Variations on a Theme

You've seen this style of earrings before.  If it's still selling for me, I'll continue to make it.  And it has been selling well, mostly in local stores.  While the possible combinations of tiny rondelles seems endless, I have a tendency to stick with proven winners: garnet & labradorite, peridot & amethyst.

This pair is quite different.  I used rhodolite garnets, mandarin garnets and citrine for a fruit punch sort of look.  The pink, orange and yellow combo has a nice appeal for me these days -- it's very refreshing!

 Click on the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop!

Cubes or Geometry I Can Understand

Actually, I was always good at math in school and geometry was one of my favorites.  Maybe that's why these gemstone cubes really appeal to me.

The bottom one is London blue topaz.  That is followed by amethyst and garnet.  These sophisticated yet playful earrings are for sale in my etsy shop.

The Deepest Red Garnets

And they're large too!  These garnet briolettes were so spectacular, I bought 3 strands of them.  I don't often do that, but I had never seen such large garnets.

The color is so hard to capture in a photograph.  Trust me, they're gorgeous!

January Birthstone -- Garnet

In honor of all with January birthdays (me included!), I'll share with you some new earrings in my etsy shop featuring garnets.

This first pair has both traditionally colored garnets in a deep burgundy color. Above them are the less common Mandarin garnets which are decidedly burnt orange in color. At the very top, I added a raspberry pink tourmaline bead.


Next is a more conservative pair of earrings. The bottom rondelle is the same as the ones in the first pair of earrings, but I get a completely different look by pairing them with a different set of beads and findings. Above the rondelle is a Hill Tribe silver beadcap with a leaf motif and a smaller round garnet bead.


Happy birthday to all January babies!

Click on either of the photos to go directly to the listings in my etsy shop.

Artbeads.com - Silver

Once again, I was invited by Artbeads to sample some of their amazing bead selection, this time from their silver collection. In exchange for these free samples, I have agreed to blog about them here.

Those of you that read my blog regularly know that I favor simple designs. The Thai silver beadcaps that I chose from Artbeads are perfect for my designs. Here's a photo of the 4 different items I selected: 3 different styles of stamped beadcaps and some multi purpose Bali silver spacers, which one can never have too many of.



So far, I've made two pairs of earrings with these silver products. These spacers are so perfect for larger beads. Here's the link to all of the Bali silver offerings at the Artbeads website. I selected some decent sized pink quartz cubes and pink freshwater pearls, separated by the Bali spacers. They add just the right accent.



Next, I selected the beadcaps with the leaf design, which can be found at the Artbeads website under Hill Tribe silver beads and components. I used beautifully plump garnet rondelles to sit below the beadcaps. They fit perfectly under the beadcaps. I then added a small Bali spacer and a 4mm garnet bead. Sweet and simple!

September Birthstone ...

... is Sapphire. While most of us think blue when we think sapphire, it occurs in a wide variety of colors, including pink, which I'm featuring here.

This necklace starts with a rather large faceted nugget of pink sapphire. I topped it with a cluster of garnets, golden freshwater pearls ruby rondelles and faceted citrine rondelles. While this is quite nontraditional as far as sapphires go, the color combination seems quite regal to me.


If you have any September birthdays to consider, this necklace would be a wonderful choice! Click on the photo to go directly to this listing in my etsy shop and to see the necklace from some different angles.

Beautiful Blue Kyanite

I purchased a strand of these large, smooth kyanite nuggets a few years ago in Tucson. I've been using them very slowly, for fear of running out. You beaders out there know this ridiculous feeling. An idea came to me for this necklace and I finally decided to use my 4th kyanite nugget -- the original strand only had 21 stones, so panic is still a few stones away.

I wired some softly faceted garnets together, along with small kyanite beads that I think of as bean-shaped. This was then attached to sterling silver chain to finish off the necklace. Something was missing. I decided to add a small teardrop shaped bead of deep burgundy tourmaline to the same ring that was holding the kyanite. Perfect!



This necklace is for sale in my etsy shop.

Iolite and Garnets

I added this necklace to my etsy shop over the weekend. I love the simplicity of it. I started with a wire wrapped smooth briolette of clear blue iolite. I then added two drops of teardrop shaped garnet beads. They provide the perfect accent for the casual look of this necklace.

All of the silver is sterling and it has been oxidized to an understated gray.

My newsletter sale is still going on, but you must be a subscriber to qualify. Just fill out the form on the right and I'll email you a copy right away!

Rum Punch Necklace

I created this necklace the same day as the Fruit Punch Necklace. I was obviously in a mood some heat ... or at least some warmth!

This necklace features a large briolette of whiskey quartz. It's the color of warm honey, or rum if you prefer. It is joined by a flat teardrop of garnet and an opal in an unusual shade of pink ... like the flesh of a ripe papaya. Juicy.

The chain is 17" long and is finished with a lobster clasp. I purchase lots of different styles of chain in bulk, so I can make whatever lengths I need. This sort of versatility works for me because I don't know what design I'll be working on tomorrow!

Be Daring ... wear Purple, Red and Orange Together!

Go ahead, live on the edge. What's wrong with a little color in your life, or more specifically, hanging from your ears.

These earrings feature large amethyst cushion rondelles topped with a round garnet. In between the two, I have added a spiky cluster of tiny amethysts and garnets in shades of red and orange.

What? You didn't know that garnets come in such a wide variety of colors? Stay tuned -- there's an article on this subject scheduled for publication on the Artisan Beaders Blog in the very near future.

These earrings can be seen in my etsy shop. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Double Garnet Earrings

I love garnets. I mean who doesn't? They are my birthstone and I never realized how many shapes they could come in until I started creating jewelry 12 years ago.

These earrings feature small diamond shaped briolettes topped with a rondelle. The two faceted stones are separated by a sterling silver bead.

The red in these garnets is of the deepest burgundy with a hint of plum.

Simple and elegant. With just the right amount of sparkle.

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

Fuchsia Clusters

These bold, bright earrings feature coin pearls in a beautiful fuchsia (or raspberry, if you prefer) color. Hanging freely below them is a cluster of coordinating beads. Included are Swarovski crystals in three shades of pink and 4 mm garnets.

While I can't promise delivery before Christmas, wouldn't these earrings be perfect for a New Year's Eve party?

These earrings are available for sale in my etsy shop.

Little Earrings

Some women like large earrings that make a statement and some prefer smaller, simple earrings that are more subtle. Here are 3 pairs of earrings that fit that second criteria.

This first pair features some small garnet briolettes that I wrapped (messy style!) with sterling silver wire. The garnets are diamond shaped and are highly faceted for maximum sparkle. These deep red garnets are perfect for the holiday season.

These citrine earrings are very similar to the garnets. The stone has a similar cut, but I've wrapped the briolettes in a slightly neater fashion.
The last little pair I'd like to share features some of my favorite pearls. I purchased these little teal coins in HUGE volume (don't ask) because I loved them so much. Here, I've topped them with a small sterling silver bead and an aqua colored crystal. Swarovski calls this color "Indicolite", which is the name of torumaline when it occurs in a blue-ish color.
All of these earrings are for sale in my etsy shop. Remember, all items are shipped USPS Priority and are packaged for gift-giving.

Cascading Gemstones

These earrings are a design that I never tire of. I always use a different combination of small gemstones, so no two pairs are exactly the same.

In this pair, I used amethysts, garnets, citrine, iolite and tourmaline in several colors. All of the shapes are different, giving these earrings textural interest.

To see the earrings from a different angle, please visit my etsy shop.

Garnet Cubes . Earrings

The little bows on these earwires make the earrings look like wrapped presents. And who wouldn't want these gorgeous faceted garnet cubes dangling from their ears?

I formed the earwires from sterling silver wire and made the headpins using a small torch. All of the silver is sterling. It has been oxidized and tumbled for the sleek, steel gay finish that I love.

Have a look at these earrings in my etsy shop for some more details.

Clusters!

I recently created a series of pendants using some of my larger beads. Finding new ways to use these larger components has been a challenge for me. Here are the latest creations in this voyage of discovery.

I love the minty blue-green of amazonite. This large bead is top-drilled and is softly faceted. The cluster above is made up of freshwater pearls, Peruvian opals, apatite rounds and white cupped keshi pearls.
The deep pink stone is a sapphire --- yes, they come in many colors besides blue. I have topped it with golden freshwater pearls, garnets, smooth ruby rondelles and citrine rondelles. The red and gold color combination has a regal feel.