Off the hook..... and posts

CN 4

How many of you dislike the hooks attached on top of every possible earring made by man? Dont they look morbid? I think they do. There are two options... hooks (u-shaped wires) or a post (the straight stem like tiny rod with a screw). These days even gold posts come with snap fit screws, so no threading and twisting is required. Dropping and searching time still does not get saved!

CN84

CN26

CN 14

There was a time I dint design or make silver jewellery. I bought. But my heart was set against them. It looked to me as though these hooks and posts were mass produced and put on top/behind every earring made on Earth!

CN 107

CN 12

CY 10

Posts were especially a pain! Have funny nose squirming memories. Every morning I had to walk half a kilometer to get to my school bus. I was perpetually running late. So I would shove my tiny earrings (with post and snap fit screws!), my rings and my watch in my skirt pocket and run out of the house. Tried to put on every thing before boarding the bus. AND.... almost every other day, I use to drop my earrings' screw! I searched mud each time with the bus right ahead and many exasperated heads hanging out! Bothersome yaadein!

CN42

CY 28

CR 28

So when I started designing I decided to try and do off with these hooks or posts in as many designs as possible. I extended the design in such a way that the hooks would be incorporated in it and the piece could simple be slipped on.

CN 50

CN3

CR 4

I would not say they all look sad. Sometimes they best compliment a design too. But I felt deprived that time. I have never liked compromising! And for my wardrobe or home...... never ever!

CN17

Made a few in the beginning and dint stop.

CR 20

 Incline towards them still...

Featured in Pool Magazine

Pool Magazine - Issue II

 

Pool Magazine is a relatively new design magazine for the design community and all interested in the creative field. I happened to be lucky. Got featured in it's second issue (August 2010) in the 'Rising Starts' section. Check page 6-7 on this link:

http://issuu.com/poolmagazine/docs/pooltwo

Connect with Pool:

http://poolmagazine.wordpress.com/  or

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pool-Magazine/255335384468?v=info#!/pages/Pool-Magazine/255335384468?v=info

 

Jaalis

traditional jaali - CN 37

traditional jaali - CN 72

Yesterday I was conversing with a friend how, after a point in life, one acquires certain tastes and respect for certain items... could be a tanga painting, a muga silk scarf, rosewood furniture, vintage wine, etc. They become collectors items. One understands and starts appreciating its silent features viz. demanding process, small human errors and flaws that add character, hard work and time gone into the making each piece, more than the visible ones like beauty, artistry, finesse and value.

contemporary jaali - CG 12

contemporary jaali - CN 141

Jaali (lattice) jewellery to me is one such collectible. If I had to explain I'd say, the pattern that remains after bits are cut out of the sheet, is called jaali. The more intricate the better. Contemporary jaalis are quite fascinating too.

traditional jaali - CN 36

traditional jaali - CN 74

contemporary jaali pendant

The last image is of a pendant. One of my student days' design.
Cant explain the lust I feel for jaalis!

Interview on FTV India

Hey to all!

Wanted to gloat... no but I am delighted! I was interviewed by FTV India. Please check the link:   http://www.ftv.co.in/fspot/jewellery.php?cid=632

I'll be sleeping with a smile tonight!

tactile textures...

snake chain texture pendant

I fell in love with precious metals while I was learning all about them. The numberless textures that can be done over them amaze me further. The look and feel of each one is prodigious. Those all who love metals will exactly know what I am saying.

punch tool texture - CY 2

crinkled texture - CM 4

As students we were meticulously taught the difference between a texture and a pattern. However, the difference between a texture and a finish... was left for us to decipher. I am sure my friends from college will read this and smile.

pinched wire texture - CN 47

planned hammered texture - CN 66

Commonly, textures are created by employing dapping, hammering, pinching, scratching, crushing, by using textured rolling plates, etc. But  anything that can be scribbled on paper, can be transposed as a texture onto silver. Feel guilty while saying that I have not been very experimental with textures. But I have tried a few... and still keep getting mesmerized!

random hammering - CN 95

Do you love textures?

Coyote Accessories in Acrylic

heart coaster and a stirrer

Its a beautiful day outside and I am sitting home working...

But I am excited. 'Coyote Accessories' in acrylic have recently seen their first preview. In a show in Mumbai and on Facebook. The reactions were amused ones to waaws. 

I have been working with silver for very long now. Needed to have some more fun. I thought the next material, I play with, needs to have colors... loads of them!

I started sketching and figuring out vendors. Designed various dinning as well as home products like coasters, couple coasters, stirrers, key rings, napkin rings, place mats, hangers, boxes for different uses, screens. Lots of it is still in production. Some with me. Adding a few pictures here for you to see. 

buddha coasters

hangers inspired by panties

coasters inspired by 'lingam'

lotus coasters

The smokey placemat below is translucent. And the pink oval has jaali all over with space for a glass or bowl. 

2 different placemats

double layered jaali coasters

jaali couple coasters

I'll be happy if anyone has ideas to share.

Untill then, stay colorful!

Layers

Wire work on sheet 

A few more of my designs... Sterling silver and 22k gold plated. I wanted to try and work with layers. So I designed some everyday pieces. Small ones. Now small ones in my dictionary are atleast about 1.5 inches. Dont feel they show, if they are any smaller.

Layering on silver is easy. But cleaning up the mess around...never! It can be quite a task! Be it layering with wire, sheet or stamps. I had fun trying these pieces. They failed the quality check so many times, that they had to be cleaned over and over! 

Stamping on sheet

 

The pair above is reversible. It is gold plated on one side and silver on the other.

Now that I had tried my hand at these. I decided to push my luck. Planned another piece. This time it was wire on 'textured sheet'. I know I was taking a chance and the pieces could be totally inferior in quality. But now that the idea had occurred, I had to make an attempt. The result was not very pleasing in the first go. Turned out worth it all, in the end...

Wire work on textured sheet

Have a superb weekend!

About 'Coyote'.

CN 82 - butterfly earrings

Namashkaar!

My name is Dipika. I design and dance. And just about manage to do other things too!

My affair with design began in 2003, when I joined National Institute of Design (NID) for a PG in Lifestyle Accessories Design. After finishing it, in 2005, I started creating. I lovingly called my label 'Pink Dot'. It all started with gold and diamonds jewellery. Silver followed and then silver accessories too happened. I moved cities in 2007 and felt the need for change... that is when 'Coyote' came into being. Towards 2010 end, I started exploring other materials like acrylic, stainless steel, felt, etc.

'Coyote' is species of wild wolves. Also slang for a sexy women. I loved the name because it has character and a certain kind of wildness attached to it. Coyote is all about a fabulous art called jewellery.

All the silver designs that you see on this blog are hand crafted from 92.5 sterling silver. Assorted gemstones, finishes and textures & unusual forms and details are employed to make these designs interesting. My cliched design quote is 'form follows fervour'. It's all about passion!

Besides adding my work to this blog, I occasionally will be adding a shots of my insanity too. You shall have to endure it all.

Hope you enjoy seeing/ sporting my designs as much as I love making them..