​In the early 2000’s, I participated in a sport called Cowboy Action Shooting. It combined historical costumes with target shooting. Participants created a persona who lived sometime between the end of the Civil War and 1900. My persona was Slinky Lynnx – a slightly naughty Miss Kitty (from “Gunsmoke”). The “Lynnx” being a play on my first name.
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Slinky Lynnx lived in the late 1890’s and dressed accordingly. I made some of my clothes and bought others. But I was unable to find appropriate jewelry. So, I researched jewelry designs from the 1890’s and used them as a starting point for my jewelry. I found I absolutely loved designing and making jewelry. My grandfather, whom I never knew, was a jeweler so perhaps his genes were coming through.

​I launched Slinky Lynnx Chic in 2005. My early designs used bead-weaving techniques to mimic complex Victorian designs. As I moved away from Cowboy Action Shooting, my designs started to change and became less complex and more contemporary. I tried all types of jewelry-making techniques and materials. I found myself returning again and again to using wire in my creations.

My favorite wire to use is copper. It is easy to shape and looks wonderful both when bright and highly polished and when oxidized to have a dark, warm patina. 

Azurite, a soft blue mineral, is found in copper deposits deep in the earth. It is an opaque stone usually cut in cabochons or beads and not faceted. It is believed to clear stress, worry, and sadness.

Fluorite comes in pastel pinks, greens, blues and purples often with more than one color in a stone. It is transparent to translucent and may be found as beads, nuggets or faceted gems. It is thought to raise the power of concentration.

Larvikite is a dark bluish gray stone with silvery light blue reflections and flecks of black. It only occurs in the Oslo-rift near Larvik, Norway. It is also called "Norwegian Moonstone" and "black labradorite." In addition to its use in jewelry, Larvikite is also used as a facing stone on buildings. It is believed to enhance psychic abilities.

​For more about these and other gemstones, explore Jewelry Facets.

Earrings Go for a pop of bright color – maybe even a color you’ve never tried before. Longer earrings, particularly if your hair is short or pulled up, draw attention to your face. Try a simple drop earring with a vivid crystal or glass bead. For an updated classic look, go for geometric shapes in brightly colored wire. For a more traditional look, select slender earrings in hammered copper, brass, bronze or sterling silver.

Necklaces Add sparkle with a single crystal cube on an almost invisible necklace – the perfect accent for casual or dressy clothes. Be dramatic with a chunky circle of multi-colored quartz, a cluster of bead flowers, or a collar of hammered metal shapes. For a more delicate look, try fine chains interspersed with gemstones or crystals.

​Bracelets A thin silver, copper or brass bangle adds shimmer without a lot of weight. Prefer a cuff bracelet, look for narrow ones which can be stacked if you want a more striking look.

​Rings Look for bright colors and fun shapes such as my Just for Fun Swirly Wire Rings which come in a variety of summery colors. For a cool look, consider a simple hammered sterling silver ring.
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Pendants A single wire-wrapped gemstone on a chain can make a statement without a lot of weight. Jade, rose quartz or rock crystal quartz will add a touch of coolness to your outfit.

​Each bubble is created by forming a loop in a piece of round wire leaving a long stem like a bubble wand. Sometimes I fill the bubble with colored resin. People say those bubbles look like balloons or lollipops. Other times I leave the bubble empty and hammer its edges, so they catch the light. I create a small loop at the end of the “wand” so it can hang from an ear wire or be made into a necklace.

​The earrings and necklaces in my Paddles Collection are created by hammering round wire until it flattens and forms a shape like that of a boat paddle. As I create each paddle, I turn the wire, so you see the paddle shape when you look at the piece from the front and from the side. I drill a hole in each paddle, so it can hang from an ear wire or form part of a necklace.

​For my Scribbles Collection I doodle with wire creating fanciful patterns of loops and swirls. Sometimes the scribbles are formed into centerpieces for necklaces using 10 to 30 feet of wire. Other times, I form them into bracelets using over 40 feet of wire to do so. 

​The power of flowers is in their effect on the beholder. Who hasn’t sighed with pleasure at the beauty of a bank of flowers in a local grocery? Or smiled at a bouquet of daisies? Or simply enjoyed the smell of honeysuckle?

While we can’t always have fresh flowers; we can have floral jewelry to remind us of their beauty. For that reason, flowers remain one of the most popular of jewelry designs.

Warmer days bring budding trees, new blades of grass, hyacinths, crocus, tulips, iris, and daffodils. Jewelry and clothing will begin reflecting theses floral hues from pale pinks, yellows and greens to vibrant purples and reds. Now is a good time to brighten your wardrobe with lighter weight fabrics and sunnier colors.
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Try jewelry with these gemstones to give your outfits a new, fresher look.

Amethyst – a deep purple which evokes a field of tulips. Amethyst is believed to provide tranquility and peace of mind. It is also thought to prevent drunkenness.

Aquamarine – a blue/green reminiscent of a lagoon on a Caribbean island. Aquamarine is thought to protect wearers from drowning and seasickness.
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Citrine – a touch of sunshine to brighten your day. Citrine is thought to carry the power of the sun and be an energizer.

Fluorite – pastel blues, pinks, greens, and purples often with more than one color in a single stone. Fluorite is said to absorb and neutralize negative vibrations.

Kyanite – a shimmery blue or green transparent to translucent stone. Kyanite is believed to improve optimism while dispelling negativity.
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Peridot – a clear yellow/green like a new shoot of grass. Peridot is believed to be a gift of Mother Nature, the stone of springtime.

Pearls – soft white or beautiful pastel shades add a subtle glow. Pearls are considered symbols of love, purity and perfection.

Rose Quartz – a pink as soft as the buds on a cherry tree. It is believed to attract love and friendship.

You may also want to move from gold to silver for a lighter look. Silver is a cool yet lively metal. It is said to attract, enhance and store the energies of gemstones making it the perfect frame for any stone.

Say “March” and immediately most people think St. Patrick’s Day, Spring and green. So, in celebration of green let’s focus on fabulous green gemstones.

Emerald is at the top of the list of green gems. It has been treasured for its lush green hue since antiquity. The first known emerald mines were in Egypt and date from 330 B.C. It is believed that emeralds reveal the truth and protect against evil spirits. It is also the stone of fertility and rebirth.

​February has long been celebrated as a month of romance. Valentine’s Day started out as the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture and celebrated on February 15th. As part of the festival, unmarried women placed their names in a large urn. Bachelors drew a name and were paired with that woman for the rest of the year. These pairings often lead to marriage.

​Lupercalia was deemed “un-Christian” in the fifth century when Pope Gelasius declared February 14th St. Valentine’s Day. During the Middle Ages, both the French and the British believed February 14th was the beginning of birds’ mating season which added to the idea it was a day of romance. By the middle of the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters. 

​Red and pink are the traditional colors of Valentine’s. Red is the color of energy, love and passion. While pink expresses affection, understanding and sweetness. Jewelry, one of the most common Valentine’s gifts, often contains red or pink stones, such as ruby, garnet or rose quartz. In addition to these stones, there are many others thought to attract love and increase passion such as:

• Hematite, a metallic grey-black stone, is believed to improve personal relationships.

Pantone’s Colors of the Year are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating a bright yellow. These two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to support one another.
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According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, “The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

This year look for jewelry featuring:

Golden Metals, from karat gold to brass or bronze, will bring warmth to your look. Gold is said to amplify happy and positive feelings. Brass is thought to bring out natural good and inner truth. Bronze is believed to boost self-confidence and give one courage.
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Pearls in shades of gray provide a timeless look to any outfit. Pearls symbolize generosity, loyalty, and wisdom.

Amber is a gold-colored gem made of fossilized tree resin. It symbolizes courage and is thought to bring one success.

Citrine is the golden variety of transparent quartz. It is believed to open the mind to new thoughts and increase self-esteem.
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Hematite is a steely gray-black gemstone that almost looks like metal. It is believed to ground your life helping you feel calmer and more centered.