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Jewelry Trends from the Runway at Fashion Week

"Statement necklaces, arm cuffs, art school earrings and raw stones all made an impact on the runway this Fashion Week." Vogue

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It's always interesting to me to see how a Jewelry Trend starts on the Runway as a fantasy and emerges later as a staple!  Trends may come and go, but they often do find their way down the chain, eventually, and I am going to have fun seeing where these Jewelry trends pop up this year...

 
MINERAL JEWELRY 
Agates, Druzy, Stalagmite Crystals...a Mineral Jewelry moment is my favorite trend! I have been juxtaposing shiny objects with a touch of these rough, organic minerals in my own jewelry collections since the beginning:

Mineral Jewelry Trend on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

 
ARTY EARRINGS
Do you also love a big, bold statement earring?! This trend gives added leeway, so you can go out on a limb without a worry:
Arty Statement Earring Jewelry Trends on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

 
DELICATE CHOKERS
Finally, we're downsizing those 3" chokers of yesteryear and trading Goth for Glam with these wispy, delicate options:
Delicate Chokers Jewelry Trend on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

 
STATEMENT NECKLACES
They're here (did they ever leave?!) and they pack a punch...especially with their Pendants:

Runway Trends and Statement Necklaces on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

Now, I can't leave out the UFO Jewelry trend! That's right, there is such a thing. Think TOTAL FANTASY when you see this extremely Avant-Garde jewelry:

Fantasy Jewelry Trends from Fashion Week on the Laura James Jewelry Blog


That's a wrap for today! Now, quick, go through your own jewelry collection and see what's trending...or pick up a new piece or two. :)

xox-Laura James 

 

photos courtesy of Vogue Magazine

DIY: Pretty Box Clutter

DIY Marbled Organizer Tutorial from Design Sponge on the Laura James Jewelry Blog!

When I recently turned to Painting to get my creative jewelry mojo flowing, it really did work... so, now I am wondering if the same is true for various DIY projects?
I may have to give this Marbled lovely a try this weekend to find out (as my kitchen drawers never seem to stay organized!). Contact paper can really transform anything and truly...Pretty Box clutter doesn't stress me out nearly the way Ugly Box clutter does!
Here's a little tutorial from the gals at Design Sponge if anyone is up for the task...

 

Supplies

-scissors
-craft knife
-bone folder
-pencil
-ruler
-marble contact paper (at least one full roll)
-drawer organizer (wooden with right angles is best — plastic curved ones will be trickier)

DIY Drawer Organizer from Design Sponge on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

Step 1: Start by cutting a piece of contact paper to fit into a compartment. Use a ruler to measure the length and width of the compartment and draw this onto the back of the contact paper. Add panels onto each side to accommodate the depth of the compartment, and a little more still to cover the top surface.

Step 2: Peel the backing off of the contact paper piece you just cut. Cut the side tabs off of the backing and reattach onto the sticky contact paper, leaving the center as-is. This will help prevent the contact paper from getting stuck to itself in the next step.

Step 3: Carefully put the contact paper into the compartment, folding back the side tabs to keep them out of the way. Attach and smooth the center out as much as possible, trying to avoid creases and air bubbles. One at a time, remove the backing from the side tabs and smooth to adhere. As you go, gently slide the bone folder along the inner edges of the compartment to get a crisp edge. Be careful, though — if you press too hard with the bone folder, the contact paper will tear.

 

DIY Organizer with Marbled Contact PaperStep 4: Attach and smooth the excess over the top surface of the organizer. Use a craft blade to carefully remove any contact paper that extends past the top edges.

Step 5: Repeat for the remaining compartments. Since my organizer had three identical compartments, I measured and drew one onto the back of the contact paper, cut it out, and then used that to trace two identical shapes for the matching compartments. Don’t worry about the gaps in the corners just yet!

Step 6: For any small gaps on the top surface (excluding the outer-most edge), I cut and attached a scrap of contact paper into an abstract blob (the round, natural shape blends in better than a straight edge) to fit the space. If some of your compartments have gaps where the contact paper doesn’t quite meet, do the same. If your contact paper isn’t adhering in some spots, try applying a thin layer of white glue with a paintbrush where you’re noticing the problem.

DIY organizer for your drawer

Step 7: To finish up, trace the exterior sides onto the back of contact paper, leaving excess tabs to wrap under the organizer for a nice edge and to wrap onto the top surface to cover any of those gaps from before. Once everything is adhered and as smooth as possible, use the craft knife to carefully remove any remaining excess.

 

VOILA!

 

DIY Drawer organizer from design sponge on the laura james jewelry blog
photos + post
 designsponge.com
Recycling the Past: Project Marianne

Project Marianne Blog Post on the Laura James Jewelry BLog

Much like my recent blog post regarding using my Grandmother's coin collection in my jewelry designs, in this recent NY Times article the designer took his own Grandmother's circa 1961 Amber necklace and used the pieces for a special collection that would touch many lives.

I can identify with him when asked how it will feel to part with the stones...“It will be a warm feeling, and will make me feel her soul is staying present with me.” 

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New York Times Style 

8/23/2016 by Ellie Hay

The designer Jacob Skragge’s grandmother traveled to Israel in 1961, where she purchased a necklace (right). When she died, she requested that her belongings be spread throughout the world — so Skragge and his All Blues co-founder Fredrik Nathorst created 37 earrings: one with each stone.

Before the jewelry designer Jacob Skragge’s grandmother, Marianne, died earlier this year, she told family members that she wanted neither her body nor her belongings to be forgotten in a box — instead, she said, she wanted to be “spread with the wind.”

This inspired Skragge, who is the co-founder with Fredrik Nathorst of the Swedish jewelry brand All Blues, to dream up a limited collection of earrings to honor Marianne’s legacy. Skragge transformed a necklace Marianne bought on a 1961 trip to Israel into 37 handcrafted earrings, each with one of its amber stones. Every earring has been individually numbered: one will be given to her daughter, one to Jacob — and the 35 others to be dispersed throughout the world. (The collection will available on the All Blues store beginning next Monday, August 29.)

Project Marianne, as he calls it, has been curated, designed and photographed by Nathorst, who says it was important for him to design pieces sensitively — and to frame each stone with “dignity and confidence.” Nathorst took inspiration from paintings, creating sterling silver plates to frame the beads “without becoming more important than the work itself.”

After Skragge’s grandfather passed away 12 years ago, he and Marianne spent a lot of time together; he says they would “go to theaters or have lunch.” When asked how it will feel to part with the stones, Skragge replies matter of factly: “It will be a warm feeling, and will make me feel her soul is staying present with me.” He continues: “I will give the earring I’m keeping to my future daughter or wife. I know she would want that.”

 

Go for the Gold! Your Jewelry Essentials for 2016

When I recently came across a list in InStyle Magazine of #JewelryEssentials to update your jewelry wardrobe for 2016, I immediately noticed that every piece listed in the article was Gold. Not one single piece of Silver jewelry was on their list!

I mean, truly, I have never seen Silver jewelry completely un-represented in an article of 10+ pieces before. And, with the Rio Olympics happening right now, it's pretty clear the entire world is #GoingForTheGold!

This actually doesn't surprise me all that much, as for the past 11 years in business, 98% of my sales have been for Jewelry that I have created in Gold. Year after year, I would hear "Silver is making a comeback!". But, time after time, I have yet to see that really happen. It'll be interesting to see what the Future holds...will Silver truly ever be as popular as it was decades ago? We shall see...

On another note, want to see just which pieces were highlighted as #MustHaves for 2016?! Here ya go...enjoy!

xox-Laura

 

 Going for the Gold: Jewelry Essentials for 2016

Credits: Madewell bangle, Alexis Bittar Choker, Laura James Jewelry Bangles, Apple Latte Earrings, Jennifer Fischer Cluster Necklace

Jewelry Sale of the Summer!

This is it...the biggest Jewelry Sale to date at Laura James Jewelry!


I am so excited to be able to offer such a huge price cut to all of you, my fabulous customers, friends and followers. The Sale will kickoff next Tuesday, August 19th right on this website.

If you'd like a reminder OR a SNEAK PEEK ahead of time for a little early shopping before the masses, please click here :)
Enjoy and Happy #Friyay!

Jewelry Sale at Laura James Jewelry