Emilie Shapiro @ Cliptomania.com

A Emilie Shapire bracelet featuring garnet, citrine,and ruby

Jewelry artisan Emilie Shapiro grew up close to the Atlantic Ocean where water has been a source of constant inspiration. It isn’t surprising since her family is full of creative entrepreneurs, inventors and free spirits who have encouraged her to explore different medium throughout her artistic life.

As an adult Emilie attended Syracuse University and received a BFA in Art and Design with a concentration in jewelry and metalsmithing. She also studied at Alchimia, a contemporary school of jewelry  with locations in Florence and Italy where she learned from artists like Peter Bauhuis, Yoko Shimizu, and Marzia Rossi. Emilie learned a lot including how to sculpt hard wax pieces so she could cast her work in metal and how to merge rough gemstones in her work to show their natural beauty.

Once her studies were complete Emilie worked as the Production Manager at Pamela Love and then in the same job at Allforthemountain before launching her own jewelry line.  As much as possible she resources all her jewelry production locally, hand making every piece of jewelry in her New York Studio.  Emilie also teaches jewelry workshops at Liloeve Jewelry School, The 92Y, as well as giving private lessons in her studio.  You can view her handcrafted jewelry by clicking on the photo above.

Meet the Designer: Ken Kantro

Ken Kantro was born and raised in New York City then settled in Lovell, Maine in 1975. Situated in the rural foothills of the White Mountains, Lovell provided the perfect setting for developing a craft and career in metalwork and design.

After receiving his undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, Ken pursued a parallel interest in Eastern Philosophy and the simple straightforward art it inspires.  His deep interest in Asian art led him to accept an apprenticeship with a potter specializing in Japanese traditions. While there, he developed techniques combining clay and metal.  Ken's fascination with the flowing, light reflecting qualities of metal led to what was for him the most expressive medium.  Ken went on to study the design approach and fabrication skills of early American pewter craftsmen.  His early pieces soon become known for their excellence in design and workmanship.

Ken's first departure from traditional design came in 1978 with his Damariscotta trivet (pictured top left).  It was designed to commemorate his family's move from the mountains of Western Maine to the coastal village of Damariscotta and soon became a popular symbol of the entire coast of Maine.  With the appearance of this unique design came the demand for its translation into jewelry.  It was at this point, Ken started creating jewelry and ornaments which reflected his love of nature simply expressed in timeless design.

Ken has been inspired by the transformative power of art and the powerful process of creating jewelry and objects of beauty from the elements found in the earth.  These elements - silver, gold and pewter - when turned into molten states, assume fluid properties which can be molded and shaped in ways limited only by one's imagination and creativity. Accompanying his creative gift has been his deep abiding love of nature. The uncompromising beauty of the North Atlantic coastline and mountainous inland wilderness have inspired him to create pieces of extraordinary beauty and reality.  Ken has received many special commissions and honors, among them the American Pewter Guild Design Award. Some of his work is exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute and at museums and galleries throughout the world.

Cliptomania.com offers several of Ken Kantro's beautiful earring designs. Featured in Tomorrow's Heirloom's - Male Designers, these earrings come complete with a short bio and inspiration of the piece.  Other earrings by Ken and Lovell Design are located here.

Updated: Meet the Designer: Joan Eagle of Chipita

Joan Eagle, a jewelry designer living in Colorado, has designed hand-crafted and hand-stitched earrings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets for over 30 years. Her company, Chipita, began in 1976.

CB10

Most of her jewelry includes semi-precious stones, especially the most unusual varieties from all over the globe. Joan also uses Swarovski crystals and glass beads that were only made in Europe before World War II and have not been made since. The stockpiles of these vintage beads are diminishing making her jewelry even more of a treasure for collectors (vintage glass/amethyst earrings shown below.)

Each piece of Joan's handcrafted jewelry is unique, especially when semi-precious gemstones, with their natural colorations and inclusions are utilized.  Her vintage collection (examples above left & right) was made popular in the 1980's while her more modern works-of-art are part of the 21st Century collection (examples left & right). Still using precious stones, Austrian crystals, and other components, the 21st Century earrings have a more streamlined and delicate look, and since the vintage glass is becoming sparse, we will be seeing more of these beautiful creations.

Cliptomania.com proudly carries non-pierced Chipita earrings - dangles and buttons - in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.  Chipita in the Tomorrow's Heirloom section  contains Vintage, Buttons, and 21st Century selections.

It is important to note that the styles in Vintage and Buttons will not change as Chipita has shifted to only doing 21st Century styles. 

Cliptomania Feature: Designer Katherine Kornblau

RG181

KJK Jewelry was established in 1985 by designer and CEO Katherine Kornblau.  Since that time, Katherine has evolved from selling handmade jewelry from her little red wagon by the beach into one of the most versatile and respected jewelry designers in her industry today.  Expanding on a lifelong love of global art and culture, Katherine spent time in Lima, Peru, and Guadalajara, Mexico and studied at the Ecole de Louvre in Paris while completing her Art History degree at Oberlin College.  Her international education and interests are reflected in her designs and are ever popular with museums and art galleries both nationally and internationally.

All aspects of business, from initial design through production to shipping, occur in their New York studio.  Each piece of jewelry is carefully designed by Katherine before being handcrafted by her and her skilled staff.  Utmost attention is paid to the quality and the detail of each piece.  Being handmade in the U.S.A. enables KJK to precisely match the customer's needs.  It also enables KJK to continuously expand their product line and to promptly meet customer deadlines.

RB503

Searching the world and reference materials, KJK brings designs that reflect our world's rich cultural diversity and variety of historical eras. Collections range from art deco to zoological, ancient Egypt to contemporary.

Gem113

Cliptomania.com is proud to offer earrings by Katherine Kornblau. Visit our website http://www.cliptomania.com/, and see Katherine Kornblau in Tomorrow's Heirlooms, or do an Advanced Search and filter by Designer to see all of her creations.

Meet the Designer: Nancy Neill

After being inspired by her mother’s jewelry designs, Nancy Neill left her job and took up full-time jewelry making. Now, over twenty-five years later, she continues to create original pieces that flourish at boutiques & museums across the nation.

Nancy spent her early life in New England, where participation in all things creative and her respect for history began. In her teen years, the family moved to Athens, Greece and began an adventure that would influence her for a lifetime. Extensive travel throughout the Mediterranean and European countries, visiting historical sites and art museums left a permanent impression.

Her college years were spent in the Midwest, where she studied art history to learn more about all the art she had experienced. Studies also included art education for elementary students. Later courses in interior design complete her educational background to date.

Career experiences include advertising agency work, owning retail home furnishing stores, and apparel store management which finally landed her in the San Francisco Bay Area as advertising and special events coordinator for a luxury Italian handbag manufacturer. This exposure to the world of fashion accessories in the naturally beautiful and creatively stimulating Bay Area began Nancy’s adventures in jewelry design.

It started as a hobby, when her co-workers kept literally buying the jewelry off her neck. And so it began… when her mother said: "If I were you, I would quit my job and start making jewelry full-time!" Nancy says, "Always listen to your mother!"

After heeding this sage advice, Nancy collected found objects, beads, buttons, charms and other findings to create unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Soon, her work was in many boutiques throughout the San Francisco area and grew to be a nationally represented collection.

She has since relocated to beautiful Fox Valley in Northern Illinois, where each piece of jewelry is individually crafted by Nancy and her jewelry artisans. Inspired by nature and the world around us, each item is carefully designed to celebrate nature, to commemorate events or remember visits to special places, or simply to express the individuality of the woman who wears it.

By using pewter and brass charms, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, unique glass beads, and metal jewelry components, Nancy is able to create matchless pieces of art that capture the essence of what is life.

Cliptomania is proud to offer earrings by designer, Nancy Neill. Visit Nancy Neill under Tomorrow's Heirlooms section.