Something Blue

See more pictures in my Etsy shop:  SueJackDesigns

I just love that old saying....."Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue....." and so many brides still adhere to it today!  Whether by tradition, superstition, or just plain being forced by your great aunt, most brides (that do not have blue as their wedding color) will add a tiny bit of blue somewhere.  

When I got married, my girlfriend Lisa designed my garter....which I still have to this day.  :)  She added a tiny piece of blue ribbon to it so that when I walked down the aisle, it was present during the exchange of our vows.   I think I included that bit of blue because of superstition....it wasn't a blue item that previous family brides had carried before me, but for some reason I felt compelled to include it!  What if it meant I would have bad luck in my marriage if I didn't????  I was so not going to take that risk.......

I recently finished this statement or bib necklace that would be perfect for a bride's "something blue".  It has one large baby blue rhinestone in it among several other smokey blue, gray and clear rhinestones and pearls....all set in vintage silver brooches, necklaces and chains.

Please share your "something blue" with us.....a link to a picture would be extra fun, too!

The Going Away Gift for Lisa

One of my best friends, LISA, recently moved to Kansas City, and I was so very sad to see her leave.  We have known each other for over 20 years and are such similar creatures in style and design.  Her husband got a fantastic offer that he could not resist, so all of us who love Lisa so dearly could not be disappointed.  Well, selfishly we could be VERY disappointed, but not for her.....

Several of us got together and gave her this necklace as a going away gift......and we hear she is taking Kansas City by storm with it!  (Lisa adores monograms so I could not resist adding a wonderful vintage "G"--for her last name--designed with aurora borealis rhinestones.  It is in the lower left side of the necklace as you are looking at it.)

 

Spring Green.....

If you have had time to browse through my blog or Etsy shop, you've probably noticed that I love green and pink....alone or mixed....doesn't matter....just love 'em!
One of my favorite shades of green is peridot....it reminds me of spring, which is fast approaching for most.  Living in Colorado demands more patience though before the daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses peep their little blooms above the cold, snowy ground.  Fortunately, my impatience is eased by designing jewelry, handbags and clothes using all the vibrant spring colors that I wish!  Working with the peridot greens in this necklace gave me plenty of time to dream of all the beautiful flowers that are probably just beginning to stir.....

 

 

A Bride's Bag Green with Envy

While visiting some of my vintage haunts last spring, I ran across a 1960's evening gown with the most beautiful rhinestone piece which was attached at the center front of its empire waist.  The gown itself had many stains on it....evidence of quite a party at its last hoorah!  But the rhinestone accent piece was still sparkly and had promises of a new life.
When I returned to my studio, I removed the rhinestone decor and held it next to many different pieces of vintage fabrics.  Finally, it popped when I laid it on a scrap of 1960's heavyweight satin in lime green.....a piece my mother had picked up for me while shopping at one of her vintage boutiques!  (Having a mother and sister who know me well certainly has its benefits.   My mother sends me a box once a month filled with treasures awaiting a new life, and my sister always finds something special for me at her flea markets!)
I wanted this bag to have a contemporary feel to it, but contemporary to the '50's or '60's.  You know....the old Hollywood look from Joanne Woodward....but something that would be perfect for today, too!   Here are the results.....

 

MICHELLE ROARK - 2010 Olympic Mogul Skier

My FANTASIA statement necklace has found a new home with my friend Michelle Roark, 2010 Olympic Mogul competitor, and 2006 Olympian and World Cup Champion Downhill Skier.   
Michelle may wear spacey-looking ski clothes and fly down mountains at 40 mph, but she's all girl underneath.  And her favorite color? You guessed it....PINK!  So it's no wonder that my Fantasia necklace has found a new home with her.  Michelle was even brave enough to rock it with her US Olympian ski gear in an interview with Fox news:




As if her skiing talents weren't enough, Michelle is the designer and creator behind Phi-nomenal Perfumes and owner of Denver's Voila Spa; Next time you are strolling around downtown Denver, take a few minutes to walk through Voila and smell her latest perfumes....she will even create a custom one for you!

Voilà

Salon/Spa

Parfumerie

2185 Broadway

Denver, CO 80205

303-292-2728

 

A Daughter's Valentine's Day Tradition

A few years back I made my mother a small heart-shaped sachet for Valentine's Day.  It was red duipioni silk with a double row of "lace" that I created from seed beads and I hand embroidered her initial "P" on the front in metallic gold thread.  While I sat working on it I thought about my childhood days that she had filled with love and the warmth of her touch.  I enjoyed filling the time it took to make every tiny hand stitch with those wonderful memories!  It turned out so lovely that I made one the next year....and the next year....and the next....

I think I have missed one of the last 9 years in making them, but I did get another one made for her this year.  Blue is not really one of her favorite colors, but I am running out of new colors to use!....hope the turquoise duipioni charms her eye!

I do have one rule to follow when I design her hearts:  It must be created from things I already have at my home and my studio...nothing purchased specifically for it.  

Sometime I will take pictures of them all and share them with you....

ON A ROLL.....

What is it about the new year that makes us feel an emergence of sorts?  And for those who do not get that feeling, a promise or resolution to ourselves somehow makes up for it.   
Mine has come in the form of creativity, and I am bursting at the seams with new ideas for jewelry, handbags and clothes.  My only hindrance.....what do I begin working on first?  
For inspiration, I sat in my studio opening box after box of fabrics, patterns, jewelry, beads, ribbons, and laces....all of which are vintage....some of which are even antique.  My imagination ran wild with thoughts of their experiences in previous lives, conversations they overheard, and places they had visited.

While perusing these treasures, I came across a vintage straw hat that had the most beautiful silk roses completely encircling it....and they were the most gorgeous color of rose pink.  A few minutes earlier I had been holding a pink pearl necklace and a pink rhinestone necklace in my hands, and the idea came to me....a statement necklace with the pearls, rhinestones and silk flowers!  I hope you like it......more pics are available for viewing at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38123522.

MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

The Thanksgiving and Christmas season were a blur for me.  I remember working long hours and spending lots of time away from my family.  Well, actually I was sitting three feet from them, but my face was buried in my laptop.  I tried to tell myself I was spending time with them, but the lack of conversation and activities revealed the truth....they didn't even know I was in the house...
My New Year's resolution?  Have all my holiday items for Etsy and holiday shows completed by October 31, so when the holidays roll around, I will get to share them with my family.  I'm already working on it, too!

At left is a picture of my latest statement necklace, MISS BALMAIN....second in a series of necklaces that feature a vintage, miniature bottle of perfume among other wonderful and unusual vintage pieces of jewelry.  The first one, called FANTASIA, can be viewed on my Feb. 17, 2010 post about Michelle Roark, entrepreneur and Olympic skier....it is pink and gold and I LOVED! the name of the perfume in that one!  Both were very fun to make!  You may see more pics of MISS BALMAIN here:  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37947622.

Custom Designed Statement Necklace

I  just completed a custom necklace for a non-traditional bride-to-be and wanted to share it with you.

She asked me to use silver metal, clear rhinestones, fuchsia rhinestones (which, by the way, are really hard to find!) and pearls. I spent a couple of weeks collecting the components, then another week assembling it.
I loved how it turned out and am now starting a new one that I will list in my Etsy shop at http://suejack.etsy.com/ .
If you have time to peruse my shop, you will find lots of sumptuous evening bags and a few statement necklaces....you'll also recognize how I am influenced by my love of Europe's royal history.