A Sparkling Jewelbox Retreat

It has been many years since I attempted to write a blog post and much in my life has changed.  I think it is time for me to get back to doing my research and writing about the two things I love most - interior design and how it has inspired my jewelry designs.  With that being said - here goes!

Our Vision Board - Because My Hubby Cannot Visualize

Back in the summer of 2016, my husband and I embarked on a total renovation of our master bath and freshening up our master bedroom and another bath near my husband’s office.  I had done lots of research on what I felt I could live with, while simultaneously appealing to the local masses in the event we should want to sell our house and skip away to our retirement.  Arizona is a place where the culture is foreign to me - rustic, masculine and repetitive.  They are just beginning to snap out of a sea of brown and beige!  I on the other hand, I have had Calcutta marble and soft grey with pale aqua in the kitchen and family room for over seven years.

Old Bath With Curved Glass Block Shower Wall, Boxed Soaking Tub and Ginormous Soffits!

It was decided that the huge master bath should have the same white/gray Calcutta marble on the floors, shower and countertops.  A boxed in soaking tub would be removed and a free-standing tub would replace it.  The natural stained cabinets with enormous overhead soffits would be replaced with more classic white cabinets that included towers to accentuate the height of the ceiling and add storage.  The curved glass block shower wall would be removed, straightened and replaced with a glass shower door, adding a bench and dual shower heads (one stationary and the other hand-held).  The shower renovation would also remove the step-up/step-down portion of the floor so the generous shower could become wheelchair accessible, if ever needed.

Shower Mayhem With Curved Glass Block Wall Removed

All of this planning was done with the idea that our community seems to have many retired residents with various needs.  As we all know, aging in place has become the preferred option as we get older and studies have confirmed that the elderly do better when they can stay in their homes.  However, the interior designer in me still wanted to have the bathroom look beautiful for the present time, with small alterations that could be easily added, if needed in the future for another resident. 

Our Entire Living Room/Dining Room/Foyer Became A Storage Unit During This Renovation!

Why Did I Think I Could Leave The Crew Unattended For  Few Hours???  Pink"X" Tiles Were Removed

With all that in mind, we embarked on what was supposed to be a 6 week project, which realistically, I never thought would be finished in that time frame!  We encountered many bumps in the road because most trades people  here just really do not understand quality and/or proportions (resulting in a partial rip out of mismatched marble and redo of the upper cabinet towers because they were just too deep). 

Hours Were Spent With The Marble Installers In Order To Attempt To Match Up The Veining

So Much Better Without Those Ginormous Soffits.  Water Lines Were Moved To Add A Tub Filler Under The Window.  NOT A Good Plan For Cold Weather Climates... But We Live In AZ!

These Venetian Glass Mirrors Hung Over Plate Glass Require Detailed Planning.  Many Nerve Wracking Hours Of Repairing These Delicate Mirrors As They Arrived Slightly Damaged 

The Antique Armoire Replaced The Built In Linen Cabinet.  I Filled The Interior With Neatly Folded Linens And A Collection Of Blue Opaline Glass

Hubby Really Put Up A Fuss When I Informed Him I Had Called In Classy Closets.  Now He Thinks It Was A GREAT Idea!

The Glass Closet Doors Were Added To Help Keep Out Dust - My Mortal Enemy Living In Arizona!

All in all, this seven month project with all its delays and blips turned out more or less just as I had envisioned.  It had been about seven years since my last design project (my kitchen/family room) and it made me very happy to be able to get back in the trenches.  The last piece of the puzzle was put into place when the antique armoire was finally delivered (since the photo - painting completed) to replace the built in linen cabinet which was removed to enlarge the adjacent closet.  Would I tackle this project again - you bet?!  I am afraid I have been spoiled by the soft beauty of this bathroom and the enormous size. 

Madonna & Child Necklace

Cateline II Layering Necklace

 

Clementine Bracelet

Bree Aquamarine Necklace

Dara Diamond & Moonstone Earrings

Brooklyn Gray Moonstone Necklace

Through all of this turmoil I was still making jewelry that seemed to repeat the delicate colors of the new bath.  Many of those pieces have since sold, but the newest designs still have the gentle colors, which remain a favorite - white, dove gray, pale aqua blue and gold.
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Still Dreaming Of Sugarplums?

After Christmas Sale
Savings From 20% to 50%
Now Through January 5th

Little Girls Dream Of Sugarplums, But. . .
Big Girls Dream Of Exquisite Jewelry. . .On Sale!

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Stunning Party Earrings - Lend Me Your Ear!

We all know someone that has this horrible affliction.  Some are our nearest and dearest friends, while other beloved sufferers may even share our DNA.  What in the world am I talking about . . . droopy ear lobes!  

As a jewelry designer, I have had soooo many conversations with my customers about the perils of our youthful indiscretions - wearing fashionable, but heavy earrings.  Yes, we Baby Boomers have fessed up to a lifetime of large and heavy loops during the 70’s and enormous earrings that rivaled the size of our shoulder pads during the 80’s.  Clearly, this has taken a toll on our once dainty ear lobes.

It was reported by the British Medical Journal that yes indeed, Missy - those ear lobes do grow as we age.  We also loose collagen and they begin to flatten, thus appearing like a deflated party balloon.  Droopy ear lobes are one of the dead giveaways when you meet an old friend that looks just a little too “rested”.

There are remedies for this sad and droopy situation such as ear lobe reduction (Yikes!), radio frequency to tighten up the delicate skin, a few drops of facial filler and even something called Blingdots (placed behind the ear lobe).  For those of us that prefer to ignore our deflating youth - there is yet another option - post style earrings.

I am asked almost daily if some of my earring designs can be converted to a post style for “women of a certain age”.  The right post style earring can help to hide the elongation of the piercings and the drooping of the lobe behind a pretty decorative post.  With enough sparkle and shine dangling below the post - (as my dear Mother used to say) “No one will notice on a galloping horse”. 

For all of you Boomer Babes, with holiday soirees on your calendar in the next few weeks - here are some gorgeous post-style earring solutions. 

Sylvia Earrings - Pink & Yellow Sapphires w/ White Topaz

Eileen Earrings - Green Onyx & White Topaz

Scarlett Earrings - Burmese Rubies & White Topaz

Storm Earrings - "Blue Flash" Labradorite & White Topaz

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A Year Of Design.....In Progress

Cherish Necklace

A couple of years ago, I designed a theatre token necklace as a prototype that was a reproduction of antique opera tokens - with a twist.  During the process of the design, I realized that it would be much more fun to integrate some current customized tokens using the antique opera token format.  As a result, I have encouraged my customers to customize their tokens for this necklace as a celebration of their lives - acknowledging honors, special events, hobbies and interests.  The necklace has always been a big success and each of the necklaces are uniquely one-of-a-kind as they represent the individual owner’s lives.

About a year ago, I had an inquiry about this necklace from a charming gal from Kansas.  As it turned out, she was visiting the Phoenix area and we had a chance to meet during her visit.  It was one of those moments when you immediately have a strong connection with someone you just met and we  happily chatted for hours about so many different subjects.  We discussed the token necklace and she came away realizing the tokens could be customized to be so much more than what she was seeing on the prototype necklace.  That is when the collaborative creative process really took flight.  Rather than simply add text to her tokens, she requested line drawings that symbolized significant events in her life.

As you can see from the photos, this has been a labor of love.  Even though the necklace has not reached 13 tokens or been assembled just yet - her necklace is the most unique and customized necklace I have done thus far.  She and I have been able to collaborate together, sharing the same vision for a year.  When she gets stumped as to how we can execute an idea, she emails and. . . between the two of us. . . a creative solution is just around the corner.

If you ask me why I am posting about an unfinished design, it is to exemplify what can be done when you think outside the box.  To encourage customers to request designs that are as unique as our fingerprints.  To NOT settle for the ordinary and expected.

On my end, there has been another added bonus.  Not only have I been part of a great collaboration to create a very unique necklace design, but I have also gained a lovely friend who has been an absolute delight to work with!  I cannot wait for her next visit to Phoenix for show and tell!

"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."      

Jim Rohn

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Doozy Of A Druzy

Devon Necklace

Those enchanting and unique mineral specimen beads known as “druzys” -  sprinkled with glistening colored confectionary sugar-like crystals are still hot on the radar of every fashionista.  If you don’t already have some of these mesmerizing stones in your jewelry armoire - they are a must have for fall and winter.  Their precious nature is upended by their raw and wild geologic cuts and they are perfect for elegant yet casual cashmere sweaters and suede skirts.

Zara Necklace 

I was awestruck when I found a resource that had a vast selection of fossilized druzy shells from a private collection - all found in the dusty and dry sea bed that we now call the Sahara Desert.

Mishell Necklace

Minerals deposited in the remnants of shells have naturally created these one-of-a-kind geologic wonders - which continue to be a curiosity - even today.

Peony Necklace

Jeannie Bracelet

Marching along the fashion route with the ever popularity druzy stones are geodes - one of nature’s true curiosities.  Geodes tell an spell-binding story.  They begin their life as little round geologic formations - just as any ordinary rock.  However, those clever geologists discovered that some of these seemingly ordinary rocks held a very dramatic story.

Lori Earrings 

I don’t know how it happened - by accident or design - but when these seemingly ordinary rocks are gently hand-cleaved - they break apart revealing a dazzling display of crystals safely ensconced within a dimpled nest.  The smallest of these orbs have become beautiful sets in a variety of colors, which I use for earrings.

Panisi Earrings

Chantal II Earrings

Natalie Earrings

Gracie Geode Earrings

Victoria Earrings

Coco Earrings

I hope you are just as enchanted by these little curiosities of nature as I have been.

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“Yes, Officer, I Am An Accessory To. . .

Jeannie Bracelet 
Camille Grande Carpetbag

. . .Beautiful Fall Fashions.  But, you should know - I do have an accomplice - Mary Kaiser Designs!”

I  have known about Mary Kaiser’s gorgeous handbag designs for  20+ years. I was first introduced to her clever line at the Atlanta Mart when I was buying for my store.  Mary's designs are made  of the finest home furnishings fabrics and leathers, including Scalamandre, Clarence House & Lee Jofa - they are then embellished with a variety of trimmings including vintage ribbons and braids, velvet flowers, rhinestones, French jacquard trims, buttons and high quality Italian brass & leather hardware.  

Fast forward many years later and we happily reconnected again when I purchased a wonderful handbag from her that others love to call my “Mary Poppins Carpetbag”.  I unwittingly became one of Mary’s best PR agents - giving out her cards and website info to total strangers - a stylist from the Four Seasons Beverly Hills to the fashion mecca of Boston - Newbury Street.

Brezza Dolce Antique Vinaigrette Necklace 
Mary Bag #3

If you are looking to perk up an outfit - why not add a great piece of jewelry and one of Mary’s stunning and one-of-a-kind handbags.  Here. .  I have already done some of the homework for you.

Adorned Layering Necklace Set
Mary Bag #2

Natalie Earrings
Bebe Carpetbag #4

Cherish Collection
Bella Grande Carpetbag

Pastilles Bracelet
Aqua Rose Linen Tote

Nerissa Necklace
Mary Bag #6

Celeste Earrings
Nantucket Bebe Carpetbag

Pink Daisy Necklace
Caroline Grande Carpetbag

Violet Necklace
Lily Grande Carpetbag

Bryn Earrings
Bebe Carpetbag #6

Officer, If Mary and I are being brought in for questioning - perhaps we could at least  beautifully accessorize those dreary striped outfits and the orange jumpsuits!

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