It is nearing the end of summer; there were so many things that I wanted to do while the summer sun shone brightly that I may not be able to accomplish in the few summer days left, but I relish the change of seasons, especially the change from summer to fall. I've been working on my Fall Collection of jewelry frantically incorporating the season's colours into new looks that will complement Fall clothing. I've also been working on my new line of cameo necklaces and antique style jewelry; this line is very time-consuming since glue is often involved and the curing time for the strong-holding (but non-toxic!) glue that I use can take several days. Above is a simple antique style bracelet with an art-nouveau look; with its three strands of silver chain and heavy filigree, it also has a contemporary air as well and would look great with a grey blouse (and grey is one of the great colours for Fall 2010). Below is a year-round favorite; turquoise. This turquoise bracelet features a special lampwork bead with a desert landscape on it as well as one of our favorite sterling silver bird toggles. The heavy sterling chain, one of the three strands of the bracelet, is also a favorite.
It's still August and peridot is the August birthstone. In this peridot bracelet, the gemstone is mixed with pretty blue aquamarine for a different look and a mix of 2 of Fall's hottest colours. The next bracelet is made of genuine rough emeralds and features dolphin beads in sterling as well as a special clasp with a bezel-set faceted emerald.
An art nouveau looking piece, above, again in silver, with the addition of blue rhinestones and Czech fire-polished beads. The dangling chains are still a hot look for this Fall; here, little silver Czech beads dangle from them.Below, a bracelet that is a combination of aqua quartz (the rectangular slab) brass oxidized filigree, and Preciosa crystal and Czech firepolished beads - a great statement bracelet! It's both sweet and showy at the same time. Finally, a long agate necklace with very large oval links shows off slabs of purple agate with their beautiful patterns; the focal is a smooth teardrop of charoite.
Watch for the new FALL COLLECTION coming soon; don't forget FREE SHIPPING in the USA with every purchase over $50.00; a low $1.95 under $50.00.
And in this case, the old is what's new! I'm starting a new, small line of antique-style jewelry that will include Victorian and Georgian styles along with the occasional Edwardian and Art Deco piece. Of course, I will continue with my main line of gemstone jewelry because it is the closest to my heart; I love gemstones and will always want to work with them. The new line represents my interest in history - both of jewelry and other cultures and will include jewelry styles from other countries as well as Europe and America. One caveat: most of this jewelry is made from vintage materials and components that have been plated or even painted or finished by me. For the most part, the pieces are not sterling silver and goldfilled although I will be incorporating those elements at times. So when they are on the website, read the descriptions carefully if you are a purist and want only precious metals. Above, a filigree upon filigree gold cross that dangles genuine freshwater Baroque pearls. Below, a silver bracelet with a large blue Swarovski rhinestone in the center of the flower.
Above is a gold filigreed circle with a butterfly and Pacific opal rhinestones set into the wings. Below, a Victorian-style necklace that is a collage piece with some elements such as the green givre marquises which were not actually around in Victorian times. Below the necklace is a gold cameo-like bracelet with pink rhinestones.
In the Gemstone Jewelry category that you are accustomed to seeing here are a peridot bracelet and rainbow moonstone necklace. The peridot bracelet is 3 strands of peridot with one strand sporting a focal of genuine abalone whose shiny iridescence picks up the glow of the peridot and adds a rainbow flash of colours; there is also a small abalone charm that hangs from another strand near its middle. The rainbow moonstone necklace is full of flashing rainbow moonstone with a rainbow moonstone pendant set in sterling silver. The necklace is accented with Swarovski crystals in Azores, a very pale clear blue that picks up the flash of the rainbow moonstone. Gorgeous and such fun to wear!
I will be traveling to Arkansas in the next week or so and it will be interesting to see what gemstones and components I've got there to be creative with (I tend to forget when I've been gone). And big surprise!!! I'll be bringing my cats, Cluny and Cuervo, back here with me. I've missed them like crazy!FREE SHIPPING FOR PURCHASES OVER $50.00; ONLY $1.95 FOR PURCHASES UNDER $50.00.
Peridot is a gemstone that I feel is often under-rated. It is beautiful in its purest form: a clear almost spring grass green, but equally appealing when included and opaque in colours from a milky green to an olivine colour. The only problem I have with peridot is that I like to work with larger gemstones much of the time, and it is quite difficult to get large nuggets - or any other cut for that matter - of peridot.
I do love the folklore surrounding peridot. Early on, from before the time of Cleopatra, peridot was mined on the Egyptian island known today as St. John's Island (called Topazios previously). Mining peridot was difficult because the island was infested with snakes - probably the reason that peridot came to be associated with protection from snakes and snakebite. The miners also worked at night since they believed that the peridot was invisible during the day. To this day peridots are sometimes confused with emeralds; supposedly many of the "emeralds" that Cleopatra wore were, in fact, peridots.
Peridot was said to have many powers including the power to heal asthma, promote good luck and good fortune (it is known as a "money" stone), to guarantee a happy marriage and a good night's sleep. It releases negativity, draws love to you, and soothes the nerves. It is also thought to help one with spiritual enlightenment. No wonder those miners braved serpents to procure this gemstone!
I cannot guarantee that the peridots in our bracelets will perform all the feats listed above, but these bracelets will certainly look good on your wrist. We have them for every taste (and will have peridot bracelets with gold soon). So if you wear peridot, you will be wearing it in good health!
It is nearing the end of summer; there were so many things that I wanted to do while the summer sun shone brightly that I may not be able to accomplish in the few summer days left, but I relish the change of seasons, especially the change from summer to fall. I've been working on my Fall Collection of jewelry frantically incorporating the season's colours into new looks that will complement Fall clothing. I've also been working on my new line of cameo necklaces and antique style jewelry; this line is very time-consuming since glue is often involved and the curing time for the strong-holding (but non-toxic!) glue that I use can take several days.
