Aleksandra Vali Jewelry

Aleksandra Vali describes her work

perfectly as "feelings carved into metal."

Her highly-textured work revolves
around experiments with silver

combined with various materials

like gold, shells, diamonds, gemstones, pearls,

corals, textiles, lava rocks, and plastics.

A variety of techniques allows her to
make the most out of these materials
through carving, casting, riveting,
oxidizing, etching and metalsmithing.

 

I especially like how

the rough texture of the metal

is contrasted by

smooth pearls and other gemstones.

 

Take a look at Aleksandra Vali's website

to see more of her wonderful work.

 

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Peggy Eng Jewelry

When a friend suggested we take
a look at the work of an artist
who specializes in carving and
anodizing aluminum, we were
 intrigued by the idea.

Well, we immediately fell in love
with the sophisticated jewelry
that Peggy Eng creates.
It's detailed, elegant, and evocative
of things in the natural world.
Simply stated, she is truly a
sculptor working in aluminum.

It seems unexpected and counterintuitive
to think about creating delicate, flowing
designs by carving metal and
by using chemical and electrical
processes but the results that Peggy
achieves are simply wonderful.

In her technically proficient hands,
 an ordinary piece of aluminum turns into
something extraordinary. This artist has
the ability to transform a boring metal
into a blend of rich colors and
amazingly textured designs.

There are many bold pieces in her collection.
Here are some of our favorites. 

 

Graceful and dynamic, these earrings
are called "Fleur."
Surprisingly, these measure a mere
1 inch x 1.75 inches.

We adore this brooch called "Split Corner."

In this piece, the soft, subtle wash of
gentle color is the perfect accompaniment
to the Tahitian pearl. 
It's called "Stacked Brooch."

In every piece, her designs have clean,
distinct lines and seem to flow with motion.

While some of her pieces are somber
and dark, we are attracted to her
brightly colored work with their
vibrant, saturated color and engaging
designs. They all seem to exude
a sense of reserved dignity.
We are utterly enchanted.

Enjoy!

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Dana Driver Jewelry

Many years ago, at a Northern California
event called “Celebration of Craftswomen,”
we came across an artist who creates
delightful jewelry made with river stones.

Each piece of jewelry made by Dana Driver

is a wearable piece of fine art

composed of panache, inspiration, and most
of all, a delightful touch of whimsy.

Sorted by size, color, and suitability for
her designs, Dana selects the best stones
to tumble, carve, drill, and inlay with fine silver
or 22kt gold.

By inlaying precious materials such as gold
or silver, she transforms something
as mundane as a rock into a work of
charm, elegance, and creativity.

And to top it off, we are enamored with
the idea that many of her pieces have
moving parts that encourage
playfulness and exploration.

Here are some examples of her work.

We love her Flamingo brooch

and this Channel bracelet

These flowers always make us smile.

and these earrings are the ultimate
in simplicity and tranquility.

All of her pieces are created with the utmost

in impeccable skill and technique.

We're always intrigued when

an artist combines precious metals

with more mundane items. In this artist's hands,
the beauty provide by Mother Nature

is deftly embellished with precious metals

that result in lighthearted pieces of

art jewelry.

Enjoy!

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Suzanne Linquist Jewelry

Jewelry created by Suzanne Linquist features

an unusual combination of materials:

 ebony and silver.

The subtle metallic shimmer of silver
complements the intense black of the ebony,
and by joining them together Suzanne
creates a broad range of designs
from a singularly simple palette.

There are so many pieces to see and admire -
here's a pin we simply adore.
It showcases

pierced silver, carved ebony

with a pearl and brass.

We love the incredible symmetry in

these earrings made with ebony

inlaid with silver.

We find inspiration whenever an artist shares

their background, their motivations, or their

serendipitous discoveries along

their journey into the art of

handcrafted jewelry. 

Suzanne's explanation of her unexpected

discovery of a supply of ebony

provides a snapshot for us to share. 

On her website, she explains,

". . . browsing in a hardwood store I noticed a box of black wooden rectangles. When I picked one up, the wood was heavy and felt dense as I rubbed my finger across its dark surface. It was ebony, the salesman told me, and the rectangles were old piano key blanks. I bought the whole box and took it back to my studio. Over the next year, I learned to carve and turn ebony on a mini-lathe to create small sculptural forms for necklaces, earrings, pins and bracelets. Silver glowed and took on new life when I inlaid it directly into the black wood or wound fine shining wires around lathe turned shapes. In turn the silver embellishment brought the ebony sculptural forms to life. "

It's moments like these

that can bring jewelry to life.

Here is another piece we admire.

It's made with

silver, ebony, brass and a pearl.

And here is another.

The idea of making such wonderful
handcrafted jewelry by using
a re-purposed material is both
imaginative and inspiring.

By re-purposing old piano key blanks
into lovely works of wearable art,
Suzanne inspires us with her
choice of materials,
range of designs, and the moods they create.

  Let us know what you think

and what inspires you.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

We'd love to know.

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