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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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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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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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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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! 

Right Brain/Left Brain

 

I could write whole paragraphs about the two sides of the brain and how most people tend toward the characteristics of one side or the other, BUT...that would require me utilizing more of my left brain than I feel like using today!  Wheeee!  (Which side are YOU?)

 

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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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Pinterest

Okay, who finds Pinterest addictive?  You can spend hours looking at pictures.  And the part I like best is that you can spend hours looking at pictures THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN TO LOOK AT!  Isn't that cool?  That you can choose exactly the kinds of things you want to look at?  I can look at beautiful landscapes and horses and waterfalls, and I DON'T have to look at insects or boats or DIY potholders.

Leave your Pinterest link in the Comments and I'll check you out and follow you!  Here's me: www.pinterest.com/wiregems

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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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Blog Revival

I let too much time pass.  Then I almost forgot about it.  Then I added some new "things to do" to my To Do list and I really didn't have time.  It's been over a year since I blogged regularly and I still don't have the time, but I'm determined to try! 

I enjoy posting and interacting on Facebook.  (You can "like" my page here )  I'm trying to figure out Pinterest--it's very cool, but still a little complicated from a "marketing" perspective.  I'm ashamed to admit I haven't sent out an email newsletter in far too long. 

There's just so much stuff involved in running a business these days.  And for me, all the online/social stuff is in addition to making my jewelry, filling online orders, and interacting with customers in my store!  Like I said, I'm determined to try to work it all in, to make a more effective schedule so that I don't run out of "day" before I run out of "things to do".  I'm starting with this blog.  Consider this the REVIVAL!

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What I Do

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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Trivia

Pearls dissolve in vinegar.

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eBay Anniversary

Woo hoo!  I got this message in my email inbox today:

Congratulations!

It's your 13-year eBay anniversary


starjewelr8,


We want to say thanks and let you know how much we value having you as an eBay community member. All of us at eBay wish you the very best in the year to come.


Thank you!
John Donahoe
President and CEO, eBay Inc.
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Too Busy to Blog

Craziness!  I've mailed out 76 packages in the last 2 weeks.  And that doesn't count the business I've done in the store, and the time it takes to make the stuff I need to make!  So you'll forgive me if I just haven't had time to write any blog posts recently.  I've got to take the business when it comes!

If you'd like to jump on the bandwagon and give a gift of handcrafted jewelry this year, you've got a few days left.  Hop over to my website, my Etsy shop, or my Artfire studio and pick out the perfect present--I won't mind another trip or two to the Post Office!

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Personal Adornment

Jewelry has been worn throughout the ages by people of all cultures...as ornaments, as displays of social rank, and as emblems of religious beliefs.  Most of our present knowledge of the history of jewelry comes from the study of preserved personal objects from tombs around the world.  From those cultures who did not bury valuables, we can learn about personal adornment from surviving paintings and sculptures.

The the widest sense of the word, jewelry would be ornamental objects made from many kinds of both organic and inorganic materials, such as hair, feathers, scales, bones, shells, wood, leather, metals, or minerals.  Today we think of jewelry primarily as precious or semi-precious gemstones mounted in valuable or attractive metals like gold, silver, platinum, or copper and brass.  Most recently, alternative metals such as steel or titanium are gaining favor. 

My philosophy about jewelry has always been if you like it, buy it and wear it.  It doesn't matter if it's a17-carat diamond or a pair of bright orange plastic dangle earrings.  Jewelry IS personal adornment.  It's all about YOU!  So let Contemporary Concepts adorn you!
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Beautiful Jewelry From Scrap Materials, Part 2

First I need to remind you that scrap materials means not only little leftover bits and pieces, but also things I've had lying around for so long that they probably gave up hope of every adorning someone's body!  This one is a 5mm (millimeter) heart-shaped iolite that I got in a batch of other sizes and shapes of iolites about 12 years ago.  Hearts are hard to set, because they're fat and round at one end and skinny and pointy at the other.  They will often want to pop out the fat end, or shift sideways so the heart seems to be lying partway on its side.  A 5mm stone is a bit of an odd size, too.  It's very small to be set in wire without being in a pre-made pop-in setting first, with a wire design around it.  I didn't have any heart-shaped settings, so I modified a round setting.  Then I just added a small bit of leftover scrap sterling silver wire to secure the setting and make a bail.  Now it's a cute, dainty little pendant, perfect for a young girl or a woman who likes her jewelry understated!  I'll be listing it on Etsy soon!

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My Most Popular Ring

In the mood for a sweet little treat?  This little ring is the most popular style I sell.  It's probably because it's so inexpensive, but all the feedback I get says it's cute and fun and a favorite to wear.  I make them in any size you need, from 3 to 14, in gold or silver twist wire.  You can find them for sale in my Etsy shop, sale priced at only $4.00!  Plus only $2.00 for shipping.

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