Handmade Jewelry Blog by Jewelry Designer John S Brana
The creative process Blog of San Francisco Jewelry Designer John S. Brana. In-depth articles on designing and marketing handmade jewelry and handcrafted fine art jewelry.
Are you ready for something different? I have been working on an innovative style of wire wrapped beaded gemstone earrings for spring to the Barbary Coast Collection. These new earrings feature various semi-precious gemstone beads in either Fine Silver, 14K Gold Filled, or 14K or 18K Gold. Current selections include Apatite, Aquamarine, Carnelian, Crystal Quartz, Garnets, Freshwater Pearls, and Peridot.
Limited quantities are available online as well as through selected Bay Area retailers.
In celebration of its 25th anniversary and introduction of 2007 spring class curriculum “Awaken Your Creativity,” The Bead Shop (www.beadshop.com) of Palo Alto, CA features former student John S Brana. Owner Janice Parsons remarks “Over the past twenty-five years, I have seen students become recognized jewelry designers, bead store owners, and successful importers. I remember when John Brana first walked through the doors of The Bead Shop. John came in to take a class and from then on, he will tell you, he just wasn’t the same. What happened to John happens every day at The Bead Shop; I call it the “Creative Light Bulb Moment”. It’s the instant when a new beader realizes s/he can actually make something… s/he can actually make jewelry! And, when you have that epiphany, you feel fantastic!”
Bold in scale, unique, and distinctive, John S. Brana’s pieces are perfect for those who enjoy interesting jewelry design and are seeking to make an unusual statement. Working in sterling silver, fine silver, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K yellow and white gold wire, and pure silver and 22k gold precious metal clay, John combines various hand carved semi-precious gemstone beads, fresh water pearls, and natural faceted gemstones to create unique, one-of-a-kind, custom handcrafted art jewelry for both men and women.
For an online portfolio, please visit www.johnsbrana.com
14K Gold Filled Chased Necklace
I have recently been working on expanding my very popular SoMa Collection to include multiple link chain necklaces. The pictured necklace is handcrafted in 14K gold filled and features three different sizes of handmade rings.
This collection was named after the South of Market Street district of San Francisco. SoMa’s character has been shaped over the years by the cycles of boom and bust…going from an edgy alternative art and music scene of the late 1980′s, through the soaring rent inflated internet start-up days of the late 1990′s and subsequent bust, to its present revitalized day of a mix of trendy restaurants, swank hotels, and high-rise condo’s. It’s also the home of the San Francisco Giants, and several engrossing museums including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Sleek and contemporary with a surprising bohemian undercurrent, the SoMa Collection features matching sets of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in hand-forged fine silver, 14K gold filled, or 14K gold. The result is that each piece feels like a hidden treasure. This versatile line is as appropriate at swank nightspots as it is at trendy coffee shops.
Stay tuned for more handcrafted necklaces, earrings, and bracelets in multiple link chains and multiple strands set with semi-precious gemstone beads later this year.
