Monday evening Wilke’s Bashford hosted “A Time to Dazzle” in their beautifully remodeled San Francisco store. You know that I was one of the first to arrive, eager to view the spectacular array of goodies in the cases. Here are the pieces that really caught my eye (but in no particular order).
1. Two bracelets by Yossi Harari — The one with white diamonds is called the “corset cuff,” and the one with cognac diamonds is named the “bubble Lilah cuff.” Stacked together…wow!
Double the fun!
2. A trio of aquamarine and diamond rings by Loren Jewels
I couldn’t decide which was my favorite!
3. An art-deco feeling diamond and ruby bead necklace by Oscar Heyman
Rubies galore!
4. A new take on the diamond hoop — “confetti” cognac diamond hoops by Paul Morelli
Beautifully different than the average hoop
5. The perfect necklaces to wear everyday — druzy and diamonds by Kimberly McDonald
It’s certainly trunk show season, and I have been having lots of fun making new discoveries in the world of jewelry! One I particularly enjoyed was meeting Rebecca Longenecker and Meghan Zimmerman, the dynamic duo behind Metal Earth Studios, at a recent trunk show at Manika Jewelry in San Francisco.
Meeting the designers!
Meghan and Rebecca became friends when Rebecca moved in across the street from Meghan about nine years ago. Both having small children at the time, it was a natural connection. Fast forward about seven years, and their Oakland-based jewelry line was born. Rebecca had more of of the jewelry background, and Meghan has talents in art and photography. Combining all of their strengths, they started hand-crafting beautiful, organic, and bohemian jewelry.
They use green gold, ethically mined diamonds and sterling silver. “Each piece is created to help women feel connected to the earth, its elements, and the feminine creature,” Meghan told me. They do all the forging and finishing work themselves in their home studio. Wow!
The women hard at work
I love the mixed metals in this necklace.
The diamond really is a special touch!
And this necklace is beautiful on its own, or layered with other pieces.
The chain on this is fabulous as well
Since I have tiny wrists, I was very happy to see that they make bangles in small sizes too!
Perfect for stacking!
The designers are so inspired by the metals they design with, and they clearly have a talent for working with them. Take a look at these beautifully crafted rings.
Very versatile design
If this line appeals to your sense of personal style, I definitely recommend you check it out!
For the second year in a row, the first weekend in November was marked “Santa Cruz sea glass festival!” If you’ve been following my blog, then you know I’m pretty addicted to the beach and collecting sea glass. The show did not disappoint, and I was quite excited to meet Krista Hammond, the owner of Santa Cruz Sea Glass and the producer of the festival.
At the Santa Cruz sea glass festival
Krista and her husband, Tony Berkowitz, have combined two of my passions, sea glass and jewelry. They founded their company in 2006. Living in Santa Cruz, and both being surfers, they spend lots of time on the beach, so I imagine it was just a matter of time before they created this wonderful business. They find each and every piece of sea glass themselves, and then hand make each item in their home studio.
A shot of the production area
Krista and her husband work as a team with each piece. Krista works more on the design end, and Tony is the silversmith. They were fortunate to be mentored by Robert Wunce, a very talented jeweler. It seems like they have a perfect harmony going — Tony always says, “I’m the dirt and you’re the flowers.” Symbiosis, right?
Here’s a photo that shows some of their glass collection. I tried not to drool on the glass case…
I would faint if I even found ONE piece like this!
Here are some of their finds made into stunning rings.
Hmm…which is my favorite?
I guess this one is. 😉
Wowza!
And finally, here’s a lovely photo of some of their bracelet designs.
Talk about arm candy!
Not only do they create beautiful jewelry, but they also give part of their profits back to the sea by way of their partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. In addition, they are a green company and use recycled US silver in their designs. What’s not to love?
With holiday shopping season now upon us, you just might want to check out their jewelry — either for a gift for a loved one or for some self-gifting! 😉
Circle & Square is a very chic jewelry and accessories store tucked away on Presidio near Sacramento St. in San Francisco. I always love to stop in and see their latest, one-of-a-kind discoveries. The owner, Bunny Fayne, really has an eye for selecting unique items that you won’t see anywhere else!
I stopped in the other day to take advantage of a promotion they had going on (I mean really…how could I possibly resist a discount on jewelry?!?), and I was completely taken with the line by Susana Speidel. It turns out that this locally-based designer (Mill Valley to be exact) is a veteran antiques dealer and collector. She and her husband travel the globe collecting vintage jewelry, from broaches to bracelets. She then uses them to create beautiful, new pieces that pay respect to the past while still looking incredibly current.
I think my friend Jen would love this necklace. It’s made from a 1940’s Trifari blue bow brooch with pearls, stones, rock crystal, and pearls. So unique!
Vintage with flair!
Personally, I fell in love with this stunner. It’s a 37″ long French metal chain with agate and brown rhinestones. I’m not exactly sure of any dates for this necklace, but I’m sure it’s seen its fair share of decades!
Oh my gorgeous!
And look at the back view!
Even if it flips over it’s pretty!
I must admit that I don’t have a wide range of knowledge on vintage jewelry (yet), but I know what I like and what I don’t, regardless of it’s monetary value. Susana’s work has inspired me to dig a little deeper into this exciting avenue in jewelry. I can’t wait to learn more!
Heather Moore was one of the first designers I had the privilege of meeting at the Couture show last spring. I thought this was the perfect time to write about her, as she’s having a trunk show here in the Bay Area this coming Thursday, November 8th, at Kicks in Menlo Park. (But no worries if you’re not local. Heather has an active trunk show schedule across the country — just check out her website!)
Heather was just charming!
What I think really make’s Heather’s jewelry unique is that it’s made to celebrate the moments in your life. Her tag line is, “Cherish who you are,” and she really makes all her jewelry to tell your story. Here, for example is an amazing necklace that reveals so much about the owner. While I don’t know the backstory of each pendant on this necklace, I know that they all have special significance to the lucky woman who wears this. What a conversation starter!
This necklace is like a little time capsule of the wearer
And look at these cuffs, which are literally like a book of memories for your wrist.
This is a piece of personal history!
Heather and her team use vintage tools to hand-press (NOT engrave) letters, words, and pictures onto her jewelry. All the work is done right here in the good ‘ole USA in Cleveland, Ohio. (snap!) She can imprint everything from your wedding vows to your child’s art to your astrological constellation.
I just adore this key chain which actually uses the writing of the owner’s child. Wouldn’t this be an amazing gift for a loved one? (Note to self: the holidays are just around the corner…) And she does have a quick turnaround time, typically about 2-3 weeks.
How precious is this?!
Or how about these simple and elegant, yet sentimental cufflinks that commemorate a wedding?
How to say so much without words
I also really appreciate the fact that Heather uses 100% reclaimed metals (sterling and all colors of gold) in her designs. So not only are her pieces priceless due to what they say and mean, but they are helping protect the earth. Of course, she isn’t working on jewelry all the time. She loves to ride BMX bikes with her kids in her free time. Love that!
So if this line rocks your boat, then I highly encourage you to check it out. I know you won’t be disappointed!
During my stay in NYC recently, I spent some time browsing the upscale shops on the Upper East side. Every high-end designer seems to have an outpost there, and the clientele to match.
While in one of these boutiques, I spotted this woman. Now granted, the initial thing that grabbed my attention was the layers of brightly-colored necklaces she was wearing. But as my eye scanned down, I was fixated on the the combination bracelet/ring ensemble she was sporting. (These are also known as slave bracelets.)
I’m a bit confused by this….
She said that it was not overly comfortable (I can only imagine). She also complemented this dual-purpose jewelry with a very colorful manicure, which sadly isn’t showing in the photo.
I really don’t think I’m a fan of this look. Perhaps if this was her ONLY accessory, or if it were a simpler design in combination with everything else going on with her look. What about you? I’d love to hear your opinion!
During my week working in NYC last month, I had the opportunity to scour the shops in numerous areas. While on Madison, I was pleased to visit the Yigal Azrouel store. Aside from the fact that he’s super hot (I’ve met him before) and has an incredible line (predominantly made in NYC), it was the perfect respite from the sudden downpour.
Amidst the lust-worthy racks of garments, there was a tasteful display of jewelry. Made Her Think collaborated with Yigal for his autumn/winter runway show, which is why it was available in the boutique. Well I loved it, especially the thorn cuffs.
I bought a small and a larger size to layer together
They came in a variety of metals in both widths. It was hard to choose! The designer, Meredith Kahn, “designs each collection with a playful irreverence, flirting with darkness as she combines sentimental historical contrasts that long to inspire.”
Here’s photo of some more of her work, though I didn’t get the opportunity to see these in person.
Streamlined, chic, tough, and also feminine
Looking through their website, I learned that they’re also made in the USA, which gives them 10 points in my book! Now that I’m aware of this edgy, seemingly punk-inspired line, I hope to run across it more often.
My niece is 7, and she just adores anything that glows, sparkles or blinks. But when you’re a 50-something year-old woman (and not accompanied by a child that would explain this), I have a problem. Yes, it was evening, but we were not at an amusement park nor a concert. In my opinion, leave the battery-powered jewelry at home. Just sayin’.
Apparently “trunk show season” is now upon us, and there seems to be numerous happenings in the Bay Area each week. This past week, I was psyched to meet Konstantino for the first time, and he was quite a character!
He has quite a sparkle in his eyes!
This Greek born and bred designer still stays true to his heritage. His entire line is designed and produced in Greece, under one roof. His goldsmiths are trained by him and work only for him. He doesn’t outsource a single thing, even marketing. You have to love that commitment! With about 30 years under his belt now, his sterling silver and 18K gold designs are inspired from everything from “Socrates to Jimmy Hendrix.” (his words…no joke) In fact, music has played an integral part in his life and his line. He stated that, “sometimes the walls of my studio are just moving with the music when I design.”
Here’s a photo I snapped of some of his gorgeous rings.
Fit for Aphrodite!
I was actually blown away by his men’s line, and I spoke with quite a few male customers while making their purchases. I love the weight of his chain bracelets, and the uniqueness of his pendants. In fact, I would certainly love some of these, even though they were part of his men’s line.
Love these!
I think many of of these are unisex
When I asked him what most people don’t know about him, his response was, “I just love women.” Personally, I don’t think that’s really a secret. This father of 16 and 19 year-olds was oozing charm to all that were gathered to try on his gorgeous line. And I just adore that he had people of every age admiring his jewelry.
Personally, I’m a fan, and if you are, then go explore the collection! I was at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco for this trunk show. You can also find him at specialty retailers around the globe.
I was thrilled to be working in NYC last week! After I finished outfitting my clients, I had a couple days to really explore the city. And no surprise how I spent my time…no shows…no visiting ground zero…just shopping!
As I cruised around the shops in the Meatpacking district, I stopped by Scoop. The most darling guy greeted me from behind the counter, and we started chatting. I was immediately drawn to his array of bracelets and ring. It seemed so spot on, both for his personal style and for the vibe of NYC.
He rocked this combination!
The widest bracelet he has had for “ages” (he mentioned since high school), the thinner nail bracelet was purchased his first day working at Scoop, the cross, well because he’s obsessed with crosses (though I failed to ask his religion), and the awesome ring was from an ex. I think it comes together in a uber-cool, harmonious collection. Dee-lish.
