Turquoise Treasure on Leather

My friend gave me a bead that she got from a music festival over the summer and asked me to do something with it. I revisited the wrapped wire frame design that has figured prominently in my previous work.


I created seven loops to attach the spike details. All of the wire and findings are sterling silver. I really rather like this side of the piece as one can see the carved detail of the bead more clearly as it is not obscured by the coloring of the stone.


I opted to use a graceful "S" clasp design to add more interest to the back. I can't wait for her to see what I have done with her bead!

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.

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.