Creative Paradise

This is the perfect creative environment.

I can't think of a more perfect vista to enjoy, and it's one that helps my creative juices flow. My creative paradise is here, where Puget Sound empties into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, just below the San Juan Islands. I often sit on this bench in the backyard of my "summer studio" atop a very tall bluff overlooking the kayaks, ferry boats and sail boats floating along Admirality Bay.

Garden "friends" and flowers provide an inviting backdrop for me to ponder my next collection or analyze an upcoming marketing endeavor.

Color schemes are easily snatched from nature.

Patterns evolve from textures and shadows.

I am often asked where I get my ideas, and my answer is always, "My surroundings." I am currently conceiving my 2014 collections, and launching an innovative way to market my products. Surrounded by nature's beauty, and fortunate enough to live (at least temporarily) in this creative paradise is the perfect incubator for creative thought. Stay tuned to follow my progress!

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The Instant Gratification Trunk Show

Who doesn't appreciate instant gratification? So we decided to apply that principle at our trunk show this past week at Potpourri in Atlanta, and it worked! We love Potpourri, a fabulous, well established, upscale boutique in Atlanta with devoted customers, some of whom have been shopping there for  30 years.

We had a great time there, enjoyed meeting their loyal clients, and loved being able to thank them for supporting Montage Jewelry over the years.

Most trunk shows require patience. You fall in love with an item, but have to order it and wait a few months before receiving it. We decided to take a different approach and the Potpourri girls appreciated being able to take their special item home with them the very day of their purchase.

Who couldn't resist our fabulous chunky necklaces and bracelets? Both were a big hit. We found out that Atlanta girls love bold bracelets!

A big shout out to Potpourri for hosting a fun and fabulous trunk show. We enjoyed meeting everyone and hope to come back soon.

Here is the link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheMontageCollection 

And don't forget to visit the website: www.myrnahalpern.com

Timeless Curiosities

If you have ever read the About section of my website, you will see that I describe my jewelry as "timeless curiosities." The operative word here is timeless. My hope is that Montage Jewelry will be passed on to future generations because it will never go out of style. I tend to stay away from trends. Have I ever put a skull in any of my jewelry? No. While I think it is fun, edgy and quirky, I don't think it is an element that is timeless. Someone asked me if their necklace from six years ago was still in style. The answer is, "Yes, and hopefully it always will be." To further emphasize that point I thought that it might be time for a walk down memory lane.

Here is a stunning piece from the Montage archives. Honestly, I wish I still owned it. The pop of emerald green is amazing, not to mention that emerald is the Pantone color of the year for 2013. Is this necklace still in style? YOU BETCHA!

And what about this head turner? A sparkling rutilated quartz teardrop is enhanced with an antique cut steel connector and mixed metal chains. Not only will this piece always be in style, you really can wear it with just about anything. Timeless, yes. Versatile, yes. In style today, yes.

Moving on to bedazzling earrings. These pass every test. Eye catching, colorful, classy, timeless, and so on and so forth. If you had bought these five years ago, you would still be enjoying them today. If you own them, congratulations!

Drum roll, please. This antique shoe buckle is one of the prettiest I have ever found. Spectacular shoe buckles like this one are still being incorporated in today's bracelets. Whether you mix them with leather or metal, they always add an interesting touch and are great conversation starters.

For those of you reading this blog who covet a piece of your Montage Jewelry, please take a picture of it and put it on our Facebook page. It will be fun to see some of the favorite oldies but goodies. Here is the link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheMontageCollection 

And don't forget to visit the website: www.myrnahalpern.com

Expect the Unexpected

"The New Fusion. It's all in the mix: evening pieces and casual basics combine to create an unexpected daytime look that's undeniably cool." This quote came from a recent e-mail blast from www.net-a-porter.com

Net-a-porter demonstrates The New Fusion with Tibi's silk track pants shown here with stilettos and a gray sweatshirt, makes quirky good sense, if you think about it.

J. Crew, masters of the unexpected, "fuse" a chambray button up shirt with a white sequin pencil skirt. Wear it anywhere, any time, day or evening. www.jcrew.com

And Jane Darling by Me, known for their legginskirt made from high tech fabric (makes you look 10 pounds thinner)  adds a sequined trimmed jacket to move the legginskirt from the tennis court to a black tie event. www.jdbymecollection.com

 Clearly The New Fusion is a sensible approach to dressing today's busy woman. In some ways modern fashion has morphed into one indistinguishable blob.  Dressing up is now dressing down. As one store owner recently mentioned to me, "Remember my customer is very active." 

I can relate. I often plan my next collection as I zone out to the music during my spinning class. I run from there to the grocery, design meetings, luncheons, soccer games, doctor's appointments, favorite restaurants, movies, and charity events. And that's when I'm not on an airplane on my way to my next trunk show, or driving on the road to my next sales meeting. Sound familiar?

Out of necessity, women have become expert jugglers, and that's a very important fact to remember. As a jewelry designer, I think of all fashion in terms of it's relevance to today's frenetic lifestyle. That is why a light bulb recently shone in my rattled brain and I decided that my next online jewelry collection would focus on that very active lifestyle that we all enjoy. To put it in jewelry terms, think edgy rubber bracelets with pearls and lockets as an accessory for high tech fabrics and sequins. Stay tuned. Can't wait to show you. 

For more information about The Montage Collection, visit our website www.myrnahalpern.com and be sure to like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheMontageCollection