They’re Baaaack! Orange Blossoms, Romance and Brides

I know that many of you have been faced with an unusual amount of snow, ice and flood-producing rains this past winter and I certainly feel your pain! Arizona is the one state that is usually out-of-step with the rest of the nation regarding both weather and Daylight Savings Time. While everyone else is slogging through nature’s fury - our weather is fairly mild during the harshest of winter months. And then, there is the issue of Daylight Savings Time – we are the only state that does not “Spring Forward” nor “Fall Back” with everyone else. Don’t ask me why because I have no idea. I can only imagine some “rogue cowboy” legislator suggesting that we do not need to be in step with everyone else. After all, this is probably one of a few states that you might encounter a sign on an antique store door requiring that all firearms must be checked at the desk (somehow a snake slithering out from behind a Chippendale table does seem rather remote)! Yikes!!

Our weather the past week has pushed up to the low 80’s and this is my favorite time of the year – not too cold – not too hot – just right. Part of my delight in the Arizona March weather is the citrus trees. Yes. . . they’re baaaack! That profoundly intoxicating aroma of the orange blossoms has just started to waft through the back yard. I posted about that delicious time of year two years ago in this posting.

Pearly white orange blossoms have long been associated with brides and for good reasons. According to Cornelia Powell, “Incorporating orange blossoms into the bride's costume originated in ancient China where they were emblems of purity, chastity and innocence. There are few trees so prolific as the orange; it is one of the rare plants that blooms and bears fruit at the same time, thus becoming symbolic of fruitfulness. During the time of the Crusades, the custom was brought from the East first to Spain, then to France , then to England in the early 1800's. By then, many enchanting legends had spread throughout the continent of maidens entwining fresh orange blossoms into a bridal wreath for their hair. The influence became so indoctrinated into the culture that the phrase "to gather orange blossoms" took the meaning “to seek a wife”.

via Whimsical Whites

When real orange blossoms were in short supply or in northern climates where citrus fruits did not flourish, wax replicas were used instead. However, reports in society newspapers of some extravagant Victorian weddings would specify "real orange blossoms" were used and the effusive accounts of the nuptials told of lush scents wafting through the air! These exquisite folkloric flowers, either genuine fresh blossoms or wax replicas, continued to be used to "fulfill the demands of tradition" well into the 1950s. The wax reproductions so prized during the Victorian era have become extremely precious today. Whether it is an entire vintage wax flower wreath that has been restored to wear again or some individual flowers saved to nestle into a newly made headpiece, these charming wax replica orange blossoms are being treasured again, and being used for their uniqueness, beauty and sentiment.”



As a jewelry designer, this is also the time of year when I begin to get requests from brides for new wedding jewelry designs for both themselves and their bridesmaids. It is always such a delight to work with brides to develop a design that will compliment their dresses and those of their wedding party. So far. . .no Bridezillas – just lovely young women looking for something unique and tasteful. I think I enjoy the design process with them so much because I only had one son – so, no weddings to plan.

Orange Blossom Necklace (Flora Collection)

Orange Blossom Earrings

My most recent bridal designs were inspired by the perfumed fragrance of those orange trees in the back yard and are aptly named Orange Blossom Necklace (Flora Collection) and Orange Blossom Earrings. Both designs consist of creamy ivory freshwater pearls coupled with very generous and crystal-clear rock crystal briolettes.

via Theodore and Company

via The Lennox Zimichost

via Modern Interior Design Decoration

via Whimsey by Victoria

via Tim Walker

In keeping with the romance of white orange blossoms and brides I am including some of my favorite white rooms. Perhaps not too practical, but certainly romantic and dreamy.

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Proud As a Peacock – Blue For Spring 2010

via Metropolitan Home

via Little Green Notebook

via House of Turquoise

via House of Turquoise

Several months ago after reading some fashion and color reports, I realized that blue (in any shade) would be the color du jour for Spring 2010. As a result, blue gemstones were given a higher priority on my forays in the gem shows. One particular shade of blue became much more interesting for me – peacock blue.

                                    via House of Turquoise

I have been enamored with this color- in any shade or tint - since I was a child. When I was around 10-11 years old, I was completely besotted with a bottle of Peacock Blue ink that I carefully (or so I thought) used to refill an ink pen while I practiced writing in swirly-girly script. For unknown reasons, one day I decided to refill the pen on top of my mother’s pristine white bedspread. Much to my horror, several drops of the beautiful peacock blue ink landed right at the foot of the bed!

 

I was in tears by the time I reached our housekeeper to admit my horrible mistake. Thank goodness she took mercy on me and adeptly stripped the crisp white bedspread off the bed. After a few hours in the Louisiana sun with lemon juice followed by a soaking in bleach, she was able to take care of my transgression. Years later (when I was a young mother myself), I mentioned this story to my mother and much to my surprise – she was completely (thankfully) unaware that this little episode had ever happened.

                                      Dione Earrings
There are very few gemstones that fall into the peacock blue category but one of my favorites is London Blue Topaz. Because of the expense of this particular stone, I tend to use it sparingly. Last week, I attended the Tucson Gem Show and discovered yet another stone that falls into the peacock blue family – Royal Blue Kyanite.

                             Peacock Flower

                                                   Peacock Flower Necklace

I decided that it would make a very nice addition to my Flora Collection but quickly realized that there are no flowers that are peacock blue (with the exception of those awful dyed flowers that florists insist on trotting out every season). An hour or so of research resulted in some rather interesting results. Apparently, there is an actual flower called the Peacock Flower that is grown in India which looks very similar to a flowering bush that we have near the little putting green on the side of our house. With poetic license, I think you can see the similarities in the architecture of the Peacock Flower and that of the Flora Collection necklace design. Thank goodness the Flora Collection is not a literal translation from flowers to jewelry!

For those of you that are still following the progress of my kitchen renovation – I must admit I am a little behind in posting. However, I want to keep the progress in order and will get this updated shortly. The images above/below were taken in early December and illustrate the steps in adding the ornamentation to the island.



For those of you that are unfamiliar with J.P. Weaver products used as ornamentation – these are the steps we used.


• A wood graining tool was used to add texture to the flat panels before the ornamentation was secured.


• Since the ornamentation product has some flexibility, it is necessary to place it using not only measurements, but your eye. Screws were used to hold the ornaments in place because of the weight and the fact they are positioned vertically.

• Once the ornaments were in position, Tim used a quick-setting glue that was appropriate for the ornamentation. Carvings were left to cure for about 12-18 hours.

• Tim has begun the faux painting process by using a very bright turquoise over the wood grained effect. All of these textures/colors will become more subdued, but still visible when the light sanding and antiquing glaze are in place.

Bien-Aimé Earrings - Valentine's Give-Away

Last but not least – don’t forget – the drawing for the “Bien-Aimé” Valentine’s earrings is Wednesday! Leave a little comment on the January 23rd posting to be entered for the earrings give-away. I will announce the winner on Wednesday evening. Good luck and thank you all for your sweet comments.

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The Flora Collection – How Does Your Garden Grow?

I’m not certain about the rest of the design community, but I always have a list of potential designs just waiting to be tried out. As a matter of fact, an entire folder in the computer is full of inspirations, sketches and ideas just waiting to materialize. Design ideas are gleaned from a variety of sources – fabric, paint colors, art work or even something as “pedestrian” as a favorite pair of shoes!

I recently decided that I should try out a new design idea for summer that is a “twist” on an older collection. Eureka! The Flora Collection was born. The first design of the collection was created as a prototype for a California bride with a “Woodlands” theme for her wedding. Since we were incorporating pearls in woodrose, grays and ice blue I was inspired by the pussywillows we used to pick as a harbinger of spring in the woods in Massachusetts.

Since Mother Nature is really the best designer – it was easy to be inspired by all the stunning variations of her handiwork. Hubby and I spent so many summers on Nantucket, where hydrangeas are profuse, that their gorgeous spectrum of colors became the next point of inspiration for this new collection. This stunning rainbow of colors - pale greens, blues, pinks and violets was wonderfully simple to replicate into this new design.

The third necklace of this new collection was inspired by the sea and has been aptly named “Les Fleurs de la Mer” (Flower of the Sea). A gorgeous collection of freshwater pearls, seed pearls and petal pearls are mixed with a sprinkling of dainty little aquamarine beads, culminating with a most spectacular moss aquamarine pendant.

My little folder of inspirations is still just bulging with new ideas for this Flora collection. Hopefully, I can make up enough floral inspired designs to create a gorgeous bouquet of flowers!

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