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It’s no secret that my I’m obsessed with big stones. Especially when I get to turn them into big statement necklaces. But it’s hard to find big stones that are really great quality. Which is why I was so excited to get my hands on this stunning stone! Read on to see what it became…
When it comes to my aesthetic, I’m of two minds. I really love clean, modern design, but I also have a soft spot for layers of pattern on pattern. (It was even the subject of my MFA thesis.) Which is why one of my favorite ways to wear (and photograph) pieces from my Contra Collection is on top of pattern.
So whether it’s statement rings on patterned skirts or dresses, or statement necklaces on a floral patterned top, I just love seeing these stunning stones layered over pattern!
This time last year, I was celebrating one of my favorite ways to break style rules, mixing black and navy, with a fairly fancy holiday outfit. So it seems only fitting that this year I celebrate my love for black and navy with a much more casual outfit. (But still with an awesome Contra necklace, because if nature can mix black and navy, so can I!)
Thanks to technology, we spend a lot of time staring at our hands. (Or if you’re me, you spend a lot of time staring at your hands while editing pictures of your hands.) That’s why I love rings so much. They add some visual interest to the sameness that is staring at your keyboard all day.
Above picture features the Small Silver on Steel Circle Ring and the Medium Silver on Steel Circle Ring stacked together. (I’d recommend sizing up one whole ring size to make this stack work!) And the image on my computer screen features a Silver on Steel Stacking Ring worn as a thumb ring! (You can see more pics of that ring in this post!)
One of the highlights of my trip to New York City Jewelry Week was the opportunity to see Jewelry: The Body Transformed, the blockbuster jewelry exhibition at the Met. (Ok, technically, I saw it twice while I was on the trip. And once more last weekend, since a friend and I had to go to New York anyway to coach a cross country meet in the Bronx.) But can you blame me? The Met is my favorite museum in the world, and to see my chosen profession given top billing in such a prominent exhibition just makes me incredibly happy.
Just seeing the introductory text is a thrilling testament to the power of jewelry:
As an independent maker and designer, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of busy-ness this time of year. You only have to follow a few artists and makers on social media to see an endless stream of talk about stress and overwhelm. But I’ve never been a fan of that mentality this time of year, so I’m always looking for ways to slow down, savor little moments, and try to keep stress at bay.
Besides taking time to enjoy my morning cup of tea (in a handmade mug, like this one by Elizabeth Benotti), one of the other ways I’m trying to slow things down is by making it a point to document a lot of jewelry that’s leaving my studio. Like this Maya necklace (I shipped out three in the last week) and these silver on steel stacking rings.
Not only is photographing these pieces a nice way to slow down AND flex my creative muscles, I know that, years from now, I’ll appreciate being able to look back and see what I was working on (and obsessing over) at this moment in time!
In case it wasn’t clear from my recent blog posts (like this one, and this one, and all the ones of me holding things), I’ve pretty obsessed with rings right now! Which is why, even though I’m knee deep in holiday orders, I couldn’t resist sitting down to make these three new rings that I’ve had kicking around in my brain recently! And because I want you to have a chance to rock them this holiday season, they’re already available in my online store!
Pictured from left to right: the Large Circle, Medium Circle, and Small Circle Silver on Steel Rings!
Another day, another faux tree in a handmade ceramic mug. What can I say, I like what I like! Mug by Elizabeth Benotti. Silver on steel stacking rings by me! (And available in my online store!)
When I shared how I was revisiting an old statement necklace in this post, I shared the necklace being worn, which is, of course, my favorite way to share jewelry. But I realized that, with the black steel necklace on a black top, it’s not easy to see the detail in this piece! So today, I thought I’d share some details of this necklace on a white background, so you can really see how the tangle of handmade chain links happening in this piece!
And yes, this necklace is still giving me ideas for some new necklaces! (And maybe earrings too!) But I’ll probably have to wait until after the holidays to really explore them! If you’re curious, be sure to join my mailing list. It’s the best way to know when I release new work!
I always love when other people share images of themselves wearing my jewelry, which is why I was super excited when Janet from Household Art posted this image of herself wearing my Amy necklace and holding her Glory Graphic print! If there’s one thing I love more than my leaf shape, it’s seeing my leaf shape repeated over and over again!