Racheloj

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A Great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, despite rarely getting to spend it with my only son (I get to do that at Christmas). But this Thanksgiving was special; not only did I get to spend it with my son and his wife, we went to them in Washington, D.C. and had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at 1789 (great restaurant in Georgetown) along with other friends and my niece and her fiance. The great news: I am going to be a grandmother!!! I've never had a Thanksgiving quite like this one! My only wish is that my sister, her husband and son could have been there too (our regular Thanksgiving crew).

Although I've been busy traveling and eating good food, I do have some new pieces on the website. You can find new bracelets on the Swarovski Crystal Bracelets page and the Lampwork Bracelets page.
Today, I'm featuring 3 of the newest necklaces to hit the Cluny Grey Jewelry website. The top labradorite necklace has a pretty teardrop shaped pendant with a labradorite cabochon with plenty of flash. The second rose quartz necklace is a favorite of mine, not only because it is made with vermeil (gold), but because of the very large, rough-cut rose quartz nuggets that make up the lower sides of the necklace. The pendant is especially too: a large rose quartz cabochon with bezel-set citrines at the bottom.
Finally, the bottom necklace is made primarily of jade with a sterling silver pendant consisting of a carved flower and a prehnite cabochon. Do remember that when these are shown on display, they look longer usually than they actually are. Please ask if you need a necklace a certain length.

Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

More for Valentine's Day

I'm still trying to get my depleted website full once again, but it's not easy when you're a one-woman design team. Custom orders do keep me busy and away from the computer (that's why I'm always writing at night, at home, since my studio is downtown.). If I could make jewelry and work on my custom orders at home, I'd never get anything listed on the site. This week, sickness has also intervened , keeping me in bed for 3 days and away from the studio and the computer. My dear kitties , who are only a bit over a year old , totally exuberant, full of life and energy, spent most of those 3 days in bed with me, one sleeping beside me, one on my feet or legs. Of course, now they have energy to spare and all they want to do is play.

Some of the new bracelets that will be on the website soon (or at least by the end of this weekend) are on the post today. The first is a rose quartz bracelet with pretty lampwork beads by Riveroaks Acres; it is big and chunky thanks to the rose quartz nuggets and the sterling bead with the heart on it. The next bracelet is unusual - a heart bracelet - perfect for Valentine's - but instead of pink or blue or red, the beads and heart are a combination of amber, black and metallics, both gold and silver in an odd combination that I really like. I mixed some black agate with banding with it, but the beads (by Lynn Nurge) are really the bracelet. It is goldfilled from each small bead to the toggle clasp. It will be on the Lampwork Bracelets page.
The sapphire bracelet below is made of more of Lynn's beads, borosilicate this time, and faceted sapphire rondelles. Loads of sterling silver are on this one.

The amethyst earrings hang from some of my favorite posts with a cabochon amethyst bezel-set in them. The dangle part of the earring is made of carved amethyst lilies (love these lilies, love carved beads!). I like the posts myself because years of wearing heavy earrings have stretched my ear piercings. With the nice metal and plastic disk back, these posts hold the earrings in place without stretching your earlobes.

The Tuscon Gem Show is coming up in less than a month and I'm very excited about all the new gemstones I'll be getting. Every year there is something new and special to play with. I can't wait!
Note to my readers in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, and Norway - we here in Arkansas feel that we are suffering because the thermometer hit 20 Fahrenheit. No snow yet, but the wind is bitter. I wonder how we would fare in Lapland?

handmade beaded jewelry