Back by Popular Demand -- Single Wired Pendants

I haven’t done many single wired pendants in a while and many people have been asking for them this summer. A jewelry trend shift for the summer and maybe the fall; many people have been asking for single pendants then mix and matching earrings. So I brought back this popular line using different stones, fossils and minerals; giving everyone a mix to choice from!

These pendants are found in our Wiry Legends and Rock Yard Collections. Stop by our shop Timeless Designs online at Ruby Lane to find your pendant treasure!

Holectypus Echinoid – Sand Dollar from Madagascar (to the right)

Orthoceras Fossil from Morocco (to the left)

Light Green (natural color) Agate Slice from Brazil (to the left)

Deep Amethyst Chunk from Uruguay (to the right)

Earthy Fossil Gets Classy

One of my favorite fossils to work with is the natural Orthoceras fossilized squid from Morocco. Orthoceras are a famous and very large fossil deposit of animals that can be found in Morocco, North Africa. Ancestors to ammonites, Orthoceras are extinct sea creatures, and depending on what source you refer to, they date from the lower Ordovician to Triassic ages (500 to 190 million years ago). As they died, their shells accumulated in great numbers on the sea floor where they were aligned by currents, buried by sediments, and transformed over the ages preserved in black limestone. Today, this prehistoric sea floor is ironically, found in the dramatic Atlas Mountain Range in southern Morocco at the northern fringe of the Sahara Desert.

The term 'straight' cephalopods is used in this case to describe fossil examples of straight ammonoids called Baculites, straight nautiloids called Orthoceras and Belemnites. Their bodies were predominantly elongate with conical shells. Some of these creatures evolved into semi-coiled forms eventually giving rise to coiled cephalopods like ammonites and nautili. Another branch of straight-shelled cephalopods continued to coexist with the coiled forms on into the Pennsylvanian Period. These straight forms were much less diverse and abundant than the coiled cephalopods, as a whole.

Straight cephalopods were among the most advanced invertebrates of their time having eyes, jaws, and a sophisticated nervous system. These creatures were predators that swam freely using a jet propulsion system by squirting water from their bodies. They had tentacles and ink sacs also much like the present-day squid.

Except for belemnites, cephalopods had external shells with hollow internal chambers separated by walls called septa. A tube called the siphuncle, connected the body with the chambers allowing the animal to fill them with water or air, changing its buoyancy in order to rise or drop in the ocean. Only the last and largest chamber was occupied by the living animal. Belemnites were different in that they had internal shells called 'guards' which were covered with the soft, muscular tissues of their bodies. These shells were also chambered but much less complex than the straight varieties of nautiloids and ammonoids.

Straight cephalopods probably lived for one to six years, with the majority living two to four years. They fed on plankton (tiny free-floating organisms), sea lilies, and smaller orthoceras. Although many fed off the ocean floor, others may have caught plankton while floating or swimming via jet propulsion, expelling water through a funnel-like opening to propel them in the opposite direction. Because straight cephalopods lived exclusively in marine environments, their presence also indicates the location of prehistoric seas.

Healing Stones

As a healing stone, fossils are believed to increase life span, reduce toxins, anxiety, stress, balance the emotions, and make one more confident. Containing supernatural and physical healing powers, they promote a sense of pride and successes in business, leading on to be open to change and new ideas. Healers use fossils to enhance telepathy and stimulate the mind. Traditionally, fossils have been used to aid in reducing tiredness, fatigues, digestive disorders, and rheumatism.

Visit our online store, Timeless Designs at Ruby Lane to see many different designs featuring the orthoceras and other fossils!

Oco Agate with a Twist of Amber Navy Mix

Working with Oco agates you just never know what you are going to get in the pendant slice. What makes these very unique is that they are highly polished on back and front, but the sides have been left with a slight rawness, almost a feel of the mine they come from.

Each one is a carefully crafted colorful piece from nature with the centers open showing the years of crystallization, this makes the Oco agate very different from normal agate slices.

In this new pendant I’ve hand wire wrapped it in bronze non-tarnish wire, the beauty of the pendant is captured in an array of fall colors; navy blue, white, black, rust, butterscotch, and even a hint of cream.

The necklace is crafted of amber freeform chips with a high polish, faceted rondelle crystals the color of navy or sapphire and between are little gold tone pewter round beads. With the size of the agate pendant being a little smaller, the necklace is not as heavy as many of the chunky and bold pieces I’ve been known to create.

A piece of nature that has been artisan crafted to enjoy for all time….browse our online shop at Ruby Lane to find your fossil, mineral or natural stone jewelry!

Wired Ancient Fossil Meets Southwest

Wired ancient fossil meets a little southwest…..I started this design using a midnight black Ammonite Fossil from Madagascar, it shows a nice vein chambers in gray and is handcrafted in non-tarnish silver with coil and supporting wires. The base of the necklace is then created from Arizona Turquoise (stabilized) graduated in raw chips; all reflecting earthy colors of brown, rust, black, cream, green, and hint of blue. Scattered between the turquoises are barrels of Arizona Ivoryite, faceted smoke black crystal rondelles and silver disk spacers. The set includes the matching pair of black Ammonite Fossil earrings.

The ammonite’s name comes from the shell’s resemblance to a coiled ram’s horn (the ram being the symbol of the Egyptian god Ammon). Like the extinct belemnites and the living nautiloids, octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, they belonged to the mollusk group known as the cephalopods. The name comes from the Greek ‘kephale’ (head) and ‘podia’ (foot), referring to the tentacles they have in the head region.

There are many different species of Ammonites; Phylloceras, Psiloceras, Stephanoceras, and Caloceras just to name a few. I haven’t yet identified which group the pendant and earrings are members but they are quite definitely strikingly black ammonites.


Browse our online shop and find your rugged elegance in wearable earth!

Magnesite a Carbonate Mineral

Distinct crystals of Magnesite are rare, but when found are rhombohedral or prismatic. Magnesite is generally massive, lamellar, fibrous, or granular. A carbonate of magnesium, Magnesite take is it name from its composition and is virtually impossible to melt. Most commonly white or light grey, it can be yellow or brownish when iron substitute for some of the magnesium.

Magnesite forms principally as an alteration product in magnesium-rich rocks, such as peridotites, and through the action of magnesium – containing solutions upon calcite. It also occurs as a primary mineral in limestone and talc or chlorite schists and is found in some meteorites.

Magnesite is said to promote relaxation and a positive attitude to life. It removes negative feelings, reduces oversensitivity and said to aid in lifting depression. The pure white color symbolizes purity and freedom but also fertility, it is said to protect the wearer against false love, false friends and intrigues. Magnesite is linked to the star sign of Libra.

This design is handcraft entirely of the white Magnesite cut in disks which I’ve slightly graduated. Between are faceted hexagons light Topaz crystals, gold tone spacers and paired at the bottom is a Turquoise cross pendant; the bail is handmade in non-tarnish gold wire.

Browse our collections for many different designs to match with your own individual personality.

*Research from various mineral/gem books.

Don’t Forget the Green

Green jewelry, who knew and it comes in a variety of styles; browse our collections for available styles to purchase.

Lime Green Dichroic Glass Wire Pendant (to the right - SOLD)

Raw Brazilian Agate Slice in Shades of Green (to the left)

Green/Blue Dichroic Glass Swarovski Crystal Sterling Silver Bracelet (to the right)

Green Peridot Chips Blue/Green Turquoise Nuggets Pewter (to the left - SOLD)

Funky Pendant Earrings

A customer purchased this pendant last Fall and contacted me later to make a pair of matching earrings. The challenge with this was that the pendant was a purchase at the Tucson Gem & Mineral show a few years back; it’s a Red Flame Agate. I’ve been trying to match it as best I can and finally was able to with these red/orange Agates; which are highlights to the twisted coil design of the earrings.

Browse our collections for other custom design jewelry pieces from nature’s treasured gifts!

A Whole New Set of Collections

Ring in the New Year and with it a whole new reflection of jewelry designs. As you can tell, we’ve spent some time the past year re-designing and developing our blog, website and our line of custom jewelry. What we are did, is truly reflect what our jewelry does, make a statement with a cutting-edge flair all our own. We’ve never been one to ‘color within the lines, more like color outside the box’! In looking over our jewelry, it has evolved into different Collections all with their own style and fashion, reflecting the personalities of our clients; we’ve just taken it a step up this year. Here’s what’s new at Timeless Designs…..

Every Collection will have a variety of pieces, from necklaces, sets, bracelets, pendants and even earrings; no more looking through jewelry categories. Not only will we offer Collections, but there we’ll be offering some raw materials for those who want to make their own jewelry and also a small line of different collars, chains, ribbons, and cords to pick from if you wanted something else to go with any pendants.


Southwest Flair; this collection will house our designs that have a Southwest Flair, most designs cultivated with Turquoise, Coral, Magnesite, Howlite, and many different metals, just to name a few. The styles will be anything from traditional Southwest to a mix of ‘Old West Meets Modern West’.

Mystic Artisan; where mystery clashes with high-end elegance in chic, edgy, classy, and even flirty designs that reflect that personality all ones own; many design will be refined using Agates, Jaspers, Onyx, Pearls, Crystals, Dichroics, and many more.

Wiry Legends, pretty much says it all as this collection will be the home to anything that has been created using mainly wire such as links, twists, swirls, and cones but will also include chain and other metal mainstream components too.

Rock Yard is a new one to our studio; this will be the place to find fossils, minerals, and chunky raw rock pieces, chose from single pendants to funky, chunky and hip brews made to order. You just never know what you might find hiding in this collection.

Supply Closet will be the place for those of you who do your own jewelry designs to find raw materials and create your own pieces. Eventually, Supply Closet will also be the place to find extra chains, collars, cords, and ribbons for purchase to mix and match with any pendants.

So, get going and check out our newly re-designed website, see what’s available for purchase or browse around to get acquainted with Timeless Designs.

Pendants in the Making

These are a few of the new pendants I’ll be working with…..some will stay as individuals, while others will be incorporated into necklace pieces. Come back to see what happens, for custom quality uniquely handcrafted jewelry check our website.



Orthoceras Fossil (Morocco) double wired in black and silver non-tarnish wire (to the right)

Natural Green Agate Slice (Brazil) wired in non-tarnish silver wire (to the left)

Ocos Agate Slice (Brazil) wired in non-tarnish brass wire (to the right)

Black Rutilated Quartz highlighting black Agate (Brazil) pendant wired in non-tarnish silver wire (to the left)

Ocos Agate (Brazil) wired non-tarnish Silver Freshwater Pearls Crystals

These and many others are still a work in progress.......

Kyanite Two Strengths

Named from the Greek kyanos, “dark blue”, for its color and also because of it’s particular characteristic of developing different hardness in different directions, so it is was alos given the name disstenos (‘two strenghts’), which means dual hardness. Because of its dark blue color, the ancient Greeks identified kyanite as the protitive stone of seaferers. It was offered to those about to embark on long journeys.

Kyanite occurs principally as elongated flattened blades, and less commonly as radiating, columnar aggregates. It is usually blue and blue-grey, but can also be green or colorless. Kyanite is formed during the regional metamorphism of clay-rich sediments. It is one of three polymorphs of Al2SiO5. The other two are sillimanite and andalusite. It can be found in Finland, Austria, Italy, West Africa, Brazil, Switzerland, and North Carolina.


Kyanite is ideal for wearing round the neck as in necklaces or pendants, because it has beneficial effects on the throat. It promotes the ability to speak easily and express oneself and to learn languages. It removes enter blockages and stimulates vital energy.

Psychologically, kyanite is said to produce positive energy, sharpens the concentration and encourages calmness. It also relaxes, drives away sadness and makes life seem ore worth living.


The presence of crystal inclusions in the parent rock makes particularly powerful healing stones. Magical properties of Kyantie symbolize lightness and leads to new thoughts. It is also associated with star sign of Aries, Taurus and Libra.


Visit Timeless Designs for many unusual and custom stone jewelry designs.

*Research from various websites and books.

Sneak Peek at New Designs

Here are a couple of new designs fresh from the studio, just right for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. Wear them casual or dressy for any occasion.

Agate slice wired non-gold wire; Swarovski Tabac oval crystals dangle to match.

Turquoise nuggets wrapped in silver tubes and accented by tiny black glass seed beads.

Many other unique or wired designs at website.