Not your grandmother's pearls

Warm weather means espadrilles, cute shorts, and (these days) cropped tops. It also means in with the fun, lightweight summertime jewelry!

This month's A-list Must Have of the Month is the adorable Pearls by the Yard necklace. A sterling silver cable link chain with 27 tiny white pearls. 16″-18″ length.

Pearls are no longer for tea time and bouffants - grandma's favorite accessory has gotten a major update! Wear a single strand for a delicate, ladylike look, a 'la Angelina Jolie, or layer tens of strands for a night out - think, "What Would Madonna Do?"

Long or short, delicate or chunky, and running the gamut of colors, pearls are back in a big way. And no matter how they're worn, they ooze elegance, romance, and an all-around, pulled togetherness. Let's face it; some days we need all the help we can get. Channel your inner Audrey Hepburn, slip on a strand, and feel just a little bit classier. And with the Pearls by the Yard A-list price of $49, you don't have to have to break the bank to do so.

Necklaces not your thing? Check out the gorgeous pearl earrings and bracelets in stock.

And the winner is...

As you know, we're been one of the proud members of the Birmingham Jewelers Association and have been participating in the Annual High School Jewelry Competition that began in April. The awards ceremony was held on Monday at the Birmingham Community House. You voted for your favorite pieces and the results are in!

Congratulations, Ellie!

Ellie won first place for her gorgeous piece entitled, "Upside Down Becomes Right Side Up" 

Here are some photos from the night's events

 Some of our fellow Jewelers of Birmingham members

 Some of the talented high school students

 Photos courtesy of the Jewelers of Birmingham

Congratulations to all the students - We look forward to this competition every year, and the entries were truly inspiring.

The High School Jewelry Competition entries are now on display!

Stop by the Jewelers of Birmingham stores to see the local high school student jewelry pieces now on display! As we mentioned, we are a member of the Jewelers of Birmingham and have been participating in this event since 2006. It is a great way to showcase local student talent and support area high schools.

Local high school juniors and seniors submit their original jewelry pieces for a chance to win $500, $250, and $100 prizes. Pieces are displayed in Birmingham jewelry stores from April 18 - May 2, with the awards ceremony on May 7 at the Birmingham Community House.

Come by and see some of the amazing pieces designed and created by talented local students, support the arts, and vote for your favorite!

Here are the 4 pieces on display at Astrein's

Amazing, right?

 "Ring" by Alex Eaton

 "Carribean Conch" by Tara Van Cleave

 Honorable Mention "Flower Bouquet" by Mollie Hansen

"Necklace" by Stefan Withrow

The 2012 Michigan Humane Society Bow Wow Brunch

Tickets to the 23rd Annual Michigan Humane Society Bow Wow Brunch are on sale! 

Hurry and reserve your tickets to this amazing event. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the continuation of providing services to animals in need: finding homes, veterinary care, community outreach, and sterilization services. The Michigan Humane Society's (MHS) goal is to eradicate animal homelessness, and with help, we believe we will get there. 

The Bow Wow Brunch is on Sunday, April 29th and begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Dearborn Inn, with a champagne reception. Other events include a gourmet brunch, silent auction, and live auction. And of course the event wouldn't be complete without our furry friends; there will also be a chance to get to know some of MHS's adoptable animals. We donated a sterling silver cuff bracelet so participate in the auctions for your chance to own a beautiful piece and contribute to the cause.


Tickets to the Bow Wow Brunch begin at $200 and seating is limited. To reserve your tickets, call 1-866-MHUMANE 

Or you can purchase them online here


Here are a few photos from last year's event from the MHS website

Read more about the Bow Wow Brunch and the Michigan Humane Society here.

Come Out and Support Local Student Art

It's time for the Annual High School Jewelry Competition!

We're a member of the Jewelers of Birmingham organization and we've participated in this student competition since 2006. Local high school juniors and seniors submit their original jewelry pieces for a chance to win $500, $250, and $100 prizes. Pieces are displayed in Birmingham jewelry stores from April 18 - May 2, with the awards ceremony on May 7 at the Birmingham Community House. Best part? You get to vote for your favorite design! We're betting each piece is nothing short of amazing, but you can vote for your personal fave anyway.

Come by and see some of the amazing pieces designed and created by talented local students, support the arts, and vote for your favorite!

The Astreins and the President

Did you know, back in November, Former President, Bill Clinton was in Detroit to deliver the keynote speech at a Beaumont Hospitals Annual Society Dinner? If not, you aren't alone; it was a private event.

But, guess who did score an invite?

Amazing! 

Debbie and Richard were at the big event and met Bill.  The event marked a 7-year long campaign that resulted in over $170 million dollars in contributions for the hospital system. Richard and Gary have long been involved in fundraising for Beaumont; one of these fundraisers in particular: Stars and Guitars which benefits pediatric oncology research with Dr. Charles Main. Richard was even named the 2011 Business Person of the Year by the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber (BBC) for his dedication to the community.

You can read all about Bill's big night in the D

And you can learn about annual giving and donate directly to Beaumont

'Tis the Season to be Generous!

With the holiday season upon us, it marks the perfect time to give our thanks and spread a little joy to others who may be less fortunate.  Making a charitable donation not only gives you that instant warm, fuzzy feeling, but it also more importantly, changes someone’s life forever.

For the past 37 years, Astrein’s Jewelers has been making a difference in the lives of children and adults by generously donating to numerous charities and foundations in the Metro Detroit area.

 Some of their most recent charitable gifts include:

 Men’s Bulova Watch, donated to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org)

Sterling Silver Bracelet, donated to Leader Dogs for the Blind (www.leaderdog.org)



 

White Gold Key Pendant and Diamond Bangle, both among the several items donated to the Stars Guitars Event(www.starsguitars.org)                                                                     



For this holiday season, consider making a donation to your favorite charity and helping someone else’s Thanksgiving and Christmas be a little more merry and bright. In addition to giving the perfect necklace or watch to that someone special, make a contribution to a charity in his or her name; it could be the start of a new Christmas tradition.  Remember, you have to give a little to get a little!

For more information or to learn how to donate to the mentioned charities, visit the websites listed above. Also read below for other charities to make contributions to this holiday season.

*Kids Kicking Cancer (www.powerpeacepurpose.com)

*Michigan Aids Coalition (www.michiganaidscoalition.org)

*Toys for Tots (www.toysfortots.org)

*Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan (www.wishmich.org)

*The Heat and Warmth Fund (www.thawfund.org)