31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 10: Jewelry

Jewelry. Seems like a no-brainer, right? For me, at least, jewelry is central to my existence (as it stands right now). I have managed to build a lovely little business all around jewelry: old jewelry, new jewelry, upcycled jewelry, and so on.

Some custom bridal bracelets I made...vintage earrings reborn for a beautiful bride's big day.

I am, admittedly, a girly girl. I wear rhinestones with yoga pants on a regular basis. My "private collection" requires a separate piece of furniture that rivals must bureaus. I love, love, love jewelry.

My own personal treasure chest

I have been fortunate enough to have inherited some really amazing pieces from my grandmother, which have become the most cherished pieces of my whole collection. Whenever I want to feel close to her (or when I just want to be especially stylish), I reach into my stash and inevitably find the perfect bauble.

A sneak peek at my "private collection" of goodies!

I hold many beautiful treasures: the first ring my first boyfriend ever gave me, my high school and college rings, a gorgeous antique silver heart charm bracelet, a few strands of perfect (real) pearls...these beauties definitely make me happy when skies are gray.

I would love to hear about your treasures bits and baubles! A cherished ring? Invaluable cameo earrings? The perfect tiny silver necklace? We'd like to find out!

"At a flea market I always head for the junk jewelry table first." -Ethel Merman

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful : January 7: Humor

Oh, there are just so many things to say about this. Humor is one of the pinnacles of my existence. To put it simply: I love to laugh. A lot. All the time. I think this is one of the reasons I love my job (my "real" job as a speech language pathologist) so much: no one is funnier than an elementary school student.

My sense of humor is simple, silly, and sometimes (ok...a lot of times) inappropriate. Yes folks, I am a 32 year old professional woman and I will fall out of my seat laughing at a fart joke. Playing pranks? Count me in. Hilarious photo opportunities? Call me Annie Leibovitz. As a matter of fact, I have a few videos that, to this day, bring me to my knees with tears of hysterical laughter.

Just one example of something that makes me laugh out loud

Humor is such a wonderful part of life. It gets us through good times as well as bad. In times of extreme sorrow, I think the heart and mind instinctively search for memories of happy times: we as humans WANT to laugh.

Someone asked me what traits were important to me in a mate, and immediately my response was, "he has to be silly." If I don't get a chance to laugh every day, then hit the road, Jack. The same goes for my friends...so all of you Debbie Downers can consider this a warning.

"Humor is mankind's greatest blessing."  -Mark Twain

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful! January 2: Home

Home Sweet Home. There's no place like it, so someone once said. For me, nothing could ring truer.

For the past 7 years, I have been the proud owner of roughly 750 square feet of cozy, eclectic, inviting happiness.  I purchased this (my first) home, a one bedroom condo, back in 2006 when I was in graduate school. I had rented many apartments up until that point, and the one day it hit me: I can OWN a place for less than I am paying in rent! Not long after that little breakthrough, I was the proud owner of my very first home at the tender young age of 25.

Since that time, my home has truly been where my heart is. Over the past 7 years, my little corner of the world has seen infinite beads, thousands of pieces of jewelry, hundreds of meals and drinks on the patio, several new coats of paint, a couple of "roommates", and one brand new kitchen. My friends and I have spent countless hours lounging and laughing at our pool, and the list of jokes and funny secrets could go on forever.

Each spring, I wait with bated breath for the arrival of my beloved irises: gorgeous blooms of violet and saffron so full and healthy that some reach all the way to my waist!

I began my business here, and with the help of friends and family I've seen it grow exponentially since it's humble beginnings in the summer of 2010. My work space is warm, colorful, and organized. In the spring of 2011, my living room was filled with fabric, laughter, and love when 4 of my closest (male!) friends spent the evening with me to prepare 1,000 of my signature flower pins to ship out to L.A. for the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. It's one of many defining moments that has taken place here in the comfort of my space.

I invite you to share your sentiments of home here, for there is truth in the old adage, "Home is where the heart is!"

Trunk Show THIS saturday 12/15/12

Handmade Arcade!

It's almost here! Handmade Arcade 2012 is THIS Saturday, December 8, 2012, and we here at bel monili couldn't be more excited. Below you'll find the map of the incredibly well-organized floor plan with a nice little circle showing where you can find bel monili! Table #2 will be packed full of bel monili goodies and treats for you to take home...grab something special for your friends, family members, and don't forget to treat yourself!

Time to Start The Holiday Shopping...

I waited and waited and pushed it off as long as I could, but I can no longer deny the inevitable:

the Holiday Season is here.

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOOOOVE the holidays. Good food, good friends, good family time...and I especially love when people start to count their blessings and share what they are thankful for. Sure, there are always going to be Negative Nancys and Debbie Downers, but I choose to turn a creatively blind eye to the naysayers and poo-poo-ers.

This holiday season, I find my plate full of joyous activities, events, and goings-on. There's nothing I love more than showing up for a holiday marketplace to sell my wares and having friendly faces stop by to warm my spirit while they shop for loved ones. There is something so satisfying about seeing someone find the PERFECT gift and knowing that your hands were the ones who crafted this ideal item, that one special thing that was lovingly chosen to give.

I would love to share my holiday gifts with you; my customers and friends make these events so wonderfully special. So...make your lists, check them twice, and mark your calendars for these amazing holiday events where you'll find bel monili along with countless other artists. Cheers to the season!

9th Annual Go Red for Women Fashion Show
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
6:00pm-9:00pm
Wyndham Grand - Downtown Pittsburgh
600 Commonwealth Place
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222

St. Louise DeMarillac Guild’s Christmas Craft Show
Saturday, November 17, 2012
9:00am-3:30pm
St Louise DeMarillac School
310 McMurray Road
Upper St Clair, PA 15241

I Made It! For the Holidays
Friday, November 30, 2012 5pm-10pm
Saturday, December 1, 2012 10am-6pm
Bakery Square
Pittsburgh, PA
www.imadeitmarket.com

Girls Gone Shopping
Sunday, December 2, 2012
9:00am-3:00pm
Center Stage
Monaca, PA

Handmade Arcade
Saturday, December 8, 2012
11:00am-7:00pm
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, PA
www.handmadearcade.com

Bazaar Bizarre Cleveland
Saturday December 8, 2012, 10:00am-6:00pm
Sunday December 9, 2012, 10:00am-6:00pm
1300 West 78th Street - 1305 West 80th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44102

Country Living Fair Columbus 2012

One word: AMAZING.  I really can't say much more right now...still letting it soak in. Here's a peek at bel monili's booth:

bel monili's booth on Day 1

vintage rhinestone necklaces

bel monili's booth display

bel monili bracelets

bracelets and necklaces and keychains!

bel monili French enameled tags and upcycled vintage necklaces

bel monili bracelets and collage necklaces

lots of upcycled vintage goodness!

bel monili treasures

vintage miner's tag necklaces and collage belt buckles

bel monili signature bobby pins

fairy dust...sprinkle on some magic

leather cuff bracelets with vintage components

bel monili booth; flowers and upcycled vintage necklaces

we were SO thrilled to be there!

NOCC Walk 2012

photo taken by the I Made It Market, balloons by Airheads Balloon Art

What an AMAZING day. Today was the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Pittsburgh Chapter's 12th annual Walk to Break the Silence, and it was an unbelievable event as always. Thousands of people showed up in support of mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends, and all of the men and women whose lives have been affected by ovarian cancer.

my Bubbie

As many of you know, I lost my dear Bubbie to ovarian cancer in June 2011. She was my best friend, and the loss has been almost unbearable, but on days like today I know that she will always be with me. Bubbie always used to say that she was my "#1 fan", and it is the absolute truth.

the bel monili booth was busy from the moment the day started!

I had the opportunity yet again to set up my tent and sell my wares at this walk, with proceeds going to support the NOCC Pittsburgh Chapter. It brings great joy to my heart to see all of the amazing people who raise money for the cause, and I absolutely love hearing all of their inspiring stories.

bel monili items ready for sale!

On days like these, I am thankful that my artistic talents are able to help such a worthy cause. I thank everyone who visited me today, those who walked, and those who take the time each and every day to help to improve the lives of others.

Flea Marketing!

Here we are, another week gone by, another Sunday to cherish. Again, I find myself preparing for a day of creating, beginning with my weekly trip to the local flea market.

Most Sundays I happily peruse the aisles of the flea market, peeking through piles of junk and pulling out what I would call treasure.

It's something I have come to crave: The Thrill of The Hunt. Many of us feel it; it's a primal lure that calls to us like a siren, begging that we come with our dollar bills and sift through the seas of castoffs and rescuing the beautiful and the brave.

I have a special love for these kinds of things; the old, the unwanted, the items destined for landfill. It is these things I seek out so that I can bring them home, clean them, re-work them, and turn them into new works of art that will once again be loved. These bits of broken history are, by my hand, given a new lease on life.

Those earrings, the ones that hardly anyone wears, are rescued.

Broken necklaces and brooches, once cast aside, are again brought into the limelight.

So friends, there it is. Another week gone by, another haul of treasures, another group of misfits to be cared for and loved again!

I'd love to hear your stories and see your treasured finds!

Weddings!

Summer is the season of love, and bel monili is a friend to the brides! This summer, I had the distinct honor of creating goodies for 5 beautiful brides and their respective bridal parties. This is truly a favorite for me; I LOVE the idea that one of my creations will have a place in someone's family history.

A bridal sash, custom created with satin ribbon, lace from a vintage bridal gown, and antique rhinestones and pearls

As you know, bel monili items are created using vintage materials, meaning that these beautiful bridal pieces are created using materials rich in history. Perhaps it was a brooch from the mother of a bride in the 1920s, the earrings of a blushing bride in the 1950s, or the necklace of a bridesmaid in any of these magical times.

Custom collage style necklaces featuring antique rhinestone components

bel monili bridal can make your dreams come true. I hand-craft items that are uniquely designed for each bride's specific needs, meaning that each special day is truly one of a kind right down to the last detail.

bel monili signature vintage component cluster bracelets, designed to compliment a wedding's theme colors

Gifts for bridesmaids will be cherished (and actually worn!) for years to come, giving the recipient of the special piece a reminder of that special day, and her friendship with the bride. Custom designs for the bride offer a unique compliment to her gorgeous gown, and each piece lives on as an heirloom quality work of art.

signature collage style necklace featuring antique rhinestone pieces

Brides, bridesmaids, mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers...take notice and get your thinking caps on. bel monili will work with you to custom design the bridal accessories and gifts that will add the perfect touch of sentiment to your special day.