Inspiration: Blue Skies, Streaks of White & Roiling Bubbles of Gray

Yes, roiling – a term used in the world of gemology and frequently by rockhounds. And, that would be me! If you look at a pot of boiling water, you can see the general “roiling” effect as bubbles leave the bottom on the pot and roll to the surface. There – that’s what we mean by roiling and it does appear in gems and rocks, as well! And, without a doubt it also happens in the sky – at least in this part of the world.

Pantone Fall/Winter 2014: Radiant Orchid

Just squeezing in under the wire here with a look at Radiant Orchid – another Pantone Fashion Color choice for fall and winter! Most likely you haven’t missed this gem of a color in the stores in your neighborhood, on your monitor or your screen. It seems to be everywhere and, seriously, I think it is a color that will always be around in one form or another. 

Pantone Fall 2014: Mauve Mist

Lepidolite, amethyst and purple banded agate in a toss with coin pearls, crystal quartz and some old-school Judith Ripka.

With New York Fashion Week in full swing, I know that all of our attention has been thrown to Spring 2015 and the colors for that season – all of which look pretty remarkable. But, come on, if you’re a little bit like me, you live in the real world and we still get to traipse through fall and winter 2014 before those spring colors and fashions hit the arena!

Pantone Fall 2014: Misted Yellow

Misted Yellow – with just a hint of spice. I'm thinking that sounds either very exotic…or a bit like Dijon mustard! And, for me, and perhaps all you moms out there, a third image comes to mind; but I’ll spare you those details! Yes, Misted Yellow is a color selection in the Pantone® Fashion Report Fall 2014. How do I feel about yellow? I really do love it, but I struggle with wearing big hunks of yellow, misted or any other hue, in my clothing. In fact, I don’t think I have one thing that is yellow…do I? Sadly my skin and hair color really aren’t that chummy with yellow – but pushing that fact aside I still sneak yellow into my look. How? You guessed it…jewelry and shoes.

Fanfare Please: Fluorite, Crystal Quartz & Pearls

I have fluorite on the brain! Maybe because I.m longing for the sea – oh, that sounds so dramatic doesn’t it? Well, I am always longing for the ocean even after all the years of not living by it…since I can’t be there right now, I take solace in designing with fluorite. If you haven’t seen this gemstone in person, boy, are you in for a treat. When I work with fluorite, I always think of the waters in the Caribbean – not the shallow parts you see from the shore and wiggle your toes in; but the aqua-green-blue colors you see when you are out sailing, diving or snorkeling and stare into the depths. One of the reasons I love working with beads is that they allow light to pass through the stone and in fluorite the result mimics the sunlight dancing off the sea.

Fanfare Please – Angelite, Crystal Quartz, Silver Potato Chips & Leaves

Sometimes simple is magnificent! Case in point – this stunning angelite and crystal quartz gemstone bracelet. You know that my trademark design is usually a three-strand, sometimes five-strand, bracelet or necklace. However, there are times when I sit at the bench in my studio and see a single strand that I think is stunning in its simplicity. This was one of those times. These faceted gobstoppers of angelite are so beautiful; I wanted to design a piece that showcased their wonder.

One Bracelet – Five Looks!

Crystal quartz or are those big melting ice cubes dancing around your wrist? Bold crystal quartz gemstones, freshwater pearls and Florentine-finished gold vermeil…lovely to look at and oh so much fun to wear. Of course, when you are channeling a bit of the Grace Kelly character in “Rear Window" you can wear the three-strand bracelet on its own – but look through your existing collection and start counting the ways you can mix it up for really unusual looks. Here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices in gear.

Would You Believe Eight Years?

Wowza! In February 2006, as a way to showcase and sell my jewelry designs, I officially started my blog. At that time technology offering budget-friendly formats that made it possible for little guys like me to have a fully functioning website/online store didn’t exist. Hard to believe, I know; but it’s fact! So I figured that a blog  was the next best thing. Fast forward eight years and not only is my blog still up and running (three hundred and twenty-two posts) but there is a fully functioning very lively separate website and online store highlighting about two hundred jewelry designs along with stories of their inspiration and creation!

Collars & Chokers & Trends, Oh My

While I love necklaces, I have never been a fan of a collar or choker style that is worn higher on my neck. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not so happy about how my neck looks and the fact that it has never been or ever will be swan-like; or if it’s my general claustrophobic nature kicking in that makes me feel as if I am being strangled when I wear anything tight. Who knows, maybe it’s just the name “choker” that sends me over the edge. Where is Freud when you need him?

Inspiration: Snow & Pearls

When it comes to jewelry, pearls have always been a long-standing classic, sometimes even accompanied by a bit of mystique. Walk through any legendary art museum and you’ll find portrait after portrait of intriguing women wearing pearls – necklaces, bracelets and earrings – sometimes just one pearl earring (talk about your mystique!) I have had a long time infatuation with all things pearl.

Inspiration: Freezing Fog

A few weeks back, my birthday week to be exact, I received the best gift ever. Mother Nature gave me her finest. Taking my regular route mid-morning, I headed out to Dundee to meet with my hairstylist for a cut and color and some fun girl chat. A few blocks from home everything seemed to look quite different than is usual for this time of year. I pulled my Jeep off road to get a closer look of the white bark birch trees that line the property where I had stopped. The bare branches and trunks were covered in frost; not glistening ice, but soft shimmery frost. The sky was white and soft. It was magical – I felt as if I was standing in the middle of the best snow globe ever.

“Dear, don’t you think you are wearing too many bracelets?”

Dragonfly Czech Vintage Button &
Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Thank the gods, those are words you will never hear again – and if you do, cover your ears and pretend you don’t hear them! I’m the first to say that there is something powerfully pleasing about a stack of bracelets dancing on your wrist. These days, in the vast jewelry arena, you know there are lots and lots and lots from which to choose.

Is There a Formula?

Earlier this week I read a fashion blog entry that was touting what seemed to be the equivalent of the perfect mathematical formula for stacking bracelets. Being the fanatic that I am when it comes to details, I had a good chuckle over the fact that there was someone out there in the same fanatics unite club! However, I think they had a different membership than me!

“Sunshine, oh sunshine, wherefore art thou?”

I know, I know, I live in the Pacific Northwest so why am I always complaining about the lack of sunshine? I should be use to it by now, shouldn’t I? Well, let the record show I am not use to it; and, honestly, I don’t think I will ever get use to it. I’m a SoCal beach girl at heart – so sunshine and ocean breezes are my happy place!

Fanfare Please -- Rough & Polished Amethyst & Crystal Quartz Bracelet

By now you have to know how much I love gemstones in their rough state. That being said – this three-strand bracelet is made up of rough amethyst and dazzling crystal quartz.

Fanfare Please -- Yellow Calcite & Crystal Quartz

Sometimes simple is magnificent. Case in point – this magnificent yellow calcite and crystal quartz bracelet. You know that my trademark design is usually a three-strand, sometimes five-strand, bracelet or necklace. However, there are times when I sit at the bench in my studio and see a simple, yet stunning, single strand design. This was one of those times.

It's so Easy Being Green!

Green Aventurine, Prehnite & Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Maybe it’s because it’s St. Patrick’s Day, maybe it’s because Pantone has named Emerald the color of the year for 2013 or just maybe it’s because I gaze out the studio window and I see little touches of green here and there. I am so happy to see spring…so very happy. The winters in this part of the country are really tough – at least for this born and raised SoCal girl.

300 and Still Standing!

When I was posting my last blog about reaching 10,000 tweets on Twitter, I didn’t notice until after the fact that post was my 300^th in a very long stream of blog posts. Where or where does the time go? And, more importantly, where or where do the words come from?

10,000? Could it be Possible?

Oh dear, at some point earlier in the week I posted my 10,000 tweet. For those of you who might not know exactly what that means – I’ll say my 10,000 tweet on Twitter. Okay, for a person who resisted Twitter for a year or so, I sure seem to have jumped in with both feet! That number couldn’t possibly be right…could it?

Snow, snow & snow!

All this talk of NYC and Nemo threw me back in time. A year or so before I moved out of the city there was a terrific snow storm in the city and I remember it all so well. Growing up in SoCal, snow was always so magical to me…the only time I experienced it was on trips to the mountains as a kid where we would fly down hills on sleds and toboggans  and on skiing adventures as I grew older. Living in this part of the country, while we get snow on occasion, it is nothing like that I was so lucky to experience in New York.