Make Black Friday Colorful!

Picking out a whole new outfit for someone else? Impossible. Picking out a unique, beautiful piece of jewelry to accessorize a current outfit? Easy - and less expensive! And, at JaLa Designs, we're making it even easier to share the "Wow" this holiday season through the "Wow" gift of a JaLa Designs piece of jewelry. Check out our special gifts to you below!

Free Shipping & Extended Return Policy

Enjoy free shipping from now until 12/13/2009.* No coupon code necessary – free shipping will automatically happen at checkout.
And, we’ve extended our return/exchange policy until 1/15/2010. (Though we’re confident they’ll love their JaLa piece!)

Beautiful & Gift-Ready Packaging

Each beautifully packaged & gift-ready JaLa piece can be shipped directly to the gift recipient on your behalf - just tell us what to write on the gift card in the 'Additional Information' section at checkout! (Gift receipt noting extended return/exchange policy included.)

So, avoid mall traffic & shop traffic- and hassle-free at www.jala-designs.com (or, if local to Atlanta, by appointment). And check out our "Under $100" page for lots of great gifts $50 and under!

Make it a colorful Friday! Happy Thanksgiving...

Rachel Franco

JaLa Designs, LLC

To Adapt Or Not To Adapt. That Is The Question....

When you have a vision for something and you execute that vision only to realize that what worked "on paper" did not work in "real life", do you hold tight to that vision or do you adapt?

I had to make such a decision in regard to one of the necklaces I designed. After sketching out a necklace, picking out the fabrics and stones for it (the really fun part!) and then making the necklace, I loved how it came out (see photo below).

It looked great on, but it didn't feel completely comfortable around the neck. So, while the necklace was one of my favorites, I had to decide whether to stubbornly hold tight to my original vision or adapt.

Now, I know this decision isn't on the scale of deciding healthcare reform. But I find that these "smaller-scale" issues often reflect how we address or handle those "larger-scale" decisions.

Having always been skilled at changing course when necessary, I decided to adapt. I kept the lower section of the necklace that had the beautiful stone drops, but changed the neckline so that that section of the piece hung more comfortably around the neck. Check out the tweaked design to the right! To see the design on my web site, click here!

While I hated to give up the original design at first, I love the new one just as much. And I hope you do too!

Even more so, though, I hope when you're faced with a similar situation in life or in business, that you choose to adapt when the data tells you that you should. Because, to me, adapting is one of the keys to success in business and, more importantly, in life.

To adapting!

~ Rachel

What Bargaining in Shanghai Taught Me About Life

I recently went to Shanghai by invitation of an acquaintance of my mom, Janie, to source materials for JaLa Designs. I found some absolutely amazing fabrics and lots of other neat things.

Among the many cultural differences between the U.S. and China is the act of bargaining (in fact, it's considered an insult if you don't!), and there's no better person at bargaining than my now friend, Janie. I would dare say, actually, that if you want to get a great deal on something in China, you should not go without bringing Janie along! Honestly, I've never seen anyone do it better.

Watching Janie in action made me start thinking of the various lessons one can learn from bargaining in Shanghai that apply to life, the ultimate lesson, to me, being...

You have to be willing to walk away and lose the deal...

Maybe this sounds extreme or bold, but think about it. Whenever we hold onto something too tightly, whether it's something in our professional or personal lives, we assign it too much power over us. We want it too badly. Subsequently, we don't really act like ourselves; we don't act relaxed and thus we usually (not always, but usually) don't end up getting the optimal result.

It's only when we reach the point of being willing to "walk away and lose the deal", when we detach ourselves from the outcome, that we, ultimately, achieve our optimal outcome.

JaLa is all about reminding you to be yourself. Know your value. Know that what I'm really saying is not that you actually have to walk away; you just have to know inside your mind that you would...because it's then that you feel free enough to be you and that the person you're dealing with really understands and is totally 'wowed' by your awesomeness.

JaLa doesn't bargain, but we are offering a special 25% off on our "Design of the Month" for July - http://twurl.nl/ms07ji. Just enter JULYPICK at checkout to redeem your discount!

Hurry up - it only lasts through July 31, 2009!

And don't walk away! (Sorry...couldn't resist!)

~ Rachel

Why I Love My Mom Every Day of the Year.

My mom has an expression she uses often to describe the indescribable - "There are no words". And that's probably what I'd say if you asked me how much I loved my mom. Because there really are no words - or not enough words - to express how much I love her and how truly blessed I am to have her as a mom.

And it's not so much even the big moments in life - though there are many - that make up the reasons why I love her so much. It's the small ones, the little things that moms do, that only moms do.

It's the time when I was a child about to go to sleep-away camp for the first time. I was unusually nervous about going and I remember how, when my parents dropped me off at the pick-up spot, I realized that I forgot my favorite pillow at home. My mom raced home and back to bring it to me.

It's the time when my mom flew up to Boston in 2003 to help me move back to Atlanta - from helping me pack to sharing the long 17 hour drive to Atlanta so I wouldn't have to pay to ship my car back.

It's the time when she and I flew down to Florida for just one day to say good-bye to her childhood friend and my surrogate aunt who was dying of cancer. There truly are no words to describe how powerful that experience was in and of itself and how powerful it was for my mom and I to share together.

It's the time when my mom went with me this past February to the Tuscon Gem Show so that I could look for more materials for JaLa Designs. Not even a formal employee of JaLa Designs, my mom does so much to help me because she wants me to succeed so badly.

My mom is my greatest cheerleader. And I am so incredibly lucky to not only be able to call her mom, but also friend. A rare combination, indeed. I love my mom every day of the year. And Mother's Day is just one more day to tell her how much.

I would love to hear why you love your mom and how she's influenced you to be yourself. Please visit http://jaladesigns.blogspot.com/2009/04/enter-our-not-like-any-other-mother.html to enter JaLa's "Not Like Any Other Mother" Mother's Day Contest.

There's no catch. Really. Just the chance to brag about why your mom rocks and to win her something just as special as she is.

~ Rachel

Enter Our Mother's Day Contest to Win the Perfect Mother's Day Gift!

If you’re like me, for Mother’s Day, you want to find that perfect gift that shows your mom just how much you love her and that makes her say “WOW” when she opens the box. In celebrating our mothers and the unique individuals they are, JaLa Designs is hosting its first “Not Like Any Other Mother” Mother’s Day Contest, where you can win the perfect Mother's Day gift!

1st Prize: Any JaLa Designs piece of your choice (up to $165.00)
2nd Prize: A $50 gift certificate

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Participating is easy*. Here’s how (notice step #2 as it determines the winners!):

1. Visit http://jala-designs.com/shop/joinmailinglist.php and enter your contact information. (We promise to never rent, sell or give out your contact information!)
2. In the ‘Comments’ box, tell us what makes your mother different from any other. Or, tell us why you make a great mom! (Don't worry about spelling, grammar or writing a novel - just write from your heart!)
3. Click ‘Submit’.
4. Tell all of your friends about our contest so that they can enter too!

** Deadline to enter is 12noon EST on May 6th. Participation is open to everyone inside & outside the United States!**
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The lucky winners (selected based on who enters the best story from step #2 above) will be announced May 7th! As a 'thank you' for entering, we're pleased to give all entrants a $20 gift certificate to JaLa Designs!^ Good luck!

~ Rachel

* No purchase required to participate.
^ To be given after end of contest. Excludes winners as they get the prizes!

Jewelry inspired by fabric. Driven by vision. Part Two - How Being Downsized Can Rock!

Welcome back everyone! So, in part two of my 'Jewelry inspired by...' series, I'm really excited to answer the second question I get quite often - what inspired me to create JāLa Designs? Read on...and enjoy my very first vlog (i.e., video blog)!

(Psst...hang on 'til the end so you can see the outtake! Yes, I said 'outtake' - who says only the big TV networks can have outtakes?)

From Darkness Comes Light

What's that saying, something about out of darkness comes light? Well, the idea for JāLa was conceived in just this way - twice! The first time around, circa January 2008, I was lying on my bed, upset about something when my eyes wondered up to this beautiful and elegant Japanese Kimono needlepoint I had made. Out of nowhere, I thought to myself, "Wouldn't something 'needlepointed' look really pretty as part of a necklace?"

I felt excited not only over how beautiful I imagined it to be, but also because I thought I was on to something. The desire to do something more creative was born, and this feeling remained with me even though, given my full-time job, I didn't have much time to pursue my idea.

Fast forward to March 2008. I was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my marketing position. So, when I was downsized from my job that month, it was truly the best thing that ever happened to me. It gave me the freedom to figure out what I really wanted to do.

So, this brings me to "JāLa conceived" the second time around, which you can learn about in my video below! (Remember the Tom Hanks movie 'Cast Away' when he befriends & chats with the volleyball he names 'Wilson'? Filming this video kinda felt like that...but I named my Flip camera Mr. De Mille.)



So, as much as I loved the needlepoint idea (and still may pursue it one day), I knew the fabric idea would be just as beautiful and was more feasible in many ways.

As one door closes, another one opens, and this is exactly how JāLa came about. In part three of this series, I'm going to talk about how, to me and as JāLa's tagline suggests, being yourself is the secret to life. But first, remember I promised you an outtake, so here it is!



Please Comment Below...

Tell me about something that inspired you and what action you took as a result. No incentives offered for comments this time - just the genuine desire to hear about your own experiences. And, who knows, maybe what you write will inspire someone reading this blog!

Until next time!

~ Rachel
www.jala-designs.com

Are You a 'Should-er' or a 'Doer'?

Here's a little mini post before next week's 'major' one. In between talking about jewelry-related topics, I may sometimes blog about business, life or other topics because, well, my interests go beyond jewelry, and I'm sure yours do too! And, remember, I said our blog was 'anything but typical'...

Today's mini post asks the question: Are you a 'should-er' or a 'doer' in life? Are you the kind of person who always says, "I should do so and so" and never gets around to it or are you the kind of person who says, "I should do so and so" and follows through?

As a wise Vice-President taught me back in my advertising days -> When you say you're going to do something, do it.

So, are you a 'should-er' or a 'doer'? Don't answer me here; just think about it and decide what kind of person you want to be!

~ Rachel
www.jala-designs.com

Jewelry inspired by fabric. Driven by vision. (Part One)

There are a few questions I always get about JāLa, like: 1) What does JāLa mean? 2) What inspired you to create JāLa? And, 3) What is behind the tagline and why did you make that such a prominent part of your business?

Since I get (and welcome) these questions quite often, I thought I’d revolve my first few blog posts around them. Part one of this little mini-series focuses on the name.

What’s in a name?

Do your parents have one of those friends that feels like your own? Like this person is just really cool and fun to be with, and you develop your own friendship with him or her? Well, Jane Lefco was like that to me. One of my parents’ closest friends, Jane was one of my favorite people in the world. She was the kind of person who made your spirit light up just by being with her. To put it simply, she was just fun.

Last year (2008), Jane died suddenly and unexpectedly. She was only 58. I couldn’t believe it.

When it came time to name my business, I wanted to think of just the right name - it had to match the unique nature of the jewelry and reflect the message behind the jewelry - to be yourself and the rest will follow™.

I had a few ideas and then it came to me. JaLa. To honor Jane (mainly through the 'Ja' and the 'L', of course). She meant so much to me that I wanted to find some way to honor her memory and her life. And it felt so perfect as she was truly a unique individual who, to me, was just herself.

Every time I say or read the name, JāLa, I think of her. I picture in my mind her reactions to my different pieces and I hear so clearly her signature excitement and natural curiosity in response.

Leave a Comment & Get 10% Off!

I would love to hear from you! Do you have a friendship like the one I had with Jane? A family friend who is special to you? Leave a comment below telling us about your special relationship with this person (s/he can still be alive!) and get 10% off any JaLa Designs piece!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for part two – what inspired me to start JāLa!

~ Rachel
www.jala-designs.com

Welcome to Ja-Notes!

Hello and welcome to Ja-Notes, the official blog of JāLa Designs, LLC (pronounced Jay-La)! We call our blog 'anything but typical' because our jewelry isn't typical, so why should our blog be?

We're looking forward to building an interactive community where JāLa fans can get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at JāLa, offer feedback, participate in fun giveaways and contests and lots more! Ja-Notes is the place to see things not found on our web site!

Stay in the know! To the right of this post, subscribe to Ja-Notes as well as sign up to receive email updates on special offers and promotions, events and other exciting news. We look forward to having you as part of our community!

~ Rachel
www.jala-designs.com