Artfully Elegant — Handmade Jewelry & Handcrafted Gifts

Since we started carrying her work last March, Kathy Bransfield has become one of our most popular artists. Her hand-stamped necklaces with inspirational, funny, or poignant messages are extremely versatile. With over 40 options to choose from on Artfully Elegant, you’re bound to find the one that speaks to you. Every employee of the gallery owns one of these, as well as many of our friends and family. They make great gifts, whether it’s a birthday, Mother’s Day, or just a thinking-of-you gift. My current favorites are the Olive Branch in gold and sterling silver and the mixed metal Gandhi Ivy. Each of Kathy’s necklaces features 2 parts: a covering in a unique design that then lies on top of the hand-stamped sterling silver piece. The coverings are either sterling silver with a patina or gold-plated solid bronze. Kathy has introduced some new solid designs, like the Tolkien Compass or the very popular You Are Loved. These designs are solid sterling silver with a design on the front and the inscription on the back. Whichever look you decide on, it’s sure to draw many compliments.

Laurel Smith is the artist behind one of our newest lines of jewelry, Laurel Denise. Each piece features her delicate script handwriting with simple words like love, laugh, dream, inspire, or longer quotations like “i believe in belief, in the stars in the sky, in the sun on the grass, in the shine of your eyes, in the dreams of your heart” inscribed on opaque glass in solid circles or open loops. We’ll also be carrying some of her newest line on solid sterling silver and gold vermeil. These small necklaces are perfect for layering with other pieces, or combining a few for a unique look. Laurel grew up in Virginia, and after a brief sojourn in New York City, has returned to her roots in Charlottesville, VA. Most pieces retail for under $60, so these are affordable, handmade treasures available to all.

All of us here at Artfully Elegant are proud to announce the addition of Yasuko Azuma to our collection of bridal jewelry. Yasuko’s designs are delicate rings in 18k yellow gold. Featuring euro cut white diamonds, Yasuko’s designs add a depth to our collection of wedding jewelry that we are extremely proud of. Many times women are looking for the traditional white diamond, but they would still like something a little different, something that sets them apart from the crowd. Yasuko’s designs fill that niche. Some are rosecut diamonds with thin, hammered gold bands, while others like the leaf ring and band, have delicate cutouts of leaf shapes, along with a beautiful 4mm white diamond. Yasuko Azuma’s designs are perfect when you’re looking to think outside the box of traditional wedding jewelry, but not too far. Yasuko grew up in Japan, but came to New York City in 1994 to pursue her dreams of jewelry and fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Yasuko launched her first line in 2003, after mastering her signature style of hand piercing the metals and the “diamond dust” texture. Her current line is, as she puts it “elegantly feminine and intricately designed,” but still appeals to all women.

Most of our finds from the New York International Gift Fair in February of 2010 focused on additions to our collection of jewelry, but we were lucky enough to find one beautiful potter.  Combing poetry and pottery, husband and wife team Eric Hendrick and Noelle Van Hendrick create soulful, beautiful pottery for all. With ZPots, we’re branching out and introducing our first fine art lamps to our collection. Lamps are something we’ve never explored before, either at Artfully Elegant or our brick and mortar store, Monsoon Gallery. We are very excited to get these in. Featuring a handthrown base emblazoned with their signature poetry etched on it, topped off by a screen printed shade, this art will do more than light a room, it will light up your life.  We’re also featuring some of their “buckets of love” plus their “cups of new day, love, healing, and joy” (at left). Perfect for wedding gifts or a housewarming surprise, these food safe pots will be welcome additions to any art collection and table. Look for the lamps to be up on the site soon.

One of the great things about Artfully Elegant is that it allows us to expand into accessories. If you’re shopping for jewelry, then you’re also going to want to see some cute handbags. We’ve got a few great options for you from Tivi. We first started carrying Tivi as a jewelry designer. Their wood veneer jewelry with silkscreening is super lightweight and wearable. I have these earrings and wear them often. Their clutches are what first attracted us to them and we’re happy to be carrying them now. Made of wood veneer, the clutches have an elegant shape that makes them perfect for a night out. They’re able to be dressed up or dressed down, so they’re very versatile. Each bag has super-soft hand-sewn leather in a complimentary color. Whether you’re choosing a silk-screened version or a plain version, you’re bound to get a ton of compliments on these funky clutches.

We here at Artfully Elegant are expanding into the blogosphere! This is where our newest artists will premiere and also where we’ll announce special promotions and sales. Check back often to see what’s new at Artfully Elegant!