Amazing Diamond Rings...

The Hope Diamond's got nothing on these rings... Care of Amsterdam's Albert Cuyp Market, you could be the happiest girl in the world. By my estimation, each diamond weighs in at about 5 thousand karats... those are some seriously large rocks! I can't believe that the vendor isn't afraid of these tempting babies getting stolen. Customs requires international travelers to make claims on any purchase over 350euro, so I had to refrain from buying one, but I just had to take some pictures to remember what I passed up on.

Galerie Ra, Amsterdam

Half way through my epic vacation, my travels have brought me to Amsterdam. I've found The Netherlands to be an amazing country, steeped in history, culture, and creativity. Straddling the past and the present, it seems like every corner has a plaque commemorating a historical even as well as a piece of contemporary public art. Amsterdam is also a special city because it's home to three phenomenal jewelry galleries, Galerie Rob Koudijs, Galerie Louise Smit, and Galerie Ra. This week I'll be visiting each of these contemporary art galleries, and will be posting images from each trip.

Last night I stopped into Galerie Ra, located east of the Dam at the bottom of Nes Street. Open since 1974, Galerie Ra specializes in contemporary jewelry, vessels, and objects. Galerie Ra also has an extensive collection of self published books, as well as catalogues from past shows and artists books.

It was great to get to see the tangible works of artists that I've admired for so long. I didn't do a good job of taking photos while we were in the gallery, so I pulled a couple images off their online catalogue. I'll be posting images from the other two galleries after I visit them, enjoy!

Julie Blyfield, brooches, patinated and painted silver.

Lisa Walker, Facet pendant, mixed media.

Ela Bauer, ring, Christal, lava, epoxy, bone, yarn, silver.

Galerie Ra interior.

Blogged on My Love For You!

I've been following Meighan O'Toole's amazing blog, My Love For You, for quite a while now. Meighan has created a repository of amazing makers, I got to her webspace for a stimulating mental vacation and to view inspirating works from two and three dimensional artists...

Imagine my surprise this morning when I find an email in my inbox from a friend congratulating me on having my work on her website! After clicking through the link that was provided in the email, I found a post about my Pro Nailz rings! Needless to say, I'm increadibly honored to have Meighan dedicate a blog post to me, and I feel like an overly excited nerd about joining the ranks of the artists included in My Love For You.

Thanks to Meighan for acknowledging my work, and for having such kind words about it.

And thanks to Wendi, for liking my work (and me) enough to share!

Off to England

I won't be posting much for the month of May, as I'll be vacationing in England for a couple of weeks. In honor of my upcoming journey, I wanted to share some images from the English fashion portrait photographer Sir Cecil Beaton. Best know for his theatrical society portraits and stylized fashion photography, Beaton was not know for being a technically accurate photographer but instead focused on staging a compelling model or scene and looking for the perfect shutter-release moment.

I've included the images below because of their focus on the fantastical and adornment. To me, these images speak to the nature of the glitz and decadence associate with the era of the 1920's and 30's in London. I love the metallic, gem like quality of the sets that the women are posed in, it reminds us that electricity was just coursing through the veins of the metropolis... The women become part of their surroundings, and it's as if these beauties are physically inside a glittering diamond!

Baba Beaton a symphony in silver

Baba Beaton, Wanda Baille Hamilton, and Lady Bridget Poullett

Miss Nancy Beaton as a shooting star