Hemimorphite and Graphic Swarovski

As usual, I've been busy! But I'm trying to keep the blog updated. I just received some hemimorphite, a stone that I don't think that I've ever used before although I was familiar with it. I decided to give it a try. I believe my hemimorphite started out as transparent (as much hemimorphite is) and was dyed to give it the blue colour that one usually wants in hemimorphite; it is still pretty, and it is translucent - which I like.
Hemimorphite is mostly found in the form of beads and cabochons since it isn't that hard ( a Moh's hardness of about 5.0), and because it has perfect cleavage, meaning that it is very hard to facet. The lampwork beads from James Derrick Reeves determined how I used this hemimorphite: I simply repeated the colours used in the lampwork -the hemimorphite for the aqua/blue, peridot for the green, and of course, amethyst for the purple. Once I'd finished, I was happy enough with the bracelet that I decided to make matching earrings with the hemimorphite and the peridot. I was really happy with those! You can see both on the Unusual Jewelry page on the Cluny Grey Jewelry website.



I really am having a love affair with the large Swarovski crystal beads - the Cosmic and the Graphic, and the large Helix. Below is a bracelet in the "Copper Crystal" colour - a favorite of mine, and all goldfilled accents. And below that is "Dinner at the Ritz", a bracelet made of Karen Hill Tribes handmade chains with clear crystal AB Swarovski beads, tiny ones scattered throughout the chains, and one huge whopper Graphic bead of 18mm hanging beside the toggle clasp which is meant to be worn in front.To all my jewelry friends in Estonia and Finland - Hello - Hei - juveelid armastajapaar
(I'm trying to say jewelry lovers!) I hope the weather gets warmer for you soon!FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WRITE AND ASK WHERE THE PRICES ARE: GO TO THE WEBSITE BY CLICKING ON THE LINK ABOVE OR TO THE RIGHT!


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Swarovski & Opals

I've been working with blue Peruvian opal and Swarovski (among other things) this week; I adore blue Peruvian opals when they are really blue, or that pretty aqua colour. I feel about blue opals the same as I do the pink ones - the dark inclusions make them better much of the time - giving them character and contract. Above, the blue opal bracelet is mixed with antiqued vermeil accents. This is listed on the Opal Bracelets page. I always find Swarovski addictive once I start working with it - the sparkle, the colours, the finishes. I don't often work with pink Swarovski, except for the opal colours, but I had the large Helix beads (10mm I believe), and the larger the Swarovski is, the better. Below, the copper crystal bracelet has the new large crystals (about 14mm) mixed with the Helix, rounds, and rondelles, and all goldfilled accents, including the toggle clasp. These are listed on the Swarovski Crystal Bracelets page.
Below is a pink Peruvian opal necklace with a large, flat, faceted nugget as its focal. The focal nugget is wonderful. I mixed small pink opals, flat rectangles, rondelles, and carved scarab beads along with the sterling silver. I like working with opals, but pink opals can be challenging because I like the opals to match in colouring - and pink opals are often very disparete even on the same strand. Some will be peach, some pink, some have a slight yellow to beige tinge; others will be slightly translucent with dark inclusions, and some almost perfectly pink. I don't really like to mix them all, but keep them together according to hue. The pink opal necklace below can be found on our Opal Necklaces page.

What next? A charm bracelet - I haven't made a nice full one for a long time!


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An Old Idea Is New Again

Prayer boxes are very "in" right now, but they probably originated thousands of years ago in Hindu or Buddhist cultures. It seems a pretty sentiment, and a deeply faithful one for the devout, emphasizing the belief in the miracle of prayer, its efficacy in affecting our lives.
The prayer box reminds me of Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall, as I watched while the faithful pushed little rolled up pieces of paper with their prayers, their requests written upon them into the cracks of the Wall, believing I suppose that God would get to them faster there, or that the act of travelling to the Wall, writing the prayer on paper, and making the commitment to put it there emphasized the importance of the plea.
The prayer box also reminds me of the Medieval period when God was such an important part of people's lives that worship was not relegated to Sunday, but a part of every waking moment or many parts of the day. God surely had a more immediate and constant connection to people in this age where a recipe instructed the cook to let the mess boil as long "as it takes to say the Rosarie." And everyone knew just how long that was.
The prayer boxes on the Cluny Grey Jewelry website feature different designs, some embedded with gemstones, some plain with relief scenes or figures, but all with a lid that opens and closes to keep safe within a piece of paper with your prayer written on it. Most prayer box necklaces are a prayer box hanging from a chain, but I've tried to improve upon the simple chain by making the necklace a part of a wardrobe so that the necklace becomes a part of an outfit, an accessory as well as a symbol of faith.
All of the prayer box necklaces here, and more, can be found on the Prayer Box Necklaces page of the Cluny Grey Jewelry website.
Also, this week we're running more auctions on Ebay; for great deals, check user id: chloemarie99 or do a search for Cluny Grey.
Also, for those of you who are as impressed as I am by someone who can work wonders with polymer clay and turn it into works of art, check this link: Elise Winters and see the gorgeous work of Elise Winters. How does she do it!

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