Exciting Jewelry For Fall

I am so excited about the Fall/Winter jewelry trends for 2012 that I absolutely cannot contain myself.

When I first read the styles that were at the top of the charts for this season, I could not believe my eyes. I realized I was already making this jewelry, which puts me among the trendsetters.

Forgive me for tooting my own horn, but rarely do I find my ideas and designs in the vogue category. It has given me a whole new outlook on my creativity and some added confidence in my designs.

Photo: Triple Circles of Color by designsbyharriet

So what has me all in a tizzy? Keep reading and I will take you through the trends by way of my own designs.

Metal, Metal and More Metal

That is correct. Mixed metals are in style. Copper, brass, silver, gold can be mixed together to create unique designs.

Combine two or even four of these metals in one piece of jewelry. I love mixing silver and copper or brass. Gold is a little bit beyond my budget to create and most of my clients to purchase, so I often use gold-filled wire as an added metal.

What I do in addition to mixing metals is add a stone or beads to add more color. To be true to the trend mix metals in any combination that makes a good design

Photo: Copper and Brass Pendant Mother of Pearl Beads Wrapped in Gold-Filled Wire by designsbyharriet

Also In Style in the Spring

Color is a trend that has been creeping into jewelry for a number of years, but this year it is taking center stage. Beginning in Fall 2012 and continuing into Spring trends, color will be in the forefront.

There are lots of ways to add color to jewelry, including enamel, liver of sulfur, Prismacolor crayons, and torch firing are a few of the ways I have added color to my designs.

Color can also be added using small and large beads, beaded necklaces, and multicolored dichroic glass cabochons. I love using all of these to add color.

I was going to list the jewelry colors, but there were so many that I thought it was safe to say if the color is bright and striking it is in style.

A few years ago I created several fine silver pendants and colored them using enamel. Many people said they would have liked them better in plain silver. I kept thinking if the idea of bright colors in pendants was unique, odd, perhaps even distasteful. It is nice to see trends in colored jewelry moving in my direction this year.

Photo: Fine Silver, enamel and dichroic glass cabochon by designsbyharriet

Personalization and Messages

I don't think this one is really new. People have always loved personalized jewelry, but most of the time it has been name or initial jewelry.

For 2012 initials and words include more than names. Single words of friendship and love are big and initials that have personal as well as fun meanings are in style.

Instead of a card to someone who is a friend, give them a piece of jewelry that says friendship, BFF (best friend forever) or something only the two of you know.

In addition to a heart, have it stamped with love or a few loving words.

Jewelry that expresses an occasion, holiday, event, season etc. can be created using words.

There are so many ways to personalize jewelry that can say it better, more meaningful and more lasting than a card.

Photo: Spring is in the Air pendant. designsbyharriet

Unique and Personal

This is the trend that got me really excited. One of a kind jewelry is about handcrafted, unique and very personal jewelry.

Isn't it wonderful to put on a piece of jewelry that you know no one else will wear? One designed especially for you using elements that have personal meaning is a very special trend.

Certainly, you don't have to buy one of a kind jewelry from a handcrafted jewelry designer. Jewelry lines can create jewelry adding your name or a phrase to the piece that will make it personal.

Even though I design jewelry, I was once a buyer and uniqueness was always a valued trait. When I was purchasing a piece of jewelry from a company line, if they allowed me to do something to it, personalize it in some way, it held a lot more value to me than a mass produced piece.

I think the trendsetters in Vogue and other fashion magazines do not have handmade jewelry in mind as the primary source for your trendsetting 2012 jewelry purchases. But just the fact that they are focusing on one of a kind jewelry feels like a great trend for handmade jewelry designers.

Whoever you purchase your one of a kind jewelry from, remember to choose a piece that says something about you, your family, your friendships and/or your lifestyle.

Photo: Jewelry Designs by designsbyharriet