Review/Giveaway: Saya Papaya Jewelry

Everyone who knows me, knows I am a jewelry lover! I have met amazing people through  my blog and via Facebook. Shannon Gianoni is among those people. Shannon owns the small jewelry business, Saya Papaya. Saya Papaya's mascot is none other than Shannon's black cat, Saya.

Saya sporting a Swarovski crystal on her collar.

I happened to win a pair of earrings on the Saya Papaya Facebook page, and knew that doing a review would be a perfect fit for my blog. Based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shannon personally creates each and every piece of jewelry sold. A portion of the profits proceed Animal Friends No-Kill Shelter. These earrings are perfect to dress up an outfit, but can be worn on casual days as well. I highly recommend all of Saya Papaya jewelry.

Sandpiper Cat Blog got a chance to interview Shannon and learn about Saya Papaya and how it all came to be. Shannon has graciously offered a giveaway and coupon code for my readers. All information will be at the bottom of the post.

Sandpiper Cat Blog (SCB): How did you get involved in making jewelry? Is it something that you always wanted to do?

Saya Papaya (SP): I have been crafting and making jewelry my whole life. I have always made jewelry for myself and as gifts, and I like to try new trends in jewelry because what I am able to produce is usually less expensive and of better quality than mass-produced options. When I started making Swarovski jewelry, I quickly learned that not only that people want it, but also that it's not really feasible to make a small quantity just for personal use. Thus, Saya Papaya was born, largely by accident!

SCB: What made you use Swarovski crystals?

SP: I use Swarovski crystals because they are the worldwide standard in crystals and nothing else has been able to compare since their inception. Daniel Swarovski started the company in the 1800s, invented cubic zirconia, and created the standards and methods by which Swarovski crystals are produced - something that no other company has ever been able to replicate. By using Swarovski crystals, I feel like I am part of that rich history. Additionally, Swarovski is the only company that produces totally uniform, flawless crystals, with regards to both cut and color. I purchase my crystals in factory-sealed packages to ensure authenticity, but the truth is that any layperson would be able to tell the difference between Swarovski and their competitors. They're that much better.

SCB: What was your first creation? What is your favorite creation? 

SP: When I started Saya Papaya, it included beaded jewelry, which I made for years before I got into Swarovski jewelry. I learned quickly that my Swarovski designs literally outshine my other jewelry, so I donated the remaining inventory of beads to a secondhand clothing store that is a nonprofit organization and donates to dozens of animal shelters and rescues in the Pittsburgh, PA region. I am a corporate sponsor of that charity and continue to have a wonderful relationship with them.

As for my current favorite, I don't think I could choose! I produce a new collection biyearly, and I literally spend hours on each design before it is finalized. Because of that, I have come to love each one for it to make the cut!

SCB: I read that Saya came into your life from a no-kill animal shelter and that a portion of your proceeds goes to that shelter. What made you adopt Saya? How does she inspire you?

SP: I grew up with primarily purebred pets, and I didn't know anything about pet adoption or the number of homeless animals that are euthanized all the time. Because of that, educating people about the plight of homeless pets is very important to me and is the reason why my business has a charitable component.

After moving in to my first apartment, I met and fell in love with my first cat ever, as I had grown up with dogs. With my new found love for cats, my boyfriend and I visited Animal Friends to meet some cats we had seen online. When we visited, those cats weren't available but a little black cat was in a pink cage (pink is my favorite color). Her name was Mamasita, and it suited her. I knew immediately that she was the one, and the rest is history!

I like to make clear that Animal Friends is a no-kill shelter. Pet overpopulation is a serious problem that is everyone's responsibility, not just the responsibility of shelters. The shelters that are forced to euthanize pets take excellent care of as many animals as they can and they do great work. The thing that I love about Animal Friends being a no-kill shelter is that they are able to take in pets from other shelters where animals would otherwise be put down. They see pet overpopulation not as an issue of euthanasia but of education. If more people knew about pet adoption and speutering (spay/neuter), then we wouldn't need to distinguish certain shelters as being "no-kill." 

SCB: What dreams/aspirations do you have for the future of Saya Papaya? 

SP: One of my favorite parts of owning a jewelry business is the people I get to meet. I love getting to know my customers and their preferences, and I hope to continue making jewelry that people love.

Readers can use the coupon code "RSHUBIN" to receive $5 off. Please do note that this coupon code can only by used one time per person only. 

Shannon has graciously offered to give away one pair of the two-stone drop earrings in one of the color combinations pictured below.

Choices exactly as pictured: green, pink, purple or blue.

You can enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway will run from Monday 12/2/13 12 am EST to Monday 12/9/13 12 am EST. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited. Only open to US residents. Winner will be notified by email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Receiving free earrings did not persuade my review or opinion. In fact, I wanted to do a review after receiving the earrings. All opinions are mine, honestly.

Review & Giveaway: Ruivo Armadillo Cat Pendant Necklace

I am totally a cat jewelry lover. Any time I find a piece of cat jewelry I like it is so hard to say no! I love to represent my cat loving roots and flaunting that through jewelry seems like the perfect way to do so!

Back in the summer, my friend Gina went to a local festival and posted a picture of this gorgeous necklace she had purchased there. A cat pendant that says cats rule and it was on the back of a scrabble tile. I I loved it and wanted to get one of my own!

I contacted Etsy Seller Kate Amarelo, the owner of Ruivo Armadillo by Kamarelo Designs to find out some information about her jewelry. Her website is http://www.kamarelodesigns.com/.

Sandpiper Cat Blog: How did you get into jewelry making?

Kate Amarelo: I've always been a creative person. I can remember colored paper being around me for as long as my memory serves. The women in my family are a very creative influence; my grandmother sewed, my mom quilts, and I've been paper crafting since high school. When I moved to Virginia, I couldn't find the local scrapbooking stores like I had in Colorado, so I switched my focus to turning paper into jewelry. The Scrabble tiles were an instinctual thing; I grew up making up my own words which always made me horrible at the game. Unless I could convince people to play by my rules...

SCB: Do you have any animals?

KA: I lived with pets as long as I can remember! Growing up, my cat was named Savannah. Her name was super uncreative - our neighborhood was Savannah Square! She passed when I was in high school so I had a pet break until I got to college when roommates always brought along their pets. After I graduated, I got my first 'real' job, a coworker took me to the Humane Society and my cat Lady came into my life.  I really wanted two cats and to name the other Tramp because it made me laugh! But I reconsidered because I wanted to be a good first time cat mom and figured I should start with one. Now my fiance and I have a dog, Moose. And he's the greatest!

The blue charm above is the one Kate was so kind to send me, to review for my blog. I have to say I am so impressed with the quality of the charm. Kate is able to take an average scrabble block and make it into something so unique and beautiful! I have received many compliments while wearing this necklace and I absolutely love it!

Which is why I am so glad that Kate is allowing one of my readers to enter to win one of her necklaces! Through the Rafflecopter link below, entrants can pick out one of the images below and a color that they would like a chance to win! US entries only, please. 

The giveaway will run from 11/7/13 at 12 am EST to 11/14/13 at 12 am EST. Winner will be contacted by email. Good luck!

Receiving the free pendant did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight Post: Susan Faye Pet Products

As a craft lover, I spend a lot of time on Etsy. What is Etsy exactly? It is a nifty little online marketplace where craft makers and lovers alike come together to sell (or buy) handmade products, vintage items or commercial/handmade supplies. (read all the way to the bottom for a special coupon!)

Now, in addition to spending a lot of time on Etsy because I am a craft lover - I also spend a lot of time on Etsy because there are a lot of different cat related items for sale!

When I stumbled upon the Susan Faye Pet Projects page on Etsy, I was instantly in love. I adored her necklace designs that came in all different shapes, sizes and images. She is an artist and a cat lover.

"Creating art with a sense of whimsy and luscious paint-box colors is a great source of joy for me. Everything I make starts out as a watercolor painting, sometimes with pen and ink," said Susan.

The first piece of jewelry I bought from Susan was this pendant below. I liked that the girl looked like me, her black cat was on her shoulders (like my black cat Henry does sometimes) and that she was reading! All three things that were so me. It was like this charm was personalized just for me.

I really enjoyed the pendant so much, that I made quite a few more purchases after I discovered Susan's shop.

I loved the fairy girl & her cat. It reminded me of my cat May who had passed away. I always joked that for Halloween May would be a tooth fairy kitty.

These earrings are very petite and are just adorable.

I love the early bird catching the worm earrings. The blues in the image are just beautiful.

This pendant just made me smile.

I also learned that Susan does custom pendants upon request. So after our kitty May died in August 2012, I wanted to get one of Susan's beautiful pendants made to match both my mom and May. After selecting custom images and sending Susan pictures of mom and May, this gorgeous necklace charm was created: 

This pendant matches my mom's red hair and May's brown tabby look.

Susan even was able to personalize the back of the pendant for my mom. Needless to say, she loved the present!

And in this June, when our sweet little Sabrina passed away, my mom and I knew that we both wanted to get Sabrina necklaces.

The charm in the middle is mine - the brown hair girl with glasses. My mom's is on the left - with red hair. The charm to the right was for my neighbor, who let me stay with her this summer! We had her name put on the back.

And the back on my charm is my name with Sabrina's.

Susan is able to create beautiful art as jewelry, that truly captures the beauty of cats. Her jewelry wears very well and is easy to care for. Every purchase is wrapped delicately in bubble wrap inside a box suitable for gift giving.

Susan also makes and sells many other items in her Esty shop! In addition to her jewelry, she also sells catnip toys, bookmarks boxes and more!

Susan has graciously offered a coupon to my readers. Upon checkout you can enter a coupon code - Use CATCRAZY15 at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase, including already discounted SALE items. Offer does not include wholesale listings. Expires Sept. 14 at midnight.

Visit Susan on her blog, 365 Cat Ladies.