The Jewelry Blog: Hemimorphite and Graphic Swarovski

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Hemimorphite and Graphic Swarovski

As usual, I've been busy! But I'm trying to keep the blog updated. I just received some hemimorphite, a stone that I don't think that I've ever used before although I was familiar with it. I decided to give it a try. I believe my hemimorphite started out as transparent (as much hemimorphite is) and was dyed to give it the blue colour that one usually wants in hemimorphite; it is still pretty, and it is translucent - which I like.
Hemimorphite is mostly found in the form of beads and cabochons since it isn't that hard ( a Moh's hardness of about 5.0), and because it has perfect cleavage, meaning that it is very hard to facet. The lampwork beads from James Derrick Reeves determined how I used this hemimorphite: I simply repeated the colours used in the lampwork -the hemimorphite for the aqua/blue, peridot for the green, and of course, amethyst for the purple. Once I'd finished, I was happy enough with the bracelet that I decided to make matching earrings with the hemimorphite and the peridot. I was really happy with those! You can see both on the Unusual Jewelry page on the Cluny Grey Jewelry website.

I really am having a love affair with the large Swarovski crystal beads - the Cosmic and the Graphic, and the large Helix. Below is a bracelet in the "Copper Crystal" colour - a favorite of mine, and all goldfilled accents. And below that is "Dinner at the Ritz", a bracelet made of Karen Hill Tribes handmade chains with clear crystal AB Swarovski beads, tiny ones scattered throughout the chains, and one huge whopper Graphic bead of 18mm hanging beside the toggle clasp which is meant to be worn in front.

To all my jewelry friends in Estonia and Finland - Hello - Hei - juveelid armastajapaar
(I'm trying to say jewelry lovers!) I hope the weather gets warmer for you soon!