Jennifer Shon Jewelry

Cinnamon Break

2011-09-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

I've been working non-stop these days so over this three day weekend, I decided to stay away from my office and have a day of rest. A restful day for me was cleaning the house and making bread while watching Bridezilla re-runs and then cocktails with my friends later in the evening. I've never made bread before so while contemplating what flavor of bread I was going to make, I found a recipe for cinnamon raisin bread from my Joys of Cooking cookbook and became nostalgic of my memories of eating raisin bread that came out of that red plastic bag with my Mom.

Finally using my wedding gift mixer for the first time. Big thanks to my in laws!!!

Waiting for the first rise. I thought I screwed up the yeast blooming and almost threw away the batch when it didn't rise as much as I would of thought. I decided to bake it anyways and it rose a lot in the oven. Phew!

Almost finished. This was my favorite part. Be sure to get the cinnamon mixture and raisins on the ends. Otherwise it becomes uneven when you roll it up.

Resting it on it's side.

Delicious. A little dense, but otherwise perfect! I'm already thinking what kind of bread I'm going to make next.

More than words...

2011-06-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

I just added these new word necklaces to my site and I am in love with them. You can choose up to three word charms to dangle on a chain. They make the perfect gift for a loved one or a little treat for yourself to add a little inspiration in your life. I think words are so powerful and these necklaces are a fantastic reminder about the great things in life.

Amalfi Coast

2011-05-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

2011 has been such a great year! I have been so busy that I haven't been able to post a blog. I took some time off for my annual vacation to the Amalfi Coast to get some R&R and had a fantastic time walking through the picturesque towns and eating amazing food. Got some new inspiration and some natural material that I will hopefully be able to turn into some amazing necklaces. More to come about that later...

Had to pick up a new fedora because the weather was hotter than I thought.

Alici Marinate (marinated anchovies in olive oil and lemon juice) We ate so much delicious seafood. Grilled king prawns was my favorite dish, but unfortunately I was so eager to eat them, I ate them before I thought to take a picture of them.

Homemade pasta with mixed seafood.

Didn't eat a lot of pastries because I was so full all the time, but we did stop here to get a profiterole.

Happiness...

2010-12-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are slowing down, that means I get to finally slow down and the rain that is pouring down couldn't be more perfect for relaxing at home. Found some perfect pink peonies at the market yesterday which put a smile on my tired face.

Sparkly new necklaces I just made that are ready to sell on the site. I love these because of the little bling they will bring to your outfit. I can't wait to wear one myself...

Lentil soup and truffle cheese. On a rainy day, nothing makes me happier then settling in at the end of the day and eating a bowl of soup on the couch with a great movie on the tube.

Hand Ornaments

2010-11-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

I made some hand ornaments exclusively for one of my favorite stores, Planet Blue, and they turned out so well, that I wanted to make one for my customers. I wore mine out the other day and it was a huge hit! It's a unique accessory that people don't expect. Everyone wanted to see it closely to figure out what I was wearing. Love it with some simple jeans and a tee and with a cute dress.

One of the styles available at Planet Blue.

Beach Wedding

2010-10-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has taken me two months to blog, but I just got married three weeks ago, so I've been a busy girl. It was a small beach wedding in Malibu with our family and close friends. I've always wanted to get married in the sand and was fortunate to do so. It was a perfect wedding especially because the sun came out just as the ceremony was about to start.

My wedding necklace that I created for myself. Being a jewelry designer, I wanted to wear a statement piece.

I made every girl guest a personalized charm bracelet with their initials and charms that reflect their personalities.

Garden Gifts

2010-08-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Tara gave me a bunch of goodies from her garden and I instantly knew that I wanted to make this zucchini pasta recipe that I stumbled on awhile ago. As I was making it, I was surprised to see that there are no garlic and onions in it and was tempted to add some, but I decided to keep to the recipe and was pleasantly surprised that I didn't miss those flavors.

Sauteing the zucchini. It seemed like a lot of zucchini, but it cooks down into a third of the size.

I added a little more parmesan cheese as I ate it. It was so good. It's a super light and refreshing pasta dish with a ton of flavor thanks to the mint and lemon zest. Also, it tastes great both hot or cold.

What I'm wearing now...

2010-07-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed with this necklace combination lately. I layer a couple of gold chains with this black flower necklace. It's a great pop to jeans and tee outfit thanks to the black pendant. It is gorgeous up close because it has great texture to it. Also, I am loving these Nation LTD shirts. I bought a bunch of the burnout tees and they are so comfortable that I've been living in them for the past week.

Add a little color...

2010-06-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

I've been a busy girl these days planning a wedding, but I wanted to blog about these new leather bracelets that I've been wearing non-stop. I love how they add a little color accent to jeans and a tee. The more bracelets the merrier!

I love the anchors!

Jen vs The Volcano

2010-04-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have been a very busy girl, thus not blogging for a month, but being trapped in Spain due to the volcanic ash cloud didn't help things either. After spending eight blissful days in Barcelona and Seville, our flight was cancelled and we were rescheduled for six more days. My guy and I tried to look at the bright side (being stuck on vacation seems like fun) but I was desperate to come home to my dog and my job. We were able to get last minute seats the next day due to a LOT of luck and good timing and made it home without missing a beat. Thanks to all my customers for waiting patiently for their packages. I don't plan on taking a vacation for a VERY long time!

I thought these little mujers were so cute in the window

Seville from a tower in the Cathedral. I climbed up 35 ramps to get there. My calves were so sore the next day!

One of my favorite tapas dishes from Inopia in Barcelona. It looks like ordinary pineapple but it is covered with cane molasses and lime zest and was KILLER! We loved this restaurant so much we ate there three times. I think the waiters thought we were crazy!

Ham legs everywhere. So delicious and fun to watch them carve plates of paper thin pieces by hand. We ate so much that my guy over dosed on ham and cheese. ;)

Life is a beach...

2010-02-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I have to remind myself how fortunate I am to live in California, where the skies are blue for most of the year. I love to visit the beach off season because I don't have to worry about dodging frisbees and paddle balls nailing me in the head. Walking on the beach is my meditation. I'm not a sun worshiper, but one of my favorite sounds are of the waves foaming in and out on the shore. I dressed up my casual outfit with a little sparkle from this necklace that I make out of vintage shoe buckles. All are special and one of a kind.

Planet Blue

2010-02-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

Planet Blue is one of my favorite stores in Southern CA because of the diversity of the labels they carry and because of popular demand, they reordered more body jewelry that I designed just for them. I love the way they styled the pieces with interesting tees. Go to their site and check them out!

All pictures from Planet Blue.

Adding some sparkle...

2010-02-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

I love earrings because they add so much to an outfit. These are some of my favorite earrings because they are such a statement. They are super simple so they can be worn with any outfit, dressy or casual. I have them now in two sizes. I started with the large crystals and now am offering them in a smaller size and soon, different colors. Amazing. They will become your new favorites...

Smaller size.

Getty

2010-01-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Crispin & Basillo Jumper, Twelfth Street Shoes, Gustto Bag, Oval Link Necklace

Last weekend, one of my friends visiting me from New York and as an architect major, she wanted to go and sketch at the Getty. I haven't been for a while and it was such a beautiful day, we all made a trip out of it. It's the perfect place to relax outside and sip an ice tea. They also had a great temporary exhibit of Rembrant's sketches and his pupils.

Tammy sketching...

One of the best parts of the Getty are the views. Also created a new necklace that I just had to wear. Look out for it on the site. It's super delicate and adds a little pop of color to an outfit.

...another shot of Tammy still sketching... I don't think she moved positions for an hour...

Fresh Pasta

2010-01-12T15:29:00.000-08:00

I love and can eat a LOT of pasta. I appreciate fresh pasta and after seeing a segment on The Martha Stewart Show it didn't look too hard, so I decided to tackle it. You can do it in a mixer, but I decided to try it the hard way, kneading the dough by hand. I would have to say that it was really easy and the results were delicious and worth it.

Rolling and cutting out the dough. This was really tedious because I don't have a pasta roller so I had to use my rolling pin. My palms got all red trying to get the dough paper thin. They say you should be able to see through the pasta after rolling it out. I'm definitely investing in a pasta machine.

One of my favorite pasta dishes inspired from Terroni. I make homemade turkey sausage with some fennel, sage, and a ton of garlic, dandelion greens and cherry tomatoes. The noodles take a minute to cook and were chewy and perfect.

Made to Order

2010-01-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

Vintage Blouse, William Rast Jeans, James Perse Tank Top, Vintage Etienne Aigner Boots, Multi Strand Necklace

I get a lot of requests for special orders and I'm always happy to oblige. One of my customers requested a medium length, plain, multi-strand necklace. This is a piece that has always been on one of my to do lists and I was so happy with the results, I am going to add it to the site soon. I love how it looks with a simple jeans and tee outfit. Put some color into it with this polka dotted blouse I wear backwards that I found at a thrift shop.

Scored these boots at the Melrose flea market for $40.

Put a fork in me...

2009-12-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

Juicy Couture Sweater, Kain Tee, Genetic Jeans, Uggs. Charm Rings

December is always hectic for me so I didn't have any time to do my shopping early. I broke down today and went to the mall today to finish it all up. As a teen, I used to be able to spend hours and hours in a mall scouring Contempo Casuals and Bebe. Now, after stepping into one, I immediately get a headache. The only saving grace for me is Panda Express in the food court. I don't eat fast food that often, but the chow mein always tempts me. The noodles are thin and are perfectly chewy. To reward my long day, I bought a large order and scarfed it down as soon as I got home. (That's a lie, I actually ate half the box in the car on the way home. Not recommeded. It's dangerous and I dropped noodles in between my car seat.)

Cuddle time with my dog Stella.

Meals on Wheels

2009-12-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

I made one of my favorite Korean dishes last night, Kimbap, which is basically a cooked sushi roll. I have fond memories of sitting at the kitchen table with my Mom, making roll after roll when our church was having a potluck lunch. There are a few different ingredient variations you can play around with depending on what kind of meat you want to use. (Ground beef, steak, crab, fish cakes...)

I decided to use steak which I cut into strips and marinated for a couple of hours in sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic before grilling. Egg omelette cut into strips, julienned sauteed carrots, blanched spinach and sweet pickled daikon radish. (You can get the pickled daikon radish at various asian markets. If you can't find it, pickled Japanese ginger might be a good substitute.

Spread the rice on 3/4 of the roasted seaweed and layer the ingredients in a row. Use a bamboo mat to roll up into a sushi roll.

Created a little "Korean" bento box lunch for some lucky friends. Strawberry pocky snacks for dessert.

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts

2009-12-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Now that things are calming down and I'm done with all my sample sales, I decided that it was time for a Christmas party for my staff. We went to the new Trader Vic's downtown at LA Live for a celebration of great food and drinking out of coconuts.

The drinks are soooo good and I requested my caipirinha to be served in a coconut. I loved them so much, I bought two coconuts for everyone to take home!

Wrapping up gifts...this year, my staff are getting a swarovski necklace, three charm rings, and a bottle of wine. The rings look amazing stacked together.

Leftovers

2009-11-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and for the very first time I cooked a entire turkey dinner from scratch, it's time for the leftovers and there is a LOT of it! Usually I eat leftovers as is, as shown above, but today I decided to eat it as a sandwich. I love watching old Thanksgiving episodes of Friend's and particularly love the scene where Ross's boss eats his leftover turkey sandwich with Monica's famous "moist-maker", an additional slice of bread soaked in gravy. I only had a leftover baguette laying around so I soaked the top piece of bread with gravy and scooped out the inside and refilled it with stuffing. Yum! Maybe I'll make some turkey soup next...

Urban Light

2009-11-24T12:07:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, my guy and I went to rent a movie and on the way home we stopped to play around the Urban Light exhibit outside the LACMA museum. All the lamps are recycled and the lights are solar powered which illuminate the courtyard of the museum. Definitely a must see in Los Angeles.

Genetic Jeans, Michael Stars Tee, Eileen Fisher Sweater, Converse, Silver Beaded Earrings

Lazy Friday

2009-11-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

Juicy Couture Jacket, William Rast Jeans, Kain Tee, Kenneth Cole Boots, Anya Hindmarch Bag, Gold Tassel Necklace, Gold Circle Necklace

Feeling lazy today so I took a little stroll down my street looking for inspiration. I find walking therapeutic and usually get my best ideas when I'm alone in my thoughts. Testing my new tassel necklace that I just created. I love it. It adds a little swing to my step. I think I'm going to make a matching bracelet...

Taking a little soda break.

Walking back home. Recharged and ready to work...

It's not delivery...

2009-11-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

I love making pizza from scratch. When I make it, I feel like it's a healthier version of take out because I know what is in my ingredients so I can eat more slices. I sometimes still order delivery when I don't have enough energy or time, but it's so more satisfying when I do it myself.

Pepperoni, leeks and mushrooms. Chicken, spinach, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and shallots.

I always get too excited and put way too many toppings on the pizza. I also make the pizza sauce using some sauteed onions and garlic with a big can of crushed tomatoes.

Kneading the dough.

I used to buy the pizza dough from a local pizzeria, but I've discovered that it's really easy to make from scratch. I use this recipe that I found online that has a pretty good description on how to knead the dough by hand. You can also do it in a food processor.

Dough that has doubled after an hour.

Finished product. Ready to eat!

Lady in Red

2009-11-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

Nightcap Clothing tunic, Vintage cowboy boots, Oval link necklace, Swarovski Necklace

Sometimes there is nothing better in life then going out to brunch with your girlfriends on a lazy Saturday. I'm going downtown to meet my friend Ashley for some french dip sandwiches at Cole's. Gotta keep it comfortable, so I threw on this Nightcap Clothing tunic over leggings and some boots I found at a flea market. Nightcap is one of my favorite brands because it feels like you are wearing pajamas. I matched this outfit with some of my favorite pieces, the oval link necklace in both gold and silver and the gold swarovski necklace. Super simple and they complete any outfit.

Date Night!

2009-11-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Rory Beca top, Genetic Jeans, Twelfth Street wedges, Anya Hindmarch bag, Feather Bone Necklace, Hugo Boss belt

So my guy had a night off this Saturday and we were hungry for some sushi. We weren't in the mood to hop to a bar afterward, so instead we got some ice cream at the Farmer's market on Third and shopped at The Grove. Picked up a new cookbook by Mark Peel, chef of Campanile, here in Los Angeles and a few other books. Can't wait to cook something. Everything looks so good!

Mocha almond fudge from Bennett's. Gotta get my own next time cause my guy scarfed down the rest of the ice cream after this shot. ;)

Some of our samplings at Gonpachi.

Seoul Food

2009-11-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

As a kid, the main goal in life is to fit in with your peers. As an American born daughter of immigrant parents, my lunch box didn't always match the peanut butter sandwiches my friends brought to school. Whenever I found my favorite Korean meal, Kim Bap (basicially, cooked Korean style sushi), my friend would go "Ewwww" and I would be embarrassed. I would go home and look in dismay at the Korean food my Mom prepared for dinner and ask, "Why we can't have spaghetti?". It wasn't until I moved out of the house when I started appreciating my heritage and it's food. Luckily living in Los Angeles, home to the largest Koreatown, I can have Korean food whenever I want to.

One of my favorite dishes is Kimchi Soon Tofu, a bubbling spicy soup served in a hot cast iron pot. I get my fix at BCD Tofu house there are more than 10 different varieties of soup and you can order it mild, medium or spicy. When the soup arrives at your table it is boiling hot and you should immediately crack a raw egg into the pot, allowing the heat of the soup to cook the egg. Make sure you let the soup cool down before eating it. On numerous occasions I've burned my mouth because I can't wait to eat.

My favorite location is on Western Avenue because as they greet your table the waiters bring you an 'amuse bouche' of nutrionless iceberg lettuce in a light refreshing salad dressing (which I think is made of rice vinegar and sugar)

After taking your order, you get a small deep fried fish which melts in your mouth. Some people find it awkward looking at the head of an animal you are eating, but after eating the flaky fillet, they get hooked.

The rice is a production in itself. It arrives in hot stone pots where it browns and cooks before the waiters scoop it up in bowls.

Vintage Time

2009-11-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

Vintage Dress, Chloe Boots, Vintage Watch Necklace, Swarovski Bracelet, Hammered Circle Hoops

Since it's still sunny with the temperatures in the 70's, it was the perfect day for my vintage purple dress I got from a thrift store. I think that there's nothing more gratifying then pairing a $5 dress with expensive boots.This dress holds a special place in my heart because I trekked this dress all thoughout Europe a few summers ago. It was perfect for traveling because it never got wrinkled no matter how smushed it was on the bottom of my backpack.

Outside a candy shop in Paris!

I love these vintage watch necklaces! Each are one of a kind and the tarnish on them vary. They are a great statement piece. The hammered circle hoops are one of my staple earrings. Super simple, but are noticeable.

A little gray...

2009-11-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

Genetic Jeans, Sample sale tee I shredded, Dior Sunglasses, Smoky quartz body jewelry, Havianas flip flops

Daylight savings always makes me a little sad because the sun goes away so early. I'm in mourning wearing blacks and grays. After seeing Raquel Allegra's creations, I've been obsessed in making shredded tees (mostly because I don't want to fork over $500 for a shirt) which I love to wear with my body jewelry. Here I have the smoky quartz body piece layered over a gray shredded tee that I made. All of the body jewelry is reversible and can also be worn as a super long necklace.

Also, I'm wearing one of my newest creations that I'm excited about. I'm being eco-friendly by recycling vintage pieces and adding them to leather cuffs that I make out of scrap leather. All are one of a kind!

Start of a new beginning...

2009-10-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

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So, I feel like I'm a little late in the game, but I've decided to start blogging. Being a jewelry designer I feel like the pictures of my pieces look pretty, but it's hard to visualize them on an outfit. I want to show you the ways I wear the pieces for inspiration. Also, living in Los Angeles, I want to be able to share my life and loves with you...fashion and food.