adornandcherish: gorgeous reworked jewels

{ wire-wrapped gold hoop earrings with labradorite brioletttes }

oh, i have found me a new favorite shop.
friends, behold! my checklist of awesomeness:

• simple yet eclectic? check.
• reworked and recycled? check.
• vintage and modern? check.
• custom jewelry rehab? check.
• based in boston? wicked pissah check!

i *heart* this store, with its one-of-a-kind heirloom goodness. if there's one thing i'm obsessed with, it's the idea of character -- that jewels passed down from your mothers and grandmothers, even the estate and vintage finds worn by strangers, have meaning and history and soul. at the very least they prevent someone from digging up and processing new metal and rocks. i believe passionately in creative reuse, and this seller is doing amazing work.

she has beautiful rediscovered finds ready to go, or you can send adorn+cherish old gemstones, metals, and jewelry, and she will craft something new and perfect just for you. two thumbs up. 5 stars. wine spectator rating: 100. a 10 in beijing.








more at adornandcherish.etsy.com
see also the blog! adorncherish.blogspot.com

{update 6.aug.08: who knew! they got rid of the perfect 10 in gymnastics this olympics!}

lillyella: floral jewels

{ garden branch bracelet }

continuing garden week here at etsy wedding, here's a trove of floral-inspired delights from cleveland-based lillyella. even the name makes me think of an art-nouveau sort of garden trellis, or afternoon tea on a lazy summer day.






more at lilyella.etsy.com

silvergarden: nature-inspired silver

{ wide leaf-textured silver ring }

stretching the garden theme a bit, this jumped out at me today: jewelry inspired by natural and organic patterns. any way you shake it, the pattern on this ring is amazing -- as an abstraction, as a metaphor for skin and an almost-fingerprint-like individuality, and as the actual artifact of a real skeleton leaf.

silver garden is a husband and wife team creating jewelry together in seattle -- another favorite is the puzzle piece below.




more at silvergarden.etsy.com

squrlgurl: pearl necklaces

han hin got necklace

oooooh. i know i promised, no freshwater pearls, but this is ridiculously great.
i've admired tara's work for some time now, her creations are unmistakably *hers* -- if she were a writer, we'd say she has a truly original voice -- here, check out another:


han - oduun got luxurious necklace

forget it, am sick with longing. she's a canadian living in seoul, but don't let that deter you -- items shipped to the states usually arrive within 5-10 business days. her earrings are delightful, her color pairings fresh and unusual -- you could build your entire day around this piece. this necklace plus a simple gown? yes please. more at squrlgurl.etsy.com