Posts Tagged ‘Jewelry Fashion’
Jewelry as Art in Topeka
David asked:
Don’t overlook the interesting and affordable at local shops
When we think of buying jewelry, especially the fashion variety, we usually think of going to a department store or a boutique-type clothing store where we find the latest trendy item probably made outside of this country. But there are several sources for interesting and affordable jewelry in Topeka that are often overlooked.
Art galleries and shops are wonderful places to find one-of-a- kind jewelry pieces that aren’t only made in the United States, but are very likely handmade in Topeka by both well-known or emerging artists.They provide manifold services and all kinds of jewelry such as wholesale costume jewelry,fashion jewelry wholesale,wholesale jewelry,jewelry supply,pearl jewelry,body jewelry etc. Follow galleries and shops can give you what you wanted and also may make you enjoyself.
The Collective Gallery
The Collective Gallery consists of a consortium of artists working in a variety of mediums, including jewelry. Allison Shaefor, daughter of local favorites Bo and Doug Sheafor, of the Albo Glass team, is showing some of the most innovative jewelry. She places small glass beads inside organically shaped blown glass pods, which are hung on chains and leather bands as pendants.
Laura Timmons, of Leawood, weaves fibers and metal wire with gems and beads to make softly textured neck pieces in subtle, elegant colors. Linda Gebert, of Wichita, works in silver, clay, 24-karat gold, gems and cloisonne enamel.
Glass Expressions
Just walking into Glass Expressions is a feast for the eyes, not only for the collection of fine glass home accessories but for the display cases full of jewelry. A consistently popular artist is Eleanore Macnish, a former Topekan now living in Albuquerque, N.M. She makes “happy” jewelry, as she calls it, that incorporates bright, colorful lampwork beads. Her signature bead is a black bead with raised white dots on it. The store can’t get enough of her black and white earrings to add to the collections of her followers.
Margie Weidenbaker and the Glass Expressions staff spend a lot of time educating their customers about the processes used in glass bead- making. You can learn more about cased, sparkling glass beads that have glass pigment under clear glass from internationally known Penrose Designs; dichroic glass, a material that manipulates light to simultaneously produce two very different colors; and Kromastones from the technologies of “thin film” physics and vacuum deposition, refracting colors that shift when viewed from different angles. And if you don’t care about any of these details, the jewelry is just plain gorgeous.
The Phoenix Gallery
The Phoenix Gallery represents so many jewelry artists that it takes some time to really see all of the selections. Brooches and bracelets by Connie Bentjen incorporate vintage silver spoons that take on the forms of angels; wonderful hand-twisted silver earrings – — each one different, so mix and match — by Topekans Stacey and Monique Davis; and refined silver necklaces, rings and bracelets with asymmetrically cut gemstones by Lilly Barrick to wear with contemporary business attire.
And you mustn’t overlook the outstanding vintage American Indian silver and turquoise from the collection of gallery owner Kyle Garcia.
Mulvane Art Gallery
The Mulvane Art Gallery, located on the Washburn University campus, is a hidden treasure for jewelry-lovers. You will find charming amulet-type pendants created with the gardener in mind.
Carletha Kosky combines ribbons, beads, and wrapped paper collages of garden scenes. Laura Smith, of Kansas City, makes large, chunky and whimsical heart brooches using beads, buttons and other found objects.
Frankie Parman, the acquisitions chairman for the museum, says that women are wearing brooches almost everywhere except on a lapel – — on handbags, belts and skirt pockets. The museum’s business is especially successful during the holiday season.
So think outside the box when considering gifts for someone special or adding to your own unique jewelry collection. Topeka has it all.
Don’t overlook the interesting and affordable at local shops
When we think of buying jewelry, especially the fashion variety, we usually think of going to a department store or a boutique-type clothing store where we find the latest trendy item probably made outside of this country. But there are several sources for interesting and affordable jewelry in Topeka that are often overlooked.
Art galleries and shops are wonderful places to find one-of-a- kind jewelry pieces that aren’t only made in the United States, but are very likely handmade in Topeka by both well-known or emerging artists.They provide manifold services and all kinds of jewelry such as wholesale costume jewelry,fashion jewelry wholesale,wholesale jewelry,jewelry supply,pearl jewelry,body jewelry etc. Follow galleries and shops can give you what you wanted and also may make you enjoyself.
The Collective Gallery
The Collective Gallery consists of a consortium of artists working in a variety of mediums, including jewelry. Allison Shaefor, daughter of local favorites Bo and Doug Sheafor, of the Albo Glass team, is showing some of the most innovative jewelry. She places small glass beads inside organically shaped blown glass pods, which are hung on chains and leather bands as pendants.
Laura Timmons, of Leawood, weaves fibers and metal wire with gems and beads to make softly textured neck pieces in subtle, elegant colors. Linda Gebert, of Wichita, works in silver, clay, 24-karat gold, gems and cloisonne enamel.
Glass Expressions
Just walking into Glass Expressions is a feast for the eyes, not only for the collection of fine glass home accessories but for the display cases full of jewelry. A consistently popular artist is Eleanore Macnish, a former Topekan now living in Albuquerque, N.M. She makes “happy” jewelry, as she calls it, that incorporates bright, colorful lampwork beads. Her signature bead is a black bead with raised white dots on it. The store can’t get enough of her black and white earrings to add to the collections of her followers.
Margie Weidenbaker and the Glass Expressions staff spend a lot of time educating their customers about the processes used in glass bead- making. You can learn more about cased, sparkling glass beads that have glass pigment under clear glass from internationally known Penrose Designs; dichroic glass, a material that manipulates light to simultaneously produce two very different colors; and Kromastones from the technologies of “thin film” physics and vacuum deposition, refracting colors that shift when viewed from different angles. And if you don’t care about any of these details, the jewelry is just plain gorgeous.
The Phoenix Gallery
The Phoenix Gallery represents so many jewelry artists that it takes some time to really see all of the selections. Brooches and bracelets by Connie Bentjen incorporate vintage silver spoons that take on the forms of angels; wonderful hand-twisted silver earrings – — each one different, so mix and match — by Topekans Stacey and Monique Davis; and refined silver necklaces, rings and bracelets with asymmetrically cut gemstones by Lilly Barrick to wear with contemporary business attire.
And you mustn’t overlook the outstanding vintage American Indian silver and turquoise from the collection of gallery owner Kyle Garcia.
Mulvane Art Gallery
The Mulvane Art Gallery, located on the Washburn University campus, is a hidden treasure for jewelry-lovers. You will find charming amulet-type pendants created with the gardener in mind.
Carletha Kosky combines ribbons, beads, and wrapped paper collages of garden scenes. Laura Smith, of Kansas City, makes large, chunky and whimsical heart brooches using beads, buttons and other found objects.
Frankie Parman, the acquisitions chairman for the museum, says that women are wearing brooches almost everywhere except on a lapel – — on handbags, belts and skirt pockets. The museum’s business is especially successful during the holiday season.
So think outside the box when considering gifts for someone special or adding to your own unique jewelry collection. Topeka has it all.
How to Get Started Making Silver and Gold Jewelry for Profit or Fun.
KDL Jewelry asked:
Jewelry making has long been an art form passed on from father to son, all the way back to ancient times; people have adorned themselves in Silver, Gold, and Gemstone Jewelry,
African tribes, the Native American Indian tribes and numerous ethnic tribes have used Bone carved pendants, Animal Ivory, Bird feathers and Seashells, to fashion accessories to use as jewelry.
Today we give our Jewelry titles ,such as Ethnic Jewelry ,Tribal Jewelry ,Antique Jewelry, Fashion Jewelry and so on .In this article we are going to Talk about Designer Hand made jewelry ,How to make it either for fun or for those really keen students how to do it and make money from your hobby .
Right lets get going .You have two options to start with, you can either buy raw silver from your local distributor, or find a Jewelry Manufacture that will supply you with the materials, there is a choice between 925 or 985 in the grade of silver you buy, I prefer to work in Fine silver 985, but you may find this a little difficult to buy. For the purpose of this article we are going to choose the second option and buy our material from a reputable Jewelry Manufacture and we are going to start with making a simple Sterling silver 925 pendant with a Turquoise cabochon Gemstone.
The majority of tools needed can be purchased form a good hardware store and some of the more hard to find items you will be able to get from either a Silver Jewelry Manufacture or Supplier.
Your heat source can be either a gas bottle with extension hose and flame adjusting nozzle or as we use in our workshop a petrol bellows and hose set with adjustable nozzle, its important witch ever set you buy that you can regulate the flame and heat .Next comes the hand tools you will need a small brass hammer, tweezers about 7inches long, small tin snips, brass block 4inches by 4inches and 1inch thick ,rags,2part epoxy, battery acid, fine grade file , a flexible shaft grinder and a ceramic base to heat your silver on ,here is a handy tip a house brick and unglazed roof tile work just great. That should be enough for you to get started.
Step1 is to cut a strip of silver slightly wider then the thickness of the turquoise and long enough to wrap around the diameter of the gemstone, and carefully cut it so as the 2 ends meet tightly around the gemstone.
Step2, take your solder and place a small amount of flux on the two joins, heat the silver strip till red, apply the solder carefully, and it’s joined. If you haven’t done any soldering before try a few practice runs first, you will be able to use that silver later on.
Step3, take your sterling silver band and place it on a flat piece of silver plate, check that the turquoise still fits, then as in step 2 apply flux and solder the band to the plate.
Step4, remove the excess silver with your tin snips and sand off any rough edges.
Step5,decide on a shape for your bail and cut it out of silver accordingly, bend into shape .now solder that to the pendant ,and while hot dip the whole pendant into a small jar of acid ,rinse in a jar of clear water and dry.
Step6, Place your turquoise into you silver and carefully trim away any surplus silver. Once your happy with the fit you can sand the silver again with fine grade emery paper, give a small amount of epoxy to the inside of the pendant and insert the turquoise stone .Now take a spoon and using the back work it around the pendant to give a snug fit with the silver and allow to dry.
Step7, Using your flexi grinder insert a polishing cloth disc, add some silver polish and buff the silver to the required finish.
The principles above are applied to all silver work; no it’s up to the imagination of the jewelry designer and skillfulness of the jeweler.
Jewelry making has long been an art form passed on from father to son, all the way back to ancient times; people have adorned themselves in Silver, Gold, and Gemstone Jewelry,
African tribes, the Native American Indian tribes and numerous ethnic tribes have used Bone carved pendants, Animal Ivory, Bird feathers and Seashells, to fashion accessories to use as jewelry.
Today we give our Jewelry titles ,such as Ethnic Jewelry ,Tribal Jewelry ,Antique Jewelry, Fashion Jewelry and so on .In this article we are going to Talk about Designer Hand made jewelry ,How to make it either for fun or for those really keen students how to do it and make money from your hobby .
Right lets get going .You have two options to start with, you can either buy raw silver from your local distributor, or find a Jewelry Manufacture that will supply you with the materials, there is a choice between 925 or 985 in the grade of silver you buy, I prefer to work in Fine silver 985, but you may find this a little difficult to buy. For the purpose of this article we are going to choose the second option and buy our material from a reputable Jewelry Manufacture and we are going to start with making a simple Sterling silver 925 pendant with a Turquoise cabochon Gemstone.
The majority of tools needed can be purchased form a good hardware store and some of the more hard to find items you will be able to get from either a Silver Jewelry Manufacture or Supplier.
Your heat source can be either a gas bottle with extension hose and flame adjusting nozzle or as we use in our workshop a petrol bellows and hose set with adjustable nozzle, its important witch ever set you buy that you can regulate the flame and heat .Next comes the hand tools you will need a small brass hammer, tweezers about 7inches long, small tin snips, brass block 4inches by 4inches and 1inch thick ,rags,2part epoxy, battery acid, fine grade file , a flexible shaft grinder and a ceramic base to heat your silver on ,here is a handy tip a house brick and unglazed roof tile work just great. That should be enough for you to get started.
Step1 is to cut a strip of silver slightly wider then the thickness of the turquoise and long enough to wrap around the diameter of the gemstone, and carefully cut it so as the 2 ends meet tightly around the gemstone.
Step2, take your solder and place a small amount of flux on the two joins, heat the silver strip till red, apply the solder carefully, and it’s joined. If you haven’t done any soldering before try a few practice runs first, you will be able to use that silver later on.
Step3, take your sterling silver band and place it on a flat piece of silver plate, check that the turquoise still fits, then as in step 2 apply flux and solder the band to the plate.
Step4, remove the excess silver with your tin snips and sand off any rough edges.
Step5,decide on a shape for your bail and cut it out of silver accordingly, bend into shape .now solder that to the pendant ,and while hot dip the whole pendant into a small jar of acid ,rinse in a jar of clear water and dry.
Step6, Place your turquoise into you silver and carefully trim away any surplus silver. Once your happy with the fit you can sand the silver again with fine grade emery paper, give a small amount of epoxy to the inside of the pendant and insert the turquoise stone .Now take a spoon and using the back work it around the pendant to give a snug fit with the silver and allow to dry.
Step7, Using your flexi grinder insert a polishing cloth disc, add some silver polish and buff the silver to the required finish.
The principles above are applied to all silver work; no it’s up to the imagination of the jewelry designer and skillfulness of the jeweler.

