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The birthstone color for February is amethyst – so I wanted to show you guys some of the rich amethyst glass stones I’ve got in my shop right now. A couple of these are vintage resupply (yay!) but honestly, I’m pretty fond of each of these. And more that you’ll see if you peek in my shop!

Amethyst is actually one of the most popular colors anyway. What can I say, people love purple! And it’s not really limited to one season. Amethyst is gorgeous for romantic holidays like Valentine’s Day of course (hey, not everything needs to be red!) but it looks good all year round. Great with a tan. Great with winter pales, and winter whites, and blacks.
What can I say, amethyst looks good all the time!
Well since I featured a design earring jewels yesterday with colors of red and gold, the team colors of the Kansas City Chiefs, I figured it was only fair to show an earring design with orange and black jewels.

Orange and black, which just happen to be the team colors of the Cincinatti Bengals, the team playing against the Chiefs. I am no football expert so I am saying nothing about the game except I hope people have a good time and I’m sure it’ll be a great game. But orange and black? Fun colors to design with!
PS The orange teardrops shown here are a little larger than I usually wear, myself. These are 25x18mm, where normally I use 18x13mm teardrops for earrings. I’ll get a new pic with that size – stay tuned!
It’s just a coincidence that red and gold are the team colors of the Kansas City Chiefs. No, actually, it is! A customer asked to see a couple design ideas using red and gold, and I couldn’t help think of it, since there is a major football playoff this weekend. I’m not going into details. I couldn’t resist mentioning the team colors, but I’m not trying to just trade off on the Chiefs.

And you probably noticed, the top set of jewels – the red vintage glass ovals – are in patina brass settings, when the other jewels are in golden brass settings. I didn’t even realize it till I took the pic, and I was going to change it.
Then I thought, it’s a fine way to show that Stuff Happens, and the jewelry can still look good. We don’t have to be matchy all the time. Go with what you’ve got!
I love to feature “birthstone colors”, especially if they are stones I have just found or resourced. And it’s always handy to remember what the birthstone gemstones, or gemstone colors, are for any particular month. How many times have we tried to think of an appropriate gift? A little extra info really helps!

Just for reference – or in case the print is too small on the pic. Birthstone colors listed here:
January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April – Diamond (Crystal)
May – Emerald
June – Alexandrite or Pearl
I know there have been times I’ve wanted to think of something special (without breaking the bank) when I bought (or made) a gift for my sister or my girlfriends. Knowing their birthdays – at least the birthday months – can help you choose a gift!
This necklace design is really a classic: faceted pear or teardrop shaped rhinestone jewels in two sizes, used as the focal and surrounding jewels for this pretty necklace.

** Like I said: a classic. Of course you’ll think of your own creative ways to adapt this idea. Use your own favorite color – or colors! Maybe the colors of your children’s birthstones. Or your favorite team!
I show the jewels here with a brass cable chain with just a hint of antique patina. The jewels are available in golden raw brass and silver plated brass as well (honestly I think the golden color is my favorite, but that’s a personal thing.)
Try your own idea(s) for focal design – I would love to see pics of your creations!
Celebrating the start of the new year! That’s the most important thing to say: I hope you all have a healthy, prosperous, happy, fun, new year for you and yours!
P.S. And let’s see if we can up the “kindness quotient” everywhere. It helps!
Yes, I’m playing with a year end sale 🙂 in my shop! From today through midnight on December 31, 2022, you can get great deal** during my “Oval Glass Gems” sale! The pic I’m attaching here shows just a few samples of the great colors and sizes I have available in faceted oval rhinestone jewels.

** And the special sale? Buy any pair of glass gems – and you get a second pair free. You can choose a different color for your free pair, too. Just send me a note when you order, and let me know which freebie you want!
And yes, if you buy two pairs – you get two freebies. One freebie pair for each pair you buy – that’s the deal!
Okay, “bicolor earring jewels” is a fancier way of saying, mismatched earrings! I think a lot of us love this idea. In “do it yourself” design, especially with earrings that have one common element (in this case, the white vintage glass teardrops) it’s just fun to have the other jewels be different colors.

Don’t you think so? I used smaller, round jewels with rivoli faceting in sapphire blue and emerald green, for the “mismatched” jewels. Play with different colors here! Maybe your kids’ birthstone colors. Or your school colors! Or any colors you like best.
It’s a great way to tailor a pair of earrings specially to one outfit, or just use crazy colors because you like them. That’s what “do it yourself” jewelry is all about. Make what you want!
I featured this earring design idea a couple years back – I just found the design pics again! And I wanted to show them off a bit – partly because hearts are always a super Christmas gift idea – but also because practically right after Christmas, is Valentine’s Day:-)
I don’t know where the time goes, but it just seems to be flying by. This earring design idea – with these crystal clear hearts, or one of the other colors I have available right now – will make wonderful earrings for your bff, or your customers. Just link them with a jump ring, add earwires, and your jewelry is ready!
This bracelet design idea features one of my favorite styles – the colors in the bracelet don’t match! No, seriously, think about it. We are usually careful to coordinate colors in our outfits, our jewelry, etc. But sometimes it’s fun to just…not match.

In my example, I combine turquoise cording with a golden topaz glass octagon. Just because I like the colors. Yes, I could use a golden cord or chain. Or a turquoise stone (which of course would be great). But why not try this idea?
It’s very freeing. Don’t match your colors. Go to your workbench and look for random stones and beads. Use them in a new piece. I think you’ll love it!
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Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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