Santa's on his way!

It's almost here! Christmas is really coming and New York City is all decked out in lights and decorations. There are trees everywhere, lights on every lamppost and storefront, and I'm loving it. We went for a walk last evening and took in some of the sights as the weather is just perfect with just a little bit of chill in the air.

That's as much free time as I allowed myself in order to take care of jewelry orders. You know that everyone wants their Christmas presents on-time and so we've got lots of jewelry in stock along with boxes, wrapping papers and for the indicisive among us, gift cards! If you're not sure, pick up a gift card on our website, everyone likes a robertachiarella.com gift card.

From the volume of orders so far I can tell that people are loving the jewelry shown in InStyle Magazine. The Chunky Necklace and Rain Drop Earrings are hot! We've got plenty and with our Promo Code you can save big.



The OMEGA Necklace



Another magazine feature (People Style Watch Magazine) is the Omega Necklace. This one is new and different, a great gold necklace that we make right here in the United States! This beauty is also on sale with a Promo Code, after all who wants to pay retail for anything this time of year.

I just love this one, the gold is shiny and looks perfect for a fantastic neckline at your office holiday party. Of course it goes well with nearly everything and leaves room for a nice pair of earrings!



Before you know it it'll be time for an office party or a dinner with friends. You want to look good, and perhaps bring a nice gift or two, and we're happy to help. Browse our site robertachiarella.com and enjoy! Santa Claus is watching. Ciao!

Happy New Year- Buy one, Get one FREE!

Welcome to 2011! It seems like yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas and wishing each other a Happy New Year, wait, oh, um, it was only last week, but time flies! The tree is gone, the decorations in the boxes till next year, and the pecan cookie recipe is tucked in mom's old cookbook once again. I have heard from more than a few customers about their holiday festivities, and it looks like we all had a good time.

I have to thank my team, we gave our all to make sure customers got their jewelry and they loved what they got. Many folks were thrilled with our 'secret santa' gifts we put in some orders, it's actually a tradition that I treat some facebook friends, some blog followers and some long-time customers with a nice 'extra' piece of jewelry once in a while. Like the 'birthday club', robertachiarella.com gives you goodies just for fun. One day I'll post some emails from people who were pleasantly surprised. Hint- if you aren't a facebook friend and we don't have your birthday (when you sign up for the email list we ask for the month and day) then you'll never know what others are getting...

Now, on to fashion! Our newest items are trickling in from the factory, we've launched a great swarovski piece, the moonstone bracelet, that has vintage stones from the '50's to make the most beautiful bracelet ever! I had the opportunity to score these amazing stones, they're literally one-of-a-kind. The colors are unique, they literally glow as the techniques to make them were different 60 years ago, so you will be amazed when you are wearing this bracelet.



Unbelievable Earrings



Hoops are still selling like crazy, you can't go a day without seeing them on TV or on a fashion model, so we've got a few choices. So many people bought the Hippie Hoops and some people shied away because they were too big for them, so we now have the perfect hoop earrings for you. Take one look at the Perfect Hoops and you'll see for yourself. You can't do better for the amazing price of $38, why not get two? We've also got the Unbelievable Earrings on sale cause it's featured in this months Inside Weddings, so take a look at that beautiful magazine piece to see the key look.

We're gearing up for the awards season, it'll be another thrilling year for us as I've been asked to work on the post-Golden Globes shows, to recreate (affordably!) the dazzling looks you'll see on the red carpet. The show is the 68th Annual event, it'll air LIVE on Sunday, January 16, 2011 on NBC from 5:00-8:00 p.m. (PST) /8:00-11:00 p.m. (EST). It comes from Hollywood, of course, from the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the host is Ricky Gervais. After it's aired, we'll be presenting our jewelry to the stylists and hosts who help you re-create the stars looks at a down-to-earth price. I get to watch the show, select beautiful jewelry and offer it to TV shows, stylists and magazine editors everywhere. Wow! I love my job!  Ciao.

It's a wrap! Merry Christmas to everyone

The holiday shopping season is drawing to a close and we watched frenzied last-minute shoppers running all around the city today, buying a gift here, some goodies there, all in preparation for Christmas.

Our family members are all off on holiday adventures, others are gathering for Christmas dinner. The traditional gift of the fruit basket arrived today, so we're trying out some tasty pears and apples right now.

Greetings from Mr. Spock!

Holidays are a combination of rituals and customs and festivities, and for this season we get to top it all off with gifts. Tokens of appreciation for being a great friend, a smart child, a thoughtful neighbor or co-worker or even a mailman who brings your letters when you are home and holds them when you are away.

We've given tributes to the staff at our apartment house, thanking the doorman, the porters, the folks who shovel the snow and fix little things, and we rewarded our staff with presents and dinners. As always, I made sure our customers got a little something extra too, by cutting prices, using lighter packaging so shipping could be cheaper, and making some jewels that look like they cost far more than they really do. 

Boomer relaxes on the couch

We took every order, included free gifts to our long-time customers, and gave lots of discounts and promotions. I'm happy to say that lots of folks were happy with our jewelry and ordered like crazy. I really thank each and every customer and appreciate your business. I tried to visit our retail store, Henri Bendel a few times to wait on customers and thank them in person, because it helps me design better things for you when I can chat and see what people like and what they desire.

At home, we've decorated my brothers house with zillions of ornaments, trinkets and lights, while our faithful doggies Chicklet and Boomer looked on in amusement.

My brother Joe celebrated the season with a christmas toy he bought for himself, a 1969 Chevy Corvair. Yes, it's an old car but if it makes you smile, then why not! I can't wait for a ride in it, maybe we'll drive around the neighborhood and look at some of New Yorks super-duper christmas houses, where the owners put up enough lights to make it look like Times Square.

So, we're ready. Our last 'rush' package went out the door, but orders are still coming in for New Year's eve so we'll be back to work packing soon. We've handed off our giant red bag of jewels to Santa, who flew by earlier today, because even elves can't make jewelry the way we do at robertachiarella.com. And Yes, Virginia, there IS a santa claus. Here's proof, from a letter in the New York Sun from 1897. Ciao and Merry Christmas everyone!


Click to make it bigger!



Only in AMERICA!

Artist's booth

It's holiday time and I am happy!

Soon, we'll get a few days to celebrate with our families and friends, to enjoy some good company, good food and catch up on all those things we were 'too busy' to talk about during the year. I did a bit of shopping today in Bryant Park, where they cover the park with an ice skating rink and a wonderful christmas 'village' filled with little booths.

Each vendor stays there for these few weeks to sell their goods to New Yorkers for christmas gifts. Some of the booths are little one-person operations, but Kate Spade has a whole igloo!

Staffed by college kids, or sometimes the artist, these booths are such an inspiration to me. They remind me what makes life in our country so great- anybody (yes ANYBODY) can start their own business, make a product, a food or provide a service and you can get customers.

Bryant Park Ice Rink

These customers buy your stuff, which makes you smile. The customers give you the cash to pay your workers, pay yourself, feed your family and pay your taxes (ugh!), and they give you feedback and tell you if they like your product or if they hate it. When they do so, you go home and work harder to make sure they love it, so more people will buy your jewelry and you will smile even more.

I was told by our factory in Providence, Rhode Island that all the workers are working one extra day per week this season in order to make enough Roberta Chiarella jewelry for us to meet all of the orders. Can you imagine, you guys are buying enough to enable all these workers to get a nice extra paycheck this holiday season. Isn't that totally wonderful!

Bob, who owns the factory was smiling when he told me this today. The workers themselves are smiling as they work, knowing they will be able to buy more gifts and toys for their kids and make their families more proud of them. This is so much better than a 'government stimulus', it is the way the country should be, every day. Thanks to free enterprise and competition, we do our best so that you buy our stuff. This year, you are buying- and I sincerely thank you. Our staff thanks you. The hard-working folks at our factory in Rhode Island thank you, too! Ciao!

Merry, Merry, Ho, Ho, Ho!

Macy's Herald Square

Wheeee, I'm an elf! In Santas workshop you will find me- with Elizabeth, Jose, and Taylor, our new intern. We're stringing Swarovski baubles onto wires, setting beautiful jewels into gold and silver fittings and drinking eggnog all day long. Why? It's Christmastime, and we've got to get those gifts ready for the big day.

Lord & Taylor'sss

I know, many of us don't have chimneys, but we've all got mailboxes, and hey, it's 2010 and I saw on TV that even Santa uses UPS to make sure all the gifts are where they should be.

Christmas in New York is always fun and hectic at the same time. I didn't make it to the Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony, where the star on top is a giant Swarovski crystal, because there was so much security they had to move the jewel display out of the plaza and have the ceremony down on the ice-skating rink. I know the thousands of folks who went had a great time, and it is a really beautiful tree this year.

We went to see the department store windows yesterday. My favorite will always be Lord & Taylor, with their intricate miniature christmas and holiday scenes in every 5th avenue window. Just look at these guys, they are really cute! Inside the store, a recent renovation has turned it back into the masterpiece I remember, everything is so white, so bright, and the place was packed with shoppers. Then, it was over to Macy's on 34th street, where you can now stop for a hot chocolate in the giant plaza the city has created where Broadway and 6th avenue cross. When you are in your car you'll curse these silly plazas, our Mayor has decided that traffic will somehow flow better if you close most of the street, but when you are on foot they give you a place to slow down and enjoy the views. The Empire State Building is blue for Chanukah, and looks great from this part of town.

We had some great food at Seven Bar and Grill, it's a secret spot right near Madison Square Garden serving wonderful fish and a great thin crust pizza appetizer. I highly recommend this place if you're nearby, though most nights a reservation is in order. Full and happy, it was back home to work a bit more, today we filled a dozen orders so they can go out first thing Monday morning.

Fashionistas from everywhere love the jewelry featured in People StyleWatch- Zoe is wearing our Crystal Mosaic Earrings which we've got in 10 colors. Check out the link, and enjoy! This weekend it's an encore presentation of the black-friday free shipping event, People StyleWatch has a promo code and we've got our BOGO sale running till the end of the year, so you and a friend can get a pair if you like.

the Angie Earring

Another hot, hot item is the Icy Cool Earring, it's a 2 1/2 inch long Swarovski piece in the nicest shade of aqua, they are literally flying out the door after being featured in Self Magazine. Another favorite is the Angie Earring, created for Angelina you-know-who! This brilliant pear shaped crystal is on sale at only $68, they look great with practically anything. So if you want some twinkle, some bling, some ice, and some sparkle, robertachiarella.com has what you desire. And your faithful elves will pick and pack and ship until the last moment to make sure you get your jewelry in plenty of time for the holidays. Ciao!

it's beginning to look a lot like "christmas"

Yes, that's the word. I think there's entirely too much of this "happy holidays" and "season's greetings" stuff going on! Who cares if Santa goes and stands on the steps of City Hall, after all, we have separation of church and state and all that! To me, it's still christmastime, and 'old Saint Nick' really is not a religious fellow to me at all, it's just an excuse to have some fun!

I think, what the season is really about is gift-giving and parties! It's all sales, festivities and fun activities, to help us enjoy the time of year where it is dark in the morning, dark at 4:00 in the afternoon and the weather is cold. This year, preparations for christmas have started long before the traditional black friday beginning to the holiday season. Trees are up, stores are decorated, and the Rockefeller Center tree will be lit in a week. They are working like crazy to get it ready, here's a sneak peek!

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Businesses take this all very seriously, after all, retailers depend on the holiday season for a big portion of their business, us included! If you take a look at robertachiarella.com, you'll see all kinds of promotions and discounts to help people acquire some great jewelry at more affordable prices. In these tough times, who wants to cut back on jewelry?

.

So, we went through our list, checked it twice, and rolled back prices on over 100 items, taking $10 off here, $20 off there, to give customers some great bargains for gift giving! We'll also gift wrap your jewelry, and a big shipment of boxes and ribbons has been delivered to the studio. We've got a holiday "2 for 1" special, so if you buy 2 items, we'll buy you a christmas present from our special section. The new 'mi prima' bangle is selling quickly, people loved it when I first made this piece years ago, the re-introduced bracelet is available in three colors and is makes a beautiful gift!

If you're in town, make sure to check out the store windows, we walked past Saks the other day and the windows were covered over while the elves prepare another beautiful display, I think it'll be unveiled next week. So, even though I haven't even gotten ready for thanksgiving, the whole city is preparing for christmas! It's a good thing we're all going over to cousin Diane's house to enjoy the day with the whole family. By the time I get back, Santa will have taken up his seat on the sleigh and the christmas season will be in full force! Ciao.

Merry Christmas from agirlfromqueens

Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky

Looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

Away in a manager is always the first carol that children are taught. It was originally published in 1885. We know that "Away in a Manger" was published in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself, though the timeline would make that impossible.

The author is unknown. The music to the carol was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895, and it is still pretty popular to this day, with multiple versions on my ipod, from the carpenters, nat king cole and the celtic women (and a couple more).

The photo above is of the manger in our house, it's a relic from my grandmothers time. In our family, we keep the baby Jesus hidden till this morning. For my mother, it would have been unthinkable to put him out earlier, 'cause "he wasn't born yet" !! Now that it's christmas morning, into the creche he goes!

Of course in a couple of weeks they will all go into storage, but it's the story of christmas thats important, not the icons or the presents or any of the things that make this the most commercial religious holiday the world has ever known. I try not to mix these things up, I respect the religious holiday but I bought lots of presents, and last night, signed a letter to Santa Claus. Today, after opening our gifts and welcoming our family, we all sat down to a wonderful christmas feast- get a look at Carly and the roast.

I wish all readers the best, for a happy holiday and a peaceful and prosperous new year. ciao and buon natale !!

virginia, your little friends are wrong !

here's a piece that is one of my favorites, perfect for

this time of year. Leave your skepticism at the door and enjoy!

From the New York Sun, Sept. 21, 1897

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN, it's so.'
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O'HANLON
115 West 95th Street
New York City
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus.


It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! ! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.


I rediscovered this famous letter when it was read by Marty Keating at his fabulous holiday party held in New York City this week. It comes from Newsman Francis Pharcellus Church, who wrote The Sun's response to Virginia in 1897. The New York Sun ceased publication in the fall of 2008.

you better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

It's finally beginning to feel like christmas. I heard this song while waiting to buy something at the grand central station holiday fair, a shopping experience that they open just for the holidays. There are some folks selling things you can't normally buy in new york (imagine that!) so I always visit this fair. Grand Central Station has set up a laser light show that stops traffic, projecting a great display on to the ceiling of the station. I missed it by 5 minutes, drat!

It's cold and rainy, but while I was out I decided to walk over to the new ice skating rink that's opened behind the New York Public Library. It was filled with happy skaters who are much braver than I am when it comes to spending this much time outdoors in the freezing cold!

Even though we're all worried about the economy, there are crowds in the stores and lots of people are shopping. Lord & Taylor had lots of crowds, and who wouldn't want to be there- they have a giant snow globe in the window. How cool is that? Times square was bustling, the tourists love it here and it's not hard to see why- it's non-stop action.

Of course, the main attraction is Rockefeller Center with the best tree in the city. It's wall-to-wall people, so I passed up the opportunity to visit the tree now that it is lit. I came by right before the tree lighting to check out the Swarovski booth, they supply the giant crystal star at the very top of the tree, and sell replicas and other crystals in this booth. As someone who works with their crystals, I was presented with a star ornament, as a token of thanks for all the work we did together this year. I decided to wear it as a necklace because I am so proud that they gave it to me. It's a bit heavy, and will probably end up on my christmas tree as an ornament, just like it's giant cousin is on top of this beautiful tree now all lit up at Rockefeller center.
We'll put up our tree this weekend, and decorate it with our family heirloom ornaments and a couple of new ones. There will certainly be room on the tree for my swarovski star, it can take the place of the NY Mets christmas ball that is being demoted to the back this year. Then, next week, after we've shipped most of our customers holiday orders I can go and do a bit of shopping myself. ciao !