Jewelry Inspiration: Ruffled Rings

The Carrotbox is a site dedicated to all those wonderful rings made of glass, lucite, resin, plastic, jade, wood, bakelite, metal, and even stone. Alice Matsumoto from Vancouver, BC, Canada has a ring shop and has kindly given us permission to inspire our jewelry lovers at Sheffield with her discoveries. In this post, Alice focuses on ballet-inspired rings. (We think they're tutu much!)

Tout tutu today! Your fingers can point — and now, they can be en pointe with this "Ballet" collection from England's Carine Chang.

Bonus

For more ruffles, check out Russia's Sasha Chi, who serves up ruffled plastic combined with pearls and beads.

Even more jewelry:

• Ghost Dancer (California) - native beading
• Vionnet (France) - gold & pearls
• Roger Rimel (Missouri) - weathered two-tone

Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

2013 Chinese New Year

(Water Snake)

CHINESE NEW YEAR for 2013 is the Year of the Black Water Snake and lands on the new moon of February 10 in the U.S. The Chinese New Year is a time to welcome longevity, wealth and prosperity and to eliminate negative chi from the past. It is said a snake is silent and still and may lie coiled and motionless for a very long time. But when it is ready, it strikes.

The Year of the Snake is a time of powerful undercurrents and far reaching efforts. At this time, dramatic history-altering events can happen. The last time the year of the snake occurred, the attack on the NY World Trade Center and Pentagon happened. It is likely in 2013 that powerful forces will emerge and some who are repressed will rise up against authority.

Landmark agreements can also occur, like when Nelson Mandela met President Botha, which led to the end of white rule in South Africa. Snake years also favor innovation. It was the year when Apple introduced the Ipod.

The snake year is when DNA was discovered. There will be considerable emphasis on humanitarian and environmental issues. The arts and culture will thrive and major events and exhibitions will make various art forms more accessible.

For the individual, the snake year offers a lot of potential. It favors learning and personal growth and taking up new skills. It is a year of action and many of us will be happy with the actions we take. The Chinese have the saying, “If you have foresight you are blessed, but if you have insight, you are a thousand times blessed.”

Legend of Chinese New Year: The phrase “Kung Hei Fat Choi,” which roughly translates as “blessings for wealth,” is a common greeting for this day in particular. No one is quite sure exactly when or where the Chinese New Year festival originated. Legend has it that once upon a time, there was a monster called Nian that attacked Chinese villages every spring, eating anything that came its way – people, animals, plants and the odd building. One spring, villagers hung red paper on their doors and threw bamboo on a fire when Nian arrived. The monster was so startled by the bright colors and loud crackling noise of the burning bamboo that it turned and fled. Today the word “nian” is the Chinese word for year.

Since that day, Chinese people hang red paper signs and lanterns outside their homes and enjoy making loud noises on New Year’s Eve. Firecrackers replaced bamboo after gunpowder was invented and the main idea today is the louder and bigger, the better.

In the days leading up to the Festival, every household gets a thorough cleanse since sweeping on New Year’s Day itself might sweep away the year’s good fortune. Breaking dishes or using sharp objects is also seen as potentially unlucky. Bad luck, or huigi has a tendency to build up in the corners. Old huigi can really bring down the party. Plus, only when the house is spic and span can the ancestors and deities be properly honored. Three days before the big celebration, families bust out the brooms and dustpans and give their homes a thorough cleaning.

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Artisan Wedding Jewelry

Gold knot rings by Jessica Poole.

Marriage is about the unique commitment that two individuals make to each other. Whether it is with something old or something new, there are many artists out there hoping to help you create a one-of-a-kind, ageless, and personal piece of jewelry that will endure the ever-changing nature of fashion.                                                                                                        

The 18 karat Gold Knot Rings by Jessica Poole are a unique way to tie the knot - an inventive and fashionable variation from the diamond engagement ring. 

Rough diamond stud earrings by Lex Luxe.

The beauty in artisan wedding jewelry is that the pieces usually fall under the category of an extension of regular jewelry, with a sentimental touch. These "not so typical diamond studs" can be worn as everyday jewelry. The 14kt gold studs hold a rough diamond created by Lexluxe. These earrings have been admired in LUCKY magazine, People Style Watch, and Martha Stewart Weddings.

 Heart shape aluminum guitar pick by Nici Laskin.For the musician, a personalized guitar pick will last forever. This guitar pick was hand sawed in the shape of a heart by Nici Laskin. You can have a hole drilled in it and wear it as a necklace or a key chain. It also makes a great gift for groomsmen. You can even give it with a guitar, or guitar lesson, if you have the budget.

Misha of N.Y.These fresh water cultured pearl earrings and necklace are elegantly hand wrapped with gold filled wire by Misha of NY in his signature wire wrapped embedded stone technique.                                                                                                              

Crocheted gold filled jewelry by Yoola.The crocheted cuff bracelet, ring, and necklace by Yoola, are modern and classic at the same time. The cuff is created using a crochet hook and fine gold filled wire.

Of course nothing says forever like a tattooed wedding band...

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Styling - The New Wedding Trend

Styling...it's the newest trend in the Wedding and Event Planning world. Ten years ago it was mainly full planning. Five years ago the new push was for the DOC (or Day of Coordinator). And now, it's styling. With the onset of the DIY bride and blogs like Style Me Pretty and 100 Layer Cake, the wedding stylist was born. I have personally seen a boom in my business with clients wanting me to style their wedding.

By style, I mean take their 500 pins from Pinterest and turn all of those ideas into a cohesive look. It is awesome! I love it...it is so much more creative than just being the DOC, and I really get to work with my clients on a one-on-one basis to make their wedding ideas come to fruition. Here are a few examples of weddings I have styled recently.  

Photos courtesy of Matthew of Cly Creations

 Photos courtesy of Dante Williams Photography

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For more information on Wedding and Event Planning, please visit our website at the Sheffield School.

Katie is the Wedding and Event Planning Student Advisor and owner of Sara Kate Events.

Designing for Small Spaces

(Bacall settee from One Kings Lane)Small spaces are challenging to decorate not just for homeowners but also for designers as well.  But I’ve always found that you can come up with the most interesting solutions without sacrificing style or comfort. It just requires an adjustment in scale and how you shop for furniture. 

First, eliminate those visions of sectionals and oversized couches.  While they’re great to lounge around on, they’re really meant for lofts or large houses. Instead envision settees, loveseats or sofas that are smaller in scale such as those here. Above is the Bacall settee, only 50” wide, great for those small living rooms.   

(Prescott coffee table from the Foundary) (Prescott table from the Foundary)Second, you should find furniture that does double duty or even triple duty.  For instance, the Prescott coffee table above has pull-out seating that also hides storage.  When not in use, the ottomans hide under the coffee table to become one compact piece. The Avery bed from Room and Board is a lovely platform bed with a hideaway drawer underneath to store away those thick comforters and extra sheets.

(Avery Bed from Room and Board)Another way to furnish a tight space is to lift the furniture off the floor and have them hang on the wall. If you need a desk, take a look at Prepac's floating wall desk.  With the advent of flat screens or laptops, you don’t need as much desk top. 

(Floating desk from Prepac)Also look out for furniture that can expand and contract to a small footprint.  The Span Gateleg dining table from Crate and Barrel is a great example of expanding furniture. When folded partially, you can use it as a desk and when you unfold it, you have a dining table for four people. It also folds completely to a small case that can be stored away if you don't need it.

 (Span Gateleg Dining table from Crate and Barrel)

Interested in learning more about space planning? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you'll learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.