ZiZi Designs Jewelry

My, how things have changed!

2009-09-04T00:36:00.002-04:00

Hello dear friends! I realize it's been many, many moons since anything has been posted here. I have a confession to make! I got pregnant, had a wonderful pregnancy, gave birth to the cutest little boy on the face of the earth, had maternity leave for 12 weeks, and went back to work... all of this happened over the past year! ZiZi Designs has been put on the back burner a little bit, while I've been trying to adjust to all of life's changes, which have been oh - so - good...! So thanks for your patience and understanding. The jewelry business is not dead, but it is far less active than it had been. Needless to say, you can still purchase jewelry from the Etsy shop, and I hope to eventually get some more pieces added. I have all sorts of wonderful designs floating around in my head! Just not enough time or energy to make them happen. We have continued to make donations for fundraisers - this week was the Reach Out and Read silent auction, and next week is the Church World Service Refugee Banquet. And, we continue to support Ralph & Deb Muenstermann, who are heading to Kona, HI for training with Youth With A Mission in January 2010. Check out their blog here: www.ralphdeb.blogspot.com. Thanks for checking in. Come back soon, when I hope to have some cool jewelry up for your perusing!
Kirsten :)

Lots of Upcoming Shows!

2008-09-28T19:11:00.003-04:00

We'll be busy over the next couple of months!
We have several shows lined up, as well as other events.
Check out any of the following:

JEWELRY SHOW - CANCELLED DUE TO A DEATH IN THE FAMILY!
TO BE RESCHEDULED.
Date: Saturday, October 11th
Time: 2 o'clock - 4:30 o'clock
Hostess: JoEllen Reynolds
Location: Flourtown, PA
Click here for a map!

ARToberfest '08
Date: Saturday, October 25th
Time: 2 o'clock - 7 o'clock
Location: The Kennel Farm, Mt. Joy, PA
Click here for details!

JEWELRY SHOW
Date: Wednesday, October 29th
Time: 7 o'clock - 9 o'clock
Hostess: Sonya Pena
Location: Elizabethtown, PA

JEWELRY SHOW
Date: Saturday, November 15th
Time: 1 o'clock - 4 o'clock
Hostess: Nancy Horst
Location: Maugansville (Hagerstown), MD
Click here for a map!

JEWELRY SHOW
Date: Sunday, November 30th
Time: 2 o'clock - 4 o'clock
Hostess: Mary Lehman
Location: Lancaster, PA

Lots of great new items in our Etsy Shop!

2008-07-25T09:17:00.003-04:00

We just had a great show last Sunday, so needed a little time to get stock up on Etsy again. We have several wonderful pieces featured now, with lots more to come. Check out some of our latest designs! Today ZiZi Designs is having our first "showcase" on Etsy!

ZiZi Designs Supports a New Missionary Family!

2008-07-17T11:20:00.006-04:00

Ralph and Deborah Muenstermann
Youth With A Mission

Herrnhut, Germany

Background

Missions outreach has been at the heart of Ralph and Deborah’s relationship ever since they met at a missionary retreat in South Africa.

Ralph spent five years in South Africa with YWAM, developing a seminar to teach local pastors and lay persons the inductive Bible study method. Throughout this time Ralph, who is also an architect by profession, had a long term vision to incorporate the arts in discipleship.

Deborah served with Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) in Thailand and also on a short-term team to China. Her passion was to equip others serve in the most needy parts of the world. She then served as Missionary Support Team coach at EMM for 4 years, helping missionaries form caring teams to walk with them while overseas.

Lukas has a heart for people and loves to interact with them. He makes friends wherever he goes and is often the key that opens up hearts for deeper conversation.

Herrnhut
We feel God has led us to Herrnhut because the vision of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base incorporates the things God has placed on our hearts: missions training and the arts.

The town of Herrnhut has a rich heritage as it is home of the Moravian church that - during Count Zinzendorf’s leadership in the 18th century - sent about 10% of its members out as missionaries to many parts of the world. Their 100 year prayer meetings laid the foundation for the modern missionary movement.

Herrnhut is located in the former Communist East Germany where only 27 percent of the population identifies themselves as Christian.

Global Vision
Our vision is both global and local. Our heart is to send young missionaries on short- and long-term assignments to the 10/40 window, the most poverty-stricken and unevangelized region of the world. We want to train them while they are working on the YWAM base, focusing on developing their creativity in any kind of arts. The skills they learn can be a powerful tool in their hands to combat extreme poverty in the 10/40 window.

The 10/40 window - Picture Source: www.wfwradio.com/the-10-40-window

Local Vision
Locally, we want to provide training in the creative arts (especially the visual and writing arts) in a workshop setting within the 1600 people town of Herrnhut, situated in the German state of Saxony, where unemployment is 18 percent of the active population. We hope to train local residents as well as overseas YWAM staff members.

Timeline
Our plan is to leave in March 2009, staying in Herrnhut for an initial term of 3 years. During those years, we hope as a family to engage on short-term outreaches into the 10/40 window.

Partnering with us
PRAYER- Please pray that God will guide and provide for us as we seek to be a blessing to Herrnhut and the nations.

FINANCES- We would be grateful for your contribution towards this work.

Endnotes
1 visit http://www.1040window.org/ for more information about this missional focus region
2 visit http://www.ywam-sf.net/ for more information about the YWAM base

Upcoming Jewelry Show - to Support Ralph & Deb Muenstermann

2008-07-09T16:26:00.005-04:00

The first official jewelry show to support Ralph and Deb Muenstermann is coming son. See the flier below for details. Ralph, Deb and their son Lukas will be serving in Germany with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) beginning in early 2009. Come out and support them at this jewelry show!

Gift Certificates Now Available!

2008-07-05T09:05:00.004-04:00

Give your friend or loved one a gift that keeps on giving - they'll get to choose wonderful jewelry, and you'll both be supporting missions. Gift certificates are currently available in $25, $30, $35, $40 and $50. Other amounts are available upon request. They can be purchased at our online Etsy shop.
Gift certificates can be redeemed at www.zizidesigns.etsy.com, at any of our jewelry shows, or by visiting our workshop (by appointment only).
Get your gift certificates today - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Christmas, or just to say "I'm thinking of you!"

Going to the chapel...a wedding celebration!

2008-06-13T09:22:00.004-04:00

I had the honor and privilege of designing the making the bridesmaid jewelry for a friend's wedding recently. The gals were decked out in beautiful navy blue dresses with silver embroidered ovals. Each necklace used the same components of labradorite beads and silver oval links, but in a unique and different design for each necklace. This was a lot of fun! Thanks, Jenny, for the opportunity to share in your special day in this way and for supporting our ministry!
Check out the photos of the various designs.

ZiZi Designs to be at City Arts Market

2008-05-21T19:32:00.005-04:00

Exciting News! Our next adventure in jewelry sales with be at the City Arts Market 2008 at Eastern Market in Lancaster City. Come out for a great time, with a lot of wonderful artists and vendors, live music, food Y U M M Y, and much more!

See you on May 31st at Eastern Market for City Arts Market 2008! The first 50 visitors will get coupon books to shop around. ZiZi Designs will be offering 20% off your purchase of $15.00 or more. Don't miss out!

ZiZi Designs Makes Donation to Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County Spring Gala

2008-05-09T11:39:00.006-04:00

We were honored with not only an invitation to attend the Spring Gala fundraiser for Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster, but also with a request to submit a piece of jewelry for the silent auction. I had a great time making this necklace - it was a little more labor intensive than most, and I wanted it to be just right, so I re-did a couple of times until I was totally satisfied.
The necklace was named "A Celebration of Dignity and Hope" which is symbolic because of it's purpose in supporting efforts to end domestic violence and provide services for women who are victims of domestic violence, but also the stones used are symbolic in their nature. Garnet is a stone that represents hope and pearls represent dignity. The necklace was made with all sterling silver, except the head pins, which were sterling silver plated.

There were many happy bidders, and in the end the necklace was auctioned off for a nice amount of money. We're pleased to unite with others for such a great cause. Thanks for including us!

A Little Bit about Us!

2008-04-03T22:50:00.002-04:00

ZiZi Designs’ vision and mission began as a tiny seed planted many years ago in Kirsten Johnsen Martin, who had spent six years working in a jewelry store and a summer cutting and polishing stones in a lapidary shop . Kirsten brings her talent, knowledge and amazing artistry to ZiZi Designs. Kirsten has served as a short-term missionary in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and combines her international experience and heart for missions in each piece she creates. She has an eye for unique designs, which are often bold and beautiful, and can create jewelry with a focal point to brilliantly accent any outfit.

Heidi Shirk joined ZiZi Designs as an understudy of sorts and has developed her own style of jewelry making. Heidi continues to join Kirsten in making jewelry to support an old friend who now serves with Eastern Mennonite Missions. She has a knack for fun and vibrant designs and a soft spirit which nourishes her elegant creations as well.

100% of the proceeds from the sales of ZiZi Designs Jewelry are donated to missions.
Join us as we bead our way to bringing the love and peace of Jesus to the people of the world!

Show Opening this Friday!

2008-04-02T20:29:00.004-04:00

We are excitedly getting ready for the opening night of ZiZi Designs Jewelry at Gallery 141, which occurs this Friday! It's First Friday, and we're ready to roll. We just got these great post cards, which we'll be passing out to all our friends, family, co-workers, and friendly faces we meet on the street! Be sure to join us for First Friday at Gallery 141. Also, we just found out that we'll be in the Gallery for two months -- April & May. Come support a great cause and get some beautiful jewelry!

A Few of My Favorite Pieces

2008-02-29T22:08:00.002-05:00

Check out some of the latest and greatest! This is a brief slide show of some of the pieces that I've decided are my favorites... at least for today :)

Featured Artists at Gallery 141 in April!!!

2008-02-22T18:05:00.006-05:00

This is exciting news for ZiZi Designs!

During the month of April, we will be the featured artists at Gallery 141, a hip and exciting gallery in downtown Lancaster, on Gallery Row (on Water Street). This is a great picture, which I borrowed from their blog, because it speaks of the energy and creativity that the artists at Gallery 141 bring to the artist' community in Lancaster.

This will include:

First Friday (April 4th)

Art Walk 2008 (April 18th-20th) http://www.lancasterartwalk.com/

A Trunk Show (to be scheduled)

And our jewelry on display and for sale at the Gallery all month long!

Check out Gallery 141's blog: http://www.gallery141.blogspot.com/

We are busy working on new designs and building up our stock. The workshop is chock-full of great supplies and positive energy.

Check out some of the latest pieces at our Etsy site: http://www.zizidesigns.etsy.com/

We are thrilled and honored to be heading into this phase of our endeavors! Thanks in advance to Alana and the rest of the folks at Gallery 141 for including us!

Also, MANY thanks to those who have made purchases on Etsy. We've sold 7 items so far! Very cool!!!

Jewelry Show at West End Mennonite Church

2008-02-07T18:06:00.000-05:00

We recently had a small show of our jewelry at West End Mennonite Church in Lancaster as part of the fundraising dinner for our friend who's being supported through ZiZi Designs Jewelry. It was a good turn-out for the benefit dinner and the food was great - all Middle Eastern food - fabulous!

We have some new display strategies, which seem to be working out well. I also have recently seen some really cool picture frames converted into earring holders, so we might be branching out a bit to experiment with something like that.

We're hoping to have several shows this Spring, so we're working hard to build up our stock. After the holidays, we had gotten kind of low, but we're back on track -- now with new, fresh designs, materials, colors, shapes and sizes. You name it - we have something for everything! We love to see, from one day to the next, how our creativity juices change and evolve!

If you're interested in setting up a jewelry show at your home, church, club or elsewhere, let us know! E-mail us at zizidesigns@gmail.com. We have great jewelry, for a great cause!

My First (and Favored) Birthing Necklace

2008-01-12T23:10:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Jennifer Gwen Jagger was graduating from University of Pennsylvania's Midwifery School on December 15th, 2007, so I thought "this woman who will help to bring new life into the world surely needs a birthing necklace!" and thus, went to my workshop to start the magnificent project. I had previously been asked to make a fertility bracelet for a friend of a friend who was trying to conceive, so while I was conjuring up ideas for the fertility bracelet, I knew that there was more out their that was related to some of the things I love most - women's health, childbirth and more! Those thoughts came flooding back into my brain as I sat down at my work table. I did a great deal of research about different stones, symbols, characteristics, etc. that were associated with birthing, fertility, strength of women, etc., and combined several of those components to create what I believed to be a stunning piece of work that Jennifer wears with elegance, charisma and flare! Just what those birthing moms need to see glistening on her neck whilst they're in their most difficult, painful, yet joyous moments of life...

Below is the description of the symbolism poured into her necklace that I presented to her along with the necklace on the day of her graduation:

Symbolic Birthing Necklace
Designed by ZiZi Designs Kirsten Hope especially for
Certified Nurse Midwife Jennifer Gwen Jagger

The materials used to create this necklace have the following significance:

SPIRAL:
The spiral symbolizes the great circle of life.

MOONSTONE:
Like the moon, moonstone is a symbol of feminine energy. The meaning of moonstone is for the balance of emotions: balancing, calming and healing. It helps the wearer bring their emotions under control. It helps balance the yin and yang.
Also like the moon, the meaning of moonstone is about cycles. For example, moonstone jewelry is helpful during a woman’s menstrual cycle. As with the moon, moonstone symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. Arabian women, in tune with the feminine and fertile aspects of moonstone, would sew moonstone into their robes to be blessed with many children.

JADE:
Love, inner peace, harmony and balance…jade is also regarded as a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the precious. It embodies the Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty and courage, yet it also symbolizes the female-erotic.

SILVER
The use of silver for its medical and therapeutic benefits dates back thousands of years. The Romans were of the first to document the "magical healing" powers of silver. New Age healers have taken silver’s conductive abilities and translated that into the belief that it can conduct the body’s energy. They believe it can remove negative energy from the body and channel the positive energy of other minerals into the patient.
In general, silver is believed to benefit circulation, help lungs and throat, and detoxify the blood, to aid in the treatment of degenerative brain diseases, balancing of hormones and chemicals and improvement of nerve impulse transmission. They also use it for treating hepatitis and detoxifying the body.
Healers recommend silver for hormonal and/or chemical imbalances and improving the transmission of nerve impulses, all of which can affect the patient’s mental state. They also ascribe powers for improving communications, reducing conflicts and increasing popularity, transforming energies and negativity and cleansing/balancing emotions.

Feel good about the jewelry you wear

2008-01-07T22:42:00.000-05:00

The past two years have been amazing in terms of what ZiZi Designs Jewelry has become. What began as a bunch of girlfriends sitting around during a reunion weekend "crafting" has blossomed into a wonderful way to support a friend working in the Middle East as a missionary and also a way to relax, have fun, and use the creative portion of my brain. It also is a great way to connect with other friends, unwind and chat about the things of life.

Most of the sales of ZiZi Designs occurs through "trunk shows" or "jewelry parties" hosted by friends and family in their homes. Women love the opportunity to get together, enjoy great fellowship and some yummy treats AND shop for the perfect accessories to all their outfits. I'm incredibly grateful for those who have hosted shows.

Just last week, I started an etsy.com site -- www.zizidesigns.etsy.com. It's a whole new venue for me, but I'm hoping that it will grow in its own way. You can see pictures from some of my pieces at the side. I hope to be adding more in the near future and improve the photo quality of the pieces we have for sale.

ZiZi Designs wouldn't be possible as it is today without the incredible amount of help that my friends Heidi and Cristy have provided. Heidi continues to "bead" with me every Tuesday night, but sadly, Cristy has left the US and headed to Malawi, where she's serving as the Deputy Medical Director in a Seventh Day Adventist missionary hospital. More than her creative, funky style, we miss her presence, her smile, her encouragement and her wit! Interesting, we know, that a SDA gal was so skilled at making jewelry!

More to come as we bead our way to bringing the love and peace of Jesus to the people of the world!