Ruby: The July Birthstone

Rubies are wonderful! Most of the rubies that I get are an opaque colour and usually a dark red or a pinkish red. I wish that I could find more rubies in different sizes (especially larger sizes) and shapes, but I do jump on any opportunity to get some that look out of the ordinary.
Rubies belong to the corundum family of gemstones and are generally the most valuable of that type. They register a 9 on the Moh's scale (with ultimate hardness a 10), so they are a perfect gemstone for jewelry. Almost every ruby is enhanced in some way (unless you are dealing with very rough natural stones), and you can assume that most rubies are heat-treated.
The lore surrounding rubies is legend. Rubies are believed to be able to ward off evil, to protect health, and to imbue a warrior with strength and courage. A ruby under the pillow is supposed to ward off nightmares (I love that one!) And of course rubies represent romance and passion to this day.
The first ruby bracelet features a hexagonal ruby at its center and lots of sterling silver as well as a ruby cabochon bezel-set in the toggle clasp. The ruby bracelet, below, is quite simple and symmetrical. Below the bracelet are three pairs of ruby earrings featuring shield-shaped rubies, faceted rondelles (with great drum-shaped sterling beads), and smooth teardrops.
Lapis bracelets, below, are as deep and intense blue as the ruby bracelets and earrings are red. The first lapis bracelet is an especial favorite since it features 2 strands of variously shaped lapis stones and a Karen Hill Tribes strand dangling sterling silver charms. The second lapis bracelet features large, beautifully coloured lapis nuggets, smoothly polished and matched perfectly to some lampwork beads I commissioned from artist Robin Weber. Its pretty bird clasp makes it really special!

Stay cool, and stay tuned; my family, including my darling grand-daughter have left the country to be abroad. I'm going to have a lot of time on my hands!

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Gemstones and Abalone with a Necklace or Two

March is almost over, and it's cherry blossom time. For me, this means several different things: my darling grand-daughter will be one year old, Washington will be inundated with tourists (and traffic) hoping to find the perfect confluence of blossoms, warm weather and sunlight to view what is truly one of Nature's lovely sights, and I am a month closer to a trip to Africa.
For jewelry, it means that I'll be working on items for Mother's Day, graduation, prom, June weddings, and summer beaches. Meanwhile, I have an odd assortment of jewelry pieces today!
First, above is a chrysoprase bracelet featuring really lovely chunky faceted chrysoprase nuggets that are a bit different from others that I've seen because of the brown that has been deliberately saved and made a part of the green chrysoprase nugget. Dynamite with the right outfit! And the star of the bracelet is a vintage sterling silver clasp with an inset flower cabochon (glass). A pretty lampwork bead with a shot of soft pink and perfect small green nuggets of chrysoprase finish the bracelet.
Below are two abalone bracelets that both get a kick from added gemstones; the first bracelet features faceted turquoise rectangles (some of my best) in a pretty blue; the second bracelet has faceted thick ovals of aqua chalcedony. Both have charms and toggle clasp closures in sterling.
Sometimes I seem to neglect using a certain gemstone and my supply of jewelry pieces gets low; I know it's because I'll often start using a certain gemstone and won't want to put it down, so that I don't rotate my time with different gemstones. I've neglected using jade lately, and will be making up for it, starting with the bracelet that you see above. Jade doesn't just come in green, but in a slew of beautiful colours. Here the bracelet has the traditional jade green along with a pink that picks up the pink in the gorgeous lampwork beads. A carved flower in pink jade repeats the flower theme of one of the lampwork beads. Two strands mean that this bracelet makes a definite statement.
Another two-strand bracelet below features calcite and jasper as well as another of those vintage clasps made of sterling silver. Such a beautiful clasp means that no matter which way the bracelet turns, there is something lovely to see. This bracelet has a generous helping of sterling silver beads from Bali as well.

I am making more necklaces than I did in the past (I am such a bracelet person!). I love the agate necklace above made with white agate, Swaraovski crystals, and a fantastic geode druzy agate pendant (very in style today). A special lily bead with a string of Swarovski bicones adds a touch of the unusual to this necklace.
Prayer box necklaces have been a staple on the Cluny Grey Jewelry site, but the one you see here is different because the prayer box is cylindrical instead of square. Sterling crosses from different regions hang on either side; a crystal clear Swarovski cross represents purity and virtue. Because coral was an ancient Christian symbol for protection, I added a coral charm to one side of the prayer box. The closure is a sterling lobster clasp.
Another staple on the website is Austrian Crystal Earrings, but I'm especially fond of these silver shadow Swarovski earrings made with Graphic beads, pretty Bali flower beads, and some of my favorite sterling earwires that have intricate roses on the front.
The chrysoprase earrings below are a perfect match for the bracelet at the top of this post.For a lot of fun, upload a picture of yourself with your hair pulled back to ivillage.com's makeover (http://www.ivillage.com/makeover) beauty page and try on different hairstyles and makeup.

Yes, We've Had Some Snow!

Actually we've had rather a lot of snow here in the Washington, D.C., Arlington area! I am loving it! The federal government has been closed for the third day in a row, and will be closed tomorrow. For the first time today, I looked out and saw that the major streets I live on had not been cleared - still haven't. We're approaching the record of, I believe, 35 inches that was set in 1899 for D.C. The airports were completely closed today, and I'm wondering if my husband is going to be able to get in tomorrow on his afternoon flight.
Although I haven't been able to make jewelry as much as I'd like, I do have some new pieces that I haven't put on the blog before to show you. Because of the snow, I've been drawn to colour to counteract all the white and grey. The top bracelet is a medley of colours and gemstones: aqua, pink, and green chalcedony, peridot, amethyst, sterling silver, and a special sterling silver vintage clasp that has a pink tulip (probably glass) on it. The necklace features similar colours and gemstones to the bracelet although it wasn't meant to be an exact match. In keeping with the theme of bright colours, the necklace below has bright yellow citrines, carved and faceted, and bright blue chalcedony along with kyanite of a similar colour blue.
I love to work with aquamarines whether I am simply mixing them with a metal (as in the aquamarine bracelet above mixed with 14 karat goldfilled accents and bangles) or with golden freshwater Biwa pearls, below, or rose quartz. Aquamarines look good with almost everything!
I love the vermeil accents mixed with the golden Biwas, above. Below, a great butterfly bead adds interest as does the pretty rose quartz cabochon on the sterling box clasp.Also, I haven't forgotten that the birthstone for February is amethyst, so the two bracelets directly above, one, amethyst bracelet with borosilicate artist's lampwork, and a multi=strand rainbow moonstone bracelet that has a huge faceted amethyst nugget with white veins running through it.
Last is a necklace handmade, of course, with pink Botswana agates with the most interesting patterns on some of the nuggets, freshwater Biwa pearls, and freshwater "druzy" pearls.
Don't forget our free shipping or our special page of gemstone earrings all selling for only $20.10!

Lazy Sundays

I love the sound of "lazy Sundays" although mine are usually not lazy at all. I often spend them working on photographs and the website if I've been able to make any jewelry that week. But I still love the concept and even though I'm working, it's as though the work isn't really work since I'm doing it on Sunday! It may be January, but I am busy working on new Spring jewelry; meanwhile, here are some pieces that will be on the website in the next day or two if they are not already. Above is a unique bracelet with a special wirewrapped focal bead, a faceted rectangle of rose quartz, and 5 strands of rose quartz rondelles interspersed with different gemstones - rubies, citrines, tourmalinated quartz, apatite, and amethysts. (It's my new favorite!). Below, you can never have too much labradorite! This labradorite bracelet is made up of two strands of different sizes and shapes of labradorite beads with little charms of labradorite hanging from the strands, and sterling silver accents.
I've been very interested in pearls lately, mixing and matching them with different elements. Below is a coin pearl bracelet with red magma Swarovski crystals (I love this red magma colour!) A sterling silver handmade rose and leaf from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes hang from one side of the bracelet. The freshwater coin pearls have a lovely nacre.
(See Gemstone Earrings)
More pearls below: freshwater pearl earrings in pink with light rose Swarovski crystals match the pearl bracelet with its flower accents, including a pretty flower decorated toggle clasp in sterling. The last two pieces are simple coin pearl necklaces, the first with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver, and the second with vermeil and keishe pearls.

January's Specials!

January's weather has turned from snow to rain; I can't wait for more snow! I am working (and have been on the new Spring jewelry for this year, and there's something about a heavy coating of snow on the ground that is inspirational when it comes to jewelry. Meanwhile, I've also been getting ready for Valentine's Day and working on a special page of earrings!
Above are two bracelets featuring the Red Magma colour from Swarovski; I love this colour, a muted orangey red with a deep tone. The first is a silver bangle bracelet with Karen Hill Tribes tube beads and red magma crystals in the cosmic shape. Next is a freshwater pearl bracelet with creamy arrow shaped freshwater pearls.
Below, I've had these pink Botswana agate sharply faceted nuggets on the workbench for some time, trying to decide what to do with them. Then I got in some white coral from Thailand and it seemed perfect for the swirling patterns of pink, white, and grey in the Botswana agate. A large sterling silver starfish is on either side of the necklace, and an S clasp features a starfish atop it. All the sterling silver is from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes. This necklace looks great with a crisp white blouse, and with sweaters - the softness of the colours, I suppose. It would be a perfect gift for Valentine's Day. Below the necklace is a pair of earrings with freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal butterflies in red, another perfect Valentine's Day gift.

Pietersite is a lovely gemstone that is both polished and earthy at the same time. It's pretty patterns are brown, but include gold, beige, black, blue, sienna, rust, and tan. The bracelet has two strands: one strand is of gemstones, and the other is a sterling silver chain with Swarovski crystals in mocha hanging from it. The Swarovski crystals, which are also in the main strand, add a sparkle to the bracelet and lift it from everyday to special! Below are matching pietersite earrings.THE SPECIAL I'M WORKING ON will be a page of gemstone earrings which will sell for only $20.10 each. These are all genuine gemstones and sterling silver - no base metals, no faux stones! For example, below: smoky quartz, rose quartz, and chalcedony.
Just for fun, a charm bracelet that is all gemstones and sterling silver. The gemstone charms include aquamarine, chalcedony, smoky quartz, moonstone, Botswana agate, rose quartz, and opal. All the charms hang from the double-linked sterling silver bracelet which fastens with a sturdy toggle clasp.
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The Sparkle of Christmas

It is truly the Christmas season! Every year, it creeps up on me, it seems, earlier and earlier. NO, I don't have my Christmas shopping done; the tree is not yet up (it should arrive by Fedex on Thursday, a nice fresh Fraser fir) and I am as busy as I can be! And it's only the 7th of December - I can remember when that date would have meant ages and ages until Christmas, but not any more.
I do really love the Christmas season. Here in Arlington, we've already had our first snowfall, big, fluffy flakes that looked like feathers falling from a goosedown pillow. Lovely.
Today, just a small sampling of some of the new pieces going on the website. I can't seem to get them all on there and priced fast enough!
First, above is a labradorite bracelet that is a bit different from most of those I make. It's a smaller scale, and it has apatite in it to match the flash of the labradorite stones. Below, a sunstone bracelet features lots of sterling silver charms, a sterling Thai Karen Hill Tribes chain, a special lampwork bead, and pretty, flashing sunstone nuggets, rondelles, and triangles. Adding to the sparkle is a special marcasite toggle clasp. Sunstone looks great with many colours since its sparkle perks up black and other neutrals and it's a great complement to blue and green. If you like to wear coral jewelry in the summer, sunstone is the fall and winter equivalent.
The freshwater pearl bracelet also features chain from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes and charms and beads (sterling of course) in an ocean them. The lampwork bead that is the focal is one of master lampworker Robin Weber's special beads.
And in keeping with the idea of the ocean, next is an abalone necklace with an unusual pendant. The abalone shimmers and shines; the pendant is reminiscent of seaweed waving in the ocean currents. The middle branch holds a large oval of abalone; one side has a faceted oval smoky quartz and a faceted marquise rhodonite garnet, the other, a round faceted peridot and an oval faceted blue topaz.


The bottom unique bracelet bracelet (2 views) features a large focal emerald nugget, faceted rondelle sapphires. faceted rondelle emeralds, large faceted ruby rondelles and faceted rectangle rubies. The sterling silver bracelet has a pendant with a cabochon ruby in a bezel setting.

If you are still Christmas shopping, we are starting to send everything by Priority mail (no charge to the customer) to make sure that it reaches you by Christmas. Give a unique gift to someone special! If we don't have something you like, please see our blog list for other "indie" jewelry dealers!