Iolite...

Iolite is a great violet blue stone that can be worn casually or dressed up. It has a rich history. Iolite is said to have been used by Viking explorers as the world's first polarizing filter to help determine their location. By looking through the iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun. This would allow them to navigate around safely.

Iolite used to be called "water sapphire" due to its different colors. If you look at an iolite piece cut into the shape of a cube, you will see 3 different colors depending on which side you look at. Violet blue, almost like sapphire, clear like water and honey yellow. Although it sounds cool to see all of those colors, it is actually a stone that needs to be cut just right to show its violet blue color. The bluer it is, the more expensive it is.

Iolite is mined in India, Sri Lanka, Mozamnique, Zimbabwe and Brazil. However it is said that the Vikings probably mined theirs in Norway and Greenland.

This piece shown is made with the gorgeous iolite, freshwater pearls and sterling silver. The clasp is a toggle clasp with iolite.

Cane Glass...

I recently listed new items in my etsy store and thought I should let my fans on facebook know. I posted for everyone to take a look at the new items and it appears that the cane glass necklace, shown below, is a favorite. I usually get a lot of comments on this piece. My customers love it because no two are ever alike and it is quite the conversation piece. Whenever I wear mine, people always stop me to talk about it.

What is cane glass? Cane Glass is made up entirely of colorful fused segments of glass rods. It is very ornate. When made into beads such as the ones you see above, they are considered to be high quality. Makers of cane glass use a torch to wrap the molten state of the glass around metal rods. It is a very time-consuming and detailed process. Because cane glass has so many shapes and colors, there is usually something for everyone.

Too Old or Just Wiser....

I have toyed with the idea of "Am I too old to start pursuing my dream?" I now realize this has always been my dream and what I want to do with my life. It has just taken me many years and many, many life experiences to be brave, to find the courage to go for it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Did you wear your green today to avoid being pinched? I wore mine.

You can wear green in many ways....being a jewelry designer, I prefer wearing it in the form of jewelry. And we are lucky that green comes in many shades, so you can pick your favorite or a shade that compliments you.

There is malachite...(this bracelet is made with memory wire so it stays coiled. Nice size nuggets to really compliment any outfit.)

There is African Jade...(this necklace is 17 inches long. The freshwater pearls and bali sterling silver compliment the african jade.)

And there is peridot...(this necklace is 16 1/2 inches long. It is freshwater pearls and bali sterling silver with peridot accents. The toggle closure also has freshwater pearls.)

Of course there are many more shades of green, these are just a few of my favorites.

Healing Effects of Stones...

Do you believe in the healing effects of crystals and stones? Many people do and they are not all new age people. Many people believe in the natural energies of the planet...from Chinese medicine to the Bible.

Just to look at one of them, I will speak of the Opal since it is my birth stone. I am a Libra. It is also associated with Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Opals come in many different colors and is thought to be good for creativity, inspiration, imagination and memory. Maybe I need to wear it more often for my memory.
Physically it is good for the kidneys, eyes, vision and circulation. It is also said to help with infections and fevers.
Spiritually, it promotes good and bad characteristics and allows the bad ones to come out so you can deal with them.
This information comes directly from The Crystal Healer by Philip Permutt.

So after reading this, are you a believer in crystal healing?
Want to know more?
Let me know what stone you are interested in and I will let you know about its healing effects.

1993...

In 1993 I had the opportunity to take a wire wrapping class at a local bead shop. From then on, it was all over. I was hooked. I began beading and wire wrapping and making several pieces for myself and family members. I started doing holiday boutiques and office parties. The most memorable office party was at the local jail. Imagine me going through security with my bag of jewelry. It was great for security; they were able to preview my line prior to me setting up in the employee lunch room. I specify employee lunch room just in case anyone was thinking I was selling to the inmates. Just Kidding. For those of you in Arizona, I was at Durango Jail.

My Dream...

It has only taken me close to 4 decades to realize my dream...to realize what I want to be when I grow up. Four decades is what I say, but really for almost half of it, I wasn't capable of accomplishing my dream.
I started designing and making jewelry 21 years ago as a hobby. I needed a hobby because my parents moved me the summer before my senior year of high school. They didn't just move me to another town, they moved me from Dallas, TX to Chandler, AZ. It was a complete shock to my system. Not only for the climate change, but for the idea that I wasn't going to graduate with the friends I had had since the 2nd grade. (The last time we switched states.)
So we go to the high school to enroll me for my last year only to find out that I simply needed Arizona History to graduate. That was all a teenager needed to hear. WooHoo! Then my voice of reason (aka, my parents) spoke up and told me to sign up for many more classes so I could make new friends. So I signed up for classes of interest... business math, business computers, jewelry making and the basics. I survived and took my first soldering class.
I wasn't able to set up a studio for soldering at home, so I made what was popular at the time. Paper earrings. I went to school, came home and made earrings into the night. My dad became my rep and sold to various stores during the day while I was in class.
Then, in 1993, it all changed.

My Journey...

Hello, my name is Ashley. This blog is to document my journey to a full-time jewelry designer. Some people say not to put "things" out there like that as you will jinx yourself into failure. Others say that you have to "put it out there" so the Universe can return it to you. Since I am putting it out there, I am going with the glass half full outlook and hoping the Universe will return my dream to me.