Little Victoria Design Jewelry Review

A few months ago, I featured the Etsy shop Little Victoria Design. The seller, Carol, sent me some jewelry as a thank you. I meant to review it shortly thereafter, but it never happened. Well, what she sent me worked great for Halloween, so I wore it a lot last month!

I received the above necklace with a matching bracelet, as well as two wide elastic hair ties/bracelets, one neon orange and the other baby pink. I wore the set with my "Nothing scary 'bout the Holy Ghost" shirt from The Covenant Gear.

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*Carol is so sweet and generous! You can tell she puts a lot of thought and love into her pieces.
*The style is simple and classic.
*The jewelry is comfortable to wear. I usually avoid bracelets because I have a small wrist, but this one didn't bother me.
*I like that the hair ties double as bracelets. So much cuter than wearing a regular elastic band!

Frowns
*Not a huge fan of bright/neon colors, but there lots of other lovely colors in her shop.

Check out Little Victoria Design for more darling and unique pieces!

Featured Seller: Carol of Little Victoria Design

It has been nearly a year since I've posted a feature on an Etsy seller! I'm starting it up again with Carol of Little Victoria Design. 

I make jewelry and hair accessories. It's something I started near the end of my first maternity leave. I wasn't too familiar with Etsy until I was shopping for wedding and baby items.

I am always trying new ideas. When I noticed many young girls do not have pierced ears, I started adding options for clip-on earrings to the shop. I will also have an option for non-metal earrings soon.

My shop caters to all ages. You can shop for yourself, your daughter, your grandma, or whomever.

Check out Little Victoria Design for more lovely and quirky jewelry! You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Featured Seller: Danielle from Anchored Archer

It's been a while since I've done a feature! This week's featured seller is Danielle from Anchored Archer.

My passion for jewelry began when I was a child roaming through antique stores with my mom every weekend. Being no more than three feet tall at the time, the only thing at eye level was the dazzling displays of fine jewelry.

I've always been in motion and in search of a creative outlet. I've experimented with and taken classes in every genre of craft and arts possible, including painting, drawing, sewing, crocheting, and photography. While I enjoyed all of these crafts, I never really felt satisfied and I still needed a way to keep my hands busy when I got home from my day job as a mechanical engineer. This mindset is what eventually brought me to jewelry design.

A strong believer in DIY with a deep curiosity for discovering how things are made, I dove head first into jewelry making desiring to make my own versions of gorgeous items I coveted in magazines. What began as a small hobby has become a serious labor of love. My analytical and detail oriented background has given me the ability to teach myself techniques as I've needed them and to find new and inventive ways to apply my inspiration.

My work is inspired by many vintage themes, from intricate Victorian fashion to the natural swirling forms of art nouveau architecture. My ideas take these grand, romantic themes and traditional techniques and make them relevant to today's modern fashion.

For a full portfolio of Danielle's work, visit her Etsy shop or Anchoredarcher.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter (@anchoredarcher). New customers can use the coupon code BLOGFREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $30.

Bible Bands Rubber Band Jewelry Book Review

If you have a girl, then you are probably familiar with the current rubber band loom jewelry fad. I was asked to review a new rubber band jewelry how-to book: Bible Bands by Katreina Eden. It contains 13 Christian-based designs, such as Joseph's coat of many colors. Each design includes illustrated instructions, extra tips and tricks, and a Bible passage to explain the inspiration for the design.

I asked my 12-year-old sister-in-law for help with the review since I do not have a loom. She made these two designs and shared with me her thoughts:

"Living Waters of Everlasting Life"

"God Created the Beautiful World for Me"

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*The instructions are easy to follow, and colorful photos for every step are included.
*The designs are very enjoyable and addicting to make!
*There are designs appealing to young boys as well.
*The designs relate to specific verses or stories from the Bible that reach across all Christian denominations.
*Makes a great after-church activity or religious gift!

Frowns
*Designed exclusively for the Rainbow Loom brand, with some patterns requiring two looms.

Get your Bible Bands book today through Amazon so your kids can start making this fun faith-based rubber band jewelry!

The Indian Bazaar $10 Store Credit Giveaway [CLOSED]

I am pleased to welcome back Vishruti and host another giveaway for her second shop, The Indian Bazaar, for which one of you will win $10 store credit!

You may have already met me from my Indian journal giveaway here, but for you new readers, my name is Vishruti and I am from Mumbai. The Indian Bazaar started almost a year ago, and so far it has gained a loyal customer base that I am very proud of. The shop is aimed to become your one-stop shop for all things Indian--from Indian bindis to organic Ayurveda incenses. 

The items in my shop are a beautiful mix of vintage, supplies, and handmade Indian products. If you don't find what you are looking for or see something you like in my sold orders, please do not hesitate to contact me! I welcome bulk orders and custom orders too, so please tell me if you have any requirements for party favors, reselling at fairs and conventions, stocking in art and culture shops, etc.

Vishruti sent me some incense and this lovely canvas clutch wallet:

Smiles
*I'm not a fan of incense (or 99 percent of most scents, for that matter), so I had my friend who loves incense review it. She says the aroma is sweet and pleasant.
*The clutch wallet is great because it has two large pockets, where I can put my phone; small pockets for credit or business cards, which fit perfectly; and a loop for carrying a pen. I also love the snap closure to ensure nothing will fall out. It's a great little clutch for when you just need your essentials. The little bird on it is super cute too!
*Nice variety of items in the shop.
*Great customer service.

Frowns
*I'm one of the few people who still carry change, and there is no place for keeping coins in this wallet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mom Daughter Craft Crocheted Necklace Giveaway [CLOSED]

When Sophia contacted me about doing a giveaway, I checked out her shop, Mom Daughter Craft, and the crocheted necklaces immediately caught my eye. I especially loved this one:

So Sophia made me one to review:

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*Beautiful, one-of-a-kind design.
*Fashionable.
*Lightweight.
*Easy to put on.
*Friendly, honest seller with great customer service!

Frowns
*Moves around easily, so I had to frequently fix it.

 A little about Sophia:

I opened the shop on Etsy last summer and do not sell anywhere else. I was inspired by my daughters and my grandchildren who live naturally on the Internet, have friends, work, and do many more things online. I thought to myself, "Why can't I start my own online journey, which would combine my hobby and new things I can learn in the process!"

So, I started my adventure on Etsy. Although it has been a year, I still feel myself as a newbie here - so many more things to learn! But I enjoy doing what I like and hope many people will!

One of you lucky readers will win any crocheted necklace of your choice! This giveaway is open worldwide.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vintage Vandu Pink Bangle Bracelets Rafflecopter Giveaway [CLOSED]

Although I don't know a lot about Indian culture, there are many things about it I appreciate, such as the beautiful bright colors. So when Vishruti approached me about doing giveaways for her shops and her mother's, I thought it would be a great learning experience for me. First is the vintage shop Vintage Vandu by her mother, Vandana.

I am Vandana, proud mother of 3 absolutely brilliant children who are unique and all similar in a way. I live in Mumbai, India, with my son. I am also a U.S. resident and visit my daughter in Chicago twice a year. My life has been pretty colorful, adventurous, and triumphant through major ups and downs, I must say! My Etsy shop started with a lot of nudging, coaxing, and persuading by my daughter who owns three shops on Etsy and is learning more each day while trying to teach me the ropes too.

I have been an air hostess (flight attendant) of India's two most prestigious airlines of my times. During my high flying career of 16 years, I collected various beautiful items from different parts of India and from all over the world. My penchant for exquisite fashion developed as my eyes saw varied beauty not just in India but also abroad. 

After leaving flying, my keen sense of fashion inspired me to open a boutique for exclusive custom-made dresses. I worked with authentic artisans who did unique and traditional Indian hand embroidery and machine embroidery on the best quality fabrics and garments. All the dresses were one-of-a-kind pieces. 

My Etsy shop is a direct extension of all these beautiful and treasured items for so many years. Most of the items are from 1978 to 1999. Please get in touch with me if there is something that you need or you think that I may have!

One of you readers will win a set of 6 vintage pink bangle bracelets in my first Rafflecopter giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Glamorous Sparkle Pale Pink Earrings Giveaway [CLOSED]

Annika of Glamorous Sparkle asked me to host a giveaway for her beautiful jewelry and sent me a lovely necklace. I was stunned by its beauty when I received it. It was even prettier than it looked in the photo!

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*Gorgeous color!
*High quality chain.
*Perfect for a night out or even dressing up a casual look.
*Great customer service.

Frowns
*Although I love pink, half the jewelry items are in that color, so I would like to see more color variety.

A little about the seller:  

My name is Annika and I live in Finland. I have always been a creative person, painting, drawing, and now making my own jewelry. 

From a very young age I have loved sparkling things, and my mother used to call me a little magpie because of that. So naturally my jewelry is full of sparkle. I love putting different colored and shaped beads together to create something unique and beautiful. I mostly use high-quality Czech glass beads in my jewelry because I love how they sparkle, and there are so many colors to choose from. 

I design jewelry to add a bit of sparkle and glamour to your special day or everyday life. I think it's important to remember beauty and sparkle in our busy daily lives, even if it's just through a small piece of jewelry.

One of you will win these pale pink earrings!

1 entry: Visit Glamorous Sparkle and tell me what else you like.

1 entry: Heart Glamorous Sparkle on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Pin any item to Pinterest.

1 entry: Follow Glamorous Sparkle on Twitter.

1 entry: Like Glamorous Sparkle on Facebook.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Rules

• Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 
• Please leave your email address with one of your comments so I can contact you if you win.
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 25. 
• This giveaway is open worldwide.

Baltic Healing Amber Baby Teething Necklace Giveaway [CLOSED]

I first heard about Baltic amber teething necklaces when my first was a teething baby. A friend let me borrow one, but my baby hated it so we returned it. I decided to try it again with my second and searched on Etsy. I found Baltic Healing Amber, a new shop with reasonable prices, and I am very happy with my purchase!

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*Great prices.
*Free shipping to the U.S!
*Lots of different colored amber.
*Well made: string is knotted after every bead, made with raw amber
*Perfect length not to choke baby or allow him to eat it and can be wrapped twice around ankle instead
*Adult-sized jewelry too.
*Great customer service.

Frowns
*The amber necklace hasn't completely stopped Baby's drooling and gnawing. But every baby is different, so amber will not give the same results to everyone.

A little about the seller:

I'm from Guam and moved to the U.S. for college. I graduated, got married, and then started a family. Pretty typical, wouldn't you say. I'm a stay-at-home mom of 4 (yes, I stay pretty busy). I do love being home and having an Etsy shop that I'm very proud to call my own. :) I started making amber jewelry about a year ago. My youngest sister had just had her baby and told me about amber and its benefits. I was skeptical, like most people, until I had my baby and he started teething. Then I was desperate, like most people, and I wanted to try something natural and homeopathic. I liked that it was a natural pain reliever. I had always felt guilty giving my babies over-the-counter medicine for pain.

It was literally the end of the first day he had the necklace on that he stopped drooling (he was 3 months old then). It was like, "Miracles of miracles!" My husband and I were pretty shocked. From that day forward he has never worn a bib, and the only time I have given him OTC medicine was when he got his 4 first-year shots.

From my own experience, it's been an amazing product. I couldn't keep it just to myself!! That's when I did some research and ordered Baltic beads from Lithuania--all colors, shapes, sizes. I started making custom jewelry last November and have since joined Etsy, started a Facebook page, and am now working on my website. I love working with people (moms specifically), giving them information about amber, and just helping out in any way I can doing custom pieces for their specific needs.

One of you lucky readers will win this amber baby teething necklace!

1 entry: Like Baltic Healing Amber on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Heart Baltic Healing Amber on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Baltic Healing Amber on Pinterest.

1 entry: Pin any item to Pinterest.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry: Enter another one of my giveaways and tell me which one you entered.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Rules

• Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 
• Please leave your email address with one of your comments so I can contact you if you win.
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, March 19. 
• This giveaway is open worldwide.

Featured Seller: RJ from Jewelry by RJ

This week's featured seller is RJ from Jewelry by RJ.

I'm a third-year medical student, and I have recently started making jewelry. It all started last summer while I was tirelessly studying for my board exams. It turned out to be a wonderful creative outlet that I could do while listening to lectures via podcast. At that time, I was just making a few wrap bracelets for myself.

After my boards (which I passed, by the way), I had a ton of leftover jewelry materials, so I made a few pieces for my mom and sister. One thing led to another, and my shop opened on September 27, 2013. Since then, I have become very passionate about making jewelry, learning new techniques, and of course,running  my Etsy shop.

My inspiration comes from many sources. Two of my biggest influences are everyday items and current trends. Something as simple as a rope or a plant can spark an idea for an awesome new piece. I also use current trends in a general sense, but I like to put a quirky twist on each piece that I create. I believe it makes my pieces personal and unique.

I place a lot of emphasis on durability, comfort and wear-ability. Being in the medical field, I am a very detail oriented person, and the quality of my jewelry reflects that. I make sure that each piece fits and flatters when worn. A super cute piece is meaningless if it doesn't look good on you.

Check out Jewelry by RJ for more fun colors and designs. If you like something, use the code WINTER10 for 10% off today and tomorrow! You can also follow RJ on Pinterest.

Rica Jewels Emerald Necklace Pendant Giveaway [CLOSED]

The story behind Rica Jewels is of a Brazilian girl, Daniela, who was born and raised on her father's fashion factory and saw her father as a hero. Daniela was always creating and playing with arts at an early age. She obtained her bachelor’s in Fashion Design. After a painful divorce, she went to New York City to do her masters in business, work, and travel the world. She was inspired by world culture and the beauty of jewelry and gemstones.

Later, she moved to San Diego and decided to follow her passion for jewelry by sharing her designs with everyone. Since then, Rica Jewels has been a success. Daniela says, "Everything flows to the right direction, and I could not love more what I do. I design with a lot of passion, and hopefully, people can wear and feel my pieces and understand how life is truly a blessing. I believe every piece has a positive message in it.”

A portion of her sales supports her Child Fund sponsored child, Luz. Luz lives with her parents, who are peasants and whose salaries are so low they do not cover the basic needs of their family. Through Child Fund, Luz receives medical, dental, and early childhood care.

Daniela sent me two necklace pendants, one to review and one to give away. I loved the ammonite seashell fossil!

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*The pendant is not only beautiful, but also unique!
*It's great to wear to the beach or every day.
*There are many other lovely items in her shop.
*Daniela supports a child through charity.

Frowns
*I wish the pendant came with a chain. I don't have enough chains as it is!

One of you will win this gorgeous emerald necklace pendant! Perfect for that May birthday or Mother's Day.

1 entry: Visit Rica Jewels on Etsy, or here on its own domain, and tell me what else you like.

1 entry: Heart Rica Jewels on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Pin any item to Pinterest.

1 entry: Like Rica Jewels on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Rules

• Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 
• Please leave your email address in one of your comments so I can contact you if you win.
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, February 26. 
• This giveaway is open to the U.S. only.

The Howling Boutique Heart Necklace Giveaway [CLOSED]

When Mardi from The Howling Boutique asked me to do a review and giveaway, of course I said yes. Who is going to say no to free jewelry, especially when it's beautiful? Mardi makes glass-pendant jewelry with glittery nail polish. Very creative! I looked at her whole shop and told her which ones I liked so she could choose which one to send me. Instead, she made two for me based on my favorites. How thoughtful is that? The first is a yellow one in a round setting on a 24-inch antique silver chain. It reminds me of the sun.

The second is turquoise and black in a square setting on an 18-inch antique silver chain.

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*Vast array of color and shape combinations!
*Custom-made pendants available if you don't find the exact combo you want.
*Heavy duty chains. (My pet peeve is jewelry sellers who give you cheap ball chains.)
*Sent in a cute organza bag.
*Great service.

Frowns
*None.

One of you will win this beautiful blue heart necklace! You can choose to put the pendant on a 24" antique silver chain, an 18" antique silver chain, or an 18" black organza ribbon.

See something you already like? Use the code ROCKSTHECRADLE for 15% off until March 5!

1 entry: Visit The Howling Boutique and tell me what else you like.

1 entry: Heart The Howling Boutique on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow The Howling Boutique on Pinterest.

1 entry: Pin any item to Pinterest.

1 entry: Like The Howling Boutique on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Post this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Rules

• Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 
• Please leave your email address in one of your comments so I can contact you if you win.
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, February 19. 
• This giveaway is open to the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, and the UK.