A jewelry company

I've been neglecting the Cherche' blog lately, but I have been doing some ground work when it comes to my inventory. I'm getting repairs done and hope to showcase some of the progress soon.

Until then, I'd like to show you a designer I'm loving right now. It's a contemporary company called Bounkit. Check it out. Let me know what you think! I think it's awesome!

My new interest

Clearly, I've been behind on blogging about jewelry. I've hit a wall lately. I'm always inspired by beautiful jewelry and beautiful things, but for some reason Cherche' has been put on the back burner. I hope to bring it a little more to the forefront of my life here soon.

Like I said, I'm inspired by beautiful things. You can probably assume that pintrest is my new interest. You are correct. Even Andrew has come across some old pieces of jewelry. He, like me, is learning all about jewelry and the history and the design.

I leave you with a few images from his and my pintrest. Enjoy.

The beauty of bakelite

It's great to see designers use alternative materials when making their new designs. I came across one designer, Raffaella Mannelli, that is using bakelite with 18k gold and diamonds!

I love the diamond pave' stackables!

I mention this piece because of the vintage, alternative material used, bakelite. 

Most antique stores have "Antique Weekly" or "Antique Lynx" publications, and I usually pick one up. The January issue of Antique Lynx featured an article on "The beauty of bakelite jewelry."

"Ironically one of the world's first true plastics, invited almost by accident, rose to glory as perhaps the most endearing type of costume jewelry of the 20th century."

It was a truly interesting article discussing the accidental invention around 1907 by Dr. Bakeland combining elements including formaldehyde. That's why when you rub this plastic, true bakelite will give off the slight smell of just that, formaldehyde. I should have paid more attention in chemistry class; maybe I could have actually benefitted from learning about different elements. 

Bakelite isn't one of my favorite vintage pieces, but when you add diamonds and 18k gold, it could quickly become appealing. 

Here's some cool vintage bakelite pieces that I found on the internet. 

I've never gotten any for the Cherche' collection. Maybe it's something I should look into. 

New year's resolution for you: get more jewerly

That January New Year's resolution thing is creeping up on us again. I suppose mine will be and should be: LEARN TO TAKE EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHERCHE' JEWELRY, PHOTOSHOP IT AND UPLOAD IT TO THE BLOG.

Well I know how to upload it to the blog, but my photography skills aren't up to par. It all falls on the husband, and quite frankly, he's too busy to help me out right now. Understandably so. I'm always getting new old things in. I just need to show you one of these days. Let me know if hosting a show would suit your fancy. Being the planner that I am, I like to know what's in store for me for this next season. I've talked to several girls already, but if I haven't talked to you and you're interested, please email.

On that note, I'll leave you with something that I can't get my mind off of lately. It's something that old jewelry has and even the newest of the new: the bezel set. I'm just on a bezel set kick lately.

Check out these gems from Shaesby.

I'll be back soon with a show and tell of my Christmas gift from Andrew! They're earrings. I definitely needed another pair of earrings! 

To die for

Move over Chick-fil-A...there's a new ad campaign that is just as brilliant.

Brilliant in more ways than one.

Kwiat jewelry campaign.

And last, but not least, my favorite:

This pretty much encompasses my obsessions:

jewelry

blue and white

watercolors.

J'adore!

September Sapphires

"Did you know...Sapphires come in all colors, shapes, and sizes....
Worn by carried by royalty in the Ancient world, this gemstone has been highly sought after by numerous civilizations- empires have grown and fallen over this stone.  The blue sapphire, as most people know of this precious gemstone, is the most highly prized variation, but these others sure are pretty too. As the September birthstone, it’s a favorite of mine!" - Jamie Joseph, jewelry designer

Me too, Jamie.

Here is a photo of her sapphires. 

Deceiving, isn't it?

This is more what Cherche' sapphires will look like:

 

One day...

Just doing some stalking

Photo and design credit here. Pyrrha Designs.

And I'll leave you with this:

I don't hate

I do not discriminate when it comes to my liking jewelry. The newer designs need some lovin' too. Enter Kybele Sterling jewelry. Check it out. 

Giving credit

My dad called me Monday night to tell me about the article that he read in The Advocate that morning. The article featured Ashleigh Branstetter, an up-incoming jewelry designer from New Orleans. My dad doesn't realize that I don't design jewelry; I don't think he knows exactly what I do, but it was a nice gesture to inspire me with this "Ashleigh Branstetter" story.

Ashleigh is from New Orleans, went to Parson's in New York, took an elective jewelry course, and fell in love with it. She actually completed her degree at LSU. Her dad is a physician in New Orleans, and my dad is acquainted with him; I think that's what peaked his interest about the article.

Dad was very adamant that I look up this article. He told me that I should google "the advocate" and "Ashleigh Brandstetter". A.S.H.L.E.I.G.H.  B.R.A.N.D.S.T.E.T.T.E.R.

I got it.

I found the article and did a little more research as well. She is GIA certified, which is quite a big deal, and her customers are Oscar winners! Needless to say, I am inspired. Her designs are very impressive, but I think they speak for themselves.

Here's the article and a few pieces of her work:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/features/96262634.html