Cannes Film Festival 2012 Red Carpet Jewellery

 

American actress Eva Longoria in  Damiani's diamond earrings

Its been very chilly up here on the Great Dividing Range the last couple of weeks and with winter only a day away, its no wonder! 

In Cannes on the French Riveria however, it has been balmy days and pleasant evenings suitable for walking down the red carpet in a special gown with bare arms ... to show off bracelets; upswept hair to show off earrings and low necklines to show off necklaces.

Cannes Film Festival is always a good show on the jewellery front with the European jewellery houses like Bulgari, Chopard, de Grisogono, Montblanc and Boucheron lending their jewels to the famous faces of models, actresses, celebrities, and personalities from the film world.

Diamonds of course were in good supply, emeralds made a noticeable appearance and some colourful  vintage pieces were evident as well. 

Take a look at some of the red carpet jewels....

Polish model Anja Rubik in Chopard earrings

Czech celebrity, Karolina Kurkova in Bulgari diamond serpenti bracelet and diamond and ruby earrings.

Italian supermodel Bianca Balti wearing yellow gold, diamond and amethyst earrings by Boucheron.

Italian actress Chiara Francini in Bulgari necklace and bracelet.

Well known actress Diane Kruger looked very regal in Boucheron diamond earrings.

Russian model Irina Shayk wearing de Grisogono emerald and diamond briolette earrings.

The one and only Jane Fonda wore this 50ct (!) rubellite, diamond and ruby ring by Chopard.

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American actress Jessica Chastain accessorised her Armani dress with Chopard diamonds

American model and actress Kate Upton wore a diamond collar of 36 round brilliant cut diamonds (and a few more of course to fill in the gaps) by Bulgari.   And although we can't see it in the photo, I'm sure she had a pretty dress on too!

English model and actress Lily Cole wore a lovely net of diamonds by Chopard.

Chinese model Liu Wen wore stunning Chopard earrings of tourmaline, spinel, sapphire and diamonds.

This stunning Bulgari necklace worn by Portuguese actress, director and singer Maria De Medeiros, featured Tahitian pearls nestled amongst spinels, zircons and diamonds.

Australian actress Naomi Watts sparkled in Chopard diamonds.

Russian model Natasha Poly had two quite different looks - above in de Grisogono and below in Boucheron - both sets of earrings featuring emeralds and diamonds.

 

Bulgarian born, Canadian actress Nina Dobrev wore a sequined gown and added even more sparkle with Bulgari diamond earrings 

(photo courtesy - Just Jared).

 

Czech model Petra Nemcova lit up the room with her brilliant smile - and who wouldn't in Bulgari diamond and emerald earrings like these!?

 Spanish actress Paz Vega selected Chopard diamond earrings on this foray down the carpet.

 

Expectant mother, actress and producer Reese Witherspoon glowed in her Chopard earrings.

 

Actress, director and producer Salma Hayek wore vintage Boucheron (c. 1944) for a dramatic look.

Chinese actress Yao Xingtong in Bulgari earrings.

So, any jewels in particular that took your fancy?

The Wanderer has Returned and Clutter Concerns

Woodgate Beach

The last few days at Woodgate proved a bit busier as we got a little more active - the kids had us riding everywhere, walks, runs and swimming at the beach and since we couldn't put it off any longer, some jobs around the house - painting, organising and cleaning (since it will be months till we get back and no one cleans like you do!)

As promised from my last post, here are some pics - they were taken in the late afternoon so the beach is rather shady unlike most of the day.


We enter the beach here

Looking for interesting shells is a regular activity

The girls having races on the beach :)

After a mammoth 12 hour trip yesterday, we're back home. The kids are far better at travelling these days but my oh my we were all stiff when we emerged.

My first impressions of being home, albeit in the headlights since it was dark - the grass hasn't grown much so there hasn't been much rain (not so good for the crops but good for son who does the mowing!), it's decidely chilly (like slippers and jumper chilly ... rather different to the heat and humidity of the last couple of days) and on entering the house, 'thankgoodness its clean and tidy but we've just got too much "stuff"!'.

I realised in the last few days on holidays, that the kids had actually been perfectly happy with a minimum amount of things - well, apart from running out of books to read. The rest of the time, they rode their bikes around Woodgate, went to the beach and played games that we keep up there.

But here we are back home and they have 'stuff' everywhere. Stuff that they hardly (if at all) look at let alone use or play with. And I'm not much better - while my studio is full and a bit chaotic its what I need to get things done.  But the study is overflowing with my (and everyone's) excess 'stuff', the garage is likewise full, as is the storage landing in the shed.

I have been hit with the clarity of eyes that have been unused to clutter and my need for those built-in wardrobes in at least 2 rooms (that we've been talking about for at least 4 years) is coming to a head! It will be a good excuse for a clean out in those rooms at least, and I need to take a firm hand with all those 'one day it might be useful' items that ends up the study ... before getting moved to the garage ... and then onto the shed. The next stop should be the tip, but how often does that really happen in anyone's life!?

So I'm on a mission - I badly need to get back into the studio but I will have to set aside time for the great clutter cleanout! Well, at least until I run out of steam and get too used to it all again.

Any tips for me in my endeavour to live (or at least get back to) clutter-free?  If so, do let me know, I'll need all the help I can get!

Ciao
Annette

A Holiday - Good Intentions and A Refreshed Outlook

I am currently stitting in a totally idyllic spot about 10metres from lightly rolling waves crashing onto a thin crescent of golden sand. The sun has been up for about an hour and is already very bright, glinting off the waves and creating a wonderful picture. Of course, I didn’t think to bring my camera right now so you’re going to have to imagine it!

I’m in the midst of a family holiday in Woodgate, Queensland. It is a pretty little town perched between the sea and the national park and a popular destination for locals to come to fishing or to the beach for short breaks. It is outside school holidays in Queensland at the moment and the air is crisp in the morning with autumn, the occasional local is walking or biking along the picturesque Esplanade getting their morning paper, walking their dog or just enjoying the air, to the sound of rolling waves on the adjacent beach. The odd soul I’m sure is heading off for work too (although work doesn’t seem to feature prominently in this sunny corner of Queensland :) )

I had wonderful intentions this holiday of sorting the hundreds of photos from our trip to Italy, of spending my time productively pre-writing blog posts, of going for runs along the beach and taking photos of the abundant wildlife here, the scenery and the children.

Instead, I’ve melted into a totally relaxed state. I’ve not had the presence of mind to be productive at all – so I’ve read a novel a day, I’ve played board games with the children, I’ve gone for lots of long walks (usually with ice cream as the promised destination) and caught up with family that we rarely see.

I do get up before everyone else – but I just enjoy the solitude and the peace (like this morning when I’ve run away (albeit with my laptop in tow) to sit here on the beach and write!).

We managed a full day shopping in nearby Bundaberg yesterday ostensibly to top up on replacements for the house here which is rented out as a holiday rental the rest of the year and things inevitably break, stop working, need updating or just get worn.

Imagine my delight when in between the tasks of looking for a new picture for the twin room (the photo had fallen and broken) and trying to find new, bright and slightly beachy looking doona covers - for some reason incredibly difficult to do here, I found a clothes boutique. An attractive window display with clothes that I thought I may be able to pull off drew me in and then when I admitted I needed a bit of updating and could they help dress this slightly rubenesque figure I’ve developed in my 40’s, they took me under their care, showed me new possibilities, gave wonderful advice and the resulting outfits made me feel great and added a spring to my step that I didn’t realise had been faltering.

I rarely shop for more than necessities at home or things for the children and spending some time concentrating on me was extremely therapeutic. Walking away with those lovely carry bags after this encounter, made me understand more how my clients feel – the possibilities of something new or different can raise your outlook and increase your self esteem endlessly! And great customer service, which I always strive to give is so wonderful to receive!

Of course, I’m already planning on the jewellery to make to wear with these new clothes :). And may have to do a tiny bit of shoe shopping as well (oh the anguish that will cause…. lol).

With another week to go, perhaps I will finally get to my good intentions list, but for the moment, I’m just going to kick back, read another book, play another board game and cook for the family and spring my new wardrobe onto my slightly unsuspecting hubby!

Till next – promise a photo next time!

Beadie Critters

Did you ever wonder what a mother who makes jewellery does for her children’s school fair?

I had offered to work with the children to make items for their class stall and shouldn’t have been surprised when the teacher took me up on my offer.

Now making jewellery would be an obvious answer to what to do with them - but I didn’t want to be obvious and so spent some time making some simple critters with beads and craft wire. I had wonderful visions of what they’d be able to make, possibly with my stash of gem and pearl seconds.



I planned out what they’d need and sat down with my primary aged girls who play with my wire scraps and castoff pearls constantly to make 3 different critters – a doodlebug, a caterpillar and a spider.



Unfortunately I soon realised that sturdy craft wire and small drill holes (common in gems and pearls) didn’t go together. Then found my idea of the average 11 year olds abilities and reality didn’t match up at all. *sigh*

In resignation, I decided simple was best, so I sourced some colourful painted and dyed wooden beads, some beading elastic and then found myself at the front of a classroom last week with 30+ children listening to me instruct them in the art of making a stretchy bracelet.

It was rather fortunate that the teacher hadn’t told me that I would be “speaking to the class” as I may have run away. As anyone who knows me well can testify, when it comes to more than about a dozen people, I avoid being the centre of attention and become amazingly silent. I tend to be more a ‘doer’ than a ‘talker’. Public speaking is definitely not my thing although of course I can talk the leg off an iron pot in a one to one or small group situation!

But I survived the instructional phase at the front of the classroom and then relaxed as I got to work with a table of children at a time.

I was very impressed with the determination of the children and their skill in colour selection for their beaded bracelets and rings and feel sure that they will be able to use all their stocks of beads by the fair to make a good selection for fair visitors to buy.



But, not to be outdone, I took matters into my own hands and made a couple of dozen critters for the stall. I think they're cute (well, some of the spiders are a bit freaky I'll admit!) ... what do you think?

By the way, Dunedoo Show was huge last weekend – I’m still recovering, as well as making up orders from the day to be delivered on my way to set up at Mendooran Show this Saturday. If I survive this "5 shows in 5 weeks" stint I'll be due for a holiday!

A trunk show and a new handmade market at Scone

After a couple of months away from the face to face of shows while I concentrated on new stock and designs, I’m back in the midst of it all and loving it!

I had a home trunk show a week ago with a group of ladies who had only previously seen my jewellery on the hostess. They weren't shy though and snapped up many items – even having issues over the ownership of one bracelet! This sort of show is so much fun with ladies trying things on, comparing them on each other, having a chat and a glass of something bubbly!

Yesterday I attended the inaugural Scone Homegrown + Handmade market. It had great plans of being a stylish outdoor event at the Kerv Café, but the weather gods had other ideas!

I’m about 1 hour and 40 minutes drive west of Scone and was not overjoyed to hear rain at around 2am, particularly when I realised it wasn’t a storm and didn’t appear to be going anywhere. Nevertheless I got up at 4.30am checked the radar and saw that Scone was indeed dry however the rain band was heading there. With my trusty helper Trista aboard we set off around 5.30am into the rain and bound for Scone. The rain got heavier and I hoped that some wet weather alternative may have been made – otherwise all we’d be up for was a well deserved coffee and a long drive home!

The rain continued steadily – not sheeting down, but not exactly drizzling either. On arrival at around 7am there was a bunch of slightly bedraggled and tired stall holders wondering what to do. The organiser, the lovely Amelia from The Event Storeroom offered those with non-food products a small space inside the Café which I gratefully accepted. We all appeared to be set up by around 8.30am and it was certainly “cosy”!

Amazingly, people braved the weather and came to see us all (even those who decided to shelter with their goods under the cover in the outdoor area) and buy.

Being cosy was actually fun (apart from needing to dodge around everyone) as it gave the stallholders an opportunity to network, admire and buy each other’s items which you often don’t have time for at a regular show.

I had the chance to chat to my close neighbours - the warm and talented Emma of Elliepants who is making my girls some endless scarves for winter, the outgoing Tracy from Lilibits & Pieces who I got to chat about jewellery with and the vivacious Bec from Audrey Anne who was experiencing her first market and I know she’ll do well ... even Trista and I couldn’t help ourselves and bought something of hers!

I managed to taste some of Hunter Belle’s fantastic cheese, the delicious Lincoln Red Beef Direct (the best “burger” I’ve had in years!) the lighter than light macarons from Sweet Project and the tasty hot chocolate of the Kerv Café all whilst admiring the beautiful flowers from Stem. (Living in the country often means that the only fresh flowers you see are the ones you’ve grown – so in my house its roses or nothing).

There were many other stallholders and I was very impressed with the amount of talented people that Amelia had located and brought together for the event. Given fair weather I have high hopes for the next Homegrown + Handmade in June!

Next weekend I have the Dunedoo Show (24th March), the following weekend is the Mendooran Show (31st March) and then Easter Saturday (7th April) is the Mudgee Makers Market, so you see its all go, go, go!

Photo at top is pair of sterling, tourmaline and peridot earrings that sold at the trunk show last week.

The Jewels of the 84th Annual Academy Awards

The stunning Penelope Cruz looking very much the movie star.

And another night of the glitterati has been and gone! Sparkle, glimmer and glitter were definitely the order of the day – in sequins, satins and brocade dresses as well as in jewels.

There was a definite feeling of old Hollywood glamour in the air, perhaps inspired by the winning Best Picture The Artist and its silent film fashions. Although saying that, many styles seemed reminiscent of 30s to 50s.

Curvy silhouettes were definitely “in” and the quote by Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz from icon costume designer, Edith Head … something along the lines of 'dresses should be tight enough to show you’re a woman but loose enough to show you’re a lady' should have been taken on board by a few of the stars on the night that looked like they had been poured into their gowns and I think sitting in such a tight fit would have been a challenge!

To go with the popular strapless/off the shoulder and one shoulder gowns and often upswept hair, necklaces could have had a starring role, however most chose (as usual) to go with earrings.


Brooke Anderson


Stacy Keibler


Octavia Spencer


Milla Jovovich


Bingbing Li


Maria Menounos

Statement sparklers abounded – mostly drop or chandelier style earrings (see a few of them above), and there were a couple of necklaces to be seen, notably some diamond necklaces worn by Penelope Cruz in Chopard (at top)and Natalie Portman in Harry Winston.


Natalie Portman

There was some colour in jewelled earrings – green was definitely popular – emeralds, chrysoprase, jade and more – Berenice Bejo in Chopard emeralds, Shaun Robinson in Gemfields emeralds, Viola Davis in Lorraine Schwartz plus Virginia Masden and Kelly Osborne.


Berenice Bejo


Shaun Robinson


Viola Davis


Virginia Masden


Kelly Osborne

Some warm colours in yellow (Jessica Chastain wore yellow diamonds by Harry Winston) and browns (Ellie Kemper in Lorraine Schwartz).


Jessica Chastain


Ellie Kemper

Some in blues (Tina Fey in sapphires and emeralds by Bulgari and Busy Philipps in opal earrings by Irene Neuwirth)


Tina Fey


Busy Philipps

I spotted a pair of plain black onyx drops worn by Melissa Leo – following the trend from the BAFTAs and a few pearls – Bo Derek in large pearl and diamond drops and Rose Byrne in linear pearl drop earrings by Chanel.


Melissa Leo


Bo Derek


Rose Byrne

And a couple of pink-reds, these were the very pretty ones worn by Brooke Burns

Brooke Burns

One massive statement necklace was sported by Rachel Smith who was an interviewer on the red carpet and it looked spectacular!

Rachel Smith

I’ve been wondering WHY most jewels for the red carpet seem to be diamonds and I think I’ve worked it out. Stylists are so caught up in the gowns, they probably select jewels that will go with more than one of their shortlisted gowns. Diamonds of course, will go with any colour gown and must be the stone of choice in these cases. Perhaps those with coloured stone jewels had their gowns organised earlier and had time to select jewels?

So what is your favourite look of the event? I rather liked Penelope Cruz with her 50's Elizabeth Taylor gown and hair and Chopard diamonds!

Postscript - In my report on the SAG awards last month I wasn't 100% on Maya Rudolph's earrings being moonstone so checked with the designer, Kimberly McDonald who has just advised me they are geodes with brown diamonds.