Quietly Timeless

Who: Ashleigh Branstetter
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: New Orleans, LA
Web: http://www.ashleighbranstetter.com/
Why: Understated elegance makes for a beautifully timeless collection.  :)

Cherished Icons

Who: Elizabeth Ryan
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Northampton, MA
Web: http://www.lookajewelry.com/
Why: Charmingly cherished icons of childhood.  :)

Hinging on Whimsy

Who: Amy Taylor
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Glenview, IL
Web: http://amytaylorjewelry.com/home.html
http://www.etsy.com/shop/hingedjewelry
Why: Whimsically pretty hinged designs!  :)

Consider This

Who: Jackie Matelski
What: Handcrafted Ceramics
Where: Madison, WI
Web: http://jackiematelski.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JackieMatelski
Why: Crazycool clay creations! Jackie will be showing her work at the fabulous John Michael Kohler Arts Center Festival of the Arts this weekend...see her if you get the chance!  :)

A Study in Contrast

Who: Judith Neugebauer
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Milford, PA
Web: http://www.judithneugebauer.com/default.asp
Why: Painterly Boulder Opals contrast beautifully with Judith's graceful swirls of silver and gold...lovely one-of-a-kind jewels!

In Her Element

Who: Judith Kaufman
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: West Hartford, CT
Web: http://judithkaufman.com/index.html
Why: Amuletic elements and collectible gems in high karat gold...her spectacular pieces always draw compliments!  :)

Raw Sophistication

Who: Roger Rimel
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: St Louis, MO
Web: http://www.rogerrimel.com/rogerrimel/Welcome.html
Why: Rough and raw sophistication...love the gem-studded pieces!

Phoenix Fire

Who: Susan Mahlstedt of R/M Studio
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Kansas City, MO
Web: http://rmstudiojewelry.com/RM_Studio_Jewelry/WELCOME.html
Why: Another new favorite from this Summer's art festival season!  :)

Finely Woven Tales

Who: Elizabeth Farber
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Minnetonka, MN
Web: http://elizabethfarber.com/home.html
Why: Stunning and spectacular, Beth's designs shimmer with fine faceted gem beads and glorious focal stones hand-woven with silver or gold. They sensuously follow the curves of the body, much like the bejeweled garments of legendary pharoahs and queens. Gorgeous!

Creative Echoes

Who: Sabine of EONDesign
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Germany
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/EONDesign
Why: Another quietly creative gem geek.  ;)

Festive Treasures

Who: Christiane & Oliver Hampel
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Naples, FL
Web: http://www.hampeldesign.com/
Why: The finest craftsmanship coupled with beautifully textured nature-based designs. A fabulous art festival find!

We are smack dab in the middle of a superamazing art festival season. This weekend is the always avidly anticipated Ann Arbor Art Fairs July 17-20...if you attend only one art fair extravaganza in your life, make it this one!  :)

Jubilant Jewels

Who: Mary Filapek & Lou Ann Townsend
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Concord, NC
Web: http://www.maryandlouann.com/
Why: Jubilant color in supergroovy designs!

Unexpected Beauty

Who: Christine Mighion
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: South Bend, IN
Web: http://www.christinemighion.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristineMighion
Why: Conflict-free gems, 100% recycled gold, sales support ocean conservation, and a jeweler with a loving free spirit inspired by the unexpected beauty in nature.  :)

In Balance

Who: Michele LeVett
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Durham, NC
Web: http://www.michelelevettdesigns.com/default.html
Why: Colorful structures, harmoniously in balance.  :)

Happy Jewelry

Who: Sue of Tinkertown
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Long Beach, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/tinkertown
Why: To quote Sue..."because happy jewelry makes people happy"  :)

Moon Glow

Who: Yumi Ueno
What: Art Jewelry & Metal
Where: Van Nuys, CA
Web: http://www.yumidesign.com/
Why: Yumi focuses on movement and flow, material and color, all skillfully, sensitively balanced. I love the animated spirit of her pieces and her liberal use of exotic gems, especially those mischievously glowing Moonstones...joyfully mesmerizing!

Dancing by the Light of the Moon

Who: Penny Preville
What: Couture Designer Jewelry
Where: Great Neck, NY
Web: http://www.pennypreville.com/
Why: "The lore of Moonstone is that the light of the moon formed it. There is a fable that claims a woman wearing it on the night of a full moon will fall passionately in love..."  ;)

Brilliantly Spinning in Orbit

Who: Claudio Pino
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Web: http://pinodesign.net/
Why: Crazyamazing technical craftsmanship, screamingly far out award-winning designs...I love the brilliant spins of Claudio's kinetic pieces!  :)

Just So Simple

Who: Victoria Jarman
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Corsham, England, UK
Web: http://victoriajarman.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/VixJarmanJewellery
Why: Refreshingly fetching jewels! Victoria uses recycled gold and silver and ethically sourced gems in her eco-friendly studio, where she also makes stained glass windows. Lovely pieces, as charming as a simple smile.  :)

Enchanting Colors of the Seasons

Who: Jessica Dow, Martha Borzoni and Mark Anderson of Different Seasons Jewelry
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Barron, WI
Web: http://www.differentseasonsjewelry.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DifferentSeasons
Why: Enchantingly colorful gems include Moonstone, Spectrolite and Labradorite, Opal, Chrysoprase and Sugilite, and all sorts of supercool Fossils, Jaspers and Agates, cut and set in-studio by the talented trio...beautiful teamwork!  :)

Strength of Hand

Who: Ann Cahoon of Flying Marquis Studio
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Ashby, MA
Web: http://flyingmarquis.com/
http://www.artfulhome.com/artist/Ann-Cahoon/8160
Why: Strong and stunning handmade chain accented by soft and shimmery Moonstone, Labradorite, Diamond...love it!

Divine Intuition

Who: Natasha Wozniak
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Brooklyn, NY
Web: http://www.natashajewelry.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NatashaWozniakDesign
Why: Natasha is an admirably disciplined and skilled craftsperson with a magically intuitive, thoughtful and heart-full approach to her work.  :)

Opulent Moon

Who: Paula Crevoshay
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Albuquerque, NM
Web: http://www.crevoshay.com/
Why: Paula's work is the embodiment of magnificent opulence, combining her formal training as a painter and sculptor, her deep appreciation of treasurable gems and her supercolorful sense of design. I've had the pleasure of working with her on several occasions designing for clients...she is ever so gracious, elegant and sophisticated, just like her gorgeous jewels!

Magic in the Heavens, Magic in the Gems...

Have You Viewed the Solstice SuperMoon?

On June 23, the moon will be at its closest distance to Earth for 2013 while in its full phase. As a result, it will appear 8 percent larger and 17 percent brighter than usual—an event widely known as a supermoon.

And making it a bit more special, thanks to coincidental timing, this supermoon will be coming on the heels of the June solstice, which takes place only two days before.

"This kind of celestial geometry repeats roughly every 14 years," said (Adler Planetarium astronomer Mark) Hammergen.

Continued...

Magic of the Moonstone

The moonstone is one of the most magical looking gemstones. With its many changing colors and the glow from it that resembles the moon makes it look like it has enchanting powers. The Romans believed that the stone was formed from the frozen moonlight because of the beautiful shimmer that it gives off. The moonstone is quickly related to goddesses; those goddesses include Diana, Hecate, Artemis, Hera, and Selene, the moon goddess herself. In fact, ancient Greeks called the moonstone “Aphroselene” after both Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Selene, the goddess of the moon and it was thought that the best time to use the moonstone was during a full moon to make this gemstone its most powerful. Because of its association to the water, moonstone also has said to have the power to protect those at sea. It was given the name “Traveler’s Stone” due to this and then was also said to protect those who traveled during the night, especially during a new moon. Both Indian and European legends thought that the moonstone would make two people fall passionately in love with each other when the moon is high in the sky and they were both wearing the stone. They also thought that it would bring bitter lovers back together. During the middle ages people believed that if you looked into a moonstone you were able to see the future.

Continued...

Drifting Down on Moonbeams

Who: Ariane Hartmann
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Hagen, Germany
Web: http://www.ariane-hartmann.de/startengl.html
Why: Airy and ethereal...as if drifting down on moonbeams.  :)

Modernist Moon

For those who groove on the Masters of Modernism...

Torun Bülow-Hübe for Georg Jensen
Silver Brooch with Moonstone
British Museum, London
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3503774&partId=1

Michael John Jerry
Sterling Silver Collar and Pendant with Moonstone
Museum of Arts and Design, NY
http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=media&id=344&mediaid=5485

Albert Paley
Gold, Bronze and Silver Double Fibula Brooch with Pearls, Moonstone and Madagascar Labradorite
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
http://www.mfah.org/art/detail/double-fibula-brooch/

Ruth Roach
"Patricia Bracelet" Sterling Silver with Moonstone
M. Schon Gallery
http://www.modernsilver.com/roacharticle.htm

Louis Mueller
Gold Vermeil Brooch with Moonstone and Onyx
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/brooch-457092

Antonio Pineda
Sterling Silver Bracelet with Moonstone
M. Schon Gallery
http://www.modernsilver.com/antoniointerview.html

Ed Wiener
Sterling Silver Ring with Moonstone
M. Schon Gallery
http://www.mschon.com/summer2012/ed%20wiener%20moonston%20ring.htm

Sam Kramer
Silver Earrings with Turquoise and Moonstone
M. Schon Gallery
http://www.modernsilver.com/architectonic.htm

Wendy Ramshaw
Gold Brooches with Black Basalt, Moonstone and Chalcedony
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O143731/pins-ramshaw-wendy/

Twixt Sun and Moon

Who: Elfi Spiewack
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Lyttelton, New Zealand
Web: http://www.elfispiewack.com/
Why: I love how that Elfi challenges the concept of wearable art while infusing deep sentiment into her work. Precise lines and raw edges coexist perfectly just like yin and yang, day and night, sun and moon.  ;)

Masters of the Moon

Magnificent Moonstones in the Hands of the Elite Masters

Louis Comfort Tiffany
Platinum Necklace and Pendant with Moonstone and Sapphire
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/10005554

Reginald Pearson
Gold Brooch with Moonstone and Sapphire
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O126514/brooch-pearson-reginald/

Cartier
Platinum Brooch with Rock Crystal, Moonstone and Diamond
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O152946/brooch-cartier/

John Paul Cooper
Gold Brooch Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby, Amethyst and Chrysoprase
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/brooch-495555

Henry Wilson
Buckle and Belt Tag with Moonstone, Gems and Enamel
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O67008/buckle-and-belt-wilson-henry/

George Hunt
Silver and Gold Brooch with Moonstone, Sapphire and Enamel
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O143719/brooch-hunt-george/

Charles Robert Ashbee
Silver and Gold Brooch with Moonstone, Topaz, Freshwater Pearl and Enamel
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/marsh-bird-brooch-506941

Ferdinand Hauser
Gold Brooch with Moonstone and Enamel
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1998.356

In The Heavens

Who: Linda Blumel Studio
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Scottsdale, AZ
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LindaBlumel
Why: Nothing spins my spurs like expertly-cut one-of-a-kind gems...Chrysocolla-Malachite, Rainbow Moonstone, Sugilite, Gaspeite...alongside gorgeous Amethyst, Rhodolite, Tanzanite...so many of my favorites! Linda's Studio is pure heaven!  :)