This gem is known as pink lace agate and is found in Indonesia. It is not to be confused with Crazy Lace agate. Yes they are both banded agates but Crazy Lace is mined in Mexico. It tends to be deeper colors with hues of brown, burnt orange, grey and yellow. Pink Lace Agate origins As indicated, this gem hails ONLY from Indonesia. Moreover It is a recent find and more … [Read more...]
Tiger Eye or Tiger Iron.. what is the difference?
What is Tiger Eye? Tiger Eye (or tiger's eye) gems are a form of quartz. They are easily recognizable by the golden colored band in the brownish gold gem. Since they are opaque, they reflect light. This gem is so named because it resembles the eye of a tiger! It has a hardness of 6 to 7, which is typical of a quartz. This makes is ideal for creating cabochons and beads for … [Read more...]
Getting Hammered at the Jewelry Bench
So Many Hammers... So Little time! Hammers are an essential piece of my design experience. Each year I purchase more and more hammers. To date I own 31 hammers. Each hammer is designed for a specific task. Texturing hammers (and I have several) are used to create texture and design in the metal. I have ones that create patterns such as tiny squares or circles, a … [Read more...]
Cloud Dreams; My Newest Collection
Have you ever spent a lazy afternoon gazing at the clouds on a sunny day…picking out shapes, naming them, dreaming, and having fun? This is the spirit that inspired me to create my CLOUD DREAMS collection. Finding the Gem The stones (from Indonesia) are White Plume Agate. I discovered this gem quite by accident. Over the last year I have been purchasing many of my … [Read more...]
How to Deal with a Creativity Block
You've heard of Writer's Block, right? This is when a novelist or other writer just cannot seem to move forward with the book they are writing. The ideas are just NOT flowing. Recently, as a jewelry designer, I experienced something similar. I'll create the scene for you here. My Creativity Block DAY In the morning I have ideas on how my day will unfold. I want to … [Read more...]
