Mother's Day on the horizon - by Ani

Hands change so much over the course of a lifetime.

Remember that tiny hand imprinted in plaster for mom to cherish?

Memories of mother's hands caring for you.

The Child's Hand bracelet reminds us to honor those mothers near and far, today and everyday.

Don't forget to show mom some extra special love on May 13th.

love is love's reward.

-Dryden

Childs Hand

this is an early one of a kind version of the Child's Hand, in 18k and moonstone.

When my son William was born I dedicated a sketch book to him. It includes letters to him from me, his father, grandparents, and close family friends. I add little journal entries when I remember just to let him know what he said that day or funny thing he did.  I also draw pictures of him from time to time.

 I sculpted the Child's Hand bracelet out of wax based on a drawing of Will's hand that I did while he slept. He was around 1 and we were newly in love. He is now 4 now and still the light of my life.

Dogwood Very Much in Progress

sterling, Tahitian pearl, diamond


I have been working on this dogwood necklace for my May collection. I ran to the caster's this morning to pick up this master.  I was super excited to see it in metal for the first time.  The petals are actually inside out--I love how the stem is wearing a little petal skirt.  I can't wait to finish it. Currently it weighs a ton.

To see if in the blue wax it was carved out of go two posts below.

Things Get Messy...

paper, wax, brass, copper, enamel

I read a quote by Kit White recently about letting the materials speak to you, instead of only working in your head, or drawing (or working on CAD). "It is easier to find new worlds than to create one."

I can't figure out why this picture will only go into the blog sideways.

In Progress

To draw a living line and not tremble from knowing it to be in danger of death at every point along its way, I must sleep in a sort of slumber allowing the sources of my life to flow without restraint into my hand, so that my hand ends by working alone, by flying into a dream, by moving without any care for me.

--Jean Cocteau

National Poetry Month by Ani

Poets have given us such inspiration and guidance

with their carefully crafted words.

April celebrates these treasured writers with National Poetry Month.

Jeanine has set so many favorite lines in harmony with her jewelry designs.

Take a moment this month to savor some poetry, in print and on metal.

Ani wearing her favorite piece from the Spring collection, the Tassel necklace.

The souls should always stand ajar

ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.

-Emily Dickinson

It's Coming Along

All In A Morning's Work

Since this morning I have been slowly carving this tiny flock of butterflies out of a chunk of green wax. I forgot to have lunch--it's already 3. I will go get some soba noodles from the hole in the wall down the street and then resume.

Thoughts

Inspiration in the Studio

Holiday Countdown at JPI

Here in the JP studio we love being Santa's elves but today I am feeling like this picture of Peggy Guggenheim...

Today was cold and I was on my Vespa running from the Sacramento store to the Union Square one, ending up at our Jackson Square studio. It was fun to run around with my camera going from neighborhood to neighborhood. I felt really lucky. And appreciated that SF if only 7 square miles.

Everything Is Popping Up Pretty!

In addition to our store in Union Square, we are excited be opening our first pop up store with Martha Davis and Birch on Sacramento Street. The Pop Up Atelier is in the heart of Laurel Heights on Sacramento between Lyon and Presidio. We will be open this Saturday and will stay open up to New Years Eve!!

I was looking to open a store just for December somewhere in the city and Laurel Heights has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods. I find myself there a lot usually drooling around at The Ribbonerie, Sue Fisher King , Susan, March--the list is literally tooooo long for me to keep going. We will in the very best of company and we are all so excited about this new event. I can’t even describe Birch as being a store—it feels more like an atelier in Paris. So when I ran into Torryne around town and mentioned my idea...it all came together. ‘A perfect little pop up made in heaven’ in Torryne's words.

Martha Davis comes at her work from an award winning career in industrial design before presenting her first footwear collection in ’09. Impeccably made in Italy, the collection is best described as architecture for the feet and is as innovative as it is chic. She and I became instant friends when introduced a couple of years ago-- it will be a lot of fun to set up shop with both of these stylish San Francisco women.

Please drop in if you are in the neighborhood, have a cup of tea and look at the goodies. I will be in there a lot, in the back working on drawings for January--that is how much I love the space. Did I say the store is painted entirely black? A very dramatic, interesting and unexpected choice and beyond lovely with Torryne's signature white arrangements.