Interior designer and SHIBUMI client, Natalie Engels, guest curates this selection of pieces choosing works that represent the things she is drawn to: Found Objects, Star Gazing and Balanced Design. Natalie believes design directly impacts our lives whether at work or at play, in leisure and in our communities.
Inspiration
The Road of Motherhood; 2010-2023
Inspiration, Shibumi Project
I think the road to motherhood has given me super powers! My son Ando turned 13 this year. I see him thinking and fending for himself these days and think, ‘Wow his childhood is really over!’. He still needs me but it’s different. He is carving his own path and I watch in awe as I see this fine young man grow into our world.
So with this reflection I want to honor all who have mothered with a wish for a beautiful Mother’s Day. May your super powers ignite all areas of life - family and parenthood, your career, your community and every nook and cranny in-between!
I know motherhood has made me a better person and I am so grateful.
And as everyone warned me, it goes by so fast…
My very best wishes to mothers everywhere for your journey!
Pearl Design & Inspiration Guide
Inspiration, Articles
INHERITED
Many of us have family pearls sitting in our jewelry boxes. When I got married, I was gifted a beautiful string of pearls that belonged to my Japanese grandmother, Hisa.
Have I ever worn them?
No, not even once.
I imagine I am not the only one with family pearls sitting in a jewelry box, rarely if ever worn, but imbued with sentiment and too precious to part with.
However, traditionally set pearls and strands can be incorporated or transformed into beautifully contemporary and unique pieces.
We have a wide range of ideas at various price points!
We can restring and add a beautiful clasp, or use an unusual color thread. We can add other pearls and complimenting beads, or handmade chain to make a beautiful layering piece for your collection.
If you have family pearls you’d like to design with, look at our Pearl Design Guide below and make a custom appointment.
COMPLIMENTARY VERBAL PEARL APPRAISAL
Are your pearls real? Are they valuable?
Drop by SHIBUMI on Saturday April 8th from 1-4PM when our pearl appraiser will be on site to give complimentary verbal appraisals of your pearls.
WRITTEN PEARL APPRAISAL $120
We also offer written appraisals for your pearls and heirloom jewelry and stones.
- PEARL DESIGN GUIDE -
DESIGN IDEAS STARTING AT $350
Restringing pearls and adding a silver or bronze clasp.
Adding gold ear wire or bails (see below) to your existing peals.
Click images to enlarge
Pearls should ideally be strung with knots between each pearl. We recommend restringing when there starts to be movement between the pearls from wear. Silk is commonly used to string pearls. While it is very strong, it does wear over time. One simple way to update a string of pearls is to consider restringing them on colored silk. Something fun and unexpected like a hot pink thread or even a medium grey can liven up your pearls.
Also consider adding a contemporary new clasp which can be done with bronze or silver in this price point.
Click images to enlarge
We can also add a modern bail to one of your favorite pearls, or an updated French ear wire to your favorite pair.
DESIGN IDEAS STARTING AT $1000
Along with restringing, other ideas at this price point might include:
Adding a gold clasp
Adding other stones/pearls or bronze/silver beads
Adding a gold cable chain or handmade silver chain to lengthen your pearls
Creating a custom earring setting in silver or possibly 14k gold
Adding small gold bead accents with a simple gold clasp or chain
Creating a custom setting in silver for a ring with or without gold accents (Note: Creating a setting in 14k/18k gold starts at $2000)
Click images to enlarge
Many of our clients have wanted to add other components to their pearls. Above, are some examples where we have added other beads or stones in various colors and sizes or added a new chain.
We’ve also included examples of custom settings for rings and earrings created within this price point.
DESIGN IDEAS STARTING AT $3,000
Adding in higher-end stones/pearls with gold components
Adding a handmade gold chain to lengthen your pearls
Creating a custom setting in gold or platinum for a ring
Designing a custom earring setting in gold
Adding a custom gold bead with diamonds
Click images to enlarge
Pearls are an excellent choice for layering, especially when worn at a longer length to make them feel less formal. We can add a handmade or machined chain to extend the length to your pearls and give them a completely new look. We can also add gold beads, stone beads or other pearls, caps or custom elements to create something totally unique.
Custom settings in gold or platinum can also be considered at this price point.
DESIGN IDEAS STARTING AT $5,000
Click images to enlarge
Pearl quality can vary greatly. Many characteristics determine the value of a pearl such as shape, size, luster and color. We can source high-quality pearls or other stone beads to add to your pearls, with or without gold components.
We can also design a custom piece with our team or one of our artists.
INSPIRATION
Click images to enlarge
Feel free to be inspired!
The examples above are only some of endless ideas that can be translated at different price points. Much will depend on the actual pearls you are starting with.
Let us help make your jewelry feel more like you. We believe in expressing individuality and helping you find your creative vision!
Featured in the Guide: April Higashi, Claudia Alleyne, Kate Eickelberg, Kelsey Simmen, Kirsten Muenster, Mew Chiu, Olivia Shih, Ruth Tomlinson, Tracy Conkle
The Longivity of Love
Inspiration
I marvel at couples who have managed to make long-term relationships work or still seem happy after years of marriage. I have a few solid long-term coupled friends but many of us, including myself, are separated or divorced and happy with that decision too. Much of my work is with couples designing rings or helping select special gifts for a partner. And I’ve noticed that some of these longer term couples sometimes seem exceptionally happy, light, supportive of each other… and still have that spark of love and excitement, almost as if they’ve only just met.
Natalie and Thomas are one of these couples. We met last year after they had been on a search for a jeweler to design and make her their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift. Thomas had traveled to Antwerp and brought her back some black diamonds. I was honored they selected me to work with them on their custom pieces. We started with a cuff and when they came to the studio for Natalie’s sizing, Thomas regaled me with stories that were filled with admiration and love for Natalie. He beamed as he spoke about her, her design work and her talents.
They left a lasting impression on me. I saw that this was a couple who truly supported each other. Thomas had wanted Natalie to have what she loved and trusted her design choices. He never flinched as she selected the perfect white metal for the piece, which also happened to be the most expensive. He saw she was creating her dream piece and supported and encouraged her choices all along during the design process.
I realized from working with them, isn’t this what we all need - love, support and someone who believes in our vision?
So thank you Thomas and Natalie, not only for the wonderful commission, but also for the beautiful reminder of what love can look like. Congratulations on twenty five years! It’s an honor to be part of your celebration.
~ April
Thomas
What is the one thing you still love about Natalie?
There’s more than one thing, but one worth mentioning here is Natalie’s independent and driven nature. Natalie jumps full-on into everything she does and whether it’s her relationships, design work, or community efforts. She doesn’t do anything halfway.
What is your secret to a long-term lasting relationship?
Natalie and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We have lived in multiple states, embraced various careers, and are raising our daughter. There has been a lot of change over the years, and we adapt and take-on challenges as a team.
Natalie
What is the one thing you still love about Thomas?
Thomas was incredibly fun to be around when we met; humorous, spontaneous and ready to enjoy any situation regardless of his stress level. That zeal has not changed and I love that he has this approach to all aspects of life. It’s contagious.
What is your secret to a long-term lasting relationship?
My initial thought was immediately, communication and humor. With marrying so young in life, we recognized early that we would not be the exact same person when we got older. We acknowledged that we needed to attempt to change in parallel or appreciate that the other was changing instead of trying to keep them as they were.
NATALIE ENGELS is an Interior Designer at Gensler and her favorite pieces at Shibumi are featured in this month’s CURATED ☆ PICKS.
MAKE SOMETHING EVERY DAY
Inspiration
During this time….stay inspired, seek beauty, MAKE SOMETHING EVERY DAY!
Let us know what you are making….tag us @shibumigallery on Instagram.