Beloved Generations – Green Amethyst Nuggets, Tourmaline & Antique Locket Necklace

Whenever I am fortunate enough to find a pretty locket with a family of old photos, it is a bittersweet discovery to know that the history of entire generations has either been given away or possibly sold during a period of hard times. Such was the case when I located this precious antique locket preserved with family photos of a young girl and what appear to be her mother and father. My mind wanders to the circumstances that led to the locket eventually ending up with an antique dealer - for sale, to the person that will pay a pittance for such a rich legacy.

The Beloved Generations necklace is composed of Alexandrite colored green amethyst nuggets and rondelles that culminate in a “frill” of multicolored tourmaline rondelles and a single watermelon tourmaline slice - highlighting the sweet memory of a locket from a bygone era. The antique gold filled locket provides its own provenance with original hand colored photos more than likely from the Victorian Era. The necklace portion measures 26” with a generous “frill” and feature watermelon slice bead more than 2” long before it culminates at the lovely old locket. The total drop of the frill & locket measures 5” long.

With a historic pedigree, the Beloved Generations necklace was inspired by a room I designed for the Junior League of Boston’s Silver Anniversary Showhouse – another home with pedigree, the Michael Curley Estate in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. Michael Curley was the very controversial multi-term mayor of Boston with a bit of a “Robin Hood Syndrome”. He succinctly thumbed his nose at the Boston Brahmins when the Curley estate was built, by adding shamrock shutters to the house.

In a nod to the historic background of the Curley home, where very famous and some infamous personalities visited – the upstairs great room was dubbed “The Ambassador’s Club” with acknowledgement to the Curley legacy. This formal yet lighthearted great room space had formerly been two bedrooms in the family home. The rich, clear colors of the room as well as the chenille “Fleur de Lis” sofas were selected for their durability and comfort, as well as their cheeky comment to the capricious diplomatic wallpaper.

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Clearly, A Case of the Blues - Blue Tourmaline & Quartz Necklace

Yes, we all have them and sometimes for unknown reasons (perhaps those dastardly female hormones). In my case, I happen to know what set of the “Torrent of Tears” and “The Pity Party for One”. I really do know better than to let someone’s mean-spirited words bother me but, I still woke up with a clear case of the blues!

We have a little saying at home: “When Karen is unhappy. . .no one is happy.” If I can ever convince my husband that the Living Room/Dining Room furniture needs to be replaced, this room is an inspiration that would make me very happy. I have had these photos in my “Rooms That Inspire” folder for several years and it is a different look than is usually associated with me. The very clean, edited design with contemporary accents was beautifully executed by Brown-Davis Interiors and gorgeous photography by Angie Seckinger.

The lovely clean lines of this room were the inspiration for a necklace that incorporates the simplicity of clear rock crystal combined with the gorgeous colors of blue tourmaline briolette teardrops. Most people associate tourmaline with a much wider range of colors, but the blue and green limited range of colors really “spoke” to me on that particular buying trip. This is one of those pieces of jewelry that adapts beautifully to a variety of colors subtly and elegantly.

For an interior/jewelry designer, this quote says it all:

“Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the Deity to be a source of delight.”
Lectures on Architecture & Painting (1853)

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When Life Hands You Lemon Quartz – Make a Necklace

Even after living in the deserts of Scottsdale for almost four years, I still miss almost everything from my former life in Boston (24 years is a long time). However there is one thing (possibly more) that I do love about Arizona. . .

t-shirts & sandals in March (unthinkable in Boston)! In our very small but, very pretty back yard, the former owners had the good sense to plan a small grove of citrus trees. It is at this time of the year when they are most delightful. After most of the fruit has been picked, eaten, juiced and given away; the grapefruit, orange and lemon trees explode with a profusion of beautiful white blossoms and the headiest perfumed fragrance you can imagine. Too bad we still do not have “smell-a-vision”. Suffice to say, I leave the doors open as much as possible to drink in the ambrosia bouquet.
Apparently, that lemon tree has really been on my mind. I just completed a gorgeous necklace of aquamarine, green phantom quartz, aqua chalcedony with softly colored lemon quartz nuggets and smooth lemon chiffon freshwater pearls. It reminds me of a cool glass of lemonade by the sparkling aqua water of the pool.

With my hubby working this week-end, I snuck off to a small gem & jewelry show here in Scottsdale. . .shh, don’t tell him! I am pretty certain I am not alone in this but, he is really befuddled by my need to have all those shoes and gemstones! As you can see, that lemon tree was whispering in my ear to buy those exquisite lemon quartz faceted briolettes. I am not certain exactly what “recipe” I will use them in but, I am certain something yummy will come to mind! These gem shows are going to be the end of me because I always seem to find some new stones that I just cannot seem to live without. This time, in addition to the lemon quartz brios, it was the blue tourmaline, pink topaz nuggets and the pink sapphires. I just can’t wait to sit down with them and see what combinations I can come up with.

While attending the gem show, I was testing out a new necklace that I have dubbed as “Safari Sashay”. With the summer fashion “must haves” of everything safari, everyone from the vendors (one of them wanted me to sell it to him – for resale of course) to the fashionable attendees, wanted to know about this necklace. This chunky statement necklace (very in-style this season) is comprised of ammonite, horn, banded agate, coffee quartz, wood & freshwater baroque pearls. It would look fabulous with the white shirtwaist dress & brown belt I have dog eared in my Bloomingdale’s catalogue!

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