Necklace & Earrings: Designed May 20, 2012. Speckled foil beads, aqua crystal, red and gold glass beads, gold-filled toggle clasp. Matching earrings. Spring rebirth brings forth color - both subtle pastels and bold primary hues. Snapdragons in the garden inspire me to string red and gold beads ... then ocean-aqua crystals symbolic of the sea that I view from my beading place. Art and nature intertwine, relate, and play in inexplicable ways. As sun bathes flowers and sea, I make finishing necklace and earring crimps to my one-of-a-kind jewerly. It's a great day to create. It's a great day to be!

Carnelain Works ~ February 2012

CARNELIAN: The name Carnelian heralds from the Latin word "carnis" - meaning "flesh." Cornelian - another name for the stone - most likely derived from the Latin word "cornum" meaning "cherry." It's translucent color ranges from yellow-orange to reddish-brown to a deep red, and is enhanced by exposure to the sun.

SYMBOLIC of the 2nd, Sacral Chakra : The Sacral Chakra is located just below the belly button in the body. It is the energetic center of creativity, sexuality, and self-actualization. Carnelian is considered to be a stone of great spirituality with healing properties for mental and physical well-being. The stone is said to aid in understanding the inner self, increase self-worth and expedite success in one's career.

NECKLACE created Feb. 25th, 2012: Carnelian stone, agate, Swarovski crystals, Sterling

CARNELIAN HEALING ~ Soul-self sight,
ARTISTIC FREEING ~ Unique flight
HOLISTIC STEERING ~ Balanced right
EMPATHIC CARING ~ Sharing light


Gems & Words by Collette

November/ December Fare

Hematite, crystal, art beads and gold;

Some beads new and some beads old.

Honeyed amber and silver-soft light,

Autumn-winter hue delight.

Art beads from Putnam, CT antique shop

May Gazing

May flowers and bowers and Taurus showers,

Come emerald-green blues and silver sung hues.

Welcome vernal delights on starry moon nights,

Summer-dressed in firefly light kissing the dew.

(Emerald Crystals, Foil Glass, Spacers and Silver)

Dad 'n Me 'n Copper Blue

Sometimes we are inexplicably drawn to things until we engage them to find out whatever we are supposed to learn from them. We might encounter a thing and tell ourselves that we don't need it or it's somehow superfluous but then find ourselves returning to it - even if it takes us out of our way. Such was the case when I recently bought an old blue and coppertone art-glass bead necklace in a local antique shop.

I went to this shop back in January to pay my condolences to the owner - a lovely sixty-something year-old woman and well-known local merchant who suddenly lost her husband to a heart attack before Christmas. I saw Nan briefly and told her my family was praying for her and that I would keep her in my healing thoughts.

I visited Nan again in February to offer continued support - in whatever way I could even though I did not know her well. She was behind the counter when I entered the shop last week - appearing shockingly thin and drawn compared to they way she looked prior to her husband's death. She thanked me for coming in and said that she was still lost and numb (her husband having passed only 4 months before) but putting one foot in front of the other because life - indeed - must go on. As we spoke and shared thoughts about loss and recovery, I noticed some striking olive-shaped blue and copper lustre beads in the counter case in front of me. Nan pulled them out for me to see. ... smooth and pleasing to finger; fantastic color/hue marriage!; unique; artsy as hell ... I could hardly put them down once they were in my hands. Nan offered me a great price for them but I didn't buy them that day - couldn't justify the cost in my mind given my budget. I soon departed but told Nan I might come back - soon.

Sure enough - 7 days later my car had it's way with me and took me back to her shop. Something greater than me drew me back to Nan's shop - something that had nothing to do with compulsive buying. Nan brightened a bit when I saw her again ... she gave me a knowing smile and took the copper blue beads out of the case again for me to hold. She offered me a bit more off the price. I instinctively knew the beads HAD to go home with me. We shared personal bits again. I told her that my dad died of heart disease ... that I lost my mom 4 years ago to cancer and then a favorite uncle as well to complications of aging. We agreed that misery does not love company - that burdens shared are "halved" just as joys shared are "doubled."

Although I love to bead and redesign older jewelry, I've been know to procrastinate on projects. In this case, I felt spiritually compelled to restring the copper blue beads into a new necklace the day after I bought them which happened to be February 13th (last Sunday).

Creating is like childbirth in it's unpredictable timing. A birth can take hours as one labors to deliver whatever unique creation the master Creator is urging one to bring forth. Or a creation can "pop" when least expected! The "pop" turned out be the case with the redesigned copper blue necklace. I had solid copper findings, fine wire, and a finishing copper toggle come together on my bead board in record time. I was pleased with the outcome and wondered how the birth came so fast and with relative ease. I thought of Nan at the shop, and love, and compassion, and sharing, and the joy I experience as an artist creating - so akin to my dad ... and then I realized that this necklace came to be on the 31st anniversary of my dad's passing. He died on Feb., 13, 1980; it was the same year John Lennon died so the light went out for me then - BIG TIME!

... now years later it dawns on me that the whole buy-the-bead experience was not something I orchestrated. The Master Creator had a loving, connect-the-dot hand in it. I look forward to returning to Nan's shop this weekend and showing her the necklace. This is how I bead. I buy old necklaces and jewelry bits that speak to my heart. I feel God's presence and I intuitively know when to buy beads that I will rework. When my creations turn out in ways beyond my expectations, I know the Master's hands have been expertly guiding mine. It all comes together like a spring bud ripening and busting open in the warm sun for all to see.

Life soars - even in grief times - when I follow the grace of God within that brings me back to things I am not supposed to let pass because if I engage them - God will work my head-hand-heart artistry to create a greater good. This is how I see myself expanding vitality and creative passion in a world that sorely needs art and beauty to offset the darkness of human loss and suffering.

Come spring, it will be fun to see what new treasures come into Nan's shop. I experience great joy in rebirthing vintage and contemporary beads into one-of-a-kind pieces. As always, I provide design services and will rework some of your favorite beads or a piece from your jewelry box into an updated necklace or bracelet ... earrings as well. Free estimates upon request.

(Note: My dad was a construction superintendent by day and a talented painter and metal sculptor by night. Attached photo is Circa 1955)

February ~ Lavender Seas

Pisces lore and amethyst,
Sea-green violet themes,
Turtle glass love manifest
February dreams.

~ Collette

Hand blown glass turtle,
opaque lavender & amber glass beads,
dragon blood jasper, copper &
Swarovski crystal ~ NFS

(Custom order & pricing upon request)

January Gemstome - Garnet

Necklace of the month: Garnet, fire-agate glass and Sterling: $35.00







"By her who is this month was born
No gem save garnets shall be worn
They will ensure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity."
~ Author Unknown

January - a burrrrr cold, colorless month in many parts of the world. ... time to warm up with a garnet and fire-agate necklace ... great way to spark your style and looks on bleak gray winter days!