Block Island: Anchor Inspirations for Design. #TinaTang #Jewelry

Months ago, my best friend, Sima, invited me on a Memorial Day Weekend excursion with her to Block Island, RI, one of her most favorite places on earth. 

What shes loves most about this New England beach town, is the casual attitude and everyone's undiscerning eye for fashion. Block Island is the anti-thesis of the Hamptons where one still must be conscious of her "outfit" when "casually" strolling the town. We were looking to relax, re-group, and re-inspire our artistic spirits.

Both of us are wearing our local purchases.  Vacation is only such when you buy something.

Naturally, Sima pulled me into the outrageous hat store.  Here we are goofing around.

You can see we both wear our signature Tina Tang pieces on vacation, me my heart hoops, her the Sima necklace. 

My inspiration on this trip complements my recent attraction to all things seersucker; my new muse is the anchor.  The shape and the function of an anchor is the heart of my new line which I will start working on this month.

Giant found anchor sitting on the lawn across from our bed and breakfast.

What or who is the anchor in your life?

Word Play #Rings. #TinaTang

I designed a line of "word" jewelry which you read about here and called the series Gotham Girl.  The jewelry line felt like words a NYC woman would wear around the city.

I'm not much of a stud earring wearer yet I wanted to have the words parlay into designs on the ear as well.  A year later, I've noticed most of my clients are not drawn to the itty bitty stud earrings, thus, I'm making them into rings!

I do think as rings they look much more fun!

I have *love*, and these two I picked up today from production: *joy* and *me*

What I am most curious to know: would you wear the word rings?

First Dinner Party: A #Jewelry Designer Cooks. #TinaTang

I've never been much of a cook and that's simply because cooking doesn't give me joy like it does for many others.  It's a perfunctory necessity if one wishes to eat fairly healthy. 

For the first time in my life, I decided to host a little dinner party for a few girl friends whom I knew wouldn't judge and whom I knew would be a pleasure to spend a few comfortable hours.

I invited Sima, my best friend, Bobbie, my old employee and close friend, and Sandy, a new lovely friend I met in my Bootcamp class at the gym.

Bobbie, Sima and Sandy (clockwise), chatting about relationships.

My favorite part of prepping for the dinner party was the table setting.  Notice how my place mats match my fabric napkins?  I love old fashioned fabric napkins and the fact that using them is environmentally positive.  I couldn't wait to break out my blue transferware, which I have loved since I can remember. 

This is the exact pattern I have for my dishes: Bilton's Stoneware made in England.

 I have been buying bluetransfer ware ceramic dishes on Ebay for over 10 years.  The floral pattern and contrast color to the white plates is what attracts me.  I also love Scandinavian design.  This is my serving bowl made by iittala of Sweden.

I love bold patters and believe one can mix and match.

Seeing friends who have never met before eating my cooking and blissfully enjoying conversation makes me smile:

No one had to dress up either!  It was come comfortable and eat.

Dinner menu: Vegetable and Chickpea curry with brown rice, light house salad, and Crumbs cupcakes for dessert.  Red wine: homemade by Sandy!

P.S. Sima has on her custom made *Sima* necklace:

You can have one made, too!

Humbled by @HARJewelry and her #TinaTang profile.

Halle Richardson, a custom jewelry designer, writes a lovely blog about every aspect of jewelry including jewelry designer profiles and artful pieces that she enjoys.  Today, she wrote a profile post on me!  (blushing..)  I wanted to share it with you as it is such a great honor to be noticed by another jewelry designer.

Here is a "thumbnail" of the page and you can see it here.

Thank you, Halle, for such a beautiful and kind profile!