Vintage Jewelry Finds and new Celtic Carnelian Necklace!

I am so taken with these lovely vintage earrings! They are the perfect aqua color and one single clear rhinestone in each. These are from the 1940’s and are in pristine condition! I’ve already worn them myself!! They will be added to my Bonanzle site so look for them there. They are screw back earrings so anyone can wear them!! I’m calling them “Aqua Elegance”.

This lovely little pin is from the Victorian Era roughly circa 1860 and was known as “Mourning Jewelry”. Made popular by Queen Victoria after her loss of Prince Albert. You can read more about it on BellaOnline -Romanticism – Mourning Jewelry and Tiffany & Co.

This is my newest necklace – Celtic Carnelian. I purchased some lovely Carnelian beads from a bulk bead buy. Keep an eye out for this on in my Etsy store.

Don’t forget to post a comment as that enters you to win my June giveaway

I've just gotten word that I have been accepted to receive and review Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong!! I'm excited to be able to obtain a copy of her new book hot off the press!! If you are interested in taking a look feel free to follow the link.

Introducing MyGemStoneBox by Diane's monthly jewelry give a way!

Beginning with this entry I’m introducing a new feature for MyGemStoneBox blog~ a monthly give-a-way that you~ my favorite reader~ can win any one of three ways:
1) Leave a post to any one of my entries for the month here on my blog ;
2) Visit my Etsy site at http://www.unicorngem1994.etsy.com/ and pick your favorite piece. Return to my blog and leave an entry telling me your choice;
3) Visit BellaOnline at http://www.bellaonline.com/about/JewelryCollecting let me know what your favorite article is or leave me an idea for a future jewelry collecting article.

That is all there is to it!! A random entry will be chosen and announced during the first week of the following month. Good Luck! April's give a way are these lovely copper and opalite earrings.

New listings this week at Etsy

Princess Aqua and Silver Earrings

Wild and Earthy Necklace

Watch for my upcoming blog entries on S&T Creations, Saundra and Teri, two very special & talented eSMArts Team members and more about our team store!

Natural Celtic Necklace

Egyptian Facets Bracelet new on Etsy, The Foundry and eSMArts team store

This is the third piece in my "Daydream Facets" Collection.

Veil Nebula Bracelet is the first, Faceted Fantasy is the second and both are still available here on Etsy. This piece features a large 27 x 19 mm Brazilian cherry flame quartz gem surrounded by lovely copper... in three colors~ gold, silver and natural. The wire design is called Egyptian mystery and has been used in jewelry for centuries. The gems used for accents on this piece are round faceted cherry quartz and Opalite faceted rondelles.

I was scheduled to do a show yesterday at a local school, but I was not feeling well and had to cancel. I've done this show for the last two years and it was "my first ever show". I learned a lot from it but I'm working on getting into "bigger and better" venues. One I am exploring is a local show called "The Foundry" held by The Foundry Artists Association held the Pawtucket Armory 172 Exchange StreetPawtucket, RI 02860

Friday, December 5th, 12-8pm

Saturday, December 6th, 10-6pm

Sunday, December 7th, 10-6pm

Thursday, December 11th, 12-8pm

Friday, December 12th, 12-8pm

Saturday, December 13th, 10-6pm

Sunday, December 14th, 10-6pm

Local RI Esty artist Kim Vredenburg is featuring her wonderful glass lampwork beads (I've used them in my Celtic Carrousel Earrings) Best of luck Kim!!

Don't forget to visit our eSMArts team store! Many great items still available for Christmas giving. All proceeds from the sales of these items go to replace one of our team members stolen computer.

The items in our shop are donated by the caring and wonderful members of eSMARts towards that end.

How much fun was this...RI seaside treasure hunt!!

Richard....my son, Fred...my hubby and I went on a treasure hunt on Friday. I have been reading about sea glass and researching the beautiful jewelry made with these gems from the sea. I talked them into coming with me on my adventure.... let's see what we can find! Rich was not to excited about the whole thing... he loves the beach as do I, but summer time is his thing. He loves to skim-board and body surf. Going to the beach on a day that got to a high of about 40 deg. was not on his favorite "to do" list for sure. My dh just went with it....

Here are the fruits of our labor... we walked and talked and found a few interesting items. The large piece of green/black glass was found by Rich...he was soooo excited. Funny, just a few minutes before he seemed like he really would rather have stayed home! My dh found the aqua piece...what a lovely color.

We also came upon some pottery shards..... this was my "find of the day". Definitely looks old to me... the ware or patina of the surface indicates that it has been around for quite a while. I have a vase that belonged to my maternal grandmother that has the same type of age or wear on the surface and I know that to be at least 100 years old.

We enjoyed some together time as a family and had fun seeing what we could find. Upon leaving all I heard from the 15 year old was .... when are we coming back??!!

Here is what "Mom" made with one of the finds....

I'll be listing soon on my Etsy site.

This piece of sea glass found in upper Narragansette bay in Warwick RI has a wonderful patina and is all wrapped up in sterling silver.

Social Marketing eSMARts with Squidoo

I've put together another Squidoo lens to give you an idea of how the lens can be adapted to marketing your site(s) and the team too. http://www.squidoo.com/MyGemStoneBoxbyDianeI'd like to see how many of you are interested in learning how to make these lenses and create a plan of walking through the steps to building one with all those interested. I'm thinking a combination of written instructions that you all could look over and play with and then maybe schedule the chat room to facilitate questions and answers regarding what issues you may have encountered. Gladly welcome any ideas you may have on the topic. So far I have two people that have voiced interest ellenwheels2001 and jewelryelegance.... Anyone else??

News on my store: this piece that will be going on sale in my Etsy store in the next few days. It's called "Catch the Wave". The bracelet is made from dichroic glass and cane glass with sterling silver wire that forms a "wave" on the wrist. Be on the lookout for a great new price!

Celtic Jewelry

I have always been drawn to my Irish ancestry. If I could choose any vacation, it would be to visit Ireland. I'm hoping it will be someday soon. I have traced back my mother's lineage to Ireland. Mary Spencer would be my great-great-grandmother. I have a very old picture of her on her front porch in Worcester Mass. Maybe that fuels my interest in Celtic jewelry.

Here is some interesting information about the history and origins of this jewelry re-gaining popularity today:

"The mysterious and the mystical have always had the power to hold human beings in thrall throughout the millennia. Celtic jewelry is no exception to this, since they are an extension and a reminder of the traditions and rituals of the Celts, an ancient European people. Today, men and women of all ages wear Celtic jewelry not only for their beauty, but also for their symbolism and metaphysical connotations.
Also popularly -- though inaccurately -- known as Claddagh jewelry, Celtic designs are appreciated for their intricacy and beauty. Numerous patterns of Celtic origin, such as the spiral and the cross, are used by jewelers in their creations. The Celtic spiral symbolizes eternity and is used abundantly in many Celtic jewelry items today. Just as popular is the Celtic cross, which pre-dates the Christian cross by about two centuries. The Celtic cross is thought to bring greater knowledge, understanding and the fortitude to deal with trials and adversities, as compared to the Christian cross, which is believed to protect the wearer from harm.
Claddagh rings and bracelets are two more examples of popular Celtic jewelry items that are replete with symbolism. Rings that have the Celtic knot design symbolize eternal and undying love; this is why they are exchanged by the bride and groom in present day wedding ceremonies – to signify their fidelity and never-ending commitment to each other. Such rings and bracelets are also given to friends as an indication of loyalty.
Necklaces and pendants are likewise integral parts of a Celtic jewelry collection. Depending on the wearer’s preferences, the pendant may depict the image of Celtic figures such as the ever-popular knot, spiral, Celtic cross, serpent or dragon. Such symbols have deep spiritual and religious meaning, and it is one of the main reasons why Celtic jewelry items are popular dress accessories today.
A person does not have to be Irish or Scottish or to have any other Celtic connection in order to appreciate Celtic jewelry. Whether given as gifts or maintained as personal keepsakes, these unique pieces can be enjoyed just for their beauty alone. But a little awareness of their meaning, as well as their place in history and tradition add to their air of enigma and allure."

Feel free to visit http://www.mygemstonebox.com/Celticcharms.html to see some of my Celtic offerings!