Gemstone Beads are not only gorgeous but meaningful. In many times and places, the meaning associated with a particular stone was more important than its appearance. This is still true in Indonesia, where people seek out stones with “power” to give them physical and spiritual strength. The gemstone beads in our collection have many attributes: Amethyst is linked to inspiration, Garnet is associated with passion and Citrine with creativity. For protection or wisdom, try Onyx, while Topaz encourages compassion. Offering clients the chance to select a stone based on its meaning is a powerful marketing tool. Customers treasure items that have personal meaning. Listing stone attributes can help build a story into any design, making beautiful jewelry even more attractive. Read more about Gemstone Meanings in our library.
Here at Nina Designs we are always coming out with new silver charms. As an employee and a designer, this is a blessing and a curse. Just when I think maybe I should slow down my purchasing, cut back, appreciate what I have, we come out with the most adorable new charm! This week it was the hot-air balloon charm that got me. It is the latest addition to our travel, or as I like to think of it, adventure series.
Feeling slightly travel deprived, I longed for the old-world nostalgia of exploration, and my Whimsical Adventure Necklace did just the trick. I used our silver compass charm as a link from which to suspend the hot-air balloon, the word tags, dream and explore, along with a small faceted tourmaline bead. Above the pendant compilation hangs a cluster of tourmalines, a chrysoprase nugget, and a small round yellow rutilated quartz. I wanted the cluster to evoke an atmosphere of wide blue skies in which to dream of endless possibilities.
I hope you find our new design ideas as inspiring as I do. I’m sure there will be many more to come in the future! Happy designing!
Whimsical Adventure Cluster
Whimsical Adventure Necklace
When I gathered my jewelry findings and gemstones together to make some jewelry for a summer wedding, I didn’t so much have a picture in my mind of the finished piece as I did an idea of what I wanted my jewelry to feel like – joyful and fun. I looked at my goodies, an array of colorful stones and luscious vermeil style gold plate findings, and started putting things next to each other. I had lots of ideas, but it wasn’t until I started wire-wrapping stones to links that a bracelet started to take shape. Black garnets and gold links formed the base of the bracelet while colorful aquamarines, rubies and other gemstones wrapped on headpins made it more playful.
Sweet Summer Bracelet
When I looked at my finished bracelet I realized what a great necklace it would make! Since I made my bracelet long enough to wrap around my wrist twice, to make it a necklace all I had to do was attach a clasp to a length of chain that would fasten to my bracelet. Doing this at least doubled its length so that I could now slip it over my head and wear it as a necklace. To give myself yet another way to wear this design, I tied a black silk ribbon to it. This way I end up with an entirely different third look – a luscious double strand necklace that’s even more joyful and fun.
I love how my design process evolved as I made this bracelet so that I ended up with a convertible design that I can wear three different ways. I am not sure that I would have made such an ingenious piece of jewelry had I tried to draw out my design in advance.
Click here to read “Sweet Summer Beads, Part One.”
Sweet Summer Necklace
Double Strand Sweet Summer Necklace
I love summer weddings, a warm afternoon of celebration is the perfect place for some bright fun jewelry made with Nina Designs’ jewelry findings and beads. Some big earrings and a bracelet will add just the right amount of bling to my dress, a simple sheath in a rich pinky-raspberry color.
So where do I start? Some people plan and sketch. Some people lay everything out on a design board. Not me, I start grabbing things that I like and make a pile. I like seeing how the colors and textures mix and match.
We got some beautiful bright blue apatite faceted rondelles and I have been dreaming of our yellow aquamarine faceted nuggets. Our pink rubies, and the glimmering green idocrase briolettes will look great dangling from our sterling vermeil earrings. Hammered sterling vermeil links and a matching lobster clasp will finish off the bracelet.
It looks like it is time for me to get to work. Check back for Part 2 and you can see how I put all of those luscious goodies together. Until then, how do you get started on your jewelry designs?
Colors and Textures of Summer Jewelry
Recently I’ve been intrigued by our Sterling Vermeil. The satin finish looks so silky and smooth. It’s irresistible! For me, sterling vermeil is an affordable way to add real gold to your pieces without spending too much.
Later this summer I’ll be attending a “black tie” wedding so I decided to use some of our sterling vermeil components to create a fancy yet affordable necklace. I started playing around by just adding sterling vermeil accents to a mostly sterling silver piece. And now, I’m hooked!
I also created a necklace using coin-shaped turquoise gemstones, faceted rondelle rubies alternating with some small Sterling Vermeil Spacers and finished it off with a tiny sterling vermeil hook-and-s clasp. I have fallen in love with how gold accents adds depth and richness to any piece. I’m so excited to see where sterling vermeil takes me!
Mixed Metals Necklace
Sterling Vermeil
Over the memorial day weekend I visited Venice Beach, California and I was reminded of a bygone era when the “flower child” and the “Boho-Chic” reigned there. I was inspired by the plethora of textiles and ethnic jewelry spilling over booths that are juxtaposed against 1930s Deco apartment buildings that are now hotels. Dusty pinks, turquoise, and purples along with the teal waters of the ocean made for a beautiful moment as drummers and dancers hailed the sunny day.
When I came back to the “coolness” of San Francisco, I could not wait to emulate that “bohemian feel”. I can’t wait to delve into our new Apatite Gemstone Beads, our dusty pinkish faceted Rutilated Quartz Gemstone Beads, and our teal Kyanite Gemstone Beads. I plan to pair them with our paisley print silver beads in all sizes. Our sterling silver beads Paisley Print collection is the most beautiful and under appreciated pattern (in my opinion). On our next “Design Ideas Challenge” I plan to make some “groovy” earrings!
Silver Beads and Gemstones
Bohemian Earrings
