I have been putting off sharing these pictures for long enough. You can see all the wonderful creations in store, but have you ever wondered where they come from? Let me show you!
Late last month I traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where some of the best Amethyst in Canada is mined. I was able to hand-pick some brilliant small Amethyst crystals for jewelry making, and how could I resist snapping a picture of the full haul!
Me with Ilene & Clark Noyes & the jewels from their No Name Amethyst Mine
All of the rocks you see here are hand-mined by Clark Noyes in Pearl, Ontario. It is so exciting to see the raw crystals, still all covered in soil & dirt.The larger chunks can also be broken down into smaller crystals for use in jewelry. I was lucky enough to get some pre-broken crystal pieces, because I don’t think I could bring myself to taking a hammer to this one!
Look at this huge chunk of Amethyst! Mined from the No Name Amethyst mine in Pearl, Ontario.
Since I am in the process of moving, I had the Amethyst sent back to Vancouver, instead of here in Alberta. I have enough to pack, anyway! I can’t wait to get my shop set up in Vancouver so I can get started working with these gorgeous specimens. Of course, the one I’m holding here isn’t for sale.. it’s for my personal collection!
A huge THANK YOU to Ilene & Clarke Noyes for their generosity in allowing me to “shop” from the No Name Amethyst Mine! Don’t forget to check back later to see what I’ve turned these Amethyst crystals into.
Before & After: Rough Crystal Quartz points are top drilled for bails, and electroplated in silver
Undrilled crystals can be wire wrapped or electroplated to be worn as natural, beautiful jewelry. Judging by my store, you can probably tell I’m a fan of the electroplated quartz 😉 Electroplated crystals are formed by first plating the crystal with a base metal & then adding voltage & your top metal — in this case, sterling silver. The reaction solidifies a coating of silver or gold onto the crystal, while maintaining the original shape of the stone. I carry both gold & silver versions in my shop. They are very unique! Speaking of unique…..
Raw Crystal Quartz showing a flash of rainbow. I haven't quite decided what this one is going to be yet!
Quartz with rainbows are my favorite kind of crystals. Rainbows are actually contained fractures within the quartz crystal, which creates this brilliant layering of color. When light hits it just the right way, the full spectrum of color is visible. Viewed from any other angle, and it appears as a regular quartz crystal. Most of the quartz I come across does not contain these little surprises, so I am always thrilled to come across one. The one pictured above has been sitting on my work bench for a little over a month yet — it is such an interesting shape, I’m not sure what to do with it. I’m not sure if I’m ready to part with it yet, anyway!
Sunlight & Shadow: Little collection of finished & unfinished clear quartz crystals
But crystals aren’t all I get to play with, as a jewelry designer. I also get to stock up on all sorts of fun metals, such as 14kt Goldfill, Niobium, Titanium, Brass, Copper, Sterling… You can never have too many coils of wire when you’re a jewelry designer.
More wire & wire-working tool chest. Well, one of many.
Colored Coils: Kitchen table all covered in titanium, niobium, 14kt goldfill, sterling, copper, brass.. am I missing anyone?
Metallic Rainbows: Niobium wire coils in all the colors!
Niobium is naturally a dark grey color, but when hit with just the right voltage of electricity, it transforms into a glittering array of metallic tones. From left to right: Emerald, Sapphire, Blue purple, Purple, Red, Yellow, Dark blue & Slate. Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s also inert, which makes it perfect for those with metal allergies or sensitivities. And it comes in all shapes & designs, too, of course!
All that Glitters is Gold: White, Rose & Yellow in 14kt Goldfill.
And my latest splurge: 14kt Goldfill wire! Goldfill is a process in which pure 14kt gold is essentially welded to a metal base — in this case, brass. Goldfill is approximately 50-100 times thicker than regular goldplate, and does not wear down like goldplate, either. Instead, it has the added benefit of a brass base, which makes it stronger than plain 14kt gold (and less pricey, too!).
All of my wire designs can be made in your choice of sterling silver, niobium, titanium or 14kt goldfill. Aren’t choices grand?
So now you’ve seen the before.. let’s go explore the after, shall we?
the Art of Brilliance Found Jewelry 