Friday, December 30, 2011

Amaria's Best of 2011

This past year at Amaria has been a true joy! Loved every moment spent digging through our very favorite materials, dreaming up designs, and sharing the results. This year was all about combing the world's treasures for exciting inspiration!

Perhaps now is a nice moment to remember some of 2011's highlights: the giveaways, the shows, the favorite designs from the past twelve months. Hope you enjoy them again and happy New Year! May 2012 be as fruitful!

January giveaway- A great way to start the year! We had 74 entries!


Valentine's day giveaway- loved reading everyone's love stories! Such a treasure! This will definitely be a repeat for next year. So look out for the contest giveaway and I will need to find another beautiful necklace to giveaway.

Druzies.....I had fun finding druzies and incorporating them in necklaces. Druzy quartz are extraordinary crystals with the power to dissipate negative thoughts and emotions effectively radiating them away through many tiny points. These might appear in my shop again soon.


Art shows and festivals- I took a bit of a break from shows this year but will soon start applying again for shows this spring. I always have a blast meeting other artisans and customers. A lot of my customers inspire new designs and encourage me to continue designing.




Royal wedding day giveaway- Could not physically participate in Kate Middleton and Prince William's royal wedding but felt like celebrating by offering this necklace.


Bridesmaids earrings giveaway.... Had fun offering 5 pairs of these earrings to a bride to be!


Started playing with larger stones ......


Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year! See you again next year!

Love,
Ana Maria

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

New stones

New stones in the studio this week.....so excited!!! We have green amethyst, citrine, rock crystals, apatite, and black spinel. These stones are bigger than what I've worked on in the past. Looking forward to playing with these eye candies. If you need a custom order please feel free to contact me with your request!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Amaria Bridesmaids giveaway WINNER

Happy Monday everyone! I want to thank those that entered the contest. There were 167 entries for this contest!!!!! In the spring there will be another big contest like this one so stay tuned!!!!!

Now what everyone has been waiting for.......... the WINNER of the 5 pairs of bridemaids' earrings is Mandy from the blog Mandy and Justin! She has 3 days to respond. If not,,, another winner will be randomly chosen.

Thank you all again for entering!! Have a great day!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Victoire de Castellane



Loved this video about designer Victoire de Castellane.
Essentially self-taught, Victoire de Castellane designed costume jewelry for Chanel for fourteen years. In 1998 she joined Dior as the first Creative Director of their new jewelry department, a role she continues to this day. Her designs have mountings cast in solid silver according to classical tradition are disguised using a lacquering technique using various hues and textures.What do you think of her designer?

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Ira Glass on Storytelling


Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.
Saw this video on Dubuhdudesigns blog and it made me think of all my creative friends and entrepreneurs. Work through the gap my friends! Work through the gap! Thanks Ira Glass!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Bridesmaids earrings GIVEAWAY

Giveaway Details: Giveaway is open to U.S. Domestic only! For the giveaway, One winner will receive a set of  5 pairs of Aqua quartz glass and pearl earrings for their bridesmaids!! That’s right …  You can give FIVE of your bridesmaids earrings!
Look at more pictures on Etsy page.

To enter for a chance to win, simply comment on this post! You may comment as frequently as once per day through October 15, 2011 by 11:59 pm EST. You can ALSO do any of the following to increase your chances of winning:
Make sure to come back and leave a separate comment for EACH action you take. Please include links to your posts, tweets etc. when possible. Good luck!
*Email addresses in comments will ONLY be used to contact the winner.  They will not be shared with the public or used for promotional purposes. The winner will be announced on October 15, 2011.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Happy September!

Hello everyone it has been awhile since I have posted. Hope you are planning something special to do this labor day weekend!
I am offering FREE SHIPPING in the domestic United States. Please use coupon code FREESHIP11 at checkout. Enjoy!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding blog necklace giveaway WINNER

I would like to congratulate Jen Smith on winning the smoky quartz and pearl necklace! It must be her lucky day because it also happens to be her bday! Happy birthday Jen!
Thank you all for participating in the contest! Be on the lookout for the next giveaway! Hope you all have been watching the Royal Wedding! I have been busy posting links to pictures of the Royal Wedding on my facebook page. So much eye candy.......

Monday, April 25, 2011

Royal Wedding Day Giveaway

Since everyone is in Royal wedding mode I decided to join in by offering a giveaway this week.

 Oxidized sterling silver wire wrapped necklace with soft white pearls and faceted smoky quartz briolettes. Necklace measures approx. 16"L with 2" chain extension.

Mandatory entries:

  1. Become a facebook fan, tweet or facebook about this giveaway (leave a link with your post letting me know you've done so.
  2. Leave a comment below with your name and a way to contact you.
Extra entries: ( Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
  • share this giveaway on any other networking site, spread the word! More links - more chances to win !
Giveaway is domestic in U.S.! I will choose the lucky winner with random.org  after 12:00 am EST on April 30, 2011! I will contact the lucky person through the e-mail address given. If I won't hear back from the winner within 3 days, a new number will be chosen.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Bellaire Art Festival April 16, 2011

It is that time of year again! Bellaire Art festival time! The location is at Bellaire Park 7008 S. Rive Ave. from 9am to 5pm on Saturday. Mention this blog at the festival and get 20% off regular priced items. I look forward to seeing everyone out there!


View Larger Map

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at The Met

Wishing I could visit NYC for the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met from May 4 to July 31. It will include approximately 170 pieces, including clothing and accessories from the archives of the brand in London and the house Givenchy in Paris. Vogue Mexico reports:

The museum will be divided according to the ideas and concepts that inspired McQueen fashion. Romantic Gothic , for example, show his passion for history, the Victorian Gothic fascination with opposites like life and death or light and darkness. Romantic Nationalism reflect his interest in British and Scottish history; Romantic Exoticism that had influenced the designer cultures and faraway places as India and Japan, and Romantic Naturalism interest in wild nature, so evident in his latest collections of shoes “lobster” or printed fabrics with natural motifs and water.


 via Vogue Mexico



via New York The Cut

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Geodes and Druzies

Just breaking into some of my goodies I purchased at the last market.... Geodes and Druzies

Alleged power of the Druzy -
Druzy quartz are extraordinary crystals with the power to dissipate negative thoughts and emotions effectively radiating them away through many tiny points.

Send negative thoughts into the Druzy crystal and they will quickly disappear. The thoughts will be broken down into tiny, harmless snippets and flow away with so little power that they cannot infect another being.

Here are a couple of necklaces I have made and are currently in my Etsy shop....More to come soon....



Saturday, February 19, 2011

February Giveaway Winner

I would like to thank everyone for sharing such beautiful love stories on the blog. I truly had a difficult time choosing. I even had my husband read some of the stories and help me chose. Thank you for your story in particular Saretta. I will contact you directly for your physical address.

Please stay tuned as I will be sponsoring another giveaway soon. Thank you once again everyone for taking the time to share!!!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine Day Celebration Giveaway

This past weekend I watched two amazing movies that gave me butterflies in my tummy and made my eyes sweat. First one was

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button




And the second one was

Love In the Time of Cholera






I must say I am addicted to great love stories. In celebration of Valentine's day I would love to read your incredible love stories.

Depending on the love story that strikes me the most, I will giveaway this necklace below.

 It is a sterling silver wire wrapped necklace with faceted red tiger's eye and hematite accented with a sterling silver key and garnet alongside a heart with pyrite. Necklace measures approx.18"L. For more pictures of the necklace check out my Flickr. I will announce the winner on Friday 2/18/11.  Be sure to include your email address. Worldwide contest. Post stories in comments.

 Happy Valentine's day everyone!!! XOXO

Monday, January 31, 2011

Valentine's Day sale


Celebrating love in the month of February, I am running a Valentine's sale now till Feb. 14th. Just use coupon code VDAY11 at checkout for 20% OFF. Have fun finding something fabulous in the Amaria shop for yourself or someone you love!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Finkshop love



This past holiday season I needed some wardrobe help and turned to the artisans on Etsy. I searched the perfect shoe clips to change up my stiletto heels. I eventually landed on Finkshop's page and found some fabulous black crystal & seed bead on chiffon shoe clips. As you see in my personal photographs the clips added the extra glamour I needed for the shoe.  Love them!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Couture- Works of Art

Givenchy Spring 2011



Riccardo Tisci was inspired by the Japan's robot toys and the dancer Kazuo Ohno who developed the Ankoku Butoh-ha movement. One outfit required 2,000 hours of cutting and 4,000 hours of sewing.

Images provided by Givenchy via style.com
Kazuo Ohno 

Saturday, January 22, 2011

January Giveaway Winner

Drum roll please..... The WINNER of this fabulous necklace is JONI DEUTSCH! I will email you shortly for your address.
Thank you everyone for entering this month's giveaway! I appreciate all the wonderful comments about my work. Stay tuned for the new pieces being added to my shop soon.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Friday, January 7, 2011

January Giveaway


Happy New Year everyone! Wanting to start the new year on a good note, I have decided to have a giveaway..........
 
Oxidized sterling silver chain necklace with faceted smoky quartz briolette and pyrite. Necklace measures 16"L.  

Mandatory entries:
  1. Blog, facebook or tweet about this giveaway (leave a link with your post letting me know you've done so.
  2. Leave a comment below with your name and a way to contact you.
Extra entries: ( Leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
  • share this giveaway on any other networking site, spread the word! More links - more chances to win !
Giveaway is open worldwide! I will choose the lucky winner with random.org  after 12:00 pm EST on Jan. 21, 2011! I will contact the lucky person through the e-mail address. If I won't hear back from the winner within 3 days, a new number will be chosen.