Racheloj

Showing posts with label Swarovski crystal bracelets. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Back from Africa!

When I looked at the last date on this blog, I was shocked to see that it was November 30th! I think that this is the longest I've ever gone without a blog entry. I'll blame it on the Christmas rush and our trip to Mozambique and South Africa, but now I'm back and everything is in full swing.

Although this is a jewelry blog, I am including some of the photos I took of the wildlife at Kruger in South Africa. The animals roam free and will walk around you and your car (hopefully you IN your car; it is not recommended to get out). I saw amazing things, including two hippos crashing into the water to take an evening dip - they swim like dolphins, lifting themselves partially out of the water - and real, live lions within 30 feet of me (5 of them at one time!). The sights and sounds of Africa have already had an affect on the colours and lampwork beads I am using and I have just begun to translate experiences and sights into jewelry.

Above, the pattern of some fire agate stones reminds me of giraffes (Fire Agate Jewelry) while the Swarovski crystal bracelet below has the colouring of a lion.

The chalcedony bracelet, above, features lampwork beads with the giraffe pattern. Below, a chalcedony bracelet is the "zebra bracelet" for obvious reasons.

One of the most amazing things to me is that it can be so very, very hot and humid one place in the world and be so very cold in another, and that we can go from one to another in the span of two days!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Countdown!

I can remember a time when I was quite small when the month of December was one of the longest in the calendar. Those days are long gone! Time is flying quickly toward Christmas Day and even faster to the day I leave for Africa. I have been busy with custom orders and all sorts of preparations, so I have only three bracelets today. The first is a Swarovski bracelet with five strands of Swarovski bicone crystals in Pacific opal, white opal, white opal starshine, white opal sky blue, violet opal, peach, tanzanite, and Montana blue. It features a sterling silver toggle clasp.

The next jewelry piece is a garnet bracelet with a very special large clasp with seven cabochon garnets bezel-set into the top. A few rose quartz gemstones are scattered throughout the five strands for a difference in colour and texture.

The last piece is a blue topaz bracelet that is made as a bangle with sterling silver hand-decorated tubes from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes. I usually make blue topaz pieces using London blue topaz, a darker blue, but I fell in love with these Swiss blue topazes because of their intense blue colour . They are faceted rounds set off by all Hill Tribes elements reminiscent of flowers and vines with a toggle that is made of leaves. All sterling silver.

Shipping is free with any purchase over 50.00; a low 1.95 with any purchase under 50.00

Monday, March 23, 2009

March: Lion or Lamb?

March: this year, it has been totally unpredictable with a beautiful thick snow lushly covering the wounded landscape caused by February's ice storm. But it's milder now and here's hoping that the weather and life in general becomes much more lamblike here than lionlike!
March is the month of one of my favorite gemstones - the aquamarine. The top aquamarine bracelet is just one of many that has gone on our pages this month (or out the door). Below is a moonstone necklace with one of the gorgeous pendants I've been lucky enough to acquire lately. I've added Swarovski crystals in Azores, the most beautiful light blue, to pick up the blue flash of the moonstone - and some lampwork beads for that little je ne sais quoi.
As usual, when I've been working with a gemstone I tend to stick with it for a while, experimenting with different combinations. Below the moonstone necklace is a moonstone bracelet with rainbow moonstone and genuine sapphires.

Below is a Swarovski crystal bracelet , Green Pastures, Still Waters. I am still totally enamored of Swarovski large beads; they make spectacular jewelry.

Finally, a bracelet from our Bridal Jewelry collection. This bracelet features crystal quartz carved flowers in two types as well as light sapphire Swarovski crystals for sparkle and shine perfect for a wedding.

Winner of the Swarovski earrings for naming the ruby necklace: "Take Five" by EmandaJ.
Some other entries: Ruby, don't Take Your Love to Town; Sweet Caroline, Begin the Beguine, Music for Your Eyes, Musical Magic, Lyrics and Love, The Harmony of Rubies, Melody in Crimson.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Bangles, Et Al

I've been making bangles, a form of bracelet that I'm quite fond of myself. I always have some sort of bangle on whether it's a smooth band of gold or one set with gemstones. The bangle is an especially versatile bracelet since it can be extremely casual or very formal.
The Swarovski bracelet above is the epitome of bling with its huge Swarovski crystals, two Cosmic crystals on either side of a Graphic. It is definitely a bracelet that will be noticed. The bangle bracelet below is a bit more sedate than the one above, but combine rubies and emeralds, and you'll always have a piece of jewelry that will be noticed. The focal point of this bangle is a carved, fluted emerald surrounded by rubies; a toggle clasp has a cabochon emerald set in it.

The other bracelets include a citrine bracelet dwith a lovely borosilicate lampwork bead and charms, a three-strand garnet bracelet with some of the newest silver from Bali, and again, pretty borosilicate beads with an amazing depth and complexity.
The final two bracelets include an emerald bracelet chock full of genuine emeralds, large and small, transparent and opaque. I love the emerald toggle clasp with this bracelet especially; it adds so much richness to the emerald and silver.
Finally, another bangle bracelet with the most amazing pink Peruvian opals - faceted and with the clearest pink I've ever seen in an opal.
Now, if I can just get everything done before Thanksgiving!