While my butterflies, birds and blooms may not look like those in nature, I hope they evoke some of the same responses – a smile, a feeling of happiness, and enjoyment of something beautiful. See for yourself.
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While diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, they often don’t fit a girl’s budget. Luckily there are several lower cost alternatives with lots of sparkle. Lab-grown diamonds are as the name implies made in a lab rather than made by Mother Nature. They are grown in highly controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form in the mantle, beneath the Earth’s crust. Lab-grown diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.
Regardless of your budget you can always add a bit of sparkle to your life.
For gems set in prongs, as in rings, pendants, or bracelets, use a toothbrush and either dish detergent or Jewelry Cleaner. Wet the toothbrush, add a tiny bit of detergent or Cleaner, and gently scrub your jewelry. Work the brush between the setting and the gems. Rinse with warm water, dry with a soft cloth, and see your gems sparkle. Pearls require special care to keep their luster. They should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. If they look dull, wipe gently with a damp cloth. Never use detergents, toothbrushes, scouring pads or steam or ultrasonic cleaners.
Finally, don’t use toothpaste to clean your jewelry. It contains abrasives and may leave scratches.
May your jewelry always shine! One of the things I like most about making jewelry is learning all about the gems and gemstones I use. In addition to discovering where they are mined and how they’ve been used through the years, I enjoy finding out their spiritual and healing properties. In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some fascinating facts about gemstones believed to attract and strengthen romance: the “Love Stones.”
Imperial Topaz, a stunning golden yellow stone, is thought to draw love to its wearer. Rhodonite, a pink or red gemstone often flecked with black, is said to nurture love and encourage brotherhood. Just holding the stone is believed to promote relaxation and bring a sense of well-being.
Chrysocolla, a beautiful green-blue gemstone, is believed to stabilize rocky relationships particularly when combined with Rose Quartz.
For more about these and other gemstones, explore Jewelry Facets . Happy Valentine’s! For the very first time in the 23-year history of Pantone’s Color of the Year, rather than selecting from their vast treasury of hues, Pantone created a new color from scratch: Very Peri. It is a periwinkle blue with violet-red undertones. According to Pantone, “as we emerge from an intense period of isolation, our notions and standards are changing, and our physical and digital lives have merged in new ways. Very Peri illustrates the fusion of modern life and how color trends in the digital world are being manifested in the physical world and vice versa. Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.”
In addition to gemstones, crystal, glass, and cubic zirconia beads will abound in this beautiful color. Regardless of your budget, you’ll be able to find just the right piece of jewelry in the 2022 Color of the Year – Very Peri. 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.
For me, the holidays are filled with memories of special foods and fun activities. These memories remind me of the people who are a part of my life – past and present.
I remember waiting eagerly to see what St. Nick left in my stocking (a.k.a. sock). On December 5 my brother and I hung a sock on our bedroom doorknobs certain St. Nick would fill them with goodies during the night. Of course, we always looked for the biggest of our socks to make sure there was plenty of room for candy and small toys. And if you weren’t good, St. Nick just might leave a lump of coal in your sock. So, we were really well-behaved in the weeks leading up to St. Nick’s. Even now, my brother, sister-in-law and I exchange silly little gifts for St. Nick’s.
Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the nip in the air as the days cool down. I love the rich, warm fall colors – orange, rust, red, ocher, and brown. What I see outside my window invariably influences the materials I choose as I work on jewelry. Here are some of my fall favorites.
Visit Prescott Art Market or browse here for great autumn jewelry.
All month long, stop and enjoy the colors of autumn! People often ask me “how did you get started making jewelry” and where did “Slinky Lynnx Chic” come from? Here are the answers.
I continually challenge myself to find new ways wire can be turned into jewelry. See how I meet that challenge here and, if you are in the Prescott area, at the Prescott Art Market in the Gateway Mall.
Most of us are familiar with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires - the so-called "precious' gemstones. And many of us are familiar with "semi-precious" gemstones such as Peridot, amethyst, citrine, tourmaline and garnet. Beyond these there is a vast array of interesting and beautiful gemstones not frequently used in jewelry. Here are just a few.
Kunzite is an icy pink to lilac gemstone and can be found in beads as well as faceted gemstones. It was discovered in the early Twentieth Century and is named for George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany's legendary gemologist and gemstone author. Its soft pastel colors symbolize purity. Kyanite, a shimmery transparent to translucent stone, is most commonly found in shades of blue and green. its crystals are long blades or columns and because of this structure it is very hard to facet. Therefore kyanite is most often formed into beads or cabochons. It is thought to inspire calmness, composure, serenity, loyalty and respect.
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