Marcie Muehlke, Founder and CEO Celia Grace

Barbara: What makes Celia Grace wedding dresses sustainable?

Marcie: Whereas most dresses are made from polluting petroleum-based polyester, Celia Grace wedding dresses are made from natural silk.  Our silk is eco because it is made by hand on a no-electricity loom, uses very little water to make, and it is colored only with safe dyes.  In addition, our silk is made close to where are dresses are sewn, reducing the distance it has to travel.

Barbara: What does fair trade mean at Celia Grace?

Marcie: Celia Grace wedding dresses are sewn under safe, fair and empowering conditions.  Our seamstresses are treated like the smart, talented women that they are – they are paid a living wage, get benefits, work reasonable hours, and even learn about democratic participation through their women’s sewing group.  We also pay a fair wage for our silk and donate a water filter to a Cambodian family in need with every dress we sell.

Barbara: What advice do you have for women shopping for a wedding dress?

Marcie: Wedding dress shopping should be fun rather than stressful!  Do some research and see if there is a brand you love.  If those dresses are sold in stores, make an appointment, grab some of your near and dear, and enjoy the process of playing dress up in some incredible works of art (yes, you might even have a glass of wine before you go in!).  Don’t forget to look for eco, fair, or local brands or seamstresses and reach out to them directly—they are often great to work with and add another layer of meaning and beauty to your big day.

Celia Grace Bridal

Barbara: Do you do custom wedding dresses?

Marcie: Although we don’t make custom designs, our dresses are perfect to customize with a local seamstress.  You can pick your Celia Grace dress and then shop Etsy for accessories or look at Pinterest for inspiration and then work with your local seamstress to make your dream dress come true. Our accessories are also great to customize into fascinator or belts or shoe clips or even ring pillows – a really fun DIY project.

Celia Grace Bridal Gown being made by women’s sewing cooperative in Cambodia

Like/Follow/Pin and learn more about Celia Grace wedding dresses and accessories here:

On the Celia Grace Web Site: www.celia-grace.com

On Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CeliaGraceDress

On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/celiagracedress/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaGraceWeddingDresses

Celia Grace Wedding Dress Detail

BMJNYC Jewelry featured in Celia Grace Bridal Blog

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I recently attended the MJSA trade show at which Rio Grande Jewelry was a major sponsor.

In the Spotlight: Barbara Michelle Jacobs Casts from Nature in the Concrete Jungle
Apr 10, 2013

Marketing Manager, Eugene Brill, gave a rousing seminar on e-commerce.  He invited designers and other industry professionals to submit articles and ideas for blog entries on Rio’s web site.  I submitted my article ” Flora Refashioned,” recently published in Belle Armoire Jewelry.  To my great delight, they accepted it and posted it!  See their posting titled ”In the Spotlight: Barbara Michelle Jacobs Casts from Nature in the Concrete Jungle“.  I am so thrilled to be endorsed by Rio Grande, a well respected industry resource for tools, supplies and training.

Barbara Michelle Jacobs Jewelry in Belle Armoire Magazine. Casting from nature

This past summer I was contacted by the Editor of  Belle Armoire Jewelry  and asked to write an article about casting from nature.  Specifically, how to make coiled twig rings.  What a thrill to see it in print!  Bell Armoire is published by Stampington Publications who are known for fine magazines on crafting.

FLORA REFASHIONED

by Barbara Polinsky

Belle Armoire Jewelry, Winter 2013

Have you ever seen something ordinary yet so profoundly beautiful that you wish you could freeze the moment in time? What if you can alter that object and use it in a fresh way? I enjoy trying to blur these lines between reality, fantasy and time. I usually trip over my most interesting ideas and this is exactly what happened one spring afternoon.

Just missing the cross-town bus, I decided to meander home through Central Park instead of waiting for the next bus. Enjoying the magnificence of the day and deep in thought, I heard a loud snap and looked down realizing that I had stepped on and broken a branch a branch. Picking up the very ordinary twig I imagined what it would look like turned into metal and embellished with gems.

Fast forward a few years, I’m so delighted with how this lucky find has taken on a life of its own. The likeness of those little twigs, from that sunny say are now being worn people around the world as Wedding Bands, Engagement Rings, Earrings and Bangles. Who would have thought that a walk in the park would have been SO inspiring?

I would like to share with you how my one-of-s-kind wild botanical rings are made. These examples happen to be more sculptural than wearable because the organic elements I choose here are pointy and sharp. If you would like them to be more wearable and sweater friendly, I suggest you select a smoother shape for the top element.

I learned how to make jewelry using traditional Metal Smithing techniques and I often approach design from this perspective because of my background. It is possible to create a similar ring in wax, metal clay or a combination of techniques and materials. The instructions here are merely a suggestion. I create very much the way I cook – by trying a little of this and a little of that and not following too many rules. Any way you choose to do it, I highly recommend starting this project with a walk in the park – you never know where it may lead you.

Barbara Michelle Jacobs Jewelry in Stampington Publications

BMJNYC in Belle Armoire Jewelry, Stampington Publications 2013

BMJNYC- Flora Refashioned article 2013, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Stampington Publications

Champagne Diamonds
clockwise – Shade Range, BMJNYC Champagne Toast Solitaire, Rough Diamonds, BMJNYC Champagne and Roses, BMJNYC Golden North Star Necklace, Faceted Stone.

This story really starts 1.5 billion years ago when the diamond crystals formed but let’s fast forward to 1979 when the Argyle volcanic pipe was discovered in the Kimberley region of Australia.  There was much rejoicing.  That is, until it was revealed that the mine held a wealth of brown diamonds, not the bright white baubles the investors were hoping for.  Eighty percent of the diamonds from the Argyle mine were thought to be brown so the industry faced the dilemma of mucho supply and little demand.  This is when the marketing wheels started to churn and these formerly brown diamonds we renamed and marketed with romantic names such as Champagne, Cognac and Chocolate.  Design competitions were held to encourage designers to use the stones, the general public became aware of this “new” type of diamond and a funny thing happened – marketplace perception changed. Brown diamonds were no longer looked at as the ugly step sisters of diamonds but they had value for their own characteristics.  The golden part of this story for the mining companies is that through clever marketing, they increased demand  which increased trading prices significantly.  To date, the Argyle mine has produced over 670 million carats of rough diamonds and generated more than six billion USD in revenue.  The marketing machine is still pumping and champagne diamonds are hotter than ever.

Additional links:

Argyle Diamond Mine 

Modern Jeweler

View the entire collection in person or select pieces online Get inspired by nature at the NYBG! www.nybgshop.com

They know how to bring out the best characteristics inherent in a stone and fool us into believing they had nothing to do with the gem’s beauty. This 5 minute video by master stone cutter shows how it’s done. John Dyer.

Bring on the sparkle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJPxVwe4Zlw&feature=player_embedded

Meet Mary Ellen McEvily, Watercolor artist, wife, mother, former Ursuline Nun, retired English teacher, cancer survivor and my dear friend.  Mary Ellen recently developed a curriculum for teaching watercolors to cancer patients and their care givers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, offering a welcome distraction and a new vocabulary for self expression. Like Chuck, Mary Ellen’s art is beautiful and sensitive in its own right.  Knowing a little bit about her journey explains the depth and connectedness.  Here’s a link for more about the Art Expressions Program.

Are there threads from your life are woven into your present work?  Can you think of any other artists where knowing the back story is significant in understanding their art?  I would love to hear about it.

Viewing clockwise:

Soldering station: Charcoal Blocks and Grit bowl by Metalliferous, Antique Bench, “Every Woman Should Have a Blowtorch” – Julia Child poster by UUPP on Etsy.

My beloved bench:  Inherited from a dear friend.  Story to follow at a later date.

Bench & Tools:  Obsessively organized.  That’s just how I am :)

Microscope: by  Kassoy  Every set stone is inspected under magnification before shipping.

Keep it Clean

Fine jewelry is often an investment which should be worn and enjoyed.  Proper care will ensure that your treasures will last longer than a lifetime.   Here are some general guidelines for basic care to keep your valuables looking brand new and the stones secure.   If, for any reason, you are uncertain about a piece after reading this, consult us or a local jewelry professional.

Always remove jewelry before doing manual labor and when coming into contact with chlorine especially in common household cleaners.

CHECK-UPS:
Check settings periodically (at least once per year) professionally for any damage to prongs or bezels. Contact me or bring the piece to a professional jeweler for repair immediately if you observe any of the following.

• The setting looks out of line

• Loose prong(s)

• A stone that wiggles, rotates or moves freely in mounting

Hold jewelry up to your EAR and tap very gently with your fingernail on the shank of the ring (the band part) or base of pendant. Tap in an area that has no stones. If anything is loose, you will hear a buzzing sound instead of a solid sound. Please note that  is possible that a bezel set stone may make be secure yet still make a sound. Please have it checked anyway.

CLEANING:

Quick DIY Home Cleaning Solution:
• Prepare a small bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild liquid detergent such as Dawn.
• Soak for 20 minutes
• Gently brush the jewelry with a soft toothbrush while still in the suds.
• Rinse each piece under warm running water with the drain closed.
• Pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth or commercial polishing cloth such as Sunshine® Cloth.
Beware of ultrasonic cleaners. The vibrations can cause stones to become loose and/or fall out. NEVER clean these stones in an ultrasonic cleaner – Opals, Pearls, Emeralds, Tanzanite, Tourmaline, Peridot, Malachite, Onyx, Turquoise, Jade, Amber, Lapis, Mother of Pearl, Coral, Diamonds with lots of inclusions, Colored Diamonds, Malachite or Synthetic stones. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Sterling Silver – Store in an airtight zip lock bag to prevent tarnish. Clean with a commercial polishing cloth. Do not use a commercial cleaner or polishing cloth on oxidized finishes because doing so will remove the surface treatment.
White Gold – Rhodium plating is often used as a finish on white gold for extra brightness because plain “white gold” is really grayish/yellow in color. (see post “White Gold – isn’t that an oxymoron?” ) The plating may wear away if the item is worn regularly and is in contact with other hard surfaces. Consequently rings and bracelets will occasionally require re-plating; earrings and necklaces will rarely need re-plating. Having a white gold ring re-polished can result in removing the plating.

Pearls – Wipe pearls with a soft, lint-free cloth as soon as you take them off. Pearls should be re-strung every few years, depending on how frequently they are worn.

 STORAGE:

When not wearing, keep jewelry in a cool dry place and store each piece separately to prevent pieces from bumping and scratching each other.

INSURANCE:

It may not make sense to cover each piece of jewelry individually but do spend a few minutes investigating so you can make an informed decision.  Please see my post on What to Know about Insuring Your Jewelry and Insurance 101 from The Knot