Jack and the Sunflower Stalk and a Seriously Big Beetle Bug!

Two months ago I never would have imagined a few little sunflower seeds would grow all the way up to my office window on the 2nd story! I joked it would be great if they would grow that tall---who knew they actually would!

Not much came of all the seeds I planted, but the things that did come up have grow to be giants--especially the sunflowers & carrots! With big plants come big BUGS-luckily bugs don't bother me, as long as they are not ON me or in the house! We've had a beetle and spider invasion.


I actually ran outside to take a picture of one of the big fuzzy black spiders lurking in the garden, but he disappeared and along came a beetle. This "little" guy was as proud as can be--I took many pictures and he posed beautifully, almost as if he was trying to say something... perhaps a thank you for planting the giant sunflowers for him!

Arizona Dioptase & Namibian Dioptase Pendants

I managed to find a few nice pieces of dioptase on our recent gem show expedition. Quality (and affordable) dioptase is becoming hard to find due to mine closures. For jewelry, the crystals need to be stable and durable enough to hold up to wear and tear--many times dioptase crystals are brittle and loosely rooted within their matrix--the slightest bump knocks them out.

It is amazing how different this gem can be based on where it was mined. Today I finished wrapping pieces from Tsumeb, Namibia & Morenci, Arizona (I have a piece from Kazakhstan also--I'll try to add a picture here when I have a chance to take one).

The Tsumeb variety is what I consider to be classic dioptase... translucent, emerald green, cube shaped crystals ranging from 1-5mm . The crystals are very square and have grown together creating a sheet of crystals, like little green sugar cubes. I've included 2 pictures of the Tsumeb Dioptase set in sterling silver--a full size shot and a rough close-up through my jeweler's loupe to help you see the crystal habit better. This sheet of dioptase crystals is strongly rooted into a white calcite matrix.

Arizona dioptase is an extremely rare find-- particularly in jewelry grade pieces. I have only found 2 pieces in all of my travels! This American variety of dioptase has very tiny needle-like emerald green crystals tightly packed together, like a blanket of microscopic emerald green grass, rooted into a stone matrix of cuprite and chrysacola. The crystals range in size from fractions of a mm up to 1x2mm. Tiny-but don't be fooled, they glimmer with subtle sparkle in the light and are quite durable--I cleaned this piece with a toothbrush and dish detergent.

To visit my previous entry on this gem click here; this article has pictures of Russian dioptase that will make you drool! :)

Lasso the Moon & Become a Star ~ Blue Lace Agate Pendant

I've been hooked on coiling and oxidizing the last few days! This pendant is a new Sculpted Windows Jewelry design. A celestial pendant I call "Lasso the Moon & become a Star." A blue lace agate moon is entangled in strands of oxidized silver and adorned with a tiny sodalite star, an orb of sapphire, and a tiny Madagascar quartz crystal. This is a petite pendant with lots of detail. I must admit--the first one I made I had to keep (I'm wearing it right now)--So this is "Lasso the Moon... #2"I'll be playing with more of these. I have some pretty sunstone I think will look pretty in this setting.

I also found more Tibetan Quartz at the show. I made a couple of rings--this one is my favorite...a chubby Tibetan Quartz crystal set in oxidized coils and clusters of beads. If I didn't have a dozen of these rings I wear already, this on would have been a keeper! Pretty!

I have some very large Tibetan quartz crystals I am working on settings for. I can't wait-I know one will be a large neckpiece and I'm thinking an arm band for another! It'll be a bit, but I'll be sure to post pics!

Back from the Gem Show & Ready to Roll!

Wow! Did I find some nice new crystals, gems, & treasures during our gem show trip! And, I found a bunch of new toys for working with my polymer clay. I have so many new things to play with I don't know where to start!! Looking at everything on my workbench I feel like a kid in a candy store! Unpacking is probably the best place to start!

Clay, Clay, Clay--Jewelry, Jewelry, Jewerly--an ebay listathon!

Wow! I have been an ebay listing maniac the last few days!! I have so many pieces of clay and jewelry on my bench and desk it's INSANE!! I know I've posted at least 130 items in the last few days! I get in the groove to create and forget I actually have to list them in my ebay store to sell them---so I can make more!! I am so slow at listing that I think I procrastinate to avoid having to do it!! Bad! Bad! Bad!

Clay--I have gone crazy making new mosaic face cabs, mulberry leaf lady face beads and cabs, and faux raku faces...I'm loving the mosaics and leaves---I know I'll be making more! I just have to list them so I can find the surface of my desk again!! ;)

Jewelry--Tons of earrings and a bunch of new pendants. I listed the earrings last night---now onto the pendants!

Once all of these pieces are listed I'll be creating again...I'm starting to see the wood top on my bench---I forgot what color it was!