Pantone Fall 2014: Aluminum

Yippee, yahoo and gadzooks! Let’s hear it for the Pantone Fall 2014 Color Report. Aluminum – Pantone simply described it as a cross between silver and gray -- heavenly is how I describe it. Yes, I am one of those people that absolutely loves the soft mysterious hues of the color gray. I am a bit of a purist, in that I like my gray, plain and simple. So, I'm conflicted as to how I feel about the color combinations highlighted by various designers in the Fall 2014 Color Report.

Inspiration: Longer Days, Vibrant Colors, Jewels & Rocks Galore

Isn’t the spring time lovely? Growing up in SoCal, I really didn’t understand the changing of the seasons thing since seventy degrees and sunny about 340 days out of the year usually means that there was never an abrupt change in much of anything around me. That all changed when I moved to New York and had my first real experience with drastic changes in weather, clothes and foliage.

One Bracelet -- Five Looks in Black & Brown

A long time favorite of mine – the combo of brown and black. I know…for years we were told not to mix the two; but, I still say, rules be damned. It doesn’t really matter does it? If you like it and it makes you feel good you should wear it, right? When I first found a variety of these gorgeous works of Mother Nature in Tucson many, many, many moons ago, I was immediately drawn to them. Not only are the mother-of-pearl beads lovely to look at – they are so smooth and cool that I think they make great touchstones.

Fanfare Please -- Rough & Polished Amethyst & Crystal Quartz Bracelet

By now you have to know how much I love gemstones in their rough state. That being said – this three-strand bracelet is made up of rough amethyst and dazzling crystal quartz.

St. Valentine and Memorable Gifts

The perfect choice for today. You know me, one is never enough. So today, in honor of St. Valentine, I chose this bunch from my collection. The red and black lampwork bead bracelets of my own design (check out the site for others) look nifty worn with a black enamel and crystal bangle from Joan Boyce. Oh how I love the sound it all makes. Did I just say "nifty?" I sure enough did. Weird how words just pop into my mind at times. I sound a bit like Opie Taylor...and now I am dating myself, too.

I just read a bit about the history of Valentine's Day -- I'll spare you the details and just say it has been celebrated for a very, very, very long time. I remember as a kid in elementary school, we would decorate paper bags and hang them on the back of our chairs. Then on Valentine's Day each kid would deliver their Valentine cards into bags of all the kids. Even though every kid in the class brought a card for everyone else in the class, I guess it was always a worry that I would not get anything in my "mail bag!" Do you think that fear carries over to today? Not sure, but I do know that this is a day that puts fear into the eyes of most men. Flowers, candy, jewelry, a blender -- what is the right gift that gives the right message? Sorry, I have no clue on this one -- although I always think that jewelry is a wonderful gift and leaves a lasting impression. I remember the giver of each piece of jewelry in my collection even over all the years. One of my favorite pieces to this day, is a big simulated alexandrite set in sterling silver that my first "real" love brought back for me from a surfing trip in Mexico. Sadly, he is no longer with us, but his memory is alive and well -- that,my friends, is the power of jewelry. So men...maybe you want to give the woman in your life a gift of jewelry...along with the blender she has been drooling over for years...you're sure to be remembered for one or the other. On second thought, maybe...skip the blender and go with the jewelry. The blender can be a surprise for another day -- just an any day gift. Yeah, I think that's the best idea. Be prepared, if you just buy the blender, you may be hunting for a piece of jewelry as a "I'm such an idiot" make-up gift. So save the grief and settle on jewelry from the start. You can never go wrong with that. Right ladies?

It was a Great Day for a Birthday

Last night, Bea and I packed up and drove over to the Beck Farm to celebrate my birthday with a yummy home-cooked meal of roast "beast" and mashed potatoes. Good stick-to-your-ribs food topped off with a fudge cake. Earlier in the day, I celebrated while I worked in the studio by wearing this stunning combo. Yes, that is one of my red-black lampwork bead three-strand bracelets a bit of an unusual combination. But you know me -- one is never enough. So I added the latest Joan Boyce beauties in black diamond with the beautiful glass cream pearls. I just love the look. Makes me think of the "Twilight" series. For those of you who don't know of Joan Boyce, you can go to HSN.com and check out page after page of really lovely things and the quality of those pieces is beyond compare. And, if you are lucky enough to be in Aspen, you can look at her "real jewels" there. This mix also makes me think of the movie "Kate and Leopold" in the scenes from the early days in NYC. Don't you agree that these pieces would really finish off a little black dress on New Year's Eve? And in a strange but beautiful way, I can see a bride wearing this on that special day. Totally unexpected, but then that's what makes styling so much fun. It all fits with my ever-present thinking -- why does anyone want to wear exactly what someone else is wearing? I love when I get pix from one of you showing me how you styled my designs and made them your own. No one wants to be a sheep -- moving along with the crowd -- unless, of course, you are getting on the 6 train in NYC at 8:00 in the morning. When it comes to jewelry and fashion, the fun part is creating your own style and making and leaving your unique impression.

Black Friday -- There I Said It!

I couldn't help myself -- I have been hearing all about Black Friday since, let's see sometime in July maybe. I've been telling myself that I am not going to get sucked into all the hype so I made a deliberate effort not to refer to it in my blog or on my jewelry site or in my jewelry e-mail -- but today I just had to blurt it out...once! So, I cracked -- maybe weak from too much pumpkin pie or a bit of tryptophan fallout?



Anyhow, this is my idea of what a real Black Friday, or any day for that matter, should look like, Two of my rope designs, one looking very 20s vintage with it's soutache bead and the other being right on trend with it's glowing gray mother-of-pearl and freshwater pearl beads partying with my latest acquisition from Ms. Joan Boyce who sells her beauties on HSN. The cuff shown here is a lovely black enameled number with sparkling and perfectly set crystals dancing all around. Yes, I am wearing all three as I create this post -- wouldn't you do the same? It's a bit sassy, I say. By now you've got me figured out --- well, that's a gross overstatement but I mean figured out when it comes to styling jewelry. (Just a note -- no one, including me will ever have "me" figured out! And, believe me hordes of people have tried...but to no avail.) But back to the jewelry, I love mixing it up, wearing the unexpected and making it a lot of fun. Here's a perfect example of that. But wait...there is more. I can't wait for the latest Joan Boyce to arrive -- a black diamond and pearl set that I am sure will be just as fabulous as the others I have of hers. And, I have a sneaking suspicion that the new pair will be just as excited to play with some new friends from my collection. So much fun...this jewelry stuff. I just wish I had more wrists!!! But I am thankful that I have two with lots of room between wrist and elbow. I say "stack 'em up and have a ball."

Sparkle and Shine

As you know, I love to shake things up by designing jewelry that combines the unexpected. That thinking carries through when I style my look by layering pieces from my collection that play off each other.