Our Blog
For the Art’s Sake
William Holland SchoolMore than 10 years ago, I found out about the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts, which sent my art into a different trajectory. It is a lovely little school (my husband calls it “art camp”) nestled in the woods in Young Harris, Georgia....
Ooh, Labradorite!!!
Like many stones, labradorite is named after the place where it was first found - Labrador, which is in Canada. I have always admired the incredible fire and colors in labradorite, also known as a “fire stone”. It is known for its changing colors and aids the body and...
Love “Stones”
I think I fell in love with gemstones while I was learning to wire wrap in 2000. It’s hard to believe that is now over 22 years ago. But, as some of you may have heard me say this (or read it somewhere), I am a rockhound and my jewelry making supports my “habit”. ...
Courage & Strength Continued
This month I'm continuing with more gemstones that help with courage and strength. My focus this month is on howlite, onyx and lapis lazuli, three more stones with amazing properties that help with both courage and strength.Howlite Not only does howlite promote inner...
Courage and Strength ~ Aquamarine, Bloodstone and Carnelian
Last month I talked about the protective and healing properties of Shungite. This month, I’d like to focus on some gemstones that help with courage and strength, something that a client recently contacted me about. She was looking for a stone that helps with those...
Shungite, Does It Help with EMFs?
Shungite earringsMost gemstones have healing properties, properties that may help with emotional or physical issues. I’ve often met clients who are attracted to certain stones and find out that they help with certain things they are lacking in and need in their lives....
Anatomy of a Custom Order
Here’s an example of a true experience I recently had. My client was given a tumbled gemstone rock(smoky quartz) by her daughter. The meaning to her was far beyond any dollar amount and she wanted it turned into a precious keepsake that she could wear often. She also...
Valentines – The Heart Of the Matter
This beautiful heart pendant, made with a mabé pearl, is on its way to Kress Emporium.While some people say Valentine’s Day is a Christian holiday, others say it has a pagan background. Regardless of its origins, Valentine’s Day represents romance, and what symbolizes...
Ring Ring Ringing in 2022
Sayonara 2021! Time to Get Our Bling-On in 2022If you are the type of person that just loves color, texture, and unusual designs, this is the place to be, because I'm about to show you sparkly, interesting, unique...and you'll be ringing in the new year with...
The Browns & Golds of November
Now that Summer is gone, gone, gone, and the oranges and reds of October have peaked and we will soon be left with browns and golds to remind us that Autumn is really here. I thought I’d visit with the browns and golds in gemstones and metals. I think it’s fun to find...
A Fallen Leaf…
If I have to think of fall, the first thing that comes to mind are leaves, leaves, and more leaves. (My yard is comprised of trees...lots and lots of trees, which mean an annual onslaught of falling leaves.) So, leaves is what we shall focus on this month.My BackyardI...
The Colors of Quartz
To coordinate with the Henderson County Gem and Mineral Society’s upcoming HUGE annual Gem Extravaganza on Labor Day weekend, I thought I’d give you a bit of background on this year’s theme. It is the Colors of Quartz. Quartz is found all over the world and is the...
Treasures From the Sea
As our summer heats up, it makes me want to just spend my days oceanside, splashing in the surf. Alas, the mountains don’t provide many waves to frolic in, and so I must satisfy that urge for the ocean by playing with ocean gemstones. Known as the “Jewel of the...
Bucket List ~ Down Under Gemstones
Like me, I bet most of you have been itching to travel. Since we’ve been on lock down, I decided to revive a wonderful memory of our “Bucket List” trip to Australia and New Zealand several years ago. It was unforgettable and extraordinary! So, journey with me to...
April Showers Bring May Flowers
April showers bring May flowers, and this is the theme of May! Our recent rains have resulted in resplendent blooms of azaleas, tulips and more, dotted among the leaves of daylilies, rhododendrons, and hostas awaiting their blooms. It’s time to celebrate the beauty of...
The Colors Of April
In celebration of spring,the colors of April reflect the blue of robins’ eggs, the petals of lavender, the swirling patterns of yellow and white like the daisy centers, and pink cherry blossoms. Like a garden of colors bursting with life, these stones are inspired by...
The Color of March
The color of March is dark and light pastel green. You see this hue in forests and jungles, from the darkness of ivy and malachite to the lushness of green lotus leaves and Peruvian opals. Peruvian opals, the lightest of these March gems, are found in the Andes...
And Kiki Makes Four, Our New “Covid” Family
After 3 years since we put down our last standard poodle, Max and decided to pet sit, but not get another dog. The loss was just too painful. And then something changed. We took care of a friend’s dog, Duke, that had the same temperament as Max and the house felt the...
Ringing in the New Year (Thank Goodness!)
Sayonara 2020! Time to Get Our Bling-On in 2021 Last month (last year) I promised to ring in the new year by showing you some sparkle for your fingers. If you are less of a sparkle person and prefer beauty in simplicity, check out this post. If, however, you are the...
With Rings on Her Fingers…
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toesShe will make music wherever she goesWell, maybe not music so much, because I'm really not much of a bell-ringer. But I do happen to be pretty talented at ring-making (if I do toot my own horn...or ring my own bell. ...
My Favorite Color is…Autumn
What comes to my mind when this spectacular time of year is mentioned? Autumn, with crisp temperatures, sweaters, pretty leaves that are always accompanied by imported leaf-peepers. Oh, okay, and Halloween and Thanksgiving, too. But this month, I really wanted to...
Picture This: Gemstones that Take Us Places
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, the pictures are of watercolor scenes, other times, they are portraits. I was working in my studio and realized that I have some gemstones that seem to do the same thing, remind me of someone or someplace....
Let’s See what we can Sea
Labor Day brings thoughts of Summer's last hurrah, complete with a quick jaunt to the beach to splash in the surf. Alas, the mountains several hours beyond a "jaunt", and the lakes here don’t provide many waves to frolic in, and so I must satisfy that urge for the...
Jurassic Jewelry
If I said the word fossil, you would probably go directly to thinking about dinosaurs, arid dusty sites crawling with paleontologists, and perhaps even Jurassic Park comes to mind.Paleontologists, getting down and dirty.I can't talk about fossils without talking about...
The Moon, The Sun, and The Stars
Three years ago, we were all a-twitter here in Western North Carolina, gearing up for a total solar eclipse that took place on August 21, 2017. I was looking at some of my older posts, deciding which ones deserved to come back to my new website, I came across this...
Here Comes the Bride
Wedding season is upon us (heck, wedding season is year-round if truth be told). Accessorizing for the bridal party can often be a source of stress for the brides, but for me, it can be the source of my inspiration. Most brides are looking for one-of-a-kind pieces...
The Importance of Pants (and Other Bodily Coverings)
(This month, I've invited Gaelen Abt, also known as The Style Sherpa, to write a blog post. She is a Rhode Island Wardrobe ReDesigner who specializes in bringing out her clients' most authentic selves through their personal style.) My definition of Style is Dressing...
Doing The Loop-de-Loop
The process between vision and actual execution can be challenging. Back when I was learning one of the styles of ring-making (in 2015), I discovered a way to wrap a stone and uniformly leave 2 loops on the side, so I can incorporate the stone right into the necklace...
Can We Talk?
..about custom jewelry? It's one of my favorite things to do. Ever. There is nothing quite as thrilling as having someone find their perfect gemstone (in my studio or out on their own) and working with them to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry that fits them...
There’s A Whole Lot of Busy-Ness Going On
Not too long ago, I committed to creating out of my storehouse of cabochons and beads, and resist the gem shows (see the results of my labors here and here). I'm here to tell you I have fallen off the wagon! A gem show was just 10 minutes from my house, and I swear...
I purchased this red cinnabar necklace, and it is gorgeous! It has a nice weight to it, and beautiful detail. I bought the matching earrings as well, and they’re just as gorgeous!
