All Things Good & Happy for You in 2014!

Just a few of your favorite designs this year!

It's a simple wish really -- one for all things good and happy in the New Year. I can't thank you enough for all of your support and encouragement over this past year. Life is always full of change and 2013 was no exception to the rule. We all have weathered this storm called life and have grown stronger and more powerful than ever. That being said, I am greeting 2014 with open arms and a wide-open heart. I hope you'll stay around and enjoy my adventure right along with me and let me be a little part of your journey. We are sharing this life together and that gives me great joy! Happy New Year!

Christmas 1976 -- The Way it Was!

In keeping with the weekly Throwback Thursday blog trend I seem to have fallen into these days, here are some snaps from Christmas 1976. Yes…just in case you didn’t remember, I am that old! Recently I uncovered a few pix that I thought had been lost forever. I can’t tell you how happy I was to find them. Proof that it is the little things in life! Fair warning -- I’m sure I will be sharing more of my lost treasure found as the new year unfolds; so stay tuned. For me, it’s fun to look back in time and trigger old memories. These three pix were taken on Christmas Day 1976 in my kitchen/dining/family room.

Ponytails, Teachers and Tomboys

Me c.1955

It’s coming on birthdays – mine to be exact! Yes, as I celebrate yet another year of life I am looking back at a few people who were instrumental in helping to mold me into the person I am today. One of those was Miss Poppert, a second grade teacher. While she wasn’t my second grade teacher, for some reason I took a fancy to her and she to me during that year. I remember that she was a very stylish gal. Tall, very pretty, fabulous clothes and big jewelry; and she seemed to “get me” in some way that few other adults understood.

Gem of an Advent Calendar

Remember the excitement of getting your Advent calendar when you were a kid? I don’t know about you; but it was hard to only open one little door a day. As an adult, I still get an advent calendar every year – even though the “goodies” inside don't seem to be all that tasty, at least not like I remember them to be all those years ago. I am a bit of a traditionalist as I still go for the inexpensive chocolate variety. This year I thought I would offer all of my jewelry gals a gem Advent calendar of sorts. How does it work?

Street Style c.1965 It’s Throwback Thursday

Capturing Street Style isn’t really all that new of an idea. It’s true, we were doing it way back when – this pix from 1965 taken on the streets of Los Angeles is definite proof. (I wish the quality was better -- my facial expression is a bit strange.) Of course, it definitely wasn’t a candid shot; but then today I wonder what percentage of “street style” shots are really candid. With the exception of the style captured by the magical Bill Cunningham, I have a stinking suspicion that most street style captures are styled to the max. Maybe some of you fashion bloggers can bring me into this century and tell me I am wrong. By now you know that I lived for many years in New York City – one of the things I miss about living there is the constant exposure to a diverse world of style.

“Dear, don’t you think you are wearing too many bracelets?”

Dragonfly Czech Vintage Button &
Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Thank the gods, those are words you will never hear again – and if you do, cover your ears and pretend you don’t hear them! I’m the first to say that there is something powerfully pleasing about a stack of bracelets dancing on your wrist. These days, in the vast jewelry arena, you know there are lots and lots and lots from which to choose.

Friendship Bracelets – All Grown Up

So much talk of macramé and friendship bracelets in fashion these days…and I am loving it. While regular followers know by now, I just need to tell all you new peeps that my jewelry roots are in macramé and beads. Yes, indeed, I started making and selling jewelry in 1967 in Southern California – height of the hippie and bohemian era. While I was what I would call a beach kid – my knotted and beaded cording designs fit the bill for all factions during the early years.

34 Degrees? Hooray -- Cozy Sweater Weather!

Sing along with me..."it's the most wonderful time of the year" – yes, I know those lyrics were actually penned for Christmas – but I’m singing them today because I love the crisp cold sunny mornings and clear-sky twinkling star evenings of fall. Such a rebel, me! 

Throwback Thursday, 1956 & Pleated Skirts

A wee bit of a throwback – January 1956 – my brother and I posing for a quick snap, most likely taken with the family Brownie. It’s always fun for me to look back at the few old pix I have. It gives me a peek into my fashion sense – how it started and how the past influences my personal style today. Judging by my brother’s outfit, my guess is that we were going somewhere other than school on this particular day; although my outfit would have been the same had it been a school day. A little side note – notice the neighbor’s car. Yes, that was a big black Cadillac!

Mental Illness & Health: Take Two

Warning, as you might have guessed by the post title, this post has nothing to do with the fun folly of jewelry and everything to do with life. So, if you are still with me – thanks! Yesterday, thanks to Finn Harries of British YouTube JacksGap fame (yes, I said YouTube -- I am old; but I am not dead!), I came across this TED presentation. If you aren’t familiar with TED, you might want to take a minute or twenty and Google them to learn a bit more. Go ahead; my feelings won’t be hurt if you do it now. I’ll wait until you come back.

Something Old & Something Square?

It still amazes me when a complete stranger offers to buy a piece of jewelry right from my wrist or neck. You’d think that after all these years it would feel like old hat since that is pretty much how my biz started way back in 1967. (For you youngsters, that is what they call the dark ages!) Yesterday it happened again.

A Donation for your Local Food Bank

Now, with every item you buy from Tanya Lochridge Jewelry, we will make a donation to your local food bank.  Ten percent of the full price of your item(s) will be donated directly to the food bank you list in the Special Request area when you are checking out in your Tanya Lochridge Jewelry Shopping Cart. 

Food insecurity is a serious issue in the United States. 2012 statistics show that 49.0 million Americans lived in food insecure households – 33.1 million adults and 15.9 million children. Every contribution helps, no matter the size – with that in mind, we are doing what we can to help ensure that people have access to food where they live and whenever they need it. Thanks so much for caring and for your donation.

We are adding our new local food bank program to our ongoing "All Things Pink" program in which ten percent of the retail price of designated  items is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We hope that you will tell your friends about both of these programs -- every little bit helps. For more information, visit the site and this page specifically for the details.

And, it’s Officially Fall!

Earlier this week I actually felt a chill in the air and as I pulled clothes from my closet for the day I automatically reached for my Donna Karan cashmere sweater. Over the years, this sweater has become the clothes equivalent of comfort food for me. There is nothing special about it really, just easy to wear, comfy, soft and over-sized – a deep charcoal gray. Last night I realized that I have had this sweater for about 17 years!

Fashion, Trend & a bit of a Throwback Thursday

“Trends are in and out in a flash; fashion comes and goes; but style always stays.” Not quite sure where I heard that and I know I have probably really made a mash of it – even so, it is a good and true comment, at least for me. With all the energy around New York Fashion Week it’s hard to avoid the buzz.

Mental Illness & Health

When I did this photo shoot 15+ years ago, I had no idea how close the topic of the ad would mesh into my reality. While I do not have psychosis, I was chosen for the gig because of my “soccer mom…gal next door…you can trust me” overall vibe and the fact that I had a high school graduation pix that was in good shape. Shoot complete, long running renewals and tear sheets tucked safely away in my portfolio. All was pretty much forgotten.

Online Shopping?

Crystal Quartz & Pearl Three-Strand Bracelet

This evening I thought it would be fun to go to the outlet stores and take a gander at a few of my favorite stores – J. Crew, Tommy Bahama, Converse and Nike. While I do live out in the boonies, for some reason long before I called this home someone had the idea to build an outlet shopping center right off the freeway here in town. And, over the years it has changed dramatically and has become quite the destination spot for people on vacation during the summer. I guess people really like to shop!

Post Fireworks Razzle Dazzle - 60% Savings!

Crystal Quartz, Pearl and Gold Vermeil Bracelet
 (styled with a coin bracelet from my personal collection)

Yes, it’s true. There’s a big celebration going on over at Tanya Lochridge Jewelry through July 14^th. In case you didn’t see the email announcing this flash of brilliance, follow the link to your invite below and you’ll immediately learn all about it. Most importantly, if you see something you want, snap it up quickly. Pieces are flying and, as you know, designs are always limited to begin with – no mass production here.

Use the code/voucher FIREWORKS60 and you’ll see 60% of your total purchase price disappear on your order of $50 or more. 60% is a big chunk of change that can stay in your Rebecca Minkoff, Anya Hindmarch, Coach or any other glorious bag du jour!

If you haven’t joined my mailing list yet, now would be the time to do it, easy to do in the upper right hand corner of this page. Why am I pointing? It’s the perfect way to make sure you are up-to-date on all of the latest in the studio.

Have fun!

Post Fireworks Razzle-Dazzle Invitation

Dad's Day & the Moments

Time flies…I know, an old saying but still rings true. Here we are at another Father's Day so it’s not unusual that I am thinking about my dad and how integral a part he played in me becoming the person I am today. Corny, I know…but if you’ve followed any of my blog over the years you’ll know that there are several posts in which I talk about his talents and how I was lucky enough to share many with him.

Yes…I am 64! Vent or Rant?

Why oh why do I let people’s comments bug me so much? This morning while scrolling through my twitter feed, I came across this little tweet “How good does [famous person] look at 60? Stunning!” At what point in time are people going to stop using an age qualifier in a comment in a description of a female? Isn’t it enough to say she looks great or she is really fit – I say it’s time to drop the “for her age” and “she is 60” silliness.

Ring Around the Carnelian - Item of the Week

“Oh-h-h, oh-h-h, oh-h-h!” That’s what you and everyone who sees you will be saying when they get a look at this necklace. There is no way I could get a full-length shot of this 48” beauty, so I wrapped it around Lulu, the neck, so you could see most of the beads.

Is There a Formula?

Earlier this week I read a fashion blog entry that was touting what seemed to be the equivalent of the perfect mathematical formula for stacking bracelets. Being the fanatic that I am when it comes to details, I had a good chuckle over the fact that there was someone out there in the same fanatics unite club! However, I think they had a different membership than me!

“Sunshine, oh sunshine, wherefore art thou?”

I know, I know, I live in the Pacific Northwest so why am I always complaining about the lack of sunshine? I should be use to it by now, shouldn’t I? Well, let the record show I am not use to it; and, honestly, I don’t think I will ever get use to it. I’m a SoCal beach girl at heart – so sunshine and ocean breezes are my happy place!

Fanfare Please -- Rough & Polished Amethyst & Crystal Quartz Bracelet

By now you have to know how much I love gemstones in their rough state. That being said – this three-strand bracelet is made up of rough amethyst and dazzling crystal quartz.

Fanfare Please -- Yellow Calcite & Crystal Quartz

Sometimes simple is magnificent. Case in point – this magnificent yellow calcite and crystal quartz bracelet. You know that my trademark design is usually a three-strand, sometimes five-strand, bracelet or necklace. However, there are times when I sit at the bench in my studio and see a simple, yet stunning, single strand design. This was one of those times.

A Mash of Our Own

No secret, I love a mash of bracelets…always have, always will. It tickles me that the world of fashion has finally embraced the look as well. These days you don’t have to look far to see your favorite fashion blogger or models in an editorial spread donning loads and loads of bracelets. While I love the look, there is one thing that I think I do a bit differently from the norm. Maybe it has to do with my fascination with rocks and gemstones and how I showcase them in my jewelry designs or maybe it has to do with my being slightly claustrophobic. (Bet you weren’t expecting that now were you?)

For the Love of Lavender Essential Oil

It seems this week there have been so many people saying that they had burned themselves. My first reaction when I hear that is “ouch” – damn, burns hurt. And, the next thing out of my mouth or onto my keyboard, is Lavender Essential Oil. Yes, lavender! Since I have tweeted that bit of advice several times over the past year or more, I thought it was time to share my experience with you. In doing so, it’ll all make sense…at least that is my hope.

It's so Easy Being Green!

Green Aventurine, Prehnite & Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Maybe it’s because it’s St. Patrick’s Day, maybe it’s because Pantone has named Emerald the color of the year for 2013 or just maybe it’s because I gaze out the studio window and I see little touches of green here and there. I am so happy to see spring…so very happy. The winters in this part of the country are really tough – at least for this born and raised SoCal girl.

300 and Still Standing!

When I was posting my last blog about reaching 10,000 tweets on Twitter, I didn’t notice until after the fact that post was my 300^th in a very long stream of blog posts. Where or where does the time go? And, more importantly, where or where do the words come from?

10,000? Could it be Possible?

Oh dear, at some point earlier in the week I posted my 10,000 tweet. For those of you who might not know exactly what that means – I’ll say my 10,000 tweet on Twitter. Okay, for a person who resisted Twitter for a year or so, I sure seem to have jumped in with both feet! That number couldn’t possibly be right…could it?

Who Do You Dress For? (For Whom Do You Dress?) Grammar Aficianados Take Your Pick!



Blue Chalcedony, Eagle Eye Agate & Czech Glass

Over the weekend, I spent a big part of my time working in the studio and, totally off subject, I have the jaw bruise to prove it! In short – sometimes life of a jewelry designer is perilous! One slip of the grip and pow! So this week it's Tanya zero and pliers one if you are keeping score.

Snow, snow & snow!

All this talk of NYC and Nemo threw me back in time. A year or so before I moved out of the city there was a terrific snow storm in the city and I remember it all so well. Growing up in SoCal, snow was always so magical to me…the only time I experienced it was on trips to the mountains as a kid where we would fly down hills on sleds and toboggans  and on skiing adventures as I grew older. Living in this part of the country, while we get snow on occasion, it is nothing like that I was so lucky to experience in New York.

Seven Years & Celebrating!

Yes, it’s true. Seven years ago I sat down and posted my first blog entry. Back then it started as a way to showcase my jewelry designs since technology was slightly different in those days and on online presence was not quite yet in the cards. Fast forward, seven years, and here we are – all of this techno-stuff makes it possible for me to stay in touch with all of you – from anywhere in the world. Isn’t it amazing? Baffling, yet amazing. I love it all. Well, maybe it’s better to say (and a bit more truthfully) that at times I have a love-hate relationship with it! But most days…it’s pure love.

Seen on the Most Famous Women -- Yes, That Would Be You!

Part of me wants to shout “I don’t care what celebrity has worn what in any movie or video” – but then I know full well that saying that could come back and bite me in the butt thus quenching any spark of interest from stylists and wardrobe gurus around the world. (But, didn’t I just put it all out there? Yes, I did so I doubt that “coming to a screen near you” will be in my vernacular anytime soon!)

Now You Can Follow My Blog on Bloglovin'

And, if Twitter and Facebook aren't enough, now you can follow my blog on Bloglovin'! Okay, the world has gone mad and looks like I am going with it! Now...back to the jewelry bench.

Yes, that paragraph is one giant link because I can't get the code to change. So, just ignore all the blue above, for now. Ta!

From the Land of YouTube

In the last few months, an interesting and quite unexpected phenomenon has taken place in the world of Tanya Lochridge Jewelry. You might want to sit down for this...I have become infatuated with YouTube. I know...I said it would never happen, but you know what they say "never say never."

Coming Full Circle

I spent some time over the weekend catching up with an old, old, old friend. It was so much fun talking about our glory days at the beach and our crazy life at school. It’s interesting to me how you sometimes forget certain events until someone who shared it with you way back when brings it up and suddenly it’s as if no time has passed and you are reliving the moment, detail by detail and giggling about it all over again. I love that. Unfettered laughter is good for the soul.

Say it isn't so!

This morning, one of my worst nightmares came to life. Okay, so that’s a little dramatic; but stick with me here. On my Twitter feed there was a tweet from an accessories rep group that went something like this – “…I would never want to do a collaboration with a 50-year-old women who wears clogs.” My first reaction was to step into a smack down on Twitter.

Lavender & the Color Purple

Every year, when I harvest my lavender I bring it into the studio to dry for several months before removing the little buds or whatever they are called from each stem. I love having the lavender inside especially when I sit at one particular location of my workbench. As I work, my feet jostle the ends of the stems under the bench and with just the slightest movement the soothing scent of lavender is released into the air. It’s heavenly.

Open Arms & 2013

This morning I joyfully welcomed a new year with wide open arms. The New Year greeted me in return with glorious sunshine and blue skies – an unusual sight in this part of the world. But, I’ll take it. For me, the sunshine feeds my soul and reenergizes my body – I love it for that! Although it is only 28 degrees this morning, I’m sitting on my patio, bundled in one of my favorite toasty cabled afghans, letting the sun shine on my back, sipping fresh Peet’s coffee and enjoying the gifts of Mother Nature. It’s a lovely picture, isn’t it?