Jen’s Blog

I recently had a commission to make ten different pairs of pansy earrings. They didn’t all have to be radically different, but still, each their own original pair. Of course I had fun with this one!

Here’s an example of the pansy earrings. As I get more put online I’ll probably post again - you probably figured out that I love pansies

Pansy Earrings No. 9, with Black Pearls.

I’m just super proud of these so wanted to mention them. This is just a couple examples of my new lacquered earrings line at Weekend Jewelry:

Yes they’re lightweight and comfy, but most of all they are pretty and girly!

I certainly don’t claim that I’ve done a perfect job - but I’ve done a really good job - and this necklace is so gorgeous, and makes YOU look so good, that it’s easy to think of it as “perfect”.

Swarovski Crystal Necklace with Gold
It’s the necklace (and yes, matching earrings) that make you the star of the show!

I made the first of these lariats as a gift for a young friend, and I was surprised at how much her friends liked it (and wanted their own!) - she’s 15 years old and I hadn’t thought it was “cool” enough. Turns out it was.  

And then her girlfriend’s mom wanted one. It reminded me that sometimes a pretty, lightweight necklace like this, with just a touch of color, can be a winner.

It looks great with a tank top, but hey, wouldn’t it also work with that longsleeved shirt you wear to the, you know, office?

It’s a necklace. It’s a bracelet. Yes, I know you can often wrap a necklace around your wrist - but this one is MADE to be worn either way. The sterling silver chain detaches and the nuggety mainpiece can be worn independently as a bracelet. Or can be attached to other pieces of your own jewelry. so can the chain - wear it however you like. It’s pretty cool. Icy cool, you might say.

Etsy is a great showcase for handmade indie goodies and I have a shop there for some one of a kind jewelry, a few “artist’s samples” (the original of a series) and a few other goodies - I love to try new things and Etsy’s a fabulous place for that! For instance, I bet you won’t find a Blue Squirrel pin in too many mainstream shops. You think?

Cheerful Blue Squirrel Pin My shop’s at Weekend Jewelry on Etsy….And if you go to my shop there and make an order, mention Jen’s Blog and you get a free gift!

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Purple Pink and Orange is a wonderful indie boutique, full of accessories, art, jewelry, handbags, toys, and other wonderful handmade goodies - and now they’re closing! We’ll be sad to see it go, because it is a fun place to shop - and such good deals! Well the good deals are even better now - Amy is marking products down like crazy. You might as well take advantage of this wonderful opportunity - go there and shop!

We wish Amy well and know that she’ll take her hard-won knowledge, savvy, and sense of fairness to her next endeavor. But meantime…check out the super bargains!

I’ve recently bought my first blue topaz gemstone beads, and I am madly in love with them. Blue topaz, whether “London blue” (rich and deeper in tone), “Swiss Blue”, “Aqua Blue”, or just “Blue”, is gorgeous. It’s rated 8 on the MOHs scale, where diamond is a 10 and opal, for example, is 5.5 - opal is quite soft. Anyway, topaz is harder than many semi-precious stones, and can be brilliantly faceted - which is one reason it’s so costly. In my opinion it’s totally worth it - finely faceted stones are such a marvel. The blue is usually an enhanced color - topaz in its natural state is clear to yellowish. Lovely also, but not that scintillating, lovely blue. That color comes about after the stone is irradiated - and no, it is not “radioactive” and will not harm you in any way. And it’s not dyed, so the color won’t come off. Here’s a lovely necklace that’s made for a young girl, perhaps a flower girl, or communion present? Or just a special treat. The stones are tiny, only about 5-6mm long each, so the whole “flower” pendant is only about a half-inch wide.

Now isn’t that fit for a princess!

But I bring all this up for two reasons - one, to show off the new pretties I made with my scarce new blue topaz (see above) and two, to mention that if somebody is offering blue topaz for extremely low prices (say $10 for a strand or something) - well, just exercise a little caution. It might be clear quartz, dyed blue, and might also be pretty - in which case that’s fine, as long as you don’t pay “topaz” prices. But also, some of the very low-cost “topaz” (quartz) really is dyed - and the color will wash off.

The beautiful stones I bought are real topaz. They are not dyed, they are irradiated - there’s a difference in the color, truly. And I did try the wash test - with paint thinner and acetone, and even dish soap - some of the above-referenced quartz washes off, just like that! Does it seem strange I’d mention this stuff? I don’t think it is, truly. There is a lot of “buyer beware” stuff out there, and when I use good stuff - and charge accordingly - the least I can do is try to be sure it’s the best, AND to let you know some of the pitfalls to watch out for!

Hey, guys wear jewelry too. Not a lot, maybe, and not flashy - but guys like ornament too, especially if it’s something cool and honest. Case in point: unstained wood rondelles, brass spacers without a lot of foofrah. This one’s a hit:

  Man’s Necklace in Wood

Or, he can always go for the Animal Claw look - without the bloody hunting. I’ve got three to choose from right now: Man’s Necklace with Gunmetal Chain and White Claw and Man’s Necklace with Black and White Claws

and Man’s Necklace with Black Agate Claws

Let’s say it’s for the “urban tiger”. I like that.

I don’t know what the Fashion Superstars are saying this year - but I know what people like.  Black IS “the new black” this year. There’s a reason that black is the touchstone by which jewelry colors are measured - other than silver or gold, it is the most requested color, year round, on a consistent basis. Black always goes with what you’re wearing. Black can be dressy or casual, sophisticated or punk. Black looks great with pale skin, dark skin, or a summertime tan (make it a fake tan, please, cause that’s smarter!)

And it always looks good. Case in point:

  Black and Silver Lariat Necklace

It always looks good, always fits, and you’ll love the versatility!

And take a look at this    fun bracelet in black and silver and white and tan - neutrals that look good all year round. It can be sized just for you, of course.

And, of course we have coordinating earrings, like these    Black Agate Briolette Earrings in black and sterling silver, and these    Black Agate Feather Earrings to coordinate with the lariat necklace shown above.

Now you KNOW that these would go with the favorites in your closet!