Form submitted successfully, thank you.

Error submitting form, please try again.

Bel Canto Designs Blog bio picture

Welcome to the Bel Canto Designs Blog!

Working with sophisticated vintage jewelry to create new haircombs and bridal jewelry has become a passion of mine in the past year. It has also been such an inspiration to be able to share in the incredible creativity that is part of the present day wedding community. In this blog I share ideas and discoveries in the bridal community, stories of some of our clients, as well as some of my creations.

As you continue to follow you will find that my real love is for vintage designs. I collect rare antique pieces from the 1940's to 60's and use them in my work. Their flowing lines, sparkle and beautiful workmanship are just so appealing.

Please click the Collections link to view our shop.

My hope is that this blog will inspire you.

Bel Canto Designs.com has arrived!

We are so excited to announce that our new “baby”, belcantodesigns.com, has arrived!
In our new shop you will find more of the lovely “heirloom” jewelry and hair adornments that we love to make. We are also adding sashes of luxurious swiss satin with beaded vintage inspired accents.

Our photo shoot for the shop was fun! Here are a few of the photos you might like. Our lovely model is one of my voice students, Sinclaire, and she was so easy to work with.

To find our shop, just click “collections” at the top of the page.

~ January 2nd at Victorian Rose Bridal ~

We will welcome in a New Year of working with brides at Victorian Rose in downtown Raleigh on January 2nd. From 10-1:00 we will have haircombs, headbands and some of our jewelry creations for you to try on. Come by and visit!

More from WellWed spread

Thought I’d better share these beautiful shots from the Fall/Winter Vermont Vows and WellWed magazines before the new year! Note one of the lovely bracelets from the Bel Canto Designs collection.

Happy holidays and a Merry Christmas to you all!

Photography by: Barrie Fisher, Joe Elario

Bridesmaid Gifts for a New Years Eve Bride

DSCN9332 AcDSCN9324 AcWccI do enjoy working with brides. Hearing the ideas and making them reality is a wonderful process. Here is a new set of bridesmaids gifts for a New Year’s Eve bride. They are made with faceted lead crystals from a 1950’s necklace and vintage rhinestone pieces.DSCN9322

More Stunning Pictures from WellWed

Too long in coming, but here are a couple more pages from the WellWed fall magazines in which our bridal jewelry appears…

WellWed Flights of Fancy 1

WellWed Flights of Fancy 2

I hope you agree these were worth the wait. Stunning model and photographs!

Photography by: Barrie Fisher, Joe Elario

Show at Victorian Rose Bridal

Two weeks ago, we did a trunk show over at Victorian Rose Bridal in Raleigh, NC.photo3 What a fun day!

It was a stop on the “Ultimate Finders Keepers” hunt for a $20,000 ring sponsored by Bailey’s Jewelers.  A  festive atmosphere prevailed throughout downtown. At Victorian Rose Bridals, visitors were treated with glasses of champagne and wonderful cupcakes courtesy of  the Cupcake Shoppe next-door.

The most fun, however, was working with the Victorian Rose staff as they individually tended to their lovely brides-to-be.  This staff is caring as well as discerning. They have the ability to guide their brides  through this experience with knowledge, courtesy and, when called for, a great deal of fun.

I personally enjoyed the entourages of the brides to be. The opinions, the stories, the laughter and most importantly, the sharing  of finding the RIGHT dress.

We were there to help the brides find vintage hair combs and jewelry to work with  their dress. Molly was one of those brides. Below we are trying combs in her make-shift up do.

Molly w hair comb

We will be back at Victorian Rose Bridal on November 27th and I am sure it will be another great time….come join us if you are in the area!

Bel Canto Designs Bracelet Graces Cover

WellWed magazines graciously gave us permission to use the images in which Bel Canto Designs bracelets appear (see 10/25/2009 post).  Here is one of the covers with our jewelry:

wellwed in New York - Fall/Winter 2009 cover

Photography by: Barrie Fisher, David Seaver, Joe Elario

More to come…

Bel Canto Designs in WellWed Magazines

BOUTIQUE_weddingmagazines-1

Photography by: Barrie Fisher, David Seaver, Joe Elario

This has been an exciting time for us!  Bel Canto Designs jewelry appeared in the Fall/Winter editions of Vermont Vows and the three WellWed magazines of New York, the Hamptons and Cape Cod (http://www.wellwed.com).  These unique boutique magazines, full of lush photography, specialize in providing ideas, information and guidance  for East Coast destination weddings.  A number of our bracelets appeared in the ”All Aboard” feature, 20 pages of vintage-inspired gowns, beautifully shot at the Green Mountain Railroad in Vermont. One of our bracelets even made the cover of WellWed in New York!

As soon as we get permission to include some of the photographs in our blog, we will. Please stay tuned…

The Outer Banks

We have just returned from an anniversary trip the outer banks. The weather was gorgeous and the outer banks SO beautiful. I caught a glimpse of a few weddings. One wedding party headed for the beach through the dunes….and one headed for a restaurant putting on shoes. And then a few signs by the dunes announcing a wedding taking place on that particular beach. It was a perfect early fall day and  their photographs are probably going to be gorgeous.

Here are a few more of our new creations to keep you inspired until our next posting!DSCN7858DSCN7600DSCN7610

New Additions

Just two of our recent creations. The earrings may be perfect for someone’s new fall look?

leaf DSCN7214DSCN7505