Holiday Sale in my Etsy Shop!

Starting now, I'm offering 15% off your entire order from my etsy shop.  Simply enter the code:

NOV2010DISCOUNT

in the brand new Coupon Code field upon checkout and the discount will be applied automatically.  How cool is this new feature?!?

This offer is valid through end of day Monday, November 29.  HAPPY SHOPPING!

Here's a new pair of earrings from my etsy shop:

These earrings feature robin's egg blue briolettes of chalcedony and small apatite rondelles. 

Carnivale Necklace

No, I was not experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs the day I made this necklace.  I realize that the color combination is a bit wild for me, but I LOVE IT!

Hot pink chalcedony, golden honey colored chalcedony and bright orange carnelian.  It looks like candy at a carnival!  Click the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop.

Matte Finish Chalcedony

I must admit that I don't really understand these beads, but I knew I had to have them as soon as I saw them.  They are honey colored chalcedony with a matte finish.  I have no idea how they do that and I didn't think to ask at the time of purchase.

While making these earrings, I was about to attach the drop to the earwire, when I thought "booooring".  Then I had a stroke of brilliance -- it happens so rarely.  I added that beautiful vermeil spacer to the mix.  Wow, I thought, that looks great!  It adds to the warmth of the chalcedony and golden pearl and provides a nice contrast to the oxidized silver.

Just when you think you've run out of new ideas ......

Hot Pink!

These amazing briolettes are from my recent trip to the Tucson bead and gem shows.  I introduced them to you here.  I used a few pairs to make earrings the other day and this pair is currently listed in my etsy shop.

They're hot.  They're pink.  They're bright.  They're sizable.  I love them!

Aqua Chalcedony Earrings

I may have blogged about these before, so forgive me if I repeat myself. These stones have proven to be quite popular! The color is a gorgeous aqua and chalcedony has a natural luster that's hard to beat.

Several pair have sold in my etsy shop and locally. I have a bunch more "matched up" to make more earrings. But what happens when there are no more matches to make? You beaders out there know what I'm talking about. You still have plenty of stones, but there are no two that actually look like a pair. It can be frustrating.

I believe that's why necklaces were invented ...

Three Beautiful Stones

These softly colored stones look so lovely together. The largest stone is pale green prehnite, and it looks as though it is lightly frosted. On the left is a plump briolette of aqua chalcedony. On the right is a small pink amethyst, which is really closer to a lilac color.

Half the fun of making necklaces such as this one, is deciding which stones look best together. I place them in one palm, sometimes rejecting one that look out of place, sometimes adding a third (as the pink amethyst was in this case). I've been known to spend an hour just making up several stone combinations before actually wrapping any wire and constructing any necklaces.

This sweet necklace is for sale in my etsy shop.

Chalcedony Necklace

The name Chalcedony refers to wide variety of stones including jasper, agate, onyx and carnelian. It comes in many colors. This pendant features a faceted nugget in a light blue. It's a little bit freeform and is drilled across the top.

I've topped the nugget with a cluster of freshwater pearls, fluorite, keshi pearls and iolite. Many more little iolite rondelles flow down the sides, in waterfall fashion. This necklace is most definitely one-of-a-kind, as I obtained this nugget as part of a bead trade with a very good friend and and talented bead artist, Linda Smith of "Mistress of Chaos".

Pink Chalcedony . Earrings

I just listed these earrings in my etsy shop a couple of days ago. The pink of the chalcedony briolettes is bordering on lavender, but when I added the pink pearls, the stones appeared more pink. That's the nature of a translucent stone such as chalcedony.

The pearls are in a loose cluster atop the chalcedony and will swing freely. They hang on sterling silver leverback earwires for maximum security.

They are for sale in my etsy shop. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

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Blue Chalcedony Teardrops

This is a new style of earring that I introduced recently. I handcraft the earwire from sterling silver wire and embellish it with tiny gems on the leading edge. Not only is this decorative, but it keeps the main dangle from sliding off the back of the earwire.

This pair features stunning faceted blue chalcedony teardrop beads at the bottom. I used tiny faceted rondelles of mystic topaz on the leading edge.

These lovely earrings are for sale in my etsy shop.