New Druzy Agate Cocktail Rings

Anya E. did a beautiful job capturing these bold druzy rings on craggy rocks near a Japanese beach.  Makeup artist, Kimberly Clay, and hair stylist, Erica Freeman, created a soft natural look for the model, Jessica Serna.  The day was grey and drizzly, a perfect setting to let the colors of these bright, glittering stones pop.

Cognac Druzy in Gold.

Champagne Druzy in Silver.

Blue Druzy in Silver.

Pink Druzy in Silver.

Natural Inspirations

 Photographer, Anya E., did an beautiful job evoking the natural inspirations behind these jewelry collections during our shoot in a Japanese sugar cane field.  These images are peaceful and serene with model, Liz Craig, resting on a bed of tall grass wearing the luxury Starlette Collection with white diamonds set in 18k yellow gold.  Liz stacked the Starlette ring with a faceted pink tourmaline and 18k yellow Barcelona ring.

Japanese Language

 

Sakura Charm (back view).  Kangi engraving reads vertically from right to left: 

"Hei Sei Two Ten Year. Ten Two Month. Two Ten Seven Day. Okinawa Japan."

The Japanese language is beautiful to look at and to read.  Often a combination of various alphabets, Kangi, Katakana and Hirgana, the characters are varied and interesting to look at, even for those who are not fluent (like me!).  I especially love hand painted signs and the stylized flare that each individual uses to form the characters. 

There are also many gorgeous cut metal lamps with the characters written in light.  There is something very poetic about these letters punctuating the darkness.  This lantern hangs like a sign at the entrance of a small restaurant near our home.

Architecture and Jewelry

The ornately carved lattice in the foyer of the Can'na Boutique Hotel worked as a nice backdrop for some more architectural pieces of jewelry.  This beautiful Japanese hotel has a distinctly polynesian aesthetic with dark stained wood carved interiors, white canopy beds, and bungalow suties. 

 

Joanna Racine is modeling the vermeil Badala hoops, vermeil Marrakech cuff and pink sapphire pave trim Sakura pendant.  The Badala Collection is inspired by Indian archways, a curvilinear pattern that is seen often at the top of doorways or windows.  The Marrakech Collection was created with Moroccon architectural patterns in mind.  The cuff is meant to almost look like a trellis for the arm. 

The vermeil Barocco loop earrings are also inspired by architecture, specifially patterns from the Baroque Period.  The shape is like an empty cameo.

I love the terracotta roofs, walls, and gates in Okinawa.  I can't photograph them enough!  The quality of the morning light in this photo made for an ethereal shot.

Tomoka, a Japanese model from Hokkaido, is wearing the silver Badala hoops with a silver Lace relief pendant. (photos by: Suz Allis)

Beach Inspiration

 

サンゴ白: Sango Shiro or White Coral Pendant

 

A sunset on the Japanese beach where we love to camp. 

My husband, Brian found this piece of coral for me one summer afternoon.  The beach we love is covered in shards of white coral, sprawling vines of morning glories, and also tiny pine trees that look like miniature Christmas trees. I loved the shape (I thought of Yves Saint Laurent who used to collect "Y" shaped objects) and the surface of the piece and decided to bezel set it in 14k yellow gold and string it on an opera length (36") gold chain. It is a fun piece to layer and it evokes the beachy, earthy aesthetic here in Okinawa.  The Japanese revere nature and go to great lengths to create beautiful gardens and outside spaces.  At Japanese restaurants I have seen coral scattered decoratively on tabletops or around votive candles or even as a place to rest your chopsticks. 

 The marble sign to the Kanna beach below our home.

Another rosy hued sunset.

Our yorkie, Creasie, soaking in the sun.

My boys.

 Our tiny fire.

The next morning, still pretty!

I love the trees that grow out of craggy rocks in the middle of the water.  Japan has so many sculptural, natural scenes.

Jewelry Photographer

Silver Marrakech rings with pave white and pink sapphires.

I had an incredible time with the photographer Anya E., we did 3 separate shoots ranging from portrait shots in a grassy field and her studio to some outdoor macro shots.  These are photos from the first set, and I loved how she captured in beautiful detail the pave settings of the Marrakech rings, the cabochon cuts of the Barcelona setting, and the coloration and gold flecks in my lapis Belle Epoque ring.  It is great to see the jewelry on models, and also to mix and match different pieces from the various collections.  As always, Ayesa Flores did a gorgeous job with model Liz Craig's makeup creating a neutral palate that did not distract from the jewelry. 

 Vermeil Sakura stud, ring and pendant set.

Belle Epoque gold vermeil and emerald cut rock crystal pendant with gold vermeil white topaz Barcelona ring.

Stacked Barcelona rings (from left: silver with faceted green amethyst, silver with cabochon royal blue moonstone, silver with faceted blue topaz).

18k Rose Gold Pave Diamond Marrakech Ring

I love rose gold because this alloy imbues the pieces with an antique feeling.  Jewelry made during the Belle Epoque Era (the 'Beautiful Era' in Europe from the late 1900s to before World War I) and Victorian Era often had a slightly pink hue.  Adding a tiny amount of copper to the gold alloy gives rose gold its color.  I think it is fun to incorporate this antique alloy to more modern pieces like my Marrakech Collection.  The pave diamonds also accentuate the outline which forms the ring.  This piece is meant to place an emphasis on the skin and its the beauty.  The body is revealed in the center of the ring rather than a set stone.

Veteran's Day Benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project

Come join us at Ginger Boutique on Bethesda Row to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

10% of profits will go to the WWP:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Read more on East Coast Chic and Bethesda Row

Sotheby's Auction

Starlette Collection to be auctioned along with many other items this Saturday at Sotheby's.

To purchase tickets for the event:
http://www.nyjl.org/?nd=events_fall_auct

The 'Kai' Ring - Japanese for the 'Ocean' or 'Sea'

New custom designed ring in 18k yellow gold with a center bright blue cabochon topaz and side cabochon royal blue moonstones. The smooth cut of the stones is higher and fits very nicely with rounded setting. I love these dreamy oceanic tones together!

Photo shoot in Japan

We took these photos a fifteen minute walk from my home in a tiny Japanese village called Ginoza-son. It was a beautiful day, but extremely hot. Luckily, Okinawa has one of the highest number of vending machines in the world per capita, so cold beverages were never too far out of reach! We loved incorporating the distinctive terracotta walls and marble cut slabs as backdrops for my new Japanese inspired collections. The day culminated with Liz (the model) rescuing a tiny, homeless and adorable kitten that was trying to stay cool underneath a car parked nearby. Thanks to our friend Holli, the kitten ‘Boomer’ now has a good home!

The makeup artist Ayesa did an incredible job with Liz, using a very neutral palate with a sun-kissed bronze glow. It photographed beautifully, even when the shoot moved to the water.