Category Archive for ‘inspiration’

Graduation season is here! So I thought I’d share some gift ideas for the lovely graduate in your life:

Clutches: Our newest product features several patterns to choose from. These versatile clutches can work as a jewelry & accessory pouch for travel or as a cute accessory to any outfit. They are just the right size to hold your ID & credit cards, a little cash, your phone and some lip gloss for brunch with the girls or a night out with your beau. Add a personal touch with a note or quote tucked inside or have the clutch monogrammed for her!

Studs: These versatile earrings come in turquoise & gold or white & gold. They are the perfect accessory for graduation day, the big interview, your first day on the new job or just for everyday wear.

Classic pearl earrings: With the Georgia or Elizabeth earrings, your graduate has the perfect go-to earrings with the look of classic pearls. These are a step up from a basic stud earring but classic and subtle enough to wear every day.

Beacon Hill Necklace: This pretty gold necklace features simple circles connected to create a classic yet modern look that can be worn every day whether with a basic tee or tank or your cutest maxi dress.

Luella Bracelet: this lovely silver bracelet is extremely versatile. The small disc {a bit larger than a dime} can be hand stamped with any letter, number or word {space permitting} to give it a personal touch.

The Luxe Box: The perfect gift for your favorite grad! Sign her up for the Erin McDermott Luxe Box and she’ll get a new piece of jewelry sent to her automatically each month for the next year! This is an amazing value and a great way to build her jewelry collection!

And if you’re still stumped for an idea, a gift certificate from Erin McDermott Jewelry is always a perfect gift idea, too! This way she can choose her own favorite piece from the collection.

Don’t forget about the Luxe Box!! A piece of jewelry each month for a year! This would be the perfect mothers day gift! Feel free to call to order (704.724.6145) or order here: http://erinmcdermott.com/products/luxe-box

Inspiration:   Luxe Box Contemplations …

It’s the beginning of March and time for me to begin gearing up for a new production of Luxe Boxes.  So far, I have been really pleased with the results for January and February.  Each month, my goal is to mail a beautifully packaged piece of jewelry to Luxe Box subscribers.

But, I am learning that creating the jewelry and wrapping the packages takes a LOT of time.  Last month, I was telling a friend of mine that I felt a little overwhelmed trying to get all of the Luxe Boxes in the mail on time, and she asked why I didn’t just simplify the packaging step.  After all, she reminded me that the ladies receiving the Luxe Box were more interested in a lovely piece of jewelry than in the packaging.  So, I began to reflect on how I’d originally come up with the concept of the Luxe Box.

The Luxe Box combines two of my very favorite things in the world: jewelry (obviously) and the U.S. postal service.  Growing up, my Aunt Marlene would send me packages several times a year – for no reason at all.  I loved opening the mailbox, finding a package just for me, and anticipating what it contained.  I would open the present as slowly as possible just to prolong the excitement of discovering what was inside.   The packaging of the gift was just as exciting to me as the present inside. The boxes were covered in glitter and stickers and the gifts were wrapped in hot pink tissue paper.  (Keep in mind that, as a six year old, I had a very different concept of what constituted “beautifully packaged” than I do now!).  Her surprises were always something unexpected and whimsical, perhaps a set of sparkly pens with my name on the side or puff paints and a t-shirt to decorate.

It is my intention to recreate this experience with every Luxe Box that I mail.  I hope that each lady who receives it will feel the thrill of receiving a gift in the mail, excitedly anticipate what lies within,and enjoy the moment of unwrapping the package.  And, of course, I hope she is delighted with the jewelry that I have created, and enjoys wearing it that month and in the future. You can order the Luxe Box HERE!

As many of you know, New York City is one of my favorite places in the world. Bryan and I try to get up there as much as we possibly can and every time we do, I always try to stop at one of my favorite places for a glass of wine or a night cap. If you’re heading to the city this holiday, please make sure to stop by either Hudson Clearwater or Freemans. They are two of my faves & many of my thoughts from my Inspiration Lists have developed in these special places.

Below are photos from each restaurant …they each have a very magical feel.

…Next little gem that i’m thinking about purchasing for the casa…metallic gold cowhide rug.  I’m wondering if it’s completely impractical or if it would be the most perfect addition to our living room.

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I”m getting so excited about the Luxe Box! just a glimpse of the packaging for month #1! Make sure to order yours here:http://erinmcdermott.com/products/luxe-box
**a surprise piece of jewelry in an awesome package each month…promise you’ll love it!!

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Share your happiness…it just brings you more…

I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite hostess gifts to bring to friends and family. They are different than a bottle of wine or box of chocolates, but I think that it’s fun to bring something a little unexpected!
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I’m taking a few quick moments this morning to peruse the internet and put in a few Christmas orders for Cyber Monday. I’ve got my Chai tea and coffee cake to the left of me and my credit card on my right…could be a little dangerous.  Erin McDermott Jewelry is offering free shipping for today: promocode *cybermonday* – this even applies to Luxe Box orders! Happy Clicking!

These little nuggets of color will look great keeping photos in place on our fridge. I love to work with aamethyst, pyrite, quartz, geodes, agate slices in my jewelry and looking forward to having these favorite stones in the kitchen! Find them here!

I took a few photos of the process of making the Lea Necklace…

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! I’m so grateful for your love and support! I love this photo of this elderly couple sharing a special moment of laughter…oh sweet love.

I know each of you has that piece of jewelry that you’ve been holding onto because you like one thing about it, but you know you’ll never wear it because no matter what outfit you try it on with…it just doesn’t work!  You might like the pendant, but you it’s just not a good length on you or you might like most of the stones but why did the designer have to include that huge medallion in the front? You know you should keep it because it’s sentimental, but gosh darn almighty, you’re just never going to wear it. My friend, Jeannie had that same problem about a single strand of coral stones that she was given several years ago from a friend. She loves the color, loves the size of the stones, but it’s the wrong length and is just too plain for her. She asked me to take it apart, throw in a little gold, and let my creative juices flow. She also loves the Waverly Earrings so with the extra stones, I made them into a very similar design to those exact earrings. Below, you can see the first strand of coral she gave me and how I broke them apart to create a statement necklace and earrings.

My friend Carrie just sent me this e-mail about New Paths in life!  I loved the images of the different paths and thought I’d share…

I’ve always been a DIY (Do it yourself) lover… I’m all about any projects that I  can create from home and turn into something crafty, original, and one-of-a-kind. DIY projects are fairly inexpensive and you can put your own individual twist on them.  My friend Laine keeps an awesome blog (click here) where she adds great DIY projects that she’s tried. I’m still dying to try the glass etching and salted caramels that she wrote about.  Here are a few other DIY projects that might be fun to undertake this year! I found them all here!

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• Mini colorful envelopes
• Print your own fabric
• Make your own leather passport
• Make a ottoman pouf.
• Rustic pencil holder.

It doesn’t matter where they are…holiday lights just make me smile.

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Each morning, I walk into my studio with my cup of coffee, get ready to hunker down for a day of work, and start by lighting a few candles.  With all the chaos and jewelry materials floating around my work area, it’s nice to have a little peace with one or two candles. This morning, I lit this candle that my friend Liz gave me a few weeks ago for my birthday.  It literally burned for 9 hours straight and was fantastically lovely every second of the way.  Did I mention that it’s made from a recycled wine bottles?…

So, it got me thinkin’ over here about all the awesome things that can be made with old wine bottles.  Each bottle has unique shades of green, purple, red and brown and the possibilities are endless of how to incorporate them into your home. Here are a few creative ways to  use old vino bottles! Cheers.

*click on image for source.