A polished petrified palmwood gem can look like a tiny fossil garden, filled with dots, circles, and branching lines. Yet it isn't a gemstone crystal like ruby or diamond. It is ancient plant material whose original structure survived mineral replacement. For jewelry lovers and fossil collectors, petrified palmwood root offers two stories at once: the story of an old palm … [Read more...]
Earrings; A small object with a colorful History
Earring materials tell you what people prized, what they could reach, and what they believed. Bone, shell, copper, silver, gold, glass, and steel are all part of the history. The story begins close to the ground and ends in a world full of new options, but the old meanings still cling to the surface. The earliest earrings were made from what people could find nearby. Early … [Read more...]
Bolo Tie History: From Cowboy Dress to Everyday Wear
A few years ago a customer asked me to fashion a bolo tie for him. While I had never created this type of design, I was up for a new challenge. Let's just say this was quite the learning curve. I did lots of research and dove rignt in. The finished design was beautiful. Afterwards I went back to creating my pendant, ring, cuff and earring designs. In the back of my mind … [Read more...]
Chocolate Love Jewelry Designs
Are you ready to indulge yourself without the calories? Smoky quartz is the perfect choice. This gorgeous gem is part of the quartz family. That means it is hard to the touch. (7 on the Mohs Scale) It is easy to facet, creating a luminous gem. See the image below to get a feel for the faceted finished product. the gem at top is tiger eye. I love the way these gems complement … [Read more...]
Moonstone; Slice of Pure Moonlight
This iridescent and pearlescent gem has been revered for centuries. If you are a June baby you can claim this gem as your birthstone. Lucky June babies! This gem is predominately white but also can be grey or peach colored. Black inclusions can occur too. These inclusions are actually tourmaline. Personally I prefer the white version. Locations around the world mine this gem. … [Read more...]
