Greetings!
It has been one meltingly hot August here on the eastern seaboard. We hope that you have had a chance to get away, or that you are receiving this on your handheld device while on some fabulous trip to Hawaii, Florence or Sydney. Or maybe you decided to partake of the current rage -- the "staycation." (If only armchair traveling had the same allure!) Enjoy this month's tribute to the ocean's bounty -- the pearl. Federico Fellini said, "All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster's autobiography." Here are the tales of inspiration behind some truly magnificent pearl creations. And don't forget to visit the Contemporary Jewelry Design Group's website. We have just posted a new article about Sara Freedenfeld and her travels to South America and a new Trendwatch piece about Rocker Girl Chic. Feel free to mention Inspired by Design in your tweets and Facebook posts. The newsletters are archived at the CJDG website here. Please forward this to a friend or colleague (especially those who adore pearls!) Thanks for helping us spread the word. We hope you enjoy Inspired by Design. Let us know what you think through the contact form on the CJDG website. Many thanks. Regards, Jeanne Johngren President Contemporary Jewelry Design Group   |
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Aaron Henry Designs: Glitter and Glow
 A bejeweled trellis of diamonds supports a South Sea Pearl in this glowing ring from Aaron Henry's Embrace Collection. Combining imagery from lattice fences that Aaron runs by everyday and baskets from a visit to a mission in Southern California, Aaron Henry's design shows off the exquisite craftsmanship of a true perfectionist.
South Sea Pearl and Diamonds
18K White Gold
Contact: Aaron Furlong
Aaron Henry Designs
http://www.aaronhenry.com
info@aaronhenry.com
213-623-4228 |
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Alexandra Hart: Petals of the Sea
 Hart's hand-hammered Petals necklace and earring set is a sculptural tribute to the radiating form of the sea anemone. Delicately
reaching out into the surrounding ocean and swaying gently with the waves, this necklace moves with the wearer. Tiny seed pearls suggest the fertility of sea life and Hart's fertile imagination.
18K Gold hand hammered with Freshwater Keshi Pearls
Contact: Alexandra Hart
Alexandra Hart
http://www.alexandrahart.com
info@alexandrahart.com
619-286-9278 |
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Denny Wong: Sunset in Paradise
 Denny Wong's Sunset on Kona bracelet reflects his love for the island of Hawaii. Kona, the leeward side of the Big Island, is home to three volcanoes, black sand beaches and magnificent sunsets. The necklace form invokes a golden sun dropping into the ocean. The black diamonds are reminiscent of Kona's black sand beaches.
Freshwater pearl, pink diamonds, white diamonds and
rough black diamond beads. 18K Rose Gold.Contact: Denny Wong
http://www.dennywong.cominfo@dennywong.com808-947-0188 |
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Galatea Jewelry by Artist: Joy of Creation
The Chrysanthemum pendant is made from a carved pearl, born in the waters of Southeast Asia. Chi Galatea Huynh, accomplished painter, poet and
jewelry designer, has a patented process, where a gemstone bead is placed inside an oyster. After the pearl forms, the exterior is carved to expose the gem within.
The pearls are cultured at Galatea's own pearl farm in Vietnam. The jewelry is hand crafted in the United States and Vietnam.
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Gordon Aatlo: Beneath the Sea
 Color beneath the surface of the ocean inspired this cuff bracelet by Gordon Aatlo. Pearls
of creamy white, apricot, peach, pink and lavender create a rich mosaic.
Sapphires (~4 tcw.), Diamonds (~.50 tcw.)
18K Yellow Gold.
Cuff is available in 8", 7" or made
to
order. Contact: Christine Thoresen
Gordon Aatlo
http://www.gordonaatlo.com
gordon@gordonaatlo.com
650-593-7528
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Jennifer Rabe Morin: Pearlescent Dragonfly
Jennifer Rabe Morin felt that the feather pearls from the Mississippi River were reminiscent of insect wings and so she used them to capture the fleeting beauty of a
dragonfly in this platinum and natural pearl brooch. A three-time AGTA Spectrum Award winner, Jennifer has a palpable appreciation of nature and an undeniable drive to perfection.
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Jeffrey Appling: Surf's Up!
Jeffey Appling's Surfer Ring is an homage to beach life in
the 80's. Waves outline the ring's edge. Hot pink and turquoise tones call to Body Glove swimsuits
and the Zinka that surfers wore on their noses. Pearl and diamond accents are a natural foil to the uncommon colored metal in which they rest. The color is achieved by cross-linking pigments of paint
into the upper molecules of the underlying metal (silver mixed with platinum, copper and gold). By baking the paint into the metal it becomes
chip resistant, although there is wear over time. This ring is for board and web surfers alike.
Tahitian Pearls and Diamond or Pearl accents, mixed metal.
Contact: Jeffrey Appling
Jeffrey Appling
http://www.jeajewelry.com
jeff@jeajewelry.com
760-322-2883 |
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Paula Crevoshay: Celestial Moonbeam on the Water
Rarest of the rare, one in ten thousand conch will have a pearl. Only one in one hundred of those
pearls will be three millimeters or larger. Millions of conchs have to be
opened to find one of the pearls seen here, making these pearls legendary. At 32.40 carats, the pearl in this ring, called Celestial Moonbeam, is indeed legendary. Designed by Paula Crevoshay, this treasure is from the collection of the royal family of Sulu, and the pearl was found
in the Sulu Sea.
Natural
Conch Pearl (~32.40ct."N")
Moonstone (~0.35ct."A"), Zircon (~3.96ct."H"), 18K yellow gold. Contact: Paula Crevoshay or Martin Bell
Paula Crevoshay
http://www.crevoshay.com
info@crevoshay.com
505-898-2888 |
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Tschetter Studio: Fruit of the Tropics
Tropical Daisy Tahitian Pearl is inspired by the South Pacific. Patricia Tschetter invokes fertile fruit hanging from a tropical tree with her pendant. Lush in contrasting color, the dark pearl vibrates against the deep yellow of Tschetter's 22K
gold granulation worked into overlapping petals. The pendant hangs from handmade, loop-in-loop Etruscan chain.
22K Gold/Granulation with Tahitian Pearl
Contact: Patricia Tschetter
Tschetter Studio
http://www.tschetterstudio.com
info@tschetterstudio.com
214-232-4970
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Executive Board
Jeanne Johngren, President
Vicente Agor, Vice President
Mark Schneider, Treasurer
John Petet, Secretary
Pam Ford, Board Member At-Large
Marylouise Lugosch, Executive Director
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The Contemporary Jewelry Design Group is a national association of professional jewelry designers dedicated to creative jewelry design and committed to the highest standards of integrity and ethics in business and in design. |
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