Runway Ready with BodyRock Sport

"Seashells from the Seashore..."

I'm in my car driving to a client appointment and the phone rings. It is Kelly Dooley, the mastermind & creative force behind BodyRock Sport. "Joseph," she says breathlessly, "I am doing a runway show at the W Hotel in New Orleans next week, with models in oxygen filled bubbles in a pool, what Knight&Hammer should they wear?" 

You want Big, we got it!

WHAT? Once again this fashionista Goddess has caused me to almost drive off the road... Models, oxygen filled bubbles, New Orleans - race through me head. All I can reply is, "Okay Kelly let me figure it out," and get off the phone. 


Designing for a runway show is very different than designing jewelry for a woman's accessory arsenal. The jewelry needs to be inspired by the fashion designer you are collaborating with and bolder, so it can be seen by an audience. The last time I created a runway specific collection was for Boston-based, Daniela Corte. The Trenta Daniela collection was incredibly successful and was a melding of two of my collections, Le Mal Afrique & Trenta: http://knightandhammer.blogspot.com/2010/02/collaborating-with-daniela-corte.html  However, Dooley's models will be in oxygen bubbles, so this jewelry needs to be beyond epic.

Of course, during my client appointment all I can think about is hotties in tight formfitting BodyRock sports bras & what Knight&Hammer? Luckily, my client doesn't realize that I'm preoccupied with thoughts of New Orleans jazz and Mardi Gras beads. Then there in my client's library I see it! SHELLS, SEASHELLS line the bookcases and tabletops. I share with her the exciting news of working with Kelly. I start picking up shells and envisioning fantastic oversized earrings in shimmering silver and gold.  The client has collected these shells from the beach infront of her Hawaiian vacation home. She graciously offers me any of the shells to use. So gratefully for her generosity, I agree to make her a pair of the earrings she likes best. 

Ten minutes later, I am burning up my Blackberry sending Kelly pictures of sand dollars and starfish that will become the ultimate accessory to her incredible sports couture. The shells are light but bold, they will make the perfect foundation for gold and silver foiling while remaining comfortable to wear. Once again a Knight&Hammer BodyRock collaboration has proven fruitful, inspiring & a lot of fun! 

Silver Starfish

One-of-a-kind Starfish necklace

These Sand Dollars are now Silver Dollars!

Please contact us at info@KnightandHammer.com for purchase information.

Elephant Trumpet...

Lynchee holding the necklace/zipper pull created in her honor. Photo by Carol Stevenson

Lynchee, Dah, Mongkul, Deang Moo, Tawan. Baby Phil, Phu Khi, & Pumpui - no I am not talking in tongues! These are the names of some of the elephants under John Roberts care on the Golden Triangle, that Knight&Hammer has immortalized in jewelry.  

Baby Phil Ring, gold over bronze

I have loved & been in awe of Elephants my entire life.  As a child my faithful teddy, Jiggalee shared playtime with King Baber. I even inherited my Oma's childhood stuffy, a well worn and loved Asian Elephant farmer, missing an eye and one suspender button these days. So I guess some of my Ele-love is genetic. 


Four years ago watching a documentary about the orphaned elephants of Thailand I discovered, John Roberts, Director of Elephants & the charity, Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (www.helpingelephants.org). I was saddened to see elephants at the side of the road doing tricks for food. They are such soulful and special creatures. "The aims of the Foundation are to set up a safe haven for abused elephants or those that cannot work, to provide employment for good mahouts and allow them to continue working with elephants and to help ensure the survival of Thailand's wild herd."  The next day I contacted via email Mr. Roberts and asked if I could help GTAEF with a limited edition collection of jewelry where a potion of the sales benefit the charity. The GTAEF Collection is part of the Knight&Hammer Jewelry with a ConscienceTM initiative. An initiative to donate to not-for-profit organizations through financial donations and jewelry especially designed for their fundraising benefit.

Core of the GTAEF Collection created with Mey-Mey Lim

After two years of collaborated with artist Mey-Mey Lim (www.meymeylim.com), we created the four zipper pull/necklaces that are the core of the collection. They capture the grace, strength and elegance of these gentle giants. I have further collaborated with sculptor, Donna Dodson (donnadodsonartist.blogspot.com) to create a series of modern Elephant totem inspired baubles; loving nicknames by photographer Carol Stevenson (www.carolstevenson.com) as 'Flat Eles.'  My love of all things elephant has lead me to create a series of elephant and Ganesha jewelry to support GTAEF. 


The Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation Collection will premiere at a group show opening June 3rd at Ven & Vaida,  18 Third Street, Olde City, Philadelphia and run through the end of July 2011. The group show will included works by Carol Stevenson, Donna Dodson, Knight&Hammer, Mey-Mey Lim and the Elephant Bottle from Kiva Ford's Endangered Species series (www.kivaford.com).

'Flat Els' created with Donna Dodson

You can walk among these magnificent beings at the Golden Triangle's tented camps; www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle and elephant-tails.anantara.com.

Hello 2011!

Wow what a crazy year 2010 was & I am glad it is gone!  It was a mad dash to the end of the year & left me no time to blog.  I have been super busy designing new pieces for Trenta, nine new Baroque crest rings & necklaces, which will be showcased at hitchcock Madrona, in honor of my March 5th. birthday.  You can also expect an entire new collection of Elephant inspired Baubles to premiere at the Ven &Vaida gallery in Philadelphia, June 2011.  Lynchee will have three of her Golden Triangle Asian Elephant friends to keep her company; Mongkul, Deang Moo & Dah! 


Get excited, 2011 promises to be a year filled with glamor, innovation & BIGGER LOVE! 


Twenty-eleven my mantra is Be FABULOUS, Do FABULOUS! 

Deck the Halls with Pave' Diamonds... fa la la la la la!

From the Stella Luna collection of Black & White pave' diamonds set in 18K white gold. Sure to delight, they are out of sight! 

Blow Bugle Boy Blow! - bet that gets your attention!

Hornblower available in 22K gold
 over sterling, tradition silver or gunmetal
finishes on 18" chain.

When I found this beautiful bronze I was over the moon with excitement! It is a garment applique from the 18th century. A page in Renaissance costume blows his horn to announce the fabulousness of this new addition to Knight&Hammer's trenta. I've curved the disc to create a conversation piece ring with signature Knight&Hammer shank. The filigree work is magnificent and the ring is incredibly comfortable to wear. I hate to blow my own horn but this ring is a must-have!





A dramatic ring announcing how fabulous you are! Shown in Traditional Silver finish.




Shown in Tradition Silver finish.



Knight&Hammer's trenta Little Miracles

trenta Little Miracles Sacred Heart,
gold-dipped over sterling 18" necklace

The indigenous people of Mexico, Central & South America have been sewing 'little miracles' on the garments worn by the saint statues at their local parishes, since converted by Franciscan Missionaries in the 15th century. Originally thin silver, copper or gold was hammered into repoussé wood molds to create prayer requests that were pinned or sewn on to the garments of church's saint statures. I am fortunate enough to have a dear friend who has collected these charms since childhood. She allowed me to select a group of them to be molded to create the trenta Little Miracles collection! Taking ancient answered prayers and recreating them as talisman for today's warrior!



trenta Little Miracle Woman & Man charms.

One of my favorites from trenta Little Miracles collection - Baby 'Ace' & a Baby Lamb!
All charms are available in 22K gold-dipped over sterling, traditional silver or gunmetal finishes.



Where have you been, Mr. Knight?

Since September, I have been very busy creating 16 new necklace designs, 6 new rings and 2 new pair of earrings all in anticipation of the re-opening of hitchcock Madrona! It has been, as always, a wonderfully rewarding journey.  Discovering Napoleonic era shoe ornaments inspired the Empress Bee and Cicada mini-collection for trenta. The Empress Bee has an impressive almost 2" wingspan. The Empress Cicada and Bee bodies are roughly an inch in size.  I've been wearing my 22K gold dipped Empress Bee ring everyday. I feel like a magnificent bee is perched on my pointer finger, ready to attack any ill-wishers. These majestic insects have been translated into rings, earrings and necklaces, with a bracelet planned for Spring 2011 and a brooch in time for Christmas.  Collection premieres at hitchcock Madrona on November 20, 2010!

Empress Bee for Knight&Hammer's trenta Collection on 18" chain, gold over sterling silver.

Rings have the signature Knight&Hammer shank.

Shown here are the Empress Bee earrings in Sterling silver.

All items available in richly gold-dipped, sterling or gunmetal finishes.

 Empress Cicada for Knight&Hammer's trenta Collection on 18" chain, gold over sterling silver.

Empress Cicada earrings for Knight&Hammer's trenta Collection, gold over sterling silver.

Empress Cicada for Knight&Hammer's trenta Collection, on 18" sterling silver chain.

Empress Cicada rings for Knight&Hammer's trenta Collection,

sterling silver with Knight&Hammer signature shank. Collection available in gold dipped,

 traditional sterling & gunmetal finishes.