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.

A golden comb fit for a mermaid

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…

A siren’s hook or a jewelry clasp?

The Embrace Earring

Spiraling out

Pop-Up Holiday Market at Cherry Hills Country Club

Photo by Alex Medvick

Hard to believe it’s already “that time of year” again, but here we are, first snowstorm and all! I’m thrilled to be participating in a Holiday Pop-Up Market at the Cherry Hills Country Club, hosted by Helm Weaver Helm, benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association. This market will have a wide assortment of giftable, artisan goods, including handmade heirloom jewels from yours truly. 10% of our sales will go to Alzheimer’s research. Details are as follows:

Wednesday, November 29th

1-6pm

Free and open to all - not just members of the club!

Please help spread the word, and invite friends… I hope to see all my Denver folks there! Please also note there is a dress code at the country club, and no blue jeans are permitted.

XX,

Vanessa

See Talisman at The Found Collective on Saturday

It’s that time of year again… the fall Found Collective market is happening in Boulder on Saturday, September 9th at the Dairy Arts Center. As per usual, I’m super excited not only to hang with so many of my friends in one place - who also happen to be some of the most talented designers and artisans in Colorado, no less - but I also can’t wait to finally unveil some of the new fall pieces I’ve been hard at work on. Come see me and scope out designs like my brand new, entirely handmade Anchored Chain, the Orbit Collar and Orbit Bracelet, the wonderfully chunky new Conjunct Cigar Band and its pair the Conjunct Ring, and so much more. Entry is $5, but is SO worth it, between the amazing food, music, and the best curation of vendors this side of the front range. See you there!

Sneak Peek at Fall/Winter 2023

July and August are the months in which I’m busy dreaming up new designs to be unveiled in the fall. What begins as a sketch, and then a wax carving, slowly morphs into solid gold. You’ll have to use your imagination to picture these rough models as the final product in glistening 14k, but I still thought it might be fun to give my clients a little sneak peek into what I’ve been working on. This is by no means a comprehensive group… there are a few more tricks up my sleeve that will be released when they’re ready, for the record.

The Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring are designed to pair together, but can just as easily be worn separately. I’m absolutely in love with them… it took a bit of trial and error to get the asymmetry and leaning angles just right.

This season I found myself increasingly called to create more streamlined, simple shapes that felt like the daily essentials that the collection was missing. Really, I was just getting back to the core of what Talisman Fine Jewelry is all about - everyday heirloom jewelry that still feels sacred and sculptural. Ok, maybe with a wilder piece or two mixed in, because I’m still an artist and I have to express myself as such. Scroll on for a taste of what’s to come.

More views of the Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring in wax, before casting into solid, recycled 14k gold.

The conjunction of the Conjunct Cigar Band and Conjunct Ring, hehe

A very pudgy Delphi Ear Cuff. I imagined this as something the Oracle of Delphi would wear while she divinates for her patrons.

Soon to be a hoop… a pair for the Helix Ring.

This piece is artful and a little wild, called the Central Sun Ring… it’s a piece that’s been a long time coming, swimming in my head as a possibility for a year or more. She pairs with the Central Sun Earrings.

Almost finished… these are the Orbit Collar and the Orbit Bracelet, getting ready for final polishing. They’re truly everyday, heirloom pieces. Add charms if you desire, or just wear them alone for a minimalist statement in solid 14k gold. The hooks click shut when you put them on - a sound that I find to be very satisfying.

Talisman at the Found Collective Boulder

Artwork by Beth Hoeckel

Join me and a host of other noteworthy Colorado designers, artists, makers, florists, and vintage vendors for the Mother’s Day weekend installment of the Found Collective - a Boulder-based pop-up market that is not to be missed. Happening on Saturday, May 13 from 1-6pm at the Rembrandt Yard: 1301 Spruce Street.

Truly, I don’t participate in many group markets these days (TBH most of them are kind of “meh” if I’m being totally real with you), but this one is worth your time and the small $5 entry fee. Found Collective founder, Emmy Swenson, has impeccable taste and really curates the best of the best. Plus, if you haven’t thought about what you’re getting mom this year, the Found Collective is a one-stop-shop, with florals, tasteful gifts and more. Even better is that all sales will be matched and donated to three charities - Motherhouse Boulder, the Radical Waves Project, and Love for Lily. And I’ll have a BOATLOAD of new Talisman designs for you to see, which you can take home with you in my signature reusable gift packaging. Get your tix here ahead of time, and I’ll hope to see you there!

On Amulets and Talismans

Model Aleah Hyvonen wears the Michael Amulet Necklace, along with the Ra Signet Ring, Rollo Band, and Portal Bracelet. Photo by Chiara Garland.

I often get asked what on earth an amulet or a talisman is, let alone a sigil, so I figured it was high time I hopped on the blog and talked a little more about the woo-woo side of what I do. Don’t let my abstract, modernist sensibility fool you, Talisman is indeed called Talisman for a reason. I use this collection as a means of bridging my art and spiritual practice, in order to create a means of earning a living. Pretty neat, if you ask me.

In the simplest terms, an amulet is “an ornament or piece of jewelry believed to give protection against evil, danger or disease.” The term amulet or talisman can be used fairly interchangeably, as a talisman is considered “a small, portable object or piece of jewelry thought to possess spiritual or magical powers to protect, heal, or even harm individuals for whom they’re made.” In essence, they’re (usually) good luck charms. To be more specific, though, amulets and talismans are pieces of jewelry that can be imbued with a specific energy or intention by the maker, in order to achieve a specific goal for the wearer. Here is where I come in…

Model Sunshine Fox holds several Talisman pieces, including the Phoenix Amulet Necklace and the Protective Eye Y Necklace. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

Take for example, the Michael Amulet Necklace: this piece is made to carry the vibration of Archangel Michael, who is a protective guardian against evil for those who believe. Underneath the molten, abstract surface of this medallion, I’ve inscribed a symbol that is widely regarded as a magical sigil invoking Michael. What’s a sigil, you ask? A sigil is a written or drawn symbol that is considered to have magical power - often connected to the energy of a specific deity or spirit, though it also can be intuitively drawn as a symbolic representation of the magic practitioner’s own desired outcome. Whew, that got wordy! Long story short, I use sigil magic in my own spiritual practice, and many of Talisman’s pieces have secret sigils inscribed on them in order to bring you healing, protection, good luck, or other specific positive energies. The Michael Amulet and Phoenix Amulet are among those.

The Protective Eye Y Necklace on Sunshine. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

The the thing is, with these two pieces as well as the rest of the collection, my magic isn’t always obvious. That’s because I come from a background of melding two somewhat opposite worlds - fashion and spirituality. I’m a bridge person, residing at the threshold to connect people between those worlds. Fashion witch, if you will. With a love of modern art, and a background working in fashion for almost 20 years, though, I’m much more of a minimalist, abstract kind of girl. I want my pieces to be wearable and stand out as art objects, on their own. That’s why the magic behind them may not be so in-your-face to some. But trust me, it’s there.

Close up of the Michael Amulet Necklace and Solomon’s Seal Necklace. Photo by Chiara Garland.

Even for Talisman’s pieces that don’t have specific sigil inscriptions, like the Michael or Phoenix Amulets, or something so obvious as the Solomon’s Seal Necklace (which is a very powerful magical symbol that even predates its use in Judaica), magic and intention is always a part of my process. Before I even sit down at the bench, I begin each day with a meditation and channeling practice, along with some yoga movement and qigong to get my energy flowing. I focus a lot on my hands, and when I work on each piece, they’re usually vibrating with the energy that I am imbuing into the jewelry. Furthermore, when I work on custom pieces, I always have that end user’s needs and energy in mind as I’m working, so as to energetically charge that piece of jewelry with it.

The Yin Yang Necklace. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

Last but not least, I have an altar in my studio (Yes, I’m that woo guys. Are we really surprised at this point? Probably not LOL). This particular atar, if you care to know, is dedicated to Goddess energy, as embodied by deities such as Aphrodite, Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and a few others. That’s because those are some of my personal deities that I work with in my spiritual practice. So I set pieces on the altar for a time before they get shipped out to you, in order to receive some last blessings and cleansing.

Sunshine holds the Mary Pendant on the Metanoia Chain. Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink.

So hopefully that gives some clarity for any of you who were a little unclear about just what an amulet, talisman or sigil is. And therefore probably not totally sure what I do, beyond making pretty jewelry. But hey, that’s a-ok if that’s all you think I do too ;)

Pre-Mother's Day Pop-Up at Common Threads Boulder

Photo by Kristen Hatgi Sink

Join Talisman along with jeweler Salihah Moore and other incredible local makers for a Mother’s Day pop-up at Common Threads boutique in Boulder!

Saturday, May 7th

12 - 4pm

2707 Spruce Street, Boulder

If you haven’t checked out this incredible designer consignment boutique, I can tell you that it’s a must-see. As sustainability and circular fashion become more and more important, Common Threads has quickly become THE spot for fashion-centric folks in the Boulder area. Seriously, I can’t walk in there without finding something to pick up... From Gucci lace leggings to Ulla Johnson dresses and Jerome Dreyfuss bags, they’ve got you covered. So come stop in, say hello, and pick up some new-to-you pieces along with the latest Talisman Fine Jewelry spring wares for mom :)

Talisman in the Press | Worthwhile Goods

At the bench, image by Sara Ford

I could not be more thrilled to be featured in the very first iteration of Worthwhile Goods’ series “Good Humans,” up now on WorthwhileGoods.com. Worthwhile Goods is a curated resource for ethically-minded fashion, beauty, wellness and home goods, launched by an old pal of mine, Hannah Armitage. Hannah and I go way back… back to when I owned my boutique Goldyn, before it was even a brick-and-mortar boutique (yeah that’s way way back). Picture 26 or 27-year-old me, working out of a giant open warehouse space, packing up online orders, while Hannah, roughly the same age, photographs her vintage wares on the seamless backdrop we shared. Anyway, I digress.

Fast-forward to today: Hannah has launched several successful companies in the fashion sphere, including her latest, Worthwhile Goods, and I am in my 3rd professional life as a jeweler. She and I sat down and got to talking about all kinds of interesting topics - from beginnings and creative inspiration, to things like business advice for entrepreneurs, morning routines, and wardrobe staples. Fun stuff! You can peep the whole interview here.

Behind the Scenes of the Spring/Summer 2022 Lookbook Shoot

Handmade driftwood mobile by my late Great Aunt Susan <3 - something we were able to incorporate as a prop during our Talisman photoshoot

Journey with us to Phoenix, Arizona, where photographer Andrew Vanasse and myself ventured for a sun-soaked photoshoot of the latest Spring 2022 collection arrivals. While lookbook shoots may seem simple enough, many customers don’t realize just how many hours of concepting, planning and effort go into them (and after the fact as well). This one even involved a cross-country jaunt to the Sonoran desert, but hey, it was February and we weren’t complaining. With major, statement-making new pieces like the Mary Pendant and Metanoia Chain in the mix, we wanted a major shoot to showcase them in. Plus, where else were we going to photograph the new Phoenix Amulet Necklace than in Phoenix itself, right?

Andrew Vanasse uses a square-patterned wooden wall, some old boxes we found, and my family’s ceramic vase as a backdrop for the Plane Earrings and Phoenix Amulet Necklace (coming soon)

The earthy, bohemian vibe of an adobe house in Paradise Valley, on the outskirts of east Phoenix, provided just the right backdrop for the highly sculptural new wares. The scene we laid out had a look akin to an artist’s messy desert studio, and thus we mixed in an assortment of fruits and other (very) random foods for our still life shots - as if our artist had just plucked them off the table for a snack between working on her latest pieces. Fun side note here: I was also able to incorporate some of my family’s heirlooms into the pics too - including some handmade ceramic vessels and a driftwood mobile made by my late Great Aunt Susan. How special is that? Given the handmade nature of my jewelry - the Metanoia Chain alone took nearly 100 hours to make! - it all made sense together.

Snack, anyone? A cool mid-century stucco wall at sunset played backdrop to the Portal Bracelet, Mary Pendant (coming soon), and Demeter Cigar Band

Another fun fact: I oftentimes find during photoshoots that, even with the concept nailed down before hand, themes present themselves on the fly. When that happens it’s best to go with it. That’s definitely what occurred here… Rather unintentionally, fish kept making their way into the photos. Don’t ask me why, but when selecting food for the shoot at the local grocery store, the fishmonger called to me, and once we arrived at the location, we stumbled upon some decorative terra cotta fish that just sort of fit the bill. So we went with it. Fish, after all, are said to symbolize rebirth, the higher self, prosperity, abundance and good luck, among other things. I took it as a good omen. And thus, I present to you: the making of “Pisces’ Studio,” a lookbook shot by Andrew Vanasse in creative collaboration with myself, with hand modeling by (my dear cousin) Alianna Martinez. Stay tuned for the final result, coming to the web soon!

Did we make our hand model Alianna touch the fish? You’ll just have to check back in to find out ;) Pictured here are the Aphrodite Hugs, Plane Earrings, and the new Metanoia Chain (coming soon). Alianna wears the Rollo Band.

XX,

Vanessa

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!

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

Save the Date: Summer Lounge + Shop

Join Talisman, along with sustainably-minded fashion designers Mecla, Mimi Shim Studio, and florist Bloom & Noosh for a sun-drenched shopping soiree to kick off the summer season.  Guests can browse the latest SS21 wares in a joint trunk show, along with a complimentary cocktail lounge and snacks.  All in a convenient, socially-distanced, outdoor setting in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.

Sunday, June 6th, 1 – 6pm

3051 Lawrence Street

*Masks required