FEBRUARY IS OFF TO A GREAT START...

Because it started in New York City! In a few short days (and still fighting our winter colds) we accomplished (and were enriched) SO MUCH! First, we did the big 'show' at the Javitz Center. Lots and lots of jewelry artists attend, so it was great to catch up with some of our favorite people, like Phaedra (the 'daughter' half of Lily Barrack!). We were also on a mission to sequester the greatest, hottest, (soon to be coveted) NEW PIECES! And this quest led us right to LEIGHELENA out of Austin Texas. The best part of this 'find' was that it actually came from the beautiful, wonderful 'best friend a girl could ask for' Sarah Nordstrom. While travelling with Rachel in Los Angeles in January (bless her heart, I am CRAZY!)Sarah found these cuffs in a store just off the boardwalk on Venice Beach. Besides being the best friend, Sarah has AMAZING taste, so I knew, if Sarah loved these, this line was a winner! The fact that Leighe, the artist, was the most warm, wonderful and enthusiastic person around just made this new addition all the more perfect. She even let us take 5 cuffs to get on the site ASAP (see pic! will be online very soon!) That was just above and beyond anything we could have asked for! Our collection for Leighelena will feature these gorgeous leather cuffs (the best leather we have seen, and trust me, we've looked!) with one of a kind enamel discs on top. Leighe does all the enamel work by hand WITH HER MOM (is this a match made in heaven or what) and her super cool boyfriend Jimmy, who was at her side for the show, does the leather work. The other part of our collection will be cuffs with the gold 'buckle and pin' closure. When I tell you these are SO HOT.. you can take my word for it, or you can check out People Magazines 'style watch' section in about 2 weeks. I love the serendipity of this last point, because it was about.. 13 years ago that Judith found a brand new artist who, just WEEKS after becoming an artist at GTJ, was in this very same section of the magazine..none other than Jeanine Payer! (My mom really is the most amazing at finding the very greatest things..)



Allow me to celebrate 'the Judith' for a moment (or a few) more! The next day, we headed back into the city for all our show room appointments. These are seriously fun for us because we get a lot of one on one time with the artists. In fact, on Friday, GTJ'S ARTIST OF THE WEEK video series will start up again with a brand new video..
But first, check out this super cool pic. of Judith in Soho.. and check out the billboard we found, for Alexis Bittar! Even though it was with my blackberry, I think this picture rocks! (Must have been my time hanging out with first rate photographers Pete and Jamie!)


There are no pictures of yours truly, because you will see more than enough in our ARTIST OF THE WEEK video on Friday with MARY JANE MARCASIANO the phenomenal woman beyond our MADE WITH LOVE jewelry line, which is hands down, the most inspiring example of charity work I have ever come across. If you are unfamilar with this line, please check it out on our site! Mary Jane travels to Brazil, Africa and Haiti, where she has set up studios and employs indigenous women to create the wonderful jewelry we sell. Beyond this amazing action, Made With Love then donates the proceeds from their pieces back to the community in ways that aid children (2 new schools were opened in Senegal in the last 2 years thanks to Mary Jane's work!) This woman is truly my inspiration, and you will 'meet' her in the video! Here is a shot of some MADE WITH LOVE pieces from Brazil we will be adding in time for Valentines Day. Judith went crazy in this studio, she loved everything! The fact that Mary Jane was a designer for Prada and has worked in the fashion industry for over 25 years is totally evident in all MADE WITH LOVE pieces. They are IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL, BUT ALSO ABSOLUTELY FASHION FORWARD!
(My fingers almost can't keep up with my excitement :))
After this great meeting, we headed to Alex & Ani and had a blast shopping all the new Spring pieces from their collection! However, this is where Judith developed her habit of wanting the pieces that were all.. set aside, in little pretty cases.. meaning, the very CREAM OF THE CROP.. So that is what we will be carrying! It is as if she had a magnet attached to her, that just 'pulled' her to the pieces that were the very best in every line!




The shopping day ended on an absolute 'higher than high' note when we went to the showroom of a BRAND NEW ARTIST for us.. Anna Sheffield! Anna is the completely glorious woman behind one of the most trend setting and well respected lines of jewelry out there, BING BANG. Rachel has followed and adored Anna's work for YEARS now, and when she debuted her eponymous line ANNA SHEFFIELD, we knew it was time to add her to our collection of artists. This will inevitably turn out to be one of the best decisions we ever made, because not only is the work ABSOLUTELY STUNNING (and just the right amount of 'edgy' /cutting edge/rock and roll while still being feminine and beautiful) Anna herself is truly one of the most kind hearted, driven, soulful and passionate women we have ever met! Along with Jana, our fabulous new rep, Anna was absolutely welcoming and is so excited to be a part of the Giving Tree family. And we can match her excitement completely...and not just because she has a collection of tattoos that made Rachel swoon! She is the real deal, and it will be an honor to carry her gorgeous line.



And again, Judith bee lined for the case that was set aside, and Anna and Jana were wonderful enough to let us go home with this earring/necklace set. Here is a picture of Judith trying them on. She may look 'serious' but trust me, it was just because she was SERIOUSLY IN LOVE with these pieces!

So many amazing things.. all coming .. so soon.. on www.givingtreejewelry.com!!

Finally, this wouldn't be a typical post from me, if I didn't mention a couple of things that have nothing to do with jewelry, and everything to do with the beautiful sense of connection we feel with you, our customers and friends, and the power of this connection and the good (for the world, and our hearts) it can do!

After our day at the show rooms, we drove uptown to see a show at the Guggenheim we were both absolutely determined to see while we were in NYC. It is a work by Berlin artist Tino Sehgal, and I would rather just have everyone see it (or read about it) rather than telling you the whole thing...but basically, it is about.. our collective humanity, our ability to connect to one another, and make a beautiful, if ephemeral, impression on one another. Needless to say, I was crying through the entire...experience.. and couldn't help but think of all my 'links' and how we just keep bringing each other joy.. without even 'meeting' in many cases!

And about that healing the world.. Well I am beyond thrilled to announce that through your purchases of the LOVE MANTRA/HAITI RELIEF pendant, we raised over $2,000 for Haiti! And not only that, but we inspired some amazing things! Just today, I received this beautiful note from a woman I haven't spoken to since highschool (and yes, that is quite a few years)



Hello Rachel, I'm not sure if you remember me but Jenn brought it to my attention that you are doing fundraising for Haiti (we graduated together from TA). Not only am I of Haitian decent but I have an organization that has adopted two schools in Haiti, one of which has been completely destroyed. I just wanted to thank you for trying to do your part in helping to rebuild a country I love deeply and I mourn for daily. But we are hopeful in its rebirth and I am grateful to all of those who have CHOSEN to be a part of it in ways great and small. Take care and all the best. Saran



This is actually a letter to all of you, that made this possible, THANK YOU! (and I am crying again!) Saran and her fiancee leave for Haiti on Sunday, and she will be wearing a Love Mantra necklace to keep her safe and inspired.


I end this gigantic rambling with a heart full of gratitude, and a spirit completely enthused and bursting with excitement for all the beautiful things we will all get to celebrate.. this month of love (the love stories are AMAZING, keep them coming!) and beyond.

What a gift this is.
With so much LOVE! (the perpetual word of the day)
Rachel