The Wind Beneath Your Wings

I have always been fascinated by wind. It really is a game changer as far as the weather is concerned. We've all experienced the effects of a blustery wind on a picture perfect day. I believe that jewelry can be a game changer as well. Therefore I named my woven beaded collection Wind. I felt that these stunning pieces could be a real game changer as far as your wardrobe and fashion sense are concerned. Like the wind, this jewelry has far reaching effects and packs a lot of power. Take a look.

Murphy Bracelets

Women take one look at these bracelets and they immediately have to try them on. The rich European leather mixed with our intricate woven beading is the perfect merger. Old World elegance paired with fashion chic charm makes for a great marriage. http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561576/murphy-bracelet/

Stella Earrings

You wouldn't believe how many requests we get for tiny earrings that sit on the ear! Stella is the answer to those prayers. And, yes, they too are a game changer because they add that extra sparkle to your face and just enough dazzle to your outfit. http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561566/stella-earring/

Tracy Necklace

I just bought a great little black dress. (My grandmother said you always need an extra one hanging in the back of your closet.) This dress really does NEED the Tracy necklace. It will turn my dress from special to spectacular! See what I mean about game changers? http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561578/tracy-necklace/

Chandler Necklace

This is the Chandler necklace by Montage. I feel sure that you can say that it is unlike any necklace you have ever seen. Just imagine how it could turn a simple sweater, mini skirt and tights into a show stopping ensemble! Definitely a game changer. http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561556/chandler-necklace/

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

Like us on Facebook to be eligible for our fun Montage Monday giveaways!

Earth, Wind and Fire

Earth, Wind and Fire,  the jewelry collection not the band! I just couldn't help borrowing that name for my fabulous fall collections. As the pieces unfolded in my brain, they just seemed to fall into those three neatly defined categories. Today we are going to unveil the Earth Collection for fall. You can see it on the website here: http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561336/earth-collection/

The Heather bracelet above calls to my sense of practicality. I just love the fact that it wraps like a bracelet and then unwraps to make a necklace. It passes the second test for practicality because of its neutral color palette. Yes, yes, wear it with anything and everything day or night. Who could ask for anything more?

Click here to see it on the website: http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561356/heather-bracelet/

Drum roll, please. Who couldn't fall in love with the dazzling Nelle necklace? It is best described as a show stopper as anyone can see. I love the combination of faceted labradorite with the matte finished hematite beading. Don't save it for a special occasion. Wear it with jeans and a cashmere sweater too.

Click here for more info. http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561362/nelle-necklace/

Introducing the Wynne earring for fall, a wonderful pair of chandeliers whose colors blend with all the rich fall hues. Picture them with a long tunic and leggings or dress them up at night with your favorite party dress. Click here to see it online  http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561363/wynne-earring/

And finally the Shari necklace is made of faceted purple jade and gunmetal links, and is simply gorgeous. Don't be afraid to mix it with all the dark neutrals from grays to browns to navy, and, of course, black. http://www.myrnahalpern.com/561339/shari-necklace/

I will be unveiling the Wind and Fire Collections in future blogs, but you can get a sneak peak if you go to A/W13 Lookbooks on the website www.myrnahalpern.com

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

It's Contagious..... in a Good Way!

I am currently reading a great book on marketing, Contagious by Jonah Berger. I highly recommend it. One of the author's concepts is that people love to share valuable information with their friends.
The operative words here are "valuable information." So if you had an opportunity to share the fact that a gorgeous piece of jewelry was being given away, wouldn't you want to share that with your friends? Yes, and continue reading to find out how.

These girls look like just the type who would love to share exciting news about a jewelry giveaway. In fact the girl on the left is a fashion blogger who won a necklace of ours last year. Her name is Dani and her blog is  BLOG.KASTORANDPOLLUX.COM

In the spring of 2012 Dani won the whimsical necklace pictured in the style board above. She created this great looking style board incorporating our necklace. We thought she did a fabulous job and loved her use of unexpected textures and prints. You can find her style board on our Pinterest page. http://pinterest.com/pin/245305510924537437/?e_t_s=pin-text&e_t=362d473a86094967907c2a37529d3ab1&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_pin_not_user

Fast forward to September, 2013 and our latest jewelry giveaway. Judi Davis was the recipient of our Cordelle cuff pictured above. This was announced last Monday, our first Montage Monday in September. Judi simply had to like our facebook page to be eligible to win, and she was a very appreciative winner!

On Monday, September 9, we will be announcing a new giveaway for the fun, funky and fabulous Jamie necklace. All our loyal blogger readers can find out about it now. Since we learned from Jonah Berger that friends like to share valuable information with friends, we have added another dimension to our giveaway. In addition to liking us on facebook, contestants will also need to share a picture of the Jamie necklace on their facebook page. That way the news will become contagious.

Here's hoping you will join the contest and be a winner!

See all the exciting jewelry from The Montage Collection on our website www.myrnahalpern.com

Where's Waldo?

Anyone who has enjoyed the Where's Waldo children's books knows that you must have an eagle eye in order to find Waldo. Let's apply that principle to find what makes our jewelry unique and remarkable. See if you can spot the vintage component in each piece of our new fall jewelry featured below.

A signature feature of jewelry by The Montage Collection is its use of vintage components. In the dazzling Maria earring pictured above the vintage element is pretty apparent. The fabulous Art Deco posts were created from pieces of vintage pressed glass with marcasite embellishment.

 

The one of a kind Katy necklaces have one feature in common. Their pendants are created with vintage pressed glass center pieces circa 1940's. Each vintage center piece is then embellished with Swarovski cup chain and matte black spikes to give them a modern edge.

 

 

Our Chandler necklace is another great example of reviving antique components to create interest. The bead caps used here are antique pieces yet they work perfectly with this very current leather collar with hand woven beading.

 

Finally our chunky and modern Hannah necklace sports the resin chain and horn beads so popular in today's statement necklaces. The unique touch added here is the use of vintage brass bead spacers that feature a hard to find brushed finish.

 

All of the stunning and unique pieces on today's blog will soon be available on www.myrnahalpern.com. If you can't wait, contact us at themontagecollection@gmail.com.

 

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Finishing Touches

When you are doing a photo shoot high atop a bluff in an amazing garden overlooking Admirality Inlet where Puget Sound meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca, anything can happen. Perfect weather, warm sun, cool breezes, gorgeous model. Life is good.

 

 

These are some candid shots, the finishing touches from our recent photo shoot. You can see the actual product shots on the home page of www.myrnahalpern.com.

Just couldn't pass up the opportunity to photograph the winning combination of a beautiful woman in a beautiful setting.

 

Loving our artsy jewelry shown against this fun and funky garden gate.

 

Could be the first and last time that our jewelry is featured in such a "natural" setting. Gives new meaning to the concept of a hen party.

 

And the final finishing touch to this great shoot was a visit to one of my favorite bistros for a scrumptious dinner of the freshest produce and seafood from the Pacific Northwest accompanied by an incredible bottle of wine and a very talented boogie woogie piano player. All in a day's work.

 

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Cooking Class or Jewelry Design?

 

I know you are probably thinking that I am at some gourmet cooking school learning to prepare mouth watering marrow bones as only the French can do. No. You are so wrong.

 

Actually I am at the end of a dirt road not far from the shores of Puget Sound! I have made a great discovery. I have found a terrific new source for my jewelry, one that gives new meaning to eco friendly.

I admit it. I am a city girl and not so savvy about wild animals. So I honestly did not know that deer, elk and moose shed their antlers. I have now met someone who is an expert on that topic. He forages the woods and retrieves those antlers!

 

 

Look, he has a whole workshop filled with antlers! You had to be there to appreciate the fact that my new best friend Jerry has been repurposing deer antlers for forty years. Jerry has been doing this since long before we used the word "repurposing!"

 

I know you are wondering what in the world I have planned for my new treasures. I definitely have a plan for these goodies as a part of my 2014 collections. Think organic, eco friendly jewelry, very cool and edgy with an unexpected use of contrasting materials. More will be revealed in later posts. Stay tuned!

 

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Art Imitating Art

So often I am asked where I get my ideas for my jewelry. Like most people who design, I am inspired by everything around me. I often take in information, store it in my subconscious, and reinterpret it when I create. Here are some great examples of my latest creations with some accompanying designs that could easily have been a stimulus for my work. In other words, "Art Imitating Art."

 

 

 

Handwoven color block bracelets could have been rooted in either of the above designs.

 

 

 

Is it possible that these fabulous Swarovski crystal earrings were inspired by those countless orange cones we find at construction sites?

 

 

Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with pinwheel designs. That fascination took root in my new Katherine necklaces embellished with suede tassels.

 

 

The ropes and chains of the Tess necklace may be based in some home interior design I have admired similar to the effects in the above photo.

 

 

And if you are fascinated by grids, you can easily understand the basis of my matte hematite and iolite Ellenore cuff bracelet.

 

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