Temple St. Clair Goes From ‘Doodle’ to Jewelry
By James Powers
Temple St. Clair’s exposure to European influences, so prevalent in her jewelry design, began well before she spent summers in Morocco and Bavaria and studied at a boarding school in Switzerland.
It actually started in Bluefield, W. Va. — a town about 100 miles west of Roanoke, Va. — where St. Clair’s grandmother lived. St. Clair remembers that her grandmother’s parents were well-traveled, sophisticated, and worldly in impressions of their surroundings, taking ocean liner trips to Europe on a regular basis.
“I was introduced early to a family tradition, on my mother’s side, of houses that were curated in a certain way, a real care of the aesthetic environment, and how things were put together,” St. Clair says. “So I grew up with all of that. I feel uncomfortable in my own space unless I curate it. My details are very important to me.”
Details define her exquisite jewelry, which she recently showed in Palm Desert at Saks Fifth Avenue, which has represented her work for the past two years.
“People who get involved with my collection tend to become collectors. It’s very personal jewelry; it’s not mass manufactured in any way,” St. Clair says. “There are lots of limited-edition and one-of-a-kind pieces, so people tend to want to see more.
“I find in my history with California, people respond to color,” she continues. “There is a little more casual lifestyle, and my pieces are very wearable. I have been known for my color for a long time. People are more comfortable with color out here. Maybe it’s because of the light.”
Despite the technology available to her, St. Clair’s craftsmanship still hinges on her drawings. “With my goldsmiths, particularly in Italy, the hand-drawing conveys a feeling that you cannot capture on a computer,” she says. “I do rough doodles that contain a lot of expression that I try to put into the jewelry.”
Owners at The Residence Club at PGA West also enjoy the amenities of the world-class La Quinta Resort & Club.
The Residence Club at PGA West
Own a Quarter Share at PGA West
By Steven Biller
If you want a second home without the hassles of, well, having a second home, The Residence Club at PGA West in La Quinta offers a compelling new quarter-share ownership option that makes the commitment feel like a holiday.
The houses feature dual master suites, a gourmet kitchen with Thermador appliances, a two-car garage, a guest casita, state-of-the-art electronics, and Internet and Wi-Fi access. The great room opens up to a private heated pool, barbecue, and fire pit.
Priced from the $229,000 for a ninth share to $449,000 for a quarter share, the professionally decorated 3,365-square-foot homes are maintained by the club’s staff. Once you’re there, a concierge will reserve your dinner table and tee times, help you plan events, provide business services, and even shop for your groceries. Members also enjoy privileges at PGA West and at the legendary La Quinta Resort & Club.
The club’s Sport Golf Membership option offers access to the Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Weiskopf private courses, in addition to the Stadium Golf, Greg Norman, and Jack Nicklaus Tournament championship courses. And three 12-hole private putting greens are situated only steps away from the homes’ private patios.
Owners can entertain family and friends in the luxurious clubhouse, which has an inviting lounge, fitness center, covered patio, and a pool with two lap lanes.
Information: 760-771-2020, 888-650-9200, residenceclubpgawest.com
Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower were among the A-list who stayed and played at Seven Lakes Country Club.
Seven Lakes Country Club
50 years at Seven Lakes
Seven Lakes Country Club celebrated its 50th anniversary by opening its gates for Palm Springs Modernism Week, offering tours of residences designed by Rich Harrison, as well as the William Cody-designed clubhouse.
In addition to Harrison’s hallmark design elements — 10-foot ceilings, walls of glass, patterned block walls, and rectilinear floor plans — the community boasts historic moments, including Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower playing 18 holes on Feb. 19, 1968, on the Ted Robinson-designed course. Eisenhower shot a hole in one on No. 13, triggering a media frenzy and helping to establish Palm Springs as the “Playground of the Presidents.” — S.B.