I've had a short vacation which I thoroughly enjoyed. My family and I went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a few days. The waves were awesome and the weather hot, but agreeable nonetheless. It was a special thrill to see my grand-daughter view the ocean for her first time. The noise of the waves was so loud that I'm sure she felt rather daunted by the sea, but she adored the sandy beach. Outfitted with her bikini, a cover-up, sunscreen, a hat, and the new beach bag I bought her, she used her shovel and pail to play in the sand and spent her time digging holes and examining pieces of shells which she found immensely interesting. Needless to say, I didn't make jewelry during this vacation. However, I have done a few custom pieces since I've been back and have barely been able to get a couple of pieces of jewelry made. Top, is a mother of pearl bracelet with a cloisonne butterfly accented by gold. And yes, that is orange mother of pearl! Below is an agate bracelet with yellow calcite and a sharply faceted citrine nugget enhanced with a pretty little artist's lampwork bead covered with flowers.
The salvation bracelet above features black onyx, genuine ruby and sapphire, rock crystal, a genuine emerald, and citrine along with a freshwater pearl cross. This is a smaller scale bracelet than some of the salvation bracelets I make and is perfect for anyone, young or old. Finally, the coral necklace features large sealife sterling silver beads from the Karen Hill Tribes and sealife charms, a turtle, a sand dollar, a shell. The blue coral is accented with some of my best artist's lampwork beads. The second strand, a sterling silver chain with charms, can be detached from the main part of the necklace and worn alone.
I'm trying a new template; drop me a line and let me know how you like it. I will probably be changing it more soon. DON'T FORGET OUR FREE SHIPPING!!!!!!
I haven't been to my house in Arkansas this May; instead, I've stayed in the city with my baby grand-daughter. I have missed the flowers of Arkansas although I really prefer the city. My yard in Arkansas, both front and back, is filled with my favorite peonies, a pale pink with a gorgeous smell. The flowering privet has a fragrance that I can lingers all over the property and the privet itself hums with the activity of harmless bees. A climbing rose covers two stories of the entire back of our garage - white roses with a pale pink tinge to them. Hydrangeas are in the front, the blue ones with their little clusters of petals and huge snowball like blooms. May truly blooms in Arkansas, and the "April showers bring May flowers" is an apt saying there. Here my "flowers" are beads that I put together in jewelry. They do lack scent, but they make up for that by never fading and keeping their colour and shape forever. When I combine the beads and components into a piece of jewelry, it's as though I have a vase of fresh flowers that will last forever! I'm working a lot with coral as the days get much, much longer. Above and below are two coral necklaces,
one with dark coral "fingers" alternated with freshwater pearls and borosilicate lampwork beads and one with red coral and gold. Below that is a blue coral bracelet mixed with sterling silver sea charms and beads and Thai Karen Hill Tribes chain. 
Above, a touch of coral enlivens a turquoise and coral bracelet with sterling silver and artist's lampwork. Turquoise and coral are a favorite combination of mine and warrants its own special page on the Cluny Grey website. Other than coral, I've been working on briolette earrings, below are candy jade, but I have many more pairs on the briolette earrings page. I've recently found some interesting agate and you'll be seeing much more than just the 3 agate bracelets with crazy lace agate featured below.
It is also the season of graduations, proms, and weddings, hence the crystal jewelry below. The Swarovski crystal jewelry below can be found on our Swarovski Bridal Jewelry page. An especial favorite of mine are the large briolette earrings in Swarovski crystal below the Swarovski starfish.
Enjoy the longer May days! Don't forget that shipping is FREE!
