Lovely Nuggets

Oh, wow - hold onto your hearts! These lapis nuggets are to die for - rustic, irregular, chunky, raw. They are also loaded with pyrite flecks, and look like they've been dusted in gold. I have a limited number of them and several are already dedicated to a necklace, but I've been trying to pull together several options for a glorious pair of earrings for the Divine Ms. C. We're shooting for an earring length of 1-1/2 - 1-3/4 inches. I've placed the stones with their tops hitting the 1/2 inch mark on my trusty measuring tape, which is the approximate drop of the ear wire. Here we go!

This is the grouping that clarified everything about this project. These earrings are going to have to be single drops, because once I add a second nugget, they are HEAVY! And because they are so rustic and irregular, they look clunky as a double drop. I strongly recommend a single drop. Now we can concentrate on shape, and keeping the top wrap a little long, to hit a total earring length of 1-1/2 - 1-3/4 inches.

This pair is on the square side.

These have more of an arrow point look and are quite beautifully blue.

Truly, these embody the word "nugget". They have a more rounded feel (though not round by any stretech of the imagination). Gorgeous! Though the white seams are not an expected sight in lapis, I think these are out of this world!

Another arrow-point-like combo. Astonishingly, the stone nearest the camera has a light, crystalline patch on its tip that looks like aquamarine! So pretty!

Can we ever grow tired of beautiful things like this? I think not!

For more yummy sights, please visit me at www.suzyrocksdesigns.etsy.com; I look forward to seeing you!

-Suzy

Oh, Picasso

Funny how things happen.

A pair of earrings made with what I considered a superb pair of diamond-twist teal-blue-grey Picasso jasper beads languished in my wee shoppe (www.suzyrocksdesigns.etsy.com) for many months; they sold several days ago, and by the end of the same day I had any number of requests for more of the same.

This sort of thing happens with great regularity, almost as if there's an energy that builds up around a piece, sometimes slowly, sometimes very quickly, and then, as if they'd been hiding behind a curtain, they are revealed, and everyone wants them, for reasons I don't pretend to understand. It's fascinating, though!

To all of you who wanted a peek at my remaining stash of these stones, here they are, with a very special friend of theirs. I do have more on the way, so never fear if you don't fall in love today; these charmers always come through, eventually.

Picasso Diamond-Twist Sets 1 & 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5 (These are closest in coloration to the originals in my shop)

And...ta-dah... the loveliest labradorite heart pendant bead one can imagine. This will make up into an approximately 2"-drop (rather expensive!) pendant.


Come visit me soon at www.suzyrocksdesigns.etsy.com!

Pendants, and Other Joys

So here's the necklace scoop from my shop (http://www.suzyrocksdesigns.etsy.com/):

I have always labored to add appropriate chains, silk, leather, cords, et cetera, to the pendants I love to make. Although some pendants really cry out for specially constructed neckpieces, it often involves second-guessing what a customer might like or need in a chain, including such issues as length and clasps. When a month or so back my delightful customer, Ms. CB from a land far-far away, asked that I make a special pendant for her, I inquired about her preferred chain; she reported that she has lots of chains, so just wanted the pendant. A little light went on in my head: The People have spoken, give them what they want! (Are you listening, All Dictators??) I decided to offer pendants simply on soft, satin cord that can be tied at the neck, and set up a separate shop section for chains and clasps, some handmade by me, some antiqued by me, as well as some very standard items. This allows my customers to buy a pendant at a very reasonable price, especially if they already have their own chain; and if they want a chain, they get to pick out the length, style, and clasp, to match their desires.


How 'bout that!

Also in this instalment, a few interesting items for the Divine Ms. C to peruse, and you should peek, too, of course!


Here are some upcoming pendant stones:

Aqua terra heart - yummy! It will make up into around a 2" drop pendant.

A huge Picasso jasper elongated teardrop, will probably make up into a 3" drop pendant.

Also Picasso Jasper, with pinky-Southwest tones and terrific markings. Around 2" drop pendant.

Plum Blossom (Oolitic) Jasper teardrop (so pretty!); around a 2" drop pendant.

Mysterious sodalite! Delicious. This stone is around 1" long; haven't decided on exactly how to treat this one yet... (other than to say, very nicely indeed!)

Russian Topaz, and I have to say, this stone is so fascinating in person - there's a certain glow that the camera wasn't able to catch this afternoon. Grey-mustard-green and black, simply scintillating, I'm sure, in the right setting. Probably will work up to a bit over 2" pendant.

VERY interesting rhyolite triangles! I have three, one with many fascinating fissures and druzy-like pockets as shown; the other two are not quite as Yowzah, but similar. Around 1-1/2" drop pendant.

A beautiful green opal heart with tons of fire. Just lovely. Around a 2" drop pendant.

Colors from deep in the forest abound in this wonderful Picasso Jasper teardrop. Around 2" to 2-1/2" drop pendant.

Kiwi jasper, in its glorious dark teal tones with black speckles. Sweet! Maybe 1-1/2" drop pendant.

Another gorgeous green opal heart, this one is filled with autumn tones, and has wonderful depth and shine. Just FAB! Around a 2-1/2" drop pendant, made up.

Yikes! Absolutely gorgeous brown agate with fascinating dark brown inclusions and honey-toned clouds. Spectacular! Around 2-1/2" made up.

Blue lace agate arrow-point briolette. SOOO serene and lovely! I have matching earrings already up in my shop. These will probably make up into around a 1-1/2" drop pendant (there are two).

Wow - brown fire agate oval pendant. Very intriguing, with white-cream inclusions. 1-1/2" pendant when made up, probably.

One of my personal favorites: Chinese Painting Jasper arrow point briolette. Extraordinary, in black, honey and cream. Will make up to around a 2-1/2" long drop pendant.

And now, for the Divine Ms. C: Oregon opal earring sets, in tones of dark amber, honey, white, cream... pinks and reds even pop out occasionally. Beautiful, luscious, rich stones. Made up as earrings, they'll drop around 1-1/2".

And there are more! For you labradorite lovers, I'm awaiting some downright knock-your-socks-off pendant beads, and have fluorite, chrysacolla in lapis, and turquoise in the wings.

Don't forget to visit my shop, www.suzyrocksdesigns.etsy.com, or my new venture over at Artfire, www.suzyrocksdesigns.artfire.com. (I'm planning on different styles over at Artfire - so little time, so many stones...)

Have a great day!