Jewelry Inspiration: Combining Beads with a Surprise Medium

Niki Stylianou
Necklace: Spheres 2009
Rubber hand cut + hand painted+ fabricated, metal, turquoise beads 
Photo : Niki Stylianou

 
Klimt02 is a website that provides an international forum for contemporary jewelry in a creative space that offers knowledge, information, debates, and exchanges - all within the artistic realm of jewelry. Based in Barcelona, Spain, Kilmt02 inspires everyone interested in the selection, quality, art, technology, and creation of art jewelry. Sheffield School has kindly been given permission to share works of global designers here on our website. Today's post focuses on a jewelry designer from Athens, Niki Stylianou. Click here for more samples of her work made from beads - as our jewelry design students are learning to use - and rubber!

Niki Stylianou

Niki Stylianou
Necklace: Fragments 2010
Rubber hand cut + fabricated, white coral beads
Photo : Niki Stylianou

Niki Stylianou
Pendant: Sections 2010
Rubber hand cut + hand sewn, threads, beads, oxidized silver
Front view
Photo : Niki Stylianou

Niki Stylianou
Pendant: Sections 2010
Rubber hand cut + hand sewn, threads, beads, oxidized silver
Back view
Photo : Niki Stylianou

Niki Stylianou
Neckpiece: Colonies 2010
Rubber hand cut + hand painted + fabricated, beads, gum elastic, silver
Detail
Photo: Niki Stylianou

Statement

The Ancient Greek word «kosmos» could be read as rhythm; as order; as the making of a pattern that could be traced again and again and be embodied in the cosmos as we understand it. In a way «kosmos» makes the cosmos visible.   «Kosmos» could also be read as adornment. Homeric epics describe how «kosmos» clothes the body as a second skin to make it appear. Through my work I try to redefine «kosmos», designing adornments made of ordinary and overlooked everyday objects. Things that I de-construct and re-arrange in space/puzzles, that clothe the body while speaking of immaterial relationships:  The precious and the non-precious; the beautiful and the ambiguous; the familiar and the unusual; the lasting and the ephemeral.  website: www.nikistylianoujewelry.com mail: nikistyl@artserve.net

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.

Being Creative Means You Can Create in Diverse Areas!

Mixtape Necklace © 2013 Ian Vandenberg Design

Our regular readers may have noticed that my posts lately have been a lot about creativity, and that's very exciting to me. Our courses at Sheffield School are all geared to creative professionals, and by that we mean anyone who would like to pursue a hobby or personal interest more seriously or possibly earn extra money through creative pursuits or open up a new business in a creative endeavor.
 

Arbor table © 2013 Ian Vandenberg Design

I recently ran into a young Toronto, Canada designer whose creations run into both jewelry design and furniture design. How exciting is that! Designer Ian Vandenberg wants to create more jewelry and more furniture in the coming year, and it's great that he doesn't feel the need to pigeon-hold his output into just one area. Here's how Ian sees his creative future shaping up.

Over the next few years I would like to continue to develop lasting relationships with retailers who appreciate good design and local manufacturing. 

Ian would like to have his own online store selling directly to consumers. Follow Ian and encourage a fellow creative professional! Right now, look for his work for sale at

•  Etsy and Ideacious

If you're interested in learning more about how to take your creative interests to the next level, 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.

Jump Rings in Jewelry, More than Just a Connection

Mallory Marks bracelet at Twist

When you think of jump rings most people think of connecting a pendant, clasp or two components together. They can be used for many more purposes than just connecting, even being the focal design element. This playful bracelet by Mallory Marks is entirely made from rings embellished with floating gem stones.

Bella Luna Design on Etsy

unknown

When using jump rings as only part of the focal point, design styles can vary. For an example of a simpler look this Bella Luna Bracelet uses three jump rings just slightly enhancing the forged links with out over powering them. The use of chain maille, from this unknown designer, connects the forged links with a bit more flare. You can learn to make braclets like these in unit 4 of Sheffield's jewelry design course.

Bracelet by Nancye Church

Love the way Nancye Church broke up this bracelet by using over sized rings with texture in contrast with the straight bangle bracelet as its focal point.

Earrings by Additions Style

Earrings by Eni Oken

Adding texture to the jump rings will also bring them to the forefront no matter what size. Connecting multiple rings with smaller jump rings or wire wrapping them together always produces a great look. Such as these earrings by Additions Style on Etsy and Eni Oken.

Mallory Marks earrings

These Mallory Marks earrings place the stones where the rings are connected holding them with formal structure. The rings would look spectacular even without the added sparkle of gem stones, but the uniform placement of the stones creates an elegant look for a dressier pair of earrings.

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.

Jewelry Inspiration: Chicago Designer Loves Massive Scale Necklaces

Klimt02 is a website that provides an international forum for contemporary jewelry in a creative space that offers knowledge, information, debates, and exchanges - all within the artistic realm of jewelry. Based in Barcelona, Spain, Kilmt02 inspires everyone interested in the selection, quality, art, technology, and creation of art jewelry. Sheffield School has kindly been given permission to share works of global designers here on our website. Today's post focuses on a jewelry designer from Chicago, IL, Heejin Hwang, who crafts very large-scale necklaces that will surprise, intrigue, and inspire you. So often, we stick with the scale of most jewelry pieces - but why? Why not shift into a larger scale?

Heejin Hwang

Heejin Hwang
Necklace: Connection 2010
Steel, enamel, ground rock
93 x 45 x 10 cm

Heejin Hwang
Necklace: Connection 2010
Steel, enamel, ground rock
93 x 45 x 10 cm
Photograph: Jim Escalante

Heejin Hwang
Necklace: Connection 2010
Steel, enamel, ground rock
18 x 18 x 4 cm
Photograph: Jim Escalante

Heejin Hwang
Necklace: Sensation 2012
Steel wire
30 x 120 x 30 cm

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Olivia Monti - Madrid Jewelry Designer's Love Affair with Ceramics

Klimt02 is a website that provides an international forum for contemporary jewelry in a creative space that offers knowledge, information, debates, and exchanges - all within the artistic realm of jewelry. Based in Barcelona, Spain, Kilmt02 inspires everyone interested in the selection, quality, art, technology, and creation of art jewelry. Sheffield School has kindly been given permission to share works of global designers here on our website. This week's focus in on a Madrid designer's fascination with ceramics and sculptural forms in her sublime work. 

Olivia Monti 

 
Olivia Monti
Necklace: Chainmaille black and white
Colored porcelain, silver closure

Olivia Monti
Bracelet: Lace
Porcelain, silver rings

Olivia Monti
Earrings: Cherry 2010
Coloured porcelain, silver fittings

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