the amazing highlights of the recent NY show, I have to say, when the Cosmopolitan Accessories Director, Brooke Lucks, walked into my booth with my earrings on and stating what a huge fan she was, I was reminded why I work so hard! Which brings me to thanking Jessica George, my public relations representative, who has also been a busy bee, getting us into tons of local press, InStyle (several times), and coming up, Cosmopolitian, Real Simple, and InStyle (they love us)!

Andrea Glanzer, Jordan May, Jessica George, and all of our workers are constantly reminded how important they are to me, our now flourishing business, and in the general karma of Amanda Sterett Jewelry Design, LLC. I can design and create an amazing piece of jewelry, but these women are the reason for our forwarding success. I toast them, daily!

So cheers to all of us: the fans, family, and friends- stores who represent us, the workers to make all the pieces, and everyone who truly support and believe in my work.

It would not be possible without you,
Amanda

Best of Big D 2010

We are all so excited here around the studio! Amanda just left for ENK Accessories Circuit in NYC to launch our fabulous new Fall collection, and we've been nominated in the Best Jewelry Designer category for the Best of Big D 2010 in D Magazine. Voting starts today, and you can vote every day, until May 16th. We feel so honored, this is obviously because we have the best fans and stores in the world! Thanks for being so supportive of us and thank you for voting!

Click here to VOTE!

Naming Contest Winner: Tina!

Congratulations Tina! We put all the name suggestions in a bag and picked one at random. We think Tina fits just perfectly with this earring! Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions, we will be sure to use them in naming the rest of our latest collection. We loved all of the participation in this contest, and can't wait for the next one...

It's time to shed some light on The Shak!

Melissa Geiser so generously bought my jewels for The Shak, Stanley Korshak, Fall, 2007. Since then, it has grown tremendously- thanks to the team at The Shak, all of our wonderful events, and the simple fact that my jewelry and the clothes go hand-in-hand. I should mention, Shannon Moore and I ran around together in college (uh oh) and are happy to be reunited through this fantastic store and honored to be amongst her unique clothing finds (she is the buyer for The Shak). So, I thank everyone involved in assisting our line to grow, flourish, and succeed at The Shak- and a special thank you to Melissa Geiser and Andrea Murray for discovering and investing in our jewelry collection. Here's to everyone at Stanley Korshak and The Shak- cheers to a fantastic couple of years and heres to many more! We are very much looking forward to our party tomorrow night with Abi Ferrin! Cheers!" -Amanda

Trunk Show
Friday, April 16th 11am to 4pm
Saturday, April 17th 11am to 4pm