We’re proud to announce the official launch of Shining Service Worldwide™, an organization dedicated to showing appreciation and support for women currently serving in the military, military vets and military spouses. We’ve been a proud participant of this initiative since the beginning and we couldn’t be more pleased with the growing recognition garnered for the 1.8 million women who have served in our armed forces.

When you take a moment to consider the fact that only 1% of Americans serve to protect the other 99% of us, it’s truly an extraordinary service that we couldn’t live without, and one that too often goes without sufficient thanks. In particular, the women serving this country too often fall through the cracks and do not get the attention they deserve, which is why Patty Tobin has partnered with Linda Franklin to develop this important cause whose sole purpose is to support these very women at home and abroad.

Designed by Patty Tobin, the Shining Service Bracelet™ is our way of bringing attention to our military women and also to help fund our mentoring services. Our black and clear crystal bracelets are a beautiful way to say thank you to our women in service and to show your support for veterans and military wives. A portion of proceeds go directly toward our mentoring program, which helps these women to acclimate back into civilian life after active tours.

Additionally, the Shining Service blog has been designed to encourage military women to use their voices and tell their stories. It is meant to be a resource for them to show that help and support is available to them from various sources. The third part of the program is the Shining Service Makeover Missions, which offer beauty makeovers at salons all over the country to these women as a way to reconnect with their feminine side. It also incorporates a three-month mentoring program for each woman, following her makeover, to help her continue to build her self-esteem once home from service. Each woman is provided with an executive mentor and a military mentor so all bases are covered.

More information is available on the Shining Service Worldwide™ website. Get involved today and show your support for these amazing women.

Patty’s new agate shard pendants are stunning — and a steal at $395! Each one has such a unique quality and natural texture. Dr. Jen Hartstein recently sported our black striped agate pendant (center) on her CBS Early Show segment with Russ Mitchell. An earthy but fashionable necklace that suits all ages and skin tones, this lightweight piece makes a statement without weighing you down. Perfect for any occasion — dress it up or pair it down — this style is a perfect example of our motto: “from black tie to blue jeans.” A great gift idea as the holidays are rapidly approaching. All styles are now available online at pattytobin.comand at our Chelsea boutique (108 W. 17th Street).

It was another great party at the Patty Tobin boutique in Chelsea last week. Fashion’s Night Out 2011 marked our two-year anniversary and we couldn’t have been happier to welcome our friends and supporters to celebrate with us. The party was a hit and everyone was oohing and ahhing over the debut of our new Patty Tobin SKIN collection, which goes on sale today on our online store. Guests sipped champagne, donned the new jewels and danced in the streets to our fabulous karaoke favorites. Catherine Russell even picked up the mic to grace us with her amazing vocals during the party.

We had some exciting celebrity guests stop by, including Karina Mitchell, who just finished a fabulous CBS News segment on Patty and her exciting new reptilian jewelry collection, and even Prince Malik, our favorite hip-hop recording artist and friend. We have some great pictures from the party on our Facebook page, so be sure to check them out! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to show their support and for those of you who couldn’t make it, be sure to check out the new collection online at PattyTobin.com!

CBS News fashion correspondent, Karina Mitchell, got an exclusive sneak peak of Patty’s new fall 2011 SKIN collection yesterday. “Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend clearly never saw Patty’s baubles,” said Mitchell after perusing the new line one week prior to Fashion’s Night Out. Her segment will go live to CBS Interactive and print editions early next week, so be sure to stay tuned!

We’re so excited to be working with ESTHÉTIQUE, a brand new magazine with novel and original ideas on design and fashion. ESTHÉTIQUE is such a refreshing change from the magazines we’re used to seeing on the shelves. The fashion editorials are fresh and progressive, the photography is sensual and beautiful, and — if we do say so ourselves — their stylists have an uncanny eye for selecting designer pieces and putting together outstanding looks. We have a special sneak-peak into their second issue to share with our readers, so you can see what were talking about. Check out how they fashioned our Baroque Coin Pearl Torsade in peacock and our Shell Pearl necklace in teal for this cover shoot.

ESTHÉTIQUE is a place where new and up-and-coming designers like us meet vintage. It’s the perfect place for creative people to discover the unique, classic and fresh designs of New York City. And it’s even a place where people outside of this creative milieu can visit and appreciate the beauty and edginess of New York’s fashion and design worlds. The magazine is distributed primarily in and around the New York and Japan fashion industries, but also has a growing presence world-wide.

We were so happy to meet Jeannine Morris last week. Not only is Jeannine a total doll, but she’s also recently been named one of the top beauty and style bloggers in the world by Glamour magazine. Jeannine’s blog, BeautySweetSpot.com, is a fabulous online dish site where she keeps her readers up to speed on the latest coveted celebrity secrets, while providing informative beauty, style, health and fitness tips. You can find Jeannine’s articles elsewhere though on sites like iVillage.com, Glamour.com, and DailyGlow.com.  She’s also part of Glamour’s Young & Posh blogger network and contributes to Glamour.com regularly. If you aren’t familiar with her stuff, you should definitely check her out!

Because of her authoritative voice in beauty, lifestyle and style, we were so thrilled when she chose to write about us last week! In her post, VIP Pass to the Industry: Patty Tobin, Jeannine writes that her meeting with Patty was “love at first sight! Not just with her pieces, but with [the designer’s] magnetic personality and energetic ‘I can do anything’ attitude.” Jeannine instantly recognized the value we offer at Patty Tobin by keeping “price points affordable” across the board for the high-quality jewelry Patty produces. We simply can’t wait to drape Jeannine on the red carpet! You can read her write-up on Patty and the store here.

This week, Dr. Jen Hartstein is sporting one of Patty Tobin’s most elegant torsade necklaces.  Striking and chic, this design features five strands of a unique green fresh water baroque coin pearl set on a beautiful sterling silver clasp. This stunning piece radiates on Jen, and we know it will on you too! This is the perfect gift for that special someone.. or the perfect splurge for yourself! (Also available in more colors).

Available at NYC boutique in Chelsea or online at www.pattytobin.com/shop

Check out Dr. Jen’s segment on the CBS Early show discussing the dramatic lessons stemming from the Arnold Schwarzenegger scandal. (and looking oh so fab while doing it!) http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7366461n&tag=related;photovideo

P.S. Special Happy Birthday Shout out to Dr. Jen!

Jewelry designer Patty Tobin unveiled her new Howe Caverns Collection last week at the annual Alzheimer’s Association spring gala and fundraiser. Tobin has been an avid, long-time supporter of the Association’s Northeastern New York Chapter, and was thrilled to join Honorary National Board Member and distinguished celebrity guest, David Hyde Pierce, at this year’s event hosted at the historic Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs, NY. Through the Looking Glass; An Evening to End Alzheimer’s is a special evening chaired by the Clinton Family of Troy, NY, featuring a large silent auction to raise funds to benefit the programs and services across 17 counties in Northeastern NY that provide help and support to individuals and families facing the challenges of the Nation’s 6th leading cause of death.

Supporters like Tobin and Mr. Hyde Pierce are dedicated to raising awareness and to changing the face of Alzheimer’s by helping both our local and national communities to understand that Alzheimer’s is an illness that will soon reach epidemic levels if a cure is not found. After being honored with the Woman of Distinction Award at last year’s Flowers that Empower benefit luncheon, Tobin decided to go a step further this year and donate a sneak preview from her new exclusive Howe Caverns Collection. The designer’s new collection will soon grace the main lodge at Howe Caverns prior to Tobin’s new boutique opening in the newly constructed Gemstone & Mining Building later this fall.

Women everywhere are showing their support for women in the military by wearing our Combat Cougar Bracelets^TM.  Designed by Patty Tobin, these beautiful black and clear crystal bracelets are made in America, by Americans, for America. The Combat Cougars campaign, founded by The Real Cougar Woman, Linda Franklin, is a unique and important initiative that offers each of us a chance to give this lovely and meaningful bracelet as a gift to one of our brave women currently serving in the armed forces.

Sending a bracelet to a women serving in the military is a small token that serves as a reminder to them and to us that even though they are far away, these women are always in our thoughts. Buy one for yourself or for a friend or family member with a loved one currently serving – whether she’s a wife of, daughter of, sister of – and wear it to show your recognition and support for our brave soldiers. “The bracelet is beautiful and I will wear it with pride for all the women in the military, on the top of the list, my beautiful granddaughter, Brooke,” says Marilynn Krause, a proud supporter of Combat Cougars.

Franklin and Tobin are extremely proud to be a part of such an important campaign that continues to pay tribute to our soldiers serving oversees while still managing to direct a portion of sales proceeds to benefit programs serving our women veterans. Miss USA, Rima Fakih, was among those to recently pledge her support and don her new Combat Cougar Bracelet^TM at the USO Woman of the Year Event in April at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City (pictured above with Linda Franklin).

It’s easy to get involved! All it takes is a couple minutes of your time and a quick visit to the Combat Cougars website. Purchase a bracelet today for only $19.99. Every bracelet makes a difference, so go ahead — it’s one purchase you know you can feel really good about.

Don’t let this dreary week of less than desirable weather get you down. After all, It’s officially spring!! ..Speaking of, those spring fashion runways were all about sparkle and bling, giving you the green light to glitz up your wardrobe and boost your mood with some serious glamour! Get down to Patty Tobin and make one (or two) of our exclusive pieces part of your spring uniform!

This week we are featuring our fabulous “Ice” Raw Amethyst necklace with a twist crystal-set ball clasp. This exclusive piece encompasses the natural beauty and color of the “icy” amethyst stone. Check out Dr. Jen Hartstein sporting the “Ice” Raw Amethyst necklace on the CBS Early Show.

Available at NYC boutique in Chelsea or online at www.pattytobin.com/shop