Designing Hope
I was recently browsing a local craft fair here in Boston and I came across a delightful table of brightly colored beaded jewelry. I soon discovered that the story behind these attractive adornments is even more beautiful. All the proceeds from these beads go to supporting women and children in the Acholi quarter of Uganda through a microfinance project founded by Boston local Karen Sparacio.
Project Have Hope works with a group of 100 women and helps them transform their lives and the lives of their families. Through the sale of their beautiful, handmade paper bead jewelry, the women can feed their families, send their children to school, and look forward to a richer future.
I strongly encourage you to check out her blog and read her moving accounts of the women and their community. Although their hardships are many, the strength of all the women involved is deeply heartening.
In an effort to support this inspiring project, I am featuring their beads in my collections. In addition to supporting the project through bead purchases, %100 of of the profits from every design using these beads will back to the women of the Acholi quarter.
NEW SERPENT
Now Introducing the latest addition to our slinky family. We have been fielding requests for a medium-sized serpent since the large one first went on sale- it’s finally here:
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- Limited edition necklace featuring an original sterling silver snake coiled (by hand) through an authentic machinist gear…
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- New Medium serpent- here with beads benefiting Project Have Hope- for more, click on pic
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- original design in sterling silver with freshwater pearl
More soon on the accent beads from Project Have Hope (center pic)- an amazing social enterprise from Uganda.
Fashion Cafe at Brasserie Jo
On Friday, October 31, 2008 (a.k.a. Halloween!), ONYX HARDWARE DESIGNS will be displaying new work and one of a kind creations at Brasserie Jo in Boston, as part of the exclusive Café Fashion Show Luncheon Series, organized by The Hub’s most fabulous eccentric fashionista, Marilyn Riseman. Come see the latest designs and enjoy a delicious meal!
I’m thrilled to joined by the talented Tatianista who will be styling this fun and fashionable event, and will also honor us by modeling much of this gorgeous, gypsy-glam collection (along with the designer herself). Seating is limited and styles will only be on display from 12:00-1:30pm, so call 617.425.3240 for reservations and more information.
So Much New!!!
I can barely keep up with it- So stay tuned for more photos and details from:
1) This weekend’s Fashion Show with Xarcana and Frida Bee (Photos by Dave Green, copyright Adoor Design):
2) New photos from the Shoot with the fabulous Ellen Claire (makeup and modeling below by Carol Basserman, Photo Copyright Ellen Claire):
3) New Summer Silverwork:
Streaming Onyx!
Onyx Hardware Designs’ feather earrings were recently featured in this video on Current TV. It’s a short piece on The Do Lab, an amazing event production company in LA.
This brilliant and talented team works unbelievably hard to create a beautiful and magical space in the world, and watching this group’s work bloom has been one of the driving inspirations in getting Onyx Hardware off the ground.
Their festival, Lightning In a Bottle, was beautiful last year and if you can get yourself to Santa Barbara, I highly recommend checking it out this May.
Blossoming
I finally cracked open my new book of Art Nouveau patterns and I am overwhelmed with inspiration. Here is the first of what I’m sure will be many new designs.
This was hand cut from 20 g. sterling sheet (a process also known as “piercing”). It took about 2.5 hours of steady sawing, followed by finishing to smooth off the edges and polish the surface. I thought I would hate complicated piercing projects because they are require such painstaking focus, but in fact the time flew by. The results:
Stay tunes for more pierced designs available soon NOW in the ETSY shop. Drop me a line if you want this design.
New Bohemian Earrings
I recently discovered that melting wires into tiny pendulums is surprisingly fun. So after a few days of play time in the studio wrapping melting and hammering wire, I am offering these new earring designs as an online exclusive bargain.
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New Designs
I’ve started a series of Daring Dagger Necklaces that have me all excited. I think they are super sexy (they draw the eye to all the right places) and also fun to make. Tell all your friends so I get to hammer more silver! I’ll probably be posting more and better pics of these on other models in the next few weeks, so check back soon.
Each design is one of a kind, and the pendants vary from 2 to 4.5 inches.
This Design is still available for sale- click the pick to go to the shop.
P.S. The pics don’t show how well the hammered facets catch the light- they look great from stage or the middle of the dance floor.
Original Metalwork Now Available
After my last visit to NY I returned to the studio determined to get this spring line moving- so without further ado here are a few pieces from the Serpentine Series I’m developing. There are more to come in the next few weeks, including new silver serpent earrings, so stay tuned…. In the meantime, click on the pic for more designs and shopping 
As part of my efforts to build an eco-friendly and socially responsible business, these solid sterling pendants are made from recycled precious metal, cast at the greenest refinery in the states, which also happens to be a family business 
The chain is made in the USA, as are the recycled paper boxes I’m now using for packaging. These production & packaging decisions are a drop in the bucket where sustainability is concerned but it’s a start. And it is amazing how much sweat blood and tears it take to create adornments that satisfy my criteria for both quality and ethical production, without costing an arm and a leg.
Diana’s Treasure- Sneak Preview
I’m planning to launch a few new jewelry designs this spring, but I just got this piece photographed today and I couldn’t wait. This necklace was a commissioned piece, and I like it so much that I’m working on producing more of them.
The centerpiece is just under 2″ long & 1.5″ wide. It’s cast in recycled sterling then shaped by hand around a labradorite slab with beautiful sparks of blue and green (labradorite flashes iridescent colors like moonstone) and best of all, it’s reversible!
