escapist new york

when i'm in the thick woods of painting at the bare bulb wire, i often fantasize about all the lovely things i will do once i'm released. lately, my escapist thoughts have lead me to my homeland, NY. I'll be sure to catch the brothers quay at my alma mater: the new school, whose wondrous films have often been my repeated nighttime lullabies and have nudged me into sleep.

i've also been dying to see the francis bacon exhibit at the met, where they'll have some of those obsessive velazquez pope paintings, among other dark beauties.

& to end what i'm sure will be a long day, i'd love to have a drink at elsa, from this lovely sewing machine tap, which would only be better if my twin fae was still in NY!!!!!!!

Jessica's New Jewel

Unlucky in love - lucky in diamonds? One way to ease the break-up blues is with a sparkling free diamond ring. Jessica Simpson may not be reveling in the state of her love life following the singer's well-publicized recent split from super-jock Tony Romo, but jeweler Pascal Mouawad gave her reason to smile on Tuesday night.

During a party for one of Pa Simpson's new artists, An-Ya, Mouawad gave Jessica a stunning $10,000 5-carat diamond ring from his Black and White Diamond Collection.

The jeweler is well known for his fondness of celebrity muses. Heidi Klum and Nicole Richie are a couple of the jeweler's celebrity designers - is he wooing Jessica to join his stable of stars?

Whatever his plans, they'll have to wait as the Simpsons are headed East next week to spend some time in Japan to work on her on her upcoming VH1 reality show about beauty.

busy in the studio......

i've been crazy! in the studio, toiling on twins and jewelry. in the meantime, i've been checking out these amazing antique engravings that are bizarre and creepy with religious tones over at transmission atelier inc.

Mini work bench

My "studio" is actually my living room, which I share with two other adults, 1 Irish Setter, 2 Shar-Peis and 3 cats, so an already small space can get rather crowded! I have a nice jeweler's workbench but it's not really big enough, especially when I need to do some concrete or finishing work that will contaminate my metal clay. I found this sturdy microwave cart at Target. It has a wooden top, one shelf and one flat drawer so with a few modifications it's a perfect mini work bench! I already had the metal drawers (also from Target) which fit almost perfectly, and we added strips of wood around the top to keep stuff from rolling off, screwed in a bench pin, and got a board to put in the flat drawer and now I've a got a compact new workspace! Any metal sawing will still get done on the real bench since it's much more solid, but I can now do my dirty work away from my metal clay area. Yay!

heather benning does dollhouses

     

i first discovered heather benning's dollhouse in lula # 8 months ago, and its still haunting me. the idea of a life size dollhouse composed from within a rotting, abandoned home in the middle of a prairie is so creepy & amazing, i've been working a on a short story about it. 

Ivanka Trump Flaunts 'The Ring'

This weekend, the Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) feted the fairer sex of their industry, and the glittering event brought out the bling in full force.

Among the shimmering crowd at Chelsea Piers in New York was a glowing Ivanka Trump - CEO of Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry - who wore basic black and diamonds galore. Included in the ice was her new engagement ring from fiance, Jared Kushner, that's rumored to be a 5-carat stunner from her own jewelry collection. I'm also digging her diamond tassle necklace - an emerging silhouette that may just be fall's biggest trend. Stay tuned.



Another fashion superstar in diamonds last night was Diane von Furstenberg, who was honored with the WJA Lifetime Achievment Award - it's not hard to guess why. The Divine Miss D has been a presence in the jewelry industry for decades, most recently teaming up with luxury jeweler, H. Stern, for a line of talisman jewels.


Noticeably absent from the event were 'celebrity jewelry' faces that have been putting their mugs on jewelry lines for a chance at fashion fame - and fortune.

Looks like the WJA knows how to single out the real women who know both business and baubles. Bravo!

Angelina’s Oscar Emeralds…on Nicky Hilton?

Jewelry hounds, I need your peepers. Is it me or is Nicky Hilton wearing THE SAME emerald earrings that Angelina Jolie made famous at the Oscars this year? The horror!

The giant teardrop-sized stunners are cut in the same shape as Angelina’s green gems, but I quite simply can’t imagine anyone who would want to trod that same hallowed jewelry ground. Especially someone low-key like Paris’s younger sib.

Hilton was walking the red carpet of sister Paris’s narcissistic, I mean, self-titled documentary, Paris, not France last week when the emeralds made their appearance.

It is possible that Lorraine Schwartz accessorized both Angelina and Nicky with the same emeralds, but any stylist worth their salt would surely know that repeating a history-making jewelry moment – and one made by Angelina Jolie no less – is anything but a wise choice in today's shark-infested fashion waters.

Mon Dieu!

What do you guys think? Are they the same earrings? Or are they look-alikes? Regardless, should she have steered clear of the fashion faux-pas or are the emerald earrings fair game for anyone who wants to be a…well..wannabe?

I know it's still July....

but here are some fall inspired pieces! It must be the Halloween front pages that Etsy is starting to run already, and the all the back to school stuff everywhere.

royal art lodge does quirky text

i'm a real sucker for these quirky pieces by the collective of folks over at royal art lodge. r.i.p? the text really makes each piece and i really dig nearly every one of them. take a peek for yourself.........xoxo.

topstitch x bloodmilk

if you live in philly, then you most certainly know about the amazing boutique topstitch located in olde city. the collaboration of several of philly's best powerhouse female designers & artists, topstitch is known for selling the most interesting and fashion forward clothing & accessories. i'm thrilled to announce that they have recently started carrying my bloodmilk line. i also recently updated my etsy shop with a few new jewels too!

xoxo.

Michael Jackson Memorialized in Diamonds

Now I’ve heard everything. Just when you thought commercially exploiting Michael Jackson’s death couldn’t get any more unseemly, news hit the wires today that Michael Jackson’s charred hair from that infamous Pepsi commercial is going to be turned into (drumroll......) diamonds.

Huh?

This may just beat Poppa Jackson’s disgusting self-promotion in the day’s following the King of Pop’s death and Jermaine’s chronic wearing of his Jackson 5 T-shirt. We get it, Jermaine. You're important too.


So Ralph Cohen, the Executive Producer for the Pepsi commercial, was apparently quick on his feet back then – not only saving Michael from his Jerry curl fire, but (eureka!) taking time out from the firey blaze to scoop up his charred hair to save for a rainy day.

Cohen eventually turned it in to John Reznikoff, one of America's most highly respected collectors, and now LifeGem, the world's first purveyor of diamond memorials, is creating high quality diamonds out of it for a limited collection.

No word yet on how much these little beauties will go for, but you can bet LifeGem is banking on at least high six, low seven figures.

I don’t know why I am surprised by this turn of events. The gold-plated coffin has barely left the Staples Center and folks are only seeing dollar signs.



What do you guys think? Is it OK for people to make money on the King of Pop’s death? Or have things gone too far? Would you buy a diamond made out of Michael Jackson's DNA if you could afford it? Weigh in!

heather nevay does the bedroom

heather nevay paints how i'd love to. her subject matter is creepy and unnerving & her painting skills are old master good. this lithe white haired girl appears in nearly every painting of hers, in a similar scenario of iron bed and claustrophobic room that is always growing some sort of natural landscape on it's walls. i dig that she's obsessive yet innovative. 

xoxo.

It's been 1 year since my first sale on Etsy

How time flies! I opened my Etsy shop as a way to hopefully earn a little money to support my hobby and be able to write off my related expenses. I had no idea when I made that first sale of the earrings in the photo that I would end up doing this full time. I'm so happy to no longer be working for "the evil little troll" (one of my nicer nicknames for my former boss). It's hard work, long hours every day of the week but I wouldn't trade it for my former job, that's for sure!

current nighttime obsessions iii.

icarus & hubris late night. ////feather headband by reid peppard found via.

fragment of the head of the queen /// poems by cate marvin. if that cover doesn't kill you........

xoxo.

Thea Izzi Jewelry - Luminous Elegance in Metal

Sheer elegance is how we view the artistic creations that emanate from the Thea Izzi studio. These pieces positively glow with luminous beauty and her signature pieces have an interior made of gold that reflects off itself in a shimmery display of light.

This piece is called "Three Gold Bowls"


With an emphasis on form and space, Thea creates hollow-form and hand-fabricated bi-colored pieces that seem to be illuminated with an interior glow. Her bi-metal pieces are made by taking 22kt gold and sterling silver sheet, then fusing and rolling them together. The gold reflects off of itself when it is used as the interior of a design. But when the gold is used as the exterior of a design then it is the silver interior that provides a shimmery contrast.

Folding metal upon itself seems to always provide intricate and interesting shapes and designs. Here we have a superb example of her work that is especially festive reminding us of holiday ribbon candy named "Ariel"



Thea expresses her motivations succintly when she says,

My work explores the convergence of geometric and organic shapes translated to ornament in metal. The forms are created by hollowed, cut and fabricated 22k gold over sterling silver “bi-metal” discs.

The luminous interior, caused by the gold reflecting off of itself, eludes to a light source contained in that space though none exists.

My process is largely unconscious and often motivated by playful experimentation, symmetry, repetition of patterns and illusions created by contrast fuel my inspiration for design.

As an example of her diverse offerings even within a particular design, her Gemma earrings are made in three versions: Sterling Silver, Oxidized Silver and 18k Gold, or 18K Gold and Sterling Silver Bi-Metal.




This pin is another lovely example of Thea's luminous work, called Bird of Paradise



We are inspired by the elegant jewelry and the incredible variety that Thea Izzi provides for her following of ardent jewelry lovers. Consider us a part of that following.

What do you find inspiring?

Let us know what you think.

Celebrity Jewelry Line Overload

From health care reform to rising unemployment and stimulus dough, there are a lot of issues out there for us all to ponder these days. But I’ve got one pressing question that’s been keeping me up nights.

How many friggin’ celebrity jewelry lines do we need, people?

I mean really. There are the success stories like Nicole Richie’s boho chic House of Harlow line and Paula Abdul’s HSN juggernaut. But do we really need D-listers like Christie Brinkley, Gladys Knight, New York Housewife, Kelly Bensimon and Heidi Montag’s sister joining the ranks?

Seriously.


Now news of singer, Lily Allen’s, new line is hitting the newswires and frankly? I could care less. You had me at Padma Lakshmi and jumped the shark at Tori Spelling, folks.

Do we really need the same old gold charm necklace you can get at any department store marked up an additional 40% because a singer with one big hit and a history of public drunkenness has her name on it?


I think I can live a full life never knowing or caring that Holly Montag gets to put her name on some gold chains simply because she ‘has always loved jewelry’, according to MTV. As if loving jewelry and having the same genetic makeup of a pathetic reality TV star are the only qualifications for for launching a bauble line.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe I’m being too harsh? I suppose there is room for everyone to peddle their wares out there. But I’m wondering if I’m the only one who has had my fill? What do you guys think?

Have you ever bought a piece from a celebrity jewelry line? Share your stories!

sarah gamble does unemployment

in the piazza, where my gallery, 'the toothless cat' lives, there are also many other wonderful galleries such as 'bambi gallery,' that hosts amazing monthly shows as well as handmade lovelies. this month's show 'unemployment paintings' by sarah gamble really caught me in their childlike paint application which is built up as if squeezed directly from the tube. each painting has a haunted, lonely feeling that still retains hints of childhood nostalgia. my favorite one is this huge, victorian, seemingly abandoned house that has a rainbow filtering into it, that may or not be inspired by the lightning & subsequent fire the painter endured to her own home. 

while i was there, i couldn't resist getting a picture of the love note a stranger left for gallery owner candace's bike. every now and then philly lives up to being the city of brotherly love.

xoxo

The magical world of Bataeff Salvage

Wonderful peeling green sheds and rusty metal

I always go to the scrap yard for tamale pots

Aluminum

For all your plastic bucket needs

Ammo boxes

We here in Santa Rosa are blessed with the always changing, never know what you might find Bataeff Salvage. My boyfriend Kelly is going to build a clothesline in the back yard and wanted some steel cable (he makes everything out of metal whenever possible!) so off we went to Bataeff today. I didn't really need anything so I just wandered around and was struck by all the amazing shapes, colors, textures and patterns that are found there. Imagine a scrap metal yard, Harbor Freight tools, an old fashioned hardware store, army surplus with a dash of flea market, and you've got Bataeff Salvage! They even have a web site now: http://www.bataeffsalvage.com
It was looking a little barren today though, I guess the price of scrap metal is down right now, but it's always worth a look.

Jewelry Fit for Kings and Queens

Jewelry hounds, you may be the only folks who really understand this next sentiment. You know that moment when the jewelry stars align, and you see a piece of jewelry so perfectly designed - so beautifully crafted - so YOU - that you know it will be forever ingrained on the fashion-obsessed part of your cerebral cortex?

I just had that moment when reviewing the new Dior Joaillerie line - their royal ‘Kings & Queens’ collection by Victoire de Castellane. The jewels feature one of my favorite trends – skulls – in an adorable brooch and ring pair. Yes, you’re meant to buy them as a royal couple! Adorable!


Just look at these little beauties. Can you imagine the gasps as you wear the skull ring to your next big event? Or better yet? Imagine the skulls' shine as you reach for that orange chicken Lean Cuisine during your next trip down the frozen food aisle. Glamour, people. Glamour.




The collection is made out of diamonds, opal, jade, quartz and obsidian, which along with the skulls symbolizes “eternity”, according to Dior. I’ve not been able to track down price points - which I’m thinking is just as well.

The King and Queen pieces even have cute little names: Queen of Jadélénie and King Opal to name a few.

Sigh.


So have you ever had a jewelry epiphany that rivals my new Dior skull obsession? If so, share the wealth! And what do you think about the royals? You die? Or not your style?

brandi milne does the circus

although i've recently posted about brandi milne's long legged lovelies here, i'm really digging this new painting with the inclusion of not only twins & a mini circus tent, but blood. she's also having a give away on her blog for an artist proof print right now.....

xoxo

Week 29-Coin Pearl Bracelet

A simple girly-girl bracelet this week as I've been too busy decluttering the house and garage to do much else. This is made using sections of purchased chain in between the coin pearls with blue chalcedony and pink amethyst rondelles added.

Diamond iPhone Tickled Pink

Pink diamonds have been lighting up celebrity betrothals for years now – from J-Lo’s famous rock back in the Ben days to Portia deRossi’s pink diamond ring bling. But pink ice isn’t just for ring fingers.

The Apple iphone 3GS just got a pink diamond makeover from UK-based Stuart Hughes.

Paris Hilton? Are you listening?

The pink beauty is made from 18ct rose gold and is decorated with 53 pink diamond gems set in the Apple logo to add a little sparkle.

And the cost to add this ‘essential’ accessory to your warchest? Only about $35,575, all told.

If pink diamond jewelry is more your style, check out Jewelry.com's assortment of colored diamond gems -all at prices that are much less than a new luxury coup.

And if you've ever wondered how diamonds get their color, they've got a great education section that tells you all you need to know.