Showing posts with label custom work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label custom work. Show all posts

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Mother’s Day History

"Breakfast in Bed" by Mary Cassatt 1897
In just a few short days it will be Mother’s Day; that one special day of the year when we publicly recognize and honor the woman (or these day’s possible the man) who gives us guidance, direction and most importantly, love. And if you’re like me, you’ve always celebrated the day without ever knowing the history behind it.

Ancient Egyptians celebrated the goddess Isis, their Mother deity, with an annual festival, while in Turkey the Phrygian goddess Cybele was honored and in Greece, Rhea was considered the Mother of the Gods. These earlier festivals became so bawdy they eventually died out and were replaced with more conservative and sedate affairs.

Then in 17th century England, a celebration of the Virgin Mary grew to include all Mothers and became known as Mothering Day. But after English settlers came to America, the celebration was discontinued until Julia Ward Howe introduced her Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870. Howe who wrote the “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” was so upset over the Civil War, she wanted a way for all Mothers to come together and protest the killings.

Inspired by Howe, a few years later Anna Reeves Jarvis led a group of West Virginia Mothers in reuniting families divided by the Civil War. This event was named Mother’s Friendship Day. After her death, her daughter, Anna M. Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration held simultaneously in Grafton, West Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 10th, 1908. Finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared and signed into the law that the second Sunday in May would forever be known as Mother’s Day.

White carnations have long been associated with Mother’s Day. And while every woman, whether a Mother or not, loves getting flowers, nothing quite lets your Mom know how special she is like a piece of custom jewelry. It’s so easy to commemorate a milestone in her life with her favorite stone set in a necklace, ring or brooch. Let’s get started today so she’ll know how much she is loved and appreciated!
Custom made 12 stone mother'g ring

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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!

    Saturday, January 14, 2012

    Rowena and Zack

    Thanks to Rowena for sharing her love story and for writing this post for me....

    Rowena and Zack met while students at Oxford University. Originally from the States, Zack stayed on in London after grad school and two years later he popped the question at the couple’s favourite place, the tropical conservatory at the Barbican Centre in London. Zack wanted Rowena to choose a ring that was just right for her so he proposed with a little silver bow to remind her to go out and find her perfect ring. That’s where Danielle came in! She created a beautiful (and eminently wearable!) ring with a chiseled silver band, one large black rose cut diamond set in a 18k yellow gold bezel and the second tiny white brilliant cut diamond set in a 14k rose gold bezel.
    Having moved to the States for Rowena to attend grad school, Zack re-proposed at his childhood relaxation spot, Paradise Cove Beach in Malibu, California with the dream ring now in hand!
    Danielle has also designed and created Rowena and Zack's wedding bands for their 2012 wedding at Boston’s Museum of Science.
    14k yellow gold & 950 Palladium Reverse Radius Wedding Rings

    Congratulations to Rowena & Zack! May your life together be filled with love, laughter and happiness!

    Monday, December 19, 2011

    Recent Custom Pieces...

    Once again, I have neglected to keep up with my blogging. I am going to try my best to regularly post in this upcoming year. So to start it off, I will share a recent custom order I made...

    A lovely repeat (& local!) customer liked my Geometric Series and wanted me to create a pendant and earring set using rubies from an old ring.
    This was my initial sketch for her:

    After a few meetings and a final sketch, this was the final product:
    Sterling silver, 18k gold, pearl and rubies
    She loved it! I am grateful to have such a lovely, kind and patient client! :)

    Monday, August 8, 2011

    Elaine and Waylon

    Artists Elaine and Waylon met a an iron pour in Brevard, NC in 2006. Fast forward 4 years, 4 states, one BFA, one MFA and another MFA in the works...and Waylon proposed in dramatic fashion at an 300 lb sand mold iron pour in Kentucky, much like the one they met at earlier.



    Fast forward 8 months later...
    A picture perfect wedding occurred!

    I am honored to have made the rings which represents their enduring love.
    Elaine's engagement ring is sterling, 18k gold, tsavorite and diamonds.
    Her wedding ring is a "chiseled" sterling band.
    Waylon's ring is "chiseled" palladium band.
    Elaine, a talented ceramic artist, made the centerpiece platters, the cupcake tier and all the dessert plates! With the couples names and wedding date inscribed on the bottom, the sweet little dessert plates not only served yummy cupcakes, but also served as the guests' favor. Elaine and her friends also handmade the lovely paper flowers arrangements for the centerpieces.
    CONGRATULATIONS to the beautiful and talented couple...Elaine and Waylon! Wishing you both the happily ever after that you deserve.

    Photopgraphy by Ryan Bumgarner
    Elaine Quave, ceramic artist/sculptor
    Waylon Bigsby, sculptor

    Friday, September 3, 2010

    Some recent special orders

    An apology is in order....I have been preoccupied with some big projects that have been time and energy consuming so my blogging has suffered terrible neglect.

    So where do I begin? How do I get back into the blogging groove?

    I guess I'll start with a quick post about some special orders I made this summer...
    This was a 950 Palladium and 18k yellow gold engagement ring with antique diamond passed down by the customer's grandmother.


    This was a custom ring I made for a customer who was entering a 2nd marriage. The 12 stones are birthstones of the husband, wife and 10 children...2 families uniting into one.


    This was a custom pair of cufflinks I made using the customer's gorgeous Tahitian pearls.


    A customer had purchased my Abacus Bracelet #5 and discovered it was just a tad too long for her. I removed a link and turned it into a pendant.

    Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more frequent posts and to hear about those big projects that have been keeping me busy!

    Tuesday, January 26, 2010

    Have snow, will marry...

    I love when my customers share their love stories.
    While snowshoeing in the Adirondacks, he proposed.
    Naturally, she accepted.
    How romantic!
    Blackened sterling silver, 14k white gold, .25 ct chocolate diamond

    Saturday, August 1, 2009

    Where has the time gone?

    WOW--I have be neglecting my blog! Has it really been 2 months since I posted?!? I'm sorry! I don't even know where to begin...The summer has been busy and it is flying by. I've been doing a few craft shows, working on several custom orders and wholesale orders, participated in a project w/ Lark Books, went to New York for a quick get away and had several family adventures. More detailed info to follow on much of this soon...in the meantime I will leave you with these amazing images...
    "MMMM bagel!" via my safari ride at Hollywild

    One of these things is not like the other via my safari ride at Hollywild

    Buffalo french kiss via my safari ride at Hollywild

    Tuesday, March 24, 2009

    Custom Swinging Bud Earrings

    I recently made a few custom pairs of my "Swinging Buds Earrings" for some clients. I really love these simple flirty earrings...perfect for spring!
    Double Bud in sterling and 18k yellow - Single Bud in 18k rose gold.

    18k rose gold - sterling - blackened sterling

    Friday, March 6, 2009

    Friday at the bench...

    This week was busy with snow days, small retail orders and a nice custom order. I was asked by my client to create a pendant similar to my Layered Marquise Pendant using metal from jewelry that was donated by several of his family & friends. Normally I do not use old jewelry...you never know what problems will arise with strange alloys, what weird solders were used, if it was plated, etc. However, most of what he gave me was quality hallmarked and did not look suspicious, so I melted it down and poured into wire ingots. The sentiment behind the design was touching: Family and friends that have touched his wife's life would donate something to create her 40th day birthday present and the design itself represented his wife and their 2 children. I loved the way it turned out and so did they!
    Blackened sterling silver, 14k gold and pearls

    Custom Marquise Pendant next to my Layered Marquise Pendant

    I also made time to "play" a little bit this week! I bought some beautiful stones at a gem show several months ago and haven't had the time to do anything with them yet. So yesterday I made two quick rings just for fun. They are very simple and basic designs...nothing daring...I just really wanted to put some of the stones I bought in something! Plus I got to "play" with the beautiful Fretz hammer I got for Christmas by making a lovely texture on the side of the band.

    14k gold ring w/ princess cut orange-red sapphire


    14k gold ring w/ princess cut chocolate diamond

    They will soon be individually for sale in my Esty shop...But look how beautifully they stack!