emiko-o reware

Cygne Noir necklace

Well, it only took me 6 weeks to finish the photos for the 2 new necklaces I made for SNAG’s Jewelry In Motion at the Philadelphia Museum of Art this May. Cygne Noir (pictured left) and Blue Steel (see below, left) are the latest editions to the My First Royal Jewels Collection, reinterpreting works by Lalique and Boucheron, respectively.

The photo shoot was well worth the wait, as I discovered that Calumet Photographic rents Canon lenses, specifically the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. LOVE IT! For $30/day I can finally shoot portraits of my jewelry with the appropriate lens and not have to stand 20 feet away from the model. And to think that I was considering plunking down $1300 for the lens new! One of the many reasons I love living in the Mission.

Jamielyn in Cygne Noir

Thanks to my gorgeously photogenic model, Jamielyn, who graciously let me squeeze her into what seemed like a size -0 david’s bridal dress from Mission Thrift (another plus for the hood!). And also get powdered white for a few hours. Special thanks to Shana Astrachan‘s makeup artistry in helping realize my 18th century aristocratic vision! Go team!

Blue Steel necklace

See more of the photos on my flickr.

In preparing for Facére Jewelry Art Gallery‘s The Long and Short of It earring show (May 6-27), I made a ton of new earrings; 3 different series of work: Limited Edition Windows, sleek tiles, and more Orbit, space age fun. See for yourself on my etsy store!

The Windows were sure a hit at the Palo Alto Art Center trunk show a few weeks ago; they also come in bronze with patinated silver, and aqua blue, which will be perfect on the runway in a few weeks! I’m working feverishly on 2 new necklaces in the series, My First Royal Jewels, for a runway show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the SNAG conference on May 21. Inspired by the current Lalique, Fabergé, and Tiffany exhibition at the Legion of Honor (first at the Cleveland Museum of Art–a much more extensive exhibit in OH, glad I saw it there first). Lalique’s infamous Insect Women with Black Swans necklace is my next replica in LEGO®, as well as an early Blue Steel necklace by Boucheron (original images below). I’ll be posting progress on these pieces in the next week. Choo choo, all aboard for the next stop on the e-train express…..

Boucheron necklace in blue steel

2 weeks and counting until My First Royal Jewels Jewellery Collection is to be installed at the SF Museum of Craft+Design. Amped up on adrenaline, the necklaces are really moving along. You’ve already seen a preview of Cartier Blanc, now for my Boucheron remake. Titled, Maharajah’s 6th, it is a take on the “white jewellery” craze of the 1920′s, just like the Cartier Blanc piece.

Here is the original Boucheron sketch of a necklace in diamonds and emeralds, designer for the Maharajah of Patiala, 1928.

Here is my necklace in the works: