Behind the Scenes: Award Winning Jewels

In the next few days the elite of the Television Industry...and those who dress them, will be looking for that jaw dropper! The piece of jewelry that makes the news!

Well this year you can be part of the process.

Just check in daily at the Your Engagement 101 blog to read the great daily guest post by Michael O'Connor, jewelry & style expert!

About Michael from the blog:

Michael is one of the leading voices on style, jewelry and accessories, and he has become the “go-to” resource for editors and producers seeking information on current trends and celebrity style. As a style expert, Michael has appeared regularly on a variety of TV shows such as The Today Show, E! News and Access Hollywood (and check out the video below to see him in action on the red carpet).

This Sunday at the Emmys Michael will be doing what he does best, and he’ll be blogging about it every day until Monday .

Day One is up HERE!

Day Two is up HERE!

Day Three is HERE!

India International Jewellery Week

We get great coverage about all the Festivals, Gem & Jewelry Shows and Conferences in the US - I just came across a fabulous post of Day 4 of the India International Jewellery Week!

India Glitz reports:

Sagarika Ghatge Graces Manubhai Zaveri’s Show

[Thursday, August 19, 2010]

Manubhai Zaveri’s exotic bridal jewellery collection was a festive display of antique beauty at The India International Jewellery Week Day 4. Sagarika Ghatge, the popular star of ‘Chake de India’, was an elegant show stopper, wearing double long bejeweled antique Haars, jhumka earrings, bangles and rings.

...and check out some of the stunning looks from the show...go to the India Glitz site for a full Slideshow!

Modeux by Claudia Endler

WHAT? am I the last to know? I can't tell you just how excited I am to learn of the new "fashion jewelry line" from one of my favorite designers Claudia Endler!!!

Modeux by Claudia Endler is a contemporary fashion jewelry line. Ideally priced for gift-giving at $40 to $200, the line is crafted from silver, blackened metal and gold-plate materials. Infusing modern elements and geometric shapes, Claudia Endler creates jewelry that reveals and highlights a woman’s individual style. The line displays a sophisticated, graceful and fresh aesthetic. Modeux is available online and by private appointment at the Claudia Endler Designs’ studio. For further inquiries, please contact us at info@claudiaendler.com or 323.225.5925.

This is a chic, contemporary jewelry line designed for the modern woman. With the same effortless elegance and modern aesthetics that Claudia Endler Designs is known for, the line stands out with a tastefully distinct feminine touch and a sense of style.

"Crafted with the modern woman in mind, Modeux is high fashion at an accessible price."

The blasted metals and affordable pricepoints are a winner! Claudia is on my HOTLIST of designers and now that she has a fashion line, I can love even more of her stunning designs!!! Thanks Claudia!

You can follow Claudia Endler on Twitter

...and be sure to "Like" the new Modeux Facebook page

2011 Spectrum Awards - Get Your Entries IN!

For info and to register go to the AGTA website:

http://agta.org/awards/index.html

Fan them on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/AGTASpectrumAwards

Follow them on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/agta_spectrum

Subscribe to the YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/agtawebmaster#play/uploads

Halstead Bead Grant Winner Annouced!

Cowboy’s Sweetheart Jewelry Wins National Award & Business Grant

Cowboy’s Sweetheart is the 2010 winner of the 5th annual grant competition sponsored by Halstead Bead, Inc. The Jewelry Design Business Development Grant is awarded to a new jewelry entrepreneur each year.

Western jewelry designer Amy Fortunato of Cowboy’s Sweetheart rounded up top honors in the 2010 Jewelry Design Business Development Grant competition. Her prize package includes $6,000 in start-up cash and jewelry supplies. The annual award is sponsored by jewelry supply wholesaler Halstead Bead, Inc.

The grant is awarded to a new jeweler in the bridge or art jewelry segment each year in recognition of design skill and business acumen. Candidates must submit lengthy applications including portfolios of original jewelry and details of their business plans.

“Amy’s work beautifully blends western inspired silversmithing with contemporary design elements. Her line is both fashionable and affordable,” said one competition judge,Hilary Halstead Scott, “her witty branding and accessible price points are perfect for an accessory start-up in the current economy.”

Fortunato received her jewelry training as part of a Fine Arts degree from the University of Connecticut. Her career has included graphic design and jewelry production for other companies prior to launching Cowboy’s Sweetheart. Fortunato describes the genesis of her company as her answer to the call “Go West, young lady, go West!” After moving to Colorado she began her love affair with the region’s natural surroundings, history and people.

“I attempt to celebrate a little bit of the American West each time I turn out a new piece.” she stated. “I am thrilled to receive this recognition and the opportunity to grow my business.”

Cowboy’s Sweetheart joins a distinguished list of past Grant winners in the industry. Her jewelry collections are available online at www.Cowboys-Sweetheart.com. A complete list of past grant recipients and finalists as well as competition details are on the Jewelry Design Business Development Grant website at www.HalsteadBead.com/grant.

The "Well-Healed" Tourmaline...and more

Today over at Michael Lebowitz's Posterous...

Michael asked: "While talking about visualizing time and evolution, it occurred to me that tree rings are naturally occurring data visualization... any other examples out there?"

Crystals are the perfect example!

This tourmaline out grew the Vug it called home - broke off and with time and pressure it healed grew a little - broke - healed - grew a little - broke...and so on...until this "well-healed" (pun intended) tourmaline was found bent and broken yet solid and a beautiful testament to time.

...and then of course you also have the various minerals that hit the region represented in the color banding! YEP! crystals are the perfect example of naturally occurring data visualization!

Tourmaline from Paprock, Afghanistan
http://atomicperfection.com/

From Fine Mineral Show - San Francisco

or...this gorgeous Aquamarine...what catastrophic event do you think caused the dramatic loss of color at that particular point in the growth of the crystal?

Aquamarine from Alpine Mineral Company
http://www.alpineminerals.com/minerals.html

From Fine Mineral Show - San Francisco

What's So Funny?

Brigitte Martin of crafthaus asks...What's so funny?

Humor in Craft

People of all ages and cultures respondto humor enthusiastically and craft artwork definitely can be very funny !

Often, the work exudes a sense of the absurd due to exaggerated size or by being executed in unusual materials. Craft artwork can be highly ironic, political, sarcastic, or just plain amusing, and it comes in a variety of media, such as metals, wood, fibers, ceramics, glass, mixed media etc.

Brigitte Martin has joined up with Schiffer Publishing to develop a book about the role humor plays in contemporary craft, and we welcome your submissions in image, text, audio, and video !

We are lookingfor the following contributions:
- images of humorous artwork,
- texts/essays by the contributing artists, commenting about humorous aspects in their artwork,
- audio art
- video art (the book will contain a CD of audio/video art depending on qualifying submissions)
- essays by writers about the role of humor and fun in craft.

Can you show us humor in all its shades expressed through craft artwork and text ? Who decides what's funny and what isn't ? What topics are off-limits ? Is irony funny ? Sarcasm ? Are politics funny ? Religion ? This book aims to provide the viewer with entertainment, commentary, and of course, many fine craft pieces by makers from all over the world. Humor has no borders. Or does it ? It might be interesting to learn how a piece will be hilarious in China, but only garner mild astonishment in Sweden and vice versa.

This call is open to craft artists working in all craft media. crafthaus membership is not required. International entries are particularly welcome and encouraged ! The book is scheduled to be on the market in 2012.

This is a rolling call: THE SOONER YOU SEND IN YOUR ENTRY the greater your chance to be considered ! Final deadline: March 1, 2011.

Artists:

To submit your work for initial consideration, please email:
humorincraft@yahoo.com

- low res image(s),

- information regarding media, measurements,

- brief blurb about your work and your views on the topic of "humor in craft"

- Audio/Video artists: Please email an excerpt of your piece or direct me to a website where your work can be heard/seen.

Once selected, you will receive detailed information about the image requirements for printing, as well as other pertinent information and a deadline for final submission.

Image requirements for eventual inclusion in book:

Be prepared to submit your photos at 300 dpi and sized 15 x 10 inches !
Format: tiff or jpg

AdobeRGB1998 preferred but not necessary
Pixel count for a 9 x 7 image is: 3500 x 2800 pixels

Writers:

Please submit a brief outline on your proposed essay topic, as well
as some information about you to:
email: humorincraft@yahoo.com

Photos from crafthaus