MY NEW FAVORITE GEMSTONE!

The Uniquely All-American Gem ...

Oregon Sunstone!

Oregon Sunstone is found only in the remote South Central Grasslands

Collectors and jewelry lovers from all over the world are fast becoming aware of this uniquely American gemstone.  This is really, really unusual material. There's nothing like it available anywhere else in the world, and I can't get enough of the unique metallic glitter that comes from the patterns of copper inside of this gem.

And don't get me started on how transparent it is!

Oregon Sunstone and Silver Double Strand Bracelet

Peachy-pink, pale with a lot of schiller, this bracelet has a beautiful soft ethereal look to it.  It's gorgeous . . . it glows! It's next to impossible to capture the beauty of this gemstone with a camera ...
 
Unique to Sunstone from Oregon is the schiller phenomenon, caused by the millions of microscopic copper bits found in each stone. The schiller phenomenon makes the Sunstone appear to glow as if it had it's own internal light source, and creates a beautiful shimmer effect inside the stone.  These gems, also known as 'Red Labradorite', formed in lava flows that cover much of southeastern Oregon. Inside the lava flow is a matrix where the colored sunstones are found.


Spectacular stones in rare Dichroic Green, Reds and Pinks (Sold)

These stones are, when cut, some of the most beautiful gems around!

They are only found in one area of Oregon that is very remote. Colors of the stone vary from clear, champagne, yellow, light pink, salmon, orange, and red to blue-green. Intense red and blue-green are the colors that are most rare. Sometimes, when viewed from different angles, as many as three colors will show within one stone.  It's a luminous gemstone with fine grained coppery shiller which allows for transparency in the stone yet still produces the phenomenon of aventurescence or "glitter".   Some are bichroic and dichroic color-change stones - which produce different colors under different lights and at different angles.

 

See this bracelet at jQ jewelry designs on Etsy



Oregon Sunstone  is not enhanced in any way like many other gemstones. There is no use of chemicals, irradiation, heat-treating, or oiling of any kind. What you get is exactly as the stone exists in nature, simply beautiful. 

Sunstone is the official Oregon State Gemstone. It is also an ancient gem and has been discovered in Viking burial mounds. The Vikings thought it was a talisman for navigation.



Petite nuggets paired with large sterling silver earwires



In the rugged high desert of south central Oregon, embedded in ancient volcanic lava under the sage brush and grass . . .

 

 

. . . lies Oregon Sunstone

 

 

 

 

I love working with nuggets drilled in both directions, and this is the finest Oregon Sunstone
I've had the pleasure of seeing ... all the gorgeous rare colors. It's unlikely I'll be working with the strand you see above anytime soon ۞ bargain-priced at only $795!!!

I'm always on the lookout for interesting material While this example is not top of the line, I
love the speckled stones. Very unique and I've never run across anything like it before.

Oregon Sunstone ... An All-American Beauty❣

SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T LET GO . . .

'FLUTTER', my latest design. I was almost done listing it, but couldn't Let Go!

We all do it! Every once in a while we create something that we just can't bear to sell! Am I right? Don't try to deny it . . . I know better!!!

Once in a while I begin a project specifically for myself, but more often than not I have every intention of passing it on to a good home. In most cases it's some extra special, one-of-a-kind component that turns my head. I love it, and I just gotta have it all to myself!

So on the light side, this week I decided to show you a few of the jewelry items that never got included in the line-up over at jQ jewelry designs. 

'FLUTTER' ~ Sterling silver, Oregon Sunstone and a Preserved Dry-Flower Charm from Rosalera

This next piece is a necklace created with a very high quality Tourmaline, Spinel and extremely lustrous stick and biwa pearls. I manipulated the tension on the pearl's beading wire pearl so that they appear ruffle-like.  I'd intended to sell this piece for a pretty penny, but when it came right down to accepting a buyer's very generous offer, I just couldn't part with it.

 

Appeared in Ornament Magazine and worn at the Bellagio by yours truly ...

I was crazy about the colors in this strand of Chalcedony that I found at a Gem Show. The vendor only had one and I've never seen anything like it since.

 The rest of the pieces are a lot more casual ...

I simply couldn't resist the high quality of this Rainbow Moonstone with it's beautiful subtle blue flash

Fell for this softest shade of sea-green Druzy - the sugary crystals are spectacular!

And designed around some very special Vintage components ...

These old tin cut glass beads from the 20s were very limited ... couldn't bring myself to share ;D

One of my personal favorites with all vintage components and some extrememly rare Carnival Glass beads that show off a rainbow of color.

Now please feel free to share what you've created and then just couldn't let go!

My Passionate Interest in PINTEREST

I'd never heard of Pinterest until GlitterbirdGlamour sent me an invitation to join. Just over a year old, there seems to be a lot of positive buzz out there about this site! You can sign up all on your own, but you'll have to wait several days before being accepted.

I adore Pinterest!!! And I PIN pretty much anything that I would normally bookmark or save to my desktop. I've got quite a few BOARDS going, each with a different sort of theme. 

Pinterest isn't complicated . . . it's kind of like the bulletin board I had in my room when I was in high school. I cut cool stuff out of magazines, kept ticket stubs from a rock concert and pressed a lovely flower I'd gotten from a special guy ... and ALL of them got pinned to that bulletin board!

Sound familiar? Maybe you had a board like mine, and maybe it was full of all the things you found interesting or just plain loved.
 

 Well, that's what Pinterest is - a place to catalog the things you love. You could compare it to hearting items and shops or creating a Treasury on Etsy.  But it's not just about one venue, it's about the entire Internet! Think of it as  a virtual bulletin board — a place where you pin almost anything you find on the Internet to that board. You can create collections of things you love and 'follow' collections created by people whose great taste you admireღ 

Here's an example of how your Boards might look ...

Jill Q ~ Pinterest BOARDS

And your PINS page . . .

Jill Q ~ Pinterest PINS

Can you PROMOTE your Etsy shop with Pinterest?

~ Pin Etiquette says to "Avoid Self Promotion. Pinterest is designed to curate and share things you love. If there is a photo or project you’re proud of, pin away! However, try not to use Pinterest purely as a tool for self-promotion."

Don’t think for one second that I’m suggesting you go on there and add every item in your shop…no way!  That kind of in-your-face self promotion turns people off big time. But it's certainly fine to have your Etsy shop in your profile and sprinkle a few photos of your handcrafted goodness on your Boards (collections). And who knows how many times they could be re-pinned after that!!! Pinterest is blazin Hot right now, and getting hotter♨

If YOU have an Interest in Pinterest, these links may be useful ...

                          About   http://pinterest.com/about
 

                          FAQs   http://pinterest.com/about/faq

                          Getting Started    http://pinterest.com/about/help


We all know the pitfalls that come with enjoying time on the Social Networks - often, we enjoy it too much . . .

Maybe William Penn saw it coming way back in 1700 when he said, "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." 

Is YOUR time spiraling out of control?

I love  Urban Dictionary and can spend too much time on it. I tell myself ... it's NOT a time suck, it's an education!

Obsession Confession . . .

Nope . . . It's NOT All About the Jewelry!!!



This Booklet was included in each doll's box along with her stand, black heels and sunglasses

I confess . . . I like to collect things.

Not everything, like hoarders do, but when I really, really like something I want to collect it. And I want to collect a whole lot of it!  That's probably why I own a pretty significant selection of preccious metals, high quality gemstones, vintage beads and hand torched lampwork from a wide assortment of talented glass artisans. While technically a business, I know that it looks suspiciously like a collection to my husband.  Nope . . . It's NOT All About the Jewelry.



The inspiration for Barbie was a German doll called Bild Lilli, based on the comic-strip character Lilli.



On to my Obsession: I LOVE VINTAGE BARBIE!

To me, it's not about the doll ... it's about the CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES. This outfit is made of silk taffeta!



I love the way the vintage Barbie booklets resembled haute couture designer sketches


. . . and up until about five years ago, I was pretty much obsessed with collecting said doll, along with her miniature haute couture wardrobe manufactured by Mattel between 1959 and 1972. I no longer actively collect, but after ten years of doing so, I have quite a hifalutin collection, if I do say so myself. I hope you'll enjoy a few examples seen below.



Just as she came off the toy store shelf in 1961 - Mint condition with orginal box

Now it's only my opinion, but I'm pretty darn sure that Barbie was the first Super Model! What's my proof? When launched in 1959, she was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model". Now she's a lot more famous (and wholesome) than Janice Dickinson, and I'll put her up against even Cindy Crawford's longevity any day. Case Closed.

 



One of the most sought after vintage outfits includes a politically incorrect, REAL fur stole



Items that are unused and in original condition are called NRFB - Never Removed From Box



The first bubblecut hairstyle was released in 1961

When launched in 1959, Barbie wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. A mint example still in its original condition with box can sell for $10,000.        ... BTW, I don't own one !!!



1960 Ponytail wearing "Busy Morning"



This doll is considered Rare with her near-white Patinum hair and amazing white lips!



I must let it be known that I Do Not Love Pink. I don't even LIKE it all that much.

The real reason for my obsession was the wardrobe. That spectacular, haute couture-inspired ever changing reflection of American fashion. Tiny zippers that really worked, fabrics like silk, satin, linen, taffeta and even chiffon. Didn't exactly make much sense for a child's toy . . .



This gown is made from satin and chiffon ... for a CHILD'S toy! What were they thinking???

Equally amazing were the accessories. The miniature cats eye glasses with working hinges have always impressed me the most, but Barbie's jewelry was nothing to sneeze at - pearl studs and gold hoop earrings, a pearl choker, pearl pendant on the tiniest chain I've ever seen, and a gold charm bracelet.



Barbie really knew how to dress back in the day! Nowadays ... not so much.



Barbie is a fashion icon with the most detailed wardrobe ever made for a doll. 



Don't forget, Barbie was billed as a teenage fashion model. Notice the short, bob hairstyle of 1965-66



1966 Barbie with a longer bob hairstyle and high-color makeup is highly coveted!

Anyhow, it's something I adore, and just wanted to share a bit with you ...



Barbie's Iconic Cats-eye Sunglasses



DOES YOUR WORKSPACE WORK?

When considering your workspace, here’s rule #1 ...   

If it feels right to you, it's right!

End of Rules.

When we moved to Atlanta from St. Louis at the end of 2003, I left behind a house with enough storage space to comfortably store three decades of collectibles gathered by a certified 'Collectoholic' . . . that would be yours truly!  More on my favorite collection at a later date . . .

I had started creating jewelry and selling locally about a year earlier, but had no special place to work. I used the kitchen table and would drag out all my tools and supplies each time I went to work, and got into the habit of cleaning everything up when I finished for the day. What was I thinking? Who needs a kitchen table, anyhow?

Well, old habits die hard, and even though I now have an entire second bedroom in the apartment for my office/workspace I still clean up at the end of a day I've spent creating  jewelry for my Shop on Etsy.

The cubicles stay on the messy side until I get sick of looking at it, but for the most part there's
a place for everything, and yada, yada, yada.

PS  All this storage space courtesy of my favorite Collection that is packed up and stored for the time being.



Two large windows provide excellent lighting



Cubicles hold paperwork, incoming supplies and finished jewelry . . . Do you see my Treasury Timer?



Shelving with glass doors keeps the most expensive supplies dust-free

Rolling cart has a canvas cover and contains gemstones and tools



Tower shelving containing sterling components and canvas-covered cart are portable



SPRING GEMSTONE PREVIEW at jQ jewelry designs



Room With a View ... The Shades of Spring!



jQ jewelry designs Spring 2011

Every Spring I have the most wonderful view out the window in front of my work desk.  Last Spring I snapped the above photo and posted it on facebook. I'm hoping for an early Spring, so I'll once again get inspiration from all the glorious shades of Spring!

I adore Springtime and have several favorite photography prints to remind me of it year round ...





drops

rainy day

yellow sneakers on a spring day

planting hands



One of my goals for 2011 was to use my present stash of beads instead of buying more! When is enough enough?  When did I become a bead collector?



So in an effort to keep my New Year's Resolution and resist the temptation of an upcoming Gem & Bead Show, I dug out some of my very favorite gemstones that I resolve to use at jQ jewelry designs this coming Spring and Summer.

RAW AQUAMARINE Nuggets  ~  Unique and Gorgeous!



My Personal Favortite  ~  Very High Quality RAINBOW MOONSTONE



Super Lustrous  KEISHI PEARLS



Natural Pinks & Peaches  ~  Freshwater  BIWA PEARLS

Amazing Strand of Natural Pink KUNZITE Nuggets



CHALCEDONY  ~  I don't usually use dyed gemstones, but these are glorious & incredibley glossy!

Delicious Berry Hues of Meticulously Faceted SPINEL



Completely Amazing Strand of OREGON SUNSTONE