Be Jeweled


1. Rock Star If the thought of geode jewelry brings to mind images of crystal-filled rocks hanging by rope cords, think again: Caroline Carlisle jewelry, designed by Caroline Blankenbeckler, is far from chintzy. We have an affinity for her vibrant materials: she wraps tourmaline, quartz, and amethyst in 18-karat gold wiring. Her designs are a twist on the typical Texas trend, and, well, they rock. Available at Forty Five Ten, 4510 McKinney Ave. 214-559-4510. For custom pieces, call 214-827-1509.

2. Green Scene Artisan Leah Gormly, who got her start after stumbling into a local metal-smithing class, makes hammered metal accessories that are both edgy and exquisite. The three-dimensional, handcrafted pieces are created using old-fashioned techniques such as lost wax casting, producing an original work each time. Her just-launched men’s line features cuff links, bracelets, and rings—all in the textural style we’ve come to love. Available at the Museum Store at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St. 214-922-1256. www.lmgandco.com

3. Mod Squad Drawing inspiration from mid-century modern architecture and her artist husband’s work, jewelry designer Sam Kraus’ pieces are clean-lined, feminine, and modish. Leaning toward natural shell, turquoise, citrine, and semi-precious stones such as sapphire and garnet, her work is sleek but not too chic. “You can wear my jewelry with everyday clothes,” she says. Our casual Fridays have never been the same. Available at Flip Gallery & Gifts, 332 W. Davis St. 214-948-3547.

4. The Bold and the Beautiful Texas native Janette Wilkinson, owner of Nest Jewelry, was far from her childhood dreams of working in fashion. Instead, she was donning starchy suits while working on computer chips in an engineering lab. The late-night creation of a necklace less than a year ago soon had a prominent model clamoring for a piece to wear at the Emmy’s; Neiman Marcus followed suit. Combing places such as Africa, Wilkinson melds discovered vintage elements into modern accessories. Her designs are bold and chunky—just what we Dallas girls want. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com or www.nestjewelry.com.

5. Glamour Girl Elizabeth Showers’ delicate pieces—with semi-precious stones such as blue topaz and cognac quartz—are designed, she says, to give women a sense of self-confidence and beauty. We especially love the teardrop stack ring and sundial goddess pendant from her 18-karat collection. The SMU grad recently created the Hope Star Collection benefiting the Elisa Project, a nonprofit that supports those battling eating disorders. Available at Forty Five Ten, 4510 McKinney Ave. 214-559-4510. www.elizabethshowers.com.