Kim Kardashian on the cover of the March 2011 issue of Harper's Bazaar

First of all, there is a great little article on Daphne Guinness (page 398). Guinness is not only a fashion darling, but I’m sure she also has a truly spectacular jewelry collection. We get a glimpse of this in the stunning pictures captioned with those beautiful words, “Jewelry – Guinness’s own”. Gorgeous earrings and bracelets from Harry Winston are just some of the serious gems sported by this eccentric icon. I wish the magazine had focused a bit more on the timeless jewels she uses to accessorize her of-the moment fashions - that’s where true style begins!

So, I was a little disappointed the cover went to Kim Kardashian when such an interesting alternative was profiled in the same issue. Seriously Bazaar, not even a cover blurb on the Guinness article? Anyway, I wasn’t completely pessimistic about jewelry in this issue with Kardashian as the covergirl. After all, she has designed two jewelry lines herself, one for Saints and Angels and another under the name Belle Noelle with the help of Pascal Mouawad. For such a shameless self-promoter, I expected to read a bit more about her vision as a designer or her hopes for the jewelry brand.

But then, I got to page 412 and all was forgiven.  Kardshian interviews the one and only Dame Elizabeth Taylor! Naturally, the conversation drifts towards the serious rocks in Taylor’s collection.  I was completely overwhelmed by this unexpected gem of an article. If you don’t believe me, read it yourself online. It’s a great read and only reinforces my love of Liz Taylor as a jewelry collector. In every interview she seems like she really enjoys her collection and wears the jewels not just because they symbolize a moment or a relationship. She seems to appreciate them for their beauty and discusses what it means to be the custodian for jewlery work of art. with a single page, this issue turned from a nice weekend read to a keepsake I'll be referring to for a long time.

Julianne Moore on the cover of InStyle, March 2011

I literally squealed with delight when I saw their review of style at the Golden Globes. Award season is peak time for celebrity jewels and page 222 gave me close-ups of the best jewelry moments from that red carpet event.

If that wasn’t enough to make me swoon, the incredible Marion Fasel contributed an article on last year’s most stunning Oscar jewelry, the Best of the Brightest on page 434. I loved tweeting the red carpet with her during the 2011 oscars under the hastag #oscarjewelry. This article is full of jaw-dropping bejeweled splendor from the 2010 ceremony. I can’t wait to read her take on this year’s fashions. If you aren't following her on twitter, you're missing out on some of the best jewelry writing in the industry.

As fun and exciting as the big award show coverage is, the best thing about InStyle is it’s consistent and thorough coverage of stars wearing trends, and accessorizing outfits from low-key weekend outfits to full-on Hollywood glamour. There is a mix of high-priced items in this issue and affordable luxuries that really appeals to me. Some of the highlights for me:

• A short profile of designer Kara Ackerman among the bold jewelry worn by stars on page 130
• Floral barrettes in all sorts of media on page 358
• And the Deals & Steals, beginning on page 409 always include great costume jewelry at great prices

Heidi Klum graces the cover of the March 2011 issue of Lucky

The fullpage article devoted to Wendy Stableton Reyes on page 82 is a perfect example. An in-depth discussion of her charity, Colombrilla, is accompanied by gorgeous pictures. It’s a wonderful showcase for this talented designer. I’ve sent it along to several people as proof that beauty and adornment aren’t necessarily frivolous pursuits, they can sometimes do the world some good.

Some other highlights:

• Jewelry designer Kimberley Baker gets mention in the city guide for Seattle, WA (page 95)
• I was super excited to see a familiar name, Erie Basin on a city by city guide to design boutiques (page 98). Their tumblr page has been my daily dose of awesome antique jewelry for a long time.
• The tribal necklaces on page 140 give me hope that statement neckware is making a comeback. With designs like this it’s just a matter of time.
• I’ll be picking up a pair of jeweled slingbacks on page 170 this spring. Creating a complementary piece of jewelry could be just the creative push I need to get to my workspace!

Katy Perry covers the March 2011 issue of Elle Magazine

I don’t subscribe to Elle, but I pick up a few issues throughout the year and it’s always a welcome diversion. If you pick up a copy, be sure to check out the “Buffalo Girl” pictorial. Stylist Aleksandra Woroniecka worked strong statement making jewelry into the wildly patterned and eclectic outfits photographed by Horst Diekgerdes.

However, my favorite pieces appear in the “It Happened One Night” photo spread beginning on page 434. The sleek, modern sculptural pieces of jewelry chosen by Brian Molly bring a high polish to the menswear inspired outfits. Even cover girl Katy Perry brought out the sparkle with a diamond flower ring by the inimitable Van Cleef and Arpels, page 398.

There are lots of full page advertisements to flip through. I saved images of jewelry from Moschino, Ippolita, Solange Azagury Partridge and Loree Rodkin for my inspiration boards.

Some other pictures worth a thousand words:

• Carved bronze serpent collar necklace by Stephen Dwek (page 154)
• Yellow gold double-finger ring by Boucheron (page 154)
•   Every item in the great Escape article, but especially the jeweled skulls by Pietra Dura (page 234)
• The continuation of the bejeweled bug trend (page 274)

Getty Images via Celebuzz.com

If a star wasn’t wearing emerald gems, chances are good that they choose deeply colored jewels in fuschia, berry or even tutti frutti concoctions. But for me Natalie Portman wore it best with this vintage inspired design and a classic Elsa Peretti® Diamonds by the Yard® bracelet. I immediately ran to Tiffany’s Facebook page for details and this powerhouse design did not disappoint. 

*Thank goodness for Wikipedia! I didn’t realize A) Rubellite is a type of tourmaline and B) I’ve got to pick up some watermelon tourmalite immediately. It’s mouthwateringly pretty!

Credit: Jason Merritt/Kevork Djansezian; Photos: Getty

On twitter, the response to this necklace and bracelet was decidedly mixed.  Some felt the gorgeous 60+carats necklace was lost against the dark blue dress, especially since it was a sparkly material. Personally, I like the contrast and love the way the two colors brighten each other and complement her hair and makeup. No matter how you feel about the dress and jewel combo, I think everyone can get behind the return of a classic powerhouse design firm like Cartier to the red carpet.  Lots of historic jewelers like Cartier, Tiffany and Neil Lane joined glamorous event mainstays like Neil Lane and Lorraine Schwartz.

This was one of my favorite looks, but with a strong field of contenders, I have several more posts to come!

The official poster of the 83rd Academy Awards was designed by Omelet, the agency that created this year’s campaign.

A fantastic group of jewelry professionals will chime in on designers, sartorial picks and what the red carpet looks impact jewelry trends. I can’t wait to see @jewelryinsider @marionfasel and my favorite, @jewelrybizguru online!

Between moving, a new job, new boyfriend and I’ve been challenged to post as often as I’d like. I’ve also made some decisions on the direction of the site, the topics I want to cover and how to keep up with regular posts.  I love making jewelry, but the most fun part of blogging has been identifying trends, speaking with other designers, attending events, and learning more about the history, origins and style of jewelry over time. So the focus of this site will shift from my handmade creations to more of the fun stuff. 

Here are some of the things you can look forward to:

• More Red Carpet coverage - The best bejeweled celebrities at all sorts of events!
• Special interests and themes weeks
• Jewelry Industry Events from conferences, tradeshows and more
• Interviews with jewelry designers, collectors and other bloggers

If there are topics you’d like to add to this list, let me know! I'm expecting to do a redesign of this site too. Your continued feedback is important to me, so let's get the conversation going!

White and Gold Pearl Snowflake Ornament

This was built on a 6-spoked wireform I picked up at one of my favorite shops, Bead in Hand in Oak Park , IL. Making a few of these every year has become one of my favorite traditions. I hope you and yours are enjoying the Christmas season!

• Liam Shard Jewelry – Liam taught me about a cool technique (Pique Assiette) and told me two great stories in just a few minutes. – Booth 2136
• Kali Butterfly – Chainmaille and some extraordinary metal scales that make me think she’s a dragon slayer – Booth 3019
• Gigi Bijou – The name made me smile and her story of graphic textiles and papermaking techniques is well worth a visit and a purchase. Booth 9113
• Ree Gallagher – Incredibly intricate yet lightweight nests and mosaics made with aluminum wire. – Booth 4129
• Objets d’Envy – Always cheerful and sparkling Swarovski creations. – Booth 7101
• Flying Anvil Designs – Cool use of non-traditional granite rocks in gorgeous modern jewelry. – Booth 8113

And that was just day 1.  I’m going back tonight for a second look and can't wait to see more!