From Room Jewelry to Real Jewelry - Gray and Gold

Via Fauxology

Carolina Herrera Dress - My Favorite Designer

I have always been enamored with all the little details that make a room take on a distinct personality.  Space planning is fun, but really just a necessity to keep us from bumping into objects - selecting gorgeous sofas, rugs and tables are inspiring and a delightful exercise too.  However, for me, nothing could surpass the delight of spending hours selecting beautiful lighting, mirrors and the just perfect passementerie for draperies - the details are what give a room it’s persona.  I always associated the selection of these minute details like adding just the perfect jewelry for a room.

Elle Decor

My Chippy Antique Italian Chandelier - I recently added new candle sleeves and shades.  Arizona heat/sun really damages the fabric on lampshades.

In between bouts of creating new jewelry designs for the holidays, I have also been very focused on finding the larger decorative accessories for my now 18 month Kitchen/Family Room renovation. Recently, I became very fixated on one of my favorite antiques acquired long ago - a gray and gold-gilded Italian chandelier that sits over the Breakfast table. There is something so soothing and elegant about the dusty gray color combined with the 24K gold-leaf accents in this chippy painted chandelier.

Devon Bracelet - Rough Cut Rutilated Quartz Nuggets and Luxe Gray Moonstone Briolettes 

My first attempt at combining the elements of gray and gold resulted in the Devon Bracelet.  I loved the juxtaposition of the chunky golden needle-embedded beads mixed with the oversized gray moonstone briolettes and deliciously detailed 24k gold vermeil feature beads.  Oddly enough, this bracelet sold about four days after listing to an interior designer from Boston.

Darla Bracelet - Round Rutilated Quartz Beads and Gray Moonstone Briolettes

Darla Bracelet - Gold Needle-Embedded Rutilated Quartz 

Staring at this chandelier combination - I was reminded of the gorgeous but smaller round rutilated quartz beads still left and waiting from a previous project as well as the recently acquired luxe gray moonstone briolettes. The combination of the more delicate golden needle-embedded beads mixed with the oversized gray moonstone and gorgeous detailed 24k gold vermeil feature beads have a more traditional and formal persona when compared to the earlier Devon Bracelet.  Who knows. . .maybe the Darla Bracelet will also find a home with an interior designer.

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Mother’s Day Necklace Giveaway – Octo-Mom Here’s Your Chance!

I just bet that everyone thinks while I am making up jewelry designs I am listening to something elegant like classical music (on occasion) or at the least, watching something of importance - like the news. I am chagrined to admit that is not necessarily the case.



Most often the TV is tuned in to absurd programs like repeats of The Housewives of ________ (you fill in the city) or Millionaire Matchmaker. Today was an exception – I happened to turn on Oprah who was interviewing none other than, Octo-Mom Nadia. As I worked on a new necklace design, I became transfixed with her reality check of Motherhood. In the end, I came away feeling a bit sorry not only for her children, but for herself. I’m sure in the midst of her emotional decision to have all these children; she was, shall we say - rather clueless, as to the day-to-day demands of being a single parent of 14.

Thankfully, I did not own that problem! I was raised as an only child and had a beautiful mother as well as a fabulous step-mother. My mother imparted a sense of style to me from a very young age and I was also very blessed to have such a warm and caring step-mom after her death. I was brought up in an environment that fostered my creative side while simultaneously teaching me to think independently. I can still hear my step-mother’s words – “Just because everyone else is doing it (you choose the folly), does not mean you have to follow along! Great life-lessons!

Mother's Day/New Mommy Necklace

Last year I wrote about my niece and her long awaited new baby that inspired a Mother’s Day/New Mommy Necklace design in this post. This year I decided I should do a little give-away to all my wonderful readers.



Leave me a comment about some poignant memory or bit of wisdom from your mother and you will be automatically entered to win a custom designed Mother’s Day necklace like the ones in the photo. You get to choose the metal (sterling silver or 24K gold vermeil) and the birthstones that suit your family. This thoughtful necklace can either be a gift for yourself or a gift for your own wonderful mother or mother-in-law.


The drawing will be on Monday, May 3rd. Nadia – are you out there?! Tweet

New Mommy / Mother’s Day – Custom Birthstone Necklace

Joshua Charles Hunsaker

This idea, for a Mother’s Birthstone Necklace, came to me right after my niece had her first long-awaited child. He is a week old today. As I was constructing the necklace as a little keepsake for my niece, I realized that it would be a lovely gift for any mother – new or old - especially with Mother’s Day coming up soon. As soon as I completed the necklace for my new-mommy niece, I decided that I should make another version for my dear sister representing her children as well.


These photos are merely an example of what the necklace styles look like when completed. Obviously, each necklace will be a custom design based on the chain (link chain or beaded chain), types of birth stones (see chart below), number of stones and type of metal (sterling silver or 24K gold vermeil). I am more than happy to lay this out and photograph so you can see what your design will look like before beginning the actual construction. The stones listed below are the standard birthstones but, certainly substitutions for some of the more precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, etc.) can be made at your discretion.

Pricing Examples From The Photo Featuring Both Necklaces:
Top necklace with moonstone beaded chain and 5 birthstones (Mother, Father and 3 Children) – consists of 3 September (kyanite substituted for sapphires), one December (sky blue topaz) and one April (ruby). As shown - $97
Bottom necklace with link chain (sterling silver) and 3 birthstones (Mother, Father and 1 Child) – consists of one August (peridot), one May (emerald) and one March (aquamarine). As shown - $74

Please email me with your design questions – I would love to work with you on a special gift for either a Mother’s Day surprise or a New Mommy gift.

Birth Month - Modern Birthstones - Stone Substitutes
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine
April - Diamond - Rock Crystal (Substitute)
May - Emerald - Green Onyx (Substitute)
June - Pearl or Moonstone
July - Ruby
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire - Kyanite (Substitute)
October - Opal or Tourmaline
November - Citrine or Yellow Topaz
December - Blue Topaz or Turquoise

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A Turquoise Lesson from History

Purdy Wallcoverings

Veranda - Jan.-Feb. 2007

When I was five years old my mother suddenly passed away at the young age of 29. There are very few of her possessions that I have and now that I am an adult, I realize why. At such a young age, she simply had not enough time to acquire meaningful treasures to pass on to me. Be that as it may, of the few possessions I have from her, one of them is a simple little ring of oval turquoise stones set in sterling. Although I have always cherished the ring and have never altered the design, I can honestly say that I have never been a fan of turquoise set in silver. I believe it lacks warmth and elegance.

On the other hand, as an interior designer, I have always been enamored with the turquoise/aqua family and it is scattered all over my home. One of my collecting passions is Sevres Blue. Additionally, I have had entire rooms in my home that were designed around this aqua blue family. It is a very calming and restful color to me. I still hold onto the theory that everyone looks tan when surrounded by aqua (even though it may be February when we are at our most pasty white)!

As I studied my little Sevres Blue collection, I came to realize that historically, it was always trimmed and banded in gold. Apparently, I am not the only person that thinks that gold brings out the richness of the color and counterbalances the coolness of aqua and turquoise.

While researching some images for this post, I stumbled across two unusual blog sites called “House of Turquoise” and “Everything Turquoise” with some of the most divine images of all ranges of turquoise – what an inspiration! Who knew! Erin, thank you for allowing me to “borrow” a bit of inspiration for this post.

At the Tucson Gem Show recently, I came across some wonderful Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, purchased it and promptly set it aside for later. Later came sooner than I suspected. I received a call from the agency that is handling some of my PR, that a local magazine was looking for some turquoise jewelry set in gold for a photo shoot. Needless to say, it jogged my memory and an entire weekend was devoted to creating an earthy but elegant - lovely turquoise necklace and earrings set in 24K gold vermeil.

Since I had design carte blanche with this set, I indulged my senses by mixing the elegant Sleeping Beauty Turquoise with little frills of gorgeous Capri blue Kyanite, soft Sky Blue Topaz and a heavy dose of mesmerizing blue flash Labradorite. Of course, the piece de resistance of the necklace is the free form turquoise slice pendant encased in 24k gold.

Just as the Sevres Blue collection lives happily in my home with a more relaxed atmosphere – the chic turquoise and gold of this jewelry design can live contentedly with either a ball gown or a blue jean skirt.

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