I have been “quiet” on social media the last week as I have been diligently working in my studio, cleaning, painting, organizing, dejunking and minimalizing getting ready for the grand opening of my studio “jewelry boutique.”  I’m getting closer to setting a date.  Stay tuned! And, since last Monday was Martin Luther King Day I took the “day off” and painted!

This whole process has me going through a whole lot of “stuff!”  It has been difficult trying to decide what to keep, what to repurpose and what to get rid of.  I’m constantly repeating to myself my mantra “everything in moderation except art.”  So is my watch collection art?  Well, indeed some of them are!  Nonetheless, I decided it was time to pare down my 257 watches collection!  My goal was to get it down to 50 of my favorite.  At last count I was still at 73!

I love timepieces!  Not just wristwatches but clocks as well.  Not sure what exactly my obsession with time is!  As I was sorting through all my watches, the thought “does anyone even wear watches anymore,” did cross my mind.  As I attempted to find the answer I did come across some interesting tidbits.

In short, classic timepieces are here to stay.  Not necessarily for telling time however!  I say “classic” as the unique and just for fun watches such as the swatch watch of the 80’s and 90’s and others that I like to collect don’t seem quite as prevalent anymore. Even Swatch watches have become a bit more classic!

Two of the biggest reasons watches are not yet obsolete and most likely won’t be for years to come, are 1. they are worn as a status symbol (especially for men).  Nothing says success, whether or not you really are, more than sporting a Patek Philippe or Rolex.

2. More so in women than men, watches are the ultimate accessory.  I couldn’t agree more!  Precisely one of the reasons I have so many.  Watches are one in the same as wearing a piece of jewelry.  Watches come in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials.  From fun and whimsical to classic and simple, a watch says a lot about the wearer.  A watch is the ultimate accessory to finish off your personal style.

Yes, women too wear watches as a status symbol.  A diamond encrusted Cartier or Rolex is most luxurious and gorgeous!

There are a choice of quality brands. Chopard, Breitling, and Longines just to name a few. Certain Swiss watch manufacturers have been producing watches for over a century.  That is 100 years of design, precision and style that goes into the craft of making watches.  With so many brands to choose from there is something for everyone at a price for everyone.  Choose an iconic Chanel or a classic, simple, good ole faithful Timex.

When you own a classic mechanical watch not only do you have a piece of craftsmanship but as I have mentioned already, you also have a piece of art. Mechanical watches can take weeks and sometimes even years to finish.  A classic watch will never go out of style.

A watch is the perfect present for many occasions.  It is not only a beautiful accessory, but it can also serve as a daily reminder of that special occasion on which it was received!  It can remind one of a great achievement or of the love of the person given to.

Because classic watches are made with great devotion and care, classic watches have stood the test of time. They can make a wonderful family heirloom, as can most crafted jewelry that can be passed down from one generation to the next.  Wearing such a watch becomes a special reminder of the special people who wore it before you!

Do you still own and or wear a wrist watch?

Until next time,

ENJOY!!

cheryl

Hiya!

Garnet is the traditional birthstone of January.  Garnets are one of the oldest known gemstones.  People have been using garnets for jewelry and decorative objects since ancient times.

The most popular color and the color most people associate garnets with is red, although they can occur in almost any color.  Often times red garnets are confused with rubies and spinel. A flawless green garnet, called a demantoid, is one of the most beautiful and expensive gems in the world.  Green garnets over 5 carats are more rare than an emerald of the same size.  Green garnets are sometimes mistaken for emeralds, while yellow garnets can be mistaken for topaz.

Most garnets today originate in East African and are of the Mozambique variety, the part of Africa from which they come.  Mozambique garnets are known for their high quality and warm red colors.  They are a mixture of pyrope and almandine giving them a darker, redder color.

Garnets are said to inspire contemplation and truthfulness.  They are known as the “protection” stone, offering its wearer the protection of their standing and possessions.  Since medieval times garnet was thought to help with depression and is perhaps one of garnet’s greatest virtues!  Garnet gems revitalizes, purifies and balances energy bringing both serenity and passion as appropriate.  They can help alleviate emotional disharmony while bringing a calming influence and protect the wearer from negative energy.

Another of garnets greatest virtues is love and sex!  Garnets have a strong aspect of sexual and sensual energies in them. The gem is said to balance one’s sex drive and move a couple deeper into a passionate, sensual sex.  Garnets are said to inspire, commitment, monogamous and stable relationship. Not yet in a relationship?  Garnets can aid you in finding your true love!

Until next time,

ENJOY!!

cheryl

Did you make your new year resolutions? Frankly I’m not big on new year resolutions.  I am however big on setting and having goals.  Resolutions and goals sort of go hand in hand.  Goals however, are something to achieve or attain.  Whereas resolutions are to vow to do or not do something.  To me, resolutions have a bit of a negative connotation.  If you fail at whatever it was you vowed to do or not do, it is easy to say oh well, that didn’t work so you inevitably give up!  With goals if you don’t reach them within your time frame you can change the time but keep the goal.  Goals reflect more positively with me!

Whether or not you are a resolution maker or a goal-setter doesn’t really matter.  What does matter is deciding what it is you want and to go after it! I have spent the last few weeks working on getting both our home and my studio cleaned, “dejunked” and organized!  This has been quite the task.  Since moving into our new home a year and a half ago I still had things in boxes that I had not gone through.  Even though our home is still relatively new it still gets dusty and dirty!

I also thoroughly cleaned my studio. I had jewelry pieces started and put away from when we moved from Texas almost 6 years ago!  I have been going through everything including jewelry I made when I first started making jewelry 10 years ago!  With our move to North Carolina I had taken almost a 6 month hiatus.  Now that my studio is clean the next step will be to redesign my space!

Yes these are pictures of my “organized studio!”

I also went through all my computer files.  I deleted thousands of files, literally!  I take all my own pictures of my jewelry.  I don’t think I deleted a single one!  This was a tedious process, but a bit fun too!  Below are some pictures of my earlier, favorite work.  I was actually inspired by some of my past jewelry pieces. I am so ready to get back to my bench.

This whole process of cleaning and organizing has given me some clarification of where I want to take my jewelry business in the future and think about what my goals for the year and beyond are.  An architect friend of mine, Arielle Schechter https://www.acsarchitect.com/, who designed our home, posted a link to an article “10 New Year’s Resolutions for Architects,” https://architizer.com/blog/practice/details/10-new-years-resolutions-for-architects/, that really resonated with me. No matter what kind of artist you happen to be I think you will find they have merit.  I plan to incorporate all them, but there were a few that really spoke to me.

1. Sketch more. I do like to sketch my jewelry pieces, but sometimes I get in a hurry and don’t take the time to do so.
2. Be true to your materials. Ah…I have done a lot of experimenting with various materials for various reasons, cost and ease being the top, but I have found that is not always the answer to choose what materials to use.

3. Read more. I love to read and read a wide variety of genres. Lately though I haven’t been reading as much as I would like.  One of my goals this year is to devote some time each day to read.

4. Design with humor.

5. Travel more. With every penny going into moving and building our home little money or time was left for travel.  Not anymore!  We have a trip planned to Dubai in November.  Can’t wait!  Also, hope to take some mini trips and to do                 some traveling to workshops and trade shows.

Whatever your new years’ resolutions or goals may be here’s wishing you the best year ever!

Until next time,

ENJOY

cheryl

Happy Birthday December! Your gem color is blue. You have a choice of 3 different blue gems. Blue zircon, tanzanite and turquoise. Lucky you!

turquoise

rough tanzanite gems

rough zircon gems

Blue zircon is the more traditional birthstone of December. Unfortunately zircon is not that well-known and often confused with cubic zirconia in part because of its similar name. I admit, I had to look up zircon to see if it was a natural gemstone. In all gem buying trips I don’t ever remember coming across any zircons, nor do I personally own any in my gems collection!

source JewelryCook

source HotRoxCustomJewelry

Zircons come in a variety of colors including orange, yellow, red, green, gray, brown and blue which is most popular today. Zircons are sourced from Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, Australia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Canada and Ukraine.

In the middle ages zircon was believed to help the wearer sleep. It was thought to bring prosperity and wisdom. Today zircon promotes constancy. It is said to remove negative attitudes such as jealously and prejudice aiding the wearer to love oneself as well as others.

In the world of gemstones, tanzanite is the new kid on the block! It was first discovered in 1967 and promoted by New York jewelers Tiffany & Co. Tanzanite is actually blue zoisite. Its color shifts from lilac-blue to sapphire blue to deep blue violet. Nearly all tanzanite is heat treated to produce striking violet blue color that is most sought after.

A good quality tanzanite can command prices of $300-$424 per carat making it somewhat rare and costly. Its only source is Tanzania. Tanzanite is not real durable and should be worn with care.
Tanzanite is known to generate happiness and give relief from worries. It can help to overcome fear and crises. Tanzanite helps to unite the higher mind with intuition and can link your mind to higher realms. Tanzanite can attract energies of wealth and abundance!

source FizzCandy

Looking for a “modern” December birthstone? Consider turquoise! It ranges in color from blue to green and will many times have “veins” of different minerals running through it. This cherished gemstone has been around since ancient times. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt adorned themselves in it and Chinese artisans have been carving it for over 3000 years!

Turquoise was thought to possess powers of health and good fortune. From the 13 century on it was thought to protect the wearer from falling (off horses). It also played an important role in the lives of Native Americans. They believed attaching turquoise to one’s bow or firearm made ones aim more accurate. The Pueblo believed turquoise got its color from the sky, while the Hopi thought the gem was made from lizards scurrying over the earth. In European tradition a gift of turquoise means “forget me not.” It adorns the funerary mask of King Tut. And it appears in jewelry of royalty.

Source CKS jewelry

For over a 1,000 years turquoise has been mined in the Nishapur of Iran. Originally the intense blue of this turquoise was known as “robins’ egg blue, sky blue, or Persian blue. Today these terms are used to describe turquoise’s color no matter the source. New Mexico was once the largest producer of turquoise until the 1920’s. Now most U.S. turquoise comes from Arizona and Nevada. The world’s greatest producer of turquoise is China.

The turquoise gemstone is a symbol of friendship and brings peace and good fortune to the home and owner. Turquoise is a stone of purification. It helps dispel negative energy and clear the environment of pollutants. Carry turquoise when you travel. It is said to be soothing to the mind and can help with jet lag. Turquoise promotes self-realization and assists in problem solving.

Which of the three is your favorite? Me? All three please!

Until next time,
ENJOY!!
cheryl

Office parties, cocktails with friends, family gatherings and New Year’s Eve celebrations, tis the season! Whew! With all these gatherings whatever will you wear not to mention that is a lot of different outfits. You can cut the cost simply by changing up your accessories. Shoes, scarves and jewelry are some of the easiest accessories to change. Simply changing these will make it look like you are wearing an entirely different outfit.

Here are a few jewelry ideas that already may be lingering in your jewelry box or that may be worth investing in vs buying another party dress that you will only wear once! Pearls are always classic but don’t need to be “stuffy.” Experiment with making your pearls playful. Playful pearls will look smashing with both your jeans for that casual family gathering and your little black dress for cocktails!

Statement studs. How can studs make a statement? Small baubles can make a big impact. Try some whimsy studs, clustered, linked or sculptural styles. Subtle studs are perfect for those office parties or if you are wearing a glitzy top or dress.

As the song says “there is nothing like silver and gold!” Gold is making a come-back, for me it has never left! Long gold chains and chokers are still a popular. Chunky gold bracelets, cocktail rings and sculpted earrings are also a good choice. Put the rhinestones away and wear some gold with velvet or leather.

Hoops are a go to staple that should be in everyone’s treasure of jewels. But they do not need to be “plain ole, boring” gold or silver hoops. Try getting festive with a pair of party hoops! Try hoops encrusted with gemstones or crystals. Try hoops with hoops! Or perhaps a pair of colored crystal hoops. Hoops can be worn with most any outfit.

Get creative with colorful jewelry! Nothing says happy and festive more than color. Colored jewelry doesn’t have to be “cheap” looking or “cheesy.” There are so many beautiful colored gemstones to choose from. Even if you don’t have the money to shell out on rubies, sapphires or emeralds, you can choose from an array of semi-precious gemstones that are just as beautiful! Resin and enameled jewelry can also look expensive and elegant! The options are endless when it comes to color. A little color added to a monochrome or black outfit can make a huge impact.

Keep the holidays merry and bright with some baubles!

Until next time,
ENJOY!!
cheryl

Hiya!

The holidays are indeed upon us! Can you believe that it is already going to be Thanksgiving this week? With the holiday season comes family gatherings and holiday parties. Of course everyone wants to look their best at these gatherings. Or at least I hope you do! My motto has always been “when you look good you feel good.” And “one should always look their best, no matter the occasion.”

Last blog post I discussed what metal looks best with your skin tone. Today we are going to talk about what color gemstones look best with your skin tone. Just like certain clothing colors look best so do certain gemstone colors and thus certain types of gems!

For a quick review in case you did not catch my last post, to determine your skin tone look to your veins! The veins on your wrist are easiest to determine whether you have a cool, warm or neutral skin tone.

You have a cool undertone if your veins are blue or purple. When you look at your skin in the sun it appears blue-ish. You struggle to tan and your skin burns easily. You most likely have blue or green eyes and blonde, brown or black (natural) hair color!

If your veins appear slightly green or olive, you have a warm skin undertone. When you look at your skin in the sun it appears yellowish. Your skin tans easily and rarely burns. You most likely have brown, green or hazel eyes. Your natural hair color is brown, red or black.

You have a neutral skin undertone if the veins on your wrist are blue-green, or if they sometimes appear blue and at other times green and it is hard to determine what color they are!

If you have determined you are cool, red, green, blue, purple and pink look fantastic on you. Gemstones that are your colors include rubies, garnets, emeralds, sapphires, tanzanite, topaz and amethyst.

You want to steer clear of gemstones that are yellow or have yellow hues as these can make you appear pale and unhealthy looking. No amber or citrine for you! However, if you have warm undertones amber and citrine are perfect for you along with sunstone, peridot, fire opal, turquoise and aquamarine. In general colors that are earthy compliment your skin well. Orange, yellow, brown, tan, and turquoise all look fantastic on you!

Once again, lucky you if you have neutral skin undertones. The choice is yours!

What about diamonds? They are a girl’s best friend! Girl, you need not worry. White diamonds are nearly clear and look great on everyone! The picture are not real Diamonds, but rather Heriker diamonds whcih aren’t diamonds at all!  Can you imagine if they were real?  HOLY COW!! There are a few other gemstones that are neutral as well. These gems include opals. Opals are filled with dimensions of color making them ideal for all skin tones. Every skin tone color can also look great in rubies and sapphires. Not only is the pearl a classic gem, but “traditional creamy color” pearls look smashing on everyone as well.

With all the different color of gemstones available it can get confusing on what to choose. Your skin tone is only a guide. No matter your skin tone, choose gemstones that “feel right or speak to you!” Make sure it is a piece that you love!

Until next time,
ENJOY!!

cheryl

Hiya!

Silver and gold, silver and gold everyone wishes for silver and gold! Listen… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yynOx8wHWAc Yes the holidays are upon us!  But that is not what this post is about.  It is about silver and gold though, and brass and copper.

A beautiful piece of jewelry is the finishing touch to the perfect outfit.  But how do you know what not only looks best with that little black dress but what will look best with your skin tone.  And does it even matter?  A bit more about that later.

Color analysis was popular during the eighties. Many of us will remember having our colors done to determine what season we were, fall, winter, spring or summer.  Based on the season we would then choose our wardrobe colors that looked best on us. Today it is not quite as popular but there are certainly some colors that complement our skin tone better than others.

This same theory is also true for metals.  Gold, silver, rose gold, copper or brass will look best on certain skin undertones.  The undertone is the color that is just beneath the skin. Most of us probably have a preference on what we like best.  Silver is by far the most popular simply because it is far less expensive and in greater abundance than gold!  But is silver the best choice to complement your skin tone?

How do we even know what our skin tone is?  There are 3 basic skin undertones that you will fall into no matter of what your “coloring” is.  They are warm, cool or neutral.  To determine where you fall check the color of your veins.

You have a cool undertone if your veins on your blue or purple.  When you look at your skin in the sun it appears blue-ish. You struggle to tan and your skin burns easily.  You most likely have blue or green eyes and blonde, brown or black (natural) hair color!

You will look your best in light or white metal colors.  White gold, platinum and silver metal jewelry are your colors!

You have a neutral skin undertone if the veins on your wrist are blue-green, or if they sometimes appear blue and at other times green and it is hard to determine what color they are!

Lucky you and me!  I’m neutral and can get away with wearing it all!  A perfect example is the fact that I love changing my hair color.  If you have been following me on social media for a long time I had variations of a warm red hair color.  I recently changed it up to a cool red as you see in the pictures.

If your veins appear slightly green or olive, you have a warm skin undertone.  When you look at your skin in the sun it appears yellowish.  Your skin tans easily and rarely burns, unless of course you spend hours in the Florida sun wearing baby oil, but that is another story! You most likely have brown, green or hazel eyes. Your natural hair color is brown, red or black.

Your best metal choices are yellow and rose gold, brass and copper.

So back to does it really matter what color of metal you wear?  Of course not!  When it comes to jewelry there’s no concrete se rules about what metals you can and cannot wear.  For that when it comes to fashion there are no “hard fast rules.”  If you love silver and have warm skin undertones by all means wear it!  Skin tones are just guide lines.  Wear whatever, makes you feel beautiful, sexy and confident.  Most importantly is that you wear what you LOVE!

One last note.  Mixing your metals is no longer a fashion faux pau.  It is encouraged!  So there you have it.  If you’re mixing up your metals anyway it truly does not matter whether you are warm or cool!

Until next time,

ENJOY!!