Agate Stone July 27 2014, 0 Comments

New arrivals this month include bracelets and necklaces made with gold dust pixie agate stone, a dark stone that is strung with a Peridot green crystal stone or a black and gold Celtic cross. I love this style, the dark stones balance with the bright pendants to create a stylish look for mid-summer. Agate stone is made from volcanic rock and discovered between the 4^th and 3^rd centuries B.C. along the Achates river in Sicily. This stone is thought to attract strength and offer protection…may be good to consider during the summer heat! Thanks for everyone who came out to the California Gift Show last weekend, Tammy had a blast and enjoyed southern California.  Next up:  Shopping Extravaganza at Art Unraveled 2014, Phoenix, AZ.  Saturday August 2nd, 10 AM to 4 PM.  Come visit Tammy Auther Designs and see her new arrivals!  Click below for more details.

Moving Home July 14 2014, 0 Comments

I haven’t written in a few weeks because WE MOVED BACK TO PHOENIX! We are so excited to be in Arizona, close to family and friends. We have spent the last few weeks living with my parents, going on vacation, and getting temporary housing. We start our jobs this week in Phoenix, and we look forward to our lives here! Spending two weeks at my parents’ house was a fun time, it was somewhere between chaos, joy, bliss, and happiness. Our son loves it. We get to spend extra time with mom and her jewelry, and I get to wear her pieces more often! She is headed to Los Angeles this week for the California Gift Show, July 18-21, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Check out her new arrivals at Booth 956 and shoptammy.com!

Grateful for Fathers June 16 2014, 0 Comments

Happy Father’s Day! Yesterday, I was excited to celebrate my dad as well as my husband, Jude, on his first Father’s Day. I know that dad and my sister, Allison, spent several hours yesterday working out and sleeping (their favorite things), while Jude spent the day working on the yard and playing with our son. I am grateful for them both, not many dads will do yoga with their daughter and attend every home AZ Cardinals game with their son (dad), give our son a bath every night, after the daily wrestling match (Jude), and comment on moms vintage jewelry to give her “feedback” (dad and Jude). When I was little, I am sure that my dad never imagined that he would have an aerospace engineer daughter and son-in-law, two commercial real estate gurus, and a vintage jewelry designer and creator in his immediate family. Quite a range... He has been nothing but supportive of each of us in our own endeavors, including my mom and her vintage jewelry business. His comments like “don’t put something heavy on a vintage chain”, “will that hurt to wear” , and “if you drop the vintage necklace, will it break?” have been nothing short of inspirational to my mom (or at least practical!). So thanks Dad and Jude for being great fathers and for supporting the people in your life…especially the jewelry designing kind!

"Ruffing" It June 09 2014, 0 Comments

Mom finds inspiration for her vintage jewelry designs from traveling, reading, conversations, and things in her daily life…one of which is our dog, Pete. Pete is a 2 year old yellow Labrador with lots of energy, a very high jump, great digging abilities, and love for my mom. Mom insisted upon never wanting a dog after our last one passed away, my dad persisted and insisted, until finally mom broke down and got a lab puppy. After many sleepless nights, vacuuming the carpets over and over again, viewing scratched doors in every room, and constantly wiping off the water that Pete drags around the hardwood...against all odds, mom and Pete have become friends. More than friends…she absolutely adores him, which is likely heightened by her empty nest. You will find her on an afternoon sitting in her jewelry room, wiring vintage lockets to old pearls and adding crystals to pocket watches, while Pete sleeps on the ground beside her. It took time, but mom and Pete learned to like each other, so much so that when we bring our 10 month old son over to their house, they make sure that Pete will be ok with it!

Even though he has literally destroyed many parts of our house, mom has repaired it in a way that has made it beautiful…painting new colors over scratched doorways, adding character to wood floors, giving carpets a vintage feel, and allowing for colorful flowers to bloom in the garden. Without Pete, his story and his growing up in our home, she never would have been able to make it as lovely. Similar to the vintage treasures she finds and makes new again in shimmering necklaces, bright earrings, and vintage chic bracelets, mom has made our house new again. But now it has a story. Each of her pieces has a story, a history, whether it be from the 1920’s flapper era, to the 1960’s type writers age, to the modern chic woman, wearing a piece of her jewelry is like reading a storybook. This week, Mom has added silver dog vintage pieces to pearls and turquoise to honor her best friend, and to remember that pets give us energy, give us love, and help narrate the story of our homes and lives.

2014 Summer Fashion Trends June 02 2014, 0 Comments

I checked out Net-A-Porter today (www.net-a-porter.com) to appreciate the 2014 Fashion Trends…two of the trends would look even better with Tammy Auther Designs vintage pieces! “The Lady Look” is a sophisticated style, with high-waisted skirts that fall below the knee, cropped jackets, and tucked-in blouses. Or pencil skirts, kitten heels, and vintage laced blouses paired with vintage locket necklaces on gold or silver chains or pearl necklaces with hanging leaf and heart pendants. Oh the possibilities! The “80’s Revival” look is coming back this year with just one 80’s inspired piece per outfit…whether it be shoulder pads, a side-pony tail, a bright birds nest necklace with silver chain, or an oversized crystal necklace with vintage pendant. Tammy Auther Designs necklaces, bracelets, and earrings will help shape your 2014 summer fashion statement…whether it be the Lady Look, 80’s Revival, Vintage Chic…the list goes on and on. Check out the new arrivals to shape your summer fashion statement!

Best Mom and Best Vintage Jewelry May 11 2014, 0 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day! Writing this blog has been really fun this year, my mom, sister, and I are having discussions about fashion, vintage jewelry, events, shows, grammar, how to use Excel, the definition of an Instagram widget…the list goes on and on. Happy Mother’s Day Mom, hope that you have a wonderful day, sit back and enjoy it! You are truly one-of-a-kind, like your vintage jewelry, and I aspire to be a mom like you! Your necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are the best pearls, best turquoise, best crystals, and best vintage jewelry in the southwest. (Trying out a search engine optimization technique here…using the word best to describe Tammy Auther Designs). If you are looking to spoil your loved one this spring, look no further...Best pearl necklaces, best garnet necklaces, best vintage necklaces, best vintage pieces, BEST! Vintage jewelry lockets, great vintage jewelry, vintage chic jewelry!  Love you Mom!

Thanks to all who came out to the Dream Gift Shop and ABWA Women’s Expo shows in Yuma this past weekend. It was a blast!

Three Speckled Hens May 05 2014, 0 Comments

Tammy Auther Designs had a blast at the Three Speckled Hens show in Paso Robles, CA this past weekend. Mom displayed her new business cards, logo, and jewelry props! Mint green dishes with sparkly crystals, turquoise mirrors hanging with vintage chains, silver plates displaying pearl necklaces. She was in the middle of wine country, waking up to the vineyards, sipping coffee on her balcony watching the sunrise and getting ready for each day at the show. Thank you to everyone who came out and visited Tammy at her booth! She is inspired by the creativity and vision of all the vendors and customers! Thanks Three Speckled Hens!  Next up: Trunk Show at Dream Gift Shop (Yuma, AZ) and ABWA Women’s Expo (Yuma, AZ) May 9 and 10^th. Getting ready for the Mother’s Day Rush!

Vintage Chic Jewelry April 27 2014, 0 Comments

Vintage Chic… I picture high heels and skinny jeans, striped blouses tucked into high-waisted pants, loose cardigans over tanks, and long strands of pearls or crystals over shirts tucked into pencil skirts. It is vintage style made modern and relevant to the everyday woman. I picture my mom in her skinny jeans, flowered flats, and blue shirt with strands of pearls, she embodies the vintage chic. Or her blouse tucked into her Bermuda shorts, wedged sandals, and an antique pocket watch necklace laced with vintage crystals. Her everyday style is paired with one of her vintage necklaces, bracelets, or earrings and it completes her look. When I get dressed for my everyday, whether it be work, lunch with the girls, or a baby yoga class with my son, I think what necklace would mom wear with this outfit? What bracelet will bring out my vintage chic today? Tammy Auther Designs will be at the Three Speckled Hens show this weekend in Paso Robles, CA. Stop by to see her designs and her vintage chic jewelry!

Giving Back April 21 2014, 0 Comments

Happy Easter! As I was celebrating Easter yesterday with my husband’s family and friends, I was reminded of how lucky we are to have two families that are so supportive, generous, and loving. I am grateful for my mom, her blossoming jewelry business, her avid tennis playing, her organization of our family holidays and vacations, and her commitment to giving back to the community. Tammy Auther Designs supports many charities, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, John C. Lincoln Hospital, Maggie’s Place, St. Mary’s Food Bank, and many catholic schools in the Phoenix area. Two weekends ago, she attended the Boobalooza Breast Cancer event, where she donated a vintage necklace to be auctioned and played tennis to support Breast Cancer awareness. As her designs come to life, she is inspired to donate pieces to fundraising events that fund research, bring awareness, send a child to school, and provide food and shelter to those in need. Contact Tammy at tammy@shoptammy.com if you have a need in the community for a vintage piece, such as a heart pendant to support a heart association or birds nest necklace to support new beginnings and starting over. Also, check out her new vintage pieces, including the introduction of earrings to the collection!

Spring has Sprung April 13 2014, 0 Comments

Happy Easter! After such a cold, snowy, icy, windy, sub-zero winter, I am so happy that spring has finally arrived. We enjoyed 70 degree temperatures this weekend in the Midwest, sat on patios eating brunch, took our new son to a park, and enjoyed being able to wear shorts and t-shirts. I love Easter time, the weather changing, flowers blooming, green lawns appearing, and the smell of new life blossoming… ah spring. I remember hunting for colorful Easter eggs, wearing a fancy dress, and eating so much chocolate my stomach hurt. Now, I get to watch our son enjoy Easter for the first time, and I get to decide which of my mom’s necklaces to wear with my outfit! Last year she debuted her Birds Nest necklaces, a simple chain with a nest of wire laced with pearls, a birds nest about to spring new life. She was inspired by the colors of Easter, turquoise, pink, blue, and white, the chirping birds outside her jewelry studio, and the birds perched on her vintage display dish. Or I could choose her Pearls and Flower necklace, golden pearls with a sparkly vintage flower pendant, to add some bling to my Easter. Or I could wear one of her vintage antique pocket watch necklaces, strung with pearls and crystals, inspired by an age of typewriters, pencil skirts, aprons, stockings, and kitten heels. A reminder that spring will only last a few precious weeks, before summer arrives…Tick Tock. What vintage piece will you wear this spring? Colorful pearls, sparkly crystals, vintage clocks…check out the Collection to find your springtime must-have this week.

Pearls, Pearls, Pearls April 06 2014, 0 Comments

Pearls bring to mind vintage Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn, classic images of Jackie O, my grandmother on a Sunday morning, my mom getting dressed for a dinner out, and my wedding day. I am also reminded of my first real pair of pearl earrings, my aunt gave my sister and I her Tiffany’s pearl earrings when we were teenagers. We thought these were the most beautiful, shiny pearls in the world, and had to decide how to share them, should we each wear one earring? Trade the pair back and forth? I was in college halfway across the country, so we vowed to ship them back and forth every six months. I secured them for the first six month rotation, never shipped them to her, lost them in my dorm room, and found them five years later in my home in the Midwest. I then returned them to her for her rotation, hoping she wouldn’t keep them for another five years. I have to say that my mom’s jewelry business opening up in this timeframe did help, as my sister was able to enjoy the vintage jewelry just a few steps away! We inherited her love of pearls, like mother like daughters.

Now, we wear pearl necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that she has designed and created. She still ships me pieces to wear, and I try to return them…but I am in love with her pearl designs. One of my favorite pieces uses freshwater pearls that are elongated with a vintage angel piece hanging from it. Another piece has three strands of white pearls with a pop of color in a bright pink flower. I am grateful that she has saved a few necklaces for me, but there are so many more. Check out the pearls this week in her necklace and bracelet collection and remind yourself why you love to wear pearls.

I'll Take the Blue One Please March 24 2014, 0 Comments

Welcome to Tammy Auther Designs!  Tammy and I are excited that you are here, take a moment to glance at her designs, read the blog for inspiration, sign up for emails, and feel free to shop the collection.  I am Tammy's daughter, Caitlin, and will be blogging about her designs, jewelry, and life.

As a late-twenties mom, wife, and working woman, I am so grateful for my mom and her jewelry.  She has supplied me with pieces to wear for special occasions, the first day at a new job, an interview, a school dance, the list goes on and on.  Her designs make me feel confident, pretty, and inspired.  Last weekend, I was visiting my parents and had a wedding to attend on Saturday night.  As is my habit, I wandered into my mom's jewelry room to decide which necklace would look the best with my blue and white dress.  Her jewelry studio is incredible, vintage paintings, a mirror decorated with broken dishes, velvet drapes, manikins, and the smell of citrus, oranges, and lemon.  At her desk are unattached small beads, pearls, crystals, and wire, things for a new creation.  I pick up a blue necklace, made of aquamarines, and hold it up in front of the mirror.  Blue is on my mind these days, perhaps because I just had a baby boy, or maybe because living in the midwest has made me miss the ocean, so at this moment, I want a blue necklace.  As mom clasps it to my neck, I know this is the one that I will wear.  It matches my dress and I feel ready for the dancing, drinking, and eating to come.  Picking out a piece for one night is pretty easy, wish that I had more of her pieces for everyday.  I am thinking of asking her to make a turquoise necklace, or find a treasure that is the Tiffany blue color, or perhaps even using some old blue vintage glass beads with pearls.  Shop her new spring collection and lookout for the pieces with blue.