Jewellery trends for Spring 2013

Good news! Jewellery this spring will still be big, bold and beautiful. Just the way we like it. New York Fashion week said so. The accessories that designers proposed go from big flowers of Oscar de la Renta, to the religion inspired pieces of Jean Paul Gaultier to layered jewellery of Nina Ricci, Monika Chiang and Rachel Zoe. The tendency is to the vintage, to the retro. Here are some of my favorite ones:

Happy Valentine`s to everyone. Keep visiting our blog and our Littlewomenbusiness Etsy shop

Long, dramatic earrings, wire wrapped with Tiger Eye gemstone and Spinel gemstone small beads

The small Spinel (rare semiprecious stone of the same family as rubies), beads have been wire wrapped around brass long hoops. In the end of the hoops hangs a big Tiger eye briolette. These earrings are long and playful. They will perfectly complete your evening outfits The length of the earrings from the hoop to the end of the gemstone is 6 cm (2.36 inch) Hands on hoops made of brass They look the same from the front and the back Colors are black for the Spinel and different shades of brown and golden for the Tiger eye. Every product you will purchase will arrive in a small velvet pouch. Please allow for slight variations as the gemstones are natural and each piece is handmade. Thank you!

Find them on my Littlewomen Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/listing/122863259/long-dramatic-earrings-wire-wrapped-with

Long, dramatic earrings, wire wrapped with Lapis Lazuli gemstone and Fresh Water Pearls

The small fresh water pearls have been wire wrapped around brass long hoops. In the end of the hoops hangs a big lapis lazuli briolette. These earrings are long and playful. Perfect to flatter your neck in the upcoming spring. The iridescence of the pearls and the deep color of the lapis lazuli gemstone make them a perfect match for day and evening outfits. The length of the earrings from the hoop to the end of the gemstone is 6 cm (2.36 inch) Hands on hoops made of brass They look the same from the front and the back Colors are white ivory pearl and deep blue. Pearls are the birthstone for June and Lapis lazuli is the birthstone for December Every product you will purchase will arrive in a small velvet pouch. Please allow for slight variations as the gemstones are natural and each piece is handmade. Thank you!

Find them on my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/listing/122830207/long-dramatic-earrings-wire-wrapped-with

Bride and Bridesmaid White Pearl Wire Wrapped Earrings

Wire wrapping is my last passion. It offers unlimited possibilities and gives to the jewelry a very finished look. These earrings are one of my last creations. Lovely fresh water pearls or two different sizes have been wrapped around a brass ring. The white ivory pearl earrings will be perfect for you on your big day of for your bridesmaids. Not getting married, no problem. They can easily be worn on a normal day, spring is coming so just put them with your light colors clothes for a romantic and sophisticated look.

Find them on my Etsy shop at; https://www.etsy.com/listing/122514644/bride-and-bridesmaid-white-pearl-wire

Ambaji Shinde, the jewel behind the jewel

I recently read the book « Shinde Jewels” by Reema Keswani and would like to share with you my impressions. I didn’t know who Ambaji Shinde was and this book opened a whole new window on the Indian 5000 years old tradition of jewelry and above all on the personality of a great designer and man. Shinde (1917- 2003) was born in a poor family in India. He first studied textile design in Bombay, but the first job he could find was in a jewelry workshop. He started his career as a jewelry designer by accident and in a few years showed himself to be a very talented and hardworking designer. The Nanubhai Company that hired the young designer was dealing at the time with Harry Winston and Van Cleef & Arpels. That’s how Shinde met Harry Winston who invited him to work for his company fist in Geneva and then in New York. He created for HW some of the most beautiful jewelry the world has ever seen. He mastered his techniques creating pieces in which the precious stones look like they are floating in the air and the metal parts are invisible. The most amazing trait of his personality was his modesty. At Harry Winston, Mr. Shinde was referred to as the ''jewel behind the jewel''. No matter how famous he became, creating pieces worth millions of dollars, Shinde stayed a very humble person, who worked 7 days per week, living a very small apartment and taking the bus every day to go to work. New York Times consecrated him many articles praising his professionalism and personality, calling Ambaji Shinde “The man who romanced the stones” Here for you some of his creations

Amethyst, February and Pisces birthstone

The idea, that some stones are precious and some others semi-precious, is familiar to most stone-buyers and stone lovers. It is important to explain though that the “precious” or semi-precious” are market related terms. Today we consider as precious stones the diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds, because their reserves are rare. Other stones such as amethyst were considered as precious not long ago. Amethyst was reclassified as semi-precious after large deposits were found in Brazil and Uruguay in the first half of the nineteenth century. Amethyst is the birthstone for Pisces and the month of February, and the gemstone for the 6th anniversary of marriage. Its use dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- ("not") and μέθυστος methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. That’s the reason why drinking vessels were carved out of amethyst. Historically, the stone was believed to assist prophecy and visions and to bring riches and powers to its owners. It has always been associated with the civil and religious classes that have ruled human cultures. In the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui, the amethyst enhances the wealth corner focusing on the giving and receiving of material wealth. At the highest level, amethyst bestows the spiritual understanding required to reach the state of bliss. It is associated with the crown chakra at the top of the head where divine essence enters. Amethyst is one of several forms of quartz. As quartz it is a Silicon dioxide SiO2. The purple color of amethyst is due to iron impurities at specific sites in the crystalline structure. If the iron impurities within the crystal are highly oxidized, the gem takes on the deep purple of an amethyst. If the mineral is heated, the oxygen is removed from the iron and the gem fades and will turn brown then yellow, green or colorless depending on the location of the iron within the crystal. If it turns yellow, it is then known as a citrine. Chemically it is closely related to other varieties of quartz such as citrine, smoky quartz, rose quartz, and even aventurine, agate, carnelian and opal.

Here is a selection of beautiful jewelry made using amethyst stone, from different shops on Etsy. If you are interested in them; you just go on Etsy and type Amethyst as a keyword. Enjoy Littlewomen is coming soon with her own collection of February birthsone.

An other Etsian in Paris

Hello everyone. Yesterday I met another Etsian that lives here in Paris. For your information, the Etsians are not some kinds of aliens coming from a distant planet. They are the members of this wonderful creative community that is Etsy. Anyway, her name is Jonua, she is American and came to Paris to follow her loved one. She is the first member of Etsy I have ever met in person. I am new to the community and meeting other people that are there since long time is always an enriching experience as much as it is a pleasure to meet like-minded people. My next step will be to participate to Etsy France meetings and try to know as many Etsians as possible in order for all of us to increase the visibility of our shops. Ah and last, but not least I want to share with you this great address. It is a small coffee shop in Montmartre, where they make delicious cupcakes. The space is tiny but the atmosphere and the decoration are very girly. So next time you need to have some time with your girlfriends bring them at Miss Cupcake at 22, rue de la Vieuville 75018 in Paris.

The joy of my first sale on Etsy

Two weeks ago I made my first sell on my Etsy shop. After reading Rena Klingenberg tips on her website I was not really expecting for sales any time soon. There it goes I open my email account and see the message `Congratulations on your first sale`. What a joy! Her name is Barbara and she was my first client. I felt so grateful to her for trusting my shop and make the first purchase. She bought an amethyst and black pearl necklace, my first production ever. I want to spoil my clients, to have a direct relation with them. So i created some matching earrings as a present and two days later she confirmed the reception. That was a great adventure. Here is the necklace. My beautiful friend and model Ana is wearing it.

I will make the necklace again and put it back on my Etsy shop, this time under the name of Barbara model.

Romantic necklace in bronze and coral beads

Did you like this necklace. Yes? In that case find it on my Littlewomenbusiness Etsy shop at :