Please welcome Turtle Love Committee as one of our newest handmade experts. Interested in getting to know them a bit better? Check out the latest guest blog post:
Even in this tight economy, people are still getting engaged. But these days, couples are looking for value and timelessness, and it has become tacky to flaunt “bling.” As a result, non-diamond engagement rings are gaining popularity.
Our company, Turtle Love Committee, sells unconventional eco-friendly and affordable artisan jewelery that’s good for you and for the planet.
TLC was founded in 2008 by Adrianne Zahner, an attorney who was alarmed by her colleagues’ subtle competition to have the best or the biggest diamond engagement ring. While working at a large Boston law firm, she also noticed that most of the women she worked with had nearly identical engagement rings. When she looked for a place to get truly unusual and inspiring engagement rings, she couldn’t find one, so she decided to make it.
An engagement ring from Turtle Love Committee’s collection is priceless - it represents a huge emotional commitment, not a huge financial commitment. After all, marriage is about the unique commitment that two individuals make to each other, a concept that can get lost in preparing for and talking about weddings. TLC’s founding belief was that the rings people choose should symbolize that commitment, should honor chosen lifestyles and honor the relationship being cultivated, and not be some weird calculus of how much to spend or how big the stone should be.
In the beginning, TLC focused exclusively on non-diamond engagement rings and wedding bands at prices between $100 and $200, offering a wide range of styles, all in sterling silver, including vintage replicas, classic solitaires, organic designs, modern pieces, and rings made from recycled metals.
Turtle Love Committee also started a website called “A Diamond is Expensive” which is a spoof of the “Diamonds are Forever” ads. You can check that out at: http://www.adiamondisexpensive.com!
Our eco-friendly commitment is an equally important part of our company. We are constantly working to reduce our environmental impact. People should feel good about buying jewelery from TLC because it was selected and packaged with an eye towards protecting and preserving our planet. We search high and low to bring our customers jewelry that’s made in small workshops using recycled metals and/or environmentally-conscious practices. We’re working hard to get responsibly-sourced stones. We’re making our packaging smaller and smaller, and we use the United States Postal Service to take advantage of existing delivery routes. Even the address labels on our shipping boxes are made with recycled paper.
Beyond collecting awesome jewelry, we give 5% of our sales to Cultivating Community, an awesome organization in our hometown of Portland, Maine, that works to empower and train youth while providing fresh organic produce for needy families. It’s good for the kids, it’s good for the hungry, it’s good for the planet. It’s awesome, and we’re thrilled to be able to contribute.
Finally, we believe in the importance of supporting artists. Buying stuff made by independent artisans means that you’ll have awesome stuff that’s not like everybody else’s. You’ll look as cool and creative and independent as you really are! And you’re supporting artists, and the arts. So today’s artists will have something to eat, and so kids can consider making art as a profession. That’s good for them. Good for the world. Good for you.
For more information you check us out on Wishpot or on our website at www.TurtleLoveCommittee.com
With a big move right around the corner, my excitement is getting the best of me and I’ve currently been on a nonstop hunt for home decor. I came across this gorgeous mother of pearl mosaic vase in the wish list of Handmade Expert Maria LeelaBijou.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with its simplicity. My personal aesthetic lies within clean lines, natural lighting, and classic accents. This vase perfectly embodies that!
What’s your home style preference?
As the Chief Handmade Officer at Wishpot, I’m always scouring the handmade channel in attempt to find inspiring items added by our fabulous experts. This dress, found in the wish list of handmade expert A Nieman Crochet, was one of the items that stopped me mid-search and I knew I needed to showcase it as a daily handmade pick. Everything from the mustard color to the dramatic ruffled bodice makes for a jaw-dropping, stand-out look. The rest of the day will be spent dreaming of all the places I could wear this gorgeous creation…
The moment I found these earrings in the etsy shop of Handmade Expert Gaetana Parris, I knew I had to highlight them as a daily pick. They are a versatile pair of earrings that are a perfect way to spice up any outfit while adding an exotic element! I especially love the colors she chose when making these - they are light colors but still warm - making it easy to wear from day to night or even from season to season!
Maybe its that I’ve never seen a piece of Jacks as jewelry or maybe its that it takes me back to my childhood recess games at school. Either way, I love this Jack Necklace, an item I found in the wish list of handmade expert, thetinyfig.
Like the necklace? Check it out on etsy.
Not the most ideal time of year but I will soon be packing up my beloved studio apartment - that got me through my first year out of college - and leaving for a much larger apartment in the heart of the city. Though I love my small space, the decor looks something out of college dorm room, a jumble of old furniture and items found at random sales.
I look forward to the move because I think it will give me a chance to broaden my decorating horizons and find a balance between the college look and young professional. As soon as I saw this hoot owl pillow from going home to roost, I felt that it captured my current life and aesthetic. Its fun, cute, and adds a little pop to my black couch. Best of all? Its eco-friendly.
Here in Seattle the weather drastically went from sunshine-y days to gray skies and constant rain. With the prevalence of gloomy weather, I find myself wanting nothing more than to bundle up next to a fireplace and just read/write. I found this fairy tree, painted fabric journal in the wish list of Wishpot Handmade Expert House of Mouse and thought it would be the perfect place to jot down my thoughts!
We’ve been referred to as the pioneer of social shopping - now we are so happy to announce that we’ve launched a product that takes online social shopping to a new level with our social syndication tool, a social storefront for retailers of all sizes/products.
Our social syndication tool is designed to work with product feeds, allowing any kind of retailer to instantly sell their products on leading social networks including Twitter, Facebook, and Wishpot! Once configured, Wishpot will notify fans/followers of new and popular items, price drops, and more. Now consumers can stay up-to-date on all the latest styles and best prices! The service is available to retailers of all sizes and includes a 1-month free trial Starter Package.
You’ll recognize some of the stores currently using the social storefront including Teavana, C & C California, Century Novelty, & handmade artisan Embellish Yourself. Click here for more information on our social syndication tool or sign up here to get more exposure & start selling your products on popular social networking platforms.
The Master Key Cuff was found in the Indie Finds wish list of Wishpot Handmade Expert and bloggerBrooke Fuller. The edgy, rocker-inspired cuff was made by Etsy artisan UrbanHeirloom.
You can see more of Brooke’s picks on her Wishpot profile or at The Pear Project.
