Jewelry

A first! Texas Amethyst Agate Signature Jewelry Release

A first! Texas Amethyst Agate Signature Jewelry Release

I have been asked by many about my company’s name, Texas Amethyst Agate. So what is Texas Amethyst Agate? Amethyst Agate from The Carver Agate Field Amethyst agate is a blended stone, being part agate in combination with amethyst, which is a purple semiprecious stone and the February gemstone. Amethyst, although not geologically rare worldwide, is quite rare as a Texas stone. Combining agate with amethyst is an even more rare Texas stone. Amethyst is not only rare in Texas, but is found only occasionally on The Carver Agate Field in West Texas. In fact, many of my long time West Texas rocker friends who have collected in West Texas for many years have never personally found amethyst in Texas. Among those friends, amethyst agate in Texas is virtually unheard of. That is why I named my company after this rare and beautiful purple, banded stone. I have not previously […]

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Cryptic Message Leads to Brecciated Agate Pierced Earrings!

Cryptic Message Leads to Brecciated Agate Pierced Earrings!

I recently opened another box of rocks I had packed in Alpine, Texas, and brought with me back to Islesboro, Maine. I had put a slip of paper in the box which said: “Rt. 67/90 dog pound N of water tank on right before a deep draw on ranch road” The small box contained the material you see in this posting. While cutting one of the ugly looking pieces, I hit something I really liked! The oval cab photo (#4992) and freeform cab photo (#4995) were cut from the same piece. The pierced earrings came from a fracture in the rough stone being cut. As I cut #4992 and #4995, two small shards broke off during the cutting in the saw. Rock # 4992 Rock #4995 So! It appeared that I had two cut-able stones and two worthless broken shards–but not so fast! I liked the coloration and pattern of […]

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TexasAmethystAgate Islesboro, Maine, Studio Tour

TexasAmethystAgate Islesboro, Maine, Studio Tour

I recently joined the Islesboro Arts Collective and participated in the group’s first annual studio tour held July 9, 2022. While Texas Amethyst Agate is dedicated to researching and documenting The Carver Agate Field of West Texas, I expanded this focus to participate in this event by adding Maine gemstones to my lapidary/jewelry works. The main stones featured included two handmade sterling silver cuff style Maine tourmaline bracelets. as well as jewelry incorporating three other gemstones found by me on Islesboro. These included green plasma jasper, brown/beige jasp-agate, and white Pripet Wharf marble included with ‘fools gold’. I crafted fancy designer freeform gemstones from each of these Maine stones and set them in a gold fill wire wrap to create pendants. I really loved the green plasma jasper which contrasts beautifully with the wire wrap. The three pendants prepared for the studio tour as well as the Maine tourmaline cuff […]

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Design Challenge Leads to New Design and First Pendant

Design Challenge Leads to New Design and First Pendant

If you follow my work, then you know I design sterling silver settings to highlight the unique characteristics of each designer free-form Carver gemstone that I cut. I previously have made sterling silver bracelets which I have thought were best at emphasizing each gemstone’s beauty.  The setting is secondary to the stone! Recently, however, I  cut a Carver geode with several unique characteristics, including a striking petite red feature and a crystalline lined geode center, which begged for something different.  The challenge was to design a setting to highlight the stone’s crystalline pocket which, without doubt, is the most unique feature of the stone. A mirror and the decision to create a pendant, not a bracelet, was the answer!  Viewing the creation will explain this choice.  This is a totally new design and the first pendant which I have offered for sale. Visit the Shop to learn more.