touchstones.
As you may have noticed by now, strands involves a foundation of intention, symbolism and storytelling.
Below you’ll find some topics related to the choices that go into the pieces and collections —
an expansion on the “why” of what you are seeing.
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touchstone
\ tuch - stōn \ : 1. a quintessential part or feature. 2. a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated.
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On metal tones:
Are you more naturally drawn to the golden-toned metals, which reflect the sun’s warm daytime rays, or the silver-toned, which reflect the moon’s cool nighttime glow? Or perhaps you enjoy the mélange of both.
On versatility:
All hours, all outfits. Closet staples. Dressed up, down or tossed on in the afterthought of middle ground.
strands strives to provide beautiful, versatile pieces that can be worn “from day-to-day to date night" — “from coffee to cocktails” — « bijoux jour par jour au soirée. » Whether on the move or winding down, shouldn’t we express ourselves in the moment?On lightness:
Bone was the seedling that planted strands. This material is so beautiful, and represents such a fundamental part of being human: it is the substance of our inner architecture, our skeletal framework. Combining and linking bone with other materials is what ignited my vision, and made my heart sing. Weightlessness. A whisper — barely feeling that you’re wearing anything. Kundera’s L'insoutenable légèreté de l'être or The Unbearable Lightness of Being comes to mind. *Add more info on how bone beads are sourced and made
On the details and presence of hand:
Some necklaces feature special heart-shaped clasps and adjustable lengths — an important flexibility depending on what you’re wearing (outfit, layering or mood). Most pieces feature subtle logo-stamped discs, with a selective omission: only when they interfere with the design’s presentation. And yes, the rosary-style looping that you see between beads is all done by hand, giving each of these pieces dedicated time and meditative space between the artist’s hands. This method of linking was inspired by several factors: aesthetic draw (airy look), historical reference (the Catholic rosary is a counting tool), rhythm (a dance happens, like notes on sheet music or morse code), and breathing room (negative space allows the beads to be even more prominent).
On seasonal-inspired collections:
WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN. Each of the seasons builds our annual cycle, and directly inspires the forms, names and imagery behind the pieces. Think of a garden in each of its seasonal states, from dormant to fertile to growth to bloom to harvest. And although the seasons influence the designs, please note: they are all meant to be worn anytime: year-round and “from day-to-day to date night.” Santa Fe is a city especially influenced by the changing of the seasons, with flora that responds to big swings in temperature and precipitation. The snowdumps and freezes of winter, the winds and buds of spring, the heat and monsoons of summer and the color and perfection of autumn.
Although the words in French are more « charmantes », the use of the chosen English terms above are also beautiful due to their symmetry of 6 characters each.On the circle:
Looping technique of the rosary. Cyclical reference.
On francophilia:
On ear hooks:
Strands earrings are made with 18 gauge stainless steel or gold-plated stainless steel ear hooks. This is a thicker hook than most, so encourage you to try these out first, if possible, to ensure comfort. I am happy to switch these hooks out for thinner alternatives, should you prefer, for a small upcharge to cover cost and a little extra time. Please reach out with questions.
On turquoise and it’s look-alikes:
Insert paragraph from heart beads.
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