Style Trends for Holidays 2012 & Spring 2013

I know that I like to stay on top of the lastest trends in Style.  So a few weeks ago, I put together a "Jewelry Style trends for the Holidays and Spring of 2013" Flyer for my Sara Blaine Jewelry business with Willow House. I went through some of the fashion magazines as well as I went searching on the web to websites in the know such as Jewelry of America and several other top googled fashion trend reports out there. 
So for the next ten days I'm posting on my Facebook business page a Style tip to know about: www.facebook.com/Pamatwillowhouse1 

For myself I feel that whether your are younger or older, you can still be a Style force in your circle of friends. Nothing makes you feel better than knowing that you are wearing what is considered "In".  So for you all my followers, Keep up with me on both of my pages as I post a style trend for you to learn.

Remember that with my company, we have this awesome Customer Program called "Nifty Fifty" as well as Hostess Rewards that makes it really easy to save. I'm going to save that for a post another day or click on my link above to find out how you can get a discount and save.

Day One: Wear a Statement Necklace & Earrings

Style Trend One: The Number One Style Trend for the Holidays & Spring 2012 is "Wear a Statement Necklace & Earrings." A spectacular piece of jewelry is a great investment and makes the perfect gift. Isn't this beautiful? It's one of the prettiest necklaces we have to offer right now and a definite statement piece. Pink looks good on everyone.  We also have a slightly smaller one as well. 
This is a photo of the large Aubree Necklace. The Large necklace has a 13.5 karat ink Tourmaline Quarta stone that has been handcut in this beautiful mosaic pattern. heres the link if you have to have it! better yet, make a wish List and send me your favorite person who buys for you information. I'm happy to be Santa's Helper. 

 http://pamlau1.jewelry.willowhouse.com/product.aspx?zpid=6857

Here is a photo of our other Aubree necklace , I do have this necklace and absolutely love it. what's great about it is that you can slip this Gem off of the necklace and wear it plain or with another enhancer. ( Another style trend:)

This necklace has a 8.5 Karat Pink Tourmaline Quartz stone, hand set in these beautifully detailed prongs as well as the stone itself is a mosaic cut that just absolutely sparkles. It's pretty special and it's something that you can absolutely wear every day! 

Here' s the Link: http://pamlau1.jewelry.willowhouse.com/product.aspx?zpid=6856


You can't forget the earrings! They are stunning as well and will make quite a statement on their own too. What do you think?! Here's the picture and the link. 

Aubree Drop Earrings

Small Aubree Link earrings

P.S. My bonus for today! I'm having a 12 days of Bling Sale!

The Offer is in the Photo. Check it out and you will fall in love with this ring! It's the same size as the medium necklace above. LInks are below.

 The Aubree Links Necklace has a 8.5 karat Pink Tourmaline Quartz stone: 

http://pamlau1.jewelry.willowhouse.com/product.aspx?zpid=6856

Well that's it until next time. Enjoy & put this on your 

Wish List or go buy yourself a Statement Piece!

It's Time for a Change

-Happy February! 

Now that 2011 has been here for a month, 

for February the motto should be: 

It's time for a Change! View this as a good thing :) 

Take a good look around your home and 

figure out what needs to change.

I've done it, now YOU should do the same. Are you asking: I like what I have, why would I want to change it? Also, where is all this money going to come from to make these changes? Let me tell you that, to answer the first question: 

What to change? It doesn't take much to make an impact on a room. 

You do NOT have to change every single thing in your room or spend a ton of money to make an impact on your home decor. It can be as simple as: 

• Giving your room a new coat of paint.
• Changing up a centerpiece on a coffee table.
• The kitchen table with a new item to give you an updated style. 
• Maybe your mantle needs a new focus. 

So remember one nice new something for your home can make your room feel brand new and give you a much needed boost as well.

This is the Viridian Oval Container one of Willow House's brand new products.
imagine this as a centerpiece on your coffee table. To change it up, why put it in your kitchen
 filled with green apples adding a little bit of color to your winter while making a
nice healthy snack center for the family.

Why do you want to change it? Well, if you change everything all at once, it can be costly and who has the money to do that as well as the time and energy?! 

If you find a new style that you like, make a list and prioritize what is most important. Then buy a little at a time as it makes it affordable to make changes. If you don't take an honest look at least once a year, then suddenly you may find your home a little faded and jaded. Remember just because Aunt Milly gave you that vase, it doesn't mean you need to keep it for 20 years. If you feel guilty about getting rid of it, then give it away to someone that admires it. They will love it and so will you!

-Before you get something new, make sure that you buy something where you can find more than one way of using it. 

-Don't spend the money on something that you will tuck away in your closet for 8 or 9 months out of the year.

-Love products that are not only beautiful but useful. 

-Look at quality. If you do not by something that is well made, it will fall apart before you are ready to change it up and when that happens you will be sad. Believe me, I have learned this the hard way. So it is worth it, to spend a little more.

Have an great day! 

The Beauty of Designing for the Internet

The best thing about putting your ideas up on a blog, or web site, is that it is organic. What I mean by that can be better explained by the definition of the word organic: developing in a manner analogous to the natural growth and evolution characteristic of living organisms; arising as a natural outgrowth. In everyday language- it means that like a living organism, things on your site can always changing and evolving. Think of a small baby and then think of that same person 2 years later. Way bigger and more knowledgeable and their ability to communicate with people and the amount of people they communicate with greatly expands, if you know what I mean...

So, if you want to share your ideas, a blog is a great way to be able to do that, even if it is just a form of self-help therapy for you to start off with. Every one including the kids are starting them. My 16 year old Alyssa has to make a blog and post in it at least 3 times a month for her Journalism class in high school. A Blog can also serve a purpose too, especially for a entrepreneur or small business owner. You can share your expertise and let it help you expand your connections or network!

Now when I started this back in August, I honestly wasn't really sure how I what I was going to use this for. But being first and foremost graphic designer/art director, I felt it would be a great way to do some graphic design experimentation. You see, more and more, all kinds of advertising design is being used on the internet so for my Ashford Design business, it is imperative that I keep up and be knowledgeable on what the latest trends are. Blogging is Big Business... Yes, Big Business... that made me think about how I could really be able to share my wealth of knowledge about all kinds of design and use it to not only share with others who might be interested, but use it to grow my different businesses.

Now in another post, I will give you some more specific's about what I found out in my "independent study" about blogging, but for now the idea that I really wanted to share this: Design and advertising on a blog is unlike something that you design and print. You can get stuck with a bunch of business cards, flyers, brochures or catalogs that can become outdated very fast. And usually you need to print a minimum amount, or if you print just a few, it is very costly. 

On a blog or web site, you can constantly be changing what information you are sharing, even after you first share it, revisions and updates are a snap to do. You can also change the theme, style, look, sound and intentions of it pretty easily too. And this is a good thing! 

If you have been following me since I first started Create and Decorate, you will know that I have had at least 4 different formats and designs. I now have another name, Design Spark. Part of the reason that I felt the need to change the name is that too many people were messing up typing in the name and not finding my blog. So I worked on more names and felt that Design Spark would be a good replacement. 


I have finally expanded my ideas on what I will share in this blog. In a nutshell, it has evolved into a much better and more rounded space and I hope that you will continue on this journey about design with me and that I will be able to inspire you about all kinds of design.