What is Peridot?

Peridot Earrings

What is Peridot?
Other than a Beautiful Green Gem?
Other than August’s Birthstone?
Other than the traditional Anniversary Gift for 16 years together?
To me it is one of the most Beautiful Gems-with it’s untreated Natural Green Sparkling Beauty.

Maybe because of it’s resemblance of the first and most tender leaves of Spring, is that enough to make it the appropriate choice for Birthstone of one of the Hottest months of the year?
In my mind it does.

Peridot is actually Magnesium Iron Silicate-technically...BUT...
It is Gem Quality Olivine.
Olivine, being one of the World’s most common minerals is brought to the surface from deep below the Earth's crust.  Or delivered to the Earth by meteorites.

Peridot is relatively inexpensive in smaller sizes. Though Gem Quality stones over 5ct are rare. 10-15 ct Stones are even more rare and VERY expensive.

An Evening of Surprises

WOW!!!
Another scorcher out there.
I don’t know if you have been following the weather, but here in Pittsburgh we have been having a stretch of 90+F temps-I am a Delicate Flower, don’t like excessive heat at all. Then pair it with the HUMIDITY, I just wilt.
Good thing that the last couple of days I have been in the Studio.

Green Quartz Ring 

Working on New Designs.
Prepping for another Event here.
Answering emails about specific pieces.
Planning upcoming shows.
Adding items to DeAndreaDesigns.
Basically keeping myself busy inside so that I do not have to go out.

Tomorrow evening’s Event is going to be fun.
A couple of weeks ago I was waiting on this couple at the restaurant-slow night so we were able to talk, and talk, and talk...
I was offered their cottage in exchange for my apt here overlooking the City. They told me where to stay in New Orleans, Grand Canyon, and Key West.
They told me to make sure that I travel and take advantage of everything that I can while I am still young-LOL...

I told them about my Jewelry.
My Studio.
Why I am working at the restaurant.
Basic Conversation.
THEN, He shows me a couple of pieces of Jade that he conveniently had with him, and asked me if I knew anything about Fibonacci Numbers. I did not at the time, and he explained quickly. Well, he requested that I work the Jade into a Necklace using Fibonacci Series.
I sent him photos of the Final Design...

 "you are in mastery mode, your links sublime

delicate yet strong. thrilled would you consider presenting it to her at your open house she will no shall be thrilled...'

They will be attending tomorrow among other Surprises that I have planned.

Hard Work...

It is still only May, and the heat has been turned up in my beloved Pittsburgh.

Perfect for Spring-Emerald and Jade Earrings

In more ways than just the daily temperature.
With the nicer days, come more foot traffic in Studio.
More customers at the restaurant,.
More Events in neighborhoods around the City-I was just accepted into another one next month.

Recent Event-actually at the restaurant I work at

Again, I am wondering how to balance everything....
BUT, I know that everything that I am doing is allowing me to cut back at the restaurant.
Allowing me to focus more time in the Studio.
Allowing me to follow my Bliss.


These are not complaints, because I am LOVING every minute of it.

Hard work has yet to kill me. This Hard Work is allowing me appreciate everything that is happening.
AND that appreciation will allow me to CONTINUE the Working Hard...

DeAndreaDesignsDiamond???

Have you ever wanted to have a Diamond named after you???
Well, now is your chance.
Going to auction 15 May 2013. This 101+ct Flawless White Diamond is at Christie’s now.
This GEM is AMAZING. I am not going to say anything more about it. Just watch the video, and collect your pennies...

DeAndreaDesignsDiamond???

I would LOVE to work with the DeAndreaDesignsDiamond.

ORANGE-A New Favorite

Lately I have been attracted to Orange Gemstones-as well as clothing and stuff.
Why? All of a sudden everything I want is Orange.
Could it be that a couple of months ago while cleaning my Rings I accidentally threw away my Mexican Fire Opal Ring? Still makes me sick to think about it.


So I started thinking about what the color Orange may say about a person.
And seeing how it is a new-ish attraction, I was curious to see if maybe my subconscious was trying to tell me something...Maybe?

Orane People tend to be...
Fearless-So long as there are no snakes around
Curious-YEP
Restless-YEP
Fickle-Sometimes
Good Natured and Popular-I like to think so
Flamboyant and Fun Loving-No and YES
Need to Socialize-I do enjoy my “ME” time a lot
Free Spirit/Follow One's Gut-OH YEAH!!

Maybe the Universe is telling me to get out more...OR have more Events in the Studio.
Come by next Friday evening. Bring a Friend.

Mother’s Day Happy Hour, 3-May

Cultured Diamonds

Or Lab-Created Diamonds...

Socially and environmentally ethical.
Chemically identical.
Physically identical.
Optically identical.

Eureka Diamond. Natural Diamond

Cultured Diamonds are “grown” from carbon and seeds of preexisting diamonds, and then undergoing Man-created high pressures, high temperatures, and Chemical Vapor Dispersion (CVD)...Similar to what would take years-MILLIONS of them.

Alright, that is all too technical for me. It is enough to know that these are NOT Simulants, or replacements.  They are for all technical purposes REAL. They are not CZs. They are not replacement stones.

I have been hearing about these lab-created gems for quite awhile now. Gems that are virtually indistinguishable from the “REAL” thing. The Cultured Diamonds are a recent discovery for me, although they have been around for a very long time-as early as 1879 when the first diamond was created, documented but not confirmed.

Recently, “Memorial Diamonds” have caught my attention...
We have all lost a Loved One. Someone that meant so much that we could not bear being apart from them.  Now there is a way to keep them with you at all times. By using a lock of their hair, or cremated ashes.  There is enough carbon available to create a piece of Jewelry that you will never want to take off. Something that becomes a Family Heirloom.

Just Me

I am going to take the easy way out of writing this one...
Just a video of Me talking about my two Favorite subjects-My Jewelry and Me.

This video was shot in my Studio by a good Friend Joe. Hopefully there will be more, but schedules get in the way sometimes...Again. all about finding Balance.