Thank you Mom

(Elizabeth and her mom, Jan in 1971)

I drove to my home town on Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day with my parents. We ate yummy fried chicken and butter beans along with cold asparagus and tomato salads - good southern comfort food that reminds me of all my growing up years. I still feel so "at home" in this house in which I spent the first 17 years of my life. I know this has so much to do with the way that my mom has designed each room there...while she still constantly makes changes to the house inside-and-out, I always feel safe and secure there as if nothing has ever changed. She truly knows how to capture our family's essence within the home.

I was 7 years old when my mom started her design business...I remember sitting in the sunporch with her when she was designing her first business card-there was a hand-drawn butterfly on the card-I thought, "my mom is so cool!".

My dad recently sent this photo to me and called it "Days of Hair and Smokin'" (the "hair" reference is due to his slight hair loss in recent years and "smokin" is for the Kool Menthol in my mom's hand - I know my mom would want you to know that the "smokin" ended almost 40 years ago!).

She and my Dad just celebrated their 50th anniversary. WOW! How time flies! They are an example of an incredible partnership to me.

I am so fortunate and grateful to have the mom that I have. I wouldn't be the woman I am if it were not for her. God only knows what career path I would have chosen if I had not had her amazing influence. Most importantly, she has blessed me with strong values of humility, being a good listener, compassion for others, and love. Thank you, Mom!

Check out the fun interview Modern Luxury Dallas did for their May issue with my mom and me! We had such a great time answering all of their questions together.

Until next time....xoxo Elizabeth

Bangkok Trip

I just returned from a product development trip to Bangkok, Thailand. While Erin (my operations manager) and I were super-busy every day finalizing my Fall Collection (which I CANNOT WAIT to share with you..not now..but soon!!), without much time to explore the city, we arrived early enough to have a day of reprieve from the long flight(s) and the 12 hour time difference.

We had a yummy lunch at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which sits on the Chao Phraya River--this is probably my favorite hotel in Bangkok. Here is a photo of the beautiful flowers of Thailand creatively suspended from the ceiling in the lobby of the hotel. If you have never seen the flowers of Thailand they are truly amazing...stunning really

While at lunch I asked to be served a salty snack that I had noticed when we walked past their bar--while they quite possibly might not look appetizing to you in this photo, it's my new favorite yummy crunchy salty snack...they are fried and salted lima beans!! I later bought a little package of these little treats at a 7-11 near our hotel (you should see the huge difference in food and drink items between an American 7-11 and a Thai 7-11).

Here is Erin above (after our lunch) standing in front of the Chao Phraya River, which is a very popular area to visit when traveling to Thailand. We left this area to go to the Chatuchak market--which is a weekend shopping market with 8000 shopping stalls on 35 acres...needless to say, we visited just a few booths.

On Monday, we started working. Here is one of our Thai artisians making our Simone hoop in chrysoprase along with a photo of chrysoprase in its rough form.

The next picture is mother of pearl in its raw shell form--pretty cool, huh? We use a very thick piece of white mother of pearl for our large Simone Hope Star earrings, so as you can see, not many of these earrings can be made from one shell because there is only one part of the shell that's thick enough from which to cut this shape.

What looks like chopsticks are actually setting sticks used to set these tiny Simone-shaped stones into the Simone stacking rings.

This is lavender chalcedony rough...seeing gems in their rough form always reminds me of how my jewelry comes out of the earth, and then I just add a little design to it! Beautiful, isn't it?!

This is right outside of the building where some of our stones are cut, carved and polished. It's a great representation of how many people have a motorcycle in Bangkok--it seems to be the primary mode of transportation, and there doesn't seem to be any law about how one can drive a motorcycle...believe me!

Erin and I had to book a horrible route for our return from Bangkok, as it was during the Thai New Year holiday, thus good flights were hard to get with how late we booked our tickets. Therefore, we took FOUR FLIGHTS to return with a 6 hour layover in Korea in the middle of the night....so in preparation for this long 32+ hour journey, we scheduled a half-day of facials and massages on the morning before we departed. Health Land (pictured below) is a spa that I typically go to at least a couple of evenings per week after a long work day--you can get a Thai massage there for about $20 for 2 hours! I have discovered less expensive options, but with Health Land, I know that I am always guaranteed a good massage therapist.

And because she belongs in every blog entry... this is my sweet dog Whitney on the morning of my departure for Bangkok...she knew what was going on...and very unhappy about it. But she is always well taken-care-of and loved on while I am gone!

It was a fabulous and successful trip to Thailand but it is always good to be home! Until next time....xoxo Elizabeth

It has been a whirlwind since my last blog post! We have had so many great changes around here. With the biggest change being an additional sales person, Michelle Mims.

My other salesperson of 3 1/2 years, Karen Bates Novakowski, took maternity leave for 3 months to focus on the arrival of her little girl, Eva, and just returned this month.

Personally, I have been busy designing Fall 2011. I took a trip to Tucson in early February, and had quite an amazing adventure. It was unlike any experience I've ever had shopping for gems. Something new has switched on within me, and I am nerdily becoming obsessed with rocks and fossils. If I could use dinasour bones in my jewelry I would. I just haven't figured out a feminine way to do it yet, but I'm sure I will. I went into a trance while shopping and became lost in it. It's truly incredible what comes out of our Earth! These are just a few things I found during my trip. I cannot wait to incorporate some of these beautiful stones into some of my one-of-a kind pieces!

My designs for Spring and Summer are so feminine, like these clothing styles for the season. Our gemstone choices are the perfect fit with the current color pallette. Rather, I should say our gemstone color pallette not only fits "now", but also will remain lasting options moving forward...that is to say, while they work with the current trends, they are not "trendy"!

On a recent trip to New York I spent time with my mom and sister. We are now making an annual trip together. Here is Susanna and my mother at The Waverly Inn.

I'd been wanting to check out the Waverly Inn, especially since I'd seen, "Public Speaking", a Martin Scorsese HBO documentary, which examines the life and work of author Fran Lebowitz. It was filmed almost entirely in "her booth" at The Waverly Inn with Martin Scorsese interviewing her. I highly recommend this film. To say that she is quite hilarious would be a gross understatement. Her favorite thing in life is basically being asked for her opinion on anything.

After my mom and sister left New York, I worked for a couple of days meeting with editors in the city, so this put me in New York on Valentine's Day....so in aniticipation of wanting a dinner date on Valentine's Day night, I had called my sure-to-make-me-laugh friend, Ray Griffiths (a fellow Jewelry Designer who in his previous life designed and hand-crafted tiaras in his homeland of Australia. Yes, that's what I said, tiaras!). We ate a yummy dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, Almond, on East 22nd and 5th Avenue.

I am leaving for Thailand in just a few days to finalize our Fall 2011 Gold and Silver Collections. We are testing a form of making gold jewelry that is new to me and my company--I am excited about this new adventure.

To be continued upon my return....

Trunk Show and Personal Appearance at Madison in Highland Park Village

Sisters Kirsten Fitzgibbons and Kelli Ford started their decorating firm in 1990, and then later opened the doors of Madison in Dallas in 2003. I am very excited to be doing a trunk show this Thursday and Friday, December 9th and 10th, from 10am to 6pm at Madison in Highland Park Village (near the Starbucks).

While my salesperson Michelle will be there both Thursday and Friday from 10 until 6, I will personally be there on Thursday from noon to 4pm. Please stop in to visit this fabulous store, and to see my newest silver and gold collections.

Interview with Madison's owner Kelli Ford:

Favorite must-have for Fall/holiday? Great cashmere throw

Your favorite piece of architecture in Dallas? My house

What is your favorite restaurant in Dallas? S&D Oyster or Nobu

What is the greatest aspect of your job? Compiling beautiful items from all over the world. Finding just the perfect thing is very gratifying and rewarding!

Wood Tray with Bone Handles

Interview with Madison's buyer Corie Able:

What is your favorite must-have for Fall/holiday? Nest Holiday Candle What is your favorite place for breakfast/brunch in Dallas? Parigi on Oak Lawn

What is your favorite piece in my collection? Your bangles!

What is the greatest aspect of your job? Getting to go somewhere beautiful everyday and helping clients find that perfect gift!

Have you ever been to Madison? If you haven't, now is the perfect time not only to see my collection, but also to experience this beautiful, cool store that also has great gifts for the holiday season! I will be shopping myself for the non-jewelry gifts that I plan to give.

Love, Elizabeth

Meet Julian Gold's Cheryl Ernst

Please join us tomorrow and Wednesday (December 7th and 8th) at Julian Gold in San Antonio from 10:30am to 9:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 1pm. Be sure to tell your husbands or significant others to stop by after work tomorrow night for Men's Night at Julian Gold. Michelle, our newest team member, will be there until 9:30pm (Ladies come in early and pick out your favorites). Cheryl Ernst is the jewelry buyer for all the Julian Gold locations and has been with them for over 30 years and is loved and respected by everyone in our industry...especially all of us here at Elizabeth Showers!

Taken from a recent interview with Cheryl Ernst I asked her several questions about her favorite things including local spots:

Favorite Restaurant(s): La Gloria and Il Signo (both at the Pearl Brewery) and Picnikins

Recommended Architecture: The downtown San Antonio library otherwise known as "The Enchilada" and the Landa Library on Shook Street.

Favorite Dessert: The sticky toffee pudding from Cappy's

Best Part of Cheryl's Job: "Having the oppurtunity to work with people I genuinely care about."

Favorite Coffee: Olmos Perk

Favorite Piece from Elizabeth Showers' Collection: "You cannot ask me to pick a favorite piece in your collection. I love it all!"

Meet Peridot's Dawn Hendricks

I met Dawn at a New York trade show on one of the piers in 2000. We had a great rapport with each other instantly. She now carries my 18kt gold collection and silver collection in her stores, both named Peridot. We have a trunk show this week at Peridot - the Larchmont location on Wednesday, December 1st, and then in the Greenwich location on Thursday, December 2nd. I asked Dawn about some of her favorite things:

Meet Gump's Serena Ramsey

I am headed to San Francisco! I am having a trunk show at Gump's over the next few days. Please stop by if you are in the area - I would love to meet you! I am thrilled to be in Gump's not only because my family and I used to visit San Francisco often, but because the store itself reminds me of my childhood. I was lucky enough to have an interview with the jewelry buyer for Gump's, Serena Ramsey.