may in instagram

I rarely read my horoscope {I'm a cancer} but I was recently going through magazines to cut out images for my inspiration board and I came across my horoscope for may and found it to perfectly articulate my month. my horoscope reads: "may will be a period you'll look back on as the time when your life took a positive turn". I'll share some of the exciting changes and opportunities in future posts, but for now here are some photos I took during the month:

afternoon stroll in central park

playing in the garment district (new necklace in the works!)

made my mom a six-strand freshwater pearl, coral, and 

turquoise necklace for mother's day

launched a new ecommerce site and my website got a new look!

such a thrill to attend the Tom Ford talk, part of Fern Mallis'

Fashion Icons series at the 92Y

went to an edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros concert

ottavia necklaces!

with my mom and aunt on mother's day

walk on the beach in my CT hometown

lazy sundays are the best

sheepsmeadow on a gorgeous day

brainstorming :)

started working on new multi gemstone necklaces (coming soon!)

finally tried georgetown cupcakes in soho. fell in love

with the pink sparkle mixer. 

major sparkle detail on this jacket at tenet in southampton

sparkle in the hamptons

I spent this past memorial day weekend out in the hamptons relaxing and eating seafood. it was a nice brief escape from manhattan and a great opportunity to wear pieces from my summer collection!

packing necklaces (seconsett, hyannis, and amagansett) 

and other summer accessories

perfect beach tote

kicked off the weekend right with ice cream

my favorite ice cream store in east hampton

yummy seafood dinner at 75 Main in southampton

wearing my amagansett necklaces

ocean view at dinner in sag harbor

I stick to the rule of no white after labor day. excited

to wear white again (with my seconsett necklace!)

and back in manhattan again! excited for what the summer will bring :)

behind the scenes: may trunk shows

may has been a busy month. I had two trunk shows, one in new york city at sprinkles cupcakes and another in greenwich, ct at the women against MS luncheon. here's a peak at show prep and the shows!:

mini cupcakes from sprinkles with my new logo

pieces from my year-round collection

adore these stripe straws

me with the mini cupcakes

yay sprinkles!

the blake necklace from my fall 2012 collection and a red velvet cupcake

making another seconsett necklace before the next show

cutting more tags!

my table at the women against MS luncheon

my newport necklaces were a big hit!

multi gemstone necklaces

jewelry boxes

the seconsett necklace was also a big hit

how to wear it: waikiki necklace

1. katie bartels waikiki necklace // 2. kate spade tiki bar clutch // 3. j.crew pleated chiffon dress // 4. warby parker liv sunglasses // 5. deborah lippmann nail polish in on the beach // 6. musa metallic leather sandals

just click here to start shopping :)

behind the scenes of summer 2012

I am proud to say that I still make all of my jewelry by hand (its honestly one of my favorite parts about my job). I thought I'd give you a peak into the behind the scenes of my construction of the different designs. enjoy!

step one of making the newport necklace

stringing the three strands

crimp time!

ta da!

the newport necklace

hyannis necklace in the works

the hyannis necklace

oahu necklace, step one

stinging the oahu necklace

the oahu necklace

permanent summer collection

a few years ago I made a few necklaces with coral and gemstone starfish and they were such a success that I decided to make them part of a permanent summer collection. the designs are inspired by childhood summers in rhode island and cape cod, and recent summers in the hamptons and nantucket, where most days were spend playing in the ocean. these preppy statement necklaces are perfect for an afternoon by the pool, cocktails on the beach, or a clambake. 

me wearing the seconsett necklace poolside in amagansett

the chatham earrings

fantastic seafood in montauk

my mom wearing the hyannis necklace poolside in nantucket

the newport necklace

afternoon at the beach in nantucket

the montauk earrings in amethyst

my mom and aunt sport my multicolor and kauai necklaces in nantucket