Mexican Lace Agate Jewelry Redesign

This Mexican Lace Agate pendant is a stunning piece of nature’s work and paired with Picture Jasper it was all about the yellow. The set was very well done, but sort of lacked that ‘pop’ and my mother-in-law was about to take it apart when I asked if I could work the piece, thinking first I would try to mix it with some Turquoise, though that didn't work.

I wanted to really bring out the black in the pendant, since that is what is amazing about it. I started mixing it up with large pieces of Onyx to enhance the large pendant, hand charming all the chips, pearls, and faceted onyx pieces into clusters, threw in Ivoryite for a little color to bring out the cream of the pendant and pewter and gunmetal for some texture. It’s still got the same beautiful look of yellow but now has a stronger feel of black thrown in to give it that extra ‘pop’ that she was looking for.


Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.
Onyx: Self-control, decision making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.


Visit our collections for many different designs to find something that fits your personality.

Mother-of-Pearl Crystal Bling

Classy, sassy and chic design that says Bling in a big way; the highlight is a huge mother-of-pearl pendant that is slick on one side and concave with the blister pearls on the other (could wear either direction). The crystals are faceted metallic black diamond that has an almost shimmer effect; crystal spacers and fresh water cultured pearls, some charmed above the pendant and also in the earrings.

Mother of Pearl: Mental clarity, intuition, sensitivity, imagination, adaptability, cooperation.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.
Find many designs to fit your personality are available on our website.

Traveling with Jewelry Tips

As the summer draws near, so do those plans of vacations; rather abroad, here and there or close to home. Whatever the case, everyone will be traveling and doing so with their jewelry. Many people pack their jewelry in their suitcases, rather than as carry-on. While this maybe an ‘ok’ thing, it would not be advised to allow your high-end expensive, heirloom or even your nice costume jewelry to chance in the suitcase, suggest carry-on so that you know it makes it all the way through to your trip, especially if you are flying. A hotel security director recommends to, ““Never take your heirlooms and your favorite jewelry items with you.” Though that would be nice, we all want to take that favorite jewelry piece with us. So from the Travel Safety Tips website here are some suggested tips for traveling with your jewelry.

1) Be sure you are staying in a hotel or resort with a safe in the room or safety deposit boxes at the front desk; most 3-star or higher hotels/resorts are required to have both.2) Once you've checked into the hotel, use the safe or safety deposit box. The hardest part for the hotel is getting people to utilize them. Hotels advertise having them, but then guests don't use them and that's where things can go wrong for the hotel guests.3) Know the hotel polices you are staying in if something should happen to your jewelry. In most U.S. states, a hotel manager is not liable for hotel losses, unless they are the direct result of the hotel's negligence. For example, if a hotel employee is caught stealing it.

An insurance agent suggests if you own fine jewelry, you probably have (or should have) insurance to cover it, especially if it is something of value or an heirloom. Just make sure that your insurance policy covering any jewelry extends to that of traveling. A standard homeowner's policy will not cover jewelry for disappearance and it will only cover theft of jewelry up to $1,000. The key is to purchase a rider to your homeowner's policy or a separate policy to cover just the jewelry. Either one will cover your jewelry for theft, disappearance or other mishaps, including losing a stone from a setting or unfortunate incident.

Make sure to check with your agent to find out what your specific policy rules are for traveling with your jewelry. Most standard policies will cover you for travel anywhere, but some might require that certain items be kept in a safe when you are not wearing them. Sorry to say that most insurance agents will advise that it is best to leave the heirlooms at home and I’m sure you’ll agree so as not to loose that precious piece of family history; but then, we’d never get to show off that great jewelry either if we did.

Lastly, be aware of your surroundings and where you are traveling before wearing that necklace, bracelet or ring you cherish and love so much. Wearing them at a party or special gathering is one thing, but wearing them in public going to and from that ‘big event’ can sometimes lead to trouble when least expected.

Visit our collection for summer designs to add to your jewelry box.
*Travel information from TravelSafetyTips.

Rainbow of Sapphires

When most people hear the word Sapphire they think blue, but sapphires really do come in every color of the rainbow except red; red sapphires are actually Rubies. The rainbow sapphires come in either Intense which are a collection of the deep hue, or Pastel, which are the collection of medium hues. These colors of actual sapphires come in everything from the purest white, often resembling the diamond, to almost solid black which is called midnight blue sapphire. Some of the hottest colors are the pink, canary yellow, orange and the collection of rainbow sapphire colors all together.

When buying a sapphire, including the rainbow combination, ask if the stone has been treated in any way. Some common treatments to enhance gems include irradiation, heat treatment, dyeing and coating. Not all of these treatments will devalue the stone, but always ask so you know what you're getting.

Sapphires can be heated at high temperatures to give them a better color and clarity. It is estimated that 90 percent of the Sapphires on the market have undergone some sort of treatment, which does not affect the value of the stone. However, untreated sapphires do command a higher price.

Sapphires are mined all over the world, including several locations in the United States and the location where the sapphires are mined can have a great effect on the price. All sapphires have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and are considered very durable to be worn everyday.

Traditionally the sapphire is believed to bring clarity of mind and disintegrates disharmony with healing properties for rheumatism, colic, and mental illness.

*Resources by ebay review and rainbow sapphires.

Blue Diamonds the New Girls Best Friend

Who doesn’t like diamonds!? Only to be known as ‘the girl’s best friend’, they are widely seen in crisp white, but there are a few rare colored diamonds; pink, yellow and blue. Blue diamond is considered to be one of the most expensive and rarest types of diamonds. This blue gemstone became the hottest must have and was in huge demand after being featured in the Hollywood movie Titanic.

The formation of a blue diamond naturally is very rare and also very expensive, which is why it is now artificially created. It evolves under the same conditions as that of naturally formed diamonds, although the treatment can be done in small quantity involving irradiating the gemstone causing the color change and then followed by a heat treatment to stabilize the color. The blue hue colors of the diamonds represent the color of the sea and that of the sky giving a true picture of life. The appealing shade of the blue diamond comes in deep aquamarine, green tinge, rich deep blue to ice blue. These colors of blue give a soothing and appealing feeling to the individual who wears them.

Cuts of blue diamonds are shaped in a different way that enhances the beauty of the gemstone by illuminating the tranquility and beauty of the stones; variations are the cushion cut, and heart-pear-octagon shapes, and even princess and marquise cuts.

The most famous and largest of blue diamonds is the infamous Hope Diamond (pictured to the left), which is now in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. It is colored in deep blue and famed to carry a curse to whomever owns it. The largest weighing around 45.02 carats, it is a cushion cut and radiates dark grayish-blue color. It got its name after Henry Philip Hope of London.

Other famous blue diamonds include the Blue Heart, Heart of Eternity (pictured to the right), and Transvaal Blue & Chard Blue.

A new friend to some, but an old friend to others; the blue diamond is definitely an exquisite and stunning gemstone mixture of nature and man.

*Research from various books and websites.

Spring Craft Fair San Antonio

Looking for something to do this weekend in San Antonio, Texas?! Join us for the St. Helena Spring Craft Show this Saturday, May 1st!!

We’ll have a nice selection of our latest designs from among our collections of Southwest Flair, Mystic Artisan, Wiry Legends, and the Rock Yard. Chose from styles using fossils, minerals, and natural gemstones, crystals, dichroic glass and much more!

Don’t forget Mom – mother’s day is just around the corner on May 9th! Or that graduate from High School or College; something for the bridal party too.

Mention you saw this posting on our blog and receive extra ‘savings!

Fossil Ammonite Turquoise

Ammonites are absolutely beautiful fossils and they come in a vast array of color combinations from cool black to crisp fall colors of green, beige, brown and anything in-between. This new design features a handcrafted with brass non-tarnish wire nicely sized Ammonite pendant that has a fiery (slightly red) shimmery backside, which just adds to the dimension of the fossil as a focal pendant in this piece. To bring out the brilliant colors, I paired it with Arizona Turquoise chips and Ivoryite, a hint of faceted light Topaz crystals and gold spacers. A gold vermeil textured toggle and dangle teardrop hoop style earrings to match.





















This and many other custom handcrafted designs are available at our website.