We're Back Home

Florida was wonderful, but we're back home now, preparing our applications for juried jewelry shows around the tri-state area. We came home a little lighter after our sisters and sisters-in-law rummaged through the sample cases for new earrings. Jeanne and Ann both took 4 pair each, after saying, "Well, I don't want to be a pig, but...." We forced a pair on Judie, who announced her engagement to nephew Michael.  

Why Are These Women Smiling?

Perhaps they are smiling because they're gathered in sunny Florida for a family reunion. Or maybe because they're all wearing the new earrings that I gave them for being such dear, dear family friends.

That's mom on the left with two of her three daughters. The oldest daughter (not pictured) recently gave birth to her own girl, making mom (yes, her, in red) a grandmother. And that's really why they're smiling.

Gorgeous Great Neck Mom

Here is my glamorous neighbor who is demonstrating how to wear the curlique scarf.




You can usually find her sitting around my backyard like this.

There's Good News and There's Good News

First, the good news: folks looking for our jewelry and accessories on the West Coast now have someone wonderful to turn to in Los Angeles. Alice Gold, who was instrumental in starting this business in 2001, will be stepping in again. You can email Alice at alice.gold@verizon.net.

And the good news is that two of the most beautiful moms in Great Neck (I'm not kidding -- wait til you see them) have graciously offered to model their scarves for our blog. We have scheduled the photo shoot for Wednesday. Check in on Wednesday night or Thursday morning to see them. Or just check in anyway.

Day-Of-Rest Quilt

Now that we are finished with shows for 2005, I took some time off to play. This quilt is a wonderful diversion. The center squares are made from a sueded cotton made by Cherrywood Fabrics. In addition to its scrumptious feel, Cherrywood cottons are deeply saturated with color. And because I consider them so dear, I have used them sparingly and carefully arranged "random" frames around the irregularly cut squares. These squares will be joined and then ringed with two borders -- a tidy black inside border and a big scrappy outside border.

The trick is maintaining a balance between the chaos and the control. Each square must measure exactly 9.5 inches, but there should not be a symmetrical shape anywhere within its borders. The piece should convey great restraint and, at the same time, complete abandon. 

What a Beauty

Now, here's a good friend. She came by the house recently wearing one of our lariats and kindly stopped to pose for this picture with the big ruffle scarf. This is the version that is studded with baby freshwater pearls. It's nice this way, don't you think?

One Scarf; Two Ways

Two of our friends suggested today that we publish some pictures of women wearing the scarves. The "Flag Scarf," so named because it looks as if little flags have been tied to it, can be worn doubled and then looped through--something like a lariat. Our office manager wears it this way inside a suit. Underneath, a tank top for ease. The scarf gives it a pulled together look.

We're also showing the wasabi green version both ways.

Back to the Studio for 2006

We're finished with our shows for 2005 and preparing for the new year. The lariats (see picture) were completely sold out, so we will focus on lariats first with a fresh line of spring colors and stones.

However, we still have a lovely assortment of warm winter scarves, some of them just coming off the knitting needles. The new colors include red, pumpkin, steel grey and lilac. We will post pictures as soon as they're available.

12/30/05: The lariat on the far left was sold at the East Hampton Crafts Show.

How to tell your bracelet apart from knock-offs or your sister's (hint: it's in the button)

If you've been reading previous posts, you'll know where I'm heading.

When I make my jewelry, I usually produce it in batches of 8 to 10 pieces. That's about the maximum amount because of the availability of materials, the size of our production team (me and three helpers) and how quickly I tire of a single design. Many customers buy two or even three at a time because they know that the next batch will be different, perhaps not entirely, but it will never look exactly the same. I guess you could say that I don't produce one-of-a-kind pieces, so much as 8-of-a-kind pieces. So, if you have bought two or three bracelets, how do you tell the difference between yours and the one you gave your sister, or the one your buddy bought at the same time? The answer is in the details. In this case, the buttons.

Even within a limited batch, each of the buttons is different. The buttons are found willy-nilly and I rarely get two, nevermind 8, of the same kind. So while your bracelet may look identical to your friend's, it is not.To avoid any confusion, take a moment to get to know your button. Is it a mirrorback, with those little shiny reflections behind a lacy tin cover? Is it a "figural" button, with the picture of a person in a particular setting, like a boy on a farm carrying water? Perhaps it's a floral button, with lily etched in pinpoint dots. It only takes a moment and it's hard to forget once you do.

This way, after you have finished washing the holiday dishes, you'll be able to identify the bracelet that belongs to you. And you won't get into a fight with your sister. At least not over this.

Old Glory

When I find old buttons, they look something like this. If you look hard enough, you can see traces of beauty. But it isn't until you spend some time with each one that you bring out the fine details and luster. I have tried chemical dips and electric buffing tools, but there is no substitute for careful cleaning and hand polishing. It is much like polishing very tarnished fine silver. The more you do it, the better it gets. And images that were hidden come to the surface.

Sometimes I become so enamored of a button that I refuse to part with it, which is bad for my jewelry, not to mention my business. If I were to keep all the good ones for myself, it would mean that my jewelry would always be second best. So I use the good buttons, bravely sewing them on my bracelets and watching them march off forever when the bracelet is sold.

Beauty needs to be shared to be appreciated. And it cannot be appreciated unless it is seen. If something cannot be seen, then cannot be beautiful. It would be like an old button stuck on a crummy piece of cardbaord, covered with tarnish.

Back to Basics

These pieces represent the core of our collection. The idea is jewelry that feels and wears like clothing. As a lifelong knitter, I have always appreciated texture and color but I also look for drape, the way a piece hangs from and moves with its wearer. Less like hardware and metal and more like a shawl or an edge of lace. Our pieces often close with a button or a snap or simply wrap around the body. And the buttons...don't get me started about the buttons.

Our buttons are antique metal with intricate designs. We find them at vintage clothing shows. They are very old but often dark and tarnished. Cleaning and polishing these little gems is a blessed chore. We often find "diamonds in the rough," tiny works of art that come alive under the polishing cloth. It's these happy discoveries that make this work so rewarding.

This is my cue to post a picture of some buttons. Let me get to it.  

Oh Look. A Necklace.

For those of you who are just joining us, I should show you some of our "signature" pieces. Our marketing director reminds me that necklaces and bracelets are the mainstay of our operation. Here, then, is our leaf necklace. It is about 16 inches long, made with precious little glass flowers and leaves from the Czech Republic, pearls, Swarovski crystals and Japanese glass. It closes with a larger glass flower clasp that "disappears" into the necklace when it is joined.

One of our friends wears this necklace to great effect on a plain, black, sleeveless sheath dress with a black jacket. It's just the perfect outfit because you never look under-dressed, and you never look over-dressed. It works for business functions, fund-raising banquets, christenings, bar mitzvah services, dinner with your in-laws, you name it. Our friend always manages to look like a lady.

Did I mention that she wears the necklace with a matching caterpillar cuff bracelet? This dazzling little bauble is chock full of the same components as the necklace, but hand-stitched to a woven band that drapes beautifully over the wrist and closes snugly with a snap hidden under an ultrasuede clasp.

We'll try to post a picture tomorrow.

Too Beautiful to Keep to Myself

When I made the original version of this scarf, I showed it to my artist-friends and they immediately took to their knitting needles for a try at their own. My non-knitting friends offered to buy it, but it was not for sale. Too expensive for materials, too time-consuming to make. I made a second one and again was offered any sum of money for either one. Again I refused. Then a friend whose name will remain anonymous phoned to say she was going to buy one because I didn't need two. No, I said, they're mine. It was then brought to my attention that Lisa (oops) is so beautiful and socially gifted that I should pay HER to wear it. So now she does. The coral and the pumpkin scarves are the 3rd and 4th ones to be made and are available for sale.

Another view of coral-edged scarf

 

Coral-edged corkscrew scarf

Made from hand-painted merino wool, this is very soft against the skin and very flattering to the face. Wear it with olive, brown, pink (there are streaks of fuchsia in it), violet and all shades of orange. It is more than 50-inches long. The handwork, the color changes and the voluptuous shape are so appealing, you won't be able to take your eyes off it.

Pumpkin curls

This delicious scarf is made from a very hard-to-find hand-painted merino wool.

Winter White Ruffle

This is the same curly scarf in cream-colored mohair and silk. It is also studded with baby brown pearls and feels like a dream. It looks so feminine and it's good at keep out the cold.

Ruffle Scarves

Here, as promised, are pictures of the new corkscrew scarves. The black one is made from mohair and silk, sprinkled with tiny brown pearls. Extremely soft, very lavish. The first woman who bought this wore it with a severe brown suit with no other adornment. It was smashing.