quartztrail

Jasper Of Some Sort

No idea what these are:

These would've been for sale if I hadn't broken off the top chunk of the left-hand stone and had to glue it back together. Gah. Mine now.

Picture stones

These are called Dendritic sandstone. I bought them last year. They look like little plants got pressed in them, right? It's just minerals that leach into the sandstone that way.

Cool stuff. I'm under strict orders from my jewelry teacher to never, ever part with these earrings. Why?

Says she: "You'll never find stones like this again."

Who am I to argue?

Lend me your ears ...

... and I'll put earrings on them.  Just a reminder that my earrings start at $15.

Click to enlarge the photo for a closer look. They're listed individually at my Etsy shop.

Or cut-and-paste the URL:
http://quartztrail.etsy.com

Earrings and earrings and earrings

Yes, I was in a frenzy in the two weeks leading up to this sale. I made all of these. It was about the most fun I've had with power tools since Mr. Kaplan's wood shop class at West Rocks Middle School. I kicked tuchus in that class.

Anyway.

I had a brief moment of panic that led to a whole new level of commitment to jewelry making. I'd planned on finishing these babies up at two jewelry classes the other week instead of one. And ... the instructor was sick.

Panic! What would I do without the classroom's power tools?

Help me, Home Depot! 

You have to imagine the hubby's reaction when I lugged home a brand, spanking-new Dremel tool. Y'know Homer Simpson and donuts? That's the reaction. You'd think I brought home a vibrator. It does kinda look like one. Except for the sanding and buffing attachments. *shudder*

Wonder if I could do my nails with them, though? Just a thought.

So, yeah, I'm committed now. Gotta make that Dremel tool earn its keep.

Oh, and if you see any earrings you like, they're all up at Etsy. Prices start at $15 for the copper, up to $22 for the silver. As always, shipping is free.

Amazon Grace

These are a stone called amazonite, not at all like the overused turquoise, though similar in color.  Peach saltwater pearls dangle from silver chain, at my shop here.

Also, note the backing ... it's designed to hang low.

Habanero Nice Day

Also one of my first projects from silversmithing class. Wow, did these give me a hard time. They just did NOT want to go into their settings. Which, by the way, are hand-stamped around the edges.

Here's the description I put in my shop:

Mmm ... these make me think of three-alarm chili, for some reason. Maybe it's the color? I made these in my silversmithing class and they're hand-set, hand-stamped, all that kind of good stuff.

Note they're designed to hang low on the earlobe. Check out the picture of the back.

It's hard for me to part with these, as I like hot sauce and these are making me hungry. Insert pun about spicing up your wardrobe here.

They're for sale at this page here.

Bloozy

The first thing I made in my silversmithing class.  Oooh, I'm so excited!

Here's my official description:

A sweet confection of Blue Lace Agate set in silver and hand-stamped around the edges, with dangly Akoya (saltwater) pearls. Note the back loop -- it's designed to hang low on the lobe for a sultry look.

Like it? Buy it at my Etsy shop.

(oh, and, uh, they're not as humongous as they look.  Next time, I'll use a quarter in the picture to show people the size.  They're smaller than a quarter, probably a bit bigger than a nickel.)