Jodi Rae Designs Earrings

Large Stamped Hoop Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
matte or shiny finish
Size: 1" diameter x 2mm width
$90

Rectangle Hang Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 1¾" length x ¼" width
$95

Leaf Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 1¾" length x 3/8" width
$95

Three Ring Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 2¼" length x ¾" width
$140

Dana Earrings with Diamond
Metal: sterling silver with 14k gold bezel
Stone: diamond
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 3½" L x ½" W
$290

Circle Stud Earrings Super Mini
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte or shiny finish
Size: 5/16" diameter
$48

Circle Stud Medium Hang Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte or shiny finish
Size: ½" diameter
$50

Betsy Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 1 ½" length x ¼" width; Large ring: 1 1/8" diameter
$160

Jodi Rae Design Necklaces

Large Ring Asymmetrical Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: 17-19" adjustable length
$325

Dana Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Leland Blue
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 16½" length; pendant 1" diameter
$295

Double Cross Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Fossilized Bivalves
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 15½ -18 " adjustable length; pendant 1½" length x 1" width
$375

Joy Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Ammonite
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 16-18" adjustable length; pendant 1¼" width x 2" length
$395

Betsy Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish, reversible, dots on one side, lines on reverse.
Size: chain 14-16" adjustable length; pendant 1 1/4" diameter
$200

Bola Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 15-18" adjustable length; 4" long hang in front
$195

Wrap Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: 50" length x ½" width; Can be worn multiple ways.
$325

Shiva Eye Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Shiva Eye
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 15-16½" adjustable length; pendant 1" length x ¾" width
$350

Techno Romantic Jewelry by Thomas Mann

Louisiana artist Thomas Mann has been represented by Gallery Fifty from the beginning. You could even say he had a hand in its creation, but more about that later.

Tom describes himself as an artist working in the medium of jewelry and sculpture. I describe him as the father of art jewelry. For over thirty years he has reshaped the way we think about ornamentation, and has elevated great design with non-precious materials to the status of fine jewelry. His one-off pieces are highly collectable and we've done extremely well with his limited production line.

Tom's primary design vocabulary combines industrial aesthetics and materials and with evocative romantic themes and imagery. He calls this design system "Techno Romantic." Though it is not the only design mode in which he works, it is the one for which he is best known.

The artist lives and works in New Orleans where he oversees a jewelry design and production studio, a sculpture studio and gallery.

Please contact us for more information: 231-932-0775.

Note: I took a week-long class from Tom at Peters Valley Craft School in July 2004. I'd been planning to open a gallery, but still had serious concerns. Not only was he an excellent instructor, he was an invaluable resource for my gallery questions. I left the school with several beautiful Thomas Mann knock-off designs and renewed ambition. We opened Gallery Fifty at the Commons five months later.

New Pins by Thomas Mann

Ladybug Pin
Ladybugs are said to bring good luck so keep this brooch on a jacket at all times. Silver, brass and plexiglass. 1 5/8"
$145

Hands Full Pin
Resin with brass backing, nickle, steel and acrylic. 2 5/8"
$185

Fly Like A Dove Pin
Resin with a brass backing. Ours is red. 2 5/8"
$165

New Necklaces from Thomas Mann

Hammered Heart Garnet
A sterling silver or bronze heart capture garnets for the center of attention. Sterling silver, bronze, brass, acrylic and garnets. Toggle closure. 18"
$275

Heart Lock Toggle Necklace
Sterling silver, bronze and brass. 17"
$180

Heartbox Toggle Necklace
Sterling silver. Ours has a red crystal heart. 17" chain.
$140

Resin Heart Necklace
Sterling silver and resin. Toggle closure. 16"
$135

Shadow Rococo Heart Necklace
Sterling silver and bronze. 16" with lobster claw clasp.
$150

Be Here Now - Pod Necklace
Sterling silver and brass. 18"
$185

Small Bee Necklace
This is the latest buzz... Sterling silver, brass and laminate. Hook closure. 17 1/4" ball chain.
$135

Small Ladybug Necklace
Ladybugs are said to bring you good luck! Sterling silver, brass, acrylic and laminate. Hook closure. 17 1/4" ball chain.
$135

Confetti Necklace
Inspired by Mardi Gras, this necklace is our most popular necklaces because of its versatility. It can be worn 3 different ways: as a long necklace, wrapped twice as a double choker or the toggle inserted into an element to make a "Y" necklace. Silver, brass, bronze and various colored acrylic. 34 1/2".
$325

New Earrings by Thomas Mann

Lock Heart Earrings
Unlock a heart! Sterling silver, brass and bronze. 1 1/4"
$105

Small Cat Earrings
Cute little kitties. Sterling silver. 1 3/8"
$70

Small Dog Earrings
Perfect little pups to show your love for animals. Sterling silver. 1 3/8"
$70

Pagoda Lantern Earrings
Sterling silver, bronze and brass.
2 1/2"
$140

Rococo Heart Earrings
Sterling silver. 1 3/8"
$90

Ananda Khalsa Jewelry

Ananda draws inspiration from Asian art, natural forms, and the cool sleekness of metal. Each of her pieces contains an original painting on paper, which is set behind hand ground glass in fine and sterling silver. Much of her work is accented with the highest quality semiprecious stones and/or high karat gold.

Another important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint.

Danielle Miller Jewelry

South Carolina jewelry designer Danielle Miller's consists of jewelry with kinetic elements designed to attract and engage the attention of the wearer. These articulated parts rely on the action of the wearer for motion. This action can be a simple turn of the body or a deliberate manipulation of the movable parts. This kinetic aspect of her work creates an intimate and unique relationship between jewelry and wearer. Danielle's jewelry, by definition, is not only an object of personal adornment but also an object of personal interaction and recreation.

Original paintings as personal adornment

Ananda Khalsa draws inspiration from Asian art, natural forms, and the cool sleekness of metal. Each of her pieces contains an original painting on paper, which is set behind hand ground glass in fine and sterling silver. Much of her work is accented with the highest quality semiprecious stones and/or high karat gold.

Another important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint. At Gallery Fifty, we're representing her jewelry with the following images...

Bluebird: This little bird is a universal symbol of happiness and the coming of spring.

Crane: The elegant courting dance of the crane has made this graceful bird a symbol of love and romance.

Dragonfly: With its delicate and graceful wings reflecting and refracting light, the Dragonfly represents new light and joyfulness.

Koi Fish: According to a Chinese legend, a Koi was once turned into a dragon after fearlessly climbing a treacherous waterfall, making them symbolic of courage and strength.

Lotus: Sprouting from the murky mud at the bottom of the pond, the lotus rises above the water to create it’s exquisite bloom. This makes it a symbol of purity and enlightenment in many eastern philosophies.

I've admired Ananda's work since before we opened the gallery nearly three years ago. We've been testing the waters with our inventory of "art jewelry" and finally feel ready to take the plunge by bringing her unique pieces in. Our shipment is expected by Thanksgiving 2007. You can preview the selection on our web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

Modern and easy to wear

Michigan jewelry artist Kristin Perkins has been drawn to the pure and natural beauty of glass all her life. Her jewelry is among the most contemporary that I have seen. While the colors make them fun to wear, the geometric glass shapes or silver shapes that she uses to accent them make them very modern and easy to wear.

Kristin makes each of her distinctive glass beads using a process called lampworking. Lampworking is an ancient term referring to melting glass and forming beads and other small glass sculptures by oil lamp. Glass bead makers now use a special torch to melt the glass, but the term lampworking continues to be used today for this type of art.

To make her beads, Kristin uses colorful rods of glass and heat them with my torch, which is fueled by natural gas and an oxygen generating machine. When the glass becomes molten, she winds it around a steel rod that has been coated with a clay-like mixture that will later allow her to remove the bead from the steel rod.

Kristin shapes beads by evenly applying the glass to the steel rod, keeping the molten glass constantly turning, and allowing gravity to do most of the work. What is not achieved by gravity can be done by using graphite and steel tools to attain the desired shape. Rods of glass in other colors are used to decorate the surface of the bead. Once the bead is complete, she properly anneals it in a kiln. Annealing is critical to the glass bead making process because it allows it to cool down slowly, which removes stress in the glass that could cause it to crack.

As a jewelry designer, she considers her lampworked beads very special because each bead is created with an end use in mind. Kristin is a trained silversmith, so she has the advantage of customizing each piece exactly as she envisions. What further differentiates her work from other lampworkers is the use of clear or transparent glass in every piece so that the fascinating properties of glass become the focus.

Her prices are extremely reasonable: $34 - $50 for earrings; $56 - $95 for pendants; $95 for cuff links. Contact Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Raw • Uncut • Unpolished

Colorado studio jeweler Todd Reed has made his name working with raw diamond cubes and other natural diamond shapes. "It started as a way to question society about the idea of perceived value. In particular how it relates to our ideas of beauty or perfection," he says.

There are certain ad campaigns including, "She'll like you at a half carat, but she'll love you at a carat" that prompted Todd to make this line of jewelry. His uses the most perfect diamond in the world, the actual raw diamond. Uncut. Unpolished. Natural, with perfect geometry.

Todd is a self-taught goldsmith who enjoys the hard work that goes into each piece. He has won many international awards, and is frequently included in books, trade publications, and consumer magazines. His work can be seen at the finest shows and exhibitions in the world, and Gallery Fifty is proud to present his jewelry.

I especially love the pieces that mix raw and cut diamonds — the juxtoposition and contrast is especially effective.

We have a few examples of Todd's work in stock, but expect more of his jewelry in the coming months. For more information or images check out www.toddreed.com; or contact us at 231-932-0775.

Natural appeal

Washington studio jeweler Rebecca Bashara has established a loyal following of groupies since showing her work at Gallery Fifty. Her organic designs and natural materials definitely appeal to the northern Michigan woman.

"I combine miniature carvings with forged silver to create these contemporary artifacts," says Rebecca. Her jewelry drips with simplicity and the worn, rounded river stones are held together with an almost-asian design asthetic.

The river stones are set "as found" — no tumbling. And the oil from one's skin is what keeps them looking polished.

We always have a nice selection of Rebecca's jewelry, so contact us to find the style that's right for you: 231-932-0775.

Precious, fragile and unpredictable

Michigan studio jeweler Nina Mann derives great satisfaction and joy in creating objects of beauty. Nature’s forms and textures are her inspiration, as are universal elements found in ancient civilizations. She's impressed by the quiet beauty — precious, fragile, and unpredictable — that fills our lives.

Nina's work is also about the metal itself, particularly its malleability and form. She transforms the metal through several processes of fusing, rolling, reticulation and manipulating it until it is changed from raw material into an object that possesses its own gratification and magical presence. Her jewelry is extremely wearable — balanced, comfortable and beautifully presented.

At Gallery Fifty, we're honored to represent Nina. And we're especially proud to promote her as a local Traverse City artist. Please call or stop in to see our current collection of her jewelry.

Jewelry as playful object

Danielle Miller's jewelry has always garnered attention for its kinetic elements. Clean, simple geometric forms are the building blocks of her designs, which are inspired by architecture, machines, toys and nature. By combining these seemingly different influences, she explores the concept of jewelry as playful object.

The South Carolina artist's current work is designed to attract and engage the attention of the wearer. The jewelry's articulated parts rely on the action of the wearer for motion. This action can be a simple turn of the body or a deliberate manipulation of the movable parts. This kinetic aspect of her work creates an intimate and unique relationship between jewelry and wearer. Her jewelry, by definition, is not only an object of personal adornment but also an object of personal interaction and recreation.

Her 'abacus' and 'geometric' lines have been the most popular. Both for their classic simplicity and interactive appeal. We will be adding Danielle's jewelry in the coming months, but in the meantime, check out her website: www.daniellemillerjewelry.com.

Jennifer Trask Trunk Show

I was so thrilled to show the work of Jennifer Trask during the "Getting the Bugs Out" show. In February, she travelled from Ulster Park, New York to our northern Michigan winter wonderland greeted by both collectors and admirers. Gallery Fifty has represented Jennifer since our opening in November 2004, but this was our first trunk show for her and it worked beautifully with our "insects in art" theme.

Perhaps the most astonishing of her collection are her brooches made with Japanese beetle shells. At first glance the shells look like cabochons, highly polished and unfaceted. Trask transforms an otherwise detested, wily insect into something to be admired by the simplicity of its sheer beauty.

Jennifer makes one-of-a-kind jewelry objects and sculpture that exploit the inherent beauty of natural materials. Her work results from a passion for discovery, study and contemplation of the material world. The objects are not only a collection of textures and colors, but also a personal taxonomy of visual or conceptual relationships.

Check out www.jennifertrask.com for more information and images of her work.