It's Spring! It's Spring!

It was a rough winter, wasn’t it?

Yes, it was.

And now, we all deserve a little pampering in preparation for Spring.

Yes, we do.

This ought to help: Come to Stella on April 14 for some Retail Therapy.

“A Sprig of Spring” is an after-hours party Stella is throwing as part of Central Street’s Retail Therapy night.

Stephanie Rogers

The evening will include free food and drinks, a raffle giveaway, live music by local singer/performer Stephanie Rogers and a great discount on everything in the store!

And, of course, there will be Good Karma, not just in the atmosphere but in our program as well: Get a Karma Kiss for every $25 spent. Fill up your Karma Card within a year and you’ll get a $25 gift certificate good toward anything at Stella!

It’s time to put winter behind us.

Come celebrate Spring and celebrate You!

What: “A Sprig of Spring” Retail Therapy Event

When: Thursday, April 14; 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Stella Boutique on Central Street in Evanston

Call: (847) 864-5565 for more information

Hope to see you there!

We can see the future: You are going to be at Stella on March 20 sometime between 3 and 5 p.m. for Michelle Nicastro Stark.

Michelle, a loving wife and mother of two teenage girls, lost a 10-year battle with breast cancer in November.

Stella is proud to be hosting a Special Shopping Event on March 20 to honor the memory, talent and legacy of Michelle and to help raise funds for the Michelle Nicastro Stark Memorial Fund.

Michelle was a talented actress and singer, so in her honor, her theatre and sorority friends established this musical theatre fund for her alma mater, Evanston’s Northwestern University.

The Stella event will include live entertainment and free food and drinks.

This stunning necklace was custom designed for this Stella event, and one lucky raffle-ticket holder will go home with it.

There will also be a special raffle for a showcase necklace from Broadstreet Jewelry. One $5 ticket will win a lucky patron a necklace custom designed for the event and valued at $250.

Stella believes in shopping for a cause, and this one is close to every women’s heart: A loving mother taken away too soon from breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to the Michelle Nicastro Stark Memorial Fund.

We can see more of the future: You had a great time at Stella on March 20 and now feel good about yourself for contributing to a great cause.

What: Special Shopping Event to raise funds for the Michelle Nicastro Stark Memorial Endowment Fund

When: Sunday, March 20; 3 to 5 p.m.

Where: Stella Boutique, 2116 Central, Evanston

Click: Here to listen to Michelle sing

Clothing ... On Sale!

Jewelry ... On Sale!

A big THANKS! to all of our wonderful customers for shopping Stella during the holidays.

The holiday season is over, and that can only mean one thing:

SALE!!!

Accessories ... On Sale!

From January 7 through January 21, everything in the store will be 20 to 70 percent off. (Except new arrivals.)

We need to make room for all those new goodies arriving at Stella each week, so come in soon before all the sale items are gone.

Stella wishes you and your family a WONDERFUL 2011.

The only thing better than shopping inside your favorite Central Street stores is window shopping outside of them. Now when you do, you can vote for your favorite holiday window (Stella!) and also enter to win a gift certificate.

This picture doesn't do Stella's elegant holiday window justice. You have to see it in person. (And then vote!)

Pick up a ballot and Holiday Walk Map at any participating business along Central Street (Stella!) and vote for your favorite window from Monday, November 29 through Sunday, December 5.

The three businesses that get the most votes will earn trophies!

As an added bonus, your vote enters you in a drawing to win one of several gift certificates from participating businesses.

Come to Central Street this week, get in the holiday spirit, and vote!

When you shop at Stella on Central Street this Saturday, you’ll be part of a national movement.

Saturday, November 27 is set to be the first ever Small Business Saturday.

According to the movement’s slogan, “It’s one day to support the small businesses that are getting our economy going again.”

Stella is the epitome of a small business: It’s owned and run by a local resident who employs her neighbors and does her part to give back to the community.

Last year, that owner, Rachel Hershinow, launched her own Shop Small Stores campaign, an idea that has been adopted by most of the business owners in the Central Street Merchants Association.

Experts say that for every $100 spent in a local, small business, more than two-thirds of it returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. With the same purchase at a large chain store, less than half comes back.

Use your feet to walk into Stella and we'll help you find the greatest gifts for the holidays.

Fortunately, we make it easy for you to shop at our small store this holiday season. Regardless of our size, we have something for everyone on your list from babies to teens to men to homeowners to teachers to postal carriers to your beautician to next week’s party host, and even for that person who is impossible to shop for.

Come in and we’ll help you find gifts that you will be elated to present.

Without you, our wonderful customers, there is no us. Please show Stella your support on November 27 and beyond.

Happy Holiday Season!

How do you like your jewelry?

“Urban/contemporary and edgy, with a vintage twist.”

That’s how Chicago-based designer Carole Richey describes her fabulous pieces.

Bead work has been Carole’s signature design for more than 25 years, but she has now added the hottest accessory of the year: Luscious leather.

Carole creates one-of-a-kind cuffs and necklaces — many designed with re-purposed vintage brooches, shoe clips and buttons — and accents them with her distinctive hand-embellished bead work.

Stella is thrilled to be hosting a Trunk Show of Carole’s jewelry from October 30 through November 6. The designer will be on hand at our Evanston store on opening day, Saturday, October 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Carole has designed a special collection to be featured at our trunk show,” said Stella owner Rachel Hershinow. “Stop in and meet Carole on Saturday and select from one of her many one-of-a-kind pieces that will certainly become your favorite go-to accessory.”

Jewelry designer Sophia Forero held a trunk show at Stella on Retail Therapy Night and raised money for Friends of the Children of Haiti.

Thanks to you, our fantastic customers, Retail Therapy Night was a huge success. Many turned out for a great evening of libations, discounts and fun, all the while supporting an important cause: the Friends of the Children of Haiti.

Fun was had by all!

Retail Therapy Night benefited the FOTCOH charity in two ways:

*Stella owner, Rachel Hershinow, donated a portion of the night’s proceeds directly to the Friends of the Children of Haiti.

Even four-legged friends found their way to Stella that night.

*A raffle was held: Tickets cost $5, and one grand prize winner will win a Sophia Forero necklace valued at $500.

Great news!

Stella staff is all smiles after donating to a wonderful cause.

Even if you missed Retail Therapy Night, you can still enter the raffle and support an important cause.

Each $5 contribution to FOTCOH gets you a raffle ticket; the winner of that fabulous Forero piece will be picked at Stella on Friday, October 15. See the story below for all the details on that beautiful necklace.

I was in Stella today and saw the Sophia Forero piece that will be raffled off at the Retail Therapy event on October 7, and I had to share it with you. It is just stunning.

Come to Retail Therapy this Thursday night for a fun time and some great discounts. Just $5 enters you in a raffle to win this gorgeous Sophia Forero piece, and you’ll walk away knowing that you helped support Friends of the Children of Haiti.

Hope to see you there!

Stella’s Retail Therapy Night — our semi-annual, after-hours party — is set for Thursday, October 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. And, as if the event won’t be fabulous enough, Stella is proud to announce that acclaimed designer Sophia Forero will be on hand that night with a trunk show of her beautiful jewelry.

Sophia works with semi-precious gems and materials of the highest quality. A favorite of Stella customers, Sophia’s jewelry has been worn by Sarah Jessica Parker, Bonnie Hunt, Holly Hunter, Juliette Lewis, Mariel Hemingway, Cheryl Hines and many other celebrities. Her jewelry has appeared in feature films and on the anchorwomen of CNN.

Sophia’s eye for color, texture and design stems from her experience of international culture. Sophia worked for the Peace Corps and has traveled the world gathering inspiration and materials from which she crafts her fine jewels.

Three years ago, Sophia, her brother and a New York Times editor teamed up on a mission to create a line of jewels that would directly benefit Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH). The result was a high-end series of necklaces featuring oil drum pendants from Haiti. 100% of the proceeds benefits FOTCOH. Sophia will be raffling off one of these pieces, valued at $500, at the Stella Trunk Show during our Retail Therapy event. Raffle tickets will sell for $5 each.

Rachel Hershinow, owner of Stella, will donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to FOTCOH. And while the event will benefit others, Retail Therapy is also a night for you, filled with refreshments, libations, special discounts and friendly company. It’s a definite don’t-miss.

This special night of fun and fundraising is a celebration to women coming together, teaming up for a good cause and feeling fabulous.

What: Retail Therapy Night and Sophia Forero Trunk Show

When: Thursday, October 7; 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Stella Boutique, 2116 Central Street, Evanston

Call: (847) 864-5565 for more information