From frost till thaw...

A nice mix...

I love to set cool stones. As of late, if it doesn't make me say wow, I won't even touch it. I can't express how important it is to make sure that you select only the "good ones" when choosing a stone for a piece. In my experience, while a wonderful stone will sell a piece, a boring/dull stone will make it sit and collect dust. Of course sometimes you need simple stones to go with certain designs.
Generally speaking… killer stones sell.
Here are some of my choices over the past few weeks!

Don't forget, custom orders are in full swing, bring em on!

Prehnite, Garnet, Starchild

Prehnite, Space Commander, Prehnite, Herkimer Diamond

Ocean Jasper, Chrysocolla, Prehinite, Herkimer Diamond, Quartz with black rutile

Spessartine Garnet

New Herkimer and mmmm Labradorite...

So I think this is the biggest herk ring yet...

I had to cut this Labradorite from a larger oval cabochon. It was worth it!

Stars, Red, Toxic Green

Hi! Quick Update!

Starchild Ring, Chunky Green Prehnite and a Garnet Nug Ring...

Starchild ring is still available and of course I am still taking custom requests :)

Handmade Division Team - Talk About...

Hello!

It's time for our monthly Handmade Division Team topic!!!

What would you like to create but do not currently have the skills or technology to do?

To start, I love to figure things out. I have always been that way with musical instruments(buy first, learn later) and it definitely carries over to my artwork. There are so many things that I would like to do, but lack the tools and know how to do it. Once I get the tools and the capability "skill" is not so much an issue as I am willing to put the time and effort into figuring it out and practicing. I have just been through this with stone cabbing/lapidary... still have a ways to go with cabbing, but I am having a blast learning.

Right now what I reallllly want to learn, and am about to make a priority is... engraving. I would love to get the tools that I need and really start giving this real try. Sure I have dabbled in it, but I want to put some real effort into it. Being able to add engraved designs to my work would be so nice right about now. I have always wished that there was a way to "draw" on my work and engraving seems to be the way to go.

Acid etching is another skill that I have dabbled in but wish to really put some effort into. It is another way for me to draw on my work. Currently I have a nitric acid setup, but find it too unpredictable and uncomfortable to work with.

I have tried scribing and some other techniques to get this drawn look, but nothing has worked out the way I wanted as of yet.

I am open for suggestions!!!

Please stop by some of our other team member blogs and see what they are thinking on this same topic!!! Seriously, these artists are great, you don't want to miss what they have to say!!!

NEDbeads: http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com/

Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/

Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/

Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/

ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/

Abhaya Fibers: http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/

Nova of Sweden http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/

Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/

Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/

Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/

Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/

Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/

Moxie & Oliver: http://moxieandoliver.blogspot.com/

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

.

Recent work & Herk Overload!

Can there be too many Herkimer diamond rings??? Apparently not!!!

Cabbing Update!

I finally put in some real cutting time this weekend! Here is what I came up with. Ocean Jasper goodness!
Things are finally starting to go a bit smoother(literally) in the Purified cabbing department :)