Bridal Giveaway and Holiday Trunk Show

This wasn't always the case, but I just love weddings. My wedding day was beyond magical - a blur of family, friends, music, laughter, and tears. I remember my favorite accessory from my wedding: the pearl earrings that my husband gave me in December 2002, the anniversary of our first year of dating. Whenever I look at those earrings, I remember the best day of my life. That's why I was so excited to do a bridal giveaway on www.mariellehayes.com last week. Every bride should have that one special piece of jewelry for her wedding day. For my giveaway, one lucky bride would win just that: a custom-designed necklace to complement her dress. And, what a great response from so many brides! Thank you all so much for entering and taking the time to visit my site. I am so happy and excited for Jane, from Fairfield, California - the giveaway winner! I can't wait to design a special piece just for her wedding day.

And, the giveaways don't stop: stay tuned for a special Valentine's Day 2010 giveaway. This giveaway will be for everyone, so keep checking the blog for details!

Also last week was the great holiday trunk show at Zindagi Salon in SF. It was such a fun night: wine, hors d'ouevres, fudge, jewelry, art, and more. There was a terrific turnout, which meant a lot of exposure for NovemberThirteen Jewelry LLC. Thanks to everyone who turned out to lend their support, and the great people at Zindagi Salon for being terrific hosts. The holiday shopping season is in full swing, folks, and this jewelry designer is getting in the spirit! This really is the best time of year.

That's it for now. As always, the jeweled life is a fabulous life.

Until next time,
Nicole

The Very First . . .

My first blog, and I have to say - I am very excited!

It has taken almost ten months to launch my company, NovemberThirteen Jewelry LLC, but it has been well worth the wait. What began as a form of therapy to help me overcome some of life's obstacles has taken on a life of its own. I discovered a passion I never knew I had and a deep sense of fulfillment from creating beautiful things.

From my kitchen table, I launched a dream I never knew I had. And, there's no turning back now.

On this blog, I plan to share my experience with all of you -- the trials and tribulations of starting a new business, on my own, totally from scratch; the newest trends in gems, stones, and chain; the latest creations from NovemberThirteen Jewelry LLC; events where you can check out my designs; and so much more.

So -- for my first big lesson learned along the way: in the jewelry biz, pictures are absolutely essential. My attempts at capturing my pieces on film were disastrous, and I quickly realized I needed help. Enter: my neighbor and friend, Marielle Hayes - the genius behind the pictures you see here and all the pictures on www.novemberthirteenjewelry.com. Marielle is a professional photographer extraordinaire, and within mere hours, had styled, posed, and snapped her way into my deepest gratitude. Marielle's bridal and other work can be seen on her web site at www.mariellehayes.com (you can link from here). And for you brides out there, stay tuned for a fantastic giveaway from NovemberThirteen Jewelry LLC on Marielle's site.

And, as for events, well . . . there's a big one on Friday, December 4! Check out the latest NovemberThirteen Jewelry LLC designs featured at the holiday trunk show at Zindagi Salon, 55 Grant Ave, San Francisco, California from 6-9 pm. I'd love to see my locals there!

That's it for now. I can't wait to see what the future holds. Thanks so much for all the support. One thing I know to be true: the jeweled life is a fabulous life.

Until next time,
Nicole