Category Archives: Wire wrapped jewelry

Lake Superior Agate Jewelry

lsa-on-bench

Attendees at the Celebration of Agates Show in Hopkins Minnesota will be happy to see my Lake Superior Agate Jewelry.

Since 1969 the Lake Superior Agate has been the Minnesota State Stone. Glaciers deposited Lake Superior Agates throughout Minnesota, as well as south as far as Kansas.
Many of you know that Laker’s are my favorite gemstone. I am amazed at the variety of colors, types, and patterns. No two are ever alike.

The multi-pattern was amazing on this Laker.

Moons and stripes. I liked this one.

The trick is finding those extremely rare flawless, or nearly flawless Lake Superior Agates to use in my jewelry. Remember Laker’s moved vast distances from bedrock in the Keweenaw area. Most of them were ripped from bedrock. Lake Superior Agates are also tumbled on the Lake Superior shoreline. It is really amazing that any Laker’s can be found that are not cracked.

Three Lake Superior Agates were selected from my stash of slices, cut into cabochons, and hurried to my workbench. These were all distinctively different, as you can see.

An unusual ledge agate.

Each agate talked to me, and I was able to make some exceedingly fine pendants, don’t you think? Let me know which one you like best. I sell many Lake Superior Agate Pendants to Minnesotans. I expect when they see these agates, and well over 100 more Lake Superior Agate Pendants, this jewelry will make them ecstatic!

Pietersite-On The Workbench

Pietersite was on the workbench at the Ludington Art Show. I happened upon a great cabochon while digging through my cases at home, and decided if things were slow (they were), I would demonstrate next to the booth.

It's difficult to see the 3D pattern on Pietersite.

It is always nice to work in the fresh air.

This Pietersite came from the one vendor I deal with, (the mine-owners) in Tucson. If you want more information on Pietersite go to my blog (March 13, 2011). http://www.snobappealjewelry.com/blog/?p=1062

The finished product turned out great.

I loved the reds and browns in this piece. The Holographic depth of Pietersite can only be viewed in person, and is pretty incredible. I think it came out pretty amazing considering I was working freestyle. I may post this up on the web later today.

Let me know what you think.

Here’s a bonus; I made this remarkable Lake Superior Eye Agate also. This one will go to the Celebration of Agates Show.

eye-agate

Drusy Quartz on the Workbench

I’ve been working on Drusy Quartz Pendants for a couple weeks. The pendants in this blog will all be sold for under $100 at our shows this year, but if you like one give us a call. I just love these gems.

Drusy (Druzy) Quartz is generally grey or blue agate, from Brazil, containing natural pockets filled with microscopic sugary Quartz. This material can be left in its natural form or treated in several ways.

drusy-onwb

I am constantly amazed at the variety in Drusy.

Hot pink and white on this frilly-looking drusy are feminine and fancy.

Drusy can also be coated with a microscopic film of titanium, platinum, gold or sterling silver. This process is called vapor deposition. When a Drusy is coated with titanium, it adds a brilliant purple, cobalt or rainbow of colors. Drusies can also be dyed, or dyed and coated.

Someone will be pleased to own this Emerald colored Drusy.

The cost of Drusy jewelry varies widely depending on the quality of the Quartz and the expense of the treatment. Most Drusy Quartz originates in Brazil. Miners look for pockets of crystal containing sugar-sized quartz within agate matrix. These pieces are graded and sold off to treatment operations.

I threw a light on this great yellow drusy so you could see it shine.

This blue Drusy is SO cool!

Drusy micro-crystals can easily be damaged when used in rings. I use these Druzy Quartz cabochons exclusively in amazingly colorful and flashy pendants. I hand pick Drusy being sold by quality dealers at the Tucson Gem Shows.

I base my selections on predicted hot colors for the upcoming year. Fashion magazines are featuring bright color this year, and drusy jewelry makes a perfect complement to these fabrics. I also count on my artistic proficiency to imagine what would work with my jewelry making approach.

I am constantly amazed at the variety of Drusy Quartz.

I make pendants both in a simple style or a more elaborate style to cover all my customer’s tastes. I use both gold and silver wire, often in combination. People will comment on your jewelry when you wear these pendants. Each of my pendants is distinct and exclusive. You can be assured no one else will have a pendant like yours.

Morrisonite-The KING of Jaspers

Morrisonite (Morrison Ranch Jasper) is considered one of the finest Jaspers in the world, and is often referred to as “The KING of Jaspers”. Unfortunately it has not been commercially mined from its source in SE Oregon, along the Owyhee River, since 1996.

Marvelous coloration is a trademark of the finest Morrisonite. The slab needs to be a piece of Jewelry.

The rockhound’s favorite government agency, the Bureau of Land Management, closed the hunting area and dynamited some of the mines, deeming them unsafe. I heard Gene Mueller of The Gem Shop speak on hunting the area before it was closed. It took a lot of material to produce any “good stuff”.

The combination of the area closing and the limited production in the past has driven priced to several hundred dollars a slab in recent years.

I recently discovered that I had some Morrisonite from an old collection I acquired last fall. I suspect this material may be 40 years old.

It did indeed need to be a pendant. Morrisonite like this is so very rare!

When we bought this collection I hardly checked the material. We just loaded all the rock in buckets, loaded the truck, and drove it home. The buckets ended up in storage, then winter set in, so I’m just now discovering what I bought… .Gotta love it!

Celebration of Agates Jewelry

I have been working on several cabochons for the upcoming Celebration of Agates Show at Hopkins, Minnesota in July. There is a lot of buzz about this show already, and it is building up to be a well-attended and exciting event. I will be exhibiting at this special rock show, and