i just love finding new designers…and i love it even more when their designs are actually attainable by mere mortals.  alas, the planets rarely align that well.  so when i fell in love with amanda rudey’s jewelry designs, i braced myself for a hefty pricetag.  but, wonder of wonders, they’re gorgeous and actually affordable!  after graduating from harvard with a degree in sociology (almost as useless as my BA in english), amanda realized she needed a way to earn a living.  she wandered into a bead store one day, and the results were fortuitous…for her and for us.

i think my favorite design is her iolite “circus hoop” ring (above).  it’s a gorgeous everyday piece that’s sure to win you compliments at every turn – and it retails for $125.  for a dressier look, the iolite-and-chain cornelia earrings (also available with other stones) would be absolutely perfect with your LBD, and just the thing to dress up a more casual sundress for evening – quite a feat, especially for $150!  the necklace is a bit pricier ($318), but it’s exactly the piece i look for to soften a conservative office look – i’d put this with a button-down shirt and blazer, or use it to dress up a v-neck top and jeans.

to check out the entire line, you can go to amanda’s website – and to buy, head to charm and chain.  what do you think…are you as smitten as i am?

ooh, and the lovely owner of charm & chain just alerted me that you can get 15% amanda’s collection (and the entire site) with code aprilflowers.  in case you needed a little more incentive!

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