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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Hair Jewelry Is In?!

I'm hearing that 2012 seems like it may be the year of the hair accessory, as more runways and shows are including jeweled hair combs, bobby pins, hair clips, head bands, chopsticks, barrettes, tiaras, brooches and pony tail holders.  Apparently Cosmopolitan magazine even featured a piece online recently showing women how to use bobby pins to attach necklaces to their hair!  Hmm...I kind of wish I'd seen that one.  I guess it wouldn't be too hard to figure out, but I'm thinking it would be interesting to be able to show my customers another use for their pendants.

Hair accessories dress up any outfit, and the more jewelry-like they are, the more they catch the eye. They can be big, fun and funky or smaller and more sparkling...whatever your "comfort level" and the length of your hair would dictate.  Right now designers are using real and faux gemstones and pearls, rhinestones, encrusted glass, acrylic gems and bead work to make great hair accessories.  The picture above is of a gold wire hair comb featuring a triangle shaped amethyst that has been in Contemporary Concepts' inventory since 1988 or so.  (I'm sure of that because it was actually made by my friend Eve, who worked with me from 1987 to 1989.  She now lives in Phoenix and is my most excellent webmaster!)  Since "the year of the hair accessory" apparently only comes around every couple of decades, I'm hoping this little lovely will sell this time! 

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Amethyst

Amethyst. February's birthstone. And in my experience, one of the most popular colored gemstones around!

Amethyst is purple quartz, ranging in tone from pale lavender to deep, rich, almost-black purple. It is the "stone of meditation", and its energies are said to help amplify intellectual understanding, as well as protect the wearer from intoxication! (Although I certainly can't guarantee you won't get drunk while wearing your favorite amethyst pendant or ring!) It can also be used to attract good luck. I have some fabulous amethyst pendants, earrings, ear sweeps, bracelets, anklets, rings and necklaces. Check out my Etsy shop for ready-to-buy items, or my website for a look at everything I can make. I would be delighted to design something just for you!

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What I Made Yesterday -- 2/25/09

This is a special order for a customer. The amethyst and citrine part was a section of a broken bracelet and she wanted it made into a pendant. She also likes hearts.

This one took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to do. She wanted the "bracelet section" intact, and I needed to encase at least part of it to make a stable base. I actually went to sleep a couple of nights dreaming about how I could set this! I'm happy with the results. The customer hasn't seen it yet, but I'm betting she will be, too!

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