Marianne Hunter

Just a short post about an artist we have met before, Marianne Hunter.

This is a gorgeous work in progress, with multi Brazilian stones, Australian opal and gold. Which one do you like?

with kyanite

or with ancient glass?

Daily treat - Morganite earrings by Miskia D

"Alluring long dangle earrings comprising of fancy cut Morganite corundum drops, wire wrapped with Silver Filled wires and connected to a two-tier light peach freshwater pearl 'connector'. Twisted white Gold Filled 10mm ring is added in between the connector and adorned with a combination of handcut Citrine and multicolor Tourmaline beads. 

Simplicity in beauty.. there's no requirement to further embellish this earrings. The beautiful light peach Morganite is so alluring by itself, cut to perfection, beautifully design with accurate mathematical balance. The subtle color of added gemstones and pearls are just like tiny flowers needed to create a more elegant and lush earrings. A pair of Sterling Silver hooks finally complete the assembly."

Accessories Special: Hand painted silk scarves

Text and photos: 
Joanna Read Cotter

I have been an artist my entire life, and discovered silk painting by chance. It’s created so much joy and vibrancy in my life that I’ve made it my mission to share it with the world!

Born and raised on a small-town farm in northern Massachusetts, I’ve had an inherent passion for art, nature and the outdoors my entire life. As a child I would fill journal upon journal with colorful illustrations and stories, and took great delight in entering every art competition I could find. 

I earned my BFA on art scholarship, graduating from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2007 with a degree in painting. My thesis show,  “Bringing to Light”, consisted of a series of life-sized charcoal figure drawings inspired by yoga. Shortly after graduating I discovered silk painting, and it’s colored my life with joy and positive energy ever since!

An avid yogini, crossfitter, foodie, and lover of life, I now live in a small farm town in Rehoboth, MA with my husband and three kitties, and I work by day to strengthen nonprofits in Providence, RI. When I’m not at my day job, you’ll most likely find me painting up a storm in my second-floor apartment, where my studio is located. I’ve exhibited in many local shows, and currently sell primarily via my online shop and through custom orders. Arrangements for studio visits can also be made on occasion.   

It all started when I was invited to tour the studio of acclaimed silk painter Judith Goetemann, who I had come to know through my work at the Rockport Art Association.  

One day I ventured over to visit her harbor front gallery, and she asked if I would like to take a peek at her upstairs studio. Climbing the stairs to see hundreds of vibrant, neatly stacked swatches of silk, various sketches and notes pinned caringly to her worktable, with shiny glass jars of dye lining the shelves --- it made my heart flutter, and, seeing how awe-struck I was with this behind-the-scenes glimpse into her work, she recommended a company based in CA, Dharma Trading, where I could get started. 

I ordered a beginner’s silk painting kit from them soon after.

Having previously worked for so long in black and white, I was immediately drawn to the vibrancy of colors in silk painting, and the mesmerizing way that the dyes could spread and travel throughout the fabric as if having a life of their own. The first moment my brush made contact with the shimmering silk awakened something in my soul, and following that day I set to work reading and learning as much as I could find about this magical medium.

I’ll admit that a LOT of sweat and tears went into the learning process – there are a fair amount of technicalities involved in silk painting, both in the actual application of dye as well as in making the dye permanently bond with the silk fibers, and I determinedly struggled my way through learning it all. In 2010 I started a blog,www.joyinmystudio.com, documenting many of my processes and learning experiences, in hopes that it might help others. 

Can you describe the steps you take in designing and creating a piece? I am sure our readers would love to know how silk scarves are manually painted.

That’s a great question! My process is just as important to me as the end result – it’s truly a moving meditation. I always start with white silk, and everything I make is painted freehand, without stencils or tracing, though occasionally I’ll carve my own stamps and use those. I custom blend all of my non-toxic silk dyes, and utliize various nontoxic media and methods to create shapes and patterns.

Some methods, like Serti, require pinpointed concentration, a very meticulous and steady hand, and a LOT of patience waiting for the resist lines to dry completely (otherwise, the lines get flooded, and the image gets lost).

Other methods, like soy wax batik, require fluidity and swift, intuitive, confidently placed brushstrokes. I find they complement each other nicely and are equally therapeutic. Once the painting is complete and the silk has dried completely, I steam it for four hours and later rinse it clean and iron it out.

I recently created a scarf with a GoPro camera mounted to my head and made a 2-part time-lapse video to walk my viewers through the process of how a scarf gets created from start to finish – including all of the work that goes into each piece after the painting is complete. I did this to allow my audience gain a better understanding of how each piece is a unique work of art, and to show them the love and care that goes into the process.  You can view it by clicking here.

My work draws from nature and the subconscious. I’m greatly inspired by surrounding myself in nature, and make it a priority to spend some time appreciating it each day. I have a very active imagination, am fascinated by dreams, and strongly believe in the power of color to promote healing by evoking particular moods and feelings. 

Tell me anything else you would like people to read about you as a designer and your work :)-

I’m also a mixed media artist - my paintings have been exhibited nationally and received recognition. I combine silk painting with pen & ink, wax, and solvent-free oil paints to create semi-realistic paintings primarily of animals I’m fascinated with. You can view some of my paintings here.

From a fashion standpoint, I’ve found that scarves have been a simple and elegant compliment to my low-maintenance lifestyle – and I love that there are so many possibilities for how to style them! My closet pretty much consists of a handful of wrinkle-resistant neutrals that set a blank canvas for my scarves for my corporate day job, and I play more with patterns and texture combinations on the weekends. 

This makes getting dressed in the morning a total breeze… though I’ll admit there are times when I have a really difficult time deciding which scarf to wear!

Also, I’m very grateful for the studio space I have now – but I do dream of one day having my own detached studio filled with natural light – with adequate workspace, a small showroom/gallery area, a loft for teaching art and yoga classes, and an outdoor garden filled with flowers, organic fruits, veggies and herbs, and a couple of beehives. Maybe even beautifully landscaped koi pond, too.. I like to dream big!

Joanna Read Cotter.

When art meets jewelry - Jose Marin

Text: Dana Cristina Malaescu

Fashion Editor at The Fashion Tag

Photos: Danielle Freiman, Jose Marin

Sometimes all you need is a glimpse of someone’s work to fall in love with it. To assume that art comes just in paintings for instance is of pure ignorance. Art is part of our lives more than we could imagine and even the plainest clothing item or accessory we wear comes from a story, from someone’s state of mind, spirit and talent. All this plunging talk into fashion meets art brings me to one of the most coveted for pieces of all times – Jewellery.

Jewellery defines style, and tells stories of both the person wearing them as of the artist creating them. Such an artist – with an avid thirst for exploring it all jewellery wise is Jose Marin. Born in Valencia in 1965 he was introduced to the art of jewellery through his father, who was a goldsmith. It was in his father’s shop he fell in love with stones, metals and the limitless ways in which all these could tell stories and transpose his moods later on in life. At the young age of 13 Jose Marin started studying the Art of Jewelry and would perfect his craft from a very early age under his father’s influence and guidance. Throughout this period in Valencia he worked and stole craft from the best artists in town, only to later on pursue and perfect his dream and talent.

Jose Marin is the master jeweler who, at the moment is interested in jewelry as a form of dialogue and confesses that „to me a jewel is a novel we write between the viewer and me.

I think of a story and turn it into a gem, and the only clue I give is in the title. I love teasing this unconscious act when someone shows somebody one of my pieces: they first read the title and it automatically displays a situation and completes the story to their idea.”

What happens though when you mix talent, hard work and education? You get pure art and pieces with great value. It’s an act of creation perfected through time. Jose Marin is no exception and took no shortcuts from this road hence his success today. He learned the craft of jewelery from 3 Major figures in his life. 

His father was the one who introduced him to the art of forging gold and it was during these years he perfects the jewelery style of Valencia, with baroque and floral inspired pieces, made from platinum and gold leaves in a very traditional technique, unique and specific for Spain. These pieces are exquisite and if you dare wonder where you could wear them, wonder no more. With the baroque trend making a huge come back on the runways last season, I think it’s safe to say these luxurious vintage looking opulent necklaces are here to stay. After all... such a piece is a style statement with whatever, or whenever you may choose to wear it.

He learns the art of riviere necklaces and bracelets later on from another teacher, and developes his style on various wire based pieces. And last, but not least he was taught by his last professor how to work with the back of the jewelry and create openwork plates with drawings and holes in them. He was working with stones and creating various shapes: stars, triangles, and more.  He also studied superior technical design jewelry to become a qualified teacher from 2001 to 2005.

All these have  shaped and nuanced his artistic character, but his work and pieces are defined though his great talent and vision. He's a master of his craft and because of this he's got the freedom to play around with metals & stones until he creates what he feels. 

All artists need to tell a story and Jose Marin is of no exception. But as all artists and creators he too has a few loves closer to his heart and places, moods or decades he lets himself inspired by. „I'm a lover of Renaissance, I am inspired by nature and architecture.”

Regarding his favorite metal Jose confesses that „since 2010 the Titanic has become one of my everyday metals along with gold, silver and precious stones.” 

He says it's probably the challenge this metal has that makes him love working with it, turning every work-in-progress-piece into a journey. „Titanium is a great unknown, hard, tough and resists being manipulated. I work hand techniques always, I had to learn for myself all the secrets it contains.”

Since we can remember, jewelry has been a mirror of its times and women's guilty pleasure. From ancient times to today jewelery was worn, adored and reinvented in millions of ways. 

It's a sea of accessories out there and choosing one is sometimes such a hard task, but nonetheless exquisite all the way. But what matters more when choosing a jewelery? Is it the price? The shape or the color? Or is it the story it tells? The art it bares? 

According to Jose - the jewelry artist, it's the latter. He says there are three types of jewelry: the expensive, cheap and good jewelry, and the last thing a jewelry must have is valuable material. 

In other words wear what you love, what ticks with you, because it's all about the artist and wearer relation, and as long as the piece is beautifully executed you can't go wrong with it.

I would assume the best part of today's fashion movement is the fact that individual style is encouraged, which is fantastic for both the artists creating as for the people wearing jewelry pieces. Classics will never fade and simplicity will always be in fashion, but today it's OK to choose statement pieces in wild colors, and one-of-a-kind metals, crazy cuts, beautifully worked. 

Opulence, luxury, vintage-meets-glam or understated pieces are no longer overlooked but shine on catwalks, on celebrities, in magazines, in retail chains and everyday in street style. 

This jewelery & fashion freedom is a blessing for both sides. 

As a woman who adores edgy glamorous pieces and stands by creativity and art in all its forms, I must confess Jose Marin’s pieces are works of art, statement ones without being too extravagant. 

Wicked shaped earrings and brilliant necklaces that literally make you double stare and crave for them. 

His art in metal and stones is his story for us, that unveils with each look we take and each wear of the pieces. Not to mention the stories we can tell ourselves by styling all this amazing jewelry to our personality, lifestyle, events & looks.

Dana Cristina Malaescu, from The Fashion Tag.

Featured wire jewelry designer: Anna Cordner from Noria Jewelry

Welcome to a unique and fantastic world of intricate and at the same time very detailed and delicate statement wire wrapped jewelry. The world of Anna Cordner, the owner of Noria Jewelry. She runs her shop from her home studio in northern Virginia. Anna opened her shop in April of 2009.

“My mother’s father is a geologist and lapidary, my dad made jewelry when I was young and my mother involved me in her many arts and crafts projects. 

I always had a keen interest in rocks as a child and my grandfather’s knowledge and enthusiasm fueled this interest. 

The crafting and creative atmosphere my parents provided for me led to a talent in drawing. As a youth I made jewelry from beads I made from polymer clay, strung glass beads on necklaces and learned to use needle nose pliers to open and close jump rings.

Making jewelry was a very natural, easy and fun activity but it wasn’t until after the birth of my first son that I considered selling jewelry. I found I needed to seriously undertake a creative outlet to help me adjust to motherhood but to justify the cost of buying supplies, selling my creations had to be a part of the equation."

"I started out making beaded bracelets. 

Then one day I was on the internet and stumbled upon another artist’s wire wrapped jewelry. I had never seen advanced wire wrapping techniques and was highly intrigued. 

I researched wire wrapping online and decided to venture beyond beading. 

Through much trial, error and experimentation I began to understand and eventually gain a command of wire wrapping. 

My long-forgotten drawing skills have been put to use drafting sketches and designing new pieces."

“It is the continuous experimentation and learning that I find so enjoyable, besides pouring my mind’s fanciful wishes and artistic fantasies into something tangible.”

Can you describe the steps you take in designing and creating a piece?

“I start with a sketch. I know some designers prefer to create more organically but I rely on having a precise roadmap for my pieces. 

I can recreate them almost exactly if I have my sketch. 

Generally, I begin with a base shape of wire then embellish with ‘supporting’ detail flourishes. Other times the stones primarily determine the design.” 

What inspires you?

“I find inspiration from Indian mehndi and henna and their use of bold colors. 

I also find much inspiration in the vast elements of Victorian and Edwardian styles, particularly the floral motifs and filigree lines. 

Stones are inspiration to me, from the rough and uncut specimens to sparkling gemstones. 

Lastly, nature is a great source of inspiration. Sometimes when I find myself at a creative roadblock, I look at various types of flowers, finding patterns or color and delicate lines to help me along in generating my own designs.”

What inspires you?

“I find inspiration from Indian mehndi and henna and their use of bold colors. 

I also find much inspiration in the vast elements of Victorian and Edwardian styles, particularly the floral motifs and filigree lines. 

Stones are inspiration to me, from the rough and uncut specimens to sparkling gemstones. 

Lastly, nature is a great source of inspiration. Sometimes when I find myself at a creative roadblock, I look at various types of flowers, finding patterns or color and delicate lines to help me along in generating my own designs.”

Accessories Special: Rudman Felted Art

"About 7 years ago I saw on the Internet a picture of cute shaggy little mouse.

I couldn’t understand how it was made! It wasn’t made with any technique known to me.

It wasn’t sewn, knitted or glued.

I was very curious and I started looking for similar creations and discovered a whole new world of felting."

Irena Rudman has been making felted accessories for years now. Her pieces caught my attention, because they are like wearable paintings. The beautiful colors, the elegant shapes and details in all her accessories give them an almost surreal look, like out of a fantasy story.

Irena now lives in New York and she has been doing crafts and handiwork since her childhood: sewing, knitting, weaving, embroidery, beading and working with wire, macramé, and much more.

“At first I started to make felted toys, with time I began to make all kind of things with wool: flowers, brooches, scarves, bags, heats, shoes, belts and more.

Nowadays I am making only felted scarves. The reason for this is beacuse I love this accessory the most.

Creating scarves allows my imagination to go wild, allows me to be more creative than I would be with any other products.

I have created more than 1000 scarves and each one of them is unique, one of a kind item.

My great inspiration in work is nature.

Most of my ideas come to me while watching animals and plants.

Sometimes I would want to capture the colors of landscape, sometimes it would be the shape of natural objects.

I love working with colors and shades, and I pay significant attention to the texture as well.

The magnificent beauty of nature and the variety of colorful flowers, trees and her creatures are my constant and never-ending source of inspiration.

The power and the smell of sea, the rustling of the forest, birds singing , beauty of sunrises and sunsets - All this lays an indelible imprint on my work and reflected in the color palette.

Felting is a very time consuming process.

In average it takes me about 4 hours to create each scarf.

And that is without counting the dyeing and drying time.

And I have more complicated and time consuming scarves with 6 hours of continuous work, for example this blue butterfly scarf."

Recently Irena has been fascinated with the shibori technique - the Japanese art of dyeing.

Shibori is a Japanese term for several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern by binding, stitching, folding, twisting, compressing it, or capping. Some of these methods are known in the West as tie-dye.

There is an infinite number of ways one can bind, stitch, fold, twist, or compress cloth for shibori, and each way results in very different patterns. 

Each method is used to achieve a certain result, but each method is also used to work in harmony with the type of cloth used. 

Therefore, the technique used in shibori depends not only on the desired pattern, but the characteristics of the cloth being dyed.

 Also, different techniques can be used in conjunction with one another to achieve even more elaborate results.

In Japan, the earliest known example of cloth dyed with a shibori technique dates from the 8th century; it is among the goods donated by the Emperor Shōmu to the Tōdai-ji in Nara.

Irena revives dying technologies while inventing new ones. She loves inventing designs and special felting techniques.

I’m using a lot of techniques, approaches, professional tweaks and secrets.

She is happy to share her knowledge and skills with students and gives them the opportunity to sell their work in a special section of her online store. You can also check our her website.

Sandra Kemppainen, Irena Rudman; 

Photos: Irena Rudman.

Featured designer: Andrew Geoghegan - The Artist Behind AG Jewellery, A Brand Where Refinement Meets Ingenuity

One might easily (and quite wrongfully for that matter) assume that style is all about fashion & clothes, yet all throughout history the most coveted, admired, copied, and envied style icons proved us quite the opposite: style is about details and having that ‘je ne sais quoi’. 

Remember the famous quote: ‘’The Devil is in the details’’? Well... that pretty much sums it up and brings me to AG Brand! A UK jewelry line that delivers beautifully crafted designer rings, headed by award winning Andrew Geoghegan.

When Design Jewelery Magazine met designer Andrew Geoghegan we fell in love with the artist’s fabulous pieces. Regarded as the best in UK, AG brand has reached the finalist list for ‘’Designer of The Year’’ twice, in 2005 & 2007 and secured Andrew Geoghegan as an established and talented artist. 

The brand uses only 18oct platinum, diamonds and exquisite stones, as it delivers to its reputation and name as one of the country’s most luxurious jewelery brands.

From engagement & wedding rings that mark the happiest times in ones lives to eternity rings, cocktail rings, earrings, pendants or cufflinks - AG Brand has got a little something to celebrate any occasion and fit any taste, from the most simple classic ones to the most fashion forward and intricate ones. 

I have always thought a style or a look is never completed unless you add that certain something that represents you, that, as tiny as it may be stands for something while making all the difference. Such is the case of exquisite jewelery. 

Whether it’s a ring, a necklace, or a pendant - a jewellery is a design story,  a statement you make and you share with the world on your own terms and your own idea, by wearing it and mixing it into your outfits and look for so many occasions.

A ring is that feminine simple or rich detail (depending on its design) that you can don to a casual outfit when shopping for groceries or it can complete a party/evening or business look. AG delivers to all these. 

No matter what you love, no matter if you’re an opulent jewelery kinda gal, or you love the simple & chic designs – in their shop, you’ll feel as if you’re in a jewelery heaven. 

Beautiful, exquisite and sumptuous – the rings are my favorite pieces ever. From the engagement designs to the fabulous cocktail ones,  AG offers its customers one-of-a-kind pieces. 

Andrew Geoghegan pushes the envelope, loves to explore and offer jewelry that is different and rare. 

Make A Statement!

AG cocktail rings are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Rich and luxurious they are fun and classy at the same time, a mix of styles that is quite hard to bring together let alone pull off. Yet AG does it exquisitely. 

The chocolate box and satellite Marquis are my favorite AG rings. They’re fun, statement pieces that complete and personalize any look making it rich and feminine. 

You cannot not love the fabulous designs and blend of colored exquisite stones these rings have. I can already envision them glaming up a cocktail dress for instance or why not an edgy rock look for a night out with friends.

The necklaces are a complete different story that took me to what Marilyn Monroe once said, and made history with the quote: ‘’Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’’! 

Indeed AG necklaces, desingned with the most beautiful diamond stones one has ever seen are the definition of refinement and elegance. 

Simple or slightly extravagant they would make any woman turn heads to an event or party she chooses to wear them. 

The craft behind them & the art they hold can glam up any look in an instant. Nobody will care about the dress anymore. Not when your neck is brilliant. 

Mark An Event With Elegance!

Women love rings. And brides to be love a beautiful rock on their finger to show the world their husband’s fantastic taste while marking a lifetime together. 

For centuries engagement & marriage rings are the most coveted jewelery ever. AG pieces rise to the occasion once again. Ranging from simple classic white diamonds to classic yellow diamond rings, sapphires or cherries ring (3 colored stone) the engagement rings come in a variety of shapes, stones and designs that will most definitely impress the wearer. 

The wedding rings are simply breathtaking, classic, rich, luxurious meant for a lifetime. Just the right touch of glamor and elegance! 

Design Your Own Diamonds!

While some people may choose to buy a fabulous piece of jewelery the moment they've seen it (you cannot escape love at first sight with a fine crafted diamond ring for instance), others love to get creative and put their own spin on it. 

AG not only understands this but helps you out, may you be an artist yourself. Or you may simply wish to personalize a certain piece of jewelry and make it literally one of a kind.

The brand’s Bespoke Collection is a fashion forward move that encourages clients to have their own input into the design of a piece. With a team of advisers and consultants and a mix of your own personality and taste you will most definitely be the owner of a brilliant jewelery. 

The Talent Behind The Brand!

The talent & artist beyond all this – Andrew Geoghegan – is the man responsible for this fabulous heaven of jewelery that seduces its viewer at first sight. 

What I absolutely love about his creations is the very art in them, the uniqueness, the extravagance yet simplicity they hold. Designed in such a way as to not please a certain trend, AG jewelry impresses and fascinates by how avantgarde they can be, how intricate, how special, refined and classy they are. 

When asked about what kind of jewelery he loves, Andrew Geoghegan responded in a heart beat: unusual stone settings. 

He confessed to get lost in the creation process, to spend hours and days giving in to an idea and a vision of a stone. As a child, much to his parents despair he was fascinated by how any type of item came together, and loved to take apart different things only to rebuild them and go through the process of putting them back.

This passion has taken its toll. Today he’s one of the finest jewelery artists out there, with a talent that loves challenges and does not believe in trends or labels. 

Au contraire he chooses to stand out of the crowd and create unusual intricate designs, while respecting an ancient and traditional craft. ‘’In my mind, jewelery, be it an unusual cocktail ring, sparkling engagement ring, earrings or a pendant, should be created in such a way that it demands others to stop and stare – and what better way to do this than to set the stone in a way which allows every part of its ‘shiny glory’ to be seen and admired?”

Expensive luxurious stones & jewellery’s are an investment that can be passed over to generations to come. The craft and talent behind a ring tell a story and the more the artist's personality transposes through the designs the more its value rises. 

Wearing a luxurious piece makes a woman feel beautiful & special. AG brand respects and celebrates this. 

One to not shy away from originality Andrew Geoghegan is an artist in the true sense of the word. No wonder his brand 

allures and enchants its clients. What woman would not love an enticing priceless jewelry on her finger or around her neck? 

We might not all stay true to Miss Monroe's quote, but we know what she meant, and we all know that a fine piece of jewellery is that tiny detail that makes all the difference while telling a story...

Dana Malaescu, Fashion Editor

The FashionTag

Text: Dana Malaescu, Fashion Editor at FashionTag;

Photos: Power House