End of the Year & A Give A Way

www.carolingrammoore.com ~  www.facebook.com/CarolIngramMoore

 This early winter weather has brought many surprises into the yard. This seedling which can grow as tall as six feet with a beautiful flower is growing amid the stones near the front of the house. If you know the name of this flower which also gives lots of seeds to the birds, just reply to this post or if you are reading this on facebook, make a comment. I will be giving away either a glass plate or a pair of earrings.

 The greenhouse although small is home to several geraniums. These I picked right before Christmas along with the lemon balm. The red flowers continue to bloom when there is little red color outside.

 Planted several years ago, these  snowdrops are blooming. The new double snowdrops are up and their leaves are showing. No blooms yet!

 While the sun shone through the studio windows the prisms danced with rainbows. A faery charm from Green Girl studios dangles from a gemstone necklace. This is my favorite necklace I made during 2015.

From turquoise and chrysolla the charms dangles with a faery on the front and a star quote on the reverse.

Soapstone and antique daffodil pendant

 I found this wonderful antique daffodil pin when a local antique store went out of business. I took off the backing and sanded it really well. I attached a hematite bail to the new pendant. I put it in a safe place which sometimes in this studio is a misnomer. I decided yesterday that I was going to make a necklace with the pin.

 Soapstone is a gemstone that is said to create a positive energy around itself and can exert a calming influence on the person wearing it. The research I went to about the stone added more. It is used when undergoing great changes in one's life and help to prepare you for anything. It is thought to allow your ideas and inspiration to broaden, open, and develop. Soapstone comes in many variations of color. I used more vanilla and creams with some pale green and then used caramel soft browns with copper spacers and antique brass clasp. There are two tiny crystal butterflies and two tiny crystal flowers separating the soapstone. I must have been thinking about Valentines when I added four copper heart shaped beads.

The finished gemstone necklace is a little over 24 inches long. Aren't the daffodils beautiful?

www.carolingrammoore.com ~ www.artisansofthegap.com www.facebook.com/CarolIngramMoore

Chrysocolla, Malachite, Turquoise, and Fly

 I have always enjoyed the charms made by Green Girl Studios. This charm I purchased in a bead shop in Asheville, North Carolina. The charm has a dragonfly on one side.

 The word fly is on the back of the charm. This necklace started with the charm. I wondered what gemstones would accent with the dragonfly. One of my very favorite gemstones is chrysocolla which is a copper based stone in colors of blue and green said to have gentleness and power. Each chrysocolla  is unique in its blending of colors . I  used two other copper based stones turquoise and malachite.

 Fly is joined with a turquoise chip and a turquoise nugget. The green stones are malachite. The larger stones are chrysocolla.

 The chrysocolla is quite a large stone. To finish this necklace, I added green turquoise nuggets and a blue turquoise stone. The clasp is copper based.

 After I finished creating the necklace, I made a pair of earrings. They are chrysocolla and malachite on a silver beaded wire. The ear ring wire is dappled sterling silver.

Just to let you know the size of the chrysocolla. I am thinking this necklace might be one just for me.

www.carolingrammoore.com ~ www.artisansofthegap.com www.facebook.com/CarolIngramMoore

New Jewelry and A Favorite

www.carolingrammoore.com ~ www.artisansofthegap.com www.facebook.com/CarolIngramMoore

 Several years ago, I created the focal point for this necklace by fusing two already fused pieces together. They sat for the longest time in the glass bowl waiting. One day I thought why not use gemstones with glass. Looking at the art glass, I thought of the gemstones in the studio.

 Rose quartz, amethyst, and bloodstone seemed to let me know that they would harmonize. I put them all together.

I wore this necklace at my daughter's wedding last year and my niece's wedding this year. A very favorite of mine. Along the way I learned a lot about double strands of gemstones.

 Lately, I have been using antique pieces I acquired when a local antique store went out of business. This sweet cross was the inspiration for this necklace.

Enamel leaves, aventurine, malachite, and green chalcedony with a sterling silver clasp....

 A nice piece of jasper started the creative juices flowing. I added a humming bird from Sterling Nye earrings. Jasper, fancy agates, and copper wire complete this necklace.

A friend gave me a very nice piece of fancy agate for Christmas. It will be part of the next necklace. Sometimes you just have to wait for the muse to dance.

Nuthatches, Holly, Gemstones, and Holidaze

 Right after Halloween and before Thanksgiving, I find myself very busy creating in the studio preparing for the Holidaze. Wanted to share with you some of the new jewelry and glass pieces I have been creating.

 Moonstone oval and moonstone cream stones are bordered by labradorite rondelles. According to the Book of Stones, labradorite is the gemstone of magic, our innate magic. Moonstone brings in emotional balance. Adding a sterling silver clasp for abundance.

Been using the glass kiln quite a bit to make angel tiles and earrings. The red, green, and white streaky glass is fused with holly. The other two pairs of earrings are dichroic glass shinning brightly.

Nuthatches, butterflies, and holly with sterling silver ear wires. I use either sterling silver or 14 carat gold filled ear wires on my gemstone and glass earrings.

For months, I had strands of agates on the bead board. I would look at them and ponder. Last week I found some large black agates. A friend gifted me with the moss agate. Almost finished then I discovered the copper discs when looking for something else. Sometimes waiting provides just what is needed when it is ready.

Nuthatches are frequent visitors to our bird feeders. In celebration of the birds, I have created a pendant with a pair of earrings to match. Some of my jewelry is available on the website, which is now live: http://www.carolingrammoore.com. I will be at the Big Stone Gap Holiday show on November 22 from 10 - 5. My studio is on the Artisan Trail and is open by appointment only. 

www.carolingrammoore.com ~ www.artisansofthegap.com www.facebook.com/CarolIngramMoore