Pantone's Colors for Spring 2017

These are the top 10 colors for Spring 2017 according to Pantone, and I love them!

When I work on my designs, I use the metaphysical properties of the stones to relay an energy to the wearer, to offer healing to the soul. There is more to it as well, like the colors and patterns that are dictated each year to be the 'it' thing. I try to keep aware of what is going on in the fashion industry, as I work on my designs, because lets face it, I have to make sales as well. I try to find a happy medium of creating my healing jewelry and fitting in on the edges of fashion to be appealing to a broader audience. 

That being said, I peeked in on Pantone to see what was going on for spring this year. These colors are beautiful, and soothing. 

Then I set off for Firemountain Gems to see what they had ( no they don't pay me to name drop, it is just where I shop)

 I found these beautiful dyed agate beads

These colors are all over in the natural world, and some do have a little bit of help with some dye. This color pallet is also one that I love to work with. (it's orange )

Can't wait to see what I find at the trade show in March!!!!

Which is your favorite color? Which of these colors would you like to work with?

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Pantones Spring 2015 Colors - Love them!

The Pantone Colors for 2015 are very exciting to me. So cool and light. Very inviting. The official color names are:

14-4313 Aquamarine

16-4725 Scuba Blue

14-5714 Lucite® Green

19-4052 Classic Blue

14-1213 Toasted Almond

16-1720 Strawberry Ice

15-1247 Tangerine

13-0720 Custard

18-1438 Marsala

14-4102 Glacier Gray

What I see is Lapis, Rhodonite, Carnelian, Turquoise, Jade and some fun Jaspers. From these stones come a very common theme - love, self love, self confidence - I can't wait to play around with my stones and make some fun jewelry for this Spring.

It's gonna be a great year!

Lapis, Amazonite Pendant and Earring Set

A local non profit, C.A.R.E. NC, that works with rescuing dogs, training them to be therapy dogs, and working with seniors, had a fund raiser this past weekend. C.A.R.E. NC works with two of my favorite things on the planet, dogs and seniors. I wanted to be involved. I created a pendant set for them to use at their fund raiser as a raffle item. I put some thought into it, and chose lapis and amazonite. I based the design of the pendant on a paw print and wrapped small stone beads into the design.

The stones were chosen to represent a promise to those around us to always care. I chose amazonite because it is the stone of hope. This organization gives hope in their quest to rescue dogs, train them and share love with seniors in their area. Lapis was added to represent truth and teaching. As in their example they set in our community teaching all of us, there are second chances and we are all capable of making a change.

In Love with Lapis

I love to order assortments. It keeps me on my creative toes. I LOVE lapis and loved this assortment from Firemountain Gems

This Lapis Assortment came with a good amount of beads, and except for the smallest, no two were like. Which made it even more fun :)




Lapis Lazuli brings truthfulness, openness, inner power, intuition, creativity, virility and manifestation. It strengthens the mind and body as well as increasing awareness and spiritual connection/evolution. It can help organize daily life as well as organizing and quieting a busy or restless mind. Lapis Lazuli is also used to contact with guardian spirits. Who wouldn't want that in their life!

Lapis also makes me think of blue jeans, it is comfortable, goes with anything, can be dressed up or dressed down, so versatile. I wanted to make a design that could be both as well.  I wire wrapped each stone to a twisted copper link and finished it off with a simple black cord, with the clasp on the side. Leaving the long lapis piece for the focal.  I pared the lapis with smoky quartz. 

Smoky quartz is an excellent stone for removing negativity and negative energy of any kind and transforming them to positive energy. It is also a very protective and grounding stone. It brings physical, protection, psychic protection and protection from negative energy. It enhances survival instincts, and can help one reach personal and business goals, as well as assisting in making wishes come true.


They just go so well together dont' they?






*sigh* This is one I may have to keep for myself :)

Resisting Autumn - Dangle Bracelet

When it comes to fall I am never ready. I am always holding onto my summer greens. That is what inspired this bracelet. Fall came late this year in the south. Leaves are still green and still changing and still falling to the ground in splendid color.

I love the eclectic sampling of beads on this bracelet. Green glass and lampwork, mixed in with golden brown lampwork and glass. Add a hint of mookite for a pop of color, some lapis for a glimpse of autumn skies and it all starts to come together like a picture from a fall meadow. There is so much more in this bracelet, as you wear it you will come across other beads and stones, like when you are walking in the yard, and kicking up leaves and finding small treasures buried beneath. What is your favorite part of fall?

Hair Comb Fun

It takes longer to pick out the color/stone combination than it does to make the design. So quick and easy and so cute!!!

New York Blues - More Vacation

Wasn't that a T.V. show??

This 'set' ended up happening while making a bunch of separates :)

Off set design of copper chain, lapis, and crystals

Lapis wrapped in copper with swarovski accents for the focal


Lapis, glass pearls, swarovski, iolite and chalcedony randomish necklace




Copper bangle with lapis, glass pearls, swarovski crystals and chalcedony

I kept working with the same handful until they were all gone and came up with all of these! The strung necklace is the perfect length to wear with the chain necklace as a great compliment. I did make a pair of earrings but forgot to take the picture :)

These stones are such a sweet and gentle combination. Blue is a peaceful color in itself and these stones are a testament to that.

Lapis brings truthfulness, openness, and creativity. It can help organize daily life as well as organizing and quieting a busy or restless mind. Lapis also helps build self-confidence, and is a stone traditionally for royalty. Lapis bring spiritual love and is also known for enhancing love and fidelity within marriage.

Blue chalcedony is said to foster balance between mind, body and spirit. It is a stone of calm and peace that is reputed to reduce or negate hostility, anger, and irritation. It is also reported to metaphysically encourage and ease communication, particularly what would otherwise be emotionally charged communication.

Iolite one of the best stones to use in psychic, healing, and spiritual activities. It helps one grow spiritually in a gentle fashion. It is also said to help build relationships of all kinds.

Workin on a custom piece

Ever seen these? The wire wrapped trees with natural stone? A friend of mine had one and stones had started to fall off - "Wonder if Tish can do anything with this?!?!"



Popped all the stones off, and have this great pile of jasper.


Poor little wire tree - wonder if I can do anything with this.


She also gave me this beautiful piece of carnelian (her grandfather cut and polished it) and a piece of tiger eye. She wants a necklace with the carnelian as the focal with the jasper pieces from the tree.


For the design, I paired up the jasper with tiger eye, lapis, bronzite, kyanite and rose quartz.



It is started - how will it turn out?

Custom Pendant - Feldspar and Lapis

Friend of mine ordered a custom pendant and asked for a specific meaning. They wanted something that would allow the wearer to let go of the past and move forward.

I chose feldspar and copper.
Feldspar - assists in detaching from the old. It also provides support in issues of self awareness and self love.

Lapis - allows relief from what has been pressed into the mind, providing objectivity, clarity and endurance during release of emotional baggage.

The copper spiral at the top allows for the emotions to spiral into the feldspar and be moved out through the lapis.

I love this combination, I may have to make one for myself!


I had a little extra time this morning and made some fun little hair decorations.
They are not meant to hold the hair back, but more to just be a decoration at a base of a pony tail, or tucked in around an 'up do'




I am going to have to find some bobby pins that are not painted. All of the paint chipped off while I was working on them, and they are, as my daughter would say - 'Jenk'. So I'll keep this prototype for myself, and make better ones to sell.

Have a great day kids!!

I'm addicted!!!

I can't stop with the pendants....I cant' I tell you!!!

I get a sense of freedom when I create them. There is no order or structure, they flow and just...happen.

This one is dyed howlite. Howlite is often dyed this turquoise color and sold as turquoise. It is a cheaper alternative, and has a beautiful color. But....did you know, howlite is the stone of calm, patience, and decreases an overly active critical mind. Blue is the color for calm and relaxation to counteract chaos or agitation.

How is this not the perfect combination!



I fell in love with this little piece of tumbled ocean jasper. Ocean Jasper heals the emotions and brings peace of mind. It helps with acceptance of responsibility and increases patience. Now along with that - do you see that little foot print in the middle? I over emphasized the swirls at the top to represent the paths we take, for they are never straight are they :)


Now this little guy - I am in love with. I chose lapis and bronzite and accented it with citrine. This is meant to be a busy little piece and keep your eyes moving.



Lapis brings truthfulness, openness and inner power. It strengthens the mind and body as well as increasing awareness. It can help organize daily life as well as organizing and quieting a busy or restless mind. Lapis also helps build self-confidence.

Bronzite is called the "Stone of Focused Action", and is helpful for bringing certainty and with taking control of our actions. It can also help one to think ahead about things, enhancing the ability to take control of our own lives.

Citrine is known as a "success" stone. Its lore also says that it enhances mental clarity and will power.

Do you see how they all come together with the quieting of a restless mind, bringing certainty and mental clarity? And all the colors work great too!!!

Building a Design - When is Enuff - Enuff?

My friend Jessie gave me several glass pendants she picked up at a street fair awhile back, and last nite I sat down to make something with them.

It all started simple enuff - a single strand of seed beads and aventurine beads. A group of seed beads separated by the aventurine. I didn't measure between or count beads - I call it my sorta symmetry :)


I can't leave well enuff alone - I always have to build and build. I have a problem with symmetry, (even sorta symmetry) it makes me yawn at times. I have to have things be busy - I'll chalk that up to my ADD - it has been a life long curse.

I added a second strand - keeping the idea similar, a group of seed beads and the quartz and crystal pattern.




But it didn't stop there. Oh no! I added a third strand. This strand is completely random. Aventurine chips and disks, copper, lapis, jade, quartz, seed beads and mookite. I wove (is that a word?) the third strand thru the design and sat back and smiled.


I love all of the color. I know we are going into fall but I can dream about spring already, can't I?

How do you build your designs? Can you stop? Do you have to keep adding? I would love to know!

It even looks better on - now I have to do something with my hair - the pink stripes are just not getting it :)

Little bit about lapis

Octobers twilight is so crisp, and unhindered by summer's humidity and haze that the color reminds me of lapis. Deep blues surrendering to the peaceful deep purples of nights warm blanket. I love the variety of blues that lapis provides. Some of them seem unnatural they are so blue. I have added a few tidbits of information I have found about lapis and added links to suppliers where you can get your own!

Lapis or Lapis Lazuli has been a favorite for eons used for amulets, seals, to decorate crowns and shields.

Lapis was the first stone to be worn as jewelry.

Lapis was ground into a powder and mixed with binding agents to produce paint, known as ultramarine. The color was so brilliant it wasn't until 1834 that a synthetic color was produced that could be used as a substitute for ultramarine. Powdered lapis is still used when restoring the masters paintings.

Lapis is the stone of friendship and truth.

Where can you find lapis for your next project?


Rings & Things

Puffed Oval Gemstone, 10x14mm (Lapis Lazuli)



Art Beads

4mm Lapis Lazuli Rounds


Sedona Stones

Lapis nuggets approx. 8-9mm 15-16 inch #gem010


Beadin Path

Lapis Lazuli Puff Rectangle Dark Quality w/Ore 18x30mm Beads 16" strand




Aunties Beads

Lapis Faceted Puffed Oval, 25 x 35mm



What will you make with yours?

My Matisse - Revisited Redux

One of last months blog posts - My Matisse - was the ArtBeads Blogger group entry. The blogger group was given a choice of hand painted pendants. Artist Masterpiece Pendants. A glorious selection of hand painted pendants by Russian artisan reflecting such greats as Mucha, Picasso and yes, Matisse.

Browsing this selection was a tough one. They are all beautiful, no, stunning. To know the work that goes into these mini masterpieces and then to see the quality, is breathtaking.

Saying that, when I received my pendant, I wanted to do it justice as well. I wanted to include my blue lady in a necklace that was as elegant and stunning as her.

Here is a list of the components to refresh your memory -

30x40mm Rectangle Black Onyx Matisse - Blue Nude - ArtBeads
White jade roundells - Sedona Stones
Faceted black crystal roundells - Firemountain Gems
Lapis roundells - O'Mega Gems
6mm blackstone - Firemountain Gems
Silver plated Oval Link Chain - ArtBeads
Silver plated 3 Strand + 3 Link Chain - ArtBeads

And here is the original:






I was thrilled with it..........for a while. I admit, I am fickle. I wore it once and hung it up. As much as I liked it, it just wasn't me. I don't know what I was thinking. I don't know why I didn't make it for me, for how I feel, make it to reflect my interpretation of the beautiful blue lady.

I needed to make it for me, because this is a piece I am planning on keeping. This isn't something I had planned on selling. Granted the cost of the pendant was given to me, it wasn't a cost that I would have to recoup, but in the same breath, if I did sell it, and got an order for another one, I more than likely would not make my money back on it. It isn't that the pendant is too much - it is beautifully hand painted and the quality is exquisite, I just feel it is something that I would work with more as a gift than as something for my inventory.

This morning I did just that - I reconstructed the piece for me. I kept the original layer of jade and lapis, and removed the rest. I made a strand of seed beads and blackstone, and a strand of lapis chips, citrine and snowflake obsidian, braided them all, put the clasp in the front and added the Matisse.

Here is the redux, and she is a keeper












*whew* That is so much more comfortable!

Communication with jewelry

I dropped off some new inventory at The Nature of Art this morning. My stuff has been moving out of there lately and I am pleased. Typically when I bring in new things, I try to 'theme' them. By theme I mean, I create the pieces using a common property from the stones. This month I chose communication.

Here is a smattering of the pieces I took in and their properties.

Chrysocola, lapis, lepidolite, labradorite, larvakite

Chrysocola - gentle stone and its energy works in a gentle, harmonious way.
Labradorite -provides clarity and insight
Lapis - brings truthfulness, openness
Lepidolite - calm, trust, and acceptance.
Larvakite - is associated with the throat chakra where communication comes from









Rhyolite and carnelian

Rhyolite, carnelian, tiger eye
Carnelian - can aid memory.







Lapis, citrine

Lapis - brings truthfulness, openness
Citrine - mental clarity, confidence, happiness and will power





Amazonite, apatite, carnelian

Amazonite - ruth, honor, communication
Apatite - increase intellect, imagination, and intuitive awareness
Carnelian - can aid memory