Sonoran Dendritic Rhyolite Necklace

This wire woven necklace is made using copper and Sonoran Dendritic Rhyolite. I found matching earring stones so stay tuned and I'll post them next!

Sonora Dendritic Rhyolite gets it's name because of the beautiful, feather-like dendritic patterns found on different colored backgrounds. The gemstone is found in the Mexican state of Sonora which is directly south of Arizona and California. The gemstone usually has a blue-gray or yellowish background color with pinkish maroon colored dendrites growing off sealed fracture lines. The dendrites are surrounded by milky white halos. This opaque stone is most likely a dolomite that has been heated, cracked, and resealed by volcanic activity over thousands of years.

Kingman Turquoise Wire Weave Necklace

Kingman Turquoise

I have a beautiful Kingman Turquoise necklace to share with you today! I've had this stone for quite some time, because of its unusual shape I hadn't done anything with it. I'm very happy with the way it turned out and the color of this one is so pretty!

Cherry Creek Jasper Earrings

Cherry Creek Jasper Earrings-

I'm always amazed at all the beautiful

colors Cherry Creek Jasper comes in.

Cherry Creek Jasper is also known as Chinese Picasso 

and Red Creek Jasper.  These stunning semiprecious 

stones offer wonderful patterns and colors in various 

earthy shades.

Their unique mixture of warm and cool tones go well 

with copper.  Red Creek Jasper is believed to be named 

after a stream that runs through the area of China 

where these semiprecious gemstones were first discovered.

 If you are in Arizona this weekend come see 

me Saturday at the La Paz County Swap Meet upriver in Parker, Az and/or Sunday at the London Bridge Swap Meet in 

Lake Havasu City, Az.  

Royston Turquoise - Special Order

Royston Turquoise -

I've had this cabochon for several weeks now, it's a commissioned piece for one of my customers that I see out at the La Paz County Swap Meet in Parker, Az. 

She purchased the cab and I agreed to create a necklace, I'm so happy I have it ready for her now. The shape has given me a hard time trying to figure out how/what to do with it.

It's done, I'm happy with it and I hope she is too!

Update:  She loves it!

Cherry Creek Jasoer Earrings

Cherry Creek Jasper Earrings

I have a pair of Cherry Creek Jasper Earrings to share today. I made them up to go with a pendant, they sold quickly and I still have the pendant. You just never know...

Purple Spiny Oyster Shell Necklace

Purple Spiny Oyster Shell

I met a silversmith at the La Paz County Swap Meet a few weeks ago and was able to purchase some of her Spiny Oyster Shell cabochons. This one is Purple Spiny Oyster all wrapped up in copper wire.

Burro Creek Agate

Burro Creek Agate Pendant

Burro Creek Agate/Jasper Necklace.

This stone is local to our area here in Arizona, it comes from the Burro Creek Wilderness Area between Kingman & Prescott.

Orange Spiny Oyster Shell

Orange Spiny Oyster Shell Necklace & Earring Set

Spiny Oyster Shell, this one is my favorite! I've really liked orange for awhile now and just couldn't part with this one yet, so I've been wearing it.

A little info I've learned about Spiny Oyster: As the name implies, Spiny Oysters are covered with menacing spines but despite its name, these creatures are not true oysters but are more closely related to scallops. In the American Oceans, they occur along the North American coasts, the Atlantic Coast, and northwestern Mexico, on the Pacific Coast. They are also found in waters all the way to South America.

The collection of Spiny Oyster Shells I've acquired I was told come from Ecuador. 

They are prized for their brilliant colors (purple, orange, red & yellow). The color of the shell is deponent on the depth these creatures are found in - at 0 to 60 feet the shells ae purple; at 60 to 90 feet the shell is white, at 90 feet and deeper the shells are red and orange. The most commonly used shell colors include orange, reds, and purples and may include distinct striations and color variations.

Rainbow Moonstone Wire Wrap Necklace

Rainbow Moonstone

I had a special request for a pendant made with Rainbow Moonstone recently. These never stay on my table very long and this one was no exception. Luckily I have a few more I can wrap up. I really like the contrast of the bright Rainbow Moonstone with the antiqued copper.

Weaving Copper Wire Bracelets

Weaving Copper Wire Bracelets

I'm working on making wire woven bracelets this week and have a couple pictures of the process for you. The last photo shows two different yet very much the same bracelets that are finished. I've antiqued and polished them to bring out the beauty of the copper and it also helps bring out the detail of the weaving.

My weave is coming along, almost there...

I think I'll call this pattern Sedona since I live in Arizona.

Lapis Lace Onyx Heart Necklace

Lapis Lace Onyx

Week by week I'm working on different projects for shows I'll be in this winter.

This is a Lapis Lace Onyx Heart by Lapidary Artist Jerry Howard that I've wrapped in copper.

Montana Agate

Montana Agate -

A few weeks ago I had a Lapidary Artist stop by my space at the London Bridge Swap Meet and he had some of his cut and polished Montana Agate cabochons to show me. My daughter had fun talking with him while I waited on customers, she picked out several cabs for me to purchase and wrap. This is the first one I've worked with so far & I like the way it came out.

Etched Copper Bracelets

Etched Copper Bracelets

I had a special order for an etched DragonFly bracelet recently. Since I needed to break out the etching solution I thought I'd make up a nice selection to have at my upcoming events.  I'll be in Parker, Az at the La Paz County Swap Meet every Saturday (almost) through March 2019 and the London Bridge Swap Meet in Lake Havasu City, Az every Sunday through April 2019.  Both venues are open from 8 - 2.