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Sneak Peek at Talisman Fine Jewelry Fall 2024

All life at Talisman begins as wax… or most at least.

July is the time of year when, just as everyone escapes town on their summer vacation, I dive back into the studio to begin work on the prototypes for fall. Many of my creations, if not most, begin their life as wax. I adore the process of carving and sculpting wax, so this is always a happy endeavor - if busy - for me. Check out what I’ve been working on below - it’s a sneak peek of what’s to come in solid 14k gold.

This season I found myself revisiting my trip to the South of France… this time, however, it was my own reimagined version of what once was. A more feminine-leaning tale of mermaids and sirens, of water and abundant fish and the spiraling crests of waves. Sapphic, voluptuous, and fertile. These themes come through in abstract ways in my work, of course, which allows every observer the chance to spin their own tale too.

Three guesses for what this will become…

BTS: Talisman Fine Jewelry Fall/Winter 2022 Lookbook Shoot

This last weekend, we traveled into the wild with photographer Kristen Hatgi Sink and model Sunshine Fox (yes, that’s her real name, and I’d say it’s fitting) to capture our latest fall creations. Concepting, producing, and creative directing photoshoots is part of the other work I’ve done for decades, and it’s always a joy to flex these muscles for Talisman’s shoots. While I thought I had a pretty clear concept in mind before we left on our voyage, as per usual the universe had some different ideas. And, as per usual, it made all the sense in the world when it came together in the end.

Kristen Hatgi Sink photographs Sunshine Fox.

The short story: Two of fall’s standout new pieces include the Protective Eye Y Necklace, and its miniature little sister. The idea had struck us to photograph these floating in front of Sunshine’s eyes, and Sunshine noted how it reminded her of the way some of Salvador Dali’s jewelry (including an eye piece) was photographed back in the day. Couldn’t agree more. The next morning after our shoot, I woke up to a completely unrelated, random text from my mother, with a photo of Dali’s exact same work. She had just stumbled upon it online, and thought I’d appreciate his aesthetic. She had not, by the way, seen anything from our shoot. Hey, these are the serendipitous things that happen when you own a jewelry line called Talisman! Naturally, I went down a wormhole looking at Dali’s work, and remembered that he had a painting called “La Femme Nue Dans Le Desert,” or “The Naked Woman in the Desert.” Immediately my mind flashed to the moon-like desertscape of our shoot, where indeed, we took some nude shots (tastefully covered though). Clearly, it was a sign.

My other inspirations as of late include the work of artists like Elena Stonaker, Niki de Saint Phalle, fashion designer Carla Fernandez (see previous post), and the culture and modernist architecture of Mexico City. These things played into our shoot as well, in more subtle ways. But the Dali references stood out. Or more like they jumped out, right at us.

So, all of this is to say: I hope you enjoy these behind-the-scenes peeks at our FW 2022 shoot, an unintentionally-intentional homage to La Femme Nue Dans Le Desert.

Sorting through the goods. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

Sunshine and I captured towards the end of the day. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

Talisman in the Press: Boulder Lifestyle Magazine

I can’t tell you how delighted I was when I heard that Boulder Lifestyle magazine wanted to profile Talisman Fine Jewelry for their June 2022 print issue… I’m a huge fan of the publication, its creative art direction, and its support of local artisans. Plus it’s always nice to connect with folks from my beloved hometown.

Writer Kailey Beuerlein asked some fun, out-of-the-box questions that you can peep below. I’m always excited to gab about my hippie, weirdo parents and the eclectic, formative upbringing that Boulder provided. You can read the article in its full glory starting on p36 here. Thanks again to Boulder Lifestyle publishers Kate and Andy Manz, writer Kailey Beuerlein, and the rest of the team!

Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift Guide

We’ve all been there… Mother’s Day creeps up on you, and all of a sudden you’re scrambling to find something for your mom/wife/sister/BFF. Never fear, we’ve got you covered! Peep below for my top picks of in-stock items that can ship to you in a matter of days (or available for local, same-day delivery if you’re in the Denver/Boulder area)…

The Portal Ring is an easy, classic and timeless take on a gold domed ring. Mom will love, trust.

One of my latest creations, the Freyja Necklace is ultra-dainty with a 2mm diamond, and perfect for the low-maintenance mom. Worn alone or layered with other necklaces, Freyja can be kept on 24/7 for a little extra sparkle.

Once again, low-maintenance and easy… a pair of Circle Studs are a no-brainer (PSA: order 2 for a matching pair, as they’re sold as singles)

One of my best-selling items, I love the amorphous, organic flow that the Sirius A Ring has. Dainty and affordable, it’s a certain winner as far as gift-giving goes.

A definite classic, the Rose Cut Diamond Necklace on a Paperclip Chain is simple yet unique, and ultra sparkly. Great for layering.

For more, see our full assortment of in-stock and made-to-order items here

A Wedding Band and More Recent Custom Work

While Talisman Fine Jewelry is mostly known as a seasonless collection of heirloom jewelry, some customers are surprised to learn that a large part of my business actually includes custom jewelry. Hence why I like to occasionally share my latest custom work with you all here.

Most recently, I had the honor or creating a custom 14k white gold men’s wedding band for Nick. Nick liked the subtle wabi-sabi nature of my work, but agreed that keeping the ring low-profile (in a literal sense) would be most comfortable for everyday wear. He also opted for a brushed finish, rather than the bright shine of a mirror polish. The result can be seen below. It is always such an honor to create commitment rings and wedding bands for customers… it’s something they’ll be wearing and cherishing for a lifetime, with so much meaning attached to it. As with all Talisman Fine Jewelry pieces, I imbue each creation with intention while crafting it, and take time to set the finished piece on my altar for blessing. This is especially important for commitment rings, for obvious reasons. So with Nick’s ring completed and a blessing for a happy, long-lasting union bestowed upon it, the ring is ready to ship out before his July nuptials! (Side note: custom jewelry can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks to complete, depending on the piece, so always make sure you’ve allotted enough time when putting in your order, especially if you have a deadline to meet).

Custom 14k white gold wedding band for Nick

Another fun custom project that came across my desk was a request for two pendants to represent a client’s work. Specifically, Alexandra works in the women’s health field as a pelvic care practitioner, and she wanted to be able to wear her pendants daily to honor the important medicine that she performs. Working together on the design, we came up with the concept of the spiral - an ancient symbol found historically across many global cultures - as a representation of the womb and its creation process, and of the life cycle journey, including growth, death and rebirth, and a return always to the Great Mystery.

The spiral, a representation of creation, and the journey of life

The second pendant was a more literal request - a yoni. My version was ever-so-slightly abstracted, but generally pretty anatomically obvious, at Alexandra’s request. Not your typical custom order, but I was thrilled to oblige! Participating in destigmatizing the yoni in particular was something that excited me. Alexandra and I both felt, ‘To he** with people who are freaked out by the organ from which they came into the world!’ For this piece I also added a twisted bail detail, to subtly tie it in with its spiral counterpart. Check out the end result below.

Finished womb spiral and yoni pendants for Alexandra

If you’re looking to get engaged, need a commitment ring, or simply have an idea for a jewelry piece that you’d like to turn into a reality, I encourage you to reach out and start a conversation. The best way to contact me, as always, is email - vanessa@talismanfinejewelry.co

Special thanks to Nick and Maddi, as well as Alexandra, for trusting me with your special creations!

Talisman Studio Tour with Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

Image by James Cromwell Holden

This fall I was honored to be asked by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art to join them for an online studio tour. I love the ‘full circle’ aspect of getting involved in the Boulder community more, given that it’s my hometown! BMOCA’s Kiah Butcher - who is just a lovely human BTW - and I had a casual convo about my process, the space, how Talisman got started, and more. Since my blog doesn’t support video content, you can peep the full studio tour HERE.

The 2021 Gift Guide

Hard to believe, but the holidays are approaching quickly (cue the Home Alone-esque, hands-on-face scream)…

A quick PSA: Because many Talisman Fine Jewelry pieces are made-to-order (in an effort to create less waste as well as create pieces with custom intention for YOU), we kindly ask that holiday orders on items that are not noted as “in-stock and ready to ship” (written in the product description) be placed by November 15th in order to ensure they’ll arrive in time for Xmas. Not to worry though, if planning ahead isn’t your bag, we’ve also got an assortment of in-stock styles that can ship just in the nick of time too.

Confounded on what to get? We’ve put together this handy-dandy gift guide for all the lovelies in your life, for your assistance…

Our top picks for the high-fashion statement-maker, clockwise from left: The Plane Earrings, Yin Yang Necklace, Sea Glass Necklaces, and Spiral Stud

For the lover of classics, our favorite timeless styles include, clockwise from left: The Demeter Cigar Band, Rollo Band, Central Sun Earrings, Rollo Hoops (paired with the Peace Sign Stud), and Rose Cut Diamond Necklace

For the chic spiritualist, we love these styles, clockwise from left: The Michael Amulet Necklace and Solomon’s Seal Necklace, the Sirius A Ring, Talisman Pouch Necklace, and the Protective Eye Stud

Paint Mines Shoot with Mecla

A sneak peek at a collaborative photoshoot with Talisman and Mecla, a sustainable clothing brand started by an old friend