I have been steadily working on the upcoming Memorialize Collection, and I am delighted to share a pre-release with you!  Each jewelry collection I create is permanent, giving every design the time to mature and expand, to its capacity.  Every year I look forward to layering in a new design aesthetic to complement my signature pieces, but the components for Memorialize are vast, so I decided it needed its own collection.  The Memorialize Collection will still be feminine yet hefty, and in perfect scale - all of what you have come to know my jewelry for.  The beginning of the Memorialize Collection will debut in early 2017 with new styles trickling in throughout the year.

ALEXIS KLETJIAN GOLD SKULL CHARM

This skull charm is the only piece from the collection that has been pre-released, and it has received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback.  So much so, I decided to give one 10K yellow gold skull charm away to one of my fans in honor my my 10K milestone on Instagram.  

All you had to do for the chance to win was repost one of my skull images, tag me, and a friend.  Simple.  I'll choose the winner of this gold skull charm and announce Thursday on Instagram, which is tomorrow, September 29th.  Yes!  You have one evening to share this little guy for your chance to win, but I do have another special surprise for you... 

For everyone that did repost, you will receive the first round of skulls to be released at a special price just for participating and supporting my upcoming collection.  So, be sure to repost, tag me, and then send me an e-mail, so I can provide you with a discount code once they hit the website. 

ALEXIS KLETJIAN LUCKY STAR SHIELD, PERSONALIZED RUBY CHARM, AND GOLD SKULL

I just reached 10K on Instagram ;)

Today brands are measured in their social media success, but I don't feel that is an accurate way to gauge success, or retain brand loyalty.  Attention is fleeting, new apps are always throwing a fork in the road, and social media "numbers" are used as the barometer of how well you are doing. Why?  

I think this is a terrible way to conduct your life, to be worried about social numbers, and how you appear in the cyber world.  I have ten thousand things I need to be doing, and worrying about that is not one.  For me, it is about the jewelry and my connection with you.  

With that said, I do think it is amazing so many of you (10,000 +) take the time out of your day to make me feel special in mine, and I love how social media has brought us together, which is why I created the AKLegacy Campaign to begin with.  As you know by now, with every 1,000 Instagram milestone this year, I have awarded one name chosen randomly from my golden drum of stories, a $1,000 gift certificate towards your fine jewelry purchase, to adorn your legacy. 

We only have a few more months left of the AKLegacy Campaign this year, but please keep those stories coming, because I will bring it back again, I promise.  Your stories are powerful and I carry each of you with me, everyday.  Quietly, I wonder if a piece will be the right one for you, to mark the milestone, to touch your heart.  

I enjoy that you chat with me daily, and I look forward to your comments, emails, and/or messages about jewelry, my words, or just to share a quick thought.  

For the biggest milestone to date, I have chosen a name from the golden drum, as you will see in this video on INSTAGRAM, but next week I am hosting a special giveaway - an early release - open to all, and it will be one item from the upcoming MEMORIALIZE COLLECTION!

Glassybaby creates the most beautiful, colorful, and dual purpose votives with a charitable mission. I am excited to share them with you, here, in THE FIND.  

If you haven't already heard of Glassybaby you are in for a treat - they will solve all of your hostess and end of the year appreciation gifts, in one fell swoop!  I was drawn to their bold colors, utilitarian use, and their ongoing philanthropic commitment.  The perfect gift.  

The journey of Glassybaby began in Seattle by Lee Rhodes.  While entertaining, Lee Rhodes was inspired by a tea light dropped into a rough hewn glass votive, and Glassybaby was born. 

The first Glassybaby votives were created to give as gifts and people loved them.  As the popularity of Glassybaby grew artisans were hired, and Lee began selling out of her garage, donating a percentage of sales to charities - specifically cancer.  Lee is a mother, a three time cancer survivor, and Glassybaby afforded her a way to give back, and give back she has... 

From their grass roots in 1995, Glassybaby has come a long way.  Glassybaby has raised millions of dollars (4,815,422 and counting) to organizations dedicated to helping people, animals, and the environment heal.  How did they do that?  With every Glassybaby sold, ten percent is donated to their white light fund.  Every Glassybaby gives.



Lee Rhodes has made a significant difference with her company, which you can enjoy in your own home.  Glassybaby is available in an unimaginable array of colors, which also makes it incredibly hard to choose just one.  Collect, gift, and display, because it is a reminder of how precious life truly is.  

I found Glassybaby about six years ago, I have been gifting them with small flower arrangements ever since.  I think you should have a glassy baby, so I am going to give one to a newsletter subscriber.  All you need to do is be on my newsletter and I will choose a name at random.  Are you on the list?  You better get on it, because you know you need some Glassybaby in your life.  

VERONICA WAS THE LUCKY WINNER!  STAY TUNED FOR IMAGES OF HER GLASSBABY




I wonder what I will find next...stay tuned for next month's find, because it could be yours!

My daughter, coloring the latest Nice Tomato mini book.  Diamonds, our favorite!

Coloring is in, it's the new way to zen.  Beautiful mandala and gardening coloring books for adults can be found almost everywhere, have you seen them?  With the mantra of "Your never too old to color", coloring also cities relaxation benefits.  

Welcome to my new series : THE FIND.  At the end of each month, I will share a great company or a product I love with you, my dear readers.  We are living in a socially-sharing world, and if someone hadn't shared Nice Tomato on their Facebook page, I wouldn't have found them, and I wouldn't know how to spread the color.

Nice Tomato founders, Amanda and Joe Linton

Nice Tomato is a subscription coloring book service.  A new color folio and markers arrive to my mailbox, every month.  My daughter and I love it!  I am just as excited as she is to open it up and see all of the new designs.  Each color folio is filled with pages upon pages of fun and exciting things to color!  But, the best part is, every month we get a new color folio and so does a child in the hospital.  
Nice Tomato just had a birthday, this amazing company is now one year old!  When I did the math, I realized I found them in the very beginning of their journey, and we are proud to have been a small part of their success!!! 

Nice Tomato just announced their monthly subscriptions services are cut in half, and are only $10.00 a month for your color folio and markers!  Do you know what that means?  More children are coloring. Your children, and children in the hospital, are connected through the big colorful hearts at Nice Tomato.  

In the spirit of random acts of kindness, I'm going to give away a three month subscription to this little company that brings me and my daughter joy, and then the rest is up to you.  A subscription is also a great birthday gift, or as a donation to a childcare center, or a cause close to your heart. 

Claire's bringing back the brooch with her win!

Random acts of kindness are powerful.  Spontaneous, kind gestures are a positive way to lead your life and inspire others to do the same.  So often we walk with our heads down, our faces shoved into a device, living our lives on the go...  We all need to slow down, take care of our souls, shift the balance, and show you care by giving back when you can, even with the smallest gesture of a smile.  Hold a door, help a friend, volunteer your time, participate in a charity, or give something away that no longer brings you joy.

You are probably wondering what this has to do with jewelry, so I will tell you... 

Jewelry is a placeholder for your emotions, and your stories.  One visual of your beloved piece and it brings you directly back to the moment of when you first saw it.  Your mind will replay stories of your favorite times wearing it, bringing you joy and happiness all over again.  However, when unwanted, unworn jewelry sits in a box, that story is never replayed, and the joy is gone.

Recently on Instagram, I spontaneously decided to giveaway a few items from my jewelry box that I no longer wanted.  I had planned to convert some antique pins and lockets into modern-day treasures, but in the end, I felt it was not truly my style.  I did consider selling them, trading them, or even melting for scrap to return my investment, but then I decided the emotional investment of happiness when giving them to new, loving homes far outweighed the time and effort.  

One post and their new homes found them.

Antique treasures from my jewelry box

I am very pleased to say everyone was thrilled with their new-to-them treasures and sent me images, which made me so happy!  I love knowing they now reside with collectors that will love and adore them, instead of selling to someone with an uncertain fate. 

The winners were announced on Instagram

Jennifer won the Star Pique Brooch, I was going to convert into a ring...

Cindy won this fabulously old turquoise star pendant, with a hidden locket in the back!

Just one of Cindy's jewelry box displays....

I can only hope these winnings serve as a reminder to participate in more random acts of kindness inside and outside of our community.  I was so inspired by all of the responses, I am going to do it one last time.  I have just a few more items I was going to convert, so in the spirit of random acts of kindness, you can look forward to round two ;)

Do you have a random act of kindness jewelry story to share?  I'd love to hear it.  You can either contact me, or a leave a message below!

Did you visit the links in our Sneak Peek Jewelry event?  There was a giveaway that coincided with our "sneak peak" event coverage. You may still have time to enter - hurry!

I gifted my beautiful co-hosts Georgina and Amy each a $200.00 giveaway for being such fabulous co-hosts, bringing Boston's blogging community together for an amazing party in celebration of my jewelry line.  If you win, it is a great head start to collecting or investing in a special piece from our collection!