Adventures in Handmade Jewelry

A sneak preview of a work in progress. Aqua Terra Agate and sterling silver.

One thing I noticed when it comes to handmade jewelry is a suspicion on the part of the buyer that they may not be getting the real deal when it comes to what the piece is made of. Granted, not every jewelry lover is a gemologist or metallurgist and so a lot of trust goes into the relationship. Is it really sterling silver? Is it really turquoise/jade/lapis/insert gem here? How come this lampwork glass piece costs so much more than others? Gold filled? What the heck is gold filled? It's crazy and sometimes confusing. Especially online where terminology is flung about sometimes arbitrarily and a prospective customer cannot handle the merchandise before buying. Accuracy is key, but what if the shopper doesn't understand the terms you use? Frustrating on both sides. So in order to shed some light here I've started a blog series on my 1000 Markets Site that will go into detail regarding many of the materials and terms used in handmade jewelry making. I'm going to...

I've heard it said that some jewelers have been known to lick stones. With these little babies, I can totally understand the urge. These are luscious little lozenges of fire crackle agate. Like tiny sunsets, each one is distinct. Heat gives these stones their unique appearance and I love the summer tan quality of them. Each is wrapped in argentium sterling silver and I finished the adjustable clasp with a bit of blue agate, just for contrast. It's in both the Etsy and 1000 Markets shops as of today.

No...not those. These! That's right, earrings. A girl can't have too many, can she? Well addicts rejoice! We have just the place for you. The earring market at 1000Markets.com. I was graciously extended an opportunity to participate in a marketplace (my first) and I happily accepted. Here's the link - A Perfect Pair As you will see, there are a lot of styles to choose from and pre-selected categories that help you hone in on exactly what you're looking for. Tribal and ethnic, earthy and eclectic, abstract and modern; it's all here at A Perfect Pair. Check us out. Tell your friends. Leave us a comment. Find your next favorite pair of earrings.