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!

Cluny Grey Jewelry always has free shipping for purchases totaling over $50.00!

Life and Bracelets and Where's the Fall Collection?

Apatite Bracelet

I have been spending some time in Hot Springs, Arkansas lately where my best friend and most of my family live. That means that I am woefully behind on so many things and  I am struggling to catch up. 
 From the Fall Collection, now long overdue to be shown, are these bracelets that look great alone or stacked together on the wrist.  Above is a bracelet with sterling silver, apatite and a single lotus charm; below,  a similar bracelet with gem-quality faceted coin amethysts, sterling silver, and a fleur de lis charm.  The bracelet has a lobster clasp with a pretty flower on it.

Amethyst Bracelet

Chalcedony Bracelet

Above, a bracelet of blue chalcedony faceted ovals with sterling silver and a puffy star charm.

Below, simple round garnet beads are enhanced by a pretty little toggle clasp with a leaf design.  Thai Karen Hill Tribes charm has three sterling rounds hanging from a single loop.

Garnet Bracelet

Below, my favorite, because it's gold, of course, is this lapis bracelet with 14 karat gold-filled components including an oval blank that can be stamped with your initial. The coin lapis beads are especially pretty.

Lapis Lazuli Bracelet

Above and below, the bracelets paired.

Lapis, Carnelian, and Turquoise Bracelet with Gold-fill

I love the classic combination of carnelian, lapis, and turquoise in this mixed gemstone bracelet.  The large lapis nugget is especially beautiful with its golden sprinkling of pyrite. The gold is a mixture of gold-filled and vermeil.  The vermeil charms are little dragonflies hanging from a 14k gold-filled chain.  Two of the carnelian beads are beautifully carved and rather unusual. The turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine and is a wonderful deep shade of blue.
  Please order early for Christmas this year as I will be heading off to Vienna, Salzburg, and then Bulgaria in mid-December.  If you need a custom piece, remember that they seldom cost more than any similar piece you would find on the site, yet you get personal attention and preferences.
  Now shipping is FREE to AUSTRALIA as it is in the USA: anything over 50.00 is FREE while purchases under $50 are only 1.95 to ship.

Fluorite, Sunstone, and Swarovski

 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.

 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.

 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.

Back to work on the Fall Collection.  See you soon!

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Cleopatra and the "Gem of the Sun"

 Peridot, the August birthstone, is a pretty gemstone with a clear green color. It is fairly easy usually for us to find translucent peridot that are especially pretty for the jewelry that I make. I do like working with it; the only drawback to peridot is that it is usually difficult to find very large stones.

    Peridot has a rich history, full of legends and lore that makes it an especially interesting gemstone.
The Egyptians called peridot the "gem of the sun" and believed that it was best mined at night when it shone brightly; during the day, it shone so brightly that it couldn't even be seen!
    Most of the peridot mined in the ancient world came from St. John's, an island about 50 miles off the coast of Egypt.  It was so overrun by snakes that the miners had a difficult time until the Pharaoh had all the snakes killed.  Much easier for the miners, not so good for the snakes. As a result, however, peridot is still believed by many to be a guard against snakebite!
   The first three photos are of Minuet Verde, a three strand peridot bracelet with a two-sided sterling bead in the middle of the middle strand.  The bead has two cabochon peridots bezel-set into it.  The bracelet also has a double sided toggle clasp with a faceted square peridot set diagonally in each side of the toggle.

    Many historians believe that the emeralds that Cleopatra wore were not emeralds at all, but actually peridots which would have been readily accessible to her and can easily be confused with emeralds. 
   For many centuries, people thought the 200 carat gems in the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Cologne Cathedral in Germany were emerald. They are really peridots (gia.com).
   Above and below, another three strand peridot bracelet. The gemstones are small and sparkling and accented by 5 sterling silver flower charms and a pretty heart-shaped sterling lobster clasp.

    Peridot is thought to help one achieve harmony in marriage. The ancients believed that it would give one eloquence and also protect one from evil spirits. It is often used today by proponents of crystal healing for asthma and a slew of other ailments.
   Above and below, this peridot bracelet has 5 strands of peridots on one side of the bracelet and faceted peridot rondelles set between large faceted nuggets of quartz crystal on the other.  In the center, sterling silver and peridot charms are clustered next to a faceted rose quartz square.

 Today, most peridots come from Burma since St. John's island has not been mined since the 1950's.  The largest peridot is approximately 310 carats and resides here in Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian museum.

    Above, a double-stranded bracelet of peridots with the main strand featuring quite large faceted peridots while the second strand has small peridots. The peridots are accented by square artist's lampwork beads shot with silver handmade by Robin Weber. Below, a bracelet made of peridot rondelles and sterling silver butterflies from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes.

    Below, another peridot bracelet featuring lampwork beads and large faceted peridot nuggets.  The second strand is a large oval-lined chain dangling Thai Karen Hill Tribes flower charms.

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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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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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