Blog

Victorian inspired steampunk insect jewelry has risen in popularity, but few know the history of these designs are echos of elegant designs made more than a century ago. Throughout the Victorian era, images of the natural world were popular in jewelry, fashion, and furniture design.    One of my most popular Time Flies necklace designs harkens back to earlier designs.  I made this large statement pendant with an ivory colored antique pocket watch face, probably art deco, with red and black numbering. The  detailed antiqued gold and brass butterfly stamping is reminiscent of art nouveau designs by the French designer...

Victorian Buttons & NecklaceI love making antique and Victorian button jewelry. Searching for Victorian buttons for my antique button jewelry is one of my favorite adventures. Discovering jars at estate sales and hidden corners of junk shops and sorting them into colors and eras and designs is deeply satisfying.Buttons were invented in the Bronze Age. Their earliest use in Ancient Greece, the Indus Valley and China was as ornament rather than fastener. 15th Century Button from the UKButtons of bone, shell and horn are some of the earliest found. Ornamental shell buttons have been found in the Indus Valley made around...

Getting ready for Bazaar Bizaare this weekend at the Concourse Exhibition Center 620 Seventh St. (at Brannan) San Francisco, CA 94103-4901Big News! We've been invited to the Edwardian Ball on January 20th and will be there with the new Antiquities collection of gold pocket watch chain, fine silver rings and a world of luxe Victorian adornment.  We had a great experience at Thread SF, and the Firehouse 8 Fundraiser and love connecting with folks! I'm launching a fine silver line early next year - here is a preview of some of the planning and design work:  Below is the bezel cup,...

NEW HOLIDAY SHOWS JUST ADDED:  Holiday Bazaar Fundraiser for Firehouse 8 Saturday, November 26, 2011,10 am - 8 pm1648 Pacific Ave.San Francisco, CA(more info)DNA Storefront Pop-Up ShopSaturdays, December 10 and 17th, 201112 am - 5 pm1767 Waller (at Stanyan), San Francisco, CA(more info) Bizaar BazaarSaturday & Sunday, December 3rd and 4th, 201111 am - 5 pmConcourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco, CA(more info) I'd like to honor the many fabulous gallery and shop owners that I work with. Each is has an ability to transmute their ideas and philosophies into a physical environment. Compass Rose Design fits into each one in a unique...