Tag Archives: shop local

More new rings coming to the website shortly

I am really quite fond of this lil guy!

Aye, it’s been quite the whirlwind season! Since the early Fall, much has happened, but more about that later.

Regardless of challenges, I have been making lots and lots of new OneOfAKind rings with stones. Sadly, you would only have been able to see them if you had seen me at one of the shows on the East or West Coast. Since I haven’t had a chance to photograph the pieces, I have not yet been able to list them on my website! But I hope to remedy that.

First I take the labels off (not before taking a photo with it on, for the record, which is the kind of photo you see here). Then I place each individual ring into my little makeshift ‘lightbox’, juggling my desk lamp and my phone/camera/device to get the right angle without getting a reflection of anything in the room. And then print new labels and put them back on.Patience, patience! At least I get to visit with each gem for a good while this way.

I have quite a few peridot pieces, more rings with 3 stones, and several with amethysts

Now that the private commissions have slowed down, I am starting to find the time to photograph each piece I have in my studio. So keep checking the website for more and more of them to pop up!

Ooooooh yessssss, I did! This is a wild one, isn’t it?

‘My’ Galleries

This sterling Onefooter ring with a sparkling natural blue zircon set in 18k yellow gold bezel recently arrived at Human Arts Gallery in Ojai, California

As I sit in my studio this morning, getting ready to finish some pieces to send out to galleries next week, I am contemplating where their journey will take them before they find a home on a body.

The galleries and stores where I sell my work are an important extension of myself as an artist, like the hands are an extension of the arm, and the arm is an extension of the torso. They must know and understand my work, so that they can properly explain to their customers the inspirations and techniques of each piece. Because this is so important, I choose carefully where my work is sold.

How does an artist find representation in the best galleries? One way is to go to wholesale trade shows, such as is taking place in Las Vegas this weekend with the JCK and ACRE shows (sorry I am not there!), where gallery- and shop-owners come to look at rows and rows of samples, before placing orders. If you have been following me for a while, you would have come across some blog posts about my attendance at such shows in New York City, Philadelphia, etc.

The sheer mass of exhibitors at these shows is truly overwhelming.

But more often, and preferably, I travel to cities where I seek representation, so that I can see and experience what a store feels like when I walk in, before committing to have them carry my work. Yes: I am discerning as to who gets to carry my work. Today, I want to pay tribute to the two galleries that have been carrying my work the longest. These two are very different, and equally important.

Since 1977, Fireworks Gallery here in Halifax has been serving families with all their bling needs. While being a real ‘jewellery store’, they have also been a huge supporter of up-and-coming jewellers in a variety of ways, and always support local artists. Fireworks Gallery started carrying my work over ten years ago, when I was still in art school here at NSCAD University, and they continue to be huge supporters. I have a great relationship with the gallery, and when stop by to drop off some of my work, I enjoy myself so much that I do not want to leave. The staff have become almost like family. Last Christmas, I stepped in to help them out in the store.

Last holiday season at Fireworks Gallery, with long-time staff member, the wonderful Melissa

I have similarly close ties with the wonderful Galerie Noël Guyomarc’H Bijoux D’Art, in Montreal. Noel, as well, believed in me early on. He carries the best collection of contemporary jewellery and objects likely in all of Canada, and is a very important figure in this scene internationally, – a ‘mover and shaker’, as it were (there is a great article about him on Klimt Magazine, from where I also ‘borrowed this image, desolé). I am proud to say that Noel himself has been wearing one of my Twofooter rings for over a decade!

Noel in front of his amazing gallery in Montreal. Don’t miss a visit if you are in the city!

I am so lucky to be represented by these two galleries, and by the 30 others, including the newest addition, the Grant Berg Gallery in Grande Prairie, Alberta. I shall tell you about them another time.

In the National Press

Ah! Some exciting news: I am proud to be featured in an editorial on Canadian Jewelry Designers influenced by nature, in nationally published Mercedes-Benz Magazine!

In a wonderful tribute, writer Isa Tousignat, supported by photographer Michael Crichton and stylist Serge Kerbel, pay tribute to some of Canada’s finest jewellers. The magazine is a stunning 200-page publication of very impressive editorial – quality through and through, just like the cars (my dad had a then-old Benz back in the 60ies, the pride and joy of the family).
I am very honoured to have been interviewed for this feature. Here is an excerpt:

“In its refined simplicity, Van der Molen’s work is similar to the jewellery of Dorothée Rosen, from Halifax, who is most famous for her Onefooter Ring, made of a foot-long wire of 18-karat gold wrought and coiled by hand into a chunky one-of-a-kind criss-crossing spiral, enhanced with an optional white Canadian diamond. Rosen’s designs are inspired by the Nova Scotia shoreline and her study of the line, which she says is the foundation of all of nature’s patterns, from the horizon to striations in leaves and the motifs that ocean waves leave on a sandy beach.”

This lovely shot of my Onefooter ring in 18k with diamond was created by photographer MICHAEL CRICHTON, and stylist SERGE KERBEL

This lovely shot was created by photographer MICHAEL CRICHTON, and stylist SERGE KERBEL

Isa Tousignat really understood well where I am coming from in my work, I am impressed. It was a joy to do this interview with her! She did her research well, and went to visit, among others, one of my favs, Galerie Noel Guyomarc’H in Montreal. This is a great time to give a shout-out to all the amazing galleries that represent my work. Here is what writer Isa Tousignat had to say:

“Walking into Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h in Montreal (…) feels more like entering a contemporary jewellery museum than a jewellery store. Both showcase the natural themes common to Canadian jewellery design. The collections run the gamut, from Dorothée Rosen’s leaf-imprinted rings to Rudi Peet’s elliptical shapes and angles.”

I love and appreciate those folks who stand their shops every day to promote and educate about the work us artists do in our studios every day (and many nights). Thank you all so much!

And let’s see if I might meet some new ones in NYC next week, when I attend NY Now, a trade-only event where artists and potential gallery owners meet. You know I’ll be sure to tell you all about it!

This sweet new shot of new variations is by Christina Arsenault Photography

This sweet new shot of more variations on my Onefooters is by Christina Arsenault Photography

PS: Serge Kerbel – I highly recommend following the guy on Instagram to add some fun to your every day

Love from Coast to Coast, and over the pond!

I just finished two outdoor summer art markets: first in Halifax, then in Vancouver, British Columbia, returning today from the West Coast. As much as I enjoy making things in my studio, it is always such a delight to bring my work in front of real life people. The jewellery I create is meant to adorn bodies, and it is meant to bring delight to the wearer. And so it is always wonderful to explain the processes of head and hand, which are involved in the making of my pieces.

My lovely Vancouverite assistant ‘Bob’ shows off how well the ‘Meeting’ rings stack. She loves jewellery!

This year, I again had some wonderful encounters during the summer shows.

In Halifax, I met Pati, who was visiting from the US, and who fell head over heels in love with this one footer ring with Aquamarine. And how delightful to speak to Vivian, whose adult children Luca and Julia are about to part ways for the first time, going to colleges away from each other. Vivian wanted to keep her children connected by way of each one having a Onefooter ring. I love such stories!

In Vancouver, I had another good couple of tales:

This was the view of Vancouver from near where I was staying

There was another head-over-heels for an Aquamarine set in 18k yellow gold, when Kathy put it on her finger. Luckily, I had that second one!

Steve and his wife looked for a long time, and wanted to know every detail behind the design and making of the Onefooter series. Their favourite line was “the ring is forged in various directions, just like life pushes and pulls you”. I was delighted when they chose this design to celebrate their 25th(!) wedding anniversary! Steve was sure to document ever detail of this decision and purchase, and said it was surely to be found under the hashtag #25thAnniversary (or is it #TwentyfifthAnniversary ?). Let me know if you find anything!

Here they are, practising for the actual celebration a few weeks out.

They do!!!

“You may kiss the bride!”

Alexandra from London was a complete hoot when she purchased this ring, encouraged by her her two teenage daughters and her brother Edward, who pointed out the very favourable exchange rate. It was almost difficult to let go of this one, one of my most beloved creations of this last phase: a Onefooter ring in 18k yellow gold, set with this brilliantly gorgeous burgundy sapphire. “Happy 21st anniversary, dahhhling me!” she exclaimed, beaming as she admired the ring on her own hand.

18k yellow gold Onefootere ring with 0.93ct burgundy sapphire … YUM!

I love love love making people happy. And I love that I get to make things with my hands that do just that!

Check this out: I am the feature artist for Vancouver’s Circle Craft Christmas Market 2015!

I already look forward to returning to CircleCraft for the November 11-15th Christmas Market, but first I’ll head to NYC for the trade-only NYNow. I take great care to decide which galleries get to represent my work, and so I look forward to meeting new gallery owners there.

Love

One the my favourite things about being a jewellery designer is being able to create truly magic moments between people. Here is a snapshot for you, taken when this couple picked up their rings. May you, my reader, enjoy the magic of love in you life!

I especially created this set of MapleWrap wedding bands for a lovely (and very trending!) Halifax couple, with a Canadian diamond for her.

I have a very cool story about another lovely couple, the consultation with which ended up in their exploring working with waxes right here in my studio. I will tell you about it another time.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. And if you happen to be on your own: don’t forget to LOVE YOURSELF with as much zeal as you can possibly muster. I am sure you are worth it one hundred precent!!! Despite of what we tend to think: every one of us is generally a perfectly and totally wonderful being.

With much love and appreciation for my clients, my materials and tools and the opportunity to bring joy into people’s lives with the work of my hands,

Dorothée

Dorothée Rosen Designer Goldsmith