
My Musings
I design because I feel compelled to express something I don't know how to otherwise articulate.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Champagne favorites

While I definitely don't think champagne should only be enjoyed on New Year's Eve, tonight is undeniably synonymous with the bubbly stuff. I'm looking forward to 2010, but in honor of 2009, here is a recession-friendly list of great champagnes under $40. I haven't tried all of them, but of those I've sampled, my favorite is the Georges Gardet. It's available at my favorite wine shop in New York, Bottlerocket on 19th street. Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
NYC in watercolor


A friend of a friend introduced me to Caitlin McGauley's gorgeous illustrations. She lives in New York and, inspired by the city, paints beautiful watercolors of her surroundings. Check out her amazing blog!!
Monday, December 14, 2009

As it gets colder outside, I'm finding new ways to warm up. The hot chocolate at Mariebelle in Soho definitely does the trick. I get the "spicy" one flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and chipotle. I know it sounds a little strange, but it's delicious. It goes perfectly with a few of their amazingly beautiful chocolates. My favorite is the champagne. It's a perfect last minute gift!
Friday, December 4, 2009
12 Drummers Drumming - Leaf Cross Necklace
The leaf cross necklace is becoming another very popular Cannon Lewis piece. It is so simple but the leaf texture adds a fine detailed element, and the little diamond is so understated but adds so much at the same time. The piece is available in 14k yellow gold and sterling silver.
11 Pipers Piping - Opal Matrix Necklaces
10 Lords a Leaping - Tree Pose Necklace
9 Ladies Dancing - Captivate Necklaces
The Captivate Necklaces are all one of a kind. I start out with the stone and do a drawing of a scene that I think best fits with the colors and fire in the boulder opals. Poetry or phrases are engraved on the back, and tiny sapphires and diamonds are set in the gold to bring out the brilliant colors of the boulder opals. These necklaces take a long time to produce, but the end result is truly a work of art, and a beautiful pendant to be enjoyed for years to come.
8 Maids a Milking - Silver Captivate Necklace

The Silver Captivate necklace with blue topaz is a beautiful, artistic statement. A blue topaz is encased in a silver frame, and a tiny diamond is set inside. Poetry is engraved on the back of the pendant to complete the necklace. I love the ice blue of the stone mixed with the brushed silver. A perfect pendant for those who like detail with a touch of drama.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
7 Swans a Swimming - Willow Earrings
6 Geese a Laying - Maltese Cross Necklace
The Maltese Cross is a new addition to the Trouve collection. It is very small and delicate, and perfect if you are looking for a small cross to wear. The necklace layers well, and I love the little accent diamond. Available in sterling silver or 14k gold, this is a great piece for those who like tiny necklaces with an artistic element.
5 Golden Rings - Flat Tree Ring
I am actually wearing this ring as I am typing this post. I love the flat tree ring because it lays flat on the finger. The shank has nice bark-like texture, and the tiny diamond adds a little sparkle. The word "Fly" is hidden in the branches, and I really just like looking at the ring. So, if you are looking for a nice ring that can be worn all the time but doesn't get in the way, with an organic yet refined twist, might I make a suggestion ...
4 Calling Birds - Sand Dollar Dove Necklace
The Sand Dollar Dove is a classic Cannon Lewis piece. I never take mine off, and its a great piece to wear alone or layer with. The dove is from the inside of a sand dollar. The texture of the wings is so detailed, and the little diamond adds just the right amount of sparkle. This necklace is available in sterling silver or in 14k gold with a diamond. There is another version in silver with a pink freshwater pearl. This is a great necklace for someone who likes delicate, simply jewelry and for someone who likes texture and tiny pendants to accent their other jewelry.
3 French Hens - Window Necklace
I know I am partial to all of my jewelry, but this is one of my new favorites - the 14k yellow and rose gold Window necklace, w/cognac diamond & pink sapphire. There are 3 panels depicting different layers of a scene that can be flipped to show each scene in front. The necklace hangs from an 18 inch 14k yellow spiral chain. Pendant approx .75in tall. Back panel is engraved: "Look Inside." The necklace is fun to wear and change the scenes that face the front. If you are looking to give a gift with detail, a little edge, and one that tells a story, this is an option.
2 Turtle Doves - Sand Dollar Dove Earrings
Many people have asked for an earring version of the classic sand dollar dove pendant. Here they are - available in 14k gold or sterling silver with diamonds, the beautiful texture of the dove wings and the dangling diamonds make a nice, versatile statement.
A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Hanging Tree Necklace
The Hanging Tree Necklace has edge. It explores the different looks of silver. An oxidized silver tree swings inside a silver boat that is high polished on the inside, satin finished on the outside. A diamond is set on the back of the boat, and on a branch of the tree. On the back it is engraved: "The smallest branch can start a fire." If you are looking for a gift that has detail, a little sparkle, and a little bit of attitude, this might be your option.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The 12 Gifts of Christmas Jewelry Event
On the website I have featured a collection of 12 styles that I think will make wonderful gifts this season for you and for your family and friends. Included are some classics, like the sand dollar dove necklace, and some new pieces like the window necklace, and one of a kind captivate necklaces.
You have from Wednesday December 2nd at 9am until Sunday, December 6th at 9pm, to buy these pieces online at a significantly discounted price. After Sunday, the price goes back to the original retail price.
I will be blogging about each of the 12 styles and why I think they will make wonderful gifts, so stay tuned!
You have from Wednesday December 2nd at 9am until Sunday, December 6th at 9pm, to buy these pieces online at a significantly discounted price. After Sunday, the price goes back to the original retail price.
I will be blogging about each of the 12 styles and why I think they will make wonderful gifts, so stay tuned!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Running into Jewelry Website Shipping Issues?
If you ordered multiple jewelry pieces on the website and it charged you double shipping, do not worry, this will be credited back to your credit card. Sorry about the confusion ... we are trying to get this fixed.
New New News: Window Event is Here!!! & Giveaway!!
The Cannon Lewis Jewelry Website Window Event has begun!
The event is from 9am Monday, September 28 to 9am Wednesday, September 30.
There are TWO Jewelry Giveaways going on - enter the 1st giveaway on the contact page of the website. To enter the 2nd giveaway, send a friend (or as many friends as you want to increase your chances) to the website, and have them fill out the form also, and make sure they put your name in the "Sent Here by a Friend?" section. Each mention of your name counts an additional entry. Giveaway 1 is a pair of Peacock Earrings, Giveaway 2 is a pair of Medium Willow Earrings.
Here are the featured items - you can click on them to be directed to the website to view the Window Event Prices
Sunday, September 27, 2009
New New News: Leaf Cross, Tree Pose & Grow Necklaces
Here Are some great pendants that are some of my personal favorites. The Leaf Cross has a tiny diamond in the center and the carving is beautiful. I've given these as baby gifts and also wear one myself - its so simple but eye catching. The pendant is about 1/4 inch tall.
The largest necklace is the Grow Necklace, with one side depicting a leaf vine and the other is carved to say Grow. There are two options for the stones that rattle inside: one version has green apetites and tourmalines, the other version has moonstone, pink pearl and pink tourmaline. This pendant is about 1 inch tall and hangs on a 36 inch chain which has a leaf with a phrase written on it.
Catch these items and the other ones I've blogged about tomorrow at the Cannon Lewis Website Window Event, Starting Monday at 9am eastern ... happy shopping.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
New New News: Peacock Earrings
Peacocking, v. To strut around wearing a pair of Cannon Lewis 14k gold vermeil and London blue topaz peacock earrings.
Peacocked, v. (past participle) To receive compliments by others related to your sense of style for wearing the peacock earrings.
I have blogged before about how much I like peacocks. Here is another peacock inspired design. The earrings measure about 1 inch tall, with a beautiful London blue topaz sparkling from within. The peacock earrings will be featured in the Website Window Event on Monday, September 28th.
Friday, September 25, 2009
New New News: Large Willow Earrings
If you loved the Medium Willow Earrings, here is another option for you ... LARGE Willow Earrings. These earrings will take any outfit to a new level. These earrings have a tiny diamond set in them and measure about 1 3/4 inches tall by 3/4 inch wide and come in two options, sterling silver with 14k gold overlay, often called vermeil, which is then satin-finished for a smooth shine. If you want something to go with the leather jacket trend this fall, or are just drawn to silver in general, the satin finished silver might be your option of choice. Either way, they are amazing earrings, and you will be stopped and asked about them when you wear them.
There is a tiny saying engraved on the back - its something my grandmother always tells me - "Be a willow, not an oak. Willows bend, oaks break." These will be featured in the Website Window Event on Monday, September 28, 2009.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Define: Website Window Event
For those of you wondering exactly what a Cannon Lewis Website Window Event is, here is your answer. Every few months there are events on the website where certain pieces of jewelry are reduced in price for a short two day window. After the two days, the price goes back to the retail price. This is a way I can test the market with some of my newest designs, and offer you a really good price on the latest jewelry, so everyone wins. If you are not on the mailing list, you might want to get on it so you can start receiving these window event emails. To join the mailing list click here. The next Website Window Event is Monday, September 28, 2009, so standby for some of my favorite new designs.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New New News: Medium Willow Earrings
New New News: Cannon Lewis Short Film
There are so many exciting updates for Cannon Lewis, culminating with a Website Window Event this coming Monday, September 28, 2009. Each day leading up to the event there will be a new blog post about a featured item in the Window Event which you will NOT want to miss. Amazing statement earrings to accent you fall wardrobe that you will live in ... but I'm not telling anymore now... you will just have to wait and see.
I will begin this update-a-thon by revealing this new short film exploring my inspiration and jewelry craftsmanship, and you can see just how much time, detail, and thought goes into each Cannon Lewis piece.
Film by Chris Wiegand to learn more about him, click here.
I will begin this update-a-thon by revealing this new short film exploring my inspiration and jewelry craftsmanship, and you can see just how much time, detail, and thought goes into each Cannon Lewis piece.
Film by Chris Wiegand to learn more about him, click here.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
My TV Interview with Roni Proter
Last Tuesday my interview with Roni Proter aired on The CW, channel 33. I have never been on TV, so I guess now I can check this off my list of firsts. It was my intention to blog about this before the segment aired live, but as timing would have it I was at the beach on vacation where I did not invite my laptop and gave my blackberry the silent treatment.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Frozen Foodie
Meet my sister-in-law, Courtlan Budman. She makes turkey meatballs. Don't stop reading here...
If you like my jewelry you will like her food. She just launched her line of all natural, healthy, gourmet frozen turkey meatballs. Currently her frozen meatballs are on the shelf in the frozen section of Gelson's, Vicente Foods in Brentwood and Erewhon Natural Market near the Grove (all in Los Angeles) and the list is expanding to other US areas quickly. Why? Because she has come up with a product line that for the first time in frozen food's history looks cool from the box, tastes even better, and is actually really good for you. Visit her site http://www.cazzafoods.com/, follow her foodie musings on twitter, and try these meatballs out - you will be converted. This is the kind of frozen food you can serve at a party and no one will ever suspect you are stashing your finest in your freezer.TV Debute TBA
Last week I was interviewed by Roni Proter for the CW, channel 33. The segment should air this week - I will post when I find out the exact date and time. The segment will be available online also. I've never been on TV before. Lets hope it works out well. Sophie, my dog also was present for the interview and decided to play with all her loudest toys.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Meet the Press: Preston Hollow People Newspaper
Here is a new article that just came out this week in Preston Hollow People Newspaper. I'm having trouble connecting the link for it, but here is how to get there for now: go to www.peoplenewspapers.com and click on Preston Hollow Newspaper, and in the search box type Cannon Lewis to read the full article.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Economics of Jewelry: as Seen at Age 5
I've been spending time today with my 5 & 8 year old cousins who want to know how everything works. They asked me if I use real stones for my jewelry. I said yes, that I use diamonds and sapphires. Then the 5 year old's eyes got really big and she said "you must be very, very rich to buy those." I wish life was that simple.
#
Monday, June 8, 2009
Meet the Press: D Magazine
Cannon Lewis' bio is featured in the June issue of D Beauty. You can also view the article here.
Meet the Press: Dallas Morning News
Cannon Lewis Now or Never earring jackets were featured in the style guide of the Dallas Morning New on Friday, June 5 2009.
The Now or Never earring jackets are a part of the Life Collection and have tiny diamonds and at first glance look like an abstract cut out in gold, but then look closely, and the word "Now" and "Never" are in full view. The leaf hoops earrings that the Now or Never jackets come on can be purchase separatly in gold or silver for a two-toned effect.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Hey Peacock
I love this ring. I love that it lays flat. I love that it has black diamonds & white diamonds. I love that I'm actually wearing it right now as I type.
I love peacocks. My grandparents had peacocks as pets when I was growing up. I used to feed them out of my hand (see picture above of me at age 2). I could look out my window and see the male peacocks with their rattling feathers spread trying to woo the ladies. We used peacock feathers as cat toys - my grandfather named them cat fishing poles.
I love symbols. The peacock feather was used in Dutch Vanitas Paintings as a symbol of vanity. Look next time you go to a museum.
This is why I love the peacock ring.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
A Little On Edge
This pendant is one of my favorites. I look and feel the edge increase when I wear it. The stone is rutilated quartz from Brazil, and I bought it but didn't know what I wanted to do with it, so I put it in my stone box and would look at it time to time, but no idea had come to me. The cut is so cool, and it looks like there is a black cross inside, and it is a big stone - about 3 inches tall.
About a year later, I woke up and had this design in my head. On the back it is engraved: "The outside is only a movement of" and then there is engraving that you can see from the front of the pendant, looking behind the stone, "The symphony within." I put some orange sapphires on it to bring out the orange in the stone, and a few black and white diamonds. I like how the silver grasps the stone and looks like claws on the front.
I don't really want to part with it, because I'm never going to be able to make another one like this. But if you promise it will go to a good home, and when you get really old you will give it to someone who will appreciate the detail of the piece and the effort and hours I put into making this exactly right with the colors and balance, I will consider your offer.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Spotted: Sand Dollar Dove Necklace
Yesterday I went to lunch with a friend who invited a friend of her's that I didn't know to come also. To my surprise - she was wearing the gold sand dollar dove necklace. It had been given to her as a birthday present. In all my years of designing, I have never run into someone I didn't know who was wearing my jewelry. The girl wore it so well - with a tiny gold bead chain about 14inches, sand dollar dove necklace, 16inches, and a long gold pendant on a leather cord, about 36inches. Today's run-in makes me wonder where all my other sand dollar doves are residing, and how others have personalized them with their own look.
Target Letterpress Invitations
I am extremely picky about paper. I notice textures. I like how paper looks, how it feels, and how it presents the written word. I prefer engraving. Paper is a prelude, and people will loose interest if it is jarring.
With that being said, I was at Target the other day and fell in love with these Cherry Blossom Invitations and I was shocked and impressed. The picture on the Target website does these invitations no justice (I almost thought of not linking it because it is such a terrible representation) so you will have to go see it for yourself - the paper is a nice thick cream cardstock with tasteful letterpress. There were about 3 styles that I thought were nice - but I especially loved the Cherry Blossom ones - and the price was amazing: 50 invitations, 50 reply cards, 100 envelopes all together for $34.
With that being said, I was at Target the other day and fell in love with these Cherry Blossom Invitations and I was shocked and impressed. The picture on the Target website does these invitations no justice (I almost thought of not linking it because it is such a terrible representation) so you will have to go see it for yourself - the paper is a nice thick cream cardstock with tasteful letterpress. There were about 3 styles that I thought were nice - but I especially loved the Cherry Blossom ones - and the price was amazing: 50 invitations, 50 reply cards, 100 envelopes all together for $34.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
New Look & New Logo
There will be quite a few changes coming soon to Cannon Lewis ... one being a new logo. Robert Milam will be doing it and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with. Also, the website is still undergoing changes - sorry its a little disorganized at the moment, it will become nice and organized again soon, but with periodic changes in the next few months as the new logo and new look are integrated.
The Physics of Dressing
I'm wearing my sweater inside out so that when I take it off it will be right side in when I wear it next time. Its all about being productive and saving time. Work = Power x Time
Why my dog only drinks from a stemmed glass
Sophie is my 3 year old cavalier king charles spaniel. Her ears are rather long and I came up with the idea of a stemmed glass to keep her ears from getting wet when she drinks. I found some plastic ones that look like crystal that won't break if knocked over. Solution found: no more wet ears and they are the perfect height so she doesn't have to bend over to drink. My creative approach never fails to draw attention and comments from guests regarding my dog's sense of style when it comes to drinking and dining, but I swear it is the most sensible alternative, and I love it when function and pleasing aesthetics combine.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
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