Accessory Artists: Online Boutique

Who needs a store front? Marcy Roth certainly doesn’t, and about a year ago she founded one of the coolest jewelry boutiques around, Accessory Artists,…online! I had the pleasure of meeting Marcy at her trunk show at Manika Jewelry. (I know I seem to mention them quite a bit, but honestly, it’s an amazing store. If you live here in the Bay Area and haven’t visited before, get on it!)

Marcy of Accessory Artists
Hangin' with Marcy

Marcy brought a sampling of various designers she carries, and the range was amazing — fine jewelry to costume, large scale to delicate, bohemian to urban edge. I have no doubt that ANY jewelry aficionado will surely find something right up their alley on this site!

Kara Ross Necklace
Exquisite necklace by Kara Ross

She carries over thirty artists, the majority of which are based here in the United States. Her research background really helped lay the groundwork for her “jewelry sleuthing” where she tracks down up and coming artists. This is not the place to find mass-produced lines. It’s where you’ll find unique pieces that you won’t see coming and going.

Oblik Atelier earrings
Modern designs by Oblik Atelier

Brooke Gregson labradorite necklace
My fave was this labradorite necklace by Brooke Gregson

So just because you may be stuck at work right now, sneaking a peek at this blog post while the boss isn’t looking, it doesn’t mean you can’t go jewelry shopping. Indulge and treat yourself to something sparkly!

Liseanne Frankfurt of LFrank

I found myself once again at a deliciously gorgeous trunk show at Angela’s in Menlo Park. The designer herself was there to showcase her LFrank collection, which was so beautiful, I didn’t know where to look first!

LFrank designer and Amy Roseveare
Liseanne Frankfurt and me

Discovering that we were both UCLA alumni (where she began her business her sophomore year) just added to the instant bond I felt with the hand-finished collection. Liseanne works with rose or moghul cut diamonds, colored stones, and pearls set in 18K yellow, white and rose gold. You’ll also find her incorporating some other materials, such as shells, vintage beads or wood.

What first caught my eye was a bust of layered necklaces. They seemed to glow with their matte finish and I could instantly see each piece being worn separately, layered with things I already owned, and worn day to night. It’s clear that her inspirations include travel, art and architecture.

LFrank necklaces
Stunning array of necklaces

Soon, though, a wide ribbon full of stud earrings drew my attention. Studs may not always be the most “exciting” part of a collection, but they can certainly be one of the most useful elements in any jewelry wardrobe. Finding out-of-the-ordinary studs can be a challenge and the following are examples of some truly unique designs.

LFrank studs with grey diamond stripe
Rose gold with grey diamond stripe

LFrank quak cluster studs
Yellow gold with 4-diamond cluster

LFrank pave disc studs with grey diamonds
Grey pave diamond disc studs

All her jewelry is made in her studio in Los Angeles. She works with a third generation goldsmith in creating each unique piece. Even her findings (things like clasps and chains) are made specifically for her, so there’s nothing “common” whatsoever about her products. You are guaranteed to have a high-quality, exquisite piece with amazing detail.

Now if you just MUST see this line after reading this, you can always visit her store on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice Beach. Or, cruise through her chic online store on her website. The diversity in her line will please a variety of personal styles and includes jewelry in many scales — so odds are you’ll find something that makes you go, “ooooo!” Happy shopping!

Amali by Sara Freedenfeld

When you get all your money stolen while in South America, you’d never think that it would lead to an amazing career in jewelry design, but that’s just what happened to Sara Freedenfeld. Finding herself without funds, she learned to macrame wearable art and sold her goods on the street each day. Clearly…she had talent! Soon thereafter she met a metal artist in Venezuela who taught her the basics in metalwork, and hence her life in jewelry was launched.

I was very pleased to meet Sara and see her beautiful line, Amali, at yet another one of Manika Jewelry’s amazing trunk shows.

Amali jewelry, Sara Freedenfeld
Me and Sara of Amali jewelry

With many of her pieces dripping in delicate chain, it’s clear that it’s her signature look. Rings, necklaces and earrings are all hand made in Astoria, New York of solid 18K gold, precious and semi-precious stones. This necklace, made of grey quartz and silver diamonds, woven in 18K gold is so special! It is very feminine, yet sexy at the same time.

Amali necklace
Necklace by Amali

Here are a couple pair of earrings that showcase black diamonds woven with the same 18K chain. And you know…you can never have enough hoop earrings!

Amali earrings
Moss aqua and black diamond earrings

Amali hoop earrings
Black diamond hoops

I think Sara herself sums it up quite nicely in describing her jewelry as, “a line of jewelry that delicately unites the natural simplicity of handcrafted artistry with the sophistication and glamour of high fashion.”

Alicia Van Fleteren: Designer

When I recently attended a fundraising trunk show at a private home in Hillsborough, I saw the designer, and I just knew that I had met her before. It only took us a few minutes to figure out that we had indeed met years earlier, when her business was called Little Dot designs. Well I think the new name, Alicia Van Fleteren Jewelry, and the nine years of experience have really enhanced and broadened her line. It’s just lovely, extremely wearable and reasonably priced in the $40-$250 range.

Alicia Van Fletern
Amy, Alicia and Jen, wearing Alicia's necklaces

I appreciate how Alicia mixes pearls, stones, silver and gold with materials such as leather, linen and silk. Many of her pieces are quite delicate and are just begging to be layered. The day I attended the trunk show, I was wearing a necklace that I’ve had for some time, and there I found the ideal necklace to layer with it. They were just made for each other!

Here’s an example of some of her necklaces, which have a bit of a bohemian edge to them:

Alicia Van Fleteren necklaces
Necklaces by Alicia Van Fleteren

Not only is Alicia a talented designer, but she really believes in giving back to the community. Many of her trunk shows are fundraisers (like the one I attended), and proceeds go everywhere from Art in Action to San Mateo Family Services to local schools. (as a former 3rd grade teacher, I especially love that one!)

You can find her designs in many stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you still have some holiday shopping left to do, you may want to check her out!

Convertible Bracelets by Tabra

On that same trip up to the Mendocino/Fort Bragg area, I was in Sandpiper Jewelry and Gifts, and I came upon a pretty ingenious idea for a bracelet, and one that I’d never seen before. It’s a convertible bracelet where you buy the main chain part, and then you can buy different pendant-closures. So with the investment in only one bracelet, you can achieve a variety of looks just by changing out the connector!

Convertible Bracelets by Tabra

Tabra has been in the jewelry business for many years, and her extensive travel clearly is a heavy influence on her designs. The bracelets and connector pieces had a very tribal, somewhat gypsy feel. (Of course, this makes my bohemian luxe heart happy!)

This was probably my favorite one — to me it felt a little like Bali meets Byzantine.

Tabra bracelet -- Love it!

She sells her line in boutiques all over the country, including at Mosaic in SFO’s new terminal two. I love her tag line, “Women…choose your Magic carefully and keep it with you always.” That’s just how I feel about the jewelry I choose to wear each day.

Pamela Froman: Designer

I put on this ring, and I fell in love right on the spot. The substantial weight of it on my hand and the ethereal quality of the moonstone was mesmerizing.

My new crush, the Empress moonstone ring

Pamela Froman is a very talented Los Angeles based designer who’s motto is “get crushed.” This refers to the special hand-hammered satin finish applied to her pieces. Each piece is handmade, so no two are exactly alike. Pamela’s line includes gold of all colors, including a chocolate hue that I had never laid eyes on before. It’s just beautiful either on its own or when mixed with other metals.

Stacking rings in a rainbow of metal colors

Many of her pieces have more than one tone of gold in the same piece, making it very wearable on a variety of skin tones. She uses a special alloy with her rose gold, giving it a warmer peachy tone as opposed to the more typical cooler pink.

When I started trying on her natural diamond rings at this Mankia Jewelry trunk show, I realized that they would make stunning, non-traditional engagement rings. I found out that they can customize these rings — the bigger the better in this situation, right?! 😉

Natural diamond rings

Juliet Roger: Designer

Though I pride myself on being a jewelry and fashion expert, I always love to encounter designers not already in my repertoire. Such was the case when I recently met Juliet Roger at her trunk show at Pink Tangerine in Menlo Park, CA.

Juliet and Amy

Color is Juliet’s signature, and it’s quite stunning when you see it displayed in all its glory. This Seattle-based designer is in her tenth year of producing a collection of sterling and 18K vermeil jewelry that drips with pearls and semi-precious stones, her most favorite which she sources from Jaipur, India.

Earth tones from Juliet's line

I really enjoyed her bangles with stone stations (of course I had to add a labradorite one to my wrist) and her uber-versatile earrings which come in virtually every color of the rainbow.

Gorgeous earrings

Even better, the price points begin at $55, which makes it quite accessible in the world of jewelry. So if Juliet Roger hasn’t been on your jewelry radar, you may just want to check her out.

Stephen Dweck: Designer

When my younger brother, Scott, was married 10 years ago, my mom was all aflutter about her mother-of-the-groom outfit. Her personal style meant that none of the traditional silk suits or conservative dresses would suit her at all. Instead, she opted for a beautiful pair of flowing black pants, a silk shell, and chiffon kimono-type top with a water lily print that was simply art-to-wear. The crowning glory, though, was the magnificent pair of yellow-green Stephen Dweck earrings she invested in. Though the outfit may have only been worn a couple times since the event, the earrings have been worn like crazy.

I was very honored to meet Stephen Dweck at a recent trunk show in San Francisco (where I did in fact tell him about my mom’s earrings). He’s currently celebrating his 30th year in business, and from what I could tell, he was just as enthusiastic (or even moreso) than he must have been when he launched his line with his three brothers all those years ago in Brooklyn.

Hanging out with Stephen Dweck

Stephen’s jewelry is inspired by nature, in all its forms. He travels the world collecting amazing stones, and then comes back and sets them in gold, silver and bronze. He has many coveted one-of-a-kind pieces which are marked by a little beetle, named Adam. (You can read more about Adam on his website.)

Stephen’s jewelry is on the chunkier side, making it ideal for clients looking for that scale. Just look at this stunning necklace and these cocktail rings! It was all I could do to leave the show without a new ring on my finger!

Large scale pieces by Dweck

I also love Stephen’s use of color–he’s certainly not afraid of it! At the trunk show, there were groupings done by hue, creating a virtual rainbow on the jewelry counters.

Delightful color!

Not only is this line versatile in the variety of stone and metal colors, but I really feel it’s multi-generational. I have clients in their 20’s wearing some of his amazing statement rings and a client near 70 who adores her bracelet in all shades of purple and amethyst. When I brought up this aspect to Stephen, he said that it’s not unusual for him to work with the daughter, mother and grandmother all at once.

Throughout his career, teaming up with everyone from Donna Karan to Oscar de la Renta, Dweck has kept his factory and production in Brooklyn. Score two points for that! I also feel that he has kept his genuine passion and talent alive, while remaining a lovely, grounded person.

So when you have the opportunity, be sure to stop and try on some of his attention-getting pieces. They may just be exactly what you’re looking for and didn’t know it! 🙂

Vintage Jules by Linda Schotz

While on my southern California shopping expedition, I also stumbled upon another great boutique in the Malibu Country Mart. Anouk is a beautifully curated shop, most famous for their gorgeous boots. But let me tell you, a collection of unique necklaces, the likes of which I’d never seen before, practically called my name from a case in the middle of the store. (“Amy…Amy…come look….”)

Anouk in the Malibu Country Mart

Vintage pocket watches were re-purposed…filled with sparkling Swarovski crystals, giving them artistic new life. The creative force behind these necklaces is Linda Schotz, and her line is appropriately called Vintage Jules, after her father.

Amazing pocket watch necklaces!

Here’s one of my favorites I saw on her website:

Just stunning....

An avid collector, Linda finds watches, medals, Buddahs, and other assorted treasures at places such as swap meets and antique fairs. She then creates an imaginative, completely unique piece of jewelry that will surely garner many compliments when worn.

Given my inexplicable love of all things Buddah (I swear, I must have been Buddhist in a past life!) it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t see these necklaces in person. Absolutely fabulous!

Buddah-mazing!

Though the Vintage Jules line is relatively new, now in its second year, I have no doubt that this is just the beginning!

Jewelry that gives back

While I certainly never need a reason to go jewelry shopping, I must admit that when I find out that part of the proceeds from my purchase will go to charity, then I’m doubly happy! I’m encountering more and more designers who do give back, and I’d like to tell you about three that I’ve found right here in the Bay Area.

First is Joan Hornig. I first saw a stunning necklace of hers at Philanthropist on Sacramento Street, but now even Neiman Marcus has picked up her line. And get ready for the shocker…100% of the profits from each purchase are donated to the charity of your choice–it’s almost too good to be true!

I would describe her line as modern chic, with pieces ranging from chunky to more streamlined. You’ll find both silver and gold, either on their own or combined with color and neutrals. Her larger scale necklaces are sure to be conversation starters!

Joan Hornig butterfly necklace

I think this pair of earrings would be just as beautiful with a cocktail dress as they would be with jeans and a sweater.

Joan Hornig earrings

While in Manika Jewelry recently, I was excited to see and learn about Jeanne Johngren’s line. She donates a portion of her proceeds to various charities, some of which focus on children, education, and health literacy. Jeanne combines her background in art and cinematography to create stunning pieces in silver, gold, and gemstones. Two circular pendant necklaces specifically jumped out at me while in the store.

Gold medallion with diamond starburst

Mandala inspired necklace by Jeanne Johngren

Finally, I have to tell you about a jewelry line that I’ve had a long-time love affair with…Love Heals. This family company (mom, son and daughter) is based right here in California and they have 10 trees planted for every piece they sell. How amazing is that?! This organic, bohemian-flavored line is just divine. I find their simpler, long necklaces are ideal layering pieces, and their more ornate pieces are stunning on their own. Here are a couple examples of their design:

Love Heals necklace

Double layer necklace

Love Heals sells at a wide range of stores and boutiques. I often find a nice selection at the various Margaret O’Leary boutiques in the Bay Area.

So with these designers in mind, go hit the stores with a happy heart, knowing that your new treasure will be helping others as well. 🙂