happy turkey day

We're off to my brother Tom's house for turkey tomorrow and I can't wait. I just love...love...love Thanksgiving dinner - all the good smells, all the wonderful family members, all the things to be thankful for:

• our nephew, Ted, is recently back from Afghanistan - safe and sound
• my year of medical challenges has run its course and all is well
• Suzanne continues to be an important asset at the store and JOOLZ continues to attract new customers and new artists
• our family continues to grow as two nieces became engaged and two others had daughters this year
• my hairdresser, Olivia, is happily pregnant after years of trying...followed by surgery, and her due date falls between those two nieces' weddings!

Count your blessings and enjoy your Thanksgiving Day. I sure will!

all decked out

It was shortly after 9:00am this morning...I was setting up shop when what to my wondering eyes should appear... but a lift truck rolling down the sidewalk, led by eight tiny reindeer. OK, maybe no reindeer, but definitely a lift truck, and it stopped right in front of JOOLZ.

Up went the lift and up went the strands of lights. Our building was being outlined in sparkling white lights, joining many others on Main Street in a new collaborative effort between merchants and building owners to light up downtown for the holidays....just in time for this weekend's Holiday Open House.

JOOLZ is decorated inside and out, from head to toe. Our cases are overflowing with wonderful, unique joolz, the holiday music is ready on the iPod and we'll be serving our yummy, hot wassail and homemade cookies this weekend. Plus, for the first time, we're having a drawing for 3 JOOLZ gift certificates. Register to win and use the gift certificate for holiday gifts; the drawing will be on December 7th, following Art Walk (Friday, December 4) and Wine Walk (December 5). Happy Holiday Fun!

wrap it up

Autumn Colors

You may remember that we took a wonderful trip to Wyoming and Montana back in September. Glorious vistas, glorious food, glorious time spent with friends...and not least of all, glorious art.

Mary, a good friend since college days, toured me through several wonderful galleries in Jackson. At one of our first stops, I became instantly attracted to a fabulous collection of pearl and gemstone jewelry. I asked if the artist was local and was delighted to discover that she was so local that she was right in the gallery at that very moment. I was introduced to Monica Jansen and learned that she has been making jewelry for some time, having previously been a jewelry buyer for Coldwater Creek. Monica's signature pieces are her 60" (that's right...5 feet long) wrap necklaces. They make a powerful statement and include both organic and Majorca pearls, along with gemstones and precious metal beads. They are drop dead gorgeous and can be worn doubled, tripled, knotted, even wound around 5 times, if you have a long, thin neck.

Monica has sent us a wonderful collection, just in time for the holidays. In fact, here is her limited edition Holiday Necklace, featuring pearls, garnets, onyx and silver beads:

While Monica loves Jackson Hole, it can be a bit nippy in the winter, so she's off to Arizona for a few months. Her love of the southwest comes through loud and clear in her "Confetti" necklace:

Can't you see yourself wearing this vibrant necklace all year long? It can be yours....just say so and we'll wrap it up!

'tis the season

The pumpkins and hobgoblins have been put away for another year and we are now fully decorated for the Christmas season. Downtown Canandaigua is beginning to sparkle with colorful holiday windows and white lights outlining some of the old, historic buildings. The excitement of the season is definitely building...

We found this great wreath at TJMaxx (LOVE that store) and knew it would be perfect for the store's front door. It's hard to see in this photo, but the twigs are all covered with silver glitter. It says ::sparkle:: in a simple, elegant way, just like the interior of JOOLZ. We're ready - are you?

kerry bogert's new work is here!

Departing Arrival

Kerry Bogert's fans are coast to coast. They love her twisted wire and gorgeous handcrafted lampwork glass beads. And as of today, JOOLZ is delighted to have several new pieces in black and white, one of our customers' favorite color combos.

We arranged a meet with Kerry at the Memorial Art Gallery's 9th annual Fine Craft Show, where her glass bead jewelry was a standout. While I had already seen images of our new pieces, it was so much more fun to see them in person. There's extraordinary craftsmanship, a great design aesthetic and a bit of whimsie all rolled into fabulous statement joolz. You're gonna love 'em!

Unhinged

P.S. We have several more necklaces, bracelets and earrings...come see them all.

teaser

New black and white pieces coming from Kerry Bogert next week, like this fun bracelet incorporating glass, wire and felt: