Rose of Sharon Jewelry

While I love blogging, it’s been a great rest over the holidays. Spent time with family, caught up on some movies and am now recovering from a terrible cold.

I’ll be blogging daily again starting this week. I’d love to hear comments on your favorite topics from 2010 as I’m setting up a fresh new editorial schedule.

My first topic will be women and strokes. My Mom (Betty of Rose of Sharon Jewelry) suffered a stroke yesterday. Luckily, with the help of Teresa her devoted friend/neighbor, she got to the hospital quickly. We don’t know much at this point but a neurologist will see her today. They are calling it an “acute” stroke which translates into a minor stroke. She speaks clearly and has good movement plus a HUGE headache.

Off to down some more cough syrup and take more aspirin. Will be back later today hopefully.

Sharing some Fullen family pictures of Christmas past in today’s Silent Sunday blog post.

 

 

Today’s blog is filled with last minute gift ideas that are quick and will make someone happy.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Gift cards are always a fast gift (and teens love them) but how about something more than a generic Visa card. Here are a few ideas.

1. Give a gift of relaxation with a Spafinder.com gift certificate good at over 5,000 spas.
2. How about a membership to a local museum or zoo? Annual passes are a great way encourage family outings and create memories.
3. Buy a personalized (with photo) gift card from Giftcards.com. There are even discounted cards. You can order as late as Dec. 22nd for Christmas delivery.
4. Make it a practical gift for a senior or someone with economic stress in their life, buy a gift card for a local grocery store.
5. When you have a larger budget, monthly gift clubs are a great idea for lovers of flowers, books, wine, beer, cheese and other food products. Most companies offer 3-, 6- and 12-month clubs depending upon how much you’d like to spend. Check out Amazing Clubs for the perfect club gift.
6. For someone who has “everything”, how about a charity gift card from Charity Gift Certificates.
7. Keep them warm with a Pajama-Gram. They offer PJs for him, her and all the kids. Great presentation too!
8. Audio books on DVD can be costly but a gift of electronic books at Audible.com is a great way to save. iPhone and iPod users can easily download these via iTunes.
9. Thrill the man in your life with a gift certificate to a driving or racing school. Schools are located around the country so search via Google. You might also consider gift certificates for boys of all ages at a local Go-Kart track. There are indoor and outdoor tracks and these aren’t your carnival ride. Some can exceed 85 mph and you’re sitting 5-inches off the ground.
10. Memories are priceless; but you can buy them as a gift at Xperience Days. You can find hot air balloon rides, sailing excursions, cooking lessons, wine tours and more here.

  Hope you get all your gifts ready to give quickly!

Don’t forget you can also buy a Rose of Sharon Jewelry gift certificate. We’ll email you the info or mail a notice for you.

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Rose of Sharon Jewelry is participating in National Free Shipping Day! You'll receive free shipping with guaranteed 12/24 delivery on any purchase made by 12 pm PST in our main store.

Along with our free shipping offer - we're also in the final days of our 25% discount on all jewelry over $250 in celebration of Dawn's Christmas Day birthday!

Orders after December 17th will also receive free shipping; however, we cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas unless you pay for expedited shipping at a flat $15 fee.

Granny had a sparkling silver aluminum tree that rotated! A classic but not what we think of now when we buy a fake Christmas tree! Many Christmas traditions were influenced by the Germans including the creation of artificial Christmas trees. The first “fake” trees in the U.S. were wooden tree-shaped pyramids created by German immigrants in Bethlehem, PA.

Feathers in Green

Feather trees appeared in Germany in the 1880s when goose feathers were dyed green to simulate tree branches. Historians believe that feather trees were in response to the decline of German forests due to heavy logging. The feather tree became popular in the U.S. and were often sold with artificial berries that acted as candle holders. The branches were far apart to “prevent” fires. In 1930, a brush company created an artificial tree made from brush bristles. Imagine people with Christmas trees made from toilet bowl brushes! The bristles were dyed green and were popular as they were less flammable than the feather trees. These bristle trees were popular for a few years including being thousands exported to Britain.

The Space Age Tree

Aluminum trees began appearing in the 50s. First manufactured in Chicago soon a small company in Manitowoc, WI became the world’s largest aluminum tree manufacturer. My Granny had an aluminum tree that stood in a rotating stand with a series of red, green and blue lights shining on its sparkling branches. I don’t remember the exact years she displaced this tree but I know that even as a youngster we all giggled about Granny’s special tree.

One Word – Plastic

Today’s artificial tree is made from PVC in China. From 2001 to 2007, over 17.4 million plastic trees were sold in the U.S. On moving to the Northern Nevada desert, we purchased a fake tree which is more fire-resistant and doesn’t become a stick in a winter-heated house. Prelit trees have become popular in recent years. Everyone from Martha Stewart to to the high-end Frontgate catalog have a version. Whether you have a live tree in a pot, a vintage aluminum tree or a scraggly “Charlie Brown tree”, it’s the glow reflected in their eyes on Christmas morning that means the most.

I’d love to hear your artificial tree stores – leave a post by clicking the comment link in the left column.

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Ever wonder why we bring a tree into our homes and decorate it? Today, I’m sharing some of the history behind this Christmas tradition.

The idea of bringing a tree into our home probably started with early Egyptians who brought palm fronds in during the winter months to celebrate the coming spring. The use of evergreens during the winter appears in many Winter Solstice traditions.

The Druids (England) placed evergreen branches above their doors to ward of evil spirits.

Decorating the house with branches evolved into trees placed at the front door in Germany and Scandinavia. It was most likely German immigrants who brought and expanded the tradition of the Christmas tree.

But not every one appreciated the sentiment even as late as 1900, only 1 in 5 American families put up a tree. The Puritans even banned Christmas and Christmas trees. Until the mid 1800s,

many businesses and schools stayed open on the 25th ignoring the holiday.

In 1851, a Catskill, NY farmer raised trees and carted them into New York City by oxen to sell them to those enjoying the holiday spirit.

By 1920, the custom of a decorated Christmas tree was commonplace. During the Depression, farmers who were unable to sell their trees for landscaping began to cut them as Christmas trees.

Today 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are cut each year. Most are cultivated by professionals and sold in lots, in front of grocery stores and garden shops.  Christmas trees are mostly grown in Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington and shipped by truck right at Thanksgiving time.

I’d love to have you share your Christmas tree stories – click the comment link in the left column to post!

Tomorrow I’ll share some facts about artificial Christmas trees!

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I love the Rudolph Christmas special with the land of Misfit Toys & the lesson that different means special. I’m celebrating some of “different” jewelry from Rose of Sharon.

 

Sandra Lee’s necklace, Maxine’s Folly was inspired by her twin sister spotting a similar design at a local Houston department store. This is a fabulous one-of-a-kind necklace with an asymmetrical layout and bold stones and lots of dramatic sterling silver.

Maxine’s Folly isn’t every gal’s idea of beautiful but it certainly is different.

 

 

Abiding Love requires some imagination to see its beauty. The layout in the picture doesn’t do this charming pearl necklace any justice! The “difference” is we’re not pro photographers but I guarantee this will be a well-received gift or bridal necklace.

 

 

If you don’t love Abiding Love, I’ll pay for you to return it to us within 15 days of purchase plus give you a $5 gift certificate for your inconvenience.

 

Citrine is such a sunny, sparkling gemstone; however, this rough tumbled citrine bracelet has such a different look. It’s organic and freeform and a lot of fun to wear!

 

 

My grandson, Kael loves it when Dad spikes his hair. He calls it “Crazy Hair”. I like to think this is a purple bead and pearl bracelet my own version of crazy hair.

All the fun and nothing stuffy in this one-of-a-kind bracelet from our A.F.F. Jewelry collection.

 

 

 

Long and lean and from the Roaring 20s – this black necklace I call Jitterbug isn’t a modern look but it is timeless. Want to set a fashion trend – take one that’s over 90 years old!

Jitterbug is handmade with assorted black glass beads.

 

There’s still time to order handmade jewelry from any of our online stores.

• Rose of Sharon Jewelry – artisan jewelry, wedding, charm bracelets and cross necklaces.
• New Life Jewelry Art – jewelry using vintage beads and components including vintage wedding necklaces plus handcrafted Catholic rosary beads.
• A.F.F. Jewelry collection at Etsy – affordable, fun, fab jewelry including our Just in Time Watch collection.
• Adornable Anklets at Etsy. Big sale now!

 

Hope you enjoyed our 15 days of Christmas! Through the end of the year, I’ll be blogging about a variety of seasonal topics and tossing in a special on our handmade jewelry here and there.

 

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Today’s jewelry trends are mix & match. Necklace sets are a great buy. You don’t have to wear them all at once or  keep each  for yourself!

Necklace Sets are Value Priced

Sandra Lee loves to create matching and/or coordinating necklace sets. She creates a great pair of earrings and sometimes a bracelet to go along with her unique necklace creations. Sets are your best as the earrings (and/or bracelet) are priced as a value-added bonus for the set. Each piece within a retail set costs 10 to 25% less than if purchased individually.

The choice is yours - wear them together (in any combination) or perhaps share one with a friend!

Here are a few of beautiful sets from Sandra Lee. You’ll find other sets from Betty and myself (Sharon) in our various lines, too.

 

Autumn Blush has large wavy ovals of rich Carnelian. The necklace looks great with a turtle neck. The matching bracelet features the same great coin beads while the coordinating earrings are long dangles with small round Carnelian beads.

 

 

 

 

 

Gentle Caress is a necklace and earring combo featuring cool blue/green Amazonite square beads and pretty pink glass beads. The necklace features a wonderful sterling silver toggle clasp. The matching earrings are a FREE BONUS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darkness Falls is another great 3-piece set with matching necklace, earrings and bracelet. This set is priced based upon the necklace alone so you’ll receive a bonus pair of dangling earrings and a bonus bracelet.

 

 

 

 

 

You’ll find 72 different 2 and 3-piece necklaces sets in the Rose of Sharon Jewelry store. Just click on the jewelry section entitled Necklace Sets.

Only 1 day left to our 15 days of Christmas blogging series, I’d like to thank you for sharing and admiring our great handmade jewelry. It’s been wonderful hearing from customers and finding new ones during this busy holiday season.

 

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