For The Love Of Jewelry: Valentines Day Sale

Are you ready to get 40-50% off in my For the Love Of Jewelry Valentines Day Sale? Then get shopping! This sale will end on Valentines Day at midnight.

Etsy missy69

Garnet Stud Earrings

Red the color of fire, anger, love, power and so many other emotions can be symbolized by the color red. Fire engine red, cherry red, these are just some of the descriptions used to describe Red Garnet. These are Garnet stud earrings in sterling silver. Garnet is the gemstone for January. Stud earrings can be worn all day, everyday, and for any event you would attend. They can go from daytime casual, not night time formal. These beauties are available for sale in my Etsy store. If you love them, mark my store and blog because next week starts my Valentine Days sale, and everything will be marked down.

Viking Weave Cabachon Bezel Jewelry Making

I had some free time so I thought I would try one of these tutorials I have been wanting to learn. This one is unique, and it looked easy enough. Ugh it was not easy. I did it twice, and I still couldn't get it just right. I have some large cabs so I would really love to be able to do this. I will have to keep trying. Have you ever tried this particular piece? If yes, how long did it take to master it?

Dog Shedding: Meet Biscuit

This is Biscuit. She is my beautiful Lab mix, with ? Golden Retriever loving dog. She will be two in July, and she really is the most wonderful dog.

The issue with Biscuit, is that she sheds excessively. We have her on Pedigree dog food, bathing, combing, etc. She is healthy with no skin diseases, fleas or other issues. She just sheds a lot all year long! I am kind of tired of her beautiful hair everywhere. It really is lovely soft hair. I vacuum, and vacuum, and vacuum. So I heard you could give Omega 3 supplements and it helps. Has anyone actually tried this to know if it helps? It certainly can't hurt her to try it.

Yellow Labradorite Leaf Design Ring

This is a Yellow Labradorite gemstone ring. It is an oval, sterling silver size 5 1/2 with fancy leaf design on the shoulders of the ring. Yellow Labradorite is a rare form of Labradorite. It is natural in color and mostly from Mexico. I believe this is Yellow Labradorite but it could also be natural Citrine, or Bytownite which is actually close to Yellow Labradorite in its chemical makeup. It is a lovely gemstone and ring. If you would like to purchase this ring go to My Etsy Store. Be sure to bookmark my store, as I will be having a Valentine's Day sale starting at the end of January. I offer a free layaway service as well.

Time To Think About Valentine's Day

Why not give a special piece of jewelry to the one you love. My Etsy shop offers a variety of unique and beautiful gemstone jewelry. I offer a free layaway service, and combined shipping. Stop by and by your sweetheart something lovely.

How To Make Wire Hearts For Jewelry

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I hope I get time to make a few of these before then. I am going to use craft wire rather than the wire she has shown. It is easier to use, but of course I will have to wait and see if it works as well as hers. I like this lady. Her camera angles are better than most, and she is very creative in her designs. If you want to give it a try, let me know how they come out for you. Happy jewelry making.

50% Off Sale, Today Only

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, here in the US, and it is a national holiday. In honor of the holiday today only everything in my store will be 50% off. This will end at midnight tonight, Eastern time. You must use the code MLK at checkout to get the 50% taken off. I did not go through and change all the prices. I will refund 50% back to you in your Paypal account. Please ask all questions before you buy. Head over to Melissas Etsy Store, and begin shopping.

Thomas Kinkade Counted Cross Stitch

My picture taking skills are not great. The camera flash is right in the middle of the picture. Anyways this is one of my completed cross stitch. It is framed and hanging on my wall. It is Thomas Kinkade, a Quiet Evening, I think. This one has been completed and adorning my walls for many years. I have one other Thomas Kinkade also, but it has not been framed yet. This is the only project I have taken a picture of so far. More to come soon. I am also working on expanding my Etsy store inventory. I have a lot of pieces that I can list, with some new ones on the way. I am hoping to sell more, aren't we all, so I can get some new semi mounts, castings, and other supplies.

Learn To Do Counted Cross Stitch

Before I started collecting gemstones, and then learning to make jewelry, I did counted cross stitch. I forgot how much I love it. I came across a whole bunch of them that I never actually finished and whole bunch I did but then never made into final pieces such as pillows. So I started working on them and trying what to do with them all. You simply can not frame them all, and I am not sure I want to sell them. So if anyone has creative ideas for clever things to do with finished counted cross stitch designs, I am all ears. I will share some of my finished pieces in a later post. I haven't taken pictures of any yet. I usually do only big projects. If you want to learn how to do counted cross stitch the video is very nice and helpful. I find it very relaxing, and a way to clear my mind of all other things.

Amethyst Stud Earrings

This is a pair of sterling silver Amethyst stud earrings, with butterfly backs. Each Amethyst is 4mm round. Amethyst is the birthstone for February. I love stud earrings because you can wear them all day everyday, no matter the weather, season, or style of dress you are wearing. These beauties are available to purchase in my Etsy store. I don't know why this particular picture came out so fuzzy. I must have moved or something.

Finding Sea Glass

Gemstones Minerals and Rocks of Wyoming

The Beauty Of Garnet In Words

Usually when an article is written about a gemstone or jewelry, pictures or videos would accompany the article. Today I am going to try to express the beauty of garnets in words only. To visualize the beauty of a gem through words only.

Garnet is one of the largest and most common gemstone family known to man. The red variety being the most common, and the green variety being the rarest and most expensive. Red garnet can be very affordable, as it is very common. But there are varieties of garnet that are rare, highly collectible, and very expensive. I personally love the garnet family because it comes in almost every shade, except blue, and is completely natural with no enhancements.

Pyrope Garnet: Red with a brown tint. This is probably the most popular garnet seen in the market. It kind of has a brick red color to it.

Almandite Garnet: This is also a red garnet, but it is a beautiful violet tint to it. It is beautiful to the eye.

Spessartite Garnet: This is a rare, and interesting garnet. It can range from orange to a sort of brown color. In order for this garnet to be called Spessartite or Spessartine, it must be have hues of orange in it. Whether it is red, or the more brownish overall color, it must have undertones of orange in it. This variety of garnet was originally discovered in Spessar Germany and while most mines have been depleted, occasionally a new source is found. It is a very collectible variety of garnet. If you love the colors of fire then this gemstone would be for you.

Mandarin Garnet: Is the orange only variety of Spessartite and has been given its own name. In its finest forms it will have the color of a mandarin orange. Can't you just smell the fresh, citrus smell of the mandarin orange? This variety of Spessartite is the rarest and most expensive variety. If you are lucky enough to own the gemstone of the sunset than you are especially lucky.

Grossular Garnet: These garnets range in color from green to brown, and have a whole subfamily listed under them.

Tsavorite Garnet: A green luscious gemstone from Kenya and Tanzania. It is the color of
grass so green. The color of life, energy, and renewal. Tsavorite
Garnet is a personal favorite of mine. The color makes you feel alive
and invigorated. It is very expensive in the finest color and size. The
majority of Tsavorite Garnets are small and under 2 carats.

Hessonite Garnet: Another red garnet that ranges in color from a honey color to a
brownish red color. It is most well known for the honeycomb
inclusions that are visible under a microscope. It is a unique garnet
because of that reason.

Last but not least is the Demantoid Garnet. Demantoid which means diamond like luster, is the most valuable garnet in the whole garnet family. It is hard to put into words the beauty this gemstone possesses. I do own one small Demantoid Garnet and the shine and fire that it gives off is amazing. It is a greenish yellow color, with the finest color being and emerald green color, and with diamond cutting it looks like a natural green diamond. Demantoid Garnets are very hard to find in large sizes. Mine is only about 3mm round. Of course the larger the size of any gemstone, the more light can enter, and the fire and brilliance is more evident.

January babies have a wide variety of options for their birthstone. You don't have to have just a traditional red garnet. Be exotic and go for the more rare and beautiful variety of garnets. I wish there was a blue garnet. I think it would be amazingly beautiful. If you would like to see some affordable varieties of garnet, you can visit my Etsy store.

Huge Big and Bold White Topaz Ring

This is a huge 16x12 mm oval gemstone ring. I am assuming it is a White Topaz, but could be Quartz, White Garnet, or other clear white gemstone. It is set in a sterling silver ring casting, and is a size 5 1/2. To purchase this ring go to my Etsy store. I do offer a layaway service, and combined shipping. Feel free to ask any questions you need to.

Do You Know What Your Birthstone Is?

Every month has a birthstone. Many people do not even know what their birthstone is. If you are someone who is nostalgic having birthstone jewelry is a wonderful way to honor a birth and life. The lovely video below tells the birthstones for each month, with exceptional photos of each type of stone. I am a Peridot, and there is a lot of ugly Peridot on the market. I have been lucky enough in my jewelry making endeavors to finally own and wear gem quality Peridot. In its finest form it really is an absolutely lovely gemstone. Enjoy the video, and learn what your birthstone is.