Creations for a Cause

Another story of a product that is more than just pretty. . .

In December, Dwellings began selling jewelry made by local artist, Andrea Hart Stotter.  The pieces are simple and crafty, versatile and able to be worn dressed up or dressed down.  Even better is the fact that 70% of the proceeds from the sales of the jewelery go directly to Oaklyn Elementary's Autism Support classroom in the Shikellamy School District.

Mrs. Stotter's son Ian is a student in that class.  Their funding was cut this past fall and, being a concerned parent, she couldn't let the deficit affect her son and his classmates.  "I felt the need to do something to help," Said Stotter.  "I began making jewelry and selling it to friends and family with the proceeds then being donated to Ian's class for supplies."  Since Dwellings has joined the Cause, almost $500 has been donated to the classroom.  Because of Mrs. Stotter's efforts and the support from Dwellings, the class has been provided with supplies, services, and field trips including a fun afternoon to see "The Lorax."  They are also planning an end-of-the-year field trip that will be funded by the sales of Creations for a Cause Jewelry.

But the fight is not over.  With schools facing further budget cuts this year, the future is still uncertain for Ian and his classmates.  "The effort is going well, but there is always more need in a very misunderstood field and every little bit helps.  I want to thank all those who have already purchased my jewelery, whether you knew of the Cause or not.  You have sincerely made a difference and allowed the class to do things they otherwise wouldn't have gotten to do."

Creations for a Cause jewelry will soon be available online and, of course, you can find it at both Dwellings locations.  Ask us about providing more to Ian's classroom by contacting marketing@dwellingsathome.com. 

As always,
Live, Life, Fashionably.

xoxo,

The Dwellings Team

New Fair Trade Jewelry!

Dwellings is excited to introduce a brand new product line – Dunitz &Company

Headquartered in Hollywood, Dunitz & Co. is a leading designer and manufacturer of handcrafted beaded jewelry.  Founded by Nancy Dunitz in 1989, the company fulfills her lifelong dream to design jewelry made in the third world countries she liked to visit.  With one visit to Guatemala where she met other designers, made friends, and built her product line, she knew she had found the perfect production location.

Each Dunitz piece is handmade in Guatemala by talented Mayan Indian women.  As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, the women are compensated fairly for their work, treated with respect, and work in a safe, clean environment.  Women with small children to care for are trusted to work from their homes.  Further, Dunitz & Company supports and contributes to several organizations that help those living in the community where their bead work is crafted.  These programs address issues including child education, child hunger, mother-infant care, free libraries and reading classes, and healthcare.

Dunitz & Company is also a member of Green America.  The beads used in each design are primarily made from Czechoslovakian and Japanese glass beads while other components include vintage buttons, tagua slices, glass pearls, ribbons, leather, and semi-precious stones.

Each piece of Dunitz jewelry can take any where from a few hours to two days to create.  The intricate bead work and patterning create exceptional, quality statement pieces that are truly unique.  We are very excited to be offering Dunitz and Company jewelry and hope you enjoy the new selection.

xoxo,

The Dwellings Team 

Get a more in-depth look at Dunitz & Company, where they are and what they're doing when you visit their blog!

Gift Guide

Gift Guide

Having a hard time finding a fun and unique gift to give a friend? We have an answer for you.

Whether you are looking for a friend who is in college, early career or in her “ mommy days.” Everyone deserves to take a break to have a cocktail. One of the main reasons that people don’t make a cocktail at the end of the long day is because they don’t know how or don’t have supplies. At Dwellings you can pick a unique Santa Barbara hand painted glass in which each different theme has it’s own cocktail recipe painted right on the glass to give the gift of a relaxing night.

 

     You can choose a martini glass for a classy traditional

            

     A wine glass for the traveler in your life

        

 

Or a shot glass for your favorite girl friend :

         

Once you find a glass that personifies the recipient, we can write up the ingredients and creatively wrap the glass.You can then pair the two together for a different gift that not only supplies a lesson of bar craft but also delivers a uniquely painted glass that fits the receiver perfectly.

                               Xoxo, Adriane 

Spring and Clean

Want to feel clean for Spring?

Here are some great ideas for organizing yourself for spring so you can revamp your closet and room to prepare for warmer days

Keeping your trends fresh and knowing how to pair outfits can be based a lot of organization within your wardrobe and accessories. Keeping old trends in your closet that you don’t wear anymore is like leaving dust on a shelf. A great idea for finding out what you don’t wear anymore is to turn all your hangers backwards in your closet and if the season passes and a hanger is still backwards because you didn’t wear that item, best bet is to get rid of it and fill it with something new and trendy.

Also color coordination is important but also lining up different articles of clothing such as sweaters, tanks, dress shirts etc together can help you to see where you have excess color and similar styles and where you need to expand more to have versatility.

Accessories

Lose accessories frequently? Can’t find the backs to any of your earrings? Well there are tons of ways to organize your accessories so that you have accessibility and appeal to your precious gems.

   Dwellings has earrings screens by TREND that help to organize any mess of earrings keeping them together and showing you options all in one place.

We also sell almost everything that we merchandise on! Taking a series of our small hooks and putting them on a wall can help to organize necklaces and or scarves. Also our Acrylic hands can help you to keep your rings all in one place and make them appealing and a fun addition to the décor of a room!

         

                                                                                         

It is easy to revamp your entire wardrobe in a way that helps you to keep trends fresh and make old things seem new again all while organizing the things that help to make you shine!


xoxo, Adriane

Where’s the love?

At Dwellings of course!

Hey guys, its Tricia from Dwellings-Lewisburg. Valentines Day is just one day away but you can show your love everyday by giving a gift from Dwellings! Once you step through the doors you will adore all the possibilities for gift ideas for yourself and others. I myself am crazy about so many items at all prices. Check out these finds! They will surely make you fall in love again and again…

Just looking for something small? Let someone special know you give a hoot about them with our adorable owl lip gloss! $5

I am definitely motivated to love the environment with this Jonathan Adler Eco friendly mug. It will not only warm your tummy but also your heart. $20

I am in love with this scarf/hat combo.  It's fun and flirty with a touch of class.  (Hat. $15 Scarf. $27)

Still unsure of what to wear for that special night out?  How about this great jersey dress from French Connection. $118

And finally, my absolute favorite clutch from Hobo in a gorgeous peony print…Sigh.  $128

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Style Your Scarf!

Hi guys this is Whitney from Dwellings bringing you some new ways for wearing one of the hottest trends, SCARVES!

Scarves have been HOT on the scene for a number of seasons now and wearing them in the same old way can be ho-hum. Sooo. . . I found these great styles at whowhatwhere.com!  Try one of the following great ideas to spice up your scarf and get through the winter.

The Prep

Loop the scarf so one side is longer.

Double wrap the longer side.

Pull that side through the circle around the neck.

Tie a loose knot with both ends.

 

 

 

 

the finished look.

The Boho

Loop the scarf so both sides are even.

Tie a knot.

Pull the circle over the knot.

The finished look.

 The Modern

Wrap the scarf around the neck evenly.

Tie a double knot and twist around the neck.

The finished look.

The City

Loop the scarf so one side is longer.

Double wrap the longer side and pull until the short side is hidden.

Take the tip of the long side and tuck into the top of the opposite side.

The finished look.

 The Classic

Loop the scarf so one side is longer.

Double wrap the long side.

Knot the uneven sides together and tuck the longer side in the fold.

The finished look.

Don't forget to check out our great selection of scarves in store and on line!

As the Assistant Buyer for Dwellings I am always looking for ways to update and bring to you the latest styles from the runways to the realways. Every month I'll be bringing you ideas on how to wear your wardrobe like you mean it, key pieces to bring in for the season and using what you have in new ways to maximize your wardrobe!

Stay stylish!

-Whitney 

Yuck. It's Winter...

Let’s face it – who’s not ready for spring.  We’re all cold, pale, and tired from only getting 8 solid hours of daylight.  When can we bust out the flip-flops and cute skirts and not have to worry about static in our hair?  But, here we are, in the late middle of January with a few months of boot weather still ahead of us.  What is a sunshine baby to do?


In the marketing and operations department at Dwellings, we have adopted two steadfast approaches to battling the winter blues.

First off, we listen to all the salsa and reggae music we can find and keep the heat cranked to create our own little paradise.  When the dishwasher is running, we can almost feel the humid summer air surrounding us while Alejandro sings.

More productively, and probably more effectively, we have adopted Randy’s obsession with the upcoming season’s color palate.  Part of our job allows us to see all our new products before they hit the floor.  All the bright spots in the many boxes we unpack remind us that thought winter seems to drag on, there is within each of us an invincible summer just waiting for that first hint of spring.

We have taken the liberty of choosing for you a winter rainbow to brighten your everyday drear.  Check out the great pops of color we have in store at Dwellings and online at www.dwellingsathome.com! 

Red:  Associated with energy, power, passion, desire and love, red is a great color to warm up your days.  Said to enhance metabolism as well as increase heart rate and blood pressure, it will definitely make the grey winter days feel a little warmer and definitely make them brighter.

Our La Mer triple wrap Red watch will give you a burst of energy when you check the time. 

Orange:  Like red, orange gives the sensation of energy and heat.  It fuels enthusiasm, creativity and determination.  Orange increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, stimulating mental activity.  Have a hard time waking up in the morning?  Put on an orange pillowcase – the bright color in the morning will get you going as soon as you open your eyes.

Our Johathan Adler Scales mug is the perfect accessory to get your day going.  How can you not feel energized looking at all those hot colors!

Yellow:  The color of joy, intellect and freshness (and the sun, duh), yellow is the third color in the energy trio.  While often associated with food, yellow also generates muscle energy, arouses cheerfulness, and again – stimulates mental activity.   Having something yellow in front of you while you work is a great way to pump up the productivity and ensure you’ll be smiling.

The Emily handbag is the perfect way to keep sunshine at your side.

Green: What’s more spring than green?  Symbolizing new growth, harmony and fertility, green is the most restful color to the human eye.  It evokes a sense of safety and hope and can be beneficial to emotional discord.

The green pendant on our Ring Drop necklace will keep you hopeful as you wait for spring.

Blue:  Though blue is a cold color, it has it’s place in our winter color wheel.  Blue is the color most commonly associated with calmness and tranquility.  If you’re feeling stressed, wrapping up in something blue will keep you in check and help you feel more centered.

This beautiful blue gradient scarf will help you feel more calm amid the winter hustle and bustle.

Purple:  The most complex color in our palate, purple combines the energy of red with the stability of blue.  Though mostly causing us to associate to childhood, purple is also a great color to get your energy going. It is a sign of independence, creativity and dignity.  Add a splash of color to your look when you are getting ready for a presentation, special meeting, or first date.

Bold and bright, this bangle will make the perfect impression.

Winter is inevitable, but by surrounding ourselves with color, we are able to reach beyond the grey into the oncoming Spring. Until the flowers bloom, keep smiling, keep warm, and be bright.

A memorable, romantic declaration for any room.

Love,
Emily & Katie, marketing & operations department