Gemstone Meanings, Part 1

Folklore has attached meanings to gemstones for millennia.  Here are a few stones and their historic meanings:

Malachite:  An equalizing and balancing agent.  Stimulates intuitive reasoning.  Promotes loyalty in partnerships and responsibility in business transactions.

 

Rose Quartz:  Brings peacefulness and calm to relationships.  Stimulates the true life force...LOVE!






Tiger Eye: Relieves high blood pressure.  Offers protection while travelling.  Aids in becoming more practical and grounded in reality.

                   

 

(In no way are these claims to be considered absolute or infallible, nor are they to be considered medical advice.  They are merely folklore, for entertainment purposes only.)

 

You can find out more about these stones and others on my website.

 

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Artistic License

Over the years my son has come to work with me once in awhile.  Once he was about 5, he had been driving me crazy poking into everything, and I wasn't getting any work done.  So I laid out a series of beads and told him to sit quietly and string them.  After awhile I looked down and saw that he was indeed stringing them, but he wasn't stringing them in the order I laid them out.  I started to snatch them out of his hand and chastise him when I noticed that HIS design was actually better than mine!  Ha ha!  Lesson learned: just because I'm an ar-TISTE doesn't mean my vision is the only vision!

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Shop Local!

 

Since I am that "local craftsperson who makes jewelry", I TOTALLY support this proposal.  But I'm sure I would even if I wasn't directly affected.  How about you?  Will you shop small and local?  Not just for the holidays, but as often as you can all year long?  (Thanks!)

 

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Welcome To My Store!

 

 

This is the front door to my store, as seen from across the courtyard of the fine dining restaurant next door to me.  Beautiful scrollwork chairs, a gorgeous stone fountain, and (although you can't see it in this picture) a huge schefflera tree to the right of the umbrella.  It's been my home away from home for going on 21 years!

 

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Rainbow Bracelet

One of my most popular bracelets, and one of my favorites as well.  I just LOVE a good rainbow!  In gold or silver wire, custom made to fit any size wrist.  $65.00.

 

 

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The Luella Collection

When my grandmother passed away in 2002, I told my mom to bring me some of her old jewelry.  Not the good stuff--that was split between my mom and my aunts.  The FUN stuff--the shiny beads and the big bubble clip-on earrings and the rhinestone things.  I wanted to take all those great old things apart and remake them into fresh new things to appeal to future generations. 

These are obviously limited edition or one-of-a-kind pieces, and in the years since Grandma passed, I have acquired other great old jewelry from estate sales.  But it originated with Grandma's stuff, and it is called The Luella Collection in her honor.

This one was part of the clasp on a strand of large amber colored beads:

These were clip-on earrings that I embellished with wire:

This set was made from parts of a strand of beads in multiple reds, and what is now a pendant was originally an earring to match the bead strand:

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Facebook Cover Photos

I've got a number of cover photos for my Facebook business page and I was wondering which might be the most eye catching.  What do you think?  And how often do you think a business should change their cover photo?

Number 1 is some of the raw materials I use to make my jewelry:

Number 2 is a particularly gorgeous custom piece of jewelry:

Number 3 is a picture of part of the interior of my store:

Three totally different approaches to what I do.  Which to you like the best, or which do you think is the most effective?

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So Many Pearls!

PEARLS-- Don't you just love beautiful, luminous pearls?  I have some beauties! 

Freshwater pearls: almost-round in glowing white, fat rice-shape in a rainbow of vibrant dyed colors, or long stick-shape in white, peach, peacock/black, or glowing copper. 

Osmena pearls: domed cabochon-shape in shimmering white and pale colors and a variety of sizes. 

Blister pearls: a natural formation of pearl "bubbles" on a cut section of shell. 

I have pendants, earrings, ear sweeps, bracelets, anklets, rings...you name it!   Check out my Etsy shop for items ready-to-ship, or browse my Contemporary Concepts website where I can make many of the designs in pearls just for you!

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Ear Sweeps Anyone?



  An Ear Sweep is a bobby-pin style earring that goes in your regular piercing and then sweeps UP your ear! Get the multiple-pierced look without the extra pain! I have more than a dozen styles, in gold or silver and your choice of gemstone or crystal beads. I've been making them for more than 20 years, and I can guarantee they make a great gift. Interesting, unique, and probably not something the person already has! My mom wears them all the time, and says that people are constantly stopping her in the grocery store or at church, asking about the Ear Sweeps. And that's what cool jewelry is all about, right? Getting noticed? (I wear Ear Sweeps myself most of the time, but the only place I go is my store, so the only people that see me are customers. I sell a lot of them because I wear them!)  I have several for sale in my Etsy shop .

 

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Fashion Color Trends

I'm seeing turquoise everywhere in the trade magazines and trend reports.  It's astonishing how neutral turquoise can be--it goes with lots of other colors!  I've been mixing turquoise beads with redline marble, amber, tiger eye and black onyx.   Reds and corals are hot, too, especially combined with black.  Then there's the Pantone Color of the Year: Emerald!  It's time for me to be thinking about making new things for the holidays, and there's lots to be inspired by!  I've got ideas for those "fan" and "bib" style necklaces with multiple chains and beads.  I may even incorporate some fabulous rhinestone vintage pieces with drippy chains and beads for a SUPER one-of-a-kind treasure! 

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My First Job and What I Learned From It

My first job was at McDonald's, starting in late 1977.  I was there for almost 5 years.  It got me through college with a little cash, my first apartment, and gas in my car.

I was there when McNuggets first came out.  I remember what a huge big deal it was.  They had to put in additional deep fryers so the chicken wouldn't taste like fish or French fries.  We had a training class on the proper preparation and presentation.  I fell in love with them then, and I still love them today!  (And yes, I know what's in them.)

The biggest life lesson I learned from McDonald's stemmed from a motto they had at the time--"If you have time to lean, you have time to clean."  That meant no standing around doing nothing.  You could flirt with the cute guy working the grill area, but you'd better have a wet rag in your hand, wiping down some of the chrome!  That expectation to be doing something constructive ALL THE TIME became second nature after awhile.  It has served me well as an entrepreneur working for myself and by myself.  There are always dozens of things that need to be done every day in my handcrafted jewelry business.  I can't say that I'm the most organized person in the world, but I am pretty good about not wasting too much valuable time when I'm supposed to be working!  (Well, aside from Facebook, but that's another story!)  'Cuz if I don't do it, it don't get done!  And even if it don't get done--after 29 years of self-employment, that still happens sometimes--I always try to do the other thing I learned from working at McDonald's, and that's SMILE!

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What's On My Desk Right Now

I saw this on a "blog ideas" list: What's on my desk right now.  I don't know about you, but I like this kind of revealing little slice-of-life story.  

I think it's a fascinating list. 

Here goes:
A television and accompanying DVD player.
A desk lamp.
Multiple piles of pictures. 
A calculator.
Tons of beads, stones, wire, and findings--all the bits and pieces that go along with making jewelry.
Assorted hand tools (far too numerous to name individually).
Two pairs of reading glasses.
Four pens.
Three staplers.
A hand drill.
A letter opener.
Blank CDs
Cheese flavored Chex mix.
Cherry Craisins.
Liquid makeup.
Cuticle cream.
A lighter.
A patchouli/vanilla candle.
An extension cord.
A dust cloth.
Three polishing cloths.
Three different piles of varying heights, of papers I need to read.
A ruler and a cloth tape measure.
A flashlight.
Bills to be paid.
Jewelry supply catalogs.
My cell phone.
My laptop.

Obviously, my desk is my work space.  Once in awhile I take a day and purge all the piles and pieces and organize the tools, but it's been awhile since I've done that.  But hey, I can assure you that when I need something, I know just which "pile" to dive into to find it!  LOL.

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My Building Then and Now

 

 My store is located in historic Cocoa Village, Florida, in a gorgeous old building called the BelAir Courtyard.  Built in 1924, the top picture shows it in it's early days.  The bottom picture was taken last year.  My store is in the far back left corner on the bottom.  The street was two-way back in the day, now it's one-way south (to the right).  The most striking change to me is the enormous schefflera tree in the center rear of the courtyard.  Since the whole right side lower level is a fine restaurant now, the tree makes for lovely courtyard dining!


I love historic stuff!

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August Birthstone: Peridot

Did you know that the August birthstone, peridot, is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color?  An olive green. The intensity and tint of the green depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow- to olive- to brownish-green. The most valued color is a dark olive-green.

It surprises me the number of August babies who do not like their birthstone. It's such a "happy" shade of green! Historically, peridot has been regarded as a powerful amulet to ward off evil and as protection from nightmares. Embrace it, August girls, it's GOOD for you!

All that being said, I don't actually stock peridot on a regular basis.  It's a little more expensive than most of my gemstones.  I do have some faceted beads that I could make earrings and bracelets out of!  And as an alternative, I have some nice light green quartz and some sparkly cubic zirconias in that lovely olive green color!  Check my website for design possibilities!

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Amethyst Fancy Necklace

Back when I was doing arts & crafts shows, I had to have a few fancy one-of-a-kind pieces for those shows where there was judging.  This is one of those pieces.  Amethyst teardrops on a sinewy snake-like wire harness, dripping with freshwater pearls and suspended on a handcrafted-link chain.  Measuring about 8" wide by about 5" tall, it makes for a dramatic statement!

This picture isn't very good because it was taken in the days before digital and then scanned at some point to add to my archives.  I did have this necklace for a number of years, and it won me a prize or two.  It now resides in the possession of Cynthia C. of Cocoa, Florida.  She had her eye on it for over a year before it finally went home with her, so I know it's in a place where it's loved!

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Opal Ear Sweeps

 This is my most popular style of ear sweep: Ear Sweep #9.  Small, delicate, fits just about everyone, no matter what size and shape your ear might be!  It's a great "starter pair" for yourself or as a gift.  Just $19.00 per pair with your choice of gold or silver wire and about 40 different gemstone or crystal beads. 

 

There is only one gemstone bead that costs a little more, but it is SO gorgeous that it's well worth it!  This one, the synthetic opal.  They're $32.00 per pair, and I just happen to have a pair listed in my Etsy shop right now!  Wear them with EVERY outfit! 

June Birthstones

Before the month of June is over, it occurs to me I should post pictures of the June birthstones.  There are actually three: pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone.

Pearls come in every size, shape, and color now.  This is an Osmena pearl bracelet:



This is a bracelet I just made for a June birthday girl.  She supplied me with the little alexandrites.

A moonstone pendant, bought a number of years ago and given as a gift.  I just recently heard from its owner in Idaho--she's still wearing it often and loving it!

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Everyday earrings

These little 6mm round beads make such a cute everyday drop earring!  A 6mm bead is about 1/4", and in this design it's surrounded by an outline of twisted wire.  Available in gold or silver wire and about 40 different bead colors, find them on my Earrings page here.  First column, down toward the bottom of the page.  Only $11.00 per pair!


 
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My Heart of the Ocean

 

You recognize this, right?  The Heart of the Ocean from the movie Titanic.  At least my rendition of it.  Let me tell you its story.

 

Many years ago I would shop at gem shows fairly regularly.  There are a lot of nice stones you can order from a catalog, but some you just have to see in person.  One gem show I ran across these huge blue foil-backed rhinestone hearts.  This was before the movie, so I didn't have anything in mind when I bought one.  It was just pretty!

 

Of course, AFTER the movie came out was another story.  A customer from out of state saw it in one of my trays of stones and begged me to try my hand at re-creating that magnificent Titanic necklace.  Surrounded by Swarovski crystals, set in sterling silver wire, handmade chain in silver and crystal to match.  I wish I remembered the name of the lady to whom it sold, but it was too long ago.  I hope she's still enjoying it!

 

My website analytics show that I still get hits from the search term "heart of the ocean" at least a couple times a month.  Unfortunately, even though I looked for them at subsequent gem shows, I was never able to find those gorgeous big rhinestone hearts again.  So when people find it on my Custom Orders page of my website, they will occasionally try to "order" it.  I always tell them if they can find a big blue heart stone, I'll be happy to "whip one up"!

 

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What I Do