Summer 2013 Color Trends, Part II

We have discussed about half of the Pantone color palette for Summer 2013 (below).  This is the palette;

Pantone colors for summer 2013

We already discussed; Lemon Zest (Pantone 13-0756), Tender Shoots (Pantone 14-0446), Dusk Blue (Pantone 16-4120), Emerald (Pantone 17-5641) and Grayed Jade (Pantone 14-6011).

Today let's discuss; African Violet (pantone 16-3520), Monaco Blue (Pantone 19-3964), Nectarine (Pantone 16-1360), Poppy Red (Pantone 17-1664) and, last but not least, Linen (Pantone 12-1008).

African Violet:

Purples are a forgotten color group in many people's homes and closets.  African violet can be used this summer in many areas, from carrying a tote with violet in it to wearing a headband or scarf with accents within in or wearing earrings that include it, like in these enamel sterling silver and fine silver earrings with organic finish.













Monaco Blue:

I am partial to the name of this color (although I have always been partial to the color itself) as it's my maternal grandmother's maiden name.  :)

The rich cobalt-ish blue is very saturated with intense color but will still be useful for summer.  Try sunglasses with monaco blue frames, fun flip flops or enamel fine silver and sterling silver "vessel" earrings which pack a punch of color within their 8mm centers!

Nectarine Orange: 

Orange is a wonderful color for summer!  Bright and cheerful, it's bound to make even dreary days fun.

Many people avoid oranges, though, either because they aren't sure which oranges will look good with their skin tone or because they fear using too much color.  Even heavily saturated colors, like nectarine orange, can be used by everyone.  Start in small ways, like wearing some capris with an orange print or striping or a pair of handmade enamel orange and denim blue earrings like these.  Even small accents can bring color into your wardrobe!









Poppy Red:

Reds are terrific for most seasons but, during the summer, they are even easier to wear!

Lipstick is the natural choice for red, make sure to try a cool lipstick: bottom (with a blue base) and a warm lipstick: top (with a yellow base) at the store before doling out the money on one that might not look good on you.  Another site for finding out your skin tone (warm or cool) is She Knows; Beauty and Style.  The image, to the right, is also from that website and shows good examples of warm red lipstick versus cool red lipstick.







Red can also be used in accessories, of course; red pumps or slings or summer... red clutches or totes or red pieces of jewelry, to bring red into your ensemble in a smaller (more personal) way.

This is a faceted Mount Saint Helen's "stone" set into a sterling silver handmade and hand textured / hammered ring with a square shank.  One of a kind and perfect for summer attire (or any season, for that matter).

For more of my red items please click here.

Last, but definitely not least, we have Linen!

Linen is a subdued, delicate color that almost anyone will feel comfortable tying into their summer outfits, or home!  This light peachy-pink will be easy to accent (as a main color) or to use as an accent for other colors.

This clutch is a prime example of how Linen can be used any day, any time!



Those are all of the summer 2013 Pantone colors, in a nut shell, with various ways they can be used and worn.  I hope that you have enjoyed this summer sneak peak, thank you for reading!

Enamel, Patina, Hoops and a Ring!

I added a few more pieces to the shop today, some of which feature my new enamels: indigo /denim blue and ice!

I hope that you like them, click here to see my shop.

To the left you will see a pair of fine silver, sterling silver and brass post earrings that I patinaed. The wonderful thing about this oxidation process is that the colors vary depending on how long they item is left in and what metals the item is made of. The brass patinas first, then the sterling and, finally, the fine silver. I sealed these with a clear coat to save the patina.





To the right you will see another oxidized pair of earrings, these are completely blackened, to contrast the white enamel. This creates a very modern look and packs quite a punch in their 5mm vessel size!

These sterling silver, handmade vessel posts are very popular with my customers as they can be mixed and matched with one another and in different sizes, (I also make 3mm and 8mm styles of these enamel earrings).




This next style are my "dimple" earrings of sterling silver and fine silver. They have my new "ice" colored enamel on them and really do look like frozen water, with little speckles and shimmering crackle.

These are 6mm in diameter and are a great size for mixing and matching, even with the above type of style, (opposites attract)!

Handmade, modern and unique these will go well with many styles of clothing, from the classic black dress to jeans and a tee shirt. Speaking of denim...




This is my other new enamel, I called it Denim / Indigo Blue because that's what it looks like to me.

This enamel is clear when it's thin but, when built up like it was in these earrings it caused little speckles of color.

So, put on your cowboy boots, jeans and a comfy sweater, these earrings are unassuming but pack a punch with their 8mm of color!

Handmade, by me in New Hampshire, they will make a great gift for your special someone... or yourself!







Up next is a copper handmade ring that is a wide band. I forged the metal to cause a slight flare in the copper. This is a size 9, I can make other sizes, should you like this but need a different size.

The texture is all over the band, each tiny little little mark made with a hammer that I got from my grandfather years ago... a tiny little ball pien hammer.

Once I was done texturing the copper I put a satin finish over the outside and a wire brush finish on the inside.





To the right you will see my new indigo / denim blue enamel coupled with my orchid pink enamel in a new style of earring.

These are little rounded rectangles, 1cm tall by 4mm wide. The bases are sterling silver with little lines made of sterling and sterling silver posts.

Here you can see that the blue enamel is more transparent and not speckled. These look like mini, mixed media paintings but they are wearable!





This next pair of earrings are oblong, egg shaped, sterling silver hoops.

I hand formed them, planished / hammered them to harden them and added gorgeous vintage aqua / cerulean blue glass beads with wonderful swirls of color throughout!

Really lovely, unique, earrings that will be the perfect finish to many outfits.






Last, with this grouping, is a handmade sterling silver spiral ring with a flattened sterling "pebble" on one end and a teardrop shape forged on the other.

This is a size 5 ring, some call this style "Greek armor" etc. but this is the first of this type that I have made. The sterling has been planished and forged repeatedly to give it strength and spring so that it will hold it's shape.

Shiny and brilliant with hammer marks this unique piece will look lovely on your finger!


This is the link to my Etsy shop, again...

Thank you for stopping by my Blog, I hope that you have enjoyed looking over my handmade, fine jewelry!

Shannon, a.k.a. Che' of CheDesigns.Com

New Year and New Work!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful New Year and a Happy 2012 thus far!

I have been busy working with my favorite materials: enamel, sterling silver, fine silver, copper, gold and gems.

[My favorite gemstones tend to be opalescent ones, like moonstones, labradorites, chalcedony etc. or fiery ones, like garnet, sunstone or fire opal etc.. I have a "fire and water" thing going on, I supposed. My favorite paintings have dark blue or indigo and warm yellow or orange also.]



I have been playing with some new enamels, since my last update. I have all sorts of fun opaque colors that have come in, from Tangerine Orange to Deep Red, Translucent Orchid to Cobalt Blue and, of course, Black and White for the purists out there!

Most of my enamel fine jewelry is for sale right in my Etsy shop, I also do custom requests, as the queue allows. Please feel free to stop by and take a peek around. My work is handmade, by me, in New Hampshire (USA). I do *not* order pre-made items and just tweak them, I design each piece from scratch and am a metalsmith / silversmith. I love to design custom pieces for my customers so please drop me a line if you'd like something You-Nique!




Some other things that I have started selling are handmade sterling silver hoops, (1" and 1.25" right now, though other sizes can be custom made), with or without glass rondelle / donut beads. These are a lot of fun and the beads can be mixed and matched, as needed, (or removed if you'd like your hoops without beads for a night)!




























I have started working with PMC again, (precious metal clay). I have been using the Copper clay, as I like it the best. I have posted a few enamel and PMC pieces as well as some gemstone and PMC items. It is a lot of fun to work with, my two favorite mediums rolled into one, ceramics and metal!















Above is a pendant out of copper PMC with enamels in it's recesses. To the right is a pendant out of Precious Metal Clay, (PMC), with a 3mm faceted Apatite gem and three glass beads. Both are strung on colored cotton and ribbon cords.







For the organic, but minimalistic, jewelry lovers I have started a line that I call "Pounded Pebble". These are items made from sterling silver, that I have melted and forged, (hammered / pounded), into a new shape. The ring set, toward the top of the page, has one of these stacking rings in sterling silver and below you will see one of the items that has become a best seller, from this line, my Pounded Pebble handmade designer earrings in sterling silver.

These little studs are quite adorable on and are organic but not over the top or sloppy. They have a crisp look, like a pebble that is shiny from wear and becomes visible as the tide goes out.