Wonderful...

Yesterday I was very, very excited to receive a christmas present from a good friend, this antique wooden jewelers/watch-makers trunk!! It is going right on my desk to hold my tools and all my antique lockets & findings. Thank you MB!!

LAINE now available in San Francisco...

Through the holidays, our customers in the San Francisco area can find select
LAINE piece (including some exclusive designs not available online!) at Gordon Aatlo Designs in San Carlos, CA!

Gordon Aatlo Designs
1217 San Carlos Avenue
San Carlos, CA, 94070
www.gordonaatlo.com

Holiday Shipping Deadlines...

Just a quick note...the last day for guaranteed delivery on or before December 24th is this Friday, December 18th. Orders placed between December 19th and 21st are guaranteed delivery by the 24th only if the overnight shipping option is selected.

{pictured above: Mia Necklace}

LAINE trunkshow this weekend!

LAINE will be exhibiting with Gordon Aatlo and Arlee Kasselman at the International Gem & Jewelry Showcase in San Mateo, CA from November 27-29. Visit our booth to find lots of LAINE designs (including some brand-new earrings & antique locket bracelets which are so new they haven't even made it on the website yet!) at trunkshow prices!

Hours are Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The show will be held at The San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware in San Mateo, CA (directions & map)

Vanilla bean-lavender poached apples...

I don't blog nearly as often as I should, so I'm making some changes in an effort to make this an active blog, rather than just a "when I remember I actually have a blog" type of blog. I'm going to be posting the occasional recipe, photo, studio shot, post about another designer/shop I admire, etc...and of course LAINE news as well.

So I'll start off my new blogging resolution with a photo or two and a recipe...



Vanilla bean-lavender Poached Apples
2 small apples - peeled, cored and cut into wedges
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean - split & scraped (or 1 scant tbs vanilla extract)
Lavender sugar*

Add water, sugar and vanilla bean to a pan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then increase heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat just a bit and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes until it thickens slightly. Next, add the apples and simmer for another 10-15 minutes until the apples are softened. Remove from heat and sprinkle with lavender sugar. This is excellent over pound cake (as seen above) and with yogurt or ice cream.



*to make your own lavender sugar just mix 2 tbs lavender flowers with 1 cup sugar and a vanilla bean (optional), store in an air-tight container for about 2 weeks before using, shaking occasionally.

Only two weeks left to win a pair of Caviare Earrings!

If you haven't already entered to win a pair of my signature Caviare Earrings there are only two weeks left before the winners are chosen. Visit http://www.womansday.com/Giveaways/Caviare-Sterling-Silver-Earrings-Giveaway to enter to win one of 5 pair Woman's Day Magazine is giving away!

The Dixon Necklace...

The newest addition to the Amulette Collection, The Dixon Necklace, featuring a very unique late-victorian locket!



A lengthy chain of sterling silver, faceted black garnet and peacock freshwater pearls, accented by tourmalinated quartz, australian 'lightning ridge' black opal, polished & faceted london blue topaz, a tahitian pearl and cascading clusters of black garnet. In the center of the necklace is an antique (c. 1900, possibly slightly earlier) gilt case inset with a round magnifying lens, that opens to reveal a tiny english dictionary!



Original red leather cover with gilt lettering. All pages present & secure in the binding, slight discoloring on the cover from handling over the years, in original gilt metal case with magnifying lens, overall in very excellent condition.



Called "The Smallest English Dictionary in the World", the 384 page book measures only 26mm X 18mm. These books were printed by David Bryce and Son, Glasgow, around 1890-1900.

Woman's Day Magazine Giveaway...

LAINE has partnered with Woman's Day Magazine to give away five pair of our Signature sterling silver Caviare Earrings!



The giveaway is open until November 24th, and you can enter to win online at www.womansday.com!

LAINE in Charleston Magazine...

September 2009 issue, Style Buzz section

Don't forget: LAINE trunkshow at Intergem this weekend!

LAINE will be at Intergem in San Mateo, CA (booth #800 with Gordon Aatlo & Arlee Kasselman) this Friday-Sunday, with discounted trunk show pricing too!

Hours are Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The show will be held at The San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware in San Mateo, CA (directions & map)

LAINE Trunkshow in San Mateo, CA...

LAINE will be exhibiting with Gordon Aatlo at the International Gem & Jewelry Showcase in San Mateo, CA from September 11-13.

Hours are Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The show will be held at The San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware in San Mateo, CA (directions & map)

Summer Sale!

Save 20% on all LAINE jewelry until Tuesday, September 1st using coupon code SummerSale at checkout!

Shrimpton Couture Collection now available for pre-order...

Pre-orders are now open for the necklace collection designed exclusively for Shrimpton Couture! This collection includes the following pieces...


The Nan Necklace...
A double-strand chain of solid 18k gold and nearly 600 carats of polished golden rutilated quartz & prasiolite (green amethyst). In the center of the necklace is a cluster of large golden rutilated quartz & prasiolite briolettes (ranging from a 20 carat polished prasiolite to a faceted rutilated quartz weighing 273.75 carats!) all hung from an antique victorian 10k gold snake belt buckle with faceted diamond eyes.



The Sophie Necklace...
A 36" long chain of solid 18k gold, faceted Oregon sunstone nuggets and peacock freshwater pearls has been accented with pendants of hand-wrapped solid 18k gold, a tahitian pearl, polished prehnite, a faceted pale lilac amethyst, a large natural amethyst slice set with a single diamond in an 18k gold bezel and a tiny antique gilt locket (c. 1870) with rough diamonds that move freely within the locket, all topped with a fringe of orange sapphire.



The Coralie Necklace...
A delicate chain of solid 18k gold and tiny white pearls has been accented with an asymmetrically placed section of rough (uncut) diamonds. Hung in the center of the necklace are pendants of hand-wrapped solid 18k gold, white keshi pearl petals, polished tourmalinated quartz, a faceted prasiolite coin set with a single diamond in an 18k gold bezel and an antique 15k gold locket (c. 1880) with rough diamonds that move freely within the locket.


Visit the Pre-orders section of Shrimpton Couture to order these pieces and to view the rest of their amazing collection of vintage couture and re-worked designer pieces!

Coming soon...

In the next few weeks I will be introducing many larger statement necklaces, the first of which (the Nan Necklace, pictured above) has already been sent to Shrimpton Couture, who will be launching a small collection of exclusive LAINE pieces on their website next week!

Over the summer I will also be introducing a new collection for fall, Tissu, featuring many delicate strands of fine gemstones & gold woven together to create large statement necklaces & cuff bracelets.



The bracelet below is one of those pieces currently in progress, featuring 18k gold sapphire, tahitian & freshwater keshi pearls the color of antique silver and an antique Georgian locket clasp (c. 1820)

Dont Forget: LAINE Trunk Show with Gordon Aatlo this weekend!

LAINE's very first trunk show, June 5-7 2009, will be your first opportunity to see the new LAINE designs in person as well as a chance to purchase at trunk show prices (meaning there are exciting discounts to be had)!

LAINE will be exhibiting with Gordon Aatlo at the International Gem & Jewelry Showcase in San Mateo, CA from June 5th - 7th.

Hours are Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The show will be held at The San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware in San Mateo, CA (directions & map)

A new addition to the Vitrine collection (and a special birthday sale too)

The newest addition to the vitrine collection, The Adella Brooch...

An antique early Victorian 9k rose gold brooch with domed glass, c. 1850, filled with fancy color rough diamond cubes (approx 3cts total weight). This petite brooch measures 7/8" across and slightly over 1/2" tall.

Today (well, in about an hour actually) it is my birthday, and I will be taking a much needed day off! But for those of you who can't make it to next week's trunk show I thought this would be a good day to offer you a quick, trunk show-priced sale! Visit www.shoplaine.com and enter coupon code happybirthday at checkout to save 20% on your entire purchase!

Please note: This sale has been extended slightly at the request of a few customers, so it will end the morning of June 5th!!

The LAINE website is live!

I finished everything I needed to do a day early, so now the new website is live!



Visit www.shoplaine.com to see the entire collection!

LAINE Trunkshow with Gordon Aatlo!

LAINE's very first trunk show, June 5-7 2009, will be your first opportunity to see the new LAINE designs in person as well as a chance to purchase at trunk show prices (meaning there are exciting discounts to be had)!

LAINE will be exhibiting with Gordon Aatlo at the International Gem & Jewelry Showcase in San Mateo, CA from June 5th - 7th.

Hours are Friday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The show will be held at The San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware in San Mateo, CA (directions & map)

Back from the set!

My pieces came back from the set of Curb Your Enthusaism today!

Look for the Mignonette Bracelet and Caviare Earrings in a couple different season 7 episodes (I can't show photos of the pieces being worn yet, but as soon as the episodes air I will blog again to share what I have!)

LAINE...Coming Soon!

Finally, after months of planning and talking ad nauseum about this "new collection called LAINE" (those of you who follow me on twitter or facebook will recall being annoyed by this, the rest of you have been spared and this is the first you are hearing about the new collection!) it will be launching very soon, May 20th in fact!

Aside from the launch date I don't have much to report at the moment, as I work best under pressure and am still not ready for the official launch next week, but please stay tuned for pics of my upcoming features in JCK LUXURY Magazine (exciting!) and on season 7 of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (equally exciting!).

Meanwhile, I will leave you with a preview of a new one of a kind LAINE piece, The Lára Necklace...

A delicate chain of solid 18k gold and tiny white pearls has been accented with pendants of hand-wrapped solid 18k gold, white keshi pearl petals, aquamarine, a large keshi pearl set with a single opal in an 18k gold bezel. The centerpiece of this necklace is an antique 9ct rose gold locket (c. 1880). Inside the locket is a black velvet backing with an antique gilt crescent moon set with seed pearls and two dozen small white freshwater pearls that move freely within the locket.