I'm proud to say this photo was staged and shot by my daughter, Zoe Van Nostrand.

Drop by our booth at the Inman Park Festival this coming Saturday and Sunday. Elaina Designs will be exhibiting the trademark Orbit Series of jewelry and other well-priced new designs just in time for wedding and graduation gifts. We’ll be in booth #8, the same place as last year, on Euclid Avenue near the corner of Waverly St.  We are also exhibiting at a fun event called “Wedding Day Hooray!” on May 21 & 22. Please see the details below and forward it to anyone you know planning their nuptials! [Read more...]

Linda Gunshor is joining the Open Studio Sale tomorrow and Saturday with her pottery at 1153 Cumberland Road in the VaHi neighborhood. At Elaina Designs Studio #8, we are featuring fresh, well priced jewelry hot off the workbench, AND chocolates and pastries from the newest addition to our Drewry Street dead-end, “Sugar-Coated Radical”. Fine woodworking selections by my brother-in-law, Don Lewis, will also be featured at my studio. Check out his website.

Walk, ride or fly but plan to drop by….We will be closed Sunday, April 23rd, open again Monday through Friday, then exhibiting at the Inman Park Festival, April 30 and May 1. Look for us at the same location as last year, in the Arts and Crafts section on Euclid Avenue, Booth #8 (near the corner of Euclid and Waverly Way).

We hope to see you soon! — Lainey [Read more...]

Elaina Designs will be exhibiting these lovely pieces and other exciting new designs just in time for wedding and graduation season. We hope to see you at one (or all!) of our spring shows. New work is being added daily to our website, www.elainadesigns.com. Please check it out. If you experience trouble navigating, we would appreciate a message. Thank you for your support and encouragement.

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Lainey is very excited about meeting you all at my home on February 13, 5PM – 8:30PM! She is attending the Tuscon Gem and Mineral Show January 31 – February 5 and will be returning with some delicious gems and pearls to incorporate into her unique designs this year.

Take a look at some interesting custom jobs Elaina Designs completed in 2010.  These designs show the wide array of jewelry that she makes. When she designs with the intent to upscale your diamonds, pearls and old jewelry, the limitations of what you bring provides an exciting challenge.  Her intent is to create versatile jewelry that is wearable and lovely with perhaps special meaning for you.

Laura K’s Happy Earrings

18KT white gold Diamond Studs were a gift from her husband with sentimental value, but Laura loves color! Using the original diamond settings, we added hot pink tourmaline and sizzling peridot that swing in 14KT Rose Gold.

Diamond and Sapphire Enhancer for June

June loves antique jewelry and had requested an Enhancer to wear on her 8 mm Round Pearls. As a Christmas surprise, her mother supplied the gems from outdated family jewelry. We melted the gold to pay for most of the labor and decided upon a floral motif set in silver to offset the high labor cost. The Enhancer has a timeless elegance that June can enjoy for a lifetime of wear, plus the sentiment of gems that were worn by her mother and grandmother.

18KT Necklace for Susan S.

Susan came to me with several pieces of jewelry she no longer wore to be melted down.  One piece was too interesting to melt and I suggested a necklace that would save the intricate handiwork in an 18KT Diamond Pin she had inherited, but never worn.  She also had a tassel chain that worked perfectly as the necklace. We cut the pin into sections, saving the delicate gold work around each diamond and selected two flower components from an outdated bracelet to soften the hard edges around the cut up pin sections. Filigree elements were also added to maintain the integrity of the original pin design and give each section grace where it is soldered to the chain.  It moves, sparkles, is sexy and fun.

Asymmetrical Diamond Earring Jackets for Jane T.

Jane had unremarkable Diamond Rings she had inherited, but wanted earrings with elegance with artistic flair.  But she also needed simple gold earrings that she could wear everyday. I suggested my small Teardrop Hinged Earrings for everyday wear, and designed the Platinum and 14KT White Gold Danglie Diamond Jackets for occasions that call for pizazz.  We used her old settings to save on cost.

18KT Handmade Clasp for Susan P

Susan had Mikimoto Pearls her husband had given her years ago, but the strand was short and had no impact. On a trip to China, she had purchased a second strand of pearls that nearly matched her originals, and wanted them mixed in to make one long strand. We removed tiny diamonds from uncomfortable rings and old clasps, and melted the gold to put towards labor cost.  The new 64” strand of pearls are knotted on silk and can be worn doubled or tripled to showcase the handsome heavy 18KT Handmade Clasp. This makes a statement.

Wes B’s Wedding Band

Wes and his wife have been married for decades, but he never had a wedding ring.  Ready for one now, he wanted something special.  He had inherited gold cuff links and other jewelry that was not his style, and decided to melt it all down. After creating several pairs of custom earrings for his wife, paid for from the gold melt, we still had money to spare for his wedding ring.  He selected a rare Rainbow Moonstone with natural color-change Alexandrite that hop from green to turquoise in different light. 14KT Green Gold looked best on his skin and complimented the gems.  The ring has an earthy hand textured pattern and a mysterious glow, like all well seasoned relationships.

We look forward to seeing you Sunday, February 13, 5PM-8:30PM!

Clockwise, from top left to center:

Green opal, chrysoprase and apatite necklace, $300

Tsavorite huggie hoops, 14KT yellow gold, $375

Lapis, azurite malachite pendant, 14KT yellow gold and sterling silver, $400

Blue zircon and boulder opal earrings, 14KT yellow gold and sterling silver, $750

Mixed gem “Orbit Bracelet”, 14KT rose gold and sterling silver, $1890

Chrysoprase and emerald ring, 14KT yellow gold and sterling silver, $675

Pink sapphire earrings 14KT rose gold, $275

The Season is Upon us.  Yikes!  If I can make your holiday gift giving easier by shipping or meeting you after work or early in the AM or on a Sunday…just ask.  I am flexible.

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Many of you have written to ask how the Inman Park Festival went last weekend? I decided to give an official report: We did great! Sales were solid both days, despite the torrential deluge from the heavens and the small stream running through our tent for most of Saturday. Sunday was sunny and hundreds streamed by on the street, rather than water streaming around our feet. Many old and new client/friends found and stayed to oooohhh and ahhhh at the beauty inside our little brightly lit tent-universe. Deep appreciation to those who went the extra distance and purchased a piece of jewelry. Sarah, Mandi and I have been working seven days a week for months in preparation. The Inman Park Festival was a sweet success.

Included is a photo of the Elaina Designs team of tireless workers who set up, sold and broke down the heavy two-car load of stuff I had compiled to make our booth beautiful, the jewelry electrified so that it sparkled, and all of us cozy and snug. This was my first outdoor sales venue in 25 years, and no way would it have happened without them. In truth, it made me realize that I am not a very portable woman. I need lots of rocks to make my world rock. Thank you!!!! From left to right: Orion Hanson (my son,) Zoe Van Nostrand (my baby daughter who is graduating High School from Paideia in two weeks and attending Hobart and William Smith College) Mandy Reinshagen, my new apprentice leaving soon for Colorado School of Mines, Sarah Puerto my 3 year Everything Technical Assistant who will be graduating Emory University this summer, and her boyfriend and Elaina Designs Web Master, Thomas Lodato who is graduating with his Masters from Ga Tech and beginning his PhD in the fall . The beautiful jewelry and this terrific support team along with a happy clientele made it a magical experience.