Holiday Round-Up: Christmas & Hanukkah Cards

{Last Year's Christmas Card}

Even in just the past few years, I've seen a noticeable down tick in the number of cards I receive during the holiday season. Perhaps holiday cards have simply become old fashioned (and, let's be honest, way too much effort) in a world of instant connectivity. After all, why waste the money on a card and a stamp when a simple text message will convey the same message instantly? In the corporate world, more and more businesses are switching to e-holiday cards (yuck!) under the guise of environmentalism, but I suspect it's more to do with cost savings than saving trees.

There's a world of difference between a thoughtful card and a text message or e-mail and I think there are some good arguments for keeping the tradition around (even in this digital, eco-conscious world). For one, the effort of sending a card is always noticed and appreciated by the recipient. For another, best wishes are just about the only gifts we exchange with most of our extended network of friends and family -- why not make those wishes a bit more thoughtful and sincere? And besides, who doesn't love getting mail?

The past three years I've had my holiday cards made for me by a friend (who also happens to own her own stationery store here in Houston). This year though, I'm woefully behind and will likely have to resort to pre-made cards. So just in case any of you are as behind as I am, I've rounded up a {Christmas} dozen of my favorite ready-made holiday cards.

Source List: 1. Fa La La La La cards from Kate Spade ($30/set of 10). 2. Hanukkah Candles cards from MOMA Store ($18.95/set of 8). 3. Reindeer Roll Call cards from Ink Spot Workshop ($30.50/ set of 18). 4. Merry Christmas Cards from Annechovie ($18.50/set of 8). 5. Printable Holiday Cards from Up Up Creative ($6/3 downloadable styles). 6. Holiday Welcome Cards from Vera Wang ($31/set of 10).

Source List: 1. Dog Silhouette Personalized Christmas cards from Fire Hydrant Press ($42/set of 25). 2. Scroll Ornament cards from Vera Wang ($37/set of 10). 3. Red Tree holiday cards from Kate's Paperie ($17/set of 10). 4. Cherry Blossom holiday letterpress cards from Snow & Graham ($14/set of 6). 5. Dreidel Dreidel letterpress cards from Albertine Press ($15/set of 6). 6. Merry and Bright holiday cards from Stationery Boutique ($25/set of 16).

Pearls Among Turquoise

Turquoise is one of nature’s beauties; you see it traditionally mixed as a Southwest design and among a few more contemporary looks; which shows just how versatile turquoise really can be. This new design from the studio is a mix of shapes in all blue Turquoise with matrix of brown and black; highlighted by small light gold glass seedbeads and in the center strands, three freshwater cultured pearl drops. The dangle earrings are just a small compliment to the piece as the three strands really stand out.

Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Visit the website to purchase this and many other designs in nature’s beauty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone has a wonderful day full of good food and good fellowship. Dave and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving here in Houston with both our families, but I'll be back later this holiday weekend with a great roundup of holiday cards and gift wrap to kick start the season.

Photograph courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Giving Thanks Today

Thanksgiving tradition is turkey dinners, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, football games, and shopping. It also brings with it the changing of nature from warm temperatures to colder, trees change colors and lose their leaves, only to be replaced by snowy white. Today is a day to reflect back and look at what we have to be thankful for….As we at Timeless Designs look back over the past year our thanks are for family and good friends, to happy times and challenges that helped us to grow.

Warmest Wishes from Timeless Designs for a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving Holiday!

Plus Size Love

These are some cute fashions for our Plus Sized Modest Fashionistas from http://www.torrid.com/  Check them out!!!

Tourmaline Garnet Agate

Some of nature’s beauty comes from Tourmaline, Agate is also just as stunning as rarely do you find the same slices or geodes. In this new design, it is a mix of Tourmaline, red Garnet with silver end caps and Crystals; all highlighting a stunning Agate slice that is handcrafted in non-tarnish silver wire. Dangle teardrop earrings in the same Garnet and crystals completes the set.

Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.
Garnet: Health, removing negativity, awareness, commitment, regeneration, order, insight.
Tourmaline: Energizing, soul-searching, releasing.

Browse and purchase from our website uniquely handcrafted designs all in nature’s most spectacular gifts.

Celebrity Gold Bracelets

If you thought gold was out, think again! While sterling silver has overtaken yellow gold in popularity for the past few years, gold is still very much in style and just as fabulous as ever. However, there are some keys to wearing gold jewelry and some tips to optimizing your look with gold accents. The great thing about gold is that it makes a stronger statement than silver with the way it contrasts against the clothes you are wearing. Silver is a lot more neutral than yellow gold and therefore sometimes has the tendency to fade into the background. Gold jewelry is usually right up there in the foreground making a scene.

Gold necklaces, bracelets, and earrings look great with emeralds, blacks, and blues. Be careful when wearing gold on yellow. I almost never wear gold and yellow together because the combination is really hard to get right. Gold on yellow doesn’t provide a whole lot of contrast and usually ends up looking very cheap which is the opposite of what you want to accomplish. Try wearing prints with gold, but nothing too wild. A geometric print utilizing two colors looks really nice with gold. Try green and white prints or black and white prints with your gold jewelry. Gold also looks great with teal. Lately, even celebrities are donning gold jewelry from golden cuffs to golden hoops and golden cocktail rings.
One big No-no associated with wearing gold is mixing gold and silver. While this rule is true for the most part, there are some exceptions. I wouldn’t wear a sterling silver necklace and pair it with gold earrings. That wouldn’t make sense. However, there are ways around this rule. Take stacking bracelets. If you get gold wit the right coloring, it can look really great mixed with other metals like silver or bronze. Just make sure your layered look of mixed metals doesn’t look tacky. You cannot force this look. If you are not sure, just stick with one type of metal and don’t worry about mixing your gold jewelry with anything else.
Some people also tend to layer too much when they wear gold jewelry. You do not need 10 gold necklaces, gold hoops, gold rings, and an armful of gold bracelets. A healthy amount of layering is very trendy and in, but if you wear a bunch of bracelets, don’t overpower the look with a huge gold ring. The same goes for necklaces. If you layer a few gold necklaces, don’t wear huge gold chandelier earrings. Keep it simple and keep it classy and you won’t go wrong wearing gold jewelry this holiday season.