Gray Days of February are Brightened by Jewelry!

Mookaite Bracelet featuring the color Marsala

   It's cold and gray here in Arlington, Virginia, but that's okay because when it's cold and gray outside, I get lots of work done inside.  And I have so much work to do!  
   I am looking forward to my visit from my Brazilian daughter, Fernanda, next week!  She is always a breath of fresh air, and I haven't gotten to see her for a while.  Thank goodness she has a job that brings her to the US periodically and allows her to come to see us.  We've known her since she was 16 and came to stay with us in Arkansas.  We have seen her almost every year after that, (and occasionally several times each year) with the exception of a couple of years when she was beginning her career (she is an engineer and businesswoman).
   I've been working on jewelry both for the Cluny Grey site and for my new Etsy site. The Cluny Grey site features the new bracelet above that is made of Australian mookaite and sterling silver.  Mookaite happily possesses one of Pantone's colors of the year: marsala, which is prevalent in the bracelet you see here. Mookaite also has other vibrant shades varying from mustard to rose to red and all shades in between in the warm spectrum. 
    Below, a labradorite bracelet with sterling silver and lots of flash which may not be readily visible here.  The true beauty of labradorite displays with movement.

Labradorite Bracelet with Sterling Silver

   The bracelet below is another labradorite bracelet, but this time mixed with genuine amethyst. I chose the name Velvet Orchid because there was something about the bracelet that reminded me of the dark, mysterious Tom Ford perfume of the same name. The special accents here include the pretty box clasp with a cabochon labradorite inset into the swirling top, and a plethora of labradorite and amethyst gemstone charms hanging from huge rings on one side of the bracelet. A special note: the amethysts in the bracelet are gemstone (high) quality.

Labradorite and Amethyst Bracelet with Sterling Silver

   I have so many new pieces in my Etsy shop, JewelrybyChloemarie, that I can't mention them all, but here are a few:
   1. A "Downton Abbey" Edwardian style necklace with genuine pale blue freshwater pearls, and white opal Swarovski crystals leading to antiqued gold filigree with more opal Swarovskis and a blue rhinestone in the center of the oval filigree. Very romantic.

Edwardian Pearl Necklace

2.  A pretty 14 karat gold-filled chain necklace with a lotus charm and an amethyst charm. The amethyst is there for 2 reasons: first, because it is a sacred stone to Buddhists, and second, because it is the February birthstone. 

Gold and Amethyst Lotus Necklace

3.  Another lotus necklace, this one featuring a rectangular plaque with the lotus in silver-plate and a pretty translucent amethyst nugget hanging from a silver chain.

Silver Lotus Necklace with Genuine Amethyst

4.  A lotus necklace in vermeil and genuine ruby (the tears of the Buddha were said to be rubies).

Gold Lotus Necklace with a Genuine Ruby

5. Below, an amulet necklace featuring a globe made of gemstone and glass with an amethyst charm because amethyst has been used as protection for travelers for thousands of years. All metal components are 14 karat gold-filled.

Gold Amulet Necklace for Travelers' Protection - with Amethyst

6.  A favorite necklace of mine (and I'm making one for myself and my 5 year old grand-daughter has requested one) is this freshwater pearls necklace of gray pearls and gold chain dangling a huge bluish-gray rectangular crystal. It is so luxe looking!

Pearl Necklace with Large Crystal Pendant

I hope these cold, gray days are inspiring for you, too!  And if you are further northeast than I am, know that I am envying your snow!  I want snow!!! (Well, a reasonable amount anyway).
  Ciao for now, joolies!

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Gemstone Bracelets with Color

 I love color in the middle of cold winter.  Above and below, Pierres a Trois is a gemstone bracelet with a strand of citrine a strand of garnet, and a strand of apatite.  Sterling silver charms hang around the bracelet and a sturdy sterling silver toggle clasp is the closure. Guaranteed to go with something you have in your closet!

 Below, purple goes so well with labradorite whether it's in the form of Swarovski crystals (tanzanite color) or in this case, genuine gemstone amethyst.  Very flashy labradorite and pretty quality amethysts make this bracelet very special.  With sterling silver accents and a wonderful sterling box clasp with a cabochon amethyst set into the top. A plethora of labradorite and amethyst charms hang from rings on one side of the bracelet.

 Perk up your spirits these cold days. Buy some new jewelry to add that je ne sais quoi to your boring winter clothes! Remember that shipping is free!

Ankle Bracelets, Aquamarines, and Earrings That Dangle!

It's almost official SUMMER, and summer is the time for ankle bracelets.  Nothing shows off summer skin like a gemstone ankle bracelet; nothing looks sexier on your legs except bare skin! Very feminine, but slightly edgy, ankle bracelets have long been the summer jewelry of choice.
   Above, a sterling silver ankle bracelet made with amazonite and genuine abalone; perfect for your beach vacation! The shell abalone hangs next to the tiny sterling toggle clasp.
   Below, a red-hot carnelian ankle bracelet cooled off with just a touch of aqua apatite and a single sterling silver Bali bead. The closure is a sterling lobster clasp.

Wonderful tourmalines in this mix will go with almost anything. This ankle bracelet is a mix of tourmaline chips and gem-quality tourmalines with a touch of sterling silver.  The wonderful sterling silver shell charm makes this perfect to wear with a sundress after a day frolicking in the sand.

Gem-quality amethysts and carved amethysts have a touch of sterling silver and an exotic starfish charm in sterling hanging from one side.  The clasp is a sterling lobster.

I've been working with aquamarines; I love them because they mix so well with so many different gemstones.  Case in point: the aquamarine and orange carnelian bracelet above.  The special flowered sterling silver toggle clasp is a real looker, but these faceted aquamarine rondelles really sparkle! Of course, so do the wonderful faceted carnelians, especially the cross-drilled squares on the second strand.
   Below, more of those sparkly aquamarine rondelles, this time with genuine abalone and 14 karat gold-filled accents. This abalone shell is gorgeous on both sides. This aquamarine bracelet is a real stunner!

   Below, dangle earrings are created from different sizes, shapes, and textures of sterling silver chain and feature small gemstones such as apatite, carnelian, green aventurine, and gem-quality citrine rectangles hanging from the bottom.  The simple sterling earwires have a textured ball for their only decoration. These are wonderful, colorful, flirty earrings!

Dangle Earrings

Ashley Olsen wearing two anklets.

Above, one of the Olsen twins wears ankle bracelets on both ankles.
Below, more celebrities wearing ankle bracelets.

Rashida Jones

Above, Rashida Jones sporting an ankle bracelet with green heels, and below, Jennifer Aniston stepping out in an ankle bracelet on her left ankle.

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Warm Weather Bracelets: Gemstones and Coral and Pearls, Oh, My!

Coral and Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

 Dark clouds are gathering outside; there are severe thunderstorm warnings for areas surrounding me.  It's the perfect time to make jewelry! 
Why a storm puts me in a creative mood, I have no idea.  I am just glad that it does.  I cannot wait to hit the workbench.  Meanwhile, here are some of the newest creations:
Above and below, coral, it's a sign of the season.  I especially like pinky-peachy angelskin coral that you see here which I've paired with the prettiest color aqua freshwater pearls.  These pearls have such a pretty glow and they are perfect with the coral.  Three strands of the pearl and coral mixture also have little sea-themed charms hanging from them.  The clasp is one of my favorite elegant toggle swirls.  All sterling silver.

 Below, I love mixing gemstones and this bracelet is an unusual mixture that I've never used before.  A large prehnite faceted nugget centers the bracelet; on either side are pretty faceted dark lemon quartz nuggets that are a yellow color.  Little faceted prehnite rondelles, each with its own faceted ruby rondelle on the bottom, dangle from around the bracelet.  The toggle clasp is sterling silver with an oval cabochon ruby bezel-set into the toggle diamond.  Two very intricately decorated sterling beads from Bali are on either side of the bracelet.

Gemstone Bracelet with Prehnite, Lemon Quartz and Rubies

 This gemstone bracelet features lapis, aqua chalcedony, and citrine.  On one side larger rounded corner rectangles of lapis glitter with pyrite.  On the other side is a double strand of gemstones, chalcedony and citrine.  In the midle are charms of citrine, chalcedony, and rubies with one of our favorite sterling silver cherub coin charms.  The sterling toggle clasp feautures a double-sided toggle clasp with a faceted iolite on both sides.

Unique Bracelet with Genuine Lapis, Chalcedony, Citrine, and Rubies

 Cluny always helps me when I work!  He finds it a great time to nap.  The more I work, the more he naps!

Cluny, my number one helper!

Lemon Quartz Nuggets with Sterling Silver

The chunky bracelet above is made up of some of our prettiest quartz nuggets with beautiful faceting.  This simple bracelet has minimal silver so that the nuggets get all the attention.  The toggle clasp is a larger sterling one with flowers both on the toggle ring and on the toggle bar.

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I'm Loving Multi-Strand Gemstone Bracelets

Snow for two mornings in a row here in the Washington, D.C. area! I am in heaven!  It's a wonderful snow, pretty while it's falling, sticking to the grass, but not to the streets (or the sun or higher temperature is melting it).
The first bracelet, above, was influenced by the snow.  It features bright sterling silver with what I call "snowflower" charms as well as rainbow moonstone, and genuine deep blue aquamarines. The three strands have a healthy dose of my favorite Thai Karen Hill Tribe tiny sterling beads and a sterling silver toggle clasp.

This unique bracelet, pictured above and below, has gemstones of all colors as well as sterling silver. The toggle clasp is one of the sterling hand-decorated ones that I get from Bali. Little charms, both gemstone and sterling silver, hang at intervals around the bracelet. The gemstones include chrysoprase, carnelian, ruby, iolite, sapphire, lapis, garnet, apatite, and labradorite.

The cultured freshwater pearl bracelet below is made with my favorite silvery-grey pearls and those deep blue aquamarines. Four pearl charms hang from one strand; another strand finishes with Karen Hill Tribe chain links.  Everyone needs a pearl bracelet in her wardrobe, and one with gemstones is the way to go!

Keep warm, wait for Spring, and wear your jewelry everyday!

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The Marvelous Rush of Christmas!

After a relaxing Thanksgiving, everyone here is thinking of Christmas! Orders are coming in, but it is not too late for a custom order! Choose the gemstones that you know she loves and put them in a bracelet, earrings, or necklace that is uniquely hers. Of course, our jewelry is all limited one of a kind pieces, such as the drusy bracelet that you see above. A large focal drusy glitters at its center.  Little agate rondelles cluster to one side of the drusy; on the other side is a pretty toggle clasp in sterling silver which is decorated with a flower. Beside it hangs a lotus bud charm. Two strands of gemstones, faceted agate rondelles and the prettiest bluest aquamarines are alternated with the tiniest sterling silver beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes.
Below, this simple bracelet is made from two of the rarest gemstones: tanzanite and kunzite. Kunzite has a reputation as being the rarest gemstone in the world.  While it comes in other colors, the soft pink that you see here is what it is known for.  The tanzanite is a deep bluish purple and works well with the pink of the kunzite.

These pieces are finally on the website although I may have shown them on the blog before. The handmade necklace, above, is one of my favorites. The vibrant colors of pink and aqua chalcedony, amethysts, and lemon quartz shine in this chunky necklace.

Below, speaking of vibrant! The orange carnelian nuggets in this bracelet glow! With gold vermeil and artist's lampwork beads, this carnelian bracelet is a real stunner!

Good luck with all your Christmas shopping! Please remember that the last day to order from us for Christmas delivery is December 19th!

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Gemstone Bracelets Shine!

I've been working these crisp, cold days of Fall. And when it rains, I can work without ceasing! As a result, I have some new bracelets that are perfect for gifts - or for gifting yourself! Above and below, two views of the same bracelet (which will be placed in our Blue Topaz Jewelry category on the site). The bracelet combines Swiss blue topaz cubes, and boy do they sparkle!, with flashing labradorite. A bezel-set faceted labradorite gemstone is near the center of the bracelet. One side features Swiss Blue Topaz and tiny Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads: the other, different chains hold little charms of Swiss Blue Topaz briolettes and a single teardrop of labradorite.  The special clasp is a toggle with a faceted labradorite bezel-set on both sides. The Swiss Blue Topaz cubes are some of the most sparkling gemstones I've seen, and they are AAA gem quality.

Above and below, a different combination of gemstones makes this bracelet cheerful and unique.  Aquamarine, prehnite, and yellow opal make an interesting mix with plenty of Karen Hill Tribes sterling silver, including little flower charms. A scalloped toggle clasp is the closure. There are 4 strands in this bracelet so it is distinctive on the wrist.

These unique bracelets make great Christmas gifts for someone special!

This mother-of-pearl bracelet is one of my favorites. The large ovals that you see are faceted mother-of-pearl with a pinkish cast.  The smaller gemstones are moonstones. Three strands include one of mother-of-pearl, one of Karen Hill Tribes beads with moonstones, and one special chain made of interlocking hearts.  All sterling silver. Below the bottom bracelet is a pair of matching earrings.

Finally, a last gemstone bracelet boasts two strands: one is sterling silver with tiny little heart and arrow charms hanging from it; the other has a medley of gemstones with a genuine ruby at the center. The gemstones are Swiss and London Blue Topaz, amethyst, citrine, and labradorite. This charming bracelet is great for mixing with your favorite outfits. And what a perfect Christmas gift!

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