I'm Back!!! And with Jewelry!

After 3 difficult years of health problems and the passing on of 3 close family members, I'm back on The Jewelry Blog.  I hardly know what to tell you except that I've been making jewelry, intend to make more jewelry, and I am as excited as I can be!
   Because July is the month of the ruby, I'm featuring my newest ruby bracelets today, as well as a couple of favorites from the past.

And these two bracelets look great when paired!  The top bracelet with the focal emerald should be on the Cluny Grey Jewelry site by tomorrow evening.

 Above, very special artist's lampwork beads with great depth and clarity combine with very large faceted genuine ruby nuggets and chunky sterling silver Bali beads. A pretty strawberry charm and a leaf charm hang beside the toggle clasp with a cabochon bezel-set ruby.

 Above, two strands of rubies are accented by 14k gold-filled beads and accents, including a 14k toggle clasp.  Small oval rubies, large oval rubies, and faceted rondelle rubies join together in a symmetrical design.

 Lapis and rubies with gold!

Genuine rubies and Sleeping Beauty turquoise with sterling silver.

I'll be back!!!

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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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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It's Time for Coral! (and Rubies and Sunstone and Turquoise)

I adore summer! I love summer clothes, summer shoes, summer hats, and of course, "summer" jewelry.  Although the jewelry here can be worn at any time of the year, something about each piece makes me think "summer"! Above, the gold bangle bracelet with its large faceted ruby nugget is red-hot! Ruby is the July birthstone - how much more "summer" can you get than that?
Below, although I do wear coral in the winter (I wear peach and coral clothing all year long), it still just says summer to me. This chunky coral bracelet with its very fine artist's lampwork beads (some of the best that we have) is accented by gold vermeil (22 karat gold over sterling silver). Even the little Cupid charm is vermeil.

Turquoise is a summer favorite! If you tan, (and if you do, please do so carefully), turquoise looks wonderful against tanned skin.  We see so much turquoise with sterling silver, its fun to pair it with gold for a chain.  The gold here is 14 karat gold-fill that will last a lifetime! The turquoise in this turquoise bead bracelet is especially pretty - a deep turquoise blue.

Sunstone is reminiscent of the sun in summer with its sparkle and shine. The sunstone bracelet below is handmade of three strands featuring lovely shining sunstones, little Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads and sterling chain and Bali charms.  All components are sterling silver.

Another summer favorite of mine is the mix of coral with turquoise: it's the best of both worlds! Here the angelskin coral is a pretty peachy pink that looks great both with sterling silver and the faceted ovals of turquoise which are from the famed Sleeping Beauty turquoise mine. Three strands of beauty are held together with a sterling leaf toggle clasp that curves gracefully. Little coral charms dangle from three place around the bracelet.
  Below is one of our newest bracelets made with the tiny little Thai Karen Hill Tribes sterling beads that we are liking and using quite a bit now.  This elegant handmade bracelet has 3 strands, one that is a Karen Hill Tribes chain, and pretty gemstones scattered throughout.  Gem-quality London Blue topaz as well as amethyst, labradorite, and rose quartz are in the bracelet.  The box clasp has two bezel-set iolites set into it. Little sterling silver charms hang at intervals from the handmade bracelet.

More coral bracelet, above and below, mix coral with gemstones and freshwater pearls.  Above, genuine emeralds may not be a common gemstone to mix with coral, but it makes a stunning match for the pinky-peach coral and gold-filled accents.
   Below, two sizes of coral and freshwater pearls are accented by sterling silver including a starfish charm and a pretty toggle clasp with flowers on the toggle ring and bar.

Above and below, wonderful golden coral shines and is made very versatile by pairing it with sterling silver. The earrings are simple, while the one strand coral bracelet gets added shine from Robin Weber's silver-laced golden lampwork beads. Very unusual!

 

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Jewelry in the Merry Month of May!

 

I love the month of May, and not just because it is my birthday and wedding anniversary month; it is the month that the privet and peonies bloom and fill the air with a wonderful aroma.  I'm awakened here in Virginia by the sound of birdsong; azealas and dogwoods are blooming everywhere and the landscape is enhanced with their colors.
   May is the month of emeralds, my birthstone.  I work with beads, so getting to work with emeralds is special since most emeralds are cut into stones for settings.  But sometimes I find emeralds that are worth working with.  I like the faceted nuggets in the emerald bracelet above because they are chunky and they do have a true "emerald" green.  This bracelet is made with 14 karat goldfill although I make lots of emerald jewelry with sterling silver.
   Below is a fun emerald bracelet made with with pretty little emerald charms fashioned from faceted emerald rondelles.  If the emerald is your birthstone, feel blessed!

 

Rubies and apatite are luscious together.  These big ruby nuggets are perfect to play off the translucent little apatite rondelles. The cabochon ruby in the sterling silver toggle makes this ruby bracelet even more special.

  

Above and below, fluorite is a favorite gemstone of mine because it so often combines purple and green in one single gemstone.  The colors of fluorite are soft and beautiful, and in this case, mixed with sterling silver and little charms of green aventurine.

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The true season of coral is beginning! Above and below, chunky red coral combines with some of our best artist's lampwork beads and gold vermeil for a fantastic mix!

 

 

Turquoise pairs with gold in the turquoise bracelet above; the gold is 14 karat goldfill.  Below, turquoise is also a wonderful partner with angelskin pink coral.  Sterling silver and little coral dangles make this a very feminine bracelet.

 

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Just for fun: a carnelian bracelet, above, gets a kick from a sparkling drusy focal as well as 14 karat goldfill, while below, emeralds around the ankle are beautifully luxurious in this emerald and sterling silver anklet.

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