With just 10 days until the new year, we thought it would be appropriate to give our favorite 2012 Nissa pieces the spotlight. It proved a difficult task to come up with just twelve trinkets but after much deliberation we present to you our most beloved Nissa baubles of this year…

From left to right; top to bottom: 

Casablanca Multi Necklace - Neha Double Cuff - Seminole Earring - Kaya Bracelet
Talasi Jeweled Ring - Kiki Necklace - Jovina Necklace - Grace Earring
Ingrid Earring -  Empire Ring - Clara Bracelet - Sumi Collar Necklace

Over the holidays we understand that one of the most frustrating activities (right behind untangling Christmas lights) can be attempting to pack for one’s holiday travels. While it seems daunting to have to fit everything you will ever need for a trips worth of outfits in one small carry on, our packing lists prove that with the right pieces- you’ll be sparkling with style the entire visit- no matter the size of your suitcase! 

Each holiday has it’s quintessential “icons”- Halloween owns the pumpkin, Easter is all about the colorfully decorated eggs and no Christmas would be complete without a tree to put wonderfully-wrapped presents under. Here at the studio, we are all in agreement that one of the easiest ways to ensure a happy holiday is to start celebrating early. Yep, that’s right- we are the epitome of “those people” who turn on the Christmas tunes before ‘Black Friday’ has begun and can be found discussing holiday party themes before most people have even pondered possible presents for their loved ones. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that our office is glowing with Christmas spirit from wall to wall.. and has been for quite some time now:) 

This year, we took it upon ourselves to inject a little ‘Nissa Jewelry’ into our decorations and- after staring at our smile-inducing trinket-trimmed tree for a couple weeks now- we felt compelled to share our awesomely a-typical creation with you! Nissa Jewelry is known for it’s eclectic re-imagining of forgotten vintage pieces and thus, we said ‘so long’ to ordinary ornaments and instead, incorporated aspects of us into the adorning-process. The result? A beautifully charming tree that incorporates the ‘uptown sophistication’ and ‘downtown edge’ that characterizes each of our brilliantly handmade baubles… 

As you can see from the photos above, we used various styles of gold and silver chain to compliment the classic white lights. To add to the aesthetic appeal while still sticking with the tree’s ‘simplistic’ style, we hung wire hook earrings from it’s branches. The gold dangly pairs provide a bold statement when viewing the icon from afar while the various-sized pearl earrings lay the foundation for a fun- yet delicate- take on the average run-of-the-mill ornament. We didn’t stop there… what tree would be complete without a shining statement up top? 

Our Angel Wing Necklace provided a perfect starting point for our one-of-a-kind tree topper. We concluded the creative craft by incorporating some leftover chain to detail the angel’s gown and lastly, used a bold jewel for her head! Yeah, a colorful bow would have sufficed but our twenty minutes spent on the above ‘beaut ensured that the tree sincerely stood for the studio’s holiday spirit. 

Just as Nissa reinvents vintage treasures in her creation of our jewelry line’s curiously creative collection, we encourage you to put your unique spin on this season’s most iconic decorations… the options are actually endless! 

If our a-typical take on ‘trimming the tree’ left you eager to find ways to inject your personality into your home this holiday, check out our “Eclectically Embellished Holiday” Pinterest board. We are hopeful that perusing the pins will not only provide you with the perfect platform for inspiration but will also perpetuate our mission over here at the studio of spreading significant amounts of Christmas cheer:) We wish you the healthiest and happiest of holidays and sincerely can’t wait to see what you craft up!

Raise your hand if you’re not hating dawning your fuzzy socks every day and having an excuse to have a hot chocolate after dinner… same response over here at the studio- no hands! The cold weather has finally greeted us and we’re loving our circle scarves more than anything at the moment. Our next favorite thing you ask? Easy- holiday parties! Come December, we’re ready to get decked out in our Winter best and toast to yet another amazing year saying so long. There’s no better way to celebrate than with fantastic friends, fun food and of course the latest and greatest fashion finds. We hope one of our styles encourages you to ‘get in the spirit’ and we wish each of you the happiest of holiday seasons! 

Click the link to shop our guide on Polyvore or peruse the items which appeal to you directly on our website! Happy holiday gifting:)

1. Sheba Bib Necklace

2. Vivian Earring 

3. Deco Diamond Ring 

4. Tolani Earring 

5. Janice Necklace 

6. Mira Earring 

7. Lionhead Bracelet 

8. Deco Diamond Ring

9. Selina Wrap Bracelet

Two days from now many of us will be waking up to the splendid smell of pumpkin pie and the most amazing aroma of hot apple cider. Thanksgiving 2012 is upon us and while we’re bracing our palettes for the plethora of savory side dishes we will be charged with choosing from, the men in our lives- while thankful for the tasty treats- will inevitably be watching the tube from the table. If your household is anything like ours, someone (cough, cough Grandma) will surely demand that the games be muted which in turn will cause the guys to frantically fill their stomachs and claim they are ‘full’ within the first five minutes of the feast. All of this in the name of ‘America’s favorite pastime’?

Some ladies will be happily left to indulge in the sumptuous supply of snacks while others will join in on the football fun. While theres a strong possibility that we will be making our way upstairs to partake in the magnificence that is a mid-afternoon nap, we’ll most definitely be dreaming about the Redskins, Cowboys, Pats- and the other three teams that our family members will be screaming about somewhere in the house. Seeing that our subconscious will be consumed with the sounds of game, our inner football-fashionistas will emerge and be dressed so fittingly that we’ll surprise ourselves by our commendable-degree of color coordination;) What will we be wearing you ask? Well, it all depends on what time of the day it is and what team we’re rooting for…

The Texans and the Lions kick of the day of Football at 12:30pm EST, providing for a very patriotic combination of colors! 

Later in the day, the Redskins take on the Dallas Cowboys- we can’t wait to see which team reigns supreme in this traditional Thanksgiving matchup! 

The football fun concludes with the Pats pairing up against the Jets shortly after 8pm EST. We’ll be loving on all the leftovers as we slip into our football-fueled fashions. 

While this Thursday will be a day of football and food- the anticipation of the ‘family and friends factor’- is what has us most excited. Sure, we’re already salivating thinking of the perfectly prepared pecan pie, but most of all, we can’t wait to be surrounded by our loving and caring support system- the people in our lives that we are most thankful for. We hope that you have a safe holiday filled with savory dishes, superfluous amounts of smiles and of course, the most applicable array of game-day apparel:)

While there are initiatives throughout the year to raise awareness of the disease which claimed more than 40,000 lives last year, the month of October is dedicated to enlightening individuals of the warning signs of Breast Cancer. This ailment, which is still not fully understood, is the most common cancer among women (excluding skin cancer) and accounts for 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed among American women. According the American Cancer Society, 97% of deaths attributed to Breast Cancer occurred in females 40 years or older, with a median age of detection lying in the mid-60’s.

Currently, there is still no cure for Breast Cancer, yet organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, have made it their mission to to do more. They are dedicated to promoting the perpetuation of early detection and effective treatments in addition to funding more research to in turn, create more hope and thus, more survivors. There are presently more than 3 million Breast Cancer survivors, representing the largest group of people to beat cancer in the United States. Each year, thousands of these strong individuals celebrate their stories during the annual ‘Race for the Cure’, an initiative which allows survivors and their supporters to spread anecdotes of triumph and establish optimism in the minds of people still battling the disease. 

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which was started in the year 1983 and featured only 800 runners, has now grown to include more than 100 locations across the the United States (click here to find a 5k near you) and two foreign countries- with an average yearly participant rate of nearly 1.4 million individuals! As the number of participating cities and people grow, the amount of money raised for research and Breast Cancer education increases and we become one step closer to finding the cure for the disease.

Participating in the ‘Race for the Cure’ is not the only way to show your support for the cause. Through the purchase of ‘pink’ products, individuals can do their part to promote Breast Cancer awareness with a portion of the profits made directly benefiting prevention initiatives and research efforts to alleviate the disease for good. In this day in age, there is far more than clothing and pink ribbons to peruse- take a look at some snazzy pink products we found from various companies, all donating a portion of their proceeds to finding a cure: 

Or perhaps you’d like to promote Breast Cancer through the purchase of some new items for your jewelry box! If that’s the case, Nissa Jewelry can help you publicize your support through the purchase of items from our ‘Think Pink Boutique’. Each of the pretty pink products were thoughtfully handcrafted and designed with the more than three million strong Breast Cancer survivors in mind. Why not take a stance that the ‘breast is yet to come’ with the purchase of one of our limited edition, unique pink products..

Show that you care about the cause this October- Breast Cancer Awareness Month- by thinking pink and stylishly showing your support! 

Think fast.. what is the one thing that can make you say “aw” quicker than anything else? Yep, you guessed it- animals. Today, October 4th, is the national day to celebrate the cuddliest of creatures that brighten our day- everyday. What might this holiday be called you ask? The answer is just as short and sweet as your pet, it’s World Animal Day! Started back in 1931 in the beautiful italian city of Florence, celebrations will be held all over the globe to honor animal life in all it’s forms today. 

The meaning and mission behind the holiday has evolved over the decades into an effort to raise awareness and advocate for the endangered and threatened species that surround us. This topic is something that is not frequently thought about- yet, when presented with the facts, it’s hard to look away. For example, check out ‘The Extinction Rainbow‘… it most definitely puts things into perspective.

Earlier in the studio, we were discussing our favorite animals and ‘Penguins’ topped the majority of our team member’s lists. Think for a moment about your parents chatting about the same topic when they were our age. Say they favored an animal such as the Quagga? Never heard of the semi-striped Zebra looking animal? It’s most likely due to the fact that only one picture was ever taken of the creature and it’s species is now considered ‘extinct’. What if we allow penguins to reach that status and the next generation of our families never know the joys of ‘Happy Feet’- let’s not let that happen. 

Today, to encourage each person to ‘do their part’, Nissa Jewelry will be donating 10% of all sales of our animal jewelry to the World Wildlife Fund (WFF)- one of the world’s largest conservation organizations. What would be more rewarding than to look down at your new Jaguar Ring knowing that you played a role in the preservation efforts of it and other endangered species, like the ones below? 

Green Sea Turtle (source)

Victoria-crowned Pigeon (source)

Chilean Pink Flamingo (source)

Polar Bear (source)

Orangutan- we promised the ‘awwws’ right? (source)

Why not peruse our animal offerings and treat a creature in need while treating yourself?

We hope that you’re saying some ‘awws’ and sporting some fine looking animal accessories for the next 24 hours in honor of World Animal Day! In conclusion, cheers to you, dog that adorably cocks it’s heads sideways when it’s confused, cat that falls asleep perfectly positioned in owner’s lap, and heck- even you, pet pigs of the world, may this day be filled with belly scratches and treats galore! 

If you’ve been looking for a reason to embark on a leisurely stroll through uncharted territory or simply an excuse to “stop and smell the roses”, then you are in luck! We’ve encountered some pretty bizarre holidays in our time but we have to say we’re not hating on this one by any means! Today, June 20th, is all about what our good friend Merriam Webster defines as “walk[ing] about in an idle or leisurely manner”. As the day dedicated to strolling’s little known synonym, it’s important that we consciously try to deny falling into the norm of being ‘dragged through life’ and take a few minutes to ourselves. 

Too busy to venture outdoors and browse Summer’s beautiful blossoms? We’re in the same boat over here at the studio and have settled with perusing the perennials via our electronic devices (in addition to routinely stopping to appreciate the flower-inspired Nissa trinkets we are all strategically sporting). Granted, it’s the most ideal way to spend the majority of ‘World Sauntering Day’ but we promise to get some stylish strutting in during the commute home! 

Until you find the time to stop and smell the proverbial roses, follow our lead and pretend the vibrant and fine-lookin’ florets are magically maneuvering their way out of your monitor;)

One of the only things that can improve upon the fact that it is finally Friday (wahoo!) is that we had (okay.. maybe we gave ourselves) a reason to sport our most fun and funkiest flip flops to the studio today in honor of National Flip Flop Day! While we can’t deny that our brightly colored rubber footwear were getting us stares during our commute this morning, we took the looks with pride and returned them with slight smirks- haters (in polished leather loafers and painfully high heels) gonna hate;)



While we sat around the studio discussing various flip-flop ‘flashbacks’ (does anyone else remembering sporting them in the showers back in college when it was ‘dangerous’ to go in barefoot, HA) we thought what better way to conclude the work week then an unconventional and creative craft!? Immediately the design table became overwhelmed with glue, needles, some of the staff’s most favorited beads and embellishment and of course, our fabulously-fluorescent footgear. 

Feast your eyes upon how the Nissa Jewelry crew transformed their stereotypical summer slip-ons into first-class fashions..

Laetitia, from our ‘PR’ department, breezed through the craft in less than twenty minutes, utilizing the classic ‘glue and tie’ method, creating a pretty spiffy design:
 
Next, Allison, representing the ‘Marketing’ team, pulled out the needle and thread- and doing what she does best- sewed those suckers on! Her flip-flops turned out fantastic as well:


Third times a charm, right? Emily, from our “Design” divison, showed most of the staff up with her innovative approach to the flip-flop challenge- decking out her sunshine yellow footwear with a detachable accessories! The epitome of flip-flop fabulousness, her creation triples as foot jewelry, an anklet, and a necklace!
 

Lastly, our “Business Operations” superstar, Ellina, took a page (and a little assistance) from Emily’s book and also composed a multi-functional design! She spruced up her classic white pair with some scrap chain and metal pieces that detach in order to create not only a necklace and a bracelet but also an awesome anklet! Behold, the product of team-work at it’s finest over here at the studio:) 
 

Obviously, we’re celebrating National Flip Flop Day over here at the studio in style and honestly, our crew can’t compliment this craft enough (not to mention it was fun to see everyone’s personalities come out in this ‘speedy’ and simple DIY)! If you’re looking for a special way to spend your lazy Saturday why not call up some sidekicks, bring out the snacks and flop on?