Five.

Five beautiful years!

Five years (and a few days) ago this month, I picked up my jewellery making tools for the first time. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but I knew I wanted to try. 

I have loved jewellery for as long as I can recall. A teeny tiny gold ring with a script "D" was my prized possession as a four year old (well that and my trusty box of Crayolas). It was lovely and delicate and so precious to me. It still is. 

Truth be told, I cannot believe it took me as long as it did to begin making jewellery. 

I would often say to my coworkers at the time that "I should really make my own jewellery." This statement would usually come after one of us had a rough go finding jewellery for ourselves or a client. At the time, I worked in a lovely high end boutique, surrounded by beautiful clothing. In my career I have helped thousands of women select the perfect dress for their big event. And it didn't end with the dress - shoe and the perfect jewels were always part of the discussion. We were full service, and I loved it. But it drove me nuts to get them the perfect dress and not have the jewels to complete the look. And so, I would say about making my own jewellery...I would often say this in the middle of a 45 hour work week. Who had the time? Designing and making jewellery sounded great, but when?
Then a wedding or a function in my own life would arrive and again, great dress, meh jewels. And again that statement: "I should really make my own jewellery." 
I know personally I've settled for a piece of jewellery to go with a dress or outfit for myself because the perfect piece of jewellery was in my head and couldn't be found.

And so, finally five years ago it was time to stop talking and try. Now or never. I did tonnes of research and learning. Both of which never end by the way! The first thing I learned was that making jewellery would be a commitment. Even if it was only ever for myself (and my Mom and my sister)  I quickly discovered that I would need so.much.stuff. Yup, just to make one piece you need several tools. And the supplies! Well, don't even get me started on the how many of this and that you'll need. 
Good news! I immediately fell in love with the process. I've always been creative and a designer, but that doesn't automatically mean you will love every creative endeavour. Designing and making pieces with my own hands is amazing. Opening my jewellery box and selecting something to wear that I made is an awesome feeling. Seeing someone wear a piece designed and made by me is an unbelievable feeling. There aren't really any words. It feels crazy and awesome at the same time. 

Thank you for a fantastic five years!

Spring. So close and yet...

The truth is I have been dreaming about Spring since before Christmas. For me it's not usually a weather thing, although this year...

I get to a point in every season - regardless of the weather - where I just cannot look at the current merchandise in stores any longer. I think I feel "done" a lot sooner than most. Let's move on! What's next?
This was even more pronounced in my former life as a clothing and accessories buyer for a boutique. I was always a season, sometimes two ahead. It would be the middle of August, selling Summer, setting up for Fall, buying for Spring and unpacking Christmas merchandise all in the same week. I loved that.

At this point in the Winter, I get the same feeling. A sort of cross between cabin fever and winter blahs. I desperately want to get out and go somewhere and see pretty things. For me, this would mean visiting the little towns and shops and boutiques that I love. I need to see what's new and exciting for Spring. I crave colour. I want to lay my tired Winter eyes on new and lovely things. But then I think, what if they don't have their stock yet? Nothing more depressing to me than tired, picked over sale merchandise from four months ago. And it's freezing cold. And I have salt stains on everything I own. So, yeah, maybe in another few weeks.

Until things start to thaw and the deep freeze eases up a bit, I'll continue to work away in the studio on new pieces for Spring. Because if you create for it, it will come...right? That's how that works. Right?

Pantone's colours for Spring 2014

Making a list...

Create your own Bellabagu wish list!

Are you one of those people that love to shop for the perfect gift? Do you get a thrill when you know you’ve got something they’ll really love and that you just can’t wait to give? Does this sound unfamiliar to you, but you’d love to know what that feels like?

I can tell you from experience that knowing you’ve managed to get your loved one something they’ll love and not want to re gift is an awesome feeling.

I think we can all agree gift giving can be tricky. So much guess work involved and often there are time constraints. Either you haven’t given yourself enough time, or all the wandering around aimless in shops  has led to no gift and no time left. Enter stress and doubt - the enemies of gift giving. There comes a point where over thinking has derailed many a good gift idea. Over thinking should not be confused with putting thought into a gift. Trust me. I have worked retail my entire live and witnessed many, many poor gift giving choices. People will choose and then talk themselves right out of something they just declared was perfect for her! But don’t get me started on those retail stories. Another time…

This is why gift registries make so much sense. You know the scenario: an individual compiles a wish list of items their friends and family can then shop from.  Everybody wins. The giver does not stress and the receiver is thrilled with their gift. What’s that you say? Not getting married, not having a kid? Not a problem! Why should gift registries be limited to those occasions anyway?

Bellabagu has a gift registry and it’s super easy to use. And everybody wins. All you do is create your own wish list of Bellabagu jewellery and then let us and your loved ones do the rest. Email us at donna@bellabagu.com with your list. When the next special occasion comes around all you need to do is give our info to your loved ones and we’ll take care of the rest!

Gift registry = everybody wins

New year, new look.

I love beginnings.

Whether it's a new year, month or week there is just something about a fresh start that makes me happy. It's like an instant do over. The things that weren't working previously don't matter because with a clean slate all things are possible.

And so, not just a new year but a brand new look to the blog. I'm so thrilled with the redesign and can guarantee you will definitely see me on here a lot more often. There are lots of great things I want to share about my process, influences and inspiration.

I hope you'll continue along with me on the Bellabagu journey, there is still so much to come!

Introducing Bellabagu Rewards!

Just for you. Because you are awesome. And appreciated. 

So thrilled to announce Bellabagu Rewards. Just my way of saying thank you to my many loyal and amazing clients. Including all purchases made in 2013, and launched just in time for your Holiday shopping. That means you can totally take advantage of "the buy one for them, one for me strategy" and not feel even a little bit of guilt!

So, how does it work? What are my rewards? Does this mean I have yet another loyalty card for my already George Costanza sized wallet? 

It's easy, rewarding and effortless on your part. Sound good?

All you do is continue to purchase the Bellabagu jewellery you want. All of your purchases will be tracked, in a non creepy kind of way! This means every purchase is recorded by me for you. This includes gift giving. You let me know at the time of purchase the name of the recipient and it will mean no chance of duplicate gifts in the future. All of that gets tracked in your Bellabagu file. 

Every time you reach $200, you will instantly be rewarded a $10 Bellabagu credit. You can use it anytime. You can check your status any time by sending emailing donna@bellabagu.com

Speaking of gift giving (and getting!) there is also a Bellabagu Gift Registry. Often overheard at our Trunk Shows friends will tell each other outright "if you're looking to get me a gift, I want this."

So another service we offer is the Bellabagu Gift Registry. Tell us what you want and who we should contact about it. It's that easy!

Buying Bellabagu just got a little more rewarding!

All the little details...

The office makeover has been underway for two weeks now! I'm so eager to get back in and "dress" the room. But I really want everything else to be complete before I do that.


So...the chandelier gets installed tomorrow! It's an old house with no existing over head lighting, so it has been killing me to wait. But the electrician comes tomorrow...Can't. Wait.

You already know the colour on the walls. Stormy Monday by Benjamin Moore. It's a lovely grey that works well with the cream wainscoting and mostly cream furniture. It's also going to be an amazing back drop for all of my lovely stones, displays and props!

There's a closet in the room and it desperately needed some new doors. My awesome Uncle installed those yesterday and Mom painted the inside of the closet a lovely colour I highly recommend you use somewhere. Anywhere! It's also from Benjamin Moore and it is Wythe Blue. Such a great idea to paint the inside of your closet when your painting the room. Makes a huge difference!

And of course those new office doors needed some bling. You would expect nothing less from Bellabagu, right? Check out these gorgeous knobs!

It's been fun putting it altogether, but I am really excited to have this project checked off my list so I can get back to creating jewellery. Oh and of course share the final results with you.

So.close.

Fall for change

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery

Fall is the perfect time for change. Most people regard January as the time for change and new beginnings, but for me it's always been September. Must be that whole back to school thing: clean slate, fresh start.

And so the change for Bellabagu for Fall is a brand new work space!

Okay, okay, same space. New colour, new layout, new light (I hope!)

Why? Why you ask, are you doing that now at the busiest time of year? That's easy! In order to be my most productive and most creative I need to be surrounded by beautiful things. For me, that means a work space that I will love walking into every morning, and hate to leave every afternoon (okay who am I kidding, evening). A space that even if I'm not feeling the calm and creativity before, once I enter I will be inspired.

Took me ages, but I finally found the right shade of grey. I knew all along that grey was the colour for me. Always has been. But finding that perfect, mid tone grey with enough life and the right under tone, well I wasn't prepared for just how long that particular journey would take. Oh brother. But I did find it - thank you once again Benjamin Moore.

Looking forward to sharing the after of my new work space...Picture it: lovely grey walls, mostly cream furniture, touches of honey toned wood, a crystal chandelier, and shelves of little glass jars housing the most beautiful semi precious stones.

Ah, I can see it already...can't wait to get in there and create.