“Just Being Audrey”
So, there is a new children’s book out (as of yesterday) about Audrey Hepburn…you can read the news story here. I don’t know about you, but I am more than thrilled – check out the screen shot below for a sneak peek (courtesy of harpercollinscatalogs.com)…doesn’t it just make you all giddy inside?! I have always been a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn, for so many reasons – not only is she the epitome of elegance and poise, she was a great actress, an amazing woman, and an exemplary humanitarian – she defined being a “lady.”
I love that the author was motivated to give children a story that reflects the life of a good and positive role model. Today, good role models are few and far between, especially for girls – they are surrounded by so much plastic and superficiality from such a young age, that this book is a breath of fresh air. Kudos to the author, Margaret Cardillo, for putting her love for Audrey Hepburn into a great little children’s book that we all can enjoy. I will be picking up my copy of “Just Being Audrey“ – and will probably enjoy it as much or more than my girls!
Adriana Dehring
Be Prepared for the Red Carpet
An article from Vogue.com
caught my attention just a few minutes ago. It is about the contents in stylist Kate Young’s bag o’ goodies – the things she always has on hand to be sure the stars are looking perfect once the camera flashes go off like a lightning storm. She is the one behind-the-scenes that is prepared for anything…for them: Toes going numb in shoes because they are being jammed forward due to the angle that a 4 inch heel creates? No problem. Dress running a race up your leg at a rapid pace with each step? Fixed. You just now realized that your undergarments are not really seamless (or perhaps it was the second dessert that wasn’t really necessary)? Problem solved…etc, etc, etc… I don’t know about you, but I need to get me a Kate Young!
Regarding the list, I am not sure why, but I was hoping for something really unusual; obnoxious things that I would not go out of my way to buy, let alone be able to afford. In reality, it is all rather practical – pretty much everything that you or I could have on hand for ourselves. Somehow tho, I don’t think having my own “Kate Young Kit” will transform me into Red Carpet readiness…I guess it is worth a try, tho!
Some Things In the Kate Young Kit:
1. Spanx
2. Stick-Ons
3. Foot Petals
4. Double Stick Tape
Check out the full list and article HERE.
Adriana M Dehring
Make a Statement…
an article on the
Lucky Magazine blog says that a statement necklace is the “one piece that instantly dresses up everything.” how true that is. take a moment and think of your basic black dress…you have probably worn it more times than you care to tell, but it fits great, still looks great and is a staple in your closet. now, picture that same dress with several layers of Italian sterling silver chain around your neck…or six strands of over four hundred mother of pearl beads all intertwined together…suddenly, it isn’t the same little black dress anymore.
a statement necklace does something amazing. it takes the outfit you have on (and might have had on many, many times before) and suddenly makes it chic, interesting, and glamorous. it may be a simple tank top and jeans, but throw on a chunky coral and poppy jasper necklace and, voila! instant transformation! you look like you actually planned your outfit instead of just throwing something on, and a huge bonus is that you will also feel much more pulled together. every woman should have at least one statement necklace. it is one accessory that will never go out of style, and should be the “go to” piece when you want or need to feel fabulous.
Adriana M Dehring
read the full article from the Lucky blog here.
A Garden of Inspiration
The quote below from Stella McCartney
makes me want a garden – and not just a few plants or veggies growing in a designated space. I want my very own botanical garden (scaled-down, of course) – where I can get lost amid the plants, sounds and smells of nature for just a little while. A place where time stands still and the worries of life don’t follow; where, as she put it, I can recharge myself so that I am ready to meet the next challenges that will come my way. It’s interesting that I have never put much thought into this before, but I think I finally have an idea of what my dream house would be like…
Adriana Dehring
“Being out in a beautiful garden is nicer than sitting in a beautiful room, in my opinion. They bring you so much joy. We recharge our batteries in that environment. You have to feel extremely privileged to have a garden—I don’t take it for granted.” – Stella McCartney
Guide to Spring 2011
I was looking through
Vogue’s Ultimate Guide to the Spring 2011 Collections and was amazed at how much fashion really does come back around. Influences from the 70s, 80s and early 90s were quite apparent, as was the presence of color in each designer collection. Going into the shorter and darker days of winter, the bold and strong colors and patterns of the 2011 collections set my gaze forward with excitement.
Of course not all of the looks suited my taste – specifically ones with overbearing patterns (in the article, they are referred to as Hyper-Prints). I prefer the overall look of an outfit to have an impact, not the actual fabric pattern. So many times when we look at these runway shows, our end thought is that these creations are obviously just meant for the runway, and have no practical purpose for every day wear.
I have a few pieces below that beg to differ and that I would *love* to be wearing my next venture out…
Adriana Dehring
1. Ralph Lauren
2. Carolina Herrera
3. Vera Wang
4. Nina Ricci
5. Fendi
6. Yves Saint Laurent
7. Michael Kors
Celebrate the Change of Seasons
with the perfect shade of red and orange – RUST.
an article i read on the Lonny blog talks about one of my all time favorite colors and how we can see rust-colored goodies popping up everywhere in fashion and design and i couldn’t be happier. looking at their collage of products, i can’t decide if it is that fantastic suitcase or the classic chuck taylors that i love more. the color itself is warm and comforting; it reminds me of autumn weather, open windows and cooler weather. what a perfect way to say goodbye to the summer heat and hello to chilly mornings and breezy afternoons.
here’s my own little collection of some rust colored goodies that i thought were cute – hope you enjoy them as much as these gorgeous fall days!
Adriana Dehring
you can read the full article from Lonny blog here
Handmade & Beautiful for 2011-12
According to trends guru, Paola de Luca,
the upcoming year will bring a focus and appreciation for artisanal skills in jewelry. She says specifically that “There is a return of the hand-made, beautiful things.” Wow, does this make me happy! It is great to hear that hand-made jewelry will have the spotlight on it for a little while anyway – I think once you have worn a piece created with semi-precious gemstones or pearls – perhaps with some wire wrapping – you will have a new appreciation for these types of hand-made pieces.
The weight and sound of gemstones creates an entirely different experience compared to jewelry made of cheaper materials. I also think that handcrafted jewelry is special because it is the result of someone’s creativity, making it the end result of an inspiration instead of just another accessory. Being that Paola de Luca points to hand-made jewelry as the upcoming trend, I think it is as good a time as any to purchase one of these unique, quality pieces of jewelry. You will see what a difference it makes to have a cluster ring of black agate on your finger or a multi-strand necklace with over 400 mother of pearl stones around your neck.
Adriana Dehring
You can read the full article here
Keeping it Neutral
Breaking through the color spectrum
and moving towards front and center in the fashion world is the color beige. Neutrals are nothing new, however, I am not referring to the shapeless trench that is hanging in the hall closet. The jackets, dresses, and shoes that we are seeing these days stand out and really command our attention despite their muted tones. An article on Brunch at Saks has a great display of neutral pieces, one of which is the beige satin-twill dress by Carven (shown on the right) that I cannot stop drooling over. I absolutely love it. So. Much.
Okay, refocusing now…
For those of us who love to accessorize, dressing in tones of tan, cream, off-white and beige give us the perfect canvas to bring in the pops of color with a chunky necklace, cuff bracelet or cluster ring. Some pieces that would do well in adding touches of color to a neutral outfit are: Dorgali Necklace, Capri Rhapsody, Thunder Bay Bracelet, Mumbai Bracelet, Rio de Janeiro Ring, White Island Ring. Neutrals should no longer be in the background, but your “go-to” as the start of an amazing outfit.
Adriana Dehring
You can read the full article from Brunch at Saks Here
Shoppers Habits Stay Strong
The economy may be down
but that doesn’t seem to stop people from spending money on the things that they consider their passions. According to a recent survey, while keeping budgets tight and finding ways to save, people are not holding back when it comes to spending money on what they love. Fashionistas are no exception, continuing to keep shoes, clothing, jewelry and other accessories high on their lists of expenses – although, about half of them did admit to having some feelings of guilt for their spending.
Is continuing these shopping habits a bad thing? Is it a reflection of a more materialistic generation? Does it show that we still want “ours” if you will? Well that will depend on who you talk to and what their list of priorities is. Personally, I think it just means that we want to get as much out of life as we can, no matter what the overall state of things may be. And to me, that is not such a bad thing.
Adriana Dehring
You Can Read More About the Survey in National Jeweler Here
Sweaters Are Not Just For Keeping Warm
The sweater trend
that is taking over for the Fall and Winter styles this year has me hooked. Because of simple yet eye-catching sweater dresses like the one shown on the right by Athleta (I absolutely LOVE this, btw) and this open front cardigan found at Anthropologie, I think the overall idea is that the comfy sweater is back and is more chic than ever. Don’t think that they are only for keeping warm, if anything, that is now just a perk – think of them as THE fashion statement for the cold months, paired with boots, or tights and a retro-styled platform. Just Fabulous.
Reading an article from blogger Marian Kihogo she actually draws attention to the fact that sweaters can be paired with ANYTHING this season – from sequins to surf shorts. I am not sure that all of these fit my taste personally, but it is a definite bonus that throwing on your comfy sweater (no, not the ratty one from 10 years ago) is not only acceptable, it is encouraged. Hooray for comfortable fashion!
Adriana Dehring
You can read the full article from Marian Kihogo here.
Keep Your Diamonds Sparkling
Most women will own a diamond
at some point in their lives. A gorgeous, sparkling diamond. Whether you have an average size diamond or one that looks as if it belongs in a museum somewhere, proper maintenance is essential. Caring for your diamond and keeping it clean is one way to ensure that it will have a long life and continue to sparkle and shine. I came across an article that gives some very simple and practical insight on diamond maintenance. If you want a little refresher or are just curious, you can check it out here – it is a quick read with some good advice!
The Summer Days Slip Away
These days we are bombarded with commercials and ads for back to school specials, which brings us to the somber realization that the summer days are slipping away. much. too. quickly. Although none of my girls are in school yet, I still sigh at the closing of the months of summer sun and fun – grilling, boating, concerts, swimming, and every evening being the perfect reason to get together with friends. There is something very responsible about the rest of the year, not like the summer months where we get a temporary pass to feel and act more like a kid – more laid back, more living in the moment, more irresponsible… But not anymore. Now it is back to the reality of life that we deal with for the other 3/4 of the year. There is the non-stop planning for holiday meals and visitors, endless hours of homework for yourself or your kids (or both!) along with trying (probably unsuccessfully) to get all your Christmas shopping done before the week of. Whatever your personal responsibilities are, the truth is that summer is over and we must now get back into “adult mode” again.
Perhaps that is what motivated me to get back to blogging which I have (sadly) neglected for far too long. I wanted to write sooner, but then something would come up that had a stronger pull…such as a perfectly sunny day just asking for me to soak in some rays. That being said, with the summer days almost completely a thing of the past, I hope to be back in the groove and blogging more.
For JoCoCo, there are some exciting things in the mix, too, which I will be sure to keep you informed of. This weekend – Friday-Sunday – we are going to be featured again on Jasmere.com (check them out) which is really exciting. They will be selling vouchers to our website for an incredible price (the more who purchase, the lower the price goes). This gives you the chance to purchase some of our handmade pieces at a fraction of the retail price! This is a weekend you do not want to miss – and remember that the holidays are soon approaching, jewelry makes a great gift for pretty much any woman you know – mother, daughter, sister, cousin, friend – who doesn’t love a new pair of earrings, a cluster cocktail ring or a layered necklace to add to their collection?! But don’t forget yourself. Drop your husband a hint by sending him our way…
If you have a moment, check out some of our new fall pieces – Edinburgh Necklace, Grottaferrata Necklace, Milano Earrings, Rio de Janeiro Earrings – they are so beautiful, and some of them are just a one time deal so once it sells, we can’t make another. If something catches your eye, don’t hesitate to treat yourself, we know you won’t be disappointed!
Until next time!
Adriana M Dehring
More Secrets…
Besides the metals, like silver,of course all of the gemstones have their powers and secrets too. We may not know them but we feel them. Pearls, amber and coral are also part of a beneficial group of beauties with interesting natural origins. You can wear your pearls to Rome; the gypsies won’t dare to steal them; they are the tears of the Madonna. Don’t wear gold; that would be an invitation to all robbers.
Pearls are a marine product. They are believed by the Chinese to be the brain of a dragon. In India, it was held that they were gifts from the clouds, cloud’s tears. Coral presents as a branch or a tree visually but it is composed of marine creatures that fossilize. When I think about it, it seems like a fire that is able to stay alive in deep water. What a beautiful contradiction (or harmony) between two essential elements! Amber is a resin that, with fossilized insects and air bubbles within, is believed to have magical powers. The Greeks considered it to be solidified tears of the sun; containing the preserved essence and, therefore, the energy of the sun. In Greek, its name signifies electron. Imagine the chill temps in the Balkans…wearing amber brings the sun to these peoples and provides a warmth in the coldest months for the Romanians, Poles, and Lithuanians. It is lightweight but gives warmth and electricity. (Egypt, India, Sicily, Mexico and Burma have amber too… and they value it even in those warmer climates as a solar gift. In the cool of the internal spaces and courtyards, amber transmits an energy, indirect but important). Amber is the sun, magnified or modified, depending on where you live and what your needs are.
Sally Fougerousse
Rio de Janeiro
So this post is to give you all a little more insight into how our Rio de Janeiro ring was inspired and named. All of the JoCoCo Jewelry pieces are named after cities, towns and islands where we have been, would love to be, or will go when we can. There are just so many amazing destinations around the world that are fascinating…so many beautiful white beaches to lay on, breathtaking mountains to ski down, cafés to sit at and people watch, bustling downtowns to stroll through, crazy nightlife scenes to experience… One of these places is Rio de Janeiro. I have never been, but when I hear the name, I immediately think of an exotic blend of culture, history, energy, beaches, heat, crazy nightlife, fun and excitement – an experience not soon to be forgotten.
This amazing city boasts the largest 
and second largest urban forests in the world, amazing beaches, giant statue of Christ (Christ the Redeemer), Sugarloaf mountain, and Maracanã stadium…which is probably why it is the main tourist destination in the Southern Hemisphere. What a great city to name a gorgeous gemstone cocktail ring after, right?!
Our Rio de Janeiro cluster ring is gorgeous, exotic, sexy, urban, elegant, kind of vintage and kind of modern…and very appropriately named, I think. A combination of citrine, pearl and mother of pearl stones with a single faceted lemon quartz gemstone right in the middle. It is captivating in how it captures the light and makes your eyes dance around trying to take in all the details – the cut of the stones, the subtle and soothing colors, the hint of silver throughout. It stands proudly on your finger, an amazing silhouette with so much depth and dimension to it…like you can always find something new each time you see it. It is mysterious and exciting…kind of like the city itself!
Adriana M Dehring
Gemstone Cluster Rings for Spring
I had posted a few weeks ago about our Spring rings that we had been planning on having up by now. Obviously that didn’t happen. It seems that creating a gorgeous cocktail ring is a much more tedious project than we initially thought it would be. Ring mountings are not all created equal, and there was disappointment on our end either because we were not thrilled with the overall quality or because the mounting and stone were not a perfect fit. So we are still in the middle of tackling this part of our ring project and hopefully we will have some beautiful single stone cocktail rings available in the next few months.
The other portion of the JoCoCo Jewelry ring collection are our fun and edgy beaded rings like the popular Paris Ring (including the White Island). The Rio de Janeiro is an absolutely stunning and elegant ring, made up of a cluster of pearls, citrine & mother of pearl surrounding a teardrop shaped lemon quartz gemstone. The wire work holds the stones firmly in place, creating a gorgeous silhouette atop your finger. The colors are so fresh and just perfect for Spring.
Another unique beaded ring is our Pearl City ring, a fun and urban square sterling silver ring with small pearls and faceted peridot gemstones wired onto it. This is much less dramatic than our other rings, and smaller in size overall, but no less beautiful. It looks amazing on, and gives just a hint of color with a completely different look and style than most rings you will find. Perfect for the woman who is perhaps a little bit more conservative with her accessories, this ring still holds it own among the rest.
Like always, I will give you a little peek prior to the upload which should happen tonight. These rings mark the last phase of our Spring 2010 collection, and wow, is it nice to have everything online now so we can focus on our Summer pieces. Oh, yes, we are already looking to the next season and planning our jewelry pieces that will be a continuation of the Spring colors, just a little more saturated and bold.
Pearl City Cluster Ring
Rio de Janeiro Cluster Ring
Adriana M Dehring
JoCoCo in Lonny Mag
Paris Earrings
Well, I am very excited as I write this post, so forgive me if my writing is all over the place! The reason for my excitement you ask? JoCoCo Jewelry has gotten a little bit of press! Woohoo! A few weeks ago, Lonny Magazine called to see if we would send some jewelry to be included in a photo shoot for their February issue. Kristin and I were thrilled (of course) and scrambled to get it to them. Then we just waited to see how they would utilize our pieces.
They included our Paris earrings in an article on how to make the most of a small space featuring an IKEA wardrobe system. Within the jewelry tray are the Paris earrings – bottom and center – proudly nestled among the likes of Kate Spade, Dean Davidson, and J.Crew. A small image with a link back to our website – and oh, my, we are so proud!
The Feb issue came out yesterday, and if you have a moment to check out the magazine, you definitely should. It fills the void left when Domino closed its doors and is a really fun read when you have a few moments. Of course, I am enjoying this issue a little bit more than the others – hope you enjoy it as well!
Adriana M Dehring
Sneak Peek at Spring Necklaces
After many hours spent writing, calculating, etc the necklace portion of our Spring collection is complete!!! I am taking a moment to breathe a sigh of relief, but it will be short-lived, since we now have to tackle rings, earrings and bracelets in the next weeks. At this point I just want to take a moment and celebrate one small step forward, one small accomplishment. The descriptions may be one long stream of gemstone names and descriptive words running through my head in a continuous loop and my house may need a massive cleaning overhaul, but what a great feeling of accomplishment! The Spring necklaces are just amazing…no…actually, they are gorgeous. The colors are fresh, bright and invigorating, the stones are large and many, bringing in completely different styles compared to our other pieces, expanding the look of JoCoCo. In all, Kristin and I are so happy to see our ideas from just a few months ago as amazing pieces of jewelry that look even better than we anticipated. If all goes well, the new Spring necklaces will be uploaded tonight and ready for viewing tomorrow morning…but for now, here is a little sneak peek at two of our new Spring creations…enjoy!!!
Aspen Necklace - Amazonite
Malé Necklace - Mother of Pearl
Adriana Dehring
About Toxic Children’s Jewelry
JoCoCo Laura Cluster Earrings
I just wanted to discuss the issue of toxic children’s jewelry that has recently been all over the news. Children’s costume jewelry that is found places like (Dollar stores, Wal-Mart and Claire’s) contains cadmium – a replacement used for toxic lead. The problem? Cadmium is as toxic or more than lead, so not only has the issue not been resolved, it has become worse. Not to get into too much detail, or just repeat what you can read yourself, I will simply provide some links to news stories below for you to read if you do want more details.
JoCoCo Alice Hoop Earrings
Since this issue has come up I also thought it important to talk about our own line of children’s jewelry. To put everyone’s mind at ease, all of our pieces are made with sterling silver components (the ear wire, head pins, crimp beads, etc) and Swarovski crystals. They do not contain any toxic metals or questionable materials. They are safe. We only want to offer the best to our customers, down to the very youngest. Amidst the chaos and concerns that surround children’s jewelry, toys, etc, that parents have to deal with today please know that JoCoCo Jewelry will continue to offer quality pieces of jewelry that are not only stylish but also safe for your little one.
Adriana M Dehring
News Regarding Cadmium in Jewelry:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100111/ap_on_he_me/us_cadmium_jewelry
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/01/11/consumer-cadmium-childrens-jewelry.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_bi_ge/us_cadmium_jewelry
http://video.ap.org/?pid=zNuC1rYH86wnIrhGVXStkIVKGIUrV6ud
Saving the Cod
Dry salted Norwegian cod is a winter staple during advent and a specialty of the Italian kitchen. The only way I’ve ever tasted it is on Christmas Eve (when tradition forbids meat), battered and fried. It is very good and when the batter is not too thick, you can actually taste the fish itself. The closer you get to Naples, the heavier the batter! There are many recipes on preparing cod for the table. You have to start at least 3 days ahead of when you want to serve it. You must soak it in water until the salt flows out and the fish flesh doubles in size.
One of my Italian cookbooks says: soak for 24 hours in tap water at room temperature, changing the water 3 times. Giaccomo (jock a mo) who sold me the BACALA, said change the water 3 times a day for 3 days. Anna said, 2 days twice a day is enough. Maria Vittoria said, if you buy it from Giaccomo, do as he says; but, if you buy it from Italia Market, change the water 3 times a day for 5 days. Checking this with Anna, she said, if you ever soak it for 5 days, you will have a stinking cod. Is this not confusing? Well, well, well!
By myself I decided on the soaking wisdom median.When I cooked the smaller side of the cod fillets with capers, black olives, cherry tomatoes and onions, it was delicious— flaky and almost sweet. But it wasn’t enough water dunking for the larger pieces and as I sautéed them in olive oil and crushed garlic,15 min. per side, they seemed to get saltier than the day they were cured. I didn’t want to give myself high blood pressure for the rest of my life because of one meal, nor did I want to make a cat jump out of its skin by tossing the fish in the trash…so, I thought well about my uncooperative cod fish. The salvation of the dish was the humble potato, boiled in unsalted water. The potatoes absorbed the salt and with 3 turns of the pepper mill exalting the flavor of the fish, all was well. I’ve been in love with the potato since my youth. It has such a moderating influence in the kitchen. Perhaps sweet cream and sweet butter will be tried on my next encounter with my salty friend. For now, however, I praise the meek potato: From the EARTH the potato, garlic perfuming the AIR, a FIRE to cook over and a blessed fish from the WATER (not even so rare). This dish turned out elemental. Advice, logic and science — and solving the mysteries of the kitchen on your own mindfulness of these things — are “Elementary, dear Watson!”
Happy New Year, Sally Fougeroussse
What is in a name?
A name distinguishes, identifies, recalls history, represents a significance, forges a message. The word on the page can be artful and look like an object. Remember the poets who put poems in the form of what they were referring to? It was a brief moment but an attempt to innovate and re-form an old art form…jewelry-making is also an ancient art. Our website designer, George McCartney, is a fine-art artist and he gave the visual graphic touch to our name and made it look like a necklace itself. JOCOCO does look like a string of beads. Without even going beyond the written word, we have this distinction – a name that looks like a string of pearls in a row.
Our Italian artist (the Kalos line), Gioacchino Corveddu (look at that name graphically!) told me years ago that Americans said his name would be Jack in the US. I was amazed at what I considered to be a nominative error. No, no I said. You are Joachim, named after the father of the Blessed Mother Mary, and the equivalent would be JOE. Of course, Americans visiting Rome at that time were making that “step” because John (Jack) and Jacqueline Kennedy were in the White House at that time. They were not thinking of pronunciations and equivalents.
Giorgio Armani named his perfume for men Gio. Just as in the name George, the E after G softens the name as if it begins with a J. That perfume is pronounced Joe because the I after G in Italian softens the G to J. Of course we should think about another great fashion designer for women when we present our name.
We should give tribute to Coco Chanel. She could dress the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy and Michelle Obama. She was absolutely the top in sophistication and refinement and elegance. We are firm in our convictions to never lose sight of our past inspirations: whether they are ancient mythology, Greek and Roman coins or designers from the 19th C. or much more contemporary ones. We are delighted to catch the eye and celebrate femininity and beauty passed down through the ages. Remember the wonderful Italian words: gioia – joy,a jewel; gioielli – jewels, pieces of joy; giocare – to play, to amuse; giocattolo – a plaything. In Italian a term of affection is Gioia Mia! Men say this to their women; everyone says it to children and grandchildren. You say this to upraise and comfort a person. These words in themselves are cuddling.
So, if no one else spoils you, even when you drop hints about needing something special (like a good cup of tea prepared for you by someone else!), just spoil yourself with an interesting gemstone and silver creation from Jococo. We’re here for all women — tiny little ladies included. We are committed to cultural inspiration and beauty.
Buon Natale, Sally Fougerousse
In Vogue
For as long as I can remember I loved to indulge in Vogue magazine. I would spend hours looking at the magnificent images that the issues would present. At a very young age I would find my older sister’s issues of Teen Vogue and later Vogue lying around the house. And I cherish the memories of my Mom buying me Vogue, especially when I was home sick from school. I may have faked illness for this reason sometimes! This has lead so far, to a life long addiction to Vogue. I have tried to never go without a subscription.
JoCoCo Jewelry was then founded by Adriana and me on this love of fashion and all things beautiful. I was happy to see that the last four issues were very a propos for JoCoCo Jewelry. On the September issue of Vogue magazine, as well as the November and December the covers are composed mostly of burgundy and gold. What a coincidence that our garnet and smoky quartz Edinburgh bracelet made its debut this fall. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson are all wearing luxurious deep red colored gowns by Dior, Alexander McQueen, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry. On the December cover of Vogue Cate Blanchett is wearing an elegant gold Donna Karan New York strapless evening dress, she definitely should be wearing our Edinburgh cuff bracelet! In the October issue the segment about multi-tasking fashion made me delight in our own multi-tasking piece of jewelry the Rhapsody. Also the article “The Green Movement” brought our Green line to center stage. How perfect that the jewelry is the color green and every customer purchase helps us donate to Plant a Billion Trees.
I am encouraged when I see that our style is fresh and timely and seems relevant to the larger world of fashion. This blog is a tribute to Vogue and well, maybe some day JoCoCo’s jewelry will be In Vogue!
Kristin McCartney
The Perfect Marriage
In order to keep making lemonade out of lemons, one does need a few recipes. Recipes are like words of wisdom that can stimulate or give calm. Sometimes you want a zinger and sometimes you want something smoother. So here’s THE CREAM OF THE LEMON CROP. Usually the curds get in the way (and make a whey). I’ll never forget the day when I went to a Dallas chain restaurant to have pie and hot tea…it was 1960, I was 15 and really didn’t know anything about tea but it sounded sophisticated. The waitress offered: cream? or lemon? I said: Both, please. She said nothing. (She probably had never had hot tea either. In Texas, tea was not a specialty like sweet tea in the deep south has always been). Receiving the tea, I added both lemon and cream and a sudden overwhelming disappointment came over me as I saw the chunks and lumps forming and floating in my formerly clear, pleasant-looking brew. My tea was replaced and I decided on cream only this time. I tried it and found it good. Well, here is a recipe for a southern Italian variety of Limoncello that makes no curds but the perfect blend of both natural lemon flavor and creamy milk. Enjoy!
Crema di Limoncello: 8-10 lemons (peels only) 1 liter of alcohol; 1-2 tsp. of vanilla; 2 liters of whole milk and 2 lbs. of sugar. Procedure: Peel the lemons and add to the alcohol, let stand at room temperature for 4-5 days. Strain off the lemon peels and save the alcohol. Gradually heat the whole milk just so that the sugar dissolves. Let sit until it is back to room temperature and blend in the flavored alcohol with the milk and sugar mixture. Put into pretty bottles and place in your freezer with small glasses at freezer temp. Now you’re ready to serve a lemon smoothie. It brings with it the Mediterranean sunshine…Happy Thanksgiving!
Sally Fougerousse
Dublin – The New Green Pieces
I just have to give everyone a sneak peek on the new Dublin pieces that were just created – they are FANTASTIC!!!! Very simple and modern – sterling silver chain and solid round green gemstones…I think they will be incredibly popular. The earrings are a simple drop – much different than the style of earrings we currently have…and the necklace is also a bit of a detour from the styles we have created up to this point. The picture to the right is just a small part of the jewelry…you will have to be patient and look for full pictures to be posted on our FaceBook Page in the next couple of days. After our upload next Monday, they will be available for purchase on the website. I really can’t wait for you all to see the completed pieces – I just know you will be as pleased as I am!!!
Adriana M. Dehring
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