One Woman's Treasures

Cover of the Courier Post  photo credit Denise Guerin


This Holiday Season has come and gone without one single blog entry but not for lack of notable events,  more for the overwhelm that the Holidays bring to all of us. Here it is probably the most loaded blog entry yet. This past month Artemisia as a company has begun to take its' place on the fashion industry map with a new relationship with Urban Outfitters company Anthropologie. It's possibly the beginning of a beautiful relationship working with corporate America as an artist. The buyers at Anthropologie have some wiggle room it seems in being able to buy from independent artists and showcase their individual works in their best stores. And there is where I fit in, it's a fabulous concept complimenting their already beautifully worked aesthetic available for many with an item available for only a few. The Artemisia collection debuted at the Rockefeller Center Anthropologie in Manhattan this past December 1, 20 pieces of jewelry and 45 feather hair clips. Below are a few images of what is available.

all individually available at Anthropologie Rockefeller Center NY, NY

To follow with this new relationship came the press about it. First an article by Patch an online zine and then a cover story spanning five pages of the Courier Post Sunday magazine! It's been quite a ride, each day brings new contacts and more work, more of an opportunity to share what I do with a broader audience. Read all about it and enjoy, the Artemisia shop is bigger now so check it out, just a hint the pieces are listed here first as I make them! I leave you all with wishes for a beautifully balanced New year. Let's all go to a yoga studio and practice to achieve kaivalya, or detachment as I do so as to keep all good things in perspective.

Photo Denise Guerin

 photo Denise Guerin

Beautiful Stranger

 Beautiful Stranger shoot, in the middle of November making it feel like a warm Moroccan street, the light was beyond gray and still somehow....

"Pavonneggiarsi" cultured pearl, peacock feathers, buckskin and taffeta flower
Cascate di Bottoni(underneath) 

Little Boy Blue-American amethyst faceted glass bezel set circa 1950's, handmade English watch chain circa 1920's, French hand painted bronze button circa 1750's, citrine, garnet, and cameo at nape of neck salvaged from a fire England circa 1940   

Fauna e Flora-carved bone pendant France circa 1920's, hung by gold fob England circa 1930, Gold fill chains, 10k bird charm at nape of neck circa 1960 America,  rose quartz, smokey quartz, citrine and pyrite.

Trunk Show at Arcadia

Arcadia opens second location in Rittenhouse!! 265 S 20th st.
Friday November 19th
5-9 pm
catered by Sapori 

 Grand Opening with yours truly bringing watchband bracelets, necklaces, neckwarmers, ponchos and custom clothes.  It should be a lot of fun, Tis the season for giving and I'll be there to offer truly unique one of a kind pieces with beautifully handmade vintage linen gift bags for you to do so and feel assured that you have the perfect gift.

Tartufi

It's fall and the boars are snuffing out the most precious food that exists, at $2,000.00 per pound the white truffle is the queen bee of delicacies, it's  brother the black truffle is  about $400.00 per pound. Some might say that it is a ridiculous price to pay, others like myself and my husband do spend on food and travel like few others. So on this crisp autumn day on the phone came a call, "I have something for you, you're going to love it!" The familiar voice of my beautiful husband who brought me one of each to play with.
The truffles' pungent woody aroma is it's trademark together with its'  deep mushroom flavor and earthy meatiness there is little that needs to be done to enjoy it. I would fry a quail egg and put a sliver on top a small drizzle of supremely first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Or maybe tonight a handmade linguini with the same olive oil, shaved Grana Padana crushed pink peppercorns and grated white truffle throughout.  The jewelry tools and sewing needles down...Apron on. A dopo!

Beauty in the eye of the beholder

The Atelier is brimming with finds from across the globe from Spain to Edinburgh, from Sicily to Upstate New York,  I can't seem to work enough I could spend each waking moment lost blissfully in creating. It's not always this frutiful in my travels however this time it has been. So, between trofie and polipetti, panelle and ricotta sandwiches, before the little tribe I've created comes rushing in I'm lost in my own epic drama. It is a drama spanning the flappers of the 1920's in America, ladies of the 1940's that Tangoed in Spain and the dapper businessmen walking Princes St. in Edinburgh of the 1940's.

Reflections and facets- sterling silver mother of pearl watch fob England circa 1950, Sardinian fertility bell of faceted quartz, sterling wreath pendant with rhinestone, circa 1950, sterling handmade chain antique never owned  labradorite, beer quartz and pyrite, bicolor chains, both sterling and 14k gold, and 24k gold plated silver, mother of pearl button detail.
$400

Il tempo si sfiora- 10k yellow and white gold and diamond non functioning watch circa 1940's , 10k gold childs' ring antique never owned, ivory rose earring converted pendant 14k gold backing circa 1930's America,  handmade gold plated chain,  rose quartz, ametrine, beer quartz, pyrite.   Convertible chain doubled short using 14k sister hook or long $440 

Illuminations

Tunic, skirt, neckwarmer all Artemisia price upon request, available online at Artemisia.

Like a mantra, I repeat are we consumed by the new, the latest, the most fashionable? What about our own sense of individuality, a departure from what we are told to like by the media and a decision to embrace an inner fashion guru?


Millefiore, sterling silver covered with 24k gold vermeil, green amethyst, 10k gold child's ring, faceted bell quartz. Available at Primadonna

Equally, is it not unique and beautiful to possess what is limited in number and handmade using materials that are post consumer and jewelry with provenance, and history?
And is it not refreshing to embrace age and figure change by illuminating it's beauty?

crocheted neck warmer, ruffled neck warmer. Available at Primadonna and Arcadia.

fermaglio hair clip

Photos: Denise Guerin, hair Sandy Vasallo, make up Ally

Fall has arrived!

Bussola-Citrine, swarovski red bezel set crystals, 24k gold vermeil over sterling silver, Opera enameled plaque circa 1950, Paris, faceted pyrite, 1940's non functioning compass flanked by two pistols. 

School has begun and the leaves are beginning to cascade from the trees, summer has begun to take it's leave. The first crisp mornings of fall with it's dew ladened blades of grass and earlier sunrise wake me from my lazy summer slumber. I've been collecting, treasurehunting these last few months and in the next few short weeks new photos, new collections will appear here online and in stores, it will have been worth the wait, the new pieces are rich and oppulent embellishments for the body steeped in historical context drawn from the very corners of the world, the small island of Lampedusa near Africa, Sicily,  Edinburgh, Scotland and the border towns between America and Canada.
As of September 23rd the new fall collection will be available at Arcadia in Northern Liberties and Yogawood in Collingswood. More to come in October at Pipsqueak in Haddonfield and Primadonna in Voorhees. Soon the blog will be equipped with paypal as well so you can order Artemisia right from home, and the latest photoshoot happens next week so keep posted!!
It's great to be back in the studio again.

Triangolo poncho in mohair lined with vintage linen and Fiore neck warmer with large grey floral embellishment both available at Arcadia in Northern Liberties

Triangolo