Did you know that garnets are known as the travelers’ stone? Good thing, I’ve been working with them AND traveling. Not my choice, my mom is ill 🙁 Garnets are also healing stones, and if they don’t work their magic on an incurable disease, maybe they’ll work on my psyche.
This post is late for obvious reasons, but now that I’m home for awhile, I’m going to keep working and making things. Therapy.
Here are some of my recent pieces:
Hessonite Garnets “Surface Cut” & Citrine Drop Earrings.
Spessartite Garnet Cabochon Ring
Andalusite Garnet Earrings With Baby Geode Drops
Natural Turquoise Nugget Earrings With Green Garnet, Apatite & Sapphire Briolettes
I recently received a package with some raw spessartite crystals.
Raw Spessartite Garnet Crystals
I really love the classic garnet and opal combination, here’s a little twist on the idea!
Lightning Ridge Opal & Spessartite Garnet Crystal Ring
Spessartite Garnet Opal & Diamond Stack
Garnets also happen to be my birthstone and I feel a June connection to them: When I was still young and beautiful, (and actually looked forward to celebrating my birthday) I decided to move it from January to June. Being born the day after New Year’s is a drag. June was a much better alternative. Most people aren’t hung over, and if you live in New Orleans, the four days between New Year’s and Twelfth night provide a much needed break to get your second wind. My birthday is really the only day nobody wants to party.
I actually got inspired to dig around in my garnet collection when my “matchy matchy” client (see Parure) sent me some of her family jewels. She wanted a couple of things “redone”. Here’s her Grandma’s necklace:
Heirloom Garnet Necklace
Here’s what became of it:
Reworked Garnet Necklace – With Lemon Quartz, Turquoise & Apatite On Leather Cord
Because it was for Miz Matchy:
Reworked Garnet Earrings With Turquoise & Lemon Quartz
Inspired, I made this:
Garnet Citrine Apatite Necklace On Turquoise Leather
And to match?
Rose Cut Red Garnet Earrings With Raw Pyrope Crystals
Besides being a protective traveling stone, garnets are reputed to help with just about everything! From sex and money, to health and happiness, to (get this) deterring enemies from hatching plots against you. I’m in.
Lydia, I must tell you again how much I LOVE the piece you made for me. You took a necklace that sat neglected in a drawer and transformed it into something fresh.
Moreover, it is fitting that garnets are a healing stone — you’ve allowed me to reconnect with my beloved grandmother whenever I wear her stones. Needless to say, that closeness heals the pain of loss.
Thank you, Your Matchy-Matchy Client
Thank you Kate. It was a wonderful healing piece to work on. I’m so glad it gives you so much pleasure.
Lydia, The Lightning Ridge Opal & Spessartite Garnet Crystal ring is absolutely Gorgeous! As is the reworked necklace and earrings set. Wow! I’m really impressed!!
Aww shucks Danielle!