Today I wanted to go in a little different direction and share with you about one of the new groups of people I've been able to connect with in the entrepreneurial world.  I thought those of you who are also managing your own businesses would love to learn more about a group that supports us and is an encouragement to me.

The Rising Tide Society was introduced to me by my friend Elizabeth Hambleton, of Hambleton House Studio.  On the second Tuesday of each month, entrepreneurs across the country gather together for local meet-ups and discuss a topic provided for them by The Rising Tide Society.  Elizabeth and I had just been discussing over coffee how hard it has been to be a creative entrepreneur, and the various struggles we had encountered along the way.  

It's tough being out there running a business on your own. Not only are you the owner and CEO of your company, you are the accountant, the CFO, the Marketing Director, the Supply Manager, the public relations team, and in a creative business, you may even be your own photographer and design team. Wearing all these hats can be challenging, overwhelming, and lonely all at the same time.  Elizabeth and I shared with each other how we were looking forward to being a part of a community of other small business owners where we could ask questions, receive feedback, and collaborate. 

The first time we met up, it was great to see so many new faces of people who are wanting to connect with other small business owners.  We met back in June at Oddfellows, and the consensus among the group was how incredibly refreshing and encouraging it was to meet other company owners.

We've covered topics about Instagram, the customer experience and gathered ideas for other areas where we tend to struggle in business.  Truly, it has been so much fun getting to hear others' viewpoints!  The best thing about the heart of the movement has been #CommunityOverCompetition, which essentially means that we see the value in choosing to cultivate community as business owners, rather than cut-throat competition.  We each have different experiences and knowledge to share, and can build each other up by cultivating real relationships with other creative professionals.

To see if there is a #TuesdaysTogether meet-up near you, click here. The Facebook and Instagram communities are also a fun, beautiful and encouraging way for social media platforms to connect with others in business. I have been inspired and challenged in many ways through these connections.

I'd love to hear if you've been to a Tuesdays Together meet up in your neck of the woods, or if it's something you'd be interested in learning more about.  If you're in the Dallas area, leave a message for me here or email me, and I'd love to connect with you at our next meeting so you can have a familiar face!

I'll be sharing how Amanda K. Jewelry got started six years ago in upcoming blog posts.  I hope that it inspires and encourages you if you're on the fence about starting your own business.  

I recently dropped off a super fun and bright custom piece with a customer in California, and can't stop thinking about how stunning it is!  No, I normally do not make cross-country personal deliveries, but this one was created for a dear friend and colleague, and I happened to already be traveling to see her for a business trip anyway, so it worked out.

Because I am often asked about the process behind the making of statement necklaces and the jewelry we sell, I wanted to take you on a little tour of what the process looked like for this particular piece.  If you are considering working on a custom piece with us, this will give you a small glimpse of what to expect. 

We briefly discussed the materials she might want, but mainly focused on color.  The piece that we were designing around was the beaded circle element shown below.  Though it isn't vintage, it held special meaning and represented a particular style that she has branded for herself and her business called Hacienda Chic.  The beaded circle is actually a piece she picked up several years ago in Africa on a trip that was focused on finding ways to design and build sustainable housing in different communities there. 

Today I'd like to share what the process is for making a custom piece:  

1.  First, my customer shares the piece with which they want to design a custom jewelry piece around.  We discuss how they sourced it,  and why it's meaningful to them. My jewelry line is all about making meaningful connections with the past through our jewelry.  We talk through styles that the client wears, as far as what colors are in their wardrobe and the style and length they generally prefer.  I love to hear if the client has anything specific in mind, but I typically prefer not to see any of their inspiration photos, simply because it clouds my vision when trying to design a necklace!

2.  Once I have the conversation with my client to get a feel for what they want, then it's time to get started!  I do ask for a $100 deposit to start the process, with the rest of the payment due upon completion.  

3.  Next up is the design process!  As I begin to think through the beads that I already have on hand, I may also go and purchase a few more options that would coordinate well with the client's piece.  This portion of the design work is highly therapeutic and creative to me.  I love letting my imagination run with possibilities!

4.  After I've laid out two or three options that include the custom piece, I will take photos and price the various options.  I send these ideas over to my client and we talk through any questions or thoughts they may have.  I have to admit, sharing this work for someone who is designing a custom piece can be a little nerve wracking, because ultimately I want my client to be happy.  But I have had wonderful experiences with my clients and designing custom pieces is such a fun part of this job.

5.  Once the client decides on a piece, I will finish it up and either make a local delivery or ship it off once payment is complete.  Pricing for these pieces generally runs along the lines of my other pieces, and it really depends on the beads that I use to complete the new design that will determine the price, in addition to the cost of my time.

To work with me on a custom piece, please contact us here.  If you have additional questions that are not answered on our FAQ page, please don't hesitate to reach out!

If you've been around here for long, it's no surprise that I love color.  Today I've picked four travel necessities that I really can't do without, and of course, they all come in amazingly vibrant colors!  As an interior designer, I value new experiences, other cultures and visual inspiration.  Travel is a great way for me to grow personally, as well as professionally, and so I try to take advantage of as many trips as possible throughout the year.  

For travel-savvy info on airfare rate and insider tips, I enjoy reading The Points Guy's blog.  If you want to learn how to get the most out of credit card points to fly for free or stay in luxurious hotels for very little, I would recommend spending some time on his website.

Once I've booked a trip, I begin to round up the items that I simply can't live without, and a few really great pieces that make traveling so much more fun.  (And you know for me, this means bright hues!)  Read on for four essentials I can't travel without.

1. Customized Passport Cover from Etsy Shop Owner, "designbysewandsew."  I got to choose the leather and the inside lining, and there are pockets for credit cards or Global Entry cards, and a flap for your airline ticket.  Truly, she's thought of everything!

2. An awesome statement necklace – Whether I am on an airplane, meeting with a client, or just headed to the grocery store, throwing one of these pieces on instantly brightens my mood and makes me feel like a million bucks. 

3.  Ara Collective Laguna Weekender & Pouch -- I got to meet the founder of Ara Collective recently, and it was absolutely delightful!  I love supporting other small businesses, and this company helps create jobs for the makers of these products, which I love!

4. Jackery portable extra battery – Being a designer, I am constantly pulling my phone out to take pictures or document something. This little thing charges my iPhone about 2-3 times before needing to re-juice. I don’t go anywhere without it.

Those are four of my favorite travel items right now--what did I miss?  Tell us in the comments!

Our chevron earrings are some of the most popular earrings in our shop, and today I'm sharing my thoughts on why I love this pattern and why I think so many of you all do, too!  Currently we have the Fearless Red and the Fearless Green earrings available.

This captivating pattern inspires a bit of boldness, and it's easily worn on our Fearless earrings to complete an outfit.  

You may or may not know that in addition to my jewelry business, I am a full time interior designer.  So when I think about this in terms of interior design, this bold pattern inspires movement, and I love that.  It's dynamic and visual, and I think that's what makes it so appealing to many people.  

In doing a bit of research about the history of the chevron stripe, I discovered that it has roots in the military, as the "V" was used to indicate an officer's rank. Over time, though, it has grown to be much more than an indicator of rank, and it can now be found on a wide variety of clothing and decor items.

One of my favorite Instagram feeds lately has been "@ihavethisthingwithfloors," which is a feed dedicated to incredible tile pattern design.  What I love about the few I selected below are the graphic contrast in the pattern and how they are so eye-catching.  Here are just a few chevron favorites:

What do you love about bold prints and patterns like Chevron?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

And also, if you'd like to receive special offers and be the first to know when new items are coming to the shop, I'd love to add you to our email list! Just scroll to the bottom of the home page and enter your email in the space provided.

Pairing necklines and necklaces can be a bit daunting sometimes, so we've pulled together several photos from our founder's Instagram feed to give examples of ways to wear your statement jewelry.

Amanda K. Jewelry is all about statement necklaces, and as you can see, no pattern or color is too bold!  Our mission is to invite women to connect with the Creator, the ultimate creative.

Since each piece is a custom vintage creation, most of the necklaces pictured above have sold.  However, Amanda K. Jewelry offers many original designs, and we've rounded up several similar pieces we think you might like!

Long & Simple Necklaces: The Prayer Necklace // Fine Feather

Medium Length: For the Love of Sun //  When Lightening Strikes

Shorter: The Strength Within // The Stars at Night (pictured, bottom right)

As you can see, patterns can be mixed and matched to varying degrees, like lace with leopard print, larger florals with skinny stripes, and colors can accent in a necklace or become the main event in an outfit.  Truly, the options are endless!

If you haven't signed up for our emails yet, now is the time to do it!  (Either use the pop-up to enter your email, or use the box in the lower lefthand corner.) You'll receive more in depth and exclusive tips on how to wear different necklaces with the necklines you find in your closet.  

Find inspiration in these photos, and feel free to follow our founder on Instagram, too!

Ever wonder where we find the vintage pieces that are featured in our necklaces?  This is one of the most-asked questions that we get, and today I am giving you a behind the scenes look at a recent big estate sale find that was a treasure trove of jewels.

The sale was from the estate of a well-known women's clothing store owner in Dallas, Lester Melnick.  You can imagine I was thrilled to discover this, and knew it was a sale we couldn't miss.  One of the first sights upon entering the house were these brightly colored sofas and dimensional art.  He was definitely a fan of color! 

There were tons of funky details throughout the house, including these unusual barstools that tied into the decor in the adjacent living room. 

One of my favorite finds was this rare brass tea service set.  It had such a unique design and shape - vintage, yet so modern - and was unlike anything I have ever seen before!  It's a good thing I was on a mission and had a budget to stick to, or else this beauty would have come back to the studio with me and I'd have to find a way to use it on a necklace!  Kidding, of course. 

Luckily, there were mounds of vintage jewels down the hall to distract me.  The piles captured in this picture only represent about one third of all the jewels at the sale!  I had my work cut out for me.  

After lots and lots (and lots) of digging, sorting, and deciding, I narrowed it down to a handful of special pieces that caught my eye. 

A few stones are missing on the yellow and black clip on earrings, but it gives them such character!  I can only imagine the events these beauties attended, and the dresses they were worn with.

I already have some ideas for these unique pieces swirling around in my head, and can't wait to get to work.  Stay tuned to see what becomes of them!

This past weekend I happened upon a fantastic popup shop in Deep Ellum, where I met three amazing women who had come together with their talents and treasures to create a global shopping experience that had me ready to hop on a plane for an adventure.  

Each of their businesses in some way supports women and artisans around the world.  Melissa Moriarty, owner of Azulina Ceramics, partners with local artisans in Columbia to create vibrantly-colored hand-painted dinnerware and serving ware.  The fresh and vibrant patterns are hand painted by women artisans in the small town of El Carmen de Viboral, continuing on a tradition that began over 100 years ago.

One of the things that I love about these ceramics is the super-white base that is so crisp and fresh, making the colors and details pop.  The age-old tradition began in the late 1800s when quartz and feldspar were discovered in the hills of Columbia.  According to Moriarty, the combination of these two minerals are ideal for making pottery and ceramics.  This was a fun fact to learn, because when found in gemstone form, these two minerals are some of my favorites to use in jewelry.  (Labradorite, Sunstone, Moonstone, Aventurine, and my personal favorite Amazonite are all feldspars, and quartz has many varieties, including rose quartz and pineapple quartz.)

Each Azulina product is completely unique and a one-of-a-kind piece, which you know we love!  Moriarty also recently ventured into the world of linens, and has started working with a co-op of single mothers to create beautiful embroidered linens that compliment the vibrant ceramics perfectly. 

I already have a self-proclaimed dish fetish, but these ceramics make me want to completely smash all of my other dishes and start over.  I found some tiny bowls and a set of blue on white embroidered napkins that I couldn’t live without, but I wouldn’t be surprised if more of her collection makes its way into my cabinets some day.  

The blue and white designs went perfectly with my existing table settings.  It's like they were meant to be together! 

Mariemae is a line of printed goods that are designed by women in countries like Rwanda, Ghana, and Kenya, and then printed right here in Dallas.  For every product sold, the owner, Jillian Ryan, provides one hour of business skills training to a woman entrepreneur in a developing market, through her mentorship program.  I love her desire to see other women succeed in their business dreams, and help provide ways to support their families.  For more about her heart on why she started her company, visit her Mission page here. 

These "Thank You” cards are so fun and colorful.  Can’t wait to send a few!

Betsy Brown, of Quintessence Textiles, has a fabulously luxurious line of home goods, from linens and bags to vases and leather goods, all using ethically sourced materials and made by artisans in East Africa. Modern and minimalist designs are combined with Ethiopian heritage and craftsmanship to create global products that are providing sustainable job opportunities for artists and makers and access to new markets through Betsy's company.  I came home with a stunning and simple ivory on white diamond embroidered scarf, but wanted so many other things.

While all of these women had great lines of product and fabulous taste, it was each of their hearts for adventure and the mission behind their businesses that truly captured me. Something that has been on our minds and in our prayers around here at Amanda K. Jewelry is how we can give back to people in need in a way that relates to our business and core values.  We are currently in the exploration phase of this concept, and would love your thoughts on it!  Do you have a favorite organization or a people group that has your heart?  We would love to hear about it.  Drop us a line at hello@amandakjewelry.com or leave a comment with your ideas.  We can’t wait to see where the Lord leads us.

Be sure to follow all of these lovely ladies and their business adventures on Instagram!