Christine Dhein's Green Jewelry News!

Summer Exhibitions Go Green! Reclaim, Renew, Reuse, Repurpose Left: 21st Century Breastplate in repurposed circuit boards, brass and rubber by Christine Dhein. Right: Maharaja's 6th in repurposed LEGO by emiko oye As an artist who has been making jewelry from recycled materials for over a decade, I am very aware of the growing interest from both the public and the art world in this type of art. Ten years ago, there wasn't much interest in or understanding of jewelry made from recycled materials. This summer, I have been invited to participate in several exhibitions with the theme of reuse. When my work is on exhibit, I include statements to communicate ideas and challenge beliefs about consumption with the hope of inspiring viewers to see the potential value in the discarded in a whole new way. At the opening reception of re/Purposed (details below) two ladies were admiring my 21st Century Breastplate. When they found out I was the artist, they exclaimed in unison, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!" I knew my message had been heard loud and clear! re/Purpose to use or convert for use in another format or product The work of Christine Dhein and emiko oye is featuerd in re/Purpose, the opening exhibition at the new African American Art & Culture Complex'sSargent Johnson Gallery in San Francisco from July 23 - Oct 11, 2009. The opening reception was a huge success! emiko oye and Christine Dhein in front of their work at the opening reception of re/Purpose Reclaim, Reuse, Renew Christine Dhein's work will be featured in Reclaim, Reuse, Renew, at the Atrium Gallery, Ball State University from August 25 - September 26, 2009. Christine Dhein is a jewelry designer, author, and eco-educator who has been using recycled materials for over ten years. Christine's jewelry can be purchased online atobjectfetish.com. via Green Jewelry News

VOSTENAKstudios Wins National Jewelry Award & Business Grant

VOSTENAKstudios is the 2009 winner of a national competition sponsored by Halstead Bead, Inc. The Jewelry Design Business Development Grant is awarded to a new jewelry design entrepreneur each year in recognition of design talent and business acumen.

Valerie Ostenak will receive a $6,000 grant of start up capital and supplies in recognition of her entrepreneurial skills and design talents. VOSTENAKstudios collections are available online at www.valerieostenak.com.

In response to winning the award Ostenak said, "I am absolutely thrilled and deliriously happy to be the 2009 winner. I am still laughing with joy!"

Ostenak’s artistic experience includes traditional jewelry training, blacksmithing, graphic design and painting. The influences of each of these media converge in her jewelry creations. Designs are crafted from Argentium sterling silver and embellished with high karat gold accents, freshwater pearls and semi-precious gemstones.

The VOSTENAKstudios line is contemporary with fluid lines and great attention to detail. Ostenak’s unique style is easily recognizable in every piece. She creates one of-a-kind statement necklaces, hairpieces and earrings with delicately intertwined metalwork in her Woven Collection. Her Ribbon Collection consists of more simple hammered styles with a highly reflective finish.

“These designs are stunning,” said Hilary Halstead Scott, a competition judge, “I literally gasped when I opened her submission packet to a portfolio montage page. It is rare to find work that is so unlike anything else in the industry.”

VOSTENAKstudios joins a distinguished group of jewelry designers who have received the Jewelry Design Business Development Grant in past years: Ananda Khalsa Jewelry, Belle Brooke Designs and Bridgland Studios. Halstead Bead Inc sponsors the annual competition for new companies in the mid-level segment of the jewelry industry known as bridge jewelry or art jewelry. Details on the award and all of this year’s top finalists can be found atwww.halsteadbead.com/grant.

Halstead Bead, Inc. is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply wholesalers. The firm was established in 1973 and supplies professional jewelry designers and manufacturers around the globe.

How to Remove a Stuck Ring

A great step by step with photos at wikiHOW...

How to Remove a Stuck Ring

Has it been a while since you took off a ring? Did you try on a ring that seemed big enough going on but won't readily come off? Don't panic, and don't rush to cut it off either. There are some simple things you can do to remove it safely.

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Stuck-Ring

This would be a great link for a jewelers website - good photos and well written instructions...

What Inspires You? New Inspired Design Contest Announced

2009 INSPIRED DESIGN CONTEST

We invite members of the designer community to share their unique, original earring, ring, and pendant designs along with the story of their inspiration.

Show us quality, creative, manufacturable designs and tell us how you were inspired to create them for your chance to win cool prizes and cash.

PRIZES

First Prize:

Wacom CintiQ monitor - Get the best-of-class interactive pen experience, only available on the Wacom CintiQ interactive monitor. The 21.3” TFT screen delivers a highly sensitive pen-on-screen experience and a generous active area for working directly on large images, concepts,

and designs in the most natural way possible -Value: $1999 - plus $1,000 cash

Second Prize:

Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera and macro lens -Capture some incredible shots with the 12.2 Megapixel Canons EOS Rebel XSi Digital SLR camera with point-and-shoot ease,The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. Use the Canon Macro Lens for a broader range of photographic applications. Lens specifications: 60 mm - F/2.8 -Value: $1100 - plus $500 cash

Third Prize:

iPod Touch - Get music, movies, games, applications and internet on Apple’s premier Touch-screen iPod. (32 GB) -Value: $399.00 - plus $100 cash

SUBMITTED DESIGNS

The submitting designer will keep all ownership of and copyrights to the designs submitted for the contest. The contributing designer grants Paragon Lake a license to the submitted designs under the Official Contest Rules and the Designer Agreement so that the submitted designs may be included in the Virtual Display Case (VDC) or the Paragon Lake website.

In addition to being considered for the Design Contest, any designs submitted for this contest, that are approved for display and sale on our Virtual Display Case (VDC) will receive a royalty for each piece sold as per our Designer Agreement. For additional details on royalty payments, please refer to the Designer Agreement within the Designer Portal.

The winning designs will also be featured on our website and will be showcased on Paragon Lake’s Virtual Display Case (VDC) as a Paragon Lake Design Contest Winner.

HOW TO ENTER THE DESIGN CONTEST

You must register to be a Paragon Lake designer to enter the Inspired Design Contest. No purchase or payment is required to enter. Entries should be uploaded through the Paragon

Lake Designer Portal.

Exhibit: Surrealist Jewels

Surrealist Jewels

Jewelled Starfish brooch by Salvador Dali was a shocker in more ways than one

By Bernadette Morra

Spontaneity was one feature of Surrealism, the art movement which had a significant impact on the worlds of design, theatre, fashion, film, architecture, and advertising through the 1930s.

But there is nothing spontaneous about Salvador Dali’s Starfish brooch. Each arm of the life-size pearl, diamond, ruby and emerald pin is fully articulated so that it can wrap around a hand like fingers.

The brooch is just one of nine extraordinary fine jewelry pieces included in Surreal Things, an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario which runs until August 30, 2009. - for more -

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This show also features the jewelry works of Calder and art from most of the surrealist movement - Giorgio de Chirico, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Joan Miró, Meret Oppenheim, Man Ray and Elsa Schiaparelli. Looks like something worth looking into!

Now & Next: Pomerantz Joins Diamond World

Asia ’s oldest Jewelry & Gem Publisher, International Journal House has partnered with Howard M. Pomerantz, Roving Ambassador for the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB). Mr. Pomerantz will be writing "Technology and You" a feature column on the latest technological trends and developments in the diamond industry for their international magazine Diamond World.

The “NOW and NEXT” column intends to discuss trends in technology NOW and what should be considered for your business. “NOW and NEXT “ will endeavor to lead you to innovative technology that will help you set your own technology goals.

Speaking about the association, Diamond World’s editor Mr. Alok Kala said, “Competing in the International diamond trade makes it imperative for the Indian diamond fraternity to be aware of the latest technological advancements in the industry worldwide. Diamond World magazine has always endeavoured to make its readers up-to-date in their knowledge about the industry. At this moment, we are honoured to be associated with such an eminent person as Mr. Pomerantz and his articles would be of immense value to our readers.”

Howard Pomerantz says, “Since 1974, I have been associated with the Jewellery industry in India . My association with Diamond World magazine as a columnist will bring me closer to the Indian diamond fraternity.”

About Howard Pomerantz:

Born and raised in a retail diamond business family, Pomerantz holds a Presidential/Key Executive Masters Degree in International Marketing from Pepperdines’ prestigious Graduate School of Business. His fortes lies in international business dynamics as it relates to market change strategies. As past Executive Director of Gemological Institute of America Instruments (GIA), he designed and patented the digital GIA Gemmological Microscope. Pomerantz is known as the “Brand Father” of the GIA Facetware™.

Currently Mr. Pomerantz is president of Premier Diamond Technologies, advisors to multinational corporations on “Change Strategies”. He is also involved in numerous industry associations or has held board positions including the Manufacturing Jewellers and Suppliers of America (MJSA), the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the Jewellers 24kt Club in Southern California . In 2006, Avi Paz bestowed an honorary title, “Ambassador to the United States ” from the Israel Diamond Exchange. Previously, he has given lectures on the new GIA Cut grade to the Indian diamond cutting fraternity.

Rio Tinto Design Contest - Winners Announced!

Photo: The Butterfly Drop earrings by Edney, Santa Barbara, Calif., took third place.

Reported by JCKOnline:

Rio Tinto Diamonds announced winners in the four categories of its Champagne Diamond Design Competition. Unveiled in May, the competition tasked entrants to create original champagne diamond jewelry designs in white or yellow gold, featuring stones in a range of sizes, clarities, and colors—from a light champagne color to a deep cognac hue.

...for more see the full story and pictures of the winning entries.