Materials Used

Silver
  • Sterling Silver is an alloy composed of at least 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.  Due to the copper content, sterling silver can take on a dark grey patina over time.  Air and sunlight are the culprits.   To keep sterling silver shinny and bright wipe it with a silver polish cloth after wearing and store it in an airtight container (like a zip-lock baggie) in a dark place (like a jewelry box or drawer).  
  • Argentium Silver is an alloy composed of at least 93.5% silver (a slightly higher silver content than sterling) and 6.5% germanium,  The copper component of sterling is what causes it to turn dark, and germanium adds a hardening component to silver that does not turn as dark over time.  Contrary to popular belief, Argentium silver will still darken when exposed to sunlight and air, but does so at a much slower rate and will not get as dark as sterling. 
  • Fine Silver is composed of at least 99.9% silver.  Without the added components (copper or germanium), fine silver will not darken with age.  However, these components are what causes silver to work harden when used for jewelry.  For this reason, smaller gauge wires of fine silver are often too soft to be useful in making most pieces of jewelry.

Gold
  • 14K Gold is an an ally containing pure gold as well as other materials to make it stronger and more durable for jewelry.  Pure gold is 24K.  18K gold is 75% (or 18/24) gold.  14K gold is 58.3% (or 14/24) gold. Pure gold is generally too soft for jewelry, which is why it is alloyed together with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc, platinum, palladium, and sometimes nickel to add strength and durability.   Gold can be made to appear pink with the addition of more copper, and white with the addition of more white metals such as silver, zinc, platinum, palladium and nickel.  If you have a nickel allergy, check to ensure that your white gold does not contain nickel.   Since platinum and palladium are more expensive materials that nickle these 'hypoallergenic' white golds will to be more expensive than white gold with nickel.  White gold is often plated with palladium to add durability and a whiter brighter color. 
  • 14/20 Gold Filled Wire is a heavy layer of 14K gold which is filled with a copper or brass core.  The 14/20 means that it is 14K gold and it is at least 5% (1/20th)  gold by weight.  Unlike gold plated jewelry, the gold will not wear off with normal wear. 

Crystals - All of my crystal jewelry is created using genuine Swarovski crystals from Austria. They cost a little more than other crystals - but once you see the sparkle and color, I think you'll agree that they - and you - are worth it!!

Stones - I use a variety of natural stones in my work, which I acquire anywhere and everywhere. I've become quite a 'rock hound' - enlarging my collection whenever I come across stones that I think would look nice in jewelry.  If there's a type of stone you are looking for, contact me - chances are I have some in my collection. Following is a little information on the types of stones I have.

Quartz
  • Quartz is crystallized silica. Most of the stones in my collection are forms of quartz.  
  • Both Agate and Jasper are forms of Quartz. 
  • It can be translucent (like Agates) - or opaque (like Jaspers). 
  • It can be clear or colored (like Amethyst, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Aventurine, Carnelian, and Onyx).  
  • It can have Chatoyance - an optical illusion of movement within the stone (like Cat's Eye or Tiger's Eye ).
  • It can have small needle-like inclusions (like Rutilated Quartz and Tourmalinated Quartz).  
  • It can contain a diffusion of minerals along discontinuities which may appear like vegetative growth (like Moss Agate or Dentritic Agate).
  • It can have a fine coating of crystals (like Druzys).  

Jasper
  • Jasper is an opaque variety of silica (quartz). It can be virtually any color - depending on the mineral content of the original sediments or ash.  Jaspers are named by their color and pattern. 
  • Brecciated Jasper is stone composed of broken fragments cemented together to form a fine-grained matrix. 
  • Picture Jasper 
  • Ocean or Orbicular Jasper
  • Banded Jasper
  • Leapord Jasper
  • Dalmation Jasper

Feldspar
  • The term Feldspar derives from the German words Feld, "field", and Spath, "a rock that does not contain ore."
  • Both Moonstone and Labradorite are forms of feldspar.

Turquoise

Larimar

Prehnite

Jade

Fossils - Ammolite, Orthoceres, Fossilized Coral

Lapis Lazuli

Malachite

Obsidian - Natural form of volcanic glass.  Rainbow Obsidian

Opal - same chemical composition as Quartz (silicon dioxide) - but contains 1-2 percent water and is not crystallized. 

Rhodochrosite

Sodalite

Sugilite