Designs 'N Gold Now Offering Hawaiian Wedding Certifcates by Shayna Baecker Magid

Designs N Gold, a Hawaii based fine Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer and online retailer, announced today that it is now offering to its clientele Hawaiian Wedding Lithograph Certificates by renown Hawaiian island artist, Shayna Baecker Magid.

Shayna Baecker Magid was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. A graduate of Punahou School, and Colorado State University, she taught photography and art at many Hawaii schools including Iolani, Molokai High School, and The Honolulu Academy of Art. Shayna moved to New York in 1989 and soon after began her career in Ketubot the ancient art of the illuminated wedding contract. Inspired by artists Maxfield Parrish and Paul Jacolet, Shayna often produces romantic images in her lithographs that speak of stories from days gone by. Using acrylic paint and combining airbrushing with hand-painting, she fills her compositions with the light and beauty that is Hawaii. Shayna spends her time between New York and her home in Kahaluu on the Windward side of Oahu.

"We are so pleased to be able to offer Shayna's beautiful Hawaiian wedding certificates to our customers in time for the June wedding season" commented Colette Aoki, owner of Designs N Gold. Ms. Aoki further commented "these Hawaiian wedding certificates along with our Designs 'N Gold wedding rings will wonderfully remind couples of that special day in their lives when they became one".

Designs N Gold manufactures in addition to Hawaiian wedding rings, bands and wedding sets, traditional as well as modern designs in Hawaiian bracelets, Hawaiian rings and Hawaiian pendants in gold, sterling silver and platinum. Designs N Gold also offers it clients the newest designs in Hawaiian plumeria flower jewelry, Hawaiian palm tree and Hawaiian slipper jewelry and Designs N Gold is able offer its customers the ability to recycle their old, unused and broken jewelry into new Hawaiian jewelry.

About Designs N Gold - The owner of Designs N Gold, Colette Aoki, has been in the jewelry business in Hawaii since 1976. Over that period she has designed jewelry for thousands of clients in Hawaii as well as worldwide. In 1985 she acquired the jewelry manufacturer, Designs N Gold, which gave her the ability to control the entire jewelry making process from design to finished product. Designs N Gold's expert jewelers and engravers create each piece of Hawaiian jewelry including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and wedding rings. Contact 98-1277 Kaahumanu Street, Suite: 106-339 Aiea,Hawaii 96701 Tel Local: 808-484-2699 Tel Outer Island & Mainland: 800-343-5846Web: http://www.designsngold.com Email: caoki@designsngold.com

Video of Pearl Harbor Survivors Appreciation Dinner Sponsored by Designs 'N Gold

My Dear Friend Minerva Keawe

Many years ago, my husband John and I traveled to the outer Hawaiian Islands (off Oahu) to produce jewelry shows. The outer islands, as they are known, were then not built up as they are today and there were few jewelers on the outer islands that offered Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry and those that did asked very high prices. As a Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer we could offer people much lower prices directly from the manufacturer.

We traveled to all the outer islands, Kauai, Maui, the big island of Hawaii, Lanai and Molokai several times yearly. I always enjoyed traveling to Molokai because we would hold our jewelry show in Kaunakakai where my friend Renee Ainoa owned a general store. We would display our Hawaiian jewelry samples in Renee’s store and service her customers. In those days Hawaii still had sugar and pineapple plantations and when the whistle would blow indicating it was time for lunch, the women plantation workers would come to Renee’s store to see the new Hawaiian jewelry samples that we had brought with us.

One of her customers was an elderly Hawaiian lady named Minerva Keawe. Minerva would come to buy from Renee’s general store and occasionally buy a piece of Hawaiian jewelry as a gift for her children and grandchildren. Afterwards she would sit with Renee and me and talk about the Hawaii that she remembered. On some of her visits she would prepare lunch and bring it for us all to enjoy. I always enjoyed visiting with Minerva and she and I became quite close. On one visit to Molokai, Minerva told me that she was going to give me a Hawaiian name when we visited Molokai again.

On our next visit Minerva came to our jewelry show and while we were speaking she presented me with a piece of paper which on it she had written the Hawaiian name that she gave me. The name was “Kou u’i mino aka” which Minerva explained means the “beauty of your smile”. It was such a nice and wonderful gesture on her part and I cried with joy.

Later, my husband knowing how much the Hawaiian name that Minerva gave me meant to me, made me a Hawaiian bracelet with “Kou u’i mino aka” engraved on it for Christmas. I’ve treasured it ever since.

Minerva passed away shortly after giving me my Hawaiian name. I think of her often, missing our visits with each other and each time I wear my Hawaiian bracelet bearing the Hawaiian name “Kou u’i mino aka” I always think of our visits to Molokai and my dear friend Minerva Keawe.

Mahalo and aloha from Hawaii,

Colette Aoki

Designs 'N Gold

Designs N Gold announces its new process of creating Japanese family crest jewelry using traditional family Japanese Kamon

Designs N Gold, a Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer based in Honolulu has announced its new process to turn Japanese family crest into pendants, rings, bracelets and other items of jewelry, using the family's traditional Japanese Kamon design.

Kamon was born in the Japanese tradition and cultural climate and is the symbol of a family or a group. In addition, a symbol similar to the family crest is an emblem of national as well as local government bodies including prefecture, city, town and so forth, uniquely designed in consideration of the tradition and cultural background specific to the respective region. Also, religious facilities like shrines, Buddhist temples, various enterprises, educational organizations like universities, colleges, high schools etc. have got their own emblems designed to represent their own tradition and background, and they are regarded as important properties of their own. In Japan, there are as many as 30,000 different family crests. Most of them are images of plants followed by images of animals. This could explain that the traditional Japanese way of life had been closely associated with the natural surroundings. It appears that by drawing various images of nature that were seen or used in people's everyday life for usage as decorative articles for clothes, furniture etc. and with the repeated use of such images, gradually it became the family symbol or crest. This is probably how the Japanese family crest was born.

Designs N Gold also offers Japanese Family Crest Research to those families who do not know their Japanese Kamon. "


"Those families that we have created Kamon jewelry items for are very happy and excited to have a symbol of their heritage in a form that they can wear and eventually give to their children and grandchildren" commented Colette Aoki, the owner of Designs N Gold. Ms. Aoki also commented that "Designs N Gold also offers Japanese Family Crest Research to those families who do not know their Japanese Kamon."

"My name is K. Nishitsuji and I ordered two kamon pendants from you. I just want to thank you so much. They are just beautiful and my niece and I appreciate how beautiful it is. We have wanted this pendant for a long time. Thanks again" wrote K. Nishitsuji of Fullerton CA. and K. Nakashima of Honolulu Hawaii wrote "I just wanted to Thank you very much for creating a dream come true. I ordered the double sided Japanese family crest and when I received it, I fell in love with the work that you did. The workmanship on the two mons came out perfect and don't know how I could ever thank you for making this happen.
Everyone who had seen my family crests can't believe the workmanship that was done on it and I am proud to say that Designs 'N Gold has created it. I wear it proudly and haven't taken it off since receiving it.
Again, a big, hug mahalo to you for making this a dream come true!!!"

About Designs N Gold - The owner of Designs N Gold, Colette Aoki, has been in the jewelry business in Hawaii since 1976. Over that period she has designed jewelry for thousands of clients in Hawaii as well as worldwide. In 1985 she acquired the jewelry manufacturer, Designs N Gold, which gave her the ability to control the entire jewelry making process from design to finished product. Designs N Gold's expert jewelers and engravers create each piece of Hawaiian jewelry including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and wedding rings. Contact 98-1277 Kaahumanu Street, Suite: 106-339 Aiea,Hawaii 96701Tel Local: 808-484-2699 Tel Outer Island & Mainland: 800-343-5846Web: http://www.designsngold.com Email: caoki@designsngold.com

Designs N Gold Sponsors Appreciation Dinner For Pearl Harbor Survivors

On Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 5:30PM, Designs N Gold, a Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer based in Honolulu, Hawaii in association with the Kailua Elks Lodge will sponsor an appreciation dinner for survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The dinner will be held at the Kaneohe Bay Yacht Club located at 44-503 Kaneohe Bay Drive in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Pearl Harbor Survivors attending the appreciation dinner are Herbert Weatherwax and Alfred Rodriques both Members of the Kailua Elks Lodge, Sterling Cale, Harold O'Connor and Everett Hyland. All survivors are Members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Two hundred people are expected to attend the appreciation dinner. Dignitaries attending the appreciation dinner are Captain Greg Thomas, Commander of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Lester Chang, Director of Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department will be representing Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Other invited dignitaries are Hawaii State Governor Linda Lingle and Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye.

Following dinner the attendees will be entertained by The Paradise Sisters and Company who will be performing USO Music from the World War Two period.

Colette Aoki, owner of Designs N Gold and Co-Chair of the event with Kailua Elks Lodge Member, Kalani Rodrigues, is donating special commemorative gifts to the survivors to commemorate the appreciation dinner.

"We are so pleased and excited to be a part of this historic event" commented Colette Aoki, "the youngest of the Pearl Harbor survivors would be 88 years old and several are in their 90's so Kalani Rodrigues (whose father Alfred Rodrigues is a survivor) decided now was the time to honor these American heros".

About Designs N Gold - The owner of Designs N Gold, Colette Aoki, has been in the jewelry business in Hawaii since 1976. Over that period she has designed jewelry for thousands of clients in Hawaii as well as worldwide. In 1985 she acquired the jewelry manufacturer, Designs N Gold, which gave her the ability to control the entire jewelry making process from design to finished product. Designs N Gold's expert jewelers and engravers create each piece of Hawaiian jewelry including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and wedding rings. Contact 98-1277 Kaahumanu Street, Suite: 106-339 Aiea,Hawaii 96701Tel Local: 808-484-2699 Tel Outer Island & Mainland: 800-343-5846Web: http://www.designsngold.com Email: caoki@designsngold.com

NEW Two Tone SOLID 14KT Gold and Sterling Silver Hawaiian Ring

Designs N Gold, a Hawaii based Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer announces the addition of a new two tone 14KT gold and sterling silver Hawaiian jewelry ring design to its two tone Hawaiian jewelry designs. Utilizing ancient two tone gold and sterling silver jewelry making techniques that date back to birth of Christ, Designs N Gold has created another gift that will be treasured for a life time. A custom made 8mm Hawaiian ring with the owner's name in Raised 14KT Gold letters complimented with Designs N Gold's copyrighted Royal Maile Scroll Design engraved in solid sterling silver.

This NEW Hawaiian ring design was created to suit not only the individual tastes of all people but also to be affordable by all people as well. The Hawaiian ring design is traditional Hawaiian dating back to Hawaiian Queen Liliukalani's reign. Queen Liliuokalani admired the British and patterned her reign after Queen Victoria's of England. Her British counterpart, so legend goes, presented Queen Liliuokalani with a solid gold bracelet with OLD ENGLISH Lettering, enameled in ebony. Queen Liliuokalani wore it always. Soon the ALII (Hawaiian Royalty) commanded that ALL Hawaiian goldsmiths, throughout the kingdom, learn the tedious art. A HAWAIIAN JEWELRY TRADITION WAS BORN. The presence of the two tone effect is prevalent. This NEW Hawaiian ring was designed to attract the likes of the young and old alike.

Two tone gold jewelry is said to have evolved in the British Isles. The Celts are known to have pioneered this art and spread their wares across the length and breadth of Europe. With time and the coming of the Romans, the Celts were forced to flee and they settled in various parts of England and adjoining regions. The jewelry nonetheless never really suffered and became an instant hit the world over. It is still famous the world over and is widely preferred by people from all walks of life.

"Due to the success of our NEW two tone 14KT gold and sterling silver Hawaiian bracelet introduced during Christmas, I believe the addition of this NEW two tone 14KT and sterling silver Hawaiian ring design along with our NEW two tone Hawaiian bracelet will enable our two tone Hawaiian jewelry to become a NEW tradition for those who enjoy Hawaiian heirloom jewelry not only because of its origins rooted in Hawaii but also its affordability during these times of high gold prices" commented Colette Aoki, the owner of Designs N Gold.

About Designs N Gold - The owner of Designs N Gold, Colette Aoki, has been in the jewelry business in Hawaii since 1976. Over that period she has designed jewelry for thousands of clients in Hawaii as well as worldwide. In 1985 she acquired the jewelry manufacturer, Designs N Gold, which gave her the ability to control the entire jewelry making process from design to finished product. Designs N Gold's expert jewelers and engravers create each piece of Hawaiian jewelry including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and wedding rings. Contact 98-1277 Kaahumanu Street, Suite: 106-339 Aiea,Hawaii 96701Tel Local: 808-484-2699 Tel Outer Island & Mainland: 800-343-5846Web: http://www.designsngold.com Email: caoki@designsngold.com

NEW Tattoo Jewelry

Designs N Gold, a Hawaii based Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer, is pleased to announce the launch of their process for turning a person's tattoo into gold or silver tattoo jewelry in bracelets, rings, pendants or other types of jewelry.

A tattoo is an expression of the beholder. A reflection of one's heritage, belief, hobby, religion or just a design that is dear to them. The impression is long lasting and brings joy and comfort. Tattoos have served as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, punishment, amulets and talismans, protection, and as the marks of outcasts, slaves and convicts. The symbolism and impact of tattoos varies in different places and cultures. Tattoos may show how a person feels about a relative (commonly mother/father or daughter/son) or about an unrelated person. Today, people choose to be tattooed for cosmetic, sentimental/memorial, religious, and magical reasons, and to symbolize their belonging to or identification with particular groups,

"Designs 'N Gold is able to preserve a person's tattoo art in a piece of jewelry in 14Kt. gold or sterling silver that can then be handed down to the next generation and the next. Our company's highly skilled jewelers take great pride in creating a person's tattoo art design in precious metal" commented Colette Aoki, the owner of Designs 'N Gold.

About Designs 'N Gold
The owner of Designs 'N Gold, Colette Aoki, has been in the jewelry business in Hawaii since 1976. Over that period she has designed jewelry for thousands of clients in Hawaii as well as worldwide. In 1985 she acquired the jewelry manufacturer, Designs 'N Gold, which gave her the ability to control the entire jewelry making process from design to finished product. Designs 'N Gold's expert jewelers and engravers create each piece of Hawaiian jewelry including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and wedding rings.

Contact
98-1277 Kaahumanu Street, Suite: 106-339
Aiea,
Hawaii 96701
Tel Local: 808-484-2699
Tel Outer Island & Mainland: 800-343-5846
Web: http://www.designsngold.com