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!

Bracelets: A Motley Crew!

If the above bracelet doesn't make you think of spring or that summer is almost upon us, then you are a glass-half-empty person! Today's "motley crew" of bracelets range from precious gemstones like rubies to odd combinations in colors and gemstones such as the one you see above and below.  Many of these do not have prices on them yet, so if you go to the Cluny Grey Jewelry website give me a day or two to get the cart on these. The Harlequin bracelet that you see above is made of chalcedony, aventurine, carnelian, sterling silver, and one of my favorite artist's lampwork beads made by James Derrick Reeves (he is no longer making beads, unfortunately, so I treasure the small supply of his that I have). The flower charm is from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes.

Two of my favorites are having a fine romance here in this aquamarine and sunstone bracelet which has gorgeous aquamarines, including the large faceted aquamarine nugget that is the focal. The sparkling sunstone beads hold their own however, since they are equally beguiling. Thai Karen Hill Tribes tiny faceted beads show off these pretty gemstones. The charms are also Thai Karen.

I really like the unusual rectangular reticulated sterling toggle clasp on this aquamarine bracelet.

I adore sunstone and I'm always trying to see how it is going to look with other gemstones, but it is great just on its own!  For proof, just look below! Four sumptuous strands of sunstone in different shapes and sizes are set off by the tiniest of Thai Karen Hill Tribes sterling beads. Because of these beads, the bracelet, while very full on the wrist, also has a daintiness to it.

The unbelievable focal here is what is known as crab fire agate.  It looks splendid with orange gem-quality carnelian and vermeil from Bali. It's a real show-off bangle bracelet!

What can I say about rubies? That I adore them, love to work with them, love their luxuriousness and the way they always make me think of fairy tales or India?  All of this is true. That may be why I love to use large ruby nuggets in my jewelry such as in the ruby bracelet below. An added attraction is a focal that is a large wire-wrapped bead with little ruby rondelles sticking up out of it like cabochon gemstones.

The wonderful sterling silver accents are from Bali.

And speaking of focal beads, I'm captivated by this large faceted labradorite nugget which flashes blue or green depending on the way that you look at it.  The other coins and rondelles of labradorite also have blue or green flash, and an unusual dragonfly toggle clasp is the closure.

I don't know why the bracelet below makes me think of summer, but it does. Maybe it's the bluejean color of the pretty royal blue lapis gemstones - or the yellow opals which are actually a glowing deep creamy ivory, the color of really old genuine ivory. Could it be the flowers cut out in the sterling charms or on the toggle clasp.  Whatever it is, I can see myself at 22 wearing jeans and an eyelet top with skinny straps, proud of my summer tan. (22 was a long time ago!)

I also have more new jewelry than is shown here on the site and I am adding more daily. Want something special? Just let me know - my custom work is the same price range usually as what you see on the site.

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More Jewelry from the Spring Collection

Today a sampling of jewelry with no rhyme or reason as to its inclusion except that all pieces are part of the Cluny Grey Spring Collection.
The first is a labradorite necklace with accents of 14 karat goldfill. Each single bead was chosen for its flash, and the little smooth briolettes in the center of the necklace gives it a "ruffled" look.

This labradorite necklace has two strands of labradorite in varying shapes, both faceted and smooth gemstones. Again, each gemstone of labradorite was chosen for its flash. The star of the necklace is the wonderful sterling silver pendant with bezel set smooth and faceted gemstones set in an assymetrical pattern.  The largest stone is a labradorite cabochon with amazing blue flash.  There's also a bezel-set garnet gemstone on the actual bail of the pendant. The two other gemstones are faceted rectangles of amethyst and blue topaz.

Sunstone earrings are simple smooth teardrop briolettes.

The emerald bracelet, above, boasts the addition of cultured freshwater coin pearls in the same emerald color. Emerald is one of the biggest colors for this spring.

Above and below, an aquamarine bangle bracelet features pretty blue aquamarines and sterling silver bangles; the mother of pearl bracelet below has clover-shaped cultured freshwater pearls as an accent on one side and 14 karat gold-filled accents. Both bracelets will look wonderful with Spring's colors of dusk blue, Monaco blue, and African violet.

Tourmaline is a perennial favorite and one of the most beautiful gemstones with its many varying colors which are mixed here in both the necklace and bracelet. Both pieces of tourmaline jewelry have a good measure of the valued pink tourmalines.

  Both pairs of quartz earrings are accented by sterling silver earwires with bezel-set white freshwater pearls.

More jewelry on Thursday!

Versatile Citrine; The Romance of Labradorite

Citrines are a favorite gemstone of mine; yes, it seems as though I say this about so many gemstones, but citrine is one of the gemstones I wear 2 or 3 times every week.  It is a versatile gemstone that can look dressy or casual and despite its being yellow, it works well with a lot of different clothing.  The citrine bracelet here has a touch of garnet (another very versatile stone) that grounds it. The three strands of the bracelet feature faceted nuggets of citrine in different sizes, faceted citrine rondelles, smooth rondelles, an artist's lampwork bead as a focal point and tiny little sterling silver Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads.  The final touch is a sterling toggle clasp that has cabochon citrines set into the ends of the toggle bar. Citrine really looks great with beige and khaki, pops with black, and lends a sparkle to white.

I have been working with labradorite quite a bit lately. I find labradorite a romantic gemstone that works greatly on my imagination.  My mind dwells on northern climes, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Canada, and I think of the fairy tales I read as a child about Hans and Gerda, the Snow Queen, and the reindeer of Lapland. I have a romantic image of these Northern countries to this day and cannot wait to visit Scandanavia (alas, it's not high on the list of friends and family who prefer tropical locations). Labradorite will forever remind me of the Aurora Borealis with its flash of blue and other cool colors. The labradorite bracelet, above and below, is made of two strands of labradorite and sterling silver. Every gemstone has been chosen for flash, and the crowning glory of this bracelet is a flashy toggle clasp of sterling silver with a bezel-set labradorite gemstone in the toggle ring.

When I first got this lavender tinted faceted rectangles, I thought to myself, whatever will I do with these? They are an odd color and seem to change color a bit with the light. But I still loved them nonetheless and kept them where I could see them because I found them pleasurable to look at. Then I saw these artist's lampwork beads and realized that they were perfect for the chalcedony. With a minimum of sterling silver so as to let the chalcedony be the star, the necklace is mainly the lampwork, three focals, and the faceted rectangles. It is an odd piece of jewelry, unusual in its color, but one that I find compelling in its difference.

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More from the Fall Collection

I love chain bracelets! I have one that I never take off; it's a permanent fixture on my wrist. I also love bracelets that mix gold and silver, in the case, the chain bracelet is a mixture of sterling silver and 14 karat goldfill.  Tiny goldfilled ball charms hang from the middle of the bracelet and the clasp is also 14 karat gf. Three strands of chain make for a perfect bracelet!

I like combinations that aren't seen very often like the citrine and sapphire bracelet above.  The citrines are all carved gemstones in flower rondelles or carved leaf shapes.  The sapphires are faceted rondelles in a deep blue. The bracelet is accented with 14 karat gf.

Statement necklaces are very popular right now, but there are times when all you want is something simple and elegant. Enter this sapphire necklace, a lariat necklace with special flower accents in sterling silver from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes. Three smooth medium-blue colored oval sapphires fall from each flower; the large oval-linked chain is lightly textured. Holding it together is a small diamond shaped toggle clasp (also sterling silver, of course).

More sapphires! The earrings above feature 14 karat gf accents for a sophisticated look (leverbacks), while the sterling silver sapphire earrings below will delight cat lovers. Each cat sits on a faceted sapphire rondelle and is topped by a sapphire.  The earrings hang from sterling silver leverbacks so that they stay on securely.

I've always thought of labradorite as a Fall/Winter gemstone for some reason - probably because it always conjures visions of snow-filled countries and northern lights. The labradorite necklace above has labradorite with plenty of flash; the large pendant flashes its blue and aqua tones as the wearer moves about.  Four little flashy faceted coins dangle above the smooth pendant.  The necklace itself consists of faceted rondelles.
   Below, super flashy faceted coins hang from the elaborately swirled earrings here.  The earwires themselves are decorated with a single beaded ball. Labradorite earrings are great!  The more you move your head, the more noticeable they are.

Don't be a procrastinator! (I know what I am saying!) Start jewelry shopping for Christmas now, and if you want a custom order, we'll have plenty of time to design it together so that you get exactly what you want for that special someone!
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