Coral Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings: Gifts from the Sea

 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.

 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.

 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.

    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.

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.

    Below, a black coral necklace with golden coral tubes and artist's lampwork beads.

    Below, huge red coral slices and coral nuggets with vermeil and artist's lampwork beads.

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

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Rubies: Just a Bit Less Than Wisdom

 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.

 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.

 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.

   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.

 Rubies are also said to bring good luck to gamblers as well as those who are in love.

 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. 

 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.

 Below, a sterling silver and ruby necklace, great for everyday or formal occasions.

Celebrities wearing ruby jewelry: proof that everyone looks good in rubies!

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I Love Turquoise for Summer!

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 with Carnelian

Turquoise Necklace with Vermiel

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 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.

Above, turquoise against tanned skin is a classic, but look, below, at how beautiful blond Cameron Diaz is in 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.

Below, Selma Hayak sports two turquoise necklaces for a layered look.  I especially like the shorter one.

Turquoise even flatters that summer perennial, the white tee!

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Summer Romance: Jewelry to Fall in Love With

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

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 with 14 Karat Gold-fill

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

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 with Sterling Silver and Citrine

Fall in love.  And whatever you do, wherever you go, wear your jewelry!

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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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