here i am cruising along on the most fabulous ship i've ever sailed on... i need to mention that i have only been on two other cruises in my lifetime, so i'm no expert. BUT... one of the aspects that truly makes this ship AMAZING is its crew. tip to tail this ship is filled with the friendliest and most professional people from all over the world... i'm still speaking of the crew of course! (lol) especially especially Antony... english born (the accent rocks!) and current resident of egypt when not on the jewel. (royal carribean jewel)
i started with that thought to get it off my chest and NOW for some gushing... first night we put together a wonderful "teaser" window display with rock candy. we've had little write-ups printed in the daily news pamphlet letting the guests know that "panama night" was coming and they shouldn't miss the unveiling. during the day at sea preceding the panama stop i did a seminar in the atrium and had a great turn out! the reward for bearing with my first and very forgetful presentation, we raffled a pair of earrings. these cruisers just LOVE a good raffle. on panama day i made jewelry like crazy and then went into the port... there was a little "village" set up with native panamanians and their wares. it was AWESOME! but nothing could have prepared me for the native women with ornate tribal-style tattoos with nothing on but what the men should be wearing. i had no idea... and it was nice too that it wasn't so commercialized... it was the REAL people of panama earning their living. just beautiful. oh, and the itty bitty bit of spanish that i know came in VERY handy!! (i love miami)
i was so captivated with the little shopping village i lost track of time and only had 15 minutes to shower and get ready for my event... how crazy is that?
i'm using one of the manager's computer to update this so i don't have pictures to share now... but soon, very soon. side note: as much fun as this experience has been for me, i'm so very homesick i can hardly stand it.
Antony set up the unveiling on panama night so there would not be any other distractions like the watch sale, diamond sale, swarovski promo, amber sale etc etc... the team of five that i worked with were amazing! it was a frenzy... later that evening the crew told me that the rock candy event was easily the busiest event they'd ever seen! WOO-HOO!
we were set up in a center island in the middle of the pathway...lucky for me, i was able to be inside the island because there were times i had to catch my breath. i manned the Rock Wrap bracelets and the rest of the team sold the collection. it was really something to see.
we sold pieces i hadn't yet photographed... bye-bye baby! i honestly think that people left because they couldn't get up to the counters to see... the rock wraps were a hit, of course... they always are. 3 at a time, 4 at a time... it was madness! i love this kind of thing!
what's actually funny is that now i'm ready to go home but there are many days left at sea. poor me. (lol)
word is we may be doing another showing... wouldn't that ROCK? ummm, YEAH!
in support of my dream to put rock candy on the map... my friend fabian and my cousin janna teamed up to shoot what i think will be a VERY hard shoot to top!! this is exciting because it means that the new website is well on its way to being the work of art that i envisioned. i love it when a plan comes together!!!
many thanks go out to the models! you were not only gorgeous, but five of the sweetest human beings i've come across lately! you ladies just rocked it!! no, i didn't miscount! one of the girls had to catch a flight and left before this finale shot was taken.
janna and fabian had free reign to create the shots and the feel of the end product and i'm so thrilled with the outcome! so many amazing images to choose from that i'm up all hours of the night trying to decide!
the leather bracelets were featured in the blog previously... but NOT like this! i just had to revisit them after seeing this shot!
one of the fun parts of this piece is that you get to choose the stone that best suits your style or even your mood at the moment... but what ever your motivation to pick your special stone, it becomes your individual expression to wear and flaunt and have fun with!
more shots and more jewelry to come! enjoy!
wow! what a great day at norman's today! if you aren't familiar, you should be! (norman's is on 87th avenue between kendall drive and 72 street) i typically do a show on their "front porch" once a month... except on special occasions... this one being VALENTINE'S.
all of the regulars were in today! it was great to see all the familiar faces! saw some girls i met at the ramble @ fairchild back in november, and met tons of fabulous NEW friends!!
of course the darling of the day was the leather wrap bracelet with magnetic clasp.
i have five sizes and fit your wrist and let you pick the semi-precious stone that speaks to you... then, in front of you, i attach your stone to your band with sterling silver wire... in minutes you have a completely unique and one of a kind accessory! they're too much fun and always the show stopper ever since i created them and incorporated them into the line. i literally have hundreds of stones to choose from... each different from the next.
i love sitting next to the grills while the guys are cooking out there!! today they grilled white corn on the cob and IN the husk! then they slathered it with Chipotle BUTTER! DOUBLE YUM!! as i always say, it's ALWAYS a GREAT day at norman's!! and today was absolutely NO exception!
looking forward to next saturday!! PRE super bowl MADNESS!!
show schedule on my site... www.rockcandymiami.com/exhibits
i don't know if i love all the ways this necklace can be worn or its name better! there's actually even a fifth way it can be worn, which is around your waist, if you are so inclined. i love options and this piece gives you many... besides the obvious wearable options, then there are color options and the option to wear just one, two or even three at the same time! for a girl loving choices... the convertible is a provider!the chain comes all the way from italy... gotta love those italians for their innovations. the little cages along the chain beg for sparkle and that's where i come in...
the hidden clasp works to hold the chain in place... don't you hate it when the necklaces move and slide and never stay where you put them? the clasp holds everything perfectly in place.i will have these with me at the show this saturday at norman brothers. for a list of other show dates check my site at www.rockcandymiami.com on the exhibits page. the eye candy page also has some fun pieces to look at.
this is my first post of the year, well, actually the first post ever for rock candy... howdy!
(that's the first time i've EVER said howdy) we just don't say that in miami.
i just finished this bracelet tonight. i'm pretty proud of it. i got the vision for it last night (around 4 am) and chose not to start on it so late. it's now in my store on the website, along with it's cousin (made with cornflake pearls). it's better you look at the cornflake pearls than me try to describe them, as each and every one is totally different.
i used my very favorite clasp on this bracelet, although it cannot be seen in this picture. the clasp is amazing and hand made in india.
i tend to put stones together like rough pearls with refined swarovski crystals together just because i can. my style is eclectic and unconventional. i also like putting rough uncut semi-precious gems together with shiny swarovski crystals just for the visual curiosity and appeal. well, it's appealing to me. i work with contrast... it's my favorite.
these pearls came direct from china... my dad procures them for me. it's so much fun teaching him gems and quality etc... via emails, scans, phone calls etc... being a pilot he's super detail oriented, takes great notes and remembers details you wouldn't believe. he makes a great hunter! men generally do that well.
i buy direct from swarovski. (feather in my cap) it's a privilege i hope i never lose. one of the many parts of my job i really LOVE!
good night... i'm sure there's more to talk about tomorrow :)
