Flattering Stripes

As someone who is larger on top than bottom, I normally avoid prints or patterns (especially stripes!) on top. After all, who wants a print stretched awkwardly across one's chest? Suddenly, those straight lines appear unattractively wavy. But, perhaps against my better judgment, I just can't get enough of stripes for spring right now. Any way you do them -- nautical, menswear, or Gallic -- I love the easiness and androgyny of stripes for spring. And, when done right, they can be (I promise) incredibly flattering.

1. Fine Stripe Henley ($88, Boden). Love the big graphic white buttons paired with the white sunglasses.

2. Bow-tie Striped Blouse ($49, Banana Republic). The menswear-style vertical stripes are ultra-flattering, especially when softened with the bow.

3. Tricolor Cardigan ($139, Shopbop). A super-fine cardigan is perfect for Houston weather and the button-detailing at the 3/4 sleeve makes this one just a little special.

4. Harbor-stripe Bikini ($54/top, $42/bottoms, J.Crew). About the most flattering striped bathing suit you could find. I also like how the bottoms aren't too bare.

5. Juicy Couture Striped Dolman Top ($128, Shopbop). The banded waist and easy fit make this perfect for weekends. Diagonal stripes ensure it's flattering.

6. Pamela Stripe by Andre Assous ($110, Piperlime). Striped espadrilles are a great way to sport horizontal stripes without fear they'll make you look wider.

7. Michael by Michael Kors Cardigan, Tee & Linen Pants ($69.50-$129.50, Nordstrom). Love MK's slouchy, decidedly French take on the nautical look.

8. Yarn-dyed Striped Scarf ($58, J.Crew). An oversized, whisper thin scarf that's great for transitional weather.

9. BCBG Striped Crepe Dress ($258, Bloomingdale's). This is such a great example of how a dress can be sophisticated and sexy without being overtly revealing. Besides, stripes are such much more unexpected than the LBD.

Stop! Bead Show Ahead!

Ok, so your schedule didn’t work out so that you could go to Tucson….next best thing, your local bead shows. Spring is coming on and with it comes the slew of local bead shows; national and international vendors bring direct to you their beads, findings, pendants, wire, tools, and even finished products. So ask yourself what to do, how to be a smart shopper and avoid the ‘impulse buys’ by getting prepared.

1) So when will bead shows be in your area? Check the sites of your favorite venders they often list what shows they attend through-out the year. Also, check with any of these sites Rings & Things, The Whole Bead Show, International Gem Show and The Bead Market, just to name a few places to start.
2) Set a budget as to what you will spend; this may be determined by stock you are out of and some left over for purchases of specialty items.
3) Bring a couple of checks, plenty of cash and your credit cards just in case you run into someone who doesn’t take one or the other.
4) Be sure to bring a copy of your Tax ID certificate and business cards. Some shows are known as wholesale only and will require these items for entrance. If it is a public show, don’t be afraid to ask the vendors for a wholesale discount and provide both these items to them to get a discount.
5) Make a list of items you are out of; these will be the first things to look for at the show. If I know that I’ll be buying from previous vendors, I’ll group those items together on the list for ease.
6) I also make a list of items I am looking for and want; it could be stones or pendants I’ve seen online or a combination of colors in another design. This helps to keep the ‘impulse’ buying down by knowing what you are looking for and can afford.
7) Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bag to load all your goodies into.
8) Include in your shopping bag several sizes of zip lock bags; as you find things that go together, put them in the little baggies, this makes it easy to determine why you purchased these little gems when you get home.
9) Paper and pen; I bring paper and pen to mark bead names if they are not already marked. This makes identifying much easier than guessing or having to go through the process to indentify each unknown stone or pendant.
10) If you are looking to match a pendant, beads or color combination you already have; bring a few of these on a string or in a baggie to matchup at the bead show. This takes the guess work out of ‘thinking’ something matched and finding out later it wasn’t even close.
11) Bring baby wipes for easy cleanup; looking through tons of strands of beads and boxes of findings can get a little messy and dusty.
12) Look for suppliers whose ads you’ve seen for products you’re interested in. Bring the ad if possible and look for those products; this is the perfect place to handle these items before purchasing to determine if this is what you really wanted.
13) Take brakes and rest, get something to eat, drink and take time to review your shopping list and bag; typically it takes an entire day to attend a bead show.
14) Last but not least; this takes willpower but walk the entire show first to see what is available, check out pricing and watch what others are buying. Many vendors have the same products and offer different discounts; look for the best quality and prices available. Make note as to vendors you want to return to for purchases of those goodies after you have finished walking the whole show.
15) Above all --- be a smart shopper and have fun!

Now start your shopping list, get going and Good Luck!!!

Do you match?

photograph courtesy of Tobi Fairley

I've always been wary of matching upholstery to curtains (or to wallpaper). For one, the practice strikes me as dated, having generally gone out of vogue around the time the first George Bush left office. But, as with fashion, what goes around invariably comes back around in the world of interiors -- and, as we all know the 1980s are back. And so, I'm starting to rethink my traditional bias. In the right hands (and with the right pattern), matching patterns on walls, windows, and/or furniture can make a bold, confident statement.

The look is undeniably "decorated" -- more in the vein of David Hicks or Dorothy Draper than most modern decorators -- but why are so many of us painstakingly decorating our spaces to achieve an "undecorated" look? It's not unlike the "no makeup-makeup look" or spending gobs of money on clothes that make you look like you just rolled out of bed. Why not buck the trend to look "undone"? Why not match? Of course, matching can be just as hard as mixing, but I've pulled together a few photos from some of my favorite interior designers to inspire you.

photograph courtesy of Katie Ridder

To quote Jonathan Adler in "My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living" (the most enjoyable "design" book ever): "Take your bedding to the limit. Luxuriate in matching linens, drapes, headboards, and pantsuits." Pantsuits aside, I'm fairly certain decorator Katie Ridder took JA's message to heart. Why not match your pillow to your walls and then take it up a notch with a matching half-canopy? To paraphrase JA himself, "be a maximalist!" You're preaching to the converted, JA....

Photograph courtesy of Jonathan Adler

Speaking of Adler, j'adore this kitchen he designed -- especially the way he carried the fabric from the bar stools to the banquet, and even to the light fixtures! Such a great touch; very "happy chic". I also love how the more traditional fabric (in a very mod hue) manages to warm up an otherwise very modern kitchen. Indeed, Jonathan Adler, who might as well be a direct descendant of David Hicks, is a mater at matching (and at mixing for that matter...but that's another post). Moreover, his matching manages to come off as more modern than traditional, primarily as a result of his fabric choices, which tend to be rainbow-brights that are more graphic than fussy.

photograph courtesy of Phoebe Howard

Like monogramming any spare pillow, I've always thought that repeating the same fabric throughout a room was a very Southern way to design a space. If you've ever spent much time touring old plantation homes around Charleston or Savannah, you know what I mean. Atlanta-based decorator Phoebe Howard probably best exemplifies this aspect of "Southern Style"; in fact, if Adler is the King of Matching, I'd have to anoint Phoebe is queen. Because I can't get enough of PH right now, here are two more examples of her work:

I think the key to Phoebe's success is keeping the color palettes minimal -- the matching patterns are the stars here, not the array of color. Additionally, her rooms each include a secondary fabric (either a strong solid or a larger print) that coordinates with the primary fabric, but does not "go" perfectly, thus adding an unexpected element of liveliness to an otherwise subdued (and what would otherwise be overtly coordinated) space. Also note how by matching her curtains to her wallpaper in the last picture, Phoebe reduces the contrast level and manages to create the illusion of the walls flowing seamlessly into the windows.

As with any bold statement (be it in fashion or interior decorating), it can be difficult to walk the line between edgy or avaunt guard and just plan ugly. Sometimes it's simply a matter of just too much of a good thing, and sometimes the entire idea was a bad one from the beginning. Domino -- may it rest in peace -- certainly featured it's fair share of rooms illustrating the disastrous effects of matching patterns. Perhaps they intended it as a word of warning?

domino, February 2008

Quite honestly, this room is probably my least favorite room ever to appear in domino's four years of existence. It's the fashion equivalent of pairing a leopard-print dress with leopard-print pumps and a striped handbag: sure, the striped handbag is different, but it doesn't really balance the effects of the leopard-print dress and shoes. To avoid having your room look like Lisa Rinna lives in it, I'd suggest keeping the animal print as an accent pattern: a zebra pillow or a cozy cheetah-print throw. More than that and your room will either start to look like a safari...or a brothel -- two looks best avoided.

domino, April 2008

Normally, I think Peter Dunham (who designed the room pictured above) is a great designer and I covet many of his rooms, but this is just way, way, way too much toile and the overall effect is far too fussy with the skirted chair, feathered (!) lamp, and intricate bamboo daybed. Perhaps if the style of the furniture was cleaner, this would work better. ...Or maybe I just really don't like that much toile. [By the way, the fabric was supposedly initially designed for Jennifer Garner...I would've guessed someone more like Shirley MacLaine.]

domino, February 2008

I wouldn't suggest looking at this one too closely, you may get a headache. Perhaps the genius in this space is that the pattern manages to be so loud, so insane that you don't immediately notice the fact that there's a skinned lizard (or is it a gator?) on the wall, a zebra pelt on the floor, and large Christmas-tree ornaments in front of the fire place.

So what are your thoughts on these spaces? Can matching ever work? If so, have you tried it at home?

Medieval Jewelry Put on Display

Medieval Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of body adornment. The beads with a history of 100,000 year-old made from Nassarius shells are thought to be the oldest known medieval jewelry. In the ancient world gold was the preferred metal for making jewelry. It was rare, did not tarnish and best of all it was malleable, so it could be worked fairly easily.
It is reported that two priceless hoards of medieval jewelry and coins have gone on display in the UK for the first time.

Among those precious finds, some can be traced to the 14th Century. Three of the earliest known examples of Jewish wedding rings have been displayed at London's Wallace Collection.

As for the origin of those items, experts say they were buried by families when there was Black Death in Europe. Stephen Duffy, of the Wallace Collection, in Manchester Square, said the items were "very rare and unusual survivors from the medieval period".

One part of the display was found in the walls of a house in Colmar, France in 1863, while the lager part was found later than the first one, in 1998 at Erfurt, Germany. She said: "It is impossible to put a value on such unique objects."

Karin Sczech, German archaeologist and curator of the exhibition said: "It is impossible to put a value on such unique objects."As well as being precious stones and materials, the items have great cultural and historical significance.

The exhibition at the Wallace Collection in central London will open on Thursday 19 February until Sunday 10 May.

Diamond Grade-How to Grade Diamonds

From chemistry point of view, diamond is a mineral and is the hardest substance that already known by human being in the world. It is composed of carbon. Its earliest record dates back to some 3000 years ago in India. Diamonds have always been associated with mystical power and great beauty throughout the history. Recently they are endowed with another meaning-the symbol of power and wealth.

If you are going to spend a substantial amount of money on a diamond, it is necessary to learn diamond grade and how diamonds are graded.

Diamonds are available in varying colors, sizes and qualities. Naturally their colors rang from very clear fine whites to pinks, bright yellows, greens and browns. The majority of diamonds used in jewelry today are white diamonds.

The value of a white diamond is determined by what are commonly referred to as the 4Cs. The 4Cs are the Diamond's Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. Each of the 4Cs is important and the most valuable Diamonds are those that possess the best of all four measurements.

Clarity is the term used to describe the size and number of flaws known as inclusions in a diamond. The most brilliant diamond always has the fewest inclusions. So the fewer inclusions diamonds have the more valuable they are.

Diamond color grades start at D and continue through the alphabet. Truly colorless stones, graded D, are extremely rare and very valuable. The closer a diamond is to being colorless, the rarer and more valuable it is.

Carat is comparatively common term to us. The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, which is easily for us to understand. The larger the diamond (and therefore the rarer) the more expensive per carat it will be.

While nature determines a diamond's color, clarity, and carat weight, the hand of a master craftsman is needed to release its fire and beauty. The cut gives each diamond its unique sparkle and brilliance by allowing the maximum amount of light to enter and reflect back out of the diamond.

To find the best Diamond that fits within your price range it essentially comes down to a compromise between the 4Cs and your consideration of which factors are most important to you. If you really want a larger stone on a limited budget you could decide to purchase a stone which is graded slightly lower in terms of clarity and color.

Huaraches para Primavera

While I love all things Greco-Roman, I'm not entirely sure I can get behind the gladiator trend that's been popping up all over the place for Spring. Besides, the majority of these so-called gladiator sandals strike me as more dominatrix than Roman anyway (see Exhibit A). Instead, I think I'll head south of the border for inspiration and try some huaraches.

Huaraches (traditional Mexican sandals easily recognizable by their woven leather tops) are a big trend for spring, too -- and a much easier one to pull off. Whether you prefer a more or less literal interpretation of the trend, I've rounded up a half dozen of my favorite huarache-inspired sandals. I'm particularly attracted to each of these right now because they're so much less bare than the thong sandals or flip flops that have been dominating warm-weather shoes for years now. As a result, I think they're a sandal that could work at the office (where you should NEVER be showing up in flip flops), thereby making it easier for me to justify purchasing a pair.

1. Anya Sandal, Tory Burch ($250; also available in silver or brown). Ack!! I am so, so tempted by these....argh. Moreover, Mrs. B. appears to be leading the huarache-charge this spring; she also has a huarache-style wedge (available in black) and huarache-style high heel (in tan). In short: whatever your heel preference, Tory has you covered.

2. Paristu Sandal, Corso Como ($154.95; also available in black or tan). My favorite of the wedge options. I love that the wedge isn't ridiculously tall (I tend to feel like I'm clopping around on stilts when they're too high) and that the platform is wrapped in suede, which is a nicely luxe detail.

3. Ferran, Sam Edleman ($135; also available in navy). When I first saw these, I thought their name was "Farrah" (as in Fawcett) rather than "Ferran" -- which would work well, I think, since these shoes have a definite 70s/early 80s quality. Plus, their reasonable heel height (2.75"!) means you could walk around in them all day. Definitely a great option that works well in the office and on weekends.

4. Belle by Sigerson Morrison ($265). Obviously, these are a more subtle homage to their Mexican forefathers, but I love the yellow suede and the nice woven detail around the toes -- they'd be a great pick-me-up for basic jeans and tees. Yes, they're a bit pricey, but I think (if you pretreat the suede) you could have these for years and lately I find myself preferring to buy less, but buy (a) what I love and (b) what can last.

5. Huarache Air Sling, Cole Haan ($301.95, also available in black, silver and off white). Again, this one is a much less literal take on the trend, but I had to include a pair of Cole Haans since his "air" series are (IMHO) the most comfortable heels on the market today. Besides, who can resist the orange! Like Tory Burch, Cole Haan also offers huarache styles in super-cute wedges ($201.95) and practical (and, to be honest, slightly dowdy) flats ($171.95), as well as in an array of colors (go for the fuchsia!).

6. Damsel Sandal, DV by Dolce Vita ($69.95, also available in black and silver). These were my favorite well under $100 option and I think Dolce Vita shoes are a great bargain and very well made. These are also the most casual option, and I think they'd be really cute with shorts or a sundress.

Another New Design

Fresh from the design studio, this one again mixes Picture Jasper and Turquoise together in a

more choker style necklace. Turquoise in a puffy teardrop mixed among Picture Jasper and copper spacers; dangle hoop earrings complete the look.

Visit Timeless Designs for more gemstone jewelry.

House Beautiful / Beautiful Color

Since the demise of domino I've been looking for a replacement among the many remaining shelter magazines on the newsstands. After all, I don't want to commit to another magazine subscription unless I'm sure I'll like it. And so far, I'd say the next best thing to domino (that's readily available in the U.S. anyway) is House Beautiful. The March issue, currently out on newsstands, has an amazing spread on color and is definitely worth giving a shot before you write the magazine off as stuffy or unattainable. Besides, that blue kitchen featured above is the second blue kitchen that I've seen this month that I've liked (and is seriously making me rethink my prejudices against painting cabinetry anything but white).

This first image is the bedroom from a home in Montecito, CA, designed by Christina Rottman (which incidentally also features the amazing blue kitchen on House Beautiful's cover). While I question whether or not you can maintain that beige constitutes a color for purposes of a color issue, I absolutely love this room. The dark beams, the gorgeous wallpaper, the barely-there iron four poster bed...simply stunning.

The two images shown above are both taken from the home of antique dealer Ned Marshall in New Orleans, LA, and I think they demonstrate Marshall's mastery of color. Both rooms use rich, saturated tones but avoid feeling oppressive or chaotic because of the rooms' high ceilings, bare floors, and pared down palette. In the entryway, Marshall makes his major statement with the pink couch while the walls and accessories take a supporting role. In the sitting room, the walls are allowed to shine in Hermes' orange, while the furniture and accessories are either neutral or match the walls' hue.

The final house spotlighted in the color feature is the Pennsylvania farmhouse designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber (whose client list includes Anna Wintour, David Bowie, and Peter Jennings -- seriously!). The color palette here is the most intense and incredibly unique. Who would've guessed that kumquat, indigo and eggplant would work so well together? From the painted floors to the bright upholstery, I love it all.

For more pictures and the (for once) really information interviews from all the designers featured in the color issue, pick up a copy of House Beautiful -- and be sure to come back and let me know what you think of the feature, as well as where you fall on the color spectrum (Based on their methodology, I suppose I'm either "deep" or "intense".)

Jewelry Temptation-How much is the necklace worth

Now, let's read a story - Jewelry Temptation first, and then we will know that how much is the necklace worth.

"Necklace", wrote by French writer Mobosang, is the world literature in the short story of rare works. The heroine Mathilde, is the wife of a small staff of the Ministry of Education. She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was unhappy as if she had really fallen from a higher station; however，she suffered ceaselessly, feeling herself born to enjoy all delicacies and all luxuries. When a chance comes, her husband and she were invited to an upper class ball; she borrowed a beautiful diamond necklace to attend it. Her vanity was fully satisfied that night. But unfortunately, after the ball she found that she had lost the necklace.

Then she borrowed a large amount of money and spent 36,000 francs to buy a new necklace, with the appearance of the one she had borrowed. Of course, when she "returned" the necklace, she didn't tell her friend the truth. After that, Mathilde and her husband lived an extremely destitute life for 10 years and finally repaid the debt.

However, how much is the necklace worth? Later, she accidentally met her friend, whom she had borrowed the necklace from, and knew that the necklace she had lost was a fake, worth no more than 500 francs.

In the story, when the heroine discovered the necklace, her heart throbbed with an immoderate desire. Her hands trembled as she took it. She fastened it round her throat, outside her high-necked waist, and was lost in ecstasy at her reflection in the mirror." We can feel that how a diamond necklace can tempt a woman.

In fact, jewellery always has great temptation to women, no matter necklaces, earrings or bracelets. Any woman, anywhere, at anytime, can be attracted by any jewelry. So if you love a woman, the best gift for her will be beautiful jewelry.

Jasper and Ivoryite

One of our new designs from the finds of Tucson! Jasper, Wild Horse Jasper coming out of the mines of California with rich colors in red, burgandy and a slight cream; the cut of the bead is unusual with a minor twist to it. Here it’s been mixed between sterling silver open beads and rare Invoryite gemstones.

Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.

See this and many other gemstones finds on our website!

Calvin Klein Home -- On Sale at Macy's

I've been lusting after the new Calvin Klein furniture collection since it was spotlighted in Elle Decor last fall. In keeping with the rest of CK's home collection, these pieces manage to walk the line effortlessly between modern and timeless. Yes, they're minimal (but what else would you expect from CK?), but the mix up of wood, stone, metal and linen give each piece some great texture and a warm and organic quality that's often missing (for me at least) in modern design.

What's great about the entire collection is that these pieces could be made to work with just about any decor and aren't just for the modern and minimalistic aesthete. For example, some new upholstery could definitely turn up the volume in order to work with a more eclectic space. The chocolate linen the Destination Arc accent chair comes upholstered in blends in too much with the fantastic teak arcs for my taste. While you could certainly recover the chair in a contrasting solid fabric (think off-white, grey or even orange) to highlight the architecture of the chair, accent chairs really are the perfect place for a print -- and I think this chair would be absolutely stunning recovered in some of Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis II (in java/cream). I would also recover the City Couch -- in my fantasy world, anyway -- in Kelly's Manor Gate (in charcoal); after all, cotton linen is pretty basic and the simple lines of the sofa could easily stand up to a graphic pattern. Another great (and much less expensive) option for the sofa would be Mod Green Pod's Aspire fabric.

The great news is that the entire furniture collection, which is available only at Macy's for the time being, is now substantially discounted -- as in 30-60% off! I'm a little surprised at the major discounting (economy notwithstanding) since the collection only debuted at the beginning of this year, and I hope it isn't a sign that the collection is to be discontinued so soon after its launch. Now if only I had some room in my house for one (or more) of these pieces....

The Best Coat of the Season?

If I could only buy one spring coat for the rest of my life, I would pick this ruffle trim nylon trench by Dolce&Gabbana: it's classic, versatile, beautifully constructed, and with just the right amount of detailing to make it special. Unfortunately at $2,595, it would have to last the rest of my life, but I would be an oh so stylin' old lady.

PEARL JEWELRY-TRADITION OR FASHION

People often describe pearl jewelry and the women who wear them as class, style and timeless and other similar words. So many famous women of modern times wear sparkly pearl jewelry, which can make a big comeback. Pearl jewelry is enjoying resurgence today.

Celebrities and other famous women influence much of the look and style in today’s fashion world while also guiding the fashion trends. Jackie O and Princess Diana, two style masters, projected a glamorous elegance that so many women have strived to emulate. There are also other women dressed with fashionable jewelry. One of the earliest known pearl collections is the Mary Queen of Scots pearls which have more than 600 pearls.

So, do you want to be a fashion standout? There is a large amount of supply of costume pearl jewelry on the market. Wearing pearl jewelry might even inspire you to be a fashion trendsetter. Pearl jewelry is available in many hues – you could get several colors, lengths and styles and wear them to match your little black dress for many distinct looks.

The most familiar type of pearl jewelry is freshwater pearl jewelry. This is probably the most common type of pearl jewelry sold. You can be most likely to see these sold in normal department stores as well as high end jewelry stores. Freshwater pearls range from average sizes to larger than usual. They are usually 4mm to 11mm. So you are going to be finding more and more freshwater pearls that are closer to being identical in size rather than previously.

Pearl jewelry will never go out of style – it is always a classy and a traditional wardrobe accessory that will never disappoint. You would not be wrong in saying that pearl jewelry is forever.

21c in Louisville

Cracking Art, Red Penguin (2005)

This weekend a friend and I went to Louisville, Kentucky, to visit a mutual friend of ours from high school. I'd never been to Louisville before (or Kentucky for that matter) and, to be quite honest, didn't have the best impression of the city going into the weekend. But perhaps the one thing that I love the most is dispelling my preconceived notions (which are probably sometimes more appropriately classified as prejudices) about a place.

If you had asked me prior to my visit what I thought of when I thought of Kentucky, I would've rattled off the Kentucky Derby, bourbon, KFC and -- I'll admit it -- rednecks. And sure, all those elements (yes, even rednecks) exist in the state, but there's a lot more there than I'm sure most of us outsiders give it credit for. Louisville struck me as a smaller version of Austin with its thriving art scene and abundance of college students. And (unlike Austin), Louisville has some amazing historic architecture with neighborhood after neighborhood of beautiful Victorian homes.

But, if I had to select my favorite thing about Louisville -- its "best of the best", so to speak -- I think would have to say it's 21c, a hotel/restaurant/modern art museum.

Abbas Kiarostami, Sleepers (2001)

Per 21c's website, 21c Museum Hotel is "the first of its kind-a 90-room hotel dedicated to world class luxuries, Southern-style hospitality and contemporary art from living artists". Featuring a 9,000 square foot contemporary art museum funded and managed by the International Contemporary Art Foundation in the hotel's lobby, 21c is a "can't miss" for any art lover. The hotel features a permanent collection which includes the Red Penguins that are featured (and constantly rotated) throughout the hotel, Sleepers, a DVD projection on the floor right in front of the reception desk, and -- my personal favorite -- Text Rain, an interactive video projection by the elevators.

Camille Utterback & Romy Achituv, Text Rain (1999)

While Lauren and I stayed at Kristin's house during our visit to Louisville, I certainly wouldn't mind spending the night at 21c. The guest rooms look just as modern and fun as the lobby. I also love how bright these rooms are, it's such a refreshing change from the dark, dark interiors found in many boutique hotels.

After perusing the lobby, we sat down to a wonderful dinner at 21c's restaurant Proof on Main. The modern art theme continues from the lobby into the restaurant and bar, where permanent installations and rotating exhibits by contemporary artists' works are featured prominently throughout around the restaurant. Some of my personal favorites:

Vee Speers, Untitled #16 (from Birthday Party series) (2007)

Bae Bien-U, Sonamu SNM1A-014V (2002)

Larry Shank, Randy, 2005

Johnson Foster, Zebra Trophy (2005)

We ended up eating dinner at a table right under the woven leather zebra pictured above. The menu is predominately Italian, but with a hearty sprinkling of Southern foods (think grits) thrown in for good measure. For dinner I had the yellow fin tuna crudo, a half order of the butternut risotto (which was absolutely delicious!) and we all split the vanilla pudding cake topped with bourbon-soaked cherries (again, amazing). The restaurant also has a great assortment of unique cocktails. But best of all? Because it's located in Kentucky and not New York, Proof is extremely well priced: my share of a three-course meal, a bottle of wine, and round of cocktails came out to only around $55.

After having such a great experience at 21c in Louisville, I was very excited to discover that 21c will be opening up a second 21c in downtown Austin, Texas, which will also feature residential units in addition to the hotel and museum. I think 21c will be a perfect addition to Austin's very hip art scene and can't wait to spend a long weekend there once the project is completed in 2011.

Color Designs & Emotions

Jewelry is an express and extension of the person. We’ve discussed in other posts that what we wear reflects who we are or want to be; rather it is professional and classy, sassy and casual or even flirty and wild. Designing jewelry is like being on the cutting edge of a ‘finished look’ to someone’s outfit. But it is more than that, it also an expansion of the designer and artist that created the jewelry; created from their imagination relaying on skill and experience to shape gemstones, wire, chain, silver, gold, copper, glass and crystals and anything else that they can get their hands on into something unique – an expansion of the artist or designer personality connecting with their clients and customers.

Which leads me to an interesting article I found online at the Sessions Online School of Design; I’m reprinting excerpts because of the value of the information and the use of yet another tool for everyone to use.

Using Colors to Connect with Your Audience

“Color creates audience responses by stimulating emotions and communicating on levels other than reason and intellect. It can excite, impress, entertain and persuade, but color can also create instant negative associations. It’s a good idea to be aware of how the majority of people respond to color and use this information in your choice of colors. Use the guidelines in the chart below to help you choose the colors that are most appropriate for the message you want to get across in work.

Color Chart (suggested meanings) The chart below represents several meaning for color. Each color may represent another emotion to you. Use your best judgment when dealing with color and make sure to get feedback on the colors you use.

Red
Aggressive, strong & heavy
Blue
Comfort, loyalty & security
Yellow
Caution, Spring & brightness
Green
Money, health, food & nature
Brown
Nature, aged, & eccentric
Orange
Warmth, excitement, & energy
Pink
Soft, healthy, childlike & feminine
Purple
Royalty, sophistication & religion
Black
Dramatic, classy & serious
Gray
Business, cold & distinctive
White
Clean, pure & simple

Most colors go well together with members of the same "family". Warm colors for instant, such as red, brown, orange and yellow look better together in combination warm colors; cool colors like blue, green, gray and white with cool colored families. Using color families generally makes for a more appealing presentation and makes the presentation come across as ‘complete’ rather than ‘mixed’.

Contrast is fun and can be used effectively to accent and draw attention to such things as pendants or focal beads. In general, keep the contrast low. Too much contrast makes your work look obscure and uneven, avoid the extremes.”

All good advice when designing at any level or anything, not just jewelry. Try mixing some of the colors together to get an eye for what ‘emotions’ your jewelry pieces might be saying. This is just another tool one can use in order to reach out to their audience, clients and customers.

Excerpts from Sessions Online School of Design

White Valentine's Day-White Day In Japan and South Korea

Valentine's Day is gone, did you receive or send a gift to your lover? Do you feel that the date didn't enjoy yourself to the full? Don't worry, because another Valentine's Day, which is called "White Valentine's Day" - White Day is coming.

White Valentine's Day - White Day originated in the third Century Rome.Roman emperor, on February 14th, saved lovers who had violated the original love marriage ban and going to be executed, the Roman emperor then marked the day as Valentine's Day. One month later, on March 14, the rescued lovers sworn in love forever and in order to commemorate that day, it is called White Valentine's Day – White Day.

Valentine's Day is mainly for a female to present chocolates (either store-bought or handmade) to a male of her choice as an expression of love. There also exists the "Obligatory Chocolate", or "chocolate of courtesy"that a girl will give to those close to her but has no romantic interest in.

White Valentine's Day – White Day is celebrated in Japan and Korea on March 14, one month after Valentine's Day. On that day, the converse happens: males who received chocolates, nomatter chotolate of love or chocolate of courtesy on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually supposed to be three times the value of the initial gift from the female.
Traditionally, popular White Valentine's Day – White Day gifts are cookies, underwear, white chocolates, stuffed animals, jewelry, etc. Among those, jewelry is the most popular. Every famale wants to be more beautiful and jewelry can help.

If you received a gift on Valentine's Day, you can try to choose special jewelry for White Valentine's Day – White Day and let your lover feel your love.

Related article: Valentine poems-Special Valentine's Day gifts

Design Color Inspiration

What inspires someone to create in certain colors? Where did they come up with the color combinations? Did they see them on TV inspired by a personality or movie star? Or maybe they see something in a magazine or just in nature or on adventurous exploration trips. As an artist or designer color combinations can be quite the challenge because of the wide ranges to choose from.

Where ever a designer or artists gets their inspiration, it is their own and is really reflected in the art they create. I recently read a great article in the new Beading 101 & Beyond by Bead Style; “How to Mix Colors”. “Color choices are very subjective. Three great places to start when combining colors and building your color confidence; the color wheel, fashion trends and color forecasts, and ‘snapshots’ from your everyday life.”

Color wheels can be found anywhere on the Internet and are an easy way to show complimentary color combinations; you can choose from primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors. It helps to create a broader look at several colors rather than just a few.

Fashion trends and color forecasts are predicted months in advance of the seasons by the expert fashion industry. To find out the latest in ‘hot or in’ colors, browse thru your local mall or favorite mail-order clothes catalog. I also will browse thru the weekly Sunday paper sales ads and some of the women’s magazines just to see what people are wearing. I keep color charts that are published from year to year; this gives me an idea of what comes and goes and what stays as a ‘staple’….my advice, never throw out anything!

Snapshots of nature, sunsets, and those vacations can bring a lot of inspiration to your designing world. There is no better palette to draw from than that of nature itself.

Sometimes you may see a very striking jewelry piece that really accents the individual; often what we wear is a reflection of who we are; our personality or what we want to become. Jewelry can be a staple for most or an accent to finish off the best dressed or it can predict the personality of the individual. For a moment, wonder through your own jewelry collection and see what you might have…..do you wear a lot of sterling silver, gold, maybe a combination of the two or do you wear a lot of copper or maybe a little bit of everything.

One of my favorite quotes is by Thomas Merton "The imagination should be allowed a certain amount of time to browse around." The more you keep things ‘fresh’ and browse around letting your imagination create, will lead to some of the best creations of our talents. Don’t be afraid to walk on the wild side and try things you have never done before; you just never know what might work and what won’t until you try!

Should An Artist Share

There is much to be said for putting your work on the Internet; rather it is as a gallery for people to view and admire, for businesses to connect with their customers/clients, for others to sell their work online as a business, job, or hobbyist as a way to support themselves and their families, while still others put it out there for everyone to share and use. Putting one’s work on the internet no matter what type; poets, business people, writers, or artists is in some ways like hanging out the ‘come and get it’ sign. This opens the door for anyone to take what is not rightfully their own; for whatever reason, without permission. Many people when providing information or techniques do so in order to pass on their knowledge, skill and experiences to others; gladly sharing and providing further if asked, rather than taken. And when doing so, they will give credit for their sources and continue to share with their audience for their benefit.

While I enjoy competitive and entrepreneurial spirit, I’ve asked myself some questions lately…… at what point does one stop sharing their skills, experiences and knowledge with their audience? At what costs does one say ‘enough is enough, I will not share any further?’ So why is it that people find the need to take, rather than seek and ask? Has our society become one of such disregard that before we know it there is no one with skill, information or experience to draw on in order to move forward?

Just some food for thought……

How to tell if your pearl necklace or earring is real or fake?

My colleagues and i love pearl jewelry very much, sometimes we will talk about how to tell if our pearl necklaces or earrings are real or fake, i will list our methods to distinguish between real pearls and fakes. I hope they will be helpful to you too.

First, real pearl necklaces or earrings feel rough or gritty, but fake pearls feel smooth.

In order to test them, we can rub two pearls gently together, if the surfaces are glassy smooth, these pearl necklaces or earrings are probably artificial. However, if the surfaces are texture, these pearl necklaces or earrings are probably genuine. Another funny test is to test by rubbing a real or fake pearl against your tooth. If the pearl is made of plastic or glass, it will feel smooth. If the pear is real, we can see natural texture on the pearl necklace or earring.

Second, if the pearl necklace or earring is sold at an unbelivable price, i think we need to test it more carefully, as we all know, there are no pies dropping from the sky.

Third, imitation pearl necklaces or earrings are usally made by glass or plastic beads, the coating will chip over time. So we can check pearl necklaces or earrings near holes drilled trough them for tiny chips or flakes. If you see some chips, your pearl necklaces or earrings may be fake.

Fourth, real pearls can be either natural or cultured. Natural pearls are usually irregularly shaped and not very attractive, so the naturally round pearls are precious. However, the majority of perfectly shaped pearls are cultured.

At last, if you have better methods to test if pearl necklace or earring is real or not, please share with us! Good luck!

Red Hot Coral

Coral has been around for thousands of years; it is not a mineral but a skeleton of sea creatures, making coral an organic in origin. Developed over many thousands of years, it consists almost entirely of calcium.








Looking at history and legend; the ancient Egyptians placed pieces of coral in tombs as a protection against evil spirits because they believed that each piece contained a drop of divine blood. According to Greek mythology, when Perseus chopped off the head of Gorgon Medusa, some drops of blood splashed into the sea and there solidified into coral.

The healing properties say coral protects against negative energy while also preventing loss of energy, diplomacy, quieting emotions, and visualization.

Its magical properties symbolize joy and happiness, it enables the wearer to enjoy life; according to legend it consists of divine blood as we have already learned. Red coral is associated with Scorpio, black coral with Capricorn, and pink coral with Tarsus.

It is found in the reefs of warm seas, particularly east of Australia, around Japan, Africa, Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. It comes in several colors such as pink, salmon pink, red and also white and black.

Visit Timeless Designs for Coral and other gemstones designs.