Jewels, Design, Art + Life

The New Jeanne Johngren Design Website is Live!

2010-11-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Our new website is finally here. It is at the same web address - http://www.JeanneJohngren.com

Now you can buy from us, write reviews of products, keep a wish list and stay in touch by signing up for our newsletter (and we have many more features coming soon.)

Please stop by and let us know what you think!

All Best,
Jeanne

New Website Coming!

2010-10-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! We've been busily designing a new website which should open up within the week. We'll be porting this blog material over to the new site and continuing on with new weekly posts. Thanks for your patience. We'll post the new location for this blog shortly.

Variety is the Spice...

2010-07-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

I am one of those people who appreciates the seasons. I like the idea of 70 degree weather and low humidity all year long, but in reality, California would just make me lose track of time (even more!) So though I do not appreciate the current high temperatures and cloying humidity that have blanketed the East Coast of the United States, I do love that the weather changes.

As a jewelry designer, I love taking a concept and working it in new directions. Our designs have seasons. They develop and change over time: we just love juicy color combinations and we keep playing with new ones. Some combinations are moody, some are happy, some are sophisticated and some are positively regal.

We are about to launch our re-vamped website so stay tuned for more images of our new directions, coming soon!

Contemporary Jewelry Design Group Appointment

2010-05-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

I am a jewelry designer and a big fan of the jewelers who work around me. We know each other from exhibiting at the trade shows in Las Vegas, New York, Philadelphia, Anaheim, Tucson and elsewhere. We all use the same paint and canvas -- gemstones and metal -- but we have each developed our own language of symbols.

Creating jewelry is an art form and we all see the world through a different lens. Jewelry artists give the gift of their particular creativity, their aesthetic, to every object that they bring into existence. Jewelry is portable, wearable sculpture that elicits feelings of delight in the viewer and in those who wear it.

I am honored and humbled by my recent appointment to become the next president of The Contemporary Jewelry Design Group. I very much look forward to engaging with my fellow designers to increase their visibility among the jewelry-loving public.

I have been working with Marylouise Lugosch, Executive Director of the CJDG, to re-shape the vision for the group as we head into the digital age. To that end we have re-designed the CJDG website, working to make it a destination for those who love jewelry. It is a growing repository of designer profiles, stories of inspiration, gorgeous images, shopping guides, and observations on new directions in jewelry. We hope to inspire our visitors to find out more about each of the CJDG designers and their work. I am very much looking forward to working with the new board -- Vicente Agor, John Petet and Mark Schneider to expand the reach of this terrific group of designers.

The Contemporary Jewelry Design Group was founded in 1989.

Rock her World with our Showstopper Earrings for Mother's Day

2010-05-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is upon us! And our Showstopper earrings are part of the Contemporary Jewelry Design Group's Mother's Day Gift Guide.

If you are looking for something glam, these will do the trick. They are glorious faceted white topaz discs. Light and sparkly, they will brighten up a face. They have a quarter carat of diamonds and are set in 18K white gold. Available at Max's!

Trunk Show in Minneapolis!

2010-04-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have never been to Minneapolis, but I am very much looking forward to my first trip at the end of the month! I've been putting the finishing touches on some pieces and am booking my flight. We're doing a Trunk Show on Friday April 30th and Saturday May 1st, 10am-6pm.

If you are in the MN area, come visit at:

Max's
The Shops at Excelsior & Grand
3831 Grand Way, St Louis Park, MN 55416
(952) 922-8364

www.stylebymax.com

Squaring the Circle

2010-04-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Quattro was originally designed as an exploration of the relationship between squares and circles. While examining this topic, I came across the expression "squaring the circle." It is a reference to an impossible mathematical problem that involves finding the area of a square and a circle and having them be equal. It is an unsolvable problem because the value of pi is indefinite. So, it turns out that the expression "squaring the circle" is a metaphor for doing something logically or intuitively impossible.

I liked the metaphor. When I worked in the film industry, it seemed we were always trying to do the impossible -- shut down the Brooklyn Bridge in the middle of the day, fly a helicopter to pick up a singer off of a small island in the East River in the middle of the night, stop traffic in the middle of Times Square.

We were often told by the NYC Mayor's Office of Film & Television that we could not do what we wanted. And then we had to come up with a way around it. We shot the scene on the Brooklyn Bridge at 4:00 in the morning (and changed the script accordingly). We found the best helicopter pilot, Al Cerullo, in NYC who the Mayor's office would allow to pick up a person on an island in the middle of the East River. (It was said that Al could hover an inch above an egg in high winds and not crack it.) We went ahead and stopped traffic in Times Square but just for very short periods of time, 15-30 seconds, and then cut the sequences together to make the scene appear seamless.

Working in the film industry taught me that what you think is impossible, is not necessarily unachievable, you just have to come up with another way to do it. And in the end, the Quattro, can be a reminder that the seemingly impossible is often highly possible.

Both pendants pictured above are available at Max's in Minneapolis.

Symbols of Devotion

2010-03-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

The wedding ring was not always the emblem of choice to indicate marriage. Before the adoption of the wedding ring, necklaces were given as a symbol of devotion in a marriage proposal or ceremony. In cultures outside of the U.S., including India, Nepal and certain African countries, particular kinds of necklaces are still in use to tell the world that a woman is no longer single or available.

I liked the idea of a necklace to indicate that a woman was married, and began to think about what one might look like. Our Mirabelle necklace came to mind. I thought using a circle shape would echo the idea of a wedding ring. The combination of square faceted stones and round sculptural mandala, creates an intriguing path for the eye to dance over.

This necklace really does feel like an heirloom to me, something inherited from a great, great grandmother who came from across the ocean.

In researching the origin of necklaces as symbols of marriage, I came across this Apache Indian wedding poem written for the 1950 western film Broken Arrow and thought I would share it.

Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Dangle Mandala Earrings in Sapphire

2010-03-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

This pair of Dangle Mandala Earrings continues to be very popular for us. The stones are burnish-set so that they lie flush with the 18K gold surface of the earring. In addition to the blue sapphire pair pictured above, we make them in diamond, ruby, orange and pink sapphire. It is a dainty dangle that somehow is right for both the office and every day as well as a little sparkle for when you go out on the town. It seems to lie just right on most everyone I have seen try them on (which is saying something for earrings!)

These earrings were recently featured in Princeton Magazine's Bridal issue.

The Mandala symbol that we use in our jewelry represents harmony, balance and focus. We hope it lends some of these qualities to each and every wearer.

Inspiration Express

2009-11-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was able to take a long Friday lunch with friends and wine in a dark, wood-paneled bar. One friend asked me where I found my inspiration for my jewelry design. Before I had a chance to respond, she said that her mother, who was a lifelong potter, had believed that everything and anything can be inspiration. I agree wholeheartedly.

Permitting curiosity to be your guide, anything can be questioned, expanded, combined, reversed or put to other uses to bring a new idea into being. Michael Michalko wrote a couple of great books on the subject of invention. Cracking Creativity is a particularly good read.

But sometimes, inspiration just does not seem to come. Sometimes you have to wait for the muse to show up. I recently heard a talk on TED.com where Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love quoted an older poet saying, that inspiration can 'barrel through you like a train while you try to catch the tail end of it, frantically looking for a piece of paper and a pen.' And if you can't get to a pen, if you miss it, the train will just streak on to someone else who can capture it and bring the idea into being. This talk on TED.com is illuminating and heartwarming and decidedly worth viewing.

When ideas are ready to be born, they look for capable midwives, ready with pen, paper, clay, computer, precious metal or stones, who are willing to persist in the work of honing the notion into a fully formed creation. This is a job I love doing.

JJD Sample Sale Time!

2009-10-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

You won't want to miss out. Our once a year event, the JJD Sample Sale, will be held at the Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Oct 13 + 14, from 12-4 pm

New items, one-of-a-kinds, and affordable sterling silver pieces. Fantastic pieces at fantastic prices!

Party in Las Vegas

2009-09-10T18:23:00.001-07:00

Picture from the August issue of National Jeweler...a photo from the Facebook party at Taj, courtesy of Ron Samuelson, Michael Schechter and InStore/InDesign. A whole lotta fun...

Pictured: Krista Collins, myself, Claudia Kretchmer

InDesign Magazine...The Quattro in Tsavorite Garnet and Diamond

2009-08-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Love the green of these tsavorite garnets. Many thanks to Lorraine Wohl and Team InDesign!

New Designs, just in time for Couture '09!

2009-05-24T15:24:00.001-07:00

We just completed new work to feature at the Couture Show. Our line continues to evolve and I'm thrilled to present our latest pieces!

As I've said numerous times when people have asked me why I do what I do..."Well, some people just have to make things." I love the fact that these are the things I get to make!

How do you like them?

Colorful and Color Feel

2009-05-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent 4 hours sorting through colored stones for a series of designs. I heard myself saying over and over, "No, not that yellow sapphire, it has a green undertone. I need one with a warm undertone to go with the orange center stone." Or, "the tourmaline needs to have a blue-green reflection, not purely green." Or, "that purple stone is too close to the red, it blends too much. I need a purple with more contrast, with more blue in it."

This is the beauty of working with a myriad of gemstones. We really can paint with them. Warm colors (reds and oranges) come forward and cools (blues and greens) recede. The undertones of a given color can either be warm or cool and can push the color in one direction or another. So a blue can have either a red undertone, making it warm, or a green undertone, making it cooler. Often it is the contrast of warm and cool or the saturation levels of colors which create a more visually intriguing piece. The eye spends time weighing the intensity and capturing the nuances of the variety of tones. This visual intrigue is my goal.

Different Color combinations have different emotional undercurrents. A ruby, orange sapphire, yellow sapphire combination seems intense and fiery, attention-grabbing and yet, sunny. A blue-green tourmaline with bright green tourmaline seems to capture the serenity of the sea. For me, tanzanite and sapphire suggest gathering clouds before a storm. The combination of aquamarine and peridot has something of the freshness of spring about it.

What do your favorite color combinations suggest for you?

Tapping Into It

2009-04-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

Why do we tap our feet, snap our fingers or clap our hands when we listen to music? We feel the beat and are often compelled to be part of the experience. The sound of the song - notes, rhythm, vibration and pattern, organize emotional experience. The music gives us emotional cues and tells us a story.

When we tap our feet, we are recognizing the rhythm of a piece of music. Rhythm creates pattern. And, though repetition can bore us, patterns with contrast intrigue the eye, ear and mind as we search for underlying meaning. Pattern organizes our experience and generates interest.

Visual rhythm is part of every design with strong emotional resonance. I believe that strong design stays with you like music that haunts you. As in a musical composition, we designers are trying to evoke certain feelings. I created the Mandala pattern thinking about a window from the St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice. But I refined the curves of the design, creating more visual interplay between the straight lines and the arcs.

While designing the Mandala, I thought about the experience of watching a pinwheel, a windmill or one of the original film making machines - a kinetoscope. I was thinking about how centrifugal forces appear to make things spin out of control, but strong centers can hold them together.

The Mandala has become both a focus and an element in many of our designs. The Buddhist spiritual idea of a Mandala, as an object of contemplation that calms the soul and generates insight, appealed to me as I worked on the design, (thus the name). For me, the Mandala is a symbol of controlled creative energy – a fitting symbol for our company.

New Designs I Can't Wait to Make

2009-04-09T13:23:00.001-07:00

I've been madly scribbling down ideas for about a month now and am getting ready to put some new work into production. Here's a composite image of some of the sketches.

I am continuing to explore the JJD Mandala design in different contexts -- hoops, a brooch. And I have a new "Fleur" stained glass window concept to try out.

I will post the finished pieces when they are done. Happy Spring!

Feel Good Factor in the Rap Report

2009-03-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Amber Michelle and the team at The Rapaport Report for including Jeanne Johngren Design in your March issue. This article, "The Feel Good Factor," focuses on involving your company with philanthropy. We loved seeing our jubilant Sunburst earrings lighting up the page! And we think donating to local and national causes is an important part of our responsibility as business owners.

You can read more about this article here.

New Designs...Super Fine in '09

2009-02-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

I am always thrilled to see new work. I see how one idea comes out, and it just makes me want to see more.

So here are some new pieces...

We added stones to our small Mandala hoop. These are set with fiery orange sapphires. I loved the stone-set large hoops, and had some requests for a smaller size. (I've been really enjoying the warmth of the orange sapphires in other designs as well.)

Our Fleur design is set in all diamonds this time (G, VS1, for lots of sparkle.) I added a twist ring above it, for extra fluidity. It is regal and sublime.

The positive and negative space of the Cutout Mandala continues to intrigue me. It has a "pillow" top, meaning it curves out toward you. The piece has a lot of movement to it. This one is in blue sapphire, the color of distant mountains in the late afternoon.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on these pieces or other designs that we create. You can see more of our work on the JJD website.

If you would like to receive our Newsletter, send us an email through the Contact information on our website. Thanks!

Member of the Club

2009-01-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been selected by Simon G as one of his favorite up and coming designers in InDesign's "Fan Club" section. Thanks to Simon G, and InDesign's Beth, Dan, Matthijs and Trace!

You can read the article here.

Trend Spotting

2009-01-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

Here are some websites that keep tabs on current fashion + design developments. Lists of this sort can be energizing if knowing the trends quickens your pulse.

I, of course, am a big fan of Coco Chanel's saying, "Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” And I believe that I need to design beyond the trends. But, "all the world's a stage..." and it is fun to stay au courant.

Here's a list of some of my favorite places on the web to check in on new directions...

Fashionising.com
Fashion Trends 2009

JustLuxe.com
Spring Color for 2009

Fashion Trendsetter.com
Seasonal Fashion Trends, Color Trends (including Pantone color references,) Events

Design Sponge
Mini Trends in Housewares

Vogue
For runway videos, articles on trends, fashion culture

Crit
A blog from the School of Visual Arts

Design Observer
Writings on Design and Culture from some incredible minds

Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things
Obscure and fascinating facts that may end up influencing pop culture, which of course, influences art, fashion + design.

Basenotes
A Guide to what's new in fragrance.

Here's my quick rundown on the fashion trends for Spring '09:

See-Through Fabrics
Continued Layering
Continued use of Gradient Fabrics
Appliques, pearls and beads attached to fabrics
Imperfect Fabrics (referencing all things "green.")

Neutrals mixed with Brights (especially yellow)
Black and White
Seaside Colors (that remind me of seeing color through ocean mist.)
Mauve (believe it or not...though it is looking rather like raspberry. But those of us who lived through the 80's know...)

Off-The-Shoulder Dresses (+ other expressions of asymmetry)
Grecian Dresses + the Ultra Feminine
Longer, unstructured jackets (but not sloppy)
Short jackets
Jeans
Harem Pants (believe it or not.)

Statement Jewelry
Fringe, on jewelry and clothing.
Pink will play a role, as will black and white accessories

Do you have any additions to this list? Love to hear about it in a comment.

What’s in your Jewelry Wardrobe?

2009-01-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

I always find it surprising to hear that many people wear the same jewelry every day. You wouldn’t wear the same t-shirt, skirt, or even the same shoes every day. Why would anyone wear the same necklace or earrings every day? ( I know, it is one less decision to make, but let’s believe that with a little upfront investment of time, we can have what we need at our finger tips and it won’t take a whole lot of bandwidth to make the choices.)

I know that some people wear diamond stud earrings and a "journey" necklace all the time. To me this is dull, dull, dull. But then, I do not design diamond studs or diamond journey necklaces...because, there’s not much design to it.

Women can wear jewelry that reflects their moods or the activities scheduled for any given day. After all, we are picking our clothes, shoes and maybe even our perfume based on these criteria. I think we need different jewels that work in the different contexts of our lives. All of the fashion magazines talk about modern women as excellent jugglers--multi-taskers who make ADD look like child’s play (which I believe it mostly is.) We are expected to take care of house and home, children, work (some of us full-time), volunteer activities, lunch with friends, dinner (or reservations and calling the sitter,) and going to the bloody gym...never mind staying civil.

I am in need of a spa vacation just thinking about it all. I think a real jewelry wardrobe is the least we can do for ourselves.

So, pray tell, what is at the heart of a good jewelry wardrobe?

OK, here we go for the basics…

Necklaces:
1- Long and short chains so that they work with the different necklines of your clothing. If the pieces can work together, all the better.
2- Layered chains are still a favorite look of Hollywood stylists and I don’t think it is going away anytime soon. It is great to have flexibility, so being able to --
3- Add a pendant to a chain or double it so that you can wrap it around your neck more than once is a bonus. Large and small are important for flexibility.
4- A thicker, face-framing necklace, chain or pearl necklace gets you a pronounced classic, office or board room look. Or if you are doing one of the very big "statement" necklaces, it can get you a high octane fashion look.

Earrings:
Well, here we need options. Earrings frame the face and so are very important statement pieces. They can make us feel glamorous in an instant.
1- Long dangles or chandeliers for dining out.
2- Large buttons or hugging hoops for the office.
3- Small Buttons for Yoga or Spinning class...or for a day when you need to feel finished without making a loud statement.
4- Large hoop earrings for a dash of eye-catching glamour.

Of course it is great to have earrings in many color options, for special events or particular outfits, to work with your clothing wardrobe. (More on color in future posts.)

Bracelets:
1- Thin bangles for spice. Nice if it has a charm attached.
2- Thick bangles for statement and to call attention to great arms.
3- Link or charm bracelets for ‘feeling dressed.’

Rings:
1- If you have a wedding or commitment ring that you wear all the time, great…don’t be afraid to upgrade. Tastes change. Styles change. (That pear diamond you loved and bought 8 years ago may just feel a bit out of step with the current zeitgeist.) It is nice to have extra rings to make you feel ‘dressed’ when you are out and about.
2- Thin bands for a simple look. It is nice if the bands can be combined to make more of a statement as...
3- Stack rings, especially when mixed with rings with gorgeous stones.
4- Cocktail rings. All colors, all sizes (leaves plenty of room to collect these over a lifetime.) Less is definitely not more when it comes to rings…less is less.

Of course, there are other kinds of jewelry, but we’re going to stop there and keep our G-rating.

We'll talk about more fashion-forward choices that aren't on our "short" list of must-haves in blogs to come.

The beautiful thing about jewelry is that it really doesn’t take up that much space. If you are going out shopping and trying to decide between that it bag and a new pair of earrings, you know which choice is going to stay with you beyond this season.

What are your favorite pieces in your jewelry wardrobe?

Fashion Fast-Forward

2008-12-22T05:41:00.000-08:00

Last week I met Sally Singer, Vogue writer and editor at a tea sponsored by Harvest for Home, a Princeton-based, non-profit organization that helps people get back into homes after a period of homelessness.

Sally graciously answered questions for over an hour and gave us a bird's eye view into her fashion editor's world.

"Fashion is part of the context of a life. It is one aspect of people's lives." Sally remarked that Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, uses fashion to tell stories in the photo shoots. If you take a look at the fashion spreads of Vogue, you can see that indeed the ingenue and the older man are off on a weekend sightseeing escapade...without the wife.

A number of women attending the tea had questions about necessities for their wardrobes. Sally answered them all with equal parts gravitas and light-heartedness. I have paraphrased the questions and her answers here.

Q. How do I determine what I should spend my money on this season?

A. The sales are going to be deeper after Christmas, so take advantage of it. There are always Couture prices, mid-level prices and lower end, mass-produced prices. Buy the look you feel you most identify with at the pricepoint you can afford. If you think that you are the kind of person who always looks great in a trench coat and boots, buy those 2 pieces. If you feel comfortable in pajamas, buy the pajama suit look for evening, and the pajama look for day, and wear it. If you know what you feel comfortable in, buy that and buy the best that you can afford. You will get lots of use out of these items.

Q. What kind of jacket should I have in my wardrobe?

A. The best jackets right now are based on the $3-4,000 Balmain jacket from a couple of years ago. Rick Owens has a great jacket at the $1,500 price point. J. Crew has excellent tailoring at a much lower price point. Also, take a look at the Olsen Twins' new line, "The Row," a brand carried at Barney's. It has many classic elements.

When looking to buy a jacket, make sure that the armholes are cut so that they are not too wide. A narrower armhole suggests better tailoring.

Q. What does every woman need in her wardrobe?

A. Apart from a good jacket,
A sheath dress. Think Audrey Hepburn.
Ballet Flats. Lanvin has a great pair, as do Alaia and Jimmy Choo.
Boots. Check out Christian Louboutin, Derek Lam for Tod's, Sigerson Morrison and Yves St. Laurent. Heel height depends on you.
Handbag. Python is going to be big this spring. Look at Proenza Schouler's men's type bags. Check out Alexander Wang for "hip." And Look at Dunlin in the $400 range.
Jeans. We are waiting for the next re-invention. Check out J Brand, they are often on-trend or setting the new trend.
Pencil Skirt and flouncy skirt, if that's you.
Big Cardigan, if that's you.

Q. What are some of the best places to shop, where the owners have really culled 'the looks' of the season?

A. Barney's. Nieman's. In Soho, Opening Ceremony, at Howard and Crosby Streets, and Kirna Zabete on Greene St.

Q. How do you determine if something is a trend, or is 'on trend?'

A. Trends emerge. They are the result of many people looking at the same items, using the same visual language and coming up with new ideas at approximately the same time. They are not choreographed events among designers.

Q. What did you think of Michelle Obama's outfit on the night of the acceptance speech in Grant Park? (You can see Michelle Obabma's on-camera outfits here. Image number 5 is the dress in question, which was designed by Narciso Rodriguez.)

A. It was great. She is more fashion forward than any of our previous first ladies. She must wear clothes that are made-in-America while in the public eye, and that is going to affect the choices that she makes.

Sally Singer travels the world. She attends the Paris, Milan, London, NY and LA fashion shows. She meets with older as well as up and coming designers to keep her readers in the know. She has an amazing view of the fashion industry and it was a pleasure to be privvy to it for an afternoon.

Jumping off the Cliff...

2008-12-22T05:14:00.000-08:00

Web 2.0 is upon us and I can't let the revolution keep moving forward without taking an active role. I've just started on Twitter (jj_design is my "handle") and I have a facebook page that keeps me laughing and connected with many friends. It is time to start a blog.

So, what will this blog be and why?

I will focus on design, the jewelry world, and the relationship between the two as they are filtered through my life. Why? Because I have an interesting thought or two per day (sometimes more)...so now I have a forum in which to collect them. I'm looking forward to it!

Reality TV ain't nothing compared to this!