Prestige Promenade pearls and sweets
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/858238
C L A S S I C P E A R L S W I T H A T W I S T L I T T L E H 42 www.thejewelrybook.com WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE NEWEST COLLECTION? My fi rst collections, Pearl Geode and Finestrino were about the visual expe- rience of peeking inside a pearl and fi nding a geode-like cluster of colorful gemstones. The Point collection was the opposite. I wanted to see gem- stones peeking out of the pearl like a happy surprise. That idea started to evolve and I began opening the pearl to expose the gemstones more. Often times my inspiration comes from looking at the pearl for a very long time. As I study the curves, contour, imperfections, colors and overtones, I start to get an idea of the perfect spot to carve or cut and what color gem- stones to use. H OW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF SLICING PEARLS IN HALF AND FILLING THEM WITH GEMSTONES? The idea came about when I was visiting the Tucson gem show with my husband. We were sharing a bottle of wine at the Arizona Inn and chatting about all the beautiful geodes around the gem show. Many of them looked like half pearls fi lled with gems. I started sketching on my note pad with sliced pearls in mind, and as soon as I got home to my studio, I created the prototype. H OW DO YOU KEEP COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND WAYS TO WORK WITH PEARLS? I believe it's my mission to reinvent pearl jewelry. I took this on as a chal- lenge when I fi rst started working with pearls and have always sought op- portunities to create in unexpected ways. The classical mountings I see for pearl jewelry are often too dated and bore me. I also want to break the mis- conception that pearls are "white and round." Pearls can be colorful, uniquely shaped and worn daily - casual or dressy. How did you learn to work with pearls in such a unique way? Thinking outside of the box and pushing boundaries are concepts I learned in art school. I don't just look at other designers' work for inspiration. It comes through experiences, travels, daily activities and deep thought. W HAT'S NEXT FOR LITTLE H? Defi nitely more colors! I was excited to introduce tanzanite and amethyst combinations at the JCK show and now I'm working with deep blue topaz. I've also started combining pearl geodes with real geodes that create an earthy, organic but elegant look. I truly enjoy the color combinations. I feel the possibilities are infi nite. Classic pearls with a twist... By The Jewelry Book Freshwater Pearl Grotto Blue Topaz Necklace www.littlehjewelry.com Grotto Collection Emerald and Diamond Pendant www.littlehjewelry.com