Recent Work - More Pietersite the Tempest Stone

I made a number of these necklaces in February and am happy to report they were a hit and have all SOLD. Luckily I had more stones to create another batch! 

 
Known as the Tempest Stone, pietersite is not only beautiful by very powerful. It is found in Henan Province, China, and Namibia, South Africa. It is a variety of Quartz, composed naturally of Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye and Jasper, and is characterized by an incredible chatoyancy (cat's eye effect or optical reflectance effect) and brilliance of life within the stone. The most common pietersite is gold but it is also rarely seen in red and even rarer is blue. 

Its highly charged energy is almost tangible. Just as lightning clears the air and makes all things new, pietersite discharges negative energies and emotional turmoil, and cleanses the aura, restoring it to calm.

Pietersite is a powerful protection stone, especially against the elements. It calms nervous people and animals during storms, protects when driving in bad weather, and guards homes and businesses against storm damage. It also acts as a shield against the adverse effects of technology, particularly if you work long hours with a computer or live near a mobile phone mast.

Healing ability: Stimulates the physical body, providing energy and strength, and is a nervous-system stone, useful for stimulating and strengthening the nerves and brain. It eases headaches, nervous diseases, breathing difficulties, stomach pain and dizziness. It also stimulates the pituitary gland, balancing the endocrine system and the production of hormones governing metabolism, blood pressure, growth, sex, and body temperature. Thought to ease eye infections, pietersite is also reported by some users to improve long-distance focus and night vision.

 Mystical power: Helps us to weather rough and stormy periods of our life and to build new order out of chaos. Aligns energy centers while providing grounding. Dispels illusion and assisting in recognition of the beauty of the soul. Promotes loyalty to self and to the ultimate experience of life. Allows one to see beyond the horizon, helping to support human courage, tenacity, and dauntless effort to both create and maintain beauty. Boosts self-esteem when worn consistently. It is especially empowering for creative people who lack confidence in their abilities.

An important tool in bringing pent-up, internalized feelings and conflicts to the surface, allowing the unsaid and unexamined to erupt in an emotional outpouring that not only clears the air, but begins the process of healing. An excellent ally for those who are stuck or unable to make progress. Helps to clear stagnant energies, habits and life patterns, and reveals new directions for one's life. It also lends the will to take action toward those new goals. It brings one to the source of their own inner guidance, and assists one in recognizing the truth or falsehood of others' words or actions. It promotes speaking out and exploring anything that may hinder access to one's own truth. 

Note: This information is provided for curiosity only and in no way is meant to be taken as medical advice.  

 

More Turitella Agate

Continuing to work with this very cool stone this week. 

You can really see the turritella snails in a few of these pendants.

All of these have sold. 

SOLD

 I had an idea in my head of what I wanted to do when I sat down at my work bench. But the stones had something different in mind! I ended up mixing them with rich coppery freshwater pearls!

For this set I switched to a grey freshwater pearl.

Today I will make more of my new earring design. All of the above have since been SOLD.

You can see all of these new designs in person at this weekends Holiday Preview Sale at my studio in Southworth. Hope you can make it!

All About Ears - Making Hammered Daggers

My "how-to" posts are popular so here is another. In these pics I am making earrings that combine glass and metal beads with hammered copper or sterling daggers. Because I need things in quantity I use an assembly line method, doing the same step on several pairs of earrings at the same time.

 I start by laying out all the components. Headpins, wire cut to length, glass and metal beads, metal rings and ear wires. Then I add beads to headpins.

 Next step is to bend the tops of the beaded headpins at a 90 degree angle.

 Then I make loops at the top of all the headpins and the cut wires as well as form the circular dangles.

 Next step is to hammer the daggers. I use a tiny anvil and small hammer.

 Then comes assembly. I make each earring  a mirror image of its mate.

 The last step in the creation process is earring cards. They get small holes punched for the earrings, folded, labeled and priced. Since I do shows outside in all kinds of weather, I put plastic backs on to insure the earrings stay on the cards.

The earrings on the top left and bottom center have been SOLD.

Then I take photos. I take photos of everything I make for my records and to list in my online store or include in a blog post. Items get placed in my light box - currently a cardboard box with 2 very bright lights and a tripod and digital camera.

 Now I start the process over for the sterling silver ones.

Todays Work - Outback Wood Jasper

After an extensive search on the internet, I finally found a precious few of these beautiful stones. Twenty to be exact, at a place in Toronto! If anyone ever sees these anywhere please let me know. They are 30mm x 30mm squares of outback wood jasper with a gorgeous matte finish. So far every necklace I have made with these has sold the day it was out on display.

Today I was working with black and brown seed beads. I was able to locate the smaller square, coin and oval shaped stones so am making bracelets and earrings with those.

 SOLD

SOLD

All are SOLD.

 This stone has an incredible pattern to it.
This one sold within an hour of going on display!
Earrings and bracelet have also been SOLD.

All have SOLD.

Outback Wood Jasper

I think this is my new favorite stone. The matte finish gives these a rustic feel. Outback Wood Jasper is mined in Australia. As with all jasper - it brings joy to life! This stone is thought to help to create a positive attitude. It can help reduce the inclination to be arrogant, self-deprecating, greedy, self-destructive, victimized, impatient or stubborn. this centering and grounding stone brings calm & tranquility. It can also combat exhaustion. (Stone trivia is provided for curiosity only and is in no way meant to be medical advice.)

Each 30mm square stone pendant hangs from a double strand of glass seed  beads and is accented with copper or pewter. They each remind me of a mini-landscape.

 This one has a red creek jasper dangle. The pendant reminds me of a landscape in Wyoming.
Necklace and earrings have been SOLD.

In this one I see cliffs on each side with a frothy bay in between.
Necklace and earrings have been SOLD.

 This one looks like a winter landscape.
Necklace and earrings have been SOLD.

Recent Work - Flower Jade

Visitors to this weekend's sale at my studio will find these new designs using Flower Jade. Flower Jade is a type of Jadeite. The variety of Jade known as Jadeite comes in a variety of colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, lilac, pink, black, white, and brown. Historically, Jadeite has been treasured in China as the royal gemstone, Yu, for 5,000 years. Mined in Japan, Myanmar, Guatemala and USA.  

Flower jade is thought to enhance confidence and self-assuredness, helps one gain knowledge from dreams, and assists in getting in touch with one’s spiritual side. (Note this information is provided for curiosity only.) 

All of the pendants below are 25 x 30mm faceted hexagons. Additional stones are 6mm and 4mm round stones or small cubes. Accents are glass seed beads, copper or pewter.

Both have been SOLD.

 The one above is choker length.
Bracelet and earrings have been SOLD.

Bracelets and earrings on the left have been SOLD.

The necklace on the left has sold.

 Click on this one to enlarge it. The stone is beautiful! It reminds me of a beach scene.
Necklace and earrings have been SOLD.

Recent Work - Jasper Teardrops

I am continuing to beef up my inventory for my holiday shows. One recent series uses jasper teardrops.

Jasper is a form of chalcedony or quartz.  It brings joy into your life! Clean you jasper jewelry with a soft dry cloth as the polish can be washed off with water. Jasper is believed to strengthen the stomach and cure gynecological problems. Mystically, jasper is believed to bring one what they need and to aid in attaining a sound sleep. Jasper also increases your ability to feel joy and carries a protective power.Jasper has been thought to drive away evil spirits and protect against snake and spider bites. (Note this information is provided for curiosity only and is not meant to be taken as medical advice. )

These have booth been SOLD.

The one on the left has been SOLD.

These have been SOLD.

Black and Clear Earrings

Every year it seems a different color is popular in earrings. This has been blue, black and clear.

Here are a few new pairs to add to the collection.

The grey are beautiful smokey crystals. They really sparkle in the light.

Recent Work: Agates

Recent Work: A collection of small and pretty agates. 

 The one on the left is gorgeous!!Both have SOLD.

 SOLD

 SOLD

SOLD

  Both have SOLD..

 

   I have quite a few more in this fun shape! Both have SOLD.