Category Archives: Notable Collection

Reviews of stunning collections that reflect unique visions, high quality, and have something to say.

More than Metal

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The first jewelry that I was able to make was made of string.  I would spend endless hours trying to keep the string braided while I also managed  to tie it around my wrist.  It usually didn’t work.  It would unravel as I fumbled to tie it with one hand.  To this day, I have a weird allegiance to the world of fiber jewelry.  Fortunately, it is a world filled with much better jewelry than I ever managed to make during Saturday morning cartoons.

There is some beautiful stuff out there these days.  But, as with everything, there are a few who break the mold and make something unbelievable.  Maria João Ribeiro has managed to do this and then some with her inventive, playful line.  Her lovely work is available in her Etsy store, Kjoo.

Textile choker
Fiber multicolor bangle
Set of 4 leather rings

I’m a Lyric Person

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I’ll be honest – I’ve sort of been putting off writing this post.  Why?  There is just too much to say and, somehow, it seems like the pinnacle of my blogging experience and it is just too early for that.  On the other hand, the mental pressure is building up and I can’t hold in my love for Jeanine Payer‘s work much longer.  So, here it goes.

When it comes to music, I am basically a lyric person.  Ultimately, it is the words that move me and stick with me.  Perhaps that is why the work that has made Jeanine Payer famous speaks to me so — it combines words with beautiful, delicate jewelry.  Jeanine obviously has a great love of words which enables her to find the music in quotes that are worthy of being worn.  Beyond that, though, she is a design genius.  She brings subtly and taste to each piece — pure poetry.

Atia earrings
Shauna ring with stone
Turning Tide necklace
Kothari ring

I met Jeanine Payer once at the grand opening of Alexis Bittar‘s store in San Francisco.  She was so kind to take a few minutes to talk with me and, truly, I was in awe.  I recall that she mentioned that she wanted to work bigger and begin to stretch the aesthetic of her line a bit.  (I felt so honored to have a discussion with her about her amazing line of jewelry.)   Indeed, her fall 2011 line began to introduce some new elements.

New Love necklace
Bay Fabric necklaces

Call and Response

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I’ve only been doing this blogging thing for a little over a month.  Even though it is early days, sometimes I sit down with no idea of what to write.  On those days, the first step for me is to cruise around Etsy to see what captures my attention.  Sometimes that can take a while.  There is plenty great work out there but finding something that really sparks a topic for me is where the time comes in.  Other times, thankfully, it is just too easy — today was one of those days.

I ran across the amazing work of Temi Kucinski right away.  Her lovely line, sold in the Etsy store, Temi,  displays a consistent vision with great metal work and a really unique collection of stones.

Temi’s work brings to mind my favorite phase of working on a drawing or a painting.  I don’t know if anyone else can relate to this but, whenever I am working on a piece of art, there is a point when I know I’ve got it.  A point at which I know I own the piece — it and I are communing perfectly.  It is usually the point that I have the mechanics of the piece down and I am simply listening and responding to what the piece wants in order to be fully actualized.  It is where it becomes stylized, decorated, detailed — when it becomes itself.  Temi’s work has that vibe for me.  I feel as if I can see that there was a point at which she listened the piece and allowed it have all the elements it requested.

Mala Beads

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I’ve decided to mine the area of spiritual and religious jewelry for posting topics.  As I sat down to consider this, I realized that there was much to say — anything from rosary beads to the spiritual uses of semiprecious stones might qualify.  But, one thing at a time.  I’ll enter this topic area with mala beads and the mala makers of Japa Mala Beads.

Labradorite and Apatite Mala

“Mala” is most simply defined as a string of beads used in praying or meditating.  Typically, a full mala is 108 beads and, therefore, long enough to be worn around the neck. The smaller ones, that can be worn around the wrist, typically consist of 27 beads — a quarter of a full mala. The beads are used to count prayers or mantras during meditation and to assist in focus.  Japa Mala’s website provides some useful information about how to use a malas.

We have seen mala bracelets worn as accessories for some time.  The newest wave of this trend started about 10 years ago.  However, malas are spiritual tools first; spiritual reminders second; and jewelry last.  I suspect, although I don’t know, that malas were initially worn around the neck or wrist as a way to simply carry them around.

Japa Mala provides a very nice selection of handmade malas — full and for the wrist.  They use a wide range of materials — both in type and scale — and have something to appeal to everyone.

Wearable Sculpture by Katie Johansson

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Katie Johansson, as the creative force behind Dollybird Jewelry, is flat out fearless in her designs.  They are sculptural and bold.

This necklace in particular puts me in mind of modern art mobiles with its open metal structure and artistically placed stones.

Particle Necklace

Lapis Temple Ring

Katie’s creative use of materials in her line is admirable.  She selects unusual stones on a large scale for a huge visual impact and, occasionally, ventures away from stones and uses other objects as the center piece of the design.

Vintage Horsehair Earrings

Many of Katie’s designs are available in her Etsy store, Dollybirddesign.

Jewelry Becomes You

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As part of my jewelry obsession, I am enthralled by the idea of jewelry that becomes a part of you — jewelry that you never take off.  The most obvious example of jewelry that rises to that level is the jewelry used in piercings.  I’ve worn a nose ring off and on over the years and, as much as I enjoyed having that piercing, I was typically disappointed in the selection of jewelry available.

Well, with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo knocking critics out of their seats, you can see some pretty cool piercings on posters all over town.  So, today, just out of curiosity, I set out to see what was new in the world of nose rings.  To be honest, not much.  Thankfully, April Baynes, in her Etsy store Aprilsblissed, saves us with a great line of stunning nose rings.

These are just great, unique pieces.  They are edgy but also tasteful and very flattering.  The geometric piece has really got me wondering …Can still get a ring through my piercing.  Hmmmm.

Amazing Alternative Rings

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Well, as I think I’ve mentioned before, I look at a lot of jewelry.  Just when I think there isn’t anything new out there for me to ponder, I find something like Teresa Arana‘s collection.  Flat out, it’s amazing.  I really love the alternative ring designs — especially the open ring.

These gorgeous pieces and more can be found in Teresa’s Etsy store, aranajewelrydesign.

Tiny Armour Says It Well

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I love it when people really get their own work.  Being able to articulate your point of view to yourself allows your work to have a consistent voice to others.   I think that can be said of Angi Glenn-Quincy.  She called her Etsy story “Tiny Armour” and describes her designs as  being inspired by “texture, geometry, mid century modern design, rainbow colors, and all aspects of nature.”  In her work of shapes and symbols, I see all of that and more.  The words that come to mind are “graphic design jewelry.”  For my money, the whole line hangs together all the better because she understands her own work.

As a side note, I have to commend the liberal use of brass.  As we know, the cost of precious metals has gone through the roof.  Brass allows Angi to offer affordable pieces to her customers.  But, aside from that, I love brass.  It has a beautiful, warm color and can take on a patina that gives it such character.

Pyramid Stud Bangle
Scallop Collar Necklace
Pyramid Stud Ring with Crystals

Good Fortune

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Did you ever see the show, The Riches?  It didn’t last very long but, in my opinion, it should have.  It had a group of great actors including the hilarious Eddie Izzard and the talented Minnie Driver.  In short, the show is about a family of grifters who find themselves impersonating members of a wealthy family.  For a time, it appears that they are going to get away with it and Minnie Driver’s character muses, “What are we going to do with all this good fortune?  What are we going to do with all this good fortune?”  Under the circumstances, it’s a funny question for the character to ask but, really, it’s a good question for most of us.

Make no mistake, I’m a lucky lady.  I have a wonderful husband; entertaining, loyal friends and family; and beautiful pets.  I had the opportunity to be educated and I have a good job.  I have a roof over my head in the best city in the world, if I do say so myself.  Lucky.  Fortunate.  Still, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I am going after next and what my perfect life would look like.  One of the things that comes to my mind in my afternoon reveries is how awesome it would be to be a full time, successful jewelry designer.  Almost immediately, I start to bargain with the Universe.  “Dear Universe, if I were ever able to live that life, I promise to give back more.  I promise to do something with all that good fortune.”

I went looking for an example of a jewelry designer who has turned personal good fortune into fortune for others.  There are many great examples of corporate giving from jewelry companies and of jewelry artists supporting their favorite charities.  But, in my search, it didn’t take long to find Joan Hornig and her strikingly charitable style.  As her website states:

Her model of giving 100% of the profits on each piece to the purchaser’s charity of choice challenges women to use beauty and fashion in a new way.

Joan’s jewelry is meant to be noticed and talked about as it carries the all important message that philanthropy is beautiful, personal and worth promoting.

Joan Hornig

Joan has turned her obvious good taste and knack for design into a vehicle for good.  Harvard and Columbia educated, Joan knew what to do with all her good fortune.

While we’re at it, let us not forget that Joan Hornig can help her customers support deserving charities because she makes desirable jewelry.  I have to admit that I was not previously aware of Hornig’s work but it is truly something to behold.  She is confident and assertive in her approach to modern design.  There are also lots of nice, little touches that one notices the more that one looks.  Note, for example, the clasp on the daring garnet necklace.

We should all be grateful to Joan Hornig for her good works and beautiful design.

Clean, Simple Design by Chinchar and Maloney

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If you’re into making things, you might understand the principle that a complicated or fancy design can camouflage a number of ills.  You can always make it look like you meant to do that.  Simple and clean is so much more difficult because the mistakes have no place to hide.  Making simple design attractive and interesting can take some work.  It is for such reasons that I was struck by the clean and attractive work offered by Colin and Marian of the Etsy store, Chinchar and Maloney.

Silver Pendant with Tanzanite

I love the color of tanzanite or, perhaps, I should say colors — it changes so much in different light.

Green Grey Diamond Ring

Another fine example of a gorgeous stone that gets to take center stage in a nice clean design.

Comes in Waves - molded fine silver wave pendant

Finally, it’s almost hard to believe that this is a piece of metal because it is so fluid.

Such nice work that reminds one of what good design can do to showcase beautiful materials and masterful metal work.