I just finished designing 24 disc necklaces for the 10 yr. dancers at Jami Masters School of Dance in Charlotte, NC.  Jami thought of this great gift to give her 24 students who have been when her for 10 years…personalized disc necklaces.  I hammered the the front of each disc and  engraved the letters: JMSD (Jami Masters School of Dance).  On the back of each disc, I hand-brushed each one and engraved 10 years around the bottom.   I hope that the dancers will love them!

Black onyx & champagne earrings are back in stock! Order them here.

Like them? Find them under “earrings” on the website!

A vanilla freshwater pearl sits above and below a gold-filled circle.

Black hand-blown glass with gold edges hang in between a gold filled oval. A gorgeous oval-shaped turquoise hangs from the earring.

Green freshwater pearls hang gently from a gold-filled oval.
2″ length, gold filled drops, green freshwater pearls

Artistic gold nests dangle lightly and delicately from the ear.

A mix of  vanilla and ivory freshwater pearl sticks stack on one another and create gorgeous movement in an earring

2.0″L freshwater pearl sterling silver

I’ve started off the new year with a new jewelry technique: wire wrapping.  I’ve always incorporated a little bit of wrapping into my jewelry, but I’ve taken it to a whole new level. Essentially, I start with long sterling silver wire and wrap it around sterling silver or gold textured pieces…add a few magic words, and, voila…you’ve got a pair of one-of-a-kind Erin McDermott earrings.  Lots more to come!

I’m thrilled to write that 2009 his has been the most successful holiday season for Erin McDermott Jewelry.  Not only have I been able to participate in over fifteen craft/art/trunk shows in the past 3 months, but I have met some incredible people & made some amazing connections.  I have been reminded of why I love doing what I do and my passion and drive in jewelry design couldn’t be more stronger than what it is right now.  One of my most popular designs this season has been the disc necklace.  Essentially, the disc necklace gives a person the ability to capture a motto, a belief, a phrase, or a moment & boil it down to it’s essence.  The person is able to transfer this to a hand-cut, hand-textured, and hand-engraved disc and wear it everyday.  In addition, the customer is able to add charms, stones, and pearls to the necklace to make it even more personalized.  Everyday, I am able to design these necklaces for family members, artists, cancer survivors, students, grandmothers, and many other people who have something to share and want to keep it close to their heart by wearing a delicate disc necklace around their neck.

I had a great time designing five different disc necklaces for a set of parents that wanted to give their five (yes, five) daughters something special for Christmas.  The parents asked all five of their girls to give them 2-3 words that were important to them.  One of the girls is in fashion design school and chose the words: color and texture.  I paired these words with piece of venetian glass.  Another daughter has just graduated with her masters in Marriage and Family counseling and she chose the words: live, love, and moment.  I paired these word with a turquoise and freshwater pearl.   Another daughter works at Augusta hospital and the words that she chose were: patience & compassion.  The fourth daughter is applying to law school and she chose the words: faith and truth.  The last daughter is the “baby” & is a freshman at Wakeforest.  She is quite a gifted writer and she chose the words: express, create, and peace.

I love what I do because I am able to learn more about people & these people inspire me.   I have been able to design disc necklaces for individuals who have beat the odds & I have been able to design necklaces in hopes that they will bring couples and families together.  Most importantly, I have been able to take my jewelry design above and beyond sterling silver and gold & transport that to something that is meaningful and has made a difference to someone.  Let me tell you, that feels good.

Maria decided on a gold and freshwater pearl necklace for her bridesmaids and I think that this was a great choice.  The girls will each be wearing a gorgeous dark purple strapless dress and Maria wanted something that would fill in the void left from the strapless dress.  I can’t wait to see photos from the wedding!

Perfect for a sweet girl! A child’s first piece of “big girl” jewelry. A small hammered sterling silver disc hangs from a sterling silver 15″ chain. Choose the first letter of a child’s first name to be engraved into the disc. After you order, send me a note from the “contact” portion of the e-mail and let me know what initial you’d like engraved into the disc.

My new favorite necklace…this sterling silver double disc necklace hangs on a 16″ sterling silver chain and reminds us to take things one day at a time…with patience, all good things will come to us.

Need a jolt of inspiration to carry with you throughout the day?  Check out the latest of the disc series right here…

One day at a time

Be Brave & Have Courage

Life is a Journey

Love & Compassion

Not sure the jewelry to pick with that great looking outfit you’ve got on?  You can go wrong with the neutral colors of leather and ice quartz.  The clear ice quartz will pick up the color in any  outfit.

These leather and stone necklaces are the perfect accessory for the fall. Throw one on with jeans and boots and you’re ready to go!

This past Saturday, I participated in the annual Craft Attack show in Charlotte, NC.  Thanks so much to everyone who came by!  I was lucky enough to share a booth with Jen Hintz who spins and hand-dyes her own yarn.  I just love the colors and textures she creates & thought that they’d make great backdrops to my jewelry.

If you haven’t had a chance to go by Sustain, a luxury eco-friendly boutique located in Charlottesville, you’re missing out!  This awesome boutique carries some of my favorite designers and 2% of all the profits are donated to an environmental non-profit.  Several people have been asking me where they can find my chunky turquoise and leather necklaces (with gold findings), and your question is answered.  Sustain is selling them along with several other latest designs from my line.

A few months ago, I was commissioned to design an engagement ring.  I had never designed an engagement ring & was really looking forward to taking on this challenge.   I worked with jewelry designer, Jason McCloud, to design my first engagement ring.  It was an awesome experience & I’m looking forward to designing more rings.  Here are a few photos from the process.  I’ll post the finished product once the couple is engaged. I just don’t want to ruin the surprise for the bride-to-be!

Spice up any outfit with these new long magic fish necklaces.  I pair the cloisonne fish with a variety of freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones.  The fish hang delicately from a long 14 K gold-filled chain.  It is the perfect conversation piece & can be found at the boutique, Eloise, in Charlottesville, VA.