Gatsby girl

So I haven't blogged for a while, even though I have so much to blog about... First of all, I have to say I loved the Great Gatsby film, and it gave me the little push I needed to finally create some pearl pieces... Glad to say they have already proven to be a hit in my Etsy shop. The quote is the last line from Fitzgerald's book...

This piece was done with real ivory freshwater potato pearls, so sweet and decadent... The wire wrapping alone was so charming!!!

And this is a simpler piece, done with an acrylic pearl at the bottom... Simpler means more versatile! And less pricey, too ;)

What do you think? I always love to get feedback! And I promise to blog again soon, as I have more things I want to show you... ;) 

xx

The Girl with the Pearl Earring

For the AW 2013-14 collection, Maria and Pier, the creative directors of Valentino, drew their inspiration from Vermeer's painting Girl with the Pearl Earring. I absolutely adored their collection, and I highlighted these (photos from Vogue, of course):

 

I also loved the models' hair and the fact that the only piece of jewelry that could be seen was a kind of pearl necklace. But I would go and combine the clothes with long Amoronia quote necklaces, for sure :)

Overall, an amazing collection!
 

Be glad as children

"My friends, ask gladness from God. Be glad as children, as birds in the sky. And let man's sin not disturb you in your efforts, do not fear that it will dampen your endeavor and keep it from being fulfilled, do not say, 'Sin is strong, impiety is strong, the bad environment is strong, and we are lonely and powerless, the bad environment will dampen us and keep our good endeavor from being fulfilled.' Flee from such despondency, my children! There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is so, my friend, and the moment you make yourself sincerely responsible for everything and everyone, you will see at once that it is really so, that it is you who are guilty on behalf of all and for all. Whereas by shifting your own laziness and powerlessness onto others, you will end by sharing in Satan's pride and murmuring against God." (Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Book VI, Chapter 3)

For this necklace I was inspired by father Zosima the elder's teachings, from the Brothers Karamazov. And today it's also a very happy, glorious, sunny day... Perfect! Have a nice weekend everyone :)

Winning an Oscar: The Dream that came true

Hi lovelies!

Anne Hathaway has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film Les Miserables, at the 85th annual Academy Awards, and finished her acceptance speech with these words: 'Here's hoping that someday in the not too distant future, the misfortunes of Fantine will only be found in stories, and never more in real life.'

In my opinion, Anne Hathaway's I Dreamed A Dream is the only interpretation so far that has made it possible for me to connect so realistically with the lyrics. After all, the approach of the film seems to have been to create a visual interpretation of the music, making it sound more real.

I couldn't help making these.

Apart from Les Miserables, I found many films to be really good this year, and I think the results reflected this. What did you think of this year's Oscars? What was your favorite film?

Goethe quote necklace

These last few weeks have been rainy, stormy, cloudy, windy or, in the best case dull. So yesterday I was looking outside the window, thinking about what an unhappy day Valentine's must have been for some people. I remembered a book from one of the top shelves in my library, about young Werther. It was in Greek, quite an old publication. And I began to read.

This is the book in its original German publication, the first print, in 1774 (image from Wikipedia). So, I suppose, if I wanted to make a jewelry piece with a quote from this book, it wouldn't be special if it was in Greek, or English. It would have to be in German, the language that Goethe wrote it in.

This is what I came up with. It is a gold heart locket, hanging from a black beaded choker. The locket reads 'Mein Herz habe ich allein', the phrase that struck me as quite strong and which I felt like using for this piece. The necklace is available here.

Les Mis Necklace

I love it when my customers come to me with a specific idea in mind for a custom order. This was the case a few days ago, when a woman asked me to make her a necklace with three lines from the song 'A Little Fall of Rain', from the musical Les Miserables. You can imagine my enthusiasm!

Les Miserables is one of the most popular musicals ever, and it is based on Victor Hugo's novel. Here is part of the song which inspired this necklace, trust me, if it brings tears to your eyes, it's normal:

Eponine
Don't you fret, M'sieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.

Marius
But you will live, 'Ponine - dear God above...
If I could heal your wounds with words of love...

Eponine
Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me...

Marius
You would live
A hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now...

Eponine
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain will wash away what's past
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last
The rain that brings you here
Is Heaven-blessed!
The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far...


You can watch the video here.

Deeper Magic From Before the Dawn of Time. Narnia inspired earrings.

  

If you follow this blog, you know how much I love Narnia. I found this photo of the Snow Queen at a Facebook page, here, don't know which issue of Vogue it comes from, but I thought the similarities with the White Witch from 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' were striking! The Snow Queen looks irresistible, but would she be the most powerful? I thought of the 'Deeper Magic' chapter. And then, I made these:

 

I thought of ice melting, I imagined love entering even the coldest of hearts. Only white opal, with its iridescence and its colorful flashes of pink, green and gold could capture the magic of love and kindness that lies deeper than any other magic in the world!

Available here.

That Time of Year

The Hobbit

As December 14 approaches, the day when The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes out, I happened to watch a trailer on the Tolkien fan Facebook page. Every Tolkien fan is excited, it seems, and I am no exception. If you want to go to the movie site, where there's a lot to do, it's here.

My favorite image was this:

Naturally, I went back to the book. I wanted to find the exact lines that epitomize the whole book, so to speak. This is what I came up with:

This line is from Chapter 18, from the Thorin's last words: 'There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.' How can anyone beat that?

These words are so important to remember and so comforting, for when we have lost faith. What an inspiring line to wear! It is a 31 inch long chain necklace, so it matches all the current fashion trends perfectly, and I used a locket instead of a plain setting, to imply that all you have to do to find faith again, is to search in your soul. The treasure is in the soul. If you like this piece, it is available here.

Gold fever

Metallics are definitely in fashion at the moment, but what amazed me was the presentation of totally gold outfits from Fall 2012. As I look through these images, I can't help but think of Thorin's last words, from Tolkien's The Hobbit: 'If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world'. If fashion values gold, doesn't that mean that the human race is once more confused about what brings happiness? Food for thought...

 

Elie Saab (photo: IMAXtree)

 Prabal Gurung (photo: IMAXtree)

 Michael Kors (photo: IMAXtree)

 Paco Rabanne (photo: IMAXtree)

 Giambattista Valli (photo: IMAXtree)

Feel like your eyes hurt? I know... And yes, I am pretty much obsessed with The Hobbit these days... Prepare for the next post... Kisses!

Greek goddess gold owl brass earrings. Bright-eyed Athena.

'Glaukopis' Athena means bright-eyed Athena. Goddess of wisdom - and her symbol is the owl. I was reading the part in Odyssey where she reveals herself to Odysseus in Ithaca and I was struck by the use of this adjective, 'bright-eyed', exactly like the gleaming eyes of an owl in the dark. I couldn't resist making these.

You can find them here.

AW12-13 Fashion Trend Report: Military Aristocracy

The military trend is not something new on the catwalks; this time it's all about the military aristocracy, a camouflaged 'utility' style that comes with rich and luxurious fabrics like velvet, leather and very defined, tailored, stiff shapes. Salvatore Ferragamo's collection may well be the epitome of this.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Especially look for details like belts, several styles of military collars, military style buttons and also epaulettes. Victoria Beckham did a great job of adding these without being over the top.

Victoria Beckham

Still, this trend may look like utility, but let us not fool ourselves: It is definitely very rich and luxurious, like a high rank statement in itself. See the alligator and the double faced cashmere in Max Mara, for instance:

Max Mara

You may even consider combining elements of this trend with ethnic references, just like Joseph Altuzarra did. I especially noted his cargo pants, his military coats, and the practical, pleated military skirts, with some actual room for legs to walk, all these combined with amazing sweaters and luxurious, python over the knee, leather boots.

Altuzarra

Whether you like this trend or not, always keep in mind that it's not only about what we wear, but also how we wear it. Having a look at the items of the EGST shops might help. Until next time, I salute you!

Casual foxy

Casual foxy by amoronia featuring a purple nail polish

Night at the castle. August blue moon. Amoronia necklace.

This is from last night at Chlemoutsi castle. There was opera playing. I am wearing my Elvish love message necklace, a simpler version I have made for myself without the Swarovski. The rest is poetry.

Not for timid bodies

In a room—empty, small, four walls only,
covered with green cloth—
a beautiful chandelier burns, all fire;
and in each of its flames a sensual fever,
a lascivious urge, glows with heat.

In the small room, radiantly lit
by the chandelier’s hot fire,
no ordinary light breaks out.
Not for timid bodies
the rapture of this heat.

Translated by Edmund Keeley/Philip Sherrard

(C.P. Cavafy, Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Edited by George Savidis. Revised Edition. Princeton University Press, 1992)

A few weeks ago I discovered some links from a vintage gold gilt chandelier. They were bright gold and just way too beautiful to be thrown away, they had this wonderful palmette decorative motif, so I put them inside the box for when the inspiration would be right. And a couple of days ago, I came across this poem by Cavafy, called 'Chandelier'. If you read Greek, here it is in the original:

Σε κάμαρη άδεια και μικρή, τέσσαρες τοίχοι μόνοι,
και σκεπασμένοι με ολοπράσινα πανιά,
καίει ένας πολυέλαιος ωραίος και κορώνει·
και μες στη φλόγα του την καθεμιά πυρώνει
μια λάγνη πάθησις, μια λάγνη ορμή.

Μες στην μικρή την κάμαρη, που λάμπει αναμένη
από του πολυελαίου την δυνατή φωτιά,
διόλου συνειθισμένο φως δεν είν’ αυτό που βγαίνει.
Γι’ άτολμα σώματα δεν είναι καμωμένη
αυτής της ζέστης η ηδονή.

(Από τα Ποιήματα 1897-1933, Ίκαρος 1984)


Then it suddenly struck me. I had the finished piece in front of me in a few seconds. And I got to work.

I think the result looks sultry and provocative, just like the poem is. I love how an architectural salvage, like this chandelier chain link, gives this piece its character and is then quietly complemented by the black brass chain and the black Czech glass bead. Its provocative element is thus even more stressed! 'Not for timid bodies' indeed...

What do you think?

Antigone's Love Ethics

Available here.

My Lady Lazarus Ring

Available here.

Lord of the Rings Tolkien quote crown necklace in gold brass

'The crownlass again shall be king' is the last line of the famous Tolkien poem from The Fellowship of the Ring. This necklace is very versatile. You will want to wear it every day, because it's such a precious thought to be carrrying with you always, but it may also serve as a great piece to wear with a wedding dress. After all, one of the meanings of a wedding is that the couple is actually made King and Queen in their own home, which is interesting!

 Available here. Magnificent!

Gold Cross Necklace

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridall of the earth and skie:
The dew shall weep thy fall to night;
For thou must die.

Sweet rose, whose hue angrie and brave
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye:
Thy root is ever in its grave
And thou must die.

Sweet spring, full of sweet dayes and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie:
My musick shows yehave your closes,
And all must die.

Onely a sweet and vertuous soul,
Like season'd timber, never gives;
But though the whole world turn to coal,
Then chiefly lives.

(George Herbert, Vertue. From The Temple, 1633)

 The necklace is available here. Have a happy weekend!

Lady Lazarus inspiration

Hello my wonderful followers :) Summer is here for good so I have been too lazy to blog lately. But I had to show you something new that I made, and all because of my FB page, which has proved a great source of inspiration. I was asking the other day what my FB page likers' favorite poem was, when I was asked the same question back. I couldn't decide on just one favorite, so I listed a few of my top 10. One of the poems was Sylvia Plath's Lady Lazarus, so I thought about making a new pair of earrings to allude to that and I immediately got to work.

  I have done it again.
  One year in every ten
  I manage it——

  A sort of walking miracle, my skin
  Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
  My right foot

  A paperweight,
  My face a featureless, fine
  Jew linen.

  Peel off the napkin
  O my enemy.
  Do I terrify?——

  The nose, the eye pits, the full set of teeth?
  The sour breath
  Will vanish in a day.

  Soon, soon the flesh
  The grave cave ate will be
  At home on me

  And I a smiling woman.
  I am only thirty.
  And like the cat I have nine times to die.

  This is Number Three.
  What a trash
  To annihilate each decade.

  What a million filaments.
  The peanut-crunching crowd
  Shoves in to see

  Them unwrap me hand and foot
  The big strip tease.
  Gentlemen, ladies

  These are my hands
  My knees.
  I may be skin and bone,

  Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
  The first time it happened I was ten.
  It was an accident.

  The second time I meant
  To last it out and not come back at all.
  I rocked shut

  As a seashell.
  They had to call and call
  And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

  Dying
  Is an art, like everything else,
  I do it exceptionally well.

  I do it so it feels like hell.
  I do it so it feels real.
  I guess you could say I've a call.

  It's easy enough to do it in a cell.
  It's easy enough to do it and stay put.
  It's the theatrical

  Comeback in broad day
  To the same place, the same face, the same brute
  Amused shout:

  'A miracle!'
  That knocks me out.
  There is a charge

  For the eyeing of my scars, there is a charge
  For the hearing of my heart——
  It really goes.

  And there is a charge, a very large charge
  For a word or a touch
  Or a bit of blood

  Or a piece of my hair or my clothes.
  So, so, Herr Doktor.
  So, Herr Enemy.

  I am your opus,
  I am your valuable,
  The pure gold baby

  That melts to a shriek.
  I turn and burn.
  Do not think I underestimate your great concern.

  Ash, ash —-
  You poke and stir.
  Flesh, bone, there is nothing there——

  A cake of soap,
  A wedding ring,
  A gold filling.

  Herr God, Herr Lucifer
  Beware
  Beware.

  Out of the ash
  I rise with my red hair
  And I eat men like air.


This is what I made. I hope you like it :)

You can find these earrings here. I hope you are relaxing as well, I am leaving you for now :)