Use, Reuse, Recycle....

Very often I am asked to remake a client's jewelry. Many of us have been the grateful recipients of jewels handed down to us by mothers, grandmothers, aunts and other loved ones, and often we end up not wearing them because they are just not "us." In today's world, there is really no excuse to have your jewelry locked in a safe where it sits unworn, unseen and unenjoyed. So, when a client, or in this case a dear friend from my high school days, asks me to reimagine a family heirloom, I jump at the opportunity. My friend had been given two lovely diamond-set cocktail rings that she didn't wear. They were beautiful, set in platinum, and in their day would have been "on trend" and prized for their beauty and quality. She wanted something she could wear every day that was also versatile enough to dress up at night. We decided to turn her two rings into three that she can stack, wear one at a time, or mix with other rings as you can see below. Here's a look at the before and after....

the settings...

the diamonds...

the final product...the bezels are cone shaped and we burnished the smaller diamonds into the bands.  My friend loves peridot, so we added one to the mix. Mixing color into the stack is a fun option. Bringing an heirloom into the 21st Century is a meaningful way of keeping family memories and traditions alive. For my friend, these rings will forever be conversation pieces with a great history to share!

Humble Abode...before & after

When you turn your hobby into your livelihood, and it's no longer just a hobby, it's incredibly rewarding. In my case, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I found myself craving a new creative outlet. Something purely extracurricular. Something fun! My house in Florida has been my escape from NYC for the last few years - and working on the design elements has become a new passion. I have become completely design obsessed. I posted about the kitchen overhaul a while ago. When I first got this house, it was pretty much a blank slate with country French tones. I have nothing against country French - my family had a house in the south of France and I spent much of my childhood there. I think it's great - in France. And, while a little taste of any style is ok for me, I wouldn't want a whole house of all one thing. I like a more eclectic, un-done home. That being said, I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to the foundation of design, relying on a neutral black and white canvas for decor that is punctuated with pops of color and texture. Sort of like my jewelry. I like classic pieces that tell a story and I like things to be hand made, full of character and integrity. I'm not afraid to mix it up - combining vintage with modern elements for an "undecorated" look. I've learned a lot over the years from my Mom. She personifies casual, understated elegance in both her dress and her home. Unfortunately, I did not get her green thumb...but more about that another time. And, my grandmother was a renaissance woman who lived way before her time. I often remember her standing in her apartment in Boston staring at a wall, analyzing the placement of her artwork. Or, in front of her sofa, pondering the array of throw pillows she so deliberately chose -- but made it look effortless and casual. I definitely inherited her anything goes as long as it has substance, character and integrity approach to decorating...and living. That's what gives it style, she would say. Here's a peek at the before and after.

before....we were very beige...

...and sort of country French...

after... I stained the floors a dark mix of ebony & jacobean and painted the walls in Benjamin Moore Super White - it's so bright and airy now.

my grandmother gave me the Barcelona table...an original from Design Research in Boston

fireplace details...

 a painting by Conger Metcalf

dining room buffet & details....the sideboard is a built-in work of art in itself. More on that later...

the original icebox...I use it for a bread pantry

Otis loves his place in the sun...

photos by Marcie Fry, Stephanie Albertson

Labor Day Musings...

Here's a peek into the studio & what's been brewing here for the last several months...we've been making a lot of jewelry & the occasional pie!

...and the reward for all the hard work....a lovely, delicious edible work of art. My mom's fig tart! I will twist her arm for the recipe and post it here soon.

Happy Labor Day 2013!!

Haute Chocolate

If you know me, then you are well aware of my dark chocolate obsession. Strong, dark, dusted with sea salt or infused with the subtle note of something unexpected, like ginger or wasabi. Today, Valerie Confections, my most favorite chocolatier in the US, is relaunching their website. I first discovered Valerie on a biz trip to Chattanooga and from the first bite of their dark almond toffee, I was completely hooked. Now YOU can have some, too. Valerie confections are artisan in the truest sense of the word -- made by hand by an artist whose medium is chocolate. From their lovely little boutique in Silverlake, Los Angeles (you must visit, by the way), they can be delivered straight to your door....And you know how delicious they are going to taste by looking at the simple, elegant little box. Details, details...

all photos: Valerie Confections

Happy New Year!

If you read this blog and have been wondering if I was kidnapped by aliens or something, fear not!  Lots has been happening in the world of Stephanie Albertson Jewelry. December was a really fun month. I was so honored to be asked to participate in the relaunch of the iconic lifestyle store, Zona. For those who remember, Zona was a pioneer in the lifestyle concept store movement. Before there even was a "movement," there was Zona, paving the way for the Anthropologies of today. With a focus on artists and their work, and appreciation for process and materials, Zona became the destination for anyone looking to find that certain something -- unique, beautiful, timeless and handmade. The original Zona closed its doors in the early 90's, but the spirit lived on, and for three weeks last month, Zona was more alive than ever. It was amazing to talk to people who were customers back in the day and hear them reminisce about the things they'd purchased that they still treasure to this day. People were nostalgic about a time in NYC that is long gone - when Soho was really an artists colony and the stores were full of merchants, gallery owners and other creative people who had something to offer that couldn't be found anywhere else. I think there is a desire to return to this kind of shopping -- people are tired of big box retail and the big branding of everything we have or use in our lives. I definitely want things to use in my home that are not mass produced, that few people have, that have quality, craftsmanship and character...things that have a story to tell. Anyway, all of this to say that the response to the pop-up was tremendous. Here are a few pics...

 A wall of bells...an homage to the original Zona on Broome Street...

the message...

jewels atop a display of alabaster fruit from Italy...

jewels...

vintage textiles...

vintage buttons...

silk rugs...nothing softer under your feet!....

fragrance and an amazing artwork by Tad Wright

a view of the Cheryl Hazan Gallery space that was home to Zona for the pop-up

more jewels...

delicious treats...

and...more jewels!...

I spent much of the month of December in the city, indulging in the holiday festivities and spirit. When I got back to Florida to be with family for the New Year, I ended up with the dreaded flu that is going around. All I can say about that is YUCK. The weather in Florida this time of year is blissfully seductive. It is conducive to resting and rejuvenating...which is what I've been doing for the first few weeks of the year.  The studio is getting busy -- a lot of new work in the making. One of the best treats I received were the lemons on my mom's tree...they are as big as grapefruit and sweet enough to eat alone! 

Here's hoping you are off to a happy & healthy New Year.