Back to Basics

This type of simple yet exotic jewelry is the original reason I got into jewelry design. I love the elemental richness of large beads of carnelian, jasper, silver, and carved bone or coral. Their organic, natural colorings are subtle and easy to wear with many of today's clothes, from basic jeans to dressy black evening outfits. Carved beads are from China, jasper and bone probably also - Bali sterling silver, and I made the PMC fine silver beads in the necklace. Beautifully made lampwork in the bracelet is by Joanne Zekowski.

Light Hearted Jewelry

I know that summer's almost over, but today is still in the low 90s and light jewelry is so appealing. It's fun and easy to make with little dangles made of PMC, some pearls, some beach glass. And blue is a color that can be worn year round. The necklace on the right uses Czech pressed glass in a matte finish along with blue quartz and silver dagger beads. Just the thing to look cool on the last hot days of summer!

Bracelets, bracelets!!

Slinky, sexy, silvery bracelets - yes, I have been going bracelet crazy in the last couple of days. I love the rich colors of natural gemstones - fluorite, deep red carnelian, blue opals, and natural carnelian which ranges from palest of yellows to dark rust. I love to combine the gems with the little silver daisy spacer beads and use a silver magnetic clasp with a guard chain and a dangle. So delightful to wear, combining them with most other bracelets or colors is easy to do. Try the purple amethyst (not shown but available) and either fluorite or natural carnelian. Or, combine the two different carnelians - gorgeous, slinky fun!

A Purple Heart

A dear friend of mine loves purple. Her bedroom is painted purple with purple carpeting. Over the years I have made purple earrings, purple necklaces and purple bracelets for her, and even given her a purple linen blouse. Now I have decided she needs a purple heart. Why? Because of her amazing gift of herself to help the orphaned children of Zambia. She has just returned from spending 2 weeks in Zambia with the group Mothers Without Borders. While she was there, she celebrated her 72nd birthday, building housing and working in the fields to make bricks with a pickax! Way to go, Jo! If you are interested in seeing what these wonderful people are doing to help with the one million orphaned children due to AIDS, check out www.motherswithoutborders.org