Labradorite, I love the glow!

Labradorite can produce a colorful play of light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The usually intense colors range from the typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. Some rare specimens display all these colors simultaneously. (scientific explanation below picture for those not bored to tears by this first paragraph).

With jewelry, it's all about color and flash. This stone has it all. Below are some pieces I made recently. I've included some Blue Topaz accent stones in some of the pieces. I love this combination.
More Views:
A  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698891/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
B  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
D  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698398/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-pendant
E  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
C and F are sold

The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Started it on My Vacation, Finished it at Home

One of my galleries back east requested some jewelry pieces with certain stones. I was headed to California right at that time so I took along my portable workshop and worked when I could. I finished the pieces in the week following my return. Hopefully the gallery will take some of these pieces and I'll have some left over to put in my etsy and Artfire stores.

Lapis Lazuli with Peridot acccents

 

Montana Agate pendants

 

Kingman Turquoise pendants and earrings

 

Petoskey Stone pendant and earrings

 

Ocean jasper pendants and earrings

 

Amethyst pendants and earrings

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

I've been away, I'm making a rocky return!

I've just returned from a ten day trip to California. I worked on a few new jewelry pieces while I was there, but mostly it was a pleasure trip. I've missed my friends at Creating the Hive http://www.creatingthehive.com and Facebook. I hope you guys can catch me up on all the happs. I stopped by Quartzite on the way home and paid a visit to my favorite rock shop (Watch for Rocks below).

 This is Azurite in Chrysocolla; each stone is about 2" by 2-1/2".
All I could say when I saw this stuff was "WOW"!

 

I found some great Turritella fossil slabs

 

I got this nice Bloodstone, It's got some great red on one end.

 

I needed some Ocean Jasper for a gallery order. I cut the smallest of these stones today, it has a beautiful crystal structure with small green and orange orbs, very cool!

 

The next two pics are Montana Agate. These slabs are small
(about 1" by 1-1/2" for most of them), but they're choice!

 

 

This stone is called Red Freckled Dolomite. I don't know anything about it yet, but it looks like it might make some pretty nice cabs. This stone is about 3" long by about 2' thick.

 

Rounding out the group are three round Petoskey Stones, about baseball size. If you look closely you can see the coral structure on the surface. I hope this cuts well, it's kinda the "box of chocolate" thing with this material but . . .  Question: What would life be without a certain amount of risk? Answer: Wonderful.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

WIP Peacock Pendant, a Bracelet & Facebook Fan Page

I've got a couple of projects in the works. Below is a bracelet I'm making for a custom order. The metal work is finished, I'll be setting the Botswana Agate stones after I check with the customer regarding fit.

I'm also making a Peacock Pendant. This piece will have a Labradorite stone for the body and faceted Peridot and Blue Topaz accent stones. Pictured below is stage one.

 

Pictured below is stage 2

And finally, I've started a Facebook Fan page. I've had a Facebook profile for some time, but I must confess I've haven't been very active with Facebook. I would appreciate any advice I can get about how to build and promote my Facebook Fan page. I suppose I should be up on this, but I'm usually creating something or networking on Creating The Hive. Facebook's time has come, I think!

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Paisley Butterfly Sculpture is featured in a new Etsy Treasury

I'm kind of a blogging fool today, but what the heck. I love this Treasury! I can't help it if I'm stuck in the '60s. Like Abby Hoffman said, "The sixties was such a great decade it stole three years from the seventies!" http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTI2MzM4OHw0MzA5NTQ0MDc/patterns-of-paisley

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.comCreating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

I couldn't wait! Sonoran Sunrise.

Sonora Sunrise, which is from the State of Sonora (Mexico), was the hot new rock and the Tucson and Quartzite Gem and rock shows! The green is chrysocolla, the red is cuprite, and the black is tenorite. This material makes some very unusual and beautiful pieces.

I've collected and slabbed a couple of rocks, but so far this is the only cabochon I've finished. I've been too busy with other things to cut this material. Ever gotten too busy? Well, it happened to me, but I couldn't wait to show this cab off. I may even cut some intarsha cabochons when I finally get caught up.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.comCreating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Green Imperial Jasper

Imperial Jasper from Mexico is the latest entry in my website update.  This jasper forms as nodules and usually has a soft white chalky exterior. The colors shades of pink, red, and green are what makes Imperial Jasper such a beautiful and dramatically versatile stone. The spider web patterns on the Jasper are known as streamers which form when the jasper is fractured, which results either from stress or shrinkage. These fractures are then filled in and sealed with more jasper. An endless variety of patterns can result with subtle shifts in the color of the jasper filling these voids.

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

 

Bloodstone (also called The martyr's gem)

My quest to update my gemstone website continues. This is interesting material to cut; kind of like that Forest Gump thing, you never know what you're going to get. I was hoping for some bright patches of red mixed with green but got a kind of specked red and yellow-orange, still very pretty.

Bloodstone is a green jasper dotted with bright red spots of iron oxide; an attractive chalcedony quartz is also known as heliotrope because in ancient times polished stones were described as reflecting the sun. Medieval Christians often used bloodstone to carve scenes of the crucifixion and martyrs, for which reason it was also dubbed the martyr's stone. According to the legend about the origin of bloodstone, it was first formed when drops of Christ's blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. Even today, finely pulverised bloodstone is used as a medicine and aphrodisiac in India. Perhaps that explains why it is now rather difficult to find fine specimens of bloodstone on the market. In ancient times, bloodstone was thought to be able to stop hemorrhages with the merest touch. Some believe Bloodstone relieves stomach and bowel pain, and strengthens blood purifying organs and improves blood circulation. Bloodstone has a positive influence on a bladder. Bloodstone is also believed to be a very magical stone. Bloodstone is found in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Kathiawar Peninsula and the USA (Wyoming).

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

How Lucky Could I Get?!!! Faery Lucky Indeed!

When I won first place in Deborah Robinson's "Name the Red Dress" competition I was very pleased. Anyone who knows me knows how I love to win. I received my prize a few days ago. When I opened the package I was delighted to find a Wee Faery! I have a feeling this doll is lucky, so she'll find a place of honor in my studio. Thank you so much Debbie. You can see Deborah's creations at: http://www.etsy.com/people/dibbledabble1dolls
Or on her web site at: http://www.freewebs.com/dibbledabble1dolls
You can also contact her at Creating the Hive: http://creatingthehive.com/dibbledabble1dolls

Deborah's sculptures have been featured in "The Evening Tribune", "Dolls United", and "Goddess Dolls Yahoo Group". Her sculptures been displayed at "Dimensions in Doll Making" in San Diego, "AFIC" in Columbus, Ohio, "Teddy Bear and Doll Expo" in Washington, DC, "Ontario County ATA Art Gallery", and most recently at the "Rocky Mountain Sew Expo/Denver Doll Artisans Art Nouveau Challenge" where her sculpture won a Blue Ribbon and Best Story Category.

Fairy, Still a Work In Progress

Did you ever notice how everything you create takes more time than you thought it would. Happens to me all the time. So my fairy is still not finished; consider this a progress report.

 

She's not in pain, trust me. I haven't even applied any heat yet.

 

If you think a lot have holes have been drill, you're right. I glue the pattern onto the copper with a glue stick, simple!

 

After I've cut out the metal, I have to remove the pattern. I used to struggle with this step. I tried just peeling the paper off; nope, it separates. I tried soaking in mineral spirits; nope, better but mostly just messy and it leaves a nasty residue. The solution? If all else fails, read the instructions. The glue used for glue sticks is water soluble. After about two minutes soaking in plain water the paper just floats away from the metal. Boy is my face red. Great, red face and green hands, and it's not anywhere close to Christmas.

 

That's better! I'm working on the hair now. After that I can start putting her together.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Another Fairy, A Work In Progress

This time it's going to be a sculpture. I started with an idea and these items: a piece or cholla cactus wood and a chunk of copper. There will be more pieces but you've got to start somewhere.

 

Then I started grinding and carving the chunk of copper.

 

More grinding and more elements.

 

It's starting to look like something now, but I've still got a lot to do. You may have heard the rumor that copper will turn some people's skin green . . . It's true!

 

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Kentucky Agate, almost too shiny!

My latest stones in this series, Kentucky agate was quite difficult to photograph. The polish of these stones is so brilliant that I could not photograph them in daylight without getting very distracting highlights. So I shot them at night under artificial light.


Beautiful Kentucky Agates specimens of red, black, yellow, and gray banded agate have been discovered in Estill, Jackson, Powell, Madison, and Rockcastle Counties. It is formed in the Borden layer of the Mississippian geological age which according to geologists was between 225 and 375 million years ago. The red and black agate in Kentucky is very rare and ranks among the most expensive agates in the world. The yellow and black agate that is also extremely rare in the rest of the world is not quite as rare as the red here in Kentucky.

For my friends at Creating the Hive; do you see any stones that could be a BEE?
http://www.creatingthehive.com

 

These stones will be offered on my web site after I contact a specific customer who has requested advance notification whenever I cut any of this rare agate.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

 Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Sleeping Fairy Pendant, A Work In Progress

As soon as I cut this Crazy Lace Agate stone I knew it was going to be a wing, but I wasn't sure how I'd use it. Somehow the idea of a sleeping fairy entered my twisted little brain. So I stared off with a pencil sketch, shown here on the backing plate rough cut from Sterling silver.

 

The next pic shows some of the elements I'm using: a vector drawing so I have nice clean lines to work with, the backing plate, the silver I'm using to carve the fairy body, the bezel shaped to the stone I'll be setting, and the stone itself.

 

1. The first carving stage of the fairy body 2. Fairy body with cutout for wing, checking to see if all the bits fit together 3. Body with more detail 4. Some hair has been added.

 

And here's how far I've gotten. I'll probably work on the hair a little more. It's starting to look a little gross from the heat of soldering, but that stuff will all polish out.

 

A friend mentioned that I should be more vocal about the 15% discount I offer to members of Creating the Hive, so here it is in black and white (or 0s and 1s if you're a geek). If you're not a member of Creating the Hive, you should check it out, it's great, and it's free: http://www.creatingthehive.com

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

MayBee the Cutest Givaway ever!

http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/115289/time-for-fun
Ginger Brame is hosting a giveaway at the above link, and you're going to want to get in on this!

 

Click on the above link at Crating the Hive and follow the simple instructions.

Man in the Moon is featrured on Artfire

"The Super Moon that appeared last Saturday night has inspired a lot of "moon seekers". Here are some moon items that should satisfy your search!"
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=16663
My Man in the Moon necklace was previewed at Creating the Hive.

 

 

My Artfire Store: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=62091&op=new&body=1

The Intruder, butterfly sculpture

The Intruder, butterfly sculpture

My most recent butterfly sculpture includes a visitor who may not be completely welcome. At least not as welcome as the other butterflies. To Bee or not to Bee, that is the question.

I'll be offering this latest sculpture on my web site and in my etsy and artfire stores soon. I just couldn't wait to put it on my blog and send it to my friends at Creating the Hive.

This piece includes six butterflies and one bee with a rose in copper on a cholla cactus branch, mounted on an oak base.

Lunar Skies Fine Art
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry 

Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies