I think I've created a monster.  Not a bad, scary monster, though... more of a big, friendly (shiny) monster named George.  This monster is available in sterling silver and 14k gold, and can be customized with gemstones... or made into a tie tack or pin....  This monster's name is The Heart of the Finger Lakes Charm, and it's got people in the Finger Lakes talking!

It all started as a marketing idea for a piece of jewelry that Micky designed a few years ago - a pendant/charm in the shape of the Finger Lakes region as dictated by the major roadways circumventing the lakes.  Being the ever-vigilant marketing person here, I created a rack card that featured the charm, and set my sights on any and every brochure rack I could find from Am.  That was the summer of 2008.  A few well-placed print ads later, we have sold well over 400 charms (about 15% of those in gold)... plus various incarnations of the charm, including tie bars, key chains, and bracelets.  We happily (honestly!) field numerous calls a day from all over the country (and world) asking about this charm, and we have some pretty interesting stories from customers about their experiences (and compliments) wearing it.

As a matter of fact, you can now buy the sterling silver charm at a few select Finger Lakes locations.  If you happen to be out and about in the Finger Lakes, and don't have the fuel mileage to trek all the way over to Ithaca, stop in to any of these awesome places and ask for it!

• Americana Vineyards & Crystal Lake Cafe on Cayuga Lake  website
• Heron Hill Winery on Keuka Lake in Hammondsport  website
• The Country Ewe - locations in Canandaigua and Skaneateles!  website
• Seneca Lake General Store (with a stop at Famous Brands Outlet) in Watkins Glen  website

It's official... I've created a fabulous monster.  Just call me Dr. FrankenVann.

---

It's mud season here in Ithaca.  We don't really have "Spring" until May.  Right now everything outside is just a melted mush of dinge. We know it's going to look really beautiful in a few weeks, but it's hard to imagine when all you can see is muck.

Kinda like the stuff in your jewelry box???  Don't you hate digging out your favorite "sun dress" earrings only to find them bent and tarnished...  or you love that your sweetie gave you that bracelet, but it's yellow gold and he (or she) should know you wear white gold?  Are you hanging on to sentimental jewelry with no intention of ever wearing it in public?  Helllloooooo...  that's why we're here!  We can make your favorite earrings look like new, we can "turn yellow gold into white and white gold into yellow", and we can take your bag of random family jewels and turn them into one dynamic memento!

Sterling silver tarnishes very easily. Exposing it to oxygen, handling it with bare hands, or (yuck) living with sulfur water, can mean the end of the honeymoon you once had with your "bright 'n shiny" silver jewelry.  The earrings here needed a new post... yeah, we can do that... and more!  The final bill for a little labor and a lot of TLC = about 30 bucks.  Falling back in love with your jewelry = priceless!  And this is just one example of how dramatic the results can be - and how we exceed expectations.  Click on the image to enlarge.

The reasons are often heartbreaking, but the results bring so much joy.  For too many widows and widowers, and their children, and their children's children... the question of what to do with one's wedding bands isn't easy to answer.  For the widow of a local architect who had recently passed away, we used her two wedding bands - each worn for 40 years - her 41 year-old engagement ring with its original diamond... added a little creative magic... and designed a pendant that gave testament to both their love and his career.  The whole ring, even the bail at the top, was created using all of her own gold.  Yup.  It was a beautiful piece with a wonderful story... one that we are happy to help tell.

So what did we learn today? That "spring cleaning" can apply to your jewelry box as well as your car, house, garage, love life, etc... you dn't even need an appointment.  Just bring it in to our bright 'n shiny little store on Ithaca's Waterfront!

---

If you've ever adopted a pet from an animal adoption center, you probably understand the feeling of "who rescued who?"...  which is why we so desperately wanted to help when the SPCA of Tompkins County (TCSPCA) put out the S.O.S. call following the recent acquisition of over 100 animals from a single home. The Buddy Tag, a solid sterling silver charm embossed with the TCSPCA's adorable logo, is a fashionable fundraiser of sorts!  And we're thrilled that the TCSPCA is as excited about our Buddy Tags as we are!  After all, where would we be without our buddies?  Just put your paw here for more information about Buddy Tags and the SPCA of Tompkins County here in Ithaca, NY!

---

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show^TM has been called "the world's largest treasure hunt", and every year we anxiously await Micky's return from the show to see what treasures she's secured.  This year has found us awash in absolutely gorgeous goodies... from cool drusy quartz rings for only $125 each (pictured here) to mouthwatering amber to fascinatingly faceted tanzanite and topaz, there is a whole lot of sparkle goin' on here at the store.

Of course we will try to put everything on the site - some of it is already on Facebook (hint hint, be a fan) - but if you are in the vicinity of Ithaca and its neighboring communities, you should definitely stop in and see it for yourself.

Honestly, we dare you not to say "wow".

---