jewelry for you AND your home!

In a few days the Spring highpointMARKET starts. As always I will be at Suites at Market Square (M-320) with a large collection of new necklaces, earrings, bracelets, cufflinks and (new!) brooches. Stop by and shop - all wholesale prices and no minimum!

For the past year-plus I have had the pleasure of working with two very innovative women, Sheryl Bryan and Patricia Chrisley, on the launch of their new company, JuJu. They are offering a fabulous new product - jewelry for your home! Beautiful gem encrusted ornaments that you can drape over a headboard (or on an armoire, or mantel, or...anywhere) to add a gorgeous detail and focal point to a room. These pieces are encrusted with pearls, amethyst, garnets, turquoise...and are punctuated with carved pieces of jade and cinnebar. They are covered in hammered metals and lucious metallic printed leather.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on these designs and with the fabulous team that Patricia and Sheryl have pulled together. Hopefully you will see my signature on these pieces. I am certain that if you enjoy my jewelry you will enjoy these JuJus! These pieces are all individually produced and hand- made in the USA.

Their website is www.myjujustyle.com and they have a facebook page (become a fan!). They will be at highpointMARKET at Villas at Showplace, space 1101. So definitely stop by and see this exciting new product.

Meanwhile, here are a few photos.


This last photo is of a pair of curtain tie-backs with a hammered copper center (don't they look like cufflinks?). These are the result of an exciting design collaboration with Lyn Hurst of Lyn Hurst Designs. In addition to the JuJu furniture jewelry pieces, JuJu is offering a coordinated collection of headboards, cornices and tie-backs -- all jewelry-inspired and gemstone encrusted!

Really folks, these things are beautiful so if you are in High Point stop by Villas at Showplace, or just keep track of this on the web, on my blog, and in the inevitable media coverage.

The Journey to a Million Buddhas

I have just returned from a wonderful trip through southeast Asia and thought I would share some of my experiences. In some ways it is a foreign and far-away place, and in other ways travel there reminds us how small a world it really is!

I was particularly focused on spending some time with some of the ethnic minorities in northern Vietnam. Many of these hill tribes are famous for their silver work, and I have incorporated some of their jewelry components into my jewelry. So, we took a night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai on the Chinese border, and then rode for an hour up the mountains to Sapa (switch backs, dense fog, single lane with on-coming traffic - I really wondered if we would survive this!). From Sapa we trekked to Lao Chai, a Black Hmong ethnic minority village. From Lao Chai we trekked to Tavan, where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives. Along the way we were joined by some of the ethnic minority women (wanting to sell their needlework and silverwork to us). Here you see us with our Northface backpacks next to some of the Hmong women carrying their basket "backpacks" and babies strapped on with blankets.

We spent most of the trip in Vietnam. First let me dispell any notions that you may have about the Vietnamese having bad feelings toward Americans. While the older Vietnamese don't want to talk about the war (they call it the American war), the Vietnamese in general have a particular affinity for Americans. They love Americans. In his wonderful book titled "Vietnam Now", author David Lamb says about the relationship between Vietnam and America: "...Americans and Vietnamese share an almost inexplicable bond. It is not the bond of natural friendship that Americans might feel for, say, Australians...rather it is something deeper and more mysterious. It is a liaison woven in tragedy and common suffering...perhaps as much as anything, the bond is rooted in the realization that the war changed the United States as much as it did Vietnam"

Now Vietnam is a country on a rising arc of development, with juxtapostions of old and new. Old women wearing their conical hats squat on the street and sell fruit and food. At the same time, whirling around them are millions of motor bikes and young Vietnamese on cell phones. More than two thirds of this country was born after 1975 and they are full of energy and drive.

By comparison our time in Laos was calm and quiet. Vietnam has a population of 85 million, Laos on the other hand, 5.5 million. Overall I called this trip "The Journey to a Million Buddhas", because I think I may have seen that many while visiting the multitude of Buddhist temples.

In Luang Prabang, Laos we had a guide who had spent over a decade as a monk, and is now a guide and teacher of meditation. As he brought us through the National Museum I commented on the spectacular silver pieces on exhibit from the last Royal reign which ended in 1975. He told me that this silversmith was still alive and had a studio in Luang Prabang. I asked if he could take me to see him, and in no time we were at the elder Thitpheng Maniphone's studio and shop. Thitpheng Maniphone had been the royal silversmith, reputed to have made many of the beautiful items in the National Museum, including the King's crown. The master, along with a number of assistants, were busy making silver vessels for Buddhist offerings. The entire vessel is decorated using the techniques of repoussé and chasing. This is a technique where the metal is decorated by hammering from the inside (repoussé) and outside (chasing). While repoussé is used to work on the reverse of the metal to form a raised design, chasing is used to refine the design on the front of the work by sinking the metal. It was truly awe inspiring to stand and watch him work. Here are a few photos:

This trip was enormously rewarding, challenging and curious. I enjoyed time with my family, and met interesting people along the way.

We trekked among the rice paddies...

and climbed to beautiful waterfalls...

We ate street food...

We traveled on planes, trains and boats...here on beautiful Halong Bay...

Vietnam is a country full of promise, filled with people who are hard working and industrious. Unfortunately there is still grinding poverty, disease and many undeveloped ways. But since the Doi Moi (the government's free market reforms) everyone is an entrepreneur of sorts and with this the standard of living is rising, albeit slowly. I was happy to see that so many artisans are relying on their skills to make a living. While there are factories going up, and most Vietnamese are farmers, there is still a great pride among these artisans that they are able to use their craft to support themselves and their families. I will close with pictures of various artisans - weavers, potters, silversmith, wood carver. They were truly inspiring.

My Studio

My studio is an ever evolving space. Having just completed multiple selling shows in October, I have been busy putting things back into order. Now that the boxes are unpacked and the surplus packing materials put away, I am feeling ready to create.

I find that my creativity is very sensitive to my environment. As I get busy making pieces, I pull out lots of materials, keep them around, re-arrange them, examine the juxtapositions. Before I know it I am in a frenzy. And then, just as quickly I have to stop and clean up. Clear my head and focus. And the cycle repeats.

Thought I’d share some with you about my studio. First, it is a private space. I am not an artist that works publicly. My friend Anita (who is with me at shows and many of you know her) always wants me to do demonstrations, saying that customers would love to see me in action. But being on display crimps my creative processes so I have never done this. In fact, I don’t open my studio to the public. For me, the creative process…getting into the “zone”…is something that requires a certain focus and degree of solitude.

It is November in North Carolina. A really beautiful time of year, the foliage is turning amazing shades of orange, yellow, red and purple (carnelian, citrine, coral and amethyst). This is always very inspiring for me. It started with the skylight over my desk in the office this morning. Yesterday’s rain brought down a lot of leaves and some were plastered to the window. In the background, blue sky and tall trees. That caused me to go to each window and photograph the view. So here are some views out the skylight and windows of my studio. Enjoy!

Recipe for Cleaning Tarnished Jewelry

I have had numerous requests for an easy way to remove tarnish from metal jewelry. Of course there are many commercial products to polish both silver and brass and these are all reasonable choices. This technique uses ingredients you most likely have on hand and is very easy to perform. It works for silver, brass or any metal jewelry that gets tarnished. It does not result in a high shine but it does remove tarnish. This works well for pieces you might have from the Artisan Collection and will bring it back to a nice finish if it has "aged" too much for your taste.

Ingredients:
>glass dish
>aluminum foil
>baking soda
>boiling water
>tarnished metal jewelry

First, line a glass dish with aluminum foil. Then place the jewelry on the foil in one layer (don't overcrowd the pieces). Be sure that all of the jewelry is in contact with the foil. Sprinkle the jewelry with a heavy layer of baking soda. Pour boiling water (and I mean boiling!) over the whole arrangement to cover and let it sit for 10 minutes. Remove the jewelry, rinse, dry and wear!

Interview on the Savvy Designer

I met Anne Rush online through her Savvy Designer blog when she recently selected images of some of my Patina Collection to illustrate a current trend in chains. I was delighted to be on her blog (read the entry below for a link to this blog article). She contacted me last week and asked if she could interview me about my business, designs, approaches, etc. Of course I agreed. She asked some really wonderful questions and I am thrilled to be able to share some of my experiences and thoughts. Here is a link to the interview...
http://annerush.squarespace.com/interviews/

Thanks again Anne for shining a spotlight my way!

The Savvy Designer Picks Judith Altman Designs

Thanks to Anne Rush for her recent blog entry on The Savvy Designer about Judith Altman Designs Patina Collection. From her blog..."Anne Rush has been a professional designer, director and leader in the Fashion Accessory industry for the past twenty years. Most recently she was the Vice President of Design for Liz Claiborne Inc., New York City. Anne’s talent for identifying trends, directing specific product development,and creating marketing concepts has been at the root of her success."

Anne's blog tracks fashion industry trends from an insider's perspective. Thanks for picking Judith Altman Designs to illustrate the "top chain trend..."!

Read about it by clicking here.

A New Collection - {SWEETS}

Sweets - pleasing or agreeable; delightful; amiable; kind or gracious; dear; beloved; precious; something pleasant to the mind or feelings...

The {sweets} Collection is jewelry that is all of the above. Highlighting a singular precious stone or two on delicate gold dipped chain, these necklaces are both easy and delightful to wear. They are sophisticated, understated and elegant. Wear them alone, or layer them. Either way you will feel great. Shop for them at our new online store.

Here are a few samples...

highpointMARKET

Another highpointMARKET has come and gone. It is the most intense show ever...with showrooms open for seven consecutive days, eleven hours a day. It is reported that 85,000 buyers come into town for this show (really, a collection of shows). After doing this Market for a number of years, I enjoy it more and more. The highlight for me is visiting with my customers and meeting new customers. We take out family photos, share pictures of kids and grandkids, and in some cases dogs!

Here is a picture of the Judith Altman Designs showroom before the buyers arrived.

Thank you to everyone who purchased Judith Altman Designs! I especially want to thank and welcome my new accounts.

Here are a few of the items that were available at this market:

From A Busy Studio

I have been delighting in a long stretch of uninterrupted studio time. Flush with loads of new materials, and having completed a move into a new, larger studio space, I have been creating many new pieces for spring. As usual, themes have developed. I have become interested in ethnic pieces incorporating ornamentative components from indigenous cultures. I have also been exploring some new structures for necklaces and bracelets. Here are some recent pieces.

Artisan Collection Available at Soft Surroundings

We are so pleased that our Artisan Collection is highlighted in the current catalog from Soft Surroundings and is available online at softsurroundings.com. While we call it The Artisan Collection, they are calling it the Nile Collection. Like the designs of ancient Egypt...they say that this "style could have been worn by someone gazing on the Nile River. While the design is simple, its elegance is beyond reproach." Take a look...

Inspiration

I am so often asked where I get my inspiration. First I would have to say that I am inspired by the beauty of forms and shapes in nature. The stones inspire me. Ethnic traditions and cultures are major sources of inspiration for my designs. Architecture and structural design is a fascination to me. Current design and fashion are inevitable influences. I try to avoid trends and consider my designs trend-sensitive rather than trend-centered. Inspiration is all around and for me design is an intuitive process, a process of discovery.

"Straight from the Studio" Sale

I am joining up with two talented artists for an exciting "straight from the studio" sale -- just in time for your holiday shopping. If you are in North Carolina, near Greensboro, on November 16 - 18 then please stop by. For more info click here. In addition to my jewelry, there will be fun glass pieces from Sleepin' Dog art glass artist Nancy Brooks and wonderful miniature portriats painted by Dot Wootten Kimelman.

Here are some photos of their work:

Looking toward Fall

With summer as ripe as it is, I start to think about Fall. I design for Fall. I start thinking about shopping for Fall. I look forward to the change. And then I realize it isn't even August yet, and here in the South, summer lasts two plus months more!

Here are a few designs that will be on display for Fall at upcoming shows.