Hi,

Hi, sorry but I had the product times backwards. Audrey's ring and the fancy colored earrings will be in the 5:00 pm show with Mary Beth. Please tune in.

I am so excited about the launch on QVC of one of the true luxury brands in America. On Friday, November 6, during the Discover Diamonique 22nd Anniversary with Jane Treacy, my good friend, Gregg Ruth, will launch Gregg Ruth Luxe for Diamonique. Gregg has been a personal friend of mine for almost 30 years and I have always admired his talents and magnificent jewelry.

Gregg creates jewelry that is both timeless and trendsetting. He has been in the business since 1981 and believes that fine jewelry should stand the test of time rather than reflect short-lived trends. Gregg says, “We are making jewelry for generations, not for this year’s fashion”. Gregg’s passion for beautiful jewelry began in his parents’ jewelry store in Pennsylvania. He is now based in Malibu and is one of the world’s most prolific designers of fine jewelry. His jewelry line in the top stores showcases fancy colored diamonds including canary and pink.

Gregg will launch two pieces in the midnight show and two pieces in the 5:00 PM show with Lisa Mason. At midnight, my favorite piece, a fancy cut canary and white Diamonique sterling ring is modeled after the engagement ring that Gregg gave his wife Audrey. When Audrey saw the Diamonique version, she said that she thought it was prettier than the original. It is, to me, one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry that I have ever seen. There is also a stud earring is a choice of pink, canary, and white that is modeled after Gregg’s famous 18k fancy colored princess cut diamond earrings.

During the 5:00 PM show, two more fabulous items will be premiered. The two tone Diamonique pendant is gorgeous and looks right out of the finest jewelry store. The oval fancy colored ring, offered in white, pink, or canary, is spectacular and to me, looks like a fabulous diamond ring.

I usually don’t gush over jewelry quite this much, but I know you will too once you see them. You don’t want to miss our Discover Diamonique Anniversary.

A special thanks to Kaplan206 and Sheesh for nominating me to be the referee for “Crazy Analogy”. It is all so true and I look better in black because of my girth. Thank you all once again for your prayers and best wishes.

Yesterday, Mother was moved to a special floor of the hospital that specializes in physical therapy. After six weeks in the hospital, she is starting to come back and I know she will do it.

Take care, Peyton

Hi Everybody, Hope you are all enjoying the fall weather. The leaves are so beautiful right now and I hope to drive up through the Shenandoah Mountains this weekend (unless we have another thunderstorm).

On Wednesday, October 28 at 8:00 PM a new show will launch that is very cool. The brand name is Savor® and it is a 14k gold bonded jewelry show. As you know, gold has jumped more than 40% in price this year. QVC searched for a way to bring beautiful gold jewelry but at affordable prices. This bonded process is not jewelry that has been dipped in gold or just plated. It is actually a unique process of genuine 14k gold bonded to sterling silver. The outer layer of the jewelry is 14k gold but beneath the layer of gold is a layer of sterling silver. These same classic gold looks would be four times the price in solid gold.

You do find a similar, but different, type process offered other places but the big difference is that every piece at QVC is made of 10% gold. The incorporation of two metals makes the Savor jewelry collection very durable. Prices range from $40 to $300 with the average price around $80.

David and his team have created high-quality, bold looks that you can wear from day to night. From classics to updated fashion pieces, there is a wide assortment of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. There is a fantastic twisted hoop earring in tri color gold that is available in two different sizes. The bead necklace is classic and very expensive looking. There is a great two tone domed bangle that looks and feels like the solid gold bangles that we all love. One of my favorite pieces is an 18 inch reversible omega.

I met with Erin yesterday and went through your comments about the latest Judith Ripka show. Erin is checking on the details and will have information this next week. STLGAL, we will never let that happen to you. It would also be a very sad day for me. GaPeachAtl and kaplan206, thank you very much for posting my blog on Judith’s forum.

You don’t know how much you’re kind words and prayers mean to my family. I have read and re-read each of your thoughts and they really give me comfort. I just wish I could reach out to each of you for a personal thank you. My sister, Leigh, and brother, Walter, are with mother and are giving me daily reports. She is able to sit up for a few hours a day now and definitely has the drive and will to come back.

Take care and I look forward to speaking with you all next week.

Peyton

Thank you all so much for the warm thoughts and prayers. Mother is stable but will be in the hospital at least another 30 days or so. The ten days (and nights) that I spent with her in the hospital were so special. She has a long road ahead but I know that she will do it.

I have not had time to speak with Erin and her team about Judith’s fabulous show on Sunday but will have more to report later in my next blog.

If you can, please tune in this afternoon for a two hour Silver Marketplace with Jane Treacy and yours truly. There are some beautiful favorites along with four new items. The ring and chain from Turkey are very unique and have wonderful stories. I have never seen a chain (inspired by intricate hand carved bird cages) of this style and detail before from any country. The Telkari (special type of filigree) ring is truly a work of art and features a fabulous teal blue hand painted porcelain oval.

We are also featuring two pieces from Novica, in association with National Geographic. In 2000, they joined forces with a fair trade mission to preserve traditional culture and skills in developing nations. The Charisma Bracelet from Mexico is amazing and truly wearable art. The artisan, Oscar Escocsia, is known for his bold and unique designs using silver actually mined in Taxco. His creativity is influenced by the rich Mayan and Aztecs history that surround the mountains of Taxco and shape the people, landscape, and culture. He has also created the Frost Leaf Earrings. Oscar describes the earrings as “caught in glistening frost, a single leaf casts a spell of magical elegance”.

I know this is fairly short but will catch up with you more next week.

My sincerest and warmest thanks once again for your good wishes and prayers. You all mean so much to me.

Take care, Peyton

Hello from Louisiana, I am writing this from the hospital where my mother is recovering from major surgery. She is stable but not doing very well. I will keep you posted and hopefully have good news going forward.

I was supposed to be part of the big Creede Silver event tomorrow. There are several fabulous Artisan Crafted items that I was going to be on air with to tell their stories and how they were made. Please watch for the magnificent cuff with Lisa Robertson. It is very bold and has a striking combination of coral and black onyx. Rick Domeier also has a gorgeous gemstone necklace in a choice of picture agate, carnelian, black onyx, or sodalite. The stones are beautiful and the Artisan Crafted silver details are superb.

At the Vicenza jewelry fair we saw black onyx with bright red accents as well as many large gemstone necklaces. So once again our artisans have captured the art of modern designs with ancient techniques.

Even though I had to come back early from our around the world trip, Erin continued on and wanted to share some of her experiences with you.

Erin writes:

"---Greetings from Hong Kong! It has been an amazing 2 weeks traveling the globe in search of beautiful new designs and materialsinspired by Europe and the far East. Every stop has been fabulous. Italy was full of inspiration--in colors, stones, and designs. India was full of firsts--first time in the country, first taste of curry, and most importantly first experience working in a jewelry factory. It was an educational and productive three days; I spent time with Naomi developing beautiful new jewelry for Spring 2010, heavily inspired by her couture collection. By the time I arrived in Bangkok I had pages of ideas in my notebook that I couldn't wait to share with more of my designers and suppliers.
As Peyton mentioned earlier, I am the designer jewelry buyer at QVC and work closely with all the designers on their new collections for QVC. On this trip we focused on developing new pieces for holiday 2009 and Spring 2010. I worked on designs with Judith Ripka, Michael Dawkins, Anthony Nak, Ann King and Elizabeth Showers. We collaborated on sketches and identified how to incorporate what is trending in their couture and QVC collections with all the inspiration we found in Europe and Asia. I am so excited about the new pieces in work and cannot wait for them to launch over the next six months. Some of my favorite pieces incorporate color trends like black mixed with white, ruby red, deep purple, and emerald green. I am off to Hong Kong to spend a few days walking the aisles of the jewelry show in search of other new trends and materials. A trip of this length can be exhausting but it is the passion and support of all of you that motivates me to keep moving and scouring the globe for beautiful things…thank you!"

Erin

PK again:
I hope you all enjoy Creede and don't miss the Today’s Special Value-big, bold, breathtaking (I love alliteration) silver beads.

Take care, Peyton.

Hi All,

We are now in Bangkok, known as the Land of Smiles. Allison, the Gemstone Buyer and would like to share some expieriences from our trip through India.

Allison writes:

"Hello and greetings from our epic trip across the world. This is my first time to all of the coutries we will be traveling to, and what an exciting and multi-cultural experience it has been so far!

My trip started in Jaipur, which has long been a center for gemstone cutting. Many of the gemstones that are mined all over the world are brought to Jaipur to be cut and faceted for jewelry. I was able to see first hand how a rough piece of amethyst transforms into the beautifully faceted gemstone that we all love in our jewelry. It amazed me how so much of the process is still done laboriously by hand. What a treat to see!

Some of the most exciting finds from my Indian trip have been great values in gemstones that we all love like tanzanite and sapphires. Stay tuned, though, because we have also found some interesting and gorgeous exotic gems mined from all over the world!

India is such a beautiful country to visit for inspiration for jewelry design, as well. The highly ornamented detail that is found in the temples and palaces is exquisite, and can be translated into ideas for new jewelry designs. While in India, Peyton and I visited the Amber Palace, which was built the 16th century. The handpainted frescos, tiled walls, and carved wood had an intricacy to them like no other place in the world. In one area of the palace, the mosaic on the walls was made of turquoise! What lovely inspiration!

I hope you are enjoying our trip around the world. I certainly love visiting all of our vendors in order to bring outstanding product in, and hope you like all the fabulous new things that we are working on!

Allison"

Peyton again: India is such a land of extremes. We are able to work with so many talented artisans and factories in Bombay and Jaipur. I did meet with two of our top Artisan Crafted families and WOW, you are going to love their new designs. As Allison mentioned, we discovered several new colors of some of your favorite stones and can't wait to share them with you. Allison and I were in Jaipur and we flew to Delhi to catch our plane to Bangkok. The average temperature in Jaipur was 100 but it was pretty dry. In Bangkok, the average has been 98 with high humidity(as you know, I don't have to worry about a bad hair day). We have taken lots of pictures and I will post some of them when I return. I am technically challenged and everytime I try to forward pictures to be posted, they disappear.

Take care, Peyton

The fourteen hour flight from Philadelphia to Italy was a challenge with no sleep and airplane food(what can I say). Landing in Venice, we quickly forgot how tired we were and tried to enjoy the romance and magic of the city for at least a couple of hours. We were here to work the Vicenza Jewelry Show, one of the most important jewelry events of the year. Many of you watched the magical Lisa Robertson basking in the beauty of Italy last week. Debra, the Director of Gemstones, Designers , and National Brands; Erin, the Buyer of Designers and National Brands, and I spent two full days walking the show looking in every window and speaking with many of the top European Designers and Manufacturers about what was happening in the market, what they saw for jewelry direction in the coming year, and what were the hottest things at the show. I have asked Debra to let you know a little about what is going on. During the rest of the trip, Allison, the gemstone buyer, Adrienne, the diamond buyer, and Erin, will all share their thoughts with you.

Debra writes:

"Dear Friends, We are at our best when we have the opportunity to travel together in search of jewelry treasures, themes, trends and opportunities. As I write this, I am with Erin and Adrienne in the city of Mumbai and we are looking at some beautiful diamonds. Today happens to be a holiday so the entire factory is dressed in their finery. The women are wearing beautiful saris and wear flowers in their hair. Everyone is smiling! Peyton and Allison are gem hunting in Jaipur and we will meet up with them in Thailand in a couple of days.
We started our trip together in Italy which is always fabulous. There are trends that are surfacing for Spring 2010 and they all work beautifully with the color themes we are seeing for apparel and accessories. The ubiquitous oversized right (or left) hand ring is still a must have. We couldn't help but notice the large round gemstones in an array of colors with a very defined flat table. This doesn't mean that the fancy cut heavily faceted gems are a trend of the past; just offering a fresh new face (or finger). Pearls in every color were mixed with gems and chain to create a bold yet feminine look. The powerhouse color was undeniably RED. I like it best when mixed with purples and blues. There is so much to look forward to for Spring. But, before the calendar turns to 2010, we still have many treats in store for you this year. I want to give you a hint: On the day that we arrived in Italy, we got in late and decided to quickly jump on a train for Venice. If you have ever been there or read about this magical port city, you will know of the beautiful cathedral in St Marks Square. On the right side of the church at the top, the building is embellished with lovely architectural appointments. These elements have served as the inspiration for a very beautiful piece of jewelry that we will bring you in December. Can you guess what it is?
Wish you were here, Debra"

Hi, it's Peyton again,

A few things that Debra forgot to mention: Blisters on our heals from walking miles at the Vicenza Jewelry Show; and the five pounds I have gained from pasta, cheese, and bread.

Take care, Peyton

It seems like I am always passing on information to the buyers, planning, or other big shots and can’t usually let you know info right away. Fran (waterbaby), I’m glad that you enjoyed Judith's recent show. The Amethyst/Peridot ring will arrive at QVC in the next six weeks. The turquoise/Diamonique drop earring is also on order and should arrive here in the next 3 months. SaintLouisGal, the Green Goddess Enhancer was cut from the last show because of time. It will be presented in the next show. It was available for purchase on line during the August show but was removed when the presentation was cancelled. Wishd4it, I told Natalie about your concerns with the pale color of the mint quartz doublet stones. She brought a sample of the piece over for me to look at and we are going to reach out to the manufacturer. There is a wavy effect, where light and dark blends together. I will keep you posted.

Hi JayneH. Allison appreciates your comments. She spoke with Bernadette in extended assortment and asked her to bring back the Bixby Garnet Key Enhancer. I really love that piece. Charmed-Jenna, it is always a pleasure to hear from you. Let me know what you think of the next few blogs.

It seems like I am always talking about my trips but never have a chance to really tell you about them. Today, I am leaving on a round the world trip to Italy, India, Thailand, and Hong Kong. I will be writing a blog from each of the countries during the trip and sending them in to post on line. The trials and tribulations of travel, the exotic flavors, and of course, the hard (fascinating?) work that I am doing will be shared.

I am flying back the night of September 25 to be part of a very special Silver Marketplace on Saturday, September 26 from 10:00-12:00 Midnight EST. The fabulous Mary Beth will be the host. Please tune in and say hello.

Take care, Peyton

I just got back from Santa Fe and have lots to report. I want to say a special big hello to the beautiful ladies from Georgia and Los Angeles that I met. In my next blog I will let you know what we found and what we are working on.

Patti, our planner extraordinaire just showed me the gorgeous jewelry for Diamonique Day . WOW, what a selection. This will be the season premier of our latest designs and the last day-long Diamonique event until April 2010. The Today's Special Value is from Verragio, it is truly a beautiful piece. Please tune-in at Midnight, you don't want to miss it. Verragio is known for detailed, elegant designs, especially the Lumino setting. I was also excited about the launch of colors of Sapphires. The rainbow of sapphire colors that you find in very expensive jewelry in the very highest end stores are represented in a fabulous Epiphany Diamonique pave ring. The rainbow of sapphires down the center is surrounded by pave Diamonique. Another favorite piece is the beautiful Diamonique Key pendant. Right on trend and exactly what you are seeing in all the top fashion magazines.

Have you been to the main QVC.com page and voted on the exclusive Tacori design that will be revealed on Diamonique Day during the grand finale? You have until 6:00 PM ET on Thursday, September 3 to vote and then can actually purchase the piece during the Grand Finale. I am not allowed to vote but did decide which one I like the best. It is a tough choice.

Joe Esposito is featuring a beautiful pave Diamonique cuff that is based on the diamond bracelet that he gave his wife on their 10th wedding anniversary. There will be four buyer picks scattered throughout the day that are very special and something to look for. Lisa shared them with me and I especially like the bold concave pave ring and the petite hoops. There will also be one item in the finale that will celebrate the upcoming launch of a major national brand (I am not allowed to mention the name yet).

There is so much else going on during the day. Watch for the launch of the 100 facet in a choice of colors. There will be fabulous tennis bracelet in a choice of all pink or yellow. The first enamel item from Tacori will be featured and in a wonderful deep rich color. Also keep an eye out for the only oval hoops in Diamonique, the only interchangeable necklace in the assortment, and the only princess cut stone on an omega chain. And I almost forgot the assortment of limited edition Hello Kitty jewelry. I learned how to tell the difference between Kitty and her twin sister Mimmy.

Please tune in and enjoy the day.

Take care, Peyton

Last week I was in California meeting with Novica, who in association with National Geographic, mission is to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. They have so many wonderful stories about how their efforts have really affected each artist and their families. Please stay tuned for special artisan crafted product from Novica throughout the Fall. I also met with one of the top diamond jewelry designers in the US, who will premier during the fourth quarter. His designs for Diamonique will take us all to a new level of design and beauty. I can’t wait to share his story with you.

Berta, there is no plan at this time for Tova to be on air in the US with Diamonique. I agree that her designs are beautiful. We are working on new necklaces and I have requested, per your note, to have more 20 inch and even longer in the assortment. JayneH, I am spending the weekend at the Indian Market in Santa Fe with Allison and will pass on your comments about Barbara Bixby. Barbara is so sweet and talented and I am glad that some of the retired pieces are being re-launched on line. Nancy, her garnet key enhancer is one of my favorite pieces and I bought it when it first came out. Rose petals, I will also speak with Allison about Barbara’s bracelet sizes. Charmed-Jenna, it is always a pleasure to hear from you. Windycity1, your comments are always appreciated and I was not aware.

NAVYMOMX2, thanks for the kind words and we are talking about uploading pictures and maybe even a video in the near future. I am very luck to get to go to so many wonderful places and would love to share them with you all. LadySaraLee, I am saddened by the loss of so many skills and talents around the world. Many of the artisans that we work with comment about the younger generation not having the patience or desire to learn traditional skills or ways. Fifty years from now (thankfully I won’t be around) I doubt we would be able to find the workmanship or treasures still being made.

Deanna, Shawn and Carolyn are both terrific and I love working with them. Shawn’s love of Taxco really comes through. Guggenheim, please stay tuned for more beautiful pieces. We are working on two new countries (it usually takes about a year or so) and hope to launch them in January. Mimi12NM, thank you so much for speaking about the importance of intercultural experiences. Many of the skills and techniques used in artisan crafted jewelry around the world originated in many different locations and traveled along the trade routes, such as the famous Silk Road. Certain filigree techniques originated in Persia, cloisonné and porcelain in China, repousse in several different locations. Without the intermingling and sharing, we would not have so many wonderful products. I think Suarti was referring to her island of Bali. Most of Bali’s population practices Bali Hinduism which has its roots in Indian Hinduism and Buddhism. Indonesia is indeed mostly Islam. QVC strongly believes that “cultural exchanges are meant to encourage understanding and clear up misperceptions” that is why we work closely with such a diversity of countries, religious backgrounds, and cultures. For example, in Turkey, I stayed in a 6th century Christian monastery while working with Muslim and Assyrian Christian artisans working side by side.

Hi silvercarol, I know which piece you are referring to and you are correct. Sorry about the confusion, the MOP is so beautiful and special, I just automatically gave Suarti credit. Merrylass, pieces that sell out quickly should be reordered and back in stock fairly quickly. This is one I don’t understand but will send it on to the buyer. Indy55 and wishd4it, I am not going to comment on the timing of Judith’s appearances, I am sure you will get feedback on that one from the Forum. I love Carolyn and Antonella and will pass that request along to the buyers as well.

Kaplan206, I am honored to be a member of the Judith Ripka forum a special friend. That really means a lot to me. Arilex, I saw Jane last week and was teasing her about the heat. She said it was really 118 on the set. I have passed your question about the chain along to Erin and Natalie. Accessory Queen, I love your idea about the discount for buying more than one and, of course, the decreased shipping and handling. What color did you order the flower gemstone cuff in?

Take care and I will be in touch after Santa Fe.

Peyton

Gold was discovered on the Klondike Creek in the Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada on August 17, 1896. It was the richest gold rush in North American history and by 1900, $27Million in gold was extracted from the region every year. George Carmack, along with his brothers-in-law Skookim Jim and Tagish Charley discovered the gold on Bonanza Creek of the Klondike River. By 1899, over 100,000 potential prospectors had traveled to Canada. These travelers were the principal factor in the settlement of Alaska.

On August 17, here at QVC, you can stake your own claim during our 22nd Annual Klondike Gold Rush Sale. During the 24 hour event, many brand-new designs and a selection of returning favorites in 14k gold will be offered at low sale prices in honor of the 113th anniversary of the discovery of gold in the Klondike Region. Discover important values throughout the day including Summer Surprises, Debut Designs-select jewelry styles or colors never before seen on QVC, and Buyers’ picks. Also visit QVC.com to see a special collection of Golden Opportunities-designs you can only see online, all on sale, and all offered with Easy Pay and Free Standard Shipping and Handling.

According to the World Gold Council, QVC offers the largest assortment of 14k gold jewelry in the United States. Our chief gold buyer, David Markstein, and his team Laura, Christina, and Ariana have put together a fabulous collection that includes styles from classic to contemporary. The latest trends including bangles, organic shapes, enamel designs, and new textures can be seen throughout the day. David will be on air several times during the day highlighting some of his favorite pieces. Each is special and they include an incredible gemstone byzantine bracelet where part of the links are either white agate or black onyx. I have never seen anything quite like it. Other items are a large high polished organic slip-on bangle in a choice of white, yellow, or pink gold; high polished cut out design dangle earring and one of my favorites, a bold four corner high polished gemstone ring offered in either amethyst, garnet, or Madeira Citrine. This is a great piece for the gold and gemstone lover.

There are so many other wonderful pieces featured throughout the day. Jill has a gorgeous Y style necklace in gold and either onyx, white agate, or carnelian. During the recent Basel Jewelry Show (it is the most important show of the year for style direction) necklaces were very important and especially Y necks. Please don’t miss the Today’s Special Value. It is the only EternaGold item featured during the Klondike Gold Rush. EternaGold uses a technologically advanced process that makes for a more luminescent product and is known for its superior luster, strength, and durability.

Please tune in for Klondike Gold Rush and don’t miss a moment.

Take care, Peyton

This week there is a special celebration of Artisan Crafted Jewelry from around the world. Many of you know that this is my special passion and project. Over the last 11 years, I have been privileged to be able to work closely with artisans from many different countries to create unique, exclusive designs. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to see how, over the years, the artisans and craftsmen (and craftswomen) have been able to better their lives because of our relationship. I have been in most of our workshops in every country and see first hand the pride and talents of the artisans. I wanted to share some of their stories with you.

I just returned from Beijing, where we filmed new footage for the premier of Imperial China Artisan Crafted. Yim Tom, will be the on air guest. Did you know that she was born in Beijing, that her Mother grew up in a house connected to the Imperial City, and that her Grandfather was an official in the Imperial City? Many of the craftsmen that we work with can trace their skill and talents to previous generations. One of the craftsmen, pictured working on repousse, said that he knows for a fact it goes back at least five generations in his family. Another told me at least four generations and his family believes much farther. When the Communist took over, the craftsmen were not allowed to make jewelry, cut stones, or even wear jewelry. The craft went underground and was kept alive secretly between family members and very close friends. After the Cultural Revolution, the artisans were once again allowed to work on their crafts and slowly the masters have been able to train their younger protégés.

In India, while visiting one of our artisans, they introduced me to the entire family and each proudly showed me what they did on each piece of jewelry. The father made the wire, the uncle cut the wire into small pieces and made the beautiful filigree designs, the mother was braiding a fabulous handcrafted chain, and the cousin was polishing the final piece. The family has turned a large room in their home into their studio and is so proud of what they have accomplished.

Yi, in northern Thailand is one of my favorite artisans. Injured at the age of 18 he taught himself the art of repousse. The artisans had brought the knowledge with them when they migrated into the area but were only making jewelry for themselves. Yi mastered the technique and has opened a school to teach others his craft. I was thrilled to see him zipping around town on his new motorized wheel chair which looks (and sounds) like a Harley.

The art of jewelry making in Turkey is as old as civilization itself. I stayed at a 6th century monastery while working with the craftsmen there. The area, known originally as Assyria, dates back to Biblical days. Most of the artisans are Assyrian Christians and are very proud of the Telkari, their unique filigree technique. While standing outside the monastery, I could see acres and acres of almond trees. The almond flower is a special inspiration because it blooms early and is the sign that spring has arrived. Their other inspirations are endless and include Ephesus, the site of the Temple of Diana, one of the ancient wonders of the world, and where St. Paul wrote and St. John took Mary after the crucifixion.

There are so many more wonderful stories, but I am told to keep my blogs to one page. Please tune in to the Artisan Crafted Silver Celebration and call in and say hello. I will be on air August 5 at 2:00 AM and 1:00 PM and on August 6 at 1:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Take care, Peyton

It is hard to believe that summer is two thirds gone. Growing up in the south, during these long, hot, hazy days everything moved slower and days were spent trying to stay cool. Today, everything moves at such a fast pace and there is so much going on. I hope you all watched QVoyager from Arizona. Jane Treacy is such a pleasure to spend time with and is so knowledgeable. The Kingman and Sleeping Beauty Mines bring us such a beautiful variety of turquoise and Caroline and Bill Pollock did a great job designing and manufacturing the jewelry right here in America. Thank you Chmiel, for your comments on QVoyager. Can you believe it was 115 degrees???

I have been traveling so much lately, that I feel that I have been neglecting you all. Charmed-Jenna, thank you for the kind words and I am glad you are enjoying Judith Ripka’s blog. Fillefroid, I love Mary Beth and she and Judith are so natural together. Merrylass, I have passed your request for a mechanism for special requests to Erin the buyer and Debra the director. There are so many wonderful pieces that are no longer available, it would be great to be able to special order them.

Windycity1, I had a great 4th of July holiday. We went down to a friend’s house on the Chesapeake Bay and barbecued and spent the day on the water. I hope you and your family had a good holiday. I have passed your request concerning adjustable necklaces to Natalie who will make it happen.

The artisan crafted shows in June seem like a long time ago but I did want to address your issues and comments. Thank you Deanna for your comments on the Taxco special. I am sorry that you didn’t get the abalone bracelet and ring but am glad you got the Today's Special Value in Onyx. Suzan, I have passed along your request for larger rings as well as bracelets to Christy, the buyer. Arilex, did you buy the mosaic earrings, they were stunning! The workmanship is so intricate. Your request for longer wheat chains from Suarti also went to Christy.

Charmed-Jenna, many of my friends call me PK and I am glad you do as well. I hope you continue to read my blog and send me your comments. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for themes on future blogs.

Kaplan206, I agree with you about plus models. Our fashion department does a pretty good job here in the studio showing a broad range of sizes but often, when we are on a remote location, there only seems to be one size-petite. I get so many requests for ring and bracelet sizes larger and smaller than our regular offerings that it would be a good idea to be more inclusive. We have teams in the broadcast world that deal with these issues and I have forwarded your email to them. I don’t know how it works with comments on the jewelry forums, but your comments should have never been deleted. I am going to forward your email to them and find out what happened.

I have many more issues to deal with but am told to keep my blogs to one page. My next blog will address more of your comments. I also want to tell you about my recent trip and the exciting jewelry that will be coming up.

Take care, Peyton

Who says that July is a slow month? Certainly, not here at QVC. Uncover the remarkable history and explore the extraordinary countryside of Tuscany, Italy as QVoyager presents fine Italian jewelry, designed and produced especially for QVC. From the Etruscan period to the Renaissance, Tuscany has been a center of art and fine jewelry craftsmanship. Please tune in on Wednesday, July 15 for gorgeous 14k gold jewelry inspired by the spectacular architecture, history, and natural beauty defines the area. The Mosaic pendant with cord necklace TSV is incredible. The design was derived from Giotto’s famous painting, “Madonna and Child Enthroned” created as an altarpiece for Giotto’s church. Today this inspirational painting is housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. One of my favorite pieces is the framed cameo ring, from the famous painting of Contessa di Chinchon, featured in room 45 of the Uffizi Gallery. The cameo is a portrait of the Contessa and is worn in a bracelet pictured on her arm. Please don’t miss Lisa Robertson as she travels with you to the romantic area of Tuscany Italy.

On Saturday, July 18 one of the most exciting shows that I have ever been involved in will air. Live from Scottsdale, Arizona, QVoyager will take you into two of the most spectacular gemstone mines in America. This exclusive collection of turquoise jewelry was designed and manufactured here in the USA and will feature sterling, 14k gold, and two tone rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and necklaces.

Our journey begins near Globe, Arizona at the famous Sleeping Beauty Mine. Named after the resemblance of the mountains to a sleeping lady, this mine produces some of the finest turquoise in the world. Known for its rich blue color with no veining, it is treasured by all turquoise collectors. Rare and precious, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, is sorted by hand and only the purist is allowed to hold that name. Monty, the mine’s owner, told us that originally the mine was a copper mine but closed in the early 1960’s. Turquoise veins were left exposed and discovered to be fine material. Monty went on to say that the first miners worked the mine for over 22 years and he has been mining for over 18 years. Watch for the Sleeping Beauty and Peridot dangle earrings (J14121) that show off the beauty of this fine turquoise.

The Kingman mine was first mined by Indians centuries ago. Chuck Colbough, the grandfather of Marty, the current owner and miner, discovered a cache of stone hammers uncovered in ancient trenches and tunnels. The hammers dated back to 600 AD and were used for mining, polishing and finishing the turquoise. Remnants of charcoal and water containers were found suggesting that the rock was first heated with fire and then cooled quickly with water to cause the stones to fracture and make them easier to mine. Known for its diversity of vibrant colors, Kingman turquoise comes in blue, green, and blue green tones. There is a fabulous bold cuff with a freeform blue/green Kingman turquoise (J141413), a fantastic, big bold choice of cluster ring or enhancer featuring blue/green Kingman Turquoise (/J50507 and one of my favorites, a beautiful beaded necklace (J141455) highlighting the three colors of Kingman Turquoise.

Please travel with us to the rich turquoise mountains of Arizona and the romantic countryside of Tuscany in July. No jet lag and gorgeous jewelry!

Take care, Peyton

I am just back from vacation and ready for the big Artisan-Crafted event. The bold intricate Today’s Special Value from Mexico is spectacular and has so much significance. This Today's Special Value has been in the works for many months and is perfect for the jewelry lover-exclusive, unique, exquisitely crafted, weighty, and fashion forward but will be a classic for your collection.

There will be many new artisan crafted pieces in the 8th anniversary of Silver Marketplace from around the world. These include repousse earrings from Thailand, a bold spiral pendant from Mexico, and mosaic inlaid shell earrings to match the pendant, plus many others.

We partnered with one of the best known adventure groups to bring earrings from a part of the world we have never been able to source from. They even contain stones native to the area. We also have an extremely bold cuff and delicate earrings from the same partner. I can’t wait to introduce them to you and share their stories.

The talented, colorful Suarti will be here with new fabulous pieces. As a jewelry designer, Suarti has been bringing Indonesia’s handcrafted silver tradition to audiences in America for years. Her designs emphasize classic Indonesian motifs, shapes, and techniques; each piece tells a different story about Suarti’s heritage and the people of her home.

Suarti, and her daughter, Sri, spend a lot of time working with the artisan silversmiths who make Suarti’s jewelry you see on QVC. Recently, Suarti and Sri visited the home of one of their artisans, Mr. Wayan Adi, who comes from several generations of silversmiths. Wayan works from home with a group of 15 other independent artisans. They are half way through completing several hundred pieces of J7178 which he tells us is one of his favorite designs, “It is one of the original designs”, he says. “It is simple and very Balinese. It makes me happy to see that this classic ring is still in production today.” Wayan and his fellow artisans are applying the delicate filigree accents using the sap of a tiny tropical fruit as a temporary adhesive until they apply the solder. “There are many high tech silver production methods out there, but here we are using fruit sap as glue!” It is at times like these when we realize how little has changed over the generations and how these modern day artisans stay true to the traditional crafting methods of the generations before them.

Please tune in for the Artisan-Crafted Silver Celebration and call in and say hello. I am glad everyone is happy about Judith’s blog and her spectacular all new show. A big thank you for the kind words from Charmed-Jenna, kaplan206, indy55, Londos6, SaintLouisGal, Waterbaby, windycity1, stylecon, and groovie chickie. I will be addressing specific concerns and issues in the upcoming blogs.

Take care, Peyton

The surprise that I have been teasing you about is finally ready. Judith Ripka will launch her own blog on QVC before her June 13 . You can write directly to her on the blog and Judith and her team will be listening and responding to you. Please don’t forget about my blog, as I will continue to update you with what is going on at QVC and address your concerns.

Judith’s designs for her upcoming show are fabulous and there is something for everyone. The Try Me is a beautiful rolo bracelet with heart charms. For the bold color lover look for the carved turquoise enhancer, the gemstone open flower enhancer in amethyst or citrine, the bold Asscher cut ring available in Amethyst/Peridot or Blue Topaz/Citrine, the suite of jewelry in champagne and ginger quartz, or the ring , bangle, and earrings with carved white agate. One of my favorite pieces will delight the Diamonique lover. It is a beautiful, bold, pave Fleur de lisle and pearl enhancer which can also be worn as a brooch.

I just returned from the Las Vegas Jewelry Show and have been reading your comments on the blog and the Judith Ripka Forum. After speaking with three different QVC.com and customer relations folks yesterday, they are figuring out what happened and are working on a solution to the enamel bangle issue. As soon as they get back to me, I will let you know and I am truly sorry that this new Q Minute has caused so many problems.

A few weeks ago, Saint Louis Gal, wrote me asking to help clarify what Mike George, QVC President and CEO said in an interview on Philly.com. The website said: “For example, George said, QVC is shifting from jewelry to home products.”

I reached out to Mike and he responded:

“Thank you for your question and your loyalty to our jewelry business. I'm delighted you love Judith Ripka! Many of our customers are Ripka fans and collectors and we will continue to feature Judith along with many other jewelry lines. We remain committed to providing a broad range of products to meet the diverse interests of our customers - and that means that not only will we continue to bring you your favorite jewelry lines, we will be introducing many new jewelry brands as well. The comment in Philly.com was just referring to the fact that household products grew faster than jewelry in the last few months, but jewelry remains one of our largest categories at QVC.

Thanks, Mike”

I know you will enjoy Judith’s blog and her show on June 13. In my next blog I will let you know what happened at the Las Vegas Jewelry Show and talk about the Artisan-Crafted event on June 17 and 18. The artisan crafted Today’s Special Value from Mexico is fabulous and I will be on air to tell you the story behind it. I will be on vacation for the next ten days but will be in contact when I return.

Take care, Peyton