Showing posts with label jewelry trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry trends. Show all posts

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Fluorite, Sunstone, and Swarovski

Fluorite jewelry
 I saw with dismay this morning that at 6:00 a.m. it was still dark.  Yes, summer is over, and where did it go so quickly?! Fall is almost here and with it will come the new Cluny Grey Fall Collection. Meanwhile, here are a few pieces I've finished lately.
Above, a fluorite bracelet with a dichroic focal bead echoing the colors in the green and purple fluorite.  This bracelet is made with some of my favorite faceted fluorite nuggets in beautiful shades including a blue fluorite.
Below, a sunstone bracelet with flashing sunstone and a 14 karat gold-filled large-linked textured chain with a pretty cross dangling from it.  Vermeil spiral beads and toggle clasp.
sunstone bracelet

Swarovski crystal bracelet
 Above and below, a Swarovski crystal bracelet in my favorite Swarovski color of Pacific opal.  Alhambra, (name of the bracelet) features a wonderful focal cloisonne beads with the aqua color as well as gold and coral.  Vermeil accents accompany the pretty crystals.
Swarovski crystal bracelet
 Below, large hunky Swarovski cosmic crystals in Golden Shadow complement the single cloisonne bead. The oval cloisonne beads not only has a peach background and blue and yellow flowers with green leaves, but has a rhinestone on each side.
swarovski crystal bracelet
Back to work on the Fall Collection.  See you soon!

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Sunday, July 13, 2014

Coral Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings: Gifts from the Sea

coral bracelet with pearls and sterling silver
 I adore coral; it's an organic material straight from the sea with all the magic of the sea. Coral combines well with pearls and other gemstones, and of course, it looks wonderful with artist's lampwork beads. I'm especially fond of peachy-pink colored coral of any kind, and I am bewitched by  branch coral with long twiggy-looking sprigs.
Above, a coral bracelet with peachy-pink coral nuggets mixed with irregularly shaped freshwater pearls and sterling silver.  The sea-themed charms include a mermaid, a seahorse,and a fish.
red coral bracelet with sterling silver and lampwork beads
 Above and below, coral bracelets with slices of red coral.  The bracelet above has deep red coral mixed with brightly colored artist's lampwork beads; a second strand features a super-heavy length of sterling chain and tiny Thai Karen Hill Tribe beads and dangles sea-themed sterling charms. The coral bracelet below has brighter red slices of coral with special artist's lampwork beads and vermeil accents.
coral bracelet with lampwork beads and vermeil
 The coral bracelet below combines slices of darker peachy-pink coral and short twigs of coral as well as golden coral tubes.  The mix in this bracelet includes charms of sterling and artist's lampwork beads.
coral bracelet with peach and gold coral and sterling silver

coral bracelet with turquoise and sterling silver
    Above, a wonderful mixture of corals with accents of genuine turquoise and sterling silver. 
    Below, golden tube coral with special golden and sterling silver leaf artist's lampwork beads, sterling silver charms.
gold coral bracelet with sterling silver and lampwork
red coral bracelet with sterling silver
Above, star-fish themed coral bracelet with red coral slices.              
    Below, a double-strand branch coral necklace with coral rounds and special artist's lampwork beads including a lampwork flower.
coral necklace with lampwork beads

    Below, a black coral necklace with golden coral tubes and artist's lampwork beads.
black coral necklace with lampwork beads
    Below, huge red coral slices and coral nuggets with vermeil and artist's lampwork beads.
coral necklace with golden vermeil

coral earrings with vermeil
    Above, black onyx, vermeil, and coral earrings.
    Below, large coral slices with Bali sterling silver and special earwires with diamond-shaped decorations.
coral earrings with sterling silver

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

Rubies: Just a Bit Less Than Wisdom

ruby bracelet
 I've been busy working on rubies when I haven't been visiting my mother and my best friend in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  I do love working with rubies! Rubies are the July birthstone, of course, and how appropriate since it is the red-hot month of summer. Rubies, like Fourth of July fireworks are compelling; one has to look at them. 
   Rubies look good on everyone whether your complexion is dark or light, your haircolour brown, red, grey, blonde, or black (yes, rubies look soooo good on redheads!), whether you are big or small-boned, short or tall. Rubies are universal.
   Above and below, a sterling silver ruby bangle bracelet is so flirtatious with its dangling ruby charms.  The rubies here are faceted rounds that are a soft reddish-pink.
ruby bangle bracelet
 In ancient India, ruby was considered to be the "Lord of Gemstones."  It symbolizes love and devotion and is the preferred gift for both the 15th and 40th years of marriage.
ruby bracelet with lampwork beads
 Above and below, large faceted ruby nuggets are combined with beautiful sterling silver handmade beads, Thai Karen Hill Tribes sterling silver, and some of the finest artist's lampwork beads we've ever had. The toggle clasp has a cabochon ruby bezel-set into it.
ruby bracelet with sterling silver
   Rubies are supposed to help the wearer have happiness, good health, and wisdom.  One of the famous ruby quotations is Biblical: " Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. .."  Proverbs 31:10.
   Below, 14 karat gold-filled bangle bracelet features a large faceted ruby nugget with two smooth good-sized oval rubies on either side.
gold ruby bracelet
 Rubies are also said to bring good luck to gamblers as well as those who are in love.
ruby bracelet with gold and apatite
 Above, rubies play well with other gemstones.  Here rubies are combined with apatite and 14 karat gold-fill. 
   Below, ruby earrings are made with large faceted nuggets and all 14 karat gold-filled components. 
ruby earrings with gold

gold ruby earrings
 Above, 14 karat gold-filled fluted accents give these ruby earrings a formal touch, while, below, faceted ruby rondelles are cooled down a bit with genuine aquamarine and sterling silver.
ruby earrings with sterling silver and aquamarines
 Below, a sterling silver and ruby necklace, great for everyday or formal occasions.
ruby necklace
Celebrities wearing ruby jewelry: proof that everyone looks good in rubies!
ruby earrings worn by christina hendricks

ruby earrings worn by celebrities

ruby earrings worn by Helen Mirren

ruby necklace and earrings worn by Kate Middleton

ruby earrings worn by Kelly Osbourne

ruby earrings worn by Mila Kunis
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Monday, June 02, 2014

I Love Turquoise for Summer!

turquoise bracelet
Turquoise Bracelet with Sterling Silver
 Turquoise is probably my favorite color, so it follows that I would certainly love gem turquoise.  For years, I thought of turquoise as Southwestern and it reminded me of family trips to California, and conjured images of the Painted Desert, Carlsbad Caverns, Navajo reservations, and that endless highway called Route 66 that we drove on back then.
   Then, I went to Greece! To my surprise, turquoise was everywhere, as it was when I went to Egypt, and especially when I went to Turkey. Although I still can link turquoise with the Southwest US, it now gives me visions of ancient times in Mesopotamia, Turkey, Egypt and Greece especially when I mix it with lapis lazuli.
turquoise necklace
Turquoise Necklace with Carnelian

turquoise necklace
Turquoise Necklace with Vermiel

turquoise bracelet
Turquoise Bracelet with Lampwork Bead Focal and Sterling Silver
 Above, a Southwestern take on the turquoise bracelet, and below, a more Grecian look in turquoise and gold.
turquoise bracelet
Turquoise Bracelet with 14 Karat Gold-fill
The following pictures also demonstrate that the popularity of turquoise remains undiminished. It is truly beautiful and suits many different types of women.
double-strand turquoise necklace
Above, turquoise against tanned skin is a classic, but look, below, at how beautiful blond Cameron Diaz is in turquoise necklace and earrings.
turquoise necklace and earrings
Cynthia Nixon with her red hair and ultra fair skin is ravishing in this multi-strand, layered turquoise necklace. Look at how well it goes with her blue eyes! Every red-head should own turquoise jewelry.
turquoise necklace
Below, Selma Hayak sports two turquoise necklaces for a layered look.  I especially like the shorter one.
turquoise necklaces
Turquoise even flatters that summer perennial, the white tee!
triple-strand turquoise necklace


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  • Wednesday, May 28, 2014

    Summer Romance: Jewelry to Fall in Love With

    citrine necklace
    Citrine Necklace with Sterling Silver
    Everything goes in cycles, and making jewelry is no exception. What seems exciting and absorbing for months will suddenly become old, and I'll search for new gemstones everywhere, even though I have an unbelievably large inventory in the studio.  
    Then, there are times when I go back to the gemstones that first piqued my interest when I began making jewelry so many years ago.  Precious gemstones are perennials with me, but here are some of the other gemstones in jewelry form that I have long had a romance with.
    Above, citrines are one of my favorite gemstones.  I love sunny yellow. The citrine necklace above is very simple, large faceted nuggets with minimal sterling silver accents. It does have a sterling silver dog-shaped clasp (the dog is stylized but resembles a dachshund).  I love this necklace because it has absolutely wonderful sparkle.  Oh, and I adore sparkle!
    ruby bracelet
    Ruby Bracelet
    Above and below, this ruby bracelet features smooth large pebble-shaped opaque rubies that are a fairly strong red.  They look perfect with accents of 14 karat gold-fill and little faceted ruby rondelles.
    ruby bracelet
    Ruby Bracelet with 14 Karat Gold-fill
    fluorite bracelet
    Fluorite Bracelet
    I found fluorite to be one of the most intriguing gemstones to work with because of the purples and greens that look so great together.  It is one of the first gemstones I started using artist's lampwork beads with; I loved the way the right lampwork would draw the two colors together. This bracelet has a large lampwork focal, sterling silver beads, and a pretty sterling silver box clasp with a faceted amethyst.
    fluorite bracelet
    Fluorite Bracelet
    aquamarine bracelet
    Aquamarine Bracelet with Citrine and Sterling Silver
    Blue aquamarine (not the greener aquamarine) is fantastic with citrine.  Think of the sun and the sky, the sun and blue water.  I love this gemstone mix especially for the way that it perks up whatever I'm wearing. One gemstone alone can be classic and beautiful (see the ruby bracelet above), but put two primary colors together and you suddenly have a statement piece.  This bracelet will be on our Aquamarine Bracelets page.
    aquamarine bracelet
    Aquamarine Bracelet with Sterling Silver and Citrine
    Fall in love.  And whatever you do, wherever you go, wear your jewelry!

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