No! not Gainsborough’s.

Gucci’s.

Times have changed, as amply pointed out by the front page article in this morning’s New York Times Style section, “The Ornamental Male” (by Guy Trebay).   Ornamental indeed!

However, before I saw the boy I saw the blue item at his neck and wondered if it were a beadcrocheted necklace – it looked almost like one of mine at first  http://www.msturman.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=147&zenid=2e2b2e89c8235a88763c0082269de071 . Then I took in the whole image! Wow! this beautiful creature was a guy with a blue bandana knotted at his neck! The whole outfit is blue and the guy is too gorgeous.

I turned pages to peruse the remainder of the article, looking to see if there were other neck ornamentation on these very ornamental boys. Maybe a chain or two. Hmmm. These fellas are so gorgeous they put many of us women to shame — the sculpted cheeks, the defined bone structure!

So, what about beaded jewelry for guys? Why not — especially when they’re so gorgeous?

On May 3 2010, one of TV’s sexiest mothers, Gossip Girl’s Lily van der Woodsen (Kelly Rutherford), was dripping in drama. The stylists for Gossip Girl selected our Diorissimo necklace to offset Lily’s man troubles with Serena’s (Blake Lively) father. The 24K gold necklace is stunning on brunettes, and amplified even more on blonds like Kelly Rutherford.

As a special tribute to Gossip Girl and the fashions the show promotes, we will be running a 25% fashion discount from May 3rd to May 5th. Enter LILY at checkout for 25% off your entire purchase of M. Sturman Jewellery and treat yourself to some Gossip Girl fashion. And treat your mom to some jewelry for Mothers Day. She will love anything you pick. Shop for the Diorssimo necklace at M. Sturman Jewellery (it’s a limited edition piece) >

We can also act as personal shopper help you pick something special, so contact us for personal attention.

This necklace is made of vintage yellow stones ordered by Dior from Swarovski after WWII.  The stones are bezeled with 14k gold-plated seed beads and suspended from a chain woven of the same beads.  All of it handwoven, totally one-of-a-kind fashion and totally Lily van der Woodsen, played by Kelly Rutherford.

Shop for the Diorssimo necklace at M. Sturman Jewellery >

I’m so excited about the new work I’ve just put up on the website, particularly about the “Aquarium” necklaces.  They feature “Lodenite” stones — rocks really!

Each Lodenite stone tells a story, visually speaking, with a different shape/size and with a different colorway.   Each stone is clear and domed and so refracts its bottom rock layer into a scene.   Peering into each stone is similar to the experience of being drawn into the exploration of an aquarium.  Here’s a close-up of one such stone, but unfortunately none of these pix does justice to the mystery in each of them.  (You may view this close-up by clicking on either or both of the links listed below.)

So, I grouped five stones in each necklace, using stones to offset their colorways.

One necklace pairs dark amethyst crazy-cut amethyst beads with hammered light amethyst beads, alternating with small purple-dyed pearls and finished with a new find in closures:  agate closures in different hues, this one with some amethyst shading.  http://www.msturman.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=152&zenid=99cbfa9678d6b8557cdfcc24e7ce8548

In another necklace, responding to the coppery sort of colorways of the lodenite, I used rough-hewn red quartz stones and light peach natural tailed and circled pearls, alternating with tiny Akoya pearls and the agate closure in orangey hues.  http://www.msturman.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=151&zenid=99cbfa9678d6b8557cdfcc24e7ce8548

I have another lodenite necklace in the works set off with natural pearls and a pearl closure.  My favorite, I think!

Do they look as exotic to you as they do to me?  By the way, they’re not heavy pieces!

Seems impossible to avoid the Oscar drama, it’s everywhere! Over my morning coffee, I scanned the usual yearly projections of winners and long shots in the New York Times.

Back at my laptop, I saw a blog post entitled “How David Rockwell’s Oscar Set Makes Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin Funnier” by Alissa Walker, that discusses the role of the set and focuses on the Swarovski curtain, appropriately named Crystal.  ” . . . the star of the show is still the 100,000-Swarovski crystal curtain, but 16 additional inches of topaz crystals were added to add a level of smokiness that matched this year’s color scheme.”

Then I read the SheFinds blog,”Oscar Nominees, Take Note: Our No-Fail Guide To Black Tie Dresses” that reviewed some of the past mistaken choices, contrasting them with the hit choices.  Seemed to me that few of the stars wearing the dresses wore much jewelry.

So with all this in mind, I entertained the fantasy of each of the stars wearing Swarovski jewelry — mine of course! — in what would become a blinding television extravaganza.

Earrings seemed to be the thing during the award season Oscar run-ups, so my fantasy features the long-shot, long-necked Emily Blunt, perhaps wearing my Peacock Earrings, woven with vintage Swarovski Atlas stones, contemporary CRYSTALLIZED — Swarovski Elements beads and gold-plated seed beads.

I can easily picture the always-tasteful and regal Helen Mirren in my elegant Queen’s Collar, trimmed with vintage Swarovski beads.

And if filling a neckline is out this year, a large, sparkly bracelet, such as my Double-Sided Cuff, replete with CRYSTALLIZED – Swarovski Elements, would not be amiss, gleaming on the wrist of Sandra Bullock, touted as winner in the best actress category, as she accepts the Oscar.

Not Harry Winston diamonds, but I think these Swarovski pieces are a lot more captivating — don’t you?

This morning over coffee I lingered over the Fashion page in the New York Times, “The Big New Idea Is Modesty” by Cathy Horyn.  I don’t know about “modesty” – the root that word is “mode”  and I was taken by the gorgeous Marchesa dress, a “column of bugle beads” and especially the Anna Sui “wool shift with an embroidered bib neckline”.  Those trends right up my bead alley!

I researched Anna Sui and learned that her collection was inspired by the American Arts and Crafts Movement!  Wow!  I’m all for that.  The accessories shown with her collection were large and chunky, “amazing handcrafted necklaces and brooches incorporating actual tiles from Detroit’s Pewabic Pottery, founded in 1903” (http://www.stylelist.com/2010/02/17/anna-sui-fall-2010-fashion-week-runway-review/).

I fixated on the bib neckline of the wool shift pictured in the Times and thought that the bib piece ought to be separate, so it might be worn again.  I make several bib necklaces and woven collars, any of which might compliment a simple dress and be right in style with the upcoming fall trends.

Which bib necklace would you choose to embellish your simple wool dresses?

As a jewelry artist, I am frequently asked what inspires me.  This question to date has always given me trouble, whether it’s from an interviewer or for an application for a competition.  The short answer is that I am very impacted by visual “events” such that inspiration is in everything I see all around me.

I go to Tucson each February to teach and to shop and am always captivated by the forms, light and colors of the mountains and deserts.  I don’t watch television very much, but my business partner, who travelled there with me, does enjoy television; I watched with her a few times and was always wowed by a number of the commercials – it’s just the way I see.

While we were weather-delayed in Arizona last week, we went to the Phoenix Art Museum to see the exhibition “Ansel Adams:  Discoveries”.  I had never seen his work before and frankly wasn’t much interested in seeing photography.  I entered the exhibit space, began looking at the photographs, and it wasn’t long before my jaw dropped in awe.  I became exhausted from the awe, from seeing what he saw:  these black and white photos showed you the colors of the subjects, whether architectural or the environment of the southwest; these black and white photos were full of texture that made you want to reach forward and touch; these black and white photos were full of line, movement and the creative expression of juxtapositions of form.  I was dizzy by the time I finished seeing this.

Ansel Adams stated that the unique character of his work was motivated by the practice of “careful seeing”.  I was so happy to know this, since it validated my own visual proclivities, although I am more profligate in my seeing, rather than careful.

Inspiration also comes to me from my visual response to the materials I choose to work with, the colors, form, and shape of pearls and stones – the more unusual the better.  I am also enamoured of vintage stones and beads – their age, uniqueness and difference from jewelry components today.  Using these materials makes my work unlike anything else on the market, such as the necklace “Tails” crocheted of tailed, circled natural lustrous top-drilled pearls and freshwater pearls; the woven necklace “Diorissimo” in which I bezeled vintage Swarovski stones; and the Conchita necklaces that focus on the most unusually formed stones.

Does seeing inspire you?

My morning Google blog alert for “CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements” pointed to a post on FTape, The Online Fashion Resource on the exhibition CRYSTALLIZED™ “Ways to Say Black” .
Being involved in the DIY initiative of CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements, I had heard about the exhibition but decided to check out the details on FTape:  this is “a one-off, touring exhibition of the iconic Little Black Dress. . . .  the initiative sees this fashion classic reborn amid a shower of CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements at the hands of the greatest established and emerging creative talents worldwide.”

Oh well, so they didn’t ask me but now I could understand why – the little black dresses were commissioned by established and well-known fashion designers from France, Italy, the UK and the USA.  I only design jewelry using their collection of contemporary and vintage elements.

But then I got to thinking:  these dresses are one-of-a-kind, iconic museum pieces that will ultimately be auctioned off to very high bidders.  The likes of you and I may only observe and delight in the marvelous photos of the dresses and perhaps attend one of the exhibitions – Paris, Beijing and New York City – to see them in person.  But to own one!  Not likely.

We each have our LBDs and it is possible to cash in on the cachet of the exhibit by dressing them up with jewelry handcrafted with CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements.  For instance, light up yours with my handwoven Crystal Jet Bib appliquéd with vintage Swarovski margarita beads.

For my son’s wedding last October, the bridal party all wore LBDs.  Being the mother of the groom, my dress was not little, but long, and appliquéd at the bodice with discreet little Swarovski Elements that sparkled in the light.  To accessorize it, I designed and wove a set I call “Collar and Cuffs”, a ruffled choker with matching ruffled bracelets, woven in various hues of black Swarovski Elements.  All very low-key but sparkling!

What will you wear with your LBD?

I was pleasantly surprised last week by this post about me, by Judy Goss, in her blog “Over 40 Female Movement” http://bit.ly/5LhH8o.  My true age was now out – I started a business 3 years ago, at age 62!  Yikes!

At the same time, another article from the Wall Street Journal Online, by Christina Binkley, caught my attention: “The Forgotten Market Online:  Older Women” http://bit.ly/7jqkU0.  The sub-head of the article is “New Fashion Sites Target Youth — Though Most Web Apparel Sales Are to Women Over 35”.  The salient point for me was in this article:  “65% of online apparel sales go to women over age 35” while “the fastest-growing sales are to women between 55 and 64 years old”.  This demographic represents a “boomer population that has always been known for its willingness to indulge”.   Research points to the fact that this population is the most fertile market online today.  Online sales to women aged 25-34 fell 8% in the year that ended in March 2009, while sales to the older demographic rose 11%, despite the recession.
As it had been established and made public, I am officially “an older woman”.  So, I was intrigued and googled (it is a verb now, isn’t it?) “online marketing to older women” and found a few other pieces about this issue.

I found a newsletter article (also printed in More magazine http://bit.ly/60ag0m) from the National Association of Baby Boomer Women (we even have an organization!) entitled “Sell Us Something. Please!”  http://bit.ly/8orSeA The lead sentence says it all:  “Baby boomer women are the healthiest, wealthiest and best educated generation of women to ever hit midlife.”

This group has money to spend but apparently no one is marketing to them.  Models in magazines are tiny, thin, unwrinkled.  In reality, nothing fits us or is fitting for us:  “Women’s Apparel Sales Off Because Nothing Fits” in an interesting blog post from Retaildoc.com  http://bit.ly/7bC6Mk .

Well, this all certainly applies to me: I’m a full-figured woman!  And it is hard to find something that fits which wasn’t designed with the lovely 25 year old population in mind.  Online or in person.

Believe it or not, googling (gerund?) the web revealed more info.  I found a blog on eHow.com entitled “How to Wear Fashion Accessories for Older Women” http://bit.ly/7bC6Mk This blog corroborates all I had read so far:  “The fashion industry seems to focus on youth with styles and trends.”  It suggests that older women should implement the latest fashion trends by using accessories to update a classic, fitting wardrobe.

So it’s come to this point:  there’s always pearls to brighten up an older face, large vintage earrings, and stacks of sparkly Swarovski bangles to wear all together.  And these are available online to try one and return, if necessary.  Have a look at http://www.msturman.com for brilliant options to light up your life-worn, lovely, older face!

Meanwhile, I’m going to wear something classic and black with a really gorgeous handwoven crystal beaded necklace!  Join me?

Is it me? Or is it this time of year?  Or are the stars in poor alignment?  What?  Or am I just now noticing that nothing is easy when it comes to me making my jewelry?

So, I thought I’d share the process and perhaps get some pointers or something.

For me, beginning a piece always means being excited by the material.  Usually it is something I’ve just found and bought, so I go straight to work on it.  If I don’t work with something immediately, then the chances are that I never will do, unless there is a fortuitous moment in the future when the one purchase goes perfectly with something new.  I don’t hold my breath, though.

Having overcome the dollar signs and purchased something wonderful, the process continues.  I need to assemble accompanying or complementary beads to set off the original inspiration.  Think this is easy?  Have a look at my studio:  each drawer, large and small contains hundreds of beads, pearls, semi-precious stones, vintage elements.  I often need to access other boxes lingering on shelves above my table that contain still more inventory and look through them, too.  This takes time, as I rarely find what I’m looking for immediately, and sometimes not at all, which really puts me in a pout, since I just can’t compromise on my vision.

When I find and assemble everything I need for a project, sometimes I then move on to continue this process with other new purchases, and then set those aside, too, with the others.  Often, when I return to the original, I can’t remember what I had in mind or I’m not as excited as I was originally.  No, I don’t sketch, am simply unable to translate my vision onto paper, since I never know exactly how something will turn out:  my process is always a “what if” – I do this or that.

But the real kicker is finishing a piece and not being thrilled with the outcome!  I have this unreal expectation that everything I do must be a masterpiece.  More often than not, it just isn’t – it’s just another necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings, nice but not drop dead.

In between the finding and inspiration and finishing the piece is a long process, which is supposed to be ultimately the satisfying reward of creating: working in a sort-of zen-like zone of peace and enlightenment.  Well . . .

So, as I said, nothing is really easy.  At least now for me!

You should have been there — on Wednesday night, December 9, at the launch party of InnerRewards.com at Soho House!  This party and holiday shopping bazaar was complete with food, drink and DJ, to say nothing of Collective-e member vendors of holiday products for everyone on anyone’s holiday list.

But the star of the show was the founder of InnerRewards, Julie Elaine Brown, who clearly follows closely the mission of her new company:  “bringing you the latest in high-end, solution-oriented products and packages to help people lose weight, find that fountain of youth, reduce stress, and live more optimally”.

So I was really excited when Julie agreed to wear during the evening my “Peacock Earrings”  http://bit.ly/5C920U to frame her face and set off her lovely dress.  These earrings are my personal favorites, the earrings I had my ears pierced for!  I was about to put them on when Julie spotted them from across the room and asked to wear them.  These were really perfect her because of her long neck and long dark hair framing her face.  Not only is she gorgeous, but she also has great taste!

The “Peacock Earrings” feature two different vintage Swarovski stones and a vintage Swarovski filigree, bezeled with 24k gold-plated seed beads with a rainbow effect and fringed with them and some new CRYSTALLIZEDtm – Swarovski Elements crystal beads.  These old stones simply sparkle and shimmer.

Here are some candid shots of Julie wearing the earrings.  What do you think — don’t they look great on her?