I am en-route from my winter home in the Florida Keys to my summer home in southwest  Colorado.  Driving through this great big country, I am in awe of the beauty of nature I see passing before me.  As I look out the window I see lots and lots of color. Mostly green.  All shades of green.  I begin to associate the colors with the energy of gemstone beads and before I know it am designing gemstone necklaces in my mind.  I am seeing the light yellow green of Peridot mixing with a deeper shade of Green with Jade add in some brown pearls and the field of freshly planted corn comes alive in a new gemstone necklace.  More Peridot now added with yellow citrine reflects the green pasture that is beaming with yellow flowers.
The sky has been stormy for some of this trip and I am reminded of  some nicely faceted Labradorite beads  with color flashes of gold for the lightening that lights up the distant sky.  As we were driving out of the Keys, the water was all shades of blue-green, melting into the deeper shades of blue reflecting in the sky.  I would choose Chrysoprase, Sodalite, and bright blue Turquoise for that necklace.
I love it when nature can inspire me to create unique one of a kind necklaces with such ease. 
As soon as I set up my bead studio I will put some of these nature designs into form with my collection of gemstone beads. 

Gemstones, Jewelry, Reflections & Essays Florida Keys, gemstone jewelry, jade, jewelry designs, Labradoirte, nature, Peridot

A beautiful day in the Florida Keys

Selling jewelry, crystals, gemstones and minerals at shows is so much fun. This weekend I displayed my collection of treasures at a local art show, sponsored by the local art gallery “ Artist in Paradise” here on Big Pine Key. The day was warm and breezy, one of those #10 days we like to boast about here in the Keys. Attendance was good as people milled about, perusing the art and crafts of local Keys artists.

What I like so much about exhibiting at art shows is meeting the people who buy my jewelry and stones. Watching the responses as folks pick up a stone or place a necklace around their neck completes the connection for me. We get to talk about how the stones make them feel, what attracts them to a certain piece. I can learn what people are looking for. I often get requests to make up something special for specific occasions or situations.

I’ve been asked to make a special healing necklace for someone who is working at a very stressful job. She said she wanted something to help her remain calm and peaceful, yet at the same time allow her to feel energized so she can get through the work day. Together we chose some gemstone beads, Ruby, Larimar, Kyanite, Rhodocroscite. The combination that was picked was not something that I would have put together based on design or color. This necklace is being designed solely by the different energies of the stones she needs at this time. Not only will it be enjoyable to make, it will offer her some needed energy.

I feel much gratitude to all of those people who passed by my display booth this weekend. Supporting local artists by making the choice to buy handmade items is a priceless experience.

Crystals, Gemstones, Reflections & Essays art show, Crystals, Florida Keys, Gemstones, Jewelry