Busy Winter Behind and Bright Spring Ahead!

Hello everyone! I don't know about you, but we have had an incredibly busy and exciting Winter thus far. Here were some of the highlights...

Featured on Marlo Thomas's blog at Huffingtonpost.com!

View the article here!

An AMAZING Valentine's day show at the Blue Heron on Vashon Island!

Stay tuned for lots of new jewelry and shows this coming Spring! Here's a quick sneak peek at some of our newest pieces...

More coming soon! Happy February everyone!

Pictures from Fall shows!

Hi everyone!
I hope you are all staying warm and that your Holiday Season is getting off to a fantastic start! We had a wonderful (but very busy!) Thanksgiving up here in the Pacific Northwest--and down in Arizona as well!

We were very excited to participate in two new-to-Zavida shows this year: the Bellevue Club Holiday Bazaar and the Studio Artist Holiday Sale! Both shows were wonderful experiences. Zavida did well, I met lots of new people, and got to check out the creations of other artists to boot!



Our table at the Holiday Bazaar in Bellevue!

Me with one of our gorgeous Zavida gift inserts!

Stay tuned for more holiday pictures and stay warm everyone!

Fall Approaches!

Hello all!
We hope you had a fantastic summer--all of us were super busy over here at Zavida, with lots of rotary club presentations, gallery shows, and new jewelry coming in. I have to say, even though I do love summer, I am very excited that fall is rapidly approaching! Fall is the season for new fashion, formalwear, and all things pumpkin-flavored...and those three reasons are enough for me.

Certainly one of my favorite things about fall is the fact that it becomes more appropriate to wear slightly more formal pieces. As far as jewelry goes, summer seems like the time to have fun in pieces made of tagua, shells, shimmery mother-of-pearl, and bright, matte stones such as carnelian and turquoise. While this is all fine and good during the summer months, part of me is always looking forward to fall, when I can begin to add the sheen of sophistication back into my dailywear. Enter polished pearls on sterling silver, sparkling, translucent gemstones, and slinky, diamond-studded bangles. And druzy...lots of druzy.

This fall in particular, we have been seeing a trend in the way of gold vermeil over solid gold pieces due to the rise in the price of gold from an already staggering $1900 per ounce to $2000. Since Zavida has long been a proponent of gold vermeil even before this rising trend, we have always had a large selection of gold vermeil pieces, and are excited to continue expanding it. Some of our most exciting gold vermeil pieces are...

	Big 18k Gold Vermeil and Sapphire Web Earrings, $228.
	Gold Filigree and Gemstone Ring, $144.
	Filigree Pendant Necklace in Gold Vermeil, $249.
	Filigree Grace Ring, $105.

Another trend taking off is jewelry with a spiritual or sentimental meaning, such as those embodied in our Hand Carved 22k Gold Spirit Bracelet and Navaratne Earrings.

Another fall trend, that of cleaner lines and perfectly polished pieces, is that of freshwater pearls and feminine detailing. The classic elegance of pearls in fine jewelry is captured in a Zavida piece that I can't possibly recommend enough. I wear my Freshwater Pearl Heiress Bracelet in Sterling Silver all the time, and at $28, there's really no reason not to have one yourself. The entire Heiress line is made up of perfect pieces to wear with all things fall such as dark denim, peacoats, and even chunky sweaters and scarves, to which they add delicate detail.

Not to be forgotten, druzy must, of course, make an appearance in this little fashion update. We have brought back our immensely popular Carved Agate Druzy Ring as well as our Druzy Agate Bracelet due to high demand. There is something about the sparkling quality of druzy contrasting with the smooth, dark sheen of agate that reminds us simultaneously of glittering winter snow and a cozy fireside--leading it to be a great piece for winter. I know, I know, fall has just barely begun--but I'm quite sure that these pieces will be long gone before then, in anticipation of all the holiday outfits that they will set off perfectly!

And finally, just to address my comment about all things pumpkin flavored, be advised that Zavida will be hosting several great shows this fall, many of which will come with refreshments! Stop by our annual Jewelry Exchange to score fun, new-to-you jewelry at ridiculously low prices, while mingling and enjoying a fall-themed brunch. Please check out our events page for more details, and as always, feel free to call (206-465-1533) or email (zavida@zavidagemstones.com) with any questions!

Until next time!

Late Spring Updates!

Hello everyone! Hope this entry finds you all well & enjoying the sneak peaks of Summer that the weather is sending our way. I have been very busy with Zavida lately, oweing much to the fact that we have so many beautiful new pieces to photograph, perfect for late Spring and Summer! Also, don't forget Dad--Zavida also carries great Father's Day gifts such as cuff links, money clips, and mens' bracelets. Not to mention the exciting developments on the Zavida Project in India. Read on!

As far as new and exciting jewelry, we have been leaning towards the bright and exotic this season, with lots of new unique Zavida original pieces featuring rare stones of brilliant color and clarity. Some of my favorites include, but are by no means limited to:

	Lapis Earth Necklace, $864. View item!
	Citrine Summer Bracelet, $295. View item!
	Agate Composite Necklace, $70. View item!
	Resin Sea Garden Bangle, $79. View item!
	Turquoise Spirit Bracelet, $230. View item!

I also recently noticed that we have several pieces (that don't get the attention they deserve!) featuring naturally colored Coral, free of artificial coloring methods such as dyes and heating. I didn't know coral came in such lovely shades of blue and red-orange until I was introduced to our collection here at Zavida.

	Natural Coral Necklace, $315. View item!
	Sponge Coral Necklace, $278. View item!
	Dusky Blue Coral Necklace, $374. View item!
	Red Coral Pendant, $116. View item!

As for the Zavida Project, we are excited to announce that we are gearing up to award our first scholarship this Summer!! This scholarship will create the opportunity for children of Zavida Silversmith families who want to become artisans to attend technical art schools in India! We will be sure to keep you posted on this exciting new chapter of the Zavida Project.

Enjoy the last days of Spring!

Spring Open Studio Pictures & Update!!

Hello all!

We've had quite the busy past couple of weeks, what with our 2011 Mother's Day & Spring Show & Open Studio on April 30th, and with Summer on its way! The show was a blast--lots of people came out, there was great food, and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Oh--and the jewelry was beautiful, too! But that, of course, is a given :). Fortunately, we were able to get a few great pictures, so if you weren't able to make it you can see what went on! Some of the show's highlights were...

The Food

Lee made a delicious chicken and tortilla strip casserole and a jicama salad!

Not one to miss an opportunity to bake, I made some alfajores, a type of sandwich cookie I ate when I lived in Paraguay, and a dear friend of Zavida whipped up some delicious espresso truffle cookies as well...yum.

The Jewelry

Our bright, summery Candy Beryl Necklace next to some bright, summery blossoms!

Our stunning new Peruvian Amazonite Necklace.

The People

Huddled around an open jewelry drawer...

Fastening necklaces on each other!

and The GORGEOUS day!

Right outside the studio!

If you weren't able to make it this time, stay posted for our next show--and remember, everyone is always welcome to come see the studio, just make an appointment with Lee or Brenna by calling 206-465-1533! Now, get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts!

Spring Gift Guide

Good morning everyone! It's a truly beautiful day here and all this sun has got me thinking about upcoming joyous occasions such as Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8) and Graduations--both high school and college--all across the country throughout May and June. Since gift-giving is a traditional part of these celebrations for many people, I thought it would be nice to create a fun gift-giving guide, organized by price, to help you find that perfect present! So, without furthur ado...

Mother's Day & Graduation Gift Guide

Gifts Under $30

	Essential Bangle in Gold or Silver, $17. These versatile bangles come in Silver and Silver brushed with 18k Gold Vermeil for a dressier look. View item!
	Freshwater Pearl & Sterling Silver Earrings, $20. These graceful pearl earrings dangle 1 cm. Available with white (shown) or pink freshwater pearls. View item!
	Freshwater Pearl "Heiress" Bracelet in 18k Gold Vermeil, $28. These elegant yet understated Freshwater Pearl & 18k Gold Vermeil over Sterling Silver bracelets are the perfect accessory--they can be dressed up and dressed down effortlessly, adding the right amount of class and grace to any ensemble. View item!

View more items under $30 by clicking here.

Gifts Under $50

	Engraved Sterling Silver & Gemstone Studs, $42-43. These elegant and exotic stud earrings add a burst of color--and class--to any outfit. Available with Carnelian, Blue Topaz, Lapis, Peridot, and Moonstone. View item!
	Pear Crystal Earrings in 14k Gold Vermeil, $35. Both eye-catching and classic simultaneously, these timeless earrings feature pear-shaped faceted rock crystals of stunning clarity dangling on 14k gold vermeil hooks. View item!
	Silver Omega, $48. Sleek and classy, this necklace may be worn alone or with a favorite pendant. View item!
	Sterling Silver Ring with Sapphire, $45. Small and yet striking in their loveliness, these rings come with sapphires of a wide variety of colors so that there is sure to be something for everyone. View item!

View more items under $50 by clicking here.

Gifts Under $75

	Kailani Shell Earrings, $73. These gorgeous earrings, with their polished slices of mother-of-pearl set in 23k gold vermeil, are aptly named Kailani, meaning "sea and sky" in Hawaiian. View item!
	Gemstone Charm Necklace, $65. Each of these one-of-a-kind charm necklaces features small faceted drops of amethyst, quartz, citrine, carnelian, topaz, prehnite, and amazonite dangling from a fine sterling silver chain and accented by small bell, dolphin, and butterly sterling silver charms. View item!
	Faceted Sterling Silver & Gemstone Earrings, $57-67. These stunning peridot earrings are just one pair of a set that includes luscious garnet, sparkling blue topaz, and summery citrine. View Peridot option!
	Primrose Post Earrings, $58. Sweet and simple, these earrings feature delicate primroses in brushed sterling silver. View item!

View more items under $75 by clicking here.

Gifts Under $100

	Big Handmade Silver Pendant, $95. Inspired by ancient designs passed down through generations of silversmith families, this striking pendant necklace is handcrafted by Indian artisans. View item!
	Gold Vermeil Wire Bracelet, $84. Elegant and yet artsy, this bracelet goes with anything. Made from intricately crafted sterling silver wire dipped in 18k gold vermeil, this gift is sure to show you care. View item!
	Deep Sea Quartz Earrings, $98. These earrings feature blue quartz of an unusually rich and deep hue, reminding us of the color of the ocean on the perfect summer day. View item!
	Antique Italian Venetian Crystal Pendant, $92. Faint green and light pink shimmer through this antique faceted crystal drop pendant. We know this crystal tear drop capped with a circular glass crystal, strung on a black satin cord, can be worn out at night and to brunch on the weekend. Silk cord can be tied to any length that suits. View item!
	Hathor Earrings, $95. Bright, bold, and regal, these wide semi-hoop earrings are truly fit for a Goddess. Earrings feature delicate spiral detailing. View item!

View more items under $100 by clicking here!

Gifts Under $150

	18k Gold Vermeil and Labradorite Necklace , $144. Dusky labradorite is paired with glittering gold for a combination that is both original and refined. Necklace measures 48 inches in length. View item!
	Gold Filigree & Gemstone Ring, $144. Truly worthy of royalty, this ring features a single brilliant gemstone set in a wide, detailed band of gold filigree. Available with garnet, amethyst, and blue topaz stones. View item!
	Peridot & Hindu Goddess Pendant Necklace , $136. Looking for a gift that says "you are fearless, strong, and beautiful"? Well, we found one for you. View item!

View more items of all prices by visiting http://www.zavidagemstones.com!