As you probably know by the excessive amount of pink around town this week, October is breast cancer awareness month. Because our donations always go towards women and children, we thought this would be a great month to give 10% of all sales to Beats for Boobs Seattle, a non-profit event that gives 100% of their earnings to three local breast cancer charities: BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER, YOUNG SURVIVAL COALITION, and SEATTLE CANCER CARE ALLIANCE!
The event is at the Crocodile on October 19th, and would be a great place to wear your new pink Otra Vez earrings! We could not be more impressed with the group of women who throw this event each year, good luck ladies and keep up the great work!

Love,

Otra Vez

Today the Otra Vez team went to visit our September beneficiary: Childhaven. WOW. We had no idea such a wonderful place existed in the heart of Seattle.

Childhaven is “the only nonprofit organization in King County dedicated to the mission of healing youngest and most vulnerable victims of abuse while breaking the cycle that leads to more hurt, more trauma”… In other words, Childhaven not only heals families already shattered by abuse and neglect, they also work to prevent it from occurring again.  Today we learned that though their mission sounds intense, it is such a place of joy. We couldn’t stop smiling the whole time!

My reason for escaping my hometown upon entering adulthood was not that I yearned to flee from an iniquitous reputation, or to liberate myself from a toxic relationship or even to break loose from oppressive family restraints.

Nope, none of the normal reasons that people escape their hometown applied to me. My reason was much more basic than that; I was desperately seeking warmth and sunshine. Neither of which you get sufficient amounts of growing up in Northwestern Washington State. So that is why I spent the first half of my twenties as a Washington transplant in Southern California.

I got plenty of sun in Orange County over the years but I soon came to realize that the sun not only turned me a different color, it also zapped all of my creative energy. So… after being laid off from one of my jobs as a marketing assistant in 2008 and wrapping up a five-year stint as a nanny, I decided to act on a recent urge  to move, to change and ultimately to reinvent myself. For weeks I pondered my next move and entertained the idea of returning to Europe, biking around Latin America, even teaching English in Vietnam. I decided on a road trip across my own country most of which was virtually undiscovered by me. It was settled; I would pack up my car and take a solo drive around the perimeter of the United States. I budgeted an entire summer to myself and the open road with the intention of having endless hours to create jewelry out of things I would find along the way. Quickly, however, my dreams of self-discovery and concentrated artistry were no competition with hitting every social gathering that I could. And looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Although I didn’t create one single piece of jewelry in that entire 4 months, what I did do created a path for LadieJack. I spent that summer not seeking out a “new self” but being my “old self.” I cultivated past and present friendships, explored unfamiliar territory, searched for a vortex, rescued an orphaned field mouse, and looked at water falls and alligators and lightning storms. I played Bananagrams with strangers, went to concerts alone, crashed weddings with friends and cataloged a half million memories (and parking tickets) along the way.

I think I did exactly what I was supposed to do that summer, and as fate may have it, my intended journey of self-discovery led me right back to where I began–the same place I had escaped nearly a half decade prior; Port Angeles, Washington. Now that I am back on the Olympic Peninsula, my heart feels at home. All of the memories that I created in California and all over these blessed, United States get rearranged each day and paired with new experiences to propel my spirit and to further my understanding of love and of life. LadieJack is a tribute to the many faces and places that make up those memories. Part Pacific Northwest, part California, and a reflection of a whole lotta smiles and miles through time and space; this is the Homecoming Series. Hope you like it.

Combining their wealth of creative energies, artists rex and telle lefler create thoughtfully designed jewelry lines that are timeless and glamorous, yet affordable and versatile. Inspired by concepts of antiquity, modernity, and infinity, their jewelry features hand-cut raw brass, earthly gems, and reinvented vintage+antique materials. The resulting aesthetic is glamorously mellow; a balance of edgy and beautiful, like a rose with its thorns.

“Great attention to detail is within every handmade piece we make. Our goal is to create jewelry that withstands the tests of time and can be loved for years to come. We take pride in either working with raw materials or re-inventing salvaged materials, with an emphasis on using consciously sourced goods as well as running our business with integrity.”-telle

rex and telle are as passionate about humanitarian efforts as they are about their arts; in the past they have used their arts to fund-raise for global efforts, such as Japan’s tsunami relief, and are thankful to be featured on Otra Vez where they will be premiering a unique line of necklaces made from 100% vintage/antique materials. The Native Magic Series features a limited edition of 14 one-of-a-kind necklaces made from antique African trade beads and vintage brass chain.

This month’s 10% will go to both Women for Women International and Seattle Against Slavery.

Carissa and Carleigh in Support of Treehouse for Kids Seattle

This month the Otra Vez team is featuring two wonderful designers (and sisters!). 5% of everything bought through the Otra Vez Website during January and February will benefit Tree House, a wonderful Seattle non-profit that benefits foster youth.

Carleigh and Carissa Donsker grew up in Los Angeles together with their parents, brother and plethora of pets. The materials they use in their creations are salvaged, and have been re-purposed to create one of a kind intricate and unique wearable objects. “We spent many summer days on the beach of West Seattle sketching ideas, creating designs and watching the sun set over the Olympic mountains for our inspiration. In our daily efforts we always hope to encourage and inspire those around us to find those unique and beautiful things that are already in the world”, says Carissa.

Carleigh, the younger sister and also an amazing painter, selects beautiful naturally shed feathers for her pieces from the open fields of Chatsworth, CA. She combines these findings with sterling silver or gold plated wire and colorful Swarovski crystals. Her other accessories, like her jelly fish series, are also inspired by nature and reflect the delicate life of these creatures – these are made from remnants of vintage silk scarves and clothing.

Carissa, an interior designer, uses remnants of wood both local and exotic as the base for her jewelry, and sees her designs as a natural extension of only the best aspects of her day job. She begins by hand carving wooden blocks into delicate shapes, then sanding the wood down so it as soft as silk to the touch. She uses natural oil stains to seal in the natural wood color, which helps them resist body oils, water and other elements. The final process involves selecting the natural gemstone to set into the wood which is secured with a cement like epoxy. The finished pieces are delicate and simple.

We hope you enjoy their work as much as we do. We find these edgy, earthy looks the perfect way for an stylish Seattle woman to shine!

Please note that Carleigh’s pieces are each sold separately – they can be worn as one earring or paired together for a unique non matching look. Both sisters would love to create custom orders for you upon request!

Ramissa Fennell in custom Otra Vez

So, you already know that Otra Vez makes stunning jewelry for sale in boutiques all over Seattle (and beyond!). What you may not know is that we do amazing custom design work as well! As word of our custom work grows, more and more of our fans are requesting special pairs of earrings made just for them (or as a gift for a friend or loved one).

At Otra Vez we’ll work with you to create custom jewelry that is as unique and individual as you are. You can choose from our selection of salvaged goods, or bring in your own broken, heirloom, or outdated jewelry to have us work with.

Send us a picture of a piece you love, look through our gallery of current and sold pieces on Facebook, or just send us your thoughts and ideas to start. We’ll get right to work! Contact us at orders@otravez-ecotique.com for more info.

Twice Blushed Designer Amanda Vernell

As you may have noticed, more and more green wedding resources are emerging as eco-conscious brides (and grooms!) are looking for ways to keep their weddings earth-friendly. Twice Blushed turns once-loved bridal gowns into unique, one-of-a-kind art that represents an environmentally conscious approach to the traditional wedding gown. An essential component of a “green wedding”, Twice Blushed gowns are handmade right here in Seattle and range from $300 to $2,000 plus.

This trunk show, sponsored by Fashion Group International, is happening at Vernell’s studio at 5228 20th Ave. NW in Ballard. Cupcakes and champagne will be served. Tickets are $10 for FGI members, $15 for non-members and $5 for students with ID.

Swing on by, meet the designers, and peruse the beautiful showcase of gowns, jewelry and accessories!

See you there!

International Women's Day has been celebrated for over 100 years!

The Founder and CEO of Women for Women International, Zainab Salb says, “We all have envisioned a day where women will speak out and speak up, to break their silence and demand peace, justice, and more equality in this world. A hundred years have gone by and women have accomplished a lot in legal protection, political and economic representation, education, and so many other areas. But the road to full equality for women is still long, and our vision of justice and sustainable, full peace in our lives has yet to come.”

We couldn’t agree with her more.

Statistics show women are disproportionally marginalized in the world and it is time to BRIDGE THE GAP. Let us make this day a day the time to celebrate our womanhood, our voices, our contribution to society. It is time to speak out. It is time to break our silence. It is time to demand peace and justice. IT IS TIME TO JOIN US ON A BRIDGE!

The sites below will link you to meeting places all over the world for International Women’s Day. Take some time on March 8th to find a bridge, any bridge, and let’s celebrate what a powerful impact we women have on our world!

http://www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp

Through the month of February Otra Vez will donate $5 from every pair of earrings that sells to the continued relief efforts in Haiti.

It is hard for us to imagine the terror and devastation that the earthquake in Haiti has brought its people. To date, there are over 200,000 people dead, many injured, and thousands upon thousands of people trying to survive with little or no food and shelter. Like concerned citizens around the world, we at Otra Vez have a deep sadness for the people of Haiti and want to extend our hands and prayers to their country.

World Concern (rated four out of four stars by Charity Navigator) is an amazing organization that has been helping Haiti and its people for 31 years. They are now at the forefront of the relief effort in Haiti and they truley care about the people of this country. Through World Concern we will be donating $5 for every pair of earrings sold to the continued relief efforts.
Treat your self or a loved fantastic pair of earrings and you will be helping many people recieve food, shelter and necessary medical assistance.

We may live far away from the country of Haiti and this devastation, but remember, we all see the same sky, we are all connected, and now is OUR time to help our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Mary Nyigok Malak

We are so excited to announce a new sisterhood! As you know 10% of our proceeds support Women for Women International, now specifically Mary Nyigok Malak of Sudan, Africa. Mary is 31 years old  and married with 6 children. Through our sponsorship, Mary will learn about women’s rights, allowing her to take greater control over the decisions that govern her life and that of her children; she will learn technical and business skills that will allow her to sustain an income; she will receive direct cash assistance and emotional support, and will be given access to jobs and tools to start her own business. Follow our blog to learn more about Mary, her family, and their transformation. Each month we will be posting information about Mary’s progress, how she is finding her voice, and learning new skills. Viva la SISTERHOOD!