Stella Fluorescent & Abacus Row: Jewelry as Art

This past August I attended my favorite show, NY NOW. It is the gift show to end all gift shows. They have everything from fake flowers to strawberry jam to furniture and everything in between.I usually find tons and tons of great jewelry. This year, however, as I walked the halls I wound up disappointed. Nothing was stopping me in my tracks. Okay, the diamonds did, but I can’t really carry those.So I headed over to a tiny show going on at the same time called Shoppe Object. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was blown away. Two of my favorite finds from this show just arrived: Abacus Row at The Hive, and Stella Fluorescent at The Shoe Hive.Stella Fluorescent was my first stop. At first the bright colors drew me in, then I noticed the materials. They’re all made by hand in the Bay Area with hand-dyed silk and other sustainable textiles.Our next find is also from San Francisco, Abacus Row. Once again all handmade, it uses high-quality material and simple construction to create a sense of effortless style.The pattern work and detail in both collections are so unique. We found ourselves picking up each piece and looking at them in awe of the craftsmanship.These aren't trendy pieces or fast fashion. They are unique works of art made by female artists who use natural materials in unexpected ways. So if you are looking for something different, that isn’t mass produced or seen in many other stores or worn by the masses, these lines are for you.