-Katherine
]]>Patrick Irla one of our amazing designers uses a simple technique of brushing his silver jewelry with baking soda to give it a bright soft satiny finish. In the video below I show how you can do this to remove tarnish and restore the piece to look like new! There are a number of tutorials online showing how to use baking soda and water to clean jewelry. The most important thing is to make sure you use a paper towel or can of air to dry the piece once you rinse the baking soda off...and not leave them damp. You will NOT want to do this to pearl jewelry and porous stones like turquoise. If you have a question about cleaning jewelry just send me a message and we can help!
Before and after cleaning with baking soda shots of Patrick's silver earrings.
I hope you found this informative. And again if you have any questions please send me a message, I would be happy to help!!!
Till next time.
-Katherine
]]>Check out these beautiful 18k yellow gold and South Sea Pearl earrings by Alishan!!!
Do not forget Alishan will be at the gallery on October 16th 5-8pm and October 17th 11am-5pm!!!
Till next time!
-Katherine
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Call or email to set up an appointment to pick out your favorite stone and let us create a 'fun & everyday' piece of jewelry that you will never take off!!!
Till next time.
-Katherine
]]>Anyway, this week I am featuring some pieces by Sheboygan, Wisconsin based artisit Shayna Jingst! Shayna is crazy talented and hand fabricates each of her beautiful designs!
Here are links to the three pieces I have on in the video...please remember to drop me a note if you have any questions!
Till next time!
-Katherine
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Click on the photo above to see the digital magazine!
AND if you are looking for something to help 30+ minutes pass check out the
Till Next Time!
-Katherine
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Fast forward a year… And last month I had the privilege of traveling with three other jewelry industry gals to Guaymas, Mexico to Granja de Perlas del Mar de Cortez (Cortez Pearl Farm). If you follow me at all on social media or have been to the gallery you KNOW I am obsessed with pearls so to say I was excited was an understatement! We were hosted by two of the original pearl farm founders Enrique Arizmendi and Douglas McLaurin along with their Company Manager, Guillermo Soberon PhD.
Our first day at the farm we hopped in boats, went out into the middle of the ‘farm’ and released the pearls that did not meet quality standards back to the sea to honor the ocean and bless the next years growth.
We had a wonderful lesson from Douglas, Enrique & Guillermo on the growth of the oyster and pearl….as well as the history of their work to bring back a once nearly depleted species from the Sea of Cortez. They were gracious enough to let us ‘help’ with the harvest and there is something about bringing home a pearl that you literally ‘squeezed from an oyster’.
I hope you enjoy the photos of our journey to the ONLY Marine pearl farm in the Americas. The hardest part was trying to decide what to bring home! Guaymas was a great place to visit with amazing seafood!!!
Stop in or email to see the pearls that came back to Kentucky!
Till next time.
-Katherine
(PS. More photos below)
This is a young oyster (about an inch long) and is called spat.
Pearl farming is no easy task...these guys work year round cleaning the shells from barnacles, sponges, etc...and making sure the pots, nets and lines are all in working order!
We decided we needed to visit the oysters. haha
Natural hinge pearls!!!
My new friend Douglas!!!
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You can click on the links to read more about each organization or keep an eye out on our YouTube Channel, Facebook and Instagram for more information!
-Katherine
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This week we are taking a look at hoop earrings!
Hoop earrings are not a new trend.... Gold, silver and bronze hoop earrings were prevalent in the Minoan Civilization (2000-1600BCE) and examples can be seen on frescos on the Aegean island of Santorini, Greece. During the late Minoan and early Myceanaean periods hoop earrings with conical pendants were fashionable! Cultures and women around the world from the Hmong women of Vietnam to the Gadaba tribe of India have adopted different variations of the hoop!
The video features three different sizes of hoop earrings all with a fantastic Tahitian pearl!
Yellow Gold Filled Hoop Earring
Hope you enjoyed seeing more of what we have to offer. If you have any questions just give me a call or send me an email!
Till next time.
-Katherine
]]>This week I am featuring some fantastic necklaces that are great or on their own or layered with other pieces for a fun trendy look! You see layered necklaces in EVERY fashion magazine and on Instagram Influencers around the globe. These bezel set diamond and sapphire necklaces are just the thing to add a little sparkle and set off your layered look!
To see more click on the links below:
14K WHITE GOLD & BLUE SAPPHIRE NECKLACE
14K WHITE GOLD DIAMOND NECKLACE
14K YELLOW GOLD DIAMOND NECKLACE
Till Next Time!
-Katherine
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Till Next Time!
-Katherine
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Picked up a few new beads! Tigers Eye, Canadian Jade & Amazonite!
Beautiful Columbian emeralds in 18k yellow gold!
You know I do not need an excuse to buy Golden & White South Sea Pearls!
New Designer - Beata has fun modern jewelry!
Shopping is so stressful....I need some bubbles!!! LOL
NATURAL wing pearls from the Tennessee River!
This pretty little beauty is a Natural Conch pearl. I am thinking it is going to end up in a pendant!
Picking out some new pieces from Erica Courtney's Drop Dead Gorgeous collection! WOW!!!
Seeing Alishan always puts a smile on my face! Can not wait for you all to see his new work!
That wraps up the Tucson Gem Show 2019! I am excited for everyone to see all of the fun new pieces we have (and will be getting in the next month or so)!
Till Next Time.
-Katherine
]]>Kentucky's EAT Gallery Aims to Feed the Soul
I had the pleasure of meeting the article's author Eileen McClelland at the JCK Tucson show earlier this month and I am thrilled that she chose to feature the gallery!
]]>They take over the convention center, hotel ballrooms, hotel rooms (literally they move the beds out and set up displays, and tents in every parking lot imaginable. There is stuff everywhere! Beautifully cut Sri Lankan sapphires lined up in white boxes, rough opal pieces from Ethiopia, massive Amethyst cathedrals from Brazil and the list goes on....all the way to stunning finished jewelry!
Below is a little tour through a couple of our favorite shows where we found some amazing pieces that are on their way to EAT Gallery (noted in the text below which are heading this way)!
Amethyst cathedral pair that was so cool it just jumped out of the crate at me!
Huge crystal point greeting us as we drove in to the Pueblo Show!
Amazing geodes I could not imagine finding!
Agate and crystal slices and geodes on their way to Maysville!
Incredible quartz crystals on a wooden stand. This piece was enormous!
Amethyst geodes lined up waiting for someone to take them home!
This INSANE piece of amethyst is from Uruguay and maybe one of my favorite pieces we came across. It is incredible and once it arrives I will post a video of the front and back!
We found some interesting new calcite lamps and the tall one in the middle is making its way to Maysville!
The look on our faces is about right!!! Yes, this massive calcite cube is coming to Maysville! Another awesome find in Tucson!
That is it for part one of the trip to Tucson. Next up jewelry! :-)
Till next time.
-Katherine
]]>According to Michael Jensen Designs, 'The designs of Vetus reference the sculptural awareness of nature in the ancient world. The signature texture and the strong lines of each piece along with the 22k gold echo the art of earlier times in a contemporary way.'
You can check out the Vetus Double Point Pendant in sterling silver and 22k yellow gold with diamonds here and more pieces from Michael Jensen here.
Till Next Time.
-Katherine
]]>You can see a few of the pieces on the website or if you see something in the video you would like more information on just send me an email or give me a call!
Till next time.
-Katherine
]]>This year they chose PANTONE 16-1546 - LIVING CORAL!
From the Pantone website:
"Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.
In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.
Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.
PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, PANTONE Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color."
As a scuba diver, I have great appreciation for the corals that make up the reef systems around the world. Reading this announcement makes me want to dust off the dive gear and head South to the tropics!
Add some coral to your life with one of our vintage coral strands!
-Katherine
]]>Earlier this year I took the pearl obsession a bit further and became a certified pearl specialist through the Cultured Pearl Association of America. The course covered everything from scientific names of the mollusks to the history of Mikimoto's pearl culturing. It was all fascinating and I loved every minute! If only I had been that interested in my undergraduate studies and those statistics courses in grad-school! LOL
The Cortez pearls are not yet on the website but the pearl strands can all be seen here. If you have a question or are interested in something specific you did not see on the website please send me a note!
Till next time!
-Katherine
]]>In the video I show off a few mid-range priced pearl pieces that we made in-house! Earrings include beautiful fireball pearls with green beryl, golden south sea pearls with moonstones and white pearls with pink coral! And four necklaces with pearls, onyx, garnets, moonstones and gold circle elements!
Click here to view some of our pearl jewelry. And as always if you see something in the video that is not on the website or you would like more information please send me a message!
Till next time!
-Katherine
]]>Often times people will ask on their first venture into the gallery if any of the jewelry is locally made..... I am always excited to tell them that the bead and pearl jewelry is made right here in the gallery!!!!
We combine cool and easy to use clasps (silver, gold, magnetic, toggle, etc..) with interesting gemstone beads we find when scouring the gem shows!
This video features two multi-strand necklaces. One with pink sapphire & aquamarine and the other peridot and aquamarine. The single strand necklace is jaz cut bi-colored tourmaline and they are spaced with red spinel beads. And one of my FAVORITE pieces I have created is this amazing 5-strand tourmaline bracelet! It comes on a slide magnetic clasp and features a rainbow of beautifully cut tourmaline beads. It is literally candy for your arm!!!!
Here are links to more pictures and info on the pieces:
Pink Sapphire & Aquamarine Necklace
Multi-color Tourmaline Bracelet
As always if you have any questions please send me a note or give me a call!
Till next time!
-Katherine
]]>It has been a while since I have had time to do a new video and post a blog. SO I decided to come back big with some amazing stacker rings from Erica Courtney's Drop Dead Gorgeous collection!
There are four featured in the video below and they contain some of my favorite gemstones. Purple sapphire, Mahenge spinel, bi-colored tourmaline and Paraiba tourmaline to name a few!!! They look great on their own or to really sparkle stack a few on the same finger!
Check out the Erica Courtney page on the website for more information and detailed photography! And as always drop me a line or call if you have any questions.
Till next time!
-Katherine
]]>Today I am featuring local ceramic artist Fred Wiesener!!!
Fred, whose studio in historic Maysville overlooks the Ohio River, is currently working in clay, cast bronze, fibers, and a combination of these materials. He explains, “The running theme behind all of my work … is that of using light, space, calligraphic forms, and reversible figure-ground relationships to create tension. To achieve this, I try to make the space that determines a specific edge against my forms just as important to the viewer as the figures themselves.”
To view Fred's current works available for purchase click here.
See you next time!
-Katherine
]]>And on October 24th & 25th, Alishan & Lydia will be back in the gallery with exciting new designs and to meet with clients for custom work!
More information will be posted soon.
Bree Richey shadow finish earrings |
Alishan 18k yellow gold & pearl earrings |
You can see the paintings closer up here. Or please email the gallery for more information.
Till next time.
-Katherine
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This week I have a STUNNING pendant by New York based jewelry designer Jane Bohan. From her 'Barcelona Collection' it feaures a large baroque pearl, 18k yellow gold, a beautiful vibrant pink zircon & white diamonds. This is one of my favorite pieces not just from Jane but in the entire gallery! The earrings are also from her 'Barcelona Collection' and have oxidized sterling silver, 18k yellow gold, diamonds and a pretty rose amethyst.
I hope you are enjoying visiting the 'virtual' gallery! For more on the pendant click here and the earrings here.
-Katherine
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