Reversible Blue Banded Agate Sterling Pendant

The May 2008 Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine had an amazing Kentucky agate that I was just drooling over (see current cover to the right)....when I quickly flipped the page to read the artist's design notes, I had a "lightbulb" moment.


John Leeds demonstrated how you can use jump rings tacked to a bezel for an open back. While he used "half" jump rings and an actual bezel, I was inspired to use the jump ring idea. I created large jump rings from round sterling wire and soldered them together using the outer edges of the slice as my guide.

I didn't use a bezel but created "prong settings" with round sterling silver wire so that my slice can be worn either way....yep, it is reversible.

With the "prongs" you see the banding more and the open back lets light through this fairly thin slice (4mm).

The bail was created from fine silver bezel wire that was wrapped around a tear shaped mandrel several times.

I just love the way it turned out!

New Metal Smited Glass & Semi-Precious Gemstone Designs

Yesterday, I was is in a super creative mood and just played in the studio. Here are a couple of goodies that I will need to add to the jewelry boutique over the next few days.

These earrings are just so cute. They are created from chocolate and pink art glass that has been fused in my kiln. These little pink dots are ~3/8 of an inch in diameter. Hung on silver french wires. I'd love to know what you think of this design...just comment or drop me a line at ddjb AT designing-diva DOT com .

I love the medium art glass, especially dichroic glass. This pendant was created from a rectangular cabochon that is 3 layers thick: black base, dichroic in the middle and a clear glass cap.I wanted to show off the "pink dichroic honeycomb" pattern and created a prong setting on a square sheet of sterling silver. The bail has some decorative funk. I did warn you I was in creative expression mode. I love the way it turned out and I hope it finds a good home...if not, I won't have any problem keeping this one! ;)

OMG, when I saw these triangular Mexican Lace Agate pairs at the Rock Barrel they went straight into my cart. The colors in this are just amazing. I bezel set these with large hoops. They are hung from sterling perfect balance ear wires (a heavier guage) so you don't have to worry about losing your Mexican Lace.

What a conversation starter, these wire wrapped geode slices will be....brilliant pink or blue. The slices are amazingly lightweight and 1/8 of an inch think and ~ 2.5 inches thick. I picked a great assortment; each one has it's own personality. The pink one pictured reminds of someone's lips and mouth. Do you see it to?