Tucson in Review

A week in Tucson, the weather was great at about 80 degrees everyday; vendors were wonderful and I was able to find many new and unusual stones for new designs this year! Whew, it was a wild and long week, hand picking thru all the merchandize, looking for that perfect strand that reflected the personalities of many of my great clients!

The week started out by visiting across the freeway from the Tucson Convention Center to the Street Vendors….miles and miles of vendors selling wears; anything from raw materials strait from the mines, polished undrilled stones to strands of beads; for as far as the eyes could see! The afternoon was spent at JOGS a favorite buying ground for many wholesale purchases. They play host to many international dealers from as far away as Poland for Amber to China for Pearls and many great U.S. dealers from AZ, NM, TX, CA, and NY. Here you could find many types of stones, finished jewelry pieces and geodes of many shapes and sizes.


The next several days included highlights to GL&W shows Gem Mall and Holidome, JGX (a miniture AGTA show), and back to JOGs and the Street Vendors.

Many great finds from deep red coral, apple red sponge coral, turquoise, ivoryite, pipestone, white magnesite (howlite), lapis, crystals, freshwater cultured pearls, agates, jaspers, pendants, copper, sterling silver and gold vermeil findings and on the very last day I was able to come across some Wild Horse Magnesite – WOW, what a find direct from mine!!



I’m very excited to begin designing with the unusual cuts, colors and stones that I found in Tucson! In the coming weeks I’ll be premiering the designs here on the blog and also on our website. For now, I’ll be busy over the next few days getting everything inventoried and then begin working in the studio!


In the meantime, over the next few weeks we will continue to mark down and deeply discount existing designs to make room for our new ones! Get in on some great deals while you can, before the original pieces and Sale are gone gone gone!

Chrysocolla – What is it?

Chrysocolla is another one of Copper's crystal offspring. This hydrated Copper crystal has two distinct personalities. In its purest form, Chrysocolla is brittle, soft and unsuitable for jewelry and such, without undergoing enhancements. However, if silica is available to "agatize" a Chrysocolla specimen, the resulting crystal is an enchanting stone, hard enough to cut into jewelry, spheres and unique carvings. These Chrysocolla silicates are also known as gem silica.

Colors in Chrysocolla range from greenish blues, like Turquoise, to a Robin's egg blue in clear gem silica specimens. Like Azurite, Chrysocolla often occurs mixed with Malachite, Turquoise and the above, resulting in unusually beautiful gemstones.

Where is it found?
The stone forms after Copper deposits are diluted by hydrothermal solutions, often rich in silicates (Quartz) and other minerals. This material deposits in surface stones, where it is weathered away by rains and winds. Ultimately it leaches back into Mother finally crystallizing into Chrysocolla, as well as Turquoise, Malachite, Wulfenite, Azurite and dozens of other sedimentary gems.

Some of the finest specimens of Chrysocolla Gem Silica are found in the Arizona mines. The deposits in the Keystone mine were first discovered in 1905. Though Native Americans had mined similar material from nearby locations hundreds of years earlier.

It is believed that the Copper deposits that created this vast array of mineral and crystal specimens originated in the Arizona area between the middle of the Mesozoic era and the beginning of the Cenozoic. If you remember the history of Petrified Wood, at one time Arizona was a vast shallow sea that became buried. Eventually colliding land masses heaved plains into mountains, pushing the area's primal past back to the surface and creating ideal conditions for Copper to weather and recrystallize.

Similar occurrences of these Copper crystals are found in New Mexico and Sonora Mexico. Outside the US, Chrysocolla is also mined in Israel, Zaire, England, Russia, Namibia, Australia, Chile, Greece and China.

How it got it’s name?
The Greek roots of this gemstone's name seem to have little to do with the crystal itself. Chrysos is Greek for ‘old’ and ‘kolla’ means glue. Originally the term was applied to a substance used for soldering Gold. Not a single reference indicated how this name became stuck to the stone we call Chrysocolla.

Healing & Spiritual Properties
The healing properties of Chrysocolla are said to be used for easing heartache and stamina in health. For the inner self it provides wisdom, peace, love, communication, vitality and inner strength. It is an excellent gemstone used for meditations; holding a piece in your hand one could visualize peace and health emanating form the stone. It is also highly recommended for the treatment of arthritis and believed to have detoxifying properties as well as aid in digestion.

Reprint from Ore’s Featured Gemstones.

Chocolate & Cherries – New Design

This brand new design created this week, is a little classy and a little sassy. Made from a combination of natural gemstones in Chocolate Jasper and Cherry Quartz; each Jasper stone has been accented with pewter filigree end-caps and I’ve captured the Cherry Quartz in silver toned wire cages. Between each section are triangle shaped seed beads in a pink lined color. This fun classic is 23” (58cm) long with matching earrings dangling at 1” (2.5cm). This is a one-of-a-kind piece and if you are interested in purchasing please contact me.

Check out my online Etsy shop for more designs available for purchase.

Dramatic Saradonyx Agate & Links Necklace – New!

This is my newest design hot off the design board and making a bold and mystic debut at 24.5” long! I really love how this one came out; I might even say it is my ‘newest’ favorite for a while. This one took some time, about 4 hours to complete.

Each spiral link is handcrafted using non-tarnish brass and black wires and then ‘charmed’ together. I was going for a dramatic look by adding Saradonyx Agate gemstones in beautiful tones of black, brown and white in a suspended dangle from each link, adding three as a center pendant. Full of fall colors for an elegant evening out or just casual wear.

Cleaning & Caring Gemstone Jewelry

Caring for your gemstone jewelry is an essential necessity for any jewelry owner, as gemstones are a durable material, and they do require care, so that when handed down as heirlooms in the years to come, they are just as brilliantly remarkable as they are to you now, to be cherished forever.

Most transparent and hard gemstones can endure being cared for by simply cleaning the jewelry with mild nonabrasive hand detergent and a soft bristled toothbrush; then dried with a soft clean cloth. It is wise to place a soft washcloth in the sink covering the drain, as doing so will aid in preventing any gemstones from becoming chipped or falling down the drain while you are cleaning your jewelry.

Some would suggest using ultrasonic cleaners, while this may be the fastest method for cleaning your jewelry; it is also the quickest way to damage your gemstones. Be very careful when using an ultrasonic cleaner, make sure that your gemstones can withstand such cleaning before using this type of method.

Here are some suggestions for cleaning and caring for your gemstone jewelry.

·Use 2 cleaning bowls. One that has warm water plus the cleaning liquid and one that has only warm water to rinse. Note: If you are using sinks, place a soft washcloth over the drains, this will help to keep stones from going down the drains and also help to prevent possible chipping.
·Use lukewarm water, never use hot water.
·Use a mild dishwashing liquid or mild jewelry cleaning solution. One that is safe for your specific jewelry gemstones and metals.
·Several soft, clean, dry cloths (1-for cleaning and 1-drying)
·Small, unused soft bristled toothbrush

Fill your sink with warm water, add a little drop of mild dishwashing liquid and swish around to make bubbles. Carefully, place a few pieces at a time in the sink allowing them to soak a few minutes (don’t overload the sink as this may cause jewelry to hit against each other causing chips, cracks and/or damage). Then take each piece out and carefully clean with the soft bristled toothbrush. Caution, you only need to use a toothbrush if you have a piece of jewelry that has tiny cracks, holes, and small places where dust and dirt can get in; otherwise, there is really no need to use a toothbrush. Rinse in a separate sink that only contains warm water. Place the jewelry on a soft cloth and carefully dry your jewelry pieces.

Cleaning your jewelry doesn’t have to be done often, but several times a year to protect your gemstones. It is also wise to have a jeweler check any gemstones that have been put in settings at least once a year. This is to make sure that the prongs are secure and your gems are safe. When in doubt, ask a professional jeweler about the care and cleaning of your new gemstone jewelry.

Balance to Mind, Body, & Soul

Bring balance to ones life through the use of gems and crystals has been both legend and history. People from all cultures and continents have practiced harnessing the balancing of the spiritual and healing powers of gems and crystals; dating back as far as the legendary lost city of Atlantis, through the ancient Mayan and Indian civilizations, and reaching into Far Eastern and Native American. For centuries these cultures have used gems and crystals for religious, physical, and spiritual healing purposes. Today, meditation and fitness mixed with the use of the energy points is said to promote health, happiness, and well being within a person’s life. Is it legend or truth…..try it and you decide.

Here is a small listing of the properties within the gemstones I use in my jewelry:

·Agates: Balancing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies; perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.
·Aventurine: Healing, money, mental agility, visual acuity, peace, opening heart, motivation, leadership.
·Carnelian: Precision, analytical capabilities, physical energy, verbal skill, peace, spirituality.
·Coral: Diplomacy, quieting emotions, visualization.
·Crystal Quartz: Intensifying energy, spiritual development, healing, raising consciousness
·Dumortierite: Self-reliance, stamina, patience, recognition of potential, understanding, communication of ideas.
·Fossil Stone: Accomplishments, improvement of one’s environment, communication, innovation. ·Hematite: Mental attunement, memory, calming, balance, focusing energy and emotions, peace, inner happiness, transforming negativity.
·Howlite: Awareness, calm, emotional expression, observation, patience, eliminating negativity.
·Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.
·Labradorite: Alignment, spiritual connection, transformation, clarity, peace, progression, discernment.
·Lapis Lazuli: Wisdom, intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity.
·Mother of Pearl: Mental clarity, intuition, sensitivity, imagination, adaptability, cooperation.
·Onyx: Self-control, decision making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.
·Opal: Creativity, spontaneity, relationships, memory, happy dreams and changes.
·Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.
·Rhodonite: Peace, generosity, attention to details.
·Smoky Quartz: Dissolving emotional blockage, clearing the mind, cooperation, personal pride, joy in living, attentiveness to the moment, protection.
·Sodalite: Wisdom, logic, calmness, healing, stress reduction, companionship, self-esteem.
·Sunstone: Alleviating fears, energizing, cleansing.
·Tiger Eye: Practicality, peacefulness, clarity, intelligence, intuition, new experiences, financial stability, calmness, releasing inhibitions.
·Tiger Iron: Artistic endeavors, beauty, vitality.
·Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.

Wire Links & Gemstone Beads into Jewelry

Purple and Pink mixed with Black and Silver. This is a favorite necklace set of mine in my Etsy shop, available for purchase.

The links are made of two different kinds of wire; the black wires are 20 gauge and the non-tarnish silver are 18 gauge wires. They are both scrolled into an open type “S” style link, all done by hand. I then connected those using stainless steel oval jumprings, giving them flexible movement. Each scroll link has a purple marbled Jasper gemstone bead; which has been cut as an oblong tube, giving dimension to the shape of the necklace. Additional “S” links were hand scrolled in non-tarnish silver wire and accented with nice dark round Rhodonite gemstone beads.

Completing the set are dangle earrings highlighted in non-tarnish silver wire and featuring a Rhodonite bead. This makes a lovely gift for anyone and comes in a silver giftbox. Interested in just the earrings or just the necklace? Contact Timeless Designs for seperate piece pricing.

Drop by my Etsy shop to see this and other wire designs.

Online Shopping, Promoting and Passion

Looking around the internet there are many online places for people to buy and sell. I took some time to research and got several recommendations for Etsy. After much thought, I opened my Timeless Designs Etsy shop in April 2008, with only a handful of items. I made my first sales in June and July and continue to list many designs. My shop currently holds about 40-45 items ranging from necklaces and sets to earrings and bracelets. I strive to make designs that are high quality, yet inexpensive enough for anyone to own.
This year I traveled to Tucson to the Colored Gem Show and JOGS shows. THAT was a mistake, sort of ! Talk about a kid in a candy store….it was like having access to every gemstone, finding, and jewelry related item you could image and some you couldn’t. I found stones that I have never heard of; met dealers/wholesalers that had cuts and stones from all over the world. Buying at the Tucson show gives me the ability to pick out every single stone, finding, crystal, and packaging by sight personally…knowing that I will get the best quality that I can for my designs and customers.
I have a passion for designing and love working and learning about all the different gems. It is like discovering whole new world’s everyday! All my work is custom, striving for the one-of-a-kind pieces. If you don’t see what you are looking for or just want something different, please contact Timeless Designs and we’ll work to design something just for you!



We've been featured on another Etsy Artists Blog!
http://designsbycori.blogspot.com/2008/08/timeless-designs.html

Traveling the World for Treasures in Gems

Traveling the world for business or relaxation and seeing such places as Asia, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, and Australia and the South Seas. These are just a few of the many places that give my In-Laws, Gayle and Lee of Jewelry by CNC the inspiration behind their many custom jewelry designs and faceted gemstone collection.

Gayle began making jewelry as a hobby, creating unique gifts to give their many friends and family. Now just a few years later, the ‘hobby’ has become a business.

She enjoys working with the varieties of gemstones and beads that she gathers from her many travels around the world. Each piece is designed as a labor of love reflected in the many necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets, watch bracelets and pendants, which can be purchased individually or combined into Jewelry Sets.

Lee is a Registered Gemologist who deals with loose faceted gemstones, a selection which can be found on their Special Items page. He is the mastermind behind their website with regular updates and once a month ‘Highlights’ of a particular faceted gemstone. Don’t miss the Educational Section listing different organizations and Educational information on faceted gemstones, jewelry, and the Gemstone industry.

Enjoy wondering thru the world of jewelry and loose gemstones on their website.

Looking to Purchase Wholesale Jewelry

Are you a Retailer, Boutique, or Gift Shop looking for unique, high-end, quality jewelry? Timeless Designs is the place to start! Each of our designs is handcrafted with natural genuine gemstones; including Turquoise, Coral, freshwater Pearls, Agate, Jasper, and Onyx. The designs are accented with wire sculpture, Swarvoski crystals, Czech glass or Dichroic pendants to enhance the natural beauty of the gemstones. Check out our Gallery below to see some of our designs, or visit our online Etsy shop for a wider selection of necklaces, sets, earrings and bracelets.

Don’t quite see what you are looking for? The nature of our business is custom and we have a wide variety of quality stones to choose from….this allows us to produce just the design you are looking for! For details and pricing Wholesale please contact us directly; we can work with you to ship worldwide to any of your store locations!

What's With Those Earings?!

Have you noticed all the different kinds of earrings around these days? They range from dangle, chandelier, and drops with a mixture of glass beads, wire, or even gemstone.


The colors are vibrant making for a bold and cute style. Here is a small selection of earrings from my collection. Many have matching necklaces and can be found in my shop. But if you are only interested in the earrings, please email me which earrings you are interested in purchasing!

Turquuoise the Gemstone

Turquoise is one of the most beautiful gemstones created by nature. It is a soft and porous stone with colors ranging from blue to green, resulting from the presence of either copper or iron accented by black or brown veining. Sleeping Beauty and Kingman turquoise from the Arizona mines in the southwestern United States are the most sought after and valuable of turquoise, but it is also mined in China, Peru, Mexico, Tibet, Siberia, Africa, Australia, and Europe.


Types of turquoise include Sleeping Beauty and stabilized turquoise, chalk turquoise from China, African turquoise, yellow turquoise, white or magnesite turquoise, howlite and mountain jade.

Turquoise is believed to promote health, communication and good fortune, protecting the wearer from evil. It is the traditional birthstone for December and the gemstone for 11th year wedding anniversaries.





The Gallery below and our shop contains many different designs with Kingman Turquoise, Magnesite Turquoise, and White & Green Howlite.

Shallow or Deep End of the Pool……

I’m not one to just wade around in the shallow end; no, no…I’m more of a jump in with both feet, head first into the deep end of the pool kind of person! I’ve never done anything ‘half-way’, always the first on the block to make her mark, and that is the same way with my jewelry business, Timeless Designs.

Timeless Designs came out of my thriving passion for creativity; a hobby at first we’ll say but it is growing little by little into a strong business. Because I’ve ‘jumped in with both feet’ doesn’t mean I wasn’t prepared either...I did my homework, research, and spend the last year working in the industry to develop a name and business, that hopefully will someday be my Retirement. So, I’d like to thank those who are responsible and whose names have not been changed because their innocence was long ago lost!

THANK YOU….
…to my hubby Chris who’s camera I’ve fine tuned to take such awesome pictures! You can borrow it anytime Hun!
…to my son Dalton who inspires and challenges me in the studio; some of these designs are his creations, just Fascinating!
…to Mom & Dad who taught me at a very young age that I can achieve anything, now see what you’ve done!
…to my son Jeremy who encourages and supports me even on his mission!
…to Gayle & Lee for the great write-ups, meals at shows, support, and endless feed of gemstone information!
…to CiCi and Shadow (Executive Cat & Jr. Manager Cat, respectively) for inventory control!
…to Kelsey (Middle Manager Cat) who comes into the studio to remind me when I’ve missed ‘bedtime’.
…to all my Friends & Family for supporting and encouraging me to keep trying and never give up!

So, now we know who’s responsible – right!

See ya soon!
Annette