Contemporary Jewelry Handmade in Northern California from the Highest Quality Natural MaterialsI like using strong beading wire, mixed metals, leather, I love turquoise, shells, various gemstones, crystals, bone, ceramic, acrylic beads and good strong crimp beads are a must.There are so many product options out there.I decided to limit my products to mostly North American regions and Mexico. I remember when I first started I purchased some Chinese turquoise and wasn’t too pleased. Then I learned a few of my vendors were selling me Chinese stuff too. There are some quality gemstones mined in China. However knowing the distance traveled made me reconsider and stay within our continent. It’s a big one anyway. Jewelry making helps me relax, I find it therapeutic. My back and fingers get sore but it’s all worth it when I see someone wearing something I’ve made. Darn right Joyous!
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Latest Posts by monikaluedesigns - Page 2
Trying to work out my funk. Making jewelry is very cathartic. Creativity sparks energy for me and I sure need some of that right now. 🙃
Watching the numbers of child bodies found rise in Canada. Knowing that USA also has blood on their hands. Residential schools, orphanages, run by religious and the state kept their dirty secrets long enough. Bring the children home.
We need to shut up and listen to the needs of our indigenous brothers and sisters. Please support their efforts to find their resolution to the deep pain they are experiencing.
Hey Pope and the Vatican homies this is on you! Many folk over many years, tried to bring Pedophile religious to justice.
In Protest, boycott, defund, file lawsuits against the church, and any living culprit must be bought to justice. Hold the church accountable! Money is the bottom line. Tax the church!
Love this photo. I’m dropping off a supplies arrangement of jewelry bead/craft station. Sharing is caring!
My diagnosis of Interstitial lung disease in 2018 was a bummer. Didn’t know how or why my immune system began attacking my lungs. Doctor did tell me no more cutting or sanding stones. Should have worn a better mask. I had become so wary of the medical establishment, especially complaining about my trouble breathing for several years, and just being told it’s my allergies or my Asthma. Problem has always been my very sensitive immune system and various reactions to most chemicals, even perfumes and makeup. Thankfully my only food issue was dairy.
The biopsy didn’t offer any markers that I might benefit from newer treatments or studies. The possibility of lung transplant was mentioned, then not again after the biopsy. What was prescribed were steroids, limited time then onto the drugs used for anti rejection as in the case of transplants. Hmm. So I forgo the steroids the dr prescribed and I began a more alternative medicine choice. Started meditating more, trying to be as positive as possible, and releasing my burdens to the universe. I ate only organic non GMO foods, more vegan dishes, less sugars, 0 white sugar or white starchy foods, drank planets of water, only a glass of wine maybe once a month, till I stopped partaking of any alcohol.
I slowly added and increased doses of Mullen tincture for my lungs and cough. Still use her works nicely for me. Wild green onion, and other plants used for the lungs. I used more organic teas and less caffeinated products. Started mushrooms supplements. Ate more of them too.
My buddy gifted me a ceremonial healer. Like my grandpa used to do for people. It felt good. My mind set was of, I had a pretty good life and was filled with gratitude for a wonderful family, best husband, kids, and especially that my mama had lived with us throughout my kids lives. She journey on 2016, my grief was hard. So if I was going to go I wanted it to be naturally. And for 3 years my lung disease was progressing slowly, tho I could feel it.
I’ve seen several alternative physicians and herbalist talk about how drug industry and most conventional medicine folk are in cahoots and just wanna increase their profit margins our expense. Heck so are they, be it in an alternate respect. It’s become a huge industry too. It’s a capitalist society after all.
Anyway as Covid hit I began to think how so many were also being affected by lung disease. So many perishing, alone and too often rapidly. Early on we became mask wearers. My family cared that much about our health. They said it was to protect me. 💖
Then a day before thanksgiving, for his 61 birthday my hubby had been up and working, he exclaimed the pain in his neck and back so bad he drove himself to hospital, collapsed paralyzed, rushed into emergency surgery to rebuild his neck, Happy Birthday! Also found cancer. He was there during the holidays, all that time we could not visit because of COVID restrictions. He passed within weeks. We were left unprepared, emotionally and financially. He thought he’d have time to plan since I was had been given 3-5 yrs, and I was clearing the third. Ya just never know!
Tho it’s going on 7 months since he joined the ancestors, we’ve found our footing and our grief is less consuming. Our anxiety less frequent. That’s a blessing. My own health condition made me think I needed more time on Mother Earth, so after 3 years of the alternative path, I returned to my lung specialist and this time I chose to take his medicine. I had even waited till the doctor could answer my concerns about the COVID vaccine for me. I took my 2 Pfizer COVID vaccines, waited till the second dose was in my system a bit longer before slowly building up to the prescribed Prednisone dose. The Steroids facts and side effects list is long, it will lower immune system. Here’s what I can say, after 2 weeks the pain I had in my chest for over a year, causing more frequent vomiting and discomfort had begun to ease, now a months worth of doses it’s almost gone, it must be helping with the inflammation. I even can again work in my garden, and walk around with more energy. I’m not in the clear, there is nothing that will cure me. Maybe just help me along for a few more seasons. So yeah people have to do what they feel is right for them. I so far have.
I’ve even had a spike in creative energy, I’ve done some jewelry repairs and redesigns. That’s very invigorating for my spirit. I sure do enjoy stringing along, in more than one respect, so to speak. 😁
Gifts picked out today and went to good home.
American Southwest Turquoise beads, black obsidian, red coral beads, hand rolled sterling silver link and clasp by GLM designs, sterling silver beads. And an awesome focal from Nepal with turquoise& coral inlay.
Gift for someone I’ve yet to meet. Helped her son pick out. Guys are so easy. Hope she likes it. ✌🏼💝
Necklace faceted turquoise with Swarovski crystals, brass spacers & a gold toggle clasp.
Earrings are a fun lend free metal in gold with a glass bead. Hooks are real gold.
Different necklaces completed between gardening work.
1 made of shell & coral disks, large coral & turquoise and sterling silver.
2 African turquoise, Apache tears, lead free spacer beads & brass hook n eye clasp.
3 Glass pastel beads & silver lobster clasp.
4 Swarovski & Chech crystals, sterling silver spacer beads, 3 chrysocolla drops with sterling silver wire links & clasp.
5 lite weight necklace. Large hollow brass beads, blue cage breads lead free metals, and hook n eye clasp on a fancy cord. Used a good strong bonding glue for cord link which is also lead free.
A good friend who trusts my creativity asked me to lengthen a favorite brass necklace by 10”. So instead of just adding chain or links I decided to use good ol jumprings. Hey it’s I had in brass stock. Since the necklace used hooks n rings this should add length without diverting too much from original design concept.
Finished with extension. Best part it can easily be altered to adjust length.
Here’s a great source for more info on crystals.
https://www.creativebeadcraft.co.uk/media/hints/Basic%20Guide%20to%20Bead%20Effects%20and%20Finishes.pdf
Man made crystals by top manufacturer Swarovski do have some lead. The crystals offer a beautiful alternative to pricey Natural gemstones. Czech Crystals are a lead free alternative. Just remember if you enjoy extra sparkle look for how it’s cut and an added AB finish will help. Swarovski is well known for how well the crystals pick up the light. 💖
Getting ready for summer with an
Ankle bracelet 12 & 1/2 inch
Quartz chips of green hair and rose, lead free Pewter hook, closed solid copper jump ring, steel beads in silver & copper finish.
Wondering the better best for jewerly needs. Found this so posting info.
These going to Kansas with my cousin for his wife.
Spiny oyster, Mediterranean coral, Swarovski crystals.
Earrings match necklace. Spare earrings of marbal drops with crystal. A gold plated heart with rhinestones.
A wrap bracelet of shell & turquoise heshi.
Second photo is sleeping beauty turquoise chips with black stone bead & small natural pearls. The focal is sterling silver cross with shell, turquoise & black stone inlays handmade in New Mexico.
The earrings are turquoise & sterling silver cone from a vendor at the Santa Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico. Hope it will all be worn happily with contentment.
More Mom’s day Gifts that went out last weekend. Swarovski crystal cross, and dyed pearl with small crystal earrings on sterling silver hooks.
Dried Cactus cross tied with leather. Yup an ouch reminder it surely is.
This is very interesting info on Swarovski crystals printed by Fire Mountian Gems.
Gifts heading off to Germany.
This was fun.
So on my down days I still get busy. There will always be weeds in my garden to tackle. And as new beads & chains from a few newer vendors arrive i’m busy restocking my supply station. Mixing it up with older stock i get excited and start creating more goodies.
Vendors I trust and have had good service and safe delivery are as follows.
Chains & Metal beads from Jesse James Beads, SilverSilk & More,
Turquoise from Stones n Silver, The Turquoise Chick,
Crystals and more from Beadholique,
Shells, beads, metals, focals from Beads n More, Happy Mango Beads, Beads and Pieces,
Fire Mountian beads for great sales and cool mail catalogue.
Plenty of stock from Magpie Gemstones, Sharka Carter has recently retired and company has switched hands, but man did sharka have plenty of awesome how to videos on YouTube which really helped me learn to get creative.
A few more online favorites I win bids on who have US addresses.
Also Including my cousin bud who welds precious metals for me.
Hint when starting out and purchasing beads, look for bulk, or sold in lengths. That will start you off with plenty of beads to make a necklace, bracelet and earrings.
I’d tell anyone if you are interested in making jewelry check out groups, friends, online videos, some cool stores like Michaels hold classes, and of course do an internship with a jeweler. I did with a cool artist and precious metal jeweler in my hometown. Best experience of my life. Still feel blessed.
Remember to shop good deals even hock shops, thrift stores, yard sales, etc. Any place you can find deals on jewelry for the beads and clasps. Take the stuff apart and get busy. Try trading beads & supplies, including tools with fellow enthusiasts or friends. I trade work for beads too.
Use good strong beading wire. Pay attention to the weight of piece and remember to crimp well. Use proper size, don’t cross your wires in the crimp tube or bead, and press that bead well, not too hard or it will crack the crimp bead or weaken your design. Remember to have fun! Oh and if you’re like me, the sale is not as important as the gift. ✌🏼
I love my Mexican beads! When I can’t purchase from southwest it’s my go to option and the quality is good. Shown here are two lengths.
Longer is graduating shells disks with sterling silver clasp.
Shorter is a mix of Mexican natural hand cut spiny oyster & shell disks with Mexican natural hand cut heshi cut turquoise also a few as accent disks. The clasp is lead free Pewter.
So it’s raining again. 🤗 That means it’s time to string another necklace. That makes 1 single strand, 1 two strand, 2 five strands, 1 seven strand. All from mixed beads. Various cut or natural forms of Pearls, gemstone including chips, disks, seed beads of coral, shells, wood, acrylic, glass, turquoise. Lead free metal clasps.
I always save up my spare beads. This seven strand has a cool bead mix of various cut & shape of Turquoise, coral, shell, wood, gem stones & chips, glass, pearls, and Acrylic beads. With a lead free clasp although long enough to go over most heads without opening. Hey if you’re thing enough use as fun belt or as layered necklace. Cool on a boot too! Just get funky with it.
That’s right! 🤩
Another indoor rainy day creation. Turquoise, coral, magnesite, shells, pearls, sterling silver clasp toggle.
7 strand layered with stick coral and shells, with a compressed turquoise turtle focal. Silver over copper cone beads and a lead nickel free Pewter clasp.
Multi 5 strand 1-2mm heishi beads of compressed turquoise n coral with a sterling silver hook n eye clasp.
Multi strand fun. Various coral beads, shell, glass beads, silver copper cones, sterling silver hook n eye clasp and #jessejamesbeads
Jade goddess with jade beads, coral, shell, glass beads, ceramic beads, tree seeds and sterling silver clasp. Made for Jeanne our yogi.