A unique project is on its way at the Bituy College of Art & design in Hertzeliya – a new shop, named “TALENTO”, displaying young designers is being built on the college’s compound these days. The intent of this project, well implied in the name chosen, is to provide the jump start for new and talented designers, beginning their commercial career. The shop will display fashion designers, industrial designers and of course – jewelry designers.
“Bituy” college offers a variety of courses in the fields of art and design, many of which are recognized by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Among the courses you can find a computer graphics and web design course, fashion design, interior decorating and more. The college also offers many preparatory schools, training students who wish to apply to Israel’s known art and design schools such as Betzalel academy or Shenkar: architecture, jewelry design, industrial design, fashion and textile design and art.
A number of young designers have already joined the project and all those interested are welcome to write to Evyatar Stern at: :   perachavy@perach.org.il or call 054-7882043.

“Bituy” College

In the mean time, here’s a sneak-peak at the store being built as we speak….

Eti Ben Saadon has a PhD in Hebrew literature and she practices teaching and education. But Eti can’t turn her back on the atmosphere in her parents’ home. With a goldsmith as a father and a designer as a mother, Eti grow up surrounded by “creation and renewal”, as she says. Her parents are her creative basis and she is inspired by nature and the worlds of poetry and imagination. And indeed, floral motives stand out in Eti’s jewelry designs, as well as leaves and painted beads with a romantic look.
Eti uses a variety of techniques to create her jewelry (interweaving, knitting, coloring, gemstone setting, coiling and others) and aspires “to give beauty and goodness to the woman who will wear my jewelry”.

Eti Ben Saadon

A new and exciting jewelry exhibition will open at the Ramat Aviv mall next week. “Crafting the wonders of the world” will showcase jewelry designed by graduates from the Yael Shkedi workshop inspired by the buildings that were recently nominated as” the new seven wonders of the world”.
I’m honored to be able to give you the first peek at the some of the marvelous designs that will be displayed, among them this fascinating ring, designed by Miryam Aviv, inspired by the El Hambra palace in Spain. The simplicity side by side with the complex engravings captured my heart and took me back to trips in Spain and to this very palace, where I visited several years ago.

I haven’t had the chance to visit the Roman Colosseum yet, but there is no doubt that this ring, designed by Chani Kol Frid, both conveys the spirit of this known structure and testifies to her skills as gifted goldsmith. I really loved the layers Chani created and the fact that the ring is not close - much like the Colosseum itself, where only part of the outer wall survived.

Another ring, and the last piece I’m going to expose here (Go to the exhibition!), will probably remain on display – this impressive ring , rich with engravings and small details was designed by Michal Nayim, inspired by India’s Taj Mahal.

The exhibition will be open from October 9th until October 29th and you are all welcome to call Yael Shkedi’s workshop for more details at: 09-7461715.

Michal Basharel’s artistic career started when she was just a young child making artifacts with a friend and selling them. It was the very same friends, who many years later, in 2001 taught Michal jewelry designing and encouraged her to start creating her own jewelry and finding her unique saying in the field.
In fact, art had always taken part in Michal’s world, even in her years in high-tech. Michal managed many projects but she always loved building and designing websites and this is how she built her own website “Kukla”: “Working on the website inspired me to continue and develop my passion to design jewelry”, says Michal.
Michal’s sources of inspiration vary but what lies as a thread to connect all her designs is the emphasis on keeping a very feminine and delicate line: “my inspiration is more intuitive and comes in the forms of muses”, says Michal, ” I connect to womanhood and delicacy and it shows in my designs – even if a piece of jewelry is more heavily designed there will always be a gentle and feminine element, in the colors or the deign itself” and you can see it clearly in the lovely pair of earrings shown here.

The clear guideline for Michal is creating unique quality jewelry in affordable prices. She uses Swarovsky crystals in her designs as well as different gemstones and sweet water pearls. Michal had also design a unique line for brides with many designs combining high quality sweet water pearls that every bride would be happy to wear on her special day.
Another unique line designed by Michal is based on different gemstones and most of the jewels in this collection are one-of-a kind and so they are not featured on her website.
So, what is “Kukla”? you must be wondering. One of many explanations, in Russian and one form of Spanish, is “doll”: “my father used to call me kukla when I was a child and it just follows me from back then…” says. You can find other interpretations on Michal’s impressive website, which also contains many articles on pearls and gemstones and, of course, the beautiful jewelry Michal makes. I can hardly wait for the new site coming soon…

Kukla – jewelry by Michal Basharel

One of the most interesting displays in the Jovella show for me was the one displaying a variety of creations by the students from the department of jewelry design at the Shenkar College of engineering and design. Today, I’m pleased to present to you one of its promising talents – Dana Notkovich, who recently completed her sophomore year.
Dana had studies arts in the past and had many thoughts on her future, finally deciding to study jewelry design. In retrospect, she says, this was the best decision for her – “The technical aspects fascinate me (I also work as a caster in the department) and designing challenges me and pushes me to develop each and every day”.
You are welcome to review here some of the works Dana had created during her first years of studying, among them a beautiful silver ring with the imprint of a leaf and these charming hearts earrings – Dana’s suggestion to an unusual use of the heart shape, one of the best-sellers in the jewelry world.
Also, I present here Dana’s works from two unique joint projects of the Shenkar’s jewelry design department and the Austrian known crystal company Swarovski. One project dealt with designing a tiara and body jewelry for a bride and Dana created her designs inspired by a sunset beach wedding – explaining the airiness and many colors. In another project, the students were instructed to create a white crown not made of metal. Dana had wonderfully created a prestigious looking crown due to the fine details and the abundance of crystals – though it is based on plain pizza carton!!
I highly recommend keeping an eye on this talented girl and I hope to present more upcoming talents soon! 

On TU BE’AV, the Jewish love day celebrated today, nothing is more appropriate than discussing the most common motive in the world of jewelry – a Heart. In silver or gold, from diamonds or beads, as a pendant, an earring or a ring – hearts rule and can be found incorporated in designs by most jewelry designers in Israel, and all over the world..
And why not actually? Jewelry are one of the most identified items with the idea of a “Romantic present” (for a birthday, reconciliation, flattery and of course – to propose marriage) and the heart is a symbol of love.
Unfortunately, the use of hearts in jewelry has been so worn out it has amounted to pure kitsch. It is nice to see though, some more original uses of a heart by some of our talented designers such as this ring designed by Hagit Re’em, a heart pendant combined with a leather strap by Rosi Ben Tora and of course the heart earrings by Dana Notkovich, of which I told you already.
So, to all you lovers and ‘inlovers’ (of jewelry or anything) here is a selection of all sorts and kinds of heart jewelry and to all of you celebrating – a very happy Love day!! (I will wait with the rest for next year )

I found these amazing pieces of jewelry by an American jewelry designer who uses, you won’t believe, real butterfly wings!! Neile Cooper has been working for years with glass and had used sand, trees, rocks and other materials she finds in nature and attract her attention. The butterflies she uses are fully matured and died in “natural causes”, and only after that she preserves the wings and creates these magnificent pendants.

http://www.junketstudies.com/neilec/main.html

Hey everyone and welcome!

Here you can find a lot of information on Israeli jewelry designers I recommend, jewelry stores, interesting jewelry from all over the world, news on jewelry, articles, tips and everything on jewelry I would like to tell you about!

If you wish to help and contribute your knowledge on a specific jewelry designer or anything else regarding jewelry you are more than welcome to write to me at blogger@jewelry4u.co.il . Comments are most welcome.

Yours,

Rotem