The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Former Valley pair’s jewelry hits the shelves
Making and selling handcrafted jewelry from their home and donating proceeds to charity has been like retail therapy for Sandy and Stevie D’Andrea for the past decade.
And now the mother/daughter duo, after relying mostly on online sales, has realized their dream of seeing their products displayed on retail shelves.
A collection of the D’Andreas’ Jewels For Hope creations became available for sale this week at Christmas Tree Shops in Orange, located at 220 Indian River Road, and are featured in the store’s Connecticutmade section.
“Christmas Tree Shops has an entire section of locally made products, which is awesome, and they contacted us to be included,” said Stevie D’Andrea. “Connecticut businesses supporting local
Connecticut artists ... it’s a beautiful thing.”
Sandy D’Andrea, a selftaught jewelry designer, created the homebased business back in 2009 from her former home in Derby. She quit her fulltime job to care for her mother, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia. She found stringing beads and Swarovski crystals onto wires and creating beautiful bracelets and other sparkly items was therapeutic for her.
The mother of three decided then to embark on something where she could “give back” and, since its inception, Jewels for Hope has been donating 10 percent of each sale to numerous causes, including rescue dog operations, antibullying initiatives and Hospice. The D’Andreas’ motto is “Look great, donate!”
Sandy D’Andrea’s daughter, Stevie, joined the business in 2010, learning the art of jewelry design from her mother. With a degree in advertising and marketing communication from The Fashion Institute of Technology, Stevie D’Andrea has been working hard to promote Jewels for Hope’s mission.
The D’Andreas have about 100 bracelets on display at Christmas Tree Shops, ranging in price from $5 to $10.
“They’re perfect, inexpensive gift ideas that are cute and meaningful without breaking the bank,” Stevie D’Andrea said.
In addition to landing the Christmas Tree Shops account, Jewels for Hope’s items now also are featured in several boutique stores around Connecticut, including Bella Luna Gifts in Morris, The Funky Hippie in Stamford and WTNH’s Ann Nyberg’s store, Annie Mame, in Madison.
The D’Andreas said getting their products — which boast “the classic style of Audrey Hepburn, the bohemian look of Janis Joplin and the sassy feel of Betsey Johnson” — in front of people, where they can touch them and see the craftsmanship up close and personal, is very satisfying.
“It’s amazing,” said Stevie D’Andrea. “It is so great that these Connecticut brickandmortar stores like Christmas Tree Shops and Ann Nyberg’s Annie Mame are showcasing local, small businesses.”
The D’Andreas are no strangers to the spotlight, and have had celebrities including Jennifer Love Hewitt pose with one of their necklaces. Their jewelry also has been featured on several television shows including “Law & Order: SUV,” “Bones,” “Charmed” and “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” and in numerous publications including Ladies Home Journal. Their dazzling trinkets also have been included in numerous Hollywood “swag bags” that celebrities are gifted with at the Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys.
While the D’Andreas have since moved to Stamford, they still continue to crank out beautiful jewels in the name of charity from their kitchen table. They can’t wait to get a call from the Christmas Tree Shops “to ask us for more bracelets,” said Stevie D’Andrea.