Category Archives: New creations

Beautiful & life-saving

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It’s fair to say that I would rather nosh on glass than discuss my health with anyone but a doctor, so you can imagine my horror when I learned I was going to have to wear a MedicAlert bracelet.

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“It’s bad enough I have to advertise my personal info in public, but now I have to display it on jewellery I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing…,” my inner 20-year-old was wailing.  I know; bad joke. But really: medical jewellery. When did it come to this?

MAKE ESSENTIAL THINGS BEAUTIFUL

I tolerated the ranting of my inner brat for a moment or two before grown-up me returned and I remembered: this actually fits my philosophy. I’ve always believed that the things we wear every day should be beautiful and longwearing, and contribute to our quality of life.

So I’ve been experimenting with bracelets and necklaces for myself, attaching the medical medallions where I would normally add a crown or a feather or some other charm with charm.

And I can do it for you too, if you happen to need such a thing.

When it comes to medical medallions, there’s a silver lining (and a gold one). You can buy them in sterling silver or other precious metals and I can incorporate them into the design of any necklace or bracelet you like.

And I’ve been thinking about how to weave the different shapes of medallions into bangles and gemstone bracelets.

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We can come up with something that lets the family member or friend who will inherit the piece — someday! a long, long time from now! —  remove it easily.

JEWELLERY IS FOR GENERATIONS

Yes, there’s another thing I don’t like talking about, except when I’m talking to brides. They’re delighted by the idea that someday their children and grandchildren will inherit a signature necklace that carries so many memories. And while it’s true that, ideally, all our good jewellery will be worn long after we’re gone, I just hate thinking about the “gone” part.

So that’s how I’ve dealt with my resistance to wearing my medical history in public. I’m trying to make it as beautiful as possible now, so that whoever inherits it will be delighted to wear it later. Much, much later.

My first creation is a simple charm bracelet in a big link silver chain, with a stylish lobster clasp and some decorative silver beads. It’s ideal for layering with other pieces, like my watch, and a simple leather-and-silver-bead bracelet that has been in my wardrobe for years.

But my next life-saving piece could be anything that delights my senses. Or yours.

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Which is all to say that while I’m not up for talking about my health, I’m always happy to discuss medical jewellery from the aesthetic point of view.

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Show Your Colours

18 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by in Inspirations from the Screen, New creations

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The upcoming premiere of the movie Suffragette reminded me of how women lobbying for the vote wore jewellery to make a point in the polite and wealthy circles of Edwardian England.

The cause was so popular that London jeweller Mappin and Webb, which supplied pricey baubles to royalty, also featured suffragette jewellery in a purple, white, and green stones. Often a combination of pearls, amethysts, and peridot or tourmaline.

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It’s not surprising they designed gems for a cause since jewellery has always been symbolic. Ask someone about necklace or a bracelet and you’ll often find it comes with a story.

Many of us wear earrings or a pendant to important meetings as a talisman  – something for good luck. Or it can be used to mark important milestones in life, like a wedding, a graduation, or a new baby.

And jewellery has always been a way of showing your colours literally. Rings and pins are often used to signal membership in a group.

Which is what the astute British suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst had in mind in 1908 when she made purple (dignity), white (purity) and green (hope) the colours of women lobbying for the vote. They decorated badges, flyers, and flags and soon the colours were found in hat ribbons, scarves, and jewellery.

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I like to think it was because they realized that there’s no reason to believe that running the world should preclude being stylish.

I’ve always been amazed by the courage of these women. They were beaten, jailed, and tortured in that fight to earn a vote, a privilege that 40 per cent of Canadians now ignore in most elections. Although that hard-won battle for the vote may also explain why more women than men vote in Canada and the U.S.

As a nod to the suffragettes, I’ve made some earrings in the purple, green, and white combination along with some layering necklaces with amethyst, peridot, and pearl-and-moonstone. They’re lovely pieces individually, but you can layer them with your other purple, green, and white jewellery when you’re in the mood to show your colours.

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The Suffragette’s Earrings: slices of green tourmaline and amethyst crown a pair of bold, baroque pearls. Limited edition, special order, $250. 

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The Suffragette’s Pendant: slices of green tourmaline and amethyst crown a bold baroque pearl. Limited edition, special order, $345. 

You can also put individual layers of the colours together.

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A single strand of peridot mixed with decorative sterling silver beads is lovely on its own. Special order, $290

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And it also comes in purple amethysts. Special order, $225. 

My motto has long been, “speak softly and wear a big necklace.” So as a silent salute to the women who won us the vote, I plan to wear some of my suffragette necklaces when I go to the polls.

~ Anne

Blink and it’s gone

16 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by in New creations, Trunk show

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New customers tell me my jewellery newsletter should come with a warning: “blink and it’s gone.”

So I’m happy to report that I have a few of these heavyweight sterling silver bracelets accented with an antique Roman coin and a phantom quartz, at $325.

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But it’s true that many of my pieces are one-of-kind. Like these two necklaces, layered: Baroque pearls with lilac amethyst accent stone and a marcasite toggle clasp, $545. Sterling silver chain with baroque pearl accents and an antique silver coin, $435.

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I feel awful having to say something is sold out. While I can sometimes create a variation on the piece in the photograph, the truth is that I can only lay my hands on so many matched amethysts or aquamarines. Often that means making just one fabulous piece.

That’s why only a handful of my designs find their way to the online store. I need to have enough stones to make more than one, which is why this gorgeous collar of sea green chalcedony, $310, is available in the shop. I can still fill these orders.

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Even with earrings, I often do only three or four pairs of one design, because I need to have identically matched stones. Since I deal in natural gems and pearls it means that within every strand of turquoise or garnets I buy I can find only a few twins.

For example, there are so few of these delicate, green-hued prehnite and matrix earrings with a silver bead accent, $110, that they will probably be gone before my May 1 trunk show at the Granville Island Hotel. But I can never resist the subtle green stones.

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I know it’s frustrating for new customers to hesitate over making a purchase and then decide, only to find the piece they had their hearts set on is gone. But that is exactly why clients come to Anne Carson Design instead of a mass-producer like Tiffany’s. They want to wear something no one else has.

You might find these pieces in the May 1 trunk show. But if you want to snag them before they go for sale at the show or the shop, drop me a note at info@annecarsondesign.com

And please come by my trunk show for a glass of wine and to peruse my latest one-of-kind pieces. You never know what you’ll find.

Trunk Show – Friday May 1, 2015

2 PM – 7 PM

Granville Island Hotel

Gift Shop Expanded

25 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by in earrings, gifts, New creations

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Thanks for visiting my blog! In honour of the holidays I’ve expanded my online shop to include more earrings, which are everyone’s favourite easy-to-buy gift. They start at $55.

I do a limited number of public trunk shows during the year, since many of my one-of-a-kind designs find their owners via my newsletter. If you’re interested in getting a first look at those unique pieces, you can sign up for the newsletter here.

For those of you in need of inspiration, here is one of my bestselling gift earrings for $60. Classic pearl drops, mixed with silver beads, in a blush pink that flatters every complexion. They’re the go-to earring: they go everywhere, with everything. You’ll find them here. 

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If you can’t make the shows, you can always find a good selection of pieces at my online shop. Or you can peruse my portfolio on Pinterest. While some pieces may be sold out, I can often make something comparable with whatever stones are currently available.

The newsletter is still the best way to hear about new pieces, one-of-a-kind designs, and other specials; you can subscribe here.

You can also find me on my Facebook page if that’s more convenient for you. I sometimes post new pieces there or on Twitter.

ALSO IN THE SHOP

A modern look – unfaceted smokey quartz dangling from silver chains. They’re $125 and you can find them here.

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Pyrite hearts have a subtle, silvery gleam. $55 and you can find them here.

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And a rare gold piece. Gold vermeil beads with bold faceted green amethysts, $135

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And I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

Going, going, gone

22 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by in amethysts, New creations

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I love all the kind notes I get from people who appreciate my pieces, and I hate disappointing anyone with the dreaded words, “It’s sold out.”

But the truth is, I have to say it fairly often. That’s just the nature of designing jewellery with natural stones: when they’re gone, they’re gone.

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If a piece is still available, you can find it in my online shop. And if you’re looking for inspiration, you can browse through my portfolio of limited edition pieces. If you find something you like, I can probably make a variation on it with some similar stones.

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I know, that sucks if you’ve just found my website. So if you’re interested in hearing about the new pieces first, I have an occasional newsletter that also announces trunk shows, specials, and one-of-a-kind pieces. You can sign up here. New creations always debut at the trunk shows before being displayed in the “Featured Products” part of the shop.

http://www.annecarsondesign.com/

And I can always make a custom piece. If you like something you see but would prefer cream pearls instead of pink or an aquamarine in lieu of an amethyst, I’m happy to tailor something to your taste and the gems available.

You can always reach me by email:  info (at) annecarsondesign.com

Thanks for visiting Anne Carson Design. I hope you enjoy browsing.

Gone Sourcing

20 Friday Jun 2014

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My online shop is closed until July 26, as I will be on a treasure hunt through flea markets in London and Paris.

Europe’s auction houses are one of my favourite sources for some of the unique stones and silver pieces that find their way into my necklaces. I found the antique keys that are in a number of pieces in a secondhand shop in Italy last year. I had them silverplated.

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I’m never looking for anything in particular on these trips. I just comb the shops and wait for serendipity to strike. The keys are typical — I fell in love with the shape of them and thought they’d be lovely in all sorts of different necklaces. And they were. (There’s only a handful left.)

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I’ll be blissfully phone-free for the trip, but I’ll post some of my finds when I get back.

A privileged job

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in New creations, Weddings

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When I began designing jewellery I never expected that I would be given a privileged glimpse into people’s private lives. But that is what happens every time I get a new commission.

ImageWhether I’m creating a rope of pearls for a bride who is already planning to give the necklace to the daughter she hopes to have, or earrings for someone to wear to a job interview, I’m fascinated by how many people see jewellery as a talisman. Even for the most practical people I know jewellery is a kind of good luck charm. And it is often worn as something that reminds us of who we are as we go out into the world.

We all know that about wedding rings. We’re wearing our commitment in public and reminding ourselves of our partners. But I see people using necklaces, earrings, and bracelets as to remind themselves of family, friends, hopes, goals, and their happiest moments.

And here I thought I was just making something pretty to jazz up a little black dress.

In the studio

16 Wednesday Oct 2013

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I know a lot of you are green amethyst fans, and since the stones are rare I thought I’d let you know that I’ve managed to lay hands on a small supply of excellent quality gems. I’ve fashioned the faceted 20mm stones into the simple, elegant collar you see on Theodora.Image

These versatile grey-green stones are subtle enough to treat as neutral. They work with any outfit to bring some sparkle to your face. Or you can wear them with strong greens, blues, and turquoises to bring out the colour.

And the Downton Abbey fans will appreciate this long rope of faceted smokey topaz punctuated with faintly gold-flecked, rutilated quartz end pieces. You can wear it as Theodora does, in a choker to accent a low cut top. Or you can wear it as a flapper would have — long and tied in a knot. It works to dress up any simple outfit from a shift dress to a T-shirt.

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Welcome

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by in New creations

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_MG_34001Welcome to Anne Carson Design online. The virtual shop is new, although I’m not. I’ve been in business for more than nine years, but I am what my friends have jokingly referred to as, “the reluctant entrepreneur.”

Although I love designing jewellery, the evolution of my business has been slow because I’m not comfortable being a self-promoter. So my clientele has grown entirely by word of mouth and largely due to the kindness of my friends and their friends who wear my work and hand out my business cards.

RELUCTANT ENTREPRENEUR

I never planned to go into business. I just began designing necklaces because I could never find quite what I wanted in the marketplace. I wanted real stones, not glass or crystal. I prefer silver to gold. I’m influenced by vintage jewellery, particularly from the Edwardian era, but I don’t want to wear a costume. I wanted my jewellery to have a fresh, modern feel.

Eventually I decided to make my own. As the results got better, friends began requesting I make them pieces. Then their friends asked if I could make up another one like that in chocolate pearls? Or did I have anything in aquamarine? Or peridot?

They told me people tried to buy the jewellery right off their necks, which I didn’t quite believe until it happened to me. Eventually one pal decided to throw a party and invite her friends and colleagues to see some of my creations. That happy event became the main method for marketing my work. These days, I often fly to visit friends in other cities and call it a business trip because I show my work over wine and appies.

MEDIEVAL ARTISAN SYNDROME

About four years ago one of my bracelets found its way onto the arm of a morning TV fashionista and an investor approached me about expanding my business. She just shook her head when she heard about my sales techniques.

“It’s like you’re some medieval artisan dragging a cart from town to town,” she said. She was a skilled businesswoman and told me there were more efficient ways to do this. She proposed a plan that would involve offshore factories and wider profit margins, for jewellery of reduced quality.

I suddenly realized that she wanted to me to start making exactly the sort of necklace I had rejected more than a decade ago.

“But I make these for my friends,” I protested. “I make every necklace as if I were going to wear it myself.”

“You realize that friends-of-Anne is not actually a demographic,” she replied. “Well, at least not one that’s big enough to expand your business.”

And that’s when I realized I was never going to be any sort of mass producer. So I planned another party.

GEMS FOR MY FRIENDS

While my customers are not all my friends in the true sense of the word, they are women like me who wear a lot of classic clothes and want jewellery to give the outfit some interest. They don’t want to see carbon copies of what they’re wearing on everyone else in the office or at a party.

With that in mind, I make all the pieces myself because I need to see how the stones work together. That’s what my customers value about these pieces: they’re handcrafted with care, and with an eye to pleasing the wearer.

Which brings me to why I’ve launched a website. The same friends who pushed me to go into business in the first place, also convinced me that having an online shop was a matter of good customer service. Many of my pieces are limited designs and some are one-of-a-kind, so customers who couldn’t always make time for showings felt they were missing out. The website just makes it easier for people to find what they’re looking for.

LIMITED EDITION JEWELLERY

If you’re interested in hearing about the new pieces first, we have an occasional newsletter and you can sign up here. New pieces will make their public debut a week or two later in the “Featured Products” part of the shop. The necklaces, earrings, and bracelets currently in stock are found in the obvious categories. And I have a wing of the store devoted to my portfolio of previous designs, for anyone looking for inspiration.

The nature of designing with natural stones is that when they’re gone, they’re gone. But if you like something you see, or would like it in a different coloured gem, I can check with my suppliers and see if there’s something comparable that might work for you.

Thanks for visiting Anne Carson Design. I hope you enjoy browsing.