CynCity Design Custom Gemstone Jewelry

PURCHASING FROM CYNCITY DESIGN

2010-10-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

To reach CynCity Design with questions or requests for

purchase, please e-mail Cynthia Robins at cyngems@gmail.com.

We take checks and all major credit cards; we ship immediately

upon verification and will add $7.00 shipping and handling costs

to the purchase price. Within the State of Nevada, there is an

additional 8.1 percent sales tax.

BLACK IS ALWAYS CORRECT

2010-09-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

This looks like a very ordinary necklace of two sizes of black beads. . . but it isn't. Look closer at the larger spheres and you'll find that they are very tactile, filled with little dents and striations, only because nature had a major hand in them, not some factory in Hong Kong. They are lava stone, the product of a volcano somewhere that spews hot magna that cooled eventually into a stunning material, nearly matte in surface and studded with character. The small black spacer beads are not black onyx as I had originally thought but black tourmaline, an exceedingly elegant stone. Price: $90.

ON THE ROCKS

2010-09-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

From that cache of rock crystal I found, I made two necklaces, both with black onyx. This is the second one -- crystal paired with 8 mm faceted onyx balls. For a clasp, I used a hammered silver spiral hook and eye. The crystal, being natural and all that, is filled with occlusions and shards of faint color, in this case, some form of black residue (coal, perhaps or black tourmaline?) I love how funky the beads are next to the precision of the faceted onyx. A study in contrasts.

Price: $300.

AS GREEN AS GRASS

2010-09-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

In that huge box of glass beads at my favorite bead store, I found these substantial pointy-end bullets of iridescent grass green glass that just cried out for a really spectacular pairing, a color that would stand up to the vivid verdency and yet compliment it. Right nearby was a wall of copper beads and these really fit the bill. They're solid copper spheres, 9 mm, corrugated for lightness, yet very substantial. The clasp I chose is a large, spring-loaded hook/toggle that is very architectural and beautiful in its own right. Price: $175.00

WESTWARD, HO HO HO

2010-09-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

Western-style jewelry comes in and out of fashion, but really, it's a classic and is always right, like a strand of "good" pearls. I haven't seen nuggets like these in a long time and would suggest, because of the price, that they are made from reconstructed turquoise, ie. stabilized with some kind of resin or created from turquoise dust. Regardless, they're pretty and the price is right. I had some of these gorgeous corrugated carnelian beads left and together, with the knobby turquoise and the smooth, sophisticated carnelian, they make a pretty spectacular piece. Price: $200.

PILLOWS THAT AREN'T FOR SLEEPING

2010-09-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

I saw these gorgeous iridescent turquoise glass "pillows" in a cut-out display at my bead store. What first attracted me was the color -- deep and rich, like the shimmery turquoise in a peacock's tail. I bought a bunch of the strands because they're gorgeous and they were relatively cheap. On the hunt for unusual glass beads, these filled the bill. I put them with a neutral gray-ish iridescent Czech glass roundel and a rhinestone magnetized ball clasp and made them almost 20" long, perfect for a deep V neckline or atop a wonderful fall dress.
Price: $115.

EVIL EYES ON SOMETHING FISHY

2010-09-10T13:42:00.001-07:00

Yes, these are slightly kitchy, being red, white and blue and all that. But can't you just see this with a white shirt and jeans? It's a fairly close-to-the neck "torsade" or choker made with lampwork cylinders of blue with tiny little evil eyes and Murano glass fishies in shades of blue with gold and white. Finally, a theme necklace! The red Czech fire polish beads really set the entire thing off.
And, the price is right! Price; $100.

GOOD COP, SOME DONUTS

2010-09-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

I love the way this natural carnelian "donut" pendant picks up the variations of color in the natural carnelian beads. Carnelian is a form of chalcedony, a lovely family of stones that vary from gorgeous blues to the hefty rusts of carnelian. These stones have not been dyed or treated in any way, so what you see is what you get. . . pale rust and cream. Like a butterscotch sundae for your neck. Price: $110.00

THE PINK LADY NECKLACE

2010-09-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love these beads! They are sizeable faceted nuggets but in the most delicate shade of pink! What a visual contradiction -- tough and tender. I paired them with black accents, some nice black onyx. . .and was immediately reminded of the Pink Ladies in "Grease." Pink and black was a fabu combination when I was growing up. . . only us "nice" girls never wore it. It was a biker chick combo -- a fuzzy pink angora sweater with your biker boyfriend's black leather jacket. So, my Pretty in Pink/ Pink Lady, a throw-back to the '50s, may be a little nostalgic, but it's totally appropriate for the modern woman who can be macho and female. Price: $115.

FINDING THE RIGHT CLASP

2010-09-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I didn't go on eBay years ago to find wonderful old clasps. This particular one is vintage rhinestone from the 40s. Actually, I think it's paste. and I thought it would be the perfect anchor for the Confetti Necklace.

THE CONFETTI NECKLACE

2010-09-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

There are always leftovers. Turkey, pound cake. . . and beads. I have a baggie full of extra beads, "widows" as it were, that didn't get used. I never knew what to do with them because, usually, they would be hard to match and there weren't enough of them to use in an entire piece. Or so I thought. I've strung three strands of "widows," or poor ophans into a colorful piece I call a "confetti" necklace for obvious reasons. There are all sorts of colors, sizes and textures of beads in this piece. It's just a buncha fun, that's all.

Price: $350.

SLEEPING BEAUTY TURQUOISE VISITS TIBET

2010-09-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

I've had this Tibetan silver pendant for a long time. It's very delicate and girlish, quite intricate, and calls for something special to show it off. To my mind, there's nothing more special than American turquoise, Sleeping Beauty specifically. It is probably the most beautiful turquoise mined in the American Southwest -- a gorgeous shade of sky blue turquoise. It tends to be very expensive which is why I am particular about how I use it. These are faceted miniature briolettes or "tears" which bunch up together when strung with no separation element. I like the elegant porqupine-ness of it. A very tactile piece, perfect for my elegant Tibetan pendant. Price; $425. SOLD

LUCKY COPPER ELEPHANTS GRAZIN' IN THE GREEN, GREEN GRASS

2010-09-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've fallen in love with copper beads again. I found these wonderful elephants at my favorite bead shop. Over on another table was a huge box full of "pillows" in different shades of iridescent glass. I loved the intensity of the green ones and loved how they complimented the bright coppery rust of the elephants. They were desitined to be together!
Price: $175.00

LADY BUG, LADY BUG

2010-09-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

These adorable ladybugs will definitely not fly away from your neck. They're pressed glass and very, very red. I can see them on a crisp white shirt or a lavender or powder blue turtleneck, defintely with a work shirt and jeans. These little suckers go with just about everything. I had bought a fabulous garnet and vermeil clasp a few years ago but never found any natural garnet beads that were enhanced by it. . . so I went to faux garnet ladybugs for a perfect color match. Lightweight and comfortable, this piece will have everybody wonderful just what it's about.
Price: $175.00

ANTIQUE RUBY ROCKER CLASP

2010-09-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

The clasp is really odd, but oddly beautiful because you can unclasp it from both sides. The red of the center stone matches the accompanying three-strand necklace perfectly. Thank you eBay!

ROCKIN' RUBY GLASS

2010-09-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I started mousing around on eBay looking for red beads. A virtual treasure trove! When I had enough that compliemented each other in intensity and hue, I created this rockin' red ruby glass triple necklace with an amazing ruby glass clasp from the 40s set in bright golden vermeil. I love how these glass beads capture and refract light. Playful and very very RED, our Ruby Rocker would be perfect with black velvet for Christmas dinner or fabulous with brown, cream, navy. . . you name it. It's a very happifying and versatile piece. Price: $175.00

FACETED NATURAL ROCK CRYSTAL, BLACK ONYX

2010-09-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

What I love about this piece is the color variation within each bead. Natural rock crystal picks up color from the minerals found in the soil from which it is excavated. These particular beads seem to be rutile-free (no little black lines are in it) but the front bead and some of the others have a golden-brownish tint. I finished this piece with a sterling silver clasp done in a basketweave pattern.
Price; $400.00

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. . .

2010-09-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

For a change of pace, I've started experimenting with glass beads. Not that they are less expensive than gemstones and pearls. Actually, they can be quite pricey. However, they are fascinating to me because of the myriad colors, shapes and intensity of what is available out there. There are glass beads that look very much like their gemstone counterparts. And then there are glass beads that are quirky and interesting,, cut into shapes and patterns not available to gemstone beads. I especially like the lampwork beads -- cats, flowers, iridescent pillows, candycanes -- with colors so intense, you can see them from miles away.

FIRE AND ICE

2010-06-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

This piece is a combination of the coolness of "ice" (the slang name for diamonds which these gigantic faceted glass gumballs resemble in high sunlight) and the warmth of faceted peacock glass roundels. The pink/purple/blue iridescence is a real hot-cha-cha contrast which is why this necklace works so well. There's just enough glitz and just enough mystery to ignite some fire and ice. Price: $110.

CARVING UP SUNSHINE

2010-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Finally! I've gotten a chance to use the few carved carnelian beads that I have left with the remainder of the Chinese turquoise with the copper veining. I love carnelian because of its variations in color -- from the very light toasty tones of these beads to the incredibly deep, dark and mysterious rust of the carnelian I have in an antique signet ring. That's the thing about carnelian: it's soft enough to be used in intaglio etched cabachon or to be manipulated into really interesting shaped beads, like these fluted ones. Besides which, carnelian is my birthstone and I've always been drawn to oranges and reds. What Leo isn't? Price: $120.

ACCENT ON CLASSIC

2010-06-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

Transparency is the name of the game with the smoky topaz quartz beads in this necklace. They almost don't look real, but believe me, they are. Sometimes smoky quartz is very, very pale, letting a lot of light through. They're a marked contrast to the substantial looking Chinese turquoise beads with the copper veining. There is a lot going on in this necklace, but you just don't notice it. But what a wonderful kicker for a cream silk shirt or a brown or khaki jacket. Price: $175.00

THE SHELL GAME

2010-06-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Whenever I see these beautiful shell pendants, I try to buy them. They're so elegant but fascinating. This particular one is not as big and bold as the usual ones I get; it's more delicate and lent itself to a longer strand. I picked up the browns with faceted smoky topaz barrels. I've had those beads for a long time; they're very special and came from the cache of beads that my friend Karen Riley gave me. The turquoise is part of the strand of Chinese mottled turq that has provided beads for the next three pieces. It's finally finished (it was one of those flapper necklaces that just went on forever and ever). There are large almost rust-colored Swarovski crystals in here as well as some silver. The clasp is an unobtrusive sterling hook and eye. Price: $205.00

Electric Lady Land

2010-06-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

When I first bought these, I thought they were either very opaque carnelian (no, that stone is transluscent) or agate, but no: They're brick red jasper. And a very vivid shade, at that. Are they orange red (yes, probably); but closer to brick. The silver and faceted Swarovski crystal beads set off the red beautifully. A perfect piece for the Leos on your list. $250.

The Light of the Orient

2010-06-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

Lapis Lazuli usually comes from Afghanistan, but I think these are Chinese Lapis because Afghani Lapis is very rare now (for obvious reasons) and quite expensive. These beads are a beautiful color and are quite reasonable. I set them off with faceted crystal rounds and hung a glass and silver pendant.

A Chunk of Glamour

2010-06-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Nothing is so classic as black and white, in this case, faceted Czech glass faceted roundels accenting huge faceted clear glass gumballs. It's very simple but spectacular in presentation. Not all that heavy, by the way. These are glass, not stone. I love the rhinestone clasp which is a screw fastener, not a magnet. Note to self: get some more of those.

Hearts Made of Glass

2010-06-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

How I love these smoky faceted glass hearts. The gray is so subtle, I originally thought these were clear glass. They they aren't. And with the Czech fire-polished faceted beads, they are spectacular. I should have bought more of them. I love how tailored and yet, how mysterious this piece is. A bit of whimsy in a corporate situation, something wonderful to wear out at night under a spotlight. The facets will sparkle.

SOLD

Bluer Than Blue Lapis Lazuli

2010-06-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

I've never considered myself a 'blue" person. I'm more attracted to reds, rubies and oranges. But the blue in this Lapis choker (it's probably 19-20" long) is so intense, I think it's absolutely gorgeous. The clasp is gold-tone metal with a sparkle of rhinestones; it's also magnetized which means you just put the separate pieces near each other and they attach. Great for trying to close it from the back of your neck. Lapis Lazuli is a wonderful classic staple. Everyone should have at least one Lapis piece in their jewelry box. It's wearable and is a very healing stone. Or so says my woo-woo friends who always carry a piece of Lapis in a pocket.

A Little Flash, a Lot of Class

2010-06-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

I love how these Czech fire-polished peacock roundels pick up the striations in the Chinese turquoise. They also pick up light something fierce. I've always considered myself a human Mynah bird, attracted to all things flashy and glittery. . . which this piece has in abundance. The turquoise calms it down a bit, but the Czech beads are wonderful little light sources.

GLITTER AND BE GAY!

2010-06-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Oh, my my, is this gorgeous or what! When I was in college, my darling cousin Sue Ellen brought back a crystal necklace from Germany that was so phenomenally glittery, I almost had to wear sunglasses to see her in it. Crystal is like that. I never thought glass was. But here is proof: Czech fire-polished cut glass in huge, 14mm faceted rounds. I like the monochromaticism highlighted with clear Swarovski crystal bicones. If this piece had been totally crystal, it would have cost the same as a gemstone necklace. In this case, the glass is spectacular but won't break the bank. Price; a nearly painless $100.00

VARIATIONS ON AN AGATE THEME

2010-06-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

Botswana agate is such an elegant stone in heft, intensity and variation. In this opera-length strand of Botswana agate, no two beads are identical, alike, perhaps, and blended in desert colors to wear with anything. I've always love the earthy, natural and neutral quality of agate, to begin with, and the more I work with this particular stone, the better I like it. It's casual enough for a white man's shirt and classic enough to set off a beautiful sweater or a silk blouse. For corporate women who love jewelry but shy away from traditionally flashy, faceted stones, this piece is a way for self-decoration without blinding anyone.

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

2010-06-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

I had some of these spectacular faceted emerald glass beads left over from another piece, moused around in my crystal stock to see what would look good with them and found a cache of nearly-forgotten citrine-colored Swarovski crystal hearts. I backed them up to each other, separated by faux antique pearls and threw in the intense green beads for a sure-en-begorrah tribute to Ireland and the Boston Celtics. Price: $100.

PEACOCK CZECH GLASS WITH CRYSTAL

2010-06-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I love working with beads and stones so much, is the attendant glitter and shine and this opera-length, two-strand necklace as that to spare. These beads are Czech fire-polish iridescent rounds that came equipped with their own glittery faceted roundels. I just added some iridescent peacock blue-black crystal and voila! A spectacular piece with every color of the rainbow and sparkle to spare.

THE JULY FOURTH NECKLACE

2010-06-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Something unique to wear for July 4 besides the usual glittery flag pin, that's for sure. Red, white and blue is so geared to America, that I couldn't resist making something that is not only patriotic but unique and graceful at the same time. There's a lot going on here: faux antique pearls, red jade, Lapis Lazuli, Swarovski crystal and gorgeous, rare French blue kyanite squares. I would hope that a piece like this would be worn with jeans or white sun dresses any time you want.

THE EYES OF GOD ARE UPON YOU

2010-06-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

Agate beads are fascinating. They come in all sorts of configurations and these are particularly unique: eye of God agates in shades of brown, black, rust, cream and white. This is a wear-with-everything piece, longer than traditional choker length and elegant in its simplicity. Between each unique God's eye is a faceted onyx roundel. I love this piece. Something like it is standard in my wardrobe. A wonderful addition to a business suit and cream silk shirt or jeans and a black cashmere sweater.

YES, IT'S CERTAINLY GREEN

2010-06-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

I'm very fond of green. Not every one is. In fact, one of the retailers I worked with many years ago said: "Green is a mark-down color." Well, not this very, very green necklace. It's a stunner. Catches light better than actual emeralds and costs a fraction of the price. For "costume" jewelry, this is absolutely gorgeous. A little longer than traditional choker length, it's a comfortable necklace with some heft to it and. . . loads of sparkle. Price: $100.00

FOLLOWING MY CURIOSITY: A TEMPORARY CHANGE IN DIRECTION

2010-06-02T18:27:00.001-07:00

I've always worked in gemstones with Swarovski crystal and some high end metal like Sterling silver or carat gold. But I wanted to make a line of less expensive pieces using glass and silver plate findings. So I went mousing around the bead store the other day and found some spectacular beads -- gorgeous color, exacting cuts and loads of flash and brilliance. And, as I found out, glass beads can be as expensive to buy as the McCoy. Some of these little beauties, in fact, can be very pricey. The only difference: not using karat gold or Sterling. So. . . the following posts are the results of my experiment. For the most part. . . I like it.

A Singular Honor

2010-04-29T10:50:00.001-07:00

Web-surfing can be fun. . . and for CynCity Design, possibly profitable. While they were web surfing, an on-line supplier of jewelry-making tools and how-to books, found the CynCity Design blog and is featuring it for the month of May. Check it out:

www.makingjewelrysupplies.com

And I say, thank you, VERY much!

CARNELIAN CLASSIC CIRCLET

2010-04-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

Carnelian is a July birth stone and since I'm a Leo and subject of red and orange gemstones, this one's for me. Natural carnelian is usually lighter and more variegated with tones of gold in it, as if citrine got its foot in the mix. . . they are related geologically. These particular beads, a combination of tubes and smooth roundels, came from the Karen Riley cache. They've been sitting there for a year or two just like you see them, in a strand bought probably 25 years ago from Taj bead dealers in New York. They're deceptively simple, but gorgeous, stiff enough not to lose their graceful arc around the neck but not so heavy as to prevent wearing them with everything!

BEAUTY AND THE BEADS

2010-04-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

There are many qualities of turquoise found in the American West. The most expensive is Sleeping Beauty, which is close to Persian turquoise in clarity and color, free from imperfections and copper matrixing. These beads are not Sleeping Beauty, but very close to it. The color is spectacular evoking the azure of Western skies. I had bought these interesting pendant maybe two years ago at a gem show and never had anything to put it with. I thought that all lapis would have been too dark and the variations in the pendant would have been lost. On these wonderful turquoise and lapis bead, the pendant shares the spotlight. Set in filigree silver, the center stone is lapis lazuli, opaque and glowing set off by faceted, transparent gemstones like garnet and amethyst.

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID

2010-04-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Each of these fascinately chubby little ovals looks like an eye -- the Eye of God. The first time I ever saw anything like it was in a sardonyx ring my father had. When I bought these beads, pleasant memories of Daddy's jewelery came back. These particular stones each have the Eye of God front and center. I would think that wearing an entire necklace of here's lookin' at you beads would be a very powerful talisman of protection. And. . . they're pretty.

Price: $100.

FEMININE FRIVOLITY

2010-04-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Kunzite is an amazing stone. In its gemstone mode, it is clear and found in a color that is hard to describe. Is it pink? Is it lavender? Is it an elusive combination of both? These stones are kunzite in the raw, hewed into cubes and displaying all the roughly feminine qualities of the stone -- delicacy and elusiveness. Like a sugary Christmas candy. I tried to civilize them somewhat by paring them with rhinestone-circled roundels. This piece is an absolute conversation-starter. A fairly new gemstone, kunzite was discovered in California and named by a turn-of-the-century (the 20th) jeweler and gemstone specialist named George Frederick Kunz. Kunzite can also be found elsewhere such as in Afghanistan where the colors tend to be more violet than pink and often have flashes of green. In gemology, this phenemenon is called pleochroism, which means "multi-coloredness." Most kunzite is light in color which makes a strongly hued kunzite rare and therefore more expensive. Price: $400.

SEASIDE SPLENDOR

2010-04-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

The sea has given us yet another treasure. Pearls, for sure, but tiny little peach-tinted freshwaters coupled with uniform rounds of Angel Skin coral, finished off with peach-tinted moonstone rounds. And that's only the torsade which displays the piece-de-resistance -- a spectacular faceted peach quartz pendant set off in sterling silver. Again, this is a necklace of pure serendipity. I buy these pieces, pendants that are by themselves a little odd or maybe hard to match and then, visualize them in a special setting. This was a fairly large pendant that needed something substantial, which dictated a torsade, but a delicate one. What a wonderful surprise for hot summer nights and sunny summer days.

SONG OF A SUMMER NIGHT

2010-04-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

How sweetly this piece sings of festive summer nights, great tans and white shirts and strapless dresses. Just the right length (a nice circlet to sit round the neck, not too tight, not too long), this is a special piece created from faceted Swarovski crystal roundels and a sterling-silver-clad piece of carved dyed blue quartz the exact same color. I had kept the pendant for a long time never knowing whether to tone it down on pearls or wait for just the right thing. Then I was noodling on eBay one day and saw a fabulous strand of Swarovski roundels, a string of which made quite an impression on me. Hopefully, it'll make an impression on whoever sees it, finished and gleaming. . . some romantic summer night.

SPRING FLING

2010-04-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

I ordered these prehnite beads from China thinking I could get more of them, but when I couldn't I thought: How can I pair these with something that will make both look good. I had a handful of these wonderful sand-blasted aquamarines left and let them sit together on my bench to sort of get acquainted. . . and they loved each other! The prehnite is like I like it -- filled with what looks like dry leaves but are really rutiles of another material captured for life. The aquamarine begs to be stroked. I threw in some figured vermeil beads as front accents and a vermeil clasp to complete the perfect spring and summer necklace.

GEMSTONE SUNSHINE

2010-04-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

This bracingly colored orange crystal and citrine necklace is more than eye-catching. it demands attention. The silver filigree setting for the large faceted citrine quartz provides an interesting counterpoint to the simplicity of the Swarovski roundels which I set off with teensy smooth carnelian beads. It's like wearing gemstone sunshine around your neck.

OPERA LENGTH ELEGANCE

2010-04-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

There is nothing simpler or more elegant than a single strand of beads. These are more than just simple. They're Botswana agate, polished to a spectacular shine and strung opera length to look great with a turtleneck or a pristine white shirt. The colors are earthy -- tones of rust, brown, black, beige, gray, cream -- and the Mother Earth patterns are varied and interesting. Rugged but sophisticated at the same time, Botswana agate is like a gemstone Jack-of-All-Trades -- it can be worn with anything, anywhere and still be appropriate.

COGNAC NOT FOR DRINKING

2010-04-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

What color are these spectacular beads? Brown or rust just doesn't cut it. Root beer, maybe? The color of a smashed beer bottle? Certainly not elegant. But cognac, deep golden brown, and satisfying may do it. I love these beads. They're substantial, faceted to catch a subtle ray of light and set off by the vivid turquoise, albeit veined with deep copper. Glass may keep the price of this beauty down, but certainly not its elegance and impact.

BEASTLY SOPHISTICATION

2010-04-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a conundrum: How to feminize the primitive quality of these Chinese turquoise slabs without over-shadowing how wonderful they are, how individual and full of character. The brushed silver hearts were a subtle and female way to tame these beasties. The contrast of the laser-blasted hearts against the nubby, tactile slabs of turquoise is eye-catching but not so blatant as to ruin the balance of the piece. I've always loved how rugged the turquoise was and how imperfect with its copper matrixing and irregular surfaces. They go together rather nicely. . . yes?

MOONLIGHT AND MADNESS

2010-04-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

I've seen moonstones that are round but very rarely square. And these are definitely that. A set of two strands designed to nest, one in the other, and hand down the decolletage like an elegant strand of pearls. Only these ain't poils, Madge. They're something a lot more fun. They were so oddly carved, little rectangular and square boxes of moonlight, that I thought they'd just love to shine, albeit with great subtlety, all by themselves.

CONFETTI: A CELEBRATION OF EXTRA STONES

2010-04-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you've got all these left-over beads? After five or six years of making jewelry, I had two huge baggies or odd stones, not enough to do an entire piece. . . or so I thought. I call this Confetti because that's exactly what these stones look like scattered against each other. I didn't plan, I just strung and used this wonderful antique 40s rhinestone clasp to hold it all together. if you look closely, you will see what's left of all the turquoise, red jade, coral, moonstone, pearl, malachite, crystal, rose quartz, apatite, etc. stones I'd been saving. It's a great celebration of color, a precocious howdy-do of a piece, to be worn with great joy and a whole lot of panache.

SUMMER COOL LIKE TINTED ICE

2010-04-15T13:45:00.001-07:00

As cool as a blueberry Popsicle, these beads are frosty, like aqua ice. They're sand-blasted, matte finished aquamarine, not cookie cutter matched but certainly smooth and tactile. I love how subtle the surfaces are. I wanted to keep this piece low key and vivid at the same time, playing off texture more than shine, so I didn't put any metal like silver or vermeil with it and kept the crystals away, choosing instead to play up the seaside quality with beautiful, deep blue lapis lazuli rounds.

CARIBBEAN QUEEN

2010-04-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Chalcedony is a gorgeous stone. Like its cousin, the onyx or the sardonyx, it is strong enough to be incised and/or carved into beautiful shapes. These aqua flowers have been carved from Peru Chalcedony, luminous, translucent and vividly colored as the Caribbean. I used pearls from a classic 40s necklace (they're probably glass but they have a fabulous luster), a lovely peachy coral close to the color of angel skin and then these lyrical flowers, incised with petals and carved from Peru chalcedony. The clasp is made from the same material. I bought it a few years ago and finally found something to use with it. All in all, this is a glorious piece, frolicsome, girlish and unique.

SPARKLING GOTH

2010-04-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

This was a very interesting pendant and a difficult one to work with. It came to me at a gem show. I don't know why I bought it but there was something mysterious about it. The photo really doesn't so it justice. But it starts out looking like black onyx and I'm sure it's some kind of agate or man-made facsimile of same. But if you look really closely, you'll see the inherent and mysterious sparkle that veers toward purple. When I finally found the perfect match, they were an odd shade of Swarovski crystal bought on eBay. I used accent beads that had the same iridescence as the pendant and came up with a piece that is Goth to the core. Morticia would flip for it.

2010-04-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

When I bought these stones, the sales tag said they were green amethyst, but I knew better. They are prehnite and quite recognizable by the rutiles (the black lines) within the faceted gems. Rutilates, or shards of mineral, can show up in any number of stones. Golden rutilated quartz has shards of gold in them and is very pricey. These beads were a very fair price and with their faceted, they have quite an un-earthly glow to them. I mixed them with deep ebony Swarovski crystal and finished them off with a sterling silver clasp.

My Own Precious Jewels

2009-11-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

These are my mascots, my babies, my incredible kitty cats, Moxie, the blue-eyed blonde and Gizmo, the white-breasted calico with the jade green eyes. They guard the back door when I'm in my studio and are waiting for me on the dining room table. Gizmo curls up on the desk in the den when I'm on-line or writing; and Moxie lives on our bed. They've been with me 14 years and act as if they're still kittens. Moxie talks; Gizmo is brilliant. What can I say. . . they make my life wonderful with their presence and their purrs.

Purple Haze

2009-11-30T14:29:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with these agate slices. They are primitive and the same time that they're different and elegant. I put a sterling silver floral bail on this one and paired it with lovely amethyst beads for a "Prince-ly" piece.

Chysacolla Ovals with Malay Jade Rounds

2009-11-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

One more chocker-style necklace, this time with magnificent and large chrysacolla ovals accented with deep green Malay jade round beads. The colors remind me of a pine forest -- how appropriate for deep December and Christmacy-toned jewelry. This is not a flashy necklace, no sparkle, but plenty of drama and style. I'd like to see it with a gray or black suit, hanging out in the board room.

The Winter Necklace

2009-11-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

There is something almost wintery about the these variegated agate ovals, dusted with tones of deep gray, some brown and winter aqua, like the light in the Arctic. With light gray pearl roundels, this choker (around 18-19") feels wonderful as the stones warm up to body temperature. It is designed to rest right on the clavicle, not too tight, not too loose.

Sea Rose with Prehnite and Amethyst

2009-11-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

The pendant -- a wonderfully colorful combination of prehnite and amethyst with a ffanciful carved amazonite rose -- dictated who she wanted to live with. Amethyst would have been too dark; amazonite that color is hard to find in a bead. So prehnite it was. I love the prehnite stone because some of them have tiny rutiles in them, as these do. The faceting gives them even more texture. Instead of anchoring the pendant from two larger silver beads, I suspended it from a row of smaller sterling rounds, so there is easy movement.

Tropical Paradise

2009-11-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

The fuchsia faceted jade is deliciously tropical especially in combination with Chinese turquoise mini-coins and the large faceted aquamarine crystals. The clasp on this lovely two-strander is fuchsia sequins set in Sterling silver, designed to look like sari-cloth. I can see this worn with a pretty spring print dress, a fuchsia bathing suit. . . and a great tan. This is definitely a winter vacation piece. Cancun, anyone?

Le Rouge et Le Noir

2009-11-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

My favorite color combination has always been red and black and nothing is blacker than black onyx which facets beautifully. When the light hits a piece like this, it flashes back, gleams and almost has a life of its own. I combined these large, faceted onyx roundels with a Siam red Swarovski crystal -- to wear with Christmas black velvet or a nice cream silk blouse. This is one classic necklace that will take you anywhere.

Chrysacolla with Amazonite and Vermeil

2009-11-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

Chrysacolla is such a beautiful bead. It has all the qualities of turquoise, ie. the beautiful deep aqua-blue color, but it has been splashed with a deep green, making it a very interesting stone.

Aqua blue Agate, Natural Coral Accents, Sterling Clasp

2009-10-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

I've always loved these beads. They look spikey but they're smooth and sexy and really comfortable to wear. I found some natural pink coral that is so tiny and delicate to provide some color contrast along with a few serially spaced silver and Swarovski crystal beads and put it all on a silver clasp. Adorable.

Chinese Turquoise with Cloisonne Beads

2009-10-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

I found a very good source for cloisonne beads and have been using them most of the summer. I found an almost exact match for the turquoise in the little gold/turqoise enameled teardrops and made this sweet, single-strand piece. The kind of thing you can wear with anything and probably will never take off.

White Turquoise Slab with Copper Czech Fire-Polish Bead

2009-10-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

I've never seen white turquoise quite this beautiful before. Actually, I don't think this is turquoise at all but matrixed howlite or something man-made, however, it looks fabulous on all skin tones, lays flat and feel sexy-sensual as it warm to body temperture. And it's not expensive, $150.

Lively Blue Lapis with gold-filled Beads and Clasp

2009-10-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Three strands of Afghani mystery here -- bright blue (probably dyed) lapis that I strung with my last remaining gold-filled shell clasp. (Reminder to self: Get some more of those). The blue is extraordinarily bright and this is a way to own Lapis Lazuli without breaking the bank. $300.

Citrine Nuggets, Fancy Vermeil Beads

2009-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

These are very high-quality faceted nuggets in tones that vary from light lemon to sunshine yellow to nearly rust. Surrounding the vermeil fancy beads are faceted citrine nuggets. Like wearing a wreath of sunshine around your neck.

Gem Quality Chrysophrase with 18K Antique Gold Beads

2009-10-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

I love the translucence of these beads which are very high quality. The green is exceptional. I paired the beads, which was part of the Karen Riley gift box with faceted 18k gold antique beads. This is a very rare find, indeed. $750.

Gem Qualiaty Labradorite, 14k Gold Stardust Beads

2009-10-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

Labradorite is one of my favorite gemstones. There's a lot going on in these seemingly dull gray-green stones. Lightening bolts of iridescent blue flash and gleam. Geologists call the phenomenon "Labradorescence" and it happens only in this stone which is mined in Labrador. I prefer pairing Labradorite with gold because among the colors you'll find in the stone besides blue and flashes of purple is gold. These are subtle, not only because the stone itself is so low key, but because of the laser-surfaced stardust beads which are textured but certainly not flashy. $750.

Massive silver and shell pendant, jasper roundels

2009-10-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

I found a series of shell pendants on line that are much prettier and more ornate in person than they appear on-line. I thought about putting this particular pendant on black onyx, but the faint deep rusty red in the shell tracings cried out for recognition, and I had these red jasper beads. . . and that was all she wrote.

Mixed Turquoise, Tiger Eye, Green Apple Turquoise Clasp

2009-10-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

This piece and I call it "major," started out with just the variegated turquoise clasp which sat for almost a year before I decided w hat to do with it. I found some lovely apple green turquoise at a show and slid in some tigereye, silver and bright aqua turquoise. I had seen some presentation necklaces by a designer that Neiman Marcus carries and thought: why not. It's a way to be Southwestern without being kitchy.

Giant Faceted Carnelian and Bali Beads

2009-10-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Once in a while, you find really special beads. These carnelian and faceted and beautifully rusty orange. I spaced them with faceted carnelian roundels flanking large silver Bali beads. This necklace measures about 18" and is considered a choker.

Matrix Turquoise Slabs and Coral

2009-10-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

I designed this turquoise slab necklace to sit on the neck like Cleopatra's collar. It feels so comfortable and warms with your natural body heat. The coral tube spacers are antique and part of the stash I got from my friend Karen in Santa Fe.

Lavender jade with Mother-of-Pearl pendant

2009-10-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

I found this Mother-of-Pearl pendant at a jewelry show. There are two bezel-set faceted amethyst of extraordinary color, all the better set off with lavender jade and tiny faceted amethyst roundels.

IOILITE FACETED ROUNDELS WITH 14K GOLD BEADS

2008-10-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

As a navigation tool, the stunning purple-blue gemstone, iolite, often saved the ancient Viking mariner from sure disaster on the high seas. When viewed through a lens crafted of iolite, the first low-tech polarizing filter, the sun's location could be pin-pointed with accuracy. The iolite stone, a variety of Cordierite, was often called a "Water Sapphire," for it's mystical blue appearance, but if you look hard enough, you will see that the blue is not uniform. The stone is a wonderful example of "pleochroism," or a slight variegation in the stone in which there are three different shades of blue that range from purple-blue to sapphire to a watery light blue-violet. Spiritually, the stone represents the Higher Self and was used by ancient shamans to dispel discord and to add an accuracy to their visions; the ancients also believe that iolite is a shield against victimization. Sounds like a real paladin stone. . .and, it's gorgeous. I took this rather unique strand of faceted roundels and paired the stones with corrugated 14k gold roundels. The contrast is rich and satisfying. The clasp on this 16-1/2" choker-length circlet, by the way, is very secure and has a built-in protective guard.

Retail Price: $1000.00

FACETED AMETRINE BRIOLETTES, COGNAC QUARTZ, 22K GOLD BEADS

2008-10-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Ametrine is a colorful and quite surprising stone. It can't decide if it wants to be citrine or amethyst, so it is both. These faceted square-ended Harlequin-carved briolettes meet and match up to create a series of unique nose-to-tail pairs, separated by roundels of 22k Thai gold. The 19" long necklace is strung with a briolette of cognac quartz affixed with two 22k Thai gold hexagon beads from the necklace for more visual interest. The clasp is a 14k gold barrel closure that is very secure.

Retail Price: $1375; Matching drop earrings hung from vermeil, lever-back closures are $85.00

COPPER-VEINED CHINESE TURQUOISE, GARNET ROUNDELS AND A TURQUOISE, GARNET AND DRUZY QUARTZ PENDANT

2008-10-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

There are times when I'm designing a necklace, that the components speak to me in thehir own quiet way, and tell me with which other stones they'd like to spend eternity. Such was the case with this druzy quartz pendant with the turquoise and garnet accent stones. In this case, the contrast between the earthy turquoise and the Wicked Queen sophistication of the blood red garnet is stunning and works quite to the advantage of the druzy quartz, really showing it off. Druzy quartz, glittery and mysterious, looks like crushed deep blue topaz quartz gemstones mixed with crushed rubies; I love using it with smooth-textured beads like these copper-veined turquoise beads from China. Completing the fabulous fall of turquoise and glitz is a sensuous rectangular cabachon garnet clasp, garnet roundel accent beads and a single creamy white pearl right below the silver bail of the pendant. The necklace is 21-3/4" long.

Retail Price: $225.00

DYED CARNELIAN FACETED ROUNDS WITH 22K GOLD FIGURED ROUND BEADS

2008-10-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

The carnelian beauty on the left is a KISS-KISS

necklace -- a pure example of Keep It Simple, Silly. When you find beads as luminous and as full of inner fire as these special rust-colored carnelians, you really want to show off the quality of the bead and not mess it up with a lot of frou-frou. I used teensy 22k gold pumpkin rounds to

separate a series of carnelians. I've never seen 4mm beads quite this detailed and almost old-fashioned in feeling. Again, these came out of the box of unique beads that my friend Karen sent me from Santa Fe. I am most reluctant to string these, because once they're gone, they're gone. But hey -- isn't that what unique, hand-made pieces are all about? A strand of beads to powerful and special, no one else will ever have them.

Retail Price: $180.00

FACETED LEMON QUARTZ ROUNDELS WITH 14K GOLD

2008-10-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

A classic circlet of golden beads, faceted to catch the light, this lemon quartz necklace is beauty in simplicity. Lemon quartz is so special. It is pure light-golden yellow, the yellow of a baby's hair or a squeeze of bracing lemon juice. Combined with 14k gold corrugated roundels, this circlet is a study in textures that requres a second look to appreciate its subtle beauties. It is choker length -- about 17-1/2".

Retail Price: $475.00

VARIEGATED TOURMALINE LIFESAVER NECKLACE

2008-10-14T14:28:00.001-07:00

Karen Riley's surprise gift of all those strands of spectacular gemstone beads turned up some fantastic treasures including a strand of variegated red-to-green tourmaline that looks almost like a roll of LifeSaver candies. Tourmaline is a most wonderful stone. One of my dearest friends had her wedding ring created from one of the most spectacular green tournalines I've ever seen in lieu of the traditional diamond. You can't quite pin down what a tourmaline is going to look like. It can be as pinky-red as a Burmese ruby; as green as an emerald; as black as obsidian or a golden as a citrine. I loved this strand because there is so much going on it it. It's like a party around the neck. Because the texture of the beads was so smooth, I felt it needed a little jazzing up with the gold I used. so there are corrugated roundels and filigree rounds of 14k gold, finished with a corrugated 14k golden ball clasp.

Retail Price: $1500.00

OPERA LENGTH FACETED COGNAC QUARTZ BRIOLETTES

2008-10-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

Cognac quartz has a very special color. It
looks just like the deep gold of an very
old, vintage sauterne or cognac. These beads were given to me by my friend Karen Riley. They have quite a story behind them. They were in a treasure box she had given to her by her boss whose wife had bought these years ago from a very expensive New York dealer who dealt in very special, rare beads. The wife never strung them so they were among the various treasures Karen gifted me with. When you have beads as textured and luminous as these are, faceted in a harlequin pattern, less is absolutely more. Also in that treasure box were these 22k Thai gold (a deep, satisfying color, almost bronze) faceted beads. The two elements really wanted to live together. This is a very unique piece. I'm not sure I could ever find beads like these again. This particular necklace is opera length; is extends right into the decolettage and would look fabulous with a black or brown turtleneck sweater, a rust, gold, hunter green, scarlet, purple or burgundy taffeta dress for the holidays. A fabulous neutral, you can dress up or down in this gorgeous, one-of-a-kind gemstone piece.

Retail Price: $1750.00

NINE-STRAND GARNET BIB NECKLACE

2008-10-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

The garnet is the January birthday stone. They can be as dark as blackberry juice or as red as burgundy beets. The garnet rounds in this spectacular nine-strand bib are closer to beet red than blackberry. This is a substantial necklace, strung on silver slide clasp set with peridot, amethyst and garnet. Nine strands of garnets have some heft and import. I'd call this a major-major piece of jewelry.

Retail Price: $700.00

NINE-STRAND GARNET BIB

2008-10-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

Opera-Length Russian Green Amethyst with Coral and Cloisonne

2008-06-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

One of my on-line discoveries is a dealer who has the most beautiful cloisonne beads. These have Persian-design arabesques of jade green, peach and gold swirls. I paired them with my little peach coral rounds, some vermeil and these gorgeous Russian green amethysts which are the color of very fine Chinese jade. They are opera-length which means that they hang down to cleavage level. The clasp is a filigree tear-drop of vermeil with a pearl-shaped faceted peridot.
Price: $315.00.

Cloisonne Butterfly, Vermeil and Amazonite Wrap

2008-06-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeed, I really love this amazonite bead for its luster, its translucency and its versatility. So, I created a double long necklace that wraps nicely out of the amazonite accented with blush peach coral rounds, stunning vermeil beads and colorful gold-trimmed cloisonne butterflies dressed up in navy and aqua. The clasp is one of my mini-domes in vermeil from my adorable silver guy in Southern California. We finally got to meet at the recent GLDA show at the Mirage at the end of May. I wish I would have had hundreds of bux to spend. The guy has spectacular stuff. I'd been buying from him on-line for years and this was the first time that we met. I couldn't wait to get home and string something with his beautiful silver and vermeil goods. They all come equipped with built-in guards so you won't lose a piece made with them. Price: $425.00.

Chew on This! Turquoise Gumballs and Sterling Silver

2008-06-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

For years, this fabulous sterling silver clasp stayed in my box of clasps and toggles. I had yet to find a bead stately and formidable enough to use it on. I thought I might use it for a multi-strand piece, maybe ten strands of mini-baroque pearls or something, but when I saw these massive Chinese turquoise "gumballs," something clicked. They are probably 22mm which ain't teensy, that's for sure. The bell-shaped ends of the clasp hugged the beads perfectly. I threw in some star-shaped Bali silver roundels -- nothing too distracting from the size, color and heft of these beautiful turquoise beads. And. . . just look at the price! $200.00.

Tibetan Jeweled Cross with Translucent Amazonite and Lapis Lazuli Roundels

2008-06-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

The filigree jeweled cross, Tibetan silver in origin, is another eBay treasure. I didn't want to put it with turquoise, however, because I thought it would look too typically Wild West, so when I found this spectacularly clear, blue-green amazonite which is a perfect color match to the turquoise in the cross's floral shield, I thought it would be perfect. I added the bright blue lapis roundels, bought from the Afghani bead dealer who I always work for at the GLDA each spring and this unusual necklace was born. I completed it with a sterling silver mini-dome from one of my favorite silver dealers in California.
Price: $400.00.

Devil May Care Jade and Onyx

2008-06-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'd been mousing around on eBay to see what kinds of interesting beads and pendants I could find when I came across this little beauty -- a sterling silver skull with a crown. It sat around on my work table for about three months when the red jade came in from Hong Kong. Perfecto! I strung the jade with the skull and livened it up with brushed silver daisy roundels , faceted black onyx and a beautiful silver-twist toggle. I know that the skull which was a real fashion icon for the past few years is probably past its prime as cutting edge fashion, but this weighty little silver guy is just too, too cute. Price: $300.00.

Baroque Beauties with Green Amethyst

2008-06-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

At the end of May, 2008, I again worked the Gem and Lapidary Dealers Association show at the Mirage for four days. Across from Mr. Kameyab's booth was this young Chinese kid who had a table full of very sparkly, faceted beads. Nobody came to his station the first day. This was his first year and the booth was small and slightly off the beaten track. When there was a lull in sales, I went over to look at his merchandize and found these incredible pale, transparent green amethyst beads that were irregular, faceted and fascinating to look at. Strung, they were a jumble of reflective surfaces. I made one complete necklace out of the strand and had a few beads left over which I put with rhinestone roundels, gray iridescent Swarovski crystals and a mixture of stick, baroque and flat-sided pearls in a three-strand torsade or twist necklace. The result is this subtle necklace with surprising zots of flash. I strung it on one of my beautiful three-strand adobe-patterned silver slide clasps from my dealer in California. This is a real beauty and a bargain at $675.

2008-06-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

2008-06-06T12:30:00.000-07:00

Just Peachy -- Five Strands of Peach-Pink Coral to Twist or Not

2008-06-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

An on-line purchase netted me with 20 strands of 6mm peach-pink coral beads. What to do with them? Multiple strands, of course. And what a perfect spring-summer color to play with. I made several things out of them including this five-strand necklace. I made each strand the same length so they could be twisted evenly into a narrow torsade. For accent, I threw in some light flesh-toned Swarovski crystals and finished it off with a filigree silver "buckle," a piece that I've had probably for three or four years but never had any inspiration to use. The result is a very versatile piece to wear twisted or not.

Three-Strand Blues -- Literally Lapis Lazuli

2008-06-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

In the past few months, I have experimented with buying beads on eBay and so far, have rarely been disappointed. These lovely Lapis Lalzui beads came by way of China from an Aussie dealer and I am very happy with them. They made a classic necklace which I finished with gold-filled beads and clasp. Lapis is a mystic stone, conveying healing and serenity. This necklace is simple, uncomplicated and easy to wear.

Spring Green Aedelite, aka Prehnite

2008-06-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

A rose by any other name. . . Aedelite is a very bright variation of a pale green stone called Prehnite only the vibrant color of new spring grass. I found this spectacularly matched and graduated, faceted strand on an Australian bead dealer's eBay store. The beads really do speak for themselves. They are not particularly small. The vermeil roundels I paired them with are 12mm and they seem very comfortable with the size of the center five beads which start at about 20mm. I'd never even heard of Aedelite and when I looked it up and the word "Prehnite" came up, I was surprised because traditional Prehnite is pale green without too much blue in it. These definitely are not pale.

Rose Quartz Statement Beads

2008-06-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

Usually rose quartz beads are so "polite." Nicely polished, usually round or roundels, pale and lady-like. Not these huge-o chunks that frolic with good humor and obviousness. I loved these beads the moment I saw them and fantacized on how to string them before I got them home. Ultimately, I decided that they really do speak for themselves and need to be set off as simply as possible, so I put them with over-sized daisy-spacer vermeil discs and left it at that.

STARTLING BLUE TURQUOISE WITH SILVER ROUNDELS AND CORAL

2008-06-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

Azure Sky Turquoise with Ocean Peach Coral, United by Silver

2008-06-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

So. . . here's that beautiful circle of turquoise and coral, done up in an 18" necklace with the unique floral oval clasp. This turquoise is the exact shade of sky blue found in Bisbee turquoise with one difference -- the Bisbee mine in Arizona has been mined out for years and that turquoise has a spectacular copper matrixing. These beads are most likely color-assisted and perhaps reconstituted, found in China, which makes them very affordable. Whether they're "helped" or not, the color is what attracted me and it has created the perfect backdrop for the clasp that I've had for about a year and the sweet pale peach natural coral beads that I paired with it.

The Beginnings of a Beautiful Necklace

2008-06-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

The antique carved coraline glass clasp was the inspiration for this turquoise, coral and silver necklace. I found the clasp through one of my favorite dealers and wish I had three more.

Citrine and Vermeil, Like Liquid Sunshine

2008-06-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Citrine is such a happy stone. Its mystical properties dispel anger and sadness and it is said to be a fertility stone (never really proven, however, but that's the lore). There are very few golden yellow stones in the pantheon of gems and citrine (named for its golden citrus color) is classified as a golden topas, known as a Maderia or Spanish topaz. It is a hard stone (Moh number of 7) and can stand some inadvertent knocking around. As a gem, it is glorious. It dances with reflections of sunlight and golden dreams and compliments any skintone. I found two incredible strands at the recent GLDA show at the Mirage in Las Vegas and grabbed them. For this one, I strung highly-polished faceted nuggets with rugged citrine roundels and interesting nubby vermeil beads for contrast and texture. It's been finished with a vermeil S-hook closure.

Black and White Balls, Really Fossilized Agate

2008-06-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Recently, the GLDA -- Gem and Lapidary Dealers Association -- Show came to the Mirage, and per usual, I worked the four days for Zahir Kameyab, the Afghani bead dealer who always has the most spectacular beads. These incredibly tactile black and white beads were front and center and they literally flew off the display table. I grabbed a couple of strands. They're fossilized agate and they're distinctively graphic. This particular strand is of 20mm beads, real gumballs and I put them with brushed silver beads that look like woven balls of yarn. These are perfect for summer time, tans, strapless white dresses, black jeans and white tanks. . . they're universally gorgeous for those whose style is , well, graphic. Price: $300.00.