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.

Freshwater Pearl Lariat and Earring Set

I revisited a classic design in the warm, rich colors of fall in a set that I designed to donate to a fundraiser for the local library. Freshwater pearls and sterling silver were used to create this timelessly beautiful set.


Each pearl is attached to the necklace on a hand-hammered paddle. The pearls are arranged such so that they twist gracefully up the chain, so that they dangle gracefully on the wearer.


The heart of the earring is a cultivated freshwater pearl. They are created from the clay disc in the shape of the heart, which is inserted into the oyster. The nacre forms around the disc, so that the natural pearl has a unique shape.

Some lucky bidder walked away with a great set that evening!

Reclaimed and reused

This winter I broke my own rule; the one that I am always advising people who buy my earrings not to do --- I wore a pair of earrings without the rubber keepers on the back. And sure enough, I lost one of the earrings by the time I got to work, never to be recovered.

So I took the remaining earring and made it into a necklace.

I utilized small beads of turquoise, ones that I got in LA last spring. They are individually worked on sterling, interspersed with sterling nuggets in a 3-2-1 pattern.

At the clasp, I decided to finish with a smokey quartz detail.

It is good that someone's beautiful handiwork did not go to waste simply because I was a dork. Now watch, that other earring will probably turn up.

A profile in creative challenges

This necklace was a special commission for a friend. She had the teardrop shaped stone (amethyst, I am pretty sure) that was mounted in a very simple four-prong gold frame for a necklace. This is a piece with sentimental value to her, as it was given to her by her grandmother. But she wanted something original done with it, since it was a very standard (read boring) setting for the stone.

I took the stone out of its setting and it sat on my bench in my studio for a while (ok, a long while) as I worked on other things. Then one day as I was glancing at it, it occurred to me that the stone has a face profile carved into the side of it.

I thought that the Net Bezel Pendant design from Eni Oken (www.enioken.com) would be the best way to work with the piece. I had already done one piece with this design and really liked the results. The only thing was that I did not want to cover the profile of the stone with the wire netting. So I really had to think about how I would resolve that design issue.

I finally decided that I would wrap the netting wire around the wire of row that sits flush with the edge of the pendant on the profile edge. This would serve two purposes: Make the transition to the next row and also create an asymmetrical effect that would help to draw attention to the profile. Then when I finished the pendant, I reinforced the asymmetrical nature further by coiling the bail detail at different levels. It also makes the setting more secure.

I consulted with my friend and she decided that she wanted a long (24”) necklace out of doubled sterling chain. This really accentuates the nice vintage look of the wire pendant work.

This project is a great example of how design challenges are great opportunities for design innovation.