FASHION BY THE RULES: KLIX & CZC

My best guess is that reading the 2 names, you have no idea what they stand for in terms of product. One is a revolutionary concept that is unique in so many ways and the other is noteworthy for its designs and value.

KLIX is a set of make up brushes- made with “cruelty free white hair” and each size has removable/replaceable brushes. Think of it as the equivalent of a man changing the razor in his shaver. Not only is there an ethical side to this product there is also a healthy dermatological aspect. By changing the brushes every month, you will be avoiding the spread of bacteria caused by everyday usage and also enhancing the result of the make up that you use.

By not using a new brush every month or so you run the risk of blemishes which are caused by spreading of bacteria. Ms. Shrier (owner and founder) has received kudos from dermatologists and surgeons who consider this a breakthrough in the application of make up and daily skin care.

Genevive by CZC brings the look of fine jewelry to us at affordable prices. The vast collection is made up of necklaces, earrings and bracelets, all with the look of fine treasured jewelry. While they may not be of 14 or 18 karat gold, they are in sterling sliver with gold plating (vermeil) either in yellow, rose or white gold and all accented with cubic zirconia. The beauty of the collection is that there are so many day looks as well as evening looks and yet so many pieces are interchangeable with each other. One of the other real plusses of the collection is that there is not a wide distribution network so the pieces are not found on every corner therefore far more unique to the wearer.

Don’t forget to look for me on Facebook as well as at http://jeffybruce.blogspot.com/. Don’t forget to find these 2 brands online at their respective websites as well as several other fine retailers.

Klix Brushes.
Genevive by CZC found on Max and Chloe.

The Key to My Heart

Call off the dogs, the hunt is over; oligoville.com has found THE new must-have necklace. Not Just Any Old Day has recently added a new Calendar Key to its signature line of jewelry and gift keepsakes. The Calendar Keys are offered in 14kt gold with a 2pt diamond, or in sterling silver using a Swarovski crystal which is used to mark the recipient’s special day.

Just take a look ladies and gentlemen at the fabulous necklace featured below. While it’s not your typical diamond necklace, there is something oddly intriguing about this exquisite piece. I believe it has something to do with the necklace being eye-catching without being over the top or too flashy. And of course, having diamonds or Swarovski crystals located in the necklace doesn’t hurt either.

Another awesome feature is Not Just Any Old Day can customize each piece for that someone special. For example, with this necklace, if you met your girlfriend on Feb 18, a special gem can be placed on that day of the necklace. Making it a one-of-a-kind gift that combines jewelry and thoughtfulness, and that equals the perfect gift. So it seems gentlemen, that you will literally have the key to her heart with this necklace. (I know that was a cheesy statement, but how often do you get to write something like that?)

Ten Minutes with Jewelry Designer Teresa Robinson

Earthy  yet ethereal. Rough yet fluid.  Organic yet geologic. Teresa Robinsons’s stone&honey line is a study in the beauty of opposites. The year-old collection features thin slices of variegated agate—oceanic blues, woodland greens, desert umbers– -overlaid with geometric tracings in silver or gold. The pendants are bold enough to take center stage, yet airy enough to be just right for summer’s bare necklines. Robinson also offers pendants of unadorned (but not plain!) slivers of agate,  delicate slices of amethyst, and her handcrafted honeycombs and pinwheels . If flora and fauna are more your thing, then check out smallthings, Robinson’s premiere line, offering charming cameos,  earrings, and other adornments in a variety of wonderfully wee shapes inspired—according to the designer— by “stuff that I think is cute.” Read on to find out what else is on Teresa Robinson’s mind these days.

Oligoville: I know you have two brands–how are they different from each other, and what do you think sets them apart from your competition?

Teresa Robinson: smallthings was my first line, which i started about seven years ago.  All of the smallthings work is much more delicate than stone&honey, and very image based.  Most of the the work in the smallthings line consists of hand cut images layered over stained glass, with a major focus on natural imagery: birds, flowers, and insects.

I started stone&honey as a side project about a year ago really. I got a little bored in the studio one day and started fooling around with agates and abstract images.  It was sort of one of those things that was just weird enough to work!  So the stone&honey work is much more modern and organic, and I have a lot more freedom to take it in new directions.

Oligoville: How did your career or interest in design begin?

Teresa: While i was getting my art degree in college, I took six months off to study in Mexico.  The plan was to live there, learn Spanish, and paint.  I took a jewelry design class on a whim, and I was hooked.  For the next six months I spent far more time in the jewelry studio than painting, and worked with a great group of people down there.  When I returned to school we didn’t have a jewelry program, so I finished up my studio art degree and went on my merry way to Portland, Oregon.  After a couple years though, I was still thinking about jewelry, so i got myself a torch, pulled out my silver scraps from Mexico, and got to work!  I started selling work at a couple of local shops on consignment, and quickly realized that I would much rather be making jewelry than schlepping through my day job. So I threw caution to the wind, got a proper studio, quit my job, and that was that!

Oligoville: What’s your design inspiration?

Teresa: smallthings  is really inspired by the natural world around us every day and–to be honest–stuff that i think is cute! stone&honey is much more ethereal, I think.  The stones and imagery still feel really nature-based, but with a more modern bent.  I like the idea of repeating patterns, and the contrast between crisp linear metal and the more rough natural stones.

Oligoville: Describe a typical day for you.

Lately, my days are getting less and less typical.  I have two people who work with me part time: Becca does production work on the smallthings line, and Shelley does all of our final assembly, shipping, and keeping me on track!

Most days find me getting to the studio just a little later than I should, spending the morning dealing with the administrative end of things, emails, etc., and then afternoons are devoted to design and production.  All of our work is still made by hand. All the metal is hand cut, so it’s pretty labor intensive. I tend to focus more on the stone&honey work these days, unless I’m doing a new collection for smallthings.

Oligoville: Describe your fashion style.

Teresa: Pretty laid back I suppose.  The sad fact is that making jewelry is rather dirty work, so my weekday wardrobe is pretty basic–jeans,
t-shirts, cardigans, and flats.  And the truth of it is, I don’t wear a ton of jewelry!  I tend to get stuck on certain pieces and then wear them to death.  I’m of the mind that it’s best to have on one really great bold piece of jewelry than a whole bunch of little stuff.

When I do get to actually play dress up a little more, I’ve been really into jumpsuits these days!  I have this amazing hooded denim wide-leg 1970′s number that’s pretty fantastic, but that requires a rather special occasion.

Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you’ve learned from the experience.

Teresa: Well, the most recent setback has been the economy.  Things have definitely slowed down for us this year.  I’ve been really fortunate in that I’ve never had to do much marketing.  We were always so busy with referrals and word of mouth (and one or two well placed ads)  that I never even had time for it.  So the big lesson this year is marketing, marketing, marketing.  It’s actually a little hard for me to actively promote myself, because I’m a pretty shy person, so I’m learning to put myself out there a little more these days.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Teresa: Working for myself is amazing.  I feel really lucky that I managed to make something that people like enough that it supports me financially.  I will always always make things, whether it’s jewelry, other art, even little projects around the house.  Being able to make a living from the things that I make is immensely rewarding.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Teresa: Hmmm, this is a tough one!  These days, it’s hard to know where I’ll be next week!  I would just really like to continue making new work, and evolving both lines.  I’ve always wanted to do a higher end collection, so hopefully I’ll be able to make that happen a little bit down the road.

Oligoville:  What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Teresa: This is totally cliche, but if you want to start a design business, or start making a living off of what you do, just go for it!  I think that one of the factors that made things click for me at first was that I just decided that this would be my job, and even in the very beginning, when I had hardly any orders, I was at the studio making things every day.  If you stick to it, and you’ve got a good eye for things, something great will happen eventually.

The other thing i would say is, if you really want to make a living of this, pricing, pricing, pricing!  Make sure you are being realistic about how much time goes into your work, and are paying yourself accordingly.  Your time and design skills are worth something!  Don’t be afraid to price your work accordingly.

Oligoville: What song never fails to make you happy?

Teresa: These days:  “Scenic World” by Beirut.And um, Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.”  I can’t help it!  It’s just so gooood!

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