JETTeam Challenge

The JETTeam on Etsy is having a holiday challenge.  All members of the team were challenged to create a piece of jewelry with a modern style.  31 JETS submitted entries and are now awaiting votes. The JET artisan whose piece is voted  the #1 favorite  will not be the only winner,  

YOU could be a winner too! 

As a small token of thanks for the last year of love, support, and shopping, the JETs have donated  31 prizes to give away and it is all jewelry, or jewelry shop gift certificates/discounts on Etsy.com.  To vote simply go to this website and follow the directions given there.

http://jewelryonetsyteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/jet-holiday-challenge-time-to-vote.html

When You Gaze Into the Stars by Nancy Russell on Etsy

New treasury curated by me on Etsy. Take a look at some stupendous items crafted by some very talented artists.

When You Gaze Into the Stars by Nancy Russell on Etsy

October Musings

Just looked at the date of my last post and realized it has been a full month since I last posted.  A lot has been going on the past month.  We had our darling 17 month old grandson for a week the end of September and while he was here I caught the stomach virus.  Not fun, especially when a toddler can't understand why you're lying around on the couch all day instead of being on the floor playing with him.  Then a week later I came down with severe back spasms that lasted for nearly two weeks--an annual thing that just happens, but this one was by far the worst.

In spite of all this I still managed to get in some jewelry making and posted a bunch of new items in Etsy.  A lot of Halloween things are included.  Now I'm posting Christmas things and still have a lot more to make.

Today I created a treasury for Halloween.  Take a look and click on some items from other shops.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE1MDg0OTB8OTI2NzM4NDIy/down-in-the-pumpkin-patch?ref=pr_treasury

End of Summer Musings

Here it is past the middle of September, and the Autumnal Equinox will occur this coming Friday at 5:04 am EDT.  It is easy for me to remember this event because my older son and daughter-in-law got married on this date five years ago, and the recessional song at the end of the ceremony was Earth, Wind, and Fire's "September."

September is also bringing about some cooler weather for Texas and a few scattered showers here and there, although Stephenville has been the recipient of only about .25 inches last week.  A slight chance for more later this week.  Keep praying.

September is also bringing about some new jewelry in Nancy's Crystal Fantasies jewelry studio.  A few Halloween pieces, which could also be just harvest celebration pieces, have made their way into my collection, and now I am working on some fall pieces with fall colors.  I'm adding a lot of copper, which seems to really enhance the fall colors.  Football and team spirit jewelry is also increasing, and several custom orders have been and are being filled.  I have been a busy lady lately.

Here are pictures of some of the latest pieces.

Online Purchasing Without a Paypal Account

If you have had much experience with online shopping, you know that many sites prefer Paypal as the way to pay.  In fact, on some you can ONLY pay with Paypal.  But not everyone has a Paypal account and not everyone WANTS a Paypal account.  So what do you do?

There is a way you can make a purchase using a credit card through Paypal without opening a Paypal account. Here is a link to a page on Etsy that explains how to do this.

http://www.etsy.com/help/article/361

 

Hope this will help some of you in your online shopping experience.  Happy shopping!

200 Facebook Fan Giveaway Winner

We have a winner!  Ta Dah!  The winner is . . . . . . .

KLMNBogue

Her jewelry selection was selection 2-- the pearl, Swarovski crystal, and gold chain dangle earrings.  Congratulations!

There will be another giveaway when we reach 300 fans.  There are already 222 fans, so tell your friends who love beautiful jewelry to head over to my Facebook page and become a fan.  And please continue to follow my blog.  I try to post at least once a week, and sometimes there is interesting information about gemstones, how to care for jewelry, and some other topics.  I may even include some tutorials for some simple jewelry techniques.  So come back often.

Here is the winning piece for today's prize.

I'm Honored--The Liebster Award

I am so excited that Jules of Studio Jules wrote about my blog and one of my pieces.  It is such an honor and thrill to be noticed by others and have your creations written about.  Jules is a creator, too.  She designs quilts and has shops on ArtFire and Etsy that you need to visit.  After all, we WILL have cooler weather--hard to believe, I know--and you will be wanting a nice quilt to snuggle under.  Make a visit to her blog too.  She has some really interesting insights posted there, both personal and creativity related.  She has also just recently been awarded a Liebster Blog award by one of her blog readers, which means Favorite Blog, and she has passed it on to me.

The idea is to create a post with a link back and choose 5 other blogs with under 200 followers to do the same.  I'm hoping to capture a few followers and help others in the process...so here goes.

The Polished Peasant 

Graceline 

One Scraptastic Grandma 

Pink Fish Designs Jewelry 

Made by Tammy 

If you visit each blog and follow each one you like the numbers will increase dramatically and you will have made numerous new friends and contacts!

The Great 200 Facebook Fan Giveaway

Well, Facebook fans, we have reached the 200 fans mark, and to celebrate I am hosting a giveaway right here on my blog, since Facebook has some really strict, confusing rules about conducting giveaways on their site.  I have selected four pieces of my jewelry, shown in the four posts below, one of which will be given away to a Facebook fan.  Here are the rules for the giveaway.

1.     You must be a fan (like) of my Facebook page.  Names of entrants will be verified with the list of my fans.

2.     You must become a follower of this blog Treasure Chest of Handmade Jewels either through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs.  The follow buttons are both on the right hand side of this page.

3.     Post a comment about which one of the four selected pieces shown here you would like to win, telling why you want that piece and what attributes of it you like.

4.     One name will be chosen at random using random.org

5.     The winner’s name will be posted on this blog on September 9.  The winner must contact me by email (ncfjewelry@nctv.com), giving me her email and mailing address so that I can mail the prize to her.

6.     The contest will end on September 8.  No one who responds after the deadline will be considered for the giveaway.

Please do not make comments on Facebook.  Those comments cannot and will not be considered.

My email address is ncfjewelry@nctv.com.  If you have any questions, please send them in an email to me.

Selection 1--Long Crystal Earrings

These earrings dangle 3 inches from the top of the hypoallergenic French wire earhooks. Clear hexagonal crystals that are wire wrapped are suspended from the the bottom of the earrings. Above these crystals are square Celestial aurora borealis crystals that are enhanced with silver bead caps and a Czech cathedral crystal bead. A round filigree silver bead is at the top.

Selection 2--Pearl, Swarovski Crystal, and Gold Chain Dangle Earrings

White glass pearls, aquamarine Swarovski bicone crystals, and gold figaro chain were used to create these feminine and dressy dangle earrings. The pure white pearls are 11mm, while the aqua blue crystals are 4mm. Five strands of gold plated figaro chain are fastened to a hand wire-wrapped loop at the top of each pearl, which is topped with a gold plated filigree bead cap. The chains dangle below gold plated fishhook earwires with an overall length of 2 1/2 inches from the top of the earwire.

Selection 3--Black, Silver, and White Bracelet

This bracelet was designed using round black glass beads, sterling silver plated stardust beads, and iridescent white faceted crystals.  Iridescent seed beads were added as spacers, and a charm with a silver stardust bead, black Swarovski crystal, and iridescent seed beads dangles from the decorative toggle clasp.  The bracelet measures 8 1/4 inches long.

Selection 4--Green and Gold Bracelet

This bracelet is created with round, coin-shaped green marble stones, gold coin-shaped lampwork beads, gold rondelle czech crystals, and a green heart-shaped lampwork charm and crystal dangle.  I also added some seed beads as spacer beads.  The heart is securely attached to the bracelet with a wire-wrapped loop, and the crystal dangle is also wire wrapped.  The length of the bracelet is 7 3/4 inches.

More Jewels--Greens and Pinks

It seems as though I was in a green and pink creative frenzy yesterday.  The first inspiration came from some luscious fuchsia agate beads that I ordered just recently and were laying on my work table just begging to be strung.  So as I pulled out my other pink beads to see what I wanted to use with them, I spied some ice flake glass beads in green and pink watermelon colors that had been in my bead stash for a long time.  I guess thinking about how good a slice of watermelon would be on a hot August day put me in the mood to use some of those beads to make something.  No, I didn't add them to the fuchsia agates--those deserved their own grouping of pinks--but I did find some apple green chalk turquoise that I thought looked marvelous with those green and pink beads and I used them in a bracelet that I suppose I could call my fruit salad bracelet.  Anyway, the refreshing fuchsia, almost reminding me of fresh raspberries, along with the watermelon and apple green beads seemed to help make the day a little more bearable.  Hmmm.  Perhaps I should take inspiration from those colors and have a fresh fruit salad for lunch!

Here's pictures and these are all in my Etsy shop.

Fuchsia Agate with Pink Crystals and Fuchsia Ice Flake Glass

Pink Crystals - Pink Lemonade, anyone?

Apple Green Chalk Turquoise with Watermelon Ice Flake Glass and Green Crystals

Watermelon Ice Flake Glass and Green Crystal on Kidney Earwires

A River Runs Through It by AdroitJewelers on Etsy

My turquoise and copper earrings on included in this treasury on Etsy.

A River Runs Through It by AdroitJewelers on Etsy

New Art Daily- A Groove Press Showcase: Meet Our featured seller; Nancy Russel

New Art Daily- A Groove Press Showcase: Meet Our featured seller; Nancy Russel: "Meet Our featured seller; Nancy Russell the owner of the Shop Nancys Crystal Fantasies at Groove Press. An artisian and Maker of ..."

August Birthstone, the Peridot

I am an August baby, so I am partial to the peridot, as I should be. It wasn't always so, however, since I used to hate that lime green color. But as I matured, my color tastes changed and I began to see peridot not just as a gemstone color in and of itself, but also as a pleasingly complimentary color to other pastels. I never shall forget the first time I saw peridot--lime green--and purple together. It was quite a unique color combination, and now it is one of my favorites, which is a good thing since the amethyst is my husband's and daughter-in-law's birthstone. So many new styles and settings use the peridot now that it has become a fairly popular gemstone.

Here is a little information about the peridot.

Though most peridots are a light lime green in color, they can also occur in yellowish green, olive green or medium dark green hues. In addition to being the birthstone for August, it is also the anniversary stone for the 16th year of marriage.

Peridot has been adored since ancient times and has been valued for centuries. People in the Middle Ages wore peridot to gain foresight and divine inspiration. Legend has it that pirates favored peridot to protect them against evil. Peridot was greatly prized by Egyptian Kings. Some of Cleopatra's emeralds were in fact peridots.
The deposit on Saint Johns Island in the Red Sea, that was mentioned by Pliny in his Natural History (AD 70), still produces fine gems.

The peridot is worn for general healing purposes, since it is believed to increase strength and vitality, protect against being nervous, helps liver and adrenal function, and protects the lungs, sinuses, and wrists from illness or injury. (I guess I'd better pull out my peridot ring and wear it every day since I have been experiencing severe bouts of sinusitis and allergic rhinitis!)

One needs to hope he/she has good dreams while wearing peridot, for it is thought to help bring dreams to reality. It also attracts love, dispels anger and negative feelings, and aids in a good nights sleep when worn to bed.

Although the peridot is a fairly hard stone, 6.5-7 on the Moh's scale, still care should be taken when wearing it to protect it from scratches and hard blows and from extreme temperature changes. (No fear of that in Texas right now!) It should NOT be cleaned in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. I always clean mine with a soft toothbrush and a little toothpaste, and then rinse, rinse, rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

Here are some pieces that I have made using peridot.  These can all be seen in my Etsy shop, on my Facebook page, or in my ArtFire studio.

Peridot with Amethyst and Druzy Pendant

Peridot and Turquoise Earrings

Peridot and Turquoise Bracelet

Another ArtFire Collection

I've had another jewelry creation featured in a collection on ArtFire.  It is the black and white necklace and earring set.

very cool items

Curated By: DragonflyRidge

ArtFire.com

Handmade Soap

Back from Vacation

Well, after spending a week in the Davis Mountains of west Texas, I am back to the heat of north central Texas.  While it was fairly cool in the mountains and we did see some rain, the terrain looks so bad following all the fires and the drought they have had.  I don't remember ever seeing the mountains so bare and brown looking.

For the month of August, which is my birth month, I have created a treasury on Etsy featuring the color of peridot, the birthstone for the month.  It is titled "August is for Peridot."  Stop in to Etsy and see all the luscious items that are featured there in this treasury.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE1MDg0OTB8NTI4MzkxNDAz/august-is-for-peridot?ref=pr_treasury

Sweet Pastel Crystals!! by MissPattisAttic on Etsy

Here is another treasury on Etsy featuring a pair of my earrings!

Sweet Pastel Crystals!! by MissPattisAttic on Etsy

Vacation Time!!

I will be away on vacation for the next week, with no cell phone service and no Internet.  May be a good thing!  Hopefully it will be cooler there than it is here.  We will be in the beautiful Davis Mountains of west Texas at a place called Paisano Baptist Encampment where I am camp organist.  I hear that they have been getting some rain, so I sure hope that is true.  Just wish we could get some here in north central Texas!  People will cattle and horses in this area are hurting for feed.  There is a limited amount of hay available, so they are desperately trying to find ways to keep those animals fed.  Many are already having to sell off their cattle.  Let's just keep hoping and praying that rain will come soon.

Thanks to all of you who are following this blog.  I hope to get a few pieces made while I'm away and I'll be posting those when I return.  Football season will soon be upon us, so I will be busy making spirit necklaces and keychains.  Be on the lookout for those.  I do take custom order for your favorite team.  Till later . . . .

Turquoise

The gemstone turquoise has been around for centuries, yet it remains one of the most popular gemstones worn in fashion jewelry today.  Genuine, naturally occuring turquoise is quite expensive and getting rarer every day as known mines are mined out and closed. In fact, only about 25 percent of the once prolific turquoise mines are still in operation the American Southwest. Today, much turquoise comes from China and in general, is inferior in grade, having a more greenish tint than the highly prized Robin Egg blue color.  Much of what we see in jewelry today is of lesser quality and has been treated in one or more of various ways.  Because it is a fairly soft stone, most turquoise is stabilized before it is cut or carved, and often is dyed to enhance the color.  The color can deteriorate if exposed to heat, sunlight, or weak acids, so it is best not to wear it when using hot water or household chemicals.  It can also chip easily, so be careful not to strike or drop it.

Many imitations of turquoise are found in today's jewelry.  The most common is howlite and magnesite.  Both of these stone are naturally white and are dyed to give them their color.  Often they can be found in various colors, such as purple, red, orange, yellow, bright green, black.  Other colored turquoise, which is not really imitation but is dyed, is called chalk turquoise.  This is turquoise infused with resin to stabilize and harden it.  Often the resin is dyed prior to the infusion.  Thus, you may see colors such as lime green or magenta chalk turquoise.

Turquoise is the traditional birthstone for December and is the anniversary gemstone for the 5th year of marriage.  It is believed to be a guard against diseases and to warn the wearer of danger or illness by changing color.  It brings happiness and good fortune to all wearers.

Here are a few of my turquoise pieces.

Turquoise With Copper Bali Style Beads Bracelet

Turquoise and Coral Necklace

Turquoise With Pale Pink Crystals and Stardust Beads Bracelet

My Love Affair with Lampwork Beads

I've done a few pieces in the past with some lampwork beads, but just recently I have discovered some beautiful, and a few very cute, beads made by artisans of the craft.  While I don't have any desire to try that craft (don't like the thought of working with fire!) I am fascinated by the technique and would love to see someone in person working their trade.  While the lampwork bead is not a gemstone, some are so intricate and lovely with their many workings of color and texture, that they deserve their own spot on the stage of beading materials.  The primary tools for these beads are colored glass rods, a mandrel, a torch, and a kiln.  Since the process for making these beads is so detailed and intricate, I am including a link here to a website that explains the process.  http://www.tumbleweedglass.com/beadmaking.html

Green with Orange and Pink Flower Lampwork Necklace

Orange and Pink Flowers on Green Lampwork Beads Necklace

Green and Yellow Lampwork Necklace

Green Lampwork Bead Earrings

Here are a few of my latest pieces using lampwork beads, and since I've just received a new shipment, more will be in the making soon.  I even have some for Halloween,  Christmas, and some red, white, and blue for patriotic holidays.  These will all be in my Etsy shop, my ArtFire studio, and on my Facebook page.

Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Jewelry by texasnan on Etsy

Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Jewelry by texasnan on Etsy

Texas Gold by chicbychoice on Etsy

Another of my pieces featured in a treasury on Etsy:
Texas Gold by chicbychoice on Etsy

As We Celebrate Our Freedom

Another 4th of July is almost upon us, and since I have family coming in and will be bustling about making preparations, loving on the grandbaby, barbecuing, loving on the grandbaby, sitting on the deck visiting, - oh, and did I mention loving on the grandbaby? - I will hardly have time to even think about blogs.  So here are my thoughts on this celebration, which is one of my favorites.

The 4th of July is all about celebrating our freedom--all the many kinds of freedom--that we enjoy.  America is still truly the greatest nation in the world in spite of the many problems that we have endured and are continuing to endure.  I am proud of our country and I am proud to stand up and say "I am an American."  Sadly, though, we take our freedom and our country for granted.  And how easily that freedom could be taken away from us!  I never shall forget how, following the tragic and frightening events of 9-11, the whole country came together as I had never seen it do before.  Yet, today, ten years later, we seem to be back on our laid-back, lackadaisical path of apathy.  "When will we ever learn?  When will we ever learn?" says the song by Pete Seeger. 
God has blessed this country richly, and I am so thankful to Him for keeping His hand over us and protecting us, even from ourselves.

Yes, like most Americans, I will be joining my community in the local fireworks display, and I will feel overwhelmed by the beauty of the night sky as those rockets burst into beautiful showers of color.  And I hope that we all will hold dear to us the sacrifices that have been made to give us the freedom that we enjoy and that we will carry this pride for our country with us every day so that each day is a celebration of freedom!  Happy Fourth of July to everyone!

Amethyst, the Natural Guard Against Drunkenness

The finest quality Amethyst is medium to medium dark purple, reddish purple to bluish purple.  It is a variety of the mineral quartz and is considered a semi-precious stone.  Experts believe that its color is derived from its iron oxide content.  The name comes from various forms of the Latin word "amethystus", meaning "not drunk or intoxicated."  Those who have February birthdays call this their birthstone, and it is the wedding anniversary stone for the 4th and 6th years of marriage.  Amethysts are sensitive to heat, and long exposure to sunlight can fade their color. 

According to Greek mythology, Bacchus, the god of wine, was insulted one day by a mere mortal. He swore that the next mortal to cross his path would be attacked by his fierce tigers. Along came a beautiful maiden named Amethyst. Goddess Diana turned Amethyst into a beautiful statue of quartz to save her from the tigers claws. Remorseful, Bacchus wept tears of wine over the stone maiden, creating a lively purple stone.

Purple color has long been considered a royal color, so it is not surprising that amethyst has been so popular throughout history. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. There is evidence that there existed jewels made of amethyst as early as 3000 B. C. in Egypt and in anterior Asia.

According to those who believe in the healing ability of gemstones, the amethyst magnifies psychic abilities and right-brain activity. It strengthens immunity, while energizing and purifying the blood. It also relieves headaches and improves blood sugar imbalance.

Amethyst Druzy Necklace with Oval Amethysts 

 

and Small Peridots

Red White and Blue Patriotic Bracelet with Glass Tile by texasnan

Red White and Blue Patriotic Bracelet with Glass Tile by texasnan

Back in business

Well, I finally got all those beads, clasps, bead caps, etc. organized and my beading table cleared off. So today I made a new necklace and a bracelet for the 4th of July. The necklace is quite unusual, I think, in that it has a mixture of beading styles and techniques. I used different kinds of glass beads, pearls, chains, seed beads, bead caps, and a pendant with a vintage style picture behind an oval glass cabochon tile. Here is a picture of the necklace. I haven't photographed the bracelet yet.

Saturday is the next Farmer's Market and Artisan Fair here in Stephenville, so I plan on being there with my jewelry.  Saturday is also the day that my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson are coming for a visit.  Sunday afternoon we will barbeque on the grill and eat outside on the deck that evening--if we can stand the heat, that is.  So it will be a full weekend.  My next post I will get back on track discussing different kinds of gemstones.

What is a gemstone?

Any mineral that is cut and polished and used to make jewelry or any other ornamental object can be classified as a gemstone--sometimes referred to as precious or semi-precious. There are also some rocks that are considered gemstones--such as the lapis lazuli, and some organic materials--such as jet, amber, or pearls, that are considered gemstones as well. The price of gemstones is determined by several factors, such as their beauty, their quality, their rarity, their physical characteristics, to name a few. Many gemstones are enhanced in some way to improve their appearance and durability. Heat and radiation are often used to enhance or change the color of hard gemstones, while some of the more porous stones are dyed. Turquoise is one example of a stone that is often dyed. Some stones that may have fissures, or inclusions, are oiled or waxed to fill in the fissures. This may improve the overall appearance and stability of the stone but is usually quite noticeable and reduces its value. Gemstones have been used for centuries for many purposes, and some even believe that gemstones have mystical or magical properties. For an extensive list and description of various gemstones, the article Gemstones Meanings and Properties is an excellent resource.

Entwined Vines Jewelry: Crystal Fantasies --- Featured Artisan

Entwined Vines Jewelry: Crystal Fantasies --- Featured Artisan

Another ArtFire Collection

I am very pleased that another of my jewelry pieces has been included in a collection on ArtFire--the peach and black necklace. Take a peek.

Beautiful Items F...

Curated By: luvncrafts

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts