Where will you wear these earrings? FREE GIVEAWAY

Where will you wear these earrings? FREE GIVEAWAY
Since it is the Holiday Season, I thought what better way to give a little cheer then to do a FREE GIVEAWAY.
These Silver Flower Cascade Swarovski Earrings are so stunning they could be worn anywhere (casual or formal) AND the winner can choose the color of swarovski that you would like. (I am thinking a perfect New Year's Eve Accessory!)

Ways to Win:
I want to hear from you. Leave a comment here on my blog or on my facebook fan page and tell me where you would wear these earrings on New Year's Eve. OR post a picture of an outfit that you see yourself wearing these earrings with. Or if you plan on giving them as a present, tell us who. Check out the color selections of swarovski briolettes that you can choose from at my website. Courtneyleedesigns.com A winner will be decided at the end of the contest. Thursday, December 23 2010 at NOON!!!

Become a fan on my facebook page
Follow my blog

AND Don't forget to leave me your email address to get in touch with you
if you are the winner. {One entry per email per feed}

The end of this contest will be at noon EST on Thursday December 23th, 2010, so leave me your stories, comments, and/or photos. Good luck and I can't wait to see where these earrings will be worn!


And the Winner Is????
Thanks to everyone who entered the FIRST (of many to come) Courtney Lee Designs FREE GIVEAWAY! And the winner is Brie Daigle!!! Her winning New Year's Eve plans: "Bret Michaels will be overcome when he sees these earrings on me at his concert on New Year's Eve at Universal in Orlando!!!" Congrats Brie and Happy Holidays!

Bows, Bows, Bows!!!

I have just finished quite a few "holiday" bows. What I really love is that I am offering you to be able to mix and match which bows you like best. You can choose from the following collections : {all have several styles per collection}

Autumn Splendor, Snowflakes Fall, Princess of the Party, and Christmas Fantasy. 1 for $6.99 3 for $18.99 5 for $29.99 Order now to ensure you receive them for Thanksgiving. courtneyleedesigns.com

courtneyleedesigns@yahoo.com

Holiday Recipes to Love

I have a passion for many things and baking is just one more thing I love to do. With the holidays approaching, I wanted to share some of my favorite recipes. Nearly all of the recipes have been altered by their original recipe to fit what I think tastes best. These recipes have all been made, tested, and approved. {by some of the worlds greatest eaters}

Pumpkin Streusal Muffins with Cream Cheese
1 3/4 c flour
1/2 c sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 egg
1/2 c milk
1/2 c canned pumpkin
1/3 c vegetable oil

mix the dry ingrediants together, mix wet ingrediants in separate bowl. add 1/3 of the dry (until all combined) with the wet ingrediants.

cream cheese

1/3 c flour
2 tbl brown sugar
2 tbl cold butter
mix together to make the streusal

fill each muffin cup about 1/3 of the way up, add some cream cheese (about a thumb's worth) and then fill the rest of the cup with mix. Then sprinkle some of the streusal mix on top.
Bake 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Makes about 1 dozen.

These muffins are so delicious I usally double the recipe and it makes 2 dozen

Pumpkin Cheesecake

4 8 oz. cream cheese
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tbl vanilla
3 tbl flour
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

About 1 1/2 cups of crushed gingersnap cookies
About 6 tbl butter
{mix together with hands and press into springform pan. bake for about 8 minutes to set the crust. Let stand.}

All of the ingrediants should be at room temperature before starting. Blend cream cheese with sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add sour cream. Add pumpkin. Add vanilla. Add ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg. Add flour.

Bake cheesecake at 325 degrees for about 45 minutes, then turn the oven off and leave in {unopened} for about another hour.

I usually decorate it with whipped cream and more of the crushed gingersnaps. Everyone loves a good cheesecake and I hope that you like this one.

and the last is a classic~
Cornbread Stuffing

1 large egg
1 c chicken broth
cornbread {2 boxes of jiffy box cornbread mix made according to package}
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
2 Tbl Italian Herb Mix
1 8 oz sliced water chestnuts
1 can cream corn
1 cup monterey Jack cheese

Saute the onion and celery together, set aside. Combine egg and chicken broth in separate bowl and set aside. Dice cornbread into cubed pieces. Add cream corn, chestnuts, onion, celery, italian herbs, and monterey jack cheese. {using your hands to mix together is the best way to blend it all.} Then add the liquid mix of egg/broth slowly.
Bake at 35o degrees for about 1 hour. This is delicious and everyone at your thanksgiving dinner will be wanting seconds of it.

Enjoy and if you need help, just ask!!!

Trend goes Vintage

My grandmother was a buyer for a department store in New York when I was little and she was the epitomy of the glamourous woman. It is that style of the old that is coming back into style again and I LOVE it. When I find a vintage piece {brooch, earrings, buttons} I swoon at the sight.It brings back those memories of my elegant, glamourous and stylish grandmother. I am not the only one who has become obssessed with taking these vintage findings and turning them into one of a kind, beautiful pieces of wearable art. These repurposed vintage styles are walking the runway and covering magazines.

This past weekend, I took a trip with my mother to the flea market in search of some vintage finds. It was the first time I have ever gone and. . .IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE. I was able to find a few things though, but I definately felt the need to wash my hands when I left.

Here are some pieces that I made with some of the vintage finds that I have acquired lately, and they are so stunning. I would wear them everyday if I could. (Price available upon request, the above photo is also a Courtney Lee Designs original)

Sorority Discount for the Tailgate Traditions Collection

Tailgate Traditions

I am excited to introduce the new Tailgate Traditions Collection by Courtney Lee Designs. It is available for sale at Down to Earth in the Tioga Town Center in Gainesville, Florida. You can also purchase your tailgate jewelry and accessories from courtneyleedesigns.com. For all of those sorority girls at UF, you can receive 15% off your purchase from http://www.courtneyleedesigns.com/ until September 15, 2010. Contact courtney at courtneyleedesigns@yahoo.com to redeem your discount. I am looking forward to a great year for the gators. So, start off the season in style. Go GATORS!!!!!!

Go Orange and Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Gator Girls!!!!!!!!

Hey Gator Girls. . . .

I wanted to give everyone a sneak peek of my friend Nana Schneider's beautiful handpainted shoes. You will be able to purchase them during "The 2nd Annual Tailgate Traditions Open House". These Dr. Scholl sandals are handpainted in orange and blue and will be perfect additions to all of your gameday gear. (I am sure that if your love is for another school, that Nana will be able to make them in those colors.) I am getting excited to share with you the new Tailgate Tradition Collection. So, keep a look out for more sneak peeks into the collection. The Open House will be held September 1 5-9pm and September 2 8-12am. If you are interested in attending please contact courtney at courtneyleedesigns@yahoo.com

Custom Jewelry

Last night, I was up late adding new pieces to my etsy website. All in all, I think I added about 30 new pieces that are absolutely beautiful. There is a mix of bridal and summer pieces that I believe to be everday classics. I still have quite a few new jewelry pieces to add, but that is because I am constantly coming up with new ideas. It is fun to get some custom pieces as well. I just did a few items for a friend that was getting married in Costa Rica. Her earrings turned out amazingly.

I had a client ask me this week to create some jewelry pieces for a custom bridesmaid dress in her shop. (Couture House Rentals, of Houston, Texas) I came up with the Khloris Collection. A beautiful bracelet and earring set that bring a delicate and classic look to the dress.


Check out some of the new pieces at http://www.etsy.com/shop/courtneyleedesigns

Let the Gator Tutus Growl

This summer has been breezing by so quickly that it is hard to imagine that another gator season is coming upon us so soon. I had the privilege to have some amazing girls model some of the upcoming items I will have available for this fall football season. Last year, I had the first annual gator tailgate party to help the gator fashionista's look their game day best. This year, I wanted to include a little something for all ages. I am working out the final details of the second annual gator tailgate party which will now be known as the TAILGATE TRADITIONS collection by Courtney Lee Designs. The new line of gator jewelry and hair accessories will be revealed August 29. And I will keep everyone posted about the date for the second annual TAILGATE TRADITIONS party.

I also want to thank Susan and Stuart of Powers Photography http://powersphotography.com/ for helping me with this project. They provided some amazing pictures of our little gator girls. They are also scheduling stadium portraits in October, so get your new gator jewelry and accessories for the family before you have those taken.
Check out the full tutu photo album that Powers Photography provided at:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1327774528

Anchor Boutique Opening

A Wonderful Fourth of July!!!!!!!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful fourth of July. While the fireworks were going off in St. Augustine this past weekend, Courtney Lee Designs was being featured as a one of the new designers at Anchor Boutique on St. George Street. There was a wonderful turnout and thankfully the rain stopped long enough to enjoy the event.