tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-235568002024-02-20T07:09:40.483-06:00It's All in the Way You Approach ItAu courant jewelry designs...Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-84231956903325520162015-02-08T12:36:00.001-06:002015-02-08T12:37:35.823-06:00Save the Date - #EtsyFest15Etsy Little Rock is hosting the 5th Annual Indie Arts & Music Festival on Kavanaugh Blvd. (from Spruce to Walnut streets) in Hillcrest on Saturday, April 25th from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM. <br />
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Etsy Little Rock has over 500 central Arkansas members selling on Etsy.com, the world's handmade marketplace.<br />
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#EtsyFest15 will have over 70 vendors selling handmade products, live music, good food (& beverages!) and something to do for the whole family.<br />
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Visit Novel Approach's Etsy store here (spring collections will be available by mid February so be sure to check back then too!). <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelryNovelApproach">https://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelryNovelApproach</a><br />
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<br />Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-71211260280986047292015-01-09T11:34:00.001-06:002015-01-09T11:37:05.993-06:00Is it Too Early to Talk About Spring?It's freezing outside but I'm dreaming of spring. One of my favorite annual collections, "Clear," rolls out each spring and I have already started designing. This collection uses vintage clear Lucite, clear crystal quartz, or (when you want something special) translucent white topaz. Sometimes the clear materials stand alone and sometimes they are dressed up with lots of metal.<br />
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Why clear? It really is one of my favorite "colors" to design with. Jewelry is meant to enhance the wearer's appearance. Clear lets your skin show through; it just adds a layer of sparkle or shine.<br />
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<i>Vintage Lucite Teardrops with Natural Brass</i></div>
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<i>Vintage Lucite Teardrops and Rounds; 14K Gold Filled Ear Wires</i></div>
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<i>Vintage Lucite Teardrops & Brass Caps</i></div>
Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-91180495992903522772015-01-02T17:44:00.003-06:002015-01-02T17:44:28.466-06:00What a Year!It was quite an exciting year for Novel Approach! In 2013 I was chosen as one of Belk's Southern Designer Showcase winners. There were 13 of us - independent clothing, jewelry and handbag designers. In early 2014, I shipped over 100 personally designed and handmade pieces to Belk that they sold in five locations and on Belk.com.<br />
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Read more about the competition and the winners on Belk.com here: <a href="http://belkdesigncontest.com/2013-belk-sds/">http://belkdesigncontest.com/2013-belk-sds/</a>.<br />
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<br />Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-25046226322296244472011-10-04T20:20:00.000-05:002011-10-04T20:20:48.582-05:00The Compassion Fashion Project: This Week's Feature:The Compassion Fashion Project...<a href="http://thecompassionfashionproject.blogspot.com/2011/10/this-weeks-featurethe-compassion.html?spref=bl">The Compassion Fashion Project: This Week's Feature:The Compassion Fashion Project...</a>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-55774265226138221472011-07-31T11:37:00.001-05:002011-08-02T06:38:22.652-05:00Little Rock Fashion Week 2011 - THANK YOU!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FAXEODUmWvA/TjV73tHfGRI/AAAAAAAAAFg/v4ctmCbgspE/s1600/Dawn-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FAXEODUmWvA/TjV73tHfGRI/AAAAAAAAAFg/v4ctmCbgspE/s640/Dawn-web.jpg" t$="true" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn wearing a hand woven 14K goldfilled and Brazilian amethyst necklace and earrings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlxl_hmfgck/TjV8AEtN1fI/AAAAAAAAAFk/vib4iT54l9c/s1600/Tanesia-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlxl_hmfgck/TjV8AEtN1fI/AAAAAAAAAFk/vib4iT54l9c/s640/Tanesia-web.jpg" t$="true" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanesia is wearing vintage brass and Swarovski (circa 1950's) earrings and necklaces. Also featured is a garnet and vintage Swarovski cuff.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBv3WkfGLsI/TjV8F03LkoI/AAAAAAAAAFo/g3keY-aC69s/s1600/Janie-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBv3WkfGLsI/TjV8F03LkoI/AAAAAAAAAFo/g3keY-aC69s/s640/Janie-web.jpg" t$="true" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janie is wearing layers of Swarovski and sterling silver. </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to the Novel Approach Models... Brianna, JaRaye, Alexis, Dawn, Rae, Crystal, Tanesia, and Janie! I could not have had a better set of girls. Special thanks to Carol, Mandy & Susan who helped sew dresses, sweat in the heat at rehearsals, listen to idea after idea, and helping me backstage. Thank you to Brandon Campbell and his LRFW team for the experience - <a href="http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/">http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/</a> . Thank you to The Compassion Fashion Project - see their blog here: </span><a href="http://thecompassionfashionproject.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://thecompassionfashionproject.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and to Love for Fashion - see their blog here: </span><a href="http://loveforfashion.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://loveforfashion.tumblr.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for some very nice interviews and reviews of the show. :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Novel Approach jewelry can be purchased through Style Outside the Box - </span><a href="http://styleoutsidethebox.com/collections/novel-approach"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://styleoutsidethebox.com/collections/novel-approach</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or read more about Novel Approach by visiting - </span><a href="http://www.novelapproachdesigns.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.novelapproachdesigns.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-47519101326008826792011-07-07T09:59:00.000-05:002011-07-07T09:59:52.669-05:00Little Rock fashion week - KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas:<a href="http://www.katv.com/story/15036020/little-rock-fashion-week">Little Rock fashion week - KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas:</a>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-5403519832256999582011-07-05T20:30:00.000-05:002011-07-05T20:30:06.462-05:00Little Rock Fashion Week 2011...<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Novel Approach has its own spot on the runway!</em> </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>We are one of many exciting labels showing Saturday night in the Posh Expressions show. Visit <a href="http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/">http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/</a> to get more information about the shows and the full week of entertainment. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>You can get your tickets to the Posh Expressions show online by visiting <a href="http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/">http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/</a> - click on "SCENE" and "SCHEDULE" to purchase yours.</strong></span><br />
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</div>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-13858438396873073742010-07-09T12:00:00.002-05:002010-07-09T12:06:27.101-05:00KATV's Good Morning Arkansas<span style="font-family:arial;">Thank you to Brandon Campbell of Little Rock Fashion Week for some great publicity for Novel Approach on Good Morning Arkansas this morning! Brandon has some very exciting events planned this upcoming week for Little Rock - a fashionista's paradise!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks also to Nicole McGehee of Nicole McGehee Collection for pairing a Novel Approach necklace with one of her designs on the show today. Nicole's collection will be available soon at Jeante in Pleasant Ridge Town Center. Her harem-leg jumpsuit with a fantastic black organza ruffle over one shoulder is an absolute knock-out piece!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Visit the LRFW website for tickets to the shows July 12-17! www.littlerockfashionweek.com</span>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-24181966501522070372010-07-06T17:35:00.003-05:002010-07-06T17:39:06.225-05:00Little Rock Fashion Week and Novel Approach...<span style="font-family:arial;">...getting national recognition! See the nationally running commercial on Fox, Bravo, or E! now! You can also view it on Little Rock Fashion Week's website here: </span><a href="http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/</span></a> <div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490926149618560802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TDOwPavq7yI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Vqj8IBq2S6g/s400/FashionWeek_front.jpg" /><br /><div></div>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-68382973674264472502010-06-24T12:10:00.004-05:002010-06-24T12:21:16.422-05:00Fall/Winter 2010<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOTxD6pqdI/AAAAAAAAAEw/4MGg2CqFKgs/s1600/white+topaz+necklace.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486391242141575634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOTxD6pqdI/AAAAAAAAAEw/4MGg2CqFKgs/s400/white+topaz+necklace.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOTdatz9JI/AAAAAAAAAEo/FyZA-dfrIHk/s1600/sterling+saddles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486390904664355986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOTdatz9JI/AAAAAAAAAEo/FyZA-dfrIHk/s400/sterling+saddles.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOTKkeE3TI/AAAAAAAAAEg/dFm4BjSiIVs/s1600/3+gem+set+bracelet+gold.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486390580865195314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOTKkeE3TI/AAAAAAAAAEg/dFm4BjSiIVs/s400/3+gem+set+bracelet+gold.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOSTWsJVzI/AAAAAAAAAEY/T6i8rYz2P64/s1600/sapphire+hoops.jpg"></a></div></div></div>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-35026835688414796572010-06-24T10:55:00.007-05:002010-06-24T11:33:29.235-05:00Metal Mania!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOIG-iTYHI/AAAAAAAAAEI/7Ff9GnKIKxI/s1600/hand_iStock_000010148341Small.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486378424514863218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCOIG-iTYHI/AAAAAAAAAEI/7Ff9GnKIKxI/s200/hand_iStock_000010148341Small.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">There are so many metal options in jewelry today. Below are some loose definitions and explanation for metals I prefer to work with:<br /><br /><strong>Sterling Silver<br /></strong>Sterling silver is a mixture of pure silver with some other metal (usually copper). The “some other metal” gives strength to the very soft and pliable pure silver – without it, the jewelry would be almost unwearable. The .925 stamp you see on sterling means the metal is 92.5% pure silver, this is the standard. This is the silver metal I use most often. I love “oxidized” silver, especially oxidized patterned silver chain. “Oxidizing” silver gives it a grey/black look (some call it tarnish, but when it’s done on purpose, we call it a patina!) – it’s great to add depth for textured designs. Silver will naturally oxidize over time; jewelers can force the process to kind of “paint” the metal. You don’t want to “clean” this purposeful tarnish off!<br /><br /><strong>Fine Silver<br /></strong>Same thing as sterling expect the pure silver content is 99.9%. It’s pretty soft, but used correctly it’s wearable. Most imported handmade Bali and Hill Tribe findings are made with fine silver.<br /><br /><strong>Argentium Silver<br /></strong>Argentium silver is sterling silver (92.5% pure silver) but it replaces some of the typical copper alloy with metalloid germanium. Since it retains the 92.5% silver content it is still referred to as sterling silver. Replacing the copper makes it tarnish resistant… it is much more costly than regular sterling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><strong>Gold-filled (also called Rolled-gold)<br /></strong>I have no idea why they choose to call it “filled” because it’s not filled at all! This is my favorite gold metal visually to work with when soldering is not needed; I love the “milky” gold color of 14K gold-filled. Gold-filled is made of a base metal (like brass or copper) and then covered by sheets of gold in a permanent bonding process. This produces a very thick layer of gold. The gold content is usually 5% or 1/20 of the total weight; this is required to meet the "gold-filled" government standards (metal will be stamped "GF"). Most common gold-filled metal uses 14k gold (stamped 14K GF). I have many gold-filled pieces myself and they do not flake like plated gold. Gold-filled metal's durability was described to me as that you would have to “drag it down your driveway repeatedly for hours and possibly days” in order to wear the gold away from a gold-filled piece. It does require reasonable care which I’ll touch on at the end of this post.<br /><br /><strong>Vermeil<br /></strong>Vermeil is pronounced “vur-may” and is gold plated over sterling silver. Most of vermeil is plated with 24K gold – the higher the karat of the gold the more “orangey” the appearance. You can visibly tell the difference between a 14K gold-filled piece and a 24K vermeil piece. Vermeil can be costly because of both the higher karat gold and the base metal being sterling silver. A note about karats: karat is a “measure” of how much gold is present. 24K is pure gold. 18K is 75% pure gold (you take 18 and divide by 24), 14K is 58% pure gold (14/24=.58), and 10K gold is 42% pure gold.<br /><br /><strong>Raw Brass<br /></strong>Love it! It’s naked metal (no plating) like sterling or gold. It is an alloy of copper and zinc. An alloy is a homogeneous mixture or solid solution of two or more metals (www.thefreedictionary.com/alloy). Brass takes on a cool patina over time. There are yellow brasses and red brasses (red brass can be mistaken for copper when new). I prefer to use brass when I want a gold color metal and I know I will need to solder something as it can take the torch since it is not plated. Brass is an affordable “gold!” </span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><div><br /><strong>Gold-plated/gold-tone/silver-plated/silver-tone<br /></strong>Blech. Never use them. Personally, I don’t see the sense in putting a genuine gemstone, a natural pearl, or a brilliant Swarovski with a metal that won’t hold its beauty. I have made the exception with vintage components because the sustainability factor outweighs the blech factor for me. I figure if the vintage plated metal has held its look for 40-50 years; it will go a decade or so more! I do try to pair reasonable gemstones or pearls with vintage plated metals.<br /><br /><strong>Caring for metal in jewelry</strong></div><div>Light and air change metal. If you keep your pieces in zip lock bags (free of moisture) and in a drawer or jewelry box – they will look the same as the day you bought them. From time to time it is a good idea to clean body oils, beauty products, and general "funk" from jewelry and this can be done with a jeweler’s cloth (for hairspray use warm water first, dry, and then rub with jeweler's cloth). My opinion is rubbing/polishing is much kinder to metal than harsh jewelry cleaners which can pit the metal. When I clean metal in the studio, I use a tumbler filled with stainless steel shot, soap, and water. They make chemicals you can add to the tumbler, but a generous squirt of simple Dawn dish soap (the old blue kind) and water is the best!</span></div>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23556800.post-69362731403251822652010-06-23T22:32:00.006-05:002010-06-23T22:59:43.365-05:00Little Rock Fashion Week<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCLXVZJA4BI/AAAAAAAAADw/tRQCoGz734M/s1600/crystal+maille+necklace+CU.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486184058616602642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UUXsTldag7U/TCLXVZJA4BI/AAAAAAAAADw/tRQCoGz734M/s200/crystal+maille+necklace+CU.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Novel Approach is very excited to be a part of Little Rock Fashion Week. Events begin on July 10th with the Little Rock Fashion Week Kick Off Party at Star Bar Lounge on West 3rd. On July 14th, Lulav and LRFW will host "Art of an Artist" - here you can view work by Christopher Youngstar, Novel Approach, and other artists while enjoying wine and hors d'oeuvres. The LRFW "Young and Fabulous" show is July 16th and "Posh Expressions" is July 17th - both will be held at Robinson Exhibition Hall. During the July 17th show Dillard's will receive the 2010 LRFW Icon of the Year award. Tickets to all shows are available now at </span><a href="http://www.littlerockfashionweek.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.littlerockfashionweek.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span> </div></div></div>Kari Brydehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514227723445196804noreply@blogger.com0