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The life and inspirations of a jewelry designer

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Balancing between art and design

February 3rd, 2012 · Design, Fashion, Textile Art

Sophie Duran lives and works in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

As a conceptual designer, Sophie balances between art and design.

Sophie’s new collection is a wonderful series of scarves, titled “Undiscovered Wonders of the World”.

Sophie Duran scarves

The scarves are digitally printed on crepe de chine and silk velvet. The project came about with the cooperation of the Dutch Audax Textile Museum, Tilburg and CATDigital in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sophie Duran landscape on scarve

The scarves are beautiful fairytale like landscapes inspired by Celtic, Norwegian, Indian and Greek ancient stories.

Sophie Duran scarves wrapped in box

I think they are beautiful …

Update:
The scarves are for sale through the designer: sophie@sophieduran.nl  Also from February 20 on at You Are Here Concept store in Eindhoven, The Netherlands

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Classes by a Master Metalsmith

February 2nd, 2012 · Jewelry

As some of you may know my partner Jan Kerkstra teaches Metalsmithing classes  in the Centrum voor de Kunsten in Drachten, The Netherlands.

With great enthusiasm he tries to convey his love for the craft of jewelery making.

Until the end of February, 2012 you can visit a fun exhibit by Jan his students.
The students have created some beautiful pieces with the theme House. Located near the jeweler’s classroom at The Centrum voor de Kunsten are three display cases filled with the beautiful works by Jan his students.

Very surprising to see everyone has their own interpretation on this theme.

HUISJE silver ring

Silver Ring Handmade Huisje

SNEEKERPOORT silver ring

Silver ring windows towers Sneekerpoort handmade

Are you interested in getting taught by a Master Metalsmith? Click here for details and more photos.

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Fashion at the Tropenmuseum Amsterdam

January 31st, 2012 · Culture, Fashion

From January 6, 2012 through June 26, 2012

With CULTURE COUTURE, The Tropen Museum in Amsterdam shows how authentic costumes from different cultures can inspire new, contemporary couture.

In this exhibition you’ll see the work of three promising international designers from Antwerp’s renowned Fashion Academy:

Manon Kundig, Teddy Beard Collection

Manon Kundig woolen cap and beard

Tabitha Osler, Mount Analogue (Be sure to look at her website!)

Tabitha Osler woman with umbrella

Wali Mohammed Barrec, Shoes

Leather Shoes Wali Mohammed Barrech

More info at Tropen Museum

Finally, a nice text from the site of Tabitha Osler …

Fashion …

Tumbleweed
Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots in the autumn, and is driven by the wind, as a light, rolling mass, over the fields and prairies. Spreading its seeds for the following season. 

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Another one of Jan’s drawings

January 30th, 2012 · Jan's Drawings, Life

It’d been a while since I showed you a black and white drawing of my partner Jan Kerkstra.

I promised Jan to post a drawing once in a while but you know what I sort of forgot about them. My guess is I was too busy making jewelry.

Anyway … here is another one of Jan his drawings because …

Throughout his life, my partner Jan made black and white drawings to “mark” events in his personal life or in history.  Some of these drawings are nothing more than abstract doodles
while others tell a whole story.

WORLD TRIP

When my partner Jan was 18 years old one of the first things he bought was a motorcycle.
Years later when I met him he still drove one and we made, with me on the back of the motor, many trips. I remember one trip all the way to Southern Italy via the high mountains of Switzerland. Anyway … I guess this drawing is about Jan’s big dream …

Several of the prints made by Jan are available right here.

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Jewelry by Myung Urso

January 28th, 2012 · Jewelry, Uncategorized

Every now and then you come across incredible jewelry and you think WOW!

This is such work …

Neckpiece COMBINATION by Myung Urso

Neckpiece Combination Myung Urso

Bracelets

Bracelet Myung Urso

Neckpiece Wraparound

Neckpiece Myung Urso

Neckpiece STRATE

Neckpiece STRATA by Myung Urso

More work by Myung Urso on her site

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A new brooch inspired by Azzedine Alaïa

January 26th, 2012 · Jewelry, Latest Design, My Work, Uncategorized

This is Alaïa a new sterling silver brooch we made recently.

The brooch is inspired by a detail of the dress by fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa.

Big silver brooch

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Great Paper art

January 24th, 2012 · Art, Uncategorized

Valérie Buess is a Swiss artist who lives in Germany.

2 dimensional work in paper Valerie Buess

For the last twenty years she has worked primarily with paper creating intricate sculptures that often resemble urchins, coral and other underwater life.

Moving paper sculpture Valerie Buess

Paper Sculpture

Via : designboom

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Borre Akkersdijk

January 23rd, 2012 · Fashion

Borre Akkersdijk is a Dutch designer based in Paris, working in different fields like trend-forecasting, making clothing and perfumes.

Borre Akkersdijk

Hat by Borre Akkersdijk

Dress by Borre Akkersdijk

For more of his work see By Borre.

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Work in progress

January 20th, 2012 · Jewelry, My Work, Uncategorized, Work in progress...

January is always a quiet month in our Atelier. Maybe everyone still needs to find his or her rhythm in the new year …

However, we currently have a couple of nice orders including  a request of a client to look for  a nice strand of Lapis Lazuli, the semi precious gemstone with the beautiful sky blue color.

It had to be absolutely the best quality Lapis, it needed to have a natural look, so not the shiny polished kind and certainly not the painted kind. Because believe it or not, ​​since the 13th century BC imitations are made of Lapis Lazuli.

strands of Lapis Lazuli

We found 3 great strands so the customer has a choice from 3 different sizes and I think we keep a strand to ourselves to make a beautiful necklace …

strand of Lapis Lazuli

Another order was for a pair of wedding rings, who for a nice change are not made ​​of gold but of titanium.

The titanium has a beautiful gray color and blends very nice with the inlaid cherry wood. More information about these rings can be found here.

We also made a new brooch inspired by our visit to a fashion show and we are working to design a pendant around a blue – green opal. Will be continued

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Once upon a time

January 19th, 2012 · Animals, Life, Once upon a time...

Once upon a time I lived in a big old house in the deep south of the US in the state Georgia.

The house used to be part of a cotton plantation and therefore had a large amount of ground around it. In fact so much land that if I went for a walk in the woods, I could walk for over half an hour and still be on our own land.

When we came to live in the house two dogs were living on the property. The former owner of the house had left the dogs behind. The dogs spent most of their time hunting in the woods; they were pretty wild and not approachable. They caught small animals like rabbits and squirrels and so provided in their own food.

It took great effort and a lot of time but eventually I managed to tame both dogs and later on they just lived in our home.

Lately, this video was a big hit on Dutch TV so maybe you are familiar with it, but every time I see this movie I laugh and remember my wonderful wild dogs in Georgia … because I too have never managed to teach my dogs not to hunt deer.

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