Dichroic Glass Pendant Wonders

Dichroic glass is glass containing multiple micro-layers of metal oxides which give the glass dichroic optical properties. The invention of dichroic glass is often erroneously attributed to NASA and its contractors, who developed it for use in dichroic filters. Dichroic glass dates back to at least the 4th century AD as seen in the Lycurgus cup.

Multiple ultra-thin layers of different metals (gold, silver), metal oxides (titanium, chromium, aluminum, zirconium, magnesium) and silica are vaporized by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. The vapor then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure. This is sometimes followed by a protective layer of quartz crystal. The finished glass can have as many as 30 to 50 layers of these materials yet the thickness of the total coating is approximately 30 to 35 millionths of an inch (about 760 to 890 nm). The coating that is created is very similar to a gemstone and, by careful control of thickness, different colors are obtained.

I love working with dichroic glass, just not really good at making any beads or pendants; however I’m in luck! A very good friend and fellow artisan Anna is a premier glass designer here in San Antonio, Texas. She makes some of the most incredible, gorgeous dichroic one-of-kind pieces (I know, I personally have quite a few of her pendant sets!). I buy her pendants and incorporate them into my own creative designs; accenting with wire, metals, crystals, or natural stones; drawing on the colors of the pendant to develop the jewelry.

These two designs are using Anna’s pendants as a focal and then using the different wire and charm techniques to showcase the beauty found within each individual pendant.

In the first design, I use a free form shaped pendant that is hung below the crystals from non-tarnish brass wire as a bail. I’ve then accented with individual hand-charmed pieces in black agate, beige freshwater cultured pearl nuggets, creamy white glass pearls, and faceted swarovski crystals in erinite and indicolite. The creation hangs from an eggshell colored silk cord in a stationary position. There are little hints of wire in hanging swirls also handcrafted in non-tarnish brass wire.

The second piece I chose a nice almost arrowhead shaped pendant with accenting designs in gold, green and hint of blue against a black background. Surrounding it again are hand-charmed pieces in faceted swarvoski crystals indicolite, cosmo black, gold/black Diablo, gold, citrine, ab smoky topaz, and metallic green-blue. The all are braided on a 6 strand ribbon cord necklace; I left them a little lose as this fit better to this type of a design, you can twist the crystals around to change the colors slightly. Hidden among the crystals are a few handmade wire spirals in non-tarnish brass wire.

Find these and many other uniquely artisan crafted designs at our online shop!

*Research from various websites.

Wired Up Coral Mix

A wired up mess of balls are the focal of this necklace! Tightly wound balls of wire in antique brass are set along with a chunky sponge coral pendant accented with multiple layers of gold-tone cone bead caps.

Scattered between are lampwork beads with light cream/yellow backgrounds and red swoosh marks. The length of the necklace is of red (dyed) coral flat disks and finished with a gold tone twisted toggle.





Coral: Diplomacy, quieting emotions, visualization

Uniquely artisan crafted jewelry from natural stones, minerals and fossils; browse our online shop to chose your next treasure!

Get Into The Safety Habit

Safety in the studio, office or even our homes should always be a priority. We often take it for granted and don’t really think about that flying piece of wire or glass, that torch just used for flame work, the squeaky half broken chair, not using the magnifying glasses when needed, and most of all just being aware of our surroundings and keeping track what we are doing and where we are going.

With this in mind I’ve compiled a few ‘rules’ for safety in the studio, office or even in our homes. I’ve heard/learned them in classes and books and put them down as ‘Rules of Safety’.

*Wear Safety Glasses – It is less expensive to replace a pair of safety glasses than it is your own eyes. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from flying objects and wondering wires. Safety glasses come in a variety of styles, colors and prices. Check your local hardwood store for a pair.

*Wear a Mask – If you are working with chemicals or paints of any type, make sure to wear a protective mask. Also, work in a well ventilated area and take breaks to get out of the smell and into fresh air. Check your local hardware store for different kinds.

*Prevent Eye Strain – For those artists working with wire, thread, and small objects, wear or work under a magnifying device to prevent eyestrain. Remember to look away often and rest your eyes, take a break every half hour or so.

*Good Posture – To avoid an aching neck and/or back, use good posture at your workspace. Sit straight, hands resting in an “L” or 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor. This should help with strain to your neck, shoulder and wrists. Also, remember to get up and walk around about every hour to relieve any back and neck tension.

*Stretch – Take time to stretch your hands, fingers, wrists, neck, shoulders, legs, and back every chance you get. Do this every couple of hours to keep circulation flowing and to help from getting cramps or numbness.

*Use Common Sense - Safety is common sense in your workspace. Keep track of what you are doing and don’t work with sharp objects when you are distracted or overly tired.

There are a lot more, but these should get you started on the road to thinking of your own list of 'Safety Rules/Suggestions' in your studio, classroom, office or home!

Striking Mix of Bold Colors

Ok, I have to admit that this design in the bold colors of red, black, white and silver are extremely striking together. The design is new for me and I’ve taken a mix of different techniques to combine and put this piece together. And so far it’s begun to be a big hit and I’ve been asked to create more in different colors and styles!

The necklace focal center is designed to stay stationary on either a silk cord or a ribbon cord. I’ve used in this case a large chunk of coral (dyed) in a thick oval shape; then surrounded it in single coils. To accent the pendant, I’ve hand charmed 36 pieces different shapes of stones coral, freshwater cultured pearls, black agate, and Swarovski crystals; between I’ve added a couple of double spiral coils and then capped the entire piece into a stationary position with wired coils and swirls that becomes part of the design.

The whole piece is quite labor intensive taking quite a bit of time to design, mix/match colors and stones, then hand charm each one and either wire, bail or get creative with the pendant. The matching earrings are the same double coils and stones from the necklace – all wire is done in non-tarnish silver wire.




Keep watching as I’ll be doing many more of these inspirations from the many pendants, stones and metals that I have!

This design along with many other uniquely artisan crafted jewelry pieces are available at our online shop!

Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.
Coral: Diplomacy, quieting emotions, visualization.

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Trendy Southwestern Mix

Working with stones I sometimes get a desire to do multiple strand necklaces; not often, but there are times when the stones and design just come together. In this creation, I started with rare ivoryite stones from the Arizona mines; accented with silver spacers and did half the necklace in raw stabilized turquoise chips beautiful earthy tones and the base of the necklace are tiny marbled onyx tubes.


Ivoryite is a wonderful and versatile stone to work with; it is a very unique variety of extremely fine grained mineral called magnesite; it is a natural mineral and not man-made as most people think. Quarried by hand, this stone looks and feels like soft silky ivory; it can be worked with metal tools, but cuts effortlessly with diamond tools making it excellent material for inlay, cabochons and small carvings.

Find your wearable earth, custom design jewelry at our online shop!

Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.
Onyx: Self-control, decision making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.

Haze of Purple Agate

Agates are an amazing natural stone; they come in an array of colors and the combinations incredible. This new design is in purple agates and crystals. The highly polished pendant is cut in a crescent moon shape with varying shades of light lilac and coppery veins.

The strands are of unusual heat treated faceted crystals that change color depending on the light; from deep purples to orchid and into light blue/purple shade; an incredible design with multiple dimensions; a few faceted round agates capped in sterling silver have been added for flavor and spice. The long dangle earrings include the same stones and crystals in the cluster style, that is hitting new designs everywhere.

Find your custom artisan crafted piece at our online shop!

Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.

Redesigns Gone Wired

These two designs were ok at first but never really showed off the beauty of the crystals and stones with a little spark. To do them both justice and add a little spark, I added silver wire to one and re-designed the other.

A simple and casual design with coral fossil, Swarovski crystals and blue denim lapis; which has been accented with non-tarnish silver wire.

This one needed more than just crystal, this design I re-worked and to enhance the pendant I accented with black non-tarnish wire and onyx tubes; clusters of crystals pink and copper with black Swarovski cosmo crystals really sets off the Japanese artistic jasper pendant.

These designs and other wired, chic jewelry are available online at our shop!