Featured Artist: Isha Elafi

We are so excited because the exotic and beautiful Isha Elafi has arrived from Bali with trunks full of her wonderful, unique jewelry! We know many of you have been collecting her work over the past 25 years and look forward to her once a year pilgrimage.

For those of you who are new to her work she creates one-of-a-kind wearable treasures by knotting together semi-precious stones, silver, beads, and artifacts found in her travels. She hand dyes her threads to make art that is durable, light to wear, and hand-washable. Her influence and colors are from the various tribal cultures that she has visited throughout Asia and South America. Each of her creations is as unique as she is!

As usual we are her first stop so we are able to hand-pick the best of the best just for you! Please hurry in to select your next one-of-a-kind treasured piece of Isha’s jewelry!

20 Questions With . . .

1. What is your name?

Isha Elafi

2. Where are you from originally? Now?

Northport,New York. Now - Bali

3. Where do you draw your inspiration?

I am most inspired by tribal cultures, especially Native American. My travels throughout Asia & South America are a constant source of inspiration – they are so culturally rich & actively creative.

4. How important is it for you to surround yourself with other creative people?

I always say: what one does with heart is art!! So I love to be around people who are happy and those who have a passion for life are happy generally. “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life" and that is true for me. I feel so blessed to enjoy my work it is sometimes astounding to me that I have been given this gift this lifetime.

5. Describe your creative process?

My mind simply leads me to many ideas and when I work I just pick up the threads and start. The possibilities are infinite and sometimes I need to break away from patterns I have created to open the door for new designs.

6. What is the crucial item every woman must have for the upcoming season?

The item every woman, man and child need to have this season is LOVE. All the other items are useless without this.

7. If you could accessorize a celebrity that best fits your brand, who would it be and why?

I gave a piece to my favorite writer Alice Walker and she wrote me a beautiful thank you and sent me picture of herself in the necklace. Whoopi Goldberg bought several of my pieces and I am sure the work looks great on her too!! I love the art of both these women and am so happy they represent the beauty of the black culture in America and I love them!!

8. Who or what is your biggest influence?

Color schemes from nature are my biggest influence and then the forms from the native cultures.

9. Do you listen to music when you work? If so, what kind?

Sometimes I listen to world music which I love, Jai Uttal and African music are favorites of mine but often I listen to the birds and the roosters and the wind as our studio is open with all windows to the garden and the fountain so we have these nice sounds and feeling of the wind.

10. What was your 1^st job?

My first job was hand painting t shirts for Mishka Designs in Greenwich Village, while I went to art school at Pratt, it was fun I could color a whole t-shirt in 1 hour and the pay was $2 for a shirt, which they sold to Bloomingdales. After art school I was a textile designer for a year before I started to travel and make my macramé; I was 23 and now am 57!!!

11. What is your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession is my heart and soul, my body, my hands my eyes.

12. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am a morning person for sure!! (my cat boobala makes sure I am awake, usually by 5:30) I cannot work after 4pm and shut down at 10pm.

13. What is your favorite meal?

I am vegetarian since I was 15 so my favorite now is salad and raw vegan food!!

14. What’s the last thing you read?

Silence Speaks by Eckhart Tolle. I love his words, so clear and true.

15. What’s your favorite quote?

"and now here is the secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye" - LITTLE PRINCE

16. What’s your guilty pleasure?

I gave up on guilt and dropped doing things that are not good for me or others.

17. What TV character, if any, do you most identify with?

Dropped television when I was 15 and I never bought one and it is rare that I see one now…

18. What do you do to relax?

To relax I walk on the beach, usually every morning at 6 with my dogs and at 5 so we all get some positive ions and the sweet sea breeze and exercise!!

19. What is your favorite season?

I love autumn in New York but rarely am there at that time!

20. Is the cup half empty or half full?

Of course half full!! Then there is the joy of filling it up still to come!! We are so lucky just being alive!!!!

Featured Artist: Suzy Landa

Suzy Landa began making jewelry for friends and family at age 5, using colored telephone wire and fuzzy pipe cleaners, until she discovered that the candy necklaces available at every local drugstore checkout counter were attracting considerably more attention. She eventually studied metalsmithing in New York and subsequently turned a hobby into a business.

Landa's jewelry appeals to a self-assured woman who isn't afraid of a little self-indulgence; a woman who treats herself to fashion must-haves, not just an occasional piece for a special event. “Fine jewelry should be fun jewelry,” says Suzy; “Precious stones may be worn every day; bright colors can be surprisingly neutral; and diamonds... well, what are you saving them for?!” A woman after our own hearts!

Equal parts playful and elegant, Suzy Landa's jewelry marries simple geometric shapes with soft, feminine lines in creations ideal for both day and night. Her inventive, flirtatious designs feature brushed 18k gold and gemstones in colors so delicious the pieces appear edible. Suzy favors curved lines to straight; circles to squares; form to function. Inspired by mid-century design, she creates jewelry that is at once bold and understated. Refreshing new classics that are glamorous but not glitzy, her pieces have an old world air with a modern flair.

The collection of earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets reflects a combination of high-end materials mixed with practical wearability. Just as easily accompanying Levi's and a t-shirt as an evening dress, the jewelry is elegant, yet comfortable; contemporary, but not trendy; timeless, and yet totally without pretension.

Each piece, branded with a "Q," pays homage to Suzy's childhood nickname and thus, to many early memories -- especially the hundreds of times she rifled through her grandmother's drawers when playing "dress up." The clothes were nothing without the jewels. The jewelry always made the outfit. It still does.

We just adore Suzy and really enjoyed her responses to our 20 Questions!

1. What is your name?

Suzy Landa

2. Where are you from originally? Now?

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Moved to NYC “for a year” at the end of 1990 and never left.

3. Where do you draw your inspiration?

Architecture, contemporary art, graphic design – striking shapes, clean lines, bold color.

4. How important is it for you to surround yourself with other creative people?

Very, especially people who are imaginative, keenly observant, and appreciate beauty in small details.

5. Describe your creative process?

A gemstone I fall in love with plus a mental snapshot of an interesting object, texture, or graphic I noticed will lead to a crude drawing on a scrap of paper and subsequently a meeting with my model maker with whom I share beautifully effective shorthand.

6. What is the crucial item every woman must have for the upcoming season?

A classic but slightly funky pair of diamond hoops – for the upcoming season and EVERY season.

7. If you could accessorize a celebrity that best fits your brand, who would it be and why?

Regarding the celebrity, likely someone like Julia-Louis Dreyfus -- beautifully, yet casually dressed in classic, non-fussy looks; and her persona seems a perfect fit: She's smart, sassy, silly, and always put together yet never seems self-conscious in her choices. And she loves to accessorize!

8. Who or what is your biggest influence?

My mom, who has an uncanny ability to create something fabulous out of the most random items she may find in the closet or drawer.

9. Do you listen to music when you work? If so, what kind?

I like quiet when I work. My own head produces too much noise…

10. What was your 1^st job?

Working weekends at my grandfather’s hardware store in South Central L.A. as a young kid. “Working” was second to spending time with my papa and making jewelry and scupture out of nuts and bolts and washers and oddities found at the shop. I’d get a shiny silver dollar at the end of the day.

11. What is your most treasured possession?

My most treasured possession is a men's Lord Elgin watch my father gave to me when I was little. It was way too big for my then skinny wrist, but I loved that it was something old that had belonged to him that I was wearing in a more trend-setting way; girls just didn't wear a man's size watch in those days. That kind of choice informs my design choices: I strive to marry traditional with contemporary elements to create modern classics.

12. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Some amount of both. I’m a bit of an insomniac, so my “work hours” can be any time of day or night.

13. What is your favorite meal?

PB&J – the most efficient and satisfying combo of salty and sugary deliciousness.

14. What’s the last thing you read?

FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen

15. What’s your favorite quote?

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” John Lennon

16. What’s your guilty pleasure?

A nap in the middle of the day.

17. What TV character, if any, do you most identify with?

I don't really identify with any TV character, sorry....

18. What do you do to relax?

Who has time to relax?!

19. What is your favorite season?

Summer. I’ll take 100 degrees over 20 any day.

20. Is the cup half empty or half full?

Full, generally, though perhaps threatening empty when I’m overly tired or anxious.

If you can make it here...

Featured Artist Friday

Sedoni is Spiffing Up For Spring! We are reimagining our monthly

e-newsletter, blogging & ramping up our social media presence. Ins

pired by the Proust Questionnaire, we’ve asked some of our fa

vorite artists and designers

to participate in a little game of 20 questions. Every Friday we’ll be profiling a different artist and sharing their responses with you here. Get a glimpse into the artist’s mind; connect to the work we love and admire. Our 1st featured artist is Sarah Grant, the founder of whimsical furniture company, Sticks.

Sarah started Sticks in 1992; since then, Sticks has received national acclaim for their distinctive line of furniture, accessories and object art. Each piece i

s handcrafted in Sticks’ award winning studio in Des Moines, Iowa. All pieces are finely crafted from birch, poplar and driftwood, and then further designed with hand drawn imagery, etched contouring and vibrantly blended paint. They also offer an option to custom design

furniture to feature the imagery, wording and colors that you desire, creating an heirloom for generations to come.

Sedoni Gallery continually stocks a spectacular collection of furniture and accessories by Sticks and our team is always happy to help you design the piece of your dreams.

And now without further adieu, Sarah’s 20 questions interview!

1. What is your name? Sarah Grant

2. Where are you from originally? Now? Ames, Iowa / Des Moines, Iowa

3. Where do you draw your inspiration? Inside my head, based on knowledge I have or new knowledge I seek & find

4. How important is it for you to surround yourself with other creative people? VERY

5. Describe your creative process? Think, then hit it, then think some more & hit it again. Then repeat till done

6. What is the crucial item every woman must have for the upcoming season? A sticks piece or one of my paintings

7. If you could accessorize a celebrity that best fits your brand, who would it be and why? Any country western performer – I heart country

8. Who or what is your biggest influence? The Wall Street Journal – I love opeds

9. Do you listen to music when you work? If so, what kind? Country / Blues

10. What was your 1^st job? Detassling

11. What is your most treasured possession? My lab, Angel

12. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night owl

13. What is your favorite meal? Steak

14. What’s the last thing you read? The Postmistress

15. What’s your favorite quote? Get on with it

16. What’s your guilty pleasure? Wine

17. What TV character, if any, do you most identify with? Lucy [as in I Love Lucy]

18. What do you do to relax? Pilates

19. What is your favorite season? Fall

20. Is the cup half empty or half full? Totally full

Mention this blog and receive 25% off any in stock mirror!