I was recently at my local soho bookstore, McNally…a wonderful place to dip into for a coffee, and of course to flip through books!

i came across a jewlery design book, cant remember the name for the life of me! but the book portrayed some upcoming designers from around the world…one of them being Solange Azagury-Partridge, a london based designer with some verrrrrry interesting and contemporary work…

the piece that i found myself most attracted to was her ‘heart of gold’…..literally

its eye catching, simple, ultra cool, and most importantly, anatomically correct….

Here goes the first of many lists to come……first list…..JEWELRY…. the luster and the sparkle that brings a twinkle to my eyes…..

i honestly believe that even the love of something is transcended through genetics….and without a doubt i am my mother’s daughter….its all crystal clear through my infatuation with jewelry.

its funny, because there was a time when i couldn’t stand gold….wouldn’t wear it, wouldn’t appreciate it, not a single second look…..

after a brief stint in greece last summer, i realized just how far back this craft goes having been surrounded by byzantine art and influence.

Jane Diaz-

designer from park slope bkyln

This designer work is near and dear to my heart for one main reason…her 4 stone ring is the first ring given to me some years ago by my boyfriend….although i had never shown him the ring, he knew that i would make my weekly rounds to CLOTH (my fav neighborhood clothing/accessories store owned by Zoe van de Wiele) anyhow…surprise surprise….i received the ring for my birthday, after months of dreaming of it. i later purchased the matching earrings……followed by more rings by her…

4 stone ring

stack rings

Yayoi Forest-

Yayoi Forest is another new york based designer although she is originally from Japan. i was orginally drawn to her peices because of the skull design…i seem to have a thing for the ‘good old skull and bones’…i stumbled upon her earrings…and was immediately drawn to them….the combination of the skull and dove, was a perfect match…and the raw carved effect is what i value the most about these earrings….with a touch of grace-the diamond embedded into the piece. i eventually stumbled upon the skull and bones necklace at cloth and got it as well!

Whats also great about new york based designers is that if anything ever happens they are reachable…i bend the stems of both earrings and was able to contact yayoi, who was kind enough to fix them for me!

the earrings

the necklace

Also, i really fancy the following items by yayoi forest…shows you more of her style

Emily & Ashley-

This is a pair of new york based girls who design 14k gold pendants/necklaces. I really love the emily and ashley necklaces because they are so simple, just a gold disc with an etching in it. the one i personally have is the skull and bones….and whats great is that the size of the disc is just right, and the etching is really simple. this is definitely considered more main stream and can be found in department stores…which takes some pleasure out of buying it for me…its usually a hunt to find something unique and off the beaten path…

the necklace

they did a whole series of zodiac signs, and will also do custom engravings….my other favorite necklace of their’s is the linked elephants..

Camille Hempel-

Yet, another brooklyn based designer that i recently discovered and instantly fell in love with her work…most of her work is done in rose gold…which i love! She designs a great collection of rings, my favorites being: Signet, Finger, Deco Button, Mouse and her bridal section is amazing….unique, simple,small stones, interesting twists for what would be wedding rings….

Signet ring…..

(want it so bad!)

some rings from her bridal section i especially love…

Steven Alan-

i never even knew Steven Alan carried jewelry in their stores until i found myself admiring someone’s earrings. The earrings by Garnish can be described as teeny tiny gold disc studs & staple like bars…they were unassuming and barely noticeable, but i found them to stand out to me and, especially the way this girl was wearing them (both the disc and the bar on one ear)

the bars…

the dots…