A lovely opaque aquamarine trillion shaped stone is the focus of this new ring.

I bought two lots of aquamarine trillion and rectangular stones a while back, and now I have finally got around to set a trillion. This is one of the larger ones with a gorgeous opaque icy blue colour. I have set it in a silver bezel with a triangular cutout along each side of the trillion and then two cutouts on each side on the back plate. I left the shank plain to give the setting a chance to shine.

I have given the silver my usual gunmetal grey patina by using liver of sulphur to blacken, and then wire wool brushing and hand polishing to bring out this slightly raw yet mellow look on the silver.

Now for the pics…

I have also made a necklace component in the same style that I have yet to make into a necklace, so that will probably be up next.

Until then, take care
Carin
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I thought I’d have some fun designing some new pebble bracelets in between making up orders and working on a couple of commissions. I have been making my beach pebble “brangles” for a while now and they have always gone down really well, in fact most times I have sold out at fairs.

So, I thought I’d make some new ones and found some gorgeous African recycled glass beads that tone beautifully with the natural beach pebbles that I pick myself and drill. The glass is recycled glass that has been cut into beads and have really cool pitted and slightly frosted patina to them, which I think works really well with the the rawness of beach pebbles. I am planning on combining them with my own handmade white bronze satin finish spacer beads. You can see a few of them on the picture below, a couple have a brushed silver coloured finish and some are still unfinished.

I am making these bracelets on thick snake chain so they will drape nicely and conform to the wrist better. The photo just gives you an idea of what they will look like, but doesn’t actually do it justice, they look really lovely in reality. I will use a large chunky lobster clasp to make them secure and contemporary looking, plus an extension chain to make them adjustable.

So, now I am waiting for more snake chain, end caps and large lobsters from Cookson (the supplier I use for most of my raw materials) so that I can get on with making these. I will also need to drill a bunch of pebbles from my stash.

These bracelets will be gorgeously low key with their neutral, natural colours but I am also planning on making some with blue glass beads in them as well, for those who prefer more colour in their jewellery!

Will post pics of these as soon as I have made some finished ones up.

Until then – cheers!
Carin

New for today is another awesome Chinese turquoise stone with shades of blue and green with black matrix. I have set it simply in silver and hung it on a strand of faceted black Spinel to pick up the black coloured veining in the turquoise cabochon. I also added a few smooth turquoise rondelles on one side for a bit of interest. I wanted something else than just a plain silver chain and I am quite keen on this kind of asymmetric gem strand.

And now for the pics:

That last photo is just to show you the back of the pendant where I have cut out the back of the setting to show the back of this beautiful stone.

Right, it seems like there’s been a lot of turquoise going on recently so I think I need to work with some other stones in the next couple of weeks or so. I have some really pretty aquamarines that I have plans to make a ring and a necklace out of, so watch this space!

Until next time…
Carin
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I’ve got a couple of new rings to show today. The first one is featuring a Sagenite Agate (more info on Agates) stone which has been set in silver with three small offset granules as a little extra. The stone is set on a textured shank which has a leather like abstract pattern. The agate stone is a light cream base with greys and specks of rusty red, with inclusions that look almost like small pieces of moss inside the stone. It is a lovely and subtle stone, perfect everyday kind of ring really. I think the colour is most accurately shown on the third photo.

The next ring has a really pretty little Larimar stone set on a double layered base which remind me of ripples on water when you throw a rock in. The seaside theme carries on to the ring shank, which I’ve given a wavy pattern by roll printing. The silver here has as usual been given a gunmetal grey patina which brings out the textures and really makes the sea blue of the Larimar stone pop.

So there we have it, a couple of new rings! Next time I think I will show you a new turquoise necklace if I can just get the stringing wire delivered soon so I can finish it off. Until then…

Carin
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Here we go, the turquoise ring I’ve promised for a few days now! Another of the stunning Chinese turquoises I’ve had for a while and finally made something out of. It’s funny, I buy all these gorgeous stones but then I have real trouble actually making them into something, I just look at them and stroke them now and then, almost like they are too precious to use! Must get over that and use up all the lovely cabs I have sitting in my workshop drawers… My husband keeps saying I shouldn’t need to buy any stones for years ‘cos I have so many already, but it’s a bit like shoes and handbags – you can never have too many, and there is always one even lovelier on offer!

Anyway, back to the subject in hand. This turquoise has greens and blues intersected by deep brown/black matrix which makes it look almost like a river delta. In fact that is a good name for it; River Delta… might go with that! I just set the stone in a silver bezel and textured the ring shank with a reptile like pattern. And here the pics:

Been doing a few rings recently, they are great fun so next up will be another 2 one-of-a-kind rings; with Larimar and Sagenite Agate. Then another turquoise necklace on a black spinel strand, that is almost finished.

Until then!
Carin
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