Centre Court

05/06/09

Center Court -- or Center Stage?

YOU WILL BE CENTER, period, WHEN YOU SPORT THIS NECKLACE!

Seven tennis racket brooches are magically (well -- it's not magic, it's tools and time) transformed into a tennis ball bonanza for your neck.

Each brooch has had it's original rhinestone tennis ball replaced with a pearl tennis ball so as to keep the motif as tennis-y as possible.

(I wonder if I should've spelled "tennis-y", tennessee?)
(I wonder if I should've spelled "spelled", spelt?)

See how my mind works?

Anyway -- back to our regularly scheduled tennis match.



It's fun, it's passionate.

It's for those WHO LOVE THEIR GAME!

Match point? = LOVE! ♥











Signed Kay Adams, A1417
Blast Collection, $210, Sold

Meet The GaGa Gang

05/05/09



Meet Sassy Sabrina.
A0844




And Stylin' Stella.
A0843


Here's Lovely Lilly.
A0842




Musn't forget Catty Katrina.

She's Sassy Sabrina's twin.

See the resemblance?
A0841


And of course we all know Lady GaGa.
A0840





All retro transferware cameos.

Each cameo Swarovski rhinestone studded and on a removable clasp.

Suspended from clear polished crystal chain, which can be worn by itself.

Adjustable up to 18".

Signed Kay Adams, A0840 - A0844
Bitz Collection. Your choice $28 each.

Mother's Day is Upon Us!

05/03/09

The Ultimate Mother's Day Necklace.

And Mother's Day is just around the bend -- this Sunday -- May 10th!!

This rarity is made from 1930's-1940's gold-filled scripted wire and handcarved mother-of-pearl pins, each spelling out the word "Mother."

These used to be given as carnival prizes and sold by vendors at places such as Coney Island and the World's Fairs.

I've been collecting these for several years and finally had enough to pull this design off as I envisioned.

As the pinbacks were made from the same continuous piece of wire that spells out the word Mother on the front, each pinback was very strategically removed and the backside permanently secured.


Each former brooch was laid out diagonally and drilled, then linked with sparkling Swarovski crystal findings! YUM!!



One thing's for sure --

Mom will KNOW you LOVE her!












Signed Kay Adams, A1401
Lore Collection, $295

Flouncy Flouncy!

05/03/09

Alive and robust!

A matte green made-in-Japan bisque flower is surrounded by jewel-tone moonglow buttons in vibrant reds, blues and blacks.

And don't they play against the matte green flower deliciously.

A must-have necklace for feel good moods!

Signed Kay Adams, A1189
Bitz Collection, $36, Sold

New Zealand Bound

05/02/09

Ok -- we all know I'm major fan of fashion designer Grace DuVal.

And I've got Grace on the brain today because I've just learned she's going to be competing in a WORLDWIDE WEARABLE ART competition in New Zealand -- THE all-the-way-across-the-world New Zealand -- to vie for being one of the most talented wearable art designers in, well, THE WORLD!

Grace, and the talented Melanie Hearn, have both won a grant to participate in this competition, and just wait till you see the knock out ensembles they've got planned.

And, guess what?? I'll be making the couture jewelry for the entries :))

More blogging on all that later . . .

Now, in the meantime, about the above fab pics.

This is a little Donna Reed number, aptly titled "Mother's Little Helper" that Grace whipped up (not a World of Wearable Art entry -- this was a simply another one of her professionally shot and inspired designs).

A classic 1950's housewife looks smashing in her fitted satin blue frock, all the while having all her necessities at and/or in her beck-and-call apron.

See, there is a pocket system inside the apron for everything she may ever need.

And of course the outfit needed a WWII era pearl necklace . . .

Grace SOOOO rocks!
(btw, click the Donna Reed photo to see it MUCH larger!!)

Signed Kay Adams, A0870
WWII Pearl Design Series
Posh Collection, $165, Sold

Other blog entries on Grace DuVal:
Bath Bomb Genius
This Girl Rocks It!
Rise, Phoenix, Rise
Vote Tomato!
Leaping Lizards!
Marie Antoinette's Peacock

Model is Amy Biddle

I'm Crabby This Morning

05/01/09

Crabs fit their name well.

They are crotchety -- well, crabby -- little varmints to manipulate.

They generally do not have good drill points, their claws get in the way, they aren't easy brooches to find (especially such that they'd pull off a cohesive design).

It takes a long time to grind their backs smooth.

BUT, having done all that griping -- aren't they ever so worth it??

The center beauty is sterling silver with a soapstone (or possibly South American serpentine) belly.

Other vintage collectibles balance out this one.of.a.kind, bar-none beauty.



Signed Kay Adams, A1059
Joy Collection, Sold

Free Bird

04/30/09

Lynyrd Skynyrd did it with perfectly selected lyrics.

I do it with carefully modified elements.

Both free birds rock . . .


And I must be travelling on now . . .

to bed . . .

good night.






Signed Kay Adams, A1383
Lux Collection, Sold

Two's Company

04/29/09

Yes -- two's definitely company -- especially when it's CHOCOLATE BRONZE PEARLS!

Another in this series with the FABULOUS stock of retro Japanese glass pearls (from WWII).

This asymmetrical number is strangely decadent with it's two off-center bronze pearls.

It consists of a combo of distressed off white pearls, one perfectly out-of-step gray pearl, and the two chocolate bronze pearls that have the lead role in this decadent cast of other pearl supporters.



Signed Kay Adams, A0973
Posh Collection, $165
Sold

It's A Go . . .

04/28/09

Haskell Inspired? Check.

Vintage? Check.

Unique? Check.

Party Dress? Check.

Jeans? Check.


It's a go . . .



Signed Kay Adams, A0974
Posh Collection, $195, Sold

Simply Complex

04/27/09

A rich rose and yellow gold 1940's floral brooch becomes mesmerizing in this asymmetrical sideswept piece of wearable art.

Simply Complex.

If you know what I mean.






Signed Kay Adams, A1411
Strike Collection, $155
Sold

Hold Fast

04/26/09

You've got to meet this girl. This is Angie and she's the coolest thing this side of Mars.

I love everything about her -- her spirit, her smile, her happiness, her uninhibitedness (is that a word?).

The point is, Angie just has a wonderful sense of self and enjoys every minute of it.

I think her tatoo's are undeniably captivating and I am honored to have earned a place on Angie's neck with all the tatoo art.

We found a necklace that blended, yet also stood out with all her amazing ink.

She loved this piece because of all of the art deco items. Mirror back dress clips and marquis collar pins of yesterday -- and a 1940's milk glass flower -- an odd and unexpected combination of single items that find harmony collectively.


Her neck is tatoo'd on the back in large beautiful script the words "Hold Fast" -- she was telling me how her uncle was in the navy and how it honored him and was a term meaning stand strong and be courageous.

I glean an essence of "be who you are" in that beautiful adage, and one in which Angie strongly believes in and adheres to.

I do too.

Hold fast, beautiful girl, hold fast.






Signed Kay Adams, A1299
Lux Collection, Sold

Satisfaction

04/25/09


Simple and sweet.

I feel complete.










Signed Kay Adams, A1406
Bitz Collection, $55

Love Birds ♥♥♥

04/24/09

Smooch!

I love them, and they love each other.

Peachy-Limey lovebird love.

♥♥♥


Signed Kay Adams, A1408
Strike Collection, $145

But Don't Scrap It . . .

04/23/09

A labor of love.

My Lore Collection is filled with labors of love . . .
and an innate understanding that all vintage jewelry, no matter how plain, old, weathered or worn, has untapped redemption and virtue.

Many of these elements were former unengraved signet brooches of gold filled and sterling from the 1950's.

The back findings have been meticulously filed away and then drilled through to hang them in irresistible collective sequence.

The chain from which they hang is a sterling curb link design and valuable in it's own right.

A stylish and sophisticated piece! And ironically contemporary.

And who knows, with today's silver and gold prices, it could scrap for more than it's selling for!

But don't scrap it . . .

Signed Kay Adams, A0727
Lore Collection, $325

April Showers

04/22/09

Look! It's been raining so much, that this year the April showers have brought, appropriately, APRIL FLOWERS!!

What a delightful conglomeration of color, size, texture, scale and APRIL FRIVOLITY!

Be alive. Feel alive. Look alive.

A necklace like this will make it happen.

(Picture it peering out from under your open-necked button-front white collared shirt, which you are wearing with either a little blace skirt, or, equally as tantalizing, your jeans).

YAY April! YAY flower collar necklaces!

Signed Kay Adams, A0975
Blast Collection, $225

Sword Sophisticate

04/21/09

An former Spanish damascene sword pin has been gracefully transformed into an eye-catching necklace.

Damascene is a technique of inlaying gold and silver on etched and oxidized steel to produce beautiful decorative designs.

It has come to be known as a trademark artform of Toledo, Spain.

And interesting -- it's quite a popular artform in Japan also, where it is referred to as Amita, so named after the Amita Damascene Manufacturing Company, Kyoto, Japan.

Classic good looks, fantastic history.


Signed Kay Adams, A1172
Bitz Collection, Sold

WILD WOMAN!

04/20/09

MOVE OVER JANICE DICKINSON!!!

This WILD WOMAN necklace is free spirited and free wheeling!!

NOTHING will hold back the woman who will wear a piece like this.

Multiple chains crash into each other with random abandonment.

Giant black and gold flowers JUMP out of nowhere to jazz and EXCITE!!!

Surprisingly light weight, as many of the chains used where goldplated aluminum and faceted crystal clear acrylic.

Golds, silvers and clears and POPS of POIGNANT BLACK give this piece PUNCH, JOLT, and UNPARALLELED SHOWMANSHIP.
















Signed Kay Adams, A1225
Juice Collection, $450, Sold

Million Watt Baby

04/19/09

Ok -- this beauty came into Anthill several weeks ago and FLIPPED over this antique collage of former dress clips.

She treated herself for upcoming graduation from nursing school, if I have that correct.

I call her million watt baby -- because that smile of hers is a million watts bright. We should all be so lucky.

But you know what the awesomest thing to me was?? See the bottom pic here -- showcasing just the necklace? That's been her facebook profile pic ever since she bought the necklace. Now that makes a designer beam like a million watts!!!

Signed Kay Adams, A1311
Lux Collection, Sold

Romancing the Bow . . .

04/18/09


Fluid~~flowy~~feminine~~fancy~~~

Gold and silvertone vintage bows, some sterling, some goldwashed, some rhinestone, have been set free from their former pinbacks and drilled and hung in the most delightful dance for your neck.

Softly draped with seed pearl streamers for complete romance. ♥






Signed Kay Adms, A1067
Lore Collection, Sold

Rock Around the Clock!

04/17/09

Daring and dramatic. Edgy and fun.

Full size antique pocket-watch enamel faces are mounted onto retro plastic "bezels" and draped with blackened aluminum chain for a look that is unparalleled.

Those little round diamond cut circles ARE ON FIRE in person! Come by the shop and see them GLINT and SHINE. It's a showstopper, and so much more so in person!!

It's TIME to rock, baby!!


Signed Kay Adams, A1372
Toc Collection, $295, Sold

The Necklace Next Door

04/16/09

The best way to describe filigree is "metal lace".

It is a BEAUTIFUL art form, often Portuguese, that I have long been a fan of.

This necklace is so comfortable, so versatile, it could be worn everyday.

Very unassuming, yet so lovely to look at -- kind of like the girl next door, in necklace form.

It includes extractions from bracelets, earrings and a Victorian buckle, which is the centerpiece.

It's a take-home-to-mom type of keeper -- the proverbial classic.


Signed Kay Adams, A1396
Lore Collection, $195, Sold

Looks Count

04/15/09

Looks good enough to eat.

Looks good enough to wear to Grand Cayman.

Looks good enough to wear to work.

Looks good enough to wear with your Sunday best.

Looks good enough to casually jazz up your jeans and tee.

Looks GOOD.

Signed Kay Adams, A1337
Joy Collection, Sold

Three. 3. Tres.

04/14/09

Not 1.

Not 2.

Three. 3. Tres.

Antique (c. 1930's) child's "building block" style green-edged toy number 3.

And a big 3, at that.

Drilled, diamond-studded, hung from black pinned diamond cut crystal. Removable element.

Adjustable to 18".

Signed Kay Adams, A0772
Bitz Collection, $40
Sold

Radiant Rebecca

04/13/09

You've seen me blog on this beauty in the past -- (click to see)

It's the radiant Rebecca Pennington.

This is a bomb of a pearl necklace that her husband walked into the shop and bought her "just because."

I'm telling you -- he's a great guy.

She's wearing this in the Big Apple, if I'm not mistaken.

And when Rebecca wears 'em -- people notice 'em!!

GOOD STUFF!


















Signed Kay Adams, A0206
Posh Collection, Sold

A Cross for Easter

04/12/09

A joyous cross for a joyous day.

Happy Easter!


















Signed Kay Adams, A1009
Strike Collection, $110, Sold

Marry Me Little Turtle

04/11/09

Ok -- this is my little brother, aka Doc Wallace. He is a history professor.

This is his BRIDE, Melinda Spencer and . . . drum roll please . . .
as of today, Melinda Spencer WALLACE!!

She's a GIFTED science teacher for AP students.

AND TODAY IS THEIR WEDDING DAY!!!

I'm not really here typing this. I pre-blogged and right now I'm at the wedding!!!

This is a photo from when the lovebirds took a cruise together to Alaska. Mark "Doc" bought her the turtle necklace to surprise her. ♥Melinda LOVES turtles!♥

Her wedding dress is stunning -- and I made the necklace to go with it!! Definitely stay tuned so I can blog on that once the photographs are developed!!!




CONGRATULATIONS YOU TWO!!!


LOVE YOU BOTH!!!!










Signed Kay Adams, A0322
Joy Collection, Sold

Good Friday?

04/10/09

Good Friday.

The name always perplexed me.

I understand historically it was known as God Friday.

An antique crucifix is transformed into a necklace that will make you reflect, take a second look and think.

Drilled and gracefully adorned to emphasize the grace and sentiment behind the piece.







Signed Kay Adams, A0999
Strike Collection, $95

Welcome to the Re-Creative Revolution

04/09/09

Redo, recycle, remake.

Recreate, reinvent, revamp.

Reinterpret, remaster, retool.

Rethink, reinspire, recaptivate.

Tuxedo studs see the light of day in the 21st century.

Supposing we didn't take it upon ourselves in this world of mass production and over-saturation to not reinvent the wheel.

The landfills would further fill. That left to gather dust would do nothing but die. The jewelry underdogs of the world would remain unloved, unnoticed.

So Hip Hip Hooray for going green. And the power and beauty of reinvention.

Signed Kay Adams, CR (Certified Recyclista), A0705
Juice Collection, $395

Past, Present, Future

04/07/09

Vintage engraved charms have come together in life to celebrate a new journey.

Helen, Phillip, Mildred, Evelyn and Eliza.

A cherished past.

A creative present.

A beautiful future.



Signed Kay Adams, A1339
Lore Collection, $155

Excalibur

04/07/09


Sterling.

Hallmarked.

Sleek.

Antique.

Sexy.



Signed Kay Adams, A1170
Bitz Collection, $85