Archive for February 13th, 2006
Can Ken’s Makeover Win Back Barbie?
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2006
(CBS)Â Barbie’s old flame, Ken is back, sporting a more sophisticated look.
The question is whether the new appearance will be enough to send Barbie’s heart aflutter all over again, after she dumped Ken two years ago in favor of a surfer dude named Blaine.
But that’s in the make-believe world of dolls.
In the real world, suggests Magee Hickey of CBS station WCBS-TV in New York, there’s much more at stake: Mattel’s attempt to fight off Barbie’s chief competitor of another sort, Bratz dolls.
She notes that Ken has been called arm candy, a boy toy, the first man, and Barbie’s No. 1. accessory.
But, Hickey asserts, Ken’s had a lot of loser looks over the years, which may be the reason Barbie got rid of him to begin with.
Now, Ken is back, after a makeover from a stylist to the stars, Phillip Bloch.
“It’s really about getting in touch with the new him,” Bloch explains, “little pieces of jewelry, great necklaces, jeans worn-in, because he’s been traveling so much. He just doesn’t look like a doll now, he looks like a real person. … Sort of.”
Bloch describes the new Ken as Matthew McConaughey meets Orlando Bloom, but will it be enough to woo back the urban fashionista ” ‘tween” market? Those girls have been buying more Bratz dolls than Barbies in recent months, Hickey says. And Bratz dolls are now Barbie’s main competitor.
The maker of Bratz dolls calls the possible Barbie-Ken reunion “stupid publicity,” saying Ken won’t be able to save Barbie.
But Chuck Scothon, general manager of Mattel’s girls division, begs to differ, saying, “Barbie really connects with girls of all ethnicities, and all races, and all colors and creeds. Really, Barbie does have all those friends. Barbie is the leader. Barbie really does connect with all little girls. And that’s what we’re really excited about.”
So, who can say if Barbie and Ken will live happily ever after?
That, says Hickey, may be too much to ask, but they’re officially expected get back together in time Valentine’s Day.
And next year, Mattel plans a makeover of Barbie herself, Hickey says.
February 13th, 2006
Local Jewelry Store Raises Funds for Good Cause
WLNS
In Lansing, a local jewelry store was helping to raise money for Saint Vincent Catholic Charities. H&H Jewelry Design held its annual appraisal and identification day. For $10, a certified gemologist identified pieces of jewelry as real or costume. For another fee, customers could also find out how much their jewels are worth.
Ron Alexander, co-owner: “I’ve had, where people think they have a Russian Alexander, and it turns out to be synthetic or lab created, and I’ve had the other way, where they think they just have a white glass, and it’s a valuable European-cut diamond.”
All of the money raised goes straight to Saint Vincent Catholic Charities.
February 13th, 2006
Online Pet Store Caters To Upscale Pets With Glittering Jewelry
Pet owners have new and exciting options for making their pets feel special and look even cuter.
Online Pet Store Caters To Upscale Pets With Glittering Jewelry
Pet owners have new and exciting options for making their pets
feel special and look even cuter.
/24-7PressRelease/ - LAKE WORTH, FL, February 12, 2006 — Gone are the days when cats, dogs, and other pets leave the house in just their fur. Now owners can adorn their pets with fabulous designer clothing and jewelry.
Sheraton Luxuries at http://www.sheratonluxuries.com specializes in a wide selection of in-demand and often hard-to-find treasures for the “upscale pet.” “We’re particularly excited about our excellent pet jewelry collection, ” says Sheraton Luxuries founder Sharon Sheraton.
The array of diamonds, crystals, and stars are dazzling as they glimmer from pet collars, necklaces, bow ties, and more. If you aren’t told in advance, most people would easily mistake this line of luxury pet jewelry for something they might see people wearing at the Oscars.
“People often love their pets more than anything in the world and appreciate the opportunity to do something nice for him or her. Nothing says ‘you’re special’ like a fabulous piece of upscale pet jewelry,” Sheraton points out.
One of the most popular items on the site is the Elegant Collection Angel Harness. The Angel Harness is a stylish color adorned with sparkling angel wings. These are three dimensional wings outlined with genuine Swarovski Crystals. The harness comes in a variety of sizes and colors making it customizable for each pet.
Sheraton Luxuries also offers a specially designed pet carrier. Unlike standard, bulky carries that only seem to come in gray, the luxury carrier is cute, light, and easy to stow away until needed. “Many people keep one of our luxury carriers near at all times just in case they must take their pet with them in an emergency,” Sheraton said.
The site also features information on travel destinations for owners and their pets, the first healthy rhinestone bracelet for dogs, and more.
Sheraton Luxuries also offers a specially designed pet carrier.
Unlike standard, bulky carries that only seem to come in gray,
the luxury carrier is cute, light, and easy to stow away until
needed. “Many people keep one of our luxury carriers near at all
times just in case they must take their pet with them in an
emergency,” Sheraton said.
The site also features information on travel destinations for
owners and their pets, the first healthy rhinestone bracelet for
dogs, and more.
February 13th, 2006
A lifetime of artistic works
Jewelry-maker Kyle Leister to speak about her career
By Ruth Jones/staff
Staunton News Leade
Art is all Kyle Leister has known.
It’s her life. For 28 years, she’s used her gift to create jewelry.
“Jewelry is what makes my living,” Leister said.
She’s successfully tried her hand at creating other things such as perfume bottles and letter openers, but creating jewelry has always been her passion.
Gov. Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, wore some of her creations at inaugural festivities — cuff links for the governor and a necklace and pendant for the first lady.
On Monday, Leister will give people a glimpse into her 28-year career during the Beverley Street Studio School’s Conversation with Artists series.
Leister said she plans to talk about several key topics, but also leave the session open for questions.
“I’m going to show a slide show of my work from the beginning until now,” she said. “A lot of it is going all through the years.”
You can see how her work has progressed over time, she added.
The independent studio designer also plans to talk about her technique of using mixed media, mixing metals and stones to create various pieces, where she gets her designs, how they’re created and her motivation.
Leister said she understands people will want to know what it takes to be a studio artist, and it’s a question she’ll expect. However, it won’t be her focus.
Like other people make a living at whatever they do, Leister said she does the same. It’s all she knows.
“I don’t make my retirement. I don’t live for the weekend,” Leister said.
She just loves what she does. Instead, Leister said she just wants people to see what’s behind her 28 years as an artist.
February 13th, 2006
Men’s jewelry: bring on the bling
Sunday, February 12, 2006
NANINE ALEXANDER
If the male is the showier sex in the animal kingdom, the human male has been camping under a camouflage tent for a long time.
But quietly, gradually, men are venturing out by wearing more jewelry.
The trend, like many, has gathered momentum from A-list celebrities who’ve been photographed sporting bracelets and necklaces with amulets. Matthew McConaughey, Antonio Banderas, Orlando Bloom and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have all been shown wearing bracelets. And does necklace/bracelet savvy Johnny Depp need another mention?
Jewelry industry insiders estimate a 20 percent growth in men’s jewelry purchases in the last few years. Excluding watches, the men’s jewelry category was about 10 percent of the $48 billion jewelry market last year, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
Portland men are among those buyers, and local menswear departments have expanded their offerings beyond watches and cuff links to meet the demand. So far, nothing suggests a return of the gold chain, bare-chested disco look. Today’s styles tend to rugged-looking pieces that combine materials such as leather or horn with silver or titanium.
“The Northwest is always more understated,” says Simon Chan, menswear buyer for Mario’s, who spoke by phone during a recent buying trip to New York.
Cole Murik, co-owner of the Pearl District menswear store Finn, says the majority of men’s jewelry is being bought by men for themselves instead of gift purchases by significant others.
Men shopping for themselves? That’s got to make at least some women happy.
February 13th, 2006
British queen’s evening gowns, jewelry on display for 80th birthday
AFP via Yahoo! News
LONDON (AFP) - An exhibition of jewelry and evening gowns belonging to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II over the last 60 years will be held in London this year to mark her 80th birthday, aides said.
Eighty dresses, including a gold one-shouldered gown overlaid with fine lace worn on her Commonwealth Tour of 1953-54, will be shown together for the first time at Buckingham Palace, her London residence, from July 26 to September 24.
The queen, who was crowned on June 2, 1953, celebrates her 80th birthday on April 21.
The outfits, which were worn by the queen for both official engagements and private family events, include creations by her favoured couturiers Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies.
The jewelry includes private gifts to the queen from family members as well as famous priceless pieces such as the Vladimir Tiara, the Cambridge Emerald Necklace and two brooches set with stones from the famos Cullinan Diamond.
Jewerly given to her on the occasion of the coronation will also be on display, a spokeswoman said.
Also on show will be a pair of Cartier aquamarine and diamond clip-brooches given to the then-Princess Elizabeth by her father, King George VI, for her 18th birthday.
Other personal gifts include a gold, sapphire, diamond and ruby bracelet made by Boucheron according to a design by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
It was given to the queen on their fifth wedding anniversary and incorporates the interlaced initials “E” and “P”.
As part of the birthday celebrations, her official home west of London, Windsor Castle, will also stage a separate exhibition of photographs tracing the queen’s public and private life over the past 80 years.
It will contain formal records of state occasions and official portraits as well as little-known family photographs and snapshots.
Guyot Brothers Co., Inc. is Pleased to Announce Addition of New Catalog Page to Jewelry Findings and Decorative Stampings Web Site
[Press Release] PR Web
Catalog Page 60, found in the Ornaments section of the jewelry findings manufacturers website contains 35 items, most being catalogued on line for the first time.
Attleboro, MA (PRWEB) February 12, 2006 — Guyot Brothers’ efforts to continually expand and improve the needs of costume jewelry manufacturers, jewelry artisans, and designers of all types of decorative items, be they Faberge eggs, stained glass, dollhouse lighting, or Renaissance costumes. Handbag designers, belt and accessory manufacturers, makers of hair accessories, and a host of other products, limited only by the imagination, are finding the Guyot website increasing valuable and often bookmark the site for quick, easy, and dependable reference.
“The constantly changing world of consumer and fashion products requires a continual flow of new ideas for design and enhancement purposes,” noted Stephen Guyot, President of the 101 year old decorative brass stampings manufacturer. “Jewelry is an important part of self-expression, requiring an ever-expanding variety of designs and components. By continuing to add decorative findings images to our website, we can help feed the industry’s creative spirit.”
A catalog of Guyot’s extensive line of filigree, charms, and general ornamental stampings is not the only element of their website. Other sections include a history of jewelry, and industry news link, The Fashion Jewelry Hall of Fame, a Jewelry Findings Glossary of Terms, a listing of over 100 different uses for Guyot jewelry findigns, and an opportunity to subscribe to their irregular e-letter. With each new page added, the Guyot Brothers website becomes an even more comprehensive resource for those interested in costume jewelry and related trades, whether from a manufacturing, designing, collecting, or historical perspective.
Located in Attleboro, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of the Jewelry Industry in America, Guyot Brothers continues to produce their high-quality line of stamped filigree, charms, floral, and other decorative items. For viewing the line in person, they are represented in New York, New Jersey, California, Arizona, New Mexico, England, and France. The company also maintains a showroom at their factory in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
February 13th, 2006
