Dominion of Light Jewels » Uncategorized

Seven things you should know about jewelry . . .

kathryne — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:36:03 +0000

It’s been two weeks since the Studio Show, (the collections were left up a few extra days for the ladies who couldn’t make it over the weekend) and I’m finally caught up on the innumerable chores, phone calls, emails etc. I put on hold while planning and doing the show.

During the course of the five days I spent totally immersed in jewelry — in putting the final touches to the pieces, arranging the collections, talking about jewelry, and finally watching all the lovely guests trying on the necklaces and earrings from the collections, (next time I’ll be better about getting photos) I came to the conclusion that — while all of us are certainly familiar with jewelry, there is very much more to the choosing and wearing of it than we usually think of.

And so voila, following are . . .

Seven things you must know about Jewelry:

1. The jewels you wear should most definitely “speak to you.” Jewelry is about more than just going to the local jewelers for a silver chain, or picking up something on sale at JCrew or Barneys. It’s about finding that special piece—that wonderful, personal, unique, piece, that when you put it on, makes you feel like the fabulous woman you are. Dare it say it — like a Goddess, a sorceress, a lover — that imparts to you whatever it is that gives you power, comfort, grace. The necklace, or the earrings, you put on to move through your life can be a talisman, a good luck charm, a source of strength, or of good humor, and a manifestation of your dreams and desires. The right jewels can give you confidence and make you feel like the ruler of your world.

2. Jewelry draws attention to you. It can be a fabulous conversation starter at social and business events. Wearing a dramatic necklace and/or earrings gives people a focal point to relate with. Pearls, or any stones that glow around your neck, or at your ears, brighten the skin and draw attention to the eyes. A long sautoir that sways a bit as you walk is divinely sexy. Never be afraid to stand out.

3. Jewelry can make an outfit. Brightly colored elements add interest to neutral colors on sweaters, or blouses. A simple dress can be made dramatic with a chunky necklace or a bold sautoir. You become intriguing in your Saturday casual jeans, or sweats when you wear a whimsical chain with dangling charms.

4. Mixed metals are exciting! Mix gold with silver, silver with copper, and/or all of these together for a multi-faceted, intriguing look.

5. Wear the jewels that you like. Not what someone else (magazines, newspaper articles, media fashionistas, tells you that you should be wearing.

6. Layering is marvelous. Combine a delicate short necklace with two or three longer ones. Something chunky with a sautoir. A locket on a simple chain with something long and bold. Pearls with anything. Don’t be shy about it. Coco Chanel layered to great effect.

7. Be inspired by the elegance and mysteries of the past. Jewels with Medieval, Edwardian, and Art Deco designs are so beautiful and infinitely glamorous, evocative and romantic; they can make you feel like the heroine of your own mythical story.

Studio Show Day One!

kathryne — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:57:52 +0000

Day one of our studio show was fabulous! The loft looked beautiful (we did a lot of rearranging), the jewels looked fabulous, Laura Jackson’s cards were absolutely gorgeous and our guests were the most marvelous ladies (and one handsome gent). Everyone found magical jewels they’ll love forever, and wonderful greeting cards for the special people in their lives. And they stayed for hours — only leaving when they absolutely had too!

Looking forward to today! We open at 11:00. Hours are extended to 4:00.

Once again, place and time: Emeryville Warehouse Lofts, 1500 Park Ave, Emeryville, loft #225. Press 024 at the call box to left of front door. Lots of free and easy parking —

Today Donna and Ken Chasser of DK Vintage Posters will be here with their stunning collection!

Here’s a few pics!

Laura and I just before we started —

The collections —

Some of our fabulous guests (hoping to be better about taking pics today) —

4 More Days . . .

kathryne — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:40:38 +0000

Ta Ra! Calvin Klein has announced that “trends are meaningless” — so at last it’s official (as if we didn’t know) and all the more reason to wear timeless, beautiful jewels that you won’t find anywhere else than at our 1st Studio Show! Lovely jewels made by hand to adorn yourself — beautiful things as unique and wonderful as each of you are. Choose from the heart and from your passions—

And so, more on the show, which is this coming Saturday and Sunday already! Preparations are continuing — we’ll be re-arranging the loft somewhat just for the show and all the beautiful art and collectables will be here to see. There will be wine, cheese and baguettes, and oh so yummy chocolates!

I’ve posted a small group of new pieces which can be seen at the top of the “all jewels” category. There are a few for each collection — special adornments in shimmering pearls, some new “window bead” pieces, a wonderful whimsical silver necklace with a vintage seaglass center, an enigmatic octopus locket, an absolutely marvelous pair of Art Deco earrings made from 1930’s ear-pendants . . . just a sampling of the many new necklaces and earrings. There are a number of fabulous chunky necklaces not photographed yet, oh gosh — so much more — all beautiful one of a kinds, and limited editions.

For everyone in the Bay Area, we look forward to seeing you this weekend. And do bring friends, family, significant others!

On Saturday, Laura Jackson of Blue Bungalow Cards, will be here with her totally cool hand made greeting cards, and on Sunday, Donna and Ken Chasser of DK Vintage Posters are bringing their gorgeous European vintage posters.

Emeryville Warehouse Lofts, 1500 Park Ave, loft #225, Emeryville, CA

Press 024 in the call box to the left of the front door for entry into the building.

Saturday: 11-5 Sunday: 11-4

Parking is free and completely accessible!

1st Bay Area Studio Show coming soon!

kathryne — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:31:20 +0000

It’s sooo exciting to be planning the very first Bay Area Dominion of Light Jewels Studio Show, which will be held here at Emeryville Warehouse Lofts, (an award winning building designed by the fabulous David Baker), 1500 Park Ave. Emeryville, CA. The dates and times are Saturday, August 14th — 11:00 to 5:00 and Sunday, August 15th — 11:00 to 3:00.

I’ve been truly, madly, obsessively creating new pieces for all the collections especially for the show. Beautiful, magical, wonderful things made from antique findings (some from nearly one hundred years ago), bronze, copper, and silver metals with luminous pearls, and vintage stones, evocative of mystery and romance, myth and far away places.

A few of the new pieces will be posted on the website before the August 14 show; and there will be many more pieces premiered at the studio in person. I’ll let you know when the new pieces are posted! And check in again for continuing info about the show!

And also totally exciting is that two friends with marvelous things will be joining us!

Laura Jackson, of Blue Bungalow Cards, will be at the studio with us on August 14^th. Laura is an Oakland resident and owner and creator of Blue Bungalow Cards, unique handmade greeting cards with Vintage Americana appeal.

Laura’s greeting cards are each a work of art—lovingly layered and embellished with paper, ink, stamps, ribbons, brads, eyelets, flowers, gems, and glitter, and incorporating vintage or retro art graphics. Many of her whimsical collage style cards use art and embellishments from the Alameda Antique Faire and other Bay Area antique venues. Her vintage holiday themes include Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day, and Easter. Laura’s cards also incorporate Hawaiiana, Asian, and Art Deco inspired art. They are gorgeous!

On Sunday, Donna and Ken Chasser of DK Vintage Posters will be joining us with posters from their fabulous collection.

DK Vintage Posters specializes in authentic French and Italian vintage advertising posters. Among the posters they carry are original works by famous artists including Cheret, Mucha, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cappiello, Boccasile, Steinlen, Gruau, and Razzia. They also have a wide selection of posters by Marcello Dudovich (1878-1962) whose work is among the most notable of Italian and French vintage poster artists.

From the 1890s, advertising posters were based around different brands of beverages: cognac, champagne, wine, soda, or places to drink them: bars, dance halls (like the famous Moulin Rouge), restaurants, and foods such as pasta and chocolate.

Vintage posters also represented airlines, hotels, publications, travel agents and foreign countries that encouraged visitors through poster art. In the last few decades, poster art evolved into even more of an art form than an advertising forum. Richard Avedon (the Beatles), and Milton Glaser (Bob Dylan) made important contributions to the poster genre.

These stunning vintage posters are becoming rarer, and are more and more collectible as time goes by. You can go to their website to see the range of posters available! dkvintage posters

I love this Andy Warhol, Chanel No. 5!

Ladies and their Jewels

kathryne — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:47:26 +0000

“Any girl who was a lady would not even think of having such a good time that she did not remember to hang on to her jewelry.” Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

And we do, us ladies, hang on to our jewelry . . . after all, we know that, besides just making us feel good— beautiful, wonderful jewels add yet another dimension to own powers of attraction . . .

The Red Balloon . . . and other “floating jewels”

kathryne — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:13:01 +0000

Balloons — recently I saw a black and white photo of a man floating by balloon through chasms of hi rise buildings — very dreamlike, and became intrigued . . .

Usually we think of balloons just as party accessories for kids, but really there’s something much more wonderful about them — because as they bob and float above us on their strings— they seem to possess a kind of freedom. If we just let go, they float away somewhere, carefree and bright as jewels in the sky. They’ve been around since the 1700’s and will probably be here for another 300 years at least—

Two images from the famous French film — The Red Balloon

Purely whimsical hot air balloon—

A marvelous French drawing —

Like floating jewels lit by the sun—

On the Orient Express with Hercule Poirot!

kathryne — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:42:27 +0000

Last night we watched Masterpiece Theater’s show on the legendary and uber-luxurious Orient Express.

The show was beautifully produced and stars actor David Souchet, (who plays Hercule Poirot) an absolutely charming and adorable man traveling from London to Prague on the fabled train — just as M. Poirot did in Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express — appearing next on Masterpiece Theater.

You can watch it online at pbs.org — what a wonderful journey through numerous countries in western Europe! And for those of us who don’t have the fortune it takes to make the trip — a lovely vicarious thrill!

You can also take a peak at the Dominion of Light Jewels necklace named after the glamorous Orient Express (featured as well on the sidebar) . . .

Unconventional—

kathryne — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:22:32 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved things that are different . . . mysterious, whimsical, bohemian, offbeat—things that are considered unique — not new so much as just straying from the ordinary.

Even though we aren’t frowned upon for doing our own thing anymore — well at least in those places that are blessedly liberal — many of us still find ourselves towing the fashion line.

Case in point — dare I say it? — all these hideously huge necklaces that corporate retail has pushed for the last few seasons — they’ve become — well — conventional. And I suspect they’ll end up hidden in the bottom of a drawer somewhere when the fashion industry suddenly decrees we should all wear tiny necklaces.

And speaking of ”haves and must haves”, alas, even fashionistas get confused — in one issue of a well-known fashion rag, I saw a list of “must haves and get rid ofs” that contradicted their own advertisers. The very style of clothing they were telling us to dump was being advertised in a huge full page ad —

So I believe in finding your own style — by definition unconventional — and for that we have much inspiration!

Think George Sand, the famous novelist of the 18oo’s—and Chopin’s lover — who took a man’s name and wore mens clothes, scandalizing the society of her day. She was unconventional —

Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich wore mens’ clothes too — it got them attention in the 1930’s just as George Sand did in the 1830’s —

Carnaby Street, London in the 60’s, a revolt a against the buttoned down and crinolined 50’s—

And then of course there were the much maligned, but fabulous in my book, hippies — who dared venture into their own mythic, magical fashion and highly unconventional landscape —

In jewelry there was of course, Coco, who invented “costume jewelry” — unconventional —

More derring-do from the Flappers, who in a departure from long heavy Victorian styles wore their dresses short and cut their hair even shorter—

And Isadora Duncan (before the flappers dreamed of baring their limbs) threw off her corset and danced barelegged and barefoot upon stages all over the world—to the consternation of some and the cheers of others— extremely unconventional —

The 80’s gave us Annie Hall and Madonna, definitely unconventional—

Alas, today we have Lady Gaga—who does a good job of appearing unconventional . . . is she, or isn’t she?

. . . in the end I think being unconventional is really a matter of allowing ourselves the freedom to be who we really are — where the poetry of our souls dwells, uniquely and mysteriously within each of us . . .

Morning in Calabria

Happy 4th of July!

kathryne — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:35:11 +0000

14 Reasons to love the 4th:

Parades, red hot firecrackers, hot dogs, smoke wafting from grills, snowballs, red, white and blue, stars & stripes, a summer white dress, white roses, red sails in the sunset, freedom to speak your mind, the beach, red jewels, deep summer blue skies when you rest your head on the pillow after too much of everything this coming holiday night . . .

Blue Skies & 8 Blues for Summer Bliss!

kathryne — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:50:01 +0000

I woke up this morning with a bright blue sky out my window (the days have begun in gray for the last week) and the song Blue Skies playing over and over in my mind. And . . . that got me thinking about the color blue — another contradiction because (the song makes a point of it) — we think of blue as two different moods: blue—as in melancholy or sad, and blue as in — well— blue skies — happy, cheerful — no clouds to bedevil us. But the color blue itself is mostly thought of as a color having none of those attributes. Instead, light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility, understanding, and softness, and dark blue with knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.

Blue is marvelous in all its shades. In jewels, think of turquoise blue, lapis blue, sapphire blue. In design, think of blue and white pottery, (my absolute favorite), in fashion navy blue—so classic, in nature, the blue of Larkspur, Hydrangia and Iris.

8 Blues for summer bliss :

1. A blue and white striped sailor tee (LLBean has a great one) a la Coco Chanel—

2. Vintage blue (flecked with gold) Italian glass earrings — Ciao Bella!

3. Blue and white dishes — so lovely and “country” —

4. A bouquet of blue Hydrangeas — divine!

5. Vintage french blue cut and molded glass “suns” in a totally one of a kind necklace — La Soliel de Chagall

6. Blue Skies, the song. Written by Irving Berlin and sung here by the gorgeous Betty Hutton (wearing, I may add a very cool necklace).

7. A Bluebird Bird House — It never occurred to me that there were specialty birdhouses. I suppose that’s what comes from living in a loft! This one is from yardenvy.com

8. Blue Skies to dream beneath—