Stacks of Style

Take it all, I'm sick of it!

2010-11-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at the same jewelry, some of it for at least a year now and I am sick to death of it!

If you live near Salt Lake City, Come on over, I am putting all of my jewelry on sale from 50-75% off for this weekend only. One of a kind, samples and things we just bought WAY to much of are all on SUPER SALE!

Dont make me look at these things anymore, Please oh Please! I have new ideas and pretty new pieces to create and I need a place to hang them when I am done!

Party Party Arty! Yay!!!

2010-09-22T23:13:00.000-06:00

Remember when I said "I don't want to sound greedy"?

Well as it turns out ...

I really do like to be greeedy......

thank you

for voting for us!

2010-09-20T18:43:00.002-06:00

We hope everyone had a great weekend! Did you do/see anything interesting? I [Roxy] was sick the whole weekend...cause? Bleach. :( yep, dunno if I am allergic to it or what but if there is enough in vicinity to give me a headache I know I am in trouble. 1st sign: sore throat 2nd sign: runny nose 3rd sign: running out of breath when climbing stairs.... :( basically my immune system gets righteously attacked and I become ultra weak and the only cure is sleep. My Junior year of college was far worse..my eyes got crusted over, I missed 5 days of school, I eventually ended up in the emergency room with them saying they saying they couldn't do anything for me [i.e. put me on anti-biotics] and that the only thing I could do was sleep... but then my sister also thought of a great idea to help me get well and that was to laugh...so she laid in bed with me all day long watching funny movies with me and I laughed till I felt well enough to go to school. I was reminded of that the other day and kept thinking "laugh a lot Roxy, laugh!" Funny thing is, I naturally DO laugh a lot...but when we are sick it is so hard to. I think I need to plaster my walls with the wooden plaques I see out here in Utah that say "Live & Laugh".

Anyways...feeling a lot better today and that feels good. Now let's talk fashion and what goes great with what!

Don't these hoops seriously make you wanna jump around like this girl? They do for me!

Or what about this darling Sterling Silver bracelet? Looks great with soooo many outfits!

Or if you're still getting some summer heat and hitting the pool/ocean/lake/pond whichever...why not wonderful porcelain bracelet set?

All these items can be found at Allison Dayton Jewelry

2010-09-16T19:07:00.001-06:00

If I were in the movie.....

I'd wear these gorgeous earrings....

then again... I think they would look TONS better on Debbie Reynolds!

Don't you just love her and this movie???

Do you have a favorite scene? I do..... :) Mine is when all three actors [ Debbie, Gene & Donald] sing "Good Morning Good Morning" ---> many times I have sung this song to the girls I used to nanny for in the morning after spending the night at their grandma's house in Connecticut.
+miss those days+

Have Tools Will Travel!

2010-09-15T20:05:00.002-06:00

So why is my beautiful daughter Devin, surrounded by all of these boys, not smiling?

Here's a hint;

One day after Devin's orthodontist appointment as we were hurrying off to soccer practice, Devin realized the Dental Assistant forgot to close the brackets on her braces. The wire was popping out and digging into her cheek- OUCH!!

I grabbed my trusty jewelry tools and jumped in the car. When we got to the field, I laid her head on my armrest and went to work. I opened the remaining brackets, finessed the wire back through the back connector in the back and closed those little buggers, Pretty as you please!

I don't mind telling y'all that Devin's friends were kind of impressed and the next morning Devin said "Mom, Hannah's mom could never do what you did last night" .

Dang straight girl- You got yourself a Super Duper Mom......

and a Super Duper Smile

What's the Dealio?

2010-09-14T22:11:00.000-06:00

Hey we are feeling pretty pumped here this week! First we got noticed by Salt Lake Magazine which is our premier local mag - quite an honor. AND then there might possibly, hopefully, wishfully be some more good news this week..... fingers crossed.

To celebrate our excitement, we want to share the love! From today through September 21st we are offering 40% off your entire order! Just use the coupon code 40off at the checkout -

Anyone up for burgers? I suddenly have a hankering...

2010-09-13T21:59:00.002-06:00

Hi folks! Roxy Marj here.... So starting today [urrr tonight] we are officially gettin' down with thee bloggin! Monday through Friday Allison and I will be posting like it's nobody's business....but really it is..and we want it to be yours and ours and his and hers and this and that etc. etc. We have a weekly line-up of topics that you can look forward to seeing/reading consistently. Here is what to expect:

Monday : goes great with > Roxy

Tuesday: Promotions > Allison

Wednesday: Home & Family > Allison

Thursday: If I were in > Roxy

Friday: How to's > Allison

We have loads of things/ideas/images to share daily, and hope that you'll stop by often for a good fix and just to say hello!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Goes Great With:

School has started, new jobs have begun, fall is in the air.... we love these looks

and feel these pieces by Allison Dayton Jewelry compliment each one of these outfits! Yay/nay? Tell us what you think!

All pieces can be found HERE

Shock!!

2010-08-20T13:30:00.000-06:00

I just got a call from one of my favorite sister in laws (I have 12). In her usually bubbly nothings a big deal way she told me she has breast cancer- It makes me cry to even type it. She, of course is unflappable. All of us around her are a little breathless right now.

They caught it early and the doctors feel like things will be okay. And of course she has a fantastic attitude about it all. Not only that she has two enormous families, add up her parents, brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces and nephews- she is well over 150 prayers! She will no doubt kick this thing with all sorts of perkiness! Come to think of it, she might end up with a perky new pair to match her personality!!

This ones for you, you saucy little thing you!!!!

xoxoxo

I Don't Want to Sound Greedy, But......

2010-08-19T15:55:00.000-06:00

I have to say I am way way excited!

I just got nominated again for CityWeekly's readers choice for Best Jewelry Designer of the year for 2010.

It might be too much to ask for to win four years in a row, but it would be AWESOME!!!!!! So if you have a spare moment- cast a Vote Here Thank you thank you and Fingers Crossed!

2010-08-17T11:45:00.003-06:00

Hello lovely friends/followers of Allisons! Soooo I have been house sitting this past week for Allison while she and the fam were in Chicago vacationing...and as always... a treat to house sit for the Daytons! :) In the windowsill above her kitchen sink she has a Mary Engelbreit calender. As I was tearing the days off, this was the first one I pulled....

It had me thinking..... How often are we deciding on our own to be happy when we aren't always experiencing the happiest, funniest, brightest, etc. days? Something to think about right? I think I have been very lucky to find friends who for the most part are always in good moods.... and then I have friends who always seem to see the glass half empty and complain about soooooo many things!

That is soooo exhausting... :(

and I ALWAYS find myself thinking... i'd rather be by myself right now. Now of course we can't always be happy 100% - we are not perfect... but we can master being positive even when things are hard. <- Yes I am sure one can argue this and totally disagree, but it is about our choice of how we handle things.

No matter what... you can ALWAYS find something to complain about. Why settle for that attitude... that poor sport behavior? Now, I am not saying go and be a robot, don't show your emotions, don't be sad, don't cry...<- believe me, I am not saying that... because if you knew me well, you would know that I wear my emotions on my sleeve, what you see is what you get.

I guess where all this is coming from is from the conversation I had the other day with one of my best friends who was visiting. She was telling me about one of her best friends and how she doesn't handle things in life too well... anything bad that comes up, she either gets really depressed or reverts back to her anorexic habits. Well, my best friend heard some information about her best friends boyfriend that would upset her if she found out and is torn because she wants to say something but knows that if she does that this best friend of hers will get severely depressed. Man! Just hearing that made me depressed. I can't imagine if I had friends that felt that way about me, always too afraid to tell me what is going on for fear of how I will act. Not a healthy way to live. One of the things that makes my best friends my TRUEST bestest friends [shout out to you Robert, Ken, & Sarah H. Hye Jung & Annie B.] is that they will and have told me things about myself that have sometimes been hard to swallow...but you know what, I can look back at myself 2,3,4,5 years from now and see how much better of a person I am because of them! They have my back! I studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York City, and every week we would have critiques of each others work. The classmates who actually critiqued my work are the ones who I admire to this day... My designs got better over time, where as the ones who were either too scared, insecure or just plain jealous to say anything really frustrated me, and they were also the ones where if I critiqued their work they took major offense! Seriously?! Aren't we here to help each other grow? I mean we paid $34,000 a year to be there! Crazy stuff! It is the same in our every day lives! Aren't we here to build one another up, to help each other grow, even if that means telling each other things that are hard to hear but in defense of being a better person? YES! And one of the best ways of doing that is by excepting the difficulties, the challenges, the insecurities and facing them one at a time, and one day at a time!

So I guess what I am trying to say is, that really we have no time for bad attitudes... we don't have time to entertain that poor sport mentality in us that sometimes tries soooo hard to break out! Tell him or her to get lost! All we have time for is to be as happy as possible! And to help spread that happiness all around. If you come across people who want to bring you down, move on! Let them deal with their pain on their own, when they are ready to be happy and positive, let them come up to you but don't go down to their level.....

At the end of the day, we want to be like this cute lil old man! :-[) lol

And lastly, another fabulous quote from Oscar Wilde on Allison's Mary Engelbreit calendar.

Now go have an awesome day! And as a token of my happiness, I want to share one of my favorite songs with you that puts me in thee BEST mood ever! EMPIRE OF THE SUN Get ready to dance my friends!!! xo

Were Open- Pardon Our Dust!!

2010-08-03T12:33:00.001-06:00

The new and improved AllisonDayton.com is up and running, we have a few teensy things we have to work on but other than that we are OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!

To celebrate we are offering our first ever 25% off coupon code, good through August 10th. Type in the word Launch in the promotional code area and you will get 25% off your entire order. ALSO to the first person who places an order I will send my favorite bracelet set!!

xoxo
Enjoy!

1 day plus a little- I swear we are hurrying!

2010-08-01T23:23:00.000-06:00

Hey, do you like us on Facebook?
Click here to join us! And for your trouble we will be sending out coupon codes for great deals on Allison Dayton Jewelry Designs.

xoxo

2 Days and Who Made This Deadline?

2010-07-31T11:26:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I feel like I have to put my family on hold to get my work done. Lucky for me I have some really patient and helpful kids!

*photo courtesy of Roxy Marj

3 days left- 3 little eggs

2010-07-30T14:17:00.002-06:00

My amazingly talented friend Chrissy has been creating lovely things from about four days after she was born. When she started painted I begged and begged her for a little nest painting. For my birthday this year I received this -

Yep, those are real turquoise eggs, one for each of my little buddies!

Lucky Me!

4 Days left- Sneak Peak

2010-07-29T17:25:00.000-06:00

I love this shot!
First glimpses at allisondayton.com!

Web Site 5 days and counting!

2010-07-28T22:14:00.000-06:00

<><><><><>

2010-07-27T17:25:00.001-06:00

Hi Folks! Roxy Asami here --- also known as Roxy Marj <>
You may be wondering why there is an illustration of me in my FABULOUS vintage eskimo coat... no, Salt Lake City has not been hit by a snow storm and no it is not because Christmas is coming soon [5 months of sooness] ..actually
today my blog post is about the wonderful program I watched last night on BYU TV... it was about the Saami people and their livelihood as semi-nomadic reindeer herding! I think I have found my dream calling in life! Yes, I want to be a reindeer hearder! And how fitting that my last name is Asami!!! I Love it! Check out these wonderful photos below of these people in their beautiful dress...and oh yeah...they rock the tee-pee too! ....soo inspiring and now has me even more excited for winter to come. xo Roxy

Cokeville WYYYYYYYOMIN!!!! Population 506.

2010-07-26T22:49:00.002-06:00

July 24th in Cokeville Wyoming! Celebrating the Pioneers and 100 years of Cokeville.

6:30am
The Cokeville 5k- a little early for a holiday weekend but the view was worth it.

Oh, did I mention that if your are a woman between 40-49 years and you run a little fast, well then you might be able to take one of these lovely 1st place trophies home with you. Laugh, but its as close as I will ever get to a running trophy so I am wearing it!

10:00am

Dayton kids line the Main Street (just a block away from Dayton Drive) waiting for the hundreds of pounds of candy that will soon be thrown at them.

My favorite part of the parade!! I can't figure out how they even recruit Boy Scouts.

2:00pm

Cokeville Flag Football Tournament at the Cokeville Park. Check out the hot guy in the dark t-shirt, I know those legs! MMMMmmmm.

9:00pm

Out at the ranch, waiting for the homemade bomb to explode! Apparently, if you mix gas with some secret ingredient, and shoot it with a gun, it will explode- well that's what they say anyway. It didn't work but hanging out in a field with great people is enough fun for me!

Green Jewelry

2010-07-26T16:33:00.001-06:00

Okay so I spaced Sunday's post! AHHHH! So today I am going to double post just to stay true to my word!

With eight days left until our exciting new launch, I offer you a little green to wear, kinda like Demi Moore in Indecent Proposal- kinda. Amazingly, this moss is supposed to stay green for 8-12 months, but its gonna cost you big Robert Redford big- $324.00 Mine would last 2 weeks and then I would be wearing a very expensive tiny silver planter box.

+ OH PIONEERS +

2010-07-24T11:47:00.000-06:00

Hello Hello! ROXY IN DA HAUS!!!! You guys... 9 days till Allison's FABULOUS new website goes live! BOO-YA!

Sooo today is my day to blog. YEE-HAW! I thought it only appropriate to blog about Pioneer Day! Here in the wonderful state of Utah is Pioneer Day! It is an official holiday that celebrates the Mormon pioneers [am I getting this jargon right? :/] entering into the Salt Lake Valley back in the mid 1800's and settling down! How am I going to spend this wonderful holiday? By going slip n' sliding of course!

How is Allison going to spend it? hahaha lol like this! Riding around on a horse with her husband Kenn in Cokeville Wyoming! lol

Well maybe not riding around on a horse...but she is in Wyoming kickin it with the husband and chidlets.

But in all seriousness... Utah having a holiday to celebrate the pioneers who trekked hundreds of miles in wagons and handcarts is pretty neat! Life as a pioneer in the 1800's has always fascinated me...One of my very favorite authors is Laura Ingalls Wilder! I have read her little house series more than ten times. Here is her most famous book:

Such a good book! But my favorite is Little House in the Big Woods! If you haven't read this book yet, PLEASE go out and buy it! You will not be able to put it down! I have been reading Little House in the Big Woods every couple years now since I was 8!

Another reason to like life back in the mid 1800's is for their fashion. One can never have enough frills & calico prints! Plus their styles were sooo girly and yet a little sexy! Look at this Butterick pattern and check out the chokers these ladies are wearing! CAAAA--UUUTE!

Life wasn't always easy though... I would say the majority of life on the prairie was hard. Take this photo for instance... it depicts the hardship of that time period so well...

I often wonder sometimes if I would have made a good pioneer...I was recently in New York this past week and half doing some freelance work and while out there, NYC was getting slammed as usual with the humidity. I felt myself being cranky every day over this, especially so because I was lugging a lot of bags with me to and from the warehouse I was working at. I bet you anything that this kind of work was nothing for a pioneer.... now I am feeling a little silly about how cranky I was.... mkay...well before I go, a couple more pictures to share that depict pioneer life! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and for those of you in Utah, HAPPY PIONEER DAY! over n' out! >>> Roxy <<<

Images found via:
Jersey Homesteader
Razor Family Farms
Graham County
Sidney Rigdon
The Pioneer Woman

10 Days and Counting...

2010-07-23T05:00:00.001-06:00

Exciting News......

Just 10 days from this very day, our new website will be live!!!

To soften what I know will be excruciating anticipation of my new site, the multi-talented Roxy will now be guest blogging on this very site! So now you will get a tiny bit of the thrill that I get everyday- the amazingly creative thoughts and muses of miss Roxana Asami!

Sparkly

Kooky

Beautiful!

I am sharing Roxy because I love you!

Thanks Mom!

2010-07-22T13:36:00.000-06:00

I use to make my mom buy me all sorts of important collectible things. Chinese jacks, Chinese jump ropes, Hello Kitty pencils and of stacks and stacks of Mrs Grossman's stickers. So I guess I totally deserve the Pokemon cards, Webkinz, and now Silly Bandz.

Don't get me wrong I'm all about piles of bracelets on cute little arms, but these little buggers are scattered all over my house and floors and many have made it into the belly of my vacuum.

Oh wait...

Oh, here is something happy,

it's Sonic Time!!

Friends & Diet Coke- A Cautionary Tale!

2010-07-07T22:58:00.002-06:00

As a freshman in college, my friends and I would often drop by the local "Sev" (7-11) for a drink on our way to our next big adventure. I would grab my Sprite or Root Beer- they would all get Diet Coke. Finally one day, a friend of mine (and this is how addictions always start) had had enough, apparently Sprite and Root Beer are little kid drinks?? I told her Diet Coke was gross and there was no way I could choke it down. She made me (okay not really? I was pretty bendable back in those days) drink an entire Big Gulp of Diet Coke on the spot promising me I would love it after that. She was right!!

Flash forward 23 years and I am now a bonafide Diet Coke junkie aficionado! Which brings me to one of my favorite birthday presents.

My friend Ann gave me a Sonic Cup for my birthday!

Actually, a sonic cup with a gift card in it. Brilliant.

Is that the cutest wrapping ever??

If you don't know what the big deal with the Sonic Route 44 Diet Coke is, well it's hard to explain, but that beautiful cup is part of the magic. It's styrofoam, so aside from being totally earth unfriendly, it is like having your own little cooler for your precious Diet Coke. I am not too proud to tell you I have to drive nearly 16 big city blocks (one way) every morning to get one. But when I am still enjoying that icy sweet nectar 4 hours later - well its all worth it.

If you still don't get it, just drink one whole Sonic Route 44 Diet Coke with Limes- the entire thing- and then you will know.

Trust me!

Happy Birthday To Me!

2010-07-06T22:22:00.002-06:00

Last week was my birthday!

I know, having a birthday means you just got older, but I can't help it, I am just giddy about birthdays. Mine, my kid's, my honey's, yours, I looooove birthdays! I love everything about birthdays. As a child I started planning for my birthday right after Christmas. When my kids were little, I would throw these big huge parties. The more my husband's eyes rolled the better. I like birthdays that go on forever. In fact my in-laws are taking us to dinner to celebrate tomorrow night, which means that the celebrations have been carrying on for 12 days now! Just how I like it!

Having a birthday means one of these yummy cakes. This little beauty is a Mrs. Backers Birthday Cake. The price of such a cake fluctuates with the precious metals market, hovering right between gold and platinum. I know what you are thinking, it looks a bit old fashioned but DO NOT judge! This is the yummiest pile of butter cream flowers you could ever dig your fork into. To be clear, I don't much care for the cake part, so when I tell you i LOVE this cake, what I am really saying is, I LOVE this frosting!! In fact I love this frosting so much that several years back, Kenn skipped the cake all together and just bought me a huge tub of frosting- Can you see why I am in love with this man? If a tub is a little tacky for you, you can just order a few dozen flowers and have them shipped to you! If you're into that kind of thing..... I totally am!

5 4 3 .........

2010-06-24T11:22:00.002-06:00

I am so excited! We are working on finishing touches for our new website.

This has been a great website for me...

It was my first, my baby. It is a little dated however...

I mean eggplant and burgundy, So 2004..

The new site, Is Fresh and new and has cool features on it that my old site didn't have.

The best part DISCOUNT CODES!!!!!!!!

I am looking forward to some amazing discounts and giveaways coming soon and no more eggplant!!

Balance

2010-06-22T22:30:00.001-06:00

I forget how tricky summer can be.

Ever since I started working from home in 1996. I have had a baby sitter come in and play with the kids a day or two every week, so I could get a few really good days of work in, and then the others I would just get the work in when we weren't playing. This worked really well for our little nest.

This summer however, I decided that everyone was old enough to think up fun things to do on their own. Even my baby can ride his bike to the pharmacy for some candy or a shaved ice. They can flit about where ever they want!

The problem is me!

I have bitten off way more than ever before. I am feeling stuck to my desk,. My little birdies are out playing and having fun and I want to be sitting on a branch watching them swim and laugh and fly, at least a little.

The tricky balancing act got me again.

Here I sit at my desk, working!

Again!

A Mompreneur!

2010-06-09T21:11:00.002-06:00

There is an excitement in our office today!

I was written up in Blush Magazine's online Blog about being a Mompreneur! The folks at Blush asked me questions about being a mom, running a business and how to handle it all. Very apropos being that it's summer and as I said yesterday, the "Great Balancing Act" is totally on.

The truth is sometimes I blow it in glorious fashion, and sometimes I get it pretty close to right! I am really lucky to have great friends, other mom's, who give me the ideas, support and love I need to do the balancing act.

Much thanks to Blush, we are feeling pretty honored!

Schools Out for Summer- Now what?

2010-06-08T23:57:00.002-06:00

School let out for summer today.

OK, I knew it was going to happen, it does every year!

I knew it was getting close when Luke came home with the contents of his locker in his backpack.

I love having them home and playing in the yard and building forts and going for adventures. And to be honest I felt like I might loose it if I had to make one more sack lunch.

The problem is I work from home, and they are home- while Im working!!!! Can you see why this causes trouble?? It is hard to work while little boys are playing Potptropica on your computer.

and worse, if they are out of my way and real quiet like, well then I know exactly what is going on....

Keeping kids busy and happy and at least a tiny bit productive during the summer takes a ton of organization.

As I type this, Devin and her eleven BFFs are in my basement watching the season finale of Glee and just outside my window are a dozen boys. There is lots and lots of screaming!

So it's really on!

Summer is here!

Good Luck to all moms!

Twitter, blogs and a treat!

2010-06-04T00:01:00.002-06:00

So Roxy and I had lunch with my husband's endlessly talented cousin Mr Damian Dayton today. Even fresh off of gnarly back surgery, this guy is all sorts of amazing . He is something of a social media expert so we pumped him for information. He is helping us grow our business using these new fangled things like tweets and blogs and company facebook pages. Totally exciting stuff technology, I love it, love it, love it. And very soon you are going to be so impressed with my crazy skills.

So back to the spectacular Damian.... We lunched at The Dodo- A favorite of mine, of Damian's and now Roxy's. And yes, we did share a Toll House Pie- but only because it would have been a little gross if I would have ordered my own at lunch.

So our treat was the gooey half baked pie with ice cream and whipped cream, yours is this video that Damian made on a first date! Did I mention that he was amazingly talented and so very cool? Well you can just judge for yourself.

Jewelry Storage- Sew Cute

2010-06-02T11:40:00.004-06:00

Design Sponge has the cutest little help for gals like us with too much jewelry lying around maybe even large collection fabric and thread. This is a marriage of two of my passions!!

Follow this easy little do it yourself at Design Sponge.

If thread isnt your thing, find a cute little collection of hooks

Like these little guys from Amazon.com.

From Farm 4

from Gardnerweb

O My!

2010-06-01T10:19:00.001-06:00

Do you have a bucket list? A things to do list?

I definitely do, its quite long and just as I shorten it a teeny bit,

I find some more things to put on it!

A trip to Africa

Take the kids to England

Start playing Violin again

Learn to spell

Get my jewelry in InStyle Magazine

Be a guest on The Today Show

And then there is ....

We gotta dream!

I'm dreaming of a white Summer?

2010-05-24T23:30:00.002-06:00

Huge flakes of snow were falling out of the sky as I woke up this morning. Not even kidding! Great piles of snowflakes started to accumulate on my grape hyacinth, my tri-colored beech is heavy with snow. What is going on here- its May 24th???

I have had dozens of calls from friends who are beyond sad about this mornings surprise. I am considering this really great luck as I am supposed to be designing winter/spring jewelry right now.

I know what you are thinking, thats about as crazy as snow in the summer! Magazines want your jewelry four months before the magazine hits the grocery store. Catalog and large stores want your gems as many as 8 months before the catalogs actually make it to your mailbox.

Two pieces from our new snowflake collection.

So as you are dying to get in to your cute flip flops, I have to make winter jewelry! Its a lot like snow on May 26th!

I Hate Playing Volleyball!

2010-05-20T12:01:00.002-06:00

I cant believe I said it, but its true. I love to watch it but I hate to play volleyball! I will give you two guesses why??????

I love the tall, strong ladies.

I love the swimsuits and sun.

I love love love the tans.

But seriously, it takes me 5 minutes to get all the bracelets off my arms, and for my trouble what do I get? Bruised arms.

No Thanks!

I will however, take the sun the swimsuit and the tan!

Hello Summer!

A Big Stack of Stylish!

2010-05-18T08:40:00.002-06:00

So we landed on a new summery blog header, I am in love with it! We like to hear what you have to say about. Roxy the magnificent made this one, and of course included my signature armful of jewelry.

Here are a couple of other great armfuls for you to drool over.

Taylor Tomasi Hill editor of Marie Claire

A New Blog Header?

2010-05-13T16:39:00.009-06:00

This blog is under going a few cosmetic changes. I always feel like I need a new look in the spring, and It seems my blog is feeling a little laden down with last seasons blahs too. At least that is what it told little miss Roxy today. So Roxy the graphic genius- yes, that is her in the coon skin hat- is working on some new and really brilliant ideas.

This photo tells you a lot about Roxy, the hat signifies her unique personality, and her proper use of a seat belt shows you just what a conscientious person she is.

What do you think of this new blog header?

Or are you missing this one?

We are in the process of updating the website too! Talk about being out of date- the poor little website is so 2004! It's so embarrassed it can hardly show it's face!

Can't wait for the unveiling 2 weeks and counting.....

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T10:23:00.001-06:00

To all of you stylish women who proudly wear your Mother's Day jewels, be it fimo, shrinky dink, noodle or plastic. And to my Mom, lovely and stylish to the end, thank you for wearing my jewelry for all 40 years, not just the last 8!

Happy Mother's Day

I have to run, my kids are fighting and I have to referee!

Allison

Jewelry Give Away- Winner!

2010-05-07T12:22:00.002-06:00

We used the fine services of random.org and guess what???

Nin, YOU are our very first winner! Wahoo!!!

Contact me and I will get your bracelet out to you.

Thank you all for your kind comments and feedback we will most definitely be doing more giveaways soon!

Jewelry Trend- Wonder Woman

2010-05-02T21:29:00.003-06:00

I like to stack- In fact I love to stack!!! But even I gotta say, It takes a special woman to rock the tiara, plastic earrings, large cuffs times two, and belt. Then put it all on wearing high boots, mile high hair, and a swimsuit. It takes a Wonder Woman! Don't you just want to stick this photo on your mirror- every day you could just look Wonder Woman in the eyes and say "you and me babe, we are going to take on the world".

Here is a cartoon my cute husband gave me. I know, I know, he is so sweet! His cousin Brandon Dayton is an amazing cartoonist! Check out the cuffs on that gal!

Although Wonder Woman has never fallen out of fashion, her look is now very chic. Trend forecasters call it Warrior Princess, we know this look as Linda Carter, Wonder Woman. Ever since I was little I've worshiped her jewelry. Tell me you didn't deflect "bullets" with your Wonder Woman bracelets? Whadya use? Tin foil? Sweat Bands? How about trying one of these big girl versions?

All from Amazon.com - Fitting!

Come on ladies, slap on your Wonder Woman jewelry on and go fight the bad guys!

**But first remember to enter our first ever giveaway**

Give Away- Our First Ever!

2010-04-28T17:35:00.012-06:00

Check out the newest cover of People Magazine!!

Sandra's new baby Louis is wearing some fun trade beads just like we have been selling for ever.

Mali Wedding beads are of the African Trade Bead variety. Made in Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s and traded to Africa for exotic treasures, these beauties are old and well worn (check out the white one if you don't believe me). Young men would bring one bead to a girl when he would come a courtin' and she would save them. When she married, she would string these into a lovely necklace!!

Isn't that the sweetest thing? I think they would make the best bridesmaid gift. And go ahead and feel good about them because they truly are recycled!!

SO we are doing our first giveaway ever! Leave a comments and one oh so lucky winner chosen at random- Friday, May 7 at noon- will get this a Mali Wedding Bead Bracelet.

Good Luck Fancy Stakers!

Jewelry Storage- Industrial Strength

2010-04-27T16:47:00.002-06:00

If you have a fabulous modern vibe you are in luck! Check this great do it yourselfer out at Apartment Therapy. So Awesome!!!

Heather who designed this great organizer uses a dress makers form. We found a pretty blue one at Overstock.com for $113 including shipping- fab deal.

No excuses for great jewelry storage and great design!

Jewelry Storage- In your Hands

2010-04-27T14:06:00.003-06:00

Cute Caitlin at CC Interiors found this great jewelry display. I love all of the fun hands in the back. A great clear bowl is so perfect for bracelets.

She is in love with the faux bamboo dresser. Truly with all of that fabulous jewelry I didn't even know how she saw the dresser! That's why she is paid the big bucks.

To get this look yourself start with the hands at fisheseddy.com and then perhaps a salad bowl from Crate and Barrel buy some of the small ones too and then you can sort them out into pretty color schemes or you can just highlight those bracelets you love the most.

Oh yah, I totally play favorites!

Displaying Your Jewelry- Grab A Hammer!

2010-04-22T20:49:00.002-06:00

My number 1 rule:

If you cant see your jewelry you wont wear your jewelry.

Grab a hammer girls and lets find a little corner of the world to display your jewels.

Look at this very cool way to display your jewels and decorate your walls- Nothing fancy just a hammer some nails or even a few really cool push pins and you have these next couple looks in the bag.

Or you can find an old hard branch and screw it into a small space on your wall for this really different effect

Too messy for you? Well okay OCD try this option...

Does that help you feel a little more in control?

Or you can wrap fabric or paper around a piece of cork board and use push pins to hang everything. If you are like me you are going to have to go with the extra large sized board. Pick one and go for it!

Kate Hudson's Jewelry- She Stacks It Well!

2010-04-20T20:46:00.005-06:00

So I don't want to dwell on any permanent changes that Kate Hudson may or may not have made, but I will say it is a blow to the Natural Is Best Club.

HOWEVER, I would like to focus on Kate's mad stacking skills. Both arms. No restraint. No pattern. No theme. And while I am at it, a hearty well done to her friend Kristen Stewart, who pulls off a lovely mix of small sized colorful bracelets.

Try this at home:

Take a stack of your favorite little bracelets and bangles and put on 5 or so. Be brave! Let me know how it goes.

InStyle loves Stacks

2010-04-18T23:06:00.000-06:00

I love it! I love it! I love it!

Mexican Jewelry

2010-04-13T19:33:00.001-06:00

Okay, So I thought I could blog from vacation but it turns out that vacationing is much more work than work, SO, nothing for nearly 3 weeks! However, I am back at it and have lots to say and so much to share.

First off, I want to talk about memories versus reality. I had such fond memories of my jewelry shopping in Mexico in the late 1980's that I blogged about it. I had great expectations of digging my hands deep in to boxes of charms and earrings and pulling out little gems, I was actually worried about my budget. Shouldn't have worried, what my 17 year old self thought was amazing, my 40 year old self thought was JUNK. Funny how tastes change.

That did not stop me from searching and searching however- some of our friends could have possibly found it a little buggy.

In a little folk art shop in Playa Del Carmen I struck Mexican silver!! Hand cast in sterling by an 80+ year old woman. I am telling you- they screamed through the glass, "Allison we are here, we are here, we are here!" Yes just like in Horton Hears a Who, and I was the only one who could hear. I am wearing them right now.

Another lucky find was this necklace of antique (probably german) buttons, and plastic beads. I love the Mexican folk heart symbol, I have many of these around my house, but this tin heart on the necklace was just too good to leave behind. Each of the girls snapped up one until they were all gone. It goes perfectly with a tan.

This little lovely was only $11 so I wasnt even bothered that it was strung on actual sewing thread. I know a gal who can fix it!

Beach Vendors

2010-03-24T00:06:00.003-06:00

The last time I was in Mexico (1987) I was in Mazatlan sitting on the beach getting a deep dark tan (we cared about NOTHING else) while dozens of tenacious men tried to sell us charms, rings and baskets they carried from turista to turista. As 16 year olds we thought it was annoying.

Lets just re-think this...

This week, I can be sitting on a lounge chair, at the beach in Playa Del Carmen, and the vendors will be walking by with their wares. They will be so eager to come

to were I am comfortably lounging, and sell me things while I am quite in my leisure..

No need to drag my jewelry suitcase from vendor to vendor, stopping only to unload into the trunk of my car.

Hmmmm!

Sign Me UP!!!

For you I will bring photos of many beautiful

Mexican joyos (jewels) for you to savor.

By the way, this is most definitely a no computer vacation,

see you next week!

Seeing Is Creating

2010-03-19T16:19:00.003-06:00

My creative friend Deena Rutter, a brilliant graphic designer, gave me a great new use for a set of Ikea drawers that I have had for years. I have been using it as my tool chest.

Kinda like the big red metal Sears Craftsmen jobber that the boys use out in the garage.

I bought it to go under my work desk in my studio but when I got it put together, it didn't fit under the desk (Im not so strong with the measuring tape). So It has been behind me while I work since.

Finally Ikea started making the drawers narrow enough to fit under a desk, so I bought one.

Funny thing is, once again it was too tall to fit under the desk, Drat, I swear to you I measured in the store. So my very handy honey put that darn desk on high heeled casters and Viola! However, then my chair was too short and I felt like I was at the kids table at my mom's family dinners. Soooo I had to order a different chair that totally fits and now everything is right with the world again.

So after all that here is Deena's idea that I was talking about 20 sentances ago.

Deena is a very smart designer and knows that when you can see what you have you tend to be so much more creative, so she organized all of her beautiful bits and lovelies into these drawers.

I love copying really great ideas so... I totally copied her!

and here is a close up

Opening these drawers gives me an immediate flood of ideas. I can switch my little

Dollar Store bins around any way I like and sometimes two things sitting together you never considered, POW!!!

Thanks Deena!!!

Did you forget your password?

2010-03-18T20:35:00.000-06:00

Okay! So yes I forget my passwords all the time. Mind you 80% of my passwords are the same But there are those pesky 20% that for what ever reason don't use my goto passcode. Its those 20% that I can never, ever remember.

Problem solved... I found this cute little address book from Cath Kidtson at Barnes & Noble. I've filled it full of all sorts of secret names and numbers and information that I constantly need while Im at my computer.

How darling, the birds, the flowers.

The Wagons!

It's just so adorable, and if you wanted to, I guess you could

even use it as an address book.

Stack of the Week- 400 Sandwiches

2010-03-16T22:37:00.002-06:00

This is what four hundred tuna sandwiches

look like when they gather all together to do a little good.

I was always jealous of our good friends who got together with two other families to feed the homeless. Once a month they make 400-500 sandwiches and take them to the local soup kitchen and hand them out with the other food that is donated to provide a high calorie healthy dinner for the homeless in our downtown area. Finally, after many months of wishing my kids had an experience like that, I just got the number and set up a night for our family and two others to do the same.

Tomorrow will be our fourth month to help out at the kitchen. The kids love it as much or more than the adults do. And I'll tell you, we always have great conversations, and feel a lot more grateful as we eat our yummy warm dinners in our own comfy homes!

400 Tuna Sandwiches:

18 Costco sized Tuna Cans

32 Loaves of Bread

1 Gallon of Mayo

2 large Grey Poupon

1/4 cup of Lemon Pepper

400 Ziploc Bags

Many helpers

Make Your First Stretchy Bracelet with Roxy Marj

2010-03-15T14:50:00.006-06:00

A Good Stacker Is A Thing of Beauty

2010-03-13T21:01:00.005-07:00

My dear Roxy from Romawinkel sent me the photo of this

woman from The Sartorialist- I am in awe of her stacking genius. Actually I'm in huge envy of her abilities.

So stunning!!

For this to be so beautifully stacked, there has

to be a common thread, or theme.

What do you think it is?

Stack of the Week- Rainbows are for Eat'n

2010-03-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

This Rainbow stack of yummy breakfast is from I Am Mommy!

I know what your thinking..

I know, I know, I want her to be my mommy too!

And a really nice mommy would let me eat this tasty stack for dessert,

even if I didn't eat my dinner.

Im not that kind of mommy!

Jewelry Storage on your Bust!

2010-03-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

I found this amazing jewelry storage on Design Sponge.

What an adorable way to display your necklaces. I like the table version best but I have limited wall space. Her inspiration came from the now defunct magazine Blueprint.

I could love both the original and the silhouette version. I love the Greek influence, but you could do a silhouette of yourself one of your kids or a celeb that you worship. While you are at it make an extra as a gift!

Growing A Jewelry Business

2010-03-05T15:26:00.002-07:00

Sorry for the dearth in posts, It's been a busy two week for allisondayton.com, we are changing, designing, blogging and growing all at the same time. I love that we are stretching, in fact it gives me a creativity buzz, but I am definitely getting less sleep.

We hired Jeneration PR to get the word out about allisondayton.com and Allison Dayton Jewelry Designs Wholesale and of course Stacks of Style. And she is keeping us hopping around. We have some exciting magazines we are hoping to be in soon but "O" its a secret sO I better not tell you but I will say one of them is a Red colored Book. In the mean time we are having fun being intoduce to the blog world.

Today we were introduced to readers of Style Epiphany.

At the beginning of this week we were in the Mom on the Street column of The Family Groove, talking about spring cleaning!

and they actually passed us on to tons of other blogs.

Whaooo PR is fun stuff. Just you wait, next we have celebs coming... Fingers Crossed!!!

My Job Rocks

2010-02-24T20:46:00.004-07:00

So as a new blogger, I had NO idea how demanding the blog would be. I can hear the blog tapping its little foot saying HELLO, I've been sitting here all by myself since Friday and you have done NOTHING!!

The trouble is my first job- opps that's the kids and the honey. The second job is the jewelry designing and talk about demanding... I am trying to turn the stack of stones I brought home from Tucson that looked a lot like this...

Into something you might think is pretty like these raw garnet slices.

Or this deceivingly soft agate bracelet

or any of my new blue agate and gold chunk collection

Seriously, how awesome is this job?

Stack Of The Week

2010-02-19T16:14:00.003-07:00

The fabulous Caitlin Creer at CCInteriors posted these great photos of M&J Trimmings in New York City. Yes, could I please have 300 brown satin roses, 250 of the rose colored beaded chrysanthemums, 50 yards of deep grey velvet ribbon and a large diet coke with a lime please.

Jewelry Storage-Boxes, hangers and ballerinas

2010-02-17T09:56:00.002-07:00

Still Storing your jewelry in this? Its time to find a real place for all of your pretty jewels.

After scouring some catalogs, I found these jewelry storage ideas from Pottery Barn and the Container Store.

My 13 year old daughter could fill 2 of the storage chests- and by the way they are $349 each, Yikes!

As for the trees my house would look like a forest with all the trees we would need. Instead look around for some nontraditional solutions. We found this wrought iron rack and spray painted it a fun pink, and now all my necklaces are out where I can see them- Can you hear them screaming "Pick Me, Pick Me".

Ikea has the greatest little kitchen racks with hooks sold separately that you can add and add and add. This is rack is in my studio but imagine it painted turquoise and hanging in your room.

Caitlin Creer at CCInteriors found these fabulous bowls for me at ZGallerie for $19.95 and $7.95 and they easily fit my stacks of bracelets. Look around your cupboards for an unused salad bowl or deep serving tray. Or perhaps just an orphaned little saucer for all of your rings.

The important thing is that your jewelry is out where you can see it, and hear it calling to you "Hey pretty lady, I would look amazing with your creamy sweater".

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T14:21:00.002-07:00

Happy Valentines Day to you all!

As a Valentines present to yourself check out Chrissy Gardner's blog cul*ti*vate for a look at hidden and unhidden hearts in our everyday life. This is a lady who can find the heart where the rest of us would miss them.

She is an amazing friend and as you will see she brings creativity to family and home. You will want to follow her just to give your heart a daily lift!

xoxo

All You Need Is Love

2010-02-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

Love and a Route 44 Diet Coke

with lime from Sonic- And

Yes I have the $.99 sticker!

Out of Money= Bye Bye Tucson

2010-02-10T13:29:00.001-07:00

I am fairly certain that the Tucson Gem Fair goes on for ever. It's endless, a bottomless pit of beads metals and rocks. I mean it may be possible to see everything there is to see but I have never even tackled one fourth of it. Did I mention its massive? Running out of money and heavy suitcases--- thats what prompts me to leave every year.

When we began our trips to Tucson seven years ago, you could fill your suitcases to the brim- as long as you could lug them out of the car onto the sidewalk, you were golden. Times have changed! I shipped 150 lbs of beads home UPS and we still had to shuffle weight between our 4 bags at the airport. Bless Southwest for letting you take 2 bags on for free you can actually take 7 more for $50 each (cheaper to ship UPS or FedEx Ground). So we packed up our jewels, our piles of receipts, business cards and our new design ideas and headed for home.

Stacks of Snowflakes- A Craft

2010-02-10T11:59:00.001-07:00

I have a little present for all of you up to your eyeballs in snow, headed out to play in the snow, whooshing down a mountain full of snow or just dreaming of snow. Check out this amazing craft for you from the fantastically inspiring Design*Sponge. Here is a super simple tutorial, before long little Miss Arizona, (yes you) your going to be right back in the mountains.

Everything You Can Think Of

2010-02-08T21:56:00.007-07:00

This is Taunya Olsen of Ellie Collections. We love to do the Gem Fair together, I think this was our fourth. It's amazing, we some times buy the same beads but never ever come up with the same finished designs. Taunya is one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet, but something very sinister happens when she gets a really great deal.

After a particularly long day of shopping, I was done! Finished! Dead! And just at the moment I was ready to throw in the towel, I saw these little babies. I mean who wouldn't want to wear happy little traffic cones? With that I was buoyed up and ready to roll again. Didn't I tell you- They have everything here?

They even thought of parking for you man!

I'm telling you if they don't have it at the Gem Fair I swear- you don't need it!!!!!

Stack of the Week

2010-02-08T15:01:00.004-07:00

This is my new friend Kinyon (no last name!). He is not unlike many of the folks you will find at the glorious Tucson Gem Fair. Many who attend this show own bead stores, some are designers but some who visit come because the have a deep and personal love of jewelry. Here is a man who not only knows how to make the jewelry he wears, but can definitely stack it. Congratulations Kinyon, you are our very first Stack of the Week!

Double click on Kinyon for an up-close look at his stacks.

Tucson Gem Fair 2010

2010-02-04T22:11:00.008-07:00

I can't think of a better place to kick off a blog about wearing jewelry, buying jewelry and stacking on style than the Tucson Gem Fair. I am in lovely downtown Tucson for my 7th show. Always at the begining of February, The Tucson Gem Fair is the largest gem and mineral buying show in the world. It is so hard to explain how massive the scale of this show is. Have a look at this photo.

This is one vendor's booth, which is crammed next to another vendor's booth and on and on until you have filled a tent the size of a football field. Next to this tent is another tent equally full of jewelry. Imagine close to 30 of these tents spread out around Tucson. It is one of the most overwhelming things you could ever behold. I cant even get through two of these tents in one day. And I am a crazy fast shopper!!!