Be mine….

Posted On: 02.07.2012  |  Posted In: Glass Art,Holiday Shopping  |  

Flowers…candy….cards all say “Valentine’s Day” in a very traditional way. What about some different heart-felt ways to make that special someone know just how much you FUN Valentine’s Day can be. Mary Rose Young, an English pottery artisan, works in her studio in the UK with a group of 5 select artisans to create whimsical and colorful expressions of love. Every room benefits from the pop of color and fun brought by these unique pieces. Scoop one up today and make sure Valentine’s Day lasts all year long!

Sweet hearts

Posted On: 01.30.2012  |  Posted In: Glass Art  |  

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Here at Artisan Design Gallery we have a stash of goodies that are perfect for your special someone. Truth of life: You cannot go wrong with jewelry<. Truth 1: Rings – like this delicate beauty from Suzy Landa Jewelry Design. Take her breath away with this beautiful ring of 3 pink stones – tourmaline – with a diamond accent, on a band of 18 karat gold?

Truth 2: The necklace, close to her beating heart! This stunning piece from Ayala Bar is a beautiful mixed media pendant on a double chain called, appropriate to the season, Sweet Honey.

Truth 3: Bracelets: Let’s go with pearls. Liz Oie designed and made this beauty with 5 strands of pearls, with a gorgeous vintage crystal center statement.

And jewelry Truth 4: Earrings. Never will you hear a woman say she has too many earrings. Judy Bliss has designed these delightful sparklers, pink topaz and quartz, and they will pretty-up the prettiest one in your world!

Long lovely necklaces in colors that delight!

Posted On: 11.27.2011  |  Posted In: Artists,Jewelry  |  

Layers of necklaces, one of each color? A single beautiful necklace? How about a 44″ beauty with emerald colored crystals? You like? Well, the talented designers at Angel Court have created this necklace in lots and lots of colors, just so you can have a choice – or choose a few to layer! How about Champagne Pearl Beads with Pink Accents, 42″ long? BLACK stones or pearl beads – because you KNOW that black and pearls are classics that go with anything and everything. We are LOVIN’ the Citrine Crystals – again, 44″ long. From the Vintage Collection at Angel Court, to wear singly, or layer.

And the thing about those long necklaces – they elongate your look, and for many of us elongate is the same as “long, tall and lean.” And that gorgeous single stone necklace in the mid-long-length? Layer and be fabulous. Go for it – also in other colors, and the length of this one is about 34″, also vintage look for the chain. (You’re welcome – but seriously, check those out too!) We will happily take a necklace that is not only beautiful, but adds to a long and lean look! And while you are over at Artisan Design Gallery shopping, find yourself (we won’t tell) a great pair of earrings to go with! Here’s just one. We’re sure you’ll find more current classics. Happy shopping!

Gold Rush

Posted On: 05.26.2011  |  Posted In: Artists,Featured Products,Jewelry  |  

Gold, a precious metal used often in jewelry across the world, has been in use for more than 6000 years! Many of the jewelry designers and artists you will find at Artisan Design Gallery use gold in traditional and non-traditional ways to craft exquisite pieces, just for you! How about a GOLDEN lesson?

First, there is the whole karat or carat question – the amount of gold in the mixture of metal alloys used in a piece of jewelry.

This stunning necklace by Adel Chefridi features a gorgeous 18 kt. gold medallion. The medallion has a satin finish. This finish is achieved by using chemicals or tools to soften the finish. Gold jewelry is often polished to a high gloss finish as well.

Carat? or is it Karat? It’s either, commonly abbreviated ct. or kt. Pure gold (no other metals mixed in) is 24 carat. Because gold is very malleable, or soft and easily marked or bent, 24 carat gold is not often used in the US for jewelry, as it wears down, scratches and bends so easily. Other precious metals are added, making it the piece stronger and resistant to damage, while retaining the beauty of gold.

These exquisite earrings, designed by Suzy Landa are 18 carat rose gold and white topaz! 18 carat (75% gold), 14 carat (58.5% gold, 12 carat and 10 carat are often used for jewelry.

Gold is mixed with other metals or alloys, commonly silver, copper and palladium to make it more durable and suitable to wear as jewelry. There is a stamp inside the piece which indicates the caratage, or percentage of gold, in jewelry that is 10 carat gold or higher.  The stamp is the indicator that the metal is gold.  There are other metals that have a golden color along with processes that bond a layer of gold on top of other metals, also used to create stunning jewelry.  You’ll find them all in the work of the jewelry artists at Artisan Design Jewelry.

Set the Holiday Table with Glass!

Posted On: 12.15.2010  |  Posted In: Glass Art,Holiday Shopping  |  

Time to get serious! There are some beautiful hand-blown, artisan designed glass vases to make your holiday table as festive as you ever imagined it. Start Carol O’Brien and her husband Paul Willsea’s glass studio – they have created some beautiful coppery red vases, along with candle sticks with square cast amber bases that are exquisite! This yummy vase comes in robin’s egg blue as well.

Ed Branson sends along some beautiful hand blown calla vases in ruby and other colors, which make a statement singly or in a group. It’s time to think about your beautiful holiday table, and these luminous artisan-blown vases are a great place to start!

Snowflakes

Posted On: 12.12.2010  |  Posted In: Holiday Shopping,Jewelry  |  

Whether it’s snowing or not snowing – here are some earrings-like-snowflakes that are easy to love. These Crystal snowflakes from Elisabetta Ricciardi are gorgeous and sparkly for every day or special occasion wear! Bonus, when winter leaves us, we can call these lovelies ‘crystal flowers’. Whatever the weather, ordering right from the comforts of home (or office, but we won’t tell) makes your holiday shopping easy. Look for discount code on the website to make your shopping even more delightful! Let it snow!

Shiny and bright

Posted On: 12.10.2010  |  Posted In: Featured Products,Holiday Shopping,Jewelry  |  

We know you’ve heard of the power tie, how about some power jewelry? Specifically right now, let’s look at some POWER BRACELETS! We are really lovin’ this cuff with gorgeous Persian turquoise from
AJS Studios of Andrea Justine Stratton.

This glittery bracelet from Mary DeMarco at LaContessa is memorable and comes in a few color combos, Bohemian Rhapsody with brilliant blues and greens, After Midnight in glittery black crystals and stones, Peaches and Cream, and Water Color. Love them all, any color combo, any size – and they are really easy to wear, with striking attention to detail.

Echo of the Dreamer, has some exquisite designs as always! Lovin’ the black onyx and mother of pearl combo. True confessions – we are lovin’ a similar power bracelet from Echo of the Dreamer in all white mother of pearl and abalone.

Check out the website for lots of awesome Power Bracelets, and of course, earrings to match or mix-and-match. Remember, new Holiday Design! Tell us how much you love it on Facebook!

Green for the Holidays

Posted On: 12.05.2010  |  Posted In: Jewelry  |  

Green has so many connotations – green as in Holiday greens? Greens – like more in your diet? Green as in friendly to the environment? How about just plain GREEN – like the color green? Judy Bliss has beautiful green amethyst cluster earrings and necklace that are dazzling. Sierra has some fabulous (and on sale – shhh!) gold and green earrings and necklaces.
Echo of the Dreamer has this dreamy Skye bracelet with lots of green! Go green this holiday season! Because we have some really pretty GREEN stones that will see you through the holidays and all year long in fine style!

Cross Necklaces

Posted On: 12.04.2010  |  Posted In: Artists,Holiday Shopping,Jewelry  |  

Cross necklaces! Perfect for the ladies of any age in your life – and some earrings to go along. Check out the different designers and their takes on this timeless jewelry! Andrea Barnett has a variety of beautiful cross in vermeil, with bronze seed bead chains with and without beautiful stones. Check out the one on the orange Magnesite stone, along with the one on a turquoise stone. This season, we’ve added her silver crosses as well, crafted in New Mexico studios. The jewelry of Andrea Barnett is handcrafted in studios in the United States, and using the finest hand-selected materials.

Ayala Bar, well known Israeli artist, has a lovely line of crosses as well, creating limited edition pieces using Swarovski crystals, glass beads and mineral stones. Earrings too – of course!

Don’t forget Freshie and Zero, with the hand hammered sterling silver crosses, adorned with colored stones. Lots of gorgeous and easy to wear complimentary earrings as well. Happy Shopping!

Echo of the Dreamer

Posted On: 11.29.2010  |  Posted In: Artists,Holiday Shopping,Jewelry  |  

Echo of the Dreamer, an artisan jewelry studio in New York, has sent us a few of our favorite things. Love, love, love this double strand pearl necklace with crystal enhancer. Its sister necklace has green-bronze pearls with lemon-topaz enhancer. Or golden pearl sister necklace with smoky topaz enhancer – stunning. Bonus – each enhancer can be worn with your own silver chain. So, lots of looks from each necklace, from our friend and designer Margaret Thurman at Echo of the Dreamer.