Carolyn Morris Bach Jewelry

Sometimes jewelry is
thought provoking.
That's how I feel about
the work created by
Carolyn Morris Bach.

Over the years I’ve come across her jewelry

again and again, and I feel drawn to her

instantly recognizable work

which is dominated by a strong

mysterious earth-goddess motif.

This feminine figure is frequently accompanied

 by symbolic creatures from the animal kingdom

including owls, rabbits, deer, bears and foxes.

 

Using all natural materials such as

wood, bone, metal and stone

this artist builds each of her pieces

one at a time, and each

 piece tells its own magical story.

yes, the owls are my favorite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Morris Bach's creative jewelry

may not actually

bestow magic upon the wearer.

But then again maybe it will.

 

See more of her work at her website.

 

Jewelry with Personality by Laura Stamper

So when was the last time you wore

jewelry with personality?

Literally?

With names like Redhead Mermaid, Sexy Siren,

Urban Goddess, Queen of the Butterflies,

and Garden Fairy you just know

every piece in this collection

has its own personality and its own story to tell.

Expressing one's vision means different things

to different people.

To Laura Stamper it means sculpting and painting 

delightful characters on porcelain

then creating equally lovely metal settings

for those paintings.

Her sculptural series features imaginative

tongue-in-cheek characters that just seem

to be infused with

charm and playfulness.

Approaching each piece of

jewelry like a painting allows the artist

to create a mood.  Most of the time

that mood is filled with pure whimsy.

 

Ultimately, her designs

 come to life when highlighted

with gemstones and set in

sterling silver with 22k gold.

 

Some of her characters are brazen and bold.

Some are innocent and demure.

Every richly imaginative piece

is filled with detail.

 

 

 

The real jewels in these pieces are expressed

in the intricate details and characters
representing the imagination and

ingenuity of the artist.

You're not just wearing jewelry,

you're wearing a work of art.

It's easy to see that her jewelry is like an

art gallery that can be boldly worn on one's

 fingers, wrists and neck.

You can see more of collection at her website.

Texture Galore - Birgit Kupke-Peyla Jewelry

Every time we see jewelry by Birgit Kupke-Peyla

we are intrigued by her choices of color,

texture and design. Everything just seems

 to blend together flawlessly.

Birgit's pieces are visually complex

with lots of tactile layers.

We like how she describes her work as

. . . a repetition of bars soldered onto mixed metals with contrasting stripes—sterling overlaid on gold and gold on sterling—layer upon layer of pattern and geometric form, imprinted with contrasting patterns
. . . .

This rich layering of texture and color

becomes jewelry that makes a strong

impression on everyone who sees it.

Working mainly with 22kt yellow gold

and sterling silver, it's the layers and depth

of color that always draw our attention.

Her textural work extends to the interiors

and reverse sides of her work as well.

 

Using many techniques, she'll incorporate

carving, etching, rolling, embossing,

castings, hydraulic fold forming

and finishing it all with patina.

 

Each technique she chooses

brings out the best in her designs.

 

 

We love jewelry made by artists who
work with impeccable skill
and a strong sense of style.

There is no doubt this artist creates all her pieces

with the utmost in

 impeccable skill and technique.

We really can't stop thinking about how stylish
all her pieces are and we're really inspired by
the time and effort that goes into each piece.

You can check out Birgit's work on her website.

 

 

Susan Chin Jewelry

We've long admired jewelry created by Susan Chin.
Her trademark work revolves around the use of
ebony and bone, and her signature forms are
sprinkled with silver or gold dots set against each
other in symmetrical yet seemingly
random arrangements.
But this artist works with other materials as well.

We gravitate towards her pieces
featuring freshwater pearls dotted with
those symmetrical mixed with random
accents of metal.
We enjoy following the sequences and repetition
of these elements which evoke a sense of
something ancient and tribal.

Whether densely packed together or set with ample
breathing space between them, we appreciate
how each metallic accent carries its weight
and brings delightful texture to the jewelry.

Together they become a synergistic creation -
the whole effect becoming so much greater
than the sum of its parts.
Let's take a look at some of our
favorite pieces of her work.


This is her “Forged Links” bracelet
featuring sterling silver, freshwater pearls
and18K gold.

We adore her Kelp Necklace
also featuring sterling silver, freshwater pearls
and18K gold.

 

These amusing "Pearl with Curl" earrings are
made with freshwater pearls and 18k gold.

 

These earrings are from her
one of a kind collection
and feature ebony, 18k and 22k gold,
and Australian boulder opals.

This piece features ebony, 18k and 22k gold,
and sterling silver.
It evokes a furry impression
that we find lighthearted and amusing.

It's fascinating to feel rough

texture created by the combination of several
types of smooth elements.

It's also fascinating to see
seldom used materials like ebony and bone
take center stage in an artist's work.

It would be most fascinating of all
 to wear works of art
such as these and to feel the spirit
of the artist in each piece.

We'd own her entire collection
if we could.

Enjoy!

Isabelle Posillico Jewelry

Sometimes it's all about gorgeous gemstones.

Gloriously-colored jewels set in a matrix of metal.

And while often the metal matrix
can serve as mere background, 
easily ignored when compared
with the richness of the gem clusters,
at other times the metal is just as
spectacular and multidimensional
in impact as the gems.
The total effect can be
symphonic.

We admire works of art created
 by Isabelle Posillico specifically
because they are composed of many
 luscious gems each harmoniously
punctuated by equally strong notes 
of 14k, 18k and 22k gold.

We see her work not only as having been
created by a jeweler but as having been
composed as though by a musician.
She handcrafts these wearable treasures
using precious and semi-precious
stones and pearls with accents of gold
 that all seem to play together as a symphony.


For us, each precious gem represents
a note in a musical composition
and each harmonizes with the others
for balance and depth. Like notes in a melody,
 she creates music in her work and each
 piece presents itself as a
variation on a theme.

 
The artist has several series that are
dynamic and composed of melodious
elements with staccato rhythms.

Here's an example from
her Conga Line series
made with pearls, tourmaline,
chysocolla, blue topaz, diamond, opal,
and various karats of gold.

and here's a pendant from the same series

As a counterpoint to all that syncopation,
we adore this necklace featuring a solo
performance of one kunzite stone.
Supporting players include diamonds,
 pink tourmalines, pink sapphires, garnets and gold
accompanied by pearls.


 

 

We also enjoy her Dance Partners series
featuring asymmetrical designs yet
perfectly balanced compositions.

This is one of our favorites.

Made with pearls, aquamarines, pink & green
tourmalines and various karats of gold.

And this pair features

garnets, chalcedony, pink sapphires,

and tanzanite with various karats of gold.

There is so much to admire in this work. 

We admire the magnificent gem choices.

We admire the fact that
the metal is not subservient to the
 intensity of color and
preciousness of the gems.

We admire the
tempos and rhythms of
each composition.



Each piece is a performance of
timeless grace and beauty.


 They hit the right note every time.

Lisa Jane Grant Jewelry

Mokumé gane is awesome.
It's a 300-year-old jewelry technique
invented in Japan that is mind-bogglingly
labor intensive and incredibly time consuming.
 The effects of all this time and
labor are elaborate. And worth it.

One of the best examples of this technique

can be found in work created

by Lisa Jane Grant.

 Mokumé gane (pronounced mo-koo-meh gah-neh)
translates as "wood-grain metal" and that effect

is what we find so intriguing. The finished

jewelry shows myriad layers of metals

swirling and flowing in all directions and 

the final effect is rich and exciting.

Lisa's collections are named after specific

exotic destinations she has visited in her various
travels, and each piece evokes a memory or
special fondness she feels for that location.

Here are some of our favorite pieces
from her collections.

These earrings have an intense rosy hue

that we just love. From her Luang Prabang

collection they're made with

18k yellow gold, 14k palladium white gold,

14k pink gold and sterling silver.

Here is a great example from her Jaipur collection
made with 18k yellow gold,14k palladium white gold,
and sterling silver. It's a reversible pendant
featuring the mokumé in front
while on the back it has patterned sterling silver
with 18k yellow gold accents.

And these earrings from her
Cusco collection have a great pillow effect.
They're made with 18k yellow gold,
14k palladium white gold and sterling silver.

Each piece is truly one of a kind.

The distinctive layered patterns

of mokumé gane are exactly what

we love - fluid, asymmetrical,

and downright mesmerizing.


Enjoy!

Dana Driver Jewelry

Many years ago, at a Northern California
event called “Celebration of Craftswomen,”
we came across an artist who creates
delightful jewelry made with river stones.

Each piece of jewelry made by Dana Driver

is a wearable piece of fine art

composed of panache, inspiration, and most
of all, a delightful touch of whimsy.

Sorted by size, color, and suitability for
her designs, Dana selects the best stones
to tumble, carve, drill, and inlay with fine silver
or 22kt gold.

By inlaying precious materials such as gold
or silver, she transforms something
as mundane as a rock into a work of
charm, elegance, and creativity.

And to top it off, we are enamored with
the idea that many of her pieces have
moving parts that encourage
playfulness and exploration.

Here are some examples of her work.

We love her Flamingo brooch

and this Channel bracelet

These flowers always make us smile.

and these earrings are the ultimate
in simplicity and tranquility.

All of her pieces are created with the utmost

in impeccable skill and technique.

We're always intrigued when

an artist combines precious metals

with more mundane items. In this artist's hands,
the beauty provide by Mother Nature

is deftly embellished with precious metals

that result in lighthearted pieces of

art jewelry.

Enjoy!

Cynthia Eid Jewelry

Jewelry created by Cynthia Eid is awe-inspiring.
Sometimes delicate and sometimes strong,
it is always dramatic.

Her sculptural jewelry is created by
various metalsmithing techniques;
her main tools are hammers
and a hydraulic press.

We tend to appreciate an artist's work

better when we understand the techniques

and processes that go into its creation.

As she explains on her website, Cynthia uses

techniques such as fold forming where

a flat sheet of metal is folded in various

ways (she mentions terms like

anticlastic forming and synclastic forming),

and the effort results in a dramatic new

three-dimensional form.

We especially love the addition of a

thin layer of gold to many of her silver pieces,

a process known as keum-boo or kum boo.

And we appreciate the way she expresses

 her love for her work:

The paradox that “soft”, fluid-looking metal has evolved from flat, stiff rectangles though force, determination, and tenacity enchants me. I am entranced by the metal’s progressive transformation --- through hammering, persuasion, and struggle --- from a lifeless plane of metal toward an object of vibrancy, unity and fluidity.

Let's take a look at some of our favorite pieces.

This necklace is called Changing Sides -

made with Argentium Sterling Silver

with 22K Kum Boo, Reticulated Silver,

and 14K Gold. 

 This necklace is called Sea Grass-

made with Reticulated Silver, 22K Kum Boo,

Argentium Sterling and Patina.

 

 

Here is a bracelet called Sea-Ish IX

made with Sterling Silver.

Here we see "3 Floral Folded Rings" -

made with 18K Gold and Sterling bi-metal.

 

We are inspired by her unique jewelry designs.
Each is the result of intricate processes, 

superb craftsmanship and an eye for subtle detail.

Elegant and organic, each piece
is delightful and dramatic.

Are you inspired?
Let us know what you think.

We welcome your opinions.



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!