Finding Inspiration for Designer Jewelry in the Antique Jewelry Past

As many of you know, in addition to designing my line of designer jewelry I also have collected and dealt in antique jewelry for years. My favorite aspect of the antique jewelry world is the hunt. You never know what will be around the next corner. In the search, I often come across pieces that I have never seen before, true one of kind pieces of jewelry. By touching and feeling these pieces I get a true sense of their construction, materials used, and design elements that I then apply to my vintage inspired designer jewelry originals.
Antique pieces of jewelry are so unique when compared to fine jewelry of today. The general public does not even know how much of today’s jewelry is produced by machine. Diamonds bracelets that are actually pumped out by the dozens on a machine while never touching the human hands. Antique jewelry was often done entirely by hand. Stones were hand cut, gold was hand etched, pearls were hand wired. This puts antique pieces in a quality category that just cannot be matched today.
In my beaded jewelry collection I try to put that attention to detail into my line. All of my centerpieces are hand wired, a process that takes hours per piece. Although I do not hand cut my stones, they are hand selected one by one for placement. Whenever I can I also use vintage gems and beads which gives then another layer of care, detail, and connection to history. Patinas are hand finished on my metals and each is hand signed for originality. This is what I believe sets me apart from so many other lines of jewelry out there on the market today. This is also why my pieces are so limited and often one of a kind couture pieces.
Collecting antique jewelry is not an easy task. So many pieces that I come across are in unacceptable condition due to age and careless handling over the years. Some of these pieces can be revived through costly repairs, but others are not able to be saved. Some pieces have been redesigned over the years, which is fun to see how others have envisioned wearing their heirlooms. When I come across an interesting yet damaged piece I always consider whether it could be incorporated into one of my original designs. No matter what I do, I always strive to keep the original integrity of the piece and even if broken I try to keep it in its original form in case someone someday wants to reclaim these antique elements from my designer jewelry piece.

Above photo: Antique Art Nouveau 14K Diamond Brooch, circa 1890 available at www.your-antique-jewelry.com .

Yellow is the New Pink: Michelle Obama Sets the Fashion Tone

It seems that fashion is coming out of the soothing grays of Fall and Winter, a color of uncertainty, into vibrant Spring colors of Yellow as Michelle Obama chooses the bold color for her designer look at Tuesday’s inauguration. Michelle looked stunning in her Isabel Toledo yellow dress and matching coat. Yellow is the color of hope, optimism, and strong will. Nothing says this more than the Obama’s to so many people right now.
Yellow has been in the Spring forecast for 2009 but nothing brought it more to life than the new First Lady wearing it at Tuesday’s event. It is a color that we just do not see all too often in fashion, but in these trying times I think it is refreshing and much needed. If you are a bit timid about wearing the “new pink” head to toe, here are some tips on how you can inject some of this hopeful color into your 2009 wardrobe.
You can always use yellow as your accessories with a more neutral outfit. Try wearing a designer jewelry piece in yellow tones . Lemon quartz, yellow jades, and citrine offer this yellow tone in natural shades. String lemon quartz around your neck as a constant reminder to you and everyone you encounter that now is the time to stay positive and look to the future. Buy something from a domestic jewelry designer, something that was handmade, and the statement will be even stronger.
If you want to interject yellow into your wardrobe take your cues from nature. Think about how nature uses yellow in its natural beauty. Yellow combines beautifully with whites, as in daisies, and greens. Michelle Obama paired a touch of green with her gloves to her yellow ensemble. I would recommend staying away from Earth tones when working with yellow, no browns, tans, or oranges.
When accenting yellow itself, pearls are a natural and classic choice. Pearls are also something that you can wear time and again, a symbol of thrift and versatility that also fits in with today’s underlying themes.
I wish the Obama’s all the best as they shape our next chapter in history.

Spring Is In the Air: New Designer Jewelry Collection

Spring is in the air and it is influencing my artistic spin on my designer jewelry collection. Here in Southern California we are having warm sunny days in the middle of January, which is quite unusual even for this part of the country. The warm weather definitely is holds whispers of Spring, and with it comes optimistic change which is long overdue. My eye has been drawn to inspired colors of yellows, spring greens, and light shades of amethyst which I have been using in my designer jewelry line. These colors translate into yellow jades and quartz, light shades of earthy jade, and lighter shades of amethyst quartz. These natural materials pair beautifully with the natural luster of pearls. Pearl jewelry is always a big focal point in my jewelry collections.
While out and about I took some photos of the Spring flowers that are already in bloom in promising colors of white and yellow showing off proudly against their green foliage. It is no secret that these are challenging times, but I truly believe that we need to stay optimistic about the near future. The media has been playing up the negativity which only breeds more negativity. In times like these, if we can take a step back and look at the beauty found in nature and more of the simple pleasures in life we can rekindle a sense of being ok. Knowing that no matter what happens there will be a tomorrow, that the flowers will still bloom and that nature holds so much beauty. This type of attitude tends to be contagious, so keep this in mind as you go about your days.
In my Spring Designer Jewelry Collection, I have tried to bring in this sense of renewed hope and have attempted to highlight the beauty in nature. The idea being that these will not only serve as beautiful accessories for your Spring wardrobe, but also as reminders, charms of some sort, reminding the wearer to stay positive and optimistic and spread this uplifted attitude in all she does. Please take a look at the collection and let me know what you think.