Feeling Chipper

These necklaces are created from sterling chain, wire, and gemstone chips. The gemstones shown here are turquoise, peridot, and lapis lazuli. They skim the area just under the hollow of the throat at about 16 inches.



Although the design is simple, the execution of these pieces is relatively time consuming. Each necklace has nearly 50 small chips that are attached securely to the chain with 28 gauge sterling wire. Each necklace has a swivel lobster claw clasp, so that the necklace will not get twisted and the chips will dangle from the bottom of the chain.



The resulting piece is a delicate, graceful, modern necklace that is completely unique and looks great by itself or layered with other necklaces.



These pieces also enable the wearer to benefit from the intrinsic qualities of the gemstones.


Lapis - Overcome depression and open the door to self awareness. It can help the wearer to become an authentic individual who can openly and fearlessly state state his or her deepest thoughts to another.


Peridot - Stone of compassion. It has a friendly energy and is excellent for healing. It assists in rebirth and renewal of all kinds. Peridot also bring abundance and prosperity. It enhances the healing and harmony of relationships of all kinds, but particularly marriage. Peridot can lessen stress in relationships, anger and jealousy.


Turquoise - Associated with the sky, and bringing sky energy to earth. It can help promote honest and clear communication from the heart. It is also said to protect against pollution in the environment, and to bring abundance. It is very powerful for grounding and protection also.

Modifying a custom bracelet to make it longer

This is a multi-strand bracelet fashioned out of sterling silver. Amethyst, lapis, rough sapphire, Tibetan quartz crystals, freshwater pearls, abalone and sterling pieces make up the "charms" of the bracelet.

This bracelet was commissioned by my brother for his girlfriend. He gave me a budget and then let me design the piece according to what I already know about her style.

It didn't take long at all for the design of the piece to come together. I knew right away that I would be working with deep blue and purple hues. She has blue eyes that seem to verge on indigo to me. She favors deep hues in her dress.

There is a very oceanic quality to the piece, deep inky water under a waning moon.

When she got the bracelet, it turned out that it was not quite long enough. A charm bracelet needs to have a little space and movement on the wrist. And Amber is a little bigger boned than I. So I had to make it longer in such a way that it would be integrated into the design of the bracelet without looking "added onto". This is the piece as it was originally designed:


I decided to to lengthen it with the same materials out of which the dangles of the bracelet had been made. The pearl had to be drilled to make the hole bigger to accommodate the 22 gauge wire. Then I put the nice Tibetan quartz crystal on the other side. Then so that the links transition well with the rest of the design of the bracelet, I added the respective rough sapphire and amethyst dangles at each side.