Hello friends, and happy Friday.  I have the most marvelous news !

But first, have you heard of Stella & Dot?  Stella & Dot is a relatively new line of jewelry that has everybody talking.  Babes, it’s all the buzz. 

Stella & Dot’s gorgeous pieces have been featured in In Style, Lucky, Teen Vogue, Better Homes and Gardens, and Cosmopolitan magazines, as well as the New York Times and all over television.  See all the press right here. 

Now check out a few of these spreads 

I have perused this site several times and I am smitten with so many of these pieces. 

So here’s my sassy and classy giveaway that I’m bringing to you, courtesy of my friend and Stella & Dot stylist Jacquie.   

One lucky winner will receive this La Coco Brooch Necklace, inspired by style icon Coco Chanel.  It is a $98 dollar value, and isn’t it stunning?   I want one !

What I love about this necklace is that this double chain of two different sizes is paired with a brooch and can be worn eight different ways, depending on the look you want.  And the brooch will be updated every season. 

This piece comes apart and can be restyled however you choose:

I can so see this paired with my jeans and a great top.  No fair one of you gets it.  *Pout* 

But here are some of my other favorite Stella & Dot pieces I’m considering buying. 

 Garden Party chandeliers, the Kelly cuff, Charlize teardrops, and the Bloom Flower Ring,

All images courtesy of Stella & Dot. 

Want a chance to win that La Coco necklace ?

Giveaway Eligibility 

1. Visit the Stella & Dot website, then come back and leave a comment on my site telling us your most favorite piece. 
2. Random question just for fun.  In the same comment field, tell us what is your most prized fashion accessory and why? 

Important note:  To be eligible, your comments must be entered on this website’s comments page under this post, and not via email, or in my contact form, on Facebook, or in your reader.  Thanks in advance. 

Giveaway ends Sunday October 4, 2009 at 8 p.m. PST.  One entry only please. Winner will be chosen by Random.org. 

Finally, I’ve been very busy working on many more projects this week.  I can’t wait to show all of you.  Stay tuned.  And best of luck in the giveaway. 

The temperatures have dropped.  A cold front is on its way.  The wind is blowing the leaves off the trees.  It’s officially fall in my town.

With that in mind, I’m so glad the old saying about rebuking unnecessary ornamentation  specifically names the lily, and only the lily.  I thank thee Shakespeare.  Because I’ve gone ahead and gilded my pumpkins.  Well, actually, I’ve enhanced their already natural beauty with a golden glaze.  Then I stacked them high and tied them with copper ribbon.

I made a few other decorative upgrades as well.  Here’s the autumn front porch tour.

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Perhaps you’ll recall my spring handbag dilemma where I wanted but couldn’t choose a yellow handbag.  I eventually found a Nine West croc bag on sale for $45 dollars at a local store, and I’ve carried this bag since March.  It’s the perfect size.  Big enough to stash my wallet, Nikon camera, and the essential sippy cups and kid snacks.  Bonus:  it has a zebra print satin interior.  By now, there’s all sorts of coins, crumbs and ancient receipts crushed in the bottom of my sassy zebra print.  Sad, but true – that’s mommyhood for you.  But now the yellow is played, and it’s time for a new fall bag.   

Sneaky Mr. CG snapped this one a few weeks ago in Napa while we were waiting for lunch at Bouchon.  Nice indifferent expression.  Thanks hun.  It’s also a rare photo of me semi-dolled up.  But more importantly, it’s the only shot I have of the bag. 

I heart you yellow handbag, but it’s time to retire. 

Now that the seasons are changing, and I’m on the hunt for a fall and winter bag.  I’m a pretty practical gal when it comes to my daily tote.  In my pre-offspring days, I would rotate my daily bags.  Ha.  That’s funny to me now.  There’s just no time for that these days.

I prefer a stylish choice that I can carry all season long.  Preferably a hobo.  And I’m hyper focused on metallics right now.  So I’m calling on all of you friends to give put in your shiny coppery two cents. 

Get it?  Metallics?  Coppery two cents? 

Never mind. 

Guidelines: 

1. Any of the bags over $100 dollars are just eye candy. 
2. Indulge me.  Pretend you like metallics just as much as I do. 
3. Help me narrow down the reasonable choices. 

Here they are ranked in order from outrageously delicious luxurious choices to the more reasonable in price. 

Christian Louboutin Marianna metallic hobo, $1,795

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When I go to an antique fair, I sometimes go incognito, then I photograph all of the things I love, or the things that inspire me. 

What I truly love about outdoor antique fairs is the exposure to other people’s conversations.  I’m not eavesdropping on purpose.  But one can’t help overhearing the most interesting observations with so many persons milling about inspecting, inquiring, and always commentating.  I find it fascinating.  I find people fascinating, with all of their different tastes. 

I have perused several of the the larger local antique fairs in the past month, and I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve found inspirational.  Some can be recreated right at home. 

Take a tour with me. 

I spotted this mirrored coat rack made from architectural salvage.  It reminds me of the coat rack I made with an old headboard.  You can see that project right here. 

Look at these beautiful conch shells that someone has carefully embellished with pearl string.  They’ve been mounted on secondary clam shells and they make quite a pair.  They were very large shells, about 8 inches tall, and so very pretty up close. 

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