5 Jewelry Trends for 2013

Wow, can you believe 2013 is already 1/12th of the way over? It seems like we were just celebrating the New Year and now we are already heading into February!

So what big trends in jewelry you can expect to see this year? I’ve listed five of the most popular ones below.

• Opals are making a huge comeback! While always fashionable, in the past opals were mainly seen in birthstone pieces. For 2013 opals are being free formed and are now showing up in an assortment of different and distinctive shapes, sizes and colors.


• Pearls have been building a steady following over the past couple of years and 2013 continues the trend. No longer are pearls locked into stuffy dated settings. They have now come into the 21st century in a wide range of classy, chic and fashionable designs and styles.



Square Abacus Earring #5



• Haven’t you always wanted to be a princess? The past two years has seen a resurgence in tiaras and while that might be a bit over the top for some of us, 2013 is introducing bejeweled headbands! Jazzy and fun, they sparkle but don’t flaunt. 

first look, originally uploaded by novadesigns by tess.

Check out the lovely crown that my friend Tess made for her wedding!

• With gold reaching sky high prices, a growing trend is to mesh fine and faux together to create a stylish and distinctive piece at a reasonable cost. Brass and bronze, wood and Bakelite are all popular economical choices.

• A relatively modestly priced gem that has gained a lot of attention already this year is Drusy. Very organic, this stone is a popular choice because of its sparkle, color and the fact that it can be cut into a wide variety of interesting and unusual shapes.



Drusy Necklaces

Why not incorporate some of these great trends into a wonderful piece for Valentine’s Day for yourself or that special someone? Browse my items on my website ---or on Etsy ---or contact me to make a custom piece just for you!

Winter STUDIO SALE at Artful Home

Geometric Bracelet

You may already know that I don't run discount sales very often, but for the second year in a row I am participating in the Artful Home's Winter Studio Sale. A handful of my one-of-akind and limited edition   pieces will be 20-30% off! The sale only runs from January 23rd - February 6th...so don't miss out on this great opportunity!

Tic-Tac-Toe Brooch / Enhancer Pendant

Geo Brooch

Cleopatra - Bib Necklace

Circles, Circles, Circles Necklace

Tri Bubble Necklace

Bubble Bracelet #5

To see Studio Sale items at Artful Home visit this page: Danielle L. Miller Studio Sale

Garnet - a friendly and fruitful birthstone for January

Google “the history of birthstones” and the results are wide and varied. Everything from Middle Age fortune tellers trying to control superstitious people (of which there were many during those days) by having them wear certain gems, to biblical history that eventually became linked to the twelve zodiac signs. Then in 1912 the National Association of Jewelers finalized the gemstone list that is used to this day and along with it, the specific traits that each stone is thought to signify.

"Porta" Enhancer with Rhodolite Garnet

The name garnet comes from the Latin word granatum which means seed and coupled with the stone’s color is said to resemble a pomegranate's hue. The first reference to garnets as a valued gemstone can be found in historical documents over 5,000 years old and because of its deep scarlet shading, garnets during that time in history were associated with war and victory. Now the red garnet symbolizes love, passion, friendship and loyalty which mesh perfectly with the personality traits of someone with a January birthday. Capricorns are said to be romantic, loyal, sensitive and ambitious.

Garnets are mined all over the world and are found in a variety of colors. While January’s garnet is almost always deep red, your birthstone just like your personality should sparkle with individualism, so don’t be afraid to take a little liberty with convention and select a green, yellow or orange garnet.

Ring with Tsavorite Garnet

2013...More of the same

Once a month, members of the EtsyMetal team are given a topic or question and then are requested to blog about it simultaneously. This month's topic is:

New Year's Resolutions?!

A new year, a fresh outlook, new ideas... what are your plans? New goals? New disciplines? Old disciplines and goals you want to try again?!! Recap this past year and what you've learned, where it's taken you, where you would like it to take you in 2013.

This topic reminds me of a the New Year's post I wrote 4 years ago--- "looking BACK so I can look AHEAD...2008 to 2009."    It seems silly to say, but, WOW! Times were different then---in my personal life and in my business! So much has changed in those 4 years!

But I digress, I'm not here to talk about how things have changed in 4 years.

2012 was overall a good year for me---different but good. You can read about it here: "ch-ch-changes..."

Many of my business goals for 2013 are to continue what I started in 2012.

• Continue to develop and promote my Make your own Wedding Band Workshops
• Continue to develop my new Ridge Collection
• Continue to develop my bridal line
• Continue to "clean out" my older work (Selling it off and then discontinuing it)
• Implement marketing tools and techniques that I learned in 2012 (psyched!)
• Get more organized!
• Learn new skills---this year I'd like to learn CAD
• Try to make a Brooch-a-Week for the whole year (yikes!) Follow my progress here.

Ridge Earring #7: Sterling, 18k gold, blue chalcedony, diamonds

My personal goals are also to continue what I started in 2012.

• Spend more quality time with my family
• Get more organized!
• Continue on my fitness journey (I've lost 30 lbs in the past year, gained muscle and am in the best shape of my life at the ripe old age of "over 40"!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Please follow these links to read my fellow EtsyMetal members' resolutions:
1. Lou Hunter
2. Laura Jane Bouton
3. 2Roses
4. deborahleetaylor
5. Mary Anne Karren
6. Theresa Kwong
7. Nodeform
8. Silentgoddess

BROOCH-ing in the New Year

brooch |brō ch; broō ch |nounan ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch.

I have decided to participate in another jewelry design challenge this year: "BAW = Brooch-a-Week!"

My team mates from EtsyMetal are hosting this New Year Challenge, as well as, a "Brooch-a-Day" challenge for those very adventurous types! These challenges are open to any and all artists who wish to participate---you need not be a member of EtsyMetal. Come join the fun!

There are no real rules---simply to create one brooch every day or every week (depending on which challenge you are participating in) for the entire year. Then photograph and post it in the appropriate flickr group. It is an exercise in discipline and creative exploration....Any materials, any technique!

You can join or simply follow the Challenges here:
"BAD = Brooch-a-Day" flickr group
"BAW = Brooch-a-Week" flickr group

I'm not sure it I will have the stamina to make it through the entire year, but I am going to try! I have joined the BAW party and am hoping for some fun, inspiration and stimulation.

Here is my first brooch of the challenge: "New Year's Brooch"

January 2013

sterling silver, copper, champagne cork