Artfully Elegant — Handmade Jewelry & Handcrafted Gifts

Piet Mondrian was a pioneer of the abstract art movement. He brought to the world a manner of expression that until then it had not truly ever experienced. Known for his mastery of a style he aptly termed De Stijl, he refined his artistry to only include primary colors and clean straight lines.

When I first came across Vanessa Gade’s beautifully crafted handmade jewelry, I was immediately struck by her ability to own her style while simultaneously paying homage to De Stijl. Her work is refined, organic, and simply put, captivating. As a wearer you will find yourself fascinated by the juxtaposition of lines of gold and the space created between them. Priced with the wearer in mind, our Vanessa Gade collection is meant to stun the viewer while giving the impression that it is still completely accessible. To put it bluntly, you’ll find that her jewelry can be worn whether in a pair of jeans or in a little black dress.

Our personal favorite, is wonderfully titled Mondrian. Check it out, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Tags: handmade jewelry, handmade necklaces, Vanessa Gade

There’s just nothing better than spending evenings with friends, laughing and joking about the stories of the day. This time of the year always reminds me of those times…especially ones spent while enjoying a few drinks. It seems that the winter brings out the best in the craft beer marketplace. All those pumpkin infused bottles with their halloween and turkey themed labels are worth every penny. Of course with the need to try the latest craft brew, there’s also the need to have something to open them with.

These bottle openers are like none other. Between the Zootility wallet cards and the Say It Don’t Spray It bottle openers Artfully Elegant has your craft beers and holiday cheers covered.

Tags: Beer, Bottle Opener, happy hour

Here at Artfully Elegant, we are more than just a store, we’re an art gallery too.

From oil on canvas, photography, and mixed media, just to name a few, we have something for every taste and style, along with practically any budget. We also carry pieces from artists all throughout the world, including some located right here in the Lehigh Valley.

Here is just a very small selection of our vast art collection for purchase!

So the next time you find yourself in downtown Bethlehem, stop on in to Artfully Elegant. You never know if you’ll find the perfect art piece that was meant just for you!

Tags: art, art gallery, gallery

Stephen Estelle jewelry is the epitome of simplistic beauty. With beautiful gemstones, classic cuts, and a timeless look, you’d be surprised to discover how versatile his pieces can be for numerous styles and fashions.Stephen spent several years in Europe where he studied art and literature. While there, he discovered a profound interest in the language of the Tibetan people and with Buddhism. He found himself so drawn to the culture that he decided to move to Nepal. There he spend five years studying Buddhist philosophy. While there, he also began learning from a local family who, for four centuries past, had made the jewelry for the maharajahs in Nepal.

This time and dedication, along with a deep understanding being the meaning of each piece shines through. He starts each piece by creating a complex design, and then removing the elements he finds unneeded and unnecessary. With an understanding that the smallest detail needs to be of the utmost quality, Stephen leaves each of his pieces finished knowing that the smallest and finest details create a whole and astounding piece.So the next time you are in the need for a fantastic piece of beautiful jewelry, check out Stephen Estelle’s work here at Artfully Elegant. Not only is is classic and timeless, but it’s construction was well thought out from start to finish.

Browse our selection here.

Everyone has a favorite animal! Here at Artfully Elegant, animals come in all shapes, sizes, and mediums (art mediums that is!) Here are some of our faves!

I’m so ‘Hop’py!

These adorable bunny earring will have you hopping along to that important business meeting, your next class, or even to your date at a great restaurant. Just don’t blame us if you’re in the mood for a salad.

$25 FIND THEM HERE

The Cat’s Meow

Are you a crazy cat lady? Sip a hot cup of Joe or your tea in style and let the world know that you love your cat. Hangout on your porch in a bathrobe or just lounge with your favorite cat hair covered blanket. (Also available in a dog version too!)

$9 FIND IT HERE

I ‘Woof’ You

What a silly guy! This happy puppy clock will happily spend time in your office, in your child’s bedroom, or even displayed prominently in your living room. Nothing get’s him down, so just a quick glance at him will cheer you up too.  

$44 FIND IT HERE

Bird’s of a Feather…

A lovely sentiment that will surely make a dear friend feel extra special, this bird ornament will tell a special person just how you feel about them while being a pretty addition to any decor.

$7.50 FIND IT HERE

Slow and Steady

This happy little guy needs your help to pull himself back together! It’s a fine motor activity for kids, or just put him together for yourself. He’ll be forever grateful and will be your best turtle buddy forever by watching over your plants or keeping an eye on your pasta as it boils in the kitchen.   

$9.60 FIND IT HERE

So the next time you’re on the hunt for that purrr-fect animal gift, or if you are just looking to treat yourself, peruse or website or stop in to Artfully Elegant! You never know what special little critter will catch your eye.

Feature Image Source

Tags: animals, gifts, under $50

Founded by Lisa Lowe, Oré Originals has a bright and colorful history. Lisa grew up in a loving family surrounded by creativity and function, so the concept of colors, prints, and patterns was part of everyday life for her. So, with a focus on useful products with a fun and creative edge, Oré Originals was started in her small Southern California garage in 1989, and it grew from there!

Founder Lisa Lowe as a child (left) and as a thriving business owner (right)

Now Oré has grown into a dedicated team that works hard together and makes things happen! They are always on the hunt for new functional product ideas that will put a smile on your face. Due to these facts, Oré Originals considers itself a design-driven company as unique as the items that it makes. So it’s no surprise that the products in their collection are sweet, quirky, and always comes in handy for the task it was made for.

The team at Oré Originals

Beyond creative aspects, Oré Originals takes pride in their products from start to finish assuring that customers have a quality item that always arrives in perfect condition. Since they are based in California, they are heavily involved in many charitable events and causes throughout the communities of Southern California, and even donate products, give directly, and assist in charity benefits.

The company is community oriented, helping out local Southern California charities and organizations.

So the next time you’re in Artfully Elegant, check out our amazing fun collection of Oré Original products like the Cuppa Mugs. Not only will you sip your coffee or tea in one of the most adorable pieces in your cupboard, but you’ll be supporting an amazing company whose products we couldn’t be more proud to carry.

A fun selection of Cuppa Cups at Artfully Elegant

All Oré Original photos courtesy of oreoriginals.com

Tags: artist spotlight, ore originals

When one thinks of fine jewelry, precious metals and stones typically come to mind. Platinum, gold, diamonds, silver, and other glittering colorful stones that mirror every color of the rainbow quickly materialize in our imaginations. While these are indeed amazing materials used in most jewelry, there are other materials that are just as incredible that emit a strong, powerful, and masculine vibe.

Chris Ploof Designs, located in Massachusetts, works with other quality materials to create amazing pieces. Everything from stainless steel damascus to mokume gane, which is a traditional Japanese method of mixing metals to replicate a wood grain pattern. From these materials, Chris and his team make amazing quality jewelry that will last for ages.

Damascus Ring made of Stainless Steel

One unique material his team also works with is meteorite. The galactic rock that has potentially traveled light years in space and thrust onto our planet can be crafted into amazing pieces of jewelry for any occasion. Chris’s meteorite pieces are exclusively made from the Gibeon Meteorite in Namibia, a meteorite that is estimated to have landed on the planet 30,000 years ago and is estimated to be about four billion years old.

However, not all pieces of the meteorite are all usable due to varying metal content, elemental wear, and natural imperfections. Chris’s team takes it a step further and for every piece that is suitable for jewelry, Chris Ploof Designs rejects an average of 20 for every one that they choose.
From there, the ancient material is combined with platinum, gold or mokume gane to form an extremely strong and durable ring. The Gibeon meteorite also contains nickel so it’s naturally stain and rust resistant.

Gibeon Meteorite Ring with Gold Lining

According to their website: “Each ring begins with Chris in the design process, and every single item he designs also passes a review by our skilled artisans. As a team, we make sure that, in addition to being beautiful, the design will stand the test of time.”

So if you or a loved one are looking for a beautiful piece of jewelry, head on over to Artfully Elegant or www.artfullyelegant.com, we’re the only official carrier of Chris Ploof Designs in the entire state of Pennsylvania. Not only do we carry an amazing selection, but we can help you get a custom piece that is just right for you! See more designs here!

Damascus Wood Grain Ring made of Stainless Steel

Tags: artist spotlight, chris ploof

If you’ve been in Artfully Elegant, you’ve probably seen the nifty vintage cigarette machine tucked neatly near our checkout desk. This delightful piece of mechanics is referred to as an Art-o-mat, and instead of cigarettes, it vends one-of-a-kind mini art! 

Click Here for the Art-o-mat at Artfully Elegant! 

The particular Art-o-mat at Artfully Elegant is one of over 120 unique Art-o-mats that can be found at locations all throughout the country.

The original was created by artist Clark Whittington when a friend heard cellophane being crinkled and then had an uncontrollable urge for a snack. It was a Pavlovian response to hearing the candy wrapper being crinkled.

So in June of 1997, the first Art-o-mart was created using a recently banned cigarette machine. The piece, along with a number of full sized art from the artist, was displayed at a local cafe in Winston-Salem N.C., and contained small black and white photos mounted on blocks.

Although the piece was only to stay displayed for a few months, the owner of the cafe loved it so much, that she asked that it stay. Due to the length of stay, Whittington needed other artists to contribute to it’s contents. Local artists were asked to contribute to it’s tiny art, and the Art-o-mat that exists today, full of different artists and artistic styles, was born!

Each Art-o-mat is beautiful and distinctly different, however, the goal has always been the same. That ”art should be progressive, yet personal and approachable.“

So the next time you’re in downtown Bethlehem, stop in and check out the Art-o-mat! Not only is it a true re imagination of a vintage piece of history, but you can score some pretty amazing art too!

All photos courtesy of Art-o-mat’s Facebook Page

Tags: art o mat

If you’ve ever checked out the wares here at Artfully Elegant, you’ve probably noticed the perky little pieces of pottery spattered with inspirational quotes and sayings. These little art pieces are more than just cute and inspiring, the artists behind them make each piece with a purpose.

Zpots, handcrafted in the Zpots Studio in Vermont, are individually made by husband and wife artists Eric Hendrick and Noelle Van Hendrick.

Each piece starts with a chocolate clay body and is hand thrown before being treated with a variety of techniques to give each one it’s distinct and one-of-a-kind look. Noelle then incorporates her own poetry into each piece, and hand writes her words onto each one.

When fired in the electric kiln, which is powered by Vermont Cow Power by electricity generated from surrounding farmlands, the studio keeps a renewable future in mind. “We make choices within our production and daily lives to benefit the mission of living in harmony with our planet.”


The colors used represent the elements of water, earth, and forest, and stay the same throughout each piece, while the lines are more varied and sporadic.

Eric and Noelle look at each piece as an individual that’s part of a whole collection, a family so to speak, making each one both individualized yet related in it’s method of creation and overall look.

While Zpots are available at galleries and boutiques across the country, each one is as unique and personally individual as the person who chooses to display one. Check out Artfully Elegant and choose the Zpot that speaks to you.

Tags: artist spotlight, zpots

Jerry Rhodes, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a ceramic artist who creates unique wares through a variety of techniques. His work has been featured in galleries in Colorado, New Mexico, South Carolina, New York, and of course here in Pennsylvania.

Beyond that, his pieces belong in many private collections throughout the world.

Jerry has never had formal training, and he attributes it to his unique ways that he acquires his craft.

“I’m not limited by what I’m supposed to know, nor do I feel obligated to follow any well-established procedures,” he said.

By using both traditional and nontraditional methods, such as using horse hair or steel wool during the firing process, and by finishing some pieces with African Porcupine Quills, a dramatic, elegant, and one-of-a-kind piece is created. The artist does admit, “Sometimes the results are dramatically bad, but you’ll never see the bad ones!”

Rhodes has an Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State University, is a former Air Force officer, and currently serves as the Joint Staff Air and Missile Defense Liaison to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Seize your opportunity to own a piece from an amazing artist, exclusively in PA, at Artfully Elegant.

Tags: artist spotlight, jerry rhodes