The Necklace Quest Endeth at...Versani

I was in dire need of a multi-layered sterling silver chain necklace of above-average quality.  I scoured the web, I looked in every jewelry case I walked by.  And in the end I went back to a place that has delivered for me in the past: Versani (the one on Mercer St.).  I am glad I went to inspect it in person, because when I spied it on the Versani website, I was not an automatic convert.

They did have to remove the top, inside chain, as it was literally choking the life out of me, but once that was quickly and effectively completed, I became the necklace's proud new owner (see photos taken on a mousepad).  In fact I am wearing it now.

And no I didn't buy it for myself.  It is Xmas present #5 of seven.  I love presents, and especially seven of them.

Exclusive Mother's Day Jewelry Discount!

Just in time for Mother's Day (Sunday, May 13), Dori O'Dea (jewerly designer) and Guerilla Shopper (me) are offering a 20% discount on Ike Designs - the exquisite jewelry meticulously hand crafted by Dori herself. She has created intricate necklaces and earrings using beautifully colored gems that will thrill any mother in your life including -- but not limited to -- your: mother, wife, sister, daughter, niece, cousin, mistress, girlfriend, acupuncturist, beer wench...

Visit http://www.ikedesigns.net/catalog.html to peruse Dori's inventory and make your selections. To receive your 20% discount on online orders made between today and Tuesday, May 8, follow these steps:

1. Place your order online - http://www.ikedesigns.net/catalog.html

2. Then, send an email to dori@ikedesigns.com with "Guerilla Shopper" in the subject line and your order number in the body.

3. Dori will then discount the charge when she processes the card (it won't show at checkout, but will be reflected in the receipt she emails back to you as confirmation upon Credit Card Authorization).

4. Alternatively, there is a space for comments on the cart page, where you can write "Guerilla Shopper" and get the 20% discount, as per step #3., above.

Also, on Saturday, May 5, stop by Actorcrafts at 332 W. 43rd St. where Dori will be selling her good works at half the Web site price to promote a great cause and a great day. The show benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Dori offers her whole collection at half of its retail price on that day only (no combination with any other discounts). In addition, other great artists will be there selling their creations thereby making Mother's Day shopping a snap!

Be nice to the mothers,

Ike & Guerilla Shopper
. . .

About Ike Designs

Pictured above: Antiqued silver filigree earrings with faceted quartz briolet and ivory freshwater pearls.

Dori also works in gold and other gems - labradorite, pearl, solmonite, smokey quartz, rose quartz, quartz, goldstone, hematite, calcite, andalusite, malachite, jade, sapphire, diamond, and whatever else she can get her hands on! Dori's online collection includes necklaces and earrings, but she also does bracelets and is developing a line of rings. Dori does custom work and specializes in bridal parties, with all kinds of budgets.

About Guerilla Shopper NYC

Launched in October 2006, the Guerilla Shopper is your feet on the street in New York, telling you where to get great stuff at a good deal. Follow her as she treks through the stores of New York (and upstate, New Jersey and online) on your behalf...relaying sample sales, interesting shopping tidbits, retail warnings, restaurant recommendations and more. Listed on and quoted by other reputable shopping Web sites including Racked and A Girl Must Shop, the Guerilla Shopper is helping the non-socialite set to own tons of great stuff while having fun and not breaking the bank.

Wrap it Up...I'll Take it

I am feeling somewhat guilty that I haven't been spending as much time on bloggy as I would like to...my day job has been incredibly hectic, thereby reducing my time available to both shop and write. OK, now that I've gotten that out of my system, onto business...

I am hoping today or tomorrow will be my last day of Christmas shopping - I am in the final stages of buying Mother Guerilla some key gifts. And without her there'd have been no baby Guerilla, so she deserves careful consideration, i.e. "I have to get my momma some good sh*t." But that is all I will say for now, lest I eliminate any element of surprise.

But remember, purchasing a gift is not the final step! You must package and market said gift appropriately...you don't have to spend a lot of money to do this, most wrapping supplies can be bought at the local 99-cent store. But better, and I wish I had remembered this myself, is Old Navy. They have some of the coolest, high quality wrapping paper at a very reasonable price. It's like Christmas pop culture on paper! [Thanks to my day-job co-worker for reminding me of this little Old Navy secret].

I know, I know, many of you (especially the boys) don't want to get involved in wrapping paper, ribbons, cards, etc. But just think - if you've spent the time thinking about what to buy, shopping for it, paying for it...don't you think that you and your gift deserve to be presented (no pun intended) in the best possible way? It really adds to the whole gifting experience overall. Trust me and the Ms. Manners who sometimes dwells within my soul.

And check out my gift display! Makes for festive Xmas decor to boot.