dolma jewelry

Day 4 in China was almost completely ours. Our vendors needed time to make samples for me to see, so Shannon and I spent the morning going over our orders and deciding what pieces we needed to add to fill in a few gaps. This season I really wanted to bump up our Baby line and our Oola line for the tweens-so we focused on making sure we had plenty of new options.

Look at the cute uniforms at Pizza Hut in Shanghai!

Next on the agenda: get some clothes made! We both had a few ideas of some pieces we wanted to create-and after ooh-ing and ahh-ing over hundreds of fabric options were able to narrow our choices down to a few, must-have swatches. We then began the creation portion, with measuring, tweaking, and changing our minds. Then, the bargaining-which is so annoying when you really have no idea what you should be paying … but I think I did OK, though I did have to walk away twice.

Then, we stopped in to check on some pieces with one of my vendors… and suddenly realized it was 9:00pm, and we were starving and tired. We gave our cab driver the address to a restaurant, but he dropped us off at the wrong spot-after walking 8 blocks in the wind and rain we gave up and dashed into a Pizza Hut.

Me, in all my hotel-gifted gear... out of the rain and into the Pizza Hut!

Me, sporting one of my favorite new earrings!

Day 3 started around 6:30 am. I woke up, anxious to read the Shanghai Daily. This may sound odd, but starting my day with copious amounts of green tea and reading the entire English newspaper is a part of my day here that I just can’t skip. It is written by Chinese people in British English, with titles like: “Granny DJ Spins Hits”; “Teacher Pricked Pupils”; ”Freak Wave kills 2″; ”She saved a burn victim, but at a cost”; and, the title that is so fabulous it trumps any title I could ever create for this blog, so I’ve given in and copy-pasted: “Help will arrive within 5 minutes if anyone falls into the HuangPu River”. In other News, the Daily reported on Mao’s grandson’s self promotion due to “the people’s love of his grandfather”. Also, in attempts to clean the HuangPu River for the World Expo, “[the government] has asked 82 of the 280 businesses producing dangerous chemical products to relocate [their pollutants] to an industrial park across the city”.

I can’t get enough. The Daily is like a good movie-funny, informative, and controversial enough to make you blush.

I have to try everything on!

Shannon enjoying some green tea before our foot massage!

After 8 hours, Shannon is ready to go! But she's hanging in there.

Li Ming Ming, pricing our designs!

After lunch, and an eight-hour design and creation session with one of my vendors, we head to a Mexican place we found in the City Weekend Magazine-a publication for foreigners with tons of recommendations for food, nightlife, entertainment, etc. It’s packed, and we have no reservation, so Shannon and I order Passion Fruit Margaritas and sit at the bar until they can squeeze us in. The Margaritas were recommended to us by 2 women we met from Chicago and Paris, who are here in Shanghai looking for teaching jobs. We were seated next to a Scottish woman and Italian man on a 2nd date, who were quite friendly and recommended the Macho Nachos. We had great fun with the woman, who was obviously elated to not be alone on this date-she even commented that she thought he was only dating her to learn English, and told him she charged 600 RMB an hour for her services.

One of many earrings that we ARE NOT using! This one is just terrible! My mission: to design a custom earring for a bride... mission not accomplished, yet!

She gave us her card to keep in touch, and we grabbed a cab and headed to the hotel. 

Ashley

Shanghai: At Night, in the Rain!

When I booked tickets for my sister and myself about 2 weeks ago, I was quite constrained by price and availability, as I’m sure you can imagine. The only flight I could find under $1700  (a coach ticket is typically $800-$1200) was at a slightly inconvenient time, with slightly inconvenient seating.

It all seems fine when you order the ticket, until you actually have to DO what you’ve signed up for. And keep in mind, when you’re bargain-hunting for international plane flights at the last minute, you’ve looked at about 10,000 different lay-overs, connections, fees, seating assignments… and at the moment you click “confirm”, you’re so confused and exhausted you could have a 1o hour, overnight layover in Buenos Aires and not even notice.

So, yesterday morning, our flight from Atlanta to Newark left at 6:45am, which meant we had to leave the house at 4:45. My sister, Shannon, and I elected to stay up the entire night-not because we wanted to sleep on the plane but because we didn’t start packing until 11pm the night before.

So, we make it to Newark just fine. I slept the entire way, which is great.

We have a 2 hour layover in Newark, and I’m on the phone handling last-minute business items, and making sure my phone is set for international use, that my Credit Card companies know I’ll be out of town… the normal, layover procedure.

Our Meal at my Favorite Restaurant: Mei Long Zhen!

Then it happens. My phone starts beeping. Which means it is low on batteries.

I scan the entire gate area, and find a plug next to an unused desk. The next thing I know I’m on the plane, helping fellow passengers put up their luggage, settling into my middle seat, and I hear “The doors to the plane have now been closed, please discontinue use of your cell phones…”

OH NO. My cell phone is still plugged into the wall.

I hop out of my seat, run to a flight attendant and tell her what I’ve done. I may have over-exaggerated the necessity of the phone for my survival in China… but desperate times call for desperate measures; and before I know it, there are 2 other flight attendants and one very attractive pilot ready to open the door, radio Control, and let me run in to grab my phone.

But Control makes a call to the gate, and my phone is no longer there. So I have to go back to my middle seat, in the middle row. Shannon and I had tried unsuccessfully to guilt all our surrounding, aisle and window seat passengers into switching with one of us, but when it comes to 15 hours in a small space-chivalry is dead. Understandably.

One poor guy got roped into switching his emergency exit, aisle seat for a middle seat behind me because he had the seat next to 2 parents who strategically placed their child in the middle seat ticket 10 rows back. The man had no choice. He had to let the baby have his seat. Talk about devastation.

I've never seen this before! The Chinese LOCK UP their umbrellas!

The flight is for some reason incredibly comfortable and I’m able to sleep a good 8 of the 15 hours. Shannon mentioned (because she did not sleep a wink the entire flight) that I was dead asleep, probably snoring, and my head was flopping from the shoulder of the girl on my right to the arm of the older man on the left. All I can say is: maybe they’ll think twice next time about not switching seats. I should mention that for the 7 hours I was awake Shannon and I were talking over the people in between us and passing food back and forth. 

At some point in the flight I wake up, and meet a man in line for the bathroom and tell him my phone predicament. He proceeds to convince me that my entire identity is somehow on that phone-bank accounts, credit card information, social security number… he says I can consider my identity stolen; my accounts at best will be frozen, and that means I’ll have no money to get out of the airport, much less buy pearls.

Upon arrival in China, Shannon and I have no information to offer as to our return flight, the address of our hotel, or any of the questions they ask on the arrival card.

We hop into a cab that has newspapers suspiciously covering the back seat, and about 5 minutes into the 45 minute ride realize that it’s sopping wet underneath the newspaper. I ask the cab driver why it’s so wet, and he says he left his windows down during a recent downpour.

So… wet, cold and pretty disoriented, Shannon and I fall out of the cab at the hotel.

But my familiar bellhop greets us with a smile, the check-in counter remembers my reservation, and we are lead to our fabulous room with bottled water and chocolates on the pillow. I check Shannon’s voicemail and my phone is safe and sound in security at Newark. 

We unpack, rest a few minutes, and head to my very favorite restaurant in all of China, MeiLong Zhen, for a feast of braised eggplant, fried noodles, tofu, bean curd pancakes, and Tsing Tao.

Shannon at MeiLong Zhen Restaurant

Delicious Beancued Pancakes

We head back to the hotel, showered… and I am now waking up at 5am in my robe, with my hair in a towel- I must have fallen asleep walking from the shower to my bed.

I can’t wait to receive our edition of Shanghai Daily, sit at breakfast and drink green tea, and then head out to start designing dolma’s new collection!

Zai jian, for now!

Ashley

After our CNN debut, we’ve had a some really fabulous women call in and inquire about becoming a Pearl Stylist. But when they get word that they need a business license, it seems to really “up the anny” and cause for pause in their enthusiasm. I totally understand this, because most home show businesses do not require their sales force to have their own business license to resell their product. But I’ve got to share this with the world… because, if you haven’t heard it before now, it’s high time somebody told you-owning your own business is one of the best things any American can do for their finances. Even if they don’t ever want to sell dolma pearls (though that probably does not apply to any Americans at all)!

OK, let me explain. Say you love to watch football. You love it so much you WISH your job was to watch football and tell all your friends about the games. So you make that dream come true and open I Luv Football, LLC; or I Luv Football, Inc. You’re mission is to promote the game of football. Do you have clients? Maybe. And even better-you might, one day.

So… in order to be successful at this career you need cable. Not only do you need cable but you need every sports channel that would possibly ever show football. Even HBO, because if HBO airs “Rudy” you are going to need to watch it. You’re also going to need a couch to sit on and office to really think about your business. Guess what-that means you need a computer, a phone, a fax and wireless internet. You may also need a Blackberry or IPhone that sends you up-to-the-minute information about every football game: past, present and future. You’re also going to need to hit up Wednesday Night Trivia at your local hole in the wall to really network and show off your football knowledge. You MUST host a 100 person Superbowl party… that is if you couldn’t get seats on the 50 yard line.

All of these things, of course, can be either written off your personal taxes or paid for directly through your business-depending upon the type of business you’ve opened (S Corp, LLC, or even Sole Proprietorship).

Now, I know that this I LUV FOOTBALL, LLC is totally bogus. But just apply it to a Pearl Stylist’s life, one who is actually earning income on her passion…

She needs an office: she can write off a room in her home dedicated to dolma.

She needs internet, a land line, a cell phone, a fax: all expenses she is probably undergoing herself already that she can pass off to her business

She needs gas in her car: a reimbursement from her company is more than fair for most miles traveled

She needs to entertain clients: Those $14 martinis she bought while selling her necklace right off her neck to her new neighbor is a business expense

She needs to network: Tennis team dues, PTA memberships, and all the expenses involved… are for business

Are you picking up what I’m putting down?

A business license may seem intimidating, but it’s really the very best thing you can do for your finances. Trust me, I know this stuff.

Ashley

Me, Janet Trefethen, Carolyn O'Neil and Alison O'Neil all wearing dolma at the St. Regis in Atlanta

I’m not a wine connoissieur of any kind, but I will tell you that when it comes to Chardonnay I’d just rather a coke. I always heard that there were good Chardonnays, just like every other type of wine, but I think most people my age will agree that it’s hard to find one that you can drink without wanting to add sprite, or tons of ice, or ice cream, or even peanuts. I cringe when I think of even looking at Chardonnay-I assume it thick and yellow-green, almost like gasoline.

My mother’s generation drank Merlot and Chardonnay… and my generation drinks Shiraz, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc-now that I think of it, we really drink anything but Merlot and Chardonnay. 

But one evening at the St. Regis with Janet Trefethen of Trefethen Winery and I will never turn my nose at Chardonnay again. 

Well, first of all, the company was first class. I was with my dear friend Alison O’Neil (a medical aesthetician and owner of dolma’s favorite charity, Beauty Becomes Becomes You Foundation); her sister Carolyn O’Neil, (renowned dietician, foodie, and authority on anything really good); and of course, Janet Trefethen and her Director of Sales, John Harrington. We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning-talking about everything and anything-and drinking Trefethen Chardonnay.

Absolutely divinely perfectly unforgettably silky, I can only remember wanting to savor every last drop. And in combination with the atmosphere of the St. Regis and cordial company-a night I will always remember.

Oh! I went home and found this information on their website:

In 1979, Trefethen 1976 Chardonnay was named “Best Chardonnay in the World” at the Gault Millau World Wine Olympics in France, beginning our 30-year tradition of excellence with this most popular of white wines. Key to our success is our vineyard’s location in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, where well-drained, loamy soils and a marine-influenced climate yield Chardonnay grapes with rich, balanced flavors.

One of those rare moments in life when you are surrounded by greatness, endulging in delicacies, but are too engrossed in the udder enojoyment to even recognize it. If you have a place to sit and a friend to share with, here’s a link to their website.

http://www.trefethen.com/

Also… I got so carried away in recalling the evening-I forgot to mention how proud I am to say that Janet is a dolma client!

This spring and fall, “fashion” is synonymous with “accessories”. Personally, I find no need to purchase any new clothes. I’m recycling staple items and focusing on my pearl wardrobe. The white blouse I’m wearing with a suit skirt today will be super casual with my skinny jeans and boots this weekend… and totally glam when I pair it with my sister’s black sequin skirt. Yeah, my clothes may look like every other girl who’s been to the grocery store in the past 6 months and glanced at the cover of Vogue or People… but what will set me apart is the Kingdom Necklace that that fits right along the collar of my blouse, the 160 inches of potato and rice pearls I’ll wrap around my neck eight times with my jeans, and the big drop Aria earrings with pearls and crystal I’ll rock with the sequin skirt. And when skinny jeans and sequin skirts are O-U-T (I hope never, I love them!), I bet I’ll still be wearing my pearls.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out our new line for spring, head to www.dolmapearl.com. I am currently posting new pieces everyday. Our designs are dramatic and daring-just like the pieces you’ll be seeing on the stars. But no need to worry about locking up dolma in your jewelry box after a few months. Our jewelry is still timeless.
Ashley

Two years ago, when I graduated from college and decided to start my own business, America’s healthy financial appetite was more than gracious. Women were lining up to host pearl parties- and their friends were grabbing jewelry by the handfuls-for gifts or for themselves. The sheer joy on our customers’ eyes when they found that perfect, most wonderful piece made my for-profit endeavor appear almost charitable.

The buzz words were: “what a deal”.

You see, I sell the same pearls that all the other guys sell, but I go to China myself, bargain in Chinese, and hand pick every single pearl. I design the jewelry, oversee the making, and return to the United States with arms full of precious gems ready for adoption. And I price our product so that everyman can have them.

Now, the otherman, who was richer two years ago, is looking for that everyman deal. As wallets are thinner, Americans are recognizing the difference between value and price- and turning to dolma.

But we’ve been inexpensive since the beginning- before it was fashionable to discount. We’ve always believed that price was a poor reflection of value.

And even though we are “a deal” we do at times see reluctance in our buyers.

When my dolma-esteem is low, I call my voicemail. Saved in my mailbox is a message from a client in Miami: an elderly woman that commissioned us to restring a few pieces, and add an arthritic-friendly magnetic clasp to each strand. She called me after receiving a package from us, and I can hear her grinning from ear to ear on the message. She said: “Thank you. You have made me so happy. All of the things you have done for me and fixed for me. I am so grateful.”

That message, after a long, discouraging day, reminds me why I began my business. It’s not the price- it’s the passion, the joy, the excitement that simple luxuries evoke.  I can see her, smiling in the grocery store, wearing her pearls. I can see myself, in 60 years, having the same restringing commissioned.

And now that we are fashionable in our pricing, I am still able to see the joy of simple luxuries. Buyers are choosing us over the other, pricier competition, but I just thought that you should know: dolma has always wanted everyone to have pearls. We’ve always been inexpensive. We’ve always put value before price.