The Mysterious Sautoir

Art Deco Sautoir From Christies

Was at Borders the other day and came across an article in an Italian fashion mag about the Sautoir.  The article had great pictures and a history of the Sautoir (sorry can’t find a web link).  Why didn’t I bring the magazine home you ask?   Well, I got a phone call, got sidetracked, left the book store and didn’t think about Sautoirs again for a few days, when suddenly . . . omg Sautoirs! . . . elegant, architectural, graceful, classic, striking without being over the top.

But what exactly is a Sautoir?   Definitions are usually:  a long necklace, can be a rope of pearls, a chain, beads—first made popular in Edwardian days and also in the “flapper” era.   But the Sautoirs pictured in the article were particularly interesting as they were chains that dropped from a “V” shape to a pendant of some sort.

Josephine Baker

An amazing performer and great lady.

Today there seems to be a wide range of what are called Sautoirs, although to me they should be more than just a long necklace, as some describe.  But anyway, now I’m totally intrigued and, dare I say, rather obsessed — so I will be designing and creating a few for the shop.

Edited: January 30th, 2009

Gallery Of Sold Jewels

Due to a suggestion by a cool lady who wears Dominion of Light Jewels, (and a “why didn’t you think of this before?” by friends), I have put up a Gallery of Sold Jewels on Flickr.   Click on it to see many (but not all—unfortunately I didn’t take photos of everything) of the pieces that have been purchased since starting this endeavor just about a year ago — 

Edited: January 29th, 2009

Copper and Lucia

A beautiful lady named Lucia came by yesterday to pick out a necklace for her sister’s birthday.  She usually wears silver but upon seeing the website, was intrigued by my usage of mixed metals and by the warm colors of the bronzes and the copper chains.   She tried some things on and found she loved the look of the copper!   She ended up choosing an “O” necklace for her sister and a Glimmerbloom for herself!  (There are limited editions of both of these necklaces)

Over tea and brownies, we talked about a lot of things—Michelle’s dresses, LA, Anthropologie, and of course jewelry—and I thought I’d write some of what I told her about copper— 

Copper starts out a lovely, bright pinkish-red color and tends to darken to a warm antique patina as you wear it (which is how I like it).  For those who like the brightness, it can be brought back to the original color with a soft buffing cloth.  It’s been used in jewelry design throughout the centuries and into contemporary times — in the early 20^th century Art Nouveau jewelry designers such as J. J. Sommer & Co. worked with copper.  Jewelers of the Arts and Crafts movement loved working with it as well and made many fabulous pieces.   And during the modernist movement, artists such as Peter Macchiarini, Francisco Rebajes and Jerry Fells of Renior-Matisse used copper in their jewelry designs.   As far back as ancient Egypt, copper was recognized as having qualities to protect the wearer, to stimulate the mental and psychic flow of energy and was worn as a sign of wealth and power.    Checkout the jewels in the shop— the descriptions will tell you which pieces are made with copper!

Edited: January 22nd, 2009

Inauguration Day—

“O” for Obama Necklace

What a day was yesterday!  Millions of people, not just in Washington, but the world over—people from all walks of life filled with joy, inspired and touched by the days’ events and by our new president.   Everyone I talked to including a number of (perhaps former?) conservative Republicans was sooo happy!!   Change is a big word. 

What does it mean that now we’re smiling so much—no kidding, scientists study this stuff.   They say that just sending a smile and maybe a good morning or a hello, to someone you see on the street, in a parking lot, at a shop—wherever—not only makes them feel good but sends a rush of warmth into your heart as well.

Send a small donation to a favorite charity.  Even just $5 or $10 can help — ($12 can feed a Buddhist monk at a monastery in Nepal for an entire month—see fpmt.org) and while I do hope you find some DOLjewels to make your own, sending a little bit to those in need is rewarding—again, not just for them but for you too!

If you love animals, adopt a doggy or a kitty.  Or donate some old blankets and towels to the local shelter, or to an adoption service.  They are in great need of these things.  During the holidays we gave our old doggy’s (he just turned 20!) LLBean bed that he can’t get in and out of anymore, and a few extra blankets to a wonderful group that was doing dog adoptions on Beverly Blvd.  They were so grateful and it made the lives of the dogs so much better while they waited for homes.

Just feeling good.  The whole world is watching, and now while living in the present we can feel hopeful about the future —

We’re all very busy, and many of us stressed at this point—but just doing even one—little, itty-bitty, tiny thing can make a difference, and possibly set us off in some new and exciting direction—I have a friend who donated her doggy toys to a shelter and met her future husband!

Edited: January 22nd, 2009

Starting Over

In this new year, it seems that everyone is talking mostly about two things: January 20^th and the economy.   I think we’re all a little scared and very hopeful at the same time.  And that we sense the world may be on the verge of one of the greatest and most pivotal turning points in our country’s history.   I’m glad the 20^th is just a few days off—

Edited: January 15th, 2009

Valentines Day is Just a Month Away!

“Let those love now, who never loved before; let those who always loved, now love the more” . . .  I always loved this these lines that Thomas Parnell (1679-1718) translated from an old Roman poem.

Did you know that the ancient Greeks had 6 different words for love — (more on that later!)

And — insofar as jewels, I’ll be making up a special Valentines Day Collection!

Edited: January 14th, 2009

Coming Soon!

New jewels—and Part 2 of “What Does A Woman Really Want?”

Edited: January 12th, 2009

Equestrian Jewels II

Edited: January 12th, 2009