The Gleam of Abalone

My first post on my new computer! It always takes a while to get things right on a new computer, and finally, I have figured out enough to get pictures and my first post on my new laptop. All of the old programs from the old computer have to be tranferred, usually reset in some way (all my pictures are getting filed under Documents for some reason)and I have to figure out the new keyboard.

I've been working with abalone;I love its iridescence, its wonderful gleam, and the way that it works with so many gemstones. Above, the abalone bracelet with two strands features only abalone and sterling silver; below, the abalone gets a special kick from faceted peridot rondelles.

Below the bracelet is a pair of abalone earrings.

Above, wonderful, small faceted apatite rondelles and sterling silver tubes make a great bangle bracelet. Below, aquamarine earrings feature spiral accents in sterling.

Above, a favorite combination of mine: abalone with aquamarine. Below, a salvation bracelet with Swarovski crystals.

Hope you have a great week!

More Fall Bracelets and Earrings

It's the busy season; fall is here, winter is on its way, and that means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.  Sometimes it's hard to get a moment to take a breath much less write a blog post, but I am quite overdue and here are a few new pieces I've got to get on the site.

The aquamarine bracelet, above, gets a kick from saucy lampwork beads that echo the colours of the aquamarines and black chalcedony and add a soupcon of hot pink for fun.  Of course, three colours means that the bracelet can also be worn with more outfits. The bracelet that you see below is what I call a "one-note" bracelet: it has three rows of pretty faceted prehnite rondelles that comprise most of the bracelet, but a large lampwork glass bead adds special interest.  This exquisite lampwork bead is one of our best made by a master lampworker; it introduces the only other colour (besides the sterling silver) in the bracelet.  A special Israeli clasp features a tulip on the ring part of the toggle; a largish sterling flower charm hangs between the prehnite and the lampwork.  This bracelet looks prettier in person since for some reason the prehnite is really hard to photograph so that I get its real colour; it seems to wash out in the photos, but this one is finally close to the original.

The Salvation Bracelet below is one that I've made a series of; it's called Magdalene, and it's made with precious as well as semi-precious gemstones.  This bracelet has black chalcedony, a large faceted ruby nugget, a smooth sapphire nugget, gorgeous rock crystal, a large faceted emerald nugget, and a large faceted citrine nugget.  Two beads on either side  have a relief cross on both sides.  A scalloped toggle clasp is the closure; a small prayer box hangs beside it.  Although the prayer box is small, it still opens and allows you to put a prayer on a small piece of paper into it.

The bracelet above is made with yellow opal (opal is the October birthstone) rondelles and for a dash of colour has a large slab-like aquamarine nugget.  The turquoise bracelet below mixes pretty blue turquoise with sterling silver and clear Swarovski crystals for a dressier look than you might expect from turquoise.

Finally, two pairs of earrings both feature aquamarine: the first earringscombine the aquamarine with yellow opal (a perfect match for the bracelet above) and the second pair are aquamarine with sterling silver. These aquamarine earrings are made with some of the prettiest aquamarine faceted briolettes I've ever had; they are an intense blue colour. For a special touch, they hang from sterling posts that have a freshwater pearl cabochon in the middle.

Enjoy the crisp fall weather and I'll try to be back with more soon!

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Jewelry and Cats!

The title reflects the state of my life at the moment: jewelry and cats! Cluny and Cuervo are adapting to life in the city; I had almost forgotten what high-maintenance cats they are! (I wouldn't have it any other way). Cuervo will come and sit on the floor and look up at me when I'm working; he can do this for 15 minutes without moving. If I talk to him briefly without getting up, he will start talking to me - and he's anything but brief. He doesn't need food or water or even a treat usually; he wants to play! He wants to run around in circles after a furry "mouse" that has been attached to a long rope, and no, he cannot play by himself, I must twirl it around or run with it. If I persist in working, he will walk away and then come back dragging the rope from his mouth and drop it at my feet. Cluny wants to be petted or brushed constantly or at least talked to; luckily both cats do love their naps!
I have been able to make jewelry though. Above is an aquamarine bracelet made from some great new aquamarines I've just gotten in. The aquamarines are a beautiful blue colour with almost no inclusions at all. The bracelet above also has some of Robin Weber's gorgeous lampwork beads. Below are some aquamarine earrings made with the same aquamarines!
Below the earrings are a lapis bracelet and an ankle bracelet made with sterling silver and iolites (also known as water sapphire). I'm trying to find all the pretty iolite that I can, but it is hard to come by.
On to the antique style jewelry: below, an art deco style pendant with rhinestones hangs from a crystal and gold necklace. The next necklace features a gold cameo studded with light aqua rhinestones.


Below is another gold cameo in an unusual shape surrounded by four vintage opal cabachons on gold filigree. The light pink and opal lined beads that make up the necklace are a perfect complement to the opals.



A necklace with two cupids and aqua rhinestones on some of my favorite antique gold filigree. The clasp is an old favorite: a crouching cat pawing a ball of yarn.




Above, a modified cross shape with clear and pink Swarovski stones dangles Swarovski beads with vermeil accents. Below, a vintage swirl has a vintage opal cabochon in the center and has little Swarovski dangles.

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