I'm glad I accidently left my wallet at home today, because as soon as I saw these fascinating necklaces by Modica, I immediately started fawning. When you're me, fawning almost always leads to a purchase, and, for full disclosure, my entire expendable income for the moment has been thrown in the way of Amy Ruppel and Barack Obama, though clearly for entirely different reasons. When I saw that Modica also can custom make all of their designs with any color in their palette, it became even more fortunate that all I have on me are the few spare bills left over from my recent trip to Pittsburgh to pick up my press (more on that later), which will probably barely buy me lunch today! Never fear, however, as Modica has been appropriately bookmarked and will most certainly be a way for me to avoid saving my extra dough in the future.
Just because I was gone for a while doesn't mean I didn't find things I loved while I was away! Here's my favorite finds during my vacation time.
These Acorn Pendants from Execute Me were on Modish the other day and I absolutely fell in love with them. They're so simple, but so sweet! My favorites are the three blue colors - not surprising, considering my favorite color is, well... blue.
I love the silhouette design on this bag from Pesky Cat Designs, and the pattern on the interior fabric matches the feeling of the bag while still being really cool on its own. The colors are soft and natural, and it's quite a good bag by construction. Utility + Design = Good Stuff.
This hairpin from Red are the Roses is made from vintage plastic flower pieces, and if my love for Art School Dropout was any hint, I'm sort of addicted to those quirky old school supplies and am prone to favor almot anything made from it. The combination of the pieces makes for an extremely showy pin, and I love the feather-like piece and lace-like piece that together give the whole thing an old-time aesthetic while still being a trendy piece.
While I'll fully admit I have no clue where I'd wear this absolutely fabulous costume hat from Topsy Turvy Design - it's certainly not part of the approved corporate dress code at my FT - it's still awesome. The shape, the detail, and the craftsmanship are undeniably incredible, and I had to laugh at the draped fishing net accent on the hat, which I thought was quite witty given the theme of it all.
Visit Lolo's for beautiful jewelry and unique, sophisticated bags. They're perfect for yourself or someone special! They're offering free shipping in the United States until the New Year, so check it out now!
It took me a few days, but I finally got around to planning the second installment of my Holiday shopping list, and I'd love to share my selects with you. Since I'm now buying for two families and our friends, this might end up being longer than the two-parter I was originally figuring it would be!
For a family friend who is like a little sister to me, a simple but sophisticated necklace from Tryst by Kerry that reflects the maturity she has for someone who's only in their early teens. The gold and warm pearl will look excellent with her olive skin tone!
We've got friends of the family that collect really unique and vintage ornaments, and I think a couple hand-blown glass ornaments from Teagues Beads on Etsy would fit right in with their collection. I love that this one is non-traditional all around - the shape is incredibly interesting and the color is unexpected!
For my best friend who is a very talented writer and was probably a pirate in a past life, there's no question that she needs If'N Books' Jen Corace Pirate Journal. I don't think anything has possibly suited her better.
Looking for something unique to give her this holiday season? It's not to early to start looking! Visit String of Blue for gorgeous handmade pieces by Julie Ashton!
Ignoring the fact I just posted about another piece of jewelry, I just had to give a shout out to Jenny V., formerly of queenthings, who just opened her new collection/site, Natural Historie. A beautiful harmony of metal and stone, her pieces are sure to please, such as her Antiquity Necklace (above, $52), which is crafted with a gorgeous crystal and a freshwater pearl for a distinctly elegant look.
It's a shame my earring holes closed up, because these Day Lily Earrings from Black Sheep Designs on Etsy are absolutely adorable. A mix of vintage plastic, freshwater pearl and sterling silver (great for those who, like me, have sensitive ears!), you can snatch these up for $18.
I've been lucky enough to have some amazingly patient people working with me! As a thank you for waiting for my busy little butt to get back to you, I present the MASHUP! I'm repaying the favor to the lovelies with little mini editorials - hope all you readers find these as delightful as their wonderful owners clearly are! (PS - these guys didn't know I did this or request it - this coverage is a special thank you!)
BOBE (BEYOND ORDINARY BATH ESSENTIALS) | An unusual amount of stress has certainly made bubble baths more frequent in the past few weeks, and I'd love to have bobe's Bath Mousse in Cotton Candy, Cupcake, Frosted Sugar Cookie, or Va Va Vanilla near the tub with me! (Like most women, crunch time tends to bring out the sweet tooth in me!) Grab a 4 ounce size for $8.00 Canadian. Now until October 31, stock up at bobe with a 15% off coupon code through Blue Monday! Use code "Blue15".
SW BODYWORKS | Also undoubtedly heading to the tub with me would be SW Bodyworks' absolutely yummy-sounding Bath Salts. With 8 ounces of "AHHHHHHH" for $8.00, there's really no reason not to. Now until October 31, stock up at SW Bodyworks with a 20% off coupon code through Blue Monday! Use code "211075105".
ACCESSORY BUG | It's th at time of the year again - the holidays are quickly approaching! What better way to celebrate the glitz and glamour of the season than with gold and bling - on a clutch! Yeah, I knew you couldn't think of anything better. Now until October 31, stock up at Accessory Bug with a 10% off coupon code! Use code "spooky".
MINGI EARRINGS | It's not only earrings of course - I actually LOVE this Fresh Necklace! It's a great, fun twist on the classic cluster necklace. Now until December 31, stock up at Mingi Earrings with a 10% off coupon code! Use code "Fan907"
So... draining my wallet again. Call it stress shopping, if you will! I purchased the Rosemary necklace from Prismera late last week and got it last night. I was soooo happy!
This necklace goodness is my favorite herb in an awesome stylized silhouette cut from stainless steel. It's even prettier in person and is shockingly lightweight (in a good way! I was slightly nervous when I heard "steel" that it would have me hunched over... okay, so I exaggerate slightly, but you get what I mean). I was so enthusiastic about this necklace that apparently I unknowingly said "Isn't this necklace beautiful?!" aloud several times until my boyfriend had to point out, "Do you realize how many times you've said that already?!" I'd say that means it gets a two thumbs up! I've already had multiple compliments on it and have passed the Prismera URL onto several others (and it's only 10 am the next day!) and will definitely be purchasing another necklace (or several...) once I get back from New York.
Lauren, a fellow Switchboarder, gave me a heads up a few days ago about her jewelry line, Urban Bloom. With a mix of core, limited edition, and one-of-a-kind items, Urban Bloom has a great variety of interesting pieces that are certain to draw compliments.
My favorite? The Lucy Belle necklace, above, which is available at Urban Bloom for $36. I'm a sucker for blue, but I like the different tones and shapes of the shell and glass beads and how they look together. The gold really compliments the blues and makes them look richer - a great metal and color combination!
I've been telling myself for weeks now that I need to cut down on my number of Jewelry posts in favor of more democratically spreading featured crafters from across all departments - but I'll just have to make that up later, because I just adore all of the jewelry (particularly the necklaces) from Amy Bengtson. I particularly fell in love with the Owl necklace above, which is available on her site for $125.
What's great about these pieces are the combination of wood and metal - almost like nature meets industry - and how that reflects in the designs on there. The illustrations are all very organic in what they depict or evoke, but are all rendered in a modern, silhouetted style or graphic pattern that speaks very much to design in the digital age. Absolutely gorgeous!
I don't know about you, but the work from Fuss Jewelry was just meant to pull at my heart strings. For a long while now (since seeing Marie Antoinette in theaters) I've been obsessed with anything pastel (preferably pink and blue) with gold. I think the pieces at Fuss Jewelry sort of echo that nostalgia in their design and color palette while still having a distinct modern charm that just makes me... giddy.
I love the variation in sizes between the different beads and Swarovski pearls, especially on the Soft Pink and Blue Signature Wrap Cocktail Ring (above) - it gives the pieces more dimension and makes for a particularly interesting profile on the ring.
Today's interview features the lovely Jenny Vorwaller (currently traveling in South America, the lucky gal!), who is the brains behind queenthings. Between her jewelry and her product photography, her work is a feast for the eyes.
Tell us a bit about yourself and queenthings.
I create narratives with my handmade jewelry collections.
What made you pick up jewelry in the first place? Where did you learn your techniques?
It was in Tuscany last summer, I was taking a watercolor workshop with my mom. I was standing there in the Etruscan Museum in Cortona, looking at these tiny ancient necklaces and my heart had never beat so fast. That was it for me.
Having a little background dabbling with the modeling industry (and I mean a really brief stint) I left satisfied that the industry wasn't for me, but still feeling this pull to the fashion world big time. I thought about promoting my painting and drawing before, but I've always felt those are more personal mediums for me, something I share occasionally. Jewelry just pulls the best of both worlds. Fashion and art collide and I feel like I get it all, it's a major indulgence.
I'm completely self taught, though I recently took a little metal class in my neighborhood (here in Montevideo, Uruguay) which was great since the instructor spoke no English! So it's confirmed that art is no discriminator to language barriers, haha. Since the course wrapped up, I'm finding some really unique ways to put my own style on the technique, called " repujado," which is actually quite popular in Spain even though Uruguayans use it a lot in their handicrafts. So I've been experimenting with it. I'm finding some really unique ways to put my own style on it, but I have yet to see if I will work it in my collections. So other than that, I just work intuitively.
What motivated you to make queenthings into a business rather than a hobby? What was your strategy for promoting yourself once you decided to start it up, and was it effective?
I really do just rely on my intuition with everything I do. I don't have a business strategy outside of making time to do what excites me, and sharing it with other people by putting it out there. So far I think it's working out wonderfully.
Is there any particular advice you'd give to someone interested in starting a crafting business, online or off?
Make mistakes of ambition! And just be genuine. I feel that comes through in everything, online or off, people can respond to being authentic and it gets real contagious. I always remind myself that there are no limitations except for the ones that I put on myself. That really puts things in perspective for me. What everyone else is doing has no bearing on my art, and no one is really there to stop me either.
The jewelry you make has an interesting spin - it's all narrative. What inspired you to take that approach?
I don't know, I think it just made sense after designing all over the place for so long. I was one of the first to sign up on Etsy two years ago, back in July 2005. I began putting some handmade jewelry in my Etsy shop and was mostly concerned with keeping it stocked. I remember I was gone from my studio traveling for a few weeks, and being away from the whole process was really hard because I loved it so much. But it helped me to physically step back and just examine what I was making and why. Now I just practice more restraint by desiging only what I really love, nothing more, nothing less. I could see that I wanted to put a real flair to my work, so that when someone wears one of my pieces, there is a tiny significance beyond just something pretty to wear. I adore communicating narratively, since fashion and jewelry can sometimes be just superficial (which is totally fun) adding some of my own history to my pieces gives them an heirloom feel.
How do you start your jewelry making process? Do you sketch or pull inspirational photography, or do you experiment with materials until you find something you like? How do your themes and story lines fit into this process?
I keep a loose sketchbook, since papers and collages I collect never seem to stay bound because I like to spread it all out in front of me. So having neat piles with all my drawings and ideas all complied by a giant clip make it easy so I can toss in all my tote bag if I want to take it with me to my favorite bistro! Right now I have three different collections in motion, and you know it might sound really disorganized, but it keeps me put together. And it keeps me interested.
Photography really pushes me forward too. On average, I easily take about 100 pictures a day! Especially now that I've been traveling so much. It keeps me aware of what is around me and also acts as a little device for developing my eye for beauty.
Since my lifestyle has so much mobility now (I only have what fits into a few suitcases) I've realized I have a few simple things that have always increased my productivity: a fresh bouquet of flowers on a tidy studio table and my favorite music in constant stream in the background. I guess it wasn't until I stripped down my belongings into what I really used and faced an empty white room to set up shop again to find that the music and the flowers came out and I was ready to go.
One of the things I like the most about your work is your eye for color and how it relates to the metals and textures you're working with. Where do color themes fit into your process, and what inspires them?
It's so serendipitous most of the time. Sometimes it's a tearsheet from a runway photo, other times it's found from walking in a garden, or the street market antiques that get me sketching jewelry designs. It gives me butterflies knowing that I don't have an exact formula for what inspires me. All that is required is that it has to get my heart beating. I want to feel excited about what I make! I feel really sensitive to color and how it effects me, so maybe that comes into play when choosing what palettes to work with too.
You work with a variety of materials in your jewelry, from various wire and chain metals to brass charms and other findings. Is there any in particular that are you favorite, and why?
I really love chain for it's necessity in my designs and for all it's versatility, depending on it's form. Like if I find some delicate chain, I like to hang it like drapery. Or I use chunky dark chain to offset stones to make a piece more edgy. I like that balance of something modern and making a statement, but always keeping it feminine and delicate. Behind it all, I just want something that will make a modern girl feel regal and special. My favorite materials right now are gold, dendritic tree agate, branch coral, and pearls. And I'm just smitten with my geode pendants! I wear one all the time and without fail, it always gets people talking and wanting to see it up close and that just makes my day.
What is your favorite part about being a member of the online crafts community? Blogging. I just love blogging and everything associated with it! It keeps me going, makes me so happy. I'm just delighted to say, "blogger" along with being a mother, artist, wife, you know all those titles that we give ourselves. Life is too short not to partake in something that brings you happiness I say.
Among many things I dabble in, I love jewelry. Other than paper crafting, there's really nothing more relaxing that wrapping wire while watching a movie - I can't really explain it, and maybe it's just me. If you're one of those who, like me, love to keep their hands busy, it's certainly a worthwhile thing to pick up. Here's some suppliers and tutorials to keep you busy (in no particular order).
Suppliers
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads: really great supplies to get you started. There's a lot of diverse stuff, and their customer service is very helpful.
Rings and Things: Probably my favorite supplier. They've got a lot of unique items, and it's my go-to place for charms at the moment. Shipping is very quick, and their customer service is amazing.
JewelrySupply.com: I have yet to order from them, but they seem to have a pretty good assortment. I like to do a lot of simple charm work in my jewerly, and I'd definitely consider them when buying in the future.
Frost Creek Charms: Exclusively silver-toned metal charms, but they have a great selection.
Laramie Studios at EBay: Far and away my favorite source for vintage beads. Since they're located near Providence, Rhode Island (which used to be the jewelry capital of the world), they have great resources at their fingertips and have great finds! They're consistently very helpful and friendly, as well.
Beadin' Path: A somewhat recent find for me, Beadin' Path has a lot of great Vintage jewelry supplies, including Lucite beads, cabs, and pendants. I like that I can shop by color, which is really helpful when I have a project already in mind and know the color and material I want to work in.
Tutorials
Fire Mountain Tutorials: Fire Mountain has a lot of really great beginner to advanced tutorials to learn from. They're well-written and extremely helpful, regardless of what level of crafting you're on.
Norma Jean Polymer Clay Food Tutorials: Mini polymer clay food jewelry is pretty big, and nobody does better tutorials for getting into makng them than this website. The bakery section? Far and away my favorite - I'm a carbs kind of girl.
Okay, so in (yet another!) moment of weakness, I purchased this Art Shool Dropout necklace from the blog Modish's new store, Modishoppe. It was featured on her blog as a new item, and even though I saw it a day late, it was (somehow!) still there - definitely a too good to be true moment. My more frugal side made a compromise with my "needitnow!" side and I decided that if it was still there after three hours of back to back to back meetings at the end of the day, I'd treat myself. Clearly, my needitnow side is quite pleased with itself, and after receiving my "order shipped" email today, it has been making me refresh the tracking number every couple of hours or so.
Clearly, I'm quite excited that I even got to an Art School Dropout necklace I liked in time, but to be fair, Modishoppe has got a lot of other interesting stuff in the shop. I definitely give it a thumbs up on the diversity of the offering - there's a lot of different aesthetics within the categories of merchandise so there's really something for everyone. It's a true reflection of the blog, and I certainly can't wait to see what comes out next!
EDIT: I received it today, and it's gorgeous! Jena did a great job with the wrapping and presentation, and I even got a quick little thank you note from her, which was a very nice personal touch. It's probably my best experience shopping indie so far, and I plan on emailing her to let her know that!
Through a "I-don't-know-how-many" series of clicks I ended up at the Queenthings website, and I thought I should take some time out to say how great it is. As a graphic designer and crafter, I can appreciate it on so many levels. The designer, Jenny Vorwaller, uses her jewelry and product photography in an inspirational, narrative way. Instead of opting for an outline shot (the traditional object on a white background) she sets her jewelry in a world that inspired it, creating a feast for the eyes that doesn't stop at her well-designed product.
I was sad to learn that all of her pieces at her Etsy shop are currently sold out, but I found these beautiful earrings that she's currently designing on her personal blog. There's a bunch of other previews, so for some great inspiration (or if you just want to drool with anticipation), I definitely suggest checking them out.
I'm so bad. Everytime I get a little ahead I splurge on stuff I've been drooling over since, well, the last time I was a little ahead. Okay, well maybe not every time, but it certainly seems like it.
Five minutes ago was no exception when I purchased my first Charmed and Dangerous necklace (Dragonfly, $35, above). I was completely sincere when I said before my break that I go to their blog pretty frequently to see what new stuff they have - I love their necklaces and there is a great deal of surprise and delight in each of their new styles. Maybe my appreciation stems from the fact they have a similar jewelry design style to what I do (although I am, I emphasize, a hobby designer; I dabble in far too many things to ever have the courage to settle on one thing and do it phenomenally well like they do. Call it Design ADD.). The product names are endearing and I love the idea that it's a mother-daughter team (my mother can't draw a stick figure well, let alone actually make something functional...).
My challenge to them? I would love to see how they take on bracelets. My piercing holes have long closed, so I can't do earrings, and I think I generally prefer bracelets to earrings anyway. Most people who create charm bracelets have a tendency to go a little overboard though, which is why I think their aesthetic would turn out great when translated.
I first came across dichroic glass at the RISD Student Art sale as a freshman. It was sort of the hip thing for glass majors to do - take the pretty glass in one color and make them into pendants. Lis Kidder's work is a lot more than pretty glass, though. Utilizing multiple colors as well as patterns the designs are well-planned and beautiful. The textures and brilliance are intriguing and the artist has a great sense of color.
My favorite? I love this pendant (Pink-Yellow Shift Dichroic Fused Glass Pendant, $22), which has a color scheme perfectly ready for spring.
There's really nothing more exciting to me than coming across the work of a fellow Rhode Island School of Design alumn and seeing what interesting things they've been doing after school. Rachel Sudlow Jewelry is no exception, and her peapod jewelry, which can be purchased through Etsy, are so much fun! I'm quite fond of this peapod necklace ($40), which features gorgeous graduated Amazonite beads against the standard sterling silver leaf featured in the other versions of this design. The peapods come in other sizes and "pea" colors (including Silver Pearl, Green Dyed Mother-of-Pearl, and Red Coral), so make a point of checking out the Peapod Collection. With a variety of colors, they really are a fun, innovative design that will have everyone asking, "Where did you get that?!"
Happy New Year from TTAH! Just a short update for today, but I while browsing Etsy I found these fun Gift Bow earrings from LP Designs. They're only $5.95 but man, what a festive way to celebrate the day!
Maybe I'm a sucker for clean lines and briolettes, but there are quite a few pieces of jewelry at Denise Petkoff's DP* Design that I would wear. There were even some I'd wear if it was another color but then I realized that you can choose the color of your stone if you don't care for the one displayed - and she captured my little OCD heart. Briolettes with Pearls earrings, $28; Drouble Strand Gold necklace, $42.
One of my professor's favorite sayings while I was at school was that" simple does not have to be simplistic". A little on the vague side when taken at face value, but what he meant was that great design doesn't have to come from being over the top, and that consideration of the actual overall composition and the attention to materials can make a paired down piece a better end product than its flashy counterpart. When I stumbled across Arbor Beading, it struck me as the perfect example of what he was saying - although, granted, it is applied to another medium.
The pieces at Arbor Beading are, for me as a crafter, inspirational. The necklaces, earrings, and bracelets show the designers' innate ability to understand what materials and colors will enhance the classic styles they have to make them modern and interesting - I especially love the products featuring the dyed Mother of Pearl coin beads! Because Arbor Beading is able to so easily blend the classic and the innovative, you're pretty much guaranteed a addition to your jewelry collection that's sure to be a staple, and it allows them to have something to suit everyone's taste.
The featured design above is their Blue-Grey Pearl Charm Chain Bracelet ($58).
What's in the Try This at Home Reading Room this month? Here are our May recommendations, powered by Amazon.com!
