Vibe’s by Lene Vibe Dahlgren

One of the coolest parts of attending the Couture jewelry show was meeting designers from all over the globe. Case and point…meeting Lene from Copenhagen, Denmark, and learning about her “magical” line, Vibe’s, the likes of which I’d truly never seen before!

vibe's jewelry denmark
Learning about Lene's line

The Vibe’s studio and shop are located in a quaint two-story terra-cotta colored building built back in 1750. One of the key selling points to Lene was the antique safe from 1820. No, this safe is not used for securing jewelry. In fact, it would be useless considering it has a huge hole in the back of it from a robbery back in the “olden days.” No…Lene uses the safe to store her port wine, which she enjoys sharing with special customers. Love that!

So back to the jewelry…the Vibe’s line is inspired by the fairy tales of Hans Christen Andersen. When you think of these tales, you envision fairies dancing, mystical animals moving through the enchanted forest, and other whimsical creatures. This is exactly what you’ll find in her designs. Check out the exquisite detail in this ring, from the little insect to the tiny sea shell!

vibe's ring
Amazing detail!

And here are some more examples of her rings. Notice the raw, yet carefully curated beauty in each creation.

vibe's rings
Fit for a wood-nymph princess!

You’ll notice a variety of pearls in her line, from baroque South Sea to Keshi to freshwater. Combined with other gems and brushed 18K gold, the result is quite stunning. Each time you look at her pieces, you’ll notice more and more detail.

vibe's necklaces
I love the snails!

I think part of the reason Lene has such a vivid, fantastical imagination is that she treasures children and appreciates how they see the world. In fact, she always travels with drawings by her 4 1/2 and 7 1/2 year old children.

lene vibe dahlgren
Showing me the art in her "portfolio"

Personally, I would love to visit her shop in Copenhagen one day. But luckily, I can still see her work in person at one my FAVE jewelry stores in the USA, Fragments in New York City. This store is definitely a must-see on your next trip to the Big Apple!

Seattle’s Treasures!

I recently made my way to Seattle for a fun girl’s weekend. (In fact I think I’m still recovering…) I didn’t have time to do any shopping research before leaving (oh, the horrors!), so I just relied on tips from locals and hitting the pavement to see what I could find. I knew there were some gorgeous items just waiting to be discovered, and I was right!

I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear, but I think I was shopping within about and hour and a half of landing! The first boutique I visited turned out to be one of my favorites of the trip. Alhambra is conveniently located right near Pike’s Place Market, and I was delighted to meet one of the owners, a lovely Turkish woman named Serpil. When you walk into the shop, you feel transported to some exotic location. The merchandise is cleverly displayed in every nook and cranny. She carries some of my favorite jewelry designers, from Erica Molinari to Nava Zahavi. There’s a wide array of price points and styles, so I’m sure that most shoppers can find something they just “must” have.

Alhambra Seattle
Serpil and Amy

alhambra seattle
A glimpse of the exotic decor

(Side bar: If you’re into vintage jewelry, check out Isadora’s Antique jewelry just across First Street. I spotted some cool Native American pieces and some lovely 1890’s Persian turquoise.)

If you wander a few blocks further down First, you can’t miss Watson Kennedy, which is a virtual cabinet of curiosities come to life! It’s a huge store, and there is jewelry tucked in quite a few places, so you really have to spend some time looking. (like that’s a chore, right?!) I thought these earrings (made by a friend of the owner) were quite intriguing, as I do have sort of a “thing” for religious artifacts. They’re made from vintage French medallions.

watston kenney seattle jewelry
Charming earrings

Watson Kennedy doesn’t sell any fine jewelry, so you can be sure that they have lots of baubles at accessible price points. It’s a truly eclectic mix of goodies!

watson kennedy jewelry
Colorful delights at every turn!

In talking with locals (and the ever-so-helpful concierge), I next found myself heading about 20 minutes from downtown to the Ballard neighborhood. This is purported to be an “artsy” area of town, which in my mind translates to unique jewelry! I was about done exploring and hadn’t come across anything that turned my head…and then I discovered Curtis Steiner. This triangular, well-lit shop is just amazing! Everything in this delightful boutique is either antique or hand-made by (predominantly) Washington artists. The owner designs exquisitely feminine necklaces, many of which can transform into short or long lengths.

curtis steiner necklaces
A tri-level display of Curtis' designs

The displays of antique jewelry abound!

curtis steiner jewelry
A parade of bangles

curtis steiner jewelry
Gorgeous antique pieces

The walls of the store are covered in floor-to-ceiling displays of hand-made greeting cards, also a creation of Curtis.

curtis steiner seattle
Hangin' with Curtis

Of course, all this shopping makes a girl hungry. In Ballard, stop by La Carta de Oaxaca for some amazing Mexican food. Yum! Or if downtown, make your way to the Purple Cafe & Wine Bar for drinks and dinner. Gotta keep a shopping girl well-fueled!

Alexis Bittar: Designer

Hot guys and jewelry…put them together and how can you go wrong?!? It’s even better when that guy designs some of the most amazing and increasingly popular jewelry around. When I first stumbled into Alexis Bittar’s Soho store in NYC years ago (I think circa 2005), I knew he was on to something big. Press fast forward and he’s become one of the most well-known jewelry designers I’m aware of.

Alexis Bittar
Meeting Alexis for the first time

Alexis’ line is probably most famous for his lucite pieces. In fact, my friend Jen seriously needs to enroll in a 12-step program to deal with purchasing said pieces. Here’s a peek into her collection:

alexis bittar jewelry
Can we say Jen is a collector?!

His collection has three different branches. I think the one he’s most well-known for is his Lucite collection, which includes amazing hand-carved, often embellished works of art. Then he’s got his Miss Havisham collection, which is a bit more hard-core — encrusted with crystals and the occasional feather detail. Finally, there’s the Elements line, which truly has an organic esthetic.

While his line can be found in major retailers throughout the nation (Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Sak’s to name a few), I feel it’s his singular boutiques which really get his vibe across. San Francisco (my stomping ground) had the privilege of his store opening this past year on Fillmore Street. I stopped by for a visit recently. Upon entering the boutique, I felt like I had walked into a large jewelry box, complete with bleached grey cabinetry filled with his vision, a light grey marble floor and papered walls adorned with painted cherry blossom branches. This case highlighted his tribute to Grey Gardens, with feminine tones of pinks and greys.

alexis bitter grey gardens jewelry
Tribute to Grey Gardens

One of the coolest aspects of his boutiques are the collection of vintage pieces he has curated. He has a been a collector for most of his life, and he’s accumulated a wide array of delights which he now sells solely at his retail boutiques. Here’s just a few of the items available on the day I visited.

alexi bittar vintage jewelry
Clearly, jewelry from a good "vintage"

So between his own designs and the amazing treasures he’s picked up from his lifetime of travels, I think I have a crush on him. If he’s not yet on your radar, then get up to speed. You may find yourself in need of an Alexis Bittar 12-step program yourself.

Stacy King of Lulu Designs

I always love to check out the latest in style (I’m sure you’re shocked to hear!) at one of my favorite boutiques, Crimson Mim. (now with locations in Los Altos and Palo Alto, CA) It’s a double bonus when my visit coincides with a jewelry trunk show! I was very pleased to meet Bay Area local Stacy King, the designer of Lulu Designs.

Me with jewelry designer Stacy King

Stacy, in her thirteenth year of business (and come to find out next door neighbors with one of my clients!), studied art history and ceramics. Eventually she evolved into jewelry making as a hobby, which then became a bonafide business. Her inspiration for the lovely line comes from nature, architecture and textiles. She has a talented group of trained metal smiths here in the Bay Area that cast her jewelry in silver, and then use 24K vermeil.

Lulu designs necklaces

One of the things I like best about her pieces are her unique materials, which include ancient Thai silver trade beads, hand-cut deer leather and Baroque pearls. Many of her necklaces have a delicate quality that are just itching to be layered within her line or with other necklaces you may already have.

Can you picture layering these?

There are numerous stores who carry this versatile line, so I’m sure you can find a retailer near you. Enjoy!

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.”

Natasha Wozniak: Designer

I was very pleased to meet Natasha Wozniak (no…no relation, I asked) at a recent trunk show at Manika Jewelry in San Francisco. Her Brooklyn-based line definitely lives up to its “boldy romantic” tag line. Truth be told, I had never seen metal worked in quite this way.

Amazing necklace by Natasha Wozniak

Her pieces definitely have some visual weight to them, yet the airy scrolls don’t let them feel “heavy.” Her price point ranges from $150 to $2500, making it much more accessible than many lines sold in fine jewelry stores.

Natasha Wozniak
Amy and Natasha

Perhaps the curls and swirls in her design are inspired by her curly hair (curly girls unite!), but it really brought a feminine sensibility to an edgy, urban collection. I was intrigued to find out that Natasha had been a Fulbright Scholar in Nepal, and her experience there really influenced her design aesthetic.

She uses hand-fabricated blackened silver with 18K gold and semi-precious stones to create her dramatic pieces.

Two more exquisite necklaces by Natasha

I love when I encounter something new and unique in the world of jewelry, and this line certainly qualifies!

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

Sea glass jewelry

I seem to have quite a few passions in my life (beyond even jewelry), and hunting for sea glass is definitely one of them. Sea glass is like jewelry from the sea — pieces of old bottles and such worn smooth and frosty by the sea, waves and sand. As I write this post, I’m here in Fort Bragg, California, which is home to THE most tremendous beach for glassing in North America (and no, that’s not an exaggeration). Glass Beach is beyond imagination — in fact the first time I visited here early this past July, I thought I must be in a dream or something, because it honestly didn’t seem real.

Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA

My passions for sea glass and jewelry have now collided. It all started with a beautiful rare pendant I bought from the website By the Sea Jewelry. I just a-DORE it, and wear it often, especially when glassing. (I probably shouldn’t admit this, but my next pendant was just ordered while on this trip!)

Rare sea glass pendant

When in Fort Bragg, you have to stop into Captain Cass’ Glass Beach Jewerly and Museum! Not only am I completely envious of the fabulous finds Captain Cass has made, but he also has a nice selection of sea glass jewelry. Actually, it was pretty funny when I stepped in there today. Captain Cass saw me, didn’t say a word and just pointed to the bulletin board. There I was! My photo, a picture of my glass haul from July, and a little blurb about how there’s still glass at Fort Bragg. Never thought I’d see myself in a museum! Love it. 😉

Sea glass pendants from Fort Bragg

If you find yourself in the Capitola, California area, you should also check out Village Sea Glass, which is in the heart of downtown. There, you’ll find all sorts of jewelry and other sea glass art and products (including some driftwood/sea glass mobiles that were quite fab). Speaking of the Santa Cruz area, I just can’t wait until next weekend, when I’ll be attending my first sea glass festival! The Santa Cruz Sea Glass Festival is held Saturday, November 5th & Sunday, November 6th at the Cocoanut Grove at the Beach Boardwalk from 10-5. If this sounds tempting to you, then maybe I’ll see you there!