Finally!

I have some great news to share! After a LONG absence from the world wide web, dex & stella is finally back online. We've streamlined our site, added new product, and added shopping. We are so excited to be able to reach out worldwide again.

In the next couple of weeks we are going to add our newest collection to the site. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but...of all the pieces I've designed over the years, this new collection is the one I am most excited about. So...get to the site, sign up for our newsletter, shop a little, and ENJOY our new website.

www.dexandstella.com

Tell Obama You Oppose His Offshore Drilling Plan

Today my post has nothing to do with jewelry. For those of you I talk to daily, you know how utterly disgusted I am at Obama's new plan to drill for oil off the Eastern U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. As someone born and raised in the ocean, I am appalled to think that someday our kids won't be able to swim in the ocean because of the countless spills that will ultimately contaminate our seas.

For those of you who think I am overreacting, please catch up on your recent news. There have been 2 spills in Louisiana in the last 2 weeks. One of the spills is so out of control that they are predicting that it will take up to 3 months to stop the 42,000 GALLONS A DAY (!!!!!) that are spilling out into the sea. Think of the effect this will have on the reefs, the fishing industries, the wildlife, etc.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to go to the beach and stare at this:

I'm asking everyone I know to do what you can to stop the construction of these oil platforms. I have included a link below to a petition against the proposed plan. PLEASE, PLEASE sign it. Also, if you know of any other ways to get involved, feel free to post them here. We are all responsible for what becomes of our Earth, whether it be good or bad. So please take this opportunity to do some good!

Tell Obama You Oppose His Offshore Drilling Plan - The Petition Site

It's coming....

Hello everyone!!!

The new website is nearing completion. I am so very excited. Visit www.dexandstella.com and sign up to be notified when the site is officially launched. There will be some great sales for members only. I'm looking forward to seeing you all online soon!

xo
Amanda

A Quick One...

Two major things are happening right now in my life:

1.) Soooooooo exciting... The new website is just around the corner!!!! It's all set up and ready to go. Now comes the task of uploading product. YUCK! This part takes the most time, but once I get the products loaded we are going LIVE!!!

2.) I'm moving a little slower these days due to my wrecked right hand. Long story, but I'm currently rocking a hot little brace while it heals. At least it's black and matches most of my jewelry. Ugh!

Stay tuned for the website launch!

xoxo
Amanda

Uh Oh!

First things, first...I hope you all had a fantastic Easter weekend. I took a little time off to enjoy the holiday weekend with friends. Started Easter Sunday at the beach. It was beautiful!!! But there was no swimming in the ocean for me :(. It was too cold and the jellyfish were having some sort of party or family reunion. They were everywhere! After the beach we took part in a grown ups only Easter egg hunt. It was fantastic. Why is it that as adults we forget to do all the fun, little things in life? See the smile on my face? I LOVED it!

Now for the Uh Oh part (for which this post was titled). My Easter smile was wiped off my face Tuesday morning when I attempted to fix my website. Now, I like to think I'm pretty good at most things. However, I learned my lesson, apparently I am not so good at HTML code writing. So in my effort to upload a new site (or at least some new product) I managed to wipe out my website completely! Note to self...there are just some things you leave to professionals and website building is one of them. Speaking of which... if any of my friends/awesome web developers want to give me a call, I'm always around (wink, wink). Until the problem is solved you will just have to stare at the blank page. Consider it my gift to you...a small moment of Zen on the web. Hee Hee!!!
I hope you all have a fantastic week!
xo
Amanda

Super Sneak Peek...

For all of you whose phone calls I haven't returned or emails I haven't responded to, there is a perfectly good explanation! I have been hard at work on a new collection. I am feeling really good about all the new pieces. I have to also add that the response so far has been AMAZING! I am really excited to get it up on the website for the world to see. In the meantime, I wanted to give you a very small peek at what you can expect (see below).

I'm bringing leather back into the collection finally. I just love the way it feels and it gives a little "edge" to the collection. This bracelet has become my new favorite. Soft camel-colored leather and a hunk of sea glass found on an amazing little island in Miami.

The first time I set eyes on the island I could not believe how much glass was on the beach. I was kind of appalled at first, to be honest. Then it struck me...there was something truly beautiful about the way the Earth had taken this "trash" and reformed it into pieces of art. Turns out, the longer glass sits exposed to the elements it begins fusing together. So you will have pieces of green glass fused with brown, and so on. There is true beauty in some of these pieces. I HAD to incorporate it into my line. Now I can keep our beaches clean, turn something old into something new, and develop a beautiful collection all at once. I am in love!

Here is another version of the new leather and sea glass cuff. Each piece will be completely unique based on the piece of glass used. However, you will have the option to choose the color leather you place it on. So excited about these pieces! I am getting TONS of compliments on them each time I wear them.








And the final sneak preview I will give you today is of my new favorite earrings. They can be done in either silver or gold. You have the opportunity to make them completely custom by choosing your own stones. On the left I have (from top to bottom) gold with faceted aquamarine, silver with faceted labradorite, and gold with peacock freshwater pearl. They are super lightweight and flatter just about every face shape.

Well, in case you hadn't noticed, I am thrilled about the new collection. I cannot wait to get it all photographed and up on the web. I hope you will all love wearing it as much as I've enjoyed creating it. Things are good :)