May 24, 2012

Stone Love: Heather Clark Jewelry

heather-clark_behindworkgraffiti

Unlike the must-be-center-stage statement jewelry we see so much of lately, the brightly-hued, natural stone necklaces of San Francisco’s Heather Clark are pleasantly content to let clothing do the talking. And that’s far from a bad thing.

“You can style them endless ways, and my pieces can complement a bright, statement outfit or keep a more simple look polished,” says Clark, an advertising executive by day who chronicles her adventures in characteristically bold outfits alongside her latest jewelry designs on her blog.

Often suspended from long, stomach-grazing chains, Clark’s necklaces ($28-$98) feature colorful druzies, agates, howlites and other stones encased in 24k gold. We love the pendants for their easy simplicity and eye-catching colors.

Peruse Clark’s latest work in her etsy shop.

More San Francisco jewelry designers….

heather-clark-red-necklaceheather-clark-pink-necklace

[Photography courtesy Heather Clark]

We’re On the Juice: Gold and Citrus Jewelry

Gold-and-Citrus-lemon_trees

Want to hear some juicy news? (If you’re anything like us, the answer will be a resounding yes.) A sweet new jewelry line launched this month from San Francisco artists and designers Sara Rossbach and Richard Combs has dazzled us with its oh-so-San Francisco approach to contemporary luxury. Dubbed Gold and Citrus, the collection of 11 necklaces and one gold-chained headpiece ($80-$820) features gold paired with unexpected materials such as wood grain sequins, silk-backed zippers and brown rooster feathers.

Though the resulting pieces have an effortless polish that makes them just as worthy counterparts for a slouchy cotton tank as they could be for a streamlined wedding dress, there’s nothing simple about divining the designs themselves.

“I would definitely say I spend many more hours brainstorming and sketching ideas than actually producing the pieces,” says Rossbach, the lead designer for the line.

That may very well not sound unusual, until you glimpse the intricate bead work and complex construction invested in such pieces as the scarf-life Kumquat and the pearl-laden Pummelo.

They say it’s the thought that counts, and that sentiment certainly rings true here. The brain power behind Gold and Citrus yields much more than mere beauty. Wearers of the Kumquat and Clementine styles, for example, will find themselves in possession of a neck adornment designed to be worn up to four different ways.

Gold-and-Citrus-mandarin_couch

Gold-and-Citrus-kumquat_grass

Giold-and-Citrus_scarf_positions

Localize It: Vintage Map Pendants

barbe-st-john-promosfwanderlust

To announce her Wanderlust Collection of vintage map pendant necklaces, San Francisco jewelry designer and Saints & Sinners founder Barbe Saint John asks the question, where would you rather be today?

It’s no secret that we’d pretty much always rather be in San Francisco. Hence our love for the San Francisco Vintage Map Pendant shown here. Available on an 18″ chain, the pendant is etched with an image from a vintage map of the City by the Bay and punctuated with map paper under resin to form the central detail.

If you’re looking to soothe your wanderlust with another city, never fear. There are pendants showcasing places around the globe, from Moscow to Tokyo, Paris to Albuquerque.

Looking for more fresh designs from Bay Area labels? You’ll find them in SF Indie Fashion’s local designers section….