Christmas Boutiques-This week has been really busy! Wednesday I did a show at Santa Anita for the Woman's Auxillary of Huntington Hospital. The best part of the show was that my dear friend Mary came out of retirement to help me and it was so pleasant to work again with her. We saw lots of familiar faces and Christmas shopping was in full force.

The Holiday Look In boutique was Friday and Saturday in San Marino and Wow what a sucess. This is a home tour and boutique to benefit the Pasadena Symphony. We were very busy despite a little rain and loved seeing clients from years past. I have done this show for many years 10 plus and it is always a good show. Alex came up from Ensenada to help and she is such a great help.

Please feel free to call and come by our new condo for some personalized Christmas shopping. I am in town most of the next few weeks and would love to see you.

After Christmas Lance and I are off for a few days to Santa Barbara to celebrate our 50th Anniversary! Can't believe how time flies. We are so grateful for each other, our family and friends.

I wish you all Peace and Love in the New Year! Juanita Pajaro

Christmas at the new condo!

The Nutcrackers are out!

My grandson, Lance, about to ride in the Rose Parade.

It has been a busy fall! For the first time I did a wholesale show in San Francisco. My husband Lance and I drove up with the full car and my right hand Alex flew up from San Diego. We arrived and set up on Thursday and the show was Friday through Sunday. We had a few problems! It was 85 in the city (a rarity) and the SF Giants were in the World Series that weekend. Attendance wasn't great but we learned some important lessons. The drive was too far-so for now we will stay closer to home. We had some nice dinners-Chinatown,  Fishermans Wharf and the Embarcadero and Lance did a lot of sightseeing. I had some great clients and have already had a repeat sale so time will tell if it was a good financial decision. I sold one of my favorite new necklaces - see if you can spot the frog around this ladies neck! I have also included a couple of photos of our booth and the city.

Taxco-the center of Mexican silver design

 I spent a week in mid Sept in Taxco shopping for silver jewelry for my clients and shows in the next year. What I didn't realize was that we were arriving on Mexican Independance Day-their 4th of July! I expected the worst but to my surprise all the silver shops were open for all 3 days.They didn't even close for siesta.The town was packed with visitors and the entertainment in the main square was nonstop for the entire weekend - mariachis, dancers, singers and barking dogs.

 

We arrived on Fri the 14th and Sat morning was up early for the Sat tianges. The tianges is a huge flea market style sale of silver held every Sat. Many of the vendors produce silver at home but don't have enough money for a store so they can sell at the tianges for free.I have found a few really good vendors like the clip earring man and the family that make fabulous dragonfly pins. I also buy my silver ball necklaces there. It is crowded, hot and exciting. I can only take a few hours of it. A good friend Maria Belen came along and helped with translation. My spanish is ok but when dealing with money you need to be precise especially at the tianges.
I have been going to Taxco for 7 years for fall shopping. It is so nice to see all my favorite vendors and to find new ones -that is the real challenge- finding new sources for this beautiful product. Taxco is a small Colonial village founded in the 1500's and today it still has the old feel-very narrow winding streets, small old buildings and of course the beautiful Cathedral on the square (zocolo).

My husband Lance came along for the first time and he was very helpful and loved Taxco. He carried my bags, took great photos, kept me company at meals and finally got to meet my Taxco friends. Maria Belen has a beautiful store and is one of the few women who are sucessful in a man's business. Her jewelry is maticulously crafted and some of the best designs in Taxco.Every year she has new exciting pieces. This year she has milagro jewelry-earring and pendants. You will love them and they are at a good pricepoint!
I have 8 of the Margot design clamp bracelets, plus many new necklaces and earrings, earrings and more earrings. I shipped back 50lbs of silver jewelry. It is finally all priced and ready for visitors and sales.

I also have a new shipment of milagro crosses that I will pick up in Baja this weekend.

My next show is in San Francisco beginning on Oct 26-28 at the Concouse Exhibition Center. I have a double booth 8613 and 8614. If you are in the area please stop by and see the new silver and art.
I have heard this is a good show so we are now going on the road to show the goods!

Hope to see and hear from my friends and clients, Juanita

La Jolla sale for St James

I haven't been to La Jolla in many years and boy has it changed! The Gap is everywhere. My husband Lance came down to help and we explored on Fri. We couldn't imagine where all the young people had come from-then UC San Diego came to mind. La Jolla used to be a sleepy retreat-not any more.
The weather was very warm and it was an outside show so Jane turned bright red. I am just beginning to return to my normal skin tone. I think this will be my last outside show. I need air, cool air!
St James has a beautiful gift shop with folk art from around the world. If you are in the area be sure to stop by.The show went very well for me. Thank you to all the nice people who purchased jewelry from me. I know that you will all love your Mexican silver. Thanks to Alex for coming up from Ensenada to help with sales. We are the dynamic duo.

I have just returned from a long weekend at my home in Baja. Warm for Bajamar but beautiful.  Going back for labor day weekend. Then it is off to Taxco for silver shopping. I will do my very best to bring back some new and quite fabulous designs. I hope you are all enjoying your summer-try to stay cool and stay connected with your friends and family. Juanita

Great Gift Show in LA

It was great to see all of my clients and friends-old and new. Thank you for coming by and seeing the new silver and milagro art. My right arm Alex and I work hard to make the booth look festive and inviting. I hope you liked my new double booth. It made it easier to display the silver and to help our clients. We also had a new salesperson Linda. I hope you got to meet her. She really helped us out on Fri and Sat. I met her at my grandsons Baccalaureate. Her son was graduating and we both got there 2 hours early and now she is helping out. Thank you Linda and Alex from Ensenada you are the best!I also need to thank my husband Lance who takes over the household duties and feeding of two hungry women at the end of the day. He is also a great bagboy. Thank you Lance! My business is really growing and I appreciate all the support from family and friends. You will find us in January In LA at Booth 330.
The next silver event will be Aug 11 and 12 from 10-4 at St James Episcopal Church in La Jolla for their Artisan's Market. The address is 743 Prospect St and the public is welcome. I would love to see you so if you are nearby please come and see us.There will be food, entertainment and special vendors like Design Imports.
In Sept. I will be going to Taxco for silver shopping. This year my husband will go for the first time. If you have any special requests please let me know. I will be working hard to find you great new pieces from my old and new designers.Wish me luck. Hopefully I will have recovered from my 2 shows by then.
My feet are cranky but I love my job! Thank you all for making this such a successful show.

Welcome to Juanita's Blog!

Many of my friends and clients have asked me to create a website but because of the nature of my business that doesn't work. I am going to start blogging about my travels and products so that you can follow along with my adventures. The first update is that I have moved -just one block but nevertheless a difficult move. This would be our fourth move in 8 years but we are here to stay. New address is 888 S Orange Grove Blvd 3W, Pasadena, Ca 91105 626-799-2233 or cell 626-864-7724. Of course, not everything is working but the repairman is on his way! I would like to thank my grandson Lance for bringing me into the technological era by setting up my iPhone, iPad and now my blog. I hope you will follow me on my journey to finding you great new jewelry with a little humor thrown in. My next show will be the Calif gift show in Los Angeles at the Convention Center Kentia Hall Booth 330 cash and carry July 27-30 This is a wholesale show If you would like a private showing just call for an appointment. Again welcome and let's enjoy my adventures together! Jane (Juanita)