Tag Archives: jewelry designer

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.

New Moves

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Good jewelry design is often about movement.  The way earrings turn and flip.  The way a necklace swings.  That is not usually the case where rings are concerned, though.  While ring designs can be dynamic in many respects, movement isn’t natural to the ring form.  There are some clever designs, however, that can add movement to a ring.  This is one way that also manages to maintain its delicacy:

Twosome 18k Gold Pearl Ring

This absolutely sweet and beautifully executed piece was created by the very talented Arosha Luigi Taglia.  It is currently available for sale in his Etsy store, Arosha.

A World of Two

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This post isn’t strictly about jewelry.  It’s about behavior around jewelry.

There are two women who I see often around Market Street in San Francisco.  They may be twins but they are, at least, most certainly sisters.  I would estimate them to be in their 60s but it is difficult to say — as it sometimes is with those who have lived complicated lives.  My impression is that they have somewhere to live but they are always endeavoring to transport several boxes, plastic bags, a suitcase or two, and other sundry items and they give the appearance of transience.  With long grayish hair and layers of baggy clothes, they live in a world populated by only two. I wonder what they talk about.

There is one thing more to notice about these women — earrings.  Both women wear different earrings every day.  I find this fascinating. They are not particularly noteworthy earrings but they are usually a good size and clearly visible.  It appears, from a distance, that they are wearing perfectly nice costume jewelry — not handmade, not fine family heirlooms.  I find the presence of these little fashionable touches to be so incongruent with the overall vibe of this pair of people.  I find the fact that these women take the time, on a daily basis, to select earrings sort of touching.  I try to imagine the process.  It seems that this gesture says to the world, “What we are doing with these boxes and things is important to us.  It is a real task and we get up every day to do just this.”

All that from a couple pairs of earrings?  Yes.

Bold Creativity by Allison Sattinger

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I meant to take off from blogging for two days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  However, it seems that bad planning got the better of me and I didn’t have one ready to go up today.  But, the holiday is officially over – no more slacking off.

I saved the following piece of jewelry in my Etsy favorites a week or so ago.

Volcano Ring

There’s something that I really love about this ring by Allison Sattinger. Pairing raw with refined, I think it makes a bold statement and definitely captures the eye.  From the perspective of an amateur jewelry maker, however, I am impressed with the concept and the execution.  I can tell that the construction of the ring took a lot of planning.  I am still not really sure when or how Allison set that stone.

Great Pairing

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The big, chunky, wooden rings that you can get import stores are nice but can be a little unrefined — a little like napkin rings.  Vintage buttons have been added to handmade jewelry for some time now.  That was novel for a while but its become harder to find a unique use.

Enter Jessica J. Fein who has breathed new life into both ideas — the wooden ring and the use of vintage buttons.  She’s taken the best of both concepts and came up with a fresh approach.

Swirly Vintage Metal Button on Wooden Ring
Moroccan Inspired Vintage Button on Wood Rings

Continuing Ring Thing

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Rings are my favorite type of jewelry.  A lot of rings have passed through my hands over the years.  I still have quite a collection.  My addiction to rings was once so well known among those close to me that my friend, Kate, who was in art school at the time, photographed me with my collection of rings.  (The details of those photographs I will not share here.  Look, it was for art school after all …)

The post yesterday was about a sampling of some daring designs from Teresa Arana‘s collection and two of them were really unusual ring designs.  That got me thinking.  I began to wonder what else was out there that varied from the typical ring design and I found these blow-your-mind examples of two-fingered rings.

These designs are available in the Etsy stores of Galit, jeneseque, and WearKatherineLincoln.

Black Onyx and Sterling Silver Two Finger Ring by Galit
Two Finger Jasper Drusy Ring by jeneseque
Carnelian and Silver Two Finger Ring by WearKatherineLincoln

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.