ecocessories

Ever Wondered What Jewelry People Recycle?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 04 May 2011 21:35:00 +0000

The source of my inspiration is my jewelry recycling service - Canadians can visit my recycle page to order a prepaid envelope for recycling your old, broken, unwanted jewelry. When someone talks to me in person about recycling jewelry, they often confess that they wonder if I will even like what they send - will I be able to do anything with it?

I always reassure my customers that any donation of recycled jewelry is a good one - when something is reduced to its parts there is often beauty found in the beads or components. Even if your recycled jewelry isn't directly used in the ecocessories jewelry line, it is being collected for future educational projects. I opened 4 Jewelry Recyclers' envelopes yesterday and was so pleasantly surprised by what was in each one. I spread out the contents to show you a few examples of what arrives in my jewelry recycling service:

{Donation from Jewelry Recycler 1}

Jewelry Recycler 1 sent me this baggie of recycled jewelry along with another baggie of a brooch and beads (not shown) to be used in a custom design. I am excited to work on this custom piece, as the brooch is gorgeous and its clasp is broken so otherwise it wouldn't be worn! I love the leaves in the recycled necklace, and the cute discs in these recycled earrings. The sterling silver seagull is attractive too, and I'm sure will make for a beautiful new simple statement piece!

{Donation from Jewelry Recycler 2}

Jewelry Recycler 2 definitely has more of a geometric and tribal influence to the jewelry she recycled. Turquoise and blue stones are nestled amongst intricate wire work and mixed metal squares and earrings will be perfect to repurpose. The metal needs a bit of cleaning, and then I will probably sort like coloured metals together. There is also a great strand of pink stones that will be ideal for making my Everyday Earrings style!

{Donation from Jewelry Recycler 3}

Jewelry Recycler 3 included a detailed note of most pieces in the envelope. This is not very common so I was pleasantly surprised and appreciated knowing the stories behind each piece. Much of this jewelry is handmade designer pieces that were purchase at the St. Lawrence market in Toronto, Ontario. The red square garnet stones and blue freshwater pearls will be inspiring to work with! I also appreciate the silver chains which will be great mixed with some old and new chain in a bracelet.

{Donation from Jewelry Recycler 4}

Jewelry Recycler 4 sent many pieces including some watches! I am saving watches and hope to get all the non-working ones repaired in preparation for some custom ecocessories watches! I love the beads in the bracelets that were recycled here - many of them are broken after years of love, so I'm happy the jewelry recycler decided to give these pieces a new life with ecocessories, as opposed to throwing them out.

Now what happens? Well I will disassemble all of these recycled pieces and sort the beads and components by colour. I will clean up the metal and put everything away in resealable bags and mason jars. The mason jars are organized by colour in my studio, and when I create my new ecocessories designs, this I where I draw my inspiration! If you are interested in recycling jewelry, visit my recycle page here. Do you recognize your recycled jewelry? Comment below!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Take advantage of this week's Ethical Deal!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:04:00 +0000

Have you heard of EthicalDeal? This eco-friendly group buying site features only companies with the environment at the top of their mind! I am excited to share that ecocessories has a coupon being featured as this week's national deal - get $50 of ecocessories jewelry for just $25!

Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, May 8th and a piece of eco-friendly jewelry would make the perfect gift for mom. This deal is timed so you can shop and take advantage of free shipping in Canada with guaranteed arrival in time for Mother's Day! Buy your coupon now and spend it by April 26th to guarantee that your piece will arrive in time for Mom's special day.

{Get 50% ecocessories jewelry this week only with ethicalDeal! Visit the deal and purchase your coupon here}

Or, treat yourself to a new pair of feather earrings, or a sexy bracelet for Spring!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Visit ecocessories at the Green Living Show 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:17:00 +0000

In just a little over 3 weeks ecocessories will be participating for the second year in the Green Living Show in Toronto, Ontario! I loved being a part of this show last year - I got a chance to connect with so many like-minded individuals and introduce my designs to Toronto! This year ecocessories will be participating as a part of the Fashion Takes Action boutique. Fashion Takes Action is a local organization that represents eco designers from across North America. The organization provides information, opportunities, and a community for eco-fashionistas like myself and has the collective goal of incorporating sustainability into every aspect of the fashion industry.

At the Green Living Show - happening from Friday, April 15th to Sunday, April 17th - there will be a Fashion Takes Action boutique featuring 20 eco fashion designers, and on Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm don't miss the fashion show!

I hope to see you there!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

International Women's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Today, Tuesday March 8th is International Women's Day. All over the world there are events happening that celebrate women, and their accomplishments. This is pretty amazing when you think about it - there will be one day where women across the globe will be devoting their energy towards this single celebration! That is a very powerful thing.

{Some amazing women in my life - my Nana, my mother, and my Grandma - thank you all for being such strong role models, and for all the love & support you've shown me!}

ecocessories is proud to supporting Ethik BGC's Women Day Event - retailer of ecocessories jewelry in Montreal, Quebec - with the donation of a door prize. This amazing event will feature an eco fashion show by the designers of Ethik BGC - a collective of over 40 women entrepreneurs from around the world.

{Top - donation to Ethik BGC in support of International Women's Day, Bottom - Arlene Dickinson, telling her story in support of Women's Resources in Lindsay, Ontario}

As for me, I will be spending International Women's Day with one of the strongest women I know, my best friend Ashley. Tonight, we're going to see one of my business idol's speak - Arlene Dickinson of Dragon's Den. Arlene is one of Canada's top business leaders, and she comes from humble beginnings. I can't wait to hear her story and be inspired by her path to success.

How are you spending International Women's Day? If you don't have a specific plan, maybe just take a minute to reflect on and appreciate the accomplishments of women in your life! Happy International Women's Day!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Eco-friendly Upcycled Bangles for Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:28:00 +0000

For ecocessories Spring/Summer 2011 collection "Tell a Story" I've been working with some recycled jewelry that I haven't reinvented before! In my collection of old, broken, unwanted jewelry, I've been saving brooches, stud earrings, and bangles, waiting for the perfect inspiration to strike.

Introducing wire-wrapped upcycled bangles! In my jewelry recycling service I received this set of tired bangles. These simple base metal bangles are painted, and their once vibrant finish has been somewhat muted with time. I found charm in the various shades of the bangles and selected an assortment of recycled beads to go with each bangle.

{Upcycled bangles, wrapped with recycled beads and 14K gold fill wire. Shop bracelets here!}

I cut pieces of 14K gold fill wire, and hammered a swirl in each end after threading on the bead. Each wire is tightly wrapped around the bangles, giving each piece a new artistic life! These bangles look great on their own, or with a few layered together! At only $24, these unique bangles are a great deal! Shop bracelets online now - but hurry, this set is one of a kind.

Hey - do you have any bangles that you'd like me to reinvent? I'd love to give your old jewelry a custom redesign - contact me to discuss your project today! Let me know what you think of the bangles... comment below.

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Spring/Summer 2011: Tell a Story

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:16:00 +0000

For the month of February, I tucked myself away in the ecocessories studio and have been designing the first pieces of the Spring/Summer 2011 collection - Tell a Story. I was inspired to create this collection by thinking about the very nature of ecocessories jewelry. Every piece features recycled beads that have a history and that come from very different pieces of recycled jewelry in the beginning. Every recycled bead in my eco jewelry pieces has been somewhere before, and those beads carry the stories of the world they've traveled and the lives they've touched before now.

{Clockwise: Mason jars of recycled jewelry, heart brooches being reinvented, recycled chain}

In the studio recycled jewelry is disassembled and sorted by colour in glass Mason jars full of history. Beads, brooches, chain and other components mix and mingle in rainbows of colour. While I was sorting through my recycled jewelry I started thinking about how great this mix of stories is. When someone has a piece of jewelry that doesn't suit their style or life any more, then can recycle it with ecocessories. Or, if a piece is broken or missing something, there is an opportunity for it to have a new life. Its story carries on.

{Clockwise: Caymen Island Fringe Necklace, Dew Drop Leaf Brooch, Wire-Wrapped Bangles - brooches and bangles are new for Spring!}

New ecocessories jewelry designs are hand crafted using precious metals (sterling silver & 14K gold fill) and the recycled beads. I hand forge all the clasps, earring wires, circles and other metal components in my designs. Most pieces that I design are one-of-a-kind, and have a unique vintage modern style. So often I hear from customers that they chose a piece just because it spoke to them. I believe that is the piece's story being revealed once it is ready to go to a new home.

The ecocessories jewelry collection features both simple, everyday jewelry and statement pieces that are sure to start a conversation! In this way the story carries on for all the recycled jewelry that went into creating your unique piece. So "Tell a Story" with your jewelry today, and shop the Spring/Summer 2011 collection online, and at a store near you.

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Reworked Vintage Brooches

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:16:00 +0000

Last week I was excited to come up with a new product! In my collection of recycled jewelry I have a number of brooches. Some come to me with minor defects so they need reinventing, or modification. Others arrive in perfect shape, but perhaps need a bit of modernization! In honor of the upcoming Valentine's Day I played with a few heart brooches in the ecocessories studio on Friday and came up with these 3 new pieces.

{Royal Love Golden Brooch, $44, Shop Now}

Continuing with the theme of hearts, these brooches feature recycled heart beads and draping recycled chain. The golden brooches are hand wrapped with 14K Gold Fill wire, and each piece is one-of-a-kind.

{Blue Crush Golden Brooch, $44, Shop Now}

For the past year I've been setting aside all of the hearts that came in through ecocessories' jewelry recycling service. I made these pieces in celebration of Valentine's Day coming up soon! These lovely, unique brooches would make a thoughtful gift for a girlfriend, best friend, mom or sister. Order by tomorrow, Feb. 1st to enjoy free shipping in Canada with guaranteed Valentine's Day arrival! Feb 8th is the deadline if you upgrade to Xpresspost shipping.

{Silver Heart Draping Brooch, $39, Shop Now}

I would love to hear what you think of the brooches. As this is a new product, I'll rely on your feedback to decide what direction to take this line! Comment below. Thank you!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Jewelry Photography Tent

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:32:00 +0000

For Christmas this year, my husband got me this incredible photography tent to take pictures of my jewelry pieces! He certainly knows how to romance a jewelry designer. I am thrilled and excited to get to know this beautiful tent and the great photos it will produce. Photography has always been a challenge for me - but a necessary one to overcome so I can bring more great pieces to you here at the ecocessories.ca online shop.

{EZ Cube Light Box for taking shots of my jewelry}

Gone are the days where I pray for a sunny afternoon to take pictures by the window! Photography now has it's own dedicated corner in the ecocessories studio.

{Purple Pearl Ribbon Necklace - recycled faux pearls, purple glass, hand forged sterling silver circles & clasp - more details}

I still have to work on the lighting a bit more, but for a first shot it is pretty good! What do you think?

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

This weekend only! $5 Xpresspost Shipping

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Just announced! For a limited time, late shoppers can still order from ecocessories and be reassured your order will arrive in time for Christmas. I'm offering a discounted rate of $5 for Xpresspost shipping in Canada!

{Pearl Bundle Circle Bracelet, $79 - shop online here}

Place your order this weekend, Dec. 17 - 20, 2010, to have it arrive in time for Christmas morning. Every ecocessories design is handmade from precious metals and recycled beads - making this a high quality gift of eco-friendly jewelry that she won't forget!

{English Lady Brooch Necklace, $124 - shop online here}

Ladies - pick out a piece to wear to your holiday party this year. There are over 100 pieces to choose from in the online shop - find the piece that speaks to you!

{Chanel Red Long Earrings - $34, shop online here}

Your order must be placed by Dec. 20 at 2pm EST to qualify for the $5 Xpresspost shipping rate. All orders placed between December 21st and January 10th will be shipped on January 11th.

Happy Holidays!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Holiday Shipping Deadlines

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:04:00 +0000

ecocessories jewelry makes a beautiful gift for your loved one. You have until 2pm, Thursday, December 16th, 2010 to place your order at ecocessories.ca to take advantage of Free ground shipping in Canada and guaranteed arrival in time for Christmas! Enter coupon code "holidays" to save 15% - valid only until Dec. 16th!

{Blue Ice Round Earrings - $34, more details here}

For those late shoppers, all hope is not lost as you have an extended deadline until December 20th to use Xpresspost shipping in Canada with guaranteed arrival in time for December 25th.

{Royal Purple Swirl Pendant - $104, more details here}

All orders placed between December 21st and January 10th will be shipped on January 11th.

Happy Holidays!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

ecocessories is the ethicalDeal of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:41:00 +0000

TODAY ONLY save 50% off ecocessories! For one day, ethicalDeal is featuring ecocessories jewelry designs as the deal of the day. What is ethicalDeal? Watch the video to find out!

{Visit ethicalDeal.com to take advantage of today's deal!}

This is a group buying site that features only eco-friendly business, and ecocessories is the deal for today only! Take advantage of this exclusive offer, just in time for Christmas.

Place your orders by December 16th for guaranteed arrival by Christmas Day!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

ecocessories is Featured in Vancouver's CRAVE Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:02:00 +0000

I am happy to announce that ecocessories is featured in Vancouver's 3rd edition of the CRAVE Guide. In their own words, "CRAVE innovatively connects urban gals to the sassiest, gutsiest, most inspiring people they need to know in town. Soirees, gatherings and online networking—we are your guide to everything you CRAVE in your city."

{Buy your copy of the Vancouver CRAVE Guide here, $20}

The CRAVE Guide is a book that showcases over 150 local women entrepreneurs, now in it's 3rd edition. ecocessories was invited to be featured in the book, and I couldn't be prouder to be among such an amazing group of inspiring women.

I have a limited number of the books for sale - just in time for Christmas! To my customers in Vancouver, this book makes a wonderful gift for girlfriends, or a gorgeous coffee book table for you. Pick up one for yourself, and your best friend by clicking here. The books is only $20, no HST and free shipping in Canada. It doesn't get much better than that!

Remember - place your orders by December 16th to enjoy free shipping in Canada with guaranteed arrival in time for Christmas!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

A Successful Event

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having my jewelry designs featured in an eco fashion show in Toronto, Ontario! Since working in my new studio in Ontario, I've been looking for opportunities to connect with local, like-minded people. Luckily, I am a member of Fashion Takes Action and I received an invitation to participate in Fashion The United Way.

{See more photos of Fashion The United Way at the ecocessories Facebook page}

After contacting one of the organizers, Judy, I got connected with Francesca Miles - designer of beautiful handbags and clutches. It was decided we would do an accessories show - the models would wear all black and would carry Francesca's bags and wear ecocessories jewelry.

On Monday night I got a chance to meet all of the fantastic models that would be walking the runway wearing ecocessories designs! We decided who would wear what pieces, and partnered the necklace, bracelet and earring collections with Francesca's bags. We were both so impressed at how well everything coordinated! Francesca has an eye for choosing, bold and unique fabrics, and her high quality craftsmanship shows in every design.

Tuesday the models hit the runway for a great show. Behind the scenes, everyone had a lot of fun, and although there was a bit of pressure between outfit changes, everything went great! Thank you to the wonderful models who wore ecocessories jewelry, to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for hosting this great event, and to Francesca for partnering with me in our runway show!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Fashion The United Way - Eco Fashion Show in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:32:00 +0000

On Tuesday, November 23rd, ecocessories is participating in the Fashion The United Way eco fashion show being hosted by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in Toronto. ecocessories jewelry is pairing up with Francesca Miles, designer of handbags and accessories, in a run way show. Models will don black cat-suits and accessorize with jewelry and bags before hitting the runway in style.

{Magenta Brooch Gold Necklace, to be shown at Fashion The United Way}

Also participating in this show are Nicole Bridger - winner of Canada's first ever eco-fashion award, Thieves by Sonja Den Elzen, and Baby Steinberg.

when? Tuesday, November 23rd
time? 3:30pm
where? Ministry of the Environment, 40 St. Clair Avenue West , 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario

{Handbags and accessories by Francesca Miles}

The event is being hosted by Natalie Johnson of CTV. Tickets to the show are only $10 and all proceeds will benefit the United Way. Come out for an afternoon of eco fashion in Toronto, on Tuesday, November 23rd!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Sarnia Poppies - Newest Retailer of ecocessories Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I am excited to announce the newest retailer in Ontario to sell ecocessories jewelry! Poppies opened this past July in Sarnia, my hometown, in the new hospital, Bluewater Health. Owner, Susan Chamberlain is an experienced local entrepreneur - she is also the owner of Sarnia's favourite independent book store, The Bookkeeper. Susan has stocked the new gift store with tons of unique designs and gift items representative of the slogan - the store that offers so much more!

{Entrance to Poppies - located inside Bluewater Health, Sarnia, Ontario}

One thing that strikes me about being in Poppies is what a cheerful and open atmosphere the store has. Located inside Bluewater Health, many of the gifts that leave Poppies are headed to cheer up someone who is sick. A gift from Poppies would definitely brighten any one's day!

{Beautiful, eco-friendly jewelry display at Poppies featuring a one-of-a-kind selection}

Nurses at Bluewater Health may already be familiar with ecocessories jewelry, which was first introduced by biggest fan, my mom, to her co-workers on the Surgical floor! Now ecocessories is carried in Poppies and always available for you!

{Nikki modeling her Everyday Earrings}

The staff at Poppies were immediately fans, and Nikki picked up a pair of Everyday Earrings! They look great, and will be perfect while she interacts with customers all day, finding everyone the right gift.

Check out one-of-a-kind jewelry available only at Poppies in Sarnia, Ontario.

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Recycled Jewelry: Black Seagull Brooch Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I often get asked where my inspiration comes from when designing jewelry - and I usually answer that it comes from the recycled beads, and vintage pieces that I use to design my line! ecocessories jewelry is a combination of precious metals and recycled materials to create one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.

Recently I came across this amazing Seagull Brooch, which was generously recycled by a member of White Rock First United Church. This particular brooch caught my eye because it is in great condition and it's unique and flowing shape made me realize right away that it would make an amazing focal point for a necklace.

{Recycled "Sarah Coventry, 'Mr. Seagull' brooch"}

On the back of the brooch was a stamp, which is great because I love being able to research a bit about the components in my pieces to give the item an even more special story. The stamp bore the words "Canada" and "Sarah Cov". A bit of googling taught me that the company which designed Sarah Coventry was started in 1948. This line of costume jewelry was named after the owner's granddaughter, Sarah. This brooch is called "Mr. Seagull" and is a Rhodium plated brooch.

{Back of the 'Mr. Seagull' brooch}

You can see the markings on the back of the brooch in the photograph above. I knew I wanted to drill two small holes at the tip of Mr. Seagull's wings to be able to wire wrap a necklace that seemed to continue out from his wings. By attaching the brooch to the necklace this way, Mr. Seagull appears to be taking flight across your neck.

{New design by ecocessories - available in the online shop}

This is a modern, one-of-a-kind necklace design. It is a unique piece, with a beautiful story, and has a timeless, artistic appeal. This necklace could represent freedom, or taking chances and would make a great gift.

{Shop online - "Black Seagull Brooch Necklace" - recycled brooch and sterling silver chain}

The new design hangs at 18" and also features faceted black glass beads, sterling silver wire, and a signature hand forged sterling silver "S" hook clasp. I'd love to know what you think of the before and after! Comment below.

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Recycled Earring Necklaces

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

A lot of the jewelry that is recycled with ecocessories comes in the form of beaded necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, that I disassemble, sort by colour, and use as my palette for new designs. However, sometimes I get recycled jewelry that presents a real challenge, and that happened recently with a collection of recycled stud earrings from the members of First United Church in White Rock, B.C.

{Recycled jewelry from First United White Rock. I have sorted all the pieces by colour in Mason jars, now it's time to disassemble the beads and get inspired!}

This particular batch of recycled jewelry was generously donated by the members of this congregation earlier this summer, and I've been slowly disassembling it in preparation for Fall 2010. The members of the church had been collecting old jewelry for over 4 years as a method of fund raising. The chapter had to be closed, but upon reading about ecocessories in the Vancouver Sun one member, Evelyn, found out they could recycle the left over jewelry.
Evelyn and I emailed and made the arrangements. Four large bags of jewelry arrived, and I was immediately excited at the potential and extremely grateful to the members for all deciding to recycled the jewelry with ecocessories! Thank you First United of White Rock.

{Tie Dye stud earrings features the blacks and fuschia's I've been including in my Fall collection. I remove the backs and clean the earrings.}

Last week, while designing my Fall/Winter 2010 collection, I was studying a half dozen pairs of stud earrings, trying to see the potential for a new design. It occurred to me to remove the backs and attach the earrings together to make a design that is the same on both sides. The resulting earring pebbles make the perfect necklace pendant!

{After preparing a number of earrings, I glue each pair together to make a circle that can be flipped either way as a Necklace pendant.}

I am very excited to share my latest design and the other pieces in the Fall 2010 collection. Check back often as I continue to add new designs throughout the season. If you see something you like, don't hesitate as most ecocessories designs are one of a kind! Shop online now and enjoy Free Shipping in Canada.

{If you can't see the Flickr slideshow of Recycled Earring Necklaces, click here}

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

ETHIK Boutique on CTV Montreal

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

ecocessories is proud to be a member of ETHIK BGC - a Montreal based eco fashion collective that features 40 designers, all women entrepreneurs, of 19 different nationalities from around the world. Recently ETHIK BGC was featured in a segment on CTV Montreal, where founder Liz Suarez is interviewed on what running this ethical boutique is all about.

{Click the photo to watch the video at CTV.ca}

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Interview with a Fashion Design Student

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

I recently completed an interview with a fashion design student from the Art Institute of Vancouver. Sharlyn is an aspiring designer, and invited ecocessories to be a part of her magazine project for class. I tried to impart some words of wisdom, and thought you might be interested in reading the interview too! Enjoy!

Sharlyn: When did you know that jewelry design is what you wanted to get into and what influenced this?

Jessica: In 2007 I graduated from business school in Ontario, and flew out West to get in touch with my creative roots. I've always been an artist, but had yet to find the medium that inspired me the most! I knew Vancouver, with all it's natural beauty and artistic communities, would be the perfect spot for me to explore my creativity. I was working at the North Shore News and a co-worker was designing jewelry as a hobby. She taught me a few techniques and everything spiraled from there.

Since living in B.C. I had been really focused on living an "eco" lifestyle, so I knew if I launched a company I wanted it to be eco-friendly as well. One day, the concept for ecocessories hit me - I realized that instead of purchasing new materials, I could rely on recycled jewelry to use materials that already exist in this world. I went home and disassembled every piece of jewelry I had! I also knew that I wanted the new designs I make to be high quality. I enrolled in a silversmithing course at North Vancouver Continuing Education and studied under a local silversmith.

Sharlyn: Did your first go at making jewelry turn out well?

Jessica: I'd say so! I started revealing my designs to family and friends and the positive response was overwhelming, and exactly the motivation I needed to keep going. However, it certainly hasn't been an easy road. It's constantly a balancing act between my creativity and my inner business woman. I have to be conscientious about managing the business side of things, when in all honestly I'd love to just design jewelry all day!

These first couple years of operating have been a learning curve to find out what works for my jewelry business too. I started out selling at shows, which was great for marketing and exposure. I was able to get feedback on my designs directly from customers, and learned to be a better designer. However, shows are expensive and in some cases I just broke even making it hard to get ahead. If I could do it all over again, I think I'd try to establish a client base first and then attend the shows, but that is just me. For some other designers shows are great. It's all about finding what works for you, and not just pursuing something because others are. You have to stay true to your own abilities and resources, and sometimes be able to look at an opportunity and just say no, because of timing, fit, or whatever.

Sharlyn: Where do you get your inspiration?

Jessica: My main inspiration comes from the recycled jewelry that I work with. ecocessories has a jewelry recycling service that takes in old, broken, unwanted jewelry from women across Canada. This is the sole source of material for my designs, besides the new silver that I use. This means that I am limited to the recycled materials that comes to me - but this is also the most exciting part! I love the challenge of making a design work with just the recycled beads I have, or perhaps making adaptations to reflect the materials.

For my seasonal collections I am inspired by the environment and current fashion trends. As an artist, I look at the world in detail. I see the beauty in the finest details of nature, and I identify colours and shapes that aren't so obvious. For Spring/Summer 2010 my inspiration was water, in it's many shapes and forms. This inspired the colour palette I worked with - aqua blues, coral pinks, seaweed greens etc. I also really pay attention to what is happening in fashion, and what colours seem to be represented each season, because of course I want my jewelry to work with what is in style, although most pieces do end up with a timeless appeal.

Sharlyn: Do you have a muse?

Jessica: I don't know that I exactly have one muse, but I try to stay in touch with my inner voice and my spirit guides. I believe in the spiritual world, and that each of us has spirits that help us make decisions and succeed on certain paths in our lives. For me I just try to trust in the direction I'm heading and that everything happens for a reason. I try to take disappointments, acknowledge them, and then continue on knowing that I'm supposed to be headed where I am. If I am stuck on a design, or an important business decision, sometimes it just takes a few days of reflection to identify what the answer may be. Life can certainly be frustrating, especially working as an artist, designer, and/or independent business person, but it's important to always trust your instincts and stay true to yourself!

Sharlyn: What advice would you give to an aspiring designer?

Jessica: Honestly just believe in yourself, have confidence, and always follow your passion. The more confidence you have in your ideas, the more others will want to support you! And this is the one thing that only you have control over. If you are wishy washy about what you are doing, or constantly seeking the approval of others before you make progress, it will show. I believe that our energy goes in to the things we are creating, and so it's important to reflect on what attitude you have while designing, because that attitude could affect how that piece sells, or the success of that certain collection.

As a designer, you need to realize you are doing something way more interesting than the majority of people in this world! Use that to your advantage. People will want to hear about your product, your progress etc. because it's different from what 90% of the population is doing with their lives. I try not to focus on weaknesses - sure I have them and every day really can be an uphill battle, but if someone asks about my designs or my business I just focus on the positive, and the lessons learned. People will always think it is easier than it is, and that used to frustrate me (do they not know how many hours I spent on that piece?! how my fingers were raw from bending that wire?! how I almost torched my hair soldering that clasp?!), but I try to let it slide. They just see something beautiful and the end, and it's up to you to defend your design's value and not take anything too personally.

Sharlyn: And if there is any other information you would like to share it would be greatly appreciated :)

Jessica: There is ALWAYS room for more design, beauty and art in this world. Don't ever think for one minute that because there are a lot of others out there doing what you are doing, that you shouldn't pursue this too. Your vision will be uniquely yours, and that is a wonderful thing! There will always be someone leaving the design world, and that just means it's time for you to slide on in! Good luck!!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Eco Fashion Week Vancouver

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Last night was the opening party and today marks the start of Eco Fashion Week Vancouver! I am sad that I could not be a part of this fantastic event this fall, but it was not possible for me with ecocessories just getting back into the swing of things after a break for my wedding this summer. However, I am excited to share with you some of my favourite eco fashion designers that will be showing their clothing collections this week at the event, as well as some influential eco fashion speakers that will be hosting seminars this week too.

{Cardigan Wrap by Nixxi}

Nixxi has been a long time favourite of mine. Designer Jada-Lee is an expert at fusing contrasts of structured lines versus casual drapes, and redefined classics with edgy cuts. I love the asymmetry of some of the pieces in the Nixxi collection, and the choice of eco-friendly fabrics including organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy, lyocell, organic wool, silk, and linen. The great thing about Nixxi clothing is that it can be personalized to suit your style by adding a few accessories, such as a statement ecocessories necklace. See Nixxi tonight at 8:30pm at the Creekside Community Centre.

{Integrity Top by Nicole Bridger}

I first learned about Nicole Bridger when this motivated designer won Canada's first ever Eco Fashion Designer Award from Toronto based Fashion Takes Action. Her story is heartfelt - she credits a split from her husband and the healing process thereafter as inspiring her label. Even the tags on her pieces communicate the emotion that went into designing this line, which feature the words I Am Love. These words are meant as an affirmation of her commitment to take care of the earth's people. The Nicole Bridger collection includes everything from your basic tanks and tees for layering, to unique styles such as my favourite for Fall 2010, the Healing Cardigan. See Nicole Bridger on Wednesday night at 8:30pm at the Creekside Community Centre.

{Bamboo Dress in Ocean by Lav & Kush}

Lav & Kush is a sustainable clothing line that boasts flirty feminine styles in soft buttery fabrics that flatter most body types. Carefully placed details such as gathers, pleats and ruffles contribute to the unique pieces that define this collection. Designer Amanda Saxena has a commitment to supporting non-profits with the sale of her designs, including PETA, David Suzuki Foundation and BCSPCA to name a few. Sexy styles in the Fall 2010 collection truly represent the line's slogan "The Flirt of Sustainable Fashion". See Lav & Kush tonight at 8:30pm at the Creekside Community Centre.

{Eco Model and Environmental Activist, Summer Rayne Oakes}

These are just a few of the designers with runway shows during Vancouver Eco Fashion Week and you can find the whole schedule on their website here. In addition to the designers, the Vancouver Eco Fashion Week team has lined up a speaker series, featuring one of my favourite eco fashion influencers, Summer Rayne Oakes. Summer Rayne is a model-activist who seamlessly combines her environmental vision with her modeling career. Summer Rayne uses the fashion industry as a platform for environmental activism as has successfully been named the world's first eco model. Hear Summer Rayne speak this Thursday at 10:00am at the Creekside Community Centre.

If you are lucky enough to be in Vancouver to attend these events, enjoy! And if you aren't, please support these amazing designers when choosing your wardrobe this fall (all collections are for sale online and at boutiques across Canada). It is imperative that we all become more aware about where our clothing is made, and what it is made of. In fact I just watched a video yesterday about the cotton fields in India, and if you have 10 minutes to watch, this is a worthy video to help us understand the cycle we are up against.

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Support Local with Fine Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This weekend Fine Finds, a Vancouver retailer of ecocessories jewelry, is hosting an amazing event called Support Local. Fine Finds is located in Yaletown and are also proud to announce that they've been chosen as Vancouver's Favourite Gift Store as voted in the Georgia Straight two years in a row!

{Visit Fine Finds this weekend for Support Local and enter to win a $1000 shopping spree!}

There is really no reason not to pop by Fine Finds sometime during the weekend of September 24, 25, & 26th if you are out around downtown Vancouver. Just by attending you will be treated to champagne, chocolates, and the chance to win a $1000 shopping spree!

{Shop for new styles from your favourite Canadian fashion designers}

You will be able to shop and learn about the local designers that are carried at Fine Finds, which boasts almost a dozen glass cabinets of Canadian designer jewelry, racks of new Fall 2010 collections, and tables of the most unique gifts in town!

Stop by Fine Finds any time this weekend and if you RSVP with the subject RSVP and your name to lindsay@finefindsboutique.com you will automatically receive a free gift! Show your love for Canadian and Vancouver based design at Fine Finds.

Where? 1014 Mainland St., Yaletown, B.C.
How to get there? Drive, walk or take the Canada Line to the Yaletown-Roundhouse station.
RSVP? Yes - send an email with your name and the subject RSVP to lindsay@finefindsboutique.com

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Mixed Greens - Earth Friendly Shopping in Fenelon Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This summer my husband and I made the decision to leave our beloved home in North Vancouver, B.C. to move back to Ontario to be close to our family and friends. ecocessories is expanding nationally and will still have a strong presence in Vancouver with both Fine Finds in Yaletown, and Poppy Hair Boutique on West 4th carrying ecocessories designs and accepting recycled jewelry.

{Mixed Greens now carries ecocessories jewelry and is located at 3 Francis Street West in Fenelon Falls, Ontario}

Luckily, we have made our new home and located my new studio in the small town of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, which boasts a beautiful waterfront, abundant nature, and strong community spirit. I was excited when visiting Fenelon Falls this summer to discover Mixed Greens, a local retailer of earth friendly goods. Mixed Greens carries many of the eco-friendly and organic products that we came to know and love in Vancouver, and I am proud to announce that ecocessories jewelry is now available there too!

{Unique ecocessories jewelry designs, available exclusively at Mixed Greens}

This eco-friendly shop is run by a passionate couple, and a few minutes chatting with owner Damien Valles had us discussing everything from personal care products, eco fashion, to raising chickens! Damien explained that he'd opened the shop at the beginning of this summer and has received a wonderfully positive response from the local community. While he has started out offering a diverse range of eco products, he aspires to really engage the community by hosting workshops and showing documentaries in his Francis St. storefront.

{Me To We Style organic cotton t-shirts}

I was happy to see Mixed Greens offering some of my favourite brands, including Me To We Style, a Toronto based sustainable clothing brand who ecocessories partnered with for the Less Is More campaign this summer. Also available is Homestead House Milk Paint which I'm excited to try on some furniture redesign and my favourite Badger Balm Sunscreen which protects your skin and nourishes it too using a mixture of essential oils.

{Visit Mixed Greens in Fenelon Falls, Ontario or join the Facebook page here}

These are just a few among many amazing products available at Mixed Greens. If you are in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario, this store is a must visit destination. Shop for ecocessories jewelry and other great eco-friendly goods!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

An Eco-Friendly Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:12:00 +0000

This summer, on August 21, 2010, my husband and I celebrated our wedding. For us this day was about sealing the bond of our love, but we also realized it was an opportunity to share and practice our eco-friendly values with our friends and family. Of course myself, the bridesmaids, and the mothers were all wearing ecocessories jewelry, all uniquely designed one-of-a-kind pieces that reflected each woman's personality.

{Zipping of the dress - photography by Jer Wilcocks Photography}

The girls all got their hair done at the earth friendly hair salon in Petrolia, Ontario called the Rooted Bohemian. We got ready at my Nana's house in my hometown of Sarnia, Ontario and the reception was held in my mother's backyard gardens during a light summer rain (good thing the guests brought umbrellas!). Our minister was Allan McKeown, who, as a member of the Green Party shared our eco-friendly values too and incorporated this into the ceremony words.

{Me, wearing my ecocessories bridal jewelry featuring recycled pearls and sterling silver chain - photography by Jer Wilcocks Photography}

My dress was custom designed from my mother's original wedding dress. I took my mother's dress to talented Vancouver designer Tanya King, who deconstructed the original and came up with a one-of-a-kind design that reflected my style. The men all wore rented tux's, Sterling Silver Dime Cufflinks by ecocessories, and handmade ties by the Cyberoptix Tielab.

{The bridesmaids were wearing the sustainable and versatile Chameleon Gown by Isadora Clothing - photography by Jer Wilcocks Photography}

The bridesmaids all held paper umbrellas, instead of bouquets, as the wedding day featured absolutely no cut flowers. This was a big way for us to cut on costs and reduce our carbon footprint. My bouquet was made of hand-crafted paper flowers and was completely recyclable. Our centerpieces at the reception hall were all potted plants, all contained in clay pots hand-painted with low VOC paint, that our guests were able to bring home.

{Even the transportation was eco-friendly - here we are heading to the reception by horse drawn carriage - photography by Jer Wilcocks Photography}

Other details that reflected our eco-friendly style were the organic cupcakes we made and served for dessert, the recycled glassware cupcake towers, and the recycled cardboard "Just Married" sign. With every single decision we made (and believe me, there were a lot of them!) my husband and I truly asked ourselves what the best answer was considering the environment. I am so happy and proud of our special day and encourage any bride and groom planning a wedding to think about what eco-friendly details you can incorporate too!

ecocessories offers unique designer wedding jewelry for something old & something new on your wedding day. Browse the designs available online, or please contact me for a custom piece, perhaps incorporating heirloom jewelry of your own.

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

Enter to Win from the Green Bride Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000

As an eco bride planning my own wedding (which is happening in less than 3 weeks - yikes!) I know how hard it can be to stay true to your values while making beautiful choices for your special day. The Green Bride Guide is truly the ultimate resource for eco-minded couples out there, no matter what stage you are at in your planning!

{Shop the ecocessories wedding collection here}

This month there is a special contest going on at the Green Bride Guide - entrants have a chance to win a pair of ecocessories earrings that feature glass teardrops that were once dripping from a chandelier, and recycled faux pearls. This beautiful pair would be perfect for an eco bride or any other special occasion!

Enter the contest here and then spend some more time browsing this amazing site. Features that particularly caught my eye were:

- Top 10 Tips for Greening Your Bridal Jewelry (Tip #11, shop at ecocessories.ca!)
- Green Wedding Registry (when we were starting out our planning a couple years ago, this was impossible to find, so we ended up registering at an antiques store!)
- Carbon Calculator (My wedding will generate up to 10 tons CO2 - yuck.)
- Beverage Calculator (Estimate exactly how many bottles you'll need.)

Every day I'm identifying more opportunities to lessen the impact I'm having on this planet, and whether you are an eco bride or not, we can all make a difference. Three cheers for the Green Bride Guide for helping us make greener choices!

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.

ETHIK Boutique - A Montreal Eco Fashion Collective

noreply@blogger.com (Jessica) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

ETHIK Boutique is a project of FEM International - a non-profit organization that encourages women to reach their potential through socially and ecologically responsible enterprising. This Montreal fashion incubator is home to 60 plus international designers, all run with social and ecologically responsible values in mind.

{ecocessories bracelets feature hand forged signature "S" hook clasps}

ecocessories designer jewelry is now for sale at ETHIK! With every single sale of ecocessories jewelry, women around the globe are supported with business training to realize their dreams.

{ecocessories earrings make a perfect gift! Feathers are fun for summer.}

This month ETHIK is celebrating its one year anniversary with special discounts and gifts with purchase. If you live in, or are visiting Montreal, take the time to visit 6050 St. Hubert Street to experience a collective passionate about eco-fashion.

{Choose from a selection of necklace styles at ETHIK Boutique in Montreal.}

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Visit ecocessories™ to shop for recycled bead & sterling silver one-of-a-kind designs.