MindFULL Holiday Gifts

It is the middle of Chanukah and Christmas will be here before you know it. If you’re like me, you still have plenty of shopping left to do. The fun part is finding just the right present and lucky for us, our friend Tracey Pliskin makes it really easy to do!

If you live here in Denver, stop by her  Unique Boutique Holiday Open House #2 (12 local artists/vendors) located at  2801 east 4th avenue (4th and Detroit) on December 11th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you don’t live here, never fear. I have tried to list some of the vendor websites for you to visit. If you have any questions, you can email Tracey. She is the most resourceful and MindFULLY creative mom – she is a master photographer (keep her in mind if you need family photos – www.playfulphotography.com), sells darling jewelry, and is a non profit fundraising superstar. And, oh ya, and she is the mother of three boys…

As an added benefit, if you are feeling like you don’t know what you want to do in your life, or need a little inspiration, then simply check out the women behind the stories below! Maybe the greatest gift you will give this season will be to yourself – the gift of inspiration and “can do”.

Unique Boutique Vendors

Sydney Andrews and Tracey Pliskin — Regardless of the event, Tracey can be spotted across the room wearing a colorful Sydney Andrews necklace. Sydney Andrews is a jewelry line that started with a friendship bracelet and grew into a successful business designing and selling creations to boutiques nationwide. One can become a Sydney Andrews jewelry consultant and sell to their friends directly.  Check out both the jewelry and opportunity via Tracey’s website: Www.sydneyandrews.com/traceyp

Denver artist, Karrie McBryde and GAIA glass — Karrie makes beautiful glass objects. Why the name GAIA GLASS someone asked Karrie ~ according to Wikipedia, Gaia (pronounced “guy a”) is the primal Greek Goddess of the Earth.  This is a tribute to our mother Earth and reflects Karrie’s belief that we are all interconnected in ways we cannot imagine. http://www.gaiaglass.com/About_Us.php

The Elegant Bead — The Elegant Bead Custom Made Jewelry and Gift Collection is a unique collection of bracelets, necklaces, and home decor. Cathy created The Elegant Bead in 1995. Her jewelry design business evolved from a hobby that she started by making bracelets and earrings for herself. In 2001 Cathy was named the 2001 Entrepreneurial Mother of the Year. http://www.theelegantbead.com/

So Good Caramels — The whole thing started because Stefanie Jacobs loves caramels and her husband Garth has awesome talent in the kitchen. Together they made chewy delights and when we they shared them with friends, family and colleagues, they always  got the same response from just about everyone who tasted them: “these are so good, you should sell them.” So now, they do! Www.sogoodconfections.com

Trading 4 Treasures- Connie Stevenson — After the genocide in Rwanda in 1991, women made up 70% of the population. Forced from the kitchen into the workforce, they sought ways to generate income. Trading 4 Treasures is dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor achieve sustainable income and to work their way out of poverty. By offering hand-crafted products created by Rwandan women, dignity, pride, and resources become available for a better life. Www.trading4treasures.com

Other cool women who will be selling their wares at The Unique Boutique will be Carol Schmidt- The Rwanda Project Greeting Cards; Pampered chef -Mandy Hailpern; Take The Day T-shirts (for kids and adults) – Melissa Barnes.

Stop by. Find a unique gift. Get inspired. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon? You never know what you’ll find…

What MindFULL gifts have you found this season? Share the sites with us!

74 Harley Street

Let’s say after last week’s entry on jewelry swapping with your friends, you started looking at your accessories in a different light. Perhaps you came across a piece of jewelry that you inherited from a relative. You’ve never really worn it and you’re not quite sure what to do with it…

Well, saunter on over to 74 Harley Street (www.74harleystreet.com), a jewelry line that takes vintage treasures and gives them new life. Dress clips are re-fashioned into show-stopping necklaces, skeleton keys combine with pearls and sparklies on vintage chains, broken or single earrings find new life on charm bracelets, etc.

74 Harley Street is the stunning creation of Susan Mayer, mom of four boys under age 7. Carpool, PTA  and playdates by day, jewelry designer by night, Susan brings her dramatic taste to bear on re-purposed trinkles.

Much of Susan’s business is custom. Friends and their friends are now bringing her boxes of old family jewelry they inherited from mom/great-aunt/grandma and don’t know what to do with. Some of it is gorgeous, but doesn’t fit the style of today, so it sits… until they collaborate on how to bring them to life. Even the most unsuspecting pieces look great jazzed up with pearls and sparklies.

Susan also scouts out estate sales and antiques dealers…and she keeps her prices reasonable so she can keep shopping. She loves the hunt and is growing to appreciate even the oldest and oddest of baubles.

The next time you eye that broach that’s been sitting in the bottom of your jewelry box, contact Susan at www.74harleystreet.com. She can help you turn drab into dazzling!  And who couldn’t use a little dazzle these days?