Black Gold

As I was slipping off to sleep last night I had the flash of an idea for a bracelet,
which I vaguely remembered when I woke up this morning. With morning coffee in hand I sketched what I could remember and added some new ideas, then started work. Using Silver Black, I blackened lengths of sterling silver chain and headpins, then searched through my gemstones to find the perfect stones, brilliant Madeira citrine nuggets. Added to this, 18kt gold beads and clasp, which looked fabulous against the blackened silver!

I started at 9am with what seemed like such a simple design...until I started! It took several taking aparts and starting overs before I had what I had envisioned, and it wasn't finished until 5:30pm. The whole day! Luckily I cleaned the house thoroughly yesterday so that I wouldn't have to do anything but stay in my studio all day!

The result is very different from anything I've done before, but I love the way it turned out. I took a hurried pic of it even though we've had a dark and rainy day with very little natural light; so it's a very poor photo but gives some idea of the finished piece:



Ah well, very poor photo indeed! The blob of gold at the front is actually a very lovely 18k "S" clasp - LOL ...I'll try for a better pic tomorrow if the rain lets up!

...And so the Black Gold series is born, touched off by wearing a black sweater that day which looked lovely against the gold rings I had on! :)

New Arrivals

Two new arrivals just added to my Etsy shop!

There's the Lucy earrings with sparkling faceted coins of iolite and flawless step-faceted citrine ovals, all handlinked on solid 18k yellow gold, and finished with 18k gold earwires:



The Chantilly earrings are cascades of shimmering Oregon sunstone rondelles, shaded green faceted ovals of tourmaline, and perfect smooth and polished briolettes of cognac quartz. Handcrafted fine silver headpins, sterling silver chain and finished with Meilan's beautifully handcrafted sterling earwires:



Today I'm working on a necklace, with the finest tourmaline I've ever had the pleasure of working with! Perfect pastime for a snowy day. :)

Clear Skies: Wanted

Why does jewelry have to be so difficult to photograph?!

A pair of earrings that are just waiting for some decent pics so that they can be listed in my Etsy shop, but it's been snowing for three days here, and so overcast that there's just not enough good natural light in these parts. I should have taken more photos of them back when this one shot was taken a few weeks ago on a clear day! *can't wait for spring*



These earrings are sterling silver, with very high grade natural keishi pearls and finest swiss blue topaz rondelles. Finished with my favorite sterling silver circle earwires, handcrafted by the very talented Meilan of Jewelry For All Ages.

Amethyst & Coin Pearls

I just love these earrings! Perfect for a February birthday, the Anaïs earrings feature beautiful coin pearls set with amethyst in 18k yellow gold bezels, which are linked in 18k solid gold wire to deep purple, step-faceted amethyst twist rondelles, petite white freshwater pearls, and faceted amethyst briolettes.



Finished with 18k solid gold earwires, they are a fraction under 2 1/2 inches in length.

February birthday, anyone? :)