petals on the wind

Yes, I'm naming this one after a spinner rack novel, and for those of you that didn't work at a book store that's a rather elitist diss to the wildly popular books that used to occupy the spinning wire racks in independent bookstores. Remember them, before all that existed was Barnes & Noble and Amazon? Sigh. I feel so old sometimes, because I question the greatness of a future where everyone looks at their phones instead of looking up and taking in life, perhaps smiling at a stranger and striking up a conversation. But I digress. When I was in middle school I devoured all those spinner rack novels; Danielle Steele, Sidney Sheldon, and their made for tv movie ilk. Oh but V.C. Andrews, she was special. So creepy, dark and erotic. For someone on the cusp of teendom her works were shocking.  I was hooked and whipped through those books a day at a time. So out of the trilogy Petals on the Wind was the only one I could make work with my jewelry, although maybe I'll branch out and try an If There Be Thorns necklace. Seven petals of pale golden pink glass, separated by six golden beads, hang on a fine gold chain. Beads, clasp, wire and chain are all 14kt gold-filled. 18-1/4" in length. $37

he loves me

This is like the gem version of picking petals off a pretty pink flower. But you can keep the winning petal close to your heart. A faceted teardrop of rose quartz wrapped in wire hangs on a gold chain. Wire, chain and clasp are all 14kt gold-filled. 17" inches in length. $37

in the pink

The popular saying is that diamonds are a girl's best friend but I think they are wrong. At the very least it's far too predictable. Pearls have a quality that diamonds cannot match and if you are lucky enough to have wonderful skin there is no gem, in my humble opinion, that equals the pearl in showcasing just what a gift a lovely complexion is. It's the luminous quality of the pearl that will make your skin look like it is lit from within. This is a simple, elegant pearl necklace of a muted petal pink a color that will suffuse you with an enviable glow no matter what your skin tone is. Pearl are separated by glass beads in the same petal pink. 14 kt gold-filled clasp 18-1/4" in length. $47

crushed peonies

I love peonies, they are gorgeous heady flowers with an amazing spectrum of the palest pinks. I have two peony plants in my backyard that give off lovely hot pink blooms in late spring. But the thing with peonies, perhaps just mine, they seem rather impractical from a darwinian plant perspective. They are lovely but as soon as the flowers bloom those stems then drop to the ground, like even the plant cannot bear that much beauty, and the petals drop off in a day or two tops. They are the very definition of ephemeral but still gorgeous all the same. Here's my beaded interpretation of crushed peonies, including some muted browns because I think flowers are incredible even when they start to fade. Pearls, garnet and glass beads on three strands 7-3/4" in length with a sterling silver clasp. $41

whatever lola wants

Lola gets, although, in this case, her name is not Lola but the bean. The bean is a killer combination of charisma (honestly, many of the boys in first grade loved her) and steely willfulness, God help whoever marries her. The bean saw this on my work table and immediately picked it up, 'Ooooh, I want this one mommy, it's like a princess necklace so fancy and my favorites are those big sparkly beads.' From a six year old who plans to be a princess or a Christmas elf when she grows up, this was high praise. A very long 36-1/2 inches chock full of gemstones, labradorite, freshwater pearls of various hues, rose quartz and crystals. You can wear Lola looong or wrap it around twice for a different take on princessy. Sterling silver clasp. $67

at first blush

One of my favorite authors, Atul Gawande, wrote a phenomenal article about blushing that you can read here. His writing is, well I guess the best way for me to describe his writing is it makes me want to be a better person. Blushing 'combines physiology and psychology, in that it's uncontrollable and external, like a rash but, at the same time, it requires thought and feeling at the highest order of cerebral function. It's an effect of embarrassment and people strive not to show it when they are. But unlike sadness or anger or even love, it is fundamentally a moral emotion. It keeps us in good standing in the world.' I can't lay claims to this necklace keeping you in good moral standing but the palest greys, peaches and pinks certainly will flatter your face, whether or not you're blushing. An extra long necklace at 35-1/2 inches (you can wear it fast & loose or wrap it around twice) with sterling silver clasp. $53