COKERFEST - Holiday Craft Fair at Coker UMC !

Brighten up your Holiday wear with one of these Holiday Jewelry Sets designed by Gayle.

Your can see these and more at

COKERFEST

Saturday November 5th

9AM to 4PM

Coker UMC, North Loop Rd, San Antonio

SOUTHWESTERN FLAIR -- Wild Horse Magnesite and Ivoryite !

From the deserts of the Southwesten United States comes a exciting gemstone called by many Wild Horse Turquoise. Although coming out of the same mines as Turquoise, its characteristic is a reddish-brown matrix surrounding a snow white background. This is a beautiful and very extraordinary combination. However, the correct identification of the material is Magnesite, not Turquoise since there is no cupric in it to give the blue, blue-green or green coloration that makes Turquoise so famous. But wheather called Wild Horse Magnesite or Wild Horse Turquoise, it is from the same locations and is extremely hard to find but make beautiful jewelry.

You are looking at true Southwest. The colors of the desert - tans and browns - are predominent in the Sterling Silver bezel set Wild Horse Magnesite triangular pendant. Magnesite barrels and Ivoryite rondels are interlaced with sterling silver and chain links to give this 19 inch necklace with 2 inch extender its fantastic look. Magnesite and Ivoryite are further paired in teh 1 inch long Leverback earrings that complete the set.

Magnesite occurs as veins in and an alteration product of ultramafic rocks like serpentinite, turquoise and other magnesium rich rock types in both contact and regional metamorphic terranes. These Magnesites often are cryptocrystalline and contain silica as opal or chert. Magnesite is also present within the regolith above ultramafic rocks as a secondary carbonate within soil and subsoil, where it is deposited as a consequence of dissolution of magnesium-bearing minerals by carbon dioxide within groundwaters. Some of the best Magnesite deposits that can produce gemstone quality material are co-located with Turquoise deposits in the southwestern United States.

Ivoryite is a great substitute for ivory. It is a sedimentary precipitate of magnesium, calcium and silica. It is 5 to 5-1/2 on the Moh's scale, which makes it slightly harder than ivory. Ivoryite can be worked with metal tools, but cuts effortlessly with diamond tools. Polishes well with diamond, tin oxide, cerium oxide or white rouge. Excellent material for inlay, cabochons and small carvings. Do not confuse Ivoryite with Ivorite, whic is a black tektite material from Africa. The majority of Ivoryite currenly comes from the western United States, especially Colorado and California.

CARIBBEAN DELIGHTS SERIES - Colors of the Caribbean Sunset !

As one visits the Caribbean, the vibrant colors that are seen in the Ocean, on the Islands and in the Sunsets inspired this jewelry collection called "Caribbean Delights". The first two sets covered the green of the islands and the blues of the water, we now look at a Caribbean Sunset.

The Caribbean Sunset is reflected in this necklace with a rust-blue-gold Sonoran hand blown leaf at the center. Carnelian barrel beads and chips are then complimentd by crystals and cat-eye beads in sunset colors of reds, dark and light pinks, blues and copper. The necklace is 20 inches with a 2 inch extender and a Lobster Claw Clasp. The French Hook Earrings hang 1 1/2 inches.

Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a brownish-red mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to Carnelian is Sard, which is generally harder and darker. The difference is not rigidly defined, and the two names are often used interchangeably. Both Crnelian and Sard are varieties of the silica mineral Chalcedony colored by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration. Extensive beds of Carnelian are found at Rajpipa in State of Gujarat in India and have been dug since at least about 1500 to provide raw material for the region's extensive lapidary industry.

Sonoran Leaves are a specially fired glass that is made into the shape of leaves in different sizes for use in pendants and earrings. Boro glass is a particular type of glass, better known under the brand name of Pyrex. It was first developed in the late 19th century and was used primarily for scientific glass due to its strength and durability. Artists have started to use boro glass for bead making even though it is a very hard glass and requires high heat to form a bead. Boro glass has a very distinctive range of colors from varions other minerals or impurities, often much more vibrant than the softer European glass. Sonoran Leaf pieces are made one at a time, in a flame. Because they are made by hand there may be slight variations in color from one batch to another. Do not confuse these Sonoran Leaves with other types of poured or fused glass leave made in bulk.

Cat-eye beads and colored crystals were also used in this set.

A second set of earrings using Sonoran Leaf dangles to match the center highlight of the necklace is also available.

SUMMER SENSATIONS - Delicate Purples and Greens !

Float through Summer with this colorful necklace. A 2 inch long wire wrapped purple Agate oval pendant is the main stone in this piece. The Agate is complimented with two sizes of Russian Charoite, Amethyst chips and rounds, Fluorite pebbles and a mix of crystals for a bit of sparkle. Silver Pewter accent pieces highlight this 20 inch long necklace, with a silver plated Toggle clasp. Amethyst and Fluorite dangle from the matching French Hook earrings.

SOLD Agate is a microcrystalline variety of silica, chiefly Chalcedony, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although Agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks and can be common in certain metamorphic rocks. Colorful Agates and other Chalcedonies were obtained over 3,000 years ago from the Achates River, now called Dirillo, in Sicily. Most Agates occur as nodules in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas where they represent cavities originally produced by the disengagement of volatiles in the molten mass which were then filled, wholly or partially, by siliceous matter deposited in regular layers upon the walls. Such Agates, when cut transversely, exhibit a succession of parallel lines, often of extreme tenuity, giving a banded appearance to the section. Some Agates are found to be translucent when cut thin enough.

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry and decorative statues and lapidary displays. Amethyst is composed of an irregular superposition of alternate lamellae of right-handed and left-handed quartz. It has been shown that this structure may be due to mechanical stresses. Because it has a hardness of seven on the Mohs scale, Amethyst is suitable for use in jewelry. Amethyst occurs in primary hues from a light pinkish violet to a deep purple. Amethyst may exhibit one or both secondary hues, red and blue. Green quartz is sometimes incorrectly called green Amethyst, which is an actual misnomer and not an acceptable name for the material, the proper terminology being Prasiolite.

Charoite is a rare mineral, first fully described in 1978 and named for the Chara River. It has been reported only from the Sakha Republic, Yakutia, Siberia, Russia. It is found where a syenite, the Murunskii Massif, has intruded into and altered limestone deposits producing a potassium feldspar metasomatite. Charoite is translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly lustre. However, it is a discrete mineral rather than a rock. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially. Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to the world outside Russia until its description was published in 1978.

Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon. Crystal twinning is common and adds complexity to the observed crystal habits. Fluorite is a widely occurring mineral which is found in large deposits in many areas. Notable deposits occur in China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Norway, Mexico, and both the Province of Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Large deposits also occur in Kenya in the Kerio Valley area within the Great Rift Valley. In the United States, deposits are found in Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Ohio, New Hampshire, New York, Alaska, and Texas. Fluorite has been the state mineral of Illinois since 1965. At that time, Illinois was the largest producer of Fluorite in the United States, but the last fluorite mine in Illinois was closed in 1995. Green and purple Flourite are the most commonly found, but all colors of the rainbow exist depending on impurities.

Crystals are also used in this set.

SUMMER SENSATIONS - light weight Chinese look !

Summertime light weight whites, blues and golds in Cloisonne highlight beads with blue cord fabric beads, ivory glass Pearls, Lapis ovals with Czech crystal bead mix on a 19 inch necklace with a 2 inch extender and magnetic clasp. Matching golden French Hock earrings complete the set.

Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metalework objects, but in recent centuries using vitreous enamels, and also inlays of cut gemstones, glass, and even linen. and other cloth materials, has become common place, especially in jewelry beads.

Czech Glass Crystals or perhaps better known as Bohemian glass, or Bohemia crystal, is a decorative glass produced in regions of Bohemia and Silesia, now in the current state of the Czech Republic, since the 13th century. Oldest archaeology excavations of glass-making sites date to around 1250 and are located in the Lusatian Mountains of Northern Bohemia. Both Novy Bor and Kamenicky Senov have their own Glass Museums with many items dating since around 1600. These locations were especially outstanding in its manufacture of glass in high Baroque style from 1685 to 1750. In the 17th century, gem cutters in Prague, adapted to glass the technique of gem engraving with copper and bronze wheels. In the second half of the 19th century, Bohemia looked to the export trade and mass-produced colored glass for shipment all over the world. Today the Bohemian Glassworks Company is the producer of fine Czech crystals, Bohemian glass and Swarovski crystals. The latest project has been the firing of glass nail files.

Lapis Lazuli is a rock, not a mineral: whereas a mineral has only one constituent, Lapis Lazuli is formed from more than one mineral. The main component of lapis lazuli is Lazurite, and a feldspathoid silicate mineral. Most Lapis Lazuli also contains Calcite (white), Sodalite (blue), and Pyrite (metallic yellow). There can also be other possible constituents and trace amounts of other minerals. Lapis lazuli usually occurs in crystalline marble as a result of contact metamorphism. The finest color is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden Pyrite. Stones with no white Calcite veins and only small Pyrite inclusions are more prized. Patches of Pyrite are an important help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value. Often, inferior Lapis is dyed to improve its color, producing a very dark blue color with a noticeable grey cast which may also appear as a milky shade. Lapis takes an excellent polish and can be made into jewelry, carvings, boxes, mosaics, ornaments, and vases.

Cord beads and glass Peafrls are also used in this set.

CARIBBEAN DELIGHTS SERIES - Colors of the Sea !

As one visits the Caribbean, the vibrant colors that are seen in the Ocean, on the Islands and in the Sunsets inspired this jewelry collection called "Caribbean Delights". The set delights one with the blues of the water.

The light blues and aquas of the Caribbean Sea are highlighted in the necklace with a large aqua Sonoran Leaf as the focal piece. Czech glass nuggets with an aqua thread complement the crystals and seed beads with silver accents along the sides. A silver plated Lobster Clasp with a 2 inch extender on this 18 inch necklace gives the wearer an option on length. Matching crystal French Hook earrings complete the set.

Sonoran Leaves are a specially fired glass that is made into the shape of leaves in different sizes for use in pendants and earrings. Boro glass is a particular type of glass, better known under the brand name of Pyrex. It was first developed in the late 19th century and was used primarily for scientific glass due to its strength and durability. Artists have started to use boro glass for bead making even though it is a very hard glass and requires high heat to form a bead. Boro glass has a very distinctive range of colors from varions other minerals or impurities, often much more vibrant than the softer European glass. Sonoran Leaf pieces are made one at a time, in a flame. Because they are made by hand there may be slight variations in color from one batch to another. Do not confuse these Sonoran Leaves with other types of poured or fused glass leave made in bulk.

Czech Glass Crystals or perhaps better known as Bohemian glass, or Bohemia crystal, is a decorative glass produced in regions of Bohemia and Silesia, now in the current state of the Czech Republic, since the 13th century. Oldest archaeology excavations of glass-making sites date to around 1250 and are located in the Lusatian Mountains of Northern Bohemia. Both Novy Bor and Kamenicky Senov have their own Glass Museums with many items dating since around 1600. These locations were especially outstanding in its manufacture of glass in high Baroque style from 1685 to 1750. In the 17th century, gem cutters in Prague, adapted to glass the technique of gem engraving with copper and bronze wheels. In the second half of the 19th century, Bohemia looked to the export trade and mass-produced colored glass for shipment all over the world. Today the Bohemian Glassworks Company is the producer of fine Czech crystals, Bohemian glass and Swarovski crystals. The latest project has been the firing of glass nail files.

Crystals and seed beads are also used in this set.

SUMMER SENTATIONS - Cool Waters !

A cool Aqua Flower Glass pendant looks like a flower floating below the cool water. The pendant is accented with white carved Coral, white Shell heishe beads, aqua millifiori and cat-eye beads and crystals. This 21 inch necklace is finished with a Hook and Loop clasp. The set is finished out with matching French Hook drop earrings using similar flower under glass drops.

Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secret calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Coral tissues become colorless as they reveal the white of their calcium carbonate skeletons, an event known as coral bleaching and most corals are found in the white form. Other colorations also exist depending on chemicals and algie in the water in which they grew. Corals are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Scientists have predicted that over 50% of the world's coral reefsmay be destroyed by 2030; and as a result most nations protect them through environmental laws, especially the black corals. To overcome the shortages for jewelry and other ornamental uses, coral farms are now being developed and used for non-ocenaic purposes. Currently many species of Corals, especially reef building varities, are being considered "endangered" and are under consideration for banning for use in jewelry and other decorative uses, following in the footsteps of Ivory. Sponge Coral, however, is not on the endangered species list, plus it is a sustainable product. Sponge Coral is a farmed product and thus is not removed from the Coral Reef and does not cause the environmental damage associated with traditional corals.

Millifiori is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware. The term millefiori is a combination of the Italian words "mille" (thousand) and "fiori" (flowers). Apsey Pellatt was the first to use the term "millefiori", which appeared in the Oxford Dictionary in 1849. This type of bead was called mosaic beads before then. While the use of this technique long precedes the term millefiori, it is now frequently associated with Venetian glassware. More recently, the millefiori technique has been applied to polymer clays and other materials. Because polymer clay is quite pliable and does not need to be heated and reheated to fuse it, it is much easier to produce millefiori patterns than with glass.


Shell and Crystals are also used in this set.

CARIBBEAN DELIGHTS SERIES - Colors of the Caribbean Sea !

SOLD Based on a customer request, this particular Caribbean Delights necklace is similar to the first one made but is constructed out of a smaller Sonoran Blue Leaf and smaller Lapis pebbles to make in more lightweight and less bulky.

See the Posing for June 7th for the original larger version of this necklace.

CARIBBEAN DELIGHTS SERIES - Colors of the Caribbean Islands and Sea !

As one visits the Caribbean, the vibrant colors that are seen in the Ocean, on the Islands and in the Sunsets inspired this jewelry collection called "Caribbean Delights". The first two cover the green of the islands and the blues of the water.

SOLD A peridot colored 2 inch Sonoran Glass Leaf acts as a focal point and is combined with Green and Tan Rhyolite rectangular beads, Coper accents, natural White Coral and Green Aventurine pebbles to take the wearer on a tour of the Islands of the Caribbean. This 18 inch necklace with a Copper Toggle Clasp is versitle and very light weight. Copper French Hook Earrings using Rhyolite, Coral and Aventurine complete the set.

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Rhyolite is a relatively common volcanic rock. It is the chemical equivalent of granite. Although the two rock types have the same chemistry, Rhyolite is extrusive and granite is intrusive. While granite has crystals that are generally easy to see, in rhyolite the crystals are often too small to see. This is due to the more rapid cooling of the rhyolite lava compared to granite's slower cooling magma. Rhyolitic lavas are often more explosive and slower moving than the less viscous basalt lavas such as those that erupt on the island of Hawaii. Rhyolite often is found with flow banding "frozen" into the rock. This lends to uses as decorative rocks and even ornamental stones for jewelry.

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Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secret calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Coral tissues become colorless as they reveal the white of their calcium carbonate skeletons, an event known as coral bleaching and most corals are found in the white form. Other colorations also exist depending on chemicals and algie in the water in which they grew. Corals are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Scientists have predicted that over 50% of the world's coral reefs may be destroyed by 2030; and as a result most nations protect them through environmental laws, especially the black corals. To overcome the shortages for jewelry and other ornamental uses, coral farms are now being developed and used for non-ocenaic purposes. Sponge Coral has been raised in these Coral Farms for decades.

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Aventurine is a form of quartz (chalcedony to be more specific), characterised by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence. The most common colour of Aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue, or gray. Chrome-bearing fuchsitte is the classic inclusion, and gives a silvery green or blue sheen. Oranges and browns are attributed to hematite or goethite. The majority of green and blue-green Aventurine originates in India. Creamy white, gray and orange material is found in Chile, Spain and Russia.
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SOLD As blue a the waters of the Caribbean, a blue colored 2 inch Sonoran Glass Leaf is the focal point of this 20 inch necklace. Opalite and Lapis beads along with crystals have been charmed to highlight the leaf. Wavy Lapis beads and chips, bronze accents and a bronze Toggle clasp complete the necklace. Clusters of charmed beads and crystals hang from the Frech Hook earrings to complete the set.
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Lapis Lazuli is a rock, not a mineral: whereas a mineral has only one constituent, Lapis Lazuli is formed from more than one mineral. The main component of lapis lazuli is Lazurite, and a feldspathoid silicate mineral. Most Lapis Lazuli also contains Calcite (white), Sodalite (blue), and Pyrite (metallic yellow). There can also be other possible constituents and trace amounts of other minerals. Lapis lazuli usually occurs in crystalline marble as a result of contact metamorphism. The finest color is intense blue, lightly dusted with small flecks of golden Pyrite. Stones with no white Calcite veins and only small Pyrite inclusions are more prized. Patches of Pyrite are an important help in identifying the stone as genuine and do not detract from its value. Often, inferior Lapis is dyed to improve its color, producing a very dark blue color with a noticeable grey cast which may also appear as a milky shade. Lapis takes an excellent polish and can be made into jewelry, carvings, boxes, mosaics, ornaments, and vases.

Opalite is a stone mined in Utah that comes in varying shades of purple, lavender and creamy white with swirls of yellowish-brown and pink. Opalite is also referred to as Tiffany Stone. Opalite is also a trade name for synthetic opalized glass and various opal simulants. The name is also many times used to promote impure varieties of variously colored common opals.

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Jewelry Set - Summr Sparkle !

A Summer day can end with a beautiful red sunset and at the same time have the white of lights and stars combine in a burst of color.

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SOLD This necklace is constructed wth a white Agate center stone with red Carnelian discs and white carved Coral enhanced with silver melon accents ad crystals. This 18 inch necklace is finished with a silver Toggle clasp. Matching French Hook earrings complete the set.

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Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a brownish-red mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to Carnelian is Sard, which is generally harder and darker. The difference is not rigidly defined, and the two names are often used interchangeably. Both Crnelian and Sard are varieties of the silica mineral Chalcedony colored by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration. Extensive beds of Carnelian are found at Rajpipa in State of Gujarat in India and have been dug since at least about 1500 to provide raw material for the region's extensive lapidary industry.

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White Agate more commonly referred to as Greek agate is a name given to pale white to light tan colored agate found in Sicily dating back to 400 B.C. The Greeks used it for making jewelry and beads. Even though the stone had been around for centuries and was known to both the Sumerians and the Egyptians, both who used the gem for decoration and for playing important parts in their religious ceremonies, any agate of this white color from Sicily, once an ancient Greek colony, is called Greek Agate.

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Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secret calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Coral tissues become colorless as they reveal the white of their calcium carbonate skeletons, an event known as coral bleaching and most corals are found in the white form. Other colorations also exist depending on chemicals and algie in the water in which they grew. Corals are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Scientists have predicted that over 50% of the world's coral reefsmay be destroyed by 2030; and as a result most nations protect them through environmental laws, especially the black corals. To overcome the shortages for jewelry and other ornamental uses, coral farms are now being developed and used for non-ocenaic purposes.

Additional info ----- Currently many species of Corals, especially reef building varities, are being considered "endangered" and are under consideration for banning for use in jewelry and other decorative uses, following in the footsteps of Ivory. Sponge Coral, however, is not on the endangered species list, plus it is a sustainable product. Sponge Coral is a farmed product and thus is not removed from the Coral Reef and does not cause the environmental damage associated with traditional corals.

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Crystals were also used in this set.

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Jewelry Set - Summertime Green Colors !

A fresh cool look for Summer - Green !
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This color of Summer stands out with a Wire Wrapped Green Onyx pendant surrounded with a cluster of Aventurine and Rose Quartz beads with White Carved Coral beads. Crystals, Aventurine and Rose Quartz beads add style and complete this 18 inch long necklace with a Toggle Clasp. Two pair of French Hook Earrings give differfent looks, one of two sizes of a simple White Coral, with a second set of dangle style of White Coral and crystals.
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Green onyx (also called Onice Verde Onyx), is a type of quartz crystal with a very fine crystalline structure that is a translucent banded stone. It is a splended gemstones used to make jewelry. Green onyx has a color range from a very light lime-green color to a very light forest-green color. The green portion can be marbled with a dark red-orange coloration as onyx is found in a variety of different colors. Green onyx is a hard stone, due to his compact crystalline structure. On the hardness scale, onyx falls between 6.5 and 7; compared. Most of today's Green Onyx comes from Pakistan and Henan China, but at one time it was found in Indiana and Illinois.

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Aventurine is a form of quartz (chalcedony to be more specific), characterised by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence. The most common colour of Aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue, or gray. Chrome-bearing fuchsitte is the classic inclusion, and gives a silvery green or blue sheen. Oranges and browns are attributed to hematite or goethite. The majority of green and blue-green Aventurine originates in India. Creamy white, gray and orange material is found in Chile, Spain and Russia.

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Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secret calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Coral tissues become colorless as they reveal the white of their calcium carbonate skeletons, an event known as coral bleaching and most corals are found in the white form. Other colorations also exist depending on chemicals and algie in the water in which they grew. Corals are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Scientists have predicted that over 50% of the world's coral reefsmay be destroyed by 2030; and as a result most nations protect them through environmental laws, especially the black corals. To overcome the shortages for jewelry and other ornamental uses, coral farms are now being developed and used for non-ocenaic purposes.
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Rose Quartz is a type of quartz which exhibits a pale pink to rose red hue. The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium, iron or manganese in the massive material found world wide. Some Rose Quartz contains microscopic rutile needles which produces an asterism in transmitted light. Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumrtierite within the quartz crystal.

Crystals were also used in his set.
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Jewelry Set - for Summer !

The Big, the Bold, the Heavy jewelry that has been so popular these past few seasons needs to now be overcome by sparkle and light weight jewelry pieces for the hot Summer season.

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In keeping with the colorful and light weight theme, Gayle has come up with a selection that joins together clusters of varying colors of Freshwater Pearls that are accented by sparkling crystal beads in a set that mates the necklace, earrings and bracelet into a colorful and lightweight Summer selection.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - An Old Favorite, Turquoise !

Turquoise use in jewelry goes back to the early Egyptain times and maybe earlier than that. The Native American's use of Turquoise in their jewelry, especially from the southwestern United States, where it is plentiful, is still a favority among men and women alike.

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This design incorporates southwestern stablizied Turquoise tear-drop shapped pendant hung on silver from a necklace of Turquoise oval and Ivority barrel beads with Black Agate (Onyx) chips, silver plated highlights and a silver hook and loop clasp. Silver leverback earrings with matching Turquoise ovals complete the set.

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Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium. It is rare and valuable in its finer grades and has been prized as a gemstone and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In recent times Turquoise, like most other opaque gems, has been devalued by the introduction of treatments, imitations, and synthetics onto the gemstone marketplace. The substance has been known by many names, but the word Turquoise was derived around the 16th century from the French language 'turquie', for a Central Asian material which was a very early imported through Turkey from Persia. Today, Persian and certain southwestern United States Turquoise, especially Sleeping Beauty, commend some of the highest prices paid for this gemstone.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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Ivoryite is a unique variety of an extremely fine grained mineral called Magnesite. It is a naturally occuring mineral and not man-made. It is found in Arizona and quarried by hand. Ivoryite has the creamy color, smooth texture, and satin luster of natural Ivory. It is slightly harder however than natural ivory.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - Variation on a Design !

As much as possible the majority of my designs are One-Of-A-Kind unless a customer asks specifically for a design to be redone with different gemstones or materials. This time because of the uniqueness of the materials envolved, here is a redesign which is similar to an earlier one.
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This design still incorporates four very different textures: ceramic, cut coral, polished gemstones and metalic silver plate. Grey Ceramic Axe-shapped Beads are the focal point of the necklace, highlighted by Red Sponge Coral rondels, faceted Black Agate (onyx) beads and silver plated accent pieces with silver toggle clasp.
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The necklace is complemented with a pair of French Hook silver earrings containing matching Red Sponge Coral rondels and Silver highlight bead caps.

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Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton which is used in the production of jewelry.

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Black Agate (Onyx) which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx. Onyx is a crypyocrystalline form of Quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Specimens of Onyx contain bands of colors of white, tan, and brown. As stated, the pure black form which most people know as Onyx, is not a naturally occuring variety. Black Agate or poorly colored Onyx is heated and dyed black to come up with the pure black form so well liked within the jewelry industry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - More Mixed Materials !

Again using a combination of materials, we now have this unique necklace set.

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The necklace uses three Mother of Pearl (MOP) spoon style highlight pendants with polished Calcite gemstone rounds, Ceramic oval beads and flat oblong polished wood beads with glass pearl rounds as highlights between the beads. Gold plated highlings and a golden hook clasp complete the necklace. Matching French Hook earrings complete the set.

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Calcite, which gets its name from "chalix" the Greek word for lime, is a most amazing and yet, most common mineral. It is one of the most common minerals on the face of the Earth, comprising about 4% by weight of the Earth's crust and is formed in many different geological environments. Calcite can form rocks of considerable mass and constitutes a significant part of all three major rock classification types. Some of these rock types are composed of better than 99% calcite. Why would a collector be interested in such a common mineral? Because of its extraordinary diversity and beauty! The jewelry industry has become facinated with its beauty and many colors.

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Mother of pearl, also called nacre, is an iridescent layer of material which forms the shell lining of many mollusks. Pearl oysters and abalone are both sources of mother of pearl, which is widely used as an inlay in jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments. Mother of pearl comes in several natural colors, and is often bleached and dyed for decorative use. The dye retains the shimmering layers which make mother of pearl so sought after. Depending on the shell the Mother of Pearl is taken from, it may be processed into large flat or curved pieces, small pieces sometimes call nuggets or processed as polished beads. Two substances actually combine to create mother of pearl. The first is plates of aragonite, a material which is secreted by the mollusk. Aragonite contains calcium carbonate and conchiolin, a natural protein. Alone, the plates are very hard, but also very brittle. As a result, the organism also secretes organic material similar to silk to layer between the plates. The result is a strong, flexible material which can withstand hard use.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - Go For The Look !

Many times using the colors from a highlight bead or pendant brings a necklace together as a single unit.

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This gemstone set uses a striped Sardonyx gemstone which was end drilled as the highlight of the necklace. Polished Coral rounds combines with Carnelian discs and rounds with silver highlights and toggle clasp complete the necklace. French hook earrings using the Carnelian rounds and disks with silver highlights complete the set.

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Sardonyx is a variant of Onyx or Agate in which the colored bands are Sard in shades of red rather than black. Pure black Onyx, which is truely a died black Agate, is more common and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as natural Onyx with its banded colors of browns, whites and black.

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Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a reddish-brown mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to Carnelian is Sard, which is generally harder and darker. The difference between the two is not rigidly defined, and thus the two names are often used interchangeably. Both Carnelian and Sard are varieties of the silica mineral called Chalcedony and are colored red by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration.

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Corals are marine organisms typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton which is used in the production of jewelry.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - Mixed Materials

Again I am using different materials to provide a contrast in textures and styles.
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This specific design incorporates the use of manmade and natural materials. This necklace set uses glass infused with copper strands, similar to natural Rutilated Quart, as the large highlight pieces and bronze and white cultured freshwater pearls to complete the piece. A gold plated toggel clasp is used with matching matching gold French Hook earrings.
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Freshwater Pearls, abreviated FWP, are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They have been produced prodominently in Japan and the United States on a limited scale, but are now almost exclusive to China. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that all freshwater pearls be referred to as "freshwater cultured pearls" in commerce settings.
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The Japanese freshwater pearl industry holds a special historic value as the first country to cultivate whole freshwater pearls in Lake Biwa. The industry attempted a comeback with a mussel hybrid in Lake Kasumigaura in the last decade, but this venture also met with failure, with all production ceasing in 2006. A pearl farm in Tennessee also holds special historic value as it is the only place freshwater pearls have been developed outside of Asia. Freshwater Pearsl come in a variety of shapes and colors, and dependant on the seed placed into the mussel.
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Be careful when purchasing FWPs as there are now many plastic, glass, resin and other materials of fake pearls on the market, especially some being referred to as Biwa Pearls.
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Rutilated Quartz is quite simply a quartz stone with rutile enclosures. Rutile is a mineral that is made up mostly of Titanium dioxide. As a mineral, rutile is very high on the refractive index and disperses more than almost any other mineral. This means that when rutile appears in other minerals, it almost always appears in long, thin shots of color. Rutilus is, in fact, the Latin word for red. The mineral gained this name because some specimens are a lovely deep red color. Rutile, however, can also appear in golden, brown and gray tones. The long thin hairs of golden rutile produce great gemstones for pendants. Using various techniques, glass is infused with copper, silver and gold to immitate the Rutile straws in Quartz. Do not confuse Rutilated Quartz with Tourmalated Quartz.
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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - Mixed materials !

As previously discussed, many times using different textures can create interesting designs. In the same way different materials can also be used to give depth or balance to a design or highligh specific colors or parts of a highlighted piece in the design.
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Using the latter idea, here we have a necklace set with a multiple highlight pendants of five Spotted Agate trillion cut polished gemstones, with matching copper colored AB crystals and chocolate colored glass pearls interspersed with silver highlights. The matching French Hook earrings use the same chocolate glass pearls and copper AB crystals.
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Now then what are AB crystals ? Aurora Borealis, usually abbreviated AB for short, is a name that has been given to faceted glass crystal beads that have an added iridescent coating placed on the outside of the facets. This coating produces a multi-color reflection which changes color as the beads are rotated. One must be careful when cleaning AB crystal beads, as sometimes in the lower cost varities, this coating can be scratched or come off. AB coating is also used on larger glass pieces to give them the iridescent reflective property also.
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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - using Mother of Pearl !

Mother of pearl is the common name for iridescent nacre, a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting their bodies from parasites and foreign objects. Although pearls are popular today, some past cultures regarded colorful pieces of mother of pearl as more desirable decoration for jewelry and other objects. Jewelry made from mother of pearl is in the group called organic jewelry, which includes all jewelry that originates from a living creature, plant or other living organism. Mother of Pearl has made a big comeback in jewelry in the past few years, and is today rated almost equally with many forms of pearls.
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This necklace and earring set is constructed of a Copper Heart pendant, 16mm Mother of Pearl round balls and multi-color crystals with matching crystal earrings.

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This second design uses Mother of Pearl pebbles and polished rounds with gold plated link chain. Matching French Hook earrings complete the set.

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Mother of pearl, also called nacre, is an iridescent layer of material which forms the shell lining of many mollusks. Pearl oysters and abalone are both sources of mother of pearl, which is widely used as an inlay in jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments. Mother of pearl comes in several natural colors, and is often bleached and dyed for decorative use. The dye retains the shimmering layers which make mother of pearl so sought after. Depending on the shell the Mother of Pearl is taken from, it may be processed into large flat or curved pieces, small pieces sometimes call nuggets or processed as polished beads.

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Two substances actually combine to create mother of pearl. The first is plates of aragonite, a material which is secreted by the mollusk. Aragonite contains calcium carbonate and conchiolin, a natural protein. Alone, the plates are very hard, but also very brittle. As a result, the organism also secretes organic material similar to silk to layer between the plates. The result is a strong, flexible material which can withstand hard use.

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Mollusks create mother of pearl to protect themselves. In addition to forming part of the shell, mother of pearl also insulates mollusks from bacterial infection, and reduces irritation from organic material which drifts into the shell.

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Use mild soaps and water on mother of pearl to clean it, and avoid storing it with jewelry which may scratch it, wearing away the luminous layers of nacre.

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Gemstone Jewelry - combining textures !

Many times the use of various materials that have varying textures come together and provide a striking contract which makes a stand-out jewelry piece.

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This design incorporates four very different textures: ceramic, cut coral, polished gemstones and metalic silver plate. Grey Ceramic Axe-shapped Beads are the focal point of the necklace, highlighted by Red Sponge Coral rondels, faceted Black Agate (onyx) beads and silver plated acent pieces with silver toggle clasp.

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The necklace is complemented with a pair of French Hook silver earrings containing matching Red Sponge Coral rondels and Silver highlight bead caps.

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The necklace is 18 inches long.

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This piece and others will be available at the upcoming Fall Jewelry and Craft Shows in the San Antonio area.

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