February may be the shortest month, but given the wintry storms currently pummeling many Ped fans, it may feel like the longest. Thank goodness, there’s a sweet something in the middle to make February worth it: Valentine’s Day!!! What could be better than a day dedicated to showing your sweetheart how much you love her? It’s the perfect time to express your affection for any woman who really matters in your life! (Remember how you used to give candies and cards to your friends, your teachers, your sisters, and your mom?)

So let your love light shine by putting a sparkle in your favorite gal’s eye with a sparkly something from Ped!

It may be chilly outside, but these gorgeous Jamie Joseph Indian Ruby earrings are guaranteed to warm things up wherever you are:

The color is so juicy, like a ripe pomegranate! And the faceting catches the light in the loveliest way.

Maybe the woman you have in mind agrees with Marilyn Monroe  that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Then assure her you, too, qualify as a BFF with this understated but stunning Jamie Joseph silver circle necklace that twinkles with three gold-set diamonds:

Jamie has a way of making the simplest designs worthy of “Wow!”

As long as we’re doing song references, maybe you should take Beyonce’s advice if you want to keep your sweetheart from joining all the single ladies—i.e. if you like it, you should put a ring on it! Now, it doesn’t have to be that kind of ring; we’re pretty sure this Jamie Joseph Onyx ring will keep her by your side:

Featured in Vogue, this design is the epitome of chic! We love how the tiny diamond adds a little extra dazzle. Going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day? Imagine how terrific this ring will look with your darling’s little black dress.

“Hmmm,” you may be thinking, “I want to give her jewelry but maybe something more low-key.” How about this Green Onyx and Apatite bracelet from Debbie Fisher?

It’s pretty and fresh without being over-the-top.

The again, maybe the object of your affection is a free spirit whose taste is more whimsical, in which case look no farther than Pepita:

This Eleonora necklace, with its hand-sewn fabric beads blooming from within brass petals, is sure to appeal to her love of one-of-a-kind treasures! A unique beauty deserves something uniquely beautiful!

And if your sweetheart could use a little dose of spring about now, Sophie Digard has just the thing to remind her warmer weather is right around the corner:

Sophie’s cheerful Three Flower Brooch (you can also opt for a single-bloom pin) will brighten up any winter coat or sweater.

Of course, it’s the thought that counts, but a beautiful gift that makes your favorite gal feel more beautiful is a wonderful way to show how much you care! (And if you need to drop a hint or two, remember you can mark anything at Ped as a “favorite” and then share that list with the one who loves you best.)

Happy Valentine’s Day in advance! May love fill every Ped fan’s life!

Don’t panic. We’ve all been there! You want to get something really lovely and stylish for that special gal who makes you smile—girlfriend, daughter, wife, BFF, mom, mentor who got you where you are today—but you’re just not sure what size she wears. No problem! Although we love the footwear here at Ped, we also have lots of gorgeous things that require no knowledge of numbers. So, let us offer a few ideas for what we think would make wonderful tokens of your affection.

If you really want to delight someone, you can’t go wrong with a scarf from Sophie Digard, our favorite Parisian textile artist.

Whatever design you select, the work is guaranteed to be dazzling (use the “zoom” feature at the Ped site to appreciate the intricacy of Sophie’s artistry).

Maybe you’re enamored of Mademoiselle Digard but want to give something slightly smaller. Why not one of her wonderful brooches?

So pretty and what a lovely reminder that spring is not too far away!

But, then again, maybe the razzle-dazzle is exactly what you want, in which case, look no further than Jamie Joseph:

Everyone here at Ped HQ—including Terry—adores this Halo Diamond Pendant. What makes it so special is each of the organically shaped silver ovals moves independently, and the diamonds, well, they’re diamonds—need we say more?

If the woman you admire prefers adorning her lobes, we’re also especially fond of these Indian ruby earrings:

They are simply designed yet absolutely drop-dead gorgeous! Jamie’s hand-selected stones are truly out of this world!

Admittedly, jewelry is a rather intimate gift, so if you’re looking for something lovely but a little less emotionally charged, the 49 Square Miles Clingy Wallet may be just the thing:

Practical and luxurious! (Plus, the leather is so soft.)

Speaking of practical, any woman who has a chilly commute or who has to walk across campus when the mercury plunges will thank you profusely for a pair of Rain + Jack wooly arm warmers:

The colors alone will warm her heart.

We’ve also heard toasty toes are the key to winter smiles! Unlike shoes, socks are pretty much one-size-fits-all, and Antipast makes the socks everyone wants because they’re just so darn cute (and warm):

Any chilly day is going to be a lot more fun with pom-poms!

See? No need to worry about measurements or numbers! Everything above is guaranteed to brighten the holidays for your favorite gal!

And if you see something that sings, “my heart’s desire,”  to you—yes, you!— as you browse around Ped’s site, just click the green box that says, “add to favorites.” Then you can e-mail your wish to the people who’d like to make you happy this holiday season!

It’s that time of year when young women everywhere, diplomas in hand, take off their caps and gowns and think, “Uh-oh, now I have to get a job!” Maybe you’ve witnessed that look of optimism mixed with fear on the face of your daughter, niece, or little sister. Why not give her a boost of style as she starts pounding the pavement? We all know how feeling confident can give a job applicant an extra edge during an interview. So, help her look and feel the part with a graduation gift that reminds her she has your support every step of the way!

Nothing beats a great pair of shoes when on the job hunt, and no one designs better go-all-day heels than Chie Mihara.

We love Chie’s Frederica because it’s perfectly professional while still allowing its wearer to express her individual style. (It’s guaranteed to make a gal memorable!) Plus, as interesting as the color combo is, the sum still works as a neutral that goes with countless outfits.

Another essential for a graduate-turned-job-seeker is a good bag, and 49 Square Miles Winans Hobo is just the ticket.

Less stern that a briefcase, this wonderfully supple leather bag, nevertheless, has the capacity to hold everything a woman needs in a day. For instance, the Winans easily accommodates file folders containing C.V.’s and work samples, so those documents don’t come out rumpled and dog-eared when handed to a prospective boss.

Sometimes the only thing needed to take a gal from feeling so-so to feeling like a million bucks is slipping on the perfect pair of earrings.

These drop-dead gorgeous Jamie Joseph “Nest” pearl earrings are sure to make your favorite graduate smile, not to mention they are the epitome of versatility—dressy enough for networking but casual enough for hanging out on the weekend. Plus, a nest is a lovely way to remind your gal she can always come home even after she’s out flying on her own wings.

Maybe you’re the graduate and want to drop a few hints? If so, why not create a “favorites” file at Ped or take advantage of Ped’s “share with a friend” feature? Both will allow you to give a nudge to those who may feel flummoxed when it comes to getting you the right gift (hello, Dad).

Of course, if push comes to shove and you just can’t decide what to give, one thing is always welcomed by women everywhere: a Ped gift certificate! No matter what you choose, something from Ped is sure to help your sweet graduate get ahead!

As most of you know, Ped takes great care in selecting what we carry. We look for lines that offer beautiful, exquisitely made items that are also ethically produced using environmentally sound practices. The former is what dazzles the eye, but the latter is what truly matters(!) even though it often goes unnoticed. Which is why we are SO EXCITED that our Seattle-based friend, Jamie Joseph, is getting props for her eco-responsible approach to jewelry in an upcoming issue of Time magazine!

Written by Christine Lennon, “The New Gold Standard” focuses on a handful of environmentally aware jewelers who use reclaimed gold in their creations. Here is the excerpt profiling our gal Jamie:

Seattle-based designer Jamie Joseph was similarly committed to environmental issues, quietly letting her principles guide her long before eco-awareness made it to the Bergdorf Goodman crowd that’s now devoted to her work. And judging by her politics and her environmental commitment, she fits right in with the celebrities who wear Jamie Joseph on the red carpet, including Cameron Diaz and Naomi Watts. She drives a biodiesal car, uses compact fluorescent bulbs and cloth towels in the historic warehouse from which she runs her business and has been using reclaimed gold for close to a decade.

“It’s great that the whole green thing is in vogue now, but we’ve been thinking this way up here for a long time,” she says. “My husband, who’s also my business partner, has a degree in environmental science. I saw a documentary about mining years ago, and I was really disturbed. But I said, Well this is my passion—how am I going to address this? I started investigating. And there were vendors that I found where I could buy all-recycled gold.”

Joseph also makes an effort to buy “conflict-free” gemstones—those that aren’t sold to fund wars or mined by exploited workers in unethical ways—from reliable dealers and often uses less rare, large-scale stones like rose quartz and chalcedony with tiny accents of diamonds. “We work with small owner-operated vendors that have similar beliefs and try to build a community around that,” she says. “The whole gemstone industry, it’s a little like the used-car business. You’ve got to know and trust your vendors. We make a point at least once a year of meeting face to face with people. Before I buy a stone from someone, I have to have an interview first. I want to make sure they’re not out raping the land.”

The article also features this beautiful image of one of Jamie’s necklaces (it’s the one on the left):

© Anita Calero, Time

Isn’t that necklace drop-dead gorgeous? It’s available by special order from Ped! Just let us know, and we’ll ask the incomparable Ms. Joseph to create one for you.

In the meantime, here are a few other Jamie Joseph lovelies currently available at Ped:
 

We love how the tiny gold-set diamond in this Oval Drusy Ring complements the fairy-dust sparkle of the larger stone.

These Mint Quartz Earrings are so fresh and green that wearing them is like wearing springtime!

One of the things we like best about Jamie Joseph is the way she turns to nature for design inspiration, as in the wonderful gold oak leaf she uses in combination with the aquamarine stone in this beautiful necklace.

And there is plenty more gorgeousness where those came from! Isn’t it nice to know Jamie Joseph really walks the talk in caring for the world? Ped hearts Jamie Joseph!

WOW—has 2008 whizzed by or what? It’s hard to believe we’re already smack in the middle of the Holidays. And if you’re like me (in this case, let’s hope you’re not), you still have scads of gifts left to get for the ones you love. Fortunately, I’ve purposefully made Ped a treasure trove for when time is short and the list is long. Here are a few of my recommendations for how to spread don’t-have-to-think-about-it holiday cheer. I’ve kept in mind that you may not know sizes, so these are picks that require no additional information, yet are guaranteed to generate smiles!

Whether the lucky recipient is your mother, daughter, sweetheart, or best friend since you were 4, she’s going to get stars in her eyes when you give her stars to wear around her neck. Here at Ped, we are gaga over this Sophie Digard necklace. The coolest thing is the wee stars move, so they can be re-arranged with every wearing!

Another way to warm your favorite gal’s heart is by giving her a way to stay toasty on cold winter days. This Antipast shawl, soft as a little lamb, is so understated and elegant. 

If you’re a woman, you’re well aware of what I’m about to say, but if you’re a guy, listen up: A new bag is always a welcome gift!!! I saw an amazingly stylish woman carrying this Cydwoq Telegram Bag at the Paris shoe shows this fall. Its lines are classic, yet it looks utterly modern.

Finally, if you really want to make someone’s holidays happy, you can’t go wrong with Jamie Joseph’s absolutely drop-dead gorgeous Indian ruby droplet earrings. In a word: STUNNING! If the recipient is your sweetheart, these are definitely going to bring you a smooch!

Here’s hoping your holidays are wonderful from beginning to end! Ped toasts you with cup of eggnog!