the gift of giving

Now that the gifts are given, I am excited to reveal the Christmas gifts I made this year.  The grandmothers and great grandmother each received one of my Novella lockets.  The lockets are all vintage and the chains were handcrafted by me with oxidized silver chain and ornate chain detail.  I was very excited to give these gifts but was extremely moved by the response I received from the recipients!  Specifically from Clara's great grandmother.  She burst into tears, overwhelmed with happiness by receiving her first locket ever in her life!  She had always wanted one but had never received one as a gift or purchased one for herself.  Every piece of jewelry is important in my mind, but there is something intimate and uniquely special about a locket.  Maybe it is the thought of someone carrying a case close to their heart with something personally important inside.  And it never ceases to surprise me and warm my heart that jewelry seems to speak a universal language... every piece is filled with a personal story, a memory, a mark of an important moment in life, and the love that is passed in physical form from one person to another.

Art Basel 2014

I had the awesome opportunity to travel to Art Basel Miami this year for work.  I was not disappointed by a single show!  So many beautiful pieces.  But hands down, the highlight of my trip (besides getting in some quality time with my amazing coworkers) was seeing TAP jewelry in person for the first time at Design Miami.  I may or may not have cried a little... These rings are even more stunning in person than I had imagined even from the photos I have seen of these spectacular rings.  Thank goodness (maybe, maybe not) they weren't my size otherwise I might have come home with a hefty credit card bill and one to-die-for ring!

for December babies

It is no secret that I LOVE London Blue Topaz!  The rich hue of this beautiful stone is one of my favorite colors.  So, lucky are those who have a birthday in December!  I love the beautiful filigree setting and the strung pearls on this Art Deco Blue topaz ring.

holiday etsy wishlist

Happy December!  I am so looking forward to the holidays this year!  Yesterday we purchased a tree and my 2 1/2 year old daughter helped me decorate it.  She was so excited about everything and the first thing she asked for this morning when she woke up was to see the tree!  I must already be in the holiday mindset because I have already completed my holiday gift shopping. For those who might not be that ahead of the game, I have compiled my annual holiday Etsy personal wishlist:
1) Antique scroll shank ring- I have been on the search for one of these for awhile (and sadly missed out on a great sale on this one) but have been unable to spend money like that on myself.  Which basically means this has GIFT written all over it!
2) Antique navette ring- Speaking of searching forever for something, this has been long standing on my wishlist as well.
3) Chunky cable knit infinity scarf in charcoal- I love how chunky and cozy this scarf looks!  And I can't go a winter without acquiring a new scarf.
4) Gold bar stud earrings- I love how dainty and small these earrings are.  I would wear these turned upwards to become ear climbers!

Arts Plus

I am very excited to announce that Villette Jewelry will now be carried at Arts Plus Gallery in Collingswood, NJ.  This wonderful shop, located on the main strip of Collingswood on Haddon Ave, offers an array of artisan gifts and I am so proud to be included along with some very talented artists.  Stop by the store, if you are local, to pick up some truly one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays.

well hello there lover!

So, so, so in love with this ring on Ruby Lane!  To buy, or not to buy, that is the question?!  I have been on the search for a scroll shank ring since March and I don't think that it can get any better than this.  But I have such a hard time pulling the trigger.  Help me, dear readers, should I splurge on such a ring?

indulging in a fantasy

Happy Friday!  I am still on the search for that "Dare to be Great" ring.  How stunning is this antique beauty?!

for November babies

I feel that citrine is an often under-appreciated stone.  The deep rich amber tones of some citrines are a particular favorite of mine.  This Art Deco filigree ring features a 3.5 carat emerald cut citrine with just that perfect rich amber tone.

peek-a-boo

Another take on interesting stud earring designs (like the ear climber or ear pins I have been seeing a lot lately).  The diamonds on these earring jackets peek out from behind your ear.  For those of us that have multiple holes in their ears, this leaves an awesome opportunity to "outfit" our ears with an interesting collection of earrings.  FINALLY something good coming out of having all those piercings again!

stretch of diamonds

Happy Friday!  Here's a beauty for your enjoyment!  Love the design of this Hirotaka ring.  (And I have to be honest, I was expecting the price tag to be much higher on this one.)

for October babies

October is my favorite month.  It also happens to have one of my favorite stones, tourmaline, as one of its birthstones.  Nothing in my mind beats the rich, stunning colors of tourmaline, as seen in this breathtaking early 1900s tourmaline and diamond dress ring.  And if tourmaline isn't quite your style, October babies can also choose opal as their month representative.  This 1909 opal and diamond ring features 3 fiery opals in a beautifully detailed scroll shank 18ct gold setting.

climbers

Cannot get enough of ear climber earrings!  How outrageous are these by Jemma Wynne?!  I keep searching for my perfect pair but I am seeing some really good designs for this hot trend, it has been very hard to choose!

love hurts

Added to my wishlist!  I wish I could snatch this up immediately but, sigh, I will have to wait.  No age is listed for this ring (something I usually shy away from) but there is just something about this design that I feel is needed in my ring collection.

organic treasure

This ring is nothing short of spectacular!  I love the look of the raw tourmaline with the extremely organic prong setting.  It looks like a treasure from the Lost City of Atlantis... a truly exceptional one of a kind ring!

neverending ring search

Still on the search for an antique navette ring.  Stalking this one on ebay to see how high it goes.

And while we are at it, I am still looking for one of these lovelies (an Edwardian scroll shank ring)!  SO many rings, so little MONEY.

white versus yellow metals

(photo from this lovely etsy seller)

Awhile back, I read a post on Gem Gossip's blog that has stayed with me ever since.  In an interview with designer Stacey Lorinczi, Stacey said, "I recall when I was a teenager, and first started to seriously devote myself to jewelry making, I had little interest in gold—sterling silver was the only metal I would wear. In contrast, my mother was a devotee of yellow gold jewelry, and would rarely purchase anything silver. When I would debate this with her, she’d always insist, “just wait… when you’re grown-up, you’ll see, you’ll love gold as much as I do. Far more, in fact, than you will silver.” I was doubtful, but sure enough she was right. Now that I’m an adult, I find myself profoundly attracted to the qualities of gold. I have come to believe that it’s a metal for when you’ve fully matured as a woman."  I feel I am going through the very same experience!  Most of my life I have been devoted to wearing silver but as my taste in jewelry matures, I feel that I am starting to gravitate towards yellow gold.  Although I still love my choice in my platinum wedding ring set for every day wear, I am choosing yellow gold right hand rings more and more.  So, my wonderful readers, which do you prefer?

not those kind of bar studs

I love the look of these bar stud earrings (also referred to as ear climbers).  I'd love to see how they look on my ears.  I wonder if they would pleasantly cover up or look completely gross with the multitude of piercings I have in each of my ears due to being a teenager in the 90's.  This kind of photo makes me lament that my ears look like Swiss cheese!

P.S.  My apologies in advance for my sporadic presence on here.  I am working on some rather large projects over the next few weeks (and the last few weeks) and as a result will have very little free time to dedicate to posting.  I'll try to be on here as much as I can though to help you with your jewelry fix!

tragic fail

This is what the ring was supposed to look like... and this is what it really looks like...

Sometimes you just have to admit you failed and start from scratch.  I am heartbroken because of the loss of 14K gold (which I can always cash in for scrap) but more importantly the loss of time.  But I feel confident that the second time around I am going to nail it!  Here's to some optimism!

baby bracelet

I made Clara her very first piece of jewelry!  Lately, she has been grabbing for one of my bracelets so I asked her if she wanted her own, which she replied yes.  Super excited that she was even interested, I let her pick out what color she wanted from the embroidery floss I had on hand and made her this bracelet for which, once she was presented with the bracelet, she hollered "No," and threw it across the floor.  Spirits dashed, but not entirely squashed, I finally convinced her to just "try it on."  Now she won't let me take it off!  The impossible tininess of it makes me realize that although she is growing up fast, she's still so very little.

beautiful scraps

Just made this bracelet last night from left overs I had in my studio.  I find it a fun challenge in problem solving to create something simply from the items you have on hand.  This was pieced together with some leftover garnets from a bridal jewelry order, random left over beads and findings from other projects throughout the years, and pieced together scraps of chain.  I am very happy with the outcome!

happy 5th birthday!!!

This little blog of mine turns 5 years old today!  I cannot believe it has been 5 years already... how time flies!  So many wonderful things have happened in the last 5 years... I finished up my Jewelry studio classes at Moore, I created my online portfolio, I formed many wonderful relationships with local stores, my husband and I became home owners, my pieces were sold through Anthropologie (and worked feverishly on that product while 9 months pregnant!), I had my beautiful baby girl Clara, and I have made some wonderful connections through the online jewelry community!  Thank you so much to my readers and thank you for supporting Villette Jewelry!  It has been a pleasure sharing my passion for jewelry with all of you.

an eternity to find an eternity

Finally found a reasonably priced labradorite eternity ring!  Oh, Sundance, you make magic happen sometimes!

birthday etsy wishlist

Tomorrow is my birthday!  Kind of anticlimactic with it falling on a Wednesday and it being a day which I cannot take off of work... but I'll make the most of it.  And like any other gift receiving day of my life, jewelry is all that I want!  Here is my etsy birthday wishlist:
1) Scroll shank antique ring- I have been searching for one of these lovelies for awhile with no luck.  I LOVE this one but, le sigh, it is way out of my price range and way above what I would want someone to spend on a gift for me.  But a girl can dream that one day I, or someone I love, will find one that's just right in style and price!
2) Personalized inscribed ring- Just something simple with my daughter's name on it.  A nice little addition to my ring stacking wardrobe.
3) Gold etched midi rings- I have a hammered silver one I made that I wear all the time, but I would love to have a more detailed gold version to match my gold ring stacks.
4) Leather wrap bracelet- All I seem to want to wear are leather bracelets, so I'd like to have more of a variety to chose from.

spike

Really excited about this diamond spike pendant on its way to my house!  Should I pair it with a sterling silver chain or a gold chain?  Decisions, decisions!

love initials

Just a little necklace I made to represent my baby girl.  No matter how overdone, I still love initial and birthstone jewelry.  In fact, I love it more when it represents someone important in your life.

Art Deco Georgian reproduction

How insanely beautiful is this ring?!  And the fact that it is an actual antique that is also a reproduction is fascinating!  This ring, made in the 1930s, is styled to look like a ring from the 1700s.  Sadly, this beauty has already sold, but it is breathtaking to look at even on the screen!

dragonfly

Talk about a roundabout way to be inspired, but here goes... the other day, my daughter wanted us to apply fake tattoos to her arms and ours.  I asked her to pick out one for mommy and she picked a dragonfly.  Not an insect I normally gravitate towards, but for a week I had to look at this dragonfly tattoo on my forearm, and actually started to really like it.  I started looking up dragonflies and of course, I started to fall in love with Art Nouveau jewelry featuring this beautiful insect.  Now I am hooked!  (And am even considering adding one to my sleeve tattoo design, whenever that ends up happening!)

abstract

So beautiful!  The abstract design created by the weaving of gold chains through holes in the oxidized silver circle is stunning.  I truly think I will never get tired of gold and oxidized silver!  LOVE!

Bijoux I love you

IN LOVE.  That is all.

antique modern

Ugh, there are no words to describe how much I love this Art Nouveau ring!  Somehow this ring encompasses just as much of a modern sensibility as it does the beautiful qualities of an antique piece!

Barnes ignited collection

A few weeks ago, my coworkers and I visited the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.  I don't think I could love a museum more!  I won't go into too much detail and history about the museum (you can get all that information here), but beyond the stunning works of art, I was captivated by the way all of the art was curated and displayed along with metal objects, like skeleton keys, hinges, and escutcheons (a decorative plate to cover a functioning item).  I have always loved skeleton keys but this trip has ignited a desire to start an antique escutcheon collection along with my keys to display as wall decor!  Here are some beautiful ones I have found on ebay...

A Victorian brass escutcheon salvaged from a remodeling project. A small piece at only 1 1/2" high but with beautiful ornate detail!

A beautiful, rare Victorian keyhole cover with swing plate!

An Art Deco plate with a beautiful aged patina!

THE one

I found it!  THE one!  After a long search for just THE right locket, this is the one I purchased... an Edwardian gold fill locket.  I am so excited about the repousse on the front of this locket and the hint of a floral design.  (Thank you MiladyLinden for being an accommodating etsy seller!)

locked doors

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the mommies out there!  I had a wonderful day with my husband and daughter, and received an etsy gift card as a little treat, which can be equally dangerous!  While feverishly searching for just the right Art Nouveau locket I stumbled across this beautiful Victorian era piece.  I love the shutter doors and the shield shape.  It isn't exactly what I was looking for but very tempting!

gemstone cuffs

I have been seeing a lot of gemstone cuff styles out there, using different shaped stones, different gemstones, and even mixing gemstones with metal details, and I love them all!  My favorite of all being these styles from Jemma Wynne!

on its way

Just won the ebay auction for this beauty!!!  I am so excited I can finally make an east west pear sapphire ring (like this one!) for myself, which has been on my wishlist forever.  I love this stone's rich blue color and the darker blue striations.  I can't wait to see this lovely stone in person!

happy 2nd birthday

My apologies for the long overdue post.  I was too busy celebrating this little girl's second birthday!  Happy birthday to my wonderful sweet girl!

rekindled

Really enjoying searching for an emerald ring right now (love affair with emeralds officially rekindled!).  I am especially loving the emerald, gold, oxidized silver combo!  This Esta ring, by Ila & I, looks part antique, part modern and is reminiscent of exotic lands.  LOVE!

dearest

I originally became intrigued with this ring for it's scroll design and beautiful stones.  But upon reading the description of the ring, I became captivated by it's sentimental meaning.  This ring is a Victorian "Dearest" ring... set with a Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz... the first letter of each stone spelling out Dearest.  Just beautiful!

nouveau flowers

Obsessed, OBSESSED, with this Art Nouveau bangle.  Please, oh please, someone buy this for me.  It is pure perfection!!!

looking back

I am wearing an older ring of mine today.  It is a ring I made in my first semester of Jewelry Studio.  Looking at it now, the craft is seriously lacking, but I still love the design and it represents, to me, my passion for jewelry design.  For being a very green metalsmith at the time when I made this ring, the goal of this design was lofty yet I was relatively successful.  I have thought about removing the stone and starting over with the setting, but now I don't know... despite the ring's flaws, I guess I am still a little impressed at my own early accomplishments!

a ruby I love

I have never been very fond of my birthstone, ruby, but for whatever reason I am totally in love with this Edwardian ruby ring (I seem to love it even more that it features a tiny ruby).  It makes me want to have at least one piece of jewelry with my birthstone.  The deep scroll work design is amazing and I love how this ring looks from all angles.  Just added to my birthday wishlist!