Michael O'Connor on the Royal Bride's Jewelry

Jewelry Expert Michael O'Connor Comments on Kate Middleton's Wedding Jewelry:
“The unique blend of modern, vintage and heirloom pieces of platinum jewelry from both her family and from William's family chosen by Kate illustrate the couple's desire to marry today's elements with the durability and traditions of yesterday. 

The choice of the platinum and diamond Halo tiara by Cartier, originally designed for the Queen Mother and then handed down to the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) combined with newer pieces such as the platinum and diamond pear shaped drop earrings designed by Robinson Pelham (a present from Kate's parents), and the iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring, once owned by Princess Diana, illustrate the bond of family and the lifetime legacy that quality platinum jewelry provides. Kate’s jewelry style truly exemplifies that of a modern yet sophisticated royal bride.” 




To view the latest platinum wedding jewelry designs, visit www.preciousplatinum.com/designgallery 

Royal Wedding Rumors - Some True- Some Not!

It's 3am and I am just giving you the "secret deets"

The dress - Sara Burton for Alexander McQueen!

I have to say that I have a new found respect for Ms Burton - to turn out all the really trendy -edgy fashion expected by the fans of the late Alexander Mc Queen and to then turn around and put out what is sure to be a classic wedding look for decades!  Kudo Sara Burton...

via Getty Images

The Tiara!  the Scroll Tiara or Halo Tiara by Cartier...
from the Official Wedding page:

The veil is held in place by a Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, lent to Miss Middleton by The Queen.  The ‘halo’ tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and was purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King.  The tiara was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother on the occasion of her 18th birthday. 

The Bride’s earrings, by Robinson Pelham, are diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear shaped diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.  Inspiration for the design comes from the Middleton family's new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves.  The earrings were made to echo the tiara.  The earrings were a personal gift to the Bride from her parents for her Wedding Day.

This tiara seems to have a tradition of being lent to royal ladies until they receive a tiara of their own.  Elizabeth's sister Princess Margaret wore it until she was given the Art Deco Fan Tiara by the Queen Mother...then Princess Anne borrowed the Scroll until she was given the Greek Key Meander Tiara.  So - it leads one to wonder if Kate will be presented with her own tiara?

One more additional piece of jewelry that was so sentimental - the Queen wore sunshine yellow and Queen Mary's True Lover's Knot Brooch

So - Good Night...there is more here:  http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/blog/2011/April/29/The-Wedding-Dress--Bridesmaids--Dresses-and-Pages--Uniforms

JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show - AGTA GemFair - MJSA "At The Bench Live"

This Just IN...Bruno Mars to Headline

JCK's Rock The Beach!

Bruno Mars, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter best known for the smash hits “Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade,” will headline the JCK Rocks the Beach Party on Sunday, June 5 at The Beach at Mandalay Bay.  

The event begins at 9 p.m. and is open to all JCK and LUXURY badge holders, as well as all guests of the Jewelers for Children dinner.

More info: http://www.jckonline.com/2011/04/26/bruno-mars-to-headline-jck-rocks-beach 

Visit the AGTA GemFair™ at the JCK Las Vegas Show

Join AGTA on the Beach level in the Islander and South Pacific Ballrooms at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center June 2-7, 2011 - a new location, more exhibitors and a longer show - now open the day before JCK through the day after!

Click here to see a quick video on  the AGTA GemFair™ at the JCK Las Vegas Show

"At the Bench Live" 

  at JCK Las Vegas

June 4 - 

Using Handmade Chain in Custom Designs 

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.      

Ann Cahoon

As consumer demand for custom jewelry grows, so too are the ways in which jewelers are creating unique, personalized pieces. One method to add personalization is through the use of handmade chain. Ann Cahoon will show techniques for creating handcrafted chain to complement specific custom designs.

June 4 - 

Mythbusters: Challenging Tradition at the Bench 

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Ann Cahoon

Venerable traditions have built up regarding how bench jewelers should go about their craft. And, like all traditions, some may be true and some may be little more than myths. Join Ann Cahoon and she sets about separating hard facts from tall tales. Whether focusing on accepted procedures for equipment maintenance, the selection of tools for specific tasks, or simple safety procedures, she will challenge the traditions—and attendees will come away with new insights.

June 5 - 

New Techniques for Setting Princess-Cut Diamonds

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Joel McFadden

Princess-cut diamonds are among the most popular styles favored by consumers, but their sharp edges must be protected: Too much stress from the setting, and they could easily become damaged. Joel McFadden will demonstrate a new technique he developed that will simplify the setting process and ensure the stone’s points remain unharmed.

June 5 -

Tips for Finishing and Pre-Finishing Jewelry

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Joel McFadden

A piece of jewelry can rise and fall on the quality of its finish. Joel McFadden—renowned for the refinement of his finishing and polishing work—shows how to quickly and efficiently finish all areas of a piece to ensure everythingshines.

June 6 - 

CAD at the Bench: Tips and Tricks, Part 1

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jim Tuttle

The rise of computer-aided design (CAD) has been a great aid to bench jewelers—if jewelers know how to use it wisely. From stone layout to making parts fit together, Jim will show inside tricks for combining handwork with CAD modeling to help the bench jeweler work faster and make better jewelry.

June 6 - 

Advanced CAD at the Bench: Tips & Tricks, Part 2

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Jim Tuttle

More tricks to help jewelers incorporate CAD to speed their production at the bench and create finely detailed pieces that would be unattainable through hand work alone.

http://www.mjsa.org/events/at_the_bench_live/atb_live_jck_las_vegas

Ganoksin Project Digitizes 40 + Historic Metalsmithing Books

The Jeweler's History Project
Ganoksin to digitize more than 40 rare historical metalsmithing
books to be available for download from it's website for $1.35 per book!
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/dba


"Jewelry History Brought Alive"

Ganoksin proudly announces a project to digitize more than 40 complete rare antique metalsmithing books. They will be available as searchable eBook pdfs for a minimal fee which will go to support the Ganoksin Project.
This project is about revealing their ancient wisdom to the modern metalsmithing community. This is a partnership project between The Ganoksin Project and Charles Lewton-Brain.

Over the last three decades we have acquired over 40 rare historical Metalsmithing books that we will make available to jewelers, goldsmiths and the metalsmithing community.

These books cover special techniques in depth like chasing, repousse, engraving, niello making, Japanese chiseling, soldering, construction, patination and metal coloring,  silversmithing and more. There are many recipes for alloys and metal surface treatments.

The manuscripts will be gradually published in a digital format over the coming months.

For the first time in history, these ancient metal tricks and recipes will be made available to the contemporary community of curious artists and metalsmiths. This information will allow the reader to apply the simple and ingenious procedures used by the jewelers of the past, long dead masters of the art of metalsmithing.

Many of the tricks and recipes described will save the maker money, as older approaches can sometimes replace modern tools.

We invite you to own the entire collection of manuscripts, and benefit from the ancient wisdom that we are presenting!

Each pdf is a full digital book of searchable text and images, with an easy access through an interactive table of contents. The cost will be $1.35 per book for a single user license which allows you to install, read and print the material on a single computer.

Dr. E. Aspler, the founder of the Ganoksin project said " I am thrilled to have Ganoksin act as a virtual custodian for this important part of metalsmithing history. I am very excited that such an important mass of information endures and that it will be easily accessible through the Ganoksin Archive. It was inspirational of Charles Lewton-Brian not to let these important, relevant texts lie fallow!"

Charles Lewton-Brain commented "This project opens an entire world for the modern maker, is a window on how goldsmiths and makers thought over a hundred years ago."

The first titles which are available for immediate download are

1. Educational Metalcraft
by P. Wylie Davidson, 1913

2. Metal-Work, Chasing and Repousse for Home Art Workers
by Frank G Jackson, 1903

3. Decoration of Metals - Chasing, Repousse and Saw Piercing
by John Harrison, 1894
Titles to be made available for download during May 2011

1. The Private Book of Useful Alloys & Memoranda by James E. Collins

2. Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Practical Receipt Book - a Workshop
Companion

Please visit Digital Antiques Books - The Jeweler's History Projectpages at

http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/dba

For more information about the "The Jeweler's History Project"
please contact: Dr. E. Aspler (Hanuman) service@ganoksin.com.

John Hardy Reprises Earth Day Initiative with Bedarida & Lindvall Collaboration

This Earth Day, John Hardy, the sustainable luxury jewelry brand, will show its continued commitment to the environment with the introduction of several exciting Green initiatives. Guy Bedarida, Creative Director and Head Designer of the brand and supermodel and fervent environmentalist, Angela Lindvall, will present the newest styles of their jewelry collaboration, an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of Lindvall's recent trip to Bali, and the new environmentally friendly jewelry packaging.

John Hardy started its celebration of Earth Day weeks in advance with the introduction of their new recycled silver and cotton cord charity bracelet. Two hundred of the bracelets were donated to Christie's Bid to Save the Earth Event on March 29, and the bracelet was just launched on the John Hardy Online Boutique, where it is sold for $65. All proceeds will benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Lindvall and Bedarida will also unveil their Hijau (meaning "Green" in Balinese) Dua collection. The duo's sophomore collection is handcrafted out of recycled sterling silver or 18k gold and features a chic sliced bamboo motif. The collection is a part of the brand's "Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo" program. For each piece of Hijau jewelry purchased, John Hardy will plant a certain number of bamboo seedlings to offset the carbon emissions used for its travel and advertising.

In addition, John Hardy will debut a video diary of Lindvall's recent trip to Bali on the official John Hardy Facebook page a few days before Earth Day, April 19, 2011. Fans will learn why Lindvall is so involved in the brand's green initiatives as she kicks off the first day of planting for the "Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo" program; alongside Bedarida and CEO DAMIEN DERNONCOURT.

Finally, John Hardy is introducing a 100% recycled and recyclable anti-tarnish envelope to ship its goods. The packaging is expected to eliminate tons of unnecessary plastic waste and will further the company's sustainable efforts.

The launch of all three initiatives highlights John Hardy's mission to be "Greener Every Day" and continues the effort by the company to donate and plant a total of 600,000 bamboo seedlings for the Bali Province Government's "Bali Clean and Green" program.

Bracelet Blog Hop - 7000 Bracelets of Hope

Bracelet Blog Hop

7000 Bracelets of Hope

This is something new for this particular blog - but I wanted this cause to have the widest audience of jewelry creators possible!

I have "grown up" in the Artisan community with Lori Anderson and her Pretty Things Blog - whether it was Yahoo! Groups or being friends on GoodReads and Facebook, she has been a part of my journey.

Then - last week - I saw her post about the 7000 Bracelets For Hope Project. I rarely make time to make jewelry (aside from workshops) but this cause stopped me in my tracks...

Bracelet #1 - Sterling Silver with dancing crystals and Solid Sterling Starfish

First - the jewelry isn't being auctioned - "The bracelets are given to one of 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support."  When your life is about caring for a chronically ill child - you seldom get to think about "Pretty Things" for yourself...this bracelet is for you!

Bracelet #2 - Sterling Silver with Blue-Grey Peacock Pearls, Crystals and Heart Charm

Second - my friend Lori, suffers from a rare disease, IH, or pseudotumor cerebri. She was featured as the "face of IH" in an online campaign, The Wall of Hope, on February 28th, Rare Disease Day.

The following is from Lori's blog today...PLEASE take a minute to see what everyone else has done - the worst thing that could happen is that you might find a new blog to follow!  ...the best thing that could happen?  that you might be motivated to make and send in a bracelet of your own!

This is not your ordinary blog hop.  This is a blog hop that will ultimately bring a bit of beauty and happiness to over a hundred family members.  

The rules of the hop -- make a bracelet in an adult size in blue.  The bracelets will be sent to The Global Genes Project, an advocacy group for children's rare disease awareness.  The Global Genes Project then sends the bracelets to one of 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support. 

I is amazing to see the number of people who readily threw their hats in the ring to create for a cause.  Please take some time to look at the bracelets made by the following designers...and feel free to make and send your own bracelet!

 1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got To Doodle 
3.  Kym Hunter, Creatively Kym
4.  Mandy Duffy, Beads for Brains: 365
5.  Charlene Sevier, The Bead Dreamer
6.  Lisa Boucher, Lisa's Clay Happenings
7.  Mary Harding, Mary Harding Jewelry
8.  Barbara Lewis, Painting With Fire
9.  Amy Severino, Amy's Beads
10.  Jennifer Pride, Jewelry by Jennifer Pride
11.  Jenny Cameron, Glass Addictions
12.  Susan Ferguson, Windrock Studio
13.  Mortira vanPelt, Inspirational Beading
14.   Brandi Hussey, Brandi Girl
15.  Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
16.  Angela Barribou, Re: Angela Rae
17.  Stefanie Teufel, Stefanie's Sammelsurium 
18.  Sue Hodgkinson, Hello Gorgeous
19.  Jean Yates, Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading To Be Done!
20.  Nicki Keller, Nicki's Reef
21.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
22. Stacey Curry, Star Hitched Wagon
23.  Carrie Tahquechi,  Carrie T
24.  Deci Worland, Gem Trails
25.  Debbie Goering, Prairie Emporium 
26.  Staci Smith, Staci Louise Originals
27.  Francy Inman, 8 Second Studio 
28.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
29.  Cherin Poovey, Lanyard Lady 
30.  Deb Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs 
31.  Suzette Bentley, Ellies Bijoux  
32. Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads 
33.  Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread 
34.  Kate Gardenghi, The Tropical Blonde 
35.  Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre 
36.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me 
37.  Linda Djokic, Lutka and Co. 
38.  Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie 
39.  CJ Baushka, 4 His Glory Creations 
40.  Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass, and Recycled Trash 
41.  Sandra Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box 
42.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe Designs 
43.  Kim Roberts, Bahama Dawn 
44. Hilary Frye, FryeStyle 
45.  Emanda Johnson, Artemisia's Studio 
46.  Lisa Kavanaugh, Beading Bliss 
47.  Sue Kennedy, Sue Beads
48.  Raquel Amaral, Raquel Amaral
49.  Robyn Hawk, Daily Jewel
50.  Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry
52.  Krista French, French Elegant Jewelry
53.  Andrea Robinson,  Madame Magpie's Shiny Things
54.  John Rasmussen, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry
55.  Breana Fry, Vault 31
56.  Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
57.  Cyndi Lavin, Beading Arts
58. Dot Lewallen, Speedie Beadie
59.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
60.  Heather Pyle, Aquariart
61.  Adrienne Campbell, Adrienne Designs
62.  Dee Gordon, Runako Designs
63.  Judy Glende, Judith B. Designs
64.  Susie Hibdon, Vintage Susie & Wings
65.  Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
66.  Norma Agron, Norma's Clay
67.  Ana Novak, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos
68.  Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations
69.  Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
70.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
71.  Holly Westfall, Silver Rose Designs
72.  Catherine Pruitt, Boo Beads
73.  Deana Hager, Just Deez' Art & Life
74.  Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
75.  Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass
76.  Janet Bocciardi, Honey From the Bee
77.  Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life
78.  Rose Noble, Lady Noble Design
79.  Sally Russick, WireWorked
80.  Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter 
81.  KJ, KJ's Beadacious Beads
82.  Lana Kinney, Something Unique by Lana
83.  Melissa Meman, Melissa Meman ... Art, Life, Love 
84.  Karen Bien, Everyday Gypsy
85.  Rebecca Anderson, Songbeads
86.  Cyn Gagen, Creative Edventures
87.  Niky Sayer, Silver Nik Nats
88.  Deb Beechy, Beetique
89.  Marian Hertzog, M's Place 
90.  Kerry Bogert, Kab's Creative Concepts
91.  Judy Riley, Three Red Beads 
92.  Charlene Gray, Gray Girl Studio
 93.  Erin Fickert-Rowland, Elysian Fields
94.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
95.  Maryse Thillens, Glass Bead Art
96.  Christine Altmiller, One Kiss Creations
97.  Eileen Bergen, The Artful Crafter
98.  Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
99.  Rebekah Payne, Tree Wings Studio
100.  Mari Aparicio, Mis Amores 
101.  Tracy Statler, Make Bracelets 
102.  Marcy Lamberson, Studio Marcy 
103.  Kim Stevens, Picking Poppies
104.  Karyn White, Releases by Rufydoof
105.  Elisabeth Auld, Beads for Busy Gals
106.  Lisa Hamilton, Simply Irresistible Jewelry
107.  Serena Trent, All Things Made Jewelry
108.  Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Artwerks
109.  Debbie La Rue, For the Love of Beading
110.  Maggie Towne, Maggie's Bead Towne
 111.  Cassandra Watsham, Designs by Cassandra
112.  Mary Ellen Parker,  BeeTree by m.e.

If you are just learning about this and would like to make a bracelet to send in, send your bracelet, including a business card and a note to the family receiving your bracelet to:

7000 Bracelets of Hope/Global Genes Project

24701 La Plaza, Suite 201 

Dana Point, CA 92629

From me, Lori and the recipients...thank you to everyone who participates!