The Home Party Craze

It seems that home parties are all the rage right now, from candles to make-up to food, home parties are proving to be a viable way to earn an income, and to find some great products. Darling Bijou has just recently expanded into doing Jewellery-Making parties with great success.

If you are an entrepreneur breaking into the home party scene, here are some helpful presentation tips for making your parties a successful one for your guests (and your pocket book)!

1) Introduce yourself with confidence to everyone who walks in the door, and shake their hand. Tell them your name and your position/title. Your guests want to feel that you are comfortable and enjoy what you're doing. They also need to know your name in order to ask you questions.

2) Speak up. It may be that all your guests are buddies with each other and have constant conversation going. If they can't hear you, they will fill the quiet with their own voices. Practice speaking when you're on your own to get used to the sound of your own voice if you need to.

3) Be knowledgable about your product. There is nothing worse than being asked a question and having to say "I don't know". If you really don't know the answer, tell them that you will find out and get back to them. You may not be able to aniticipate every question with 100% certainty, but do your best.

4) When demonstrating your product, explain its uses and benefits. Your job is not just to allow people to try your product, but also to teach them what it is and how to use it. Never assume that your guests are knowledgeable. They are hear to learn, and you are the teacher. If there are many products, highlight certain ones and explain the benefits of each. And know what you're talking about. They are more likely to purchase your products if they feel you are the "expert".

5) Learn from you mistakes. Every home party is a learning opportunity. You are doing this to make money and to share what you love. Strive to become better at it, and you will increase your success. Remember, practice makes perfect.

Are you a "Jewellery Virgin"?

I can't tell you how many women I've run into in the course of my business dealings who tell me that they "Just aren't jewellery girls." Then I proceed to wrap a beautiful strand of crystals or pearls around their wrist, and their tune changes. Why is this? Have they had an epiphany? No, they've just found the right piece of jewellery.

Most of us have a preference as to what type of jewellery we like to wear. I am definitely a bracelet and earring girl. My sister-in-law is a necklace-only girl. There are others who love whatever gems they can get their hands on, and wear all of it!

Then there are those who have never worn jewellery, and who assume it is because it doesn't look good on them, or doesn't suit their personality. To those women I say "Hogwash!" I have not met one person yet who doesn't look and feel fabulous in the right piece of jewellery.

May I suggest that these women are just 'jewellery virgins'? Remember, we all have different styles and fashion personalities, but these differences should not exclude us from experiencing the joy that wearing a beautiful piece of jewellery brings.

What these women have yet to discover is that there is something special that comes from wearing a piece of jewellery that you love. It's a memory or a feeling that you get. It makes you feel good. It could be that you have your grandmother's locket, or a ring you received as a child, or a new piece that is just so beautiful and of such good quality that you feel like a new woman when you put it on. This is the goal of Darling Bijou.

Some of us have a dramatic flair, others are more natural, still others are romantic or classic. And most of us are a combination. Figure out your style, and what kind of jewellery girl you are (necklace/bracelet/ring etc.), and try a piece on for size. If you can't find something you like, get it designed just for you. Go ahead girls. I know you're gonna love it!

Jewellery Trends for Summer 2007

Summer is here, and so are some great jewellery trends.

According to New York Fashion Week, look for lots of cool water colors like greens, blues, silvers, and whites. Warm reds and fuchsia are also a hit, along with birthstone colors peridot, and blue zircon.


Firemountain Gems reports that the unconventional is in. Pair wood, pearls, and metal together for an eccentric but classy look.


BellaOnline reports that (yay!) beads will remain popular. Long simple necklaces and drop earrings are also the thing to wear, while bracelets and watches are going to remain the hot ticket items! Hot colors for this summer: pink, green, yellow, and blue accented by light greys and light coffee.

Remember, no matter what the trend, jewellery is meant to make you feel great when you wear it. Wear what you want, and take these trends with a grain of salt. The most important thing is that your jewellery is a reflection of you!!

How to Tell if Your Pearls are Real

Have you ever wondered if those hand-me-down pearls you got from Granny are valuable, or if those pearls you bought off of eBay for a great deal are really the "real deal"? Telling if you're pearls are the genuine article does not necessarily require a trip to the appraiser. Here are some simple ways for you to tell if your pearls are real:

1) Temperature: Hold your pearls in your hand. Real pearls will feel cool initially, but will warm as they sit in your palm. Imitations will feel warm from the start.

2) Weight: Real pearls have a nice weight to them. As imitation pearls are often plastic or glass that has been coated in pearly nacre, they will feel lighter and less dense than genuine pearls.

3) Appearance: Imitation pearls have only been coated in pearliness which can chip or flake off, whereas real pearls are layer upon layer of nacre that will not chip. Real pearls are also not perfect. They will likely have some ridges and will show some color variation.

4) Scratch Test: Rub your pearl on some glass. If it is an imitation, the glass will not scratch the surface. A real pearl will be scatched by the glass, and will leave behind a pearly powder. Buff or wipe the powder from this pearl, and you will find there is no damage.

Oscar Night Brings Out the Swarovski!!

I watch the Oscars as much for the films as for the Fashion. One thing that I noticed at this year’s Oscars was that Swarovski crystal was EVERYWHERE. Cate Blanchett was wearing a gorgeous Swarovski crystal mesh gown (left), and Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez, and Abigail Breslin (right) were all sporting Daniel Swarovski clutches.

Swarovski crystal is the 1st choice of fashion and jewellery designers alike. So what is it that puts Swarovski crystal above the rest of crystal out there?

What its made of: Swarovski crystal is the only crystal that uses high lead content crystal glass. It contains approximately 32% lead and lead oxide. It is this high lead content that increases and maximizes refraction, making the crystal so sparkly that it is actually comparable in sparkle to a diamond!

How it's made: When the Swarovski company was first started in 1882, Daniel Swarovski developed an automatic cutting machine that would enable him to cut the glass perfectly every time creating multiple surfaces that would reflect light.

What it does: This precision cutting creates a crystal that catches the light on both the inside surfaces as well as the outside. As light dances and reflects throughout the entire crystal, the beautiful and eternal sparkle of Swarovski is created.

The next time you are looking for an outfit or a piece of jewellery that is going to look both brilliant and be of the highest quality, look for Swarovski crystal. You’ll never be disappointed.