Peachy the Magazine August September 2014 | Page 15

ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT Clearly taking this advice to heart, Alina handcrafts each piece of her jewelry with only the finest materials such as sterling silver, argentium silver, 14 karat gold-fill or vermeil. She has spent many years studying, learning and perfecting her designs and techniques. Alina scours the LA jewelry mart and trade shows for the most beautiful precious and semi-precious gemstones, including lovely baroque pearls handpicked for necklaces and earrings.Her attention to detail, which runs the gamut from hand forging to distressing the precious metals, is incredible. All of the construction of her jewelry is transparent, meaning there are no shortcuts taken such as crimping and hidden closures. I fell in love with the “All Wired Up— Sapphire” necklace with its fabulous baroque pearl in the center of twisted vermeil gold and rough-cut deep blue sapphires. The exquisite materials, paired with heavy hardware and leather, give it a feel of casual elegance that could be dressed up or down. Alina offers her pieces in a wide variety of stones and materials in different price ranges. There is definitely something for everyone. Her jewelry can be purchased in boutiques and on her website at designsbyalina.com. n Don’t miss this month’s Interiors article, beginning on page 16, featuring Alina’s beautiful home! “The concept is simple. Unique, sophisticated designs + authentic materials + attention to detail = Designs by Alina jewelry” AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2014 13