Join us for this month’s Art Walk! Sponsored by Piedmont Avenue Merchants Association, this monthly event showcases engaging art and our neighborhood’s wonderful shops & restaurants. Hear live music, shop local, discover new art. Every third Thursday of the month. Swing by Philippa Roberts, enjoy a glass of bubbly with us and see what’s new! Open to the public, families welcome.

CALL FOR ARTISTS: We are looking for new artists to showcase during this event. If you are a local artist–painter, illustrator, designer, musician–please shoot us an email with a sample of your work. We would love to feature you as part of Art Walk and throughout the entire month.

Email us: shop@philipparoberts.com

Every year Oakland Magazine hosts a “Best of…” Reader’s Choice Poll. Last year Philippa Roberts won in three different categories thanks to all of you! We’re gonna try for another win in 2012 and are asking for your help and support. It’s super simple and takes only a few moments of your time to complete. Read on for more details… {and remember to vote by March 2nd!}

Step 1: Go to the following link: http://beedfack.com/do/survey/555

Step 2: Create a new account so that you can vote (this requires ONLY an email address and password…no need to fill in all the other stuff unless you really want to)

Step 3: Here’s where you vote for all of your favorite Oakland establishments and services (again, no need need to fill in everything unless you want to)

Step 4: In the Goods and Services category, be sure to enter Philippa Roberts for Best Jewelry Store and Best Gift Shop

Step 5: Please vote by March 2nd

That’s it! With your help, we could once again be recognized as one of Oakland’s Best!

Of course, there’s some hard work, too. Setting up the booth where buyers will see my jewelry {check out the guys from Dynomighty Design illustrating what booth set up looks like}, staying in game mode over the course of several days, and retaining enough energy and creativity so I can hunt for beautiful wares to showcase at my own store.

DREAM ~ new for Spring

Overall, it’s a great experience. I love knowing that my jewelry will be headed to some really great shops and galleries, and that my customers on Piedmont Ave will be able to discover a collection of jewelry and gift items they may not find elsewhere. It’s fun curating those things. The world is getting smaller and it’s a buyer’s market out there, but hopefully the love I have for both creating and finding fun little delights shines through to my customers.

If you’re a wholesale buyer, join me this weekend at NYIGF. I’ll be in the Handmade Section, booth #9459. And for all you retail buyers, come visit the shop this spring to see all of the wonderful wares I’ve collected just for you.

Wood Carving of Dragon courtesy Wikipedia.com

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone!

2012 is The Year of the Dragon and what a powerful and magical year it promises to be.

Living in the Bay Area, the Chinese New Year has become a tradition even for those not of Chinese descent. I’ve sometimes received those little red envelopes filled with chocolates or small gifts of cash {in even numbers only, as is tradition}. I definitely appreciated these tokens of good luck!

Chinese New Year is the most important in traditional Chinese culture and is celebrated on the new moon of the first month according to the lunar calendar. It’s a time for family gatherings and elaborate feasts. As in Western culture, the new year is a chance to leave the problems of the previous year behind and, really, we love the idea of doubling up on new beginnings, don’t you?

The dragon is a symbol of power.

In Chinese astrology the dragon is especially revered and is seen as a powerful because it embodies different parts of different animals such as the tiger, fish, snake, and eagle. He is not seen as an evil creature, but as a symbol of strength and superiority. A person born in the Year of the Dragon is believed to be powerful and wise…and 2012 is important for this very reason! Luckily, regardless of our Chinese astrological sign, we will all benefit from the benevolence and magnificence of the Year of the Dragon.

Join us for the first Art Walk of 2012! Sponsored by Piedmont Avenue Merchants Association, this monthly event showcases engaging art and our neighborhood’s wonderful shops & restaurants. Hear live music, shop local, discover new art. Every third Thursday of the month. Open to the public, families welcome. Swing by Philippa Roberts and enjoy a glass of bubbly with us. This month’s Featured Artist: Bella Bigsby

Canada Goose - Bella Bigsby

Plane Tree - Bella Bigsby

CALL FOR ARTISTS: If you are an artist, painter, illustrator, designer or musician, shoot us an email with a sample of your work. We would love to feature you as part of Art Walk and during the entire month. New featured artists will begin in February. Email: shop@philipparoberts.com