Anyone who works in polymer appreciates the genius of Judith Skinner’s technique of blending colors seamlessly across the surface. According to the fashion world, the ‘watercolor gradient adds a painterly finish to the season’s coolest staples.’ The fashion magazines are filled with ombre designs from head to toes…hair to shoes. Two examples are the shimmering rainbow evening bag from Roger Vivier (a limited edition of 50 and at $4050…perfect for any holiday occasion) and the subtle shading of the long gown from the Emilio Pucci’s (a definite departure from his typical pop art prints.)
I found myself at a loss for words to describe the fashion world of Valentino. Although he retired from the day to day operations of the Valentino brand, the jaw dropping designs continue to walk the runway. I will let the images of the chevron design that caught my eye in the latest Elle and the Spring/Summer 2015 runway show do the talking. (Love the lucite Minaudiere…be sure to scroll down the home page to see the ‘camubutterfly’)
Tattooed Steel is a California based company that offers artists the ability to transfer their work steel or titanium jewelry. ‘Tattooed Steel merges precision technology with the creative imagination and talent of the global artist community and offers a variety of handmade stainless steel jewelry made in the USA.’
Emmanuel Kasongo is a Congolese jewelry artist who works with tiny glass seed beads to create jewelry with a ‘riot of color’.“Emmanuel Kasongo creates art jewelry, that is fabulous, vibrant, colorful and yet are totally wearable, statement pieces. Tubular beaded necklaces made from tiny glass beads in a myriad of unexpected colorations, filling fine Italian mesh tubes. His necklaces, bracelets and earings are a riot of color and color combinations, not simply filling a mesh tube in a single skein, but threaded, braided and knotted together in a riot of shapes with fanned and pointed ends. His African heritage clearly expressing itself through his art, honed and directed by his Parisian childhood, moving from his native Congo to Paris, where he began his career in fashion. Kasongo lived in both Paris and Milan, and worked for the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier, Marithe Francois Girbaud and Romeo Gigli, sourcing, planning and organizing fashion shows and events.”
After receiving a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in sculpture from Hunter College, Emily Miranda’s career took an interesting turn...“through an unlikely hobby- sculpting edible natural history dioramas out of sugar. These ‘cakes’ led her to fall in love with the interactivity of design. Today, jewelry and curiosity mingle and merge within the Emily Miranda universe. Her creations are imagined as treasured specimens- fantastical objects or creatures washed up on a beach or hidden in a forest, waiting to be discovered by the discerning and inquisitive collector.”
The featured photos highlight the sculptural quality of her work and the video gives us a ‘peek’ into the source of many of her designs.
My apologies for the loooooooooong delay between posts…no excuses…just life interfering!
In the mid 80’s Charles Lewton-Brain introduced a new ‘wrinkle’ to metalsmithing…foldforming…the manipulation of metal into three dimensional shapes and textures. Self-taught artist, Noah Deledda, has taken a ‘throw away’ item from daily life and created a masterpiece of foldformed aluminum…the Red Bull Can. “The inner beauty of the can’s polished aluminum surface is revealed. By hand, I apply dents to sculpt patterns of shapes onto the can’s surface. The designs are made possible by the properties of the cylinder and the malleability of the aluminum. Thus presenting the familiar object and method in an unfamiliar way. The sculptures suggest the art of possibility, overlooked beauty and the irony of unexpected simplicity.”
Israel’s Hagar Arnon Elbaz has aptly named her Etsy shopGilgulim…or reincarnation. Her work includes as many recycled, reused or second had materials as possible.
“My love for textile, buttons, beads, lace and ribbons goes back very far to the time when I was a little girl visiting my grandma’s house. My grandma had a room full of cupboards of all sizes and colors in which she piled her treasures that had come all the way from Germany back in 1939. It included fur coats, stray keys, strings, mother of pearl and crystal buttons from her father’s shop, lace along with cotton night gowns and linen she had received for her wedding. This room was my paradise. When I grew up I followed my love and became a textile designer.”
Baharal-Gnida is a husband and wife team who bring backgrounds in furniture design, ceramics and metal smithing to the world of art jewelry. “An exploration of sculptural form is at the core of the jewelry objects Talya Baharal and Gene Gnida create. Their work is hand-formed and constructed of sterling silver, bronze, copper and steel, achieving a formidable visual scale yet very light and wearable. Abstracting bold contemporary form while drawing inspiration from iconic themes is at the heart of the their work.”
If you have a bit of extra money to spend, rush over to Burberry for the hand painted Bloomsbury bag. If not, find a leather bag in the closet or thrift store, pull out your stash of acrylic paints, channel first grade art class and you will be saving anywhere from $3,000 to $37,000. OH…of course, there are the shoes…do not forget the shoes!!!
According to the February issue of American Craft Magazine, 2014 is the year of the charm. “Whether it’s a single statement piece dangling from your wrist or a full-on array, charms are back from the fashion past and more chic than ever.”
A definite ‘we can do this’ inspiration is the Endless Charm Bracelet from Endless Jewelry. Move from leather to extruded polymer; wirewrap charms or create your own from polymer or metal clay; slip everything on memory wire…CHARMING!!!
Anyone who works in polymer appreciates the genius of Judith Skinner’s technique of blending colors seamlessly across the surface. According to the fashion world, the ‘watercolor gradient adds a painterly finish to the season’s coolest staples.’ The fashion magazines are filled with ombre designs from head to toes…hair to shoes. Two examples are the shimmering rainbow evening bag from Roger Vivier (a limited edition of 50 and at $4050…perfect for any holiday occasion) and the subtle shading of the long gown from the Emilio Pucci’s (a definite departure from his typical pop art prints.)
Ornamental Elements 