Lisa Hawthorne Jewelry

Sometimes it’s all about color.

Bright, joyful, exuberant color.

Lisa Hawthorne's jewelry

certainly fills the need -

it’s bold in style and bold in color.

Lisa's work is readily recognizable

by her detailed

cloisonné enameling technique.

And so many of her pieces feature

shimmery-smooth, eye-popping color –

some pieces are downright luminescent.

Whether she is working with cool tones

or a warm palette of color,

we have to admit that each piece

consistently brightens our day.

There are so many pieces to see and admire -

here's a necklace we simply adore.

 Here's an example of a belt buckle.

 

Here's a fun cuff.

Here's a bold neckpiece that

features a cooler palette.

 

 

 

  and this one is truly a showstopper!

 

 

After all that vividness and vibrancy

we have to admit we are definitely

 feeling awake and energized.

And inspired.

How about you?

Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.

 

Enjoy!

Jill Hurant Jewelry

Jewelry created by Jill Hurant  

is exquisitely detailed,

elegant, and truly one-of-a-kind.

Her masterful use of the ancient technique

of fusing and granulation results in

22k gold jewelry that is warm and rich,

with an intricately detailed, delicate effect.

Each of her pieces is stylishly

handcrafted and showcases her

patience and superb craftsmanship. 

They simply exude panache.

This 5-Link Bracelet is one of our favorites.
The asymmetrical placement of the pearl
sets off the design superbly.

We adore her Double Chain Bracelet

And her Gold Crochet Bracelet is utterly mesmerizing.
The gemstones contrast powerfully with
the lacy effect of the bracelet,
while the granulation adds just
enough visual interest without
overpowering the overall effect.

 

 

We are enthralled with

the richness of the 22k gold

that this artist uses in

her work, and we're

inspired by the fact that

she takes this ancient technique

and gives it a contemporary edge.

Each piece is truly more

lovely than the last.

Enjoy!

Diana Widman Jewelry

Jewelry created by Diana Widman

evokes a sense of movement and a

great deal of texture. Of all her styles

of work, our favorites revolve around

her Linen Collection – a collection

of fabricated jewelry that actually has

the look of rippled fabric.

With a background in printmaking

and bookbinding, Diana has long held

a love for paper and fabric, as well as

 the tools and processes one uses

 to work with them.

So, it’s understandable that when she

discovered metalsmithing, her passion for

paper and fabric would become extremely

evident in her metal work.

By using a technique such as fold forming

she creates rippling surfaces and 

roughened textures that look like undulating,

silky fabrics. It's jewelry that provides

 a sense of movement and

an impression of texture.

Here are a few examples

of her work.

This cuff is made with sterling silver.

 

Here we see a

14KT yellow gold cuff set with diamond accents.

 

These earrings are made from 18KT green gold

 with diamond accents.

 

We are inspired by artists who develop work

based on the cross-pollination of ideas

and techniques.

Something new and different emerges

from these fascinating efforts.

In this instance, by making hard metal

 look like soft fabric

we cross a threshold with the artist

into a new realm of beauty,

style and discovery.

Enjoy!

Julie Jerman-Melka

The first time we experienced
jewelry created by Julie Jerman-Melka
we had an emotional experience.
The sensuality, the delicacy,
the tenderness we saw in her pieces
resonated with us immediately.

This jewelry is inspired by the artist's

childhood memories of the natural

world around her.

She takes those memories,

renders them in metal,

and from those humble beginnings
there emerges jewelry of

such delicacy and charm

that we are enchanted by

every piece.

Our favorites revolve around pieces

from her Flora Fauna Collection.

While not specifically modeled on

any particular flower, each piece

is merely reminiscent of the

floral ambiance that the artist

recollects from childhood
experiences and remembrances.

Using sterling silver and 18K gold

she creates each design by 

traditional metalsmithing techniques
and incorporates gems along the way.

The effect evokes a Zen-like purity.

Here is an example of a

brooch from her Flora Fauna Collection.

 

We love to admire the subtle colors found
in these Flora Fauna earrings.

 

This Flora Fauna pendant
is absolutely charming.

We find this jewelry

inspiring with its delicate

colorations and textures.
It's light and almost lyrical.

What do you think?
We'd love to know your thoughts
and reactions, too.

Enjoy!

Jacqueline Cullen Jewelry

We are intrigued whenever we see
an imaginative use of
an unusual material in jewelry.
One jewelry artist we have recently
become aware of is Jacqueline Cullen
who is noted for using an ancient material
and transforming it with modern techniques.

Her specialty is Whitby Jet.
Jet was used (and popularized)
in Victorian mourning jewelry.

By using one specific type of jet,
that found only along the shoreline of
Whitby in England, Jacqueline honors a
material that is now rare and might easily
be forever lost to us. With every piece
presenting itself in a raw and ragged state,
what might be considered detritus
to someone looking with a casual eye,
to this artist every crevice and
every imperfection becomes a source
of potential beauty. It is in the
 cracks and fissures
that the artist labors to
create her beguiling jewelry.

By inlaying precious materials such as gold
or gems or crystals, she transforms the old,
the worn and the ragged into works of
elegance and creativity.

It is precisely these imperfections
that eventually become
lovely works of art.
The deep, lustrous shine of the jet
becomes a rich background for the
detailed and minute embellishments
that the artist creates.

Here are a few examples of her
finely-crafted work.

From her Fine Gold Collection we see
a hand-carved Whitby Jet pendant
inlaid with 24K gold.

Here is an example of a pendant from her

Swarovski Crystal Collection.

From her Granulation Collection, we can see 

earrings with 18K gold granulation.

          And here is an example of a 

bracelet with 18K gold granulation.

There is so much here to inspire us.

The idea of making such wonderful

handcrafted jewelry

by using what may be considered

a rather mundane material

and then transforming its simple nature 

by adding precious metals and

other materials is both 

imaginative and inspiring.

Share your thoughts with us.

We'd love to know what you think.

Enjoy!

Loretta Lam Jewelry

Work from the Loretta Lam studio

has delighted us for several years.

Hand-sculpted pieces made with polymer 

combine many different effects in her

creation of uniquely contemporary jewelry.

Each of her creations are

sophisticated, versatile, and at times,

thought provoking.

Of all the many pieces of jewelry

that Loretta creates we most admire

her Inros.

An inro is defined as

a small, usually ornamented box

 that is hung from the waist sash of a

Japanese kimono and has

compartments for holding small objects

such as cosmetics, perfumes, or medicines.

Over time inros have evolved from

strictly utilitarian articles into objects

of high art and immense craftsmanship.

Let's take a look at some examples

of her sculptural art to wear.

Here is another inro.

Here is one more example.

We are inspired by Loretta's 

wonderful sculptural jewelry

 and her detailed craftsmanship.

Using color and form she creates a

visually-stunning display

of dense richness and complexity.

We find Loretta's work to be

 inspiring and imaginative.

Let us know what you think.