As you can see I made some progress since the last blog! In that episode I had just selected the designs I wanted to work with, including several new gemstones.

So I skipped as step before showing you this video. Basically that step showed the first soldering done. This one shows the soldered designs attached to their backing plus I have indicated a few of the components I am using for the ring shanks or pendants. If you read the first blog, you will have seen other gems that are not shown here. I had to dumb down my work so I could complete it in a reasonable time. As you may have guessed, I have a tendency to see a bigger picture than i have the time or energy for! I guess in the long run this is not a horrible habit. But I do have to ‘pin my ears back’ as my father used to call it. To take smaller bites and achieve more.

this also means there will have to be a follow-up blog to show the other gems. Rose Quartz, Druzy quartz, serpentine, Moonstone and Amethyst geodes will become finished designs too. Just not this week!

I am especially excited about this new gem discovery shown here. It’s called petrified palmwood root. I adore the black and caramel inclusions in this gem!

The next steps include final cleanup (some still need filing and shining). shaping and sizing the ring shanks, soldering the back of the silver and attaching to the ring shank and of course, final cleanup, polish and setting the stones.

Lots of individual work goes into each design. and I love every minute of the process!

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The post Moving into phase 3 of my new designs appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Howlite is a gemstone that is not always recognized for it’s beauty. This gorgeous white gemstone features veins of black and silver. It is sometimes referred to as the sacred buffalo. It has a similar structure as turquoise and as a result it is often dyed blue and sold off as turquoise! What a shame. Not only is howlite beautiful in it’s natural state but coloring it blue is a fraudulent way to sell turquoise.

Howlite was first discovered in Nova Scotia and Originally named for Henry How, a 19th century mineralogist. He was the first to make this discovery. Today it is mined in many countries including Turkey, Mexico, Russia and yes here in the USA. I purchase both the cabochons and the beads to use in my jewelry. Currently I have beads shaped like hearts. This creates a wonderful pair of earrings!

I love it because of the many design elements I create with it. The rich whites and black inclusions allows me to combine it with other gems. It’s color blends well with reds, oranges and black. Shown here is a pair of sterling earrings featuring rich black onyx.

Howlite also has a spiritual meaning.

A stone of infinite patience is what this gem is known for. It brings new ideas into focus and as a result it aids in achieving our ambitions. Howlite is also a gem that can help us stay calm.

Want to know more about this gem? Here’s a video with more fascinating facts.

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The post Is it Howlite or is it Turquoise? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Yes believe it or not this rainbow solar quartz gem originates from a stalactite. These are the calcium icicles that hang in a limestone cave. Once they are mined, they are sliced to create this amazing gem. Sadly the rainbow colors are not natural. They are added infused into the gem before the final cabochon is created.

Once I discovered this incredible I had to create one of a kind jewelry. I adore the range of colors and especially love that each gem is unique in the way the color creeps into the gem. You can see my whole collection here

Check out the video, too. I go into more detail about this gem. fascinating!!

If you are intrigued by these designs and want to see more.. please join my Collector’s List.

I invite you to follow me on my design journey by becoming a collector. My collectors receive first look at my newest designs plus Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. And you Get 15% off your first order.

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The post Gemstones from a Stalactite? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Isn’t this gem gorgeous? I agree. Except for the fact that is is NOT a gem or a stone. Goldstone is actually made from glass. An Italian from Venice (Vincenzo Miotti) had the exclusive license to create this stone. In addition to opaque glass, this gem has flecks of copper. That’s what gives it the sparkle you see here.

In the 17th century the Miotti family perfected the technique to create goldstone. They kept this formula a secret for 2 centuries! Finally in the 19th century, Italian glassmaker Pietro Bigaglia introduced it to the rest of the world.

I do love the beauty and sparkle of this stone. And since it is glass, it holds up to lots of treatments without damage. the vibrant colors blend so well with other gems as well. Below you can see it paired with a polychrome jasper gem from Madagascar.

Shop my site for Goldstone and more

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The post Goldstone; Is it really a stone? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

These 4 metals are my raw materials! (along with my gemstones of course). When I first began my jewelry designing journey, I worked exclusively with Copper and sterling silver. We were trained on copper since it’s value was much less than silver, yet it reacts very similar to silver when heated or textured. I fused silver to copper as an experiment and fell in love with the process and the result.

As you can see from this example, the vibrancy of the copper melds so well with the richness of silver. I still use this technique often in the creation of my jewelry designs. As I gained confidence working with silver, I created more and more one of a kind pieces. Many are considered heirloom designs.

This design highlights my love of texturing and especially my love of gemstones. This druzy quartz is pure white. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. It really is a gorgeous piece of art. My journey took me inevitably to gold. First I experimented with Gold Fill. I created many designs combining gold with silver. Another Stunning combination.

This year my journey continues with the addition of steel. Yes I said steel! I am mesmerized by the brilliance of 18k gold on steel that has been blackened. Truly statement jewelry at it’s finest. I have spent hours getting up to speed in working with this new metal. It requires many changes to my routine. Now I feel more comfortable with the process. You will see LOTS more designs in the near future.

I invite you to follow me on my design journey by becoming a collector. My collectors receive first look at my newest designs plus Collector-only discounts and specials. It’s Free. And you Get 15% off your first order.

Here’s How

Shop Here for all my Designs.

The post A Tale of Four Metals appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Peruvian Opal Gemstones have the most vibrant colors. I love the combination of turquoise, teal and caramel. It reminds me of spending time on the beach, letting the sand wiggle between my toes while I absorb the ocean breeze.

Since most of us rarely have ready access to the beach, I implore you to imagine the feeling of being at the beach. Wearing these Peruvian Opal designs will give you the jump start to your new virtual experience!

This vibrant blue/green gem is the national stone of Peru. It is only found in  the Andes Mountains. Legend has it that these gems are a gift from Pachamama, the earliest Inca Goddess of Mother Earth.

Peruvian Opal is said to pacify our minds and even help us sleep better!

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The post Day at the Beach Jewelry Designs appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Lately I spend my time creating new Pendants. Endless design ideas are floating around in my head. I adore bringing them all into reality. Keep in mind that each pendant is handmade and ONE OF A KIND.

While there are a few designs that I keep in the line and create in multiples, they each are still individually hand wrought. each one has it’s own unique marks that make it special.

My collectors group. (Yes you can JOIN … and it’s FREE) see the newest designs first. JOIN HERE and get 15% off you first order! Since each design is one of a kind, I encourage you to show off your purchase by wearing it as often as possible. Then keep it in a safe place to pass along to future members of your family. These designs make great heirlooms.

Visit my shop today to see all designs.

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The post Pendants Anyone? appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

I have the honor of being chosen as one of the top 40 artists to watch this year. ArtsyShark selected my designs. How exciting is this?? The feature on their site is available here. Please comment there. I appreciate it. Here’s a preview of the story.

I love designing with gemstones and metals. Early in my training I worked in copper. Even though this was supposed to be a transition metal before working with more valuable metals, I ended up falling in love with the way copper can be shaped, heated and formed to create color and depth…. more at Artsy Shark

If you wear handmade and one of a kind designs, visit my shop to see the designs.

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Rhodochrosite was first discovered by the Inca’s. They believed that this gem was actually the blood of ancient rulers. Pretty cool! This gem is found primarily in Argentina and Colorado. So it is somewhat rare. In fact certain Indian tribes considered it more precious than gold!

This rich pink gemstone will feature white bands as shown in this pendant.

Want to find out more? Here is the link to my Video on this gem.

Purchase from my online shop HERE

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The post Rhodochrosite; Gemstone of Love appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

For the past several weeks I have been working on a new collection that features Steel and gold. This is a new process for me and I am still in the learning stages. Fusing 18 or 22k gold to steel creates a dramatic design and I am enamored with it. Every waking (and even some sleeping) moment is taken up with this new project. If I am not working on the pieces, I am imagining the possibilities. exciting isn’t it?

Designs will be ready in a few weeks and are offered exclusively to my Collectors Group. Are you interested in being one of the first to see and purchase these beauties?

Just sign up here. It’s FREE.

Check out my current designs here.

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The post Almost Ready for Prime Time Jewelry appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.