Etsy Shop for redthought

Bright Spot

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:41:12 -0500

$25.00
Break away from the old standbys in your earring collection - these go with everything!

Lots o' citrine hanging about in these earrings. Chandelier shaped briolettes wrapped in fine silver wire, lots of rondelles, wrapped onto fine silver headpins. The loops that all this citrine hangs from are sterling silver, as are the ear wires.

Surprisingly lightweight for all the gemstone action.

Measurements:
A smidge over 1.5 inches (42mm) long.

(Stay tuned for more gemstones in this series).

Freezer Burn

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:41:12 -0500

$65.00
Here they are, as promised!

I think it looks like a tiny fire is melting the quartz...

Amazing rock crystal briolettes and tons of Mexican fire opal rondelles, on handmade, single-piece fine silver ear wires.

I. love. these.

1.5" long, from the ring part of the ear wire.

Regimented

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:41:11 -0500

$115.00
Bold and full of win.

This necklace features my new favorite chain style, which I'm calling Regimented, as there's a specific set of steps (or regimen) you have to follow to fabricate this chain.
(You end up with melted, non-salvagable fine silver scrap if you don't).

Regimented began as fine silver wire, which I formed into circles and pins, and constructed into an articulating chain, which I attached to thinner sterling chain and a sterling clasp to finish the necklace.

This chain is tactile - fun to play with, as well as beautiful to wear.

Necklace measures a quarter inch under 18 inches.
Regimented section is a quarter inch over 2 inches long.

Clearly Reviving

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:02:47 -0400

$25.00
Break away from the old standbys in your earring collection - these go with everything!

Lots o' rock crystal quartz hanging about in these earrings. Chandelier shaped briolettes wrapped in fine silver wire, lots of rondelles, wrapped onto fine silver headpins. The loops that all this quartz hangs from are sterling silver, as are the ear wires.

Surprisingly lightweight for all the gemstone action.

Measurements:
A smidge over 1.5 inches (40mm) long.

(Stay tuned for more gemstones in this series).

Back in Black

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:02:47 -0400

$25.00
Break away from the old standbys in your earring collection - these go with everything!

Lots o' black spinel hanging about in these earrings. Chandelier shaped briolettes wrapped in fine silver wire, lots of rondelles, wrapped onto fine silver headpins. The loops that all this black spinel hangs from are sterling silver, as are the ear wires.

Surprisingly lightweight for all the gemstone action.

Measurements:
A smidge over 1.5 inches (42mm) long.

(Stay tuned for more gemstones in this series).

Squared

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:47:21 -0400

$20.00
Little faceted cubes of rock crystal quartz, surrounded by garnets sitting above and dangling below.

These squares were bought on a whim, I had no idea what I was going to do with faceted cubes of quartz. I had them sitting out on the worktable, looking at them, and noticed I hadn't put away the strays from a garnet rondelle project. I love red, so away I went!

The garnets and quartz are wrapped and hung with fine silver wire from sterling silver ear wires.

Measurements:
Earrings: about an inch (25mm) long. Short but sassy.
Quartz: 0.27 inches (7mm) square
Garnets: approximately 0.13 inches (3.5mm) each

Pointed

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:18:39 -0400

$49.00
These are some hard gemstones to work with!

Green amethyst concave faceted drops are wrapped with fine silver wire and hung from sterling silver hoops. (No... I didn't make the hoops... I'm not that talented yet!)

Concave faceting refers to how the facets are formed - they're not flat, but ever so slightly dished, so the light reflects in a really awesome way. A note about these stones - they're pointed in the back. Not a problem in earrings, but a definite challenge in necklaces and other jewelry!

Measurements:
Hoops: 3/4 inch (19mm) across.
Earrings 1 1/2 inches (38mm) in length.
Gemstones: a touch under a 1/2 inch (11.7mm) across.

End of the Line

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:18:39 -0400

$10.00
If you buy gemstones, you'll know exactly where these came from. (Yes, I'm hilarious).

If not, I'll tell you! Drilled gems/gemstone beads are sold in layouts (or sets, or lines, or strings/strands) that have a gemstone, then bit of wire, alternating, and are finished with these tassels. Clear stones (Rock quartz, etc) come with white tassels, Green stones with green tassels, and so forth. (Smoky quartz and moonstone come with black, though I'm not sure why...)

So, where'd these multi-colored tassels come from? A fabulous string of tundra sapphire! The various colors on the strand included: deep blue, burnt orange, ceylon green, and deep red. There was also a purple one.

So, if you can't afford something made with a gem, take the End of the Line - the beautiful tassels! (Come on, I couldn't just throw them away! I have white, black, yellow, light blue, purple, green, red and brown too).

The tassels are made of silk thread (or so I'm told), and silver foiled thread. I hung them on sterling silver rings and sterling ear wires.

Earrings measure 2.5 inches (63.5mm)

Suture

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:08:53 -0400

$24.00
This is the first piece I've made using a jeweler's saw. It was going to be earrings, but I got so frustrated, I decided I couldn't make two. So, voila! Pendant!

I drilled holes in the sterling once I was done with the saw (horrid thing!) and then 'sutured' it up with fine silver wire.

This pendant measures exactly an inch long, excluding the ring it hangs from.

**You must convo me to receive a chain with this purchase. No charge, but no freebies.**

12, 18, or 32 Year Old Variety

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:39:46 -0400

$70.00
Do-over... the other v-shape wasn't quite perfect. :)

A perfectly clear, criminally beautiful stone hangs out below a bit of sterling silver which I hand formed and soldered into the lovely triple V shape.

Chain, V, wire bits and clasp are all sterling silver.

Necklace measures 10.5 inches (266mm), (straight from clasp to stone) and chain measures 16 inches (406mm). Whisky quartz measures 1x.5 inches (26x15mm).

See-Through Necklace

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:39:46 -0400

$35.00
Hand wrapped, cut, fused and polished rings frame an extra-large smooth quartz bauble.
(I can't call it a bead. I just can't. Sorry!)

This was definitely a trial - I must have fused 10 rings before remembering to link them -before- fusing the next one. (I know, I'm so talented. Ha!)

Rings, wire bits are fine silver; chain, clasp are sterling silver.

Chain measures at just over 14 inches (355mm), rings and bauble measure just under 3 inches (76mm) bauble by itself is almost a half inch (12mm), meaning a full length of about 19 inches (482mm) for the whole necklace.

Best part? This goes with everything. Honest. Work, church, weddings, social extravaganzas...

See-Through Earrings

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:39:45 -0400

$20.00
Complete the set!

Same process as the necklace, but this time I didn't get way-laid with fusing mishaps. I also made these rings different sizes - it creates a gentle teardrop effect, methinks.

These come on earwires I made myself - however, I can substitute manufactured earwires, if you prefer leverbacks, for instance.

Rings, wire bits, earwires are all fine silver. Baubles are the smooth quartz again.

Same measurements on the baubles - just under a half inch, or 12mm. The earrings are 2 inches long, and are a bit heavy - not for sporting events, if you're participating. From the crowd - you may not be able to see, as people will be blocking the action, asking about your earrings!