What says autumn more than richly colored leaves? So, this year my fall collection features hand-forged copper and bronze wire leaves.

​Some are filled with snippets of my sister-in-law's greeting cards which contain the deep colors and complex patterns evident in the paintings from which the cards are created. After adhering the colorful snippets to a copper or bronze leaf shape, I coat both sides with resin which brings out the colors and adds dimension.

Others are filled with resin. First, I fill the wire leaf shape with clear resin. Then I add dots of red, yellow and orange tinted resin. Finally, I swirl the tinted resin through the clear which results in a marbled effect.

And sometime, I just leave them plain allowing the rich copper and bronze hammered metal to shine. I often mix plain and filled leaves in one piece.

My fall collection also includes the deep, warm tones of autumnal gemstones such as tiger eye, chocolate jasper and smoky quartz. I enjoy matching gemstones and wire to create the perfect fall necklace or earrings.

Update your wardrobe with a little fall color.

Sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium color the corundum blue, yellow, purple, orange , green or pink. When chromium impurities in corundum yield a red stone, it is called ruby. Pure corundum has no traces of other elements and is called white sapphire. When race elements produce an orangey pink corundum, it is called padparadscha which means lotus flower in Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sir Lanka where stones of this color were originally found.

Tradition holds that Moses was given the Ten commandments on tablets of sapphire, making it a sacred gemstone. Ancient Persians believed sapphire gave heaven its blue color. In ancient Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced sapphire protected them from envy and harm. Because sapphires represent divine favor, they were the gemstone of choice for kings and high priests. Ordinary people thought sapphires attracted heavenly blessings.