Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
In Good Company - Etsy Treasuries
July in Arizona is not a month that inspires anyone to do anything but sit quietly in an air conditioned room. Yes, you have all heard the little saying about the unbelievably hot temperatures of an Arizona summer - “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat!”. I have somewhat deduced that there is about a 10 degree temperature differential from the rest of the universe. When it is 90 degrees in Arizona - it feels like 80 degrees in Boston / when it is 115 degrees in Arizona - it feels like. . .well - REALLY HOT! It is the kind of weather that inspires me to do absolutely nothing - and so I did!
Although I was doing nothing - the rest of the universe was doing something! My jewelry designs are also on several sites in addition to my own web site - one of which is called, Etsy. Etsy is a site that focuses on handmade designs of all kinds and the supplies that go into those designs as well as vintage items and antiques from all over the world. It is a great way to amuse yourself on a blazing hot summer day!
Part of the Etsy culture is individuals that troll through the mountains of items (seriously, there are gazillions) looking for just the perfect styles and colors to create little themed “Treasuries”. I suspect the curators are hoping that their treasury will end up on Etsy’s front page. Although I have never tried to curate a treasury, I have been featured in several and July was a very busy month for the rest of the universe - my jewelry designs were featured in eight 13 14 treasuries! I was also featured in Etsy’s “Storque” which is like an emailed newsletter that goes out to thousands. Sadly, I did not get a snapshot of the Storque feature to archive.
If it is blazing hot where you are this summer, and you need some quiet internet trolling time - check out Etsy. You will find everything from kitsch to couture and may just wish you had not thrown out your daughter’s Strawberry Shortcake Lunchbox!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Charmed, I’m Sure
Source Unknown
Mary Drysdale
Branwen Bed by Ironies
I recently took out my little stash of Tanzanite gemstones and decided it was time to make up a new necklace design. Usually, my next obvious step is to see what scrumptious interiors images include that color as a spring board for the design of the jewelry. Trouble is. . .exactly what do you call the color of the tanzanite stone - periwinkle, blue, violet, lavender?
James Merrell
Phoebe Howard via Brook Gianette
Southern Accents via Porterhouse Designs
In the end, I decided that tanzanite crosses such a wide range of colors that it could be classified as almost any of the mentioned colors. Based on the inspiring interior designs I came up with - I further decided it would be lovely mixed with a whisper blush pearl stationed along the chain to enhance the unique color. Since I had all differing values of the above mentioned colors already out on the tray for comparison, I then decided that I should use them all to some degree in the design.
The first item that came to mind was the unique slice of amethyst stalactite with it’s Alexandrite colored “eye” and the soft violet colored spiny crystals. This unique textural explosion would became the focal point of the necklace. The plump pink amethyst “kiss” dangling just above the prickly stalactite would repeat the violet colors of the outer crystals while a deeper amethyst briolette could add the deeper dimension that was needed for contrast. Throw in an amulet of the Alexandrite green colored prasiolite to accent the eye of the stalactite and a whisper blush baroque pearl to marry the accent colors of the hand linked chain and we seem to have covered all the possible choices of the defining names that could be used to describe the color of Tanzanite.
After everything was placed on the tray, the key to all of this (no pun intended) was a happy marriage of unique shapes, texture and colors that all play nicely together in a meaningful way. And. . .there you have it - the idea for Charmed, I’m Sure was conceived.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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?
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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Friday, May 21, 2010
“I Told You It Was A Left At The Border”!
San Juan Capistrano via Flickr (3 images)
Every day is a new adventure in Arizona! My first week I was here, I spotted a 40 pound bobcat about 10 feet away from me. Looking back, my conversation with the wildlife agent about said bobcat was really funny!
KS - I’l like to report a bobcat sighting
Official Wildlife Agent (OWA) - How do you know it was a bobcat?
KS - Well, my ex-brother-in-law was an avid hunter and he had one mounted above my nephew’s bunk beds.
OWA - Where did you see the bobcat?
KS - I was on the little patio making some phone calls and he just came out from behind a bush about 10 feet away. When I first saw his head come out from behind the bush, I thought it was a kitty cat . . .until he walked a little further!
OWA - Is the bobcat threatening you or you pets?
KS - Not really, but I thought you should know he is in a residential neighborhood where there are small children and pets!
OWA - M’am, where are you from?
KS - I just moved here from Boston about a week ago.
OWA - Well. . .now you live in the desert and unless the bobcat is threatening you or your pets - we don’t come out. These animals were here long before all the buildings went up in your neighborhood. I’m sure you will see other animals during your stay here - but like I said, unless they are threatening - we don’t come out!
I hung up the phone, but it always stuck in my head that the entire episode sounded like a madcap Lucille Ball episode of I Love Lucy or a clip from City Slickers!
One of 4+ nests on my front porch alcove
Look closely - the little swallow is peeping out of the nest!
To date, we have dealt with 3 swarms of bees (one swarm necessitated moving out of the house for 2 days while they removed part of our house to treat the hive); rabbit proofing our yard so the little bunnies would not be eaten by our fiercely interested Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; an ongoing battle with “roof rats” who find our orange trees a gourmet delicacy and now the latest. . .a flock of swallows! This is all a bit much for someone that is not exactly a “nature girl”!
Don’t get me wrong. . .I love birds - especially the sweet little hummingbirds that are so abundant in AZ, but this latest adventure is not only extremely messy, but a little scary - much like Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock’s, “The Birds”! These swallows are very fast and they swoop in under the soffit of the front entrance alcove with a mission. If something is not done soon to stop their nest building - I’m afraid our guests won’t be able to come in through the front door! I spent the day trying to get some help in relocating them to no avail. Of course, it is the week-end so nothing can be done until Monday (isn’t that always the way things go?)! By Monday, they will probably have a full subdivision of swallow condo’s built and a HOA in place! Anyone have any ideas???
As always, the creative mind keeps spinning (especially because there is nothing more I can do about the swallow problem), so I might as well be constructive with something! I’ve been working on the completion of my Kitchen/Family Room where soft dove-grays have intersected with powdery aquamarine blue. There is just something about this combination of colors that is very soothing to me.
I just completed this Gigi Necklace made up of soft dove-gray freshwater pearls, petal pearls and organic aquamarine nuggets. I especially like the fact it has an elegant presence, but is not overwhelmingly dramatic - a wonderful and flattering spring/summer choice.
I can just hear Mrs. Swallow to her husband - “I Told You It Was A Left At The Border”! San Juan Capistrano - you are missing some swallows and I think I have found them!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Phoebe’s Devotion and the Mother’s Day Necklace Winner!
Theoro via Flickr
via 2 Bags Full
One in particular has held my attention for days. Vicki from 2 Bags Full has a posting and link on her blog about a beautiful little hummingbird named Phoebe. Phoebe is in the process of hatching her tiny little eggs that will become her new family. Phoebe’s efforts are being broadcast live (via a webcam) so you can see her devotion to her little babies in live time. Click here to go to the website and watch the miracle of new life.
Without further adieu – the winner of the Mother’s Day Necklace Giveaway is:
ღஐƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒஐღ Michelle ღஐƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒஐღ
Congratulations, Michelle – I’ll be in touch to find out the gemstones for your special gift.
Happy Mother’s Day – not only to the Mothers amongst us, but kudos to the wonderful children that these loving mothers have raised! Tweet
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