Jenny and Jimbob Jewelry

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the NY International Gift Fair (NYIGF) at The Jacob Javits Center in NYC. As I am no stranger to conventions, it is quite refreshing to be an attendee instead of an employee. NYIGF is a huge show ranging from home goods to stationary to accessories. I had the opportunity to walk around the Handmade section, where tons of artisans set up shop to showcase their original wearables, fine and fashion jewelry, handbags, scarves, leathergoods and travel accesories. Shows like this provide a forum to meet the buyers of boutiques and large chain retailers in hope that they will love the products that they poured their blood, sweat, and tears into creating and in turn, buy them to sell at their own stores.

A friend of mine from Los Angeles, actress and artist Jennifer Hall, was displaying her line at the show. She has been developing a "recession line" of jewelry for about a year now with her husband Jimbob Pellitteri, master jewelry designer known for his custom-made wedding rings. They've been selling their new line at farmer's markets and street fairs throughout LA, but this is the first time that they've debuted their merchandise in a trade show setting. The show has been an overwhelming success and they have received orders from over 62 stores from all over the world (USA to Canada to Iran).

Jenny and Jimbob's line consists of a series of charms on chains, in your choice of sterling silver or gold. They are all made by hand by a process called lost-wax casting. There are six different collections to choose from, "feel-good", "club", "garden", "retro", "number", and "kitchen." When I asked Jennifer what inspired her to create her humorous line of collectible pendants, she told me, "I was sick of seeing girls walking around wearing the same charms and I thought that I could create something new and original. I want to make people laugh with my designs while blowing their mind. I guess I like to make the ordinary extraordinary." Three of her best selling designs are a light switch charm for "a major turn on", a toilet for "the shit," and a cell phone which reads "my real boyfriend."



What's even more special about her jewelry is that she and Jimbob also create their original packaging. It's a matchbox design that slides open to reveal the charm which is set atop of colorful printed fabric swatches. It's very school-girl retro cool and made with 100% recycled materials (fabric scraps, matchboxes from the dollar store, and the backing from old Corona beer boxes). The dynamic duo have their workshop in their home and they are constantly creating together. Coming soon they will also carry a line of sorority mascot charms which were inspired by Jennifer's sister who is a student (and sorority sister) at The University of Alabama.

If you like what you see, check out their website www.jennyandjimbob.com where you can make both retail and wholesale purchases. Jenny and Jimbob jewelry will also be coming to a store near you this fall and we Brooklynites can look forward to picking up their pieces at Loom, a cutesy trinket gift shop in Park Slope, that will carry her designs in both silver and gold.

Check out the video interview with Jennifer Hall below. Enjoy!