These are what we in Arkansas call the "dog days" of summer. Theories abound as to where the name originates from ancient and astronomical (the Dog Star, Sirius, is supposedly in ascendancy during August) to folk (more rabid dogs roam the country roads during the hot days of August) to the idea that August in the southern US is too hot even for a dog to bear. I'm trying to stay cool, and every now and then make something between the custom orders. Although it's unusual for me, I have 3 totally different bracelets here - I usually start using a gemstone and make piece after piece until I don't want to look at that particular gemstone anymore. I'll blame the difference on the August heat. Above is a Swarovski bracelet made with those dragonfly tubes from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes that I love. Swarovski butterflies are on either side of the clasp, and the other Swarovski crystals are huge! All of the crystals have the Aurora Borealis finish on them. Below is a bracelet made with a stone that I haven't used in months and months: unakite. Maybe I was just waiting for the right lampwork beads; if so, these lampwork beads by Suzette Celestin were well worth the wait. I'll swear she made them while daydreaming about unakite! It will be posted on a new page called Gemstone Bracelets that will be on the website soon. It's a page featuring the bracelets that really don't fit any of the other categories that we have a page for. 
Finally, the last bracelet, above, is made with faceted black onyx and London blue topaz. I'm very low on blue topaz jewelry;
one reason is that good blue topaz, Swiss or London blue, is very hard to find. I'm really not terribly fond of the blue topaz that is so pale that you can hardly tell that it's blue, so I tend to wait until I have collected a few gem-quality pieces of blue topaz before I make anything. Stay cool, enjoy what is left of the summer, and above all, wear your jewelry!!!
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The August birthstone, peridot, is a beautiful bright green gemstone also known as olivine. Its use is ancient, and the peridot has been confused with the emerald. The ancient source of peridot was from Saint John Island in the Red Sea, also known as the "Serpent Island" (apparently the miners had to fight snakes during their work) and therefore, peridot is often thought to protect against snakes. Today, much of the peridot used in peridot jewelry comes from Arizona.
Peridot is often associated with wealth, likely a modern view of the gemstone. For those who believe in the power of gemstones to effect change, the peridot is credited with increasing energy and strength, and protecting the wrists, lungs, and sinuses. Emotionally, it is said to relieve negative feelings, prevent nervousness, and dispel anger. Insomniacs would do well to wear peridot to bed at night since one of its benefits is to encourage sleep. Many also believe that peridot possesses the power to help heal hurt feelings, so if you believe in the Victorian sensibility of letting gemstones send a message, peridot jewelry is a gift that for the person whose feelings you've wounded.
In addition to being the August birthstone, peridot is also the gemstone for the 16th year of marriage and the gemstone of Saint Bartholomew.
Peridot is a gemstone that I like to work with when I can find it in a decent size. It is extremely difficult to find peridot nuggets - or any form of peridot bead over 5mm in size. Gem quality peridot is especially beautiful, clear and bright, a green that zings when it hits your eyes. Peridot looks great alone or when combined with one other or several gemstones. The first peridot bracelet has just a hint of amethyst suggested by the lampwork bead, a peridot coloured lentil with a purple design on it. The amethyst accent is repeated in the gemstone clasp of the bracelet (see second picture).
Rose quartz and lampwork beads enhance the next peridot bracelet, and freshwater Biwa pearls and intricate sterling silver dominate the next bracelet.
Smokey quartz combines with peridot and lampwork in the peridot necklace with a rather large faceted peridot in its gemstone pendant. Below, peridot earrings boast bezel set peridots in one pair, and larger peridot nuggets in another.
If you've never worn peridot, give this pretty gemstone a try - it's as satisfying to wear and as becoming as emeralds!
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