If Only...

I believe every design has a purpose. Why this bracelet has a triple string of small pearls? Why that necklace uses many big beads? Why this pair of earrings are made long and in bright colors? Why this and that and so on. Only the designer of that piece has the answers.

Similarly, I knew what I wanted to achieve with this long necklace. I wanted the floral motif lampwork beads to be the focus of attention. They’re full of multi pastel-colored petals and some with a cute lady bug too – something not to be missed! To keep the attention stay in place, I intutively knew I should make the design clean and without many embellishments. So I used dark oxidized sterling silver chains and Swarovski crystals to create a contrast between black and white. Voilà, the contrast made the soft colors of the flower beads pop! A few accents of Bali silver spacers, bead cap and toggle completed the look. Now, who would miss to spot any look-at-me details on this necklace?

If only my winter had all these colorful flowers… I can only wish.

What is Mabe Pearl?

Mabe pearl is a dome-shaped cultured pearl grown on the inner shell of a mollusk. Different from the pearls we often see, mabe pearl is a kind of semi-spherical cultured pearl. It has two sides. One side is flat and the other side is round. The word "mabe" comes from the Amami dialect of the Ryukyuan language in Japan.

Mabe pearls are identified by their unusual shape which results from the manner in which the pearls grow. The process to cultivate Mabe pearls is different from the normal ones. The common mollusk for mabe pearls is Pteria penguin, or penguin wing oyster. It is found across the world in semi-tropical and tropical seas. Until it is harvested from the mollusk, the mabe pearl is considered a blister pearl. The mabe pearl is formed by first implanting a nucleus (pearl starter) to the interior side of the mollusk shell, instead of inside the mollusk's tissue. Once ready to harvest, the pearl is cut from the mollusk along with the attached shell. The shell backing and nucleus are removed. The pearl's hollow is filled with resin and a mother of pearl backing is placed on it. As a matter of fact, people spent long time and made great effort to cultivate mabe pearls from 19th century to 70’s in 20th century. As the development of cultivating techniques, the mabe pearls can be produced in large quantities.

Mabe pearls can come in many colors and sizes, and even shapes. As long as one side is flat, it is a mabe pearl. It can be round on the other side or oblong. The rarest mabe pearls are ones that are pink with gold swirls. Mabe pearls can be rainbow-like in color, containing several high-gloss colors. Their texture and luster is superior to that of a normal round pearl, but will never be as valuable because of the flat side.

Mabe pearl becomes popular in recent years because of its beautiful iridescence and luster. While everyone is still wearing normal pearl jewelry, you will be super chic in this kind of special one. Due to its special shape, mabe pearls are widely used for pearl earrings, pearl pendants and pearl rings.

Tell me this Mabe pearl set isn't adorable!?? They are designed to be classic. I have to admit that this kind of pearl style is usually considered to be plain and simple. But it never goes out of fashion. It is something you can have on no matter what you're wearing. For me, if we can wear them on a daily basis that means is worth more.

The circle design is gorgeous and though there are not many diamonds around the mabe pearl, but the mabe pearl pendant looks so chic and eye-catching. It is easily for everyday wear. The mabe pearl pendant is simple, but beautiful with incredible detail. The blue mabe pearl pendant keeps consistent with the simplistic beauty theme, and is very in tune with nature with its natural colors and shapes.

Pearl Necklace Outshines Vera Wang's Design

Vera Wang is a famous American fashion designer. She has spent more than twenty-five years in the fashion industry. After working as a fashion editor at Vogue for sixteen years, Wang launched her business in 1990 with a collection of bridal gowns. Then she becomes famous for her wedding gowns. There was no fashion in bridal until Vera Wang. Her designs are known for their sophistication and elegance, always constructed of the most luxurious fabrics and with a fashion-forward sensibility. Wang has made wedding gowns for many well-known public figures, such as Chelsea Clinton, Karenna Gore, Ivanka Trump and news reporter Campbell Brown. She has made wedding gowns for celebrities ranging from artists such as Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez to actresses such as Jennifer Garner, Sharon Stone, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Hilary Duff, Uma Thurman, Holly Hunter, Kate Hudson, and among various other celebrities.

Vera Wang is one of my favorite designers. It is my dream to have a bridal gown from Vera Wang. She really understands what women are thinking about. Her designs speak out women’s hearts. Vera Wang's philosophy remains simple and elegant and her voice clearly distinguished from other designers. She is a design expert that women turn to for advice. Vera Wang is creating a lifestyle that is the epitome of luxury - infinitely sophisticated and always modern.

In addition to bridal, Vera has also applied her unique sense of style to other aspects of fashion, such as jewelry. She has amazing ability to outshine the dresses with beautiful, affordable and timelessly style jewelry. Today, let‘s take a close look to master pieces of this fashion magician with irregularly pearl necklaces.

How stunning the whole dress style in the photo? Yes, it is super amazing and cool. Her work was so much sparkled that no one could take off their eyes. A simple black lady suit, clean makeup and cool hairstyle strike us as a competent woman. The pearl necklaces are super perfect! They are not eaten by the black color. Quite the contrary, the white irregular pearl necklaces outshine the black suit and make it more thrilled.

I am obsessed with this dress style in general but her pearl jewelry makes me insane. No one makes more gorgeous jewels than Vera Wang. I drink the black prince dress in with my eyes and the dress style goes straight to my heart. Black dress and white pearl necklace can work together so matching. The model looks indescribably beautiful and comfortable. Her one-shoulder black gown looks even hotter with the twisted pearl necklace. It is so easy for everyone to wear.

You’ll surely feel white pearl jewelry is perfect for adding dress interest. Yes, true. Vera Wang’s dress appears to have magnetic qualities. Black and white, this fabulous vintage suit brings a bright spot on the fashion world. With the same white pearl necklace, white one shoulder shirt, black loose-fitting trousers and black gloves, this look is a breath of fresh air.

Vera Wang’s dress changes from competent office lady to sweet girl, but one thing is clear – the white pearl necklace is the perfect jewelry for dress.

My Humble Metalsmithing Journey....

This months Aspiring Metalsmiths group blogroll theme is to show the first piece of jewelry that we made and talk about where we started. Well, I don't think I have a picture of the actual first piece of jewelry that I made, due to my computer crashing last year, but I was able to dig up a photo of some pieces made shortly after, and that were pretty much along the same lines. I have always loved jewelry, and bought a few books with projects that seemed right up my alley, and then started playing....

These collage charm pendants were made a few years ago, using glass, copper foil tape, decorative papers and vintage images. I soldered them closed using silver based soft-solder, flux and a soldering iron....much like working with stained glass.

From there I bought a few more books, and taught myself to do some basic wire wrapping, and started working with gemstone beads, and sterling silver...here is one of the first necklaces that I made utilizing those techniques.

After making many charm necklaces, and wire wrapped necklaces and earrings, I felt I was ready to push my skills to the next level, and signed up for a four day intensive beginning silversmithing class at my local lapidary shop. I was hooked! Here is the first completed metalsmithed piece that came out of that class...I hand sawed out the pieces, forged the metal, soldered the bail, oxidized and polished it. I used several different tools and equipment...and learned a lot along the way.

I started putting my new found skills to work by adding simple soldered pieces like this sterling floral bangle to my jewelry portfolio. I have made many of these over the last year, and they helped improve my techniques and finishing skills.
So all of these little steps...working with new materials, trying new techniques, reading and learning...pushing myself to that next step, brings me to where I am today, and where I hope to go. These are two pieces that I have completed in the last two weeks...I think they are good examples of where I am headed on this journey. I hope you'll stay along for the ride. :)

Please take some time to stop by my fellow Aspiring Metalsmither's and read about their humble beginnings by clicking the links below.

Jessica - www.abellablue.com/blog
Clarity - www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com
Claire - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com
Stacy - http://formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Brandy - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com
Gloria - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com/
Joy - http://www.joypeckjoy.blogspot.com/
Autumn - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com
Gayle - http://www.thisartistsjourney.blogspot.com
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/

Red Carpet Show in 2011 Golden Globe Awards

The 68th annual Golden Globe Awards have been presented in the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, January 16th. The Golden Globes Awards ceremony is the biggest and most glamorous event in the Hollywood calendar, which is considered by the industry as the significant indicators for next month’s Oscars. The awards show was live broadcast. The required hours of red carpet footage is a real eye-popper show for fans!

Who is the best dressed fashion star? Have you noticed any few fashion trends? Olivia Wilde’s chocolate brown Marchesa gown with embroidered, sparkly beads is absolutely amazing! The shinning gold Christian Louboutin shoes, amazing! Olivia Wilde was the highlight of the 2011 Globes.

The Globes have always been long-gown optional, which is why Halle Berry’s sexy short dress is a welcome sight. Halle Berry's sparkly bracelets and earrings added her beauty. However, people are getting tired of her looks in black stier/leg bearing ensembles and expect her to wear something different.

Green looks beautiful with Angelina Jolie coloring. It’s a nice complement to the warm brown hair, her skin tone and it accentuate¬s her grey eyes. Her soft, flowing hairstyle works well with the soft, flowing gown style. The dress is a classic and simple. She always sticks with very simple, but classic silhouette¬s. She never dresses loud or extravagant. Her style is quiet but glamorous.

Christina Hendricks looks beautiful. The ruffles are lovely and the support undergarme¬nts give her a clean curve. However, the flower on the shoulder is way too big. It draws too much attention to itself and away from the lovely person wearing it. If the dress were green or blue or black it might work, but the red fights with her hair. Of course, she's gorgeous anyway.

Scarlett Johansson looks very elegant, old Hollywood, hair and all. She has a blend of old Hollywood style with an amazing smile. What an exquisite dress!

Natalie Portman is absolutely stunning in this soft pink dress. In fact, the dress is defined by her pregnancy. The rose is so distractin¬g on it. Without the rose it would have been to plain and not as successful¬ly as a maternity dress. Also, no matter what she wears, she always looks so poised, delicate and beautiful.

January Jones looks really spectacular in it. The dress is a great color for her. She obviously caught our eyes, fabulous! Not just anyone could pull that dress off. She has a perfect body and looks freaking hot.

Do you have any ideas in mind who are the best dressed and worst starts? Can you predict the new fashion trend in 2011? Catherine Zeta Jones, Angelina Jolie, Elisabeth Moss and Mila Kunis, emerald green was the color of choice for them. Because green is perfect for the season with depth and texture, emerging as the mainstream color this year. Once again, jewelry is very essential in the red carpet show. We can find millions of dollars of jewelry on the red carpet. However, we didn't see an abundance of necklaces this time. Instead, stars opted for showy cocktail rings or long, luxurious earrings or shinning bracelets.

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