Southern Living Fall and Holiday Recipes

Do you love Southern Livig magazine and their seasonal recipes?  If you do, then try out some of theses wonderful recipe ideas featured in the October - November 2024 issues and available on their website.  From quick and easy soups to main dishes, along with bread and desserts, surely you will find the perfect dish for your family and friends to enjoy during get-togethers for football games or upcoming Winter holidays.  For even more recipes, check out the magazine or do a topic search on their website to find something that may fit your group entertaining need.

Appetizers/Breakfast/Brunch

• Apple Cinnamon Rolls
• Bacon-Egg-Cheese Croissant Sandwich - or check out our Big Daddy Breakfast Puff
• Riesling-Gruyere Fondue

Lunch/Dinner/Supper

• Butternut Squash Salad
• Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup - or check out my Chicken and Rice Soup 
• Fennel-Butternut Squash Gratin
• French Onion Turkey
• Mashed Butternut Squash with Bacon
• Roast Pork with Crackling
• Smoky Pork and Greens Stew - or check out our Green Ham Soup 
• Sourdough Stuffing (Dressing) - or check out our Corn Sausage Dressing
• Stuffed Butternut Squash
• Vegetable Beef Soup - or check out my Vegetable Beef Soup
• White Chicken Chili 

Breads/Desserts

• Apple Cider Bundt Cake
• Buttermilk Cornbread 
• Chocolate Bundt Cake - or check out our Dr Pepper Cake 
• Pumpkin Bundt Cake
• Spiced Cream Cheese Bundt Cake - or check out our Brown Sugar Pound Cake

Grandma's Recipe Box: Baked Acorn Squash

In the south, baked sweet potatoes are a familiar side dish at holiday gatherings.  The dessert at these family gatherings is often pumpkin pie too.  Many people are not aware that they can  switch these tow items (sweet potato pies) or subsitute Autumn  squashes like Acorn and Butternut in some of these favorite recipes or just serve them instead.  An easy substitute for sweet potato preparation is the baking of Acorn Squash.  

The squash can be served individually by giving each person half on a salad plate or the insides may be removed and mashed into a dish to pass around the table. If you need more than 6 servings, adjust the ingredients to match the number of halves you bake.  If serving buffet style, consider including optional toppings of mini marshmallows, chopped nuts, syrup. or bacon bits that people may top their portion with to customize to their tastes.

Baked Acorn Squash

Serves 6

Ingredients:

3 Acorn Squash
3 Tablespoons melted butter
6 Tablespoons brown sugar

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut each squash in half, lengthwise; remove seeds.
3. Place in baking dish, cut-side down.
4. Bake 35-40 minute.  
5. Turn squash over. Brush butter inside each halfm then add a tablespoon of brown sugar to center of each.
6. Continue baking 20-25 minutes more.

Grandma's Apricot Fried Pies Recipe

Before the holiday season, I dig out my Grandma's handwriten recipe books and her recipe box of favorite clippings and recipes to share with friends and relatives on this blog.  Grandpa grew both apricot and peach trees, so Grandma had many recipes for both fruits.  Previously I shared her recipe for Apricot Nectar Cake. Recently I found her clipping for our other old family favorite of her apricot hand-held fired pies.  YEA!  

A plate of six of her pies often fetched the highest price at baked-good auctions held at Grandma's church to get money to send to missionaries.  My sweet Grandma found that both flattering and embarrassing, but mostly if caused her to giggle at those events.  Grandma loved it when people wanted her food, baked goods or meal-tiem favorites.

I still remember the first time my newly teenage son had one of her pies for dessert when we were visiting (as a kid he turned his nose up at any dessert that was not cookies).  He loved it and asked if he could have another one, Grandma said yes and he gobbled up his 2nd pie.  Then before we left he asked if he could have another to take home for his dad to try (I told him I was pretty sure his dad had already had them in the past).  Grandma was thrilled he like the pies so much, she said as long as there would be 4 pie left for her and Granpa to have or dessert that day and the next he could take home two pies for him as his dad.  He ate his pie as soon as he got home!  Then when his dad came home from work he insisted he try it right then as it was so delicious!  His wonderful dad offered to split it with him before I could let him know that the boy already had 3 of them that day! 

Easy Tips for Pie Filling! 

• I had asked my youngest aunt if she knew the secret to the pies. She told me that Grandma would often skip the reconstituting and mashing of the dried apricots in her recipe and use Apricot baby food instead.  This made it easier for her to keep the fruit on hand and save some time as well by just mixing the sugar into the apricots and then spreading that onto dough.
• Another way to shorten the process is to not make filling at all.  Instead, use prepared Apricot jam or preserves (not jelly) for the filling and do not add sugar.  Since Grandma canned fruit, I feel pretty sure she did this as a shortcut too when she had the fruit instead of spending grocery money on baby food. 

Apricot Fried Pies 

Yield: About 5 dozen 

Crust Ingredients:

4 cups all-pupose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup cold water

Steps:

1. Combine flour and salt in large bowl.
2. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. Using a tablespoon, add in water  a little at a time but sprinkling evenly over mixture surface; stir with a fork until ingredients are moisteed.
4. Shape into a ball and chill.

Filling Ingredients:

1 - 6 oz. package of dried apricots (or see tips above) 
1/2 cup sugar

Steps:

1. Placed dried apricots in a medium saucepan; add water to cover them.  
2. Cover pan and cook over low heat 15 minutes or until tender. 
3. Mash apricots, add sugar; set aside.

Assembly Steps:  

1. Divide dough in half.  Roll  dough portion to 1/8th-inch thickness on a slightly floured surface,  
2. Cut rolled dough into 3 1/2 inch circles using a wide-mouth glass or jar, if you do not have a cookie cutter that size.
3. Spoon a eaping teaspoon of apricot filling on half of each circle.
4. Moisten edge of each circle with water.  Fold circles in half; press edges together with a fork dipped in flour.
5. Repeat with other portion of dough.

Cooking Steps:

1. Heat 1/2-inch of vegetable oil to 375 degrees in a large skillet.  
2. Fry pies until golden brown, turning once.  Watch that they do not burn!
3. Drain well on paper towels.
4. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar and/or garnish with dried apricots.

Common Names for Pearl Shapes

 The most well-known and desired pearls are typcially round or nearly round.  These pearls are typically the more expensive versions of saltwater pearls from the South Seas or Asia.  However, pearls come in a variety of shapes with different names depending on the region where it is sold.  It is now very easy to find a pearl shape to fit any personality, although the popularity and names of each shape may change with fashion trends as well as location.  

Round and Nearly Round pearls may be natural or may be manually encouraged by bead nuclating the host mullusk.  Natural ones will be more expensive and only can be confirmed with x-ray technology or by cutting the pearl in half which destroyis it.  Natural round pearls are usually South Seas, black Tahitians, or  Japenese Akoyas -- which is another reason they are more expensive and highly sought after.  A lower priced bigger and faster roundish freshwater pearls may be acheieved by the intervention of man.  Most freshwater pearls are not naturally round, instead they will be nearly round or barogue shapes. Other names for nearly round include:

• Potato, Oblong, Oval, - Most natural freshwater pearls will be this shape.  Calling it potato shape has fallen out of favor, but it is still an accurate description for the shape.
• Drop, Tear, Egg - Pearls that graduate from a small top to a thicker bottom and are most often used for earrings or solitaire pendants. 
• Circle', Ringed - Pearls of any shape that have lines around the pearl caused from spinning in the shell during development.
• Seed - Usually a tiny roundish pearl under 4mm which is called seed because it is looks like a mustard seed or baby starter pearl.  
• Button, Rondelle - These pearls are often used for earrings or rings because they are typically flat on one side or strung as necklaces or bracelets if slightly flat on two sides.  They may look like a small coin pearl but are typically natural rather than maniplated into form. 

Baroque is the pearl industry term for any pearl that is not round(ish).  However there are lots of sub-shapes and styles of pearls.  Other terms for barogue shapes include:

• Comet, Fish, Fireball - This pearl starts as a round pearl but during the growing process develops a tail so it looks like a comet with its tail shooting across the sky.  This type of pearl has great luster, high pearlescence, and some colors have a metallic look.  It has become common practice to refer to the large version of this pearl simply as baroque, which leads to confusion of consumers. 
• Biwa pearls were natrually occuring pearls from Japnas Lake Biw, now they are cultivated Iother locations as well producing varying shapes:
• Drip, Fancy, Liquid, Stick, Square, Toothpick - Most often this is a natural free-form rectangular or squarish semi-flat pearl.  It has a high luster and pearlescence making it popular with collectors and jewelry designers. Sometimes sellers will refer to this shape as Keshi rather than Biwa.
• Stick, Toothpick - Pearl formed when farmers are trying to force the shape of a natural Biwa.  which sometimes results in a stick instead of rectangle.  The thicker or rounder the pearl, the more likely it is cultivated instead of naturally occurring.  Some farmers have created popular pearl crosses using the same method.
• Chicken Feet, Bird Claw - Biwa or stick pearls that grow together may form shapes that look like bird feet or plant roots.
• Sharkstooth, Tooth  - Pearls that are nearly square, rectangular, or triangular in shape are often referred to as Keshi or Biwa although it may not fit the standard for either shape.  It is an odd braroque shape that  actually looks like a like a large tooth or a slightly lopsided square.  The shape may be natural, or it could be a planned shape that went weird, or it could be the result of an attempt at creating a Mabe.  Their odd-looking result makes them collected by people who like unique, however they are not typically expensive collectibles.
• Keshi (also spelled Keishi) refers to a "surprise" pearl that grews in a mollusk where traditional pearls were being cultivated.  These come in a variety of shapes:
• Petal, Cornflake - This shape is usually thin and often a natural unintended suprise to the farmer cultivating mollusks.  The shape often looks like cornflake cereal or a dried rose petal and has high luster and pearlescence.  Other odd shaped pearls may be referred to as keshi, but they may better fit one of the other shapes and the person selling the pearl may not know this.
• Pebble - Pearls that have no consistent shape and look like tiny rocks or little bowls are another type of spontaneous Keshi pearl, so they may alse be referred to as Keshi too.
• Flat - Pearls that have a long, flatter shape that look like pulled daisy pearls or a small Biwa are another type of Keshi.
• Butterfly - Pearls created when two or more petal-style Keshi grow into one pearl so that it looks like it has wings when properly strung through the joining of the pearls.  Flat or petal pearls may be drilled at the ends and strung to mimic the butterfly look.
• Peanut, Double, Gemini, Twin - This shape is the result of two roundi or nearly round pearls growing into one within the mullusk.  The result will be a doubled pearl that is looks similar to a peanut.
• Rosebud - A pearl of any natural shape with little bumps or warts on most of the surface area, which may be caused by grains of sand getting caught in the nacre during pearl formation.  These pearls are not very pretty, yet they are highly prized and collected by some pearl enthusiasts.
• Rice - Tiny elongated pearl that looks like a grain of white rice, which has high luster like a Biwa.  Some pearl sellers may label small potato-shaped pearls as rice because they are 4mm or under in size, but they will not have the luster typical of traditional rice pearls.  
• Blister, Mabe - These are pearls grown by attaching something to the inside of the host mollusk to encourage it to cover the item with nacre to produce a pearl that is round on top and nearly flat on the bottom where it was attached.  
• Angel Wings - Similar concept of butterfly, this happens when two Mabes or Comets grow togeher with the tails points opposite of each other to form the look of featherd wings when strung. 
• Coin, Diamond, Cross, Heart, Clover, Flower, Star, Square - A commercially created pearl shape created by a thin pre-cut piece of material in the desired shape implanted into the mollusk so that it will form nacre over it.

Edison, Genesis, Kasumi/Kasumiga, Ming, & other trademarked names are near-round or comet-like barogue (see below) freshwater pearls created by moving saltwater mollusks to freshwater farms for cultivation and nucleation.  The luster and colors of these pearls mimic the look of true South Sea pearls and natural Japenese pearls.  These pearls continue to increase in value as Sount Sea pearls become less available. 

Shell or MOP (mother of pearl) pearls are not cultured pearls.  These  are made by grinding the mother of pearl portion of the mollusk shell and mixing it with resin to hold it together.  The mixture is dyed and poured into molds to produce a large perfectly round pearl on uniform shades to mimic large barogue pearls.  If you want natural or cultured pearls, check the fine print to make sure it says freshwater, saltwater, or the location name for the pearl farm.  These nearly-faux pearls are an inexpensive alternative for a big pearl look in a variety of color choices.

For photos of various shapes, see The Different Types Of Pearls And What They All Look Like on the Rock Chasing blog.  Please note this site has lots of ads, so loading may be slow.  Also, review colors of pearls on this blog for more informed buying.

Common Colors for Pearl Types

The color of a pearl should help indicate the type of pearl... but with all the different colors of pearls, it can be hard to tell if the pearl is natural or dyed.  So how do you tell which type of pearl it is using only color?  You do not, color is only one indicator.  Other indicators include shape, size, and location.

Most saltwater pearls will be white, although pastel colors, yellow-gold, and grey-to-black may also be available depending on the South Seas location the pearl came from (Australia or Asia) .  Depending of the hue of grey, the pearls may be referred to as blue or silver/platinum if having a metallic luster.  Black pearls may actually be black but most are various chades of charcoal or "peacock" which means they have a multi-color pearlesence.  Golden pearls can be any shade of yellow from pale candlelight to darker 14K gold color.  Akoya pearls are the smallest, Tahitians in the middle, and South Sea are typically the largest size.

Freshwater pearls are naturually the same colors of most saltwater pearls with a larger range in the color families, but they have less luster than saltwater.  However with the perfection of the bleaching and dying processes, freshwater pearls may be bought in a variety of colors now.  

More rare pearl types are based on matching their host shell.  These include:

• Abalone - Rare true, blue pearl with the same color play irredecense of the inside of its abalone shell host.  They are oddly shaped and very expensive.
• Conch - Rare pink shell pearl from the Queen Conch.
• Melo - Rare peach-orange shell pearl from the Melo Melo Snail. 

Also there are the famous lake pearls, which no longer produce pearls due to disasters or pollution, but may have similar mullusks cultivated elsewhere.  These lake pearls are also known for their unique and luxurious colors. The Kasumigaura Lake had natural shades of pink pearls from Asian Japan with metallic luster and multi-color pearlescence  Lake Biwa in Japan had rectangular pearls in natural shades of white to pink/peach with high luster and pearlescence.  Then there are the pastel freshwater pearls from  Caddo Lake and pink -purple pearls of Concho River both in Texas of the USA.

To see the most natural colors of pearls, visit The Different Colors of Pearls And What They Each Look Like on the Rock Chasing blog. Please note this site has lots of ads, so loading may be slow. 

Four Ways Fashionistas May Use a Thirty-inch Chain

A thirty-inch chain isa very good fashion staple for any lady (a woman or a girl) in gold, rose, or silver depending on preference of the wearer. There are many ways to wear a 30" chain besides just alone.  Fahionistas always want the lasted look in jewlery as well as clothing. 

1. The long chain can always be worn alone or layererd with other lengths of chains for a flashy yet elegant look.  It fits  easily and quickly over the head, no need to unclasp it!   
2. When longer necklaces are the current fahion trend, a large medallion or medium size pendant may be slipped onto the 30" chain to get the most stylish look and keep the chain from disappearing into the jewelry box. 
3. 
   If shorter or choker style necklces are the current rage, then chain can be doubled for a 15" look for small necks (for larger necks, consider using a small chain extender to get a little extra length).  The doubled chain can be worn alone or depedning on thickness of the chain it may fed throuh the bale of a pendant twice to get close to the collar length or chocker look.  This helps your chain do double-duty so it gets worn more often.
4. Lastly, this long necklace may be unclasped, wrapped around a wrist for a multi-strand bracelet or around the ankle for use as an anklet, then clasped to keep it on.   Be sure not to make it too tight!  If desired, a shortener clasp might be useful to keep the loops of chain together to keep the desired look.  Also, a small pendant or charm may be placed on the chain or in the clasp for extra interest.  

Once a 30" chain has been purchased and then worn trying out the different ways to wear it, a truly stylish fashionista will likely buy another in a different chain style or metal color.  After getting multiple long chans, a bonus #3 look maybe to try torsading them together for a dual-tone (or tri-tone) or multi-texture choker. 

Red, White, and Blue - Remember the Veteran's Sacrifice

Whether you are celebrating the return of a military member on the Fourth of July or remembering heroes on Memorial Day or Veterans Day, always remember their sacrifice for family and country.  Pray for the soon and safe return of all American military service (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy) members everywhere.  Thanks to all those who serve and served, you are truly our Misters Red, White and Blue.  

Thanks to  Coffey Anderson for writing and singing his song honoring military and to Kyle Coulahan for Still Proud To Be An American released for July 4, which is not the same as Lee Greenwood's slower song God Bless the USA also know as Proud To Be An American.

Cameos Revived, Not Just for Grandmas Anymore

Cameos are more than jewelry, they are little peices of artistic sculputre.  Typically cameos are mainly relief (aka relievo, positive. 3-D, or raised above surface) style carved onto the surface of shells or stones.  Although similar carvings might be carved into amber and translucent stones as intaglio (aka negative, recessed, reverse design INside of cabochon or flat).  Although cameos are historical treasures and have been around for centuries as a favorite for antique jewelry collectors, a new generation is falling in love with them creating a revival for this jewelry design. 

Antique and vintage-looking cameos have made a big comeback in fashion with younger people.  Now they are etched into mother-of-pearl, inlay designs, or slightly carved into inexpensive stones for lower prices.  Some cheaper cameos are also available in resin or glass via a mold process rather than hand-carved.  The new artisan carved shell and stone raised designs include animals, scenes, or skulls in additon to the previous portrait, flower, or religious  designs.  With all the new materials, cameos now come in colors other than coral, white, amber, or black.  The cameo sizes have also changed from half-inch or 1-inch to as big as 3 inches in height.  Cameos may still be in silver or gold frames, but they also appear cut-out, wire-wrapped, or hanging freely without any metal other than bale.  Cameos no longer require an 18" chain to wear as a necklace, they can be extended from longer heavier chains, or a leather cord, or on a lace choker depending on the desired edgy or dressy look.  Brooches are not only put on the shoulder or jacket lapel, they adorn hats, waistlines, and handbags too.  Bracelets and rings have evolved too - bangles and cocktail sized. Cameos are no longer just for Grandmas, now they are true fashion finds! 

Cameos can still be expensive at storefront jewelers, which is why people are checking out shopping channels and websites for newer versions like those from Michael Valitutti (see video) of Canada with carvings from Italy or painted items from Russia.  Or the Scognamiglios family (see history below) of Italy.  Unless a cameo collector of vintage options, ebay searches and antique stores are the best options as auction house bidding typically goes beyond most people's budgets for fashionable jewelry.      

History of Scognamiglio Coral and Cameo Jewelry Designers - In 2007 the Scognamiglio Family celebrated the 150th ANNIVERSARY of the beginning of their business. 

1. Michele Scognamiglio (Born in 1815) was one of the first to start a small coral factory in 1857 in Via Purgatorio n° 112 in Torre del Greco.
2. Giovanni Scognamiglio (Born in 1852) continued the business very successfully. He invented a one piece coral bracelet which was patented and won the first prize at the “Paris Expo”.
3. Michele Scognamiglio (Born in 1875) was a physician and President of the Company heling expert father.
4. Giovanni Scognamiglio (Born in 1905) started to run the family business in 1930. received from the Public Authorities the honorary title of Knight of Labour.
5. Dott. Michele Scognamiglio (Born in 1939) married teacher and jewelry designer Marisa Scognamiglio. He was President of M+M Scognamiglio srl. where he modernized the business and the marketing procedures. He acquired two prestigious properties in New York and Tokyo-Ginza to be used as branches and showrooms of M+M Scognamiglio srl.
6. Giovanni Scognamiglio (Born in 1970) handled the legal side of the main company in Capri Italy.  Dott. Amedeo Scognamiglio (Born 1972?) worked as cameo carver and jewelry designer and took over USA branch of family business in 1997 moving to New York.  In 2002, Amedeo launched the ITALY CAMEO by M+M SCOGNAMIGLIO TV show on the HSN.com and has since won several designer awards and even featured in many design articles.  Cristiano Scognamiglio (Born in 1978) ran the family business at the Tokyo-Ginza branch and introduced coral jewels of styles more suitable to the younger and middle aged ladies.  

Our Easy Chicken or Beef Enchilada Soup Recipe

We like to experiment to try to copy our favorite restaurant dishes without a lot of fuss.  Many of our easy family recipes for comort food like one-dish casseroles or Tex-Mex options  (Chicken Taco Soup,  Tamale Pie, Vegetable Beef Soup, Chicken and Rice Casserole, Cabbage Roll Soup, Chicken Tortilla Casserole, Verde Carnitas Soup, Chicken Chalupa Casserole, Chicken and Rice Soup, and of course all the desserts too) are popular on this blog, so I keep adding new ones.  The easy recipe below makes a large pot of soup, perfect for a family or dividing into multiple ervings for meals. It takes about an hour with preparation and stirring.  Since we were going for easy, we used mostly medium flavored products to make it taste like restaurant-style soup without adding and measuring various spices.  You may use a mild version or a hot version of the canned products depending on the flavor you prefer.  See the notes at bottom of recipe before making chicken other variations or trying your own alterations.   The soup will look thin at first, but will slowly thicken as it cooks due to thickening agent in step 2.  

Shirley's Easy Chicken (or Beef) Enchilada Soup

Ingredients:

1 Tablesspoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup corn masa or fine corn meal
2 cups water (or less)
1 can 10 oz diced Rotel tomotaoes (mild)
1 can 10 oz enchilad sauce (medium)
1 jar 15-16 oz con queso/nacho cheese (medium)
4 cups chicken (or beef) broth
1 lb of cooked meat 

Optional for topping(s):

Chopped cilantro
Sour Cream
Avocado chunks (or dollup of guacamole)
Fine Shredded cheese
Slightly Crumbled tortilla chips

Steps:

1. In large pot, saute onions in oil.
2. In medium bowl, wisk together masa/meal with water until no lumps remain to create a thickening agent. Then pour into pot with onions.
3. Add remaining ingredients, except chicken, to pot.  Continue stirring until all blended together and masa mix not longer tries to separate and stick to sides.  
4. Add chicken and let cook until soup thickens and bubbles.  Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to pot and burning. 
5. Serve with desired topping(s) on each bowl.  
6. Store remaining soup in refrigerator or freeze into single portions for later.

Notes:  

• For chicken version, use chicken borth and canned chicken divided with a fork or pre-cooked shredded skinless/boneless chicken breast.  If you want beef, substitute beef broth and cooked hamburger meat (aka ground beef).  I have not tried it with Mexican sausage or ground sausage, so if you do let me and my readers know how that works.
• If you think the soup is too spicy the first time you try it, you can dilute the spice a little by stirring a tablespoon of sour cream into the serving bowl of each person who considers it too "hot".  
• Most enchilada soup recipes on-line use a 16-oz Velvetta cheese block cut-up and allowed to melt into the other ingredients during the stirring process.   I was going for easy. so I used a pre-melted jar and it still tasted the same to me, but you can use Velvetta and see if the flavor is different. 

WK Silver Vintage Jewelry Designer Whitney Kelly on QVC

Wow, that was a long and wierd blog title: WK Silver Vintage Jewelry Designer Whitney Kelly on QVC or was  it?  The title lists all the key words people typcially use to try to find detials on this particular jewelry designer. 

Whitney Kelly once sold her silver jewelry designs through the home shoping channel QVC.com with the trademark of her initials WK and sterling silver mark 925.  Her designs featured real gemstones that were mostly unheard of in nice jewelry at the time or were mostly limited to Southwest style designs.  She blended modern with southwest and "artisan" looks from other countries.  Back when she was on QVC, her necklaces, bracelets, and rings would have been considerd "bridge" jewelry.  That is the bridge between fine (gold with faceted gemstones) and costume (plastic and mystery metal now referred to as fashion) jewelry lines.  With the rise in cost of silver, her styles are now considered fine jewlery and classifed as "vintage" look in fashion.

For vintage jewelry collectors, Whitney Kelly may be found at estate sales or reseller sites like ebay, etsy, and poshmark.  Unfortuantely, most sellers on these sites do not know what stones were used in the items they are selling, so you may see lots of different descriptions for the same items.  WK did use lot of tiger's eye, turquoise, mother of pearl, and jaspers.  Ocassionally, she would do sliced agates, mosiac opal, or use green malachite and blue lapis.  If you see jade listed, it is most likely an aventurine, onyx, or calcedony instead.  Her pink stones were usually rhodonite, but that is based only on what I have seen so far.  For great example photos of her designs, visit the gem.app stie. The most expensive peices of her line were her signature chunky bracelets.  Those bracelets still are the most sought after peices and can go for fairly high bids on auction sites.  

Whitney Kelly started as a one-of-a-kind jeweler before selling on QVC.  After she left QVC, she exclusively designed in gold and sold through her own website.  The website is gone now and there seems to be no way of finding anything out about her anymore.  Since QVC and her designs were big in both the US and UK, I do not know where she was from.  Not being able to find details is a shame since she was such a great designer that her styles are still loved, collected, and worn.  

If anyone knows more about Whitney Kelly, please let me and my readers know by adding the infromation in a comment on thsi blog.  If anyone has a WK jewelry peice and are wondering what the stones are, add a question in the comments with a link to your item's photo on pinterest or elsewhere and I will let you know what I think the stones might be.