The History of Jewelry Designs - Victorian Era

Continuing my adventure through the ages of Jewelry, I finally finished a Victorian piece. This was a commission, and just happened to be a request for "something Victorian using garnets". It was the jump start I need for this phase of my journey through Jewelry History!

Necklace and earring set with Swarovski crystals, pearls, & garnet beads with sterling silver accents.

The Guiding Star is Within...

These days with the price of silver and gold both through the roof, I think a lot of jewelry designers are taking a second look at some of the other metals available to us. Artbeads.com has some awesome bronze pendants that are a great alternative to gold at a fraction of the price.



To go with the pendant, I made a chain using vintage bronzed chain and interspersed it with Swarovski crystals and pearls. I love the way the whole necklace looks and feels! Artbeads.com has quite a collection of unique Quote pendants as well as awesome Alphabet pendants in bronze, so check out the links!

The History of Jewelry Designs - Baroque Era

When I was in college, I did a summer study in Würzburg, Germany which has many examples of Baroque and Rococo architecture. I was inspired to create this necklace based on my memories of touring baroque churches and other buildings in that style.
A friend gave me a box of old costume jewelry to re-purpose and that's where I got the brooch. I turned it into a pendant and embellished it a little more with Swarovski crystal charms and gold-filled chain link (to make the bail).  I think the original stones in the brooch are Swarovski crystals, as they match the beads I used in color perfectly!







From 1620-1700, the name Baroque is derived from a Portugese jewelers term "barrocco", meaning "irregular formed pearl". It was preceded by the renaissance and succeeded by the neoclassicism style. The style was a development of the Renaissance style and is characterized by lively, curved, and exuberant forms, by vigorous movement, and by rich ornament, based on classical sources, and symmetrical designs. Utilizes gemstones and pearls.  To read more about this period, check out the Antique Jewelry University.

Swarovski 2008 Be Naturally Inspired Design Contest

Last year I entered Swarovski's North American Design Contest - The theme was Be Naturally Inspired. Since Nature is my favorite inspiration, particularly anything having to do with sealife, I thought I would give it a shot!

My inspiration came from one of my favorite things to do - snorkling! Off the coast in Florida from the Seven Mile Bridge is a place called Sombrero Tower. There are moors there for boaters to 'park' and go snorkling.



I could and have spent hours there... lost in the world of incredible corals and fish. So it was that I spent hours 'sewing' beads for this necklace! The shape was hard to come up for a while - I considered a free form shape, natural like the coral reef, but decided maybe a wave shape would be better. I studied photos and drawings of waves, but then again decided against it. Finally, I drew a whale tail shape and decided that would be perfect - feminine and flattering!



My design was entirely bead embroidered with Swarovski crystals and pearls. I was a semi-finalist in the contest and hope to enter again in 2009!