This week, the talented ladies of the
Etsy's Best Kept Secret team are posting on their blogs about how color influences their work. I have to admit, for me personally, the colors found in gemstone and pearl jewelry just can't help but make me smile. The world is so diverse with its color palette, it boggles the mind with the possibilities. But rather than use a variety of colors in my jewelry, my use of color is usually based on the stone sitting in front of me and what I or someone else might wear it with. Basically, wardrobe has the most influence on the colors I choose to use in my pieces.
Take for instance the earrings above. When I make a piece of jewelry, I look at the color of the stone first and try to envision what someone might wear it with, how many different styles it will work with. My jewelry tends to be more simplistic and classic. I try to create pieces that can be worn with a variety of things and in various settings. The soft aqua in the chalcedony earrings is a beautiful pastel shade and the style of earring lends itself to coordinate with office attire, weddings, or an evening out at your favorite restaurant. I might not wear them to work out in, but they are versatile and that's what I try to create.
The deep blue in this kyanite necklace is a rich, royal blue. The style of the necklace is more on the casual side, yet this could be worn with jeans and a blazer or a little black dress. The color of the stone goes with just about anything and the mixed metals allows the wearer to choose either gold or silver earrings. I love mixing metals for that reason. It opens the door to choosing the color of metal one wants to wear to make the outfit different each time.
My jewelry usually uses more monotones or I try to use shades from a single tone as opposed to putting a variety of colors into one piece. In my own life, that's what I tend to wear so usually that's what I end up making.
I will occasionally add accents of color into a piece, but I'm usually hesitant to, thinking that might limit how often and with what the piece can be worn rather than a piece of a single color being worn with a multitude of things.
My use of color is based more on what the stones might coordinate with in someone's closet. I'd rather have a piece of jewelry I can to wear a lot and not be limited in its wearability.
There are occasions when I do want something special, something that reflects a particular style I might not wear every day. Sometimes I want something that stands out or that goes great with a special outfit. Something like this.
The pink amethyst enhancer can be removed from the pearl strand and worn with a chain, giving the piece an entirely different personality. As it is in the picture, the combination of the pearls along with the shape and color of the stone suggest this would be perfect for a wedding. But on a chain it could be worn with a black leather jacket, worn over a sweater, or worn with a lace camisole and a suit to the office. Just because it's pink and is a pearl enhancer doesn't mean you have to save it for a wedding.
And speaking of pearls, why do most people think pearls are for special occasions? Pearls are one of the most versatile things you can own. They come in so many different colors giving you endless possibilities for creating with them as well.
When hearing the word 'pearls', most people think of the traditional white strand of pearls. But that's just not true anymore....
Pearls offer a huge variety of options not only in color, but in form as well. (Forgive me for getting somewhat off topic, but pearls are just one of those things that I wish people would be more open to wearing every day. They deserve it!)
We are all different in the styles we wear and the jewelry we choose. For many, jewelry reflects mood and personality. It also reflects lifestyle in some cases. I hope I can create jewelry that reflects simple elegance and can be worn often, not being restricted to just wearing it with one thing.
Color adds beauty to our lives. The colors found in gemstone and pearl jewelry can bring a smile to someone's day when they get a compliment on their piece. "Oh where did you get those earrings?! The color is so beautiful!" I know I smile when I get a compliment. And I hope my customers do too!
