lorak

MOSS CLOSING

2012-01-29T17:09:00.000-08:00

A perfect storm of high overhead and lagging sales led Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell, the store’s owners, to conclude that they were running “a free museum” and that “the old paradigm wasn’t working,” Mr. Moss explained.

So sad :(....

2012 CATALOG

2012-01-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

Our 2012 Wholesale catalog will be coming out in February, make sure to email us for a copy!

FAROE

2011-12-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Danish Faroe islands, just one of the many places I would love to visit someday.

SPACE

2011-11-13T15:39:00.001-08:00

Willem de Kooning's East Hampton studio that was featured in Architectural Digest in 1982. Bright open white space with warm wood accents! love.

LORAK & LAPIS

2011-11-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here at LORAK we often times have our gem stones cut to our precise specifications to meet our design needs. Here are some great examples....

- Loose rose cut Lapis Lazuli, and Chrysoprase.

- 18k yellow gold Water Ring with Lapis Lazuli and white diamonds.

- Gemma Flap Necklace with Lapis Gem in 14k vermeil.

LAPIS LAZULI

2011-11-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Lapis Lazuli is one of the first gemstones that was ever worked on and worn as adornment. Wearing a piece with lapis is continuing an old tradition of adoration for this dreamy deep blue rock that sparkles with golden pyrite like the twinkling of the stars.

- A lapis lazuli dove dated 1200 BC from Susa, Iran.

- Solid gold bracelets set with lapis lazuli bearing the cartouches of Ramses II. The lapis forms the central body of a goose, which has two heads and a tail worked in gold. Found in 1906 in the Nile Delta, the bracelets were probably a gift from the king to a favored courtier.

- A gold bracelet with lapis lazuli ram head terminals from 18th century AD Europe.

- Ring with wedjat bezel, Egyptian 21st Dynasty.

PRETTY THINGS

2011-11-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

Textiles from Saana ja Olli found here, and pretty mobiles from Puka Puka found here.

COLOR

2011-11-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Found here, and here.

SECRET COVET

2011-11-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Art Nouveau piece.

Prison bakelite mourning jewelry.

CUSTOM PIECES

2011-09-13T09:57:00.001-07:00

A few custom made commissioned pieces in sterling silver.

THE HANSEN FAMILY

2011-09-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

I am inspired by the story of this company's history and passion. And look at that wardrobe trunk! love.

Handmade Furniture – Homegrown Wood – New Scandinavian Design.

The Hansen Family is a label with a strong handcrafted character, founded by designer Gesa Hansen who grew up in a scandinavian family of carpenters, designers and architects. After graduating at the Bauhaus-University and stopping at a few design studios such as Jean Nouvel and H5 in Paris, and the NDC in Tokyo, she decided to create her own label, combining new design and family savoir-faire in the family atelier. “Homegrown” in the business comes from the natural resources of oaks that we harvest in local forests, in this way allowing each piece to be handcrafted and unique.
The first collection won two times the international Red Dot award, but also the 2010 International Good Design Award of the Chicago Athenaeum and was nominated for the German Design Price 2011.

LUCKY GIRL

2011-09-12T08:00:00.001-07:00

Feeling like one lucky girl to receive this chair as a late wedding gift! As is the custom, family and friends have a year to give a gift to the couple. I sure was surprised and giddy to get this beauty that's been on my dream want list for years. Eeeeee!!! xoxo

KITCHEN RENOVATION DREAMIN

2011-08-24T07:54:00.001-07:00

Since closing on our condo a few months ago, my husband and I have renovation dreams running through our heads.

NEW OBSESSION

2011-08-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

I bought one of these at a local mid century inspired shop, and now I'm hooked. I want that little blue one!

Cathrineholm was an ironworks, located near the town of Halden in Norway, which started production in 1907. Originally the ironworks manufactured wrought iron products and agricultural equipment, but due to changing economic circumstances it later evolved into producing enamel kitchenware. The company closed in 1970.

WORN

2011-08-20T10:10:00.001-07:00

An Oceana Flower necklace on a bride on her wedding day.

A SAMPLE-ING

2011-08-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Bloom rings from A Samle-ing series from my fine art jewelry line. Available now at Gallery Loupe.

OCEANA

2011-06-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

From concept to completion.

2011-06-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

OCEANA

2011-04-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

BMAC

2011-03-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

At the Buyers Market of American Craft we met Anthony Demarco from the blog Jewelry News Network! This week he posted a blog entry about us. Click on the title of this posting to check it out! Thanks again Anthony!

SHOW

2011-02-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

Lorak will be at the Buyers Market of American Craft this week in Philadelphia, booth number 1306. We are so excited for our first appearance at this show, and to visit Philadelphia! Cheese Steaks, Liberty Bell, and more Philly fun here we come!

WORN

2011-02-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

SNEAK PEAK

2011-01-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Sneak peak of a select few new pieces from Oceana and Forma collections.

OCEANA

2010-12-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

A peek into the studio. Working on a new collection Oceana. Collection inspired by the natural beauty of the worlds oceans and seas and the forms found within. The premier of this collection will coincide with the February Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia.

WED IN SEPTEMBER

2010-12-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

Pictures are here! Happy to report that our wedding in September was a complete success!

WATER

2010-11-21T11:47:00.000-08:00

BRANCUSI

2010-09-12T09:32:00.001-07:00

Brancusi! A Romanian born sculptor who lived in Paris and worked under Rodin. Brancusi is famous for his simplification of forms to geometrical and sparse objects to which he proclaimed to be getting to the essence. It is this simplification that I am drawn to and I find inspiration in. This smooth and slightly sensual shaping is alluring and something to which I aspire.

Modern view of Brancusi's studio, Bird in Space, Brancusi in his studio in the 1920's, and again a Bird in Space piece.

NEW

2010-09-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Sweet Pepper, now with diamonds!

WEDDING JEWELS

2010-09-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

I was excited to make our wedding bands. Chuck chose a 14k hammered half round which is engraved with our initials and date. For myself I wanted something with small diamonds and a curve that would allow space to fit around my engagement ring. The Bib ring that I designed is just what I wanted. It fits great with a single stone ring and looks great by itself as well, I love the arch of diamonds as they fall over the finger.

WEDDING

2010-09-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

With my wedding day approaching I thought I would share some inspirations and details for our special day.

The paper flowers by artist Eloise Danch in the first image inspired me to make paper flowers for decorations. The second image is of my versions, they turned out pretty good I think. With the help of my friend Jason Yoh our wedding invitations turned out so well, I just love them. I used the poppy flower as inspiration, and if the florist is able to still get them there will be poppies in our bouquets! I included a few photos from real weddings I found on Oncewed's blog. I have found many inspirations on this wonderful site that mostly blogs about innovative, diy, and vintage inspired modern weddings. love.

CREATIVE CONNECTION

2010-08-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

I have a guest blog appearance on The Creative Connection Blog! Click on this post title for link.

AFRICA

2010-08-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

A few examples of African jewelry and adornment. So bold in color and form, with delicate detailing, certainly an inspiration. The last image is of a vintage dress that I have altered with an African inspired neckline. New neckline consists of embroidery thread and vermeil faceted beads. I am currently working on a small collection of African inspired jewelry, incorporating this thread wrapping technique as well as wood carving.

BYZANTINE BEAUTIES

2010-08-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

Three really pretty rings from the Byzantine period.

A gold marriage ring showing the survival of Pagan Roman customs into the context of early Christian faith. A gold and diamond ring 1600-1650, and another gold ring boasting an early Christian Byzantine cross.

MORE ANCIENT LOVELIES

2010-08-05T07:32:00.001-07:00

A few more lovely examples of Ancient artistry.

Mosaics from Pompeii, gold cup from Iran 1st millennium BCE, Yoruban Ram head, and an ancient Greek gold starter of Phillip II of Macedon 459 BC.

SWEDISH GRACE

2010-07-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Loving all things Swedish! Click on the title link for a good read on the history of Swedish design.

EVA ZEISEL

2010-07-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Eva Zeisel is a Hungarian industrial designer known for her works in ceramics. I love the shapes and forms she uses and how they nest and relate to each other. Zeisel attributes her forms as abstractions of the natural world and human relationships. The self declared maker of useful things, has a fascinating past and a vast collection of designs still available today. To read more about this amazing woman click on the post title. love

ANCIENT LOVELIES

2010-07-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

For my first few posts I thought I would focus on some of my main sources of inspiration and loves. Here are some lovely examples of ancient artifacts. I love the mystery, craftsmanship, and purity of function and form. And I threw in a few images of Cleopatra's from the big screen. Love.

A mix of two of my favorites Greek and Egyptian. From left to right, Octadrachum obverse head of Bernice II (Ephesus 221 BC), Necklace with fly pendants (Brooklyn Museum of Art) , Egyptian ring (British Museum), Roman gold coins, and an ancient Egyptian earring.