Instore Magazine "Designing Lives" Interview, Plus...

Jewelry Blogger Julie Bishop From Juler's Row Interviews Pamela

What motivated you to pursue jewelry design?

I was majoring in fashion design at FIT in NYC and realized that the industry was not quite right for me so, I tried a few other courses: illustration, package design, interior design, window display and jewelry design. I was already making some jewelry for friends and selling the pieces at markets around NY, so it seemed like a natural transition to change my major to jewelry design. When I graduated, I moved to Paris and designed jewelry for couturier companies there for three years; it was such a great experience!

Where do you find inspiration?

I find it everywhere, in architecture, textiles, nature, in my dreams. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I’ve dreamt of an idea. I sketch and sketch for hours and, sometimes, just staring at my own jewelry gives me more ideas. I also play with my pieces in Photoshop a lot.

Do you typically find the stones first and then come up with a design or vice versa?

I do both. Sometimes, a stone calls out to me and I just have to have it and I know exactly what I want to design with it. Other times, I sit with a stone, sometimes for years, and I keep pulling it out and looking at it, and then the design comes to me out of no where! I also have pages and pages of sketches that I look through and end up having stones custom-cut to fit my designs.

Does your design process change depending on whether you are designing fashion or bridal?

Not really, except that wedding jewelry is mostly rings. I have a few wedding pieces that are not rings but, when I am designing specifically for wedding jewelry, I concentrate on rings.

What do you enjoy most about being a jewelry designer?

I love creating something that has come from inside of me and seeing the end result, like when I see a collector get such joy from owning a piece that came from my heart, it is the most wonderful feeling. I love gemstones, to me there are no semi-precious, all are precious and it just fascinates me that nature produces such beauty. Also, the jewelry industry is really great in general, filled with really cool and supportive people.

What is next for Pamela Froman?

This year I launched an official “Wedding Collection”, I always had pieces in my line and have always sold wedding rings, but now it has been expanded into a full collection. I will continue to add to it. Also, eventually, I would like to expand into designing home goods and furniture and maybe even have my own retail store.

It is an honor to post about Pamela Froman and her fantastic jewelry.  I love the way she mixes gold and the finish she puts on her pieces.  Her jewelry features some really intriguing stones and I love that she dares to put together unique color combinations.  Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry features 18K gold in her fine fashion and bridal designs. 

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Visit Pamela Froman Online

Follow on Instagram

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Follow on Twitter

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Brand Ambassadors Bill & Elizabeth Campbell on why they love working with Pamela Froman

We love our retailers! One of the perks of being an independent designer is that you get to choose who you work with (to a degree, of course, because they have to choose to work with you too,) so, mutual adoration is a natural byproduct of our retail partnerships. Even knowing this, it's rare to get to see it all laid out in print, point by point, and read exactly why a retailer loves working with you.

So, you can imagine our delight when the new issue of InDesign magazine came out, featuring a Brand Ambassador story about the Campbells (who own McCaskill & Company in Destin, FL) talking about what it's like to work with (and sell, of course!) Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry. Full disclosure: we knew the story was being written but, we had no idea what a glowing review this would be! It warms my heart and puts a big grin on my face to transcribe this story for you below...

Brand Ambassador
Bill & Elizabeth Campbell
McCaskill & Company, Destin, FL

"We rarely add a new designer; we are extremely selective," say Bill Campbell, who operates McCaskill & Company with his wife, Elizabeth. So it's not surprising that the Campbells admired Pamela Froman's line for a few years at Couture before placing an order in summer 2011. "We'd loved her distinctive look and her use of yellow, pink, white, green, chocolate and black gold. The crushed technique she uses to combine several different colors of gold is absolutely beautiful," Bill says. Now the Campbells just wish they'd taken on the line sooner, as the vibrant handmade designs have been a clear hit with the store's clientele. - story by Josh Wimmer

Customers love it because: "The crushed finish makes Pamela's pieces so wearable -- the line has a very natural beauty. The color combinations seamlessly mix colors of gold, which makes her pieces easy to accessorize and interesting to the eye. People also love that each piece is handmade and no two pieces are exactly alike."

It's easy to sell because: "It just has such a pretty softness to it. And it transcends age and occasion. At our first Pamela Froman trunk show, every single person who came found something they loved. We couldn't recall that ever happening before."

The most popular pieces are: "Everything with opals, her Headlight Hoop earrings, and her Dangle gemstone earrings. Her tourmaline pieces, too. Her price points hover around $3,000 to $4,000, which gives the line a really broad appeal. We're always surprised at how many husbands come in and buy it for their wives. And then their wives come back in and buy more!"

I like working with them because: "Pamela and her assistant Jilienne Hart-Arth -- who's been with her forever -- are an absolute delight. And Pamela always wants to make sure a design is exactly the way you wanted it. She's very humble, too, very appreciative, and very considerate. Like, if you have anything going on in your life, she remembers that. That's just the person she is."

I'd recommend it to another retailer because: "We actually have recommended it to retailer friends in the industry! It's perfect if you're looking for a line that has a distinctive look yet broad appeal. It's not like anything else you're going to see. We have been nothing but thrilled since we began our relationship with Pamela."

"The Campbells truly respect my artistic vision and sell my work with as much passion as I have when I make it. Bill is especially passionate about my one-of-a-kind opal designs and always makes an early appointment to get first pick at Couture! They understand we are in this together and work to do whatever they can to help the business grow." - Pamela Froman

JCK Asks... Pamela Froman: an in-depth interview with the designer

The brand new issue of JCK arrived today and I was so excited to see Pamela's smiling face when I opened it up! In case you don't subscribe to this fabulous jewelry industry magazine, I've transcribed the interview for you below. Enjoy the read, I bet you'll learn something new about Pamela Froman!

JCK Asks... Pamela Froman
On literal and figurative crushes

If you said Pamela Froman was crushing it as a jewelry designer, you'd be right. Because you can't talk about Pamela Froman without talking about Crushed gold. "I thought I should name it," says the Los Angeles-based artist of her now-signature textured technique. "It reminded me of how tinfoil looks when you crush it up." Her Crushed work, often accompanied by soft swirls and scrolls, can be seen everywhere, from her one-of-a-kind opal pieces to her just-debuted wedding collection. "I also like adding unexpected fun stones, like bright blue paraiba tourmaline pave' surrounding a gorgeous opaque gray diamond set in white gold," she says. Just wait -- you'll get a crush of your own.
- Melissa Rose Bernardo

Age: Ageless (A lady never tells.)

Number of years in the biz: In my own business -- nine years.

Number of employees you oversee: 3

Family and pets: My husband, Jay; my 10-year-old son, Hudson; and fish.

Describe your personal style: Black goes with everything! (I think that comes from growing up in NYC.)

First piece you ever designed: A geometric sterling pendant/pin set with an oval faceted hematite cabochon that had copper triangles going through it -- very modern.

The single piece of jewelry you're most proud of: It is a toss-up between my Gothic Cross pendant and my Ombre' Arabesque cuff. The cross was made in 22k and 18k white gold, designed around an aquamarine cut in the shape of a cross. I am proud of the cuff because of all the details: It's a combination of 18k pink and yellow gold scrolls and diamonds around a gorgeous opal center; every element was two-tone pink and yellow -- even the bezels. [Jilienne's note: the Gothic Cross earned Pamela her first big industry award: the Town & Country Couture Design Award for Best in Gold!]

First job ever: Babysitter, then waitress.

How did you get started designing jewelry? I was a fashion design major at FIT and started making jewelry to sell on weekends to help pay for school. I ended up changing my major to jewelry design.

If you weren't designing jewelry, what would you be doing? Either designing furniture and home goods -- which I would still like to do -- or interior design. Or go completely the other way and be a psychologist.

Jewelry you're wearing right now: My Ombre' Cleopatra Ring, which is 18k yellow and pink gold; my 18k yellow Eternal Scroll ring on my thumb; and a platinum rutilated quartz pendant with paraiba tourmaline.

Five items on your desk right now: Waxes, tons of sketches, a drawing of Harry Potter that my 10-year-old did when he was 8, dark chocolate-covered pomegranates, and my computer.

Five songs on your playlist: "Uptown Funk," Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars; "Take Me to Church," Hozier; "Thinking Out Loud," Ed Shereen; "I Gotta Feeling," The Black Eyed Peas; and anything by P!nk.

Exercise regimen: Running after my kid.

What did you have for breakfast? Dark chocolate-covered almonds while running out the door.

Guilty pleasure: Howard Stern interviews.

Drink (daytime/evening): Water. I am a cheap date!

Must-visit spot for someone coming to L.A.: Besides my cool studio, I would say The Getty. The architecture, the view, the art -- it's all fabulous!

First website you check every day (not your own!): I want to sound sophisticated and say NYTimes.com, but Instagram would be more likely.

Scent: The original Bond No. 9 New York.

Book you're reading: I loved Tina Fey's Bossypants, so I picked up Amy Poehler's book Yes Please.

Book you've been meaning to get to: Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point.

Preferred news source: My husband and son.

Main means of transportation: Since I live in L.A., I drive everywhere but, growing up in Manhattan, I really miss cabbing it.

Favorite movie: Oh my gosh, I have so many! Almost Famous, The Usual Suspects, The Big Lebowski, The Departed, The Breakfast Club, Despicable Me, Charade, The Fugitive, L.A. Confidential, When Harry Met Sally, Jerry Maguire...

Who would play you in your life story? I guess Julia Roberts because we both have big smiles and she seems like she has a good sense of humor!

Designer Profile of Pamela Froman by Broken English Jewelry

This is the gorgeous header image used for Pamela's interview on the Broken English blog, jewelry by Pamela Froman.

Broken English is a very cool jewelry store, with locations in both Los Angeles and New York, that we are proud to work with!  Recently, Chris and Lucy (from the Broken English blog) visited Pamela's Los Angeles studio to interview the designer and photograph the beautiful space she works in as well as some of her fabulous fine jewelry creations.

Click here to see all the beautiful photography on the Broken English blog.

 
They also had Pamela fill out a questionnaire by hand (see above.) You can see a larger version of the handwritten answers (complete with scrolly doodles!) on the Broken English blog. But, since it's hand-written I decided to transcribe the questionnaire for you here in case you had trouble reading it in the original format:

Name:
Pamela Froman

Occupation:
Creative Soul & Jewelry Designer

I've Always Wanted To:
Swim with dolphins & design housewares & furniture & watches.

I'm Inspired By:
Architecture, strong women designers & amazing stones with cool inner dialogue.

My Favorite Place Is:
Eze or St. Paul De Vence in the South of France, or cuddling with my son & husband watching a movie.

Style For Me Is:
Individuality, someone who marches to the beat of their own drum!

My Fondest Memory Is:
Living in Paris, designing jewelry for the top couturiers, like Courreges, Valentino, Carita, etc. and immersing myself in the culture.

I Can't Live Without:
My friends and family (& Dark Chocolate Mint M&Ms)

My Greatest Love Is:
My beautiful, sweet, funny son, Hudson Elijah.

I'm Most Proud Of:
My son!

The Most Important Lesson I've Learned Is:
To listen to what someone has to say and then make your own decision & trust your gut!

Right Now I Am:
CRAZY-BUSY

My Future Is:
Designing more than jewelry: housewares, furniture, maybe watches and handbags.

It's A Miracle That:
I made my son and that the earth produces incredible gems.

My Style Icons Are:
Audrey Hepburn, CoCo Chanel, Alexander McQueen

Always Remember That:
It takes as much effort to be kind as it does to be rude.

The Best Thing That Happened To Me Is:
My son Hudson & winning the Couture Town & Country Magazine Award in Gold!

The Best Decision I Made Is:
I know, redundant, but to have my son!

An Interview with Pamela Froman in Prism Magazine

 

Megan Whitmire of AGTA interviewed Pamela for a beautiful 2-page article in the latest issue of Prism Magazine!

Megan Whitmire asked Pamela some really great questions in this interview! These two pages will give you insight into Pamela's design aesthetics (like, who she has in mind while designing, her favorite gemstones to work with and the first piece of jewelry she ever made) as well as a few personal tidbits you probably didn't know (like, what she can't leave the house without and the surprising job she had during high school!) You can read the interview in the digital version of Prism, or continue reading below where I've transcribed the interview for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

 

1.     Do you have any jewelry on right now?

Yes, my Ombre Cleopatra ring, my Eternal Scroll ring on my thumb, one of my opal rings and my Ombre Headlight Hoops.

2.     What is your favorite gemstone to work with?

I really love all gemstones but my favorites are the ones that have a great inner dialogue: like all types of opals, rutilated quartz (especially the platinum-color rutile!) rainbow moonstone and labradorite.  My other favorites right now, purely for their color, are purple-blue Tanzanite and vibrant blue Paraiba Tourmaline melee.  Oh! And also Malaia Zircon, a natural pinky-orangey-brown colored stone, because it pairs so well with my 18k pink & yellow “Ombre” collection.

3.     What is your favorite gemstone to wear?

Pretty much the same as above: Boulder Opals with Paraiba, Malaia Zircons and Platinum Rutilated Quartz… it really just depends on what color mood I’m in, whether I want to stand out with vibrant color, or go more “neutral” with either warm or cool tones.

4.     What is your best creative setting?

I think my Ombre pieces that “fade” from a Malaia Zircon center to 18k pink & yellow gold are some of my most creative settings… but as I write this I realize you probably meant a place where I feel creative. LOL!  It can be while taking a walk along a beautiful path at a resort… or relaxing on my sofa listing to music… or admiring a building with amazing architecture… or sometimes things just appear in my mind while lying in bed!

5.     What is your favorite memory of AGTA?

I don’t think I have just one favorite memory, I’ve got quite a few! I always love the moment when I find a specific stone that inspires me!  And while shopping for that “It” stone, I love running into friends and colleagues in the industry, excitedly discussing what stones we’ve seen or just bought. And of course I have fond memories of whenever I’ve won a Spectrum Award and get to go the gala to accept it!

6.     Do you have someone in mind when you create a piece of jewelry?

Not a specific person but, I do keep my ideal customer in mind: My Ideal Customer is a person that has a mind of their own, wants something that’s special but easy to wear with just about any outfit, and is not interested in something that looks like what everyone else has.

7.     What kind of team have you surrounded yourself with to make you successful?

My Husband is an amazing photographer, his professional shots of my jewelry have helped my brand image immensely, and my assistant/right-hand woman Jilienne has been an integral part of everything that has helped my business grow.

8.     What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

Besides my wonderful 9 year old son Hudson… I think achieving a recognized look is a huge accomplishment in this industry.  And if we’re talking awards, although I’ve won quite a few, the one that still stands out in my mind is my first Town & Country Couture Design Award for Best of Gold early in my career when I was still a relatively unknown designer. The other Finalists were H. Stern and Calgaro, I felt like an ingénue beating out Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett for the Best Actress Oscar!

9.     Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?

I can point to two people who have had the biggest influence on my professional life. First: my mother. She was a shoe designer and sculptor who pushed me to go to FIT and made me draw everyday. She helped me have an appreciation for art and encouraged me to find my own vision. The second person is one of my close friends who started off as a mentor: Erica Courtney. She really was very generous with her knowledge and helped guide me through the jewelry industry. She taught me that there is room for everyone and if one designer is doing well than we all can do well. Both of these remarkable women encouraged me to push through my fears and follow my passion.

10.  What is something you can’t leave your house without?

My keys, my rings (Cleopatra Ring & Eternal Scroll thumb ring) and lip gloss.

11.  What was the first piece of jewelry you ever made?

It was for a project at FIT: a sterling silver and copper geometric modern pin with hematite and pearl. (I originally attended FIT for Fashion Design but fell in love with jewelry making while I was there and changed my major.)

12.  What song best describes your work ethic?

The Beatles “8 Days A Week”

13.  Pick two celebrities as your best friends. Why those two?

Steve Carell: I have a major crush on him. I find him soo funny and I think we would laugh a lot together.

Sandra Bullock: She seems nice, funny, sweet and intelligent. Plus, she would rock my jewelry!

14.  What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I was a magician’s assistant in high school, so I know a lot of magical secrets…

15.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’ve been planning to expand into fine home goods and furniture for quite a while now, I expect to have established that branch of my business within the next 10 years. I might even have my own store, too!