A sneak peek....

Here is a glimpse of some of the new designs that will be available at my Trunk Show on Saturday, details are to the right....

I should add that the pretty little succulent sculpture was a gift from my cousin, Kim, and has turned into the inspiration for my Christmas decorating theme.  You can find more of these lovely succulents at Waterstone Succulents.

Can't make it?  You can always stop by the Westmoreland @rt 30 (this is The Westmoreland Museum of American Art's temporary location while the museum is undergoing very exciting expansion). They have a very nice selection of Zippity Doodads, but hurry, the inventory is dwindling!

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for your friendship and business and continued support of my micro-business!

Best to you,

Preparing for the Holidays

Sitting in my studio today, and gazing outside for a wisp of inspiration, I witnessed the first few snowflakes of wintumn.  The wind was swirling and dancing the snowflakes in front of my window. The chill, clean air brought to mind the classic pairing of clear quartz and sterling silver.  A sparkling accent to any LBD you are planning to wear for the upcoming holiday season.  There is always an Eileen Fisher dress that can fit that bill...Want a little more VaVaVaVoom? There is a scarlet Jill Jill Stuart dress that is a bombshell! Whatever you you need to fit the bill for the party circuit, I think the silver/quartz pairing is elegant, eye-catching, but still enough demure sparkle to round out the look.

You can see these pieces and more at my upcoming HOLIDAY TRUNK SHOW, 
November 22, 2014.  The details are in the sidebar.

Stop in, have a cup of tea and a cookie, pick up a few gifts, or better yet, take home something for yourself! This is my last event of the season, but you can find my designs at the
Westmoreland @rt 30 and I am always happy to accept custom orders, just send me an email or give me a call.

Thanks for making 2014 a wonderful year for Zippity Doodads!

All the best,

Just in time for the Artful Affair

I've been spending lots of time in art museums lately.  There is so much inspiration to be found and so much to learn! Most pieces of artwork start with a blank canvas, and at this time of year MY blank canvas is the gray cashmere sweater, or the textured merino sweater dress by Eileen Fisher that is on my wish list.  That sweater was more than enough to start with, but then a box arrived from PopSugar.  OK, so a monthly subscription to a box of surprises was sounding a little self-indulgent, but too intriguing to pass up. So, my September box arrived with, among many other goodies, a luxurious modal scarf by Tilo tucked inside. That combined with the gray cashmere and I was off to my studio.  The result? A bold peacock pearl necklace.  And just in time for the Artful Affair on Saturday, September 20th.

I am stringing, wrapping, sawing, drilling, and hammering my way to a lavish assortment of new pieces.  Some peacock, some dove gray, some deep cabernet, some straight metals...I am inundated with ideas and my bench is overflowing with strands of gemstones, loose pearls, pliers, hammers and sheets of silver. If you want to see what's new then by all means stop by the Artful Affair! SO many artists (eleven to be exact) selling everything from pastries to reclaimed wood frames, from folk art to luxe beanies, fragrant handmade soaps to gorgeous needlework. And fresh flowers, and essential oils, and.... I'm excited to begin shopping and crossing gifts like "21st birthday wine glasses" and "baby gifts" off my list.

Please join me Saturday, September 21st, 2104; 1104 Middletown Rd, Greensburg, PA.  11AM -3PM

Time for layering

Cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon, or as we sometimes have it in western Pennsylvania, warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon.  Either way, it is the time of year that we layer our clothes to be prepared for those changes.  It is also time to think about layering our jewelry.  This has been a long standing trend and I am a big fan.  Zippity Doodads is known for making clean and straightforward pieces....But putting two or three together can be a very smart look and my favorite is metal worn with a pearl or gemstone strand.  A delicate charm on a chain with a strand of pearls; a gold bangle and a strand of turquoise....The possibilities are many especially when you have a 36" strand of pearls or gemstones among your staples.  These strands can wrap once or twice around your neck, or up to 6 times around your wrist.  So, back by popular demand.......

You can check these out at my last Ligonier Country Market, this Saturday, September 13, or stop by our annual Artful Affair.  The Artful Affair is rich with talent this year, we have 11 artists and so worth a visit.  I'll be posting more about that next week.

Hope to see you Saturday,

Indecision? Keep it simple!

This time of year it is a toss up if the weather will be hazy, hot, and humid, or cool and breezy. Is it fall? Is it summer? Days are are getting shorter and kids are heading back to school, so it must be fall but we don't want to let go of summer.  It was just that indecision in the studio that inspired the newest pieces.  I couldn't settle on a color or stone to work with, so I chose to keep it simple and stay with the metals. And why choose between silver or gold? The new designs are clean, streamlined, and simple.  When so much is going on and life is crazy we all need that reliable go-to piece that compliments everything.  This is my answer to that challenge.  Stop by the Ligonier Country Market tomorrow (I'm in spot D9) and check it out, I will have these waiting for you!

And mark your calendars: The Artful Affair is September 20th and we will have new artists and our old favorites too!  Excited to welcome Cherise Burau of Rustic Frames by Cherise to the event!

Ocean Blue

Truly, there is nothing like water to calm one's spirit, and we all tend to migrate to the coasts for a visit during the summer.  So the inspiration for this piece was purely the color and texture: Ocean blue and tumbled as if by the waves...The glass in this necklace speaks to the beachcomber in me. Laid against sun-warmed skin it is the perfect compliment for all your summer wear, be it a tunic and cropped pants or a gauzy billowing dress. Sigh....I can feel the sand under my feet and smell the sea breeze....

Make merry! Fete! Kick up your heels! Rejoice!

I realized how often I use the word CELEBRATE and began to search for some new terms.  Truthfully, I love them all! Upon reflection, I don't think too much celebration is a bad thing, especially when celebration and gratitude go hand in hand.  I have one daughter studying abroad in India and one preparing to graduate from high school in June. This house is filled with joy and excitement.  Naturally, that translates itself into my jewelry and here is what is fresh from my bench:

These pieces make a perfect gift for someone with something to celebrate, be it graduation, a new job, or a new direction!  You can stop by the Ligonier Country Market this weekend and see for yourself.  If you haven't checked their website, please do! It is filled with dates and times, a list of vendors, and links to all the vendors websites.  The Market Manager is doing a great job of keeping us all informed.  For those of you familiar with the market, you will find me smack dab in the middle of the venue. Check my schedule to the right.  If you can't find me at the market you can always find Zippity Doodads at the Westmoreland @30 at their temporary location on Rt. 30 in Latrobe, PA.

Enjoy your Memorial Day, and please take a moment to honor all who served!

Salut!

Celebrating the long awaited arrival of SPRING!

Spring has been so long in coming this year, so long that we decided to throw a party welcoming its arrival! The studio is buzzing with activity and we are shaking off the dust and sleep of a long, lazy winter.  New pieces are being delivered to The Westmoreland this week and the Spring Artful Affair is in full blown preparation.  I don't know about you, but this spring it feels especially delicious to shed some layers, put away the turtlenecks and pull out graceful, airy, and light pieces.  That's the direction of the new Zippity Doodads designs as well. Delicate, petal colored stones catch the light and lay lightly on newly bared skin.  I'm picturing fabrics like organic linen, slub cotton, linen boucle, silk jersey, crepe.....Sigh.  The clean, flowing lines of Eileen Fisher with a subtle color accent, like this:

So stop by the Artful Affair on April 26. Check the sidebar for the 2014 Ligonier Country Market Dates. Pop into the Westmoreland @rt 30.....Get out and about and take a piece of Zippity Doodads with you!


Wishing you abundant sunshine,

The sun! I see the sun!

Is it just me or has this been an exceptionally long winter? Don't get me wrong, I have loved all the snow on the ground, the hot cappuccinos, and those blustery winter days; but now that we saw the temperatures rise above forty degrees for a few days I have spring fever.  And this is going to be a very busy year! So in preparation I'm spending time in the studio learning new techniques and refreshing my inventory.  Putting away the dark colors and bringing out the light.  Here is a look at what I've been learning:

I've always wanted to learn the traditional way to knot pearls on silk string, and let me tell you, it is quite an art!  I am excited about giving these as gifts for brides and graduates, and having a set myself!

Well, back to the studio, so much more to design and create.

 Check the schedule to the left to see where you can find me this spring!

Best to you,

Merriann