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Spring Is Almost Here

3/13/2020

Trees and shrubs are starting to bloom. Tulips and daffodils are popping up. Soft green blades of grass are visible. All signs spring is almost here.

Spring brings a sense of lightness and renewal. As I'm creating new designs, I'm choosing gemstones in soft pinks and greens and blues. I'm moving away from weighty styles and toward light, airy designs.

In addition to being beautiful, gemstones have distinct metaphysical properties which I enjoy learning about and sharing with you. So, here is a bit about some of the gemstones I plan to use.

Rose Quartz - Its soft pink tones are perfect for spring. In addition, rose quartz is often called the "love stone" as it is believed to generate strong love energies and to help find new love.

Ruby Zoisite - It has a soft green background with small bursts of ruby that look like flowers. This unusual stone is thought to bring positive and happy feelings.

Ruby Zoisite Necklace

Prehnite Necklace

Blue and Green Kyanite - These translucent stones come in quiet blues and greens with a subtle shimmer. Kyanite is believed to bring loyalty, honesty and tranquility as well as to diminish anger and confusion.

Prehnite - It is a delicate, translucent apple green, a color unique to this stone. Prehnite is known as the stone of unconditional love. It is also believed to help sufferers of claustrophobia.

Rock Crystal Quartz - This is the clear variety of quartz. It is considered the ideal quartz. Rock crystal quartz is thought to enhance concentration and unlock memories.

Blue Lace Agate - This variety of agate has bands of soft blue in a wavy or lacy pattern. It is believed to be cooling and calming and bring peace of mind. Blue lace agate is also thought to neutralize anger, infection, inflammation and fever.

Rock Crystal Quartz & Onyx Pendant

Combined with sterling, bronze or copper wire, these gemstones will appear in jewelry that is sure to add a touch of spring to your wardrobe.

Happy Spring!

Yummy February Holidays

2/5/2020

There are all kinds of February holidays that may not be as famous as Valentine's Day or President's Day, but I think they're definitely more fun. This year, I'm focusing on food-related holidays with jewelry to match - enjoy!

National Dark Chocolate Day - February 1
Not only is dark chocolate yummy but it's also good for you - indulge! Jewelry made with chocolate jasper would be perfect for this holiday or any time you crave chocolate.

National Pizza Day - February 9
Lots of flavors to choose from not to mention styles of crust. One of my favorites is pepperoni with a thin crust. Jewelry in red or white will go with any pizza you choose.

National Almond Day - February 16
In addition to being healthy, almonds are a very versatile nut - eat them raw, turn them into flour or milk, roast them with honey. Jewelry made with golden metals - brass, bronze or gold - is as versatile as almonds. It can be any shape and appeals to all appetites.

National Muffin Day - February 20
There's a muffin for every taste - English, blueberry, and bran to name just a few. Celebrate this day by trying a new flavor. And while you're trying something new, try a different style of jewelry and shake up your wardrobe.

National Dog Biscuit Day - February 23
Spoil your dog (or a friend's or neighbor's) with tasty biscuits. Right now, my two dogs are enjoying chicken and apple sausage treats. Spoil yourself with a new piece of jewelry, maybe something pet-themed.

Chase the winter doldrums away by observing these yummy holidays. Have a fun February!

2020 Color of the Year - Classic Blue

1/6/2020

Pantone's Color of the Year is Classic Blue. It is suggestive of the sky at dusk. Pantone calls Classic Blue a timeless and enduring blue hue that brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit.

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, "We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on."

This year look for jewelry featuring these Classic Blue gemstones.

Sapphire is the ideal Classic Blue gemstone in both color and meaning. It symbolizes wisdom, virtue, good fortune, faithfulness and sincerity. It is believed to increase/enhance intuition, mental clarity and spiritual power.

Lapis Earrings

Lapis Lazuli is a rich saturated blue often with inclusions of calcite or pyrite. It is considered to be the stone of truth and friendship.

Kyanite is a shimmery, translucent blue stone. Its powerful blue hues are thought to inspire calmness, composure, serenity, loyalty and respect.

Sodalite is a rich blue stone that is sometimes confused with lapis. It is thought to dispel fears and promote a clear, insightful mind.

In addition to gemstones, crystal, glass and cubic zirconia beads will abound in this timeless color. Regardless of your budget, you'll be able to find just the right piece of jewelry in the 2020 Color of the Year - Classic Blue.

The Pantone Color Institute, often referred to as simply Pantone, is the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. These standards allow the exact same color to be used across a variety of products as diverse as home furnishings, paint, cosmetics, clothing, and linens.

Oh, the Holidays Are Here!

12/10/2019

A wonderful, special crazy time of year! Over-the-top decorations, twinkling lights, good food enjoyed with family and friends, shared laughter, and silent moments of wonder in the still of the night all make the holidays a extraordinary time of year.

When I was young, we began crafting holiday decorations right after Thanksgiving. The "Christmas Ideas" issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine was our guide. I still buy it, although I don't think there are as many crafts in it now as there were then. And I still make decorations and ornaments. One year, I made small wreaths out of bells which I tie to the back of the stools at my kitchen island. The jingle as I move a stool makes me smile.

Thanksgiving also marked the day on which I could begin playing Christmas carols on my piano. Now, Christmas carols are about the only thing I play on the piano and I do so purely for my own enjoyment. That was also the day we pulled out the Christmas record albums - Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters, and Frank Sinatra to name just a few..

Holiday baking started a couple of weeks before Christmas. My mom made the cookies; my dad decorated them with a little help from me and my brother. My dad also did all the dishes. I go a little crazy with my holiday backing. Last year I made 9 kinds of cookies and fruitcake liberally soaked with 151-proof rum. All of which I share with family and friends.

When we were little in the weeks leading up to Christmas, my mom and dad blocked of the living room where magical things were happening - oh the excitement of waiting to see what was there. All was revealed on Christmas Eve night - a glistening tree, a fabulous train in a winder wonderland setting, and packages that Santa brought. With 2 rambunctious dogs and 3 inquisitive cats, I've given up having a tree. But garlands, wreaths and lights still make my living room magical.

Wishing you a magical holiday season!

Handmade for the Holidays

11/6/2019

It's holiday shopping season! And if you're looking for unique gifts, look no further than arts and crafts shows, galleries and the websites of individual artists.

The Prescott quad-cities area, where I live, is home to an amazing number of artists and craftspeople. And if you're looking, you're sure to find them where you live.

These artists create an astonishing array of items including jewelry, original paintings, woodwork, ceramics, glass, clothing and home décor. Each lovingly made by hand with many one-of-a-kind. Prices can range from "oh so affordable" to "sky's the limit." You'll be surprised at how affordable handmade art can be.

A benefit of buying from an artist, either in person, at a gallery or on their website, is learning something about them and how they create their items. You can include a note with your gift gelling the gift's story - who made it, how it was made, why you chose it, or where you found it. This makes even a small gift important. A handmade gift with a thoughtful note is a wonderful way to create a special memory.

Here's a tip so you don't misplace a gift or forget who it's for. Attach a note to each gift listing who it's for and any information you want to share about it. then, place the gift in a special holiday box - I use a plastic bin. When it's time to start wrapping, you'll know where all the gifts are. Before I started doing this, some gifts were so well hidden I didn't find them till long after the holidays!

I really love making jewelry. I get even more pleasure helping someone pick just the right piece to give a friend or family member. The icing on the cake for me is hearing from the customer how much their gift was appreciated. If you can, let the artist know how much the gift was enjoyed. You'll make their day.

This year look locally for unique and interesting items for those on your list and yourself. You'll contribute to a happy holiday for the artists and keep the money in your community.

Make handcrafted gifts part of your holiday tradition!

Shop My Collections

Awesome Autumn

10/21/2019

I love fall! It's my favorite time of the year. I love its rich, warm colors - rust, ocher, orange, red, yellow and brown. I love the flickering flames of a fire in my wood stove. And I even like the little nip in the air that says winter will be here soon.

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.

Shop for Fall Jewelry

Amazing Sapphires

10/14/2019

My birthday is in September which makes my birthstone sapphire. So, in honor of my birthday I'm sharing some fascinating facts about sapphire.

It is one of the four precious gems (diamond, emerald and ruby are the other three). Sapphire is the birthstone for the Zodiac signs Pisces, Taurus, Virgo and Sagittarius I'm also a Virgo.

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.

Multi-colored sapphire necklace with pyrite nugget.

Multi-colored sapphire necklace with pyrite.

Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions that cause the appearance of a six-rayed star. The inclusion is often the mineral rutile. Star sapphires can be any color from shades of blue to pink, orange, yellow, green, lavender, gray or black. The most desirable color is a vivid intense blue.

Color-change sapphire is a rare variety which exhibits different colors in different light. The stones are blue in outdoor light and purple under incandescent indoor light.

Multi-colored sapphire earrings

Multi-colored sapphire earrings

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.

Sapphires symbolize truth, compatibility, commitment and mutual understanding which make them the perfect gem for engagement rings. They are said to contribute to mental clarity and perception. Sapphires are also believed to promote financial rewards.

Lustrous Pearls

6/6/2019

Natural pearls have been coveted as symbols of wealth and status for thousands of years. The first written mention of pearls was by a Chinese writer in about 2206 BC.

Pearls form naturally when an irritant, such as a tiny stone, gets in mollusk's shell. A lustrous substance called nacre is secreted around the irritant to protect the soft inside of the mollusk (oysters or mussels). As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant a pearl is formed. This can take years. The way light is reflected from these layers of nacre creates the iridescent luster of the pearl. When nacre forms on the inside of the shell, it is known as mother of pearl.

Nature couldn't keep up with the demand for pearls, so man devised a way to culture pearls by placing an irritant, often a piece of rounded shell from a freshwater mussel, into a mollusk. The majority of pearls on the market have been cultured and many of the shells used as an irritant are from freshwater river mussels harvested in the midwestern states. The few natural pearls available command high prices.

Pearls, both natural and cultured, can be divided into two main categories: saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls, including the Akoya, Tahitian and South Seas, are found in the coastal waters of Japan, China, Australia and Polynesia. Freshwater pearls are found in the rivers, ponds and lakes of China, Japan, the United States and Europe. Of the two types, saltwater pearls are the more expensive.

Pearls are a natural substance and are porous. They can absorb cologne, hair spray and lotions. So, make your pearls the last thing you put on and the first think you take off. Keep them looking their best by gently wiping them with a damp cloth.

Pearls are always in style; wear yours today.

Pastel, cultured, freshwater pearls

Tinted Cultured Freshwater Pearls

Magical Metal

5/6/2019

Metal has been used to make jewelry since ancient times. Gold was first used in 6000 BC! Copper followed in 4200 BC and silver in 4000 BC.

Today, metals used in jewelry are divided into two groups - precious and base. The precious metals are silver, gold and platinum; all other metals are considered base metals.

Copper, Brass & Bronze Collar

Metals can be either elements, for example iron, copper or niobium, or alloys which are mixtures of elements. Alloys can be a base metal like brass (copper and zinc) or a precious metal like sterling silver (silver and copper). Generally, alloys are created to improve the color, workability or durability of metal.

The metals I use most are:

Sterling Silver which is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper and is often referred to as .925 silver. The copper is added to make the silver stronger and more durable without changing its color.

Copper which is one of the oldest metals in use. I love its warm color, either highly polished or with a dark patina. Copper is easy to shape and a joy to work with.

Oxidized Copper Bracelets

Bronze Bubble Necklace

Brass which is an alloy of copper and zinc. I use red brass (also known as jeweler's bronze) which is 85% copper and 15% zinc. Red brass has a color similar to 14kt gold.

Bronze which is an alloy of 92% copper and 8% tin. Its color is just a bit warmer than red brass. While bronze is a little stiffer to work with than copper or brass, I love the color.

Gold fill which is made by bonding karat gold to a base metal, usually brass, using a combination of heat and pressure. By law, to be called gold-filled at least 20% of the metal by weight must be karat gold and the karat weight of the gold cannot be lower than 10kt. The gold-filled wire I use is 20% 12kt or 14kt gold bonded to red brass. Gold filling is much more durable than gold plating.

Gold-filled Bead & Wire Ring

I'm passionate about making metal jewelry. I love the feel of metal and the very different looks I can achieve with it. View my collections to see all the ways in which I use metal.

Don't Be Fooled

4/9/2019

Practical jokes abound on April 1st. Being surprised by a plastic spider is one thing. However, being surprised by an ersatz gem is another.

When they come out of the ground gemstones very seldom look like they do in a finished piece of jewelry. At the very least they are cut and polished. The majority, however, are enhanced in some way to bring out their beauty, deepen their color, or make them look like another, usually more expensive or in-demand stone. These enhancements aren't a bad thing if you know about them.

Turquoise-colored Magnesite

Irradiated Smoky Quartz

Heat treatment has been around for centuries; since someone discovered applying high heat to a bland gem turned it into a fantastic gem. For example, heat changes the color of pale amethyst to yellow and the stone can then be sold as citrine. Heating aquamarine removes the green undertones, producing a bluer more deeply colored stone.

Another way of changing a gemstone's color is by treating it with radiation (irradiation). Most blue topaz has been irradiated. Smoky quartz is irradiated to create its color. There are government standards in place to ensure there is little residual radiation before the stones are sold.

Many gemstones, such as lapis, serpentine, coral and pearls are dyed either to improve their color or create unique colors not found in nature. Stones may also be dyed so they look like other more expensive gemstones. A good example is dying magnesite blue/green, which gives the look of turquoise at a much lower price. There is nothing wrong with dying gemstones if you are aware of it.

One of the oldest treatments is oiling or waxing a gem. Porous stones such as emeralds and turquoise are routinely oiled or waxed to improve their color, luster and clarity.

Dyed Lapis & Turquoise-colored Magnesite

Without treatment, only the best natural gems and gemstones would be mined and sold. These natural stones would not only be rare but also very expensive.

Keep from being fooled. Buy jewelry from sources you trust and don't be afraid to ask if the stones have been enhanced. If the price seems too good to be true; it probably is.

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