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.)

 

Deluge of Vintage Pink Pearls

It probably goes without saying that pink and green are my favorite colors.....any shade of either....I adore them!
And when I dumped all my vintage pink pearls into the lid of a box to begin filling an order for the sweetest bride, I couldn't resist snapping a shot of them to share with you.  To give you an idea of size, the largest ones are 3/4"....

Aren't they lovely?

They are making their way into the simplest, but most elegant bridesmaids' necklaces and bracelets ever I've made.....

Lovely Lilacs

In the Victorian times, flowers represented a language unto themselves....and lilacs expressed "the first emotions of love".

 I couldn't believe my luck when, in the middle of lilacs blooming all over my neighborhood, I stumbled onto this lovely vintage lilac brooch (see the upper right side of the necklace).  The necklace's combination of pieces almost came together on their own.....and it was  so much fun to create!  

Please click on the picture to enlarge and look at each piece closely.....the individual pieces are as yummy as they can be!

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.....

Summer in Nantucket

Summer is just around the corner and I couldn't help but be inspired by the beach!  Luckily, with my mother and sister's help, I have collected quite a few pieces of vintage jewelry that have an ocean theme.  When all the pieces were laid next to each other, they screamed "lobster boils" and "clambakes"....and naturally Nantucket came to mind!  Here's what ensued:

 This necklace could easily be worn to any beach party....just add your favorite new summer dress or your "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"....it matters not!
You can see more of this necklace and others in my Etsy shop.

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.....

 

 

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

 

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.

SUE JACK DESIGNS

About six years ago, I decided to create a line of evening bags after I closed my business of designing custom bridal gowns. A new daughter with tiny, sticky, peanut butter fingers just didn't mix with all the bolts of silk that I had stacked around the studio. But, oh, how I missed designing!
My first show was the Junior League Holiday Mart and I took 45 handbags with me. As good fortune would have it, I only brought home four of them! Well, that was enough to fuel my inspiration, imagination and pocketbook, so Sue Jack Designs was born.
All of my evening bags and statement necklaces are my own designs.   I search the world over for vintage items to use in creating them as I adore one-of-a-kind, handmade items. I hope you will enjoy what I have made and peruse my Etsy shop at your leisure.....your favorite cup of tea in hand.