We're back with another new jewelry feature from Turtle Love Committee where we feature some of our favorite from their new lines of necklaces and earrings. Again, I feel the need to point out that we love them because they focus on jewelry that’s eco-conscious and made by independent artisans. Really, these people are good eggs — you can read about the people and the TLC philosophy and see for yourself.

Offbeat Discount: OBB readers that subscribe to the TLC mailing list will get a 20% off coupon, good through 12/20.

Like the miniature lithographs necklaces that we featured a little while back, these lovebirds necklaces are made by a husband-and-wife team in their home studio using at least 50% recycled silver. And the sweet thing about these babies is that they can worn all symbolic-like to represent you as a couple!

Or, added bonus, they can also represent family ties… they come in single parent or a two-parent team. A perfect gift option for the new moms or step-children in your life as you build your own nest through marriage.

Go check it out, lovebirds!

You know Turtle Love Committee from our past introductions. We LURVE that they specialize in affordable and eco-friendly non-diamond engagement rings and wedding bands. But now there’s even more reason to lurve them… TLC now has a whole slew of really unique necklaces and earrings. We'll be featuring our favesies from their new jewelry lines that would make perfect (and AFFORDABLE!) wedding party gifts.

Check these beautiful and moody silver lithograph pendants. Each piece is hand-inked and hand cranked on an antique printing press and then strung on super subtle gray cord. They're like cool tiny art pieces!

They also do double duty of conveying complicated sentiments without being cheese-tastic. Like, the house and the nest are perfect for celebrating, well, housing and nesting. My personal favorites, the bridge and the railroad tracks are a great way to symbolize the journey and connections that weddings have a crazy way of bringing about. And the adorable little girl on the swing just makes me smile all goofy-like.

Head over to Turtle Love Committee get your own goofy-like smile going.

Made from upcycled materials like Scrabble tiles and bottle caps, these wedding-themed pendants from Recycled Treasures are adorable and obviously unique wedding party gifts.

Ooh, think about how perfect one of the Scrabble tile pendants would be for a bride to wear at her gamer geek wedding!

And budget brides, take heart: at $6 per pendant, you can actually afford to buy wedding party gifts that are handmade and personal.

Recycled Treasures also does custom orders (aside from bridal party position, name, or initial) — if you can scheme it, Recycled Treasures can make it. So head over to Etsy and start dreaming up something fun for your wedding party!

The offbeat bride: Maddie – Graphic Designer

Her offbeat partner: Tim – Hydrogeologist

Location & date of wedding: Wedding: New Farm Park, Brisbane, Australia Reception: New Farm Lawn Bowls Club (across the road). 8th October 2005

What made our wedding offbeat: My husband and I dreamed up every aspect of the day so that when we remember back, it may not have been everyone's idea of perfect but it was everything we could have ever wanted it to be. With very little cash and a whole lot of skilled friends pitching in their skills, this green coloured wedding and accompanying reception 'on the green' was a whole lot of fun!

Continue reading "Maddie & Tim's green Australian wedding" →

The necklace I wore at my wedding was designed by a Dori, a jewelry-making artisan friend. When I realized that she'd started using Etsy, the ebay of the indie crafts world, to sell her wares, I asked her if she could share tips for offbeat brides looking to shop for wedding supplies while supporting independent artists.

When Ariel asked me to design her wedding necklace in 2004, it was before the days of Etsy. I was maintaining my own online shop — creating, designing, photographing, tweaking, uploading, coding, promoting… To say it was far more work than I wanted was an understatement. I just wanted to make jewelry — my website was a whole 'nother job.

Two years later, I've dropped the maintenance of my own website in lieu of joining a legion of independent designers on Etsy, a website full of handmade, independent goodness. As one of the many Etsy vendors who's thoroughly addicted to their forums, I went digging and found a few shoppers dressing up their wedding days with Etsy.

Continue reading "Wedding shopping on Etsy.com" →