this photo here will be explained later

1) Big Briolette Necklace, by Naomi Fujimoto, courtesy Kalmbach

2) Earrings by Cynthia Thornton

(which she liked so much, she kept them! -- I can see why!)

3) Ocean Bracelet by Jennifer Dangerfield

4) Confetti Collar Necklace by Margot Potter

Hi! jean here!

I have been having a serious urge to write about some of my top favorite jewelry designers today. Then I realized that I didn't feel like being serious. At that point I looked up a bunch of images on google of people snorkeling but they were all owned by Getty and Corbis and I wasn't in the moooood to get sued.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them anyway.

I also have a dreadful sense that some people will not understand if they are not on my top favorite jewelry designer list today, they never will be.

However this list is an ongoing project of mine...strictly my own personal feelings, and I don't have any axes to grind here. Why would I be publicizing other people if I did? That would be stupid. And we all know I am not stupid (well at least I hope not), and after all, even if I never got to be a model, I did get to be a hand model. That was my dream come true. But I digress.

I would like everyone to understand that if I decide to make a list of cool jewelry designers, it is just my judgement and my choice--no one else's.

And if I decide to put this list on my blog, I will be getting NOTHING out of it but the pleasure of pointing out why I have chosen these people, whom I have watched grow as designers, over my years as a designer myself.

Please, I want no one's feelings hurt by this. If you are good, original, ignite excitement and you know it, you will no doubt turn up on my list sooner or later. Unless I don't know about you! I could not publicize you if I don't know you, you know.

Let me give you an example of a short list I have pulled up spontaneously off the top of my head (or whatever the saying is), of some designers who have touched my heart with their pensive, and/or ebullient, and/or unique designs. Such brilliant creativity!

It delights my soul and, at times, sends chills up my spine!

#1) Naomi Fujimoto : I almost fell over when I saw what she did with her briolette necklace. She always seems to have the concept of "beauty and balance, first" on her mind. It appears to be instinctive with her, but is that possible? Anyway, amazing work.

#2) Cynthia Thornton, whose creations are from another world . This world is more mysterious and more entrancing than ours, by far. Everything she makes has a glow because she touched it.

#3) Jennifer Dangerfield, who blows my mind every time I set eyes on anything she does. I don't know how she thinks of the things she creates...they are like music frozen into jewelry, and then made exquisitely fluid once again...

#4) Margot Potter, who can do ANYTHING and everything and does it. She astounds me. I cannot believe how ubiquitous she is, and how high the quality of her varied creations continue to be. And how funny and great she is. She is getting a special operation to help her breathing problems this week. Let's send her some extra love!

That is it for this particular list: just a short one but it took me a very long time.

I hope you enjoyed it, whether you make jewelry, just admire jewelry, or buy jewelry!

jean