Liloveve Blog

Liloveve: When did you first start making jewelry?

Suzannah Gallehugh:  I have been making jewelry since I was a child, but I officially launched the Suzanna Dai line in May 2009.

LV: What classes have you taken at Liloveve?

SG: Intro to Silversmithing, Stackable Rings (twice - just can’t get enough!), and the Filigree Workshop

(Earrings made by Suzie in the Filigree workshop)

LV: Where do you draw your inspiration when designing your work?

SG:  I usually start by playing with different color combinations and beads until I get a shape I like.  Most of my over-arching inspiration comes from travel and anything vintage.

LV: Where do you sell your work?

SG: The Suzanna Dai line is currently carried at Calypso St. Barth, Scoop NYC, Anthropologie, Barney’s Japan, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, and various boutiques throughout the world

LV: Have you been featured in any press?

SG: My line has received a lot of great press, including features on Gossip Girl and Desperate Housewives, and in publications including In Style, People Style Watch, O The Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, and Lucky.  Most recently Michelle Obama wore a pair of my earrings to a White House Dinner, which I was so excited about.

(as seen on Michelle Obama!)

LV: What’s your favorite piece you’ve ever made?

SG:  I really like one of the necklaces I made in my first season, called the Kathmandu.  It incorporates all my favorite shades of peacock - teal, blue, green, bronze, gold.  It’s really big and unique.

LV: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

SG: Tahiti or anywhere in the South Pacific

LV: If you could collaborate with another designer/artist, who would it be and why?

SG: Isabel Toledo, because she’s really creative and seems like a nice, down-to-earth person.

LV: What’s the most fun aspect of being a jewelry designer?

SG: Getting to be creative and see my products go from an idea in my head to actual pieces in stores.  

Like Suzie’s work? Check out more at the links below….

suzannadai.com

Facebook: Suzanna Dai

@Suzannadai

tumblr.com/blog/suzannadai

Pinterest.com/SuzannaDai

Check out new Spring & Summer class just posted to the Liloveve Website!!

www.liloveve.com/classes

Check out the amazing student work from this past weekend’s Keum-boo workshop. See more images on our Facebook page. Interested in this class or another workshop at Liloveve? Take a look at our website!

One of Liloveve’s students and dear friends, Tony Limuaco of Yarn Monkey Chronicles created this unbelievable pumpkin and tangerine cashmere modular hexagonal knit blanket for baby Ea. Tony is so talented! Because of it’s hexagonal shape, it’s perfect to cover Ea in his baby sling and keep him warm and cozy on these chilly Winter days. (Thank you for the scarf as well!)

Not only does he knit, but Tony makes amazing jewelry! He made this knitting ring in our Jewelry Studio that is not just fabulous but functions as a tool to help you knit. That Tony know his stuff!

Here’s Tony & the ring in action!

Check out Tony’s work on his blog ~ The Yarn Monkey Chronicles

Do you love to knit and to make jewelry? Check out our 1-day wire crochet workshop on March 10. Act quick ~ only 2 spots left!

We wanted to check in on our former / current students who are creating their own jewelry lines - here we put the spotlight on a different designer each month. Know someone who should be featured here? contact us at studio@liloveve.com

Designer: Sky Phaebl

Liloveve: When did you first start making jewelry?

Sky Phaebl: It was in an accessory class at London’s College of Fashion that I first began playing around with beads and shells and jewelry concepts. My imagination felt more liberated creating jewelry versus clothing so shortly thereafter I transferred to a jewelry school in Florence called Le Arti Orafe and fell in love with the craft and science of metalwork.

LV: What classes have you taken at Liloveve?

SP: I started with a silversmithing class, I think it was called matching sets, I made 4 different but coordinating earrings. Then I went on to take the gold alloying class which was amazing. The wax carving class with Sakuraku practically changed my life. Most recently I took the hinge and locket making class.

LV:Where do you draw your inspiration when designing your work?

SP: I can find sources of inspiration practically everywhere. Compassionate deeds, music, mating rituals, the sadhus/sadhvis of India, the sunrise…Travel is immensely inspiring. I love immersing myself in different cultures and landscapes and viewing everything (even my own home, upon return) with fresh eyes. I’m fascinated by how people interact with each other and communicate, both verbally and non-verbally. These activities and observations charge my inspiration battery and help me create a story. Then when it comes to designing, as with life, I learn through experimentation. So I’ll have some shapes and outlines in mind that reflect this story but essentially I work through a process of trial and error. 

LV: Where do you exhibit you work?

SP: On December 1 I will be having a trunk show at Apotheke with a wonderful designer, IAMAMIA. Then in the spring I will be publishing a visual diary inspired by dreams and the subconscious. Generally though my jewelry can be found in independent boutiques.

LV: Where do you sell your work?

SP: In Manhattan my jewelry is sold at Albertine General and Honey in the Rough. It can also be found in Florida at Blue and Dona Coisa in Rio de Janeiro. 

LV: Have you been featured in any press?

SP: Some pieces from my Shiva Lingam collection were featured in a editorial for Argentina’s D Magazine. I’ve also been written about on a few blogs.

LV: What’s your favorite piece you’ve ever made?

SP: It’s so hard to pick just one favorite! Usually I am always wearing gold hoops so I definitely love my green gold Nopina hoops, but of course I also love my Kaha’ula necklace, Lilikala and Eeaves bracelets.

LV: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

SP: Number one choice? India for sure. But I would also love to visit Cambodia, Bhutan, Mongolia, Peru and Crete.

LV: If you could collaborate with another designer/artist, who would it be and why?

SP: Collaborating with Stella McCartney would be pretty ideal. I love the color palette she gravitates to as well as how she plays with silhouettes and transparency. Plus she is a vegetarian and together I think we could make the sexiest vegan accessories the world has ever seen.

LV: What’s the most fun aspect of being a jewelry designer?

SP: Since I was a child I have always enjoyed working with my hands. I think manipulating the elements to work in my favor is quite fun. So is being part of a community of talented, strong, smart women. 

See more of Sky’s work at www.SkyPhaebl.com

Love her work? Like her on Facebook

(Source: liloveve.com)