Charmed Bracelets

Monica's Necklace

 My two closest friends are very involved in my jewelry business. 

My friend Laurie--writer, editor, massage therapist, and artist--inspires many of my pieces. I made this necklace and earrings for her for a Christmas gift, and only after I made her gift did I decide to make another set to sell on my site. 

Laurie has an amazing sense of color, and the colors she chooses to paint her walls or wear herself are ones that I am hard-pressed to put a name to: soft gray-greens, pale ambers, colors like that. The colors of that new jade necklace are perfect "Laurie colors." 

She also models my jewelry for me when needed. I like to have Laurie wear my necklaces, in particular, because she has the world's most beautiful neck. See: Faith, Hope, and Charity Necklace

Go to this link to see more than just her neck: Laurie

And then there's Monica--personal trainer, photographer, program director at a cancer nonprofit. Monica's favorite color is red, and the entire Lipstick Red category on this blog is dedicated to her. See: Lipstick Red

I made the necklace in the photo above as a gift for Monica, and, sorry, I don't have another one for sale. 

I found the little pottery bird, which is actually two handmade beads, on a recent trip to Omaha. I bought it for Monica, because I knew she would love it. 

I paired it with a strand of substantial carnelian beads, added a few inches of sterling silver chain, and then finished it off with a rectangle of black onyx and a small Thai silver leaf.

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2010. 

Design and text: @ Jeanne Sather 2010. 

The Love Letter Charm Bracelet

 I'm not the kind of person who gets all mushy about the "good old days," with one exception: In the old days, people WROTE LETTERS, including love letters. 

Be honest now, when was the last time you received a love letter? Not an e-mail. Not a text message. An honest-to-goodness real letter written on paper with a pen and mailed to you through the U.S. postal service?

I will confess that the last love letters I received were written in the 1980s, and I still have them, tucked away. I treasure them, even though I no longer love the man who wrote them. 

 If you decide to give your Valentine this charm bracelet, which I'm calling the "Love Letter Charm Bracelet," give it with the promise of love letters to come in the future. I would also suggest that you pick up a copy of the book "Griffin & Sabine, A Extraordinary Correspondence," as part of your gift. 

The bracelet has two strands: a chain of carnelian rondelles (that's the shape) linked with jump rings, and a chain with tiny hearts as the links. The charm itself is "vintage," although I don't think it is all that old. it is sterling silver, and it is a "mechanical" charm, meaning that it has moving parts.

The bracelet is a standard 7 1/2 inches long. All the chain and wire, and the toggle, are sterling silver, as is the charm, of course. The bracelet is one of a kind. 

Price: $120. The price includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. mailing addresses.  

Please e-mail me with any questions: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

See more: Valentine's Day

Photo: Monica Strasen. 

Design and text: @ Jeanne Sather 2010. 

Wear Your Heart on Your Wrist 3: SOLD

This may be the most romantic bracelet ever. 

One strand is a vintage chain made entirely of sterling silver hearts. The chain is linked hearts, and more hearts dangle freely from the chain. It is @1980s and has a lovely patina. 

The second strand I made by linking carnelian beads together with wrapped wire loops. The one-of-a-kind bracelet closes with a sterling toggle clasp, making it easy to put on one-handed. 

Length: 7 1/2 inches. 

(This fits a wrist that is about 6 1/2 inches. Please measure your wrist and let me know if I need to adjust this bracelet to fit you.)

Price:   $130. 

The price includes taxes, shipping, and insurance to U.S. destinations. 

See also: 

Craving Carnelians?

Craving Carnelians 2

Photo: Monica Strasen.

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Craving Carnelians 2: SOLD

The second new pair of carnelian earrings are a style that I've made before with jade and other gemstones, but these are the first I've made with carnelians.

Call these, "Simple Carnelian Earrings." 

Price: $25.

The price includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. destinations. 

THESE ARE SOLD, SORRY. 

Photo: Monica Strasen. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Craving Carnelians?: SOLD

I have two new styles of carnelian and sterling silver earrings for sale. 

The first is a simple hoop with a carnelian bead hanging below. These look great "dressed up" or with jeans. 

Call these, "Carnelian Hoops."

Price: $25 THESE ARE SOLD. 

The price includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. destinations.  

See also:

Craving Carnelians 2

Photo: Monica Strasen.

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Dramatic Earrings

There are some days when--no question--you need a dramatic pair of earrings.

This style has the asymmetry  of the number three than you find in many arts, including Japanese ikebana, or  flower arranging. 

The gemstone rondelles dangle inside linked sterling silver rings and are quite dramatic without being too flashy. I have these available in red agate, carnelian, black onyx, green jade, or turquoise. The ear wires are also sterling silver.  

Price: $40. 

Be sure to specify your choice of gemstones. The price includes taxes, shipping, and insurance to U.S. destinations. 

Questions? Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

@ Jeanne Sather @ 2009.

SPECIAL SALE: Wear Your Heart on Your Wrist: SOLD

I love carnelians, and when I saw this strand of gorgeous 8 mm carnelian beads, I knew just what I wanted to make with it. 

I already had the vintage heart locket--I found that in an antique store in downtown Omaha during my recent visit there--and I think carnelians and a sterling heart are the perfect pairing. 

This bracelet is similar to a style that I've made several times with different gemstones; it looks especially good with carnelians. The bracelet has two strands--one is a simple string of carnelian beads, the other is a vintage sterling silver chain that I found at an antique store in Snohomish, a small town in Washington known for its antique dealers and Victorian homes. 

I've started buying vintage sterling chains to use in my jewelry because they are nicer in many ways than new chain: the links are often heavier, and they have that patina that only comes with age.

It closes with a toggle clasp, and the vintage locket has space for two photos.  

Length: 7 3/4 inches. 

Price: WAS $120. NOW $90. 

As with all my jewelry, the price includes tax, shipping, and insurance to U.S. destinations.

I can make this bracelet longer or shorter to fit you, just e-mail me your wrist measurement: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2009. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Wear Your Heart on Your Wrist!

I love carnelians, and this time I made the bracelet first and then looked for just the right charm to go on it. 

(Usually, I find the charm first and then make a bracelet to show it off.)

This bracelet is a style that I've made several times with different gemstones, but it looks especially good with carnelians. This bracelet has two strands--one is a simple string of carnelian beads, the other is a handmade chain with carnelian rondelles and sterling silver wire.  It closes with a toggle clasp. 

The vintage charm is two hearts, one on top of the other. I'm pretty sure it's handmade, and it's nicely chunky. 

Length: 6 3/4 inches. 

Price: $160. 

THIS BRACELET IS SOLD. IF YOU'D LIKE SOMETHING SIMILAR, PLEASE E-MAIL ME: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

Photo credit:  Monica Strasen.

@ Jeanne Sather 2009.