Ocean Jasper

Ocean Jasper is one of my favourite stones to work with. It comes in so many different colours and "eye" swirls and no two stones look alike. Sometimes this can be a challenge when trying to match for earrings and pendants.

I found some really cute pink ocean jasper stones. I very rarely come across the pink colour and to have 3 stones that were relatively the same quite remarkable. I wrapped both the earrings and pendant in sterling silver which seemed to highlight the pink colour. The pendant is about 1 inch long and the earrings are about 1/2 inch long.

Here is another picture of a wrapped ocean jasper where you can clearly see a few of the "eyes".This one is wrapped in 14k gold filled wire.

Rings

I love creating rings. They are always such a challenge. Here is a custom order ring, size 7, in sterling silver with a wrapped precious opal. This pic doesn't capture the real beauty of the stone but gives a sense of what the ring is about. I have also used this same style with 14k gold filled wire.

When I am creating a ring I make sure that the wire around the ring mandral is around 1/4 to 1/2 size bigger than the size I want to allow for the extra wire coils of the wrap.

Meaning of the Tree of Life

Some people have asked me, "What is the Tree of Life" exactly. Many people have a general idea but not the specifics.

The concept of a tree of life is a many-branched tree that illustrates the idea that all life on earth is related and has been used in: science, religion, philosophy, mythology, and other areas. A tree of life is variously,

1. a motif in various world theologies, mythologies, and philosophies;

2. a mystical concept alluding to the interconnectedness of all life on our planet;

3. a metaphor for common descent in the evolutionary sense.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the tree of knowledge, connecting heaven and the underworld, and the tree of life, connecting all forms of creation, are both forms of the world tree or the cosmic tree. According to some scholars, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, portrayed in various religions and philosophies, are the same tree.

If you have seen Avatar, the tree of life is a central theme to that movie.

The pic above shows the tree of life as earrings, sterling silver, and copper wire with the same stones as in the post below.

Charkra Jewellery

I am developing a line of Chakra jewellery. Shown
to the right is a Tree of Life pendant in sterling silver
with copper as the trunk and branches and the chakra colours from the base up in garnet, carnelian, citrine, peridot, aquamarine, iolite and amethyst chips, with matching chip earrings.I am also designing chakra trees of life in 14k gold filled wire. (very nice)

Other chakra jewellery are pendants that are in the chakra order as well as chakra earrings that are mini trees of life. (pics to follow). Prices range from $15 to $40 depending on stones, size of pendants/earrings and metal used.

I also have put together chakra stone sets of various types of stones for those who would like those stones for meditation (ranging from $25 to $35).

Wrapped Round Stones and Properties of Jet

I was really having trouble how to determine to wrap round stones when I came across an online tutorial with just that theme. It was not as easy as it looked but it certainly solved my dilemma.

Pictured here is a sterling silver wrapped piece of round jet.

I find jet facinating. For those of you unfamiliar with jet, it is also known as lignite. It is a geological material but not considered a true mineral but rather a mineraloid, as it has an organic origin, being derived from decaying wood under extreme pressure (coal).

Some miscellaneous information about jet:

Unlike black glass which is cool to the touch, jet is not, due to its lesser thermal conductivity.Jet is also known as black amber because it may induce an electrical charge when rubbed like amber.

When Queen Victoria's husband Albert died she ordered that no jewellery except jet should be worn because of its austere yet modest appearance. It became THE mourning jewellery. Jet was also used for monk's rosaries.

Snowflake Pendant

I was asked before Christmas if I ever made snowflake jewellery. I never had so I gave it a try. I used stirling silver 20 gauge half hard wire for the frame. Stones are moonstone ships and rondelles and reflective faceted glass beads for accents. The pendant is a little less then 2 inches round. I liked designing it but I found the frame difficult to put together.

Guy Jewellery

I have done commissions for guy jewellery. Chokers mostly so far, some key chains. The most popular materials to date are bone and wood, for both adults and teens although I have done braided leather with a wrapped stone.

I use clasps that are either magnetic or S clasps. These are easy and fast to put on. The only problem with magnetic clasps is that sometimes, particularly in winter when wearing heavier clothes, the clasps come apart. Here are two examples of guy chokers.

Shell Jewellery

I just love using shells for jewellery. The shapes and colours are so versatile and fun. Here are some pieces I really enjoyed designing. Because the long pieces had holes drilled at the top and bottom, I was able to double strand the bracelet (below) and the choker (to the right) in an interesting way. The earring are a little off the wall but it all seems to go together.

Composition: choker on memory wire, all shells except for some clear glass beads; bracelet is all shell with a gold metal toggle clasp; earrings are all shell with 14k gold filled ear wires (tarnish resistant gold wire used to put them together).

These pieces are still available. For more pictures of shell jewellery scroll down the blog.

Trapazoid Pendants

I came across a few of these unusually shaped trapazoid pendant type stones in different colours of agate. I paired this green agate with purple amethyst, then added green aventurine rounds to complete the design. (All wire is sterling silver). This was actually created to be displayed during a wine tasting show in Prince Edward County. I thought the purple and green reminded one of grapes!

This completed jewellery is still available as well as two other orange agate trapazoids waiting to be made into jewellery.

Freform Stirling Silver Pendant with Earings

I have been having fun experimenting with freeform jewellery. This pendant is in stirling silver and various green, blue-green stones such serpentine, malachite, amazonite, turqoise, (also stirling silver spacers).

It was a lot of fun to make but this project took me 10 hours to complete and almost 60 inches of fine stirling silver wire. But it is totally unique with its beautiful matching drop earrings. I like to think that this jewellery is protective on the heart and heart chakra.

I plan to make more freeform pendants associated with the other chakras, red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo and crystal pendants, all freeform so none will be exactly the same, all with matching earings and perhaps bracelets. Prices will range from $65 to $85 depending on the stones and amount of stirling silver wire used. Earrings $18 to $25. Some of these earrings may be drops or freeform themselves.

Lapis Nevada

Lapis Nevada is a rare unusual stone composed of 11 different minerals and glows with pale greens, blues, greys and a touch of pink/lavendar blush. It is said from a metaphysical aspect to promote creativity.

I was lucky enough to obtain several drilled lapis nevada pendants in different shapes as well as several strings of rounds to allow multiple jewellery designs. This flexibility also allows me to be able to sell the pieces individually.

Drop earings are 1 1/2 inches with stirling silver earwires, wire and spacers ($18).

Bracelet ( $25 ) and 18 inch necklace ($45) have stirling silver clasps, while the necklace also has stirling silver spacers. I just love the beauty of these stones that seem to radiate a calm, peacefullness.

My next post will show the different style pendants, more information on the mineral content of this stone as well additional detail on its metaphysical properties.

Kirsten's Malachite Egyptian Fan Jewellery

This gorgeous 14" malachite and clear crystal quartz necklace and matching earings were designed for my young friend Kirsten who is going to be a flower girl at her brother's wedding. Kirsten picked out a malachite Egyptian fan and we decided to use a mix of 4 and 6 mm clear quartz rounds, with stirling silver clasp,crimps, wire and fishhooks earings. I used the smallest ends of the fan for the earings. This jewellery absolutely glows with a light of its own and will be a perfect match to Kirsten's glow when she walks down the aisle.

There are still fans available in red tiger's eye, blue lace agate, and blue gold stone

Shells, Fish and a Pearl

My favourite things, shells, fish and pearls altogether in one necklace and earings set. This 18" necklace features a centered fish pendant with a single stirling silver and pearl drop. The shells and pearl are irridescent purplish, pink, and grey, while the earings are a delicate two shells and a pearl offset by stirling silver wire and "fish hook" earwires. This $45 ocean inspired jewellery reminds one of the ebb and flow of life, to calm and center, and to meditate on the values of faith, truth, and integrity.

One of a Kind Shell Jewellery

Shells, shells everywhere. This unique 16" shell choker was created with pale irridescent pink and grey shells and metal findings. The earings are shell, stirling silver wire and stirling silver fish hook earwires.

This necklace set represents boundless growth, and adaptability as in the ocean shells are discarded by their owners in favour of a larger home. The pale pinks and swirley greys provoke imagination, intuition and sensitivity through their lovely irridescent play of colours. This one of a kind set is $65. Although I have other different shells this necklace is unlikely to ever be created in quite the same way again.

Tree of Life Pendant

These lovely new pendants were created using memory wire as the main framework with copper wire as the trunk and jemstone chips as the leaves.

The picture above shows the Tree of Life created from unikite jem stone chips. The greens and pinks seem to radiate a calm gentleness and harmony with the earth's energy.

I used double A quality amethyst chips for the second pendant above and it just glows with universal healing energy.

Trees of Life may be made from any gemstone chips as well as with stirling silver instead of the memory wire and/or copper. Size is approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Pendants range from $20 to $35 depending on materials and jem chips used. All come with cotton knotted cord included, however stirling silver chains can be substituted if desired. Chips currently available are citrine, sunstone, green and blue aventurine, lapis, unikite, red, blue and brown tiger's eye and snowflake obsidian.

Feedback regarding the Tree of Life Pendants are welcome as well as any commissions.