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Birthstone Jewels (You'll Actually Love!)
Astrology is meaningful to a lot of people...but coming across an on-trend piece of Birthstone jewelry has been, in past, quite tough. Luckily, there are plenty of ideas out there now to choose from!
Birthstone Jewelry | Jewelry Blog | Cool Birthstone Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry
For those of you who reach for the cosmic...you can now make it a keepsake.
 
Here are 12 jewels by month that you will *actually* want to wear, I promise!
**
January: Garnet
Modern Garnet Bar Earrings | Laura James Jewelry
February: Amethyst
Amethyst Birthstone Jewelry | Astrology Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog
March: Tourmaline
Tourmaline Necklaces | Birthstone Jewelry | March Birthstone |Astrology Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry | Jewelry Blog
April: Diamond
Catbird Rosecut Diamond Stack Ring $438
Catbird Rose Cut Diamond Ring | Birthstone Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog
May: Emerald
Emerald Studs by Embers $68
Artisan Emerald Stud Earrings | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Birthstone Jewelry | Emerald Earrings
June: Pearl
Modern Pearl Earrings | Gold Pearl Dangles | Birthstone Jewelry Pearl | Pearl Girl | Laura James Jewelry
July: Ruby
Jaipur Ruby Bracelet $675
Ruby Birthstone Jewelry | Ruby Bracelet | Laura James Jewelry Blog
August: Peridot
Vermeil Peridot Ring by ToOriginal $38
Birthstone Peridot Ring | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Peridot Birthstone
September: Sapphire
Sapphire Charm Ring by Sachi $273
Sapphire Birthstone Ring | Sapphire Stack Ring | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Birthstone Jewelry
October: Opal
Opal Stud Earrings by A Sweet Pear $330
Opal Stud Earrings | Birthstone Opal Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry Blog
November: Citrine
Pearl Citrine Drop Earrings | Citrine Birthstone Jewelry | November Birthstone Jewelry | Laura James Jewelry
December: Turquoise
Turquoise Vermeil Diamond Studs by LA Kaiser $85
Turquoise Stud Earrings | Laura James Jewelry Blog | Turquoise Birthstone | December Birthstone
These aren't your average Birthstone Jewelry options, right?! So many pretties to choose from. Enjoy...and love that you can wear your birthstone with excitement :).
xox-Laura
photos by artists listed
The Creative Brain

There is nothing more fun to me than being in the "Zone".

The feeling of creative flow for me is just like no other! When I am in this space, I can and only want to create all day long. Inevitably, I do have to stop at some point to take care of the people in my life...but, at times I really think I could just keep going for days! Especially because this state of mind isn't always readily available.

Creatives can be lauded for their talents, but what so many people don't know is that it can take days or weeks (or longer!) for a single creative idea to come through. These are the times when I get out rather than try to push through. I look for inspiration in other mediums like visiting the local art gallery or simply just getting outside. Nature and Architecture are both are huge sources of inspiration for me, and luckily are all around. 

When I recently returned from a nice long sabbatical to the Beach, it was completely necessary that I took that break. I didn't even try to think about creating. I was just soaking up the sun, the sand, the salt, my daughter and my family. It was amazing. But, it was eventually time to return to my craft. 

Now, here I am, finally caught up at last with my life that was on hold while I was away... and I had maybe my most creative idea in a very long time. I am really just so excited with the direction my mind went this week when I looked at a tray of semiprecious Watermelon Tourmaline and Aquamarine stones. I have had these stones for...ages. I have not known what I was going to do to really showcase their beauty, until this week. 

Introducing...my latest Semiprecious Bar Collection!

Gold Bar Necklaces with Semiprecious Stones by Laura James Jewelry

What do you think? Just plain yummy, right?!

I am so glad I took that break so that my brain could come up with these fresh new designs. Available very soon...just in time for the Holidays :).

Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!

xo-Laura

 

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
Favorite Jewelry Staples from Laura James Jewelry
Over the years, I have found that one of the main questions I am most asked is..."what is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?"
For me, this is a hard one to answer! Pretty much each piece of jewelry that I own is special to me for its own reason. It marks certain occasions like birthdays or graduations, or the giver was special to me...or it may have marked a time of success in my life and I purchased it to reward myself.
Whatever the reason, each piece has its own special story.
This photo above shows a few of my current faves...the pieces I pretty much rarely take off these days.
The channel set diamond band was a very special gift from my husband to celebrate the birth of our daughter, Lila Lewellyn three years ago... I love that it keeps her near me all day long and I wear it next to my wedding band.
This delicate, rose gold necklace with the bezel set solitaire stone is something I recently created and added to my jewelry line as an answer to an everyday necklace you could wear from the Yoga studio to the Pool. A piece with a little sparkle that you could layer with your other necklaces...and not have to take it off for any reason. As a result, I rarely am without mine!
And, of course, this framed photo as we exited our wedding reception nearly 12 years ago. Not an actual piece of jewelry, though the frame is so pretty it should be! A wonderful reminder of the excitement we felt, the elation of being with all of our loved ones that came so far to see us wed, and the anticipation of what lay before us in the new life we would be building together.
Like a song, photographs and jewelry are closely tied together for me. They are my memory markers that I can always rely on whenever I want to take that trek down Memory Lane.
What are your jewelry staples and why?
xox-Laura
"Extra Special" is The Jewelry Trend

Jade Jagger Carved Sapphire Ring

Year after year we swing back and forth from "SILVER is the new Gold!" or "Delicate Jewelry is IN for Spring!" however, this trend is the one I am most excited about. In fact, to me, it's not a trend at all. It's just finally gained more momentum because Art Jewelry is now more available and important than ever before.

Art translates in a very different way from a Trend...it's personal. Like a painting that grabs you the moment you see it, that's is what we're talking about- that "Extra Special" jewelry trend. 

It's Attachment. Jewelry that speaks to you when you see it. Moves you. Maybe it's a sentimental piece, maybe it was made by someone that you know...or maybe it's a reason you can't even explain.

Here are a few examples of jewelry that speaks to me:

Carved Gemstone Rings by Jade Jagger

Jade Jagger Carved Emerald Ring

 

Enamel Earrings

Turquoise Enamel Diamond Earrings Teardrop on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

 

A Vintage French Buckle Ring

French Diamond Gold Buckle Ring on the Laura James Jewelry blog

Monica Sordo Stone Choker

Art Jewelry by Monica Sordo Agate Choker Necklace on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

Gold Gryphon Cuff Bracelet by Sopho Gongliashvili

Gryphon Gold Cuff Bracelet by Sopho Gongliashvili on the Laura James Jewelry BlogSopho Gongliashvili Gryphon Bracelet

 

 

And there ya have it...a few of the many Extra Special pieces of jewelry out there that inspire me. That I would love to have...That I will keep on my running Wish List!

How about you? What are some pieces of jewelry that move you?

xox-

Laura

 

Three Summer Jewelry Trends You Need to Know About!
Three Must Have Summer Jewelry Trends for 2016

Cheers, everyone! Summer 2016 will be here before we know it!

For those who want to know what to rock from the Pool to the Party, these top three jewelry trends should keep us all on point. Check out Style360's top three "Defining trends for 2016"...

Trend No. 1: Keep it casual

With the importance of athleisure in Americans’ wardrobes, jewelry selections have become a lot more casual. Why? When you’re wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt, big diamond jewels could look a bit out of place. Consider Kate Hudson’s new line of athleisure clothing dubbed Fabletics, and last week Royersford, Pa.–based jeweler Cathy Calhoun told me that many of her clients “don’t dress up as much.” The appropriate jewelry to wear? Think stackable bands with small stones and a smaller profile, wearables such as Fitbits or a sporty watch, or even charms, cabochon-cut gemstones, and signet rings.

Trend No. 2: Boho chic

We can thank all the 1960s- and 1970s-inspired attire on fashion runways in recent years for the plethora of fringe, feathers, beads, and turquoise motifs that followed. Plus, the annual music fair Coachella (happening now), with its earthy vibe and setting in Indio, Calif., has become such a scene that many celebrities are now paid by brands to attend. Boho-chic jewelry includes silver and turquoise, feathers, and long beads or necklaces.

Trend No. 3: Chokers and collar necklaces

Thanks to recent red carpet looks and runways shows in which designers dressed models in myriad necklaces, the style has finally gotten some major attention. Jewelry designers have responded accordingly with lots of new offerings aiming to adorn the neckline—which is fun for jewelry lovers to embrace after years of big cuffs and dangling earrings.

 

Enjoy and Happy Summer!

xox-Laura

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