JEWELRY FOR MOTHER'S DAY 2015!

With Mother's Day Around The Corner Here Are Some Nice Pieces From A Few Top Designer Jewelry Brands at Shopstyle: 

ALBERT ICKENROTH

22-Karat Gold Plated Sterling Silver
Celebrated Jumping Frogs Pendant Necklace and Earrings

An astounding 20 million flowers are sold each day at the Aalsmeer Flower Auction in the town of Aalsmeer, Netherlands. Stunning arrays of flowers from around the world quietly populate the immense auction house.

Covering 10.6 million square feet, the building is believed to be the second largest building in the world. The Netherlands is also the birthplace of Albert Ickenroth.

TASHA INGRAM | ERICA COURTNEY JEWELRY

18-Karat Gold and Diamond
Angelina Ring with Orange Tourmaline

The names of prominent directors, actors and musicians are immortalized in terrazzo and brass along the fifteen block stretch known as the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California.  California is also home to featured jewelry designer Tasha Ingram.

VERA BALYURA | VERAMEAT JEWELRY

Brass Gold Wing Span Pendant Necklace

Considered to be one of the Ukraine’s largest and oldest cities, Kiev City holds the ruins of a 10^th century palace, as well as the Monastery of St. Sophia.  

The Ukraine is also the birthplace of featured jewelry designer Vera Balyura.

MELINA WOLRD JEWELLERY

18-Karat Gold Concho Shell Charm

Meteora, Greece is the location of some of the country’s incredible landmarks: numerous monasteries poised atop rock formations. 

Many of these religious establishments house treasures and relics and the Megalo Meteoro monastery sits on top of the tallest rock formation in Meteora.  Greece is also the home base of featured jewelry brand Melina WorldJewellery.

MARIKA O'SULLIVAN

The landscapes of Ireland are easily some of the most beautiful in the world. Located within the Wicklow Mountains in Glendalough are gorgeous lakes, and monastic ruins. Ireland is also home to featured jewelry designer Marika O’Sullivan.

LISA MARINUCCI

Discovered a little over 200 years ago, Lord Howe Island sets closely to Sydney, Australia. Its tranquil, picturesque beauty has caused many to consider the crescent-shaped island “earth’s heaven.” Australia is also the present home of featured jewelry designer Lisa Marinucci.

JOHN WIND | MAXIMAL ART

We take a walk down memory lane today remembering Philadelphia's Aquarama Aquarium Theater of the Sea. The "theater" was a popular spot between 1962 - 1969 holding educational and entertainment attractions involving gallons of water, fish, dolphins, and seals. Philadelphia is also the home of featured jewelry designer John Wind.

At 6 feet 6 inches, Wind seems better suited for a career in the NBA than jewelry design but fortunately, his aptitudes lay within the creative realm.
While attending London's Slade School of Art during the early 80s, Wind spent his weekends in the flea markets on Portobello Road.

The excitement of discovering vintage charms and creating new contexts for them became a highlight for the designer. This was also Wind's first foray into collecting and arranging materials to create jewelry pieces.

"I'd rush home after weekend visits to Portobello Road and glue these fabulous vintage bits into big, funky brooches, and I'd wear them," he recalls.
"Hey Culture Club and the Thompson Twins played a role in my wearing these creations," he deadpans. "I fell in love with Victorian jewelry--its beauty and the way it tells a story by conveying emotions of love, friendship, and passion.

After I moved back to my hometown of Philadelphia, I started my company Maximal Art in 1985, and my aim is to evoke the same kind of emotion in my vintage-inspired jewelry. I think I accomplish this in a fun, fashionable way."

There are plenty of charm enhancers to ogle from the 14-karat gold over pewter keys and red crystal hearts to gold initial charms with faux pearls pom poms to a 24-karat gold-plated Eiffel tower, and fleur de lis. There are also fun charm themes to explore like Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Christmas.



"We work on pieces for every holiday simultaneously--everyday. We are never clear just what month it is," Wind says. "Every day is a new opportunity to be creative. It is a lot of fun."

The company's early days, however, were not as much fun as the ever-changing tastes of consumers developed a predilection for less extravagant aesthetics. The company's President, Robbin Cook, skillfully maneuvered through what could have been a significant blow.

"Robbin has worked with me for over twenty years and without her support none of the success of the company would have happened. We ended up a stronger company. Although we redefined our product to find a customer base we did it without choosing to base our design aesthetic on every fashion whim," says Wind.

Wind maintains a philosophy encompassing a spirit of giving something uplifting to potential and longstanding customers. "Ultimately every single piece that goes out into the world finds a home and makes someone happy. That direct, personal uplifting moment is what it's all about."

Presently sourcing materials from New England, Wind's colorful and animated charm jewelry is a part of the permanent collections of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as Paris' Musée des Arts Decoratisfs.
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Photo 1 (top right): Midsummer Night Dream Collage Necklace from Jewelry Box Collection
Photo 2 (center): Gold-Plated Brass Bat Charm and Chain with Austrian Crystal
Photo 3 (bottom left): 24-Karat Plated Pewter and Sterling Silver Initial Bracelet with Faux Pearl Pom Pom from Personally Yours Collection

LAURA GOLDSTEIN

Completed nearly half a century ago, Canada's Skylon Tower looms over the falls that compose the powerful Niagara Falls.

Towering at a height of 520 feet, its observation deck provides a breathtaking view of the borders of Canada and the United States. Canada is also the home of featured jewelry designer Laura Goldstein.

JULIE ALLISON

Sterling Silver Lazer-Tran Sending My Love Charm Bracelet

Today we visit the St. Andrew Botanic Gardens in Scotland that houses over 8,000 species of plants on its 18 acres.

One of the gardens' many highlights, a large ceramic panel called Homage to Paxton, is located in the Mollie Pirie Glasshouse. Scotland is also the home of featured jewelry designer Julie Allison.

LA VIE PARISIENNE

Today we stop to view the outstanding landscape and historic architecture of the Loire Valley in France. The many towns that comprise Loire Valley include Angers, Chinon, Nantes, and Blois, among others.

Loire Valley also boasts famous chateaus built by French kings and possesses some of the most awe-inspiring architecture in existence. France is also the home of featured jewelry designer Catherine Popesco.