Tag Archives: set

Jewelry to Leave You “Breathless”

Breathless Jewelry Set

It Won’t be Spring until You Have this New Jewelry Set!!!

Spring is more than just an annual arrangement of planets and celestial bodies we call the Vernal Equinox. It is a time for new life and fresh beginnings. It is a time of positive energy, change, and excitement. It is the season when we stop living in a world all black and white and step into a realm of vibrant, ever-changing colors.

It is with Spring in mind that we bring you our “Breathless” jewelry set pairing two beautiful sets of gemstones that complement each other perfectly. These are the gemstones of Spring.

First, we have soft, blue Aquamarines, the birthstone of March. According to legend, these were the treasure of mermaids and any sailor who carried the stone would be safe at sea. 

The Romans believed the Aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea, and having fallen from the jewelry boxes of sirens would be washed ashore. When collected by young lovers, the stone would absorb the feelings and atmosphere of that young love, preserving it forever.

The Aquamarines in the Breathless set are of the highest quality and match beautifully with the second stone, the Apatite.

Apatite is not a birthstone, but is the gemstone of the Vernal Equinox; the gemstone of Spring. Apatite can occur in many different colors, but the Brazilian blue apatite is one of the most sought after colors and is what we have used in this set.

Each bead is like a piece of the late evening sky, or, actually, like a still ocean reflecting an evening sky. Its deep blue color, with a slight shading of green, is ever reflecting flashes of light, sometimes like stars, sometimes like lighting trying to hide within a cloud.  Its inner light changes constantly as the gemstones move about making each bead a crystal ball you can get lost in.

Apatite has been considered a gemstone of new ideas and dreams and is a wonderful match with the Aquamarine.

Breathless Jewelry Set

Blue Czech crystal beads help carry the “blue” theme of the gemstones and add a little sparkle to each piece of Breathless jewelry. And every set also includes our favorite little metal heart beads, just because we love them, and spring is also symbolic of not just new love, but of a love that is “Breathless” and eternal.

To make this set you will need to do some stringing, some crimping, and be able to make some wire wrapped loops. We include wire to make your own clasps for the necklace and bracelet or you may add a commercial clasp of your choosing. The earrings include a pair of lever-back ear wires.

The necklace is about 21 inches long, depending on your clasp choice, and the bracelet can fit a wrist up to 9 inches with the extension chain. 

With a little bit of time and effort, you will have some beautiful, heirloom-quality jewelry, made from gemstones that each carry a unique and special story.

Autumn in Tuscany Jewelry Set

Autumn in Tuscany

 

Experience the Soft Colors of an Autumn in Tuscany All Year Round

Autumn is Harvest Time in the Tuscan Region of Italy. A Place of Great Culture & History, Wonderful Food, and Beautiful Scenery.

It is also the inspiration for this jewelry set we call “Autumn in Tuscany.”

This jewelry also features Millefiori beads, a style of glass refined by Venetian craftsmen a half a millennium ago.

Autumn in Tuscany Necklace
Autumn in Tuscany Bracelet

Millefiori: Glass with a Thousand Flowers

The name Millefiori is taken from the Italian “mille” meaning “thousand”, and the word “fiori”, which is “flowers”. Though the technique was refined by Venetian artisans over a thousand years ago, it was originally invented by the ancient Egyptians more than a millennium earlier. 

Dozens of colorful glass threads are bundled together and fused into a glass rod whose cross section now looks like a glass flower. The rods are cut into disks then incorporated into glass bowls, paper weights, and beads.

We Find a Treasure

Like so many wonderful things, these beads were found, hidden away in a forgotten corner of a vendor’s warehouse. They were found and customers were made aware of their existence. Debby was one of those customers.

By the time she contacted the bead company to tell them we wanted the beads, they had only a very small quantity left. We took all they had, sight unseen, and waited for their delivery.

We were more than pleased when they arrived; the Millefiori, encased in a dark crystal, reminded us of dried flower corsages, courageously holding onto their summer colors.

Autumn in Tuscany Earrings
Autumn in Tuscany Bracelet

Introducing “Autumn in Tuscany”

Combined with crystal beads in black, dark smoke, autumn orange and gold the color of a sunset, they brought to mind memories of autumn, with the shortened days, the changing leaves, the warm sun and cool nights. These are memories, strung on wire, and made to be worn as elegant, beautiful jewelry. (Please click on the photos to go to the product page for each piece of jewelry and see even more pictures and project details.)

For the rest of October all of the Autumn in Tuscany kits are on sale. Regularly the necklace is only $18, the bracelet is $12, and the earrings are $6. Until the end of the month they will be $15, $10, and $5.

Every jewelry box needs at least one Millefiori set.

Only basic stringing, crimping, and wire wrapped loop skills are needed to turn our treasure find into yours.

Autumn in Tuscany Necklace

Click on the links below for more information or to purchase any of the Autumn in Tuscany jewelry sets.

Necklace Bracelet Earrings