Thursday, February 25, 2016

Inspiration - Black Coral

Coral Bracelet from Chile
It began over 11 years ago on our honey moon to Chile when my husband gifted me a black coral bangle from the local artisan market. Its organic shape, curved and  wavy, along with its smooth dark color and most importantly its incredible durability inspired my current collection -  by The Sea.

11 years later I still wear it, along with the silver cuff iteration.

Sterling Coral Branch Cuff and Midi Ring

About Black Coral

Black corals are a group of deep water, tree-like corals related to sea anemones. There are about 230 known species.

Living, black coral's living tissue is brilliantly colored but its name comes from the black or dark brown color of its skeleton.

Did you know it's the official state gem of Hawaii?

Antipatharian coral is usually a deep water coral and highly controlled and expensive... probably the gem Hawaii is referring to ;)
My loot of black coral from Miami
Gorgonian is always shallow water coral is commonly found on Florida’s beaches.  I collected some on a recent trip to Miami and found that polished it is gorgeous.

I'm looking forward to playing around with these branches and hopefully inspired to design more to add to my by The Sea collection.

Below are some inspirational pieces made from black coral. Enjoy!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Inspiration- Alexander Calder Jewelry

It's Monday!  Here's to an inspriational week!
Alexander Calder (August 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) famously known for his mobile art.
Calder's parents did not want him to suffer the life of an artist, so he decided to study mechanical engineering.... Yet in the end Calder decided to move back to New York to pursue a career as an artist.

Seems to be a familiar and common path. ;)



Calder created over 2,000 pieces of jewelry. Many of his designs reveal a fascination with art from Africa and primitive shapes.


Calder's jewelry was mostly made of brass and steel, with bits of ceramic, wood and glass and rarely soldered.  Calder joined strips of metal with loops, bound them with snippets of wire or fashioned rivets.


Interested in seeing more Calder eye candy. Check out this Calder pinterest board.



Monday, November 23, 2015

Art Smith - Modern Jewelry Inspiration

Happy Monday to you! 


Arthur Smith (1917–1982) Trained at Cooper Union, Art Smith, an African American, opened his first shop on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village in 1946.


One of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-twentieth century, Smith was also an active supporter of black and gay civil rights, an avid jazz enthusiast, and a supporter of early black modern dance groups.

Art Smith was inspired by surrealism, biomorphicism, and primitivism, Art Smith’s jewelry is dynamic in its size and form and even though some are massive in scale, his jewelry is lightweight and wearable.

I love his use of primitive forms to create very modern designs.

“Patina” necklace inspired by the mobiles of Alexander Calder;

Friday, November 13, 2015

Friday Trivia


Hope everyone had a wonderful week.

A little Friday Trivia- Did you know November is Manatee Awareness Month? It was news to me, but this makes me happy. Just look how adorable those chubby "sea cows" are.

Apparently, even Christopher Columbus mistook them for mermaids. Not sure how that happened.

Florida manatees  are endangered and threatened by collisions with boat hulls and propellers, as well has habitat loss.

HOW TO HELP: 
1) adopting a manatee (or two) through the nonprofit Save the Manatee Club. 

2) Spread the love and share your knowledge.  Protect what we love.

3) A portion of your purchase from my "by The Sea" collection goes towards ocean and sea life conservation.