Red Hot Number

Last week several customers commented on the beauty of the red coral in this necklace. Though it got lots of compliments, it just never really hit the mark, until someone said that it looked really plain and very long.

So with that in mind I pulled it and took it to the design board. I shortened the length to a nice 19” and then took it up a notch by adding faceted black Quartz scattered among the Coral and put more focus on the bottom with silver textured pillow beads. I also lengthened the dangle earrings just to add a little jazz.

Uniquely handcrafted gemstone jewelry at Timeless Designs.

Mix Turquoise & Amber

I bought this Amber in Tucson to go with a dichroic pendant; though I really liked the dark Amber with the dichroic, it just wasn’t ‘hitting me’. So, I dug into the stones and came up with this little gem…..


This Southwest beauty is a wild mix of Baltic Amber chips light to dark cognac hidden among Chinese Turquoise disks and gold accent spacers. All highlighted by a matching wavy Turquoise pendant. Wear it short or a medium length with matching dangle earrings in Amber chip clusters and Turquoise disks.

Handcrafted Unique Gemstone Jewelry

Turquoise & Jasper Redesign

Designing jewelry is interesting, knowing what to design that sells is an art. This lovely piece was originally a solid mixture of Turquoise and Landscape Picture Jasper; it got lots of compliments and people really loved it. However, it never really found a home and seemed to always be ‘missing something’.

Today, I took it out of inventory and played with it on my design board. I mixed it up even more by adding a bold Turquoise donut pendant that I wire wrapped in artistic non-tarnish brass wire. Instead of looping the necklace onto the pendant, I strung it as single independent strands from the ‘bail swirls’ of the pendant. I shortened the necklace and took at out some of the larger stones for a sleek look.

I think this design hits the mark, it is much better than the original design and I love the mix of Turquoise against the Landscape Picture Jasper.

For this and many other unique handcrafted gemstone and wire designs, come see us at Timeless Designs.

Smooth Silky Rich Pietersite

Known in the Pagan community as Tempeststone, Pietersite is a soft, smooth, silky beautiful gemstone and one of my all time favorites. The stone is named for its discoverer, Sid Pieterse, who first discovered it in 1962 while prospecting farmland in Namibia, Africa. He registered the find in the mineral records of Britain and the discovery was later published in 1964, when it was named Pietersite.

There are only two known locations for pietersite, China and Africa; the Chinese pietersite’s fibrous mineral is often called ‘Golden Eagles Eye’ ranging in colors from rich deep red, blackish blue and most noted gold, almost resembling Tigers Eye. The African Pietersite is most rare because of the blue tones, deep midnight navy, and baby blue, with a hint of cream and reddish hues. All the brilliant color variations give it a subtle, yet strikingly richness, like fine silk.

Pietersite gemstones crystallize in the form of masses; the structure is a result of inclusion in Jasper. The Pietersite stones mineral exhibits an energetic quality like the quartz. The gemstone beads have been said to contain the ‘keys o the kingdom of heaven’, dispelling illusion and assisting one in the recognition of the beauty of the soul.

Wearing or working with the gemstone brings with it a particular calm and joyous peacefulness, helping to dissolve confusion and fear about what lies ahead in life. It will help a person relax and release limits placed on the person’s creativity and allow them to recognize their divine potential.

Most common cuts are in cabochons; this is because a tall, round cut is required to maximize the chatoyancy effect most brilliantly. If the cut is but a little off, the stone will end up lifeless, with little or no chatoyance or no play of color.

If you are lucky enough to own a piece of Pietersite jewelry, clean it with a simple polishing cloth; do not clean with household chemicals and keep it from prolonged exposure to extreme heat and temperatures.

Review: Wire Jewelry Books

In my small arsenal of wire jewelry and beading books I have several that I feel are very good; especially to get started, giving the basics, techniques and then moving into more intermediate to advanced level projects.

Getting Started Series: Making Wire Jewelry & More
Is an excellent book on the basics and getting started working with wire; great details in starting with tools, wire, shopping for supplies and foundational wire working techniques.

All Wired Up
One of my favorite wire wrapping and project books is this one; I draw inspiration from this book and enjoy the opening techniques and basis which leads into more intermediate, advanced and funky techniques of wire working.

Bead On a Wire
Another of my favorite wire working and beading books is this one. The author while using traditional methods of wire working, often plays ‘outside the box’ and expands upon different techniques of wire working.

These and many other books on beading, wire working, projects and metalsmithing can be found at the local bookstores (or your local beading – hobby stores)!

Inexpensive Gifts

Great inexpensive gifts for graduation! Visit our website to see the selection of wire wrapped gemstone pendants, unique and exotic gemstone necklaces and dichroic and Swarovski Crystal bracelets. Look for deeply discounted items marked with ‘Sale’.

Turquoise Navy Agate FW Pearls Set

Deep shades of Red Coral

Wild Horse Magnesite Crystals Set

Chysocolla Sandy Opal Crystals Silver Links Set

Wire Wrapped Gemstone Pendants

A twist between traditional and free form wire wrapping. These three gemstone pendants in Rhodonite, Turquoise, and Pink Peruvian Opal are handcrafted with non-tarnish artistic wire, in all one continuous piece. Gemstone pendants can be removed from the cords and worn on other chains, omegas, ribbons or cords.

Opal: Creativity, spontaneity, relationships, memory, happy dreams and changes

Rhodonite: Peace, generosity, attention to details.





Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.




For these and other gemstone pendant styles check our website; they make great inexpensive graduation or 'just because' gifts!