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Perfect pairing of pendant and earrings
I am working away getting ready to bring you new pieces and designs. The Ocean Current pendant you have seen before; it is a favourite of mine. It is versatile and I have paired it previously with these bronze earrings and these patterned earrings.
Now, I have a new Ocean Current design that goes well with the bronze pendant. These earrings are light-weight and easy to wear. They will come in various sizes for you to show off your own style.
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Saturday afternoons, bold bags and bronze bangles
I had some time while I was downtown this afternoon to relax with a chai tea latte.
I took my favourite Blue Q bag with me. I love the bold colour and the bicycles all over it. I always get compliments when I have it with me. It makes me feel Elegantly Audacious.
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Little Free Libraries and bronze bracelets
I love to read and really enjoy the community movement of Little Free Libraries that are cropping up everywhere. I can reach 2 within a 15 min bike ride of my place.
This is one we saw on our recent vacation I wrote about a few posts back.
Go ahead - take a book that looks interesting. And leave a book you are done with.
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Bronze pendant and turquoise to match
I am not really one to pay attention that my outdoor or athletic wear matches. I buy it for fit and functionality, not what colour it is. Sometimes I buy things on sale that work for me - I have an orange pullover like that. I wear it outside, while biking usually, to keep me warm. It's a bonus that you can see it for miles.
So imagine my surprise when I noticed my jacket matched my pendant.
And then I looked down.
Yup, the shoes match the jacket. Apparently turquoise is the "in" colour for these items this year. I am now fashionably dressed when outside - how Audaciously Elegant of me!
Want to get your own piece of bronze and turquoise jewelry? Be the first to know when I release a bronze and blue collection by signing up to be an insider.
Versatile bronze earrings
These new earrings have become my go to for everyday wear. I first showed them off here, while they were still unfinished.
Here with a black scoop neck (and a bronze pendant).
And with a collared white linen shirt.
Not too large, but not shy either.
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Yes, you can wear statement earrings
Maybe you are like me, a bit slow to get on board with the big earring trend. Statement earrings have been seen on the runways and on regular folks for a number of years now.
I am finally embracing statement earrings. I think my short grey hair is a great way to show them off. Go ahead, try it yourself! You just might like them.
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Cycling, hotel and bangles
As I mentioned, I was on vacation, in the Greater Vancouver area.
We did "Bike the Night" - a family cycling awareness event where everyone dresses up and puts lights on their bikes. Streets were closed as 5000 cyclists rode the route.
We also cycled around the seawall and then stopped here at Canada Place, close to where the Olympic Flame was during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
While in Vancouver, we stayed at the Iconic Sylvia Hotel.
And yes, it was sometimes grey and rainy, but we didn't let that stop the fun.
My bangle came along for the ride.
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Stingrays, vacations and bangles
I have been on vacation. A week of bike riding with my friend is what I had planned. But on the second day, the morning was grey, wet and rainy. So we ventured off to the Vancouver Aquarium.
These creatures caught my eye.
Stingrays - in different forms. Graceful and beautiful.
Many stingrays are endangered due to unregulated and overfishing for food and their skin and also because they eat shellfish and can threaten shellfishing grounds.
Aren't they fascinating?
PS:
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Bike rides, dahlias and bronze bangles
I have been on my bike lots this summer. This week, I passed many farm stands in the neighbourhood along a popular cycling trail.
I am lucky to live in a place where farm stands and flowers are just a bike ride away.
Aren't these dahlias bold and beautiful - elegantly audacious even?!
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Ice packs and bronze cuffs
Why am I reaching for an ice pack?
See that red patch at the end of my left eyebrow? That, my friend, is a wasp sting!
Ahh....that will take the swelling and redness down.
I was cycling along, minding my own business, when this wasp flies right at me and then gets caught under the edge of my sunglasses. I got rid of it only by flinging off my sunglasses. They survived. We will see about my eyebrow.
PS: The bronze cuff is also a prototype for an upcoming collection release. The design needs a few tweaks, and then it will be ready to go! Sign up below to be the first to know.
Bronze bangle and coffee shop journaling
One of my favourite things is to go work in a coffee shop. It gets me out of the studio into different surroundings, sipping coffee and letting the creative juices flow.
It's even better, when it is nice enough out for me to bike to the coffee shop. After I spend hours in my studio producing things, it's important for me to surface out in real life again. Fresh air, movement, brain work and contact with other humans. What could be better?!?
Coffee, of course! (and my new bronze bangle)
PS: Are you an Insider yet? The bangle will be part of an upcoming collection and insiders get first look-and-shop privileges. Sign up by entering your email below.
Inspired by a Rockhound in the family
A large dollop of my creativity and my love for jewelry comes from my maternal grandfather. Buppo (my cousin's version of grandpa that stuck) was the only grandparent I knew.
Among other things, my grandfather was a rockhound in his later years, searching and finding treasure among the rocks and pebbles. I remember the loud chunk chunk sound of his tumbler in his basement and the stories of the polished treasures he would show me - agates and tiger eye; jasper and jade; even possible arrow heads!
There might not be a Leonajeanne Designs had I not gone to a rock and gem show to see if I could reconnect to the spirit of my grandfather. That show ignited a curiosity and drive in me that has continued to propel me forward with designing and creating jewelry.
One of the life lessons my grandfather taught me is that jewelry has a story - and jewelry is part of your story. These stones were found, polished and set by my grandfather for me when I was young - perhaps 6 or 7 years old. Each stone is from our family's lake property and carries it's own history and memories for me.
The story of my jewelry is about rising up and claiming your strength and your beauty that is all mixed together in your special recipe. Elegant and Audacious.
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