Check out new items

I've made more items using the coated resin beads. See the necklace with roses. Also a new necklace with black lip oyster shell.

I just added my jewelry to Etsy.com

I see that many artists and craftspeople at Indiepublic have a shop on Etsy. So since the cost seems minima,l I decided to give it a try. I'd love to hear any comments you have.

New Alternatives

Recently a new kind of bead has been showing up on the market. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling the frustration at the cost of precious metal findings and beads. I used to use a lot of silver and 14K gold fill chain and beads in my work, but with rising prices I cut back on my purchases.

This past year or so my friends (See links on this page for Afghan Tribal Arts and Silk Road Treasures)) were carrying metal coated resin beads that are much more reasonably priced than the precious metals. For a long time I didn't use them much, but as my supplies dwindled I decided to try them.

I combined them with the handmade Afghan heishi, beads and buttons my friends carry and also with freshwater pearl for some unique looks.

The beads come in a variety of sizes and shapes. I'm told they are made in Indonesia so many have that nice ethnic look which works well in my designs. I'm posting some pictures of a sample of the beads and examples used in my work. The clasps in the copper/resin photo are not resin.

"Turquoise"

For several years now we have been seeing new kinds of turquoise, or is it turquoise? Chalk turquoise, white turquoise, yellow turquoise and more. Now you even see "white turquoise" referred to also as magnesite, which is what it really is.

When I use any of these not really turquoises, I indicate what they are, by saying turquoise, (stabilized, dyed etc. ) But really it should be reading in a lot of cases as magnesite, (dyed, stabilized) and not turquoise at all. Here are two links, one defining magnesite, and one a good explanation of turquoise and its matrices: http://geology.com/minerals/magnesite.shtml, http://jewelry.about.com/cs/turquoise/a/turquoise_facts.htm. It doesn't appear that it is even a type of matrix for turquoise.

Here's a good summary of the situation. Look under Turquoise: http://www.rings-things.com/gemstone/index.html

When looking at a lot of the "turquoise" in Tucson this year I began to wonder how I could even tell if a strand was stabilized turquoise or chalk turquoise on the fly. A lot of chalk turquoise has inclusions that really look like real turquoise. In many cases I could recognize what I have come to know as typical webbing patterns of magnesite in the strands, thus indicating what it was, but in many cases I just didn't know for sure. It looks like they are indeed using a matrix of turquoise that just doesn't have the turquoise color so they dye and stabilize it. And when you break one that you know is chalk turquoise, the color goes all through the bead. It sure seems that there is a lot more chalk turquoise out there next to the stabilized turquoise. What do you consider chalk turquoise to be? There are differing definitions.

What are your feelings on this? What do you do for labeling when you use these materials?

Deerwoman Designs: Beginning Thoughts

If you are interested in the following, maybe we have something to chat about: Jewelry-making, gemstones, selling your craft on the net, rocks and minerals, beads, jewelry design, photographing jewelry, and more. I'll keep adding to this list.

I am a jewelry designer located in the Chicago area, and have been making jewelry for 15+ years. I use mainly gemstone beads and precious metals. I make jewelry because I love working with the stones. It gives me a wonderful excuse to hold them, gaze at them and spend lots of time learning about them. They are so beautiful in themselves. I want to celebrate this. But they also become something so different when they become part of something made by people.

We are all so different and what we turn out with similar materials allows us endless possibilities to create something beautiful. That's why I like to look at what other people make. This infinite creativity is inspiring and fascinating to me. Still, when I am truly following my feelings the items I create seem to have a particular style or character which is uniquely mine.

What do you think about when you are making jewelry or your work of art? What brings an idea to your mind? How do you decide what materials to choose?

Are you interested in the rocks, minerals and crystals you use to make your pieces? Do you know where they come from? What do you like about them? Do you have any favorites? Have you seen any unusual ones lately?

If you want to see any of my work there's a good variety at www.artisansmarket.com.
Besides my work you'll also find hand crafted items, paintings, photos, accessories and all kinds of things that our creative minds can produce. You might even like something enough to buy it!

You'll find my work under Deerwoman Designs, and also a little about me.

What do you think makes a piece of jewelry beautiful? What kind of jewelry do you like best?

Besides selling on the Artisans Market website, I have sold my jewelry through shops in the Chicago and northern Wisconsin areas, to friends, at jewelry parties set up for the purpose and through word of mouth.

I buy my materials mainly from wholesale jewelry dealers, the Tucson shows and from friends who import handmade Afghan beads.

I'm just nuts about beads: