A Ruby Red Wedding

Red has always been a popular choice for wedding colors and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Red is such a popular choice because it compliments any season of the year and coordinates well with a multitude of different colors. We’re so intrigued by this sassy and bold color that we put together our idea of what a red wedding could look like.

Invites

It all starts with the invitations and you can be super versatile. Great for Spring when paired with flowers and just as beautiful for winter with a cream.

Bouquets

There are so many options with bouquets that it’s hard to choose which way to go. You can pair red flowers with purples for a fun mix, whites and creams for a sophisticated look, or you can embrace the fall by pairing it with yellow and orange flowers.

Accessories

You can’t beat red shoes for a red-theme wedding. You can keep your dress traditional and add our color at your heels. You can also add a run red flower to your hair to kick in some color at the top. As for the jewelry – ruby has never looked better.

     

Wedding Party

The fun thing about red is that it can be dressed up or dressed down. A fun flirty dress is just as flattering as a full length formal gown. The same thing can be applied to men – check out those red pants!

 

The Reception

The darker and deeper the shade, the more formal your reception will be, but we’re loving the outdoor picnic themed receptions too! Plus, you can pull in your color with drinks and appetizers too!

 

Desserts

You’re not limited to cake with this color – berries and red velvet flavored items will be just as elegant.

For more wedding ideas, follow us on Pinterest. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and shop all your favorite jewelry looks on our website.

FREE Pandora Bracelet Event

Every so often, Pandora runs an offer at participating locations for customers to get their favorite jewelry at great prices. From July 10th through the 21st, you can receive a Free leather or multi-strand cord bracelet when you buy $100 worth of Pandora jewelry. We put together a few ideas so you know what to buy before you even walk in our door.

For the Sports Fan

Minnesota Twins Charm – $75

Blue Murano Charm – $45

Braided Red Leather Bracelet – FREE

Pandora has a wide variety of charms for sports fans from soccer balls to figure skaters. They also offer major league options for all your favorite teams! We love this sterling silver Minnesota Twins Charm paired with a blue murano. Placed together on a braided red leather, this combination is a great start for a sports fan’s bracelet.

For the Gardener

Rose Garden Clip – $55

Roses Charm – $25

Love Takes Flight Charm – $50

Pink Multi-Strand Bracelet – FREE

Flowers and butterflies made a huge debut during the Spring 2014 season. These charms are elegant and have so many details that no matter what charms you choose, they’re sure to be a hit with everybody. We chose a pink enamel painted rose clip and matched it with a dangling butterfly and a milgrain detailed rose charm. The pink multi-strand cord bracelet is a soft feminine touch for any gardening lover.

For the World Traveler

Airplane Charm – $40

Suitcase Charm – $40

Passport Charm – $45

Brown Braided Leather Bracelet – FREE

The brown braided leather bracelet looks good with nearly every outfit. We added a couple of sterling silver charms: an airplane, a passport and a suitcase. Pandora has a selection of destination charms too such as the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty for those want to commemorate a trip to a certain place. Perfect for any traveler!

For the Summer

Seahorse Charm – $45

Teal Lattice Murano Charm – $35

Shimmering Lace Charm – $55

Multi-Strand Teal Bracelet – FREE

We are obsessed with the striking teal color of many of the Summer 2014 charms. The seahorse fully embodies the ocean and the lattice murano keeps the collection unique. Of course, we also love the sparkles that come from the shimmering lace charm. It’s a perfect combination for the summer time.

To shop more Pandora jewelry, visit us online or in our store at 1660 Tullamore St. in Mankato, MN. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook!

What Your Diamond Shape Says About Your Personal Style

Your engagement ring is going to be a part of our outfit for the rest of your life no matter what you’re wearing – so you want it to reflect your personal style. Here’s what each diamond says about the woman who’s wearing it.

Round

By far the most popular shape, the round brilliant diamond was the original ‘modern’ cut. The woman who wears it has a classic style with a fuss-free approach to style. You know what transcends the seasons and you don’t bend to trends. Your confidence in your style and tastes cannot be missed.

Princess

The square, clean cut of a princess diamond is increasingly popular because of their sparkle and modern shape. If you wear the cut, you are a modern thinker with a respect for the past and love a mix of tradition and change. You embrace different influences for a well-rounded world-view.

Emerald

The emerald cut, chosen by those who think that sparkle isn’t necessarily the ultimate quality with diamonds, emphasizes clarity. It is dramatic and distinctive and is worn by women with confidence and an appreciation for vintage design.

Cushion

An antique design that evokes the glamour of the 1920s, the cushion cut made a recent appearance in The Great Gatsby. It is a charming and opulent cut similar to round. If you wear this cut, you’re romantic and elegant with a love of vintage luxury.

Asscher

It’s easy to see why the asscher cut has soared into popularity over the last few years with its cropped corners and distinctive ‘X’ shape. Beloved by Hollywood, the cut has been worn by iconic figures such as Elizabeth Taylor and Gwyneth Paltrow. If you opt for this cut, you have a keen eye for style and want to stand out from the crowd and attract lots of admiration.

Radiant

Similar to an emerald cut, a radiant diamond is for women who want traditional sparkle but don’t want to veer too far from the classic cuts. It’s great for shorter than average fingers due to its elongated shape. The wearer has a sense of modern sensibility.

Oval

An oval diamond has the potential for as much brilliance as the classic round shape. They are especially flattering for short fingers as it creates an illusion of length. Women who wear it enjoy sophistication and value elegance but are looking for something a bit more unique.

Marquise

The marquise cut has the greatest size per carat weight of all the popular cuts and it may appeal to those who want a larger-looking engagement ring. The elongated shape lengthens the ring finger while the wearer often has a love for romance. King Louis XIV of France requested a new diamond cut for the woman he loved, and the fancy cut was born.

Pear

Also known as a ‘teardop’ diamond, the pear cut can be worn either way allowing the wearer to create different looks depending on their mood. This is for women who mean it when they say they want to stand out.

What do you think? Did we get it right? To shop all engagement ring styles, check out our website. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook!

 

Mankato Gems – City Art Walking Sculpture Tour

In the city centers of Mankato and North Mankato sit over 30 outdoor sculptures. The year round display features pieces of all styles, types, materials and sizes from a diverse group of regional, national and international artists.

Fat Tire #5
LANCE CARLETON

Each Spring, new sculptures are brought in to take the place of the previous years’ pieces of art. They are promoted within the community for sale and the city encourages community members to walk the tour.

Polar Bear and Cubs
DELLORES B. SHELLEDY

The goal is to provide area residents with engaging public art initiatives. It also aims to have a high quality and artist-friendly feel.

Jumping Through Hoops
JACQUE FRAZEE

The city loans the pieces from each artist for the year and gives them a chance to win cash prizes. Best of Show Bronze, Best of Show Other Medium, People’s Choice Award and Kid’s Choice Award each have cash payouts.

Holy Rabble
MARY JOHNSON

If voted People’s Choice Award, the sculpture is purchases by the City Center Partnership for permanent installation. Each participating artist is also given a travel stipend to get their piece to and from Mankato and 2-day accommodations for Artists’ Weekend in May.

Yosemite
TIM JAMES

Featured in the post are a few of the 2014 City Art Walking Sculpture Tour pieces. To check out the rest of the pieces, visit the city art website and vote for your favorite.

Mr. Eggwards KIMBER FIEBIGER

Be sure to check out our Pinterest page for more Mankato Gems and Like us on Facebook!

Mankato Gems – Fallenstein Field

Fallenstein Field opened on July 24, 2008 to a Grand Opening Event that included food, beverages, games, activities and a dedication ceremony. Named after the late Al and Erla Fallenstein, the field was the first fully handicapped accessible softball/baseball field in Minnesota.

Located in Caswell Park in North Mankato, the field features a rubberized surface conducive to wheelchair use. It also comes equipped with enough bats, balls and helmets to outfit every player. A scoreboard, lights and spacious dugouts complete the feel of a traditional baseball field.

The Miracle League of North Mankato calls Fallenstein Field home, which is an organization that assists handicapped individuals of all ages to play ball.

The field has filled a hole in the community that hasn’t been filled before. It continues to be a great outlet for handicapped individuals and their families to rally around and hopefully will be for many years.

For more information on the field or the Miracle League, either visit their website or read more in LX Mankato.

LX Mankato Inspiration

The latest edition of LX Mankato just launched and we think it’s one of the best issues yet. Fashion, travel, libation and photography are just a few of the topics covered in the national editorials. Locally, we feature the Mankato Magazine and the Miracle League of North Mankato.

Spring/Summer 2014 LX Mankato Cover

But those aren’t the only local features! Two amazing beauties from our store, Stephanie and Maria, appear in ads in the magazine. Plus, the dazzling pieces photographed with tulips make for an eye-catching page. Read on to find out what inspired our ads and to see the stunning diamonds highlighted in them.

 

Original photo shoot ideas

 

Stephanie:

Marilyn Monroe will always be regarded as an icon in the diamond industry after her performance of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. But she will also be remembered as a fashion icon and one of the world’s sexiest women.

We were inspired by the black and white photos of Monroe wearing a floppy hat.

One hand-tinted image caught our attention with the bright pop of pink of a flower and Monroe’s lips. Marilyn’s calm demeanor and stunning beauty intrigued us. Check out our rendition of the photo:

Stephanie is wearing Hearts on Fire Small Stunning Earrings and a Signature Diamond Pendant.

 

Maria:

Spring and Summer are such popular times for weddings, we knew we wanted to include bridal jewelry in one of our ads. We teamed up with Inspire Bridal Boutique and Lori Marie Photography to create a stunning ad that not only features beautiful jewelry, but also a beautiful dress and veils.

For the full body photo, we were inspired by the dramatic cathedral length veils. Originally, we were planning on a profile view to capture the veil’s length and beauty but we couldn’t take our eyes off the gorgeous dress; so we compromised:

The close up shot was inspired by the classically modern birdcage veil, which gently covers a bride’s face. The contrast between Maria’s blue eyes and pink lips are striking:

She’s wearing a Hearts on Fire Beloved Pendant, Simon G. Sparklet Collection Earrings, Simon G. Passion Collection Ring, and a Signature Diamond Cluster Bangle.

 

Tulips:

With tulips in full bloom, we knew we couldn’t resist doing a photo shoot with these magnificent flowers. The pink and green make an elegant backdrop for the dazzling diamonds. Check out the original photos and how we cropped them down to fit on one page.

The ad features a Signature Circle Diamond Pendant, Sylvie Ring, Signature Hoop Diamond Pendant, yellow gold, rose gold and white gold Signature Diamond Cluster Bangles, and a Caro74 Ring.

 

Mankato Gems – Sibley Park

Tucked away from the busyness that sometimes engulfs the Mankato area is Sibley Park. Established in 1887, the park is named after the first Minnesota Governor, Henry Hastings Sibley. In its history, it has been home to a horse racing track, regional zoo, museum, community band shelter, clay tennis courts and renowned gardens. Although some of these things still exist today, it is mostly a space used for recreation and relaxation among Mankato residents. and is great for large or small group gatherings, organized sports or any reserved use. In addition, the gardens offer a great location for outdoor weddings and photo sessions. Throughout the entire park are walking trails.

Located on the convergence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers, Sibley Park is divided into a north and south side by a hill and takes up approximately 100 acres. The north side faces the water and has softball fields, tennis courts, grilling areas and a playground for the summer months and a sliding hill in the winter.

The south side features extensive landscape and gardens, open space, picnicking areas and Sibley Farm, a story book farm site complete with a farm-themed playground. The farm has red barn-style buildings and has alpacas, goats, peacocks, horses, pigs, lambs, chicks, ducklings and koi fish in the pond.

Atop the hill stands the CHS Pergola, a steel structure reminiscent of 1930s park structures. The area surrounding the pergola is being reclaimed through plantings and controlled burns to an Oak Savanna environment similar to what originally existed there.

Between November 29 and December 31, Kiwanis puts on a one million light display in Sibley Park. The event is put on by 100% volunteerism and takes over 1,000 people to be possible. A parade, animated and choreographed lights, Santa, live reindeer, and a synthetic skating rink create the Kiwanis Holiday Lights experience. Food and money donations are encouraged, but entry is free.

Sibley Park is a place for anyone to enjoy. From family outings to work gatherings to softball games and winter sledding, Sibley Park has something for everyone. It has been a staple in the community and will continue to do so in years to come. For these reasons, Sibley Park is certainly a Mankato Gem.

Be sure to follow our Mankato Gems board on Pinterest and shop our website for any jewelry needs. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook!

Mankato, Minnesota – A True Gem

They say the sky in your own town is always the prettiest, but there are a lot of things in our town that we think are the best. Nestled near the bend of the Minnesota River, Mankato, Minnesota sits about 80 miles south of the Twin Cities. With a population of about 40,000, the town maintains a neighborly atmosphere found only in communities of a similar size.

Originally founded in the 1850s by European settlers, the area had long been settled by various indigenous peoples. A popular story states that the city was intended to have been named Mahkato, but a clerical error established the name as Mankato.

The town served as home to real-life characters of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy books, a series of children’s novels, which can still be visited today. It has also been featured in various novels, television shows and movies as a trading post during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

There are a lot of things we enjoy about the Mankato community, but all in all, we love that it’s a great place for just living. The multiple colleges keep the town young, while the long-settled families give it a strong sense of community.

In honor of the town we call home, each week we’ll be bringing you “Mankato Gems” – a collection of some of the best things that Mankato has to offer. Let us know if you have an idea for a Mankato Gem – we would love to hear from you!

Don’t forget to follow our Mankato Gems board on Pinterest, Like us on Facebook and of course, shop your favorite jewelry looks on our website.

Pantone’s Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid

Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute has been designating a Color of the Year. The color chosen is designed to define the spirit or mood in that period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

This year, Radiant Orchid was the chosen color. Captivating and magical, Radiant Orchid is an enchanting color that invites innovation and encourages creativity. A combination of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, the color inspires confidence and originality. It also emanates great joy, love and health.

The color will pop up in home furnishings, fashion, and jewelry. But how do we incorporate the color of the year into our everyday lives? We’re here to help!

Fashion:

     

We love the color-block effect that Radiant Orchid brings to every outfit. It adds a stunning pop of color and looks great with both light and dark colors.

 

Jewelry:

   

It’s easy to love the bright color of Radiant Orchid set among diamonds! Check out more Radiant Orchid Jewelry from Exclusively Diamonds!

 

Home Decor:

 

Although you might not want an entirely new couch, something as simple as a new lamp or a few extra pillows can really change the atmosphere of a room.

 

Make Up:

Bold yet sophisticated, Radiant Orchid is a gorgeous color that look great on eyelids, lips or even nails!

 

For more jewelry looks in Radiant Orchid or your other favorite colors, check out our website and Pinterest page. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!