Thinking of Spring, Weddings, Bridesmaids, and Pretty Things!

 It's never too early to begin thinking of wedding season.  While I don't do a lot of bridal jewelry, one thing that I've done since I began jewelry-making was making jewelry for bridesmaids. After being my friends' and son's weddings, I was familiar with the frenzy of wedding planning, and especially the difficulties of finding gifts for the bride to give her bridesmaids.  I thought bridesmaids' bracelets were the perfect answer to the problem.  Not only does the bride have a long-lasting gift to present those who are in her wedding, but the bridesmaids can actually wear the bracelets as part of their bridesmaid attire. Also, it's easy to personalize each bracelet just a bit, so that each bracelet is a slightly different from the other while keeping with the wedding theme.  For one wedding, a very caring bride sent me an email with a description of her bridesmaids' personalities so that I could make a bracelet that would fit with their styles.  All of the bracelets were made of amethysts, but each was unique!

The bracelets and earrings here feature two staples for bridesmaid jewelry: Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. The first bracelet, above, with creamy white freshwater pearls, a large cosmic Swarovski crystals, and a single blue heart is my favorite. With the blue heart (something blue) it also makes a great bridal bracelet. The bracelets are made either with sterling silver or 14 karat gold-fill.

Above, genuine coral mixed with Swarovski crystals is great for a beach wedding.

Earrings are also great for bridesmaids.  Again, Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls with sterling silver or 14 karat gold-fill is not only on trend, but a classic look!

Snowfall, Lampwork and Turquoise

I am sitting in my fourth floor studio with a window halfway open even though it is 29 degrees outside (it does get warm up here with an eastern and southern exposure) and I am joyfully awaiting the snowfall that is supposed to be coming our way.  I am hoping that we get at least the 4 to 8 inches promised by the forecast and I will do a jubilant dance in the street if we get the 12 inches the forecasters say is possible.
Before you erroneously think that I am some kind of outdoors woman or snow bunny, let me assure you that I enjoy the snow mostly from inside my townhouse, snug and warm, watching heavy flakes fall past the windows while I make hot tea and eat dark chocolate. I simply think that snow is one of nature's most beautiful products, and it produces in me a feeling of loving home, snugness, happiness, and links me, for some reason, to a past when snow meant people huddling around fires trying to stay warm.  The snow gives me energy and inspires me as well, so it's no wonder that I await its arrival with happy anticipation.
I have been working without real direction lately so  you see a mixed bag of jewelry here. Above is a fantastic necklace with deep blue genuine aquamarines and pretty 14 karat gold-filled accents.

Swarovski and Lampwork Bracelet

I have also been working on lampwork bracelets as you can see above and below. The bracelet above is a wonderful aqua blue with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. The second strand is a chain that comes from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes. The lampwork bracelet, below, features sterling silver, black Swarovski crystals, and artist's lampwork beads that have an almost tiger-striped look.   The clasp has a cabochon black onyx set into it while a dragonfly charm hangs from a sterling chain.

Last, a prayer box necklace made from very nice blue turquoise tiny, tiny pebbles. The prayer box itself is a favorite since it has crosses on three sides with a cabochon gemstone set in the middle. The stones are turquoise, black, and red. The necklace also features a toggle with an onyx cabochon.

Here's to loving snow!
Don't forget: FREE SHIPPING for purchases over $50.00; only $1.95 for purchases under $50.00.

Fantastic Gemstone Bracelet, Earrings, and February's Birthstone: Amethyst

 I am in love with this unique bracelet featuring iolite, garnet, and rainbow moonstone.  The idea for the 6 strand bracelet came from the sterling silver box clasp with its cabochon garnets and rainbow moonstone. The 6 strands include 2 strands of rainbow moonstone, 2 strands of garnet, 1 strand of iolite, and one strand of tiny sterling silver beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes. The rainbow moonstone was all chosen for its flash.  The result is beautiful and versatile since it looks great with almost every color that you can think of.

 Below are dangling earrings with faceted gemstones, in this case pink chalcedony and garnet, bezel set in sterling silver. The earrings hang from some of my favorite marquise shaped sterling earwires..

 Below, a necklace made entirely of dark blue faceted chalcedony briolettes strung so closely together that they have a ruffled look.  14 karat gold-filled chain makes up the very back of the necklace so that the gemstones won't get caught in one's hair.

 Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February although I have found that lovers of amethyst pay no attention to whether they were born in February!  The gemstone is a perennial favorite and diehard amethyst lovers cannot have too much amethyst jewelry. The amethyst necklace, left, is a favorite of mine, mainly because of the amethyst gemstones which are faceted as though they were meant to be mounted in a ring.  They are also AAA quality, so they sparkle beautifully! The amethyst necklace has a simple S clasp in sterling silver and tiny sterling silver beads separating the amethysts.
Below the necklace are more gem quality amethyst, this time in a faceted briolette that hang from sterling silver earwires.

 The amethyst earrings above are simple but elegant.
My favorite amethyst piece is the bracelet below that is created using roughly faceted flat amethyst nuggets that are translucent with 14 karat gold-filled accents and toggle clasp.  The amethyst bracelet is large, but because the nuggets are flat, they do not get in the way of daily tasks making it easy to wear.

Yes, I am wishing for more snow!
Don't forget: FREE SHIPPING on purchases over $50.00; $1.95 shipping on purchases under $50.00.

Agates, Pearls, and Cluny the Cat

 I've longed for these days of snow, but they find me a bit under the weather! If you've ever had back and neck problems, you know the pain that can be involved, especially when trying to work at a desk. But Valentine's Day is fast upon us, so work I  must!  
Above, an agate bracelet with some of my favorite blue agate faceted ovals. They are as blue as can be, shiny, and chunky. All accents, including the toggle clasp, are sterling silver.
Below, another agate bracelet, this time featuring faceted blue agate rounds with areas of translucence and a "crackled" effect that provides texture and interest.  The bracelet has three strands: one strand is wire-wrapped agates strung together with sterling silver wire, one strand of tiny Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads, and one strand of oval links of sterling chain dangling little coin charms (all sterling, of course).

 Below is an agate necklace which I liked so much that I made one for myself.  These faceted ovals are huge! They are a wonderful silvery grey color with translucent areas and wispy black inclusions. 14 karat gold-filled beads are between each of the ovals and a 14 karat gold-filled toggle.

-

 Below, 14 karat gold-filled earstuds dangle coppery golden freshwater pearls.

My Cluny cat, resting on the studio sofa where he spends a good bit of his time. 

Back from Bulgaria and New Jewelry

Happy New Year!  I am looking forward to 2014 being a wonderful, creative and productive year; I hope you are as well. I spent the Christmas holidays with my son and his family in Sofia, Bulgaria, the first time I had traveled to that country.  I've already fallen in love with Bulgaria despite not having it snow while we were there. Luckily, my son lives almost in the side of Mt. Vitosha and a quick drive did provide some white magic.  I fell in love with the food (ummmm, shopska salad and eggs panagyurishte ), the wonderful churches and monasteries, the people, the art. I saw fantastic early Thracian jewelry (Southeastern Bulgaria was part of Thrace at one time), wonderful icons, and ancient sites of worship.  I can't wait to go back. Of course, the main attraction was family, but Bulgaria with family is much better than Bulgaria on my own!

Above, the Rila monastery a couple of hours outside Sofia.

The jewelry today includes (above) a ruffled looking necklace made up of tightly strung dark blue chalcedony faceted briolettes; the color is fantastic!  Then a chalcedony bracelet that is a so rich looking with faceted rectangles of chartreuse chalcedony and 14 karat gold-filled beads and toggle clasp.
Below, vermeil earrings are graceful and reminiscent of some of the Byzantine jewelry I saw in Bulgaria where the gold is so pure that it shines a deep gold. The dangling tips are sunstones.

Below are bezel-set cabochon emeralds with sterling silver. The earwires are decorated with shiny hearts; below the oval emeralds are round hammered circles. Below the emerald earrings are dangle earrings with faceted bezel-set gemstones of pink chalcedony and garnets, also in sterling silver.

Oh, and I am enjoying tremendously the SNOW that we got on Tuesday. It was a rare delight to witness snow falling from morning until into the night and I was happy all day long! The snow energized me, and I was working hard on fulfilling those New Year's resolutions that I make every year. Meanwhile, work still continues on the new site.

The Marvelous Rush of Christmas!

After a relaxing Thanksgiving, everyone here is thinking of Christmas! Orders are coming in, but it is not too late for a custom order! Choose the gemstones that you know she loves and put them in a bracelet, earrings, or necklace that is uniquely hers. Of course, our jewelry is all limited one of a kind pieces, such as the drusy bracelet that you see above. A large focal drusy glitters at its center.  Little agate rondelles cluster to one side of the drusy; on the other side is a pretty toggle clasp in sterling silver which is decorated with a flower. Beside it hangs a lotus bud charm. Two strands of gemstones, faceted agate rondelles and the prettiest bluest aquamarines are alternated with the tiniest sterling silver beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes.
Below, this simple bracelet is made from two of the rarest gemstones: tanzanite and kunzite. Kunzite has a reputation as being the rarest gemstone in the world.  While it comes in other colors, the soft pink that you see here is what it is known for.  The tanzanite is a deep bluish purple and works well with the pink of the kunzite.

These pieces are finally on the website although I may have shown them on the blog before. The handmade necklace, above, is one of my favorites. The vibrant colors of pink and aqua chalcedony, amethysts, and lemon quartz shine in this chunky necklace.

Below, speaking of vibrant! The orange carnelian nuggets in this bracelet glow! With gold vermeil and artist's lampwork beads, this carnelian bracelet is a real stunner!

Good luck with all your Christmas shopping! Please remember that the last day to order from us for Christmas delivery is December 19th!

Free Shipping!

Gemstone Bracelets Shine!

I've been working these crisp, cold days of Fall. And when it rains, I can work without ceasing! As a result, I have some new bracelets that are perfect for gifts - or for gifting yourself! Above and below, two views of the same bracelet (which will be placed in our Blue Topaz Jewelry category on the site). The bracelet combines Swiss blue topaz cubes, and boy do they sparkle!, with flashing labradorite. A bezel-set faceted labradorite gemstone is near the center of the bracelet. One side features Swiss Blue Topaz and tiny Thai Karen Hill Tribes beads: the other, different chains hold little charms of Swiss Blue Topaz briolettes and a single teardrop of labradorite.  The special clasp is a toggle with a faceted labradorite bezel-set on both sides. The Swiss Blue Topaz cubes are some of the most sparkling gemstones I've seen, and they are AAA gem quality.

Above and below, a different combination of gemstones makes this bracelet cheerful and unique.  Aquamarine, prehnite, and yellow opal make an interesting mix with plenty of Karen Hill Tribes sterling silver, including little flower charms. A scalloped toggle clasp is the closure. There are 4 strands in this bracelet so it is distinctive on the wrist.

These unique bracelets make great Christmas gifts for someone special!

This mother-of-pearl bracelet is one of my favorites. The large ovals that you see are faceted mother-of-pearl with a pinkish cast.  The smaller gemstones are moonstones. Three strands include one of mother-of-pearl, one of Karen Hill Tribes beads with moonstones, and one special chain made of interlocking hearts.  All sterling silver. Below the bottom bracelet is a pair of matching earrings.

Finally, a last gemstone bracelet boasts two strands: one is sterling silver with tiny little heart and arrow charms hanging from it; the other has a medley of gemstones with a genuine ruby at the center. The gemstones are Swiss and London Blue Topaz, amethyst, citrine, and labradorite. This charming bracelet is great for mixing with your favorite outfits. And what a perfect Christmas gift!

Don't forget that shipping is free for purchases over $50 and only $1.95 for purchases under $50!

Losing Weight, Kitties, and What About Jewelry?!

 I am the proud loser of 33 pounds!  I have been eating healfully since January of this year, eliminated all sodas, and even most artificial sweeteners, and I have learned to adore iced green tea - plain.  I've gone from wearing a size 12, sometimes 10, pant to a size 4! (Note: sizes have changed; even when I weighed 10 pounds less than I do now in the 'eighties, I still wore an 8, sometimes a 6 on rare occasions). 
Sorry, but I have to brag just a little.  The main motivator was my son who told me that he wanted me to be around for a long time for my 4 year old grand-daughter. I want to be here too!

 What are the cat pictures?  The upper picture is of Cluny, my namesake, and the lower of Cuervo Sebastian; both are boys.  They like to hang out up here on the fourth floor with me to, ahem, help me make jewelry.  You haven't lived until you've spilled an entire container of small beads and watched 2 cats go crazy.  I like it when they help me as they are in the pictures here.

 Don't forget that it will soon be Christmas before you know it and you are going to want some jewelry!  If it's custom jewelry that you want, please let me know in plenty of time, so you can choose designs and beads and gemstones at your leisure.  
Cluny and Cuervo will be here to help me!

Charm Necklaces for Anyone, Anytime

One of the major trends in jewelry lately has been the charm necklace.  Different things have been meant by that over the years from the early '90s charm bracelet like necklace to today's more minimal charm necklace. From a jewelry-lover's point of view, I like the charm necklace.  It's simple, can work with many styles of clothing, and can be easily layered for a unique personal look.  From an artisan's point of view, however, charm necklaces aren't as much fun since they usually don't require a lot of intricate work unless you are making your own sterling or gold charms.  On the other hand, (back to the jewelry lover) they are often much less expensive than ornate statement necklaces since a charm necklace may require only a few precious or semi-precious gemstones instead of a multitude of them.
   Some of my charm necklaces for Fall: above a sunstone charm necklace with 3 pretty sparkling oval sunstones that fal through a handmade loop that I textured with a small hammer. It can be made the length the customer desires. Above it is shown in gold-filled metal. Below is a charm or lariat necklace made with special Thai Karen Hill Tribes components and genuine blue sapphires.

Below, the chain is from the Karen Hill Tribes and the center charm is a candy jade faceted briolette; a Karen Hill Tribes charm (sterling) hangs beside the briolette.

This necklace would look great layered with another chain or two or another charm necklace with sterling silver charms or a pink or green gemstone.

Below, this charm necklace consists of a single drop made of three faceted dark blue genuine sapphires topped with a sterling heart.  It hangs from a sterling silver chain.

Below, this aventurine and abalone necklace is made with gold-filled rings and boasts a drop made of a genuine abalone shell.  The abalone is beautiful on both sides.

Above, carnelian earrings are made of gem-quality faceted carnelian gemstones and vermeil from Bali. I love the earwires with the flower decoration on them. Below, gold-filled accents complement the flat oval lapis stones here.

A lapis bracelet is centered with three of my favorite lapis nuggets.  These flat nuggets are sharply faceted and have a good sprinkling of pyrite for glitter.

Below, sunstone and smoky quartz are lovely together.  Gold-filled beads and a gold-filled twisted toggle are just right for the mixture!