support HANDmade with Sophi PIP -- plus a giveaway!

Sophia PIP is the perfect shop for those that appreciate the little yet beautiful things. We adore the casual elegance theme of handcrafted jewelry that is simple enough to be worn everyday - not to mention the quality craftsmanship and delicate designs. When we received our goods the detail & quality was beyond better then retail. The shop is filled with and is a great way to support handcrafted goods. And we love the designers motto -- "Make the world a better place by buying jewelry" -- as giving back is important to her (and us!) so a potion of her profits from Etsy are donated to various charities.

The Mirror Mirror on the Wall pendent ($36) is très chic. The delicate pale yellow flowere adorns a handcrafter Sterling Silver oval frame. It catches everyones eye and really stands out in its simplicity. The blossom adds a feminie touch is a translucent lucite - the perfect amount of detail. The necklace was oxidized & brushed to create a antique look.

Another customer fave we love our the Poppy Earrings ($26) - besides the fact that they are just adorable - they are perfect to dress up or wear caz. Made of copper and brass each individual poppy is hand-cut & shaped. The simple topping, a single Sterling Silver drop accents the center of each blossom. The matching bangle bracelets to go along create the perfect pair.

When did your love affair with jewels begin?

It's a pretty funny thing. I didn't wear jewelry for the longest time because I grew up with the original fashionista and that can be very intimidating. My mom has always been very stylish and I'm a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. She had all these big sparkly jewels that I loved when I was little (and of course, often tried on when she wasn't looking!). When I got older though, they just didn't translate into what I'd actually wear. To make a long story short, I had a hard time finding simple but distinct jewelry that can be worn casually so I started making a few things for myself and some as gifts for friends.


What is your favorite material or stone to work with?
I love working with Beach Glass. Finding them is such a joy to begin with, but being able to work with something with such organic forms keeps things fresh. Every piece has a new shape that I can make a new design around.

What inspires your pieces?
There are too many to list! I read a lot and have studied the classic forms. I love watching old movies and try to imagine what the characters would wear nowadays. I love cooking, the ocean, and meeting new people. Everyday is an adventure and everything contributes to the person that I am and what comes out of my head. I always have a sketch pad with me and at the end of the day I look though all the sketches and see if there is anything I can use design wise.
What's up next for Sophia Pip?
I really like the "industrial" look that putting different metals together creates, so I'll definitely be exploring that further. I also like the "rustic" look of copper a whole lot; I've been experimenting with various natural oxidation techniques and I can't wait to integrate some of that into new designs. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I love everything nature, from twigs to flowers to snails, so I want to see how that would fit into what I make. These tend to turn into the more "delicate" designs". Maybe the "industrial" and the "delicate" will meet somewhere down the road. I can't wait to see.

How would you like to add some S.Pip to your jewelry collection? Well now you can because we are giving away Your Favorite Necklace. All you have to do is tell us why you LOVE it. Because who doesn't? This comment is mandatory! You also must be a follower of both cupcakeMAG and Sprinkles.

For extra entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry letting us know! The more you comment the better chance you have to WIN!

1. Follow cupcakeMAG on Twitter

2. Make sure you "LIKE" us on our NEW Facebook page.

3. Make sure you "LIKE" Sophia PIP on Facebook- leave a comment if you can!

4. Subscribe to our updates (top right corner above) -- just sign up with your email!

5. VOTE for us on Top Mommy Blogs here - just select "click to vote" -- you don't have to register - just a simple click!

6. Tweet about this giveaway and include @cupcakeMAG - you must tweet, not just follow.

7. Write a blog post about this giveaway and send us the link!

We will choose a random winner on June 16th around 11pm or after, est. US residents only.