Dust Storm Designs

In addition to being 110-115 degrees this past week - the Phoenix/Scottsdale area has been graced with not one, but two of these lovely dust storms!  For those of you that have never experienced this weather phenomena - consider yourself lucky.  They usually occur late in the day (rush hour is a favorite time) and kick up winds and DUST like you cannot imagine.

My faithful design assistants - Asher & Olivia

Of course, both my little King Charles Spaniels consider this the absolute best time to ring the bell indicating they need to go outside - ugh!  They get so excited by the wind blowing everything around the yard (makes for a great game of “chase”) and don’t even seem to mind all the dust in their faces.  These dust storms or “Haboobs” usually occur right after I have had the patio furniture dusted and vacuumed.  I guess it is the law of probability - like when you finally have your car washed and it rains the same day!

The best plan of action when a storm approaches is stay inside and pray that the storm does not knock out your electricity and AC!  It is also a good time to work on new jewelry designs.

Sconset Market - filled with little gourmet goodies.

Hydrangeas grow in profusion on Nantucket

Sadly, this magnificent sculpture will be washed out to sea at high tide

Can you tell I have been dreaming of past summers spent on Nantucket?  Walking down to the Sconset Market early in the morning to pick up the newspaper and a pastry for breakfast - running into town to pick up some fresh flowers for guests arriving on the next ferry and strolling along Jetties’ Beach while enjoying some of the amazing sand sculptures.

Judy Dinnick's Sailor's Valentines are some of the most gorgeous I have ever seen.

Seychelles Sailor's Valentine Necklace consists of stick and baroque pearls and champagne citrine.  There is a glass crystal, but it is easier to photograph without!

It was during our 10 year sojourns to Nantucket that I discovered Sailor’s Valentines and I have been smitten ever since.  These little shell mosaic designs encased in old pocket watches allows me to  indulge two of my favorite things - shells and gemstones.

Sucrée Necklace - rough tourmaline nuggets and pink topaz

My last trip to the Tucson Gem Show resulted in finding some beautiful nuggets which I have been saving for a summer design.  Unique pink and green rough and organic tourmaline nuggets - several with crystals embedded in the nugget - are paired with delicate pink topaz rondelles to create a delicious necklace that looks good enough to eat!

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The Modest Nudist

My dream closet belongs to Miriah Carey

Most designers (hopefully) have an epiphany early in their careers when dealing with a client that has no idea (or simply cannot communicate) what color scheme they would like for a project.  A smart designer will quickly realize that all clients want their room designs to become the perfect backdrop for their sense of style, but very importantly, complimentary to their own coloring.  If I’ve said it once, I‘ve said it a thousand times. . .”go look in your clients’s closet to get a better understanding of what colors will appeal to them.”  Design clients (almost without exception) tend to like the colors that look best on their complexions.

If that theory is true (and after 25+ years - it has never failed me!), I wonder what I would have done if a nudist had been a client!  Obviously, a few rules would have to be put into place before that scenario played out - starting with Rule #1:  Clothing must be worn to all meetings with the designer and assistant!  Seriously, I guess my theory would have been a perfect test this year with all the neutral/nude colors that are so abundant.

Neutrals have long been a favorite of the American public because , quite frankly, you really cannot screw-up an all-neutral color scheme if you are a DIY “Decorette”.  Moving to AZ was like moving to a sea of beige and brown - not exactly a design challenge for a seasoned designer!

Here is a little mental design exercise for all you closet nudists!

via Apartment Therapy

via Martha Stewart

via A Gift Wrapped Life

via Southern Accents

The new neutrals are a bit more to my liking since they have less to do with the Mediterranean neutral undertones of gold and green (I live in a world where the popularity of “Tuscan” has turned the Arizona design community into “theme park facilitators”).  The new neutrals/nudes focus  more toward a pink/peach undertone which is a more friendly color for all skin tones.  This new and subtle shift in the neutrals palette has taken a cue directly from this spring’s fashion trend - and I, for one, am thrilled.      

Since the nexus of this blog was to show you exquisite jewelry designs inspired by breathtaking room decor - I find myself twirling in a vicious circle.  Did the current fashion trend inspire the interior design industry or the jewelry first?  

A Mermaid's Bouquet Necklace

Shell of an Idea Earrings

Les Roses Roses de la Mer

Les Trésors Délicats de la Mer

Elle Necklace

Oh well, I suppose all three design categories can live together side by side - happily influencing one another.  Clearly, the strength of the neutral/nudes trend has already influenced both the jewelry market as well as the interior design market.  Suffice to say that the fashion industry will probably scamper off on a new course by next spring while the interior design industry will quietly morph this years trend into a more durable entity.

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